Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Ties That Bind ❯ Chasing Ghosts ( Chapter 11 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: DNSora 
Kurama finally brings back Hiei's mind... minus his memories. Shura refuses to talk to Yomi. Mukuro laments on Hiei's death and Kurama and Hiei make it back to the Ningenkai.
Anime/Manga: Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Shounen / Angst / Romance | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 08.07.2008 | Pages: 2 | Words: 2.1K | Visits: 241 | Status: Work In Progress
Kurama finally brings back Hiei's mind... minus his memories. Shura refuses to talk to Yomi. Mukuro laments on Hiei's death and Kurama and Hiei make it back to the Ningenkai.
Anime/Manga: Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Shounen / Angst / Romance | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 08.07.2008 | Pages: 2 | Words: 2.1K | Visits: 241 | Status: Work In Progress
Chapter 11
Chasing Ghosts
A black blur darts across his vision. "Hiei! Stop running from me! I won't hurt you! Talk to me!" He gives chase, but is easily eluded. The fog closes in and Kurama is alone once more.
He sits up abruptly, the fog clears from his mind. He breathes heavily and his head pounds, the surrounding plant life is reaching out to him, offering him aid. He is in another clearing... not too far from the den, but farther than the last excursions had taken him. He is not surprised to see Hiei's unconscious body a few meters away.
I fail once more. What must I do to reach him?
Kurama heaves a sigh and collects the object of his frustration. Three months and next to no progress. The job should be simple. What should be and what are often differ though, and thus is the case here. He readjusts his grip as he enters the den, setting Hiei on the futon. He doesn't stir. Kurama moves to the fire pit and rekindles the ashes to start dinner. Yoko made sure to keep his dens well stocked in case of emergency and Kurama finds himself grateful for his alter ego's careful planning. This being at least the second time he had very directly benefited from it. He leaves a pot of rabbit stew on to simmer, no need to hurry, it will be a while before Hiei's body recovers enough for the Jagan to wake up.
As if I want it to anyway.
His head gives a particularly harsh throb in agreement.
***
Yomi stands outside Shura's door. Wanting to enter, but unable to reach for the panel. The young man hasn't said a word since running out of the kitsune's room, not even when Yomi went to retrieve him. It is starting to worry Yomi.
He knows Shura is avoiding him, and in the few times he has forced his son into a conversation, Shura has only shaken or nodded his head. Yomi knows even less about his son's thoughts than ever. Between his lack of speech and movement and Kurama's masks; Shura has almost managed to cut his father out completely.
That, in and of itself, is enough to make Yomi's skin crawl.
He sighs and walks away. If Shura will not speak, there is little Yomi can do to change it. Perhaps he has spent too much time around the kitsune. Yomi can never tell what his old friend is thinking either. Sure there are general assumptions, calculated moves, and obvious intent. But his knowledge there has taken years of study to obtain. Kurama is like no other though, he is smart, creative, crafty. He is his own person and Shura...
Yomi stops. An entirely new thought occurring to him.
Is Shura becoming an individual?
***
Why does he hide? What is he afraid of? Why is he running?
Kurama stares at the wide red eyes before him, trying to pry into the mind he knows isn't there to begin with. His excursions haven't brought him any closer. He hasn't released the Jagan in days, wishing to have a specific plan of attack for the next time he ventured in to find the little fire demon. Bringing him back has proven to be a far more difficult task than Kurama had anticipated. But then, perhaps he'd just forgotten stubborn the man could be.
Hiei refuses to listen, refuses to come back. The battles are over, it is obvious that he is aware of that on some level, but he still runs. While running away from things he doesn't understand is very like Hiei, Kurama can't help but feel it is strange behavior.
Because it has been forever since he's ran from me... does that mean he understands me?
Kurama shakes his head to dispel that particular thought, it wouldn't help him get Hiei back...
Or would it?
If Hiei truly understands me... then getting him back might be as simple as reminding him who I am. Reminding him that I am his partner... and that I will help him through whatever it is that he's running from. Kurama smiles a real smile for the first time in days as he reaches for Hiei's ward.
Hiei won't have to run much longer.
***
Mukuro looks out her widow for what must be the millionth time that day. She just can't seem to focus on much of anything since she discovered that Hiei had been lost. She wasn't exactly neglecting her duties but she wasn't as proficient. She missed him... horribly.
She hadn't known that she still had a heart to ache; she did now. Hiei's death has proven it. She can't eat with out thinking that she shouldn't have let him go to that stupid party. She can't train without thinking about what she had planned to teach him. She can't sleep anywhere but the windowsills he preferred. She can't live without knowing that he isn't.
