Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Elemental Education ❯ Chapter 9 ( Chapter 9 )

Kurama and Bekka settled into what could be called a routine. During the days, they would engage in training or one form or the other: Fighting, magic, thievery, or just tolerating being around groups. In the evenings, they would relax, playing chess or Bekka would sing or play for Kurama. Dawn would always find the kitsune curled around the girl, whether he'd been there the full night or not. It was counter to his nature to limit himself to a single partner, no matter how willing or adept that partner was. Bekka would use the time alone to relax, often floating in the bathing pool, enjoying the silence in her mind. Though Kurama could prevent her from learning specifically what he thought, there was always that undercurrent of noise that could be very draining.

 

Kurama returned one night to find his bed empty. This puzzled him since the girl was almost always there when he got home. He walked through the living room, dojo, kitchen, not finding her in those rooms. Finally, he entered the bathing room and was surprised to see that Bekka had fallen asleep in the water, supported by a faint blue aura. This puzzled him since they hadn't begun training with water yet. He shed his clothing and entered the pool carefully, concerned that startling her awake could have negative consequences. He slipped his hands under her shoulders and knees before touching her. Slowly, confused, she opened her eyes and the aura vanished.

 

“Wha-?” she mumbled, bringing a fist to her eyes as she yawned.

 

“Did you want to sleep in the water?” he teased her gently.

 

“Nuh?” Bekka looked around, “Musta been more tired than I thought,” she muttered, cuddling up against his chest, falling back to sleep.

 

Kurama chuckled softly as he left the pool with the girl. She began shivering until he wrapped her in a towel, a task made more difficult by her leech-like clinging. Sighing, he sat on the bench height ledge and began drying her hair, massaging her scalp. She gradually relaxed in his lap, deeply asleep. He carried her still from to the bed, thinking as he snuggled in behind her, `Well, we'll go with her instincts. If she's using water in her sleep, it should be easier when she's awake.'

 

Bekka woke slowly, at first because she didn't remember getting into bed the night before. The last thing she remembered was floating in the pool. Kurama nuzzled her neck sleepily. “You were asleep in the water when I got home,” he muttered in her ear.

 

Bekka allowed herself to enjoy the contact before complaining, “I thought I was the empath here.”

 

Kurama chuckled, “Familiarity breeds certain skills.” He let his lips trail along her neck until he found the spot where she was especially sensitive and sucked it for a moment, drawing a gasping groan from the girl. “Now,” he said, releasing her neck, “get dressed, we have a lot to do today.” He thought a moment, “On second thought, never mind the clothes. Get up, though.” He pinched her as he bounced out of the bed and into the bathing room.

 

Bekka followed, curious as to what they had to do in the bathing room. Kurama was already in the water when she entered the room. He beckoned her to join him. “When I found you last night, you were using water energy to support yourself.”

 

Bekka looked at him surprised. “I was? In my sleep? How odd…” She began to chew on her lower lip, thinking.

 

“Odd?” Kurama echoed.

 

“Well, yeah, I guess. I mean, I'm not really sure, but it seems odd, doesn't it?” Kurama looked at the girl blankly, waiting for her to explain the random statement she'd just made. “I haven't used fire or air in my sleep, have I?” He shook his head, still waiting for her to make some kind of sense. “Isn't it odd that I would use water in my sleep before we even start using it when I'm awake? Especially given that I don't use fire or air in my sleep?”

 

Kurama shook his head, “Odd or not, it happened. Now let's see if you can do it awake.”

 

Bekka frowned in concentration, sinking into the water, bringing up her knees to her chest, allowing the warm water to support her body. She sculled with her hands to keep herself balanced, but was otherwise still. Kurama watched, silent, as her aura flickered between red and yellow. It fluttered, faded, strengthened, never turning any shade of blue. Still frowning, Bekka changed her position so she was floating on her back, again, concentrating. Her eyes were closed as she breathed slowly and deeply. Again, her aura showed red and yellow, but no blue. She stopped trying for a while, her aura vanishing, and just floated for a while, allowing the water to support her body. Slowly, she tried again, gradually trying to ease into the feel of the water, but she just couldn't seem to reach it. She could feel that she was getting the wrong element each time she tried.

