Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Waiting To Live Again ❯ PART 2 ( Chapter 2 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

PART 2: THE RETURN


I walk past shop windows bearing sweets and trinkets of various design. The wind blows my crimson hair back behind me lightly, the frosty air nipping at my neck and my face. It's a Saturday, and the streets are packed with families and the occaisional tourist, but it all seems empty to me. My destination is not far off, only five minutes or so. I smile as the buildings lessen in number and size, and green begins to sprout at random from sidewalk cracks, and trees rise above quaint shop doorways. I approach the park cautiously, almost as if the sidewalk were a cliff, and one wrong step will send me hurtling over the edge to my doom.

Even in Autumn, the grass is as green as my eyes, and it's refreshing to see it, to feel it beneath my feet, even if I am wearing shoes. I stop at an old bench. It's once glossy coat has faded to a soft grey, and black paint peels off of the arms to reveal the silver metal beneath. My breath catches in my throat as a ghostly vision of Hiei appears there, sitting cross-legged, and staring up at me as if willing me to sit next to him. I cannot help myself, and I do so.



~*~
"Come here often?" It is a simple question, but flirtatious nonetheless. Ruby eyes watch me from the far end of the bench, squinting; as if that will help him to better understand me.

"No," comes a tentative reply, "only when you do."

I smile faintly at him, and reach over to touch his hand. He does not flinch as I would expect him to in public. Otherwise he might be the one initiating it. You never can tell with Hiei.

"Don't worry, Hiei," my smile turns lecherous, "I don't bite... often."

A small smile replaces his usual rigidness, and a faint blush tinges his cheeks pink.

"Baka kitsune..."

I pull him closer, and put my arm around him, kissing his soft hair lightly. I can smell him, and his scent is spicy, like freshly ground cinnamon. We are comfortable here, together. I sigh contentedly when he squeezes my hand.
~*~



The ghostly vision disappears, and I am left with a few odd stares from passers-by. Apparentally, I have spaced out for longer than intended. I shake my head from side to side as if that will clear it of the memories I hold so close to my heart. I continue to sit there, just staring into space for a moment or two. Then, I reach into my bag and remove my sketch book and some pencils. I look at the tree to the right of the bench I am sitting on, almost expecting to see him there again. And I do.

He's sitting there on a lower branch, eyes twinkling with amusement and something I know all too well: sorrow. He says nothing, so I begin to draw. Every time I look up there he remains in the same position, not even moving a milimeter. I came here only expecting to draw the tree, and here he is, waiting for me. I finish the drawing off with a quick stroke of my pencil, and turn to him once more.

"I drew the eyes dark, the way you like them." All this time he's been away, and that's the first thing to come out of my mouth. I feel like an idiot and, though he probably knows it, I won't let it show.

"Thank you." He jumps down from his perch, and sits next to me once more.

"Where did you go?" My voice is soft, like I might break down and cry right there. He notices this, and his features soften slightly, like they only did when he looked at me.

"I... needed some time... to think..."

He is clearly avoiding answering my question, so I won't push it... for now. I just pray that he stays this time.

"Yes. I believe we both did... Truth be told, I didn't really expect you... to come back."

"Baka kitsune..." But his eyes are glowing with guilt and that heart-shattering sorrow I knew from my own eyes when I looked in the mirror after he left. He reaches tentatively for my hand. I let him touch it, wanting the brief contact if only to assure myself that it is not, in fact, a dream. And now I know. It's real, he's real, and I can even smell freshly ground cinnamon.

So here we sit, two souls lost from each other, and just now finding our way back. The silence is understood; neither of us can say anything for fear of breaking the delicate illusion. There is a reason he has returned; it's not like Hiei to do something without some sort of reason. I just hope it's the right one.