Adult-FanFiction.org : YuYu Hakusho

Second Try
By : kle10
Category: Yuyu Hakusho > Yaoi - Male/Male
Views: 5939 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 3
Disclaimer: I do not own YYH.
Chapter List
- 1-Love is Love
- 2-Missing
- 3-Past
- 4-Gift
- 5-Obsession
- 6-Journey
- 7-Night
- 8-Destiny
- 9-Memory
- 10-Intrusion
- 11-Omen
- 12-Threat
- 13-Concession
- 14-Heedless
- 15-Damaged
- 16-Artifice
- 17-Encounter
- 18-Consideration
- 19-Revelation
- 20-Boundaries
- 21-Schism
- 22-Visitant
- 23-Fraught
- 24-Epilogue: Third Try
- 20
- 21
- 22
Disclaimer: I don’t own Yuu Yuu Hakusho, or any of its characters. Those belong to Yoshihiro Togashi-sama, who made a lot more out of them than I ever could have. ^^;; I just do fanfiction for fun, and earn no monetary rewards for writing it. Reviews are, of course, worth as much as silver.
Title: Second Try

Chapter Twenty-One: Schism

Word Count: 7,978
[ Total Word Count: 148,539 ]
Anime: Yuu Yuu Hakusho

Pairing: KarasuxKurama

Warning: Suspense, violence, language, BL
Author: Kita Kitsune

Date: Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Miscellaneous Notes: Since I posted Ch18 on FF.Net in August 2014, I’ve been trying to do bi-weekly updates, and actually managed it for Sept. 2 and Sept. 14. Now, I know it’s been a month, but this chapter required some time to percolate before I could even try and sit down to write it. The characters needed to settle from the events of last chapter, and this is what they told me was the best way to write this chapter. I hope it is enjoyable – I do believe we’re nearing the end although I couldn’t tell you how many more chapters there will be. I do know there will be short, one-shot epilogues, but I’m not sure yet if they’ll be part of this story or just collected in their own separate fic as a pseudo ‘sequel’ to this one. Initially, I had planned on a sequel, but I don’t think I’ll be able to do it (especially since it’s taking me so long to even get close to finishing this one), so the one-shot epilogues may be just the ticket to rounding out this universe. We shall see.
On to proofreading, doing the word count, and choosing a chapter name. As I already had 4,500 words of this chapter written, I just finished it in a few hours, today (it’s 1:45 PM in Germany, right now). Hopefully shall post this up for you soon, my lovelies!
Selena Rose (from AFF): I need to thank you. I had misremembered that detail about the life seal from Ch11 (I mistakenly thought he had never gotten around to putting it on) and it would have been quite the issue had you not pointed it out to me and thus, made me go look it up in order to fact-check myself. This is why new readers are so wonderful – it is all fresh in your mind while, for me, it has been years and I cannot stand to read my own work but a few times through before all the words start to blur together since I am too familiar with them. This fic, in particular, I have not read in its entirety in years. I hope I have addressed your concerns adequately. Thank you again for doing such a close reading, as I might have never noticed this oversight and if I had, in time, it would have been too late to address it in the story itself. I will strive to keep in mind such things in the future, and become a better writer because of it. I cannot thank you enough. I truly hope you enjoy this chapter. Thank you for your kind reviews.
Edit (9:20 PM): Wait, wasn't BlueUtopiah's birthday yesterday the 14th? ... What a happy coincidence! :D If you're reading this, Happy Birthday!
: : : : : : :
            The next morning dawned bright and early, the mist surrounding the sunrise tinted red. Yuusuke and Hiei had switched places around two in the morning with Jin and Touya – at least, according to Touya’s estimates, but Yuusuke trusted a demonic shinobi who had worked most of his life in darkness to at least know what time of night it was. It was necessary for Yuusuke and Hiei to dispatch a few demons that had broken through the barrier, but their visitors declined as day grew closer. Eventually, they started to switch places to get rid of the demons that were avoiding their camp and its high youki signatures. They compensated for Hiei’s speed by giving him the ones further away from camp, and when Hiei returned with a stoic count of demons felled, Yuusuke would head out to get his numbers.
            Now, as weak sunlight filtered through the trees and lit the clouds above them, Yuusuke craned his head back to look at the sky. He was sitting a little ways from the camp, arms propped straight behind him to support his torso. Yuuusuke watched the sun rise for a quiet moment before making a comment to the tree above him.
            “So… Kurama shot you down, hunh?” The branches bristled, and Yuusuke grinned a little out of habit.
            “That’s nothing to do with you, Detective.” The pine needles intoned bitingly. Yuusuke cackled.
            “C’mon, man, you’re my team. Of course I’m going to get in the middle of your little tiffs.” He snarked, smirking slightly. But then Yuusuke shook his head. “Don’t blame him, you know, Hiei. He was a mess after you left.” Here, Yuusuke paused, and there was a moment of silence from his companion in the tree.
            “Ludicrous.” Hiei settled on, glibly, and Yuusuke snorted.
            “Not kidding. He avoided all of us, wouldn’t go out anymore, wouldn’t even call…” Yuusuke whistled. “Classic signs of depression, no matter how old that damn kitsune is.” Hiei huffed, but refrained from otherwise responding. Yuusuke allowed Hiei another moment before shrugging, and flopping onto his back on the grass.
            “I guess it doesn’t matter, now. You screwed up, no second chances, end of story.” Hiei’s youki felt fiery and affronted, but surprisingly Yuusuke didn’t need to dodge a flick of dark flame aimed at him. Curious at the lack of a violent response, he looked straight up into the tree, brown eyes locking unerringly on red ones. Hiei didn’t give any indication of his surprise of being so easily found – other than a slight tensing, of course. His expression remained unmoving. Yuusuke smiled a little, and shook his head, shifting his gaze back to the sky.