 

After a couple of hours of standing in the water, Kurama was wondering what was preventing the girl from doing what she'd done so easily. He could also see her getting frustrated. He tapped her shoulder, getting her attention, allowing her to stand up before speaking. “Why can't you get it? You were doing it in your sleep.”

 

Bekka rubbed her aching head. “I wish I knew. I just can't seem to feel it or reach it. It's like I know it's there, but there's a wall between me and it. I don't know how to get past the wall.” She rubbed her face, noticing her hands were extremely wrinkled. “My head hurts,” she complained. She rubbed her temples, trying to ease the pain.

 

Kurama shook his own head, not knowing what else to do. “Let's go eat. Maybe being away will help us think.”

 

Bekka smiled at him from under her hands, “My oma used to tell me to sleep on problems, that sometimes my mind would find the solution in my dreams. But, I never could remember my dreams.”

 

“You don't remember your dreams?” he asked, thinking he might be reaching the root of the problem.

 

“No, never. What I know about my sleep habits is from what other people tell me.” She shrugged, “I miss a whole part of my life because I'm asleep.”

 

“You said you dreamed about your oma,” he pointed out to her.

 

“When I'm awake, I do. I day dream and I remember those, but I can't remember what I dream about in my sleep.”

 

Kurama needed time to think. “Get out of the water already. You're wrinkling horridly. Blech!” he pushed her out of the water.

 

“Hmph! How rude!” she managed to gripe before he covered her head with a towel and began to roughly dry her hair. “Hey!” she protested, batting blindly at his hands, “My head really does hurt and that's not helping!”

 

“You complain a lot,” the kitsune pointed out, releasing her head and wrapping a towel around himself.

 

Bekka pulled the towel out from in front of her face and stuck her tongue out at him before disappearing under it again and resuming drying her hair, more gently than he had been. Kurama laughed at her and left the room. When her hair was dry enough not to drip down her back, Bekka wrapped the towel around her body. She stood for a moment, frowning at the ground, trying to figure out what was blocking her. Sighing, she tossed the towel onto the ledge and pulled on some clothing before going into the living room.

 

Kurama handed the girl a bowl filled with warm brownish liquid. “Drink, you'll feel better.”

 

Amused, she sniffed the bowl. “Willow and mint?”

 

Mildly irritated, “Can't you ingest anything without smelling it first?”

 

Drinking, and trying to control the face the bitterness of the willow tended to cause her to pull, she shook her head slightly. She handed the bowl back with a smile, “Thank you.”

 

“Don't you trust me?” he asked petulantly as he took the bowl from her.

 

She blinked at him in surprise, “Am I supposed to?”

 

Kurama had been teasing the girl, but her surprise seemed genuine. “It generally helps in training and working together.”

 

“I suppose,” she responded, uncertainly.

 

“You suppose? You really don't trust me?” This just didn't fit with what he had heard about ningens. He'd heard that they would only share information and their bodies with others they trusted. While trust was a rare commodity in the Makai, it had to exist between students and teachers.

 

She held is gaze steadily. “No, I don't trust you. The last person I remember trusting was my oma. Everyone else has somehow violated whatever trust I put in them. And with Loki playing games with my life, it's just simpler not to. I expect you to behave a certain way, to do certain things, but I can't honestly say that I trust you.” She cocked her head to the side, “Why does that surprise you?”

 

“You act like you trust me…or at least how I thought you'd act if you trusted me.” For the first time, he felt at a disadvantage, hearing demonic logic coming from a ningen.

 

“I told you before that I was odd for a human. In my travels with Loki, I've developed a few quirks that make me odder. I can act as if I trust someone, but I'm always looking for something to go wrong, trying to minimize the damage when it does happen. It's inevitable.” She shrugged, “I'm a little cynical, a lot pessimistic, but it's because of what I've experienced.” She looked him in the eye, arms crossed over her chest, “Does that really change anything, though?”

 

He regarded her a moment, “No, I suppose it doesn't, does it?” Just when he thought he had the girl figured out, she did something else to confuse him. She smiled at him and he noticed a faint, nearly invisible, aura of blue around her. Returning her smile, he asked, “What are you thinking?”

 

“How strange trust is, how people throw the word around, and what it really means,” she answered.

