Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Scientific Corruption ❯ Sickening ( Chapter 4 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: DNSora 
Who dies or doesn't? Which world is real?
Anime/Manga: Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Shounen / Romance / Drama / Action | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 09.24.2008 | Updated On: 09.24.2008 | Pages: 3 | Words: 3.3K | Visits: 254 | Status: Work In Progress
Who dies or doesn't? Which world is real?
Anime/Manga: Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Shounen / Romance / Drama / Action | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 09.24.2008 | Updated On: 09.24.2008 | Pages: 3 | Words: 3.3K | Visits: 254 | Status: Work In Progress
Chapter 4
Sickening
The couch is split in two, stuffing flung across the room. Kurama finds himself laying flat on the floor, not really aware of how long he was unconscious. If the time line of the dream is to be trusted, a few hours at least. A few very painful hours. Kurama does not need to wonder why his couch is a tattered mess. The fire demon with a drawn sword and heaving chest is enough. He picks himself up and walks to Hiei slowly, Hiei's eyes are fixated on the remains of his couch; Kurama feels his mind is fixated on other things.
As if there is a doubt.
His arms snake around Hiei's waist and pull him tight against Kurama's chest. The sword drops to the floor with a dull thud and Hiei tries desperately to catch his breath. His chest presses sharply against the Fox's arms, his heartbeat speeds to a few beats per minute; pounding for a demon. Hiei's whole form trembles, but which emotion is causing it, which has taken over is not yet apparent and will not be pressed for until later. Kurama neither loosens his hold nor speaks. Words would be useless and inhibiting at this point. Neither bothers with them.
Eventually Hiei's heart beat dies down and he slumps against Kurama, who relaxes but does not release his grip on Hiei.
"Fox... I... I hurt... she didn't... " His words are confused and sharp, guilty and reprimanding. Hiei still trembles and Kurama tries to be patient. "Why am I having your dreams Fox?" His head moves back, seeking out Kurama's brilliant green eyes, ones that usually show amusement at his 'struggles' right before the mouth below them explain exactly what the situation is and how to deal with it.
This time they show confusion and worry. It is not comforting.
"Some one is messing with us Hiei." Hiei growls.
"That much is very apparent!" Kurama sighs.
"I know that was difficult. The only thing you can take comfort in is that it was a dream... unfortunatly..." He trails off; receiving another growl. "... they may not be dreams." Silence. "The way things are going Hiei... the coordination and realistic qualities of these 'dreams' is completely flawless. We are now existing in two realities Hiei, and we have not been asking the right question."
"What is the right question?"
"Which reality is the one that we are from and which is created by our minds?" Hiei's entire body sags.
"I'd settle for "Who the fucking hell thinks they are going to get away with this?'." Kurama actually has gall enough to laugh. Hiei can't find it in him to find humor in anything, not after those images; ones he now knows may be real.
The Fox's laugh sounds hollow.
***
Kurama moves the remains of his couch to the trash cans outside, not paying attention to his surroundings. He hates the sights and sounds of the city anyway. Too cluttered, too congested, too unnatural. Thankfully he lives right on the edge and doesn't have to deal with the greater portion except when going to work. The door clicks behind him quietly. Hiei hasn't said a word after their previous conversation. Two days may not be very long for him to be silent, but the tension around him is a palpable thing.
Hiei rarely engaged in anything that could be considered torture, only for information where needed. Even in such circumstances he is more likely to just beat the hell out of his 'victim'. Hiei has always been a straightforward fighter, torture is unsporting and uninteresting to him, almost cowardly, if done by his own hands. Funny how he never says anything when Kurama is forced to engage in it. But even pure beatings will leave him in a sour mood. That dream had made him into something he is not. Mental, emotional, and physical torture all in one; to his mentor no less. Mukuro might very well be one of the few people Hiei would consider a friend; and now this has happened. It really isn't any wonder that the kooromie is so sullen.
