Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Scientific Corruption ❯ On the Other Side ( Chapter 6 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Chapter 6
On the Other Side

"... so Yomi and Mukuro were to make sure that Doctor Ichigaki's clones worked right. We didn't believe it was you guys at first. Not until your clones attacked us. Then of course we knew it was clones. We managed to follow Dr. Ichigaki back to his lab. By the time we got there, Kurama was going comatose. I don't know what you guys did but that was wicked." Yusuke leans back against the wall of the entrance chamber of Tourin as Hiei finishes tying on his cloak. "What did you guys do?"

Hiei looks up with his normal, bored expression. "The Jagan was connecting us to our clones. We thought them to be dreams at first, albeit disturbing dreams. Eventually we figured out that something was wrong. The last of my real memories is going to see Yukina while the fox slept and coming back into the room. I think I must have gone after Ichigaki and been taken down by one of the Fox's clones. According to Kurama's first 'dream'. The Fox is the one that discovered we could separate ourselves from reality, and doing so would kill the clones."

Yusuke perks up. "You mean when he stopped the attack on Shiori?"

Hiei nods sharply. "It took a lot out of him though. Those 'dreams' left him extremely weak. By the time you got to the lab his mind was breaking apart. I finally managed to sever ties to the other world and bring his whole mind back to his body; and repair the damage. He should be healthy when he wakes, but there will likely be trouble." Hiei crosses his arms and looks at the floor, as if contemplating something.

Yusuke scoffs. "No way! Dr. Ichigaki is a powerless little troll with all his clones gone! I've got some of my best guys watching him!"

Genkai snaps at Yusuke. "Not from Ichigaki you Dimwit!"

Yusuke scratches his head. "Well who else is going to cause trouble?"

Genkai sighs in a very ticked off way. Hiei's body goes rigid. "Stupid! Do you really think..."

She is cut off as a blur of red and green is knocked to the floor by a blur of black. They hit the ground and it becomes a little clearer. Kurama, clad in green pajamas, is pinned by Hiei... but not for long. Kurama flips them and tries to take off running again. Hiei grabs his ankle and Kurama goes down, catches himself on his hands, and rolls out of Hiei's range.

"Fox wait!"

But Kurama merely switches tactics, aiming for the much closer window, instead of the door as origanally planned. Hiei plows into him, pinning his back against the wall. Kurama manages to wedge a foot between them and onto Hiei's chest. He sends the fire demon flying, tearing the sleeves of his pajama top in the process. He makes it halfway out the window before Hiei is on him again, Hiei hooks his arms under Kurama's and behind his head. He pulls Kurama back into the room. Kurama ducks his head and Hiei's hands slide over the silky hair. Kurama flips up over and behind Hiei, forcing his own release. He turns on his heel at once and dashes for the door again. Hiei rushes him once more, sending them both to the floor. This time Hiei successfully completes his pin of Kurama. Hands to the floor, with Hiei's weight centered on Kurama's chest.

"Let me go!" It isn't Kurama's normally soft tone, nor even Yoko's silky and dangerous one. The words come out as a growl; feral, and threatening.

"Listen to me first!"

"No time!" Kurama locks his legs around Hiei's throat and throws him backward, which propels Kurama forward. He lands on his hands and flips to his feet, once again dashing for the door. Hiei rolls and gets ahead of Kurama, blocking the exit. Kurama can't stop in time and smacks straight into Hiei, who flips him and pins him to the wall this time, careful to pin his legs as well as his arms.

"Fox you have control! You are going to keep control! You aren't going to hurt Shiori!" Kurama's struggles cease momentarily as bright green eyes meet red.

"How can you be so sure?" Hiei's eyes lock with Kurama's, voice full of conviction.

"Trust me Fox, I'll give you the explanation, but for now just trust me."

The room is silent as Hiei and Kurama have a stare down. No one can really say how long it lasts, but Kurama breaks it, he slides his eyes closed slowly. "If you don't mind Hiei, ripped pajamas aren't exactly appropriate attire."

Hiei smirks, and let's Kurama free. "I know where they stashed your clothes Fox." Kurama nods and they exit, back toward Kurama's room. Kurama is very careful not to so much as glance Shiori's way. She notices, and a vice goes around her heart. But as she goes to follow, Kazuya pulls her back, she stays.

Genkai smirks. "Understand now dimwit?"

Kuwabara rubs his eyes. "Damn, that was way to fast... I didn't know Kurama could move that fast!"

Yusuke cocks his head to the side. "I didn't know people could bend that way on their own."

