Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Fine Line ❯ Chapter 1

Disclaimer: Yu Yu Hakusho belongs to Yoshihiro Togashi.

Warnings: Spoilers for (mainly) episodes seventy-three and seventy-four. Contains some spoilers for the remainder of the Sensui Saga.

--Fine Line--

"We will kill all the people. Seven of us will dig the hole together."

The words echo in Kido's head as he feels the sharp stab of pain blossoming in his back. It explodes within him like a firework, bursting through every nerve ending that twists and runs throughout his body. As quickly as it began, it is gone. He drops to the floor, unable to move. Distantly, he feels the pounding pressure on his chest and chin as he collides with the solid tiles.

He can still hear. He can still see. There is a scream from behind him, and he watches as the pretty young nurse falls into his field of vision. Ms. Takai. A deep slit across her chest is spilling blood onto the white of her uniform, staining it. He knows it won't matter much to her though. There is a blank look, apparent in the soft brown eyes, behind the glasses; she is dead before she hits the ground.

Now, beside him, kneels the doctor who did this to him. One of the seven. Kido struggles to move, to defend himself, but his body is unresponsive. The doctor, Kamiya, tells him as much.

"I have paralyzed the part of your brain that controls muscle movement."

He is helpless to do anything as the doctor reaches out to his wrist. The fingers become sharp, like blades, severing his skin on impact. He feels the blood draining from his body, spreading around his arm in a pool. This only renews his struggles; if he does not regain control of his body, he will die.

Movement from the corner of his eye distracts him. A new scream meets his ears and he wants to warn the nurse to run, to escape quickly while she still can. He cannot speak. Perhaps she is lucky as Kamiya spares her. Some story about a murderer disguising himself as a doctor. How true that is. But the murderer is here beside him, and is still a threat.

Blood continues to spill from his body, leaking through the torn veins and capillaries. There are people hovering around him, but he does not see the one who truly matters. Urameshi is nowhere in sight.

Then… there. A familiar figure drops beside him. Kido would let out a sigh of relief if he were capable. Even though the spirit detective is here, he cannot speak to warn him about the danger. The words will not force themselves past his clenched teeth to tell Yusuke the killer is still in the room.

Panic encompasses him as Yusuke begins to stand. He doesn't stop to think; he only does the first thing that comes naturally to him. Kido expands his territory, encompassing the other boy within it. Now, neither of them can move.

`I have to warn him,' the blonde boy thinks as he concentrates his power. Slowly, so slowly, his arm begins to move. Not the arm of flesh and blood, but rather the black mass that makes up his shadow. He ignores the nameless doctor who tries to reach for him and is trapped within the small territory. His strength is diminishing. The blood flows faster now, but it only resolves his will.

It takes all his effort to form the few cursive slopes that make up the characters to Kamiya's name. No sooner is the task completed, than he loses consciousness.

* * *

His eyes drift open. His first instinct is to curl into a ball for warmth. When his body does not respond, the current situation is remembered. Drowsily, he takes in the sight around him. There are at least four doctors sprawled across from him. They are dead.

In the distance, he can make out the sounds of shouting. The battle must still be going on. If they are still fighting, then there is still hope.

No longer can he feel the blood escaping him. No longer can he feel much of anything.

Time passes. He is tired, so very tired, but does not succumb to the temptation of sleep. He knows that to sleep means to die. He does not want to die, not yet.

Around him, pressing down like a weight, is Kamiya's territory. What could drive a person to slaughter a whole hospital filled with innocents and invalids, he wonders. What could drive a person to want to slaughter the whole human race?

The room shakes and the lights above him explode. Glass fragments flutter around his body, and on those of the corpses near him.

`Pretty…' he thinks fuzzily.

There is more shouting. His thoughts turn to Yana and Murota. He wonders how much time has passed, and if they are still alive. Yana, he knows, is strong. Murota he is not so sure about. Is it possible for the man to survive from both the head trauma and the virus? He knows that the only chance any of them have for survival lies within Urameshi's hands.

From far away, there is the sound of breaking glass. A few moments later, the oppressive weight is lifted.

