Adult-FanFiction.org : YuYu Hakusho

Compromised	By : Dementian Category: Yuyu Hakusho > Yaoi - Male/Male > Kurama/Kuwabara Views: 2033 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho and make absolutely no money off of it.

Chapter List
- 6
- 7
They reached the Norikura Mountain Range early the next morning, and when Kazuma awoke curled around Kurama’s sleeping form he could smell pine and cedar. In demon world, where pollution was nonexistent, the trees became a heavy odor in the air, and it was very soothing to smell something fresh after the rotting smell of corpses in the valleys. Kazuma rose, dressed, and woke Kurama so that they both could venture downstairs into the cool mountain air. The turf was springy and thick under foot, a dense lush green, and pine trees towered over their heads to shrink like an odd green beard upon the mountains face as Kazuma looked into the distance. The jagged peaks went up high into the sky, and farther away Kazuma could see white caps where snow lay thick upon the creamy brown tops. Wild flowers grew in bunches along beaten paths and a mist settled over the ground to sweep past their feet every time a breath a wind blew by. It truly was a lovely place.
   Portals were here too, and Kazuma could not help but wonder how many portals there were into demon world and why he’d never seen one in human world. Maybe he just hadn’t been looking properly, but there were at least six (that Kazuma could see) along the main road, and frankly it disturbed him to know that he’d never felt at least one while in Japan. Maybe he wasn’t paying attention. Maybe they weren’t even in Japan.
   Hiei and Mukuro were already on the ground, walking past portals and inspecting them at random. Soldiers marched by in troops, lead by Kirin who was talking rapidly with Mukuro as she listened intently and scrolled over a clip board. She had that same document in her hands that Kazuma had seen her with when they’d first arrived in Demon world, and now wondered if it was a summons from Enki asking her to comb the mountains.
   Kazuma and Kurama joined Hiei, and Kazuma found it very nice to walk among the mountain trails as Hiei scanned the horizon for trouble up ahead. Kazuma had to wonder if Hiei ever relaxed or allowed himself pause. Kazuma was determined not to argue with Hiei today and if an argument did arise, he had a plan... he was going to imagine Hiei as a child, and instead of fighting, he would simply banter. He would take nothing personally, and instead look at Hiei as he might look at a younger brother.
   As they walked, Kazuma asked questions, wanting to keep Hiei engaged. Hiei looked very bored.
   “So where do these places lead out?” he asked Hiei, who did not look at him when he replied.
   “Various sights around human world,” Hiei grunted. Kazuma wondered if Hiei would be happier wandering the mountainside instead of being stuck to one beaten path; perhaps he needed a vacation from work. Did Hiei even take vacations?
   “You ever taken a vacation, Hiei?” Kazuma asked. “I think you could use one.”
   “So do I,” Hiei sneered, but before he could say any more, he stopped and looked over a thick brush with wary eyes. His forehead glowed a deep violet, and Kazuma’s spirit awareness tingled as he felt the Jagan expand its influence.
   “Hiei?” Kurama asked, no doubt feeling it too. It was like a wave of warm light bathing Kazuma’s aura.
   Hiei stormed over to the bush, pulled it back with a rough tug, and the three of them were sudden given view of a human girl no older than six or seven curled up on her side and fast asleep. She had dirt on her face and twigs in her hair. Hiei sighed haggardly, clearly irritated by the find; the little girl opened her eyes, and as she saw the three of them she opened her mouth to cry out-!
   Hiei snapped his fingers, and she fell limp back to the earth. She was knocked out cold.
   “Woah!” Kazuma was quite worried for the child. What on earth had Hiei done to her? But Hiei was reaching into the bush, grabbing her by her arm to pull her into a strange holding embrace as he caught the attention of a passing guard.
   The guard took the child at once, cradling her in his arms, and Hiei wiped his hands free of dirt upon his cloak.
   “Pathetic creatures,” Hiei grumbled under his breath.
