Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Elemental Education ❯ Chapter 11 ( Chapter 11 )

Days flowed into weeks and months. Some routines remained while others changed with the addition of Kuronue. Evenings were still given to music and games. Dawn still found Bekka wrapped in Kurama's arms, though now they would both be held by Kuronue. Mornings were devoted to sparing and fighting training. Afternoons, Bekka would work on mastering the elements, building endurance. Kurama would still leave on various nights, sometimes taking Kuronue with him, to satisfy his need for variety and give Bekka the quiet time she needed.

 

Earth proved difficult for Bekka to master, though. She would spend part of each training session in meditation, seeking the stability needed to tap into the solid energy of the rocks around her. Through this process, she, herself, matured and stabilized. She developed patience and better control over her emotions.

 

Kurama watched as the quixotic girl changed, approving of her growth. He still didn't fully understand her, nor his reactions to her. After a while, he quit trying to understand and just accepted her.

 

Kuronue worked hard to gain mastery over his emotions, not willing to be outdone by a ningen. He watched her training sessions with interest, seeing her go from frustration and irritation to calmness and mastery. He was soon to see another side of the strange girl, however.

 

Dawn was creeping over the Makai when a disdainful voice woke the three. “Don't you think it's time you woke up?”

 

“Loki, you can go rot in hell for all I care,” Bekka snarled from the nest between Kuronue and Kurama. Their legs were tangled in such a way that any sudden movements would have been painful to all three.

 

“It's good to know that your training hasn't changed your charming disposition, Absinthe,” he retorted.

 

“Which part of `go to hell' are you having trouble with?” Bekka managed to sit up and was working her legs out of the knotted mess. She could feel Kurama's irritation and Kuronue's confusion. They had told him about Loki, but had neglected to mention Bekka's given name.

 

“I only have your best interests at heart, my dear Absinthe,” Loki's voice was full of mock pain.

 

“If that were anywhere near being true, you'd call me `Bekka,' you good for nothing…”

 

“I have a message, you foul tempered street wench,” Loki cut her off. He ignored the girl's bristling snarls, actually enjoyed them, rather.

 

Kurama wrapped an arm around Bekka, arching possessively over her, “Deliver your message and leave, Loki.” He could feel the girl trembling in his arms.

 

Loki looked at Kurama, “So, are you sure you don't think she's yours?” This comment rose Kurama's hackles. He actually snarled, baring his teeth, at the god.

 

Kuronue had had enough of this show. He rose, walking over to the god, intent on grabbing his throat when he found himself suspended by his neck, unable to move or breathe. “Kuronue,” Loki intoned, “that was a bad idea, don't you think?”

 

“Let him go!” Bekka and Kurama snarled. Loki looked over at them, smirking, before throwing the bat across the room. Enraged, Bekka broke free of Kurama's hold and threw herself at the god, only to hit the wall behind him, head first.

 

“Tut, tut, little Absinthe, you know better than that,” Loki laughed at her.

 

“Deliver your message, Loki, and leave!” Kurama snarled. He was getting concerned because Bekka hadn't moved from her landing, a brown aura surrounding her. He hadn't seen that color before and didn't know what she was doing.

 

Loki pouted, “You are no fun. Fine, your message: Oberon will be here in half an hour. He wants to talk to you for some reason.” He remained, gloating for some reason.

 

Kurama glared at the god, “He sent you?”

 

Loki smiled viciously, “No, that was my idea.” With that, he vanished.

 

Kuronue had picked himself up from where Loki had thrown him and approached Bekka while Kurama did the same from the bed. As he got closer, Kurama could see that her aura wasn't actually brown, but rather tightly banded red and green swirling around her. He reached out a hand toward her and was stopped by her voice, “Don't touch me.”

 

Kurama and Kuronue looked at each other. Bekka had never told either of them that before. They both sat and watched her, Kurama seeing the play of colors. The red and green fought for dominance over her, each flaring and retreating until the green finally became dominant and the red faded. After a couple more minutes, the green faded as well and Bekka sat up, looking tired and pleased with herself. She smiled an apology to the two demons, “I had to try to get a hold of my emotions since we don't have time to spar before Oberon comes. If you had touched me, I would have had yours to cope with too. I did it, though.” She smiled triumphantly at them and held out her hands.

 

They pulled her hands, standing in the process, wrapping her in a hug, when the second visitor of the morning interrupted them, “Well, Bekka, my dear, it seems you've mastered earth if you can call on it after Loki visits.” Oberon was dressed soberly and had small smile on his face when the three looked over at him. “I'll be in the living room,” he stated, turning and leaving the room.

 

The three put on clothing and joined Oberon in the living room. He had again created his own chair and added one to the table. Kurama had never actually gotten around to getting a third chair at the table, making the beginning of meals almost a game to see who would sit where and with whom. They hesitated in the door way.