Once again, Kido loses consciousness.

* * *

"I need a doctor! There's someone alive in here! Hurry!"

The familiar voice pulls him from the comforting arms of nothingness. He cannot focus his eyes, but he knows that Kaito is near-by. A hand is pressed against his wrist, most likely trying to hold close his wound.

`It's no use,' he thinks, closing his eyes. `You're too late.'

Strong arms shake him, keeping him from darkness he desires. His eyes open, albeit sluggishly. A voice is screaming into his ear, telling him to stay awake, telling him that he'll be fine, telling him that Yusuke won. That is all he needs to hear.

The sights and sounds and feel of the world dim around him.

From far away, he has the sense of weightlessness. From far away, he can hear voices. From far away, he can feel something being pressed against his face. From far away, he can make out the light, though non-descript, blobs that are people.

From far away comes the steady whir of an alarm.

Iiiiii-

Iiiiiiiiiiiiiii-

Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii-

It is the last thing he hears.

* * *

Cold. He is so cold.

Kido tries to remember where he is and why he is. Nothing comes to mind. He wonders if he is in his bed, dreaming. Perhaps he left the window open and the late night breeze has brought down the temperature in his room. He tries to wake himself but can't quite seem to do it. This is nothing new; he never has been good at pulling himself from the depths of his dreams.

All at once, the nothing around him fades away to everything. He is standing in the forest, looking up at the temple stairs. `So I am dreaming,' he thinks, beginning to climb the impressive tower before him. `Master Genkai has worked me so hard that I'm training in my sleep. I'll have to tell Kaito and Yana about this one.'

The further up he climbs the more his legs ache. This does not discourage him. After all, it is a dream so the possibility of him getting too tired to continue are slim to none. It is a very realistic dream, and he lets himself hope that training here will actually strengthen his body in real life. Stranger things have happened, he is sure.

Finally: the top. He stops at the arched entrance and surveys the familiar practice grounds. No one is there. Still not discouraged, he presses onwards. A quick walk through the temple buildings tells him no one is inside. Where could Master Genkai be?

As he turns to go back through the paper doors, he hears a deep laugh. It does not seem to come from any particular direction, but all directions at once. A deep, distinctively male voice echoes throughout the surroundings.

"Everyone. We're going to kill everyone. You, your family, your friends, your neighbors, the people you buy bread from. By the time we are through, there will be no one left."

Kido whirls, trying to find the source of the voice. There is no one. He opens the doors with the intent of retreating to the temple shrine, but instead the door bares the way to the roof. He steps out and it slams closed behind him.

Around him, the woods are gone. The hills are in flames and an unpleasant smell wafts from anywhere and everywhere. Burning, but not burning wood. It goes beyond that. It is vile. He covers his nose with both hands but even that cannot block out the smell.

What could produce such a horrible stench? He studies the inferno. It is not trees that are ignited in the blaze.

Bodies. Hundreds of thousands of bodies.

He recoils, nearly losing his balance. By throwing out his arms, he manages to steady himself before tumbling over the edge of the roof. His feet find the safety of the ridged panels, but not before he glances down.

Below him, piled on the walkway around the temple buildings, are bone fragments. Skulls, ribs, hips, other bones he could not even want to begin to place. Feasting on the flesh that still remains are bug like creatures, the size of small cars.

He raises his hands from his nose to his eyes, as though to block out the images that surround him. It is too late; even as he closes his eyes, the scene still looms in front of him. It is engraved in his memory for all eternity.

"You see? This is what awaits your world. When our task is complete, there will be nothing left. This is what you will wake up to."

His eyes snap open and the illusion shatters. All that remains around him is darkness.

Tentatively, he sniffs the air. It is clouded by the oxygen mask he wears. There is no scent of charred corpses, only the faint smells of antiseptic and cleaners. His heartbeat subsides to normal.

The first thing he notices is the pounding ache that encompasses his body. He is sore everywhere. The cold that was a constant in his dream remains. His eyelids seem to weigh a hundred pounds. Eyes, now half-mast, stare down at his arms where tubes are protruding from his skin.