 

He noticed the aura remained, even darkened slightly. “Tell me more about what you think of trust,” he prompted.

 

She shrugged and sat. “A lot of people think that in order to love, a person has to trust. I suppose in some way, that's almost true. I don't think expectation and trust are quite the same thing. To me, trust means complete and utter faith in someone, to believe that no matter what, they will be there, supporting you, whatever. Expectations are more limited, bound to situations.”

 

He noticed a slight flare in her aura when she mentioned love, so he continued questioning her, “Tell me more about love.”

 

She gave him an odd look, “Well, there's a lot written about love, both prose and poetry. No one really agrees on what it is. I think that love is a willingness to be completely vulnerable to another person, to be open to them and allow them to be vulnerable to you. I suppose that requires trust, in some form.” She sighed, looking at the table, continuing to speak, though it seemed as if she were musing to herself. “I suppose, if I were to really think about it, love and trust are the same thing. Both are based on vulnerability, openness, acceptance. I suppose, then, I haven't really loved anyone since my oma, but, then, what did I experience, then? I thought I loved…” She folded her arms on the table and rested her chin on them, continuing to speak, almost too quietly for him to hear, “I guess, then, there are different types of love, maybe?” She sighed, sitting up, “I didn't really answer your question, did I?”

 

He noticed that her aura was darkening, “That wasn't really the point. Can you feel it?”

 

Bekka widened her eyes, trying to capture the feeling. She could feel what reminded her of the warmth of her grandmother's smiles. She focused on this feeling, amplified it, made it more real. She smiled at him and focused on the bowl he still held. A small amount of water appeared in the bowl before she lost control and sagged into the chair.

 

Though her eyes were open, they held the glazed appearance Kurama had come to associate with exhaustion. He shook her shoulder, “Bekka, are you going to be able to eat?” She turned to look at him, but made no reply. He cupped her cheek, “I guess not. Let's get you to bed.” He picked her up and carried her to bed.

 

When Bekka became aware of the world around her again, she could feel that Kurama was worried. “Why's you worried?” she slurred out at soon as her mouth would cooperate with her.

 

“You've been asleep for two days,” he stated flatly, moving from the foot of the bed where he'd been sitting to hold her.

 

“Oh,” she muttered, snuggling against his body. Her mind was sluggish and she was having trouble just staying focused enough to be awake. She felt him tense behind her. “Wha-?”

 

“Shhh. Someone's here.” He looked alertly at the doorway to the room.

 

Bekka turned her head groggily to follow his line of sight. In the doorway appeared a darkly clad figure. “Oberon?” she asked.

 

Oberon smiled at them, “Yes, Bekka.”

 

“Why?” she asked, confused. He had never interfered, that she knew of, and now, three times, he'd contacted her.

 

“You need some information, both of you do.” He walked out of the door and into the living room.

 

Bekka looked at Kurama, “This is really strange,” she stated, flatly.

 

“Why is that?” he asked, wondering what about this girl and the gods wasn't strange.

 

“I've never seen Oberon before, never had any contact with him, and here he is, again.”

 

Kurama wasn't sure how to reply to this, so he pinched her, “Get up, already.” She glared at him before moving to comply.

 

Oberon had seated himself in a chair which had not previously been in the room, one that looked like a throne. He waited patiently while Bekka and Kurama sat in their usual seats, watching him carefully. “My dear, we have much to discuss. First, your training is progressing much faster than I thought it would. That being said, I must tell you that water and earth are going to be extremely difficult for you to master.”

 

“Why?” Bekka asked, still not completely awake.

 

“What is the opposite element to fire?” Oberon asked.

 

“Earth,” Bekka replied, not quite following where Oberon was trying to lead.

 

“Yes. The opposite of air is?” Oberon smiled at her.

 

“Water, but what does that have to do with anything?”

 

“Air and fire are complimentary elements, my dear. The element that compliments your native element is the easiest for you to learn. Opposites are harder to learn, taking more effort because their qualities tend to be contradictory to what you're used to. For example, my dear, air is the element of intelligence, which you have in abundance, and water is the element of love and trust, which you lack in.”

 

Bekka frowned at him, “So, fire is chaotic and earth is stable?”