            “You need to learn to relax, man. All that tension’s gonna put you in knots one day.”
            “Hn.”
: : :
            The trip back through the woods, in the direction of the shinkansen stop, was long and slow. Yuusuke and Hiei took the front, with Botan and Yukina following. Jin and Touya flanked them, and Kurama and Karasu took up the back. Jin was floating next to Yukina, of course, and chattering cheerily to her as they went along. Yukina smiled warmly at him as he spoke, while Botan made mental notes on how to break this to Kuwabara. Hiei kept a baleful eye on his sister and her new suitor, while Yuusuke not-so-quietly teased him about being a protective older brother.
            Kurama was quiet. Karasu, beside him, also kept his thoughts to himself. Last night had been intense – not in one of the more preferable ways, of course, but in terms of talking. Kurama’s newfound – or, rather, returning – animosity towards him had unsettled Karasu more than he had thought it would. Green eyes narrowed in suspicion at him, holding back hostility and not a small amount of buried fear… All that should have excited Karasu. It should have made darkness swell in his heart; a malicious glee that he was too familiar with rise in his youkai soul.
            It was a half-expected shock when it didn’t.
            Initially, Kurama’s questions had clearly been to ascertain just how much of his human life Karasu had made up. He was at least satisfied in the blank surprise on Kurama’s face when all of it turned out to be true.
            His possession of the human Kanisawa Takeshi? True.
            His aunt, uncle and cousin’s existence? True.
            His uncle’s job at the Kanisawa Corporation? True.
            His management of their household affairs? True.
            His place of residence being their home? True.
            Then had come the harder questions. Face as stone, Kurama had asked him, point-blank, if Karasu had done anything to Shizuru that night they rushed her to the hospital. One look at Kurama’s face and Karasu knew Kurama knew. It clearly wasn’t in his best interests to attempt a lie, and so he admitted to this fact. Kurama watched him suspiciously, pressing on to ask if his intent had been to kill her. Karasu simply gazed at him calmly, and in an echo of his old, provocative self, curtly replied.
            “If I had intended to kill her, she would be dead.” It was a good cover, Karasu thought; a good way around admitting he actually hadn’t intended to kill her. Surely, she had been very perceptive, but also very foolhardy. Shizuru had not been worth killing, to Karasu’s old brand of logic. Numerous demons in the preliminaries of the Dark Tournament had not been worth killing, either, but he had not had a choice, then. Such a thing had been Toguro Ani’s request, and he and Bui had had to follow orders; it had gone in much the same way as they had been forced to compete.
            Aside from buying time to keep his secret safe – and her instant clairvoyance into his true nature being so unexpected – Karasu didn’t really know why he hadn’t killed her. It would have been a much neater and more permanent solution, certainly. The realization made him uncomfortable, however, and so he didn’t share this tidbit with Kurama. The kitsune’s gaze was already burning with enough curiosity, Karasu thought; no sense adding to it. Kurama was trying to figure him out, trying to discern if Karasu was still a threat. It was the strategist in the fox taking over. Clearly, if Kurama deemed Karasu a threat, the kitsune would have nothing more to do with him. Karasu would have to be very exact in his answers.
            Kurama continued.
            Had Karasu come to the Ningenkai with the intent of contacting Kurama? A stupid question, for which Karasu gave Kurama a deadpanned, bored look. Of course: True.
            Had Karasu killed anyone since assuming full control of Kanisawa’s form? No.
            Had he planned on the wards from the start?
            Ah, the seals. Karasu sighed briefly, at this one, closing his eyes. Any answer he gave here wouldn’t help him, one way or the other. He decided it best not to mention the life seal, either, as Hiei’s Jagan hadn’t detected any of its after-effects in Kurama’s ki. It made sense why Hiei hadn’t seen it, of course. Perhaps Karasu had drawn a faulty stroke, just a millimeter off, or hadn’t used the appropriate amount of ki, or perhaps his seal had been corrupted by his youki, and he had needed a fully human reiki to make it take hold properly, but… The life seal had been a failure. Beyond the initial ki-bonding that had convinced him it had worked, Karasu had noticed the glowing aura around Kurama having heavily diminished by the next day. After they had left Meiou Academy’s greenhouse for Kurama’s home – where they would meet up with Shizuru – the only remnants of the seal had been wisps of weak ki clinging to Kurama’s aura. The next time Karasu had seen Kurama – here, in the forest – even those wisps had disappeared completely. It had been a disappointing turn of events, and Karasu would have attempted another life seal, but there hadn’t been time.
To think, it had only been the night before last that he had drugged the human girl.
            Had it been Monday night? Yes, perhaps – by human reckoning, at any rate. Monday night, or early Tuesday morning. And later on Tuesday morning, Karasu had left Tokyo to follow Kurama. Kurama had had his fights with Mitarai and Toguro Ani during Tuesday-day, and Karasu had been found out shortly after. Now, it was Wednesday morning, after a night spent camping in demon-infested woods due to the botched tunnel to Makai by some human madman, from what Karasu had gathered. Touya had mentioned that the tunnel was steadily closing, which meant that the SDF the blue-haired ferry girl had identified were likely working around the clock. Touya had estimated that if they kept up this rate, the tunnel would be closed within 48 hours.
