Shared Traumas

LK: *cries* I finished a chapter!
Hisoka: Isn’t that good thing?
LK: *sniffles* Of course it is.
Hisoka: Then why are you crying?
LK: ‘Cause I’m happy.
Hisoka: -_-;

XXX

Shizuru sat on the couch in silence, an occasional sigh escaping her as she channel surfed. This was her brooding spot, the TV there for background noises while she thought.

Ever since their parents had died in the accident she had tried to do all she could for her little brother. Not able to finish school herself and taking several odd jobs to support them. She’d had so many hopes and dreams for her brat of a brother. Visions of him graduating from High School, getting into a good college…Kuwabara was smart he just didn’t show it very often.

As her thumb continued to press the channel button her thoughts took a different turn. She remembered when Shi first came to her…she’d still been a child then and her Great Grandfather had invited them to live in Spirit World with him. They were part deity so it was their birthright and he’d wanted to take care of them. Still being angry over the loss of her parents she’d thrown his offer and love back in his face almost bodily throwing him out of their apartment.

It wasn’t until a few years later that she discovered Shi had helped her anyway, paying some of her expenses and setting up bank accounts here and there for both children. Evidently immortals tended to collect wealth over the millennia.

Shizuru’s anger had lessened by then and she had called out to him and he appeared, looking wary, afraid that she might try to beat him up again. But was rather surprised when she bowed and thanked him. Since then Shi had helped them from the background, protecting them and loving them. And she remembered the times that he had embraced her…the way her parents used to and it made her regret not sharing Shi with Kazuma. But Shi had wanted it that way, at that time anyway.

Kazuma…

She smiled. If things progressed any further there was no doubt that Kazuma would choose to keep his immortality as she had. He and Koenma made an interesting pair if nothing else.

xxx

Yusuke sat at the counter, quiet for once, beside Keiko eating the food she had fixed with slow and inattentive movements.

“Yusuke, you don’t have to eat it if you don’t want to.” Keiko said quietly.

The young man choked, sputtered, and finally relearned how to breathe. “It’s not that Keiko…the foods great, I just have a lot on my mind right now.” He sighed. “Things just keep getting more complicated.”

Keiko nodded. “Are you still worried about Kuwabara?”

“Yeah.”

She closed her eyes and leaned against Yusuke, her head resting on his shoulder. “Will he be okay?”

“He’s hangin’ out with Koenma…bonding and crap…but it’s not just Kuwabara I’m worried about.”

“What else is wrong?”

Yusuke sighed. “No clue. But Koenma is a god, well half god and he’s sick…how can an immortal get sick?”

“I don’t know Yusuke. Does Botan know anything? Or Shizuru?”

“I think Shizuru suspects something. As for Botan, if she knows anything she’s not telling. Kurama said that when Hiei tried to bully information out of her she threatened to drop his ass through a portal to the North Pole.” The last sentence ended in a snicker.

Keiko rolled her eyes and elbowed him softly. “Language Yusuke, my parents are just upstairs.”

Yusuke grunted in response, resisting the urge to rub his ribs. “We’re fine, your parents love me…God knows why…” He smiled and put his arm around her. “Maybe we should go back to my place…Mom’s probably not home.”

“Pervert.” Keiko murmured her voice empty of any real anger.

“Can’t blame a guy for tryin’.” Yusuke laughed and pulled her closer. “I just don’t know how to help them…if they were being threatened or whatever I could just go kick some ass and make it all better ya know?”

“I know. Is that why you’re standing back to let them help themselves?”

“What other choice do I have Keiko? Neither one wants to let anyone else in on their secrets…”

“Just be there for them when they’re ready to open up Yusuke.”

Yusuke nodded in agreement. “You can count on it.”

Keiko smiled and slipped her arm around his waist. “Me too, I’ll be here for them too.”

xxx

A knock at the door brought Shizuru out of her musings and recollections. She blinked in surprise as recognition settled at the feel of a familiar aura outside her apartment.

“Come on in Fox Boy!”

A moment later Kurama came into view as the door opened to reveal him to her eyes and not just her senses.

“You really should lock your door Shizuru. You never know who might show up.”

Shizuru waved off his concern. “I always know who’s coming.”

“Did you know I would be here?”

“Yep, I was just surprised that it took you this long to get here.” She smiled and motioned for him to sit down. “So, what’s on your mind Red?”

Kurama smiled and sat in a chair adjacent to Shizuru who was comfortable on the couch. “I was wondering if Hiei has been here.”

“Nope, haven’t felt him around at all.”

The fox sighed and smiled tiredly. “Then I fear he may have gone to pry information out of Botan again.”

“Then maybe you should see if Botan is okay.”

Kurama shook his head. “I don’t think we’ll need to worry about her for now…she threatened him when he tried to get answers from her before.”

Shizuru’s eyes widened. “Botan…threatened…Hiei?”

