Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Destiny's Chains ❯ Enma's Palace ( Chapter 5 )

Chapter 5

Enma's Palace

 

Imagine the largest mansion you've ever seen. Now, multiply it by a thousand or so. With that, you should have a fairly decent picture of how big the palace was. Now picture it with a Japanese style to it. Like sliding doors, dragons, mats, low tables, etc. With that, you should have a decent idea of what the style and décor of the palace was. Most of the rooms were offices or file rooms or of the like. Others were bedrooms, furnished and clean, for the workers to sleep and such. Some were bathrooms, closets, training facilities of various types, living rooms, and some were simply waiting for use.

Angel's room was the size of a suite. It held its own bathroom, which had an angelic type theme, and a walk-in closet. The walls were painted a soft blue with indigo trim along the bottom. The carpet was a grayish blue color, changing in the different light settings, controlled by a dial. The ceiling had a mural of a black dragon intertwining with a white dragon, symbolizing yin and yang. His bed was a four-poster, king size bed with navy sheets and a black comforter. The room had two windows, on the north and east walls, an oak night table, a small oak dining table, and two deep red throw pillows.

Osadyro's room matched Angel's for size, but that's about it. Her bed was a queen size with lavender sheets and a rich purple comforter. The floor was tatami instead of carpet or wood. And the walls were a deep purple, almost black in dim lighting, also controlled by a dial. The master bathroom was filled with dragons of all sorts of shape, design, and color. She had a single window, two small night tables, several throw pillows of various color and shape, a small table, and a bookcase filled with books on assorted topics.

Darkfire's room, in contrast with the other two, was a normal-sized bedroom. The single window opened out onto a small balcony with an intricate wrought iron railing. The walls were a blood red with a black trim along the bottom. Her light was a simple switch and the floor was of red oak. A queen size bed with red sheets and a black comforter was covered with stuffed animals of foxes and wolves, which she adored. On the left was a small night table, while the right had a small refrigerator. Across the hall, there was a bathroom, which she would use in place of the one the room did not have. And on her ceiling, there was a red dragon bathed in black flames.

All three rooms were on different floors and in completely different parts of the enormous palace. Not that Angel or Osadyro minded, Angel being far away from Darkfire and Osadyro being far away from Angel.

The story between Darkfire and Angel is a simple, yet complex one. At one time, Darkfire had this huge, agonizing crush on him. But he didn't share her feelings towards her. When she told him how she felt, he mocked her and broke her heart. He said they could still be something like friends, but he didn't really mean it. But Darkfire believed that they could still maintain a relationship on that plane. Now, her heart is chained to him. And every time he hurts her, directly or indirectly, the chain constricts her heart, breaking it even more.

Osadyro and Angel also share a relationship, but neither is on the same page. Angel holds strong feelings for Osadyro, but only on an occasion. Osadyro can't get the boy out of her head. She often tries to rid her heart of him, but he's always there. So, her heart is chained to him, and his heart is chained to her. And, whether he likes to admit it or not, Angel's heart is also chained to Darkfire.

~*~

“There,” Darkfire sighed, putting the last shirt in her drawer. “Everything is finally put away.” She pushed the suitcases under her bed and flopped down on top of all the stuffed animals. Lying there for a few moments, she closed her eyes and started to drift off. But a soft knocking at the door stirred her.

“Darkfire?” a voice called from the other side of the door.

The girl stood and strode to the door. Sliding it open, she smiled gently. “Kurama!”

“Have you found everything to your liking?” he inquired, smiling as well.

“Yes, everything is fine. I especially enjoy the stuffed animals. Arigatoo!” She bowed several times.

Kurama bowed once and laughed, “Please, it was Hiei's idea.”

Darkfire stopped and stared in disbelief. “Hiei?”

“Yes. He said you would always think about your foxes and wolves and such whenever you were bored or at home. He said they were your favorite.”

“I suppose he picked out the room too?”

“No, Kuwabara suggested it.”

“Really?”

“Yes. He said it was fitting. The deep fires in your eyes when you train and your shadowed heart.”

“Hmm, he's very perceptive. I'll have ta thank `em.” And then she stepped aside. “Please, come in! Didn't mean ta keep you out in da hall!”

“Thank you.”

Darkfire motioned to the zabuton by the table and they sat. “Kurama, don't the Japanese usually sleep on futon?”

“Yes, but we thought you all would be more comfortable on a bed your own style. If you would like a futon, there are some in the closet down the hall.”

Darkfire bowed slightly. “Arigatoo.”

“Doo itashimashite,” Kurama smiled, bowing as well. And then he stood and bowed again. “It's been nice, but I must go check on the other two.”

Darkfire stood as well and bowed, following Kurama to the door. Before she could close it, another figure stood in her way.

“Ah, Hiei!” she gasped, surprised.

He glared and brushed by her into the room.

“Oi! Nantaru!”

“Hn.”

“Why can't you be as polite as Kurama?”

“Because I'm Hiei.”

Sighing and bowing, she said, “Arigatoo gozaimasu.”

Hiei turned and looked at her strangely. “Doushite?”

“For reading my mind and using the thoughts for good.” She straightened and looked Hiei straight in the eyes.

He bowed his head short and curt before turning from her. “It wasn't hard to figure out what you'd like.”

“Why's that?”

His mind said, “Because you're like me.” His mouth answered, “Because I've seen you're room.”

“Nani?!”

“Through your eyes. So stop screaming.”