            Touya also mentioned that this was a rare chance for Jin and the other demons currently living at Genkai’s compound to return to Makai freely, as it was very likely the SDF would not mind powerful demons voluntarily returning to Demon World. He glanced at Hiei as he commented on this, and then Yukina. Jin looked uncharacteristically torn. There was an uncomfortable silence, before Kurama broke it, quietly.
            “Let’s talk about that when we reach the end of our journey. They’ve only been working on closing the tunnel for twelve hours, and so we have the luxury of thinking about it. There will still be plenty of time to have that discussion at Genkai-shihan’s temple when we return to Tokyo, tonight, and for those who wish to return to Makai to make that journey.”
It was likely enough; the SDF had arrived around 9:00 last night, and judging by the sun it was now 9:00 in the morning, and they had been walking for about three hours. It would take them three more hours of trekking through the forest covering the Kameda Peninsula to reach the Hakodate Station around noon. From there, it would be two and a half more hours until they reached the actual shinkansen stop in Shinaomori. which would then put them in Tokyo four hours later. Thus, they would catch the bus to Genkai-shihan’s remote temple probably by 7:00 PM, making them arrive sometime in the late evening.
Nine more hours of traveling was plenty of time to think, but they did stop at Hakodate briefly for Kurama to call his mother so she wouldn’t worry over his extended absence. Yuusuke also called Genkai from a pay phone and inform her of the situation, so Shishiwakamaru, Shizuka, Chuu and Rinku could also use this time to think. So long as anyone wanting to return ‘home’ arrived at the tunnel before 9:00 PM on Thursday, they could still make it through to Makai. Undoubtedly, if they left Tokyo by way of the shinkansen at 6:00 AM, they could be at the tunnel in Kameda Peninsula by 7:00 PM that night. It was a smarter way to go, as then they could conserve their energy. It was very likely more demons were trying to break through the crack in the barrier, even now, and once they’d passed through, anyone from the Ningenkai side would probably have to fight their way through the throng of demons on the Makai side.
: : :
~Last Night~
            “Had you planned on these seals, from the start?” Kurama asked, quietly accusing, and Karasu sighed, closing his eyes.
            “Of course I had.” He intoned patiently, if a tad patronizing. “Do you think me an idiot?” Karasu opened his eyes to stare at Kurama. It was a small improvement that he no longer had to hide his eye color, at least. Kurama was frowning at him, and Karasu smirked in black humor; it was wry, but no less condescending. “If you found out who I was, at first, you would have simply executed me then and there. Or am I wrong?” He asked this, lightly, and was rewarded when Kurama scowled at him. Karasu couldn’t help but chuckle, then, choosing to lie back down on his bed of moss with his hands resting on his stomach.
            He had no doubt Kurama knew probably seven(teen?) different ways to kill him with that moss, alone. Karasu figured he might as well be comfortable, if he was going to die in the near future. Nevertheless, he was quite sure not to accidentally (or even ‘accidentally’) touch Kurama with the shift.
            “No.” Kurama finally relented, sounding a bit grudging, and Karasu gazed smugly at the ceiling.
            “Actually, that’s a good point.” Karasu went on, feigning simple curiosity. “Why haven’t you killed me, yet? You certainly showed no such restraint in our tournament match, and now I’m weaker than you. Why not press your advantage?” At this last comment, Karasu glanced up at Kurama, out of habit blinking innocently – something much more suited to his role as a human teenager than his real demonic self.
            Karasu caught a flash of conflict on Kurama’s face before the kitsune masked it, and Karasu found himself smiling dangerously as he slowly propped his torso up with one elbow.
            “Don’t tell me you miss that sweet human boy I was pretending to be, now?” Kurama’s eyes narrowed in annoyance.
           “A relevant point.” Kurama replied icily. “I’m not the one who’s been lying all this time, so you’ll answer my questions. I, however, am not obligated to do the same.” Karasu scoffed, at that, choosing to lie back down and close his eyes, again.
            “How juvenile.” But he let Kurama have this one. There wasn’t much else he could do. All of his plotting and machinations over the past half-year were for naught. Karasu had risked his life, and lost. Despite his earlier caving, he suddenly thought of something, and barked a soft laugh to himself. Kurama’s voice seemed bemused when the kitsune spoke – there certainly wasn’t anything funny about the situation that he could see.
            “What is it?” Karasu smirked to himself, shaking his head slightly.
            “Your claim that you’re not the one who’s lying. You lie all the time; to your mother, your classmates, even your team.” Karasu had stated all that quite succinctly, so Kurama couldn’t interrupt him. He felt Kurama’s ki spike with unease.
            “It’s to protect them.” Kurama stated in a firm undertone. Karasu scoffed.
            “And my lying was to protect me.” Karasu insisted. He actually got a huff out of Kurama, for that one. There was an uneasy beat of silence after that short exchange. Kurama’s voice was soft, when he spoke again. Karasu could still detect the steel at the heart of the question, though.
            “Did you lie about your mother?” Karasu sighed, and closed his eyes again. This was an easy one.
            “No.” Karasu stated, neutrally. Kurama seemed to mull over this answer.
            “How did she die?” Karasu grinned mirthlessly to himself as he answered as though reciting a poem, not bothering to open his eyes.
            “’My mother was very sick’.” He was flinging Kurama’s words right back at him, and Karasu felt the ripple of frustrated affront in Kurama’s ki. His grin widened. “Do you smell any lies, Youko?”
            “You didn’t answer the question.” Kurama nearly growled that, and Karasu couldn’t help but chuckle.
            “Oh, didn’t I?”
Karasu was patronizing him, again. Annoyed, Kurama allowed a subtle flicker of an activating ki that Karasu wouldn’t notice. He watched as Karasu stretched out a hand towards the roof of their tent, trying to reach it but ultimately, predictably failing, violet eyes slivering open to stare calmly beyond it. Karasu’s fingers flexed. After a time, he finally spoke.