Confused, Kido attempts to sit up. His larger limbs are unresponsive but he manages to crane his neck slightly. Opposite of him is a monitor, showing an alternating green line. He watches it with fascination.

`My heartbeat,' he thinks. Flanking the pulsating line are numbers, changing ever so slightly. They seem low to him.

He realizes that he is still very tired and that his eyes will not stay open much longer. Despite the possible nightmares that await him, he closes his eyes and drifts off to sleep.

* * *

"How is he?"

"It's hard to say. He seems stable enough right now, but he lost a large amount of blood."

"He's lucky he's even alive. He's the only one who made it through the massacre."

"Yes. We lost at least seven members of staff and there were a number of suspicious civilian deaths."

"This boy is our key witness." The sound of paper rustling. "Give me a call when he comes around. We'll need him for questioning." Footsteps.

Kido frowns and drops his pretense of sleep. His eyes slit open and he looks at the ceiling.

He stays that way for hours.

* * *

He is unsure of how long he has been in the hospital bed. It is all a blur of consciousness and unconsciousness, moments of clarity and moments of confusion, sounds and silence.

It is night. The room is dark and quiet, save for the labored sounds of his breathing and the rustle of the bed sheets as his chest moves. The heart monitor gives off steady beeps, and he knows that, at least for now, he is safe.

Or so he thinks.

From outside, there is the sound of an explosion. It's distance is indeterminable and the sound echoes and re-echoes. Several seconds after, the room around him shakes. He is jolted around his bed, and a fiery agony spreads through his body. He grits his teeth and the steady rising whirl of the heart monitor drowns out the screams around him.

Someone runs in the room and rushes to his side. Everything he sees, he sees through a haze of red-hot pain. There is a slight stabbing sensation in his arm, and then there is nothing.

* * *

When he comes around, the sun is reflecting off the monitor. It is quiet once again.

"Kido Asato?" a voice beside him questions. He rolls his head towards it and blinks. He cannot manage much else.

It is an older man, dressed in the white coat and pants of a doctor. He is holding a clipboard and he smiles when Kido responds.

"I'm doctor Basho. How are you feeling?"

The blonde swallows thickly and manages to force out a few words. His voice is hoarse from lack of use. "Felt better."

Doctor Basho nods. "It's understandable. You've been through quite a lot these last few days." The doctor grabs a near-by chair and sits. "You were attacked by a mad man, I'm afraid. Your left wrist was slit and you lost a substantial amount of blood. The first few days were a bit of a touch and go. At one point, you went into cardiac arrest. However, you seem to be quite the fighter. You underwent a transfusion but it will be sometime before you fully recover your strength. In time, you'll make a full recovery."

He struggles to absorb the information. His heart failed… he died. He shivers.

The doctor gives his hand a brief squeeze. "This must be quite a lot to take in. As soon as you're up to it, the police would like you to give a statement. In the mean time, rest. We'll take care of you."

He does not want to rest. He wants to get out of the room, get out of the building with its medicinal smell. He wants to walk, he wants to run, he wants to escape.

But he can't.

* * *

The oxygen mask is gone. Doctor Basho explains to him that it was to aid his breathing since all his muscles seemed to be having trouble responding. It was not so bad that he had to go on a breathing machine, but certain precautions were necessary. The doctor says that they are still not sure about his temporary paralysis and what exactly caused it. The best guess they have is that his body simply began to shut down from the loss of blood. He knows better.

Though he still hurts and still struggles to stay awake, he agrees to speak to a police detective. He knows he will have to feign ignorance, but this is of no consequence to him. He is more concerned with just how many people in Kamiya's territory were not as lucky as him. More so, he is worried about his friends. Any doctor he sees will not tell him much. All they say is that the city has experienced some odd events in the last few days; gas mains erupting and causing massive explosions. He is hopeful he may be able to get something more from a detective.

The detective arrives and questions him. Kido tells him the half-truth, that he was attacked by Kamiya and left for dead. He explains that he saw a nurse die at the hands of the renegade doctor but was unable to help her. When the detective asks what the man used as a weapon, he replies that it was a scalpel.

