Time Heals all Wounds

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving with lots of great food. Unfortunately I did, which means I’ve probably gained back at least five of the twenty pounds I managed to lose recently. LOL Oh well, I’ll have a whole month until Christmas to try and lose it back.

Since Thanksgiving was at my house as usual, I’ve been busy getting ready so I couldn’t get to write until it was over. Then of course I went shopping, with the exception of Batman - Arkham City which hasn’t come out yet, I’m done. So I didn’t start this chapter until last night. I’m glad I managed to get it up before I have to go to work tomorrow.

I hope you like this. As usual I try to be unique and this story sure fits that as you’ll see by the end of the chapter. Thanks to everyone who provided me with names for the king. There were so many great names to chose from, but in the end I went with a couple that KyoHana provided. The meaning behind one of them worked just perfect. Please leave me a review and let me know what you think. Enjoy.

Chapter 6

In the morning, as the maid cleared their breakfast dishes from the patio table, Kurama thought about his upcoming confrontation with his father. The father he had always loved, yet feared might be trying to kill him. Rising from the table, Kurama went to where Hiei stood at the edge of the balcony looking out over the garden. From behind, the Youko wrapped his arms around the fire demon’s waist and nuzzled his neck. “Thank you for being here with me Dragon.”

Reaching a hand up to caress the long silver hair streaming over his shoulder, Hiei grunted. “Hn. Where else would I be Fox?”

Watching someone in the garden, Hiei nodded. “Kurama, is that the Youko that takes care of the plants?”

Lifting his head, Kurama scrutinized the demon below. As the silver Youko walked down the path that led around the corner to the main garden, the plants seemed to reach for him, just as they did for Kurama. Behind him, Hiei felt his lover stiffen and whisper. “Inari, what is he doing here?”

Hiei didn’t even get to turn and question him before Kurama vaulted the railing and dropped twenty feet to the ground. Quick to follow his lover, Hiei landed on the path just as Kurama turned the corner after the other Youko. Angry that Kurama would be so reckless, Hiei flitted after him. He caught up with his fox just as he called to the other Youko. “Aki!”

When the one Kurama called Aki turned there was instant recognition on his face. “Prince Yoko, I heard you had returned.”

Kurama frowned. “Since when do you address me so formally?”

Aki shook his head. “I’m not a kit any more. I didn’t think Uncle Yoko was appropriate.”

With a sigh Kurama moved forward and held out his arms. “I was there the day you were born Kit, I think familiarity will always be appropriate between us.”

With a little smile Aki went into Kurama’s arms for a hug. “Welcome home Uncle Yoko. I’ve missed you.”

There was a look in Kurama’s eyes Hiei didn’t quite understand as his lover pulled back to stroke Aki’s face and hair almost lovingly. “As I have missed you Kit. How is your mother?”

Even though Hiei had noticed that most Youko were affectionate and touched each other often, Kurama’s reaction to Aki seemed different. “She’s well. She asked if I’d seen you yet.”

As he responded, Kurama’s expression grew more serious. “I’ll be going to see her soon. Now what about you? Am I to understand that it is you that has managed improved my security and make my mother’s garden so beautiful?”

At the praise, Aki’s smile grew. “Guilty as charged.”

When Kurama frowned, Hiei saw real concern in his eyes. “How did this happen Aki? How did you meet my father and gain his confidence enough to be entrusted with security and the garden.”

As he stepped from Kurama’s arms, Aki’s smile faded for a moment. “After you left Uncle Kurama, I started hearing rumors that the king had let the garden fall into ruin. Remembering it’s magnificence when you would bring me here for lessons when I was a kit I just couldn’t stand by and allow that to happen. I began sneaking in to tend to the plants.”

The brow rose over one golden eye. “You managed to get past my security?”

At Kurama’s doubt Aki grinned. “Remember, I was trained by the master of plant manipulation. I had been coming for several months when one day I was caught by none other than the king himself. When I told him I had done it out of respect for the late queen, I think it shocked him. I think he had forgotten that it was the queen’s garden and had let it go to punish you for leaving.”

Again Kurama seemed overly concerned to Hiei. “Aki, did you tell my father about our relationship?”

Not thinking anything of the question, Aki shook his head. “Only that you had helped train me, just as you had so many of us with plant manipulating powers. Since you used to sneak me in here as a kit, I didn’t think he knew you were my godfather.”

As Kurama nodded and thought about this new information he suddenly noticed Hiei beside him. “Inari Hiei. I’m sorry, I should have introduced you. Hiei this is Aki. Aki this is Hiei.”