   “Uh- are we gonna make sure she’s okay-“ Kazuma asked, watching the guard carry the child away towards Kirin and Mukuro who did not seem particularly interested but did swipe a strange electrical instrument over the child which beeped rapidly. The guard took the child to the second portal some ways down the path, and stepped through it at once to vanish into the light.
   “If she dies she dies,” Hiei grumbled. Normally a phrase like this would not sit well with Kazuma, but today he looked at Hiei as he might a small boy, and his imagination churned out the indignant phrase of ‘I don’t care about her!’.
   So he replied as he might to any young boy.
   “That’s not very nice, Hiei,” Kazuma reminded him.
   “I’m not very nice,” Hiei sneered.
   “I disagree,” Kazuma said. Kurama looked around at him, amazed. Hiei just glared.
   “Do you?” Hiei rolled his red eyes, walking away down the mountain path towards Mukuro and Kirin. “Fascinating.”
   “As a matter of fact...” Kazuma said, picking up the pace to keep up with Hiei, “I think you wanna make sure she’s okay- I bet that guard is really nice and you gave her to him because you knew he’d take care of her! Right?”
   Hiei sneered, saying nothing but Mukuro had heard him and smiled at Kazuma.
   “Very astute,” she praised.
   “Right.” Kazuma answered his own question; of course Hiei cared. Hiei was a good guy!
   Hiei was starting to seethe, his angry eyes now itching with the slightest hints of oncoming rage. But Kazuma could see something there, an embarrassment. Hiei was embarrassed at being associated with empathy and fear, especially in regards to a human child. Perhaps he thought that people would laugh at him, mock him for his kindness, but kindness did not deserve to be jested at in a world where there was so little of it. So Kazuma took it upon himself to tell Hiei this, as he might any young boy who was confused or concerned about looking weak.
   “Look, you were worried, there’s nothing wrong about that.” Kazuma tried for an easy smile. This only seemed to irritate Hiei more, but he didn’t give up, “Worrying’s a good thing! It makes you connect with other people-“
   “You are delusional on a level that is disturbing,” Hiei cut him off.
   “Hey, man, you just gotta trust me on these things.” Kazuma smiled.
   “I trust no one-“ Hiei spat, turning to go, but Kazuma’s next words slipped so easily from his mouth that Hiei was kept from leaving.
   “Aww, why not?” Kazuma said. It was so easy now to see Hiei as a young boy, to forget that he was a grown man with a sword at his hip. “You have so many people that love you, why not trust them? You got me, you got Yusuke, you got Kurama, you got your sister-“
   That word changed everything.
   Hiei whipped around, his sword resonating with a sharp ‘twang’ as he yanked it from its sheath and pointed it at Kazuma’s neck. Suddenly Kazuma remembered that Hiei was not a child, and that he had a very good grip on his blade.... Kazuma raised his hands, realizing he’d stepped over a very thin boundary in Hiei’s world. Kurama had gasped, the tension escalating to that of a near battle as Kazuma and Hiei stared at one another; crimson eyes blazed as they bore into Kazuma’s open and honest face.
   “... What did you just say to me?” Hiei seethed.
   Kazuma waited a breath, noting that Mukuro was watching and so was Kirin. As a matter of fact, everyone in the clearing was now watching and all eyes were on him to make this right.
   Kazuma knew he was treading on very thin ice, and he spoke in a hushed tone so that only Hiei could hear.
   “Look, I know... that you’re... scared to tell her things, but I swear to you-“ Kazuma raised his hands higher as Hiei’s lip curled at the word ‘scared’, “I swear to you, she loves you and she wants nothing more than to be with-“
   Kurama cut him off with a wild noise, shaking his head rapidly as Hiei’s curling lip turned into a full out snarl. It didn’t matter what Kazuma said next because Hiei had fucking heard enough. He threw down his sword and leapt at Kazuma with his claws extended. Kazuma took an instinctual step back but Kurama jumped in between them, a hand on both their chests as he tried to keep Kazuma safe from Hiei’s villainous rage.
   “You-!” Hiei seethed. “You shut your fucking mouth! You disgusting cretin-!”
