Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ The youkai and you by me, Kita! ❯ Beginnings ( Chapter 1 )

Kita: Ok, before we get going I would like to make it CLEAR that I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho *sniff sniff* So, Hiei would you do the honors?

Hiei: Hn.

Kita: *bats her eyes* Oh, pleeaaaasssseee, Hiei?

Hiei: *turns away* Hn.

Kita: Fine, then. *background turns all evil* Then you'll NEVER get back to the Yu Yu Hakusho world! Muhahahahaha!

Hiei: *draws his katana and slowly approaches her* So it's all YOUR fault I'm in this mess.

Kita: Um, well . . . *starts to back away* You see . . . the thing about that is . . .

Hiei: Grrr . . . I'll kill you . . .

Kita: EEEEP!!! *runs away, Hiei right behind her* Kurama help me!!!!!

*the two are running around and Kurama pops in from the left side of the screen*

Kurama: Yes, well . . . * clears throat and glances at the fire demon chasing the authoress* Please be ready for the next chapter of `The youkai and you' *glances over as Kita screams again, and sweatdrops as she narrowly avoids a slash from Hiei's sword* That is, if you like it and the author is still around to continue it . . . uh oh . . . this could be a problem *runs over and saves Kita*

Kita: Thank you Kurama! You are such a gentleman! ^-^

Kurama: *blushes*

Hiei: Hn. Yeah, well, she doesn't own any of this stuff. So don't sue.

Kita: Puh-lease? +_+ (she's all starry-eyed)

Hiei: *rolls eyes* Don't do that.

Kurama: *chuckles* Glad this is a Hiei and you fic . . . nobody comes after me . . .

*a mob of fangirls appears*

Mob: Shuichi!!!!!

Kurama: 0_0……………….Ahhhhh!!!!!! *starts running away* Scarier than Karasu!!!!!!

Hiei: Hn. Baka kitsune.

Kita: Hey, Kurama is NOT a `stupid fox'!!!!!……….Ok, sorry peoples *sweatdrop* . . . I get distracted easily . . . here's the REAL reason you're all here (the fic, if you forgot ^-^) . . .

REAL Disclaimer: Kita doesn't own yuyu. So don't youyou sue. (^-^;;;)

Ok!! Well . . .

Your name is Maki and you are NOT an only child (will get into that later, heh ^-^). Just for the sake of just keeping this fic simple, you have blue eyes and brown hair (a.n./ please go along with this, if you don't fit the description let's just say you dyed your hair, and btw you don't wear glasses, so if ya do, you got contacts, oki? ^-^;;;). You were born in Japan, and, since both of your parents are United States citizens, you were allowed dual citizenship (US & Japan). When you reach the age of eighteen, however, you will have to choose which country you will be a citizen of. Your parents are Jeff and Carol Smith (they named you a Japanese name because you were born there). Anyway, you're just an average 15 y/o American girl, on a normal weekday, walking down the street to your house. You and your parents live out in the country of Pennsylvania; owning a 10-acre farm complete with (long-since empty) barn, stable, wash house and chicken coop. You (like most of your friends) enjoy Japanese anime and reading fanfiction on the web (a.n./ ^-^ sorry had to put that in =^-^=). After dropping off your schoolbag inside, you decide to take a walk in the woods (which make up most of the 10-acres of land your parents own). You're just strolling along, humming a popular tune, when you spot some light glinting off something in the underbrush. You run across the clearing, thinking it might be glass. Baka! You think. Don't people know someone or some animal could cut themselves on that? You finally reach the object, and bend down to better inspect it. Half-covered by the leaves, you reach out a hand to brush away the twigs and other organic material. To your very great surprise the surface off which the sun was glinting was . . .

"A katana?" The familiar Japanese word slips out of you, and then something moves . . .

Suddenly you realize your position has changed as a short guy dressed in a black cloak with a white scarf holds the katana up to your throat. His eyes are crimson, for more than one reason. There is blood leaking into one of them from a cut just over his left eye (your right!). His face is badly beaten, there are scratches and bruises all over it. The red stare is icily cold as it inspects you, though you think you can see a bit of fire in its depths . . .