He sits down on his bed and spills petals across it, rose petals of course. Then he curls up with his Mother's sweater. He'd planned this ever since the last dream. Something he'd realized chills him to the bone, there is only a handful of people that could be that next target: Enki, his wife, or Yusuke. As much as that bothers him, there is yet another reason for the hasty plan. That thing in the very back of his mind is what is causing this and he owes it to Hiei to figure things out. His problems seem to be affecting Hiei more and more, his friend doesn't deserve that.
Kurama breathes in deep, taking courage and comfort from the smell of his Mother and the roses. Again he reaches out, for how long he isn't sure. Time is irrelevant here. He probes exactly where he had before, once, twice, a hundred times or more; but finds nothing. Frustrating, entirely frustrating. After seemingly the millionth time he probes over his unconscious mind something changes. Dull at first, then glaringly out of place. He rushes over, exploring and probing, but before he can garner any real information he feels the scene change, a familiar pull into that other world.
***
This time it is the trees outside of the temple. He is not surprised to find himself running, but this time, he is in human form. He cannot sense Hiei what-so-ever but strangely, he believes his friend nearby. The temple steps fly fast under his feet as his heart pounds harshly against his chest. Every muscle in his body hurts, and he can feel both wet and dry blood attached to his skin. Eventually he reaches the top, though no where near full speed as he usually would. They are waiting for him. Yusuke, Kuwabara, Genkai, Yukina, Botan, and even his family. Yusuke looks... pissed.
"What the hell Kurama? Where have you been? What exactly is going on?" His words are calm, calm and angry are a deadly combination from Yusuke. He tries to tell Yusuke about his strange dreams, that he has no idea exactly what is going on or even where reality is. But the now familiar control forces different words from his lips.
"Yusuke, I... Inari... I can't... there isn't enough time to explain!" He hits his knees, legs no longer able to support him. Yusuke's demeanor hardens, and there is a whimper from his Mother, Kazuya holds her back.
"There is time. I've seen you with worse wounds." Kurama shakes his head.
"Not that Yusuke... he's coming... you have to get the others out of here! He's coming for you! Yomi and Mukuro couldn't stop it and neither can you! Go! Go now!" Yes his mind shouts, leave and get out of here Yusuke, go before something bad happens to you!
Yusuke doesn't leave, his stance goes rigid and softens at the same time. His enemy has shifted, Kurama realizes. He starts to approach Kurama. "Dammit Fox-boy! Who the hell is coming and what's been going on!? Where have you been?" Angry, not calm. A definite improvement, much more like the Yusuke he knows. It is oddly comforting.
"No time Yusuke! Get my Mother out of here before..." A rough hand entangles in his hair and jerks his head back Yusuke isn't even halfway to him and stops, eyes rounding in sheer surprise. The hand in his hair tightens.
"You're dead!" Yusuke shouts. The voice behind him is familiar, but he can't place it.
"Eh heh he he heh he. No, but your friend is. You should have listened to him when you had the chance... but then, I knew you wouldn't." Kurama hears the cock of a gun, the barrel pressed to the back of his head.
"Let him go!" Yusuke screams.
l
"Eh heh he he heh he. This is the last time you wil interfere with my plans Fox spirit. Say goodbye now..." Kurama has just barely enough time to scream out... "Don't look Mother!"
The shot rings out; echos in... no, through his skull. Blood pours down his forehead and the hand releases his hair, he falls forward with a thud.
Shiori's screaming sobs entwine with the cries of the rest of the group.
***
Hiei watches his friend die, or who he supposes is Kurama. Maybe just Suuichi, for the simple fact that Yoko is sitting right next to him. This one is rightly confusing. There are two Kurama's, but he glances into his partners eyes and sees the restrained person behind, now he knows Kurama is in Yoko, not Suuichi. The trees block his view of who was holding Kurama.