Aki bowed respectfully. “It’s a pleasure King Hiei.”

Uncomfortable with the formal title, Hiei grunted. “Hn. Hiei’s fine.”

Before Aki could respond, both he and Kurama suddenly cried out as if in pain, then turned and ran into the garden. Once again Hiei was flitting after his lover. He caught up with them at the old tree they had sat in the previous day. Looking up he could see them both clinging to the trunk way up in the branches. In fact, they were at the juncture to the very branch they had sat on.

As Kurama spoke Hiei could hear the pain in his voice. “Help me Aki! The branch is almost severed!”

For several minutes Hiei could feel their energy concentrated on healing the old tree. When they finally descended to the ground, Hiei could tell it was reluctantly. Even after they were on the ground both Youko kept hands on the tree’s trunk. This time when Kurama spoke the pain in his voice was emotional not physical. “Damn it Hiei, someone severed that branch intentionally! Who would hurt her like that? She’s just an old woman!”

As he answered, Hiei knew he was voicing the words Kurama was reluctant to believe. “Kurama, that’s the branch I found you on yesterday. If you hadn’t felt her pain, you could have been hurt if you’d sat on it again.”

Though he didn’t fully understand, Aki picked up on the seriousness of Hiei’s comment. “A non-plant manipulator wouldn’t know we’d feel the pain of the old woman being harmed.”

Hiei watched a mixture of emotions cross Kurama’s face, Aki however only saw anger. “Aki, stay with her, I need to talk with my father!”

Running beside his fox, Hiei didn’t say a word. On the terrace outside the library Kurama shoved the doors open causing them to bang against the walls. Stalking into the room, Kurama slammed his hands down on Mashiro’s desk and shouted at his father. “WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU! Don’t you know the harm a burn like that could do to that old woman! Make all the attempts on my life you want, but don’t you ever harm one of my mother’s pets again!”

Standing, Mashiro looked at him stunned. “What are you talking about Musuko? What attempts on your life and who hurt the old woman?”

When Mashiro came round the desk and tried to reach for him Kurama pulled away and continued shouting. “Don’t lie to me any more you sorry old man! You think I don’t know you want me dead! Well I’m here to tell you it will take a better demon than you to kill me! Your assassin Gungin failed all those years ago and you’ll fail now!”

With the aide of the Jagon telling him that the shock on Mashiro’s face was genuine, Hiei made the decision to let the Youko king deal with his son any way he saw fit. This time when he reached for Kurama and he pulled away, Mashiro didn’t take no for an answer. For an old Youko, Mashiro was still strong and agile. He proved that as furniture went flying and he wrestled Kurama to the ground.

When the guards heard the commotion and rushed to their king’s aide, Hiei ordered them away. Seeing it was their king pinning the prince down the guards left. “Now it’s YOU that will listen Kit! What the HELL are you talking about? Are you saying Gunny tried to kill you? What the hell is going on around here?”

Frustrated, Kurama struggled unsuccessfully to get free. “HIEI! Get him off me!”

Taking a seat on the sofa, Hiei put his feet up and got comfortable. “This is between you and your father Kurama. Now talk to him.”

Kurama growled at his lover before turning back to his father. “You know damn good and well what happened Father! You sent Gunny after me!”

Mashiro looked confused. “Yes, I sent him to try and bring you home.”

Glaring, Kurama spat his response. “Don’t lie to me any more! Gunny told me his orders all those years ago and last week at Alaric! He was to bring me home or kill me if I disobeyed!”

Stunned, Mashiro’s hold on Kurama slackened. Feeling this, Kurama shoved his father off and he sat up. Before he could stand though Hiei growled. “Damn it Kurama! Look at your father!”

Frowning, Kurama did as Hiei said. Beside him on the floor Mashiro looked like a defeated old man. Golden eyes that matched his own were full of pain as they looked at him sadly. “Inari, where have I failed that my beautiful kit could ever think that I could harm him? Yoko… Musuko… my son… I love you. You are all I have left of my beautiful Rose. I would rather die than hurt you. All I wanted was for you to stay with me, but your happiness is not here. Go, you are free.”

Stunned, Kurama just stared as his father turned away but made no attempt to rise from the floor. When Kurama looked at him, Hiei grunted. “Hn. Stupid Fox.”

Finally able to speak, Kurama whispered. “You didn’t know that Gunny was the one that shot me?”

Mashiro turned back. “Of course not! I would have killed him myself if I had. Hiei, I was angry when I heard you had killed him. Now I must thank you for avenging my son.”