"Hn." He says. The katana is removed, and you let out a long, slow breath. He sheathes it while saying, almost to himself. "A baka ningen's no threat." Surprised that he speaks English as well as Japanese, there is a moment before you realize just what he called you. Half of you is angry, he called you a baka! The other half is somewhat . . . curious . . . why did he call me a ningen . . . isn't he one, too . . . ? Then the guy jumps up into the trees.

"Hey, w-!" You start to call, but not even an instant later he falls down, a few feet from you. You rush over, hoping he's all right, looking up to see the height he fell from. You gasp as you see the branch VERY high above that is swaying, broken. He's on his side, and you gently turn him over. The guy's eyes are closed, and you quickly rest your hand on him, your heart thumping madly, forcing yourself to stay still, until . . . you sigh with relief as his chest rises under your hand. Oh, thank God . . . he's still breathing. Then you notice the strange angle his leg is cocked at and push up the right cuff of his pants. Oh, ewww! You can see the bone sticking out in the middle of the guy's shin. It's broken . . . shuddering slightly, you take the guy's sheath and make a hasty splint with the white scarf he's wearing. Then, shouldering him, you use the now-unsheathed katana to help you make your way back to your house. Good thing your parents aren't home . . .

I_N_T_O_-_H_I_E_I_'_S_-_T_H_O_U_G_H_T_S----

My feet were dragging along the floor of the forest I had fallen into and I noticed the dull ache in my right lower leg growing worse. Then I was aware of my left arm slung over another's shoulder, whoever it was, pulling me along. I cautiously cracked an eye open, and saw the ningen I had met earlier. My face was slightly below hers, the girl being taller and having to carry me along. Determined blue eyes were fixed straight ahead, the brownish hair pulled back in a high ponytail. I growled to myself . . . I needed no one's help. I planted my left foot firmly on the ground, keeping the weight off my right. I took my arm back. She turned, startled at the challenge in my eyes, then glanced down at my right side. My eyes followed hers . . . I was surprised to find my sheath and scarf wrapped around the broken bone in a splint. I quickly met her gaze, searching for a reason that she would help me, but found none. All that was in those blue depths were surprise and something I couldn't quite place . . . I stepped forward (without thinking) on my right foot and was instantly engulfed in pain and darkness.

O_U_T_-_O_F_-_ H_I_E_I_'_S_-_T_H_O_U_G_H_T_S----

You set the unconscious little guy down gently in the upstairs bathroom, leaning his head carefully against a pillow, softening the effect of the hard tile. You leave for a few minutes, finding the first aid kit. When you return you set it on the floor, kneel down to take off his cloak and blush upon unexpectedly seeing his bare chest. Keeping your eyes averted, you set the black article of clothing on a stool, then put some soap on a washcloth and wet it.

Soon you're done cleaning him up and, after treating the rather deep cut over his left eye, you're now set to do the hard work. Shuddering slightly at the memory, you reluctantly unwrap the now bloodstained scarf from his broken shin, taking the sheath away. What you find makes you gasp. The bone has disappeared! It's no longer sticking through . . . but upon closer inspection you see that there is a small tear in the skin where the thing had been poking out before . . . how did he . . . you think, then shake your head. You put the scarf in a bucket, apply bleach and run hot water over it, then set it aside.

Taking the washcloth again, you carefully clean the dry blood away, then apply some antibiotics to stop any infection, and wrap a bandage tightly (but not TOO tightly) around his leg. You sigh and sit back on your feet, rubbing your neck because it's a little sore from constantly bending over to treat the guy's wound. What am I thinking . . . you wonder absently while staring at the white porcelain of the bathtub in front of you . . . I don't even know who this guy IS . . . for all I know he could be a psycho . . . who carries a sword in this day and age any-

"Hn." The guy's voice shocks you back and you suddenly meet his crimson gaze for a moment before realizing . . . he's got no shirt on. Very quickly you hand him the black cloak on the stool without looking at him, babbling a little bit.