When exactly, had she become so fond of him? Why? He'd filled a void in her somewhere, he had replaced the hate that used to drive her. Perhaps because he understood what it is to be lonely, to fight for every breath, to live with the knowledge that the world is against you. She had seen it in him, she wanted to protect him from it. She finds strength she never knew she had when it came to helping him grow. Strength that she shouldn't have had, enough to tear a dragon in two even.
A woman with black hair and brown eyes flashes before her. The powerful aura that shouldn't have been possible from such a tiny woman, one that gave Mukuro pause.
"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!"
Words she'd read from the young Mazaku's mind as he'd wandered around lost in thought. Mukuro feels her heart clench. Now she knows why the woman had stunned her. Shiori is the embodiment of all the emotions that Mukuro has struggled with since taking Hiei as her heir. Shori is a Mother, and that is the void that Hiei had filled.
She suppresses a sob, a new wave, a whole new kind of pain washes over her. I am a Mother who has lost her son? So be it... at least I understand now. Just as she is about to give into the tears, to cry for the first time since she was a child, she feels it.
Just a small flare at the edge of her perception. A very familiar flare. Just like that, her pain is erased.
It seems, that there is a stubbornness to my heir... my son... and his friends that even death cannot compete with.
***
"... and it told me that your mind retreated to mine along our connection in order to keep from being completely separated from your body. The safest place - all things considered." Hiei looks at the fox curiously.
"That is a rather tall tale. For some reason, I feel compelled to believe you though. I do have a vague recollection of you." Kurama smiles.
"It is simply because we are partners Hiei. Your mind has been gone for quite some time, it will take patience to bring everything back to the way it was. You have a lot of things to sort out; I believe that your memories will start to return bit by bit until your mind is ready to accept all of them. Then it will all make sense to you once more." He nibbles on the food this strange individual has provided for him.
"So all I have to do is wait?"
"It might help if you are in a more familiar environment. Around people that you know. Seeing and interacting with them might trigger some of your lost memories."
"Where exactly did you have in mind?" Again that smile, one that Hiei really didn't think he should trust... it sends a prickling feeling down his spine.
"A nice little place in the ningenkai... it's peaceful and quite beautiful really. At lest at the temple. I have a comfy little den there too... well... ningen's call it an apartment." Hiei snorts.
"How exactly would we get there? One can't just hop between worlds."
"Ah, Hiei, that is where you are wrong. Due to events that you cannot remember, you and I are very capable of simply hopping between worlds. Along with a few others that you probably can't recall. It is as simple as getting to a preset location, and the portal to the ningenkai will already be prepared, stabilized just for our access and guarded by some of my fiercer plants."
Another snort. "Now I know you are lying." But his tone holds no conviction. After all, he is a naturally curious person.
"Well, if you don't believe me then just come along. It isn't that far from here. If I am lying then you can just flit off, but if it is there I would like you to join me. Do we have a deal?" Hiei finds himself almost eager to make a pact with this person, Yoko Kurama.
"Deal."
***
George dashes through the halls, ducking and dodging through the crowd of other oni with surprising grace. An orge can really move when they have a powerful enough purpose. George is fairly sure he might be hung out to dry if he doesn't pass the information given to him on as quickly as possible. True that Koenma hasn't been as violent or petty since overthrowing his father... but it just isn't a chance that he is willing to take. He busts through the door without knocking.
"Koenma sir!" The teenage demi-god glares at him, hand poised mid-stamp.
"Ogre! How many times do I have to tell you not to barge into my office without knocking!?"
"But sir!" George recoils, why is he always so mean?
"No buts George! Nothing can possibly be that important!" Koenma slams his hands on his desk, half standing up.
"Koenma sir I'm sorry but..."
"What is it already!?" The pacifier stuck into the corner of his mouth.
"Kurama and Hiei just crossed over into the human world a matter of hours ago sir!"
"What!? Why didn't you say that in the first place?" Papers fly as He jumps onto the desk to grab George by the shoulders.
"But sir I tried..."
"Save your excuses, get Boton in here right away!" Koenma shoves him toward the door and starts to pace on top of his desk.
"Yes, sir..." The dejected oni sulks out to find Boton.
Why does he treat me like this?
_____________________________________________________________ _________________________
A/N: This chapter was really hard to write, I kept getting new, unrelated ideas. I hope you like it!
Please review!!!
-san: Mr. or Mrs.