She glared at Hiei's back. “I wasn't screaming.”

~*~

“Yuusuke, I will not tell you again!” Koenma yelled around the pacifier.

“It's been five years for me!” the boy yelled. But, really, he was no longer a boy. He was well into his early twenties for fact. “I crammed eight years of English study into one year just so I could do this damn mission. I demand an answer!”

“Their use is not important to you!”

“The Hell it ain't! We're a team, damn it!”

“If you really want to know, Yuusuke, be patient. I'm sure Kurama will tell you when he figures it out before you,” Koenma insulted, sitting in a large, brown chair.

“One day, sir, your orders won't be carried out.” With the final threat voiced, Yuusuke left the large office. As he trudged down the long, bustling hallway, he muttered things like “stupid baby”, “what does he know”, “I should show him where he can put that binkie of his”, and other such that should not be repeated.

When Yuusuke rounded a corner, he stopped just before he ran into someone. This someone also stopped; both somehow knowing the other would be there.

“Yuusuke,” she said, hiding the surprise in her voice.

“Osadyro-san,” he smiled, bowing.

“Please, no formalities. Besides, I'm younger than you.”

“But a woman all the same.”

“Oh, please, Yuusuke. Don't try and sweet talk me.”

They both burst into laughter. It was a strange, unvoiced joke between the two. A joke often shared, in fact.

“So, how do you like yer room?” Yuusuke asked, calming down.

“I love it,” Osadyro smiled.

“That's good.”

“You know, we should do something fun tonight.”

“Why?”

“I dunno. Like, an anniversary party. You know, for putting up with each other for four years.”

Yuusuke laughed. “Ok, sounds good. I'll talk to Kuwabara and we'll see if we can't come up with a fun place ta hang for the night.”

The girl nodded and they parted, sharing their strange joke one last time. Yuusuke, in better spirits, raced off to find Kuwabara. Osadyro continued on her way, searching for Darkfire's room. Botan had told her what floor it was on and which doors to look for, but it was still confusing.

“Eighteenth floor, eighth door on the right,” she chanted, counting the doors she passed as she left the stairs. “Six…seven…eight!” Reaching out to knock on the door, she paused when she heard voices conversing. Scooting closer, she listened intently.

“I wasn't screaming,” a female snapped. Osadyro knew it was Darkfire.

“Hn,” a male growled. It being a typical `Hiei response', Osadyro also knew who this man was.

“You can be so irritable sometimes.”

“Then leave…human.”

“No…demon.”

“Heh. Then it will bring me much joy when a demon slays you.”

“Liar.”

“I don't lie,” Hiei hissed.

“You wouldn't let me die.”

“Wouldn't I?”

“You're too curious. `Sides, you taught me too well. And I refuse to die.”

Hiei let out a short, crude laugh. “As if you had the choice.”

Deciding the conversation could end any moment and Hiei could leave, Osadyro knocked on the door.

“Hey there!” she greeted happily.

“Hi,” Darkfire smirked, not used to seeing her so chipper.

Osadyro looked over Darkfire's shoulder and saw Hiei glaring at the bed. “Am I interrupting something?”

“Nah, we were just chattin'. So, whadya want?”

“To see your room, silly!”

“Right.” Darkfire stepped aside and Osadyro bounded in.

“Huh, it's smaller than mine.”

“I don't mind. If it was big, I wouldn't know what to do with myself.”

“Hello? Is this thing workin'?” a voice called over a PA system. “Ok, I need Darkfire, Osadyro, Angel, Hiei, and Kurama to get their butts down to the first floor kitchen, pronto!”

“Untie me this instant!” another voice shouted in the background.

“Oh, hush up. We'll untie you when we get back. Kuwabara, turn off that damned thing. I can hear myself.”

The PA clicked off and all was silent.

“Uh, Hiei, where's the kitchen?” Darkfire inquired after a moment.

“Hn,” he grumped, leaving.

“Follow?” Osadyro said.

“Follow,” Darkfire answered. They both headed out after Hiei.

It took a while, but all met in the kitchen.

“What's this about?” Hiei growled, leaning against the wall.

“Well, it was brought to my attention that we need to celebrate,” Yuusuke began, winking at Osadyro and throwing a roll of duct tape on the table.

“Celebrate for what?” Kurama questioned, eying the duct tape.

“Our four year anniversary together!” Osadyro answered excitedly.

“Yea, so Kuwabara and I started talkin' `bout all the cool places we knew about.”

“We decided on a club,” Kuwabara said.

“Not just any club.”

“The club.”

“Rosie's Chicks!” the two idiots both announced.

“I hope you're kidding,” Angel laughed.

“Naw, the girls are hot!” Yuusuke snickered, elbowing Kuwabara. “'Course, Keiko hates the place.”

“Keiko?” Darkfire echoed.

“Yea, Yuusuke's girlfriend,” Kuwabara explained, grinning.

“Anyway, I think we should all go.”

Kurama's eyes flashed with a mischievous gold for a second before the stunning emerald retained itself. “I suppose.”

Hiei looked at Kurama with a slightly shocked expression. “You `suppose'?”

Kurama looked at Hiei, his eyes flashing again. “Yes, Hiei. It sounds almost…entertaining. Please come with us.”

“Hn. But only to keep you out of trouble.”

“Me, trouble? Why, I never,” Kurama mocked, his words and appearance growing more mischievous with every moment.

“Awright, let's go!” Yuusuke cheered, pumping his fist into the air.