 

“Yes, my dear, you understand. It is possible for you to learn these qualities, to develop the traits needed to use the elements.”

 

“So, I have to learn to trust?” Bekka asked flatly.

 

“Yourself, at least.”

 

Bekka snorted, “Why should I trust myself? I have a history of making bad decisions, in case you haven't noticed, Oberon.”

 

Oberon sighed, “You do not make bad decisions, Bekka. You make the most prudent decision at the time…”

 

“Most prudent?” Bekka cut him off. “What do you mean by that?”

 

“I mean, my dear, that even though you dislike a lot of the decisions you've made, they were the best decision at the time.”

 

Bekka shook her head, about to speak, but Oberon cut her off, “My dear, your discussion with Kurama was more accurate than you think. Trust is expectations, they are the same, my dear. Focus more on your positive expectations. Work on not being such a pessimist, my dear, and you will find water much easier to access.”

 

Oberon looked at Kurama, “You, sir, are an excellent teacher for her. I applaud you learning to block your thoughts from her so quickly.”

 

Oberon smiled at the bewildered kitsune, moving his head to include Bekka, “There is a reason I'm here, now. You, my dear, have begun the more serious part of the game. Up to this point, we have been testing you, to see if you were truly able to continue. You will be rewarded at the end of your time in the game. We are not that cruel. But, you still have much to learn, and that is the point of the game for you. Kurama, you too, will be rewarded for your part in this game, provided she wins the challenge.” Oberon rose, his throne vanishing. “I'll be in contact, my dear Bekka,” and he too vanished.

 

Bekka went limp in her chair, overwhelmed. “If everything I've experienced up until now was just a test to see if I could play their stupid game…” her voice trailed off.

 

Kurama rose from his chair, unsure what to say, unsure in general. Every encounter with the gods left more questions than it answered. He cupped her cheek, causing her to look at him. “Don't think it over. Are you hungry?”

 

Bekka nodded, feeling his uncertainty echoing her own. He trailed his hand off her cheek as he went into the kitchen and she rested her head in her hands, elbows propped on the table. She sat there, unmoving, even after Kurama placed a bowl of fruit in front of her, deep in thought, trying to sort through what Oberon had said, trying to understand it. She was taken by surprise when Kurama reached out and wrapped his hand around her arm. She looked at him questioningly.

 

“Don't think about it, Bekka. Eat, then we'll go for a walk, allow the air to clear out thoughts.” He didn't know why exactly, but her brooding was not what she needed to do.

 

He felt softly in his mind the words form, `I am allowed to guide you, Kurama.' He had to work hard to suppress his shock and anger at hearing Oberon's voice in his head. `I won't bother you much, but until the actual trial begins, I can offer guidance.' A chuckle from the god, `Not that you really need that much. You really are doing very well with her.'

 

During Kurama's preoccupation, Bekka ate mechanically, her mind still turning. When she finished, Kurama tweaked her hair, “Come on, let's go for a walk.” She followed him, not really paying attention to him or their surroundings, until she bumped into him.

 

Kurama was tense, bristling. Bekka looked around, and saw a large group of demons standing in front of them. They appeared to be bat like, with large wings from their backs. Some of them had very hard faces, some amused. One in particular caught her eye. She focused on him, trying to read him. He was reluctant, not wanting to participate, but had no choice. Her attention, however, was diverted by the point demon throwing something toward Kurama and herself. Reflexively, almost, she set it on fire and blew it off course. This took the attackers by surprise.

 

“Since when does the great Youko Kurama use fire?” the leader taunted. Bekka focused on him, reading that he felt he was justified, that, somehow, Kurama had violated something of his.

 

Kurama stood upright, thinking sharply at the girl to keep quiet and still, “Thought you knew everything about me, did you? That's a mistake few make and none survive.” Calmly, he caused the grasses around the confronting band to grow, tangling in their legs, arms, and wings, preventing them from moving. Laughing, Kurama continued, “Now, what is it you think I've done to you?”

 

“You!” the point, lead, demon spat. “You corrupt our youth and don't have the decency to remember? How dare you!” He began struggling earnestly against the ensnaring grasses, reaching for his belt.