 

“I need you three to focus, we have much to discuss and it's important. Please, have a seat.” Oberon waited until they had settled themselves before he continued. “As I have said before, Kurama, you are an excellent teacher. Bekka has made remarkable progress, much faster than I anticipated. That being said, I do need to explain a couple of things.”

 

He took a deep breath, “Bekka, there is a reason you had to be in the Makai to train. Did you know that?” She shook her head, listening intently, never having received an explanation for anything the gods had done to her before. “My dear, had you grandmother lived longer, she would have told you more about the elements. In the Ningenkai, it is not possible to learn to use the elements as you have here. Here, their powers are amplified, as are yours. Also, you instinctive reactions would not have the same effect in the Ningenkai. Here, your instincts are generally correct, but there, you instincts would be muddled. Do you know why that is, Bekka?”

 

Bekka chewed her lip a moment before answering, “Because in the Ningenkai the elements aren't as separated?”

 

Oberon smiled, pleased with her answer, “Yes, dear, that is correct. By learning the elements here, where they are separate, you had a chance to learn the quality of each one. Learning the last one will enable you to use your powers in the Ningenkai. You will have to learn new instincts to work with it, though. But, I know that you are more than able for this task.”

 

“If she needs to use her powers in the Ningenkai, why did you have her learn here where her instincts would be reinforced?” Kurama asked, beginning to feel uneasy.

 

“Because learning to control void will correct her instincts. It was safer for her to learn here. She needed to go off her instincts. Continue training her and her instincts will become refined to void and she will be able to work in the Ningenkai without problem.”

 

“Safer?” Kurama repeated, failing to see how being a ningen in the Makai could be considered safer than anything in the Ningenkai.

 

“Yes, safer. The minor accidents she's had during training would have been disastrous had they occurred in the Ningenkai. Her instinctive reactions would have worsened the problem. Also, her exhaustion would have been much worse, had it occurred in the Ningenkai, taking weeks to recover, rather than days.”

 

Bekka spoke up, “Oberon, why couldn't I make medicine here? I don't understand.”

 

Oberon looked at the girl a moment, considering her. “Plants gather the energy of the world around them, which is why they have elemental associations. But, since the elements are different here than your body is adapted to, the concentration process of preparing medicines would throw off the balance needed for healing and make you sick instead.”

 

Bekka thought a moment, “Oh, I see.” She still appeared to be thinking and Oberon waited. “You said that if my oma had lived, she would have told me more about the elements. What do you mean? What would she have told me?”

 

Oberon looked at the girl tenderly for a moment, “She would have told you how the elements are learned in the Ningenkai. She would have taught you to use the elements in a less physical manifestation. She would have taught you that to reach the void it would be necessary to astral project because most people find it impossible to work with it on the physical plane. This would have made your training more difficult. She taught you what you needed to know, however.” He smiled a little, “She loves you still, you know, and is proud of you.”

 

Bekka looked startled at this comment and then smiled softly.

 

Oberon returned her smile and then sobered, “Now, my dear, you begin the most difficult and dangerous phase of your training. While it is safer and easier to learn here, that does not mean it will be safe or easy. You have learned to control your reactions, you'll need to keep that up.” He turned to face Kurama, “She will be learning to manipulate the fabric of life itself. Watch her carefully, though we can prevent some things, we cannot prevent everything.”

 

“What do you mean by that?” Kurama asked, not liking the sound of this.

 

“We can keep her from dieing, but, beyond that, we are very limited. Watch her, you will know when you need to step in.” He turned to face Kuronue, “You, too, have a role to play, Kuronue. Learn everything you can from them both, you will need it.”

 

“Oberon,” Bekka spoke up quietly, “why are you telling us this? Why do I get an explanation now?”

 

Oberon's expression softened, “Because, my dear, now the stakes are higher. Now, your trials will be harder for you, but we will try to offer you compensation equal to your suffering. You have been happy here, for the most part. I wish for that to continue, so you need to be warned so that you don't cause yourself harm unwittingly.” He regarded her a minute longer, “Do you know what color the void is, Bekka?”

 

Bekka frowned, “It's unknown, unknowable.”

 

Oberon nodded, “Yes, but what color is it?”

 

Bekka thought about this a moment, chewing on her lip, “Well, akasha means sparkling, so I guess white?”

 

“What is white?” Oberon pressed.

 

“White is all colors reflected,” she answered, uncertain if that was what his question really was.

 

“And akasha is what?” Oberon continued questioning.

 

“All elements combined.” Bekka was becoming worried that she was missing something.

 

“Why would akasha be white if it absorbs all elements?” Oberon finished.

 

“So, it's black?” Bekka was incredulous.

