Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Ties That Bind ❯ Confrontations ( Chapter 8 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Chapter 8
Confrontations

Shura wanders through the castle for a time but continues to find himself in front of the same door. It isn't long before he enters it, resuming his position on the floor, 5 ft. off to the inch.

Why do I continue to find myself at his bedside?

He sighs and looks the kitsune over, only to find him in a worse condition than when he left. The sweat on his brow had increased a great deal despite being freed from the covers, he wears a pained expression, his limbs twitch awkwardly. Shura is sure there must be something terribly wrong with his role-model. It isn't until the man's aura flares brighter than it had since they removed the power limiters then plummets and rises again does he get scared. He is about to rush forward when the man he hadn't seen does so... only to be thrown back by the fire demon.

Hiei glares at Shura, obviously blaming him for Kurama's trouble. Shura backs away as he advances, energy flaring around him. The ningen man and boy call out to the fire demon, but he pays no mind. Shura feels entirely threatened, even with the power limiter still in place, the little demon's aura is enough to give him pause, there would be a lot of damage done in a fight between them... even if Shura knows he would be the ultimate victor.

Shura is about to cut and run when strong hands pull him behind a firm back, standing proud and unafraid between him and the mad koroomie. He recognizes his father's long black hair and is astounded by the absolute rage he finds coming from him. Shura opens his mouth to ask his Father what is going on just as the ningen woman darts around all three of them, a bowl of water and a cloth in her hand, effectively cutting him off with her odd display. Shura watches from behind his father as the woman performs the strangest bout of healing he has ever seen. Stranger still in that it not only works, but calms Hiei as well, is this the ability she has that the others respect her for?

She dips the cloth in the cool water with one hand and places the other firmly on Kurama's chest. She holds him down and drapes the cloth over his brow, he shivers at the contact, but instantly calms when she starts to hum softly. The humming has no real tune, just soft and consistent. She starts to run her fingers through his hair at a gentle tempo to match the humming. He relaxes, sinking back down to the bed, a soft whisper squeezing past his lips...

"Mother..." She smiles softly, takes her hand off his chest and uses the free arm to pull him against her chest. She tucks her chin on top of his head holds him with one arm, and continues to pet his hair with the other

"That's right Suuichi, I am right here. I'll stay right here too, so you just rest peacefully." Tears prick at the corner of her eyes and Shura feels his own burn. The ningen boy speaks up, calling out to his Mother.

"Aww, come on Mom! Suuichi is way to old for you to coddle him like that! Give him a break already!" The ningen man just laughs and rubs his son's head. The woman's tears break free.

"I don't care how old either of you get... you are still my baby boys. I'll coddle and smother you both with as much love as possible for as long as I live. If that means that I have to sit here and hold my 22-year-old fox demon of a son to keep fevered dreams at bay so be it. I'll hold him for as long as he needs me."

Shura looks around, trying to figure out why no one had said the obvious. The Ningen man is smiling, the boy looks shocked, Hiei is back to his guard post, Yusuke and his large ningen friend have odd... sentimental, lamenting expressions... both silent. Finally he looks to his father, who has a rare smile on his face. So Shura takes it upon himself.

"You are human! He's a fox demon! He could be out for years you know! What then!?" Shura has to wonder if she'd thought about her words before she spoke them. All eyes in the room turn to him, save the red ones focused on the sleeping kitsune, and the green ones lost in dreams. Even his father turns slightly to hear him better. She looks up at him with a slightly puzzled expression. As though this is something he should understand.

"Then I will stay with him for as long as my body should permit. I know I won't live as long as him, but this is just what Mother's do." She turns her smile and those deep brown eyes on him. He finds himself stumbling back, unable to face that kind of intensity. His father reaches out to him trying to pull him back...

"Shura, come here." He feels the burning in his eyes peak, his fathers words somehow making everything worse. He wants the woman to speak again, wants Kurama to wake up and tell him everything is ok. His Father's cold even tones make everything worse, makes his gut roll with a hot, hurtful emotion he doesn't know how to name. Kurama would know... Kurama always knows how to explain these things to him.

Is that because he has a mother? Because he has a Mother... and I... I...