Tears stream down the Detective's cheeks. The outright fury and self-recrimination is apparent on his face. Shiori's sobs put a vice on his heart, she hadn't looked away. Botan has a confused expression. It is her face he locks on, willing the others to notice.
"Dammit! If only I had trusted him a little more! You are going to die for this you little troll!"
"Eh heh he he heh he. Save your breath. He isn't dead... yet. Isn't that right little Miss ferry girl?" Botan looks at him in surprise and manages to stutter out.
"N-No! That body... it didn't have a soul at the time of death." They all look at her in a very confused way, all except Genkai. "What just died... was an empty shell."
"Then where the heck is Kurama and what the hell is that if it isn't him!?" Yusuke looks even more impossibly pissed off.
"Good questions boy! Where is he? I have the answer to that one of course but that doesn't mean I am about to give it to you. What is that? I will give you the answer to that. Its quite simple you see, that is a clone. A replica of your precious friend. Quite different from Yomi's experiments with Shura. You see this clone obeys my every command. Including telling it to warn you of my approach. My clones have the full range of abilities your friends possess as well as their intellectual prowess without having to deal with that annoying free will. Eh heh he he heh he!"
"You stupid little troll! You sent those stupid clones after Yomi and Mukuro!" Yusuke's aura hypes up another notch.
"Correct boy! I set my trap hoping to catch one Fox spirit and wound up with a fire demon as a bonus!" Both of them jump from the trees and land in front of the hidden figure behind them. Shiori gasps and he overhears Botan explain that the silvery figure is Kurama's demon form. "Rest assured that these are not the originals either. They are resting quite peacefully in my little hidden lab, and that is exactly where they will stay unless..." Yusuke grits his teeth and somehow manages to spit out his next words.
"Unless what?"
"Eh heh he he heh he! Unless you give up the rights of that magnificent body of yours to me boy!"
Kuwabara jumps in now. "Your have a sick mind you twisted old quack!"
"Eh heh he he heh he! Now those aren't very nice words. I suppose I'll just have to teach you a lesson." He snaps his fingers and Hiei stalks forward drawing a sword foreign to him, not his own trusted blade. Kuwabara steps back in shock. He barely manages to block Hiei's first strike. Forcing the fire demon back momentarily.
"Shrimp! What the heck is wrong with you!?" He swings again, this time the oaf is knocked to the ground before the blow can be struck, his hands are grabbed and held steady. His sister's bright red eyes meet his.
"Brother stop! I can feel you nearby but you aren't here! Where are you!?" YUKINA! His mind screams. He wants her to run away, wants her to be as far from this place as she possibly can get.
"You don't have the hiruseki... you aren't my brother and yet you are. Talk to me brother! Tell me where you are!" He feels his connection with Yukina strengthen for just a moment and he tries to send her as many images as he can, the fox's dreams. Everything, the expression on her face tells him that she understands him.
"What are you waiting for! Knock her aside and punish him!" The connection breaks and his arm raises, her eyes round in surprise. He watches in horror as his own fist meets her gut, he can feel her softness cave around his fist before he tosses her to the side. She struggles to breathe as he advances on Kuwabara.
Kuwabara's outrage is thick in the air, he draws his sword, but doesn't get the chance to use it. Pain erupts at the base of Hiei's neck, his severed head rolls and stops, looking up at Meiyo, tears streaming down the man's face.
"I know you are in there my son, I cry for your momentary death."
***
Momentary indeed.
His own thoughts scare him. Another Hiei jumps from the trees.
"Your fight is pointless. Kill as many as you can, I can always make more! Eh heh he he heh he!"
Meiyo growls. "Why do you think I said momentary?"
"Eh heh he he heh he! The unscientific mind is so amusing sometimes! You actually believe your son is in there!"
"He is!" All eyes turn to Yukina. "Just because he can't move doesn't mean he isn't there! He spoke to me!" Meiyo and Genkai both nod approvingly.
