Hoho!!! I'm so darn happy!!! Yahoo!!! I scored straight A's in my major
government exam!!! Wahahahahahhhhh!!! Straight A's!!! ::SL runs berserk and
hugs everyone in sight::
Sorry, I just need to get that out before I explode... ^_^; Anyway, this is
chapter 14 (duh!!!) and I'm feeling exceptionally good today so I'll will
relase a new part. =) Highest credits go to Rhionae for pre-reading this
fic. =)
P/S: Bulma-chan, phone me on Friday night to confirm, yah? =) Just
reminding you. Besides, Kuwa-chan sounds so disgusting screaming for
Yukina... ^_^; Yah? ::I LOVE HIEI!:: I have just managed to korek 50 bucks
from my dad and I'm going hunting for YYH vcds in Petaling Street. =)
P/S 2: YYHMLers, for those who have missed the few earlier parts, you guys
can get it at http://members.xoom.com/hiei/ppf.htm =)
P/S 3: FFMLers, please send your comments to wsiewlee@tm.net.my directly
'cuz I've set the flag to 'vacation' a few weeks ago.
Siew Lee
[wsiewlee@tm.net.my]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
~~~The Past, The Present And The Future~~~
~~~The Present - Vengeance~~~
Chapter 14 - Youko!
---------------------------------------------------------------------
"I am your father."
The four words hit him like a tsunami. An unimaginable force
washed over him, forcing him to backtrack a few steps. Kurama blinked
a few times and his lips pursed into a thin line. His head felt dizzy
all of a sudden with the bare truth. He knew that Kabato wasn't
lying. He was speaking the truth!
*No! No! My father is long dead!* screamed a voice endlessly in
his head. His heart hurt, his heart ached... For once, the youko was
speechless, unable to retrieve his senses, his rational thinking.
"Kurama..." voiced out Kabato softly, his eyes showing genuine
concern.
Kurama was still in a daze. He backtracked another few steps
before finally hitting the hard tree trunk. Leaves fluttered down
gently as a cool breeze rocked the giant tree.
"Kurama..." called Kabato again, this time reaching out a hand.
Suddenly, something snapped in Kurama's head. "No! No! You are
not my father! No!" shouted Kurama angrily, his eyes flashing with
hatred.
Through his eyes, the figure who was standing in front of him
was a total liar. A total liar for lying to him that he would be
coming back after looking for food! Kurama shook his head slightly,
not believing his own eyes and ears. How could he be so cruel and
heartless to him?!
"I'm sorry..." apologized Kabato in a low tone, his eyes still
fixed on Kurama.
"How can you say that you are sorry now!" yelled Kurama as a
gust of fierce wind blew ferociously, lifting up the hem of his white
robe a little. "Why? Why did you leave me in the wild last time?"
"I had more important things to straighten out," answered
Kabato in an even tone. Deep inside his heart, he had endured this
suffering for so long now... In fact, it was the pain that haunted
him for so long now.
"What is more important than your son?" asked Kurama coldly,
his eyes still showing hatred and sorrow.
Disappointment.
"Kurama, you must understand this... I had no choice. Totally
no choice. I wouldn't have chosen this path if not for your safety,"
explained Kabato.
"Safety?"
"Yes, safety. First, I am a white youko, what about you?"
"You have eyes to see what color my hair is."
Kabato gave a short sigh before continuing. "You are a silver
youko, the line between whites and blacks. As you might have been
able to guess, your mother is a black fox."
"So? Does it make any difference? I'm your son too! How could
you just leave me like that?" asked Kurama again, the hurt tone in
his voice still very obvious.
"Then do you know that both clans are searching for you to be
put to death?" shouted Kabato harshly! His son was acting up, he
still didn't understand the main point here! Slowly, Kabato calmed
down, his temper slowly subsiding. *Besides, it is fair for him to be
angry at me...* Kabato shot a look at Kurama's face. He saw a lot of
mixed feelings there. Shock, confusion, misunderstanding and many
others that he could not make out.