The burning in his eyes spills over, running down his cheeks. His father makes to grab his arm but Shura evades and dashes down the hall, running as fast as he can, but from what, exactly, he has no idea. Yomi's sharp command comes to his ears as he breaks free of the building... Shura realizes than that he is not being pursued, but keeps running anyway.

"SHURA!"

***
Yusuke eyes Yomi with something akin to resignation in his gut. Kurama had mentioned as much, but Yusuke hadn't bothered to listen. Why do Kurama's words have a tendency to come back and haunt him?

Yomi stands stock still, his fists clenched, his face scrunched in irritation, a single bead of sweat rolling down his face. Yusuke feels the need to verbally slap the man, after all, Kurama is his adviser right? Surely fox-boy had said something.

"Gee Yomi, guess that's the problem with those damn clones raised to live off fighting, don't know how to handle surges of emotion. Now, I'm thinking that parents usually straighten those out before the kid runs off, but you've only been playing one side of the fence. I'm sure Shura will make a great leader someday, if he doesn't self destruct first." The man relaxes, his face blanking. Yusuke recognizes it as a mask slammed down, likely meaning he has hit a sore spot.

"Pay no mind to matters that are not yours to interfere in." Yusuke snorts.

"Maybe they aren't mine to interfere with, but if you had just listened to Kurama in the the first place this wouldn't have happened." Yomi looks shocked and annoyed, yet another mask. "Now he usually doesn't say crap about what he does here but he came to visit me at Tourin with the most god awful expression on his face. I bugged him until he told me what got him so down. He said..."

Shura feels the absence of a Mother, Yomi does nothing to fill it. It is only a matter of time before they will come to odds over it.

"... just like that. Then said he only told me because he figured the first thing Shura would do when he gets his head back together is challenge me. To prove that he's just as strong as you. So unless you want me beating on him, fix it. You may not listen to me, but I know you sure as hell respect Kurama's thoughts." With that, Yomi nods and exits. Yusuke gets closer to his favorite fox-boy, sitting exactly where Shura had earlier. Suu-chan interrupts his thoughts.

"Shrua-kun doesn't have a Mom? Did she die like my Mom did?" Yusuke finds all of the others looking at him... right... they never really had been told about Shura had they?

"Shura... well he's Yomi's clone. Yomi grew him in an artificial womb and started raising him as his son. Shura is going to succeed Yomi some day which is why Kurama is second in command and not an heir. Yomi just wants Kurama around as an adviser to him and a role-model for Shura. Kid's been trained to fight and lead a country... literally from the day he was born."

They look shocked.

"Hey don't shoot the messenger!" Holds up his hands and sweat drops. At least now Yomi will start to give Shura everything he needs.

***
"... he tried to attack my son! I will not tolerate that! he's obviously unstable and will start wars if not properly dealt with."

"That doesn't mean you can just off the shrimp! I mean..."

"Yomi may be right Kuwabara. That really isn't Hiei anymore."

"How can you even consider that an option Urameshi!?"

The voices are far too loud and fuzzy. He feels warm, comfortable... squeezed. Someone is squeezing him. Green eyes open to find that it is his Mother, his head resting against her chest. She's looking around at the assembled people, Yomi, Yusuke, Kuwabara, and Mukuro. His stepfather and stepbrother staying away from the group, looking on with mixes of surprise and horror.

Why are they all in my room? Why is Mother here... at Gandara?

Mukuro adds in her two cents. "I cannot feel any trace of Hiei's previous conciousness. Feel free to treat him as you see fit." She turns and leaves.

"WHAT!? Lady you are hella twisted! You can't just throw him to the wolves like that!!!" Mukuro pays Kuwabara no mind. His Mother squeezes tighter; causing a sharp pain in his still bruised lungs.

"Mother, I am afraid that if you do not loosen your grip soon I will not be able to breath very well." She gasps and loosens up at once, but still keeps her grip firm. The conversation stops in light of his return to the conscious world. She kisses his forehead and suppresses a sob.

"Suuichi! Oh sweety how are you feeling? Do you need anything? Are you hungry? Are you hurting?" He cuts off her babble with a chuckle.

"I am fine Mother." She tweaks his nose and readjusts him so that he's leaning back against her and facing his friends.

