Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Mute ❯ Incessant Problems ( Chapter 3 )

And now the long awaited chapter 3 to Mute! And thanks for all the wonderful reviews!

 

 

Mute

 

Incessant Problems

 

~*~*~*~*~

 

Communication. That was the biggest problem Yukina, Hiei, and Hikari faced. After the attack, after having to rely on Annai to save his butt, Hiei had stopped attacking Annai and his niece. He didn't appear to trust them though, that was too much to ask for. Yukina could get within a few feet of him but no closer, and Hikari and Annai didn't even try. The fact he couldn't talk frustrated them all. None so more then Annai, who was using every inch of his will power not to attack the boy when he walked into the room. Luckily, Hiei was avoiding people, making Annai's job easier. Trying to anyways, Hikari was running into him two times out of three when he turned to get away from the rest, and Yukina was getting rather good at finding him. But Hiei wasn't trying to avoid them really hard, she would reason.

 

Today though, Hikari had the brilliant idea of dragging them, her uncle included, to town. When they walked into town though, Yukina felt queasy and Hiei appeared a little disoriented. Annai growled something to Hikari who grinned.

 

“You know what, I'm pretty sure that something's going on here today. I'm just going to ask the people who work here,” she said happily pointing to the gas station. Hiei leaned against a building seeming to not notice anything or anyone.

 

“Is she alright?” Yukina asked a while later when Hikari had not yet come from inside the store.

 

“I'm sure she's fine, the idiot. Probably got to chatting. I swear,” Annai muttered as he walked inside. He came back out fast.

 

“The idiot! She's not in there. Must have gone to the main street bookshop…..AGAIN!!!” Annai yelled. Yukina stood shaking a little, scared by the out burst. Hiei appeared nonchalant. He only followed after them when Yukina looked back.

 

The main street wasn't hard to find, but it was absolutely packed. The street was full of people who cheered as cars and brightly colored floats moved down the lane. The street itself had been covered in bright papers and fliers, balloons and more.

 

“What's going on?” Yukina looked to Annai.

 

“Hikari when I find you…” Yukina smiled nervously. Well, her uncle seems to be worried about her, he can't be all bad, ne? She looked to Hiei, who blankly stared at people. She began to watch the people too. We really stand out. Her light blue kimono stuck out in the crowd and Hiei as well was no exception in his all black. They stood out among the bright colors of the crowd.

 

Crash!!

 

Boom!

 

High noises and shouts echoed.

 

There, coming down the road were a group of people in the same matching clothes. They carried shiny instruments that gleamed in the sun. They walked in lines of seven, their steps in time with all the others. Their faces were the picture of concentration, yet they appeared to be at ease with what they were doing. Not one looked to the side with even the flicker of their eyes. Their upper bodies refused to move and their heads didn't bob up and down with each step. Yukina had never seen anything like it before.

 

“What's going on?” she asked in awe. Annai chuckled at her obvious fascination.

 

“It's a marching band. Their playing in the parade. Actually that's Spirit…Lake's...band…” Annai slowed his speaking as realisation dawned on him.

 

“Hikari! You idiot! The least you could have done is give us warning!” Annai yelled in frustration at the marching people. Yukina gazed at him in confusion and even Hiei looked over, though his eyes gave no hint of understanding.

 

“Hikari's in that band! Right now! That's why she disappeared. To play that damn pipe of hers!” Annai vented. Yukina blinked.

 

“So she's in there?” she pointed to the group now doing a routine in front of the judge's stand. Hiei also watched.

 

“Yes. Crazy girl brought us here for this.”

 

“There must have been a lot of work involved to do all of this,” Yukina whispered. Annai nodded, knowing that this was the reason Hikari had left the house so much after the arrival of the two. They watched the band proceed, but none so intently as Hiei.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Hikari looked at Annai, then to Yukina and Hiei.

 

“Gomen Nasi. I could've told you but I didn't know if you'd come otherwise.” Annai shook his head grumbling, but smiling all the same. Even he had to admit the show had been amazing.

 

“I thought it was wonderful,” Yukina breathed. Hikari grinned, scratching her head embarrassedly.