"Why?" croaked out Kurama in a sober tone. Why hadn't he
thought of that? Kurama chided himself for being so careless... No,
he was not being careless. It was that he didn't want to think about
it. He just wanted to hide the pain away, lock it up in the deepest
corner of his memories.
"It was because of Inari-sama who stopped with rivalry between
the two clans or else you wouldn't be standing here right now. You
might have just been killed centuries ago!" yelled back Kabato.
"Why? Why did you save me if you had decided to abandon me when
I was five?" asked Kurama coldly.
Kabato's face suddenly darkened and he closed his eyes,
reminiscing those times he had with the vixen, those flings. In a low
tone, he began telling his story.
A story of the past.
"A long, long time ago, before you were born, the youkos of
Makai were divided into two main clans, the whites and the blacks.
Maybe you could express them as arch rivals. I was a member of a
respected family. I was even admitted into Inari-sama's protection
as one of his main guards..."
"You were under Inari's service?"
"Yes, I 'was' before I came here to Reikai. Your mother was
also working there as one of the palace maidens and I loved her
deeply. At that time, both clans were engaged in a fierce battle,
thus making our relationship a taboo... but still I chose her as my
mate. It wasn't very long after your mother delivered you and your
siblings when we were caught and hauled back to meet our last
judgment... My whole family was sentenced to death together, but I
managed to escape with you only... Your mother died, so did your
brothers and sisters... Inari-sama was too tolerant that time. Too
tolerant to just let his subjects squabble over minor incidents." At
this point, an unconscious tear rolled down Kabato's cheek and he
quickly brushed it away. Those memories still haunted him, even in
his dreams, he could still hear her agonized screams when he scaled
up the fortress wall with his son bonded to his back...
The hatred in Kurama's eyes softened. "That doesn't explain why
did you leave me right in the middle of that field..."
"I had no choice," repeated Kabato. "I could not raise you...
so I thought it might be better it you would be able to live by
yourself when the time was suitable. I was with you until you were
five... At last, I realized that I had to go back to Inari..."
"So you left without even seeing what I have became. I was so
starved that time that I was forced to become a thief!" said Kurama
dryly. "All these years I was left to survive by myself without you
even coming back to look at me one eyeful!"
"No, I have reasons. I lied to my clan that you had died of
fever and I had successfully *changed* my mind about you and your
mother... Of course I was accepted back into my clan and I had
totally no chance to sneak to have a look at you. There was always
somebody watching over me then as they suspected your existence..."
explained Kabato softly.
"So you left me for the sake of returning to your clan, eh?
What a selfish reason!" laughed out Kurama bitterly and instantly
changed back into Shuichi Minamino. "I have a Ningen mother now and
she's Shiori Hatanaka."
After saying that, Kurama ran, ran further and further into the
dark. Running back into the palace...
Sadly, Kabato gazed at the diminishing form until it
disappeared in the darkness. "Sorry... It was a mistake and I intend
to repay all my debts to you this time, for once and for all..."
murmured Kabato.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
"Kurama, what's wrong? You looked distressed," asked Arisa as
she saw the boy burst into the room, his hair disheveled. There was
a miserable look in his eyes.
Quickly, Arisa set her lute down on the side table and walked
towards Kurama. Holding his hand, she sat down, ready to listen to
him.
"No, nothing happened," replied Kurama evenly, calming down the
anger and pain in his heart. There were still traces of them in his
voice, making Arisa very worried.
"C'mon Kurama, I have known you long enough to know when you
have problems or not! You look worse than after a long lecture from
Miss Saichiko!" said Arisa, cracking a lame joke... Deep inside, she
was bothered by Kurama's attitude.
Kurama shook his head and refused to look up. Arisa gave him a
tiny squeeze on his shoulder and stood up. "I'll get you a cup of hot
tea from the cafeteria..."