Genkai smacks them both. "The body can do pretty much anything with the right motivation. Yusuke, he put fourth full effort to protect both his Mother and Hiei. He very well might have escaped without ever hurting Hiei if Hiei hadn't managed to get through to him. That is the power of full determination."

Yusuke chuckles. "Ok Grandma, I got the point. I know I've said this before but man... remind me to never piss off Fox-boy."

The room erupts in laughter.

***
Shiori leaves the room quietly as the others go into fits of laughter. She seeks out the comfort of the only too familiar garden. The lush green is rare in this dry dessert, but by now she has been assured that her son had created it.

This is the second time he has gone missing. She contacted the temple two days after he disappeared. It wasn't long after that they had gotten word of the attack on Yomi. Nothing could sway her belief that the boy, Shura, had been mistaken. Her Suuichi would never do such a thing, let alone to a friend.

And she had been right, hadn't she?

She leans against the all too familiar tree. The sight of her son that day had given her all sorts of relief. But he had been wounded, yet no one would let her help him. Then that terrible little man had come forward and...

She chokes on a sob. The image burned into her brain permanently. The light leaving her son's eyes, the way his body fell, the red rivulets making their way down the pale skin she knows so well. The tears break free against her will. Sobs rack her entire frame. That silvery fox creature, they told her that it was Yoko Kurama. The demon that took over as her son. He had slammed her into the tree, the searing, burning pain of her ribs breaking had been nothing compared to what she saw in his eyes. Pure desperation, her son was in there somewhere. He saved her from that clone; just as she knew he would. Now Suuichi blames himself for the encounter. She sobs even harder.

Warm, strong arms wrap around her and press her head to their chest. Suuichi's soft voice reaches her ears as she cries in her son's arms.

"Shhh. Mother I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Please don't cry, not for me. Don't worry, I'll make sure I can never hurt you again." He starts to pull away and Shiori clings to him even tighter.

"No! Suuichi! It isn't your fault! You saved me, just like I knew you would..." Her eyes are brimmed with tears but she staves them off, needing to be very firm, both of them are shocked to hear another voice enter the conversation.

"No Fox-boy, it ain't your fault; it's mine." Yusuke stands off to the side, hands shoved in his pockets, starring angrily at the ground. "Ichigaki was after me. He just used you guys to get to me. This is my fault. You couldn't have done anything about it Kurama, just take care of your Mom ok? She needs you. After all, we both sacrificed a lot in that wish for her health and happiness, be pretty stupid if we ruined it now by having her upset over you leaving right?"

Kurama clears his throat and nods, pulling Shiori into a fierce hug. Yusuke walks away with his head still down. Passing Kazuya on his way out of the garden. The man has a completely frustrated look on his face; Yusuke doesn't care enough to ask about the man's problems at this point.

He works his way out to the training area and starts to beat the hell out of whatever he can. Blasts go off and time fades away. He just keeps pounding, one might call it training if he had a purpose in mind. But his thoughts are clogged by frustration and guilt. He should be able to shake this off no problem. He wishes to be pounding into Ichigaki again instead of inanimate objects. It just isn't as satisfying.

His friends are hurt because of him. Logically he couldn't have done anything, there is no use dealing in what if's. But he can seem to let it go. Perhaps he has been spending too much time with Kurama.

Yusuke pushes himself harder and harder and harder. He sees Kurama collapse over and over; Hiei's worried expression, a rare slip on the fire demon's part; Kurama fighting to run; Shiori's tears, the sobs shaking her whole little body; each one adds to his momentum. Just too much in too short of a time span.

Eventually he works himself into exhaustion. He passes out right in the middle of the field.

A lone figure approaches him and pulls up a blanket. "Now that is full effort dimwit. I am actually proud of you. But don't let it go to your head."

Genkai turns and heads back to Tourin.

***

Kazuya watches as Shiori and Suuichi talk and hug. Suuichi constantly comforts Shiori and asks her how she feels. Shiori says that she feels better than ever thanks to Yukina.

Kazuya isn't so sure about his own feelings.

He hadn't even see that fox-creature move. It could have killed Shiori, and he couldn't do a damn thing. They were all like that weren't they? Beastly things that move faster than human eyes, and killed as they pleased. That thing, that Fox-thing is trapped inside his step-son. Freakishly tall with those horridly long claws. It had hurt Shiori.

That thing in his step-son's body. Would Suuichi loose control of that beast? For some reason they all insist that thing and Suuichi are one in the same. That Yoko was reformed by Shiori's love. Kazuya isn't so sure.

He moves out of the bush cover and places a hand on Suuichi's shoulder. Bright green eyes, so very deep, look up to meet his. He can never read anything from them.