 

“I assure you, sir, there is nothing wrong with my memory. We have never met. What youth are you talking about?” Kurama remained cool once the initial shock of the ambush had passed. He was in control of the situation, now.

 

The one Bekka had singled out before spoke up, “Me.”

 

Kurama smiled, “You, I remember.” His posture took on a suggestive tone, “And how was it I corrupted you? As I recall it, you started it.” He lowered his head slightly, “Kuronue, wasn't it?”

 

“Shut up, kitsune! You do not have permission to talk to him!” the leader exploded. “That is not why we're here. He wishes to leave us to join you. You corrupted him and now you must pay!” He had somehow worked his hands free enough to throw a scythe at Kurama, forcing him and Bekka to jump out of the way. It was then the other demons became aware of her presence. “It's not enough that you have one of them, you have to take our own!” he spat out.

 

Bekka had to bite her tongue to keep from telling the demon off. She was still warded as Kurama's property, so he was supposed to think she was his.

 

“I made no effort to `take your own.' He chose to come to me. I did not approach him. I made him no offers.” Kurama was still calm as he faced the livid bat demon.

 

“Give us that girl and we'll leave you alone. Otherwise, we'll kill you and take her anyway.”

 

Bekka could feel her temper rise as Kurama seemed to consider the bat's offer. He laughed, “I don't think you could handle her. She's a bit hard to control.” He ignored the glare Bekka shot at him. “I told you, you have no claim against me. Leave.” He caused the grasses to release the gang. Instead of leaving, however, several of them ranged themselves around the kitsune, weapons ready.

 

The leader walked confidently over to Bekka, who stepped back. “We will take her. Try to stop us, and you will die, kitsune.”

 

Bekka flashed a glance at Kurama, questioning. The smallest of nods answered her. She could defend herself. Returning her focus to the bat demon, she easily dodged his attempt to catch her. Angry and not willing to give up his claim, he again attempted to capture her. She again dodged easily. He snarled and waved for two more to join him. Bekka almost laughed at their blatant tactics. They formed a triangle around her, trying to capture her by not giving her anywhere to dodge. She allowed them to almost capture her before jumping and landing in the overhanging tree. She could feel Kurama's amusement as he watched. The branches around her were dense enough that the bat demons could not effectively fly up and capture her as she smiled down on them. Having had enough fun, she spoke, “I suggest you leave, now, unless you wish to be our dinner.”

This comment actually surprised Kurama, though he did not allow it to show.

 

“And what do you intend to do, ningen?” the leader snarled.

 

“Well, first of all, Raiden, I intend to stay in this tree.” She almost laughed at the surprise he showed by being addressed by his name. “Second of all, unless you leave, I'll set you on fire. Third of all, if you still continue to refuse to leave, I won't let the fire die down until you're fully cooked. Understand?” She watched him splutter in rage. “Oh, I want one more thing. Leave Kuronue here.” She jumped to a different branch as two scythes shot up through the place she'd been. “Oh, dear, what a bad decision,” she taunted as she lit the hair of the three demons below her. She continued to laugh as they tried to extinguish the flames, “Go, leave, now. It won't go out until I let it.” Another scythe flew at her and she caused the rest of the gang, save Kuronue, pain by lighting their clothing on fire. “Leave, now, before I get mad,” she ordered.

 

Reluctantly, Raiden ordered the band to leave. “Don't think this is over!” he shot over his shoulder as he vanished into the forest. His hair flared up before dieing out.

 

“No, of course not, that would be too easy, wouldn't it?” Bekka shot back sarcastically as she left the tree.

 

Kuronue stared at the girl in amazement. “Aren't you a ningen?”

 

She smiled, “Yes, of course. At least last time I checked I was.”

 

“Then, how…?” he trailed off, not sure what to ask, or even if he could or should or really wanted to know.

 

Bekka sighed, “You don't want to know, right now. For now, it is enough to know that I am not his property, but his student.”

 

“You started the fires?”

 

“Yep, I did. Why do you want to join with him?” she pointed to the kitsune with her head.

 

“Excuse me, but I am here,” he interrupted. “And I have my own questions to ask.”

 

“Okay,” Bekka bowed, “ask, sensei.”