Kurama acknowledged her by nodding a little and buried his face
in his palms when the door clicked close. He would never let Arisa
see him shed tears... Never ever... She was too fragile to see him in
this state.
Kicking off his cloth shoes and taking off his jacket, he slid
under the covers. Reaching out a finger, he flipped the lamp switch
shut and closed his eyes, attempting to sleep.
So many incidents rushed on him in such a short period of time
- three months. It had not even given him enough time to slowly think
things over. Three months ago, Hiei were Shiori was the first
priority in his life; but now? He raised up his hands to look at his
slender fingers in the dark, but seeing nothing but the pitch black
darkness in the room. He sighed, there were Arisa, his child, Kabato
and so many others now.
But there was still an empty space in his heart for whom? For
*him*, of course.
Kurama turned sideways, refusing to think more as it would only
lead to unhappy thoughts and dark moods. Squeezing his eyes shut once
again, he fell into a restless sleep.
***
The door opened and a female figure walked in, holding a cup of
steaming hot tea on a saucer. "Kurama?" asked Arisa softly, seeing
the room plunged into darkness.
Arisa shook her head slightly and went to the lamp. Flicking
the switch on, she placed her cup of tea gently on the table. Looking
at Kurama's sleeping form, she took the blanket and covered him up to
the shoulders.
Seeing Kurama asleep, she sipped the tea a little and the rest
went down the sink.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
"Today, I am going to teach all of you the final way of
defeating Yamaro and Murashi," began Kabato. They were just one week
away from the final tournament between the good and the evil.
Everybody heaved a huge sigh of relief, thankful that all that
physical exertion was finally over. Two weeks of physical training
was *more* than enough!
"But first, we need a room," continued Kabato, his golden eyes
looking at Kurama intently. Kurama just turned away, ignoring his
gaze. *What must I do to make him forgive me?* asked Kabato silently.
"Room? Never mind. We can use my room," suggested Yusuke.
"Fine with me. Let's go," said Kabato, walking towards the
Reikai palace building. Yusuke and the rest followed behind with
Kurama and Arisa right at the back.
Arisa clutched Kurama's arm. She was worried half to death
last night... Even now, he did not seem to be quite well today, with
signs of fatigue showing up on his face.
"Kurama, are you sure you are okay?" asked Arisa into Kurama's
ear.
"I'm alright, really," answered Kurama back, giving Arisa a
soft pat on his hand. "Don't worry too much, it is not good for our
baby..."
They walked up to Yusuke's room via the stairs with Arisa
showing signs of shortness of breath. At least she had Kurama to
help her...
Kabato swung open the wooden door and walked into the spacious
room. Stopping to glance at the surroundings, he nodded pleasingly.
Reaching into his robe, he produced the five scrolls he had shown
them the previous week.
"Kurama and Kuwabara, hang these scrolls on the walls
separately with at least three feet from each other," commanded
Kabato, handing the duo all of the yellowish paper scrolls.
"Why me?" grumbled Kuwabara.
"Because both of you are taller!" answered Kabato simply and
grinned at Hiei. The fire youkai rolled his eyes and looked away.
Kurama drew open the bundle with the string provided and
watched a long drawing unfolded before him. Kurama knitted his
eyebrows together and studied the illustration. On top of the drawing
there was the word 'fire' in kanji. "Ka..." mumbled Kurama softly,
reading the word aloud.
"Stop peeking, Kurama," scolded Kabato and grabbed the wall
scroll. Reaching up, he hung the illustration full length up on wall
in accordance. "You might risk having your youki channels all messed
up!"
Kurama sighed and sat down at a corner of the room. He hadn't
been able to accept that confession by Kabato last evening. He had
always thought that his parents were long dead... But all of a
sudden, a youko barged right into his life just like that and claimed
to be his father. Kurama knew Kabato wasn't lying because he saw the
truth in his eyes. The light in eyes never lied to anybody.
"Ka (fire), Sui (water), Kin (metal), Do (earth) and Fu (wind)
are in order. Alright, since all of you are here, I want to divide
those wall scrolls according to your element," began Kabato and
pointed to Ka.
