Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ The Demon Familiars ❯ Ch.17 ( Chapter 17 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
YuYu Hakusho:
The Demon Familiars


(Author's note: I'm starting the summer semester on the 17th of June so updates are going to slow down again, maybe to three a week. Except the chapters are going to start getting longer so it wont feel like I'm cutting you short at the end. Thanks for reading and enjoy.^^

Lady Sepherioth: You think its mature? Hmm...I guess a writer's story *doesn't* reflect on their personality then XD. )

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *


Ch.17


After he got off work Yusuke made a stop at Keiko's house. She insisted on returning with him to Genkai's temple for Kurama's next report in even though she hadn't been allowed to listen the first time. He was still imagining where those mystery 'bad guys' had made off with the other two familiars. Koenma's spies had no new information and they'd been searching for over three days.
It was late afternoon when Botan and he received the call from the fox spirit.
"Kurama. So, how are things going?," Botan asked him.
"Not good I'm sorry to say."
Yusuke leaned in closer to the screen" Huh, what happened now?"
"It seems Hiei does not like the idea of being connected to a human...and is going to let the bond fade."
"Fade?" "What?," Botan and Yusuke spoke their surprise at the same time.
"Well sure, I know he despises humans, but why would he give up the chance to become stronger?" Botan frowned.
"Botan, Hiei would never accept power he did not gain himself through effort. He hates to feel the need to accept anything from anyone, he does make certain exceptions but..."
The red head trailed off, lowering his eyes.
"So what's it going to do to him?"
"I am not sure."
"Damn."
"There is something else."
"Huh? How much worse could it get?"
"We are being sent out of the demon realm, it was *discovered* that the familiar was there ,and we are no longer allowed to remain here."
Yusuke nodded," So you're coming back to Earth then?"
"Yes. And Hiei is accompanying us when we leave."
Botan's eyes went wide," He's coming here too?"
Kurama nodded.
"Oh boy, I don't think Genkai's going to have enough room. Touya and Jin are still here and Suzuka arrived here yesterday. Plus *Botan's* staying here along with them."
"I'm sure we'll have room for them at our apartment if we rearrange things."
"Yeah, maybe."
"Any word on the other familiars from Koenma?"
Botan shook her head," No, their whereabouts are still unknown. The enemy hasn't made a move here while you were gone...how about over there, was there another attack?"
"Luckily no. Mukuro raised her security after the first one."
"Damn," Yusuke narrowed his eyes," She would've been better off there than here."
"Unfortunately you are right Yusuke. However we must stop at the Spirit realm first."
"Wonderful, Koenma has been expecting her for quite some time," Botan smiled," He told me he has something to give her."
"Really, what?"
She shrugged," I don't know, he wouldn't tell me."
"Figures. The little shrimp always did like keeping secrets..."
Kurama smiled," I must go, we leave in fifteen minutes."
"Ok. See you on this side Kurama."
"Bye," Botan said.
"'Till then." He cut off the signal.
Yusuke stood up," Well I'm gonna go call Kuwabara, he should be back at our place by now. He gets to move all the heavy stuff around."
The blue haired woman laughed," Poor Kuwabara."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *


Afterwards Kurama finished packing his last few things into his backpack and went next door to the familiar's room. He knocked softly before entering and said," Are you ready?"
A dry," Yeah," was the reply.
He opened the door and walked inside. Jordan was sitting on the bed, her duffle bag on her lap. He smiled weakly at her, she made no effort to return it.
"He said I was free of him. He said I'd never have to touch him again," She whispered, staring at the dark floor.
"I know," He said.
"But...why?"
"Does his choice bother you that much? I figured you would be glad to learn of it."
"Well, yeah," She frowned," But isn't it going to have a bad effect on *him*? I thought that demon said he'd be in pain if he wasn't around me enough."
"Physical pain is something Hiei is use to," He explained," If that is the worst consequence of letting it fade then the price isn't costly enough for him to continue with it."
"I want to go back but...it's too close to my home. It's hard already with me not being able to contact my family and tell them I'm still alive, they probably think I'm dead by now," She smiled bitterly," I bet my mom's calling everyone she knows to go and find me. That woman never gives up. My dad calls her 'La Diabla' when she gets in one of her moods."
The familiar snickered," God I miss those two crazy people."
Kurama watched her half smile fade as her head and shoulders sagged down and a fine tremble shook her body.
A light sob came from her. The fox lowered his eyes," You *will* be reunited with your family, do not give up hope yet..."
He turned to leave and said," I will be waiting for you in the hall."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Humans showed far too much emotion, their vulnerability made them an easy target for anything stronger. The woman would never survive in the demon world on her own, plus if any other demon found out what she was...her fragile skin would be carelessly torn off by clawed hands and fangs.
'Helpless people are such a liability in life threatening situations if you're the one protecting them. She's better off with someone else.'
For some strange reason the woman reminded him of...Hiei shook the thought out of his head. This was no time to be thinking about his blood relatives, especially while comparing their similarities to another of a different race. Yukina was far stronger than her, after all she was a demon and the familiar was not.
Yet despite all his logic and reasoning there was a shred in the back of his mind that did not want to let her go, and it distressed him. Attachment to anything living always ended up badly for both parties. If there was a chance they'd both lose their lives it would be pointless for them to continue. That's why he kept his distance from the ice maiden, and now he would keep his distance from her as well. It was for the best, right?
His gaze switched to the door as the red headed fox stepped out of the room.
"Is she done?," He asked.
Kurama nodded.
"Good, let's go," He walked away quietly, with out looking to see if either of his travel companions were following.
'Why can't I get this out of my head?,' He thought,' I want nothing to do with her and yet all I can remember is her face, why?'
The muscles in his shoulders and neck tightened,' Why can't I get the sight of her body out of my mind?'
He glanced over his shoulder quickly, Kurama and the familiar were ten feet back making no great effort to catch up. Hiei slowed down until they were six feet away then continued at his normal pace. The woman had her eyes to the ground and was clutching the shoulder strap of her bag as if it was the only thing that kept her from floating into oblivion. Kurama had his hands in his pockets and was staring blankly ahead. Hiei turned his eyes forward again when the fox met his gaze.
'Hn, if he has something to say, let him say it. It wouldn't change my decision.'
A massive insect-like creature was to be their means of transportation. Hiei leaped to the top of it in one jump. Kurama took three or four since he was carrying the familiar. He set her down, and she sat between two bony knobs of exoskeleton protruding out of the creature's back.
Kurama stood next to him, a few feet away. Hiei motioned for the driver to go. The small red demon hit his heel against it and it began to tread forward.
No one spoke during the entire trip, it would have been too awkward anyway.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The two demons in front of her were silent. The atmosphere was uneasy, Jordan could almost see the waves of stress emanating off them. During long trips with her family she always brought her portable CD player, she had lost it when the demons took her bag from her the night she was kidnapped. So she decided to sing to herself in her head. Jordan didn't know why a Marilyn Manson song was the first one that popped up in her head.
'I am never gonna be the one for you
I am never gonna save the world from you
But they'll never be good to you
Or bad to you
They'll never be anything
Anything at all.'
She frowned,' Nah, too depressing. What else is there to sing? Hmm...Oh, I know...Green Day'
She bit her lip trying to remember the words.
'...I fucked up again...
It's all my fault
So turn me around and face the wall
Read me my rights...
And tell me I'm wrong
Until it gets into my thick skull
A slap on the wrist
A stab in the back
Torture me, I've been a bad boy
Nail me to the cross until you have won
I lost before I did any wrong.'
Jordan smiled sadly,' I always liked that song...'