"Father, would you like to join us?" His tone is polite and Kazuya feels himself relax as he sits down and pulls his still sniffling wife close. This is his well-mannered step-son. Kazuya knows...

Even that beast Yoko cannot make Suuichi kill his Mother.

***
Hiei sighs as the Fox wishes his Mother goodnight and bids her goodbye. It isn't far from the ningen woman's home to the apartment and the Fox decides to walk. Probably the best choice for his as of late underused muscles. Hiei trails him silently, still unwilling to let his partner out of his sight.

Kurama enters his apartment and quickly opens the bedroom window. Hiei knows it for the invitation it is, Kurama always leaves the window open for him. The Fox's also knows Hiei is near, indicating that he wants to talk. He slips into the bedroom easily, placing his cloak and boots off to the side as always. The bedroom is a mess, indication of the attack. His partner is in the kitchen, making dinner for them.

"Hello Hiei, I am so happy you could join me." He turns around with two plates and a bright smile that is forced. Hiei knows it is.

They sit down and begin to eat. The soup is good. It is an American dish called chicken soup. Kurama modified it with Makai vegetables instead of the usual human ones. Hiei knows that the meal was made more with his tastes in mind than Kurama's, but at least the Fox would enjoy the chicken. A compromise, as usual.

"This isn't over Fox."

Kurama's tone remains chipper. "I didn't think so Hiei, but even the condemned get a last meal."

Hiei shakes his head. "Yomi has heard the truth by now, he won't kill you."

"And you think Mukuro will be so lenient?" Sarcasm; Hiei isn't used to such sharp answers from Kurama. It's straining.

"That isn't the same, you might want to have the first-aid kit ready. Though I doubt that she will actually kill me... I've never professed to be able to predict her."

Kurama laughs. "You are assuming that I will be in a condition to use it Hiei."

The rest of the meal is eaten in silence. Not a strange thing between them but this time it is quite frustrating. Unfortunately Hiei is no where near the conversationalist that his partner is and doesn't know how to break the tension hanging in the air. Kurama downright refuses to do it for him, pretending that nothing is wrong.

They get up and wash the dishes, then set them to dry. Kurama changes into his Gandarran uniform and Hiei grabs his boots and cloak. Not a word is spoken the entire time.

"Good luck." Said at the same time. Hiei jumps out the window and Kurama leaves through the door, taking to the rooftops soon there after.

Both hope to see the other the next morning, even if half dead.
_________________________________________________________________ _____________________

A/N: This one is a lot better than the others as far as upsetting you readers... and my soul. No one gets hurt in this chapter after all. Although tensions are pretty high. If you guys want, you can review and tell me if you want to hear about Hiei and Mukuro first, or Yomi and Kurama. Both will be in the next/last chapter but I'm curious as to which you would like to hear about first.

Yes! It was Dr. Ichigaki! Most of you probably already guessed that but for those of you that didn't you have your answer. Stupid little troll with that annoying as heck laugh! If you don't remember who he is, review the Dark tournament saga. I did not create him he is in the story. Sorry for the spoiler if someone out there hasn't gotten that far in the series yet. But than again I suppose talking about Yomi and Mukuro spoils the Three Kings... so... yeah.

Yusuke blames himself because Dr. Ichigaki was after him. The blame is all misplaced of course, both on Yusuke's and Kurama's parts, but that is not how either of those characters would see it. So we can yell at them for being stupid, but it won't change who they are.

Kurama and Hiei will have to confront Yomi and Mukuro. Mind that both of these character will already have been made aware of the situation with the clones; but they were very, very hurt. This is why there will be uncertainty in their reaction, even for Kurama and Hiei, who know the two better than anyone else. It took me quite a while to come up with their reactions, which were much different from what I originally predicted. Hopefully it will surprise you as well. On top of Yomi's anger, Kurama must also deal with Shura's anger. After all, Shura pretty much was put in the situation of having one man he considers his Father attack the other man he considers his Father. I just don't give that poor kid a break.

Kazuya and Shiori are radically different here. I needed them to be. Kazuya isn't being mean or uncaring. He is protecting his family from something he doesn't understand, and has been programmed to be prejudiced against. He loves Suuichi as his own son, but his mind will not allow him to consider the fact that Yoko the demon and Suuichi the human are one in the same. More issues will arise later in the series and will explode fantastically all over the plot in a messy smear of outlandish emotion. Just the way I like it! Shiori adapts much better than Kazuya, she has to, she was a single Mother of a demon child. The woman would defiantly be flexible after a little while. That's why I think she would be more accepting of Yoko.

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.