Life Goes On

LOL, Thoth, this is getting fun with you. It's probably right under your nose. I do admit, though, I got a lot of things going in this one. But it's not over yet, lol. Oh, ande BTW, Thoth, your last review has given me my 100th review!! Thank you!!

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Scene 59 ------------------------------------------- Three Hours Later

* Kurama is just about to come out of the kitchen with Hiei's food tray when he hears Kasaba ask Yusuke a question in the livingroom.


Kasaba- Excuse me, Mr. Urameshi, sir?


* Yusuke glances at the red-headed boy from the couch where he is relaxing.


Yusuke- Will you please just call me Yusuke,.. kid?


* Kasaba gives him a smirk that makes him look away again.


Yusuke- What do you want, Kasaba?

Kasaba- Why do Ichy and Jiro call me Imiko?


* Yusuke looks back up at Kasaba a moment, then sighs and sits up to rub his neck. Kurama stays back just out of sight listening.


Yusuke- Why don't you ask them?

Kasaba- I do. They just say 'Because that's who I am'.. But my name is Kasaba.

Yusuke- Well,..

Kasaba- What does Imiko mean?


* Feeling that Yusuke is at a loss for words, Kurama comes on out into the livingroom. He sets the tray on the desk and goes over to stroke the little boy's red hair.


Kurama- Kasaba, this is something that you need to talk about with someone else.. But right now, he's very sick.


* Kasaba looks up at Kurama.


Kasaba- You mean Uncle Hiei?


* Kurama hesitates a couple beats, then nods.


Kurama- Yes.

Kasaba- He'll be okay, won't he? Aunt Yukina says she comes up to help him.

Kurama- Yes, she does.. I'm sure he'll be fine.. It'll just take time.


* Kurama glances a sad smile toward Yusuke.


Kasaba- Can I see Uncle Hiei?


* Hesitantly, Kurama motions for the boy to follow him. He retrieves the tray then leads the way to Hiei's room. When they enter Yukina is sitting on the edge of the bed with her eyes closed and a hand on Hiei's chest, concentrating on an energy-sharing session. It must be the first time Kasaba has witnessed this as he moves to hug Kurama's leg.


Kasaba- Uncle 'Rama, I know that this is an odd family,.. but why is Aunt Yukina glowing?


* Yukina relaxes, then turns to look at the boy.


Yukina- Kasaba, we're not odd.. We're demons. I explained this to you. Remember?


* Kasaba hurries over and Hiei watches the boy climb up into her lap. Kurama moves to set the tray of food on the sidetable.


Kasaba- I remember.. Uncle 'Rama says I have questions that only Uncle Hiei can answer.


* Kasaba turns his red eyes on Hiei.


Hiei- Questions?


* Kasaba watches Hiei glance a brief scowl up at the kitsune. Yukina glances at Hiei when the boy leans yo hide his face against her. Hiei feels the strong family connection that still exists between him and the boy, now that they're in such close contact. He looks back toward him.


Kurama- You can't avoid this forever, love.


* After a couple moments, Hiei struggles up into an upright position. He speaks before really thinking about his words.


Hiei- What is your question, Imiko?


* Hiei almost regrets the slip when he feels Kurama's tensing reaction. Kasaba turns to stare at him.


Kasaba- You call me that, too? - So do Ichy and Jiro.. Why do you call me that?! My name is Kasaba.. Auntie Shizuru named me that..!

Hiei- But that's not your original name, boy.

Kurama- Hiei,..


* Hiei motions for Kasaba to come sit in his lap. The boy obeys almost immediately.


Yukina- You don't need to be afraid of him, Sabie.

Hiei- Of course I won't hurt him.. I need to speak with him privately.


* Kurama scowls, but Yukina begins toward the door without argument. Hiei feels the kitsune's pout and embraces Kasaba as he looks up at Kurama.


Hiei- It was your suggestion not to avoid this any longer, Fox.. We can finish our.. business later.. I need to do this while I have some strength.


* Kurama growls quietly as his tail twitches, but he knows Hiei's words are true so he leaves pulling the door shut behind him. Hiei shakes his head.


Hiei- D--- horny fox.


* Kasaba gets his attention back when he gives a snorting giggle.


Kasaba- You're bad.

Hiei- Yeah. So?


* Kasaba, now that he's in Hiei's arms, can't help but snuggle closer to him. When he realizes this he looks back up at Hiei puzzled.


Kasaba- Why.. does this feel so.. familiar, so.. right?

Hiei- Right?

Kasaba- Being in your arms.. like this..


* The boy's intelligence doesn't surprise Hiei much, since he knows the truth of his origins.


