Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ The Game ❯ Chapter One ( Chapter 1 )

A/N: Before anyone complains, I'm going to go ahead and say it. I changed a LOT of things about their first meeting. It's nothing like it was in the series, I know. And the dialogue during the parts that I didn't change is still a little off, because I have the English version AND the Japanese version, and I did this whole pick and choose thing. I don't know if my changes make this AU; it's possible. If so, it still follows the basic story line of the show, it just focuses more on Kurama and Hiei. Enjoy.

~Kurama's POV~

I first met the little fire demon named Hiei under very strange circumstances. Of course, I always did firmly believe in the relevance of first impressions, and Hiei made a big one.

I had been feeling fairly depressed for a while when it happened. I was a kitsune, hundreds of years old. The best thief in all of Makai. Why couldn't I find a way to cure a simple human woman?

My mother. Or rather, my human mother. It had taken me a while to fully accept her as such, but eventually, I had. Not many things about my personality had changed since I'd left Makai, but my contempt towards humans was one of the few things that had. At least, towards this human.

I'd tried a number of various healing plants. I'd tried searching through my memory for any medicinal cures that I knew of from my time in the demon world. I'd come up with nothing. Nothing that worked, anyway.

The worst part was that I'd been happy. For the first time in my life, in both of my lives, I'd been truly happy. I'd come to accept my mother, come to accept myself. The new me. It had taken me a while to get used to the new body, but I had. And I was at peace. Insanely bored, but at peace.

And then she had to go and get sick. Stupid weak humans. And I just had to care. Stupid emotions. And it just had to hurt.

I didn't understand.

And when all of my ideas had run out, when I had finally given up hope, that's when Hiei showed up.

I had been walking home from school, head hanging down, unable to take my mind off of a certain human woman, lying in a hospital bed across town. Then I'd felt something. The barest glimmer of a strong demon youki.

And suddenly I was being attacked. Luckily, my natural instincts kicked in, because whatever this thing was, it was fast. All I was able to make out was a black blur, and every now and then a hand flying at me, or a foot. I barely had time to block, and no time whatsoever to attack.

Finally, the onslaught stopped, and I was left exhausted. I bent over, hands on my knees as I panted. After finally managing to get control over my breathing, I looked up to get my first glimpse at my attacker.

He was a small demon, though he could never have been mistaken for a child. The look on his face revealed too many years' experience, or maybe pain. He had jet black hair, which stuck up in the most unusual fashion, though I found it oddly pleasing. In the front center of that unruly mane was a bright white starburst, standing out against the dark background. The demon was dressed in all black, except for a scarf and a headband, both white. Hanging from his many belts was a long katana.

I was annoyed to find that the demon didn't look the least bit tired.

After I had finished my assessment, I looked up to stare directly into a pair of large, crimson eyes. The demon was smiling, but there was no humor in it.

A game, then. It had been so long since I had played the game. I missed it. I would show this little demon how to play a proper game.

Still keeping my eyes on the youkai in front of me, I reached into my hair and pulled out a red rose. I watched the demon as I did this, wondering what his reaction would be. He didn't seem surprised. It was obvious that this one had been watching me for some time, to know my fighting techniques.

I lashed out with the rose, and it lengthened to form a long, thorny whip. The demon unsheathed his katana. I smiled, and the game began.

The demon was faster than I, that much was certain. But I was better at leaping, dodging, and acrobatics, and therefore managed to avoid the flashing katana.

The game continued for what felt like hours. The demon slashing, fighting; me lashing out with my whip, dodging, lashing again. Finally, we were both kneeling in the grass, nearly falling to the ground as we gasped for air. I realized that at some point the fight had moved into the woods.

Sweat was streaming down my face. I hadn't played a game this enjoyable in quite some time. But I had to end it soon, if I didn't want to lose.

I began to stand, but the little demon held up his hand. I realized that the he had long ago regained his breath, and had merely been waiting for me.

I quirked an eyebrow. Strange. The demon had had an open opportunity to kill me, and had refrained. Killing me would have meant instant fame in Makai. There weren't many of our kind that would have passed up such an opportunity.

"That's enough," the demon said. "You have proven yourself."

A test? It had been a test? This was a bigger game than I had originally thought.

"Excuse me?" I asked, ever the polite Suuichi. Still, my tone did hold a bit more of an edge.

"I have a job for you," the demon said, watching me expectantly.

I didn't answer, waiting for him to explain.

It turned out that the demon wanted me to help steal an artifact from Rekai. He needed me because stealing something directly from Rekai, right under Koenma's nose, was tricky business, and I was widely known for my abilities.

"How did you find me?" I asked suspiciously. To my knowledge, no one was aware of my reincarnation into a human body.