"Do you have any idea why this man would attack you?" the detective asks.

"I was in the wrong place at the wrong time," Kido responds flatly. This, at least, is true.

"What was your business in the hospital?"

"A friend suffered a head injury. I came here with him and we were separated. I was looking for him and attacked in the process." The lies come easy. "Can you find out if he's alright? I'm worried that he could have fallen victim as well."

"Of course," the detective answers. He wants to finish his questioning first, however.

Kido feigns ignorance. "Why would this man attack me?"

The detective sighs and rubs the bridge of his nose. "The man is clearly insane. When questioned, he went on about the destruction of the human race. We think he wanted to die as well, and his actions were supposed to end with him being gunned down or something to that effect. He was suicidal and homicidal, the worst combination."

They return to the questioning and he answers as best as he can. He is getting tired and his eyelids are lowering on their own accord. The detective notices and stands.

"Thank you for your help, Mister Kido. I'll ask one of the desk nurses about your friend and have her stop by later. What was his name?"

"Murota," he murmurs, drifting off.

* * *

When he next wakes, a familiar face is gazing down at him.

"You pulled through after all. I'm glad." The glare from the overhead lights causes a reflection on the glasses, and the eyes behind them are not visible.

"Kaito," he says with a small, relieved, smile. "What happened? What's going on?"

Kaito makes himself comfortable on the plastic chair that still sits beside his bed. "Sensui has been defeated. The door has been closed."

Kido's eyebrows draw together in puzzlement. "Sensui?" he questions.

"Ah, that's right. You missed out on a lot." He feels a sudden pang in his chest. A lot of help he has turned out to be. "He was the man behind it all. He commanded the seven."

He struggles to sit up and can only manage a slight flopping upwards. Kaito patiently stands and helps him prop himself upright with a pillow. The pain is not so bad now. "Is everyone okay?"

"Except for some minor cuts and scratches, everyone is fine."

Kaito begins to fill him in on the events of the past week. He begins with the hospital.

"We arrived after the fight was over. Yana had been seriously injured, but Botan healed him." He feels another pang, this time one of anger. Why didn't they heal him? Why did they abandon him here? Kaito pauses and he realizes some of his distress must have shown on his face. "Everyone was distracted. I know that's no excuse, and I'm sorry." To his credit, Kaito looks upset. "It was… hectic. I tried to get to you as fast as I could, but by the time I reached you, you had lost a lot of blood." The older boy raises a hand to his forehead and rubs it. "They told me your heart stopped…"

Kido does not want to think about it. He turns his head away and there are a few minutes of silence. At last, Kaito continues.

"I found out that ten people died from the virus. I haven't told Yusuke. I don't think that he can handle it." Kaito sighs. "We were all lucky, that day."

"What else happened?" Kido urges, not wanting to discuss it anymore.

Kaito clears his throat. "One of the seven joined our side, after Kuwabara defeated him. Seaman. But two others followed him to Yusuke's apartment. There was a fight and the result was the destruction of the building. In the confusion, Kuwabara was kidnapped and both Shizuru and Botan were injured." Here, he stopped and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "It turns out they needed Kuwabara to complete their plans. His spiritual energy comes in the form of a sword, and he was the only one capable of destroying the barrier between dimensions."

He tries to follow the best he can. He listens raptly as Kaito tells him how they fought the Game Master. He can't fight back a small smile as he realizes just how badly Kaito's ego was bruised as a result of losing to a child. He is amazed at the turn of events and the story of how Yusuke defeated Sensui. Again, he feels self-loathing at the fact he did not help in the slightest.

Perhaps Kaito knows what he is feeling as he lays a hand on his shoulder in a comforting gesture. "They were much too strong for all of us. You, Yana and I wouldn't have stood a chance against them. Minamino and his friends are in a class all their own. Yusuke… Yusuke is an amazing man. There's no shame in what happened."

"I didn't help at all. All I managed to do was to get laid up in here." He stares up at the ceiling, so as not to see Kaito's look of pity. "I was useless. At least you two managed to assist them, if only slightly."