"Suuichi Minamino! Don't you lie to your Mother now..." He laughs again, leans his head back to look at her, grimacing slightly at his sore ribs.

"But you said that a Mother's kiss can make anything better right? Don't tell me I've been tricked all these years..." The worry etched into her face dissipates as she laughs and kisses his forehead again.

"I was so worried that you... but you are still you. I should have known. You are just too stubborn to let anyone change you." Tears prick at the corners of her eyes.

Kurama returns his gaze to Yusuke. "Now Mother that isn't true, but I suppose that by now you know that you changed me a great deal, right Yusuke?" Yusuke looks worried.

"Hey Kurama man, don't look at me! That was all Botan! She told them! Huh Kuwa!?"

Kuwabara grins a bit evilly. "I don't know Urameshi... you were the one that told them he was a demon, all Botan said was that he got abducted. Plus you brought them to Tourin..."

"You blabbed to the kid about our missions!" They proceed to start wrestling, Kurama interrupts before it gets too serious.

"Ahem! I can only assume it a necesary evil..." He takes a deep breath. "... one that leaves me in a bit of a quandary." He looks back up to his Mother. "Mother I... I never meant to..."

"Shhhhh... Suuichi I don't want to hear your apologies. You did it to protect me right? That's all I need to know. Fox spirit or just a regular human boy, you are still my Suuichi and I love you all the same. Maybe even a little more if its possible, to know what a wonderful man you've become. I am so happy that you are safe again." He smiles and closes his eyes, relaxing against her again. Content to let her coddle him, if only to give her the security of knowing he is really right there.

His smile quickly turns to a frown though. Without even opening his eyes he addresses the other issue hanging in the air. "I can only assume that you have made no progress with Hiei, or the option of killing him would not have been breached."

Yusuke lets out a huge sigh. "He hit your step-dad and tried to kill Shura, he must have thought that the kid hurt you. Won't let anyone but Shiori or Yukina within 5 ft. of you." Kurama nods, his eyes open and slide to his companion, who merely sits and stares at him with big red eyes.

"Hiei... what is my name?" He blinks, but nothing else. Kurama sighs again. "I see the problem Yusuke. Why take such drastic measures though?"

"Mukuro says he isn't in there anymore... says she can't feel any trace of him." He feels his face blank, the way it always does when he is overwhelmed by a strong emotion. A learned reaction to detach. His voice is steady and calm, even if he is anything but.

"So you think him to be entirely gone. You seek to reattach his mind to his soul by letting the soul loose to seek it out?" Yusuke looks stunned, as though the information is new to him.

"What... what do you mean?" Kurama's explanation is textbook.

"A blood lust will forcibly separate the mind from the body. If the sever is completed then the only way to preserve the being is to release the soul from the body so it can seek out and rejoin the mind before moving on or reincarnation." Yusuke gets his contemplative look.

"So... why don't we just find Hiei's mind?" Yomi growls at him.

"You have a Jagan do you? Because I don't. Finding a mind is damn near impossible even with one. The only one I know to possess a Jagan is the one that is missing, and the only person I know capable of implanting one is dead."

"So what do we do?" Yomi shakes his head.

"Were you not listening? We kill him." Yusuke and Kuwabara remain silent. Kurama speaks first.

"I want to be left with my family." They look at him but he refuses to look at them, keeping his gaze on Hiei. "Leave me with my family for a time."

Yomi turns and leaves. After a few moments, Yusuke drags an utterly stunned Kuwabara out with him, but not before Kurama heard his whispered parting comment to Kuwabara.

"Come on Kuwa... it's fox-boy's choice anyway. He knows Hiei better than any of the rest of us."
__________________________________________________________________ ____________________

A/N: So... are they going to kill Hiei or not? Will Shura be alright? What about Meiyo and Yukina? Will I ever give you a breather from the drama?

Probably not.

Wow, only two points of view in this one... interesting.

Please review!!!

Kitsune: Fox spirit
-kun: Young man that's a friend
-san: Mr. or Mrs.
-chan: For a female, lover, or young boy
Ningen: Human
Mazaku: Type of demon that Yusuke is
Koroomie: Ice maiden, Yukina and Hiei's people

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho nor any of its characters. They belong to Yoshihiro Togashi. The plot and original characters of this fic, are however, mine.