 

“Thanks! That's actually the first one I've ever been in. The seniors have been in it longer. I still got a lot of them before the big competitions in the fall, so I have plenty of time to get better.”

 

 

“She's not the only one you had enthralled,” Annai whispered to her.

 

“Nani?” she answered back. Annai looked at Hiei, who had gone back to staring into nothing.

 

“You're kidding, ne?”

 

“No, that performance you gave, you and the rest there, is just about the only thing he's really seemed to look at here. Can't reason why, not like it was much to look at,” Annai muttered. Hikari glared at him before smacking him over the head. But then she smiled looking over at Hiei, who by accident was scaring a few people. Maybe we can help him!

 

“You guys haven't been out of the house yet, which is a real shame. The area is amazing; I think you'd like it. Okay, so this isn't the town I actually live in, but a little walk around couldn't hurt right?” Hikari asked.

 

“I'm heading back,” Annai announced. Hikari looked at him flabbergasted.

 

“What do you mean your going back?!”

 

“That's what I said. I'm not sticking around when all you did was drag me hear to see your dull performance.” Hikari's mouth moved but no sound came.

 

“You just said you liked it!! You lying little-,” she started.

 

“Annai, if you don't want to be any where near them, by all means leave,” a voice entered their conversation, causing Annai's opening mouth to close. Annai smiled a little and shook his head turning slightly towards the voice. Hiei snapped his head up to look over at the intruder, as he saw it.

 

“Hikari looked back with a smile and Annai couldn't help it as he chuckled a little. There a few feet away was a young woman, eyes a cat-like yellow, and her hair was snow white and in curls by the time it reached the nape of her neck. She could remind people of a hippie, which probably explained the current stares she garnered.

 

“Kath!” Hikari almost squealed, running over and hugging the woman tightly.

 

“Kathrine, what are you doing here?” Annai requested with a tinge of a condescending tone.

 

“I was here with someone,” Kathrine answered indignantly. Hikari looked between the two leering individuals, confused.

 

“He was here then?”

 

“Yes, of course he was here,” Kathrine answered hotly. Hikari looked over to Yukina.

 

“I'm missing something,” she murmured, “Are you missing something?” Yukina shrugged not really sure what had caused the spat between the two older people.

 

“Hey! Watch where you are going, will you boy!” They all looked over to an angered and yelling man stood. Hiei had backed up into him, causing something to be knocked over. He looked suddenly terrified.

 

“Hiei?” Yukina whispered.

 

“Is he alright?” Hikari inquired. Kathrine took a step forward. Hiei took another back.

 

“Hey, it's okay! I-,” Kathrine started. Hiei fled. They stared startled.

 

“What's his problem?” Annai demanded. Yukina opened her mouth to insist that she go after him, but Kathrine shook her head.

 

“Me and this….creep… will go after him,” Kathrine muttered. Annai looked at her wide eyed.

 

“Who are you calling a creep?” Annai angrily asked. Kathrine looked him straight in the eye, gold meeting violet.

 

“You, moron. Come on already, for a young thing, he's fast,” she called running now down the street, leaving the bewildered girls behind.

 

“Hikari! Show Yukina a good time here, alright!? It is only once a year!!” Kath called out to them. Hikari nodded dumbly after a moment and grabbed Yukina's hand.

 

“But-,” Yukina started.

 

“When Kath asks, she's usually insisting. Best just to do what she asks.” Yukina nodded but watched Annai and Kathrine disappear from sight.

 

“Alright,” she whispered, as Kathrine turned back as she was just out of sight and waved.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~

 

 

“Why did you want to find him?” Annai muttered, not enjoying that he had been dragged in to a search party.

 

“Ototo-san, I….I think I've met him before,” Kathrine whispered reluctantly and dejectedly.

 

“NANI!!??” Annai yelled.

 

“Well, it was-,”

 

“You've met him?”

 

“Yes, I-,”

 

“Why didn't you-,” Annai berated.

 

“Oh shut up Niisan. Let her finish,” a young man chided.

