Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Winter Murders ❯ Reassurance ( Chapter 5 )

Winter Murders

"Thank you," a lilting voice said. Kurama's hands came back to life. He collapsed in Hiei's arms. Hiei glared at Death. She smiled sweetly in return. Yusuke stared blankly, as did the others. Hiei sat down carefully, mindful of his precious burden. Kurama stared at Death; there was something familiar about her…

Yusuke, Keiko and Kuwa started ushering the people out of the clearing, leaving only Death and the team of friends. Hiei had sat on the ground and had Kurama leaning on him. The group sat in a circle. Death sat across from Kurama. She gets up and walks to the kitsune. Hiei glared at her maliciously as she examined Kurama's hands. She ran her fingers along his palm, across the back, and over each finger. Kurama shivered at the soft and gentle touch. Hiei scowled deeper. Death smiled at Kurama.

"They will recover and be fine," she said. Her lilting voice eliciting shivers from everyone. Such a beautiful and arousing voice. Death moved back to her previous seat. Hiei continued glaring. Kurama flexed his hands; they seemed to be fine…

"Who are you really?" Yusuke asked suddenly. Everyone turned to face the youth. He was looking fervently at Death.

"I am Death, the goddess of Ice," Death replied. Yukina furrowed her brow, and then shrugged. She didn't know of the Ice goddess Death, but that didn't mean she was who she said she was.

"Oh. Tell us a bit about you then," Yusuke said. He looked at Kurama, who had rested his head on Hiei's shoulder. Hiei continued to glare maliciously at Death.

"Alright… I am Death, the goddess of Ice. I am at least ten times as powerful as the strongest S-class demon. I have perfected the use of ice. Actually, anything cold I can use as a weapon." Death shrugged. "Recently I was traveling in the frozen tundra in the Makai when I was ambushed by him. The one I was controlled by. He had these strange creatures with him, the likes I have never seen before. They looked like wolves at first glace, but they weren't wolves. Their fur was not fur, it was sharp pieces of steel, magicked steel. Their faces were not of the wolf, they were not sleek, their faces were broader they were shorter they were more powerful. They had sixty teeth that were as sharp as sharks, but longer. They reminded me of the elongated canines that humans picture vampires having, but thicker and stronger. They had the most haunting of voices. It sounded like the maniacal laugh of a sinister madman, mixed with the cackle of a witch, and the sirens call. It repulsed, and drew you in at the same time. It called to you, but gave you the feeling that you should not go, way in the back of your mind. Their paws were wide and powerful. Made for the toughest terrain and for the shear ripping power they encased. Claws as sharp and nearly as big as throwing daggers. Their bodies were made for speed, and yet built for strength. They exerted both. They were as big as a teenaged human. Much larger than a wolf.

"He came upon me in the tundra. He was tall, still is. He wore a white pair of pants and a white turtleneck. White fur boots cover his feet. He had white skin, white hair, even white eyes. There wasn't even a speck of color on him. The only reason I saw him was that he was wearing a slightly different shade of white than the ground. His creatures stuck out. They were brown and steel. He had six of them with him at the time. They were radiating the ki of an S-class youkai. I knew I could take them down, but I didn't feel a single wisp of ki coming from him. That is what scared me. Such powerful creatures obeying a demon with no ki? How could that be? I looked at him with a murderous gleam in my eyes, knowing full well what it is like for someone of pure white, to look at someone of pure black. For that is what I am. My clothing is black. My hair and eyes are black. Even my skin is close to the color. It is very disconcerting to look at someone that is entirely encased in black, from head to toe. He wasn't even fazed.

""I have been looking for you for such a long time," he said. His voice was like that of nails being scraped across a chalkboard. I shudder subconsciously. He laughed. The sound of which sounded like a child's happy giggle. He was a walking, talking oxymoron.

""What do you want?" I asked him. He didn't answer. I looked about me; the dogs of hell had surrounded me. I hadn't even noticed, and I am a goddess.