 

“Why do you say that?” Oberon asked lightly.

 

“Black is all colors absorbed. Or is it like a rainbow? Can black sparkle?” Her lip found its way between her teeth again.

 

“Does the night sky sparkle, Bekka?” She nodded. “Then so does black. Though it is not really black, but rather like the brown Kurama saw earlier.”

 

“Brown?”

 

“Red and green fighting for dominance. They did not truly blend, but from a distance appeared brown.”

 

“So, the elements don't actually blend, but come together in concert?”

 

Oberon smiled, “Yes, dear, in concert, and you must learn to conduct them effectively together. Subtlety is going to be needed, as well as patience. Trust your instincts, but damp down on them.” He rose from his chair, “Come, I will show you, Bekka.” He walked into the dojo.

 

Bekka rose, exchanging bemused looks with the two demons, who also rose and all three followed Oberon to the practice room. “Come here, my dear,” the god said from the center of the room. Bekka moved to obey, remaining silent. “Hold out your hand and call fire, but don't let it appear.” Kurama could see the red aura appear in her hand as Oberon continued to instruct the girl, “Now, add air.” Yellow creeped in, banding the red, making it appear orange. “Good girl, now add water.” Bekka frowned in concentration, and blue began to show, making the orange appear brown. “Excellent, my dear. Now add earth, slowly.” Bekka's tongue came to rest between here teeth as green edged its way into the aural ball in her hand. Gradually, the swirling colors appeared black to Kurama and he stepped closer, to better observe. He could see the bands of color twisting together, and it did seem to sparkle in her hand. He could also see that Bekka was beginning to loose control. Oberon saw this as well, “Draw out each element in turn, my dear. Remove earth.” Bekka began to pant as she pulled back the green, and then the blue and yellow in turn. She lost control over her powers, however, trying to pull back on the red and several fires sprung up around the dojo. The girl collapsed, Kurama catching her before she hit the floor. “She did remarkably well,” Oberon commented.

 

To Kuronue, it just looked as if the girl had stood there with her hand stretched out, doing nothing, but when the fires manifest themselves, he knew she had been working hard to follow Oberon's instructions. “What good is mastering something that doesn't show up?” he asked as he moved to put out the worst of the fires.

 

Oberon chuckled, “When she masters it, she will be able to do almost anything she thinks she can, even vanish if she wants to.” He turned to Kurama, “She will be exhausted after several sessions like that. It is going to take her much longer to build up the endurance needed to control void. Until she can do that exercise without loosing control, don't do it more than once a week. Don't let her try anything else with void until she masters calling it. I must take my leave now.” With that, he vanished, taking his chairs with him.

 

Bekka muttered, “Anything I think I can? That should be fun,” her voice trailed off as she drifted to sleep.

 

Bekka felt as if she were drifting, not really awake or asleep. She was aware of Kurama and Kuronue in the room, watching her, waiting, but she just couldn't get herself to wake up fully, yet. The two demons had been talking, but they had stopped, almost as if they knew she was approaching consciousness. Fighting against the lethargy that held her, she forced her eyes open. That effort was almost too much. `Why doesn't my body cooperate with me?' She struggled to smile at Kurama, who was bending over her. With more effort, she managed, “G'mornin'.”

 

“More like `good afternoon,' sleepy head,” he countered.

 

“Yeah, that too,” she agreed, seeing if she could get her body to cooperate enough to sit up.

 

Kurama was torn between amusement and concern at her struggles. “How do you feel?” he asked.

 

Giving up with a sigh, “Like my body's not gonna move without help. I'm still tired, too.”

 

“Why are you awake, then?” Kurama asked in an irritated voice, though Bekka could feel his anxiety as he moved to sit her against his chest.

 

She attempted a shrug, “Dunno. Just woke up, I guess.”

 

“You've only been asleep a couple of hours,” Kurama informed her as Kuronue returned to the room after having left to get some fruit for the girl.

 

“What were you talking about before I woke up?” she asked, thinking that might give her a clue as to why she'd woken up.

 

“Oberon's visit,” he answered succinctly.

 

Rolling her eyes, Bekka looked at Kuronue, “What were you talking about before I woke up?”

 

“What does it mean that you'll be able to manipulate the fabric of life itself?” he asked. They both seemed anxious about this.

 

“I don't know exactly, only that controlling the void allows the witch to do miracles, after a sort. I guess that's what it means.” She again attempted to shrug, coming a little closer this time.

 

Kuronue continued asking questions, “What does it mean you'll be able to vanish? Are you going to change into a kitsune or something?”

 

Bekka laughed, “Change? Why would I want to be like this one?” she tipped her head back slightly. “Why would being able to vanish make me a kitsune?” she asked.