 

“Hiro!” Kathrine said with a smile, “My escort to the parade.” Annai gave Hiro an accusing look. Hiro looked away and auburn hair fell passed the red rope band on his forehead to fall into his grey green eyes. He was clearly both trying to avoid Annai's gaze and think of a good reason why he had accompanied their Kathrine to the parade.

 

“I thought you said it wasn't your place to be here? Well, Ototo-san I'm waiting,”

Annai admonished.

 

“Uhhhhhh, well, you see, I wasn't going to Nissan, really, I wasn't! Kathrine wanted someone to go with and I, I, I,” Finally, Hiro stopped his pitiful attempts to reason with his brother and began to run from the furious man. Kathrine sighed watching the two men argue and run. Would they ever change?

 

“Come on, Annai! Kathrine guilted me into coming!!! She's very good at it!!! Can't say I didn't enjoy it, but…AHHHHHH Help!!”

 

“What kind of youkai are you? Running away? You're pathetic!!”

 

“Oh Annai, he's telling the truth. I talked him into coming. You of all people should know I could talk King Enma even in to something! Now come on, we've got to find,…..what's his name?” Annai slowed and eventually stopped, looking to Kath.

 

“I dunno,” Annai admitted perplexed.

 

“You two can't even remember the name of the person you're looking for?!” Hiro demanded looking at their guilty faces.

 

“I met him two days ago! And all he's done so far is attack me! Sorry I didn't ask for a name!!” Annai yelled. He rounded on Kathrine, “And you!! You've met him before! Why don't you know his name!!?” Kathrine scratched her head.

 

“It was a while back! I didn't get the chance to ask him for a name, and he didn't trust me! And I saw him once!!” None spoke for a while, all three nursing bruised egos.

 

“Oi, …did you hear that?” Hiro whispered. Annai and Kathrine gave him blank stares.

 

“Okay…maybe not. It was nothing.”

 

“And Hikari says I'm paranoid!” Annai muttered. Kathrine giggled. Hiro glared at his older brother. A twig snapped. Their heads snapped towards the sound.

 

Suddenly Hiei came running from the trees. A demon, not a particularly strong one, chased him. He appeared unable to stop and face the youkai.

 

“If he attacked Annai, why won't he attack…that?!” Hiro asked alarmed as more came from the trees.

 

“Dunno, he did this before, hell I had to save him!” Annai yelled.

 

“Don't just stand there you two! Do something!” Kathrine shouted.

 

“Alright! Alright!” the two brother's responded.

 

A whirl of blades was the only thing that distinguished the two youkai siblings, yet despite the threat the two posed, many of the demons still managed to form a ring around the panic-stricken Hiei.

 

“Ototo-san, do something!” Kathrine screamed, frustrated at being useless.

 

“Dammit, they'll massacre him before we'd be any good!” Hiro cried out. Unfortunately he's right! Hikari'll have my head if anything happens to him! Annai thought.

 

Hiei's eyes widened as they closed in.

 

NO!

 

**********

 

“Ahgh,” Hikari yelped, clutching her head.

 

“Hikari, are you alright?

 

“You didn't hear that? Someone screamed `no'! Ahhh, my head!”

 

“Hikari? No one is speaking,” Yukina pointed out. Hikari opened her eyes and stared. Yukina was right. They were alone.

 

***********

 

The wind picked up and crackled with ki. This chikara…no……it's not! Kathrine thought.

 

Flames sprung forth, forming a barrier between Hiei and the demons. Hiei brought his hands to cover his ears and the flames shot out frying everything nearby, but Kathrine, Hiro and Annai. The flames clamed down after minutes of intense heat, leaving behind in its wake the unconscious form of Hiei in an unscortched circle.

 

Hesitantly, Kathrine, Hiro, and Annai stepped forward.

 

“How many times has he been attacked since getting here?” Hiro murmured.

 

“Once, just a week after they got here, again two days later, and now,” Annai answered.

 

“Why are so many demons interested in attacking him?” Annai now whispered to Kathrine.

 

“I don't know, but it could pose a problem. I'm worried for Hikari and the rest.”

 

“I'll keep and eye on him. And an eye out for more youkai,” Annai whispered as they all stared at Hiei's prone form.