"The first one jumped at me. I dodged out of the way. Piece of cake. The second and third converged from opposite sides as the fourth came from above. I knew I couldn't dodge all three of them. I shot an ice blast at the fourth. He burst in an icy fire. I jumped up above the two. They crashed into each other, too maddened by blood lust to notice who they were ripping to shreds. I landed scant yards away. They were indeed powerful creatures. One of them swiped at my back, I barely dodged. I ran right into the fifth. He opened his jaws wide, preparing to bite. The sixth, the only one that hadn't attacked, watched as he bit down on thin air. As the first and fifth took their time trying to disembowel me, the sixth watched. She memorized every move I made against the other two. I, of course, defeated them eventually, but when I did I was a bit tired and totally unexpecting of what came next. She charged, blurred and appeared at my right. Swipe fake. Blur. Bite ankle. Blur. Swipe fake. Blur. Pause. Blur. Chest swipe. Blur. Pause. Jump. Blur. Swipe fake. Bite wrist. Blur. Blur. Pause. Smile. Blur. Change directions three times. Blur. Swipe face. I decided to use a protective ice spell, one that puts a barrier on my skin and anything that bumps into freezes on contact. Blur. Pause. Blur. Hind kick. Left hind leg freezes and then shatters. My leg buckles. A howl of pain. A scream. A hit to the back of my head.

""You will be very useful indeed," I heard as I blacked out. That was when he donned the scarf about my face. It had a strong mind controlling spell woven into the very fabric. It controlled me till now," Death finished.

"But what about before this incident?" Yusuke asked after a stunned moment of silence. The entire group stared at Death in amazement at her story telling skills. Death turned a shaky frown to Yusuke.

"I don't remember anything before that," she replied. Yusuke frowned. Hiei shook his head; if he didn't know better he might have thought she had woven a spell in her story. Kurama winced slightly and bit his lip. Hiei looked down at his lover. He decided to kiss his hand and make it better by warming his fingers. Death beat him to it. She scampered over and took Kurama's hand in her own. She rubbed the fingers, said a little chant and soon the redhead was praising her every attention. Hiei felt the prick of jealousy. Kurama was his fox. He was supposed to kiss it and make everything better, not her. Hiei growled. Kurama looked into his lover's eyes. He smiled at Hiei. Hiei tried to smile, but couldn't. Something about Death was bothering him.

"Well, it will do none of us any good if we all freeze to death," Genkai said while getting up. "Let's all head back to my temple. We'll be able to talk a bit more in depth there."

The gang stood up. The sun had begun to lower itself into the abyss that was the other side of the world. Yusuke helped Keiko up and the two of them started off down the path, hand in hand. Kuwa picked up the sleeping Yukina and started after them. Shizuru walked with Genkai, seemingly in deep conversation. Death rushed over to help Kurama up. Hiei growled at her, but she just smiled at his beloved. Kurama grabbed Death's hand and was hauled onto his feet. Hiei was at his side before he could even blink. Death wrapped her arm around Kurama's and they started off together. Hiei was left alone.

I hate her, Hiei thought. He sat back down on the ground. There's just something wrong about her. It's like she's deliberately trying to piss me off. To shove me out of his life. Does she want him for herself? Could she? Why wouldn't she? He's perfect. I don't deserve him. Maybe she does. But I can't live without him. I can't go on without him by my side. I can no longer live without his love, without his devotion, without his words, his smiles, and his caring voice. I can't live without him. I've know this for less than 24 hours and already I'm having troubles with coping with the deepness of my love. My need.

"Hiei! Are you coming?!" Kurama shouted back at him. Kurama couldn't figure out why his lover was being so moody. Why was he not following the group?

"He'll come in time," Death said. She pulled Kurama down the path. Kurama turned his head over his shoulder to look once more at Hiei, to make sure he was coming. He was still staring off into space. Kurama sighed. Sometimes Hiei could be so difficult.

"I'll be right back," he told Death. She didn't let go of his arm. Kurama gave her a questioning look.

"He'll come," Death reassured him. Kurama looked back at Hiei, who was still sitting quietly in the snow. He seemed preoccupied with his thoughts.

"I just want to see what's wrong with him. I'll be right back," Kurama told her as he slipped out of her vice-like grip. He turned and headed towards Hiei.

"Don't take too long!" Yusuke shouted from the head of the group. "We'd like to see your smiling faces at Genkai's before dawn!"

"Shut up Yusuke!" Kurama shouted back. He grumbled something and headed towards his love. He put a supporting hand on Hiei's back, startling the small demon.

"What's wrong Hiei?" Kurama asked. He sat next to Hiei on the compacted snow. Hiei didn't look at him. Kurama wrapped his arm around Hiei's waist, but the fire demon moved out of the gentle embrace. "Hiei?"

Kurama sounded so pathetic. Hiei could sense the pain in his voice from the movement he had just done. Hiei cursed himself inside. Why did he doubt his fox? Was it her fault?

