Adult-FanFiction.org : YuYu Hakusho

Paperwork
By : Artemick
Category: Yuyu Hakusho > General
Views: 1696 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho and earn no money writing about it.
Chapter List
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*

"I decline." Kurama stood before the prince's desk. The heavy Marrin robes were a world away. He had armored himself in anonymous business attire, khakis and a pristine collared shirt under a navy blazer. His face burned with fury and the choice seemed silly in retrospect -- to try to look objective, professional, as if he had no emotions tied to the assault. “I’m not going out again with that team. I refuse to be assigned to any mission requiring further contact with them.”

“What can I say, Kurama?” Koenma lifted two files, one heavy and the other almost empty. “Your word against five senior members of the Special Defense Force.”

“I know there’s precedent for this! Complaints, convenient deaths, odd injuries. Look for it.”

“You do not tell me what to do,” the prince said.

“I trusted you. Your deal. I told you everything. Betrayed my associates, renounced my life. You promised me safety. Clemency. Then you sent me into a wasteland with criminals and sadists –- and I still completed the objective –- an accomplishment your own team would rather have left undone, letting a whole region flip back to hostile control. I did that. What haven’t I done for you?”

“This is just…” He picked up the light file and flipped through. “An exotic accusation.”

“Rape? What could be more basic?”

“You had few marks on you.”

“That's not true! Read the medical report.”

“There isn’t one.”

“There was no DNA tests, no, but doctor took photos of my neck, my skin. The injuries correspond with his report; he was thorough."

“Did you remember to attach it?”

"What?"

Koenma opened his hand in a shrug, flipping through the papers. “There’s nothing here.”

Kurama took back the folder and looked through. The report was missing, along with the doctor’s letter. Nothing.

“No. No. Ask Dr. Sasaharu. There were dozens of witness accounts included. The Marrins all saw it. They addressed it in the talks, during negotiations; I was speaking of peace with blood running out my nose, smelling -- the Marrins can attest.”

“The who?”

Kurama fingers curled in. “Your new alliance, sir. Their entire tribe saw the evidence on my body of both occurrences. It was common knowledge.”

The prince picked up the phone on the desk. “Medical, please. Sasaharu."

"Thank you."

Koenma held up his hand. "Mm. His home then, please.”

Kurama let out his breath, listening. Koenma waited.

“Doctor. Yes. There’s an irregularity. Did you treat a young man named – no? Are you sure? His name was Kurama Minamino. Human. You’re sure?”

Kurama grabbed the phone. “This is Minamino. You wrote up your results for my field report. We had a discussion: You said it wasn't necessary, I explained the situation, and you wrote five paragraphs including estimates of the weapons, hand and finger sizes, and force required to cause such particular bruising.”

He heard a stiff sigh. The voice at the other end of the line, undoubtably the same doctor, said, “I’m sorry.”

There was a click.

Kurama kept the phone, ignoring the prince's sighs. “Lab please. Blood test results for Minamino, Kurama.”

Koenma sighed. He sat back in his chair, crossing his arms.

Kurama felt his cheeks getting hot. “Thank you – Kaoru? Hi. Could you please give me the results of the blood tests for Minamino – "

He spelled it out and handed the phone over. Koenma listened. His eyebrows raised, and he handed the phone back.

“ – I swear, I just ran the HIV an hour ago,” the woman was saying. “I thought the specimen was here. I remembered the name because my grandmother was born near that mountain.”

“There’s nothing there now?” Kurama asked.

“Um. Let me check with the other technician. I'm sure it's just…I'll check. I'm sure there were two more tests and antiretrovirals administered, signed by Dr. Sasaharu.”

“Could you repeat that?” Kurama thrust the phone to Prince Koenma.

The prince listened.

“Really. Oh hello, go on. Why weren’t those run already? Not standard. Good thing, hang onto them. Would you please make a statement of this incident and send it to my office?”

The girl asked for a floor number.

“Koenma.” He smiled. “No, you’re not in trouble. You’re getting a bonus. We reward non-corruption with fat wads of yen. Hah, you’re welcome.”

He put down the phone. “Kurama, all this shows is that the doctor lied when he said he hadn’t seen you.”

Kurama squinted and turned up his palms, his mouth open.

The prince sighed and called his reapers to have the doctor dragged in. Kurama sat to wait.

“Did you enjoy the rest of the trip?”

Kurama stared, then laced his fingers together. “Read the summary and conclusion. It will help you fake your way through this debrief better.”

The prince rolled his eyes and flipped to the first page of Kurama’s report.

*

The prince ignored the doctor’s entry, by then well into the middle of the report. The tall male doctor apologized twice as soon as he set eyes on Kurama, bowing deeply, and said nothing more. Kurama watched him, but did not stand.