 

*************

 

“Are you alright now?” Yukina asked gently.

 

“Yeah, I'm fine. Hey, since things are wrapping up here, why don't we just go back to my house? Annai and Kathrine'll bring Hiei, I'm sure of it.” Yukina looked around. Hikari was right, the festival was winding down, but she was so worried about Hiei. Could Annai and Kathrine really be trusted to bring Hiei back?

 

“Don't worry,” Hikari reassured her, jarring Yukina from her thoughts, “Kathrine and Annai will bring him back! Promise!” Yukina smiled. She was compelled to believe the girl beside her.

 

“So how do we get back?” she suddenly asked.

 

“Same way as we got here! Teleportation!”

 

“Nani!?”

 

“Teleportation. I can use it to get us from here to there. That's why Annai was so disgruntled when we got here. I didn't tell him what I was going to do! It actually makes him sick sometimes,” Hikari confided. Yukina smiled a little.

 

“O-okay, if we'll be safe,” she stammered. Hikari nodded enthusiastically and wrapped and arm around Yukina's shoulders, and they were gone.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“My God!! They should have been back by now!” Hikari muttered to the woods outside the window. Yukina was asleep in another room and it had hit Hikari that now would be a good time to get the two some different clothes. They, to put it frankly, stuck out like a pair of sore thumbs. But right now she was just waiting for Annai and Kathrine to bring Hiei back. Unexpectantly, there was pounding on at the door and Hikari jumped into the air in surprise. At the door was the scariest sight she'd ever seen. Her uncle, face scrunched up and pressed against the glass, glaring inside. She just about screamed. Kathrine laughed beside him and Annai appeared to be carrying Hiei.

 

“Get in here!” Hikari yelped.

 

Annai and Kathrine gratefully entered the house and deposited Hiei on the couch.

 

“You two smell like him,” Hikari muttered. Both looked away innocently. But then Kathrine turned to her in all seriousness, Hikari gulped.

 

“I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING! IT WAS ANNAI!!” They blinked at her as she grinned sheepishly.

 

“Guilty mind Hikari?”

 

“Heh heh.”

 

“I was going to ask,” Kathrine started, “if you knew anything about the attack before you found him.”

 

“Not really, Yukina's not saying anything and he won't talk.”

 

“It's not really any of your business, is it?” Yukina asked sheepishly from the door way. She rubbed sleep from her eyes.

 

“Your right, but Kath wouldn't bring it up if it wasn't important.”

 

“Please. It's nothing important!”

 

“He's-,” Kathrine was once again stopped this time by Hiei's awakening.

 

He looked at them all, eyes dead as before. They locked onto Kathrine and he began to move away from her.

 

“What, are you afraid of her?” Annai sneered.

 

“Be nice!” Kathrine and Hikari commanded. Yukina walked up to Hiei but he backed away even from her.

 

“Poor boy,” Kathrine whispered. Hiei glared at her.

 

“Please…Hiei,” Yukina urged. He moved still farther away.

 

“You were raped. Some of the trauma is older then the rest. You were raped a little over a week ago and then again, what two, three days ago?” Kathrine stated calmly but pain echoed in her voice every time she forced herself to say `raped'.

 

Yukina shut her eyes. It was the truth. They were the wounds that no healer would be able to make go away. Hikari and Annai looked absolutely stunned.

 

“He, he was raped?” Annai whispered. Hikari gaped. Hiei continued to glare at Kath.

 

“Yes he was,” Yukina answered sadly. Suddenly, Kathrine walked forward and stood in front of Hiei.

 

“Though, that's not a cause for your silence. Speak up boy!”

 

“I can't!” he mouthed, trying hard to speak. He continued to `yell' and glare at Kathrine.

 

“What's with him?” Hikari whispered, still getting over the shock.

 

“Can this be related to the attacks?” Yukina questioned nervously.

 

Kathrine moved closer to Hiei, and set her hands on his neck before he could leave. Once they settled there though, he stood stock still. Kathrine stood still for a few moments before removing her hands.

 

“There is nothing wrong with his throat or his vocal cords. You are sure you can't talk?” Kathrine asked patiently.