"Hiei?"

"Hn," Hiei said. He was too preoccupied to talk to Kurama. Why did he think that?!

"Hiei?" the hurt was leaking through into Kurama's voice. Hiei kicked himself mentally. Why was he doing these things to the one person he truly loved?

"K'rama," Hiei choked out. Kurama looked at him, puzzled. Hiei's face contorted in pain.

"Hiei?" Kurama asked a bit more desperately. Hiei grabbed his arm. He tried to point to his Jagan. "What is it Hiei?"

Hiei continued to try to point to his Jagan. Kurama finally caught on. He lifted the white band that bound Hiei's Jagan. Hiei gasped for air as the bond was broken. He hadn't been able to breath for the past few minutes. Hiei collapsed for lack of oxygen into Kurama's arms.

"Hiei!" Kurama cried out. Hiei stroked Kurama's face. Kurama held onto Hiei tightly. "What happened Hiei?"

Hiei bit his tongue. He couldn't tell Kurama that he thought that Death had done it. Kurama liked Death. Hiei had to think of some way to avoid her being mentioned.

"Someone was blocking me from using my mouth for speaking and when I tried to speak they cut off my oxygen," Hiei said. Kurama gasped and held him tighter. Hiei felt slightly guilty that he left out part of the truth, but it couldn't be helped. He was now sure that Death had done it.

"Who would do that?" Kurama asked. Hiei bit down hard on his tongue, causing it to bleed. Kurama pulled his face towards him. Hiei felt their lips press together. He felt Kurama's tongue run lightly over his lips. He wanted so bad to open them, but his mouth was currently filled with blood. Kurama pulled back. Hiei swallowed. "No tongue?"

"I bit it. It was bleeding," Hiei answered. Kurama chuckled. He took Hiei's mouth in a possessive kiss, which Hiei gladly returned. Kurama may be the dominant in this relationship, but Hiei thought he had the better end of the deal. Kurama pulled back.

"Come on silly," Kurama purred. He stood up and reached out a hand to Hiei, who took it gladly. Kurama smiled at his lover lovingly. He wrapped his arm around his waist protectively. Hiei leaned on him slightly. Together they started down the path on the way out of the park. A dark shadow loomed in the trees. It sneered as they passed by.

The damned fire demon has a Jagan, it cursed inwardly. And Kurama is totally devoted to him, as he is to Kurama. It could be hard. But it is nothing in comparison to what I have done in the past.

The shadow dematerialized.

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"Hiei?" Kurama asked as they neared his car. The others were long gone. Hiei turned to face him. Kurama smiled softly.

"Yeah?" Hiei said. He stood by his door, waiting for his lover to unlock it.

"What were you thinking of?" Kurama asked, unlocking the doors.

"When?" Hiei asked. He climbed into the passenger side and closed the door. Kurama got into the divers seat and closed his door. He pulled on his seatbelt before answering.

"When they were controlling you," Kurama said. Hiei cringed. He wouldn't lie to Kurama.

"They were making me read into things I didn't want to. They made me think things that I would never under any circumstances think. They made me not want to be around you. They made me not want to talk to you. To be with you," Hiei answered truthfully. Kurama stared at him.

"How strong was it?" he barely spoke. Hiei looked at him. He was staring straight out the front windshield.

"It would've kept me in its clutches had I not had the Jagan, and had you not uncovered it," Hiei said. He put a supportive hand on Kurama's arm. Kurama looked at him, unshed tears shone in his eyes.

"So someone with strong mental powers wants us to be apart," Kurama said. He took Hiei's hand in his own and squeezed it. "I won't let them."

That was all the reassurance Hiei needed. He leaned forward and gave Kurama a loving kiss.

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"No previous memories, no nothing," Yusuke was saying to Genkai. Kuwa, Keiko, and Shizuru were entertaining Death in the living room. "Doesn't that seem a bit strange?"

"Of course it does," Genkai replied. "It gives her an air of mystery. It makes her open to both the good side and the bad side. It keeps her open to change the side she's on. It keeps her free."

"Yeah," Yusuke agreed. He looked through the doors at the now laughing group.

"I can't say I trust her," Genkai said. "But it seems to me that she's more of a child than anything. She's a very descriptive child."

"Yeah, with the knowledge of using cold things to their fullest," Yusuke said. He remained looking in on the group. "She has a very extensive battle knowledge."