“I killed her.” Karasu spoke this as though in a dream, and Kurama felt a slow dread crawl up his spine.
“What?”
“She was very much like your mother – Shiori, wasn’t it?” Karasu continued as though he hadn’t heard Kurama’s cautious word. “Dark hair, dark eyes, beautiful, kind, frail… Did you know that when I was born, I was already combusting bits of explosive material in the air around me? It’s a miracle she survived the birth at all. But she was always weak – the servants would always wheel her around in her wicker chair – and the doctors Father hired would never make a difference. She taught me that you cannot hold on to beautiful things.” Karasu’s fingers curled inward, then, loosely, as though he were holding a small bouquet of flowers.
“And she was always the most beautiful. You understand, don’t you, Kurama?” Karasu chuckled aloud to himself, again, an eerie, hovering red floating over his slit eyes. “To keep anything at all, you must take it!” His fingers clenched into an abrupt fist as he sat up in the same movement, and Karasu snapped his wide gaze back to Kurama, face overtaken with wild, twisted jubilation at the memory – the memory of killing his dear mother?
Karasu’s words rang in the air and Kurama processed them with a habitually unreadable face, even though his heart was pounding madly. It was… It was very disturbing, to think that they had shared this similarity, and Kurama had never known. It was something he wished to push from the furthest recesses of his mind, pretend it didn’t exist, pretend he hadn’t even had a fleeting thought of the same solution –
Karasu’s hand entered into his personal space, brushing against one of his forelocks and instinctively Kurama jerked back, blocking the offending touch with his forearm as he narrowed his eyes in warning. Undeterred, Karasu reached for it, again, and Kurama warily allowed it, this time, ready to restrain him with half a moment’s notice if that contact turned aggressive. Karasu’s eyes were hazy, and yet touched with that red madness that obscured their dark color; it was the same as in their tournament match.
“Your hair always reminded me of Niko and Sano’s fur.” Kurama had no idea what he was talking about, but it seemed it didn’t matter, as Karasu just kept combing his fingers through his forelock and then back into his hair, still grinning absently at the memories playing before his eyes. “I gave Niko, the prettiest one, to Mother, but she let her go.” Karasu made a softly sad sound, eyes fixed on Kurama’s hair as he petted it. “Silly Mother. She didn’t know how to keep things. I kept Sano for myself, in the end.” For some reason unsettled with the finality of that last statement, Kurama gently fastened his fingers around Karasu’s wrist, pulling it away. His tone was low and uncompromising.
“Who are Niko and Sano?” Karasu just grinned toothily at him, their eyes meeting as he looked back up.
“My red fox kits. There were three others, but they were black – Ichio, Yono and Goko. I always liked red the best. Their mother was red, too.” Kurama frowned at him – he hadn’t known Karasu had raised foxes, when he was young.
“What happened to them?” He felt as though he would dread the answer, but he had to know. It might explain a bit more about Karasu’s obsession with him, if nothing else. Karasu just smiled at him.
“I kept them.”
“Kept them? Where?”
“Somewhere safe, where they’ll never get old and die unexpectedly.” Karasu stated this as though it were painfully obvious. Perhaps it was, to him. Kurama peered at him inquiringly.
“I’ve never heard of such a place.” Karasu chuckled at him, closing his eyes.
“They’re safe, in the same place I kept Mother, before she could get any sicker.” The blood in Kurama’s veins froze as a sudden flash of insight enlightened him. His fingers tightened reflexively on Karasu’s wrist, but not painfully so. Karasu smiled widely to himself, eyes still shut, likely reliving his memories.
“I wish you could’ve seen it, Kurama. Mother was beautiful when I saved her. I tried to give you the same honor, but you played a trick on me, instead, you naughty fox.” That tone was almost playful, but Kurama was in no state to hear it. His voice was shell-shocked and soft.
“Then… with your bombs?” Karasu hummed in agreement.
“Mother was quite well-acquainted with them, by the end. I made them visible for her, too – do you remember, Kurama? Just before you killed me, in the tournament?” He did, of course he did. How could Kurama forget those floating green bombs that had torn into his body, prompting copious amounts of blood loss?
Having heard enough, Kurama quietly asked the Veritas Flower to retreat from its insidious blooming within the tent. He was immune, but its pollen was tasteless and colorless, so Karasu wouldn’t have noticed inhaling it, at all. He almost regretted using it, now. Kurama looked at Karasu, really looked at him – past all the sadism and twisted logic, past that scheming mind, obsession and general creepiness. He didn’t like what he saw. It was too close to something he could have been – that Youko could have been.
It was a small mercy to know that Karasu’s demented personality hadn’t stemmed from abuse as a child, or anything like that. In actuality, it seemed he had had a rather easy upbringing. Karasu had described his mother as like Shiori, but had barely talked about his father, at all. Perhaps they hadn’t gotten along? Karasu had also mentioned servants – his father could have been a lord? Karasu’s mannerisms and normally reserved, soft-spoken nature did seem to fit with the richer classes of Makaian nobility. Kurama didn’t know what the rest of his childhood had been like, after Karasu had killed (‘saved’, or so it seemed, to Karasu) his mother. From that passing comment about his father’s doctors, perhaps Karasu had blamed the demon who had sired him for not being able to make his mother well?
