Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Slivers Of You ❯ A Blissful Winter's Kiss ( Chapter 1 )

"Slivers Of You"

This is...

My Christmas present to all my faithful readers I've collected over the last year. Thanx so much everyone.

This is what I give you. A special YYH Christmas. Each chapter will be a different character's perspective. The final chapter will be Christmas Day itself and will probably be in everybody's perspectives, I guess. At any rate, Each chapter is suppose to give you a glimpse into each person's soul. You'll have to tell me whether you think I did a ACCURATE one or not. It's all a matter of opinion.

ME: *ahem* And now I think I'll just fill these author notes with lists. Lists are funny! *am sadly laughing at my own thoughts*

KEIKO: *raises an eyebrow* What kind of lists? Are they things you want us to do?

*I shake my head no smiling*

KEIKO: o-O Things you want?

*I shake my head no smiling*

KEIKO: ... uh .. What then? Things that you'll never get?

*I start to shake my head no again and Hiei whacks me upside the head*

HIEI: *growling* Just get on with it! *fuming*

ME: *rubbing head and whining* You're so mean! I'm not gonna get you a Christmas present now! >: (

HIEI: *shrugs shoulders* Like I care.

ME: *snappish* I hate you! Grrrr.... *I dust myself off dramatically* ANYWHO.. This list will be.. *you hear a drum roll* .. .. '5 Reasons You Should Give Your Cat A Bath Before The Holidays'.

YUUSUKE: *rolls eyes* Oh brother.. *Keiko pinches him*

ME: *I glare at Yuusuke and silently thank Keiko* Ok now... *AHEM* Reason number 1~~ 'You don't want your Christmas cards to smell like Cat butt.'

BOTAN: O-O How the hell did you come up with that one???

ME: ^_^ Oh that's easy! Everyone knows that cat's always sits on your important papers. If you're working on something and it's important... YOU KNOW you're cat will come right over and sit it's SMELLY butt right on it! It happens every time!!

BOTAN: *rolls eyes hard* Or MAYBE it just happens to YOU.

ME: *sticks my tongue out at her* Moving on.. Reason number 2~~ 'Again You don't want to smell like cat butt either...'

*Kuwabara is cracking up, clearly enjoying this*

KEIKO: *looking confused* If they sit on your papers, how does that make you smell??

ME: o-o'' Well, uh.. Cat's clean themselves and then they uh... lick you.

KEIKO: 0-0 Eeeewwwww..... You're just gross.

ME: -_-'' Yeah yeah. Anywho.. I'm writing these while I'm tired. Cut me some slack. Now Reason number 3~~ 'You don't want fly away hair in your holiday dinners.'