The demon shrugged. "I was watching you long before you came to the Ningenkai."

"What's in it for me?" I questioned, still keeping my distance from the demon.

The youkai nodded. He had been prepared for this. Years of living in the Ningenkai had done nothing to change my greed for possessions. Once a thief, always a thief.

"There is a specific artifact, kept in the same vault as the Ghostslayer. A mirror. It grants the wish of whoever looks into it."

I remembered hearing stories of such a thing, but had never seen it myself, and couldn't remember what it had been called.

"And what, exactly, would I have to wish for that would be worth giving up my life?" I asked, remembering the price of the wish making.

He turned his head, looking in the direction of what I was sure was the hospital.

I snarled, losing my usually iron clad control. "What makes you think I'd give up my life for a human? I'm a demon, same as you. Why would I do that?"

"I don't know," the demon answered. "I just know you will. I never said I understood it." Though his voice was harsh, there was a question in his eyes, one I had no intention of answering.

"Fine," I said. "I'm in."

The demon nodded, then said, "You can call me Hiei. And before you get any ideas, know that I will be in charge of this theft. I may need your assistance, but you are expendable. Don't anger me, and do not betray me."

I nodded, though my mind was already rebelling against being ordered around in such a manner. Youko Kurama did not take orders from anyone.

"I'll contact you again later," Hiei said, and then he was gone.

I allowed myself a predatory smile. The game had just gotten much more interesting.

I lay in my bed that night, thinking of Hiei and wondering what to do about the little demon.

I was drawn to Hiei for some reason. Perhaps it was the fact that I could sense a deep sadness in him, and a loneliness. It wasn't often that one found a lonely demon. We tended to enjoy solitude.

It was my newfound humanity that wanted to help Hiei, and it was Youko Kurama that wanted to steal him. He was interesting. My more playful side would consider him a prospect for an interesting toy.

Youko Kurama was begging to be allowed to start a new game, one that centered around Hiei. And the human part of me wasn't objecting much, though for different reasons.

So I grinned, snuggling deeper into my covers. Hiei would become a new game. I had always enjoyed this type of game immensely. Though this time, I might just come out of it with a friend. That's what the human part of me wanted more than anything. A friend that knew what I was, that I could be myself around. I was so tired of pretending.

I was almost asleep when I heard a quiet tapping sound. I sat up quickly, startled, only to find Hiei sitting in a tree outside my window, watching me intently.

I groaned, then got up to put on some pants. I'd only been wearing boxers, and my human side demanded that I have at least some modesty.

After slipping on a loose pair of pants, I walked over to the window and opened it. A light breeze blew in, along with Hiei, and I brushed some stray red strands of hair out of my eyes.

Hiei watched the movement, seemingly entranced for a moment, then cleared his throat and got down to business.

"You have three weeks to figure out a way to pull this off," he began. "I need to know what--,"

"Do you have any idea what time it is?" I asked sleepily.

Hiei made no visible reaction, but said, "You've become almost too human."

"Thank you," I responded, stifling a yawn.

Hiei scowled, then continued as he took a seat in the middle of the floor. "I need to know what you're going to need," he said. "Information, tools, everything."

I nodded, getting down to business. "First of all, I'm going to need a detailed description of all of the security precautions in the area, and around the vault. Guards, locks, spells, wards, everything. I won't know about tools until after I know that."

"I'll have Gouki get on it," Hiei answered, then began to stand.

I grabbed Hiei's shoulder. "Gouki?"

Hiei had stiffened when I touched him, and immediately wrenched his shoulder out of my grasp. I widened my eyes in surprise, but didn't comment.

"He's our other partner," Hiei answered.

"What?" I asked. This could complicate the game.

"Our other partner," Hiei repeated. "I mostly got him just for brute strength. He's nowhere near my power, or even yours, but I needed a scapegoat. Just in case."

I nodded. In case something went wrong, Hiei had wanted someone else to take the fall. I was just glad it wasn't me. Still, I'd have to watch Hiei. He had already told me that I was expendable. No sense in taking chances.

"Anyone else I should know about?" I asked, giving Hiei a sideways look.

Hiei looked away and shook his head, then made his way back to the window.

I sighed. This was going to be a tough one. Hiei had once again resumed his emotionless mask, and his walls were thick. Still, I did love a challenge…

I whistled happily as I made my way home from school. I stopped and bent down to admire a flower growing beside the sidewalk, and when I stood back up there was a dark figure standing beside me.

"Hello, Hiei," I said cheerfully, yet somewhat sarcastically. "Fancy meeting you here."