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The wind felt cool blowing across his face, in his hair. Kurama took a deep breath, it was a nice change after being stuck inside Mukuro's fortress for three days. The air tended to get stale in some of the lower floors.
He glanced at Hiei, the fire demon had returned to his calm, serious self. The Hiei he witnessed a day ago was new territory even for him. Members of the female sex seemed to cause strange reactions in the younger demon when he interacted with them. Yukina, Mukuro and now Jordan, all three were different, and none had the same reasons for knowing him. Yukina was his sister, the demon lord was the one to present him with a new door to his life, and as for Jordan...her part in the demon's life was unclear at that moment. While she had the possibility of becoming his permanent familiar, neither of them, for whatever reasons, wanted it so. Kurama turned at the waist to look at the woman. Her eyes still to the floor she sat slouched with her head against the white shell. A smile played on her lips, and she was tapping her foot silently. Was she singing? Kurama smiled at the thought. After all went through she could still remember the words to a song. Perhaps there was hope for them after all.
A hour and a half later they arrived to the gate that would bring them to Koenma's palace.
Hiei was the first to jump off, Kurama lifted Jordan up and used the odd shape of the creature's shell to get down.
the fire demon was already walking into the cave, leaving them behind. Kurama let him go ahead, he would stay behind and watch the familiar. Hiei may have not been concerned with her safety but it was Kurama's job to make sure she wasn't eaten by anything. She wasn't in any kind of hurry, even though they were in a dangerous area. Kurama wondered if he should just carry her, but knew the woman would take it as an insult. So he walked a few paces in front of her and to the side to keep her in his sights.
Hiei stood near the gate's entrance, waiting for them.
"Walk faster next time, we don't have eternity," He said, voice cold.
"Fine," Jordan whispered, avoiding his harsh gaze.
Kurama narrowed his eyes at the fire demon.
"Not every one has the blessed ability to move as fast as you Hiei," He was calm when he said it, but knew Hiei would pick up the underlying message.
The demon glared at him," Hn."
Then left through the gate leaving the two standing alone.
"Shall we?," He offered his arm.
She glanced up at him and smiled, shook her head, then she walked forward.
Kurama frowned slightly at her refusal but followed her through the dark gate and into the waiting realm on the other side.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Again he waited outside the other end of the gate, snickering to himself as all of the office workers in the room glanced at him fearfully, then found some excuse to leave.
Soon only four of the ugly ogres were left. Hiei figured they were newbies and didn't know who he was.
He felt the gate shift as Kurama and the woman came through. The workers glanced up as George, Koenma's assistant, ran in. He almost tripped on his feet a few times.
The blue giant's eyes went wide at the sight of Jordan," Is-is that her?"
Hiei rolled his eyes," No, she's a hitch-hiker we picked up on the way over."
The ogre frowned in confusion, then sighed in realization that Hiei was being sarcastic.
"Right. Koenma will see you now."
The fire demon followed the giant to the small ruler's office. Koenma was busily stamping an endless amount of papers as usual, he didn't notice they were there at first.
"Koenma sir. The familiar is here," The ogre announced quietly.
"Hmm...?" He glanced up and his eyes went wide,"Oh my."
Hiei glanced at the familiar then at Koenma's expression, then sighed. It figured the squirt would find her attractive.
"I was told there was something you wanted to give her." Kurama said smirking. It seemed he also noticed Koenma's reaction to her and was trying to bring him back to reality.
The small ruler blinked at the demon," Oh...oh yes, of course."
He opened his desk drawer and pulled out a ball of blue cloth.
"This is for you," He held it out to her.
The woman hesitated so Hiei decided to hurry her along," It is not going to bite you I'm sure."
She blushed and walked forward, stretching her arm out. Koenma placed the ball in her hand.
The woman stared at it for a second, wondering what to do.
"Open it," Koenma told her.
She unrolled the cloth to reveal a gold egg.
"An egg?," She asked.
"A spirit beast egg to be exact," Kurama walked up to the desk next to her.
"But I thought it only worked with humans who have died." Hiei said.
"Well yes, but this one's modified, and it will also hatch much faster."
"How much faster?" Kurama asked.
"Oh, I'd say a week and a half. Two weeks tops. I'm not completely sure though, it's design is new."
Hiei sighed," You've never tested it?"
"Well no, like I said it was new."
'Idiot,' He thought, shaking his head.
"Is it suppose to glow?" Jordan asked watching the pale gold light radiating off it.
"Yes, that means its working."
"Oh." She bit her lip," Um...thank you."
"You're welcome," He smiled," Now if you will excuse me, I have work to do."
"That was *all* you wanted her here for?," Hiei growled.
"Well, yes. Why?"
They left without another word.
Hiei sighed again,"Hn, that was a waste of time."
Kurama smiled," Not really, a spirit guardian might be helpful to us."
"What does this thing do exactly?," Jordan asked.
"It feeds off your energy and grows into a guardian beast that is a mirror of yourself."
Jordan smiled," Then this will be one *lazy* guardian. I'm in trouble."
She stuck her tongue out and made a face.
Kurmam laughed.
"Hn."