A cushy childhood, surrounded by all the luxuries of noble life, Karasu had likely been pampered and even tutored in youki usage once his Quest Class ki-type had been identified for the rarity it was. Such an upbringing was wholly unlike Hiei’s. Kurama’s, too; after he had left his murdered family behind, his black papa’s eyes sadly watching him go, the plants of Kurama-mori had taken him in as one of their own. The forest had protected him for his first hundred years, until it had been mercilessly burned down, but it had never been easy living. Kurama had had to teach himself how to hunt, of course, and at first the meals had only been insects, mice and small lizards. Then he’d grown older, able to climb the trees and pluck the fruit he had hungrily seen other animals safely eat. The forest had been kind to him, and he had been lucky in that; it was due largely to his taking so naturally to its language.
But these thoughts were unwelcome comparisons, and so Kurama dismissed them. By way of that wrist still in his grasp, he pulled Karasu closer, and Karasu went willingly, eyes open wide in rapture as he inhaled to catch Kurama’s scent. What he caught, instead, was mist emitted by the Somnus Seed Kurama had encouraged to bloom as the Veritas withdrew. The main effect of this seed was instant drowsiness followed by deep sleep, and Karasu toppled against Kurama’s shoulder as it affected him. Kurama rolled him back onto his bed of moss, before sitting back on his own. He watched the not-human sleep for a few more minutes, before shaking his head and settling to lie down, as well.
Kurama had a lot to think about, and plenty of time to do so during their hours of travel, tomorrow.
: : :
~Present Time~
            Kurama’s predictions proved true. Their train got into Tokyo later that evening, and the group made for Genkai’s temple. Hiei had watched Karasu suspiciously when he wasn’t glaring sideways at Jin, and anyway Karasu had deemed it wise to give Kurama his space. They hadn’t said a word to each other during the entire trip, although the group had sat together. Hiei had initially taken to standing in the shinkansen, but after a few particularly violent lurches of the train, had opted to sit down for the long ride back to Tokyo. As was typical in these trains, all the seats faced in one direction, with three seats on one side of the aisle and two on the other side. Jin usually claimed a window-seat, pulling Yukina excitedly behind him into the middle seat, with Hiei quickly sitting beside her, near the aisle. In the same row of seats, Yuusuke would often take the aisle seat, followed by Kurama against the window. Karasu would find himself taking the aisle seat the next row up, Touya settling beside him by the window. As such, it would have been awkward to try and start a conversation with Kurama around all those listening ears, not to mention that Hiei’s position enabled him to keep an eye on both Yukina and Karasu without moving. It had been a very strategic place for Hiei to choose to sit, Karasu had to begrudgingly admit.
            At any rate, when the group headed out for Genkai’s, Karasu simply and succinctly stated he was going home. Yukina had frowned gently at him, inquiring as to why despite Hiei’s murderous look from behind her – aimed at Karasu, of course, if he attempted to try anything – and he just sent a charming smile her way.
            “I think it’s obvious I don’t have much to think about in the state I’m in, yes? If I returned to Makai as I am, now, I’d just be fodder.” Karasu turned gracefully, hair settling in a fine, silky wave against his back. He pushed his hands into his pockets and walked away. No one offered him a good-bye, and he didn’t ask for one.
            He probably drew a few stares due to the singed state of his sleeves and the ruined coat, but he couldn’t really bring himself to care about it. Once back at the mansion, he slipped inside through the back entrance and made his way up to his quarters. Trying not to think about all that had changed over the past two days, Karasu allowed himself some reprieve in the banal familiarity of his pretended human existence.
            He bathed, changed into his pajamas, and made himself a late dinner in the kitchen downstairs. Tomiko walked in on him and commented snarkily on his absence, but he waved her off saying it had been important business. Also, didn’t she have a test to be studying for? She pursed her lips at him and pulled up the white furred edges of her cream-colored robe before turning on her heel and marching defiantly away. Karasu allowed himself a small smirk around his beverage once she was gone, and then retired upstairs to his room for bed.
            It ended up being a long, sleepless night.
: : :
            For Karasu, the week drags on. The weekend comes and goes with no word from Kurama or any of his friends. When it becomes two weeks, Karasu has had enough. He briefly entertains the thought of dropping by Kurama’s school, but dismisses it. Perhaps such a thing was something he would have done as Kanisawa, but not now. Kurama is far too suspicious of him, now, and Karasu doesn’t feel like ruffling his feathers. Human existence is as dull and dreary as it was before he ran into Kurama on the street, all those months ago, and Karasu is beginning to have to repress the urge to kill his infuriating ‘family members’ due to their constant small annoyances. His displeasure must be showing, because not once or twice his aunt gives him a scolding look and Tomiko is growing more whiny and rebellious with him.
            Karasu knows, with his mother still alive, Kurama would not have returned to Makai. He is not sure about Hiei, and the fire demon is too good at cloaking himself when he wants to remain unseen. Visiting the Minamino house, however, is also out of the question, as Kurama could see it as a veiled threat to his mother if Karasu showed up there and waited for him. Kurama’s home is where he feels the most secure, and to disturb that would only exacerbate the situation.
            Shizuru is likely out of the hospital, by now – besides which, Karasu wouldn’t know how to contact her, and doubts she would be of any help, even if she didn’t remember what he had done to her. The rest of Kurama’s posse, Karasu only briefly remembers. He isn’t aware of where Genkai’s temple is actually located, so he cannot contact the demons there. He doubts she is listed in the phonebook, anyway. That rules out Yukina, Touya and Jin.
            The only other friend of Kurama’s in the city, that he has met, is Urameshi Yuusuke.
            Finding Sarayashiki Junior High is a boring, easy endeavor, due to Urameshi’s reputation.