"No one thinks bad of you. It wasn't your fault."

He disagrees. He should have been more cautious; he should have been on guard. He should have been able to do more to help.

"I don't understand it," he says with a sigh. "If I was given these powers, why couldn't I use them to help? Was there no purpose in them?"

Kaito shrugs. "Why did any of us get them? Who's to say? Without you we may not have found Doctor until it was too late. Who knows whom he could have killed." The corner of his mouth lifts. "You took a hit for the whole team and we may all be alive because of it."

Kido returns the smile. "Maybe." Inside, he still doubts. He allows himself the small comfort of believing, if only for a few moments.

A nurse peeks into the room and addresses Kaito. "Only a few more minutes, please."

The older boy nods in her direction then turns his attention back to Kido. He stands and gives the blondes shoulder one last squeeze. "Get well soon, my friend."

Once the other boy leaves, the nurse sticks her head back in, giving him a friendly smile.

"I was told you were wondering about a friend of yours that was here?"

He is able to return the smile, for it is made out of genuine relief. "Yes, but I have just been informed of his condition."

The nurse nods once in response, and leaves.

He is once again left alone with his thoughts.

* * *

"Small steps," Basho coaxes.

It takes effort, but he manages. Gripping his IV stand with one arm and struggling for balance with the other, he shuffles across the cold floor. He makes it to the window, then starts back. After what seems like forever, he collapses onto his hospital bed.

"Very good," the doctor says with a nod. He makes a small note on his clipboard. "As soon as you get used to being up and about, we'll be able to discharge you to your legal guardian. Most likely you will get tired easily for the next few weeks, but rest assured it will get better with time."

He tries to smile, as he knows it is expected of him. Inside, he feels his stomach give a savage twist. Legal guardian? He'll be stuck in here forever then. He pretends to be tired (not so much as pretends, as emphasizes) and Basho leaves him to his own devices.

He shifts on his bed, unable to get comfortable. The uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach will not go away. To distract himself, he watches the fluids drip through his IV and down the tube into his arm. He is amazed that at the moment, he is almost dependent on this fluid. It is giving him strength, nutrients, and nursing his health. Without it, what would he do?

So frail…

Fingers twitch and he realizes his hand is resting on the needle imbedded into his skin. He could pull it out and fend for himself. He could prove that he is strong, that he can handle himself. He could remove it and escape the hospital, using his shadow as strength to guide him to the ground floor. But then what?

Slowly, his fingers relax and he lies back. A nurse would just catch him anyway. He is too weak to resist any struggle. He is weak and helpless.

He feels something moist by his temple. He raises his unhindered arm and touches the skin. When he draws his fingers away, they are wet with his tears.

`I'm crying,' he thinks, staring at the liquid. `Why am I crying? Am I truly that weak?'

He is crying because he is weak. Because he is a burden to his friends. Because there is nothing left but emptiness.

Still, something deep inside him tugs and he feels his resolution build. He cannot quit, because it is not in his nature. He has faced death and come out alive, and even if his skills as a fighter are useless, he is still breathing and capable of continuing to fight on.

And he will.

* * *

The IV is gone, and he is ready to leave. Only there is nowhere to go home to.

He lies in the hospital bed, wondering how long they'll let him remain. When no one comes to claim him, will they simply toss him out on the street and let him fend for himself?

Basho enters, wearing a sunny smile. He wishes he could smile so freely; there is nothing worth smiling about though.

"Look whose here to see you."

Behind the doctor, two figures step into view. The taller one gives a half wave and the shorter one just looks on, taking in the room.

Kido's eyes widen. "Master Genkai!"

The short woman nods to him, then turns to the doctor. "How soon can he leave?"

"As soon as you sign the discharge papers, ma'am," Basho replies. "If you'll follow me to the front desk. In the meantime, Mister Kido, I believe your friend has brought you some of your clothes." The doctor and woman exit the room, leaving the boys to their own devices.

Kaito approaches, carrying a paper bag. He holds it out, looking apologetic. "Your other clothes were damaged beyond repair. I found some of your extras at the temple. I hope they're too your liking… they all look the same to me."