"Eh heh he he heh he! Believe what you wish girly but science..."
"... has a dimwit for for a messenger." All eyes turn to Genkai. "You forgot to take into account the strong bond between demonic twins." Yusuke grunts out.
"Look you little troll give up Kurama and Hiei now and I'll kill you quick!"
"Eh heh he he heh he! Either give up your body boy or you'll loose everything! Allow me to demonstrate. These are not your friends and they have no free will." The echo of the snap triggers something and Yoko moves forward, Yusuke braces himself, believing he is the target.
He is not.
Yoko wrenches his Mother from Kazuya's arms. Sending and elbow into Yusuke's face and he comes in to stop the kitsune. He slams her into a tree, can feel her ribs crack from the pressure. His mind sobs and screams, not his Mother, anyone but his Mother.
"Would your dear friend ever kill his beloved, doted upon, dearest treasure; his Mother?" Her eyes are wide with fear, fear and love. How can she possibly still love him? His claws raise for the final strike. The other move in fast, but not fast enough.
"Suuichi..." She breathes out, accepting her fate.
He can't, not his Mother. He can't stop it but he can't watch either. He tears away.
MOTHER!
"Mother..." the body echos, before dropping to the ground, lifeless. His Mother falls to her feet, breathing hard, Kuwabara grabs her and wrenches her away, back to Kazuya. But it is all dim and distant. The other man and Hiei retreat.
This dream is over. For once Kurama feels a slight twinge of victory.
***
A few strands of soft red hair escape his grasp as Kurama heaves again, long since having expelled the entire contents of his stomach. Hiei believes the term is dry heaving. Sometimes human bodies are so annoying and weak. Hiei doesn't feel like mentioning it to his partner at the moment though.
It isn't his fault that his body can't stand the stress recent events have put it under.
The Fox leans back against him, skin a deathly pallor, gasping for breath. "You must... think me... so weak Hiei." Hiei says nothing. "To be able... to face down Karasu... yet become this state at..." His eyes widen again and Hiei grabs his hair as the Fox goes into another fit of dry heaves. Each one is more painful to hear than the last, his body finally has reached its stress limit. Hiei hears something wet hit the water of the toilet and looks.
Blood, only just a bit. The Fox has heaved so hard he tore something. Hiei needs to find a way to calm him.
"It was just a dream Fox."
"Can you be so sure Hiei?" The tone is cold.
"You didn't kill her, you stopped it."
"I hit her. I hurt her. I probably broke her ribs. Her own son..." His words are hollow and steady. Hiei curses the masks that reign in Kurama's emotions.
Kurama heaves again, more blood. "She would forgive you Fox, she loves you." More heaving.
"Yes. Look at how I've repaid her." Hiei actually flinches as Kurama heaves again, the water is moving from pink to red. Hiei ties Kurama's hair back and gets up.
"I'll go cook something bland... then you'll have something to puke up."
Kurama gives an odd sort of laugh, sadistic.
"Imagine if Kuwabara ever found out that you can cook better than me." Hiei flinches again at the Fox's attempt to distract himself.
Something really... really bland.
________________________________________________________________ ______________________
A/N: Shiori did not die. For those of you who were a little confused. Yes you can heave so hard that you make yourself bleed; and a body can only take so much stress. I believe that nearly killing his Mother is more than enough to push Kurama over that limit.
Yes, Hiei can cook in this. He's lived alone all his life, he has to know something about it.
This is the longest chapter I've written in this part of the story so far. It needed to be. I hope you enjoy it.
Let's hope there isn't any permanent damage to your souls here, mine is certainly hurting.
Please review!!!
-san: Mr. or Mrs.