He nodded. “He may very well be in the Arctic by now.”

Shizuru choked and laughed until her eyes watered while Kurama chuckled.

“We’re gonna have to put her in some sort of witness protection program after this!” Shizuru continued her laughing and practically rolled off the couch, until she’d quieted down to a few giggles.

“Am I interrupting something?”

Kurama stood, rose whip in hand, ready to attack.

Shizuru controlled her giggling long enough to glance up at Shi who had just appeared in the remaining chair. “Hey Gramps.”

Kurama kept his eyes on Shi as he spoke. “You know this person Shizuru?”

Shizuru climbed back on the couch and smiled. “Don’t worry Kurama, Gramps is harmless.”

“Gramps…?” Kurama kept his weapon out, confused and unsure. The newcomer was not human that much he could tell.

Shizuru smiled. “Kurama, meet Shinigami. Shi meet Kurama.”

Kurama sat in his chair with a thud, green eyes wide and disbelieving. “Shizuru…why is the Angel of Death here?”

“Long story short he’s my Great Grandpa.”

“Oh…”

“Story time again?” Shi asked somewhat hopefully.

“Sure, just be more detailed this time around.”

Shi nodded and grinned at Kurama. “Guess I’ll start from the beginning then.”

xxx


Botan ran as fast as she could, her feet making small patting noises as they hit the stone floor in her rush. She forced herself to keep going, not daring to look over her shoulder, knowing that her pursuer was only a step behind her and it would take little effort on his part to catch her.

But as she ran she saw a window and made a beeline for it…luckily it was ancient and open with no glass to block it. Unfortunately her pursuer caught on to her thoughts and made an attempt to move between her and the window to block her escape. And he would have made it too…if Botan weren’t desperate and very handy with a particular wooden object. As fast as she could the Ferry Girl whipped her Oar out of subspace where she kept it and proceeded to swing at her opponent. Luck seemed to be on her side as he was caught off guard, surprised that she would actually attack him. HIM of all people, and in his shock he was hit, harder than he thought possible and staggered a bit, his arm flying to his ribs. Had the woman actually cracked them?

Using the precious seconds she had while he was in shock Botan jumped out the open window, oar in hand, managing to situate herself on it and fly away. She’d made it, there was no way he’d catch her now. He was fast, but he couldn’t fly and here in Spirit World she had the advantage.

Hiei glared at the departing pink figure of Botan as she flew away and cursed to himself. The Woman was far craftier than he imagined…and swung a mean oar as well. He felt his ribs again, and though they were sore no real damage had been done.

He moved closer to the window, Botan all but invisible, even to his keen eyes. A smirk appeared on his face, a fang peeking out from behind his lips. The woman had assumed he was going to force information out of her, oh how wrong she was. Botan had a lot to learn about him. He was seeking something other than whatever information she held about their comrades.

She had impressed in greatly in her loyalty to their friends and had earned some of his respect. And her escape just now had deepened his growing admiration. He wondered how long she could evade him, or even if she realized what he was doing. And his face split into a feral grin.

The Ferry Girl would never know what hit her.

xxx


Meanwhile King Enma sat on his throne, watching his son sleep beside the boy. A human physic, and while it irked him to no end that Shi had his hands tied, with no room to interfere…it was odd to see his whiny son wrapped in the embrace of Kuwabara Kazuma.

Almost as if he belonged there.

A small smile crossed the King of the Dead’s face for a moment as he remembered Koenma’s human mother with more than a little fondness. His son certainly took after his mother in appearance, though his cowardice was sometimes a nuisance. The boy had his good points and could stand up for what was right if he needed to.

Perhaps Shi was right. The boy deserved someone to call his own. Someone to keep him company after centuries of being alone.

Enma rubbed his temples where a headache was beginning to form. He’d almost forgotten about the baby. A child of horrible origins…he’d hoped that by taking it away some of Koenma’s pain would have been eased, not worsened by his actions. He did regret hurting his son, but he was proud that Koenma had survived all that had happened to him. And perhaps he would be justly rewarded for his valor with someone to call his own.

And then Enma began to wonder…just who was this boy that was so important to Shinigami. Who was this Kuwabara Kazuma that brought out such a fierce protectiveness that made even King Enma back away from him in alarm.

His eyes returned to the floating image before him of the two young men cuddled together on his son’s bed. And he smiled.

XXX

A/N: Gomen! Bad things seem to keep happening! ;_; I’m in school again so homework occupies a bit of my time, even though I only have two classes. But there’s also the housework that I do to help Mom out, and my sisters to help take care of. And more importantly Mom has surgery on Halloween…her remaining ovary has grown to an immense size and will have to be removed. We won’t know until it’s taken out if it’s cancerous or not. *sighs* And Dad is in Iraq while all this is going to happen. ;_; Life sucks. But I’ll do my best to get another chapter out, one with a little more Koenma/Kuwa stuff in it. ^^;