Kido takes the bag and clutches it tightly. He stares at Kaito, feeling the back of his throat beginning to burn. The older boy must sense something and shifts, seemingly uncomfortable.

"I thought you weren't going to come back," the blonde manages to explain, shifting his eyes back to the bag in his lap. "I thought I'd just be left here, like last time." He hears Kaito sigh. "It's alright though," he continues. "I may not be worth coming back for, but I won't just give up either. I'm going to train harder and master these skills I have. I may never be able to reach Yusuke's level but I want to be able to hold my own." He looks up.

Kaito is frowning. Before he can say anything, Genkai re-enters the room. Her eyes narrow as she looks at Kido.

"Why aren't you dressed yet? Are you going to keep me waiting, after I take the time to come down here to get you? Hurry up before I walk out those doors," she barks. Kido hastily complies as she turns her back, giving him his privacy. Kaito stares at the ceiling.

When he is done, he rises from the bed without the others' aid. He feels good to be in his old clothes again. Somehow, the black and white collared shirt is comforting. It is him.

As they begin their journey down the hall, Genkai turns to Kido and nods up at him. "I'm glad you're alright. No deranged lunatic can lay up a pupil of mine."

He feels the beginnings of a smile tug at the corners of his mouth. "Thank you, Master Genkai."

They leave the dreaded hospital far behind them, not looking back.

* * *

At the temple, life carries on like it always has. Aside from Yana's elated greeting at their reunion and the lessened workload, things are as they were.

Kido manages to pull Genkai aside and tell her about his dream. He did not tell Kaito or Yana about it, even though the urge was, at some points, strong.

She stares at him when he finishes, but remains silent. After a minute or so he becomes uncomfortable and begins to squirm. He wonders if breaking his silence was a mistake.

At last, the old woman speaks. "There is a fine line between life and death. That line acts like a barrier, keeping both sides to their designated areas. Perhaps in death, or as a result of it, you were able to cross that barrier and be aware on some subconscious level of what was happening. What you saw could have been the world if Sensui had prevailed." She shrugs her small shoulders. "Or maybe it was just good, old fashioned, ESP. I wouldn't worry too much about it. Things turned out all right, wouldn't you say?"

He does not know what to say. He says as much.

Genkai chuckles. "You are alive. That's one thing right."

He supposes it is.

* * *

Kido has become accustomed to the life he leads. As all good things do, it comes to an end.

Genkai escorts them to the nearest train station in Mushiori, and looks at them all in turn. She is more serious than usual, and Kido finds himself dreading what she is about to say. She has already discussed it with them, yes, but now it will be cemented and made a reality.

"You have all been excellent pupils," she begins. "But the time has come to move on. The threat has passed, for now, and it seems as though your newfound powers are no longer needed. They have been a great asset to our side in this past battle, but now that the fight is over it would be best for you all to cease using these powers. Lead normal lives, and put this behind you. Continue to train in the martial arts, so that you can become strong, but do not rely on these strange abilities you possess. Your territories are not only blessings, but also burdens. Go back to how you lived, and leave this in the past. That's all I can say. The rest is up to you. I wish you the best."

"Yes, Master Genkai," they chorus.

She nods. "Then it is done. Good-bye." The old woman turns, and walks away. She does not look back.

The three boys walk towards the raised train platform. They do not speak, as all are reflecting internally on what this will mean for them.

For Kido, he is filled with a sense of loss. His shadow manipulating ability has already become such a deep part of him. Yet, not using this power does not mean it is lost forever, no; it is merely dormant. In the meantime, he can train to be stronger physically. He can improve his fighting skills while at the same time claim ignorance to the existence of demons and spirits. Things can be normal.

The train comes and they board. There is a swish as the doors close and, with them, this chapter of their lives. Sitting opposite each other, Kido looks at his two companions. They return his gaze. All three pairs of eyes are reflecting the mixed feelings of loss, acceptance, and hope.

One by one, the boys smile.

--End--

November 9th - November 22nd

Author's Notes: Thanks go out to Maya, who took the time to give this a once over and help with the editing.