-sama: Lord
-kun: Young man that is a friend
-chan: Female, young boy, or lover
Makai: Demon world
Reikai: Spirit world
Ningenkai: Human world
Kitsune: Fox spirit
Baka: idiot
Ningen: Human
Mazaku: Type of demon that Yusuke is
Sakura Tree: cherry tree
Jagan: Hiei's 3rd eye
Hiruseki: tear gem
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.
Chasing Ghosts
A black blur darts across his vision. "Hiei! Stop running from me! I won't hurt you! Talk to me!" He gives chase, but is easily eluded. The fog closes in and Kurama is alone once more.
He sits up abruptly, the fog clears from his mind. He breathes heavily and his head pounds, the surrounding plant life is reaching out to him, offering him aid. He is in another clearing... not too far from the den, but farther than the last excursions had taken him. He is not surprised to see Hiei's unconscious body a few meters away.
I fail once more. What must I do to reach him?
Kurama heaves a sigh and collects the object of his frustration. Three months and next to no progress. The job should be simple. What should be and what are often differ though, and thus is the case here. He readjusts his grip as he enters the den, setting Hiei on the futon. He doesn't stir. Kurama moves to the fire pit and rekindles the ashes to start dinner. Yoko made sure to keep his dens well stocked in case of emergency and Kurama finds himself grateful for his alter ego's careful planning. This being at least the second time he had very directly benefited from it. He leaves a pot of rabbit stew on to simmer, no need to hurry, it will be a while before Hiei's body recovers enough for the Jagan to wake up.
As if I want it to anyway.
His head gives a particularly harsh throb in agreement.
***
Yomi stands outside Shura's door. Wanting to enter, but unable to reach for the panel. The young man hasn't said a word since running out of the kitsune's room, not even when Yomi went to retrieve him. It is starting to worry Yomi.
He knows Shura is avoiding him, and in the few times he has forced his son into a conversation, Shura has only shaken or nodded his head. Yomi knows even less about his son's thoughts than ever. Between his lack of speech and movement and Kurama's masks; Shura has almost managed to cut his father out completely.
That, in and of itself, is enough to make Yomi's skin crawl.
He sighs and walks away. If Shura will not speak, there is little Yomi can do to change it. Perhaps he has spent too much time around the kitsune. Yomi can never tell what his old friend is thinking either. Sure there are general assumptions, calculated moves, and obvious intent. But his knowledge there has taken years of study to obtain. Kurama is like no other though, he is smart, creative, crafty. He is his own person and Shura...
Yomi stops. An entirely new thought occurring to him.
Is Shura becoming an individual?
***
Why does he hide? What is he afraid of? Why is he running?
Kurama stares at the wide red eyes before him, trying to pry into the mind he knows isn't there to begin with. His excursions haven't brought him any closer. He hasn't released the Jagan in days, wishing to have a specific plan of attack for the next time he ventured in to find the little fire demon. Bringing him back has proven to be a far more difficult task than Kurama had anticipated. But then, perhaps he'd just forgotten stubborn the man could be.
Hiei refuses to listen, refuses to come back. The battles are over, it is obvious that he is aware of that on some level, but he still runs. While running away from things he doesn't understand is very like Hiei, Kurama can't help but feel it is strange behavior.
Because it has been forever since he's ran from me... does that mean he understands me?
Kurama shakes his head to dispel that particular thought, it wouldn't help him get Hiei back...
Or would it?
If Hiei truly understands me... then getting him back might be as simple as reminding him who I am. Reminding him that I am his partner... and that I will help him through whatever it is that he's running from. Kurama smiles a real smile for the first time in days as he reaches for Hiei's ward.
Hiei won't have to run much longer.
***
Mukuro looks out her widow for what must be the millionth time that day. She just can't seem to focus on much of anything since she discovered that Hiei had been lost. She wasn't exactly neglecting her duties but she wasn't as proficient. She missed him... horribly.
She hadn't known that she still had a heart to ache; she did now. Hiei's death has proven it. She can't eat with out thinking that she shouldn't have let him go to that stupid party. She can't train without thinking about what she had planned to teach him. She can't sleep anywhere but the windowsills he preferred. She can't live without knowing that he isn't.
When exactly, had she become so fond of him? Why? He'd filled a void in her somewhere, he had replaced the hate that used to drive her. Perhaps because he understood what it is to be lonely, to fight for every breath, to live with the knowledge that the world is against you. She had seen it in him, she wanted to protect him from it. She finds strength she never knew she had when it came to helping him grow. Strength that she shouldn't have had, enough to tear a dragon in two even.
