Hiei's Harem - Pt. 2 - Maintaining

Scene 15 ------------- Human World


* As soon as Yusuke comes through the portal he uses his senses to see how afr ahead of him the black blur has gotten. When he realizes that he is nearly to Genkai's Shrine he turns and hurries into the warded forest that is a shorter distance. He hasn't made it far though until a familiar voice stops him.


Bardock- Uhhmm.. Bardock smells dinner.. Yes?


* Yusuke calmly turns to sneer at the large bat demon that's hanging on a high tree limb to his left. The demon immediately recognizes Yusuke.


Yusuke- Oh, do you now?

Bardock- Ack! No..! No, Bardock has a cold..! No smell nothing!


* The bat demon squawks and flies away as quickly as he can.


Yusuke- Che, I didn't think so.


* Yusuke continues the shortcut unhampered, keeping his aura flared to insure this. Just as he nears the temple he watches the black blur fly past Yukina who was sweeping the back porch. Yusuke races up onto the porch and the short Ice maiden looks up at with a smile.


Yukina- Hiei has come for Kazuma's birthday..?

Yusuke- Not hardly.. Where is Kuwa?

Yukina- He's in the kitchen.. He just brought the cake for the party.. Is something wrong?

Yusuke- Just stay out here.


* Yusuke hurries past her. Just as he skids into the hallway that leads to the kitchen Hiei slams the door shut with his jagan's telekinetic strength.


Yusuke- Hiei, stop..!


* Yusuke tries to jiggle the door open, then punches it knowing that even his spirit level is no match for Hiei's full strength. Inside, Kuwabara feels the energy behind him and turns from placing the cake in the refrigerator. The redhead quickly looks away and raises an arm to shield his eyes when he sees the jagan is wide open and unguarded.


Kuwabara- Your eye is showing!

Hiei- Your stupidity is showing!


* Kuwabara crosses his arms, sighs boredly, and glances toward the door where Yusuke continues yelling and pounding for entrance.


Yusuke- Hiei, there's a better way to do this, d--- it!- Drop your f---ing energy!

Kuwabara- Yusuke, mind your mouth!


* Kuwabara turns his attention back to the seething Fire demon.


Kuwabara- Alright. What did I do now? Didn't know it was a crime for me to have a birthday.

Hiei- You've had too many, in my opinion.. But this is too far..


* Hiei shows him the velvet box then slams it down on the kitchen table. The redhead looks back toward the door excitedly.


Kuwabara- Oh, hey! Is that the ring, Yusuke?!

Yusuke- Yeah! Let me in, you little..!


* Hiei keeps his glare on the big redhead, ignoring Yusuke's threats.


Hiei- You can't have her.


* When Hiei's words register Kuwabara forgets the jagan. He turns to look fully down at the Koorime. Meanwhile Yusuke doesn't notice that Yukina has come up behind him curiously.


Kuwabara- Excuse me?

Hiei- You're so d--- lucky that my jagan is concentrating on keep ing that door shut.. Or I would use it to handle this much differently.


* Now Kuwabara scowls and crosses his arms.


Kuwabara- I knew it! I knew there was something between you and Yukina..

Hiei- Shut your mouth and listen, Fool, because I'm only going to say this once! You-cannot- mate- Yukina.

Yusuke- Hiei,.. I'll tell him the truth, I swear!

Hiei- In order for you to mate her you would need permission.

Kuwabara- From you?!

Hiei- From her Father, you idiot! Have you forgotten your honor?

Yusuke- Or her only brother!


* Kuwabara raises a hand to rub his forehead. Yusuke growls. Yukina begins to get the idea and starts to scowl.


Kuwabara- Oh man.. You mean she wouldn't accept my proposal unless..?


* Yukina has heard enough. She uses a burst of her own energy as she shoves Yusuke aside and grasps the doorknob. The jagan recognizes her and quickly withdraws its energy before Hiei can compensate. The short Ice maiden walks boldly into the room to stand between Hiei and Kuwabara.


Yukina- Unless you give him your permission, Hiei.


* Hiei freezes then looks at her wide-eyed. Yusuke enters carefully, feeling the unusual energy that's swirling off of Yukina. Having never seen her this upset, neither Yusuke nor Kuwabara know how to react.


Yusuke- Yukina?


* Yukina motions to Hiei's still-open jagan.


Yukina- Close it.. Now.


* Hiei gathers himself and looks away quickly, closing his jagan. yukina moves closer to him.


Yukina- I only have a couple of things to say to you,.. brother.


* Kuwabara 'eeps' then his eye begins to twitch as he pales. Yusuke chokes then raises a hand to cover his eyes.


Yukina- First of all, how dare you think me to be so stupid?!


* Hiei actually takes a step back away from her.


Yukina- I'm as much a demon as you are. I gave you every opportunity.. Used every ounce of patience I had in me.. I even prayed that you would.. accept me..


Kuwabara- B-brother?

Yukina- And second, how dare you storm in here now and attempt to ruin my happiness?!

Hiei- Yu-,..

Yukina- Shut up! I don't have a Father.. And I never had a brother..!


* Yusuke and Kuwabara both flinch when Yukina actually slaps Hiei. She blinks to hold back her imminent tears.


Yukina- This is my life.. And my decision! Stay out of this just as you've always stayed out of my life!


* Yusuke is still dumbfounded when Hiei quietly backs away then slips out of the room past him. Yukina lowers her eyes and raises her hands to cover them. Kuwabara slowly recovers and moves to embrace her from behind.