Koenma laughed, getting to the end of the report. He slammed it shut and grinned at Kurama. “Next time I’m sending you out alone. I had no idea you could do something like that!"

“I wish you had."

“I mean, the whole army. A giant forest.”

“Doctor Sasahara is here."

“Right.” Koenma threw the report to the side. “Do you remember seeing this kid?”

The man wiped his brow. “Y-yes.”

“What for?”

“I don’t recall."

"You don't recall?" Koenma tapped the desk with his fingernail. “So you remember seeing Kurama, but not stripping him down and breaking out a rape kit? Seems like the kind of thing that might stick in one’s mind.”

“I see a lot of patients.”

“Fox soul hybrids with red hair?”

“All my cases are unusual. Everything should be in the files.”

“It’s not.” Koenma leaned forward like a grade schooler starting a rumor. “Foxy thinks it’s a conspiracy.”

The man looked sideways at Kurama. He swallowed and sighed.

“What happened to your hand?” Kurama asked him.

The doctor tugged his sleeve down. “I burnt it. Cooking.”

“No. Looks like electrical burn.”

“Stove. Clumsy…”

Kurama gave the prince a nasty look. “This is trite.”

Prince Koenma opened his hand, starting to speak and then shrugging.

“There are other things in the file." Kurama said to the doctor. “Testimony from witnesses. Nothing definitive. Just their words -- which can be replicated at any time. It'd be a shame if they remembered something extreme that you missed completely.”

The man shifted his weight. “I can't recall our exact examination findings. I have a lot of patients -- ”

"Coward." Kurama lifted a hand, indicating the doctor like a show host. “Prince, this is such an unusual facility you're running. No records, vanishing samples, amnesiac doctors with burns matching the signature weapon of the accused captain's second in command. What clearly admirable leadership."

The prince waved a hand at the doctor. “Shoo, moron.”

The doctor muttered another apology at Kurama and darted out the door. Koenma leaned over the desk.

“That’s enough evidence for a transfer and investigation, Kurama. You'll never get a conviction.”

Kurama curled his lip. He stood. “Thank you. But I know better than to come here expecting justice."

“Kurama!" The prince rolled his head back.

“What?”

“Come on. Just relax, will you? These things happen. You're fine. Let's move on.”

*

The beat of Kurama's stride helped to work out his thoughts.

Shun-jun had not learned a lesson about mercy, only fear of power, and knowledge that he should be crueler to his whores so they couldn't get it.

Next time, he would tie his victim, maim them first, refuse them freedom of movement and association. He would kill. He was out there, doing the whole thing again.

Kurama could track him. There were records. He only needed help.

But that team was too strong a clique, loyal to each other before their prince – even Zel. Kurama thought she had a heart like Yuusuke's until he saw the burn; she had stolen the records herself, or helped, and threatened the doctor. Perhaps the team could not take down the monarchy, but they were too strong for Koenma to punish or even chastise. The prince could not punish them without damaging himself, and he was not going to move until solid evidence forced him.

And even then...perhaps he was offering Kurama only what he had to give – protection, to be hidden from the SDF for now. In hopes they'd forget.

Kurama smelled rain and stopped. Inhaling slowly, he let himself feel what he felt for one instant. His nose reddened, eyes stung. He reached up to cover his face.

Botan rounded the corner.

She didn't blanch at the tears, but threw her arms around him. "Oh, Kurama! I'm so sorry. I read your report – those absolute beasts!"

Kurama held her, eyes wide with distraction; Shuichi's body, whatever thoughts Kurama was having, was very interested in wrapping his arms around another person, very curious in the press of her chest against his and the warmth of her back. The kimono crinkled under his hand. He shut his eyes, inhaling rain.

"Thanks, Botan."

Botan stepped back, as if she knew that tone of curious pleasure and didn't quite intend to illicit it; he let go instantly. "What's going to happen?"

"I don't know." Kurama cleared his throat. "Nothing. There's no proof."

"They'll burn for it. I promise you. People get what they deserve."

He was quiet for a moment. Guilt roiled in his stomach. "Did I?"

"Oh, sweetie." Botan smoothed his collar. "You deserved a second chance."

"Why can't they be punished? I thought you were recording my movements. Can't you pull that up for evidence?"

Botan squinted. Kurama suspected his eyes were glinting. But she pulled her brows in, smiling, and apologized. "I'm not supposed to talk to you about the cameras."

Smart girl. After the break-in, Spirit World was irritatingly conservative in their security.

"Please don't be angry, Kurama; it wouldn't matter. We only began taping…but I can't talk about it."

"You can, I know about it already; Yuusuke was being taped even before he saved that child from the car – "

"It's – there's a lot of problems with the system," Botan squinted. "Which you must know about because we couldn't find you on camera at all, for years."

"Oh. You did, actually. We just destroyed the records when we were in here," Kurama admitted. "There were tapes of all of us, Hiei and Gouki and I. No one must have bothered to watch them. I suppose I wasn't important enough to merit review."

