Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Orenji no Taiyou ❯ Black and White ( Chapter 9 )

The sky was thick with white flakes of cold blades, floating down to the ground in a whimsical state. They stuck to the ground and erased all signs of spring from the earth. The small flowers popping up through the melting snow were being suffocated by the out of season blizzard, sucking all life from the delicate earth.

 

The snow covered Shuuichi from head to toe as he climbed the stairs to Genkai's temple. This was the last place he could go and if Genkai didn't take him in, he would be back on the streets until he could get Yuukou to come pick him up from Tokyo. The red head really wasn't one to sleep in snow.

 

Hours earlier he had been thrown out of his house, literally. He had pulled himself to his feet and walked out of the yard, dejected. The only thought running through the teenager's head was the laundry and how stupid he had been to do it. Shuuichi could only think about how if he hadn't gone to Tokyo, his cloths wouldn't have smelled like booze and he wouldn't have had to wash them.

 

Not knowing where else to go, he walked across town to Yuusuke's apartment. The snow picked up and the metal stairs leading up to the raven-haired boy's floor were slick with ice. Shuuichi, too distracted by the day's events, fell going up and busted his chin open, a gash under his jaw bleeding heavily. He held onto the rail tightly and pushed all thoughts from his head as he climbed back up. Finally he reached apartment twenty-four B. He knocked on the door and Yuusuke answered, only to slam the door in his face.

Shuuichi had felt his eyes tear up and wiped the water away. The cold air seemed to freeze his tears. He had stayed dry eyed through the rest of the night. He stayed dry eyed when he went to Kuwabara's and the same thing happened. Yuusuke had called ahead.

 

He had stayed dry eyed all the way to the other side of the city, stopping once to sit down on a frozen bench. Shuuichi's feet hurt and his chin was staining the snow crimson. He didn't even wipe the blood away as it trickled down his neck. The city lights buzzed around him, not noticing how upset he was. No one stopped to see if he was okay, no one slowed down to even look at him. It seemed the city could go on fine without him. Life could go on fine without him.

 

Several minutes later he resumed his walk to Genkai's. Now he was on the stairs to Genkai's temple, the forest around him black in the winter sky's night. The trees seemed to hum with Shuuichi's uncertainly. Had Yuusuke called ahead here too? Would Genkai and Yukina turn him away? What about Hiei? Was he here waiting to chase him off too? The trees echoed his questions back at him but Shuuichi turned a deaf ear.

 

Wind blew, chilling Shuuichi further, but he didn't notice. He slipped up the stairs, but this time he caught himself, digging his fingernails into the snow. He pushed himself up and continued his trek up the steep slope. The moon was hidden behind a cloud of snow and pieces of ice began to fall from the trees. Shuuichi's long red hair began to freeze and stick together. He wished he was wearing more then just his pajamas and a jacket.

 

Yuusuke's jacket.

 

Shuuichi didn't notice as he got to the top of the stairs and entered under the temple arch. His feet seemed to take him by remote to the front entrance of the temple where he had spent a lazy, rainy day with everyone not a week ago. A week ago the weather had started to turn warm, but it was only teasing the people of Japan, turning back into the harsh winter cold.

 

He stumbled into the temple, opening the paper screen door without announcement. As soon as he was in the room the heat from the temple hit him in the face, providing a strong antithesis to his frozen face and hair. His cream colored face turned red and his nose started to run a little. His tears thawed and began to pour from his eyes. His busted chin began to bleed again. Shuuichi covered his face with his hands.

 

Within seconds Shuuichi felt a weight at his side, tugging at his arm. He removed his hands to find himself slumped on the ground, leaning against the wall. His wet pajamas were dripping on the floor. A teal-haired girl was at his side in a light blue kimono. A soft light emitted from her hands and to his bloodied chin. Her blood-red eyes looked to Shuuichi in a worried manner before she called for Genkai.

Shuuichi caught her hand. “Yukina,” she spoke. Yukina was Hiei's younger sister, an ice maiden from the demon world. Her main purpose at the temple was to heal. “Let it bleed.” He could barely believe the words coming from his own mouth. He wanted to disappear and if his chin bled, maybe he would be washed away in a sea of crimson.

 

Shuuichi's words just made Yukina call for the older woman louder, forcing her healing powers on her red-headed friend. She had his wound closed in a matter of moments. Genkai stood in the door, watching the scene.

 

Genkai was an old, old woman and her exact age was a mystery to the red head. She was winkled and her once vibrant pink hair was a dull grey. Her skin had a yellow tint to it and she was very short, only about four and a half feet tall. She wore a red robe with a purple sash. Genkai looked on wordlessly until Yukina was done. Then she stepped closer, eyeing the familiar boy. “What happened?” Her voice was gruff.

 

Shuuichi looked up to Genkai for a moment before wiping his face clean of snow, tears, and snot. He rubbed his eyes, his hair sticking to his face. “Everyone found out I prefer men. They all hate me now. I have no where else to go.”

 

Yukina gasped a little and looked to Shuuichi. Shuuichi did not meet her gaze. She began to spit out questions like, “Are you alright?” and “Do you need something else healed?” As her questions were left unanswered, she began to take a different course of action. The ice maiden said thinks such as, “Some tea will make you feel better,” and, “I'm sure everything will be corrected.”

Shuuichi just continued to look at Genkai, determined not to get kicked out. Genkai said, “I am embarrassed by how easily you let them hate you,” she turned around, not finding the situation worth her time. “You have a room here, don't you? Put on some dry cloths. Dinner is in a half hour.”

 

Shuuichi was confused, not sure if Genkai was being accepting or not. She had scolded him and welcomed him in once breath. He decided that she didn't give a rat's ass, after all that was the most Genaki-thing like to do.

 

He watched her leave and sighed in relief, glad he would be in a warm bed tonight, even if it was not his own. Shuuichi stood before realizing Yukina was still gabbing on. He looked to her. “Yukina,” his tone was harsh. Yukina looked at him in shock. “I am not sick. Stop acting like I have some disease that can be cured with your herbs.” He went to his room, leaving Yukina a little shocked at the other.

 

“But homosexuality is wrong….right?” She asked no one in particular in the empty room.