*I duck tape Botan's mouth before she can comment*

*Hiei knocks me out from behind*

ME: .... X-X

YUUSUKE: Thanks Hiei. *looks genuinely relieved*


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< br> "A Blissful Winters Kiss"



~~~~YUKINA~~~~



It is different, for me, here. The winter is not the same. It does not smell the same, or strangely enough, even feel the same. It is not to say that that is bad. I'm not complaining. I like the experience.

It is really the very first time that I have spent a winter away from my true home, the Floating Kingdom of the Koorime, in the Makai. The winters there... are special. Especially to Koorime like me. The winters last almost the whole year there. I think it has something to do with how high that land is. I guess it's lucky that I'm an ice apparition, the depth of the cold doesn't bother me at all.

In fact, I really enjoy it. It is when I feel the most comfortable in my skin, when I feel the most in tune with nature around me. I just... BELONG there, you know?

And the whole Floating Kingdom is just the most beautiful place one could imagine. The land looks like it stretches on forever, with lush tall dark pines weighted heavy with fallen snow, bowing down to the world. The mountains climb high, way off in the distance and almost look as blue as the sky, even though I know their not, that's the way they look to me.

All of the sudden I realize my feet are burning hot! I look down at them startled and curled them back under the chair I was perched on. I've gotten too close to the fireplace that Genkai has lit tonight. Fire is a beautiful thing to look at, but far too warm for my blood. I can't rationalize to myself, why I would sit so close to it? How could I not have been paying attention?

I guess I was just truly lost in my thoughts.

But I must be more careful then that. Just as excessive cold can harm humans, excessive heat can harm Ice Apparitions. I pull my feet from where I slid them beneath the chair to feel them. They are hot and swollen, tinged with red. They are tender now and screaming at me. I rub them gently with my hands but my hands are too warm too and it doesn't do much good. And I don't know if it's because I looked at my feet or not, but now I just don't feel so good. I have been careless with myself, the others would be mad at me. Botan would probably even scold me.

It's nice that they are so kind to care about me so. I am very fortunate to have them all around and Genkai opened her home to me so graciously. I can't begin to repay her kindness. 'Perhaps I should start by making dinner?' I smile to myself. Yes, I think she would like that. She has been meditating hard all day, I'm sure she'll be quite hungry soon!

But first, I think I'll step out a moment to cool my feet off. 'They are rather mad at me, I think!' I giggle. I slid open the door to the outside, as quietly and softly as I could. I don't wish to disturb Genkai. As I step outside, a gush of winter blows past me, lifting my hair. I smile wide, inhaling it and feeling it surround me like a old friend. How wonderful.. This cold crisp air feels so good I could cry.

It is so hard for me sometimes, to understand how humans dislike the winter so. But I try to remember how fragile they are, how the cold must hurt them and that's why they don't really like it. It does seem a shame, for them to miss its beauty. Their lives are so short as it is, that it really seems a horrible injustice for them to miss anything. One should revel in every moment one has! And for humans it is even more true.

I, myself, am often frightened by experiences I have. After all, I did not leave the safety of The Floating Kingdom that long ago, and everything is still quite new to me. And though it may be hard for me, some of these things that I experience, I am not sorry for any of it. I am all the more richer for each moment, it is truly a gift.

'Which reminds me.. ..' I smile even brighter at my train of thought. I love the idea of the holiday, my human friends are soon to celebrate. 'hmmm....' I twist my fingers lightly as I try to think 'What did Keiko call it again?'

Oh yes! That's it! It was called Christmas. Keiko had been so kind as to explain it to me and I think I understood it right..

She said there are some humans on this planet that have a 'religion' of their own called 'Christianity'. And on a certain day coming up is the birthday of one of their gods. I remember thinking it strange that we should celebrate Christmas, if its for a birthday of a God we don't know to even exist. I asked Keiko why we would bother, and she said that most likely they were talking about Koenma and King Yama anyway. And even if they weren't, Christmas is a day you're supposed to celebrate by showing love and good will to everyone. That you were supposed to show affection towards everyone and it was generally spent with family and friends and good food.

A day of happiness and love.

Yes. It sounds wonderful. I was happy to be a part of it. She then went on to tell me all the decorations that humans like to put out, it all sounds so colorful and happy, and some of the customs. She told me about how people who care about it each other exchange gifts often. I was concerned about that. What do I have to give to others? I really don't own anything or have 'money' that they use here.