Kuwabara- Yukina,.. Hiei.. is your..?

Yukina- You heard me, Kazuma.. I-I don't..


* Her voice breaks and she turns to bury his face against his stomach. Kuwabara looks at Yusuke.


Kuwabara- You knew?!

Yusuke- Uhh.. Yeah.. I also know the real reason why Hiei never approached you, Yukina..

Yukina- I know.. why.. I remind him of those..

Yusuke- No. To my knowledge, he never held that against you.


* Yukina wipes her face on Kuwabara's shirt, then turns to look at Yusuke.


Kuwabara- Perhaps you'd better spill it, Yusuke.. If she continues crying I'm gonna use my sword on something.

Yusuke- We better sit down.. This might take a while.


* Yukina moves to sit at the table. She stares at the small box nearly the whole time as Yusuke explains what he knows about Hiei's reasons for never approaching her. When he falls silent once again Yukina looks at him.


Yukina- If he only wishes to.. protect me.. As you say.. Then why would he prevent my happiness if I choose to accept..?

Yusuke- Think, Yukina. You're a demon.. Kuwabara is a human.

Yukina- A very strong, kind human.. Does Hiei still hate them?


* Kuwabara is too busy digesting everything he's heard to preen at her words.


Yusuke- Kuwa may be strong, but he's still.. human.


* Yukina looks at Yusuke again.


Yusuke- Yukina, demons mate for life.. Don't you know this?

Yukina- Well of course I know that.

Yusuke- Humans only live what? Eighty, ninty years?


* Now Kuwabara snaps out of hs stupor.


Kuwabara- I've heard of humans that have lived to be over a hundred.. Rarely..


* Yukina lowers her eyes a moment, then looks at Kuwabara.


Yukina- Rarely?

Kuwabara- If this is bad news, Yusuke, then it must mean that.. I won't live to her lifespan like I thought?

Yusuke- No. Because Yukina is a female, from what I understand, she'll die when you do.


* Kuwabara looks down at his hands that are folded on the table.


Kuwabara- I see.. And with the dangerous stuff we still do for Koenma now and then..

Yusuke- Yeah.. Especially you.


* Yukina gathers herself and sits up straighter.


Yukina- It's still my decision.


* She reaches for the box, but Kuwabara snatches it up first.


Yukina- Kazuma,..

Kuwabara- Please listen to me, Yukina. I love you.. You know that I do.

Yukina- Yes. To me, that is worth a hundred of my lifetimes.

Kuwabara- Hear me out..


* Yusuke begins to feel as if he's intruding so he strats to stand.


Kuwabara- Sit down, Yusuke.

Yusuke- I can wait out on the..

Kuwabara- No, I want you here.. Please.


* Kuwabara looks back at Yukina when Yusuke settles back down into the chair.


Kuwabara- I want you to keep this ring.. I do want it to represent what I feel for you. What I've always felt for you.. But I won't allow you to mate with me.


* Yukina looks up at him.


Kuwabara- It's against my personal policy, but when something I believe in endangers someone else's life.. My policy goes out the window.

Yukina- What are you saying, Kazuma?

Kuwabara- I love you.. You're my life.. I want to be with you.. But I won't allow you to do the.. Well, whatever it is that demons do to bind themselves to each other.


* Yukina screws her eyebrows, then looks at Yusuke.


Yusuke- I think he's saying that he just wants to shack up with you.

Yukina- Shack.. up?

Yusuke- Live here with you.. Be boyfriend/girlfriend.. with benefits.


* Kuwabara rolls his eyes, blushing as red as his hair.


Kuwabara- You make it sound sleazy, Urameshi.

Yusuke- Well, h---, that's what Keiko and I call it.


* Yusuke shrugs.


Yukina- Let me get this straight..


* She looks back up at Kuwabara.


Yukina- You want to.. act like we're mates.. But you don't want me to mark you..

Kuwabara- (Mumbled) Yes. Something like that.

Yukina- I.. I'm not.. sure..

Kuwabara- It's your decision, Babe.. I won't force you to accept it like that.. But I still want us to always be friends, at least.


* Yukina rubs her temples.


Yukina- I'll have to.. think about this.


* She gasps suddenly and looks back at Yusuke.


Yukina- You have to go find Hiei!

Yusuke- His energy is long gone.. He's probably halfway back to Alaric already.. I don't really mean to make you feel bad, Yukina. But that was always the way he thought you would react if you.. ever found out.

Yukina- Oh no.

Yusuke- Give him time.. I don't think he'll be able to go very long without checking on you.. If he doesn't show up in a few days I'll storm Alaric and drag him back here.

Yukina- Very well.. Now, I need to go rest.. I've got a terrible headache. I haven't used that much energy in years.


* Yukina stands, takes the box from Kuwabara, gives him a slight smile, then leaves. Kuwabara looks at Yusuke.


Kuwabara- (Quietly) If she can't do that.. I'll die alone.

Yusuke- Cross that bridge when you come to it, Buddy.


* Yusuke stands, grasps his friend's shoulder a moment, then leaves.


Kuwabara- Happy birthday to me.


* Kuwabara moves to continue putting the groceries away.

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Okay. I've decided to cut this sequel off here. I'll return in a day or so with the next installment. HH - Returning. It's a long trek back to his ravine. Something happens along the way. And, how will he find the ravine when he returns? See you there to find out ;o)