: : :
            It’s the end of another school day Keiko managed to keep him from skipping, and Yuusuke is walking towards the gate with his bag slung over his shoulder. It’s been two weeks since they came back from Hokkaido, and had that meeting at Genkai’s temple. There was intense discussion into the night, but Kurama had remained uncharacteristically quiet and reserved. Hiei had sat outside on the veranda, and was later joined by Yukina, once she had politely served tea for everyone.
            Yuusuke had called Kuwabara when they were in the train station in Tokyo, to tell him of the situation, and Kuwabara had rushed over from the hospital. He hadn’t wanted to leave, but odds were when she’d heard Kuwabara’s side of the conversation, Shizuru’d kicked him out of her room in order to get some peace and quiet for herself. Botan had disappeared on her oar when they got off the bus outside of Genkai’s compound, and they met her at the top of the long line of steps with Koemna and Genkai. After much deliberation in an inner room with plenty of seating – and Koenma stiffly declaring this did count as an official visit and that any demons voluntarily returning to Makai would be pardoned for staying unauthorized in Ningenkai – there was silence.
Shishiwakamaru and Suzuka agreed to return to Makai. Rinku and Chuu also wanted to go, and Jin cast a glance out of the corner of his eye towards the veranda where Yukina and Hiei sat. Touya was silent. Koenma turned his head and raised his voice just enough that Hiei would hear him, stating that Hiei’s crimes would be considered paid for if he voluntarily removed himself from Ningenkai. To this, Kurama said nothing, as he had done since arriving.
The shuffle of the shoji sliding open revealed Yukina, her face sad but set as she approached them, bowing her head politely before sitting neatly on her knees, back straight. She announced quietly that she would return to Makai with Hiei, and seek out their homeland. At that, Jin immediately jumped in saying he would go home, as well. Touya nodded subtly and Yukina’s eyes strayed to Kuwabara’s heartbroken expression. Koenma offered gently that, since she had committed no crimes in Ningenkai, Yukina was not bound to return to Makai as Hiei was. But she simply looked towards Koenma, for a moment, and shook her head. To Kuwabara, she smiled gently, and nodded at him before standing. Yukina then headed back out onto the veranda, Kuwabara following, and slid the door shut. Not moments later they heard a squawk and Hiei’s dismissive response, and then Kuwabara lamenting about her leaving. They tuned them out as Yukina’s tone spoke of soothing kindness and gratitude, and turned their attention back to Koenma.
He nodded, looking exhausted but relieved, and ensured them they would be granted safe passage past the SDF and through the tunnel. As it was late in the evening already, Yuusuke announced an impromptu send-off for everyone, which Jin enthusiastically seconded. Kuwabara was looking a little red around the eyes when he came back in, trailed by Yukina. He called Keiko and Shizuru to invite them over. Shizuru declined, saying to let the kids have their fun and Keiko said she had to get to sleep, since there was school tomorrow. Yuusuke yelled across the room after Kuwabara relayed the message, calling her a party pooper, and they all heard Keiko announce him an idiot for having a party and planning on skipping school tomorrow (the day of a major test), just before loudly hanging up.
Hiei remained sitting on the veranda as the festivities ensued, since apparently Genkai kept her temple stocked for just such an occasion. Kurama spent most of the night in a quiet spot off to the side, near the open shoji and where Hiei sat in the shadow of the closed shoji just beside it, on the veranda. Yukina was pulled into the fun by Kuwabara, and Botan stayed to join in the revelry while Koenma regrettably stated he had to return, since this had been an official trip. Yuusuke glanced over at one point, and noticed Kurama looking intensely focused, his lips barely moving, and figured he and Hiei were having one last conversation before parting ways for who knew how long. Yuusuke felt a pang at knowing his team would be split between the realms, but had to admit that Hiei getting back there was probably the best-case scenario. He’d never really fit with the Human World, and getting to know Yukina on the long trip back to the ice land from where they’d come would undoubtedly be good for him.
At some point in the night Kurama loosened up from his self-imposed isolation and joined them. Specifically, it was at a point where Kuwabara and Yuusuke’s scuffling got a little too carried away. Rinku was going on about how much stronger he’d become since the Tournament, training every day, and couldn’t wait to try out his moves on some enemies he didn’t need to hold back against. Chuu bopped him on the head and told him not to get too carried away with himself, as Chuu could still beat Rinku any day of the week and the kid had a long way to go.
The most sober of those who had been drinking (although he was a good faker when he wanted to be), Yuusuke slipped off to the veranda now that Kurama wasn’t right there to give him that tell-tale assessing look as he did it, and stepped into the darkness.
Hiei wasn’t there.
Disappointed, but not willing to admit this had been the sole reason he’d come out here, Yuusuke continued as though he’d meant to walk down the stairs and into the garden, and looked up at the sky. He scanned the treeline absently, and squinted when he saw a small figure standing atop one of the far-off pines, silhouetted against the sky. He grinned a little, and waved. The figure disappeared, and Yuusuke didn’t jump as Hiei reappeared in front of him, looking annoyed.
So – looking like himself, really. Yuusuke grinned down at him.
“Psyched for the sibling road trip, eh?” Hiei’s annoyance flickered with confusion, before he just settled on glaring at Yuusuke – probably for good measure. Yuusuke knew he’d gotten the gist, anyway.
“It was her wish for us to return together.” He offered, stiffly, and Yuusuke’s grin dropped straight into a teasing leer as he leaned forward.