I step down Genkai's stone steps out into the snow that comes all the way up to my calves. It is wet and slick and great! I immediately feel more relaxed. Then it comes to me! That's it! That's what I can give everyone here that I care for! I will prepare a special meal, a recipe from the Makai. I'm sure that they'll be so happy! I hope that they'll like it.

I am so ecstatic at the thought, that I dance happily in the snow. Round and round and round I dance and twirl, my soft green hair flying about me and in my face, partially blocking my vision. And I laugh as it begins to snow down on me ever so quiet as it always is. And I spin and spin, my arms all the way out to catch it as I twirl in circles.

It catches up to me though, and dizzy, I fall backwards into my soft white blanket, still laughing like the child I once was. In some ways, I don't think I've ever grown up. I've always lived so sheltered in the Floating Kingdom, and even here, the others continue to shelter me from everything. So I've pretty much remained as I have always been.

The deliciously cold snow snuggles me completely as I lie there. Grabbing fistfuls on either side of me, I toss it dramatically back towards the sky, as if I could truly return it to where it came from. But it just goes up a few feet from the tips of my fingers and then plummets back down in clumps, some of which landed in my face. I had to quickly close my eyes! But I love it, I love everything about the snow.. .. Everything. It is the place I call home.

I slowly open my eyes again, staring up into the gray and white clouded sky, as the white dots of snow slowly drift down to cover me up, when I notice something..

A black shadow in a bare winter tree, is a little way off from me. I nearly jump! But I remain where I am and find myself staring into eyes that are as deep and red as my own. It's Hiei. I don't know how I didn't know it was him right away, but I guess I've been daydreaming again.
He continues to stare at me without batting an eyelash or saying a word. I'm not sure what he wants, but I suppose I don't really mind that he watches me. I realize that he frightens people but I just feel warm and safe when he's around. I actually like that he appears sometimes. He never says anything to me or wants anything, he's just kind of there.. .. watching.

And now I watch him right back, absorbing the cascading lines of his dark cloak and the sharp points of his wild demon hair. I like to look at him too. Though I would be much too embarrassed to ever tell him so, especially because he might ask me why and I don't have an answer..

I continue to watch him back, as my eyelashes grow wet and heavy with my precious snow. And he is the first to break our eye contact. Giving a rare half smile and a soft 'hn', he closes his eyes slowly and slides down the back of the trunk of the tree to sit on a fat branch and nap. I giggle softly at his silliness. Sometimes he does the most peculiar things. As dangerous and scary as people seem to think he is, he looks so soft and gentle to me. I wonder why that is?
Even though he has broken our staring game, I continue to stare at his slumped shape against the tree, above me. My eyes lose focus as my thoughts drift off.. ..




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I know I've seen Hiei before. I mean, before I met all the others or ever was ever really aware of the human world. Back when I only knew The Floating Kingdom of the Koormine, when I took my walks through the wilderness surrounding my village and home, there were just times that I felt watched. And I'd look around and up and I would catch just the briefest glimpse of him. But I know it was him. I'd recognize him anywhere.

But the strange thing was, that anytime I caught him watching me, he would disappear again. Why did he always run? I realize that Ice Apparitions aren't suppose to have any contact with any but our own kind, but why should that stop Hiei? He doesn't strike me as someone who scares very easily.

And then there was that one day, so long ago now.. ..



Ooooo


I had been taking a slow leisurely walk through the woods that ran around our village. It was not anything unusual for me. I like to converse with the birds. But that day I had wandered in a direction that I don't usually walk, it was darker there and there were fewer birds. It was very quiet.

Then abruptly up ahead I heard the screeching cry of a wounded animal. A death cry.. .. I rushed forward, hoping to offer comfort to its pain. As I ran into the clearing, my hair whipping me wildly behind, I screamed out myself, in horror of the sight. It was a large beast, it reminds me of the lions that live on this planet with it body and jaws.

But this creature.. this poor creature was now no longer fierce. It lay deathly still on its side, its stomach split wide and the snow tainted dark red and melting against the heat. The creature whined and breathed funny, in short choppy breathes as it struggled against death. It was so horrible.. So very very horrible..

I just wanted to close my eyes.

And I rushed forward towards the massive creature, that was twice my size, and laid my hands upon it, lifting away some of its pain. It looked as me with glassy eyes and continued to whimper. My tears cascaded down my face, pelting my lap as they crystallized, lost amongst the snow. This poor poor creature. I wondered who could have done this.

But even as I had just begun to wonder, out of the corner of my eye I saw him.. .. Hiei. Off on the other side of the clearing, high upon a branch, he stood looking down.

And I knew.. I KNEW.. it had been him.

