Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Save Me ❯ A Talk in the Garden ( Chapter 5 )

Okay, I know this one is shorter than the others... sorry.

 

I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho... just my own character, Kiarra.

 

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Kurama and Hiei spotted Yukina and Kiarra seated on a bench in the garden and carefully stepped out of sight. The two girls were deep in conversation.

Yukina's eyes were wide as she looked at Kiarra. “How could so many people be so cruel? I can see nothing in your personality or in your aura itself that indicates that you would do anything even remotely bad deliberately.”

The two demons saw the girl shrug a little helplessly. “The orphanages don't really care about where the orphans in their care go. As far as they are concerned, they just want to get the kids there in a home so there's another bed open for another child. Because of the demand, I don't think they even screen the homes and, trust me on this one, I know... when it comes to investigating complaints that the children try telling them, they do a half fast investigation and nine times out of ten, they shrug it off as nothing.” Then she sighed. “As for why I seemed to get the worst of them... I don't really know. I've been told often enough that the majority of people believe that my mother was a prostitute and I was nothing more than a trick baby. For some reason, people seemed to think that that made me worthless somehow. In the homes where I was beaten, they just wanted the money given to them from the government and didn't think I was good for anything else. In the homes where I was...” she struggled with the wording for a moment. “...violated by the male members of the family...” She shook her head. “They told me like mother like daughter, and just left it at that.”

Yukina looked at her in deep sympathy. “Didn't you try telling anyone? About either form of abuse?”

She snorted then. “Like I said... half fast investigations. I only tried telling once or twice in the beginning before giving it up as a hopeless cause. Nobody gives a shit about the kids that wind up in those orphanages. They just want to get them with a family and don't give a crap what the people are like. When I was five, I told a worker who just came to do a routine check that my foster father had beaten me, and tried showing her some of the bruises, but...” She shook her head. “Unfortunately for me, the foster parents were high class citizens. So... they immediately denied it, saying I had fallen down the steps in the front of the house and said that was where I had gotten the injuries. And, of course... who are people going to believe... high class citizens who are well known for the charitable involvement with the community, or a trick child from a suspected prostitute?”

Yukina shook her head, her eyes almost tearing up with deep sympathy. “I don't... understand how you could have gone through all that and come out as well as you did.”

Kiarra sighed. “Well... you remember telling me how you had been captured and held against your will... and the man who did it used to beat you to try and get you to cry and get those precious gems?”

Yukina nodded. “Yes... I just got used to the beatings and learned not to react to them anymore.”

“It's like that... except, it's not that I learned not to react to them anymore, exactly. It's like I just grew numb to them. To the beatings and... rapes. I just... learned to take it. I guess I sort of started to think that I may as well be resigned to my fate.” She sighed and leaned back on the bench. “That's why I feel... strange about this sudden change.”

Yukina blinked and looked at her. “Strange how?”

The girl smiled a little wanly. “Well... this is probably going to sound strange to you, but...” She looked at her. “I have been mistreated by men for so long... in one way or another. This is the first time I've had men sitting beside my bed and not had them... you know...” She shook her head. “I'm just so used to it... I guess that when I come across guys who DON'T mistreat me in some way... I can't help but think that there's SOMETHING that they want. But I just don't know what it is.”

Yukina smiled at her gently. “I can tell you one thing right now. Not all men are like the ones that you've been mistreated by. The ones here have a great deal of respect for women and would never do anything to them without their consent. Yusuke has a girlfriend named Keiko, and he doesn't even cast a glance at other girls if he can help it at all. Kuwabara is just a very nice and sweet man. He's really good at making me laugh when I'm feeling a little down. As for Kurama...” She smiled. “You'll never find a nicer or more respectable man in the world. And Hiei... even though he can sometimes seem a little scary, he's got his own honor code and I know he would NEVER treat you in any way like those other men did. You're free of the abuse now, Kiarra. Now that you're here, you can relax... at least until your training starts.”

Kiarra managed a small smile. “Yeah... I have no idea what to expect from THAT.”

