Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Hakida? ❯ Chapter 4

Koenma smiled at Botan as she flew across the room pulling Yusuke and Kuwabara apart. It was another Reikai Tantei meeting; Kuwabara didn't have Hiei to fight with so he took out his aggressions on Yusuke. He glanced at Hakida and then Kurama who was smiling peacefully, in almost the same position as his sister. He had only seen Kurama in his Youko form once or twice and Hakida was a much shorter version of it. He smiled, everyone was here, even Yukina and Genkai… everyone but Hiei. He had become scarce since Hakida had come, and that had been nearly two months ago. Not that they suffered on the cases much; Hakida was a fitting replacement for Hiei while he helped with Mukuro in Makai.

"Yusuke, Kuwabara… your lack of argument, is it any glimpse into your thinking?" Koenma chuckled at Hakida's innocence. She certainly spoke the truth in everything and had a talent for putting things in a manner that was amusing. Yusuke and Kuwabara stopped fighting and blushed stuttering to offer a reasonable excuse for the fight. While he had a few things he wanted to tell them, it could wait; he enjoyed seeing the two boys being put on the spot by an innocent but truthful question. Botan smiled at him as he watched the scene unfolding. She floated to him and whispered, "Koenma, sir, she brings something to the group doesn't she?"

He nodded, "I just wish I knew more about why she is here."

Botan pointed to her tails, "How many did she have when she came?"

"Seven, why?"

She tilted her head, "But she's so young."

"Not really Botan; remember she is as old as Kurama who is well over three hundred."

She bit her lip, "How do they earn their tails?"

"How should I know? Do I look like a Kitsune?"

She shrugged and joined the crowd again, "She does have a point boys; then again we all knew you were lacking."

Hakida looked at her confused, "Is there an answer for my question?" She sniffed the air and turned toward the doors, "Hiei!" She smiled and bounced to the door dragging Yukina with her as the doors flung open and Hiei walked into the room only to be clobbered by a jumping Hakida. Yukina followed and gave him a brief hug; Kurama swore he saw Hiei blush at the attention from Hakida and Yukina. Koenma smiled, "Mukuro?"

"I've come to ask your presence at Mukuro's palace for a discussion between Yomi and the aforementioned Mukuro."

"Thank you, tell Mukuro that I will come at the appointed time; is it the same time as last year?" Hiei nodded. "Good, then I'll be there with my normal hostess gift."

Hiei nodded again and turned to leave but was pulled back by Hakida. "Are you not going to stay?"

Kurama yawned, "He's on duty, Hakida. He works for Mukuro when she needs him. He can't stay because she will get angry."

She bit her lip, "Mukuro… I've heard of that name…." She pondered for a moment, "Oh yes! Inari spoke of her! But…." She blushed, "I don't remember what he said about her; he wasn't very happy."

Koenma nodded, "Yes, we about had a war between Mukuro and Inari a few decades ago. Of course Inari would have won, but he's a peaceable creature and didn't want to hurt her."

Hiei turned around listening as Hakida titled her head, "Why were Inari and Mukuro so angry?"

"Well, Mukuro was looking for an antidote to her little… facial problem. She was told that a Kitsune's pelt, when soaked in the milk of a special beast and placed on her skin every night for a month would turn her back into her former self. As a result, she killed a Kitsune."

Hakida gasped and looked at Hiei, "And you work for such a monster?"

Hiei looked at her coldly, "She teaches me to become stronger, I care for nothing else."

Her eyes narrowed and glinted with anger. "You are a heartless, soulless beast! How would you feel if your brother or sister was killed for their skin!"

Koenma cleared his throat; "I don't want another war between the heir of Mukuro and Inari's daughter."

"HEIR!" She looked at him, her eyes furious, burning with golden anger. "HEIR! Mukuro's HEIR! You are a soulless being! You wouldn't even care for your own sister!" She ran from the room a blur of white.

Hiei stood still for a few moments, shock in every pore of his face. The room was silent now; not even the breathing of a nervous Yusuke could be heard. Hiei regained his composer and looked at Koenma, "Mukuro will be awaiting your arrival." He was gone in a streak of black; the papers an Oni was carrying scattered on the floor. Kurama bowed at Koenma, "May I-?"

Koenma nodded, "I doubt she will understand, but yes you may go."

Kurama slowly walked from the room shutting the doors behind him.

"Inari! Inari! FATHER!" Hakida stomped to a lake and looked up at the moon, "FATHER!"

"Yes child." The deep voice flowed on the wind and whisked her hair gently.

"You let Mukuro kill one of us… one of my brothers? Please tell me it isn't true." Tears began to stream down her face.

"Don't cry, my child. He is not dead, he was just returned to us in spirit to be reborn into another Kitsune with no memories."

She fell to her knees, "Why am I here? Why did you make me come to this forbidden place? It's a horrible place. How could Kurama, my dearest brother, be friends with a heartless being like Hiei?"

"He is not heartless, my sweetest daughter."

"He works for Mukuro!" She clenched her eyes as tears rolled down her face.

"Yes I know." The deep voice whispered.

She looked up to the moon again, "You… you knew? Are you not angry?"

"I was." The voice cooed softly, "But anger accomplishes nothing. Mukuro and Hiei are cold, yes; only warmth can change their hearts of stone."

She sniffed as the wind wrapped around her, "But… I don't understand. How do you know he won't kill me?"

The warm voice chuckled softly, "Can he? You are my prodigy; I have taught you myself; what can he do to hurt you."

"Why am I here, Father? I want to be back with you and the others; I'm accepted there… I'm loved there. They know me and won't hurt me or use me. I don't think Hiei would hurt me."

"You know he would not."

"Why wouldn't he? I miss you so much, Inari. This human world is so cold, so hard… it's so different from home. I have to hide from them here; I have to be something that I am not. Why am I here? To be a hypocrite and hide in the shadows?"

"This world is not completely hopeless child."

"You didn't answer… why am I here Inari?" There was a silence. "Inari? Why am I here?" The wind slowly began to die down. "Inari! Father!" She slumped as the moon hid behind a cloud, tears streaming from her eyes as uncontrollable sobs left her. "Father don't leave me!" She weakly tried to stand falling into the water unconscious. She was pulled from the water shivering; "I don't want to be alone."