Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Growing Up Again ❯ Tricky Agreement ( Chapter 3 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho. I do not own the Japanese language. I do not own Japan. I do not own most of the lyrics within this story; all original lyrics of my creation will be mentioned as such at the end of every chapter they are used. You get the idea right? You no sue me, I no do anything bad- end of story.

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Growing Up Again

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Chapter 3: Tricky Agreement

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Summary: What would you do, if you had a chance to improve everything you knew? What would you do? If anything could be made better by one of a million chances, would you take it? Would you try? Or, would you let it be someone else who alters everything?

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Warnings: language, violence, angst, sexual situations, crude humor, `references'

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Sheiji padded along the trail slowly, shifting her weight on the balls of her feet to avoid the jarring that caused so much pain. Any other time she wouldn't have traveled, but she had scented the male Kursa from before. It was someone she didn't want to meet again. True he had helped her, but there was something too unnatural about him. He spoke another tongue, thought thoughts she could hear, and had helped her without expecting anything in return. As far as she knew she was the only one to make such a mistake. Of course, in that same thought, maybe he was truly like her, so much like her that she despised him for reminding her how different she really was from her people. Brown eyes narrowed and she shook her head, shifting her makeshift bag gingerly across her shoulders and dismissing the male from her mind.

Instead she quickly shifted her mind to other things. She was still in sight of the river, steadily following it downstream. Gradually the water was growing faster, the river deepening, the surface breaking into white every time it grew even the slightest bit shallower. Sheiji had stared at such a place once for a hand of moments. Were the spirits telling her to turn back? The Kursa had heard stories from the men and even Urna that the spirits despised those who didn't belong. How the spirits hated People who went out alone. Sheiji remembered with a shudder even the time that one girl had been found from the village, her throat torn and blood poring along her chest. The spirits knew she didn't belong on her own, and had killed her.

Sheiji quickly decided that was not the thing to think about, and instead padded along faster.

The path she was on was worn, a sign of People. She knew that on her own, in the changing and unfamiliar lands, she could only last so long. But, she had managed to find some roots and berries that she recognized, and had eaten them after making a mash from them. The best place for food wasn't being carried, but in you. Even a child of the village knew such things. Kursa or no, Sheiji tightened her hand on her club and forced her eyes to scan the path, searching for stones for a spear. She had no weapon other than the club she had made, and since blood still dried along her skin despite her washing it, she had to protect herself. Blood was a sign of weakness, the spirits fed off of it, as well as sorcerers, or so the men said.

Brown eyes latched onto two black rocks. She recognized the stone, easy to work with and once baked in coals, and was as hard as the Stones of the Dark. Small, calloused hands closed around the rocks, and once again Sheiji thought longingly of her pouch. The girl would simply have to make another… She nodded in agreement with the idea and decided to rest, squatting beneath a large bush, eyeing the red sky. It would soon be Dark Time, and Sheiji went about gathering wood and starting a small fire. Then, careful so as not to further injure her hands, the Kursa began working the two dark colored rocks together, feeding the fire occasionally as the sky turned a dark crimson then purple, and eventually black.

Chips fell from one of the rocks; a rough outline of a spearhead slightly larger than her foot began to take shape. It would b heavier, more for a man than a Kursa, but Sheiji was determined to simply make a heavier shaft to support the stone. `No village, no men- I need stronger weapons.' Of course, according to the men among the People, women were cursed. Weapons would fall apart in their hands, the spirits deserting them. But as a Kursa, the spirits must have allowed the oddity, since the only weapon that had failed Sheiji was poorly made.

Sheiji ran her hand along the edge, pleased when a faint line of red appeared from a cut on her palm. She licked the cut, pressing the hand to her chest cloth and gently dropped the rock into the fire, pleased with herself. The other rock could wait until a similar one came along. Any other stone would break.

Brown eyes closed and the Kursa leaned forward, bringing her knees up and placing her chin on one, wrapping her arms around her. Her hair turned a deep, red, copper-like color in the firelight, her skin taking on nearly the same shade. Her nose twitched absent mindedly, testing the slight breeze that moved through the leaves and branches. The firelight played along the path.