The ice maiden put a hand on her own. “I'm sure the PHYSICAL aspect of the training won't involve actual fighting for a little while. If I know Genkai, and considering the nature of your situation, I'd say she's going to focus more on teaching you how to control reiki, or spirit energy first. That way, you might stand a chance of gaining control of your abilities. Once you have them in some semblance of control, then she might teach you how to fight. And I can guarantee that the guys will all be here helping you, too. Kurama coached Kuwabara a great deal on how to better control his weapon... something called a reiki sword. And I'm sure Yusuke will be more than happy to teach you some fighting moves and give you some tips of his own.”

She smiled a bit more. “That doesn't sound so bad. I just hope I get a grasp on it quickly. I want to get this under control as quickly as I can.”

Yukina looked at her, her expression a little stern. “Don't rush it, and try to be patient. I know it's hard for you, but some people have a difficult time understanding how to control Reiki energy, and you just learned what it was yesterday... and not in the nicest way, either. Until the time comes that you get a grasp of it, you should always remember to keep your emotions in check, if at all possible.”

She nodded, looking a little ashamed. “I know, and I'll try. I just feel really bad about Genkai's temple and the damage I did to it. Not to mention I scared the rest of her students away.”

Yukina smiled at her gently. “I wouldn't worry about the temple. Genkai has plenty of money and she knows the risks when it comes to recruiting new students. Also, it doesn't matter that you scared away the potential students. Once she realized the severity of your situation, Genkai would have taken you in, anyway. She would never leave someone in your situation on her own. It would be far too dangerous, not only to the person in question, but to everyone else in the city.”

Kiarra nodded silently, a small smile coming to her face. “Thanks, Yukina.”

The ice maiden smiled at her prettily. “It's what friends are for.” Then her nose wrinkled slightly, taking in the girls torn clothes and generally unkempt appearance. “But... you know, we should do something about getting you some new clothes... and maybe getting your hair styled before your training starts.”

“I think that is an excellent idea,” said Kurama, stepping into sight, his gentle smile in place.

Kiarra blinked and shoved back her sudden nervousness, wondering how much of their conversation the fox demon had heard. Then she saw Hiei appear from behind him, and tried not to fidget. She decided that if they HAD heard the conversation, there was nothing she could do about it for now and she just hoped that they didn't bring it up. It wasn't something she really felt like going into again... especially with a guy.

The red head continued speaking, pretending he didn't notice Kiarra's sudden discomfort. “We've decided you should spend the rest of the day settling in, and I think that would include getting some clothes and accessories for yourself since you will be staying here. I would be more than willing to pay for some clothes for you, and I'm sure Yukina would love the opportunity to go with you.”

The Ice Maiden smiled. “That would be great! I went shopping with Keiko before she left for America last week and she showed me this wonderful clothing store. I'm sure you'd love it, Kiarra, and it would give us a chance to get to know each other a little better.”

Kuwabara seemed to appear out of nowhere, a smile on his face. “Yukina, you going shopping? You mind some company? I could keep any jerks from harassing you...”

Yukina smiled at him prettily. “That would be great, Kazu-chan!”

Kurama nodded. “We'll all go. For the time being, it is our duty to protect you, Kiarra. We have to keep you from harm.”

Kiarra blinked, and looked down at her clothes, a tiny smile hesitantly coming to her lips. “I guess my clothes have taken a beating in the last couple of days... and if you're sure you wouldn't mind buying them for me...”

The fox demon smiled at her gently. “I don't mind at all. I have enough money to go around, I can assure you. And I can't let that beautiful hair of yours remain in that damaged condition either, so we will do as Yukina suggested and take you to a stylist as well.”

Yusuke came up to them, grinning. “A clothes shopping trip, huh? Well, I guess it'll bring back memories of shopping with Keiko.”

Genkai stepped out. “Well, since the five of you are heading out, I'll make some arrangements to get my arena repaired. Try not to stay out too late, because that girl's going to need her rest tonight. She's going to start her training in reiki control tomorrow morning.”

Kurama nodded. “We will not be gone long.”

The old woman nodded and stepped up to Kiarra, reaching into her pocket and handing her a wad of money. “Save your money, Kurama. I have her covered.” She smiled at the girl gently. “Enjoy yourself, and take some time to relax.”

Kiarra almost looked like she was going to try refusing the money, but then thought better of it. She gave the old woman a thanking smile. “Thank you, Genkai-sama.”

The woman just gave her a nod. “Off with you, now.”

Nodding, the group of them lead Kiarra out of the temple grounds and into the city.

 

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There was chapter five!! Please R&R!!