Hiei didn't wait for Kabato's orders. Instead, he walked up in
front of the first scroll and sat down rudely.
"Good, so all of you know your own elements. Now go and sit in
front of your respective scrolls," smiled Kabato. Arisa and Kuwabara
shrugged and sat behind Yusuke under the scroll Kin.
"Hm, not enough people. Sui and Fu are empty...," said Kabato
and rubbed his smooth chin and a frown was formed there at his face
before he caught sight of Arisa and Kuwabara behind Yusuke.
"Arisa, you - go and sit under the Fu scroll. Go now!"
commanded Kabato, pointing at the girl. Arisa instantly nodded and
sat in front of it.
"What about me?" asked Kuwabara curiously, seeing that Arisa
already had a scroll while he, himself was still sitting behind
Yusuke.
Kabato didn't answer him, instead, he gazed at the five scrolls
with a thoughtful expression. "Huh?" asked Kuwabara again, seeing no
reaction from Kabato.
Suddenly, the old youko muttered something. *Sui is still
empty... Kuwabara is not compatible with Sui.. Without a suitable
user, the whole plan will fail!* Kabato sighed and looked at the Sui
scroll intently. He had been overly enthusiastic over this whole
strategy that he overlooked the five elements itself.
"Is there anybody you all know of that possessed the element
'water'? We need one more fighter now," asked Kabato, his face still
thoughtful.
"Kabato, you haven't answered my question yet... Why does Arisa
have a scroll of her own while I'm here sharing with Urameshi?"
demanded Kuwabara.
"Arisa's... different. Now, anybody?" asked Kabato again. Arisa
raised a quizzical eyebrow when Kabato finished the sentence. *What
is difference between me and Kuwabara?* thought Arisa in wonder
before snapping back into reality. *Alright, maybe I'm a girl, he's a
guy. I pity Kuwabara... Why must I receive special treatment?*
"What about Yukina?" suggested Kurama. "She's a koorime,
right? The Koorime clan usually possesses the element 'water'."
"Yukina?! She can't fight!" protested Kuwabara loudly, drawing
everybody's attention.
"Stupid moron, of course we know she can't fight!" snapped
Hiei, purely irritated by Kuwabara's action of *protecting* his
sister. Hiei, the Forbidden Child of Makai, *should* do the work,
not a carrot hair, disgusting Ningen! It was enough that he had to
bear with him through discussing perfect sword fighting strategies
with that stupid moron sneering at him every single moment! And now
what? He was trying to make him feel useless in front of everybody!
"Keep or mouth shut, shrimp or I'll..." threatened Kuwabara
dangerously.
"Or you will...?" challenged Hiei back.
"I haven't forgotten what I have seen with Urameshi that day!"
yelled Kuwabara. Yusuke's fist struck forward and punched him
slightly on the arm, indicating that he shouldn't say any further.
"Jerk!" spat out Hiei and looked away as he felt his face
growing hot. Yeah, he shouldn't have been that stupid to lie there
with Botan!
"No! No! Yukina mustn't taint her beautiful face with battle!"
hollered Kuwabara continuously.
"Yes, she can't fight but she has the basics! Remember when she
went together with us on that mission? She demonstrated perfect
skills of killing with ice!" argued Kurama back.
"Yes! That's right!" interrupted Yusuke as he snapped his
fingers. "I'll go and call Yukina here now!"
Kabato nodded and watched the lithe figure make his way out of
the door to the ferrying division of Reikai.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
"Yukina! We need you right now!" shouted Yusuke at the roomful
of ferry girls.
"Nani?" asked Botan who caught sight of Yusuke. She walked up
to him and kept her oar away.
"We need Yukina for completing an attack!" answered Yusuke
hurriedly and gazed at Botan, searching for answers.
"Well, she isn't back yet... You should go and check with
Misuko for the exact time..." replied Botan and shoved Yusuke in the
direction of Koenma's office.