"Yes . . . well, uh . . . here you go." Keeping your gaze diverted, you can't help but watch out of the corner of your eye as he dons the ebony cloak in an instant. He picks up his katana and carefully inspects the blade. Seemingly satisfied, he sheaths the sword and puts it back on his belt, the weapon hidden under the black cloth. He looks you straight in the eyes.

"Why did you help me ningen." You cock your head, puzzled. Who is this guy . . .

"You were hurt." You say, forming your first full sentence around him (a.n./ yay you! score! ^-^). "I couldn't just leave you out there."

"Hn." He says, turning his gaze away from you and walking out the door. You hear him wander into your room, and follow. Without glancing at you once, he opens the window and slices the new screen that was put in a few summers ago. Though shivering slightly at the chill spring breeze flowing in, a few words burst out of you.

"What did you do THAT for? That screen's NEW, ya know!" He cocks an eyebrow at you.

"Hn. It was in my way."

"Well, you don't just barge into peoples homes and start knocking out screens!" The other eyebrow rises to the level of the first.

"I didn't barge in. YOU were the one who brought me here. So now-" He puts a foot on the sill and his hands on either side, turning away from you. "I'll leave." It looks as though he's about ready to jump, and before you know what you're doing you've grabbed his right arm. The guy looks at you, annoyed.

"What." Not letting go, you mumble out your excuse.

"Well . . . you're not staying anywhere, right?"

"Who says I'm not." You give him a look -.-

"I found you half-dead in the woods behind my house. Besides-" You eye the recently unsheathed sword in his hand. "Not many people around here would let someone with a sword stay overnight." He scoffs, frowning at you, while he sheaths it again.

"And YOU would." You shrug your shoulders, smiling a little.

"Well, I know you won't kill me." Surprise flashes in his eyes, but is then replaced by a dangerous annoyance. His hand goes back to the hilt of the sword.

"Who says I won't."

"I took you in when you were hurt . . . that HAS to be worth something, even to a guy as strange as you. Anyway-" You say, smiling brightly. "I don't think you're the type of person that takes advantage of someone who's completely defenseless." His eyebrows raise, more anger than surprise simmering in his crimson orbs.

"Who says I'm not." He practically growls, but you're not intimidated. You simply turn around and call over your shoulder as you walk into the next room, leading to the staircase.

"If you were, you would have done so right when I finished working on you." He's silent as you start to head down the stairs. "Now hurry up." You call again, halfway down the fleet of steps. "You're probably hungry."

*~*~*~*~*~*

He's sitting on a windowsill, downstairs in the kitchen, his brows furrowed as he inspects the sandwich. You're leaning against the wall, him facing you, munching on your own peanut butter-marshmellow fluff concoction.

"Hn. What is this ningen." You answer, your mouth full.

"Flf-er-nmpher." He looks up at you.

"What." You swallow.

"It's fluffer nutter. You'll like it."

"Hn." He comments, going back to scrutinizing the sticky mess in his hand. You sigh, exasperated, while rolling your eyes.

"Look, would you just TRY it, at least?" He glares at you for a second, then slowly focuses his gaze back on the thing in his hand. He takes a small bite and chews. A look of surprise dawns on his face and he stares, mesmerized, at the sandwich. You suppress a laugh at the look on his face. Sooo kawaii!!!! You think.

"See? I told you that you'd-" Your triumphant little comment fades as the sandwich is devoured in less than an instant. "-like it." You finish, a little late. He looks at you, then his gaze slowly drops to the half-eaten thing in your hand. You sweatdrop.

"Uh . . . you want this? I'm sorta full-" You surrender the thing in your hand and watch, barely containing your laughter . . . ohhh . . . this guy is sooo kawaii! He's like a little kid (almost)!

"Hey-" you ask when the guy's removed all traces of the sandwiches. He looks up.

"What?"

"I never asked . . . what's your name?"

"Hn." He says, sitting back on the windowsill and glaring out the glass. After an awkward silence, you stand up to leave the room.

"S-sorry. I didn't mean to-"

"Hiei." Half-turned to go back up the stairs, you slowly spin back around. He's still staring out the window.