   But Kazuma could see the terror in Hiei’s eyes, the absolute and utter terror at the mention of Yukina that made him suddenly feel very sorry for Hiei and his situation. He’d never realized until that moment, until he saw that fear, just how deep it was. Kurama and Yusuke had been right; you couldn’t broach the subject of Yukina with Hiei and expect him to remain calm. He was scared of his twin sister, genuinely terrified of all the pain she could bring him should she turn her cheek in scorn. He was so wrapped up in that fear that he did not see how much Yukina adored him.
   It was an utter shame, and it made Kazuma wince in sympathy.
   “Hiei, could you please control yourself and quit acting like a child-“ Mukuro sneered, her attention off of Hiei for a moment as she returned to speaking with Kirin. People were no longer watching, clearly used to Hiei foaming at the mouth for various reasons throughout the day.
   “Shut up, you overly dramatic bitch, I am not a child-!” Hiei snarled.
   Mukuro stopped, her expression going slack.
   Kirin made a face that Kazuma could discern even through his mask: disgust at Hiei’s remark.
   “Is that what she is?” Kirin said coldly. Hiei did not address him.
   Mukuro looked over her shoulder, her violet eye beginning to look ever so slightly irritated as she handed Kirin her clip board and letter; he took both without a word. She walked over to Hiei, rolling up her shirt sleeves, and suddenly Kazuma could see that a fight- a very nasty fight- was about to break out.
   And Hiei was gonna lose.
   Hiei seemed to recognize this too, taking a step back from Kazuma and Kurama as he instead bared himself against Mukuro- but it was far too late. She was taller than him, she was stronger than him, and she was about to be madder than him after being called a ‘stupid bitch’ in front of her men.
   “I’m sorry, Hiei, what did you just say to me?” Mukuro growled, her bionic hand tightening into a cold and dangerous fist.
   “... I...” Hiei faltered.
   It was the first time Kazuma had ever seen Hiei back down from dog cussing an opponent.
   “... What’s a matter, are your emotions making your memory slack?” Hiei sneered in a rush. Kazuma could see the fear in his eyes.
   Mukuro let out a soft chuckle, so soft and sweet that she might have appeared to be genuinely at peace, but then she grabbed Hiei by the collar and drug him off into the woods, her strength rendering escape or fight impossible. Kazuma and Kurama followed at once, on strangest instinct to defend Hiei even from Mukuro (which was a weird concept in and of itself). They were not thirty feet away from where the soldiers and portals when Mukuro launched Hiei from her grip, throwing him hard into a tree to pin him there by the throat. Hiei gasped for air, launching a fist at her face, but Mukuro deflected it easily with her bare hand and threw all her weight behind her grip so that Hiei coughed.
   “You want to explain to me what your adorable attitude is all about?” Mukuro growled. Hiei bared his teeth to her, giving away nothing.
   “Go fuck yourself,” Hiei bit out. Mukuro drew back her free hand-
   “Wait!”
   Kazuma had no idea why, but a burst of energy and courage shot through him, making him leap forward right as Mukuro made to punch Hiei in the mouth. He grabbed her arm, hands tight around her wrist, stopping her before she made contact. Kurama let out another gasp, and Kazuma had a feeling that if he looked over his shoulder Kurama would be ashen white from fear.
   Kurama knew what Mukuro was capable of. Kazuma did not. Maybe it was for the better since he was technically now stopping her attack. Mukuro narrowed her good eye at him, and Kazuma winced in spite of himself. Damn, he wasn’t in love with her and even he could see how scary that look might be.
   “Hold on-“ Kazuma spluttered, “This is my fault- don’t- he didn’t mean it-! You know he’d never call you names on purpose, he loves you too much-“
   “Shut up, you miserable worm!” Hiei spat, still pinned to the tree. “I meant every word of it!”
   Kazuma could hear the fear in his voice and immediately dismissed the insult.
   “He’s just upset, it’s not like he actually thinks you’re an overly dramatic bitch, I mean come on-“ Kazuma scoffed in spite of himself, “Why on earth would he say that to you and mean it?”
   “Step aside,” Mukuro said, but her voice was softening and her grip on Hiei’s neck was slackening.
   “I’m not going to let you hit him cause he’s scared to tell his sister that he loves her-!”