-sama: Lord
-kun: Young man that is a friend
-chan: Female, young boy, or lover
Makai: Demon world
Reikai: Spirit world
Ningenkai: Human world
Kitsune: Fox spirit
Baka: idiot
Ningen: Human
Mazaku: Type of demon that Yusuke is
Sakura Tree: cherry tree
Jagan: Hiei's 3rd eye
Hiruseki: tear gem
Inari: Fox goddess
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho nor any of its characters. They belong to Yoshihiro Togashi. The plot and original characters of this fic, are however, mine.
Sickening
The couch is split in two, stuffing flung across the room. Kurama finds himself laying flat on the floor, not really aware of how long he was unconscious. If the time line of the dream is to be trusted, a few hours at least. A few very painful hours. Kurama does not need to wonder why his couch is a tattered mess. The fire demon with a drawn sword and heaving chest is enough. He picks himself up and walks to Hiei slowly, Hiei's eyes are fixated on the remains of his couch; Kurama feels his mind is fixated on other things.
As if there is a doubt.
His arms snake around Hiei's waist and pull him tight against Kurama's chest. The sword drops to the floor with a dull thud and Hiei tries desperately to catch his breath. His chest presses sharply against the Fox's arms, his heartbeat speeds to a few beats per minute; pounding for a demon. Hiei's whole form trembles, but which emotion is causing it, which has taken over is not yet apparent and will not be pressed for until later. Kurama neither loosens his hold nor speaks. Words would be useless and inhibiting at this point. Neither bothers with them.
Eventually Hiei's heart beat dies down and he slumps against Kurama, who relaxes but does not release his grip on Hiei.
"Fox... I... I hurt... she didn't... " His words are confused and sharp, guilty and reprimanding. Hiei still trembles and Kurama tries to be patient. "Why am I having your dreams Fox?" His head moves back, seeking out Kurama's brilliant green eyes, ones that usually show amusement at his 'struggles' right before the mouth below them explain exactly what the situation is and how to deal with it.
This time they show confusion and worry. It is not comforting.
"Some one is messing with us Hiei." Hiei growls.
"That much is very apparent!" Kurama sighs.
"I know that was difficult. The only thing you can take comfort in is that it was a dream... unfortunatly..." He trails off; receiving another growl. "... they may not be dreams." Silence. "The way things are going Hiei... the coordination and realistic qualities of these 'dreams' is completely flawless. We are now existing in two realities Hiei, and we have not been asking the right question."
"What is the right question?"
"Which reality is the one that we are from and which is created by our minds?" Hiei's entire body sags.
"I'd settle for "Who the fucking hell thinks they are going to get away with this?'." Kurama actually has gall enough to laugh. Hiei can't find it in him to find humor in anything, not after those images; ones he now knows may be real.
The Fox's laugh sounds hollow.
***
Kurama moves the remains of his couch to the trash cans outside, not paying attention to his surroundings. He hates the sights and sounds of the city anyway. Too cluttered, too congested, too unnatural. Thankfully he lives right on the edge and doesn't have to deal with the greater portion except when going to work. The door clicks behind him quietly. Hiei hasn't said a word after their previous conversation. Two days may not be very long for him to be silent, but the tension around him is a palpable thing.
Hiei rarely engaged in anything that could be considered torture, only for information where needed. Even in such circumstances he is more likely to just beat the hell out of his 'victim'. Hiei has always been a straightforward fighter, torture is unsporting and uninteresting to him, almost cowardly, if done by his own hands. Funny how he never says anything when Kurama is forced to engage in it. But even pure beatings will leave him in a sour mood. That dream had made him into something he is not. Mental, emotional, and physical torture all in one; to his mentor no less. Mukuro might very well be one of the few people Hiei would consider a friend; and now this has happened. It really isn't any wonder that the kooromie is so sullen.
He sits down on his bed and spills petals across it, rose petals of course. Then he curls up with his Mother's sweater. He'd planned this ever since the last dream. Something he'd realized chills him to the bone, there is only a handful of people that could be that next target: Enki, his wife, or Yusuke. As much as that bothers him, there is yet another reason for the hasty plan. That thing in the very back of his mind is what is causing this and he owes it to Hiei to figure things out. His problems seem to be affecting Hiei more and more, his friend doesn't deserve that.