Above her, standing downwind after some thought, red eyes watched her with a slightly puzzled expression. She had made it farther than he had thought she would, sticking with the river as it wound its way farther from the mountains. He wondered if she knew where she was going. Hiei narrowed his eyes; perhaps she was going to another Gantran village? If so it would be wiser to stay out of sight (and scent in her case) and follow her… He crossed his arms and shifted slightly on the tree branch, sitting down slowly. He was tempted to use his Jagan again, finding out for sure as to where she was going… Then thought better of it. The Jagan had formed a mental connection between them for some reason, a simple reminder it decided often what it wanted to do. He shook his head. No, probing her wouldn't get him anywhere. In fact, until he knew what the connection dealt with, it would be better not to test it.

`I could always take her to Ko-Enma, I suppose he would be the better suited for dealing with the savage…' Red eyes narrowed and he leaned against the tree, closing his eyes.

That's when he sensed it… Anger… The Jagan throbbed painfully, relaying something. Hiei started to open his eyes, trying to block out the pain, until the Jagan began burning slightly, throbbing constantly. Hiei reached for the bandana, untying it swiftly and clenching his teeth. It was instant.

His mental self stood in the dark, starring into a pair of coppery-red eyes and flickered with flames. His gut clenched. Not in fear, but in realization. She knew he was there. She had heard him. She didn't like either occurrence… `Why do you follow me?'

`Where are you going?' Hiei had to clench muscles and tense. Her voice was sharp and loud, since the Jagan wasn't probing or even really subduing her, she had complete control over all of her thoughts. True he could change that, and he paused for a moment to wonder if that would be the better thing. He knew to put his thoughts into words would leave them open for her to hear… but she couldn't read urges, instincts, and emotions.

`I'm seeking a new home.' No lies, no false leads, and no hiding her answer. He scoffed at the fact she was so bluntly honest and trusting with someone who she knew nothing about. Or did she know nothing? He had protected her, healed her, spoke with her, and caused no harm to her when she was most vulnerable… Perhaps she knew more than he realized.

`Where is it?'

`Where is what?'

`That Gantran village.'

`Gantran…?' She said the word as if it were completely foreign and strange.

Hiei hadn't thought of that. She didn't know about the Calalea and the Gantra. The legend wasn't anything to her. Hiei's mental self narrowed his eyes.

`I'm going to tell you something…If it sounds familiar, then say so I don't have to spend any more time. ' He hesitated… He should let Ko-Enma handle this. He should get her there and rinse his hands of the whole mess… But something told him it was his responsibility… and he wouldn't turn from it. His mental counter part swallowed then started speaking. The story of the Gantra and the Calalea drifted to her with his voice, the whole thing being easier than he had thought. He had never really disliked stories or anything, but most speech was pointless. This however, was anything but pointless… it was a part of the feeling he'd sensed a few days ago. It was nothing and something all at once. He pushed the thought away, focusing on the story…

Story, that's all it was to him. Just some far off tale someone else had created a long time ago. It didn't seem real… At least not until the anger melted from Sheiji's eyes, and she stood before him in his mind, brown eyes wide and attentive. He sensed something about spirits entering her mind several times, but ignored it. `Then, the last Calalean cursed the Gantrans. It was made so that the race would never make anything better for themselves, wouldn't evolve to anything more than…' He let it hang in the air.

`Savages…' Brown eyes closed… Hiei pressed with his Jagan, trying to sense what she was thinking and feeling, and he found it. A heavy sense of confusion was present. That was natural he decided. But the next emotion wasn't. Anger… Surely she wasn't mad at him. No… revenge… She wanted revenge… He silently asked himself, against who would she fight. She was Calalea in appearance, but Gantran by nature. She had been raised by the Gantran, but born either part or whole Calalea…

`I'm supposed to take you to someone who can help you. He wants to know about you and your…' Hiei let it hang.

`The People are smart. They protect themselves from spirits, stay in the Great Wake instead of Big Sleep. I'm not one of the true People but I know they are not savages! People are strong; the men smart in making weapons, choosing wives, and picking places for the village to move! The women know roots, berries, and leaves that help any sickness. Jura could make a sick baby grow to be big and strong. Urna was smart and sweet; she never did any wrong. She never angered any spirits or made her father beat her for doing bad! She would be my sister if I were one of the true People but she still treated me like an equal!' Sheiji's anger flared, her lips pulling back to bare canines in a snarl of anger. Hiei wasn't intimidated at all, which seemed to simply to infuriate Sheiji even more. To her he was making fun of her. That's when red eyes narrowed over her words.