"What?" He looks at you.

"My name's Hiei." You smile.

"It's nice to meet you, Hiei. I'm Maki."

"Hn." He says, turning his gaze back outside. Feeling it's time for you to go, you head back to the staircase. Just as you're about to go up, Hiei calls out to you.

"Maki." Your eyes meet.

"Yes, Hiei?"

"When should I leave."

"Whenever you want to. You can stay in the upper floor of our stable-" The red eyes flash.

"For when." You look into those red depths, searching for the reason as to why he was asking . . .

"For when you come back." You state simply. His eyes stay locked with yours for a moment longer, then he quietly gets up, and is gone in a blur of shadow.

I_N_T_O_-_H_I_E_I_'_S_-_T_H_O_U_G_H_T_S----

Hn. Baka ningen . . . tricking me like that . . . I should have an obligation to no one. Not since that THING pushed me through the portal, thanks to Koenma . . . baka demi-god. I've been so stupid, it drives me insane to think I've survived this long. Kurama betrayed me, dooming me to whatever punishment Reikai had in store for me stealing the conjuring blade (a.n./ english version: the shadow sword . . . ^-^;;). But . . . if I'm ever to get back to THAT world, I've got to find out where I landed. And where I landed was somewhere back in the woods . . . I had been unconscious . . . only the ningen girl knew how to get me back to that spot . . . baka! I hated the thought of having to depend on someone . . . I'd depended on Goki and Kurama and they'd both failed me. I uttered a low growl as I flitted into the `stable' the girl had mentioned. Why was she so willing to help someone like me? I scoffed while answering myself. Because she didn't know my past. If the ningen knew I was a fire demon . . . a Jaganashi . . . a blood-sucking koorime, nonetheless . . . she'd abandon me to face fate alone . . . just like my own village had . . . all those years ago . . . when I, the forbidden child, had been born. I `hn'd to myself as I found a comfortable rafter. Who cares what some baka ningen thinks of me . . . anyway; I had to find a way back to the Makai, take my revenge on Kurama, Koenma and Yusuke . . . and get back to finding my sister . . .

I started awake, hearing steps on the ground floor of the building. Finding the darkest corner of the roof, I hid myself there, waiting for whoever was coming. A head popped above a built-in wooden ladder leading to the second floor. I relaxed when I saw it was only the girl. She had a blanket slung over one shoulder, and pulled it off to hold it in her arms.

"Hiei?" she called, looking around. "Hiei!?" I remained where I was, though curious. What was this ningen doing? She sighed, and hung the blanket neatly over a low rafter. She was muttering to herself.

"Why did I think he would be here? Baka . . ." With a final, almost wistful, look around the stable once more, she climbed down the ladder and was gone.

I flitted over and wondered why she had brought this. Since I'm a fire demon, I control my own body heat, so . . . baka! I ridiculed myself for what felt like the hundredth time. In this world winter was just ending, and so it still was very cold at night. Hn. She must have brought it so I would stay warm . . . a strange feeling welled up inside me at the thought that she had already done three things for me without my asking . . . first treating my wound . . . then giving me something to eat . . . and now this . . .

O_U_T_-_O_F_-_ H_I_E_I_'_S_-_T_H_O_U_G_H_T_S----

The next morning (TG it's Saturday!) you're dreaming about something . . . tossing and turning until a voice wakes you up. You open sleep-ridden eyes to stare at a black mass of fabric right beside your bed. Still half-asleep, your eyes start to close again, when a rough hand shakes your shoulder.

"Hn. Baka ningen. Get up." You turn over and wrap yourself up in the covers. Just when you get all warm again, the blanket is stripped unceremoniously away. The sudden cold makes you sit straight up, glaring, fully awake around the room, your gaze resting on that guy from yesterday . . . what's his name? Oh, yeah . . . Hiei . . .

"Hiei!" You say indignantly. "What's the big idea?" You glance at the clock, and gape. "It's THREE IN THE MORNING!?!?" You clap a hand over your mouth, glancing in the direction of your parents' room, hoping you didn't wake them. He folds his arms over his chest, bringing your attention back to him.