Kurama breathes in deep, taking courage and comfort from the smell of his Mother and the roses. Again he reaches out, for how long he isn't sure. Time is irrelevant here. He probes exactly where he had before, once, twice, a hundred times or more; but finds nothing. Frustrating, entirely frustrating. After seemingly the millionth time he probes over his unconscious mind something changes. Dull at first, then glaringly out of place. He rushes over, exploring and probing, but before he can garner any real information he feels the scene change, a familiar pull into that other world.
***
This time it is the trees outside of the temple. He is not surprised to find himself running, but this time, he is in human form. He cannot sense Hiei what-so-ever but strangely, he believes his friend nearby. The temple steps fly fast under his feet as his heart pounds harshly against his chest. Every muscle in his body hurts, and he can feel both wet and dry blood attached to his skin. Eventually he reaches the top, though no where near full speed as he usually would. They are waiting for him. Yusuke, Kuwabara, Genkai, Yukina, Botan, and even his family. Yusuke looks... pissed.
"What the hell Kurama? Where have you been? What exactly is going on?" His words are calm, calm and angry are a deadly combination from Yusuke. He tries to tell Yusuke about his strange dreams, that he has no idea exactly what is going on or even where reality is. But the now familiar control forces different words from his lips.
"Yusuke, I... Inari... I can't... there isn't enough time to explain!" He hits his knees, legs no longer able to support him. Yusuke's demeanor hardens, and there is a whimper from his Mother, Kazuya holds her back.
"There is time. I've seen you with worse wounds." Kurama shakes his head.
"Not that Yusuke... he's coming... you have to get the others out of here! He's coming for you! Yomi and Mukuro couldn't stop it and neither can you! Go! Go now!" Yes his mind shouts, leave and get out of here Yusuke, go before something bad happens to you!
Yusuke doesn't leave, his stance goes rigid and softens at the same time. His enemy has shifted, Kurama realizes. He starts to approach Kurama. "Dammit Fox-boy! Who the hell is coming and what's been going on!? Where have you been?" Angry, not calm. A definite improvement, much more like the Yusuke he knows. It is oddly comforting.
"No time Yusuke! Get my Mother out of here before..." A rough hand entangles in his hair and jerks his head back Yusuke isn't even halfway to him and stops, eyes rounding in sheer surprise. The hand in his hair tightens.
"You're dead!" Yusuke shouts. The voice behind him is familiar, but he can't place it.
"Eh heh he he heh he. No, but your friend is. You should have listened to him when you had the chance... but then, I knew you wouldn't." Kurama hears the cock of a gun, the barrel pressed to the back of his head.
"Let him go!" Yusuke screams.
l
"Eh heh he he heh he. This is the last time you wil interfere with my plans Fox spirit. Say goodbye now..." Kurama has just barely enough time to scream out... "Don't look Mother!"
The shot rings out; echos in... no, through his skull. Blood pours down his forehead and the hand releases his hair, he falls forward with a thud.
Shiori's screaming sobs entwine with the cries of the rest of the group.
***
Hiei watches his friend die, or who he supposes is Kurama. Maybe just Suuichi, for the simple fact that Yoko is sitting right next to him. This one is rightly confusing. There are two Kurama's, but he glances into his partners eyes and sees the restrained person behind, now he knows Kurama is in Yoko, not Suuichi. The trees block his view of who was holding Kurama.
Tears stream down the Detective's cheeks. The outright fury and self-recrimination is apparent on his face. Shiori's sobs put a vice on his heart, she hadn't looked away. Botan has a confused expression. It is her face he locks on, willing the others to notice.
"Dammit! If only I had trusted him a little more! You are going to die for this you little troll!"