 

Kurama fixed the girl with a hard look before turning to Korunue, “Why did you want to join me?” He ignored Bekka's snort at this question.

 

“I know your reputation. You're the best. I wanted to learn from you,” Korunue answered, wondering about the interplay between the two.

 

Kurama seemed satisfied with that answer, and turned to Bekka, “Why did you have him remain?”

 

Bekka shrugged, “They would have hurt him if he went with them, probably killed him.”

 

Korunue's eyebrows shot up, “How do you know that?”

Bekka looked at him, “I'm an empath, I can read other people's minds.” She felt his anxiety, “I can only read, I can't put anything in.”

 

“And just what should we do with him now?” Kurama asked Bekka.

 

Bekka shrugged, “I don't know. I don't know how things work around here. You decide.”

 

“And if I decide to kill him?”

 

Bekka blanched, “I won't let you.”

 

“So, you acted on an impulse and now you're stuck with the consequences, girl.” Kurama turned on his heel, heading back to the cave. “You decide what to do with him. He's in your debt, not mine.” With that, he left the clearing.

 

Bekka looked at Korunue, who was staring at her. She frowned, “You're in my debt?”

 

Korunue nodded, “You saved my life, so, yes.” He did not like the idea of owing his life to a ningen, even if repayment of that debt would enable him to be near the quicksilver kitsune.

 

“I dislike collecting debts,” she told him flatly. “I would prefer not to be owed anything. But, maybe, we can work together.” She thought a moment, frowning at the ground. “How safe are you if you don't come and stay with us?” she asked.

 

“I can avoid their haunts and territory,” he answered, not following the girl's logic.

 

She held out her hand, concentrating on forming solid fire, sure that she could, even though she had not. A small red stone appeared in her palm. “Take this,” she handed it to him. “When it gets hot, find us. I will collect your payment then.” She turned and took the same path Kurama followed to leave the clearing.

 

Kurama had been waiting for the girl, just outside what he knew to be her range, listening. He didn't understand what she had in mind, but was relieved he wouldn't have another guest staying in his den. “Why did you do that?” he asked when she caught up to him.

 

She shrugged, “It seemed the best idea.”

 

“Learning something?” he teased gently.

 

She smiled at him, “Perhaps, a little, maybe.”

 

“What did you give him?” he asked, wrapping an arm around her.

 

“A fire gem. I can feel it, still. I don't know why, but I'll need him later.”

 

Kurama felt her shrug against him. “Don't over think it, Bekka.”

 

“It's a bad habit I have,” she confessed.

 

“I think we could do something about that,” he countered, pulling her to face him as he bent down to claim her lips. He felt her respond to him, bringing her hands up to rub his neck and ears. He picked her up and pressed her back against a tree as she wrapped her legs around him. Using the vines around the tree, he moved their clothing out of the way, entering her as soon as he could. He felt her moan into his mouth, as he thrust into her, enjoying the abandon of their quick play.

 

Korunue watched, following the two. He couldn't believe how readily the girl responded, how she seemed to melt in the kitsune's arms. She seemed too strong to be that submissive, but it was apparent that she was enjoying herself. He watched as Kurama left her mouth to kiss her neck, allowing him to hear her moans. His mouth went dry as he felt his own need build. Almost of its own accord, his hand moved his clothing out of the way, freeing his arousal. He took firm grip of his shaft and stroked it in time to the kitsune's thrusts into the girl. Her moans became louder, more insistant, and he could feel the pressure mounting. A few more strokes, and the kitsune tensed, his head coming back, as the girl screamed. Korunue's body convulsed as he watched the two.

 

Kurama gathered the girl in his arms, again using the vines to adjust his clothing. He knew he was being watched, and was fairly certain Bekka knew, too. Turning, he smirked, “Enjoy the show, Korunue?”

 

The bat looked down at his disheveled clothing, his cum covered hand and blushed. “I suppose you could say that.”

 

Kurama laughed, “I'll see you later, then.”

 

Bekka spent the next couple of weeks working on focusing on more positive expectations. She came to, if not trust, at least rely on the kitsune. He, in turn, learned to enjoy the company of another being, not really looking forward to her being gone. As their friendship deepened, Bekka became able to draw on the power of water with increasing ease.