"Let's go." You look at him like he's crazy, then suddenly get up, reaching quickly for your blanket in his hand. He jerks it away before you even get near. You glare at him as best you can while still half-asleep and stifling a yawn.

"Ok . . . firstly, talk to me in six hours when I'll actually be AWAKE." You hold your hand out expectantly. "Now give me my covers back." He glares back at you, red eyes cold.

"No. First we go. Then you can sleep." You shake your head, go back to your bed and curl up as best you can, facing the wall. "What are you doing, ningen." Hiei says coldly. Closing your eyes and still facing the wall, you answer.

"Going back to sleep." He roughly pulls you out of bed by the scruff of your neck, shocking your eyes open. His crimson ones are flashing dangerously.

"No. We go NOW." A little intimidated by the look in his eyes, you still manage to hold your own, thrusting his hands off your pajamas and standing with your arms akimbo.

"No. Talk to me in six hours, and MAYBE I'll listen to you then." You climb back in bed, facing the wall again, and can almost see his hand reaching out from behind your back to pull you onto your feet again. "Don't even think about it. I'll see you at nine." Amazingly, he's got no retort. Then you feel the covers being thrust back on you, and snuggle into them. Ha . . . you think . . . I beat him . . .

You wake a few hours later, keeping your eyes closed as you listen to the birds outside. Finally you get up, and check the clock. Ten. You must have been really tired. There's something you're supposed to do . . . but you can't remember. Shrugging to no one in particular, you go about getting dressed, doing your hair up in a high ponytail and brushing your teeth. Upon descending the stairs, you find a note on the kitchen counter from your parents. They've gone to some couples thing . . . and won't be back till late. Not feeling really hungry, but knowing that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, you decide to make scrambled eggs. The house is quiet while you begin to prepare breakfast, but you don't notice . . . after a while you start to sing softly to yourself (a.n./ I actually REMEMBER who sings this song! =^-^= It's `White Flag' by Dido and I just want to let everyone know that I DON'T own it ^-^).

"I know . . . you think that . . . I shouldn't . . . still love you . . . I'll tell you that."

The eggs are sputtering softly on the stove as you let your mind wander, absently moving the spatula around the frying pan.

"But, if I didn't . . . say it . . . well I'd still . . . have felt it . . . where's the sense in that?"

You add some salt and pepper to the mix, keeping your voice gentle.

"I promise I'm not trying to make your life harder-I'll return to where we were."

Soon the eggs are just right, and you scoop half of them onto the plate you got out earlier.

"But I will go down with this ship . . . and I won't put my hands up . . . and surrender . . .

There will be no white flag above my door . . ."

Shutting off the stove, you turn around to see Hiei leaning against the back door. For once he's not looking antagonistic, and is as still as stone, watching you unwaveringly. You feel a slight blush creep onto your cheeks at being caught and stop singing abruptly. In the awkward silence following, Hiei still doesn't return to himself. Finally, you speak.

"Um . . . how long have you been standing there?" His eyes refocus instantly at your words, and he lifts his head to the side, looking away.

"Hn. Long enough." He then glances at you sideways, but his gaze drops. You look down at the eggs in your hand, then common sense kicks in.

"Oh! You want some?" You say, extending it. He looks at you -_-

"Hn. No." Not moving the plate, you insist.

"C'mon. It's the most important meal of the day." He's still looking at you like `yeah . . . right.' Sighing, you set the thing down on the counter and go over to the cabinet to get another. You scoop the remaining eggs onto the plate, then set it aside and scrub the pan clean in the sink with soap and water. Since you're doing it now, there won't be any nearly-impossible-to-get-off dried egg-muck on the frying pan later . . . you think. Soon you're finished and pick up the still-warm eggs (cleaning the pan really didn't take all that long). Hiding a small smile at the now-empty plate on the counter, you start to eat your breakfast, Hiei sneaking glares at you.

At last you're done, and have just put the plate in the sink, when Hiei talks to you.

"NOW can we go." You turn, cocking your head toward him.

"Sure . . . go where?" He sighs in exasperation, then stares straight at you.