`Why are you not a true person… one of the People?' He had to translate his thoughts into simplified forms for her to understand.

Sheiji looked taken aback, confused by the question. `I'm like you. Not a full spirit, not one of the People. The men won't lay with half People, and women won't claim half People as their children. When I was born I died, and the spirits took away half my soul. They made me less than one of the People. They made it where I am not a woman or woman-child, and not a man or a man-child. I am nothing, a shadow of a Person.' Despite the fact she was talking about something primal, foolish, and complete bullshit… he saw no flicker in her eyes. The brown orbs were steady, the snarl having dissipated mostly, though a slight twitch was still present in her upper lip. She believed it. To her it was simple law. Like… like death… Her being less than everyone around her was fact. Hiei could relate in some ways…

`Why… How am I a half person like you?' Again Sheiji was confused, and Hiei distinctly felt he was missing something that apparently was easy for her to tell.

In Hiei's Jagan eye, Sheiji eyed him… `You have more spirit than me… True People have dark skin, and dark eyes… and black hair… though not like yours… your skin is like mine. My hair is lighter than yours…so you're a truer person than I am…' Sheiji spoke the last sentence more to herself than to Hiei, and he felt coldness from her… His mind traced over her words, trying to get them to something he could focus on and comprehend. Her short babble, though in Japanese in his head, wasn't very well planned out. At last he understood though. She thought him higher than she was… Had more of a soul, was more alive and more like one of her people… He snorted.

`We are called Kursas… or Half-People.' He recognized `kursa' from before… She had called herself Sheiji the Kursa… Again he snorted. The whole thing was barbaric. She simply was different. She was from another race… no wonder she looked different. Surely the Gantra would have seen their brother-race, the Calalea in Sheiji's eyes, hair, and skin… he stopped.

The Calalea had died out 2,500 years ago or so… The oldest among Sheiji's people was probably an infant compared to that much time… The Gantra had probably had several cases like Sheiji's where there two races had mixed. They hadn't been able to identify the white people after their curse… so they'd have to come up with another reason for the different colors… To the People… The Gantra… It wasn't barbaric at all. It was simple fact like it was to Sheiji. He sighed heavily. `You never had any idea of what you are…'

`I am a Kursa…'

Hiei crossed his arms, thinking. Ko-enma needed a Gantra… Also, he needed evidence that the Calalea were still around… Sheiji handled both problems… But caused another. The fire-demon could easily picture walking Sheiji into the demi-god's office in her current state. She'd panic- probably go into shock if she was anything like a human. She had no idea anything besides the Makai woods even existed. There was no way he could even get her there… Botan might be able to… But even then, Sheiji knew no Japanese. He sighed and rubbed his temples with his left thumb and forefinger. `This is pointless.'

`What is?'

He started to answer, drawing up a scene in his mind of her in Ko-Emma's office, being asked things, being told things… but just as it came to him, the words to explain it to her in short spurts of grammar failed him. He looked her over, his red eyes looking along the tight wiry frame, barely concealed features, rough cloth `clothing', the canines showing slightly through a straight set of lips, the hair hanging around her face in a wild and defiant manner...and last, the large brown eyes that were so steady and abnormally trusting for a demon. He couldn't do it.

Hiei, fire/ice-demon, bastard child, black dragon wielder, spirit detective, and heir to Mukuro, harsh pessimist, and often time's cruel man couldn't do it. He couldn't bring down her whole world with a few sentences. His eyes blinked and a firm resolve appeared. It would take some work- but damn it to the seven Hells if he didn't have a plan.

`Do you not know where you are going?'

Sheiji sensed that something more was going on in Hiei's head than where she was going but none-the-less she responded. `I'm following the Spirits' River. There must be more of the People.'

Hiei locked eyes with her. Here was one of the trickier parts. `I know of many People… I can get you to them.'

The Calalean tilted her head… `Are they down the Spirits' River?'

