Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Falling Apart ❯ Home Again ( Chapter 6 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Kurama sank down on the soft grass and closed his eyes. He still hadn’t recovered his strength from the split. He sighed and glanced up. Hiei had leapt into one of the trees and was now silent, hidden somewhere above him.
Youko seemed content to remain standing as he surveyed the area. Kurama glanced at him, wondering what was going on in Youko’s mind. He had been quiet since leaving the tunnel.
“Youko? What will you do now?” Kurama asked softly.
Youko glanced down, his golden eyes giving nothing of his thoughts away. He crouched low and pressed his fingers to the ground.
“What do you mean?”
“Now that you are free of the human world,” Kurama clarified.
“Well, I have territories to return to. My place isn’t in the human world. I am a full-blooded demon. I can not stay there like this. Besides, that is your world. Makai is my home. You know that. Why do you ask?”
“No reason. I was just wondering. I suppose you’re going to disappear now.”
Youko met Kurama’s gaze knowingly as he said, “You can always stay here, you know. My territories are just as much yours as they are mine.”
“I’m not a full-blooded demon. I have a family.”
“They won’t last forever.”
“Neither will I, it seems.”
Youko reached out and pressed a large palm to Kurama’s cheek. He frowned as his fingers curled in the vibrant red hair.
“That is…not something I want to hear. Dying twice is not something I desire.”
“You are not me anymore,” Kurama reminded the Youko.
Youko glanced away. This was definitely going to take some getting used to. He growled low in his throat.
“Is something wrong?” Hiei asked, jumping down from a tree and landing beside Youko.
Youko looked down at Hiei, amusement shining in his eyes as he asked, “Why? Worried about me?”
“Of course he is. We’re like brothers,” Kurama said, joining in on Youko’s teasing.
“Baka kitsunes. It is getting late. Are you ready to return to your mother, Kurama?”
For a split second Kurama saw something flash in Youko’s eyes that might have been regret. He wanted to reach out to his other half but knew that Youko wouldn’t allow it. Youko quickly buried whatever he was feeling and gave Hiei a cocky grin.
“Eager to get rid of us, Hiei?”
Hiei sighed, turning away from the teasing. The world was not ready for two Kurama’s, especially not Hiei. He heard Youko chuckle behind him.
“Don’t worry. I’m not insulted. You’re right. It is getting late. Take…him to his home so that …his mother won’t have to worry any longer,’ Youko said before turning to walk away.
Kurama reached out and caught Youko’s arm. Youko paused and glanced down at him. Kurama sighed, releasing the muscular arm.
“Youko, you could always return with me.”
Youko grinned and replied, “Didn’t I just make you that offer? No, I can’t return with you. We each have our places, and mine is here.”
“It doesn’t feel right,” Kurama whispered.
Youko gently placed his hands on Kurama’s shoulders. Kurama glanced up into the golden eyes. Why did he feel so empty inside?
“Your mother needs you. You know as well as I do that a demon can’t live in human world. I would stand out, no?” Youko asked, squeezing Kurama’s shoulders slightly.
Kurama laughed softly. He could imagine people’s responses to Youko’s height, ears, and tail. They would be horrified.
“I guess you’re right. I’m sorry. If I had known that it would be like this I would not have used the dagger.”
“I know the fear that urged you to do so. You didn’t want to lose your mother. Being in this form you would have lost her. We both know that. Remember, your motives are my motives. We were one and the same. I know what you felt. There is no need to explain.”
“Thank you,” Kurama whispered and suddenly threw his arms around Youko’s chest.
Youko stiffened for a moment before wrapping his long arms around the half human boy. He held him for a moment before pushing Kurama away.
“You should go now,” he said and shifted into his full fox form.
Kurama watched the silver six tailed fox run disappear into the forest before facing Hiei. Seeing Kurama’s nod, Hiei uncovered his jagan and focused on forming a gateway between the two worlds.
“Things will work out,” Hiei assured his friend.
“I hope so because right no things feel pretty grim,” Kurama said and stepped through the gateway.
The darkness faded, and Kurama found himself standing in front of his house. Hiei was getting pretty good at directing the drop off’s. He glanced back but found himself alone on the street. Sighing, Kurama started up the walkway and pushed open the front door.
The house was strangely quiet. His mother’s car was parked in the driveway so he knew she had to be home. He closed the door quietly and walked further into the house, his senses on alert.
“Mother?” he checked the kitchen and living room but found both empty.
Kurama started up the stairs, his unease increasing. Something wasn’t right. There was something teasing his senses, a presence he couldn’t quite identify.
Suddenly Shiori stepped out of her bedroom and froze in the hallway, seeing Kurama. Tears filled her eyes as she lunged forward and wrapped her arms around Kurama, burying her face against his chest. He stumbled slightly, still feeling weak, but caught his balance and curled his arms around her.
“I’m sorry I worried you, Mother,” he whispered, closing his eyes as her tears dampened his shirt.
“Shuichi, don’t you ever scare me like that again!”
“I’ll try not to, Mother. That’s all I can promise.”
“I know.”
She stepped back and cupped his face in her hands. He smiled down at her reassuringly. God, he had missed her. If he had never been able to return….Kurama shook away that horrid, painful thought and drew her back into his embrace.
“I’m so glad you’re safe. When that…man said he was going to kill you I didn’t know what to do.”
“What do you remember, Mother?” Kurama asked softly.
“I was about to make dinner when he knocked on the door. I opened it and he grabbed me, saying that he had come for you and that he was going to kill you. I tried to yell for you to run but he injected me with something. That’s all I remember before waking up in your friend’s temple.”
Kurama nodded, relieved. His identity was saved this time, but what about next time? How many more times would his mother be the target of attacks because of him?
“I’m sorry this happened,” he whispered, releasing her.
“Not your fault. You never hurt anyone,” she said and brushed her hand across his cheek.
“You look tired. Go rest, and I’ll start dinner.”
“I can help…?”
“No, I want you to rest. We can talk later, if you want," she added as an after-thought, knowing how much her son valued his privacy.
"Sure, Mom."
He quietly pushed open his bedroom door and stepped inside. It's good to be home, he thought, collapsing on his bed and burying his face in his pillow. Now if he could just get rid of that nagging feeling telling him that something wasn't quite right.