A woman with black hair and brown eyes flashes before her. The powerful aura that shouldn't have been possible from such a tiny woman, one that gave Mukuro pause.
"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!"
Words she'd read from the young Mazaku's mind as he'd wandered around lost in thought. Mukuro feels her heart clench. Now she knows why the woman had stunned her. Shiori is the embodiment of all the emotions that Mukuro has struggled with since taking Hiei as her heir. Shori is a Mother, and that is the void that Hiei had filled.
She suppresses a sob, a new wave, a whole new kind of pain washes over her. I am a Mother who has lost her son? So be it... at least I understand now. Just as she is about to give into the tears, to cry for the first time since she was a child, she feels it.
Just a small flare at the edge of her perception. A very familiar flare. Just like that, her pain is erased.
It seems, that there is a stubbornness to my heir... my son... and his friends that even death cannot compete with.
***
"... and it told me that your mind retreated to mine along our connection in order to keep from being completely separated from your body. The safest place - all things considered." Hiei looks at the fox curiously.
"That is a rather tall tale. For some reason, I feel compelled to believe you though. I do have a vague recollection of you." Kurama smiles.
"It is simply because we are partners Hiei. Your mind has been gone for quite some time, it will take patience to bring everything back to the way it was. You have a lot of things to sort out; I believe that your memories will start to return bit by bit until your mind is ready to accept all of them. Then it will all make sense to you once more." He nibbles on the food this strange individual has provided for him.
"So all I have to do is wait?"
"It might help if you are in a more familiar environment. Around people that you know. Seeing and interacting with them might trigger some of your lost memories."
"Where exactly did you have in mind?" Again that smile, one that Hiei really didn't think he should trust... it sends a prickling feeling down his spine.
"A nice little place in the ningenkai... it's peaceful and quite beautiful really. At lest at the temple. I have a comfy little den there too... well... ningen's call it an apartment." Hiei snorts.
"How exactly would we get there? One can't just hop between worlds."
"Ah, Hiei, that is where you are wrong. Due to events that you cannot remember, you and I are very capable of simply hopping between worlds. Along with a few others that you probably can't recall. It is as simple as getting to a preset location, and the portal to the ningenkai will already be prepared, stabilized just for our access and guarded by some of my fiercer plants."
Another snort. "Now I know you are lying." But his tone holds no conviction. After all, he is a naturally curious person.
"Well, if you don't believe me then just come along. It isn't that far from here. If I am lying then you can just flit off, but if it is there I would like you to join me. Do we have a deal?" Hiei finds himself almost eager to make a pact with this person, Yoko Kurama.
"Deal."
***
George dashes through the halls, ducking and dodging through the crowd of other oni with surprising grace. An orge can really move when they have a powerful enough purpose. George is fairly sure he might be hung out to dry if he doesn't pass the information given to him on as quickly as possible. True that Koenma hasn't been as violent or petty since overthrowing his father... but it just isn't a chance that he is willing to take. He busts through the door without knocking.
"Koenma sir!" The teenage demi-god glares at him, hand poised mid-stamp.
"Ogre! How many times do I have to tell you not to barge into my office without knocking!?"
"But sir!" George recoils, why is he always so mean?
"No buts George! Nothing can possibly be that important!" Koenma slams his hands on his desk, half standing up.
"Koenma sir I'm sorry but..."
"What is it already!?" The pacifier stuck into the corner of his mouth.
"Kurama and Hiei just crossed over into the human world a matter of hours ago sir!"
"What!? Why didn't you say that in the first place?" Papers fly as He jumps onto the desk to grab George by the shoulders.
"But sir I tried..."
"Save your excuses, get Boton in here right away!" Koenma shoves him toward the door and starts to pace on top of his desk.
"Yes, sir..." The dejected oni sulks out to find Boton.
Why does he treat me like this?
_____________________________________________________________ _________________________
A/N: This chapter was really hard to write, I kept getting new, unrelated ideas. I hope you like it!
Please review!!!
-san: Mr. or Mrs.
-sama: Lord
-kun: Young man that is a friend
-chan: Female, young boy, or lover
Makai: Demon world
Reikai: Spirit world
Ningenkai: Human world
Kitsune: Fox spirit
Baka: idiot
Ningen: Human
Mazaku: Type of demon that Yusuke is
Sakura Tree: cherry tree
Jagan: Hiei's 3rd eye
Hiruseki: tear gem
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.