 

`Yes, I'm sure I'm sure! Imbecile!' Hiei mouthed. Kathrine shrugged and walked to Yukina, who stood some ways away by the door now. Hikari, though, walked right up to Hiei, stared him in the eye for a sparse moment and hugged him. He was shocked but not as shocked as everyone else, all except Kath, who turned and spoke to Yukina.

 

“He could speak before this, tadashii?”

 

“Uhhh, yes, he could but he was rather quiet.”

 

“Quiet,” Kathrine echoed, giving Hiei, who was still being embraced by Hikari, a thoughtful look. Hiei struggled against Hikari, feeling an inkling of remembered embarrassment and disliking pitying stares from the others.

 

“Maybe…”Kathrine breathed. They looked at her, even Hikari who moved just enough to see her but still kept Hiei, forcefully, close.

 

“Well, Onesan? Care to let us in?” Annai asked.

 

“This might be more of a mental thing.”

 

“As in he went crazy?” Annai asked, just a little hopeful.

 

`I'm not crazy!' Hiei mouthed.

 

“Of course your not,” Kathrine responded. She looked at the surprised faces, “I can read lips!” Hiei looked the most shocked but suddenly his anger seemed to disappear. He put his head on Hikari's shoulder and for all the world suddenly seemed dead.

 

“What's wrong!?” Yukina yelped.

 

“I don't know!” Hikari cried. Kathrine rushed forward. She took one look at Hiei and spoke to the distressed girls.

 

“Just bring him to anther room.” Nodding silently, Hikari motioned to Yukina and they lead Hiei out.

 

“Something wrong, Kathy?” Annai asked now sitting on the soft green couch. He brushed creamy white bangs from his eyes.

 

“What is it?” he persisted. Kathrine chewed her lip, deciding whether or not to do this here. Finally with a sigh, she turned to where Hiei and Hikari had just been.

 

“Show yourself,” she whispered in a commanding voice. Out of no where a woman, brown hair aqua eyes, appeared.

 

“Hai, Kathrine-sama?” she spoke softly as though she could muster no more volume.

 

“W-what were you doing?” Kath whispered. Annai watched in interest at the exchange in dialogue.

 

“I meant no harm, Kathrine-sama. I only meant to help.”

 

“I know. You lent him your awareness so he could respond. In truth, he's barely aware of his own existence, working only with instincts, ne?”

 

“Hai. Sumimasen, Kathrine-sama,” she whispered, voice brimming with regret.

 

“Tis okay. We can figure things out now. Thank you, for being concerned.” With a nod and bow the woman left as quickly as she had appeared.

 

Kathrine sighed and plopped down on the couch next to Annai.

 

“You okay, Nee-chan?” he whispered, concerned.

 

“I'm fine, but I'm more worried for the boy. This is worse then we thought,” Kathrine muttered to him. Her mind worked quickly now. She wanted a solution, and by george she was going to get one!

 

“Too bad he can't communicate. Maybe then-,” Annai was cut off when Kath hugged him so tight he couldn't breathe any longer.

 

“Arigato! Oh thank you, thank you, thank you!” she squealed. She ran out of the room yelling behind her,

 

“You got quite a head on your shoulders when you decide to get the crap out of it!” Annai blinked as his mind comprehended what she had said.

 

“Hey!!”

 

~*~*~*~*~*

 

There the third chapter to Mute. Sorry it's been so long. I got a story idea and I had to write it down before it drove me insane so I couldn't type this and then I got sick and was sneezing so much I couldn't type. Then wouldn't you know it I got a science project that took up most of my time!!! Yes Hiei was raped…twice...my beta, my best friend, was surprised when she read that. Should I put that in a warning at the top of the chapter? If you think so tell me in a review and I'll reloads the chapter with the warning. I had lots of fun thinking of how to describe the marchi8ng band. I'm in one so I went on my experiences with 130 people in the band and we march in 7 rows. Sorry if this is normal for everyone but I'm just starting my second year of marching so I'm still a little unsure of things. Here are the translations for the Japanese most won't be familiar with

 

Tadashii: correct

 

Chikara: power

 

Sumimasen: sorry