Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Strings ❯ Tugging the Strings ( Chapter 3 )

Disclaimer: Silly readers ^___^ of course I do not own YYH…I have next to no artistic skills whatsoever, but thankfully Yoshiro Togashi does! Long story short…just read it!

Hiei: Stupid disclaimer…I lost IQ points just reading it

Me: But Hiei your IQ is pretty much set…you can't just lose points…

Hiei: I meant it as an insult baka

Me: Oh…well you should really check the facts before you try to insult someone…

Hiei: *storms off seething*

***

Tugging the Strings

Your legs are weak, and it takes you two tries just to get them beneath you. You're actually thankful for the meal you've just had, though it wasn't much, just some soup and crackers, and even more thankful your stomach didn't reject it. Kurama is hovering nearby, tensed to catch you should you stumble. Your first attempt at walking send you sailing back into the bed with a grimace.

"Damn," you mutter. You shoo away Kurama's helpful hands and struggle to your feet again. They are all watching you, and in your mind you hear the echo of the High Priest's voice, just before going out among the people. You've got to be stronger than everyone else, braver. You can't show them your weakness or they'll tear you apart. You nod and put on your brave face. Sucking in a deep breath of air, you take one trembling step, then another, until you are walking very slowly about the room.

Genkai smiles and says, "I think that's enough for today, we don't want you to exhaust yourself." You scowl, wanting to go out and amble a bit but already you feel the ache of overuse begin in your muscles. As you start to shuffle back to your bed, the door flies open, shocking you so badly that you stumble and begin to fall.

Strong arms wrap around you, hugging you tightly to a firm chest. Kurama's voice purrs in your ear, "Are you alright?" You nod, and suddenly he lifts you up, cradling you like a child. He's so warm, you think, and relax a little against him, turning your eyes to the doorway.

Three people are standing by the open door staring at you. The first is a girl with mousy brown hair and large round eyes. She is looking at you strangely, through a layer of rising tears. Suddenly she smiles, closing her eyes and sending the tears careening down her cheeks. "Thank goodness you're okay!" she gushes, and you recognize her as the sobbing girl who found you. "We were so worried you wouldn't wake up," she continues. "My name's Keiko, and these guys are Yusuke and Kuwabara."

Yusuke nods and says, "Hey! Glad to see you're finally awake." His hair is slicked back, black with green highlights, and he holds himself like a bad ass ready to fight, but the reassuring hand he places on Keiko's shoulder gives him away.

The other fellow, Kuwabara, is a big tall fellow with a goofy grin and curly orange hair. "Hey there. I'm glad your feeling better," he says, and his voice betrays his own tough guy routine. You notice the way his eyes keep darting to Yukina. When she looks up his grin broadens and a tiny blush creeps into his cheeks. What a strange fellow, you think to yourself.

You lean close to Kurama, your lips against his ear and whisper, "Would you take me to bed?"

He turns his face to you, those green eyes probing, as if sifting through your thoughts, like he's searching for something. You let your confusion spill into your eyes, and turn down the corners of your lips. He closes his eyes and chuckles. The sound vibrates from his chest, making you shiver as he delicately places you back in the bed.

"Would you like us to leave you to rest a while?" Genkai asks placidly.

You shake your head. "No I have questions."

"Great!" laughs Yusuke. "While we talk we can play cards!" Kaeiko shoots him a dirty look, but in the end everyone is sitting around drinking tea, and explaining this strange game to you.

A few minutes later, you are thoroughly confused, and decide just to watch the others play, until you learn it better. Genkai takes up a seat next to you on the bed and asks, "You have questions?"

"Yes," you reply quickly. "Tell about when you rescued me."

Genkai nods, as if she had foreseen this question. "You were in the forest surrounding my temple. There were scratches all over your body, including a rather large gash on your head," she points to a place just inside your hairline, "as well as the severe stabbing wound in your chest. Yusuke, Keiko and Kuwabara found you, and Kuwabara came for me. Without them you would be dead now."

But I should be dead, you think to yourself, and you wonder if you should be thankful to your rescuers or not. Aloud you ask the more pressing question, "But how did I get there?" The whole room is listening now, an expectant silence filling the air. Genkai looks somewhat startled.

"I had hoped you could tell us."

You shake your head. It doesn't make sense. "No. I mean how could I be there moments after…" something is blocking your voice and you can't speak, not even to say that one word.

"You said the word 'sacrifice' before," Genkai presses gently. You nod your head. "Tell us what you remember…"

The words begin to spill from your lips, rapid and nervous. Your birth, the decree from the God, the temple, even the beatings. Your words fill the air, thick with the weight of your sadness, painting vivid pictures of a pain colder and less direct than any lash of the whip. You speak of loneliness, though the word itself never passes your lips.

***

Me: So maybe there's no action just yet…but you got to have a nice "moment" for you Kurama fans…heh heh and for You Hiei fans…don't give up just yet ~_^ like I said…it's still up in the air…

*tiny woman with pixie wins appears on my shoulder*

Oh yea…this is Isis, my muse. She's the one you can thank for this story- among others ^_______^

Isis: *waves* Don't worry, Isis keeps Ametank writing!! *winks*

Me: n.n;;; yea…

Isis: Now….time for writing… *shoves me away from the Author's notes to write actual chapters*

Me: O.O REVIEW PLEASE!! YOUR FEEDBACK KEEPS MY MUSE WORKING HARD! ^__________^