Part of the confidence game was an exchange, building trust. He was giving her something as a trade. Good faith.

"You destroyed them?"

"And some other tapes, so that our movements and homes couldn't be traced…although I left footage of my mother and I. I didn't want to destroy anything that was a part of her, even a memory." He rubbed his head. "It wasn't very smart, but when I think about how short a human life is…I wanted something left. Evidence of her. She's a good person."

Botan's mouth hung open. She crossed her arms. "You destroyed tons of evidence that might be the difference between condemning a person or blessing them."

"I didn't really know what it was."

"I think you did. I think you left enough to make you look like a good son."

"No, ha! No, you can check. I…don't come off well. The cameras don't love me."

Botan cracked a smile, then giggled. "Well…me neither. You're so chipper. Look, what do you want?"

"What I meant was, you must have taped it. What they did. It's documented and I…as much as I hate..." Kurama scowled, looking down. "I don't want anyone to – to see what I became that night. What I was brought to. But that's evidence."

Botan looked away, biting her lip.

"Will you at least watch the tapes for the team members and I for that night?

Botan shook her head. Kurama took her hands in his as she pulled away. "Please, Botan, I trust you – you're kind, you won't – laugh."

"Laugh?" Botan pulled loose. "I'd never. No one would ever."

"Please," he scoffed. "They'll watch it. Shun-jun and his people like trophies."

"They can't. No one can – " Botan stopped. She looked ready to chide him, but pressed her lips together. Then she leaned up on her toes and kissed her forehead. "You are a good, brave person. I can't talk to you about this, but I swear, if there were any way to get evidence for you, I would. Any way at all. But there's not – I can't explain, but what you're asking for doesn't exist."

Kurama nodded. "Thank you. Well. I'll rest then. Good seeing you. Excuse me."

Walking around her, he crossed his arm over his chest and wrapped his hand over his eyes. It was hard not to cry after tapping into that well of horror and shame. He couldn't shut it off; the small crack was spreading as if the dam holding everything back were made of glass.

*

On the bus on the way home, back in the ningenkai, Kurama catalogued what he knew. There was no tape. There was no recorded evidence of the assault. That was good for some small reasons of humiliation and blackmail.

It was interesting too, because they had begun taping recently – the why was obscure. Perhaps conceptual abstract memory was needed to record deeds. The concept of justice required perfect objective information – and it took a while for humans to come up with an analogy that allowed such detailed recording for judgment to exist. Simple, when the videotape was invented by humans, the spirit realm could tape, and they began to. The technology had leaked from human to heaven. It was a strange but pretty philosophical trick.

As to when, Botan had given the reason "We only began taping - " recently enough for him to find dangerous value in it, so in the last fifteen years he'd had interest in humanity. But she said it was no help. That didn't make sense. Unless she meant space, not time.

"We only began taping," Kurama mused, soundless, leaning his head against the bus window and watching the bushes go by. "We only began taping – in the ningenkai."

No one was supervising the trips, the scouting missions, and outward dimensional excursions yet. It made sense – it'd be difficult. They were less central, ungoverned, and would be weak to concept governed surveillance in such vastly different value systems and cultures – only worlds with conceptual justice and monitoring were recorded and judged.

That was an opening. If no one was watching, they would have no evidence of the rape – or any subsequent event that happened to Shun-jun and his team.

Kurama crossed his arms, smiling.

His side cramped suddenly. Kurama straightened, allowing himself to shiver. It was cold in the A/C on the bus, and when he was thinking he was too still sometimes. His blood grew sluggish as a reptile. He tapped his heels on the floor, annoyed. Ever since he'd come home, he was forgetting to plan things - even stupid things, stupid as bringing a coat in case he was held up and night fell. And now he was here, freezing, because he wasn't himself anymore and didn't have the concentration anymore to protect himself.

He felt a fury at Shun-jun, that the SDF had upset his life so – again, and over such a petty, dishonorable thing. It was so silly to them – it was fun to them, fun at the expense of something they did not recognize as worth listening to. But to Kurama, it had become crushing. This chaos in him, this silent piercing scream…the pain and terror of that echo was making him forget to plan. This fear and regret left him in shock, caused him to be vulnerable, endangering his life and his mother's life. It was distracting and inevitable. Hysteria rose at odd moments and clipped his thoughts apart.

Kurama shut his eyes and pressed his face to his hands, letting the warmth of his palms soak into his cold eyelids.

No one is watching, he summarized silently. Not outside the reaches of the ningenkai. That is my answer. Shun-jun and his team will be there, unobserved. I must know their movements precisely.

*
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Paperwork	By : Artemick Category: Yuyu Hakusho > General Views: 1696 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho and earn no money writing about it.

Paperwork