"Can you take me to the place you found me." You cock an eyebrow at him.

"Can you say `please'?"

"Hn." He scoffs. "Nevermind." You shrug.

"Okay, then. See you around." You start to head to the stairway, and have just passed him, when he suddenly grabs you by the collar (from behind) and pulls you outside.

"Can't you . . . just for once . . . be NICE?" You holler at him, being dragged along to the edge of the forest. He lets you go, and is facing you almost immediately, red eyes flat and expressionless.

"Just take me there, ningen."

"Hmph." You say haughtily, but trudge off down a path in the forest, Hiei a step behind.

*~*~*~*~*~*

When you two are nearing the clearing, you start to talk.

"So . . . where are you from, anyway?"

"Hn."

"Well I'm from PA. Bred, but not born."

"Hn. Not that I care, but where WERE you born, then."

"Nippon." There is a moment of silence before he responds.

"Hn. So you're Japanese, then." You shake your head.

"Not really. I'm not even fluent." Your voice turns sad. "When I'm eighteen I'll have to choose which country I belong to . . ." There is another moment of silence before he speaks.

"Hn. It's not a big deal. Just stick with the one you know. It's pointless to go to Japan if you can't even speak Japanese, ningen." A thought comes to mind as he finishes the sentence.

"Hey-"

"Hn. What."

"Why do you call me that?"

"What."

"Ningen . . . aren't YOU a human, too?" There is nothing but silence behind you, and a sudden shiver runs up your back. You turn abruptly and look straight into the ruby eyes, more than a little fear in your voice. "AREN'T you?" No emotion is conveyed from those red depths, and the shiver becomes a chill. You're about to speak again, when he suddenly looks over your head, then tackles you. You have no time to struggle, or even cry out, because an instant later a wicked-looking blade lodges itself in the tree you were just standing in front of a moment ago. The chain attached to the weapon goes taut, and the thing is pulled out of the tree. In a moment Hiei is up, standing in front of you, and as you shakily get to your feet you can tell that you've reached the clearing. Standing in the middle are two monsters. One looks vaguely human and is holding the chained sickle just thrown at you. The other looks like a huge troll, standing in the midst of some swirling circle of silver. The shorter one smirks and the weapon blurs out of his hand. Hiei roughly pushes you backward, and you land with a thud a few feet away. A branch crashes down in front of you, just where you sat a second before. Then you're aware of Hiei talking quietly to you, standing ready to draw his katana and his eyes never leaving the two figures in the center of the clearing.

"Run, ningen. Now."

You're torn. Not wanting to abandon him to these obviously inhuman creatures, you eye the branch in front of you. It's just long enough to serve as a quarterstaff . . .

But you're terrified, and you remember that he didn't answer your question about being human . . . could he be . . . something else . . .

If you choose to fight beside him, go to `2. Fight'

If you want to listen and run away, go to `3. Run'

~ E TSUZUKU (to be continued ^-^;;) ~

Hiei: Why did you make me go crazy over a fluffer nutter sandwich.

Kita: Because it's sooo much fun (and soooo kawaii)!!!! ^-^

Hiei: -.- Someone save me.

Kurama: *is seen running in the distance, the mob of fangirls still chasing after him* Ahhhhh!!!!!

Mob: Shuichi!!!! Shuichi come BACK!!!!!!!

*Hiei and Kita sweatdrop*

Kita: Maybe someone should save Kurama, instead . . .

Hiei: Hn.

BTW (By The Way): Reviews are eagerly accepted and if you like Kurama fics (just regular ones, not including you…..sorry!!!! *sweatdrop*) I have other fics with KxH stuff . . . some one-shots as well. ~-^

Also . . . this is a repost. For some reason or another (not for the rating, though ^-^;;) it got deleted so I'm putting it back up (with a few revisions). ^-^ I had 125 reviews for this fic, too . . . and all those nice things you minna-san said are gone forever . . . u.u . . . will update every weekend or every three/four days until I get to the end of the fic (chappies 15, 16 & 17) ^-^;;

Ja ne!

- Kita out ^-^;