Uh-oh… Yeah Hiei, just where were they? ` In that direction for a ways... then toward the setting sun.'

`Long trip?'

`Very long, harder for one than two.'

Sheiji knew she stood little chance of finding the next village on her own. She remembered only vague directions of where the People had traveled before. Also, alone she was vulnerable and since he was another Kursa, he would make an easier traveling companion than another People… Sheiji's mind was made up. `You lead, but speak to me; teach me your talk. Mind talk difficult to understand all the time.'

Hiei sighed, uncrossing his arms and retreating from the Jagan after nodding to her. Time to start the other tricky part… Getting Ko-Enma along for the ride.

 

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A teen lay sprawled out over his bed, black hair un-slicked and sticking out at odd angles all over his head. He snored once and rolled over, his hands twitching every moment or so in the dim light that leaked through the apartment window.

Yusuke was groggily enjoying his dream… He wasn't actually sure what it was… Had something to with that damn arcade game he'd spent so much time trying to beat and it kept beating him… He grinned in his sleep as he dreamed his fingers sliding over the controls, that high score was his damn it!

`Yusuke…'

The teen barely batted an eye at his name being said. Hell he was enjoying himself, not to mention he was sure this next level would get him farther than Kuwabara had gotten. Not that it mattered; he'd beat him anyway.

`Yusuke Urameshi.'

Once again Yusuke ignored it. Kieko was probably trying to get him to go to school or get him out of the arcade. Well screw that. He'd have this damn thing beat soon- didn't matter what the hell she-

`Wake the hell up Yusuke!'

That wasn't Kieko in the dream Yusuke realized and he looked over his shoulder in the arcade…Brown eyes opened in reality, Yusuke groaned and rolled over again. “Wha-”

`Hn. You sleep as if you were dead.'

“Hiei?” Yusuke's eyes blinked as he looked around his room, absent-mindedly tugging on a white t-shirt. Hiei must be contacting him with his Jagan… `Least he didn't go in my dream… that'd been odd…'

`I need you to deliver a message to Botan or Ko-Enma for me.'

“Woah, wait a sec, there's not another mission or whatever is there? I told Ko-Enma to eat that damn pacifier if he bothered my weekend again that little-”

`No one's interrupting your precious `weekend' or whatever fool of a game you were playing in your dream.'

Yusuke grinned sheepishly. “You, uh, noticed that I guess, eh, Hiei?'

`It was impossible to miss…'

The teen cleared his throat. “It's kinda weird talking to myself you know- where the hell are you?”

`In the Makai.'

“Wow, you can talk to me all the way from the Makai? Jeeze, kinda handy…”

`Would you stop blabbering and listen?'

“All right all right. What's the message or whatever and why don't you send it yourself?” Yusuke contented himself with glaring at the ceiling, hoping Hiei could see him and get a full blast of how pissed he was.

`I'd rather not. I tried to give it Kurama but he's not at his ningen place. So you can simply send it through a communicator. It needn't be in person.'

“All right…” Yusuke stretched and yawned. “Fire away. Hope it's nothing embarrassing or anything…”

Hiei ignored the comment apparently. `I have found a Calalean- not a threat. I am keeping her in the Makai. Ko-Enma will wait for me to bring her to him. She-'

“Hold up Hiei, `Calalean'? And what's with this thing about it being a `her'…” Yusuke smirked.

Again, Hiei ignored. `Get Ko-Enma to explain it. You'll be dragged into his little problem soon enough in any case. But tell him she'll solve both sides of the problem. If he has questions, tell him to wait.'

Yusuke dropped all joking looks for a moment at least. Hiei rarely `stepped' out of line. If he took a step or bound over the line it was for damn good reasons. Besides, the teen trusted the demon. Hiei could be a little hard to understand and moody but hell, he had saved Yusuke's skin enough times. The teen shrugged. “Fine, I'll get your message to them, anything else you plan on waking me up at 5 am to tell me? Like what you're doing with a girl?” Brown eyes glinted.

Hiei, once again, ignored. `I'll let you know later.'

And that was the end of it. Yusuke waited a few moments to make sure Hiei wouldn't `talk' anymore, but silence and distant sounds of a car was all he heard. “Well, this should be interesting I guess…”

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End of chapter 3