And I didn't want to believe it, as the tears feel hard from my cheeks as I looked up at him. Still he said nothing. Offered no explanation for this. And I tore my gaze from his, to look back down at his prey.

The creature was breathing hard now, and its eyes no longer saw anything, as it stared forward past me. I stroked its soft fur by its face, so it did not feel that it was alone. I felt it sigh at my touch, then expel breath hard one final time, as the light faded from it's eyes.
That's the last I saw, as my own vision blurred in my soundless tears. I couldn't stop them. I couldn't remember the last time I had felt sad. Had I ever felt sad, before this moment? If so, it had never been like this. And I cried for this creature. And I cried for the way it suffered. And I stroked its fur, already wet with new snow.

I just couldn't understand why Hiei would have done this. He had always seemed so benign to me before. Had he been this way all along? I couldn't conceive of it at the time. It seemed unfathomable to a Ice Apparition, how cruel life can be, that was so isolated from the rest of the world. How naïve I had been.

And I had continued to leak hard tears for some time, before I finally looked up and realized.. .. I was alone.

I can't begin to express how alone I really felt at that moment. After all, it was a strange thing to say, when I walked alone in these woods all the time. But this time.. it was different. This time I was really alone. I realized this for the first time.

I had never felt like I was alone before that moment. And I think it was because of him. I think he had always been around watching me.. .. keeping me company. I just never realized he was the reason that I was never lonely.

But now I was lonely.

Truly lonely.

The tears came harder, the silence of the snow covered forest swamping me. It was too much. And I buried my face in the neck of this poor animal.

But I was ashamed of myself. As I continued to cry bitter tears.. .. my cheeks burned with embarrassment. For I realized that even as I cried for this creature, I was also crying.. for myself.

I experienced my first taste of jealousy. I was jealous of this creature.
It had been so close to him.

I saw a glimpse of myself and my desire to be close to Hiei. I had never recognized it till now, how I wished to be near him, for him to touch me and hold me close to comfort me. And this creature.. it had what I wanted, to be so close to him that it could smell him. To be touched by him, even if it was in a deadly manner. At this moment, I would happily turned my life over too.. .. to be so close.

But that wish would never come true.

I never saw him again after that. I walked those woods alone for over a hundred years. And very rarely, I would feel that old feeling that I was watched, but I never saw him. I would look. But he was never there.

He was never there again.

When I had been kidnapped for my tears, and my wonderful friends had come to save me. I saw him that day. For the first time in hundreds of years, he stood before me, protecting me from the human that had kidnapped me.

And my deepest wish came true.

As he stood only feet away from me, and his intoxicating scent of pine needles and fresh running mountain waterfalls filled my senses. I even held him, as I gripped his arm, to prevent him from killing the human. And though I am ashamed to admit it, I can't say that I only did it to spare the human's life. I didn't want the human to die but.. but I.. .. needed to touch him.
He did not run this time. He stayed as we stared at each other for the first of many times to come. And I could not ask him, that question I had held from that day from so long ago. I just never could..



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I finally fell out of my vegetative day dreaming state, a little shaken. It has been so long since I've thought of these things. I focus my eyes once more, to find that Hiei still naps in the tree. I smile up at him, amazed at how everything has turned out. How my wish came true.
He is my Christmas present.

I hope, that when I finally find my brother I've been looking for, that he will be as wonderful as Hiei.

I pick myself up and dust myself off. I have been day dreaming so long, that the day is almost gone. I will have to hurry to get dinner ready. I rush inside to the kitchen only to realize that we have run out of rice! That will not do!

I hate to disturb Genkai, but I walk into the living room to tell her I'm going to the market for rice. I don't want her to worry about me. "Don't be too long, it's getting dark soon. " Genkai tells me. Such a kind woman. I assure her that I'll be quick and hurry off.

Walking quickly down the streets of downtown, I have to be careful not be stepped on. I'm kind of short unfortunately, and it is crowded. People just don't see me. I don't mind though. It's a good thing that they don't see me. My red eyes and light green hair stick out in the human world. Apparently these are unnatural things for humans and they asks me questions that I can't answer.

I find the grocery store I always go to, up ahead. They are very kind to me there, they don't ask me embarrassing questions. I was even pleased to find a piece of fish on sale. It will be good to add to our dinner, and I ask the clerk to wrap it up.