"Is Misuko in Koenma's office?"
"Yes! Yes!"
Yusuke rolled his eyes and painstakingly made his way through
the packed hall.
*****
"Koenma-sama, since you know who he is, why don't you tell that
to Kurama? Besides, he has the right to know," asked Misuko,
suddenly, drawing Koenma's attention instantly. They had been sitting
in the office for two weeks now and doing work. Just work, work and
work. Even Misuko did not have a lot of time to rest.
"Sometimes, the truth is better as a secret," answered Koenma
simply, his stamp still hitting the documents without stopping.
"I guess so... Poor Kurama..." sighed Misuko unhappily and
resumed reading out loud the report for Koenma. In this way, the work
for the day should be finished earlier instead of having Koenma to
read word by word with his own eyes.
All of a sudden, someone crashed in.
"Misuko! Where the heck is Yukina! We need her *right* now!"
shouted Yusuke as he burst into the room only to see Misuko sitting
next to Koenma, reading out some type of document.
"Yukina? Whatever for?" asked Koenma as he pried his eyes away
from the papers he was working at for a short moment.
"Well, do you want Reikai to win this time? If yes, call her
back this very minute," yelled an agitated Yusuke, obviously very
anxious.
"Alright, I'll call her right now..." answered Misuko. "Just
wait outside the division office and she will be here in ten
minutes," continued Misuko as she flipped though some papers.
Koenma glared at him but Yusuke paid no attention to him.
Instead, he hurried out of the office...
*****
"Yukina! We need you up at my room!" shouted Yusuke quickly as
he saw the blue hair girl arriving at the Reikai main division office
with her oar.
"Nani?" asked Yukina, her ruby red eyes staring at Yusuke with
astonishment. "What?"
"Yukina, we are practicing a new attack technique and we are
short by one person!" explained Yusuke more slowly this time.
"Me? Why? I am a weak fighter!" exclaimed Yukina, putting her
oar away.
"No problem there. You have the basics, right?" shrugged
Yusuke.
"Alright..." agreed Yukina and nodded her head vigorously. "But
where?"
"At my room..." came the answer before double running footsteps
echoed down the entire passageway.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
"Yukina-san!!!" shrieked Kuwabara like a madman as the door
opened a small crack. "Stupid jerk," muttered Hiei under his breath
and folded his arms across his chest. He always hated it when
Kuwabara went nuts over his dearest sister.
"Hello Kazuma-san!" greeted Yukina as Yusuke stood behind her.
Kuwabara quickly grabbed her hand and began stroking it gently.
"You are like sunshine to me..." praised Kuwabara adoringly.
"Alright, Kabato, we already have Yukina here so what are we
going to do?" asked Yusuke inquisitively, shoving a hand down the
pocket of his jeans.
"Yukina, right? Okay, go and sit in front of the Sui scroll
there," ordered Kabato and pointed to the scroll in between the ones
occupied by Hiei and Yusuke. "Er... I'm not a good figher," began
Yukina slowly... "Besides, I think I will be a burden to Yusuke-san,
Kazuma-san and the rest if I am to attend that tournament..."
continued the girl with Kuwabara still clinging onto her hand.
"Eh? I am not going to let you fight the main part. You are
just supposed to complete the ring of power!" laughed Kabato, amused
by Yukina's fearful expression. "Didn't you tell her, Yusuke?"
The boy just shrugged and looked at Kuwabara aimlessly. *That
carrot top is still that crazy over Yukina... How great is the power
of love...* sighed Yusuke as Keiko's smiling face materialized in his
mind. *Stop it before you turn into another Kazuma Kuwabara! Surely
you won't want to kneel down in front of Keiko and scream her name
around, right?* chided a voice in his head. Upon hearing the voice,
Yusuke stood up straight and began concentrating on Kabato's actions.