“Yeah, I’m sure. She’s already got you whipped, hasn’t she? You’re going to do anything she asks, aren’t you?” Hiei’s cheeks went unexpectedly pink, and Yuusuke reared back with a laugh. “Oh, jeez, this is too priceless. I wish Kuwabara could see your face.” Hiei glared death at him and Yuusuke reached a hand out to ruffle his hair. Hiei caught his wrist before Yuusuke’s fingers could make contact.
“That is none of your business, Detective.” Hiei said coldly and Yuusuke brushed it off, taking back his hand to stuff it and its counterpart into his trouser pockets.
“Sure it is. You’re my friend, she’s my friend, you’re brother and sister – ” Hiei flinched a little at the words, shooting him a warning glance, and Yuusuke smirked.
“What? She knows; Kuwabara knows. Everyone knows. No sense keeping it a secret, by now.” Hiei scowled at him. Yuusuke snorted. “What? Scared of her being abducted, again? I know you’re a pro at stalking, but you can’t be hovering over her shoulder all her life. And you shouldn’t.” Yuusuke realized as he said it that Hiei’s face was now furious.
“So I should leave her alone, so she can become another victim? Like Keiko? Or do you not recall how easily she fell into my hands, when we first met? How easily she was turned into bait to lure you in? How easily – ” Hiei’s tirade was cut short by a fist in the white scarf at his throat. Yuusuke’s smile was gone, his eyes dangerous.
“Don’t preach to me when you don’t know what the fuck it’s like to be close to someone.” Hiei’s gaze shut off, but Yuusuke didn’t let it bother him. “It isn’t about stalking, it isn’t about hiding around every corner behind them so if they stumble you’re there to catch them. It isn’t about blaming yourself every time they get hurt. It’s about trusting them to handle their life on their own terms, not like they’re some kind of doll.” Keiko had taught him that well enough. It was important Hiei knew it, too. Yuusuke watched him, levelly.
“How many times has Yukina been hurt in her life when you weren’t there, Hiei?” Yuusuke saw it – saw the guilt, and steamrolled right over it. “It’s not your fault if she gets hurt just because you’re not there to prevent it.” Yuusuke repeated. “She’s your sister, and she’s tough. She survived Tarukane, didn’t she? She fended off Toguro Ani, too, but that’s not why she’s tough. Yukina’s strong, even if she lacks our level of raw strength. ‘basan told me she headed out on her own, to find you in Hokkaido. Before that, she told us that she had left her home, alone, to search for you in Makai. When that failed, she hopped a portal and started looking in the Ningenkai, and that’s where Tarukane picked her up. But those were all her choices, Hiei, and just because they’re related to you doesn’t mean they’re your fault. People get hurt.” Yuusuke remembered the Four Saint Beasts case, and how those humans infected with bugs had chased after Botan and Keiko with murderous intent.
“People get hurt.” Yuusuke repeated, softly, and slowly let go of Hiei’s scarf. He smiled weakly down at him. “People get hurt, and the best we can do is be there for them. You don’t know how to be a brother, do you? Just be there for her. Listen to her. That’s all she wants, is someone there.” He knew what it felt like to grow up without an important member of his family. He didn’t know what Hiei’s childhood had been like, but Yuusuke knew it had had to be rough. Yuusuke knew enough that Hiei hadn’t grown up with Yukina (since she hadn’t recognized him, at first), and that meant he probably hadn’t grown up in his family. Yuusuke knew all the signs of growing up with a deadbeat dad who never bothered to show his face. So, Yukina’s mother must have raised her, and something had happened where it had been impossible for Hiei to be included in that. Shaking his head, Yuusuke clapped Hiei on the shoulder. Predictably, the muscle was hard as rock under his hand. Lots of years of training, probably alone, amid a sea of blood as Hiei honed his skills. Yuusuke smiled a little more, trying to hide his sadness.
“Seems like the party’s all in Makai, these days, hunh? Wish I could come with.” Ever since the Tournament ended, he’d been restless. Makai sounded like a fun vacation, a wild adventure, a good way to test his strength. But Yuusuke didn’t belong there. He wasn’t a demon – wasn’t even half of one, like Kurama, these days. He had his life, here – Keiko, Kuwabara, his mom, the usual haunts, the same teachers. Yuusuke was human, and the rules applied. He’d have to get a job, soon, as he knew his grades wouldn’t make the cut for any high school. Keiko? Now, she was going places. She was going to some prestigious high school, would leave him in the dust, and then he’d just be some unemployed loser boyfriend who was good in a brawl.
Hiei’s eyes moved, flickering over his face, and the fire demons’ expression hardened.
“Self-loathing doesn’t suit you.” Hiei spat, stepping away and rolling his shoulder so that Yuusuke’s hand fell off. Those red eyes were glaring at him. “Yukina will undoubtedly wish to return to Ningenkai. There is no need for your dramatics.” Yuusuke blinked at him, and heard the sound of Hiei’s back teeth grinding together in frustration. “Idiot.” Yuusuke frowned, shifting his weight to one hip and pointing a finger at him.
“Hey, I was just trying to help! You don’t need to shoot me down so hard.” Yuusuke huffed. Hiei raised an eyebrow at him, and for some reason that dry expression seemed slightly amused.
“You look like your woman.” Yuusuke blinked, looked down, and flushed. He then waved his pointing hand out at the air in frustration as he straightened, exclaiming.
“Don’t change the subject!” Hiei turned his head dismissively, but his comment sounded smug.
“Hn.” Yuusuke narrowed his eyes at him, and Hiei glanced at him from his peripheral vision.
Challenge?
Starting to grin, Yuusuke lunged for his friend with a sudden fist, which Hiei easily dodged. He laughed, vaulting away as Hiei’s sword sliced neatly through the air at him, brown eyes bright as he landed in a crouch. Hiei paused long enough for Yuusuke to see him, then flit away into the trees. Yuusuke followed.