"Eh heh he he heh he. Save your breath. He isn't dead... yet. Isn't that right little Miss ferry girl?" Botan looks at him in surprise and manages to stutter out.
"N-No! That body... it didn't have a soul at the time of death." They all look at her in a very confused way, all except Genkai. "What just died... was an empty shell."
"Then where the heck is Kurama and what the hell is that if it isn't him!?" Yusuke looks even more impossibly pissed off.
"Good questions boy! Where is he? I have the answer to that one of course but that doesn't mean I am about to give it to you. What is that? I will give you the answer to that. Its quite simple you see, that is a clone. A replica of your precious friend. Quite different from Yomi's experiments with Shura. You see this clone obeys my every command. Including telling it to warn you of my approach. My clones have the full range of abilities your friends possess as well as their intellectual prowess without having to deal with that annoying free will. Eh heh he he heh he!"
"You stupid little troll! You sent those stupid clones after Yomi and Mukuro!" Yusuke's aura hypes up another notch.
"Correct boy! I set my trap hoping to catch one Fox spirit and wound up with a fire demon as a bonus!" Both of them jump from the trees and land in front of the hidden figure behind them. Shiori gasps and he overhears Botan explain that the silvery figure is Kurama's demon form. "Rest assured that these are not the originals either. They are resting quite peacefully in my little hidden lab, and that is exactly where they will stay unless..." Yusuke grits his teeth and somehow manages to spit out his next words.
"Unless what?"
"Eh heh he he heh he! Unless you give up the rights of that magnificent body of yours to me boy!"
Kuwabara jumps in now. "Your have a sick mind you twisted old quack!"
"Eh heh he he heh he! Now those aren't very nice words. I suppose I'll just have to teach you a lesson." He snaps his fingers and Hiei stalks forward drawing a sword foreign to him, not his own trusted blade. Kuwabara steps back in shock. He barely manages to block Hiei's first strike. Forcing the fire demon back momentarily.
"Shrimp! What the heck is wrong with you!?" He swings again, this time the oaf is knocked to the ground before the blow can be struck, his hands are grabbed and held steady. His sister's bright red eyes meet his.
"Brother stop! I can feel you nearby but you aren't here! Where are you!?" YUKINA! His mind screams. He wants her to run away, wants her to be as far from this place as she possibly can get.
"You don't have the hiruseki... you aren't my brother and yet you are. Talk to me brother! Tell me where you are!" He feels his connection with Yukina strengthen for just a moment and he tries to send her as many images as he can, the fox's dreams. Everything, the expression on her face tells him that she understands him.
"What are you waiting for! Knock her aside and punish him!" The connection breaks and his arm raises, her eyes round in surprise. He watches in horror as his own fist meets her gut, he can feel her softness cave around his fist before he tosses her to the side. She struggles to breathe as he advances on Kuwabara.
Kuwabara's outrage is thick in the air, he draws his sword, but doesn't get the chance to use it. Pain erupts at the base of Hiei's neck, his severed head rolls and stops, looking up at Meiyo, tears streaming down the man's face.
"I know you are in there my son, I cry for your momentary death."
***
Momentary indeed.
His own thoughts scare him. Another Hiei jumps from the trees.
"Your fight is pointless. Kill as many as you can, I can always make more! Eh heh he he heh he!"
Meiyo growls. "Why do you think I said momentary?"
"Eh heh he he heh he! The unscientific mind is so amusing sometimes! You actually believe your son is in there!"
"He is!" All eyes turn to Yukina. "Just because he can't move doesn't mean he isn't there! He spoke to me!" Meiyo and Genkai both nod approvingly.
"Eh heh he he heh he! Believe what you wish girly but science..."
"... has a dimwit for for a messenger." All eyes turn to Genkai. "You forgot to take into account the strong bond between demonic twins." Yusuke grunts out.
"Look you little troll give up Kurama and Hiei now and I'll kill you quick!"