"Alright never mind. Yukina, just go there and sit there as we
need a Sui holder to finalize the ring of power," said Kabato and
paused for a moment before proceeding. "The ring of power is a very
strong attack as a result from the union of five elements. The first
is Ka (fire), followed by Sui (water), Kin (metal), Do (earth) and
Fu (wind). Remember this order first and make sure that you know who
and who is beside you."
Hiei gave a slight 'hn' while Yukina looked to and fro. Arisa
brushed her neck with a finger softly and her mind was still focused
on Kabato's strange decision to let her have one whole element by
herself. Even Kuwabara was stronger than her yet he was there without
a scroll, his eyes staring at Yukina endlessly.
"Now look at your respective scrolls. Every single element has
an illustration of its own but I'm sure that the similarity lies
between the drawing of the person sitting there with his legs
crossed. Sit with your legs crossed, Arisa," reprimanded Kabato as he
shot a cursory glance at the five tantei and a koorime sitting on the
floor.
Arisa nodded quickly and folded her legs.
"As you might have noticed, there are little red arrows going
in a certain direction. Those arrows symbolize your youki directions.
Yusuke, I think it might be better if you could transform into
toushin form now," advised Kabato.
"Whatever..." mumbled Yusuke before a cloud of mist surrounded
him. When the mist cleared, Yusuke was sitting there with long black
hair and black markings over his chest. *Thanks to Raizen and I'm
stuck with this mess... Now I have to ask Kurama to cut my hair
again,* grumbled Yusuke inwardly as he threw a lock of his hair back.
"Good. Kurama, you too."
Kurama nodded slightly and did the same. In a short time, a
fire youkai, a koorime, a toushin and a silver youko were sitting in
a straight line. "Em..." said Arisa uncomfortably as she was the only
*human* sitting there...
"Arisa, just sit there quietly," said Kabato quickly. "Now,
look at those arrows and try to get your youki channeled according to
the flow," instructed Kabato.
All of them nodded and began concentrating on their own scrolls
with Kabato guiding them behind.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Kuwabara lay back languidly on the sofa seat. He sighed
depressingly, not knowing what to do next. Of all Reikai tantei, he
was the only one doing *nothing* right now. His eyes flickered
momentarily to Hiei. *Ha! Even that shrimp looked so darn serious
about all this commotion!* smirked Kuwabara.
*But... Kurama looks deadly serious,* thought Kuwabara as he
adverted his glance to the silver youko.
*Yukina-san...* hollered Kuwabara mentally. So near yet so
far...
*Hm, it won't hurt just to sit behind Yukina-san and protect
her, right?* thought Kuwabara in glee, finally thinking out a way to
get *closer* to Yukina.
Heaving himself up from the sofa, Kuwabara stood up and sat
behind Yukina before looking earnestly at her blue hair and the
scroll before her.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Kurama peered at the scroll set before him. The person in the
drawing was beautifully drawn, the body in perfect proportions. The
red arrows... The silver youko studied the directions of the arrows
in detail this time.
*Wow... This is sure complicated...* thought Kurama wryly.
Secretly, he stole a look at Arisa who was sitting just next to him.
She was very engrossed at her scroll, though. She kept lifting her
head up and inhaling air in a very funny way. *Does this method help
to raise youki? Will a week away from the tournament be sufficient
to increase our power?* asked Kurama aimlessly as he stared at Arisa
continuously. *Why isn't her belly bulging yet? It has been already
three months... But why did Kabato asked her to control 'wind'? He
knew pretty well that Arisa is a Ningen, not a youkai!*
Kurama shoved all those thoughts away and turned his attention
back to the scroll in front of him. There was a figure sitting on the
'floor' cross legged. The figure's eyes were closed, his face serene.
He was concentrating... Kurama looked again, this time the midriff.
It seemed that all his ki was centered in his midriff.
*Alright, I guess that means that I should center all my youki
there...* Kurama closed his eyes and tried to gather all of youki to
his stomach.
Nothing happened.
Kurama tried again, but his ki was like floating around him,
unable to solidify into one body.