   Hiei made a wild noise but Mukuro’s fist around his neck kept him immobile even as he shrieked and reached out to rip at Kazuma.

   “Is that what this whole argument was about?” Mukuro asked with a light sneer. Clearly, like Kazuma’s confidence, Hiei’s emotional fears were well known topic in his lover’s heart.
   “Yes, and I made it happen, so please don’t-“
   Hiei kicked out, knocking Mukuro’s hand free. Now un-pinned, he jerked away from them both, storming deeper into the woods. He turned on the spot, his fist up, and suddenly a ball of hot, angry energy was blasted at Kazuma’s face-
   Mukuro deflected it with ease; it hit a tree and caused an explosion of splinters. Hiei was panting, taking in deep lungfuls of air as he glared at Kazuma.
   “You... are a boorish, brainless-“ Hiei began, every word filled with loathing, but the misery and fear in his eyes automatically stopped Kazuma from taking offense. He’d seen children react the same way to being scolded, storming off and screaming that they hated their parents only to cry into their pillow when they were alone. His father had always made him take a walk when Kazuma had been younger and just as upset; maybe that’s what Hiei needed to do now. Frankly, the mountain air was charming and Hiei could do with some alone time.
   “Hiei, you don’t have to keep engaging me when you’re so upset-“ Kazuma assured him, taking nothing personally even as Hiei scoffed and grew angrier. “Take a second to calm down!”
   “I DO NOT NEED TO CALM DOWN!” Hiei shouted, “YOU HAVE NO EFFECT OVER ME!”
   “You’re screaming-“ Kazuma said.
   “SHUT UP!” Hiei reared back his hand as if to throw another energy blast but Mukuro was looking at him with mild irritation, that same strange expression she’d worn before storming over and dragging him off into the woods. It seemed to slow Hiei’s response time, even unnerve him.
   “Hiei just...like... go take a walk-“ Kazuma offered, gesturing to the woods. Mukuro crossed her arms over her chest, waiting to hear Hiei’s response. “Look at how nice it is today- go take a walk and cool off and we’ll just talk about this later-“
   “We are not going to talk about this later-!” Hiei spat, throwing his arms wide in a definitive ‘no’ stance.
   “Yes we are-“ Kazuma warned, for he had every intention of trying to help Hiei through his fears should he ever be given the chance, “this needs to be talked about, for your own emotional health-“ But the words ‘emotional health’ were too much for Hiei who let out an angry scream before turning on his heel and storming off into the woods. He stomped through the underbrush, vanishing around a bend in the mountain, and Kazuma ran a hand wearily through his hair.
   “Damn, he’s got issues,” Kazuma murmured. “But pretending he’s four is not the worst idea I’ve ever had-“
   “Kazuma, that is not what I meant-!” Kurama moaned, no doubt remembering their conversation from last night.
   “But it worked, I mean, I could tell none of that was directed at me!” Kazuma offered. “I’m not mad in the slightest-!”
   “Meanwhile Hiei is re-sculpting the mountain,” Mukuro grumbled; several loud explosions ricochet off their eardrums, making Kazuma wince. He could smell smoke and knew there was fire. “Tell me, Kazuma, were the explosions part of your plan, or a simple side detail to be address later?”
   Kazuma looked at the path where Hiei had just vanished as more angry screams issued faintly from the distance and black smoke began to waft past.
   He suddenly was very embarrassed.