"How are you doing today? "he asks me sweetly. "I am having a wonderful day. I just love the snowfall. "I answer just as sweetly back. "Yes, it is nice. It's getting close to Christmas. Is your family getting together this year? "he continues. He doesn't know what I am, or where I'm from. I freeze for a moment, not knowing how to answer. But it occurs to me, that yes my family IS getting together. My friends are my family. Kurama and Keiko and Yuusuke and Genkai. And Kuwabara and Suizuru and especially... Hiei. I flush, answering "Yes! It will be wonderful this year, I think! "I beam at him. He smiles back, sharing in my happiness.

I leave the store with a light heart. My mind succumbing to day dreams yet again, as I try to picture what Christmas will be like. I just can't wait! I haven't been this excited for a very long time!

Walking by a alley, I never saw the group of human males that stood there, until it was too late. They grab me and wretched me into the dark alley that was dirty with soot covered mushy snow.

I clutched tightly to my little bag of food for dinner, as if it could hide me from them. So many humans are so very kind. But some..

And I was frightened. I am not a strong demon. But these weren't demons at all and I could probably fend them off. The problem is.. that I don't think I could. Hurting creatures is just not something I can do. I would feel so terrible. I could just never do it. I wished.. Hiei were here. And yet I don't. He may kill them. I don't want that either.

"Hey sweet thang! Don't look so frightened. We just want a little sugar from you honey, that's all. "said one of them, but I think he's lying. "Yeah hot little momma! We like you a lot! " spouted another at me. I pulled my bag closer.

"Don't act shy! "one snapped from the back "We can see that you're a wild thing with those red contacts and crazy colored hair. ""But I.. "I stumbled at him. How can I explain those are real? The one closest to me, grinning widely, reaches out toward me. I shrink back against the wall cringing.

He never touches me.

"HEY! What do you guys think you're doing? "screamed a voice I knew. It was Kuwabara! I was so happy to see him!

Kuwabara grabbed the guy and hit him so hard in the face that he landed half way down the alley. I felt a little sorry for him. "Are you ok my love? "Kuwabara asks me, with a strange light in his eyes. I nod my head meekly and try to say something but another one of those guys hits him. He growls, and momentarily forgetting me, he charges at them.

I cover my eyes.

When I finally open them again, Kuwabara stands before me, smiling at me despite a busted lip. I reach up and touch it, healing it closed. "Thanks Yukina. I really appreciate that. "gushes Kuwabara, like a little boy. "They didn't hurt you, did they? "he asks, sounding truly worried. I shake my head no. And before I can say another word. He scoops me up. "Were you headed back to Genkai's? "Kuwabara inquires. "Yes. I have just bought some things for dinner.. "I started. Before I could finish he was walking off with me held tightly in his arms "I'll walk you there then! You shouldn't go places alone. It's too dangerous. Just call me next time and I'll come! " he tells with sincerity. I smile and nod. He is one of many of my wonderful friends.. .. ..

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So peoples. *looks around at random* How'd you like my start? Was it boring? Does it need work? Do you think I failed at "Keeping it real"?

*I pick my aching self up off the ground*

ME: *screaming* Who the hell knocked me out this time?!

*nobody answers*

ME: *growling* Damn all of you! *you hear a Christmas carol playing a song about loving everyone, begin to play softly*

ME: >: ( Damn you too Koenma! You're sick jokes are annoying! I know you put that song on, on purpose!

*You hear Koenma giggled from somewhere up above*

KURAMA: *just walks in* Sorry I'm late everyone. Did I miss anything?

*Botan goes to say something and I knock her out cold*

ME: *hissing* I'm not listening to anymore of your crap ferry girl! *looks like a mad woman*

KURAMA: o-O''' Well, I see I didn't miss anything unusual, anyway. *sigh*

ME: *grinning like the crazied maniac that I am* he he he.... *rubs hands together* As I was doing before '5 Reasons You Should Give Your Cat A Bath Before The Holidays'. Reason number 4~~ 'Fleas are not a boyfriend friendly gift.'

YUUSUKE: o-O What the hell are you talking about?

*even Kuwabara looks confused*

ME: *sigh* No one understands me. Look, it's real simple Yuusuke. Guys try to be nice to your cat when they like you. They come over. They pick up your cat. They pet your cat. They get fleas from your cat. Voila! Fleas! *looking like it should be obvious*

ENSATSUKOKURYUHA: *appears out of thin air and raises a single eyebrow high* I think you're batty. You don't get fleas from your cat.

*I hand her my cat*

ENSATSUKOKURYUHA: *takes cat* *pets cat* What a pretty kitt- AHHH!!! *starts scratching wildly behind her ear and at the back of her neck* FLEAS!! SOMEONE GET THEM OFF OF ME! *throws cat*

*I catch my kitty and laugh and point*

MY KITTY: o-o'''' Meow...

*now nobody else will hold my kitty*

*I shrug and put my kitty away*

MY KITTY: meow.. ... meow... meowmeowmeowmeow... *won't stop crying*

*I bark at my kitty, loud like a dog, so she'll shut up and she runs under the bed*

KEIKO & KUWABARA: O-Ou

ME: ^_^ She's so kawaii! He he.. And now Reason Number 5~~ 'Because if you bath your kitty ON the Holiday, then they are more likely to leave a 'present' for you on your brand new slippers, in protest.'

*everyone groans*