Kurama's eyes flew open in disbelief. *Why an easy task like
that would be so difficult perform? Well, I could always jump to the
following steps, right?* Kurama managed to gather some youki and
began moving them in the directions provided by the scroll.
Suddenly, a wave of dizziness hit him but Kurama waved it
aside, dismissing it as his lack of concentration. Again, he opened
his eyes and stared at the picture. Slowly, he began to build up his
youki and directed them according to the instructions of the little
red arrows.
*What the heck is this?!* thought Kurama in shock as the youki
suddenly stopped *moving*. The was like an invisible barrier blocking
all his youki channels. Kurama braced himself and began forcing his
youki to break the barrier apart and suddenly there a sweet taste in
his mouth which he quickly swallowed. Sweet taste?! The sickly sweet
sensation at the back of his mouth returned and worsened. At this
point, something alien lodged itself into his windpipe.
Kurama spluttered and choked. A stream of blood sprinkled
across the bottom part of the scroll.
His head felt dizzy and his eyesight was slowly going... He
could hear Arisa screaming his name and feel Yusuke's hand grabbing
him by the shoulders, shaking his violently.
It was not very long before blackness overtook his
consciousness.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
"Move aside please... Move aside!" shouted Kabato as the Reikai
tantei team gathered around Kurama's still figure.
Kuwabara and Yukina moved aside to make way for Kabato. Hiei,
Yusuke and Arisa were still reluctant to leave Kurama's unconscious
form. "Yusuke, go and get a glass of water here!" ordered Kabato as
he pulled Kurama up to his original sitting position.
"Arisa, support him on the back!"
"Hiei! Put his legs in a straightened position!" Hiei nodded
and placed Kurama's legs in a straight line. The youko looked so
fragile and pale to him now... Hiei sighed inwardly, Kurama was his
best friend and he was the only one who knew him deep inside.
"What happened to him?" asked Yusuke, returning with a glass
of lukewarm water.
"Has his internal youki been attacked before?" asked Kabato
quickly and began tapping his son on various points like the back of
his neck and chest.
"You mean like blood spluttering out like just now?" asked
Kuwabara from the side.
"Yes! Especially pressure point attacks! If the points are not
properly reopened, his youki channels might get mess up the next time
he tries to exert his youki forcefully! " half yelled Kabato
anxiously.
"Kuso! Murashi attacked him once and Kurama didn't complain of
any problems after that..." cursed Yusuke, slamming his fist onto the
wall and creating an instant mini crater there.
"Damned youkai..." Kabato gritted his teeth furiously.
"How is Kurama now?" asked Arisa, close to tears after seeing
the unmoving figure on the floor.
Kabato slowly shook his head. "His youki channels are all
running wild and there is no way to rectify this problem..." sighed
Kabato. "Wait!"
Arisa looked up instantly and Yusuke kneeled down next to
Kurama, listening to Kabato.
"Actually, I have a way..." Kabato closed his eyes and sighed.
"Arisa, can you please sit next to Kurama and let me have your
place?"
"What are you doing?" asked Yusuke quickly, taking Kabato's
arm.
"Listen here. I'm going to undo all of Kurama's channels and
unlock all of Kurama's youki barriers... It is time for me to go
anyway and I have to pay all my debts to Kurama..." spoke Kabato
and took his place behind Kurama.
"No..." protested Yusuke weakly but stopped when he heard
Kabato talking about paying debts. What debts? Yusuke wanted to
know but these were Kurama's personal problems and he shouldn't poke
his nose into it.
Kabato took a deep breath and slowly placed his palms onto
Kurama's back, feeling his smooth skin through the white robe he
wore. *My son... I am doing all this for you to pay you all I have
owed you...* murmured Kabato silently in his heart. With a slight
push of his own youki, he began streaming it into Kurama's body.