Hiei- I want you to do something for me, boy.

Kasaba- Okay.


* Hiei raises one of his hands to nip his thumb with a sharp fang. He then offers the thumb to Kasaba.


Kasaba- You want me to taste your blood, too?

Hiei- Too?

Kasaba- A few days ago Ichy and Jiro said they wanted to play a game.. They said all demons play it, so I agreed.. They each bit me.. But it didn't hurt that bad, though..

Hiei- Hn.. It's a demon instinct..

Kasaba- Well, as soon as they bit me they both called me that name.. Imiko..

Hiei- Then what?

Kasaba- Then they asked me to bite them..

Hiei- Did you?


* Kasaba lowers his eyes as he nods.


Kasaba- Their.. blood.. Well, it tasted..


* Hiei watches the boy timidly grasp his hand and lap tentatively at the thumb. For a couple moments, the silence is heavy. Then Kasaba looks up at Hiei.


Kasaba- Why? It's like I should.. know you.. I've seen someone just like you in my dreams..


* Hiei feels the boy starting to panic and embraces him a little tighter.


Hiei- Shh, Imiko.. Don't be afraid..

Kasaba- Why does you blood taste like mine?

Hiei- Because it should.. Calm down and I will tell you who you are,.. son..


* Kasaba looks up again to lock his red eyes in Hiei's matching ones. The gaze never falters as the koorime explains to him who he is and where he came from.


Hiei- Before you were born, a very bad man caught four guys and did.. terrible things to them.

Kasaba- Who were these four guys?

Hiei- Your uncles Yusuke and Kurama,.. myself,.. and a human named Kazuma Kuwabara.

Kasaba- Hey, that's Auntie Shizuru's last name.. and mine..


* Hiei nods.


Hiei- Her brother.. was your true father..

Kasaba- A human.

Hiei- Hn.. He is where you get your hair,.. your looks,.. nearly everything about you..

Kasaba- So that's why Auntie Shizuru would call me a halfbreed when I would do bad things.


* Hiei scowls. Kasaba's special senses catch his displeasure quickly.


Kasaba- Oh no, she never meant it to hurt me.. She'd always.. giggle when she teased me that way.. I really loved Auntie Shizuru.. I still miss her.. Why did those demons have to kill her?

Hiei- Not all demons are good. You might as well learn that now, son.


* Kasaba scrunches his brow.


Kasaba- Are you my real.. mother? I know demon guys can have babies.. Uncle 'Rama is Yu, Rai, Kaz, and Rose's mother.

Hiei- Yes, this is correct.. I am Ichiro and Jiro's mother..


* Kasaba nods.


Kasaba- Okay.

Hiei- But I am not your mother.. I am your grandfather.. My son.. Sabaktu was.. forced to have you by that bad man I mentioned..


* Now Kasaba lowers his eyes for the first time as he considers Hiei's words.


Kasaba- (Quietly) Forced.. That's not.. good.. S-so I wasn't.. wanted..

Hiei- Imiko, listen to me before you go getting all sad..


* Kasaba looks back up at Hiei. The koorime feels his energy draining, but fights off the weariness.


Hiei- Just because.. you were forced.. into existance.. doesn't mean.. that your mother rejected you.. There's much more that.. you need to know about him.. But my energy is nearly.. spent again..

Kasaba- Is that why Anut Yukina was glowing?

Hiei- Hn.. I was wounded while.. protecting your Uncle Yusuke.. This injury will keep me.. weak.. for a long time..


* Kasaba nods.


Kasaba- I can.. feel.. that you're getting sleepy,.. Grandfather.


* Hearing the boy call him this for the first time clenches Hiei's heart.


Kasaba- I do want to know more, though.. Is Imiko my real name then? Where is my mother..?

Hiei- We will.. have a lot more talks.. now that you know who I am.. But for now,.. Yes, Imiko is the name that was.. pronounced on you.. at birth.. As for your m-mother.. My son, Sabaktu.. died.. shortly after giving birth to you..


* Kasaba scowls sadly.


Kasaba- Because of me?

Hiei- No. The cause.. had nothing to do.. with you..


* Hiei struggles to keep his eyes open as he speaks, but they open wider when Kasaba raises up onto his knees and hugs his neck.


Kasaba- You need to rest.. I'll be back for more when you're all better.

Hiei- Hn.. You are welcome in to see me.. anytime, son..


* Kasaba nods and crawls back off of Hiei's lap so he can lay back. The boy watches Hiei snuggle under the blanket, then leaves. His mind considers everything he's learned as he makes his way back towards the livingroom.