Hiei snorted. "What are you in such a good mood about? If I had just gotten mobbed by human girls, the only way I'd be that cheerful is if I'd killed them all. Which, unfortunately, you didn't do."

I smiled. Hiei had watched me at school. Interesting.

"My good mood has nothing to do with that," I said as I walked beside the demon, allowing Hiei to choose our direction. He was most likely leading me to a meeting place.

"Then what?" Hiei asked, growing suspicious.

I watched Hiei, trying to gauge his reaction as I said, "I finally realized where I've heard of your name."

"It's a mountain," Hiei said absently, obviously not interested.

"Besides that," I said, and noticed that Hiei was beginning to get uncomfortable.

"Well?" he finally asked when I didn't immediately continue.

"A story, back in Makai," I said casually, keeping my eyes trained forward.

He stopped, glaring at me with a look that would make most demons run in fear. I wasn't most demons. I stopped as well, meeting his glare with a bland expression that I knew would infuriate him.

"About a baby, born to the Koorime," I continued. "A male Koorime, half fire demon. A Forbidden Child."

Hiei continued to glare for a moment, his face impassive though I could tell that having his painful past recited to him had shaken him up a bit. Then, after a moment, Hiei turned and resumed walking. I hurried to catch up.

"How did you know that?" Hiei asked, not looking at me.

"I was an unusual thief," I answered. "Not only interested in rare objects, but rare demons, as well. The story interested me."

Hiei stopped walking again, angry. I could understand why. The fact that I had considered his painful history a topic of interest had to sting.

"I don't want to have to kill you," Hiei said slowly.

I nodded. What I knew about Hiei's past could be potentially dangerous to him, and the only way he knew of to eliminate that threat was to kill me. I was pleased to note, however, that Hiei didn't seem to want to take this course of action. He was a strange demon.

"I won't tell anyone," I said.

"What?" Hiei asked.

I considered carefully how to phrase my response. "I know that you're afraid I might end up using this knowledge against you, and I know you have no reason to believe me when I tell you I won't. All I can give you is my word. I would never use what I know about you to hurt you. I… let's just say that I sympathize."

My childhood hadn't been the easiest, either. And while I was considering this whole thing with Hiei a game, excluding the parts about my mother of course, I would still never go so far as to use such a painful experience to hurt the demon. It just wouldn't be very sporting.

Hiei watched me for a moment, and I was sure I saw a faint purple glow coming from behind his white headband. Then, finally, he nodded. His expression was one of amazement, and strangely enough, gratitude. A second later, however, his usual mask was once again firmly in place, and he said, "We're here."

I looked around in surprise. I had been so intent on our conversation, I hadn't even realized that Hiei had led me into the middle of the woods. The trees were thick, blocking out the sunlight in many places, and I could sense the plants and vegetation all around us. I breathed in the scent of nature, and closed my eyes. Not quite as good as my old territory back in Makai, but still a little more like home than most parts of the Ningenkai.

Then I stopped. A foul odor had reached my sensitive kitsune nose, and I suddenly felt a demon's youki. Not terribly strong, but not weak, either.

"This is who you brought, Hiei?" a deep voice asked mockingly from behind me.

I slowly turned around, not willing to have any demon at my back, but also not willing to show that fact.

The demon was large, and at the moment looked rather human, though I could feel demon energy all over him. He looked rather dumb, though, and I flinched slightly as I felt the oaf's greedy gaze wandering up and down my slender body.

"You said you were bringing Youko Kurama," Gouki said. At least, I assumed this was Gouki.

Hiei nodded. "I did. This is Youko Kurama."

Gouki reached out, eyes filled with lust, to stroke my hair. I snarled, and roughly smacked his hand away.

Laughing, Gouki said, "He's no more than a simple human. A pretty one, though. Did you bring him for entertainment, Hiei?"

I looked at Hiei, surprised as I felt waves of anger coming from the little youkai, though his outward appearance showed no emotion.

"If you wish to test his power, be my guest," Hiei said slowly, through gritted teeth. "But I will take no part in it."

Gouki smiled, practically drooling. "No need to test his power. I think I'll test something else, though…" and then he reached forward again, though this time it was for a very different part of my anatomy.

Before Gouki had a chance to react, I had whipped out my rose whip, and in a move too fast to see, swung it around the clearing we were in. Gouki stopped, realizing that something had happened, even if he was too stupid to know what. Hiei was smirking.

Suddenly, all of the trees around the clearing slid in half, falling to the ground with a loud crash. Gouki's eyes nearly bugged out of his head, and he stepped back.

"Uh… yeah. Youko Kurama, huh? Ya look different," the oaf said.

I frowned. This idiot was definitely going to make the game less enjoyable.