Yusuke, Arisa, Hiei, Kuwabara and Yukina watched fearfully on,
afraid of what would happen next. Kabato seemed very serious about
healing Kurama and all those strange words that he said just now
added to their anxiousness.
Beads of sweat were beginning to form on Kabato's head and
Kurama was giving a little gasp every now and then. Arisa clutched
Yusuke's arm as Kurama seemed to be fighting a battle in him too.
Two hours passed, still nothing except that Kabato was panting
more and more heavily as seconds ticked by.
Another hour passed.
*Thud* The sound of someone collapsing onto the floor drew
everybody's attention. Arisa quickly rushed forward and held on to
Kabato. "Kabato! Kabato!" yelled Arisa.
"Owwww..." A soft groan echoed through the room. "Kurama? Are
you alright?" asked Hiei in a low growl.
"Huh?" asked Kurama and he felt a dull ache in his chest. He
vaguely remembered the blood splattered across the bottom of the
scroll, his youki flaring up wildly and himself slipping into a pitch
black darkness... Then there was someone who pulled him up!
Kurama turned around to see who was it and he saw the slumped
form of Kabato. He might have died just now if it wasn't for Kabato!
Kurama shuddered in fear as he thought of that but his focus quickly
flickered at Kabato.
"Why did you do that? You will die of exhaustion!" asked
Kurama, his eyebrows knitting together in a frown and his hand
holding Kabato by the youko's hand.
"I didn't get to take care of you all these centuries... My
heart is always plagued by guilt and I have to take up this
responsibility for once... I am already old and I see the need to
save you first..." mumbled Kabato before spluttering out a whole
mouthful of fresh blood.
Kurama swallowed painfully as he saw the blood staining
Kabato's chin. "What has been done is done... I won't hate you
anymore," said Kurama, tears were already stinging his golden eyes.
"Take care, Kurama and practice on... Yusuke, Hiei and
Yukina..." called out Kabato weakly. "Remember, never use the ring
of power until you absolutely need to!" warned the ailing youko. The
trio nodded and Kabato gave a half smile.
"Arisa... It is Kurama's luck that he has chosen you as his
mate... I am guaranteeing that Inari-sama won't punish Kurama for
choosing you but be careful. Whatever you do might change your
destiny. The red mark on your left arm symbolizes you..." spoke
Kabato softly. He reached into his black robe and retrieved a small
red cloth pouch. Arisa gasped slightly, *How did he know about my
mark?! Only Kurama has seen it before!*
Seeing Arisa's surprised face, Kabato laughed softly and lifted
up his hand to give her the small bag. "I can't say anymore now...
Take this. I have been waiting to give you this for a long time, but
I never had the chance. Wait, don't open it... Open it only when you
have no choice during the tournament! Never open it until the brink
of defeat..." trailed off Kabato softly.
Arisa clutched at the red pouch and nodded. "Take care of
Kurama and burn me a photo of my grandchild in the future. Make sure
the team wins in the forthcoming tournament..." laughed Kabato feebly
and another mouthful of blood flowed down his chin. "I still want to
see my grandchild even though my body ceased to exist. At least make
sure that I can rest in peace... Although it is very modern nowadays
but just stick to tradition... Promise me the photo..."
"We will... We will..." promised Arisa as she gripped the pouch
with her fist.
"Kurama... Forgive me..."
Those three words were Kabato's last words before the light in
his eyes dimmed... It grew dimmer and dimmer, and it finally vanished
when his eyes shut closed.
Kurama held Kabato's body close to him, hugging his father for
the very first time in his life.
"Tousan... I forgive... I forgive you... I don't hate you
now..." cried out Kurama and wrapped his arms around the still body,
knowing that Kabato would not be able to hear him. "Tousan..."
Kurama hugged his father for the first and the last time.
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Copyright reserved 1998 W. Siew Lee
All standard Yu Yu Hakusho disclaimers apply to this fanfic.
E-mail: Siew Lee [wsiewlee@tm.net.my]
URL: http://members.xoom.com/hiei
UIN: #14025577
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