A satisfying rumble – with the implicit promise of a rematch, someday – was all they needed.
: : :
            Karasu waits outside Yuusuke’s school, leaning nonchalantly against the gate in a white shirt and matching black suit, the jacket left open. Students filter past him. The flicker of Yuusuke’s ki easily dwarfs them, and Karasu has no trouble finding the green-uniformed human in the throng of varying shades of blue. Yuusuke’s gaze finds him a moment later, and looks momentarily confused before settling on calmly guarded as he approaches. Karasu can see his mind work – considering his classmates’ safety. Karasu simply waits until Yuusuke is in front of him. He intends to speak first, but the boy beats him to it.
            “Didn’t expect to see you around. Still possessing that bastard?” Karasu ignores the rudeness – he knows what this boy is capable of, so much more than what his classmates know of him – and gets straight to the point.
            “We need to talk. Shall we?” He motions behind him, and Yuusuke sees his limousine for the first time. The boy raises an eyebrow at him, and Karasu gives him a fake, comforting smile – something he’s perfected in his months living as a human. “It’s perfectly safe, I assure you. The driver is completely human.” Yuusuke scoffs like that doesn’t matter (and maybe it doesn’t, as humans can do some pretty nasty things, too), but – just as predicted – he walks towards the limo, anyway, assessing it. Then he glances back at Karasu, smirking crookedly.
            “Not really one for too much luxury, myself. Can you stand a walk, Mr. Fancy Pants?” Karasu’s back teeth grit and Yuusuke’s smile sharpens enough that Karasu knows he’s being infuriating on purpose. Instead of buying into it, Karasu gives him another stock smile and nods. He waves his hand, and the limo drives away. Sticking his hands in the pockets of his suit, he strides slowly towards Yuusuke, and the boy turns to walk down the sidewalk a couple steps ahead of him.
            Karasu is not used to getting information without threatening harm, but Urameshi Yuusuke had shown remarkable level-headedness towards him ever since he found out who he was. He had not seemed to treat Karasu any differently after the revelation of his true identity, even though Karasu knew it was foolish to expect Yuusuke’s opinion of him hadn’t changed. Kurama’s had, of course.
            And yet, Karasu still didn’t know just how much and in which direction that change had occurred.
            Yuusuke could kill him in the blink of an eye, if Karasu gave him reason enough. But Karasu had no motive to do that. All he was seeking was information, and Urameshi Yuusuke was the only possible source of that which would not send Kurama into a defensive, protective mode that would ruin all of Karasu’s slim chances.
            After a few minutes of walking, they reached a small park and Yuusuke flopped inelegantly down on a bench, idly watching the park-goers. Karasu sat down beside him. After a beat, Yuusuke sounded slightly impatient.
            “So what did you want?” Karasu’s voice was calm, controlled.
            “Information.” Yuusuke sounded wary.
            “On Kurama?” Karasu cleared his throat.
            “In a manner of speaking. Has he – ”
            “Said anything about you since Hokkaido? Nope, not a word.” Karasu was taken aback, by this, but then Yuusuke went on. “But that’s just how he is, you know? He goes into himself when he’s working on a problem, gets on automatic, ignores people.” Yuusuke shrugged one shoulder, his other arm carelessly propped on the bench-back behind Karasu.
            “Does he.” Karasu murmured, thoughtfully. Then there was suddenly a finger in his face, flanked by threatening brown eyes.
            “You try to kill Kurama like you did in the tournament, and your ass is mine.” Yuusuke intoned this in a low growl, and Karasu was suddenly very still, remembering acutely the Toguro-level power of this boy. Yuusuke’s eyes narrowed as he continued in the same vein. “I get it – you felt you had to kill him, then. It was a demon thing, right? But this is now, and that excuse is out the window. You hurt Kurama, I’m taking you down.” Yuusuke grinned at him, high and feral and uncaring for the consequences. “I’m the only one that won’t get Reikai’s hounds on me for killing you, because I’m human. Humans killing humans? Just dirty Ningenkai crime. So this is the warning you get.” Yuusuke sat back, watching him sharply.
            Karasu was quiet, a moment, mulling this over.
            Then, he nodded.
            “I understand.” Yuusuke peered at him suspiciously, and Karasu smirked half-depreciatingly, raising a hand to gesture at himself. “I am too weak like this to attempt such a thing, but I understand your concerns.” Yuusuke’s eyes didn’t lose their dubious edge, and Karasu allowed himself a slightly weak smile. Eventually, Yuusuke broke the silence with a half-accusing question.
            “You expect me to swallow that?” Karasu chuckled softly, and rose to his feet, sliding his hands back in his pockets as he turned away.
            “No. I do not expect you to do anything.” He started to leave, feeling Yuusuke’s eyes on him, and then heard a call.
            “Try the Yumenoshima Tropical Greenhouse Dome! He likes to meditate there.” Karasu’s smile was wry as he remembered the small room of carnivorous plants in that particular place, and he looked over his shoulder at Yuusuke.
            Expecting to see mockery, Karasu was surprised when Yuusuke’s face was open and honest, as though… As though he were really trying to help him.
            Karasu would never understand these humans. He sighed to himself, but nodded anyway in gratitude for the tip, and turned to continue out of the park, putting his cell phone to his ear to call his driver to pick him up.
            The Yumenoshima Tropical Greenhouse Dome it was, then.
~To Be Continued~
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Second Try	By : kle10 Category: Yuyu Hakusho > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 5939 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 3
Disclaimer: I do not own YYH.

Second Try