   After his wild outburst in the woods, Hiei needed considerable time to cool down and be left alone. Kazuma, Kurama, Mukuro and Kirin all returned to the BUG where they observed the mountain terrain from the upper terrace while Hiei trained in the BUG’s many torture rooms. Save for the flickers of his energy deep below their feet, Hiei did not appear and no one sought him out. He’d blown a good chunk out of the eastern face of one of the smaller mountains, and birds were now landing in the crater he’d created to fish out newly revealed grubs and beetles. Mukuro looked through a small telescope, seemingly irritated at something though Kazuma could not say what. Kurama on the other hand was quite relaxed, and smiled as he took deep lungfuls of the mountain air. The smell of pine was clear and heavy above the BUG.
   “I remember this area from my youth,” Kurama admitted. “Its beauty was always superb.”
   “We should go camping,” Kazuma said, suddenly thinking of his own youth when Jiro had taken he and Shizuru deep into the wilderness of Japan for weekends spent fishing and hiking. It had delighted him as a child.
   “Camping?” Kurama repeated the word, toying it over in his mind.
   “Yeah. Shoot, let’s like... go for a couple of weeks.” Kazuma shrugged. Dammit, they had nothing else planned and maybe the fresh air would do Kurama some good. “We’ll camp, fish, swim, hike... just have fun. What do you say?”
   “That sounds enchanting.” Kurama laughed. “Save that we are in demon world and camping is slightly more dangerous in bandit infested country-“
   “And yet...” Mukuro spoke up, lowering her telescope. “Where are the bandits?”
   Now it was clear what was bothering her. Enki had sent her to get rid of a problem but the problem in question was nowhere to be seen.
   “They have fled,” Kirin prompted. “They no doubt saw the BUG and ran for their meagre lives.”
   “I highly doubt that they have abandoned their onslaught.” Mukuro commented, “They’re probably hiding in the hills... if one were to go in unannounced once might uncover them.”
   Kazuma saw an opportunity and seized it.
   “Come with us!” Kazuma urged. Mukuro gave him a curious look. “You and Hiei both! We’ll all go camping. It’ll be like a double date!”
   Kurama snorted at this, but Mukuro’s good eye was narrowing deep in thought.
   Mukuro looked at the hills one more time with her telescope before lowering it and handing it over to Kirin who took it at once.

   “Kirin.”
   “Mukuro.”
   “I am going into the mountains with Hiei to rid them of bandits. I will be taking our guests. You are in charge until I return.”
   Kazuma punched the air, quite delighted at the prospect that awaited them. Camping with Kurama, Mukuro, and Hiei? Could the day get any better-?
   Well... maybe if Hiei wasn’t going, but dammit, he wasn’t about to poke holes in such a delightful tapestry.
   “Of course,” Kirin said, bowing ever so slightly to Mukuro. She turned, heading for the trap door, and gestured for both Kazuma and Kurama to follow.

   “Come,” she said. They went.
   “Are you serious about this?” Kurama demanded, but Mukuro did not answer as they descended into the BUG and began to make their way through the lower levels. “This hardly seems pleasurable.”
   “I enjoy slaughter, and Hiei enjoys solitude. The mountains promise both.” Mukuro grumbled back.
   They hit the first floor, and went down a side corridor that was heavily guarded to come upon a bolted and warded door. Kazuma had never been to the torture dungeons and frankly was not excited for what might lay inside; when Mukuro opened the door, they came upon a row of cells. Most were empty, save for two that both held soldiers; as Mukuro passed they cringed and turned their faces away. Hiei’s energy was palpable in here, a smoky heat that made it difficult to breath.
   “Traitors,” was all she said at Kazuma’s questioning glance toward the soldiers. “They will die.”
   Kazuma winced as he saw a pained expression upon one of the traitor’s faces.