 

Kurama answered, suppressing a desire to pinch the girl, “Because many kitsune have the ability to create illusory realities to suit their whim.”

 

Bekka thought about this, “Well, I guess I'll be able to create illusions, but I think I'll still be human.” She frowned, pulling her lip between her teeth, “Oberon said I'd be able to do whatever I thought I could, when I mastered it. I don't really know what that means, though.” She fell silent, gnawing on her lip and staring at the bed.

 

Kurama and Kuronue exchanged a glance over the girl's head. Kurama pulled her lip out from between her teeth and Kuronue slipped a piece of fruit in when she gasped in surprise. “This is more filling than your lip and saves it for us,” Kuronue quipped when she glared at him.

 

Kurama leaned to whisper in her ear, “Eat, then you need more sleep.” When she turned to glare at him, he kissed her lightly, laughing when she rolled her eyes at him. Having long since learned it was pointless to argue with them, especially when they ganged up on her, Bekka submitted and allowed herself to be fed. Before long, she began yawning and drifting off to sleep. Kurama gently laid her back onto the bed, snuggling her to his chest. Kuronue returned to bowl to the kitchen and slid in bed behind Kurama, holding them both.

 

Time flowed, as is its habit. Kuronue continued to learn from Bekka and Kurama, though none of them knew what larger role he had to play. After a particularly rough training session, Bekka asked him if he regretted wanting to join them. “Not in the least,” he replied.

 

“Then I'm not working you hard enough,” she shot back, smiling.

 

It was several months before Bekka managed to summon void without loosing control or needing to go to bed immediately afterwards. There were several times she became frustrated with what she perceived as a lack of progress, but Kurama and Kuronue would remind her of Oberon's comments and her own accomplishments. When that failed, they'd distract her.

 

At last came the day Bekka managed to summon all the elements and release them without loosing control and without being on the verge of collapsing immediately afterwards. Smirking in triumph, she stated, “Well, I guess now that if I don't want you to see me, then you can't see me.” Kurama gave her a strange look. “What? Did I grow a new head or something?” she asked.

 

“No,” he said, unsure exactly of what he saw. “Say that last part again.”

 

“What? The `you can't see me' part?” she asked, confused.

 

“Again,” he commanded, seeing it again, or rather, not seeing it. She seemed to fade from sight as she spoke.

 

“You can't see me?”

 

He wasn't imagining it. The girl was fading from sight. “Keep saying it.”

 

Bekka rolled her eyes, not understanding why he was having her repeat such nonsense, but complied. She started chanting, almost, sing song “you can't see me” over and over, waiting for him to tell her to stop. Getting bored, she started to wander in circles when she noticed he wasn't following her or telling her to behave. She began to have an inkling of why he was making her continue saying the phrase. Wanting to test her theory, she walked behind him. He did not turn to follow her. In fact, he was still looking in about the same place she'd been standing when he told her to start repeating the phrase. Feeling a bit mischievous, she reached out and touched his back. She found that she was unable to let go, however and stopped talking in surprise. When her chant stopped, she was able to remove her hand.

 

“What did you do?” Kurama demanded, turning to face her. He had just felt as though his strength had been drained and returned to him.

 

“I just touched you. I didn't know it would do anything. I didn't know why you had me repeating that nonsense. I didn't know anything would happen. I'm sorry,” she spluttered.

 

“You both vanished,” Kuronue spoke up from the doorway.

 

“What?” the two asked in unison.

 

“Just a bit, but I guess when she touched you, you both vanished. I couldn't see you,” Kuronue answered, concerned that Kurama looked as if he felt ill.

 

“Vanished?” Bekka asked.

 

“When you said `You can't see me,' you faded from sight. That's why I had you keep saying it. I wanted to see what would happen,” Kurama explained, some sense of balance being restored in his mind. “When you touched me, I guess your power spread and caused the same to happen to me.” He shook his head and continued, “It felt like you were forcibly repressing my ki.” He pulled a wry face, “It felt like you had put a ward on me.”

 

Bekka looked distressed and began chewing her lip again. She was about to say something when the world around her buckled. She gasped, her eyes rolling back into her head, and began to fall. Kurama caught the girl before she hit the ground, scooping her up into his arms.

 

The next several weeks were spent building up Bekka's endurance and exploring different aspects of what void allowed her to accomplish. Fatigue would set in at odd times, sometimes delayed by over an hour; sometimes they would not get through an exercise. Gradually, however, there were times she did not collapse at all. These times became more frequent and eventually, the overwhelming exhaustion disappeared completely.

 

Kurama and Kuronue returned one night to find Bekka pacing anxiously in the living room. She looked up at them when the entered. “It's almost over,” she whispered.

 

“You're right, Absinthe, it is almost over. Provided you can win the game,” a snide voice spoke out.