Hiei scoffed. “I don’t kill without reason Mashiro. Why did you think I killed him then?”

Mashiro frowned. “Kin said it was an accident. A case of mistaken identity.”

Swinging his legs off the sofa, Hiei leaned forward. “Kin knew of Gungin’s previous attempt on Kurama’s life and the alleged orders to kill him now.”

Kurama looked at Hiei. “He found us on that branch of the old woman’s yesterday as well Hiei. I thought my father would be the only one that knew that’s where I used to sit to watch mother in the garden.”

Rising to pull Kurama up, Hiei nodded. “That just leaves last night’s poisoned champagne unexplained.”

With a growl, Mashiro stood. “You were poisoned too? What the hell is happening in my kingdom? Guard!”

At his bellow, a guard immediately rushed into the room. “Get me the head steward immediately!”

Not even a minute passed before a thin brown Youko hurried in to bow before his king. “Tell me who arranged the champagne for the toast last night!”

Confused the steward replied. “I did Your Majesty.”

Choosing his words carefully, the king asked. “Tell me where the champagne came from and how the glasses were filled and distributed.”

Still confused, the steward answered. “The cases were brought up from the cellar as you requested. Since there were so many people I had the servants fill the glasses and distribute them on trays.”

Hiei frowned. “We didn’t take ours from a tray. Someone handed the glasses to us.”

The steward nodded. “Yes King Hiei, that was me. There was a bottle marked especially for you and Prince Yoko. It didn’t say where it came from, but I recognized the label. A few months ago I overheard Ambassador Kin bragging that he’d received a case of the fine champagne as a gift. I assumed he’d had the bottle sent special for the occasion.”

After dismissing the steward, the king looked at Kurama. “Yoko…”

Before he could finish, Kurama stopped him. “No father, please. Can you forgive me for thinking it could be you?”

Relief washed over Mashiro’s face. “My Kit. With everything you’ve been through, how could I blame you?”

A moment later Kurama rushed into Mashiro’s arms. “I love you Papa.”

After returning the hug, Mashiro pulled back and Hiei saw him stroke Kurama’s face and hair in the same loving manner Kurama had done Aki’s. “I love you too Musuko. You know I would never harm the old woman, any more than I could hurt you, right? The day you were born Rose planted that tree. Your mother placed the seed in your tiny palm, then wrapped her hand around yours and used her energy to germinate the seed.”

Smiling at the story he had heard many times before, Kurama nodded. “She always said it was my first lesson.”

The two talked quietly for a few minutes before Mashiro turned to Hiei. “We need to decide what to do about Kin.”

Hiei growled. “There’s nothing to decide! I’m going to kill him for trying to hurt my Fox!”

Releasing his father, Kurama went to Hiei. “Not yet Dragon. There is some one I need to see first. Father, when I get back we need to talk. Then we’ll take care of Kin.”

Mashiro nodded. “We’ll handle this however you want Yoko. While you’re gone I’ll have someone tend the old woman. One of your former students tends the grounds and the garden. His name is Aki.”

With a nervous laugh, Kurama nodded. “Aki is already with her. We met him in the garden earlier. You couldn’t have found a better replacement in my absence.”

Mashiro smiled lovingly at his son. “No one could ever replace you Musuko. Now go, I will check on Aki and the old woman while you are gone.”

Kurama looked lost in thought as he watched his father disappear into the garden. Hiei wasn’t sure if he was amused or amazed when Kurama didn’t say a word, but slowly walked into the garden. Intrigued, Hiei followed. Just out of sight of Mashiro and Aki, Kurama hid behind one of the plants to watch them. Seemingly unbeknownst to Kurama, Hiei watched all three Youko.

The rapport between Mashiro and Aki was friendly and natural. Silently Hiei waited, but Kurama didn’t say or do anything. He just watched them. After a few minutes, Hiei whispered. “Kurama?”

Like someone snapping out of a trance, Kurama jumped and shook his head. “Hiei, I…uh…”

Though he was amused at Kurama’s confusion, Hiei whispered impatiently. “Tell me what the hell is going on Fox. I thought you wanted to go see some one.”

With a sigh, Kurama looked back at his father and Aki. “Remember when I told you that after I ran away the first time I came home for a while. I was here almost a hundred years that time. I’d been back almost fifty years when Aki was born. His mother Laurel is actually a distant cousin of my mother’s. Unofficially Laurel and I decided I would be Aki’s godfather.”

As he listened to Kurama’s story, Hiei already knew the ending. “Aki’s real name is Akihiko, the ‘bright shining prince’. Hiei, Aki is my son.”