   They came to the end of the hall where another bolted and warded door lay. Beyond it, muted shouts could be heard. Mukuro ran her bionic hand upon the wood, and from within they heard several deep metallic clicks. The door swung open, and smoke drifted into their waves. Kazuma coughed, waving his hand in front of his eyes and nose which immediately began to sting and water.
   Hiei was inside, relentlessly pummeling a large black rock that towered above their heads. With each hit of his fist, more of the rock exploded off into the air. Kazuma realized now that the smoke came not from fire, but from the rock. He was amazed at Hiei’s strength.
   “Hiei, we’re leaving,” Mukuro instructed him.
   “Good,” Hiei grunted as he punched the rock again, “I hope you never come back.”
   “I mean you, too," she growled.

   “Oh, really?” Hiei turned around, wiping powdered rock from his chin with the back of his bleeding fist. “And you’d assumed I would agree? A rather bold move-“ He chortled, though there was nothing humorous in his words as he returned to the rock. He smoothed it with a hands, flicking a few pebbles away, then reached back and punched it hard in another explosive blast.
   “You, Kazuma, Kurama and I will be clearing the mountains of bandits,” Mukuro said. “We will also be enjoying the scenery; an idea that I find charming.”
   “Spare me.” Hiei drawled, throwing another punch at the rock.
   “Come on, Hiei, camping’s fun!” Kazuma chimed in, thinking of small children that he’d seen dragging their feet to spend outings with their families. They always ended up having a good time. “We can go fishing, and hiking, and-“

   Hiei cut him off with a snarl.
   “If you think I have forgotten your earlier remark then you are grievously mistaken, cretin.”
   “Okay, I’m sorry,” Kazuma apologized, and he was quite sincere, too. “I did not mean to hurt your feelings. I honestly was trying to help, I didn’t realize how upset you would be-“
   “I am not upset!” Hiei spat the word, turning on Kazuma with wild, burning eyes. In them, Kazuma saw the phrase ‘I am very upset’ written clearly despite what Hiei said to the contrary. “What is your obsession with me being-“
   “Engaged, involved, compromised,” Kazuma offered, remembering when he was a small boy that he hadn’t like to be told that he was upset either. It had made him sound weak. “Pick a word that makes you feel better and use it instead, but all I’m saying is that I didn’t know. I know now. I’m sorry.”
   Hiei glared at him, dropping his hands from the rock. He stormed over to a pile in the corner, and Kazuma watched as he bent over to pick up a roll of gauze which he began to use to wrap his bloodied and bruised knuckles.
   “I do not require an apology.” It was clear in Hiei’s tone that he did not like the notion of people thinking he was type who liked to be apologized to.
   “I’m giving you one anyway,” Kazuma said easily, making sure that his tone was light and non-judgmental, “Cause we’re friends and I don’t want you to feel... compromised.”
   Hiei glared at him, shaking his head in disgust. “You are fucking insane. You should have been the one put in a psych ward.”
   “Nah.” Kazuma grinned. “I’m not crazy, I just like being your friend.”
   Hiei stared.
   He made several rounds of noises, each of them more disjointed and irritated than the last, before turning on his heel and marching for the dungeon door. Clearly he’d had enough interaction with Kazuma to last him several lifetimes, but Mukuro’s voice caused Hiei to halt even as he wrenched open the door-
   “We’re leaving at dusk,” she said.
   “You’re leaving,” Hiei corrected her. He took a step forward.
   “Hiei-“ Mukuro warned.
   “Mukuro, I refuse to be-“
   “Hiei.”
   Hiei pinched the bridge of his nose, his temper flaring up; Kazuma could feel the fluctuations in his energy, the wild pitches as his heart leapt and began to beat faster.
   “It is ridiculous to even ins-“
   “Hiei,” Mukuro snapped, her tone loud and commanding. It left no room for argument.
   “Fine!” Hiei snarled “God dammit!” And he slammed the door so hard behind him that the hinges shook.
   Kazuma let out a deep breath, wondering what it would take for Hiei to relax.

   He briefly thought about Kurama’s medication from spirit world which was hiding in Kazuma’s ruck sack just in case of an emergency. He could always-...
   .... No... He probably shouldn’t do that.
- 6
- 7
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Compromised