"The thing we're going to have to do is trust her for now," Genkai said. She looked out of the door to. "She knows things that we need to know. We will trust her as far as Yukina could throw her for the moment."

"Why Yukina?"

"Because she can throw, but can't throw nearly as far as the rest of us, excluding Keiko and maybe Shizuru."

"Oh."

They turned their heads to see Kurama and Hiei come in, holding hands and chatting quietly. Yusuke lifted a black eyebrow.

"What took you guys so long? Did you get locked in Kurama's car and couldn't get out? Or did you get caught in the snow, lost and Hiei had to keep Kurama warm by using his body heat?" Yusuke teased. Hiei walked up to him calmly and smacked him upside the head. Yusuke rubbed it. He laughed.

"You asked for it," Kurama told him gently. Hiei sat next to Genkai. Kurama was about to sit next to him when Death burst in. She threw herself at him shouting `Kurama!' Hiei rolled his eyes. That cute and innocent attitude wasn't going to steal his koibito away from him. No one was going to take him form him. They would pay with their lives if they even tried. Starting with Death. She most definitely wasn't a goddess.

"Come with me Kurama!" Death cooed. She tugged him out into the other room. Yusuke looked at Hiei, who was the picture of calm.

"Hiei? It seems Death is stealing your boyfriend," Yusuke said. Hiei dismissed his comment with a wave of his hand.

"I trust Kurama. He will never leave me," Hiei replied. He looked about suspiciously. Then said in a softer voice, "I won't let him."

Yusuke laughed. Hiei grinned. "I was being serious."

Yusuke patted his head and walked into the living room. He nudged Keiko. She smiled at him softly. Yusuke said his goodbyes and then left with Keiko. Kuwa soon followed suit. As did Shizuru. Soon it was just Kurama, Death, Hiei, and Genkai. Yukina was already asleep, and in bed. Kurama looked down at his watch.

"I am truly sorry Death," Kurama said. Hiei had fallen into a light sleep with his head resting on the cushion of the couch. "But Hiei and I really must be going. If I stay any longer I won't get up in the morning. Especially since I have to prove a point to Hiei, and that could take some time."

"You could do it here," Death prodded. Kurama shook his head. He got up from his position at Death's side and went over to Hiei. He placed a soft kiss on Hiei's cheek. The youkai's eyes fluttered open slowly. Kurama smiled down at him.

"Come on koibito, it's time to go," Kurama purred. Death cringed. Genkai failed to notice it, but Hiei saw it as clear as day.

"K," was Hiei's response. Kurama helped him sit up and get off the couch. The two of them walked out with their arms wrapped about each other's waists. Hiei rested his cheek on Kurama's arm. They got into his car and drove back to the apartment. They snuck in and tackled each other to the bed.

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"This is where you will sleep," Genkai said. She opened the door to the guest bedroom. It was a small room. Perfect for the kind of person that didn't mind small spaces, or horrid interior decorating. Death looked it over. It was you basic bedroom: bed, nightstand, closet, dresser, vanity, and a lamp. Death turned to Genkai.

"It's perfect, thank you," she said. Genkai nodded and turned away and left down the hall. Death carefully crept into the room. She discarded her weapons: sword, daggers, scythe, double bladed axe, mace, and curved blade. She wouldn't need them for awhile. She needed to set up headquarters. This would be a bit more challenging. Not only would it have to be unnoticeable, but it would have to be big. Death laid down on the bed, waiting for the old hag to fall asleep. Once she had, Death snuck out of her room and headed left down the hall, carefully shutting the door behind her.

Death crept down the hallway, being extra careful. She didn't want to take any risks. She needed to be super careful getting out of here. Once she was outside the temple she'd be safe. Death took another left. One right and she'd be out. Death reached the door. She pulled it open. It didn't make a sound. Death smiled to herself. This was going to be easier than she had thought. She crept outside and closed the door. She shadow jumped her way to the forests edge. She wandered in. Once the perfect spot was found, she began her chant. It was an old chant. No one knew the words anymore, or the melody, except for her. She began humming the wordless half of the tune. Ice of all colors and shapes formed around her. It first decimated that part of the forest, and then rebuilt it out of ice. She smiled at her handiwork. All in a days work.

"Perfect…"

Finally another Chapter! And it's not funny, or happy! Yay!...? Oh well. I guess you guys didn't really like that last chapter. Sorry. It was kinda a transition thingy. Anyway… Hope you liked it!