"Eh heh he he heh he! Either give up your body boy or you'll loose everything! Allow me to demonstrate. These are not your friends and they have no free will." The echo of the snap triggers something and Yoko moves forward, Yusuke braces himself, believing he is the target.
He is not.
Yoko wrenches his Mother from Kazuya's arms. Sending and elbow into Yusuke's face and he comes in to stop the kitsune. He slams her into a tree, can feel her ribs crack from the pressure. His mind sobs and screams, not his Mother, anyone but his Mother.
"Would your dear friend ever kill his beloved, doted upon, dearest treasure; his Mother?" Her eyes are wide with fear, fear and love. How can she possibly still love him? His claws raise for the final strike. The other move in fast, but not fast enough.
"Suuichi..." She breathes out, accepting her fate.
He can't, not his Mother. He can't stop it but he can't watch either. He tears away.
MOTHER!
"Mother..." the body echos, before dropping to the ground, lifeless. His Mother falls to her feet, breathing hard, Kuwabara grabs her and wrenches her away, back to Kazuya. But it is all dim and distant. The other man and Hiei retreat.
This dream is over. For once Kurama feels a slight twinge of victory.
***
A few strands of soft red hair escape his grasp as Kurama heaves again, long since having expelled the entire contents of his stomach. Hiei believes the term is dry heaving. Sometimes human bodies are so annoying and weak. Hiei doesn't feel like mentioning it to his partner at the moment though.
It isn't his fault that his body can't stand the stress recent events have put it under.
The Fox leans back against him, skin a deathly pallor, gasping for breath. "You must... think me... so weak Hiei." Hiei says nothing. "To be able... to face down Karasu... yet become this state at..." His eyes widen again and Hiei grabs his hair as the Fox goes into another fit of dry heaves. Each one is more painful to hear than the last, his body finally has reached its stress limit. Hiei hears something wet hit the water of the toilet and looks.
Blood, only just a bit. The Fox has heaved so hard he tore something. Hiei needs to find a way to calm him.
"It was just a dream Fox."
"Can you be so sure Hiei?" The tone is cold.
"You didn't kill her, you stopped it."
"I hit her. I hurt her. I probably broke her ribs. Her own son..." His words are hollow and steady. Hiei curses the masks that reign in Kurama's emotions.
Kurama heaves again, more blood. "She would forgive you Fox, she loves you." More heaving.
"Yes. Look at how I've repaid her." Hiei actually flinches as Kurama heaves again, the water is moving from pink to red. Hiei ties Kurama's hair back and gets up.
"I'll go cook something bland... then you'll have something to puke up."
Kurama gives an odd sort of laugh, sadistic.
"Imagine if Kuwabara ever found out that you can cook better than me." Hiei flinches again at the Fox's attempt to distract himself.
Something really... really bland.
________________________________________________________________ ______________________
A/N: Shiori did not die. For those of you who were a little confused. Yes you can heave so hard that you make yourself bleed; and a body can only take so much stress. I believe that nearly killing his Mother is more than enough to push Kurama over that limit.
Yes, Hiei can cook in this. He's lived alone all his life, he has to know something about it.
This is the longest chapter I've written in this part of the story so far. It needed to be. I hope you enjoy it.
Let's hope there isn't any permanent damage to your souls here, mine is certainly hurting.
Please review!!!
-san: Mr. or Mrs.
-sama: Lord
-kun: Young man that is a friend
-chan: Female, young boy, or lover
Makai: Demon world
Reikai: Spirit world
Ningenkai: Human world
Kitsune: Fox spirit
Baka: idiot
Ningen: Human
Mazaku: Type of demon that Yusuke is
Sakura Tree: cherry tree
Jagan: Hiei's 3rd eye
Hiruseki: tear gem
Inari: Fox goddess
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho nor any of its characters. They belong to Yoshihiro Togashi. The plot and original characters of this fic, are however, mine.