Embrace the Darkness

Disclaimer: Why do I even bother? Let's just put it this way: If I owned Yu Yu Hakusho, I wouldn't be writing fanfictions...

The next time the Goddess arrived with their meager rations, Youko began moving toward it with his usual vigor, only to be quickly halted by Shuuichi.

'Youko!' the human scolded. 'It was your idea to listen to her deal. If you start eating, she'll leave, and we'll lose our chance to tell her our decision.'

Muttering curses under his breath, the demon yanked his eyes away from the meal, only to find that the Goddess was already at the door. Reluctantly, Youko realized that Shuuichi had been correct.

"Goddess." She looked back over her shoulder.

"I-" He stopped, the corrected himself. "We have decided that we will listen to your proposed bargain. However, we make no promises as to whether or not we will accept."

The Goddess looked exceptionally pleased. "Marvelous!" she exclaimed, turning completely and shutting the door behind her. Her gaze fell on the untouched dishes, and caught Youko's longing glances at them.

"By all means, eat first," she said, with a surprisingly musical laugh. "I'll wait."

Youko shot her an incredibly grateful look and attacked the food, devouring it in what had to be record time. When he had finished, the Goddess eyed him carefully.

"Have you had enough to eat?" she asked. Stunned, Youko nodded without thinking.

"Good." She clapped her hands, and a low-class demon hurried into the room. A gesture from thddesddess, and the demon gathered up the empty dishes and dashed out.

"Now, about our deal." Youko settled cross-legged on the floor.

"I'm listening."

"I propose that in return for food, lodging, anything you desire that is within my power to obtain, you will do as I bid, how I bid it, when I bid it, no questions asked."

Youko nodded slowly, considering this. "That sounds agreeable."

The Goddess smiled, but there was an air of uneasiness about her. "I'm glad you think so, but I should warn you: there is one task you must agree to perform before I can allow you to accept this offer."

Youko's brow furrowed in cautious interest, and, for the first time throughout the entire meeting, Shuuichi appeared as well.

"If you are to accept the position I am offering you, you must agree to kill the remaining members of the Reikai Tantei."

Shuuichi's response was immediate and intense. "No! Never!"

The Goddess winced. "I thought that would be your reaction," she mused sadly, turning away from them. "However, I will give you the night to consider it. Think it over carefully. I will return in the morning for your answer."

As the door closed behind her, Shuuichi's non-corporeal form rushed at it, shouting angrily.

"We don't need to consider it!" he thundered. "The answer is 'No', and it will remain 'No'!"

'Shuuichi, stop it!' Youko snapped. 'She can't hear you through the door. No one can hear you.'

The human rounded on him aly. ly. 'You can.'

Youko's eyes narrowed. 'What's that supposed to mean?' he growled.

Shuuichi stomped towards him as well as someone without a tangible body can stomp. 'We're mind-linked, remember? I know what you're thinking, and I know that you're seriously considering agreeing to her proposition!'

Instead of the apology Shuuichi had expected this accusation to wring out of Youko, the demon only snorted. 'And why shouldn't I be?'

Shuuichi gasped. 'Because we would be murdering our teammates to save ourselves! Such petty selfishness...There are no words to describe how wrong that would be!'

Youko rolled his eyes. 'Save the drama, Shuuichi. Whether or not we agree to kill them, they will die. The Goddess of Darkness will make sure of that.'

Shuuichi frowned. 'They do not deserve to die at the hands of a friend.'

Youko sighed, mentally settling in for what he knew would be a long and tedious argument. 'Shuuichi, the only reason I want to accept this is to keep you alive.'

Shuuichi, who had drawn in a deep breath and opened his mouth in preparation to deliver a heartfelt retort to what he thought would be a cold comment from Youko, snapped his jaws together again. 'What?'

'The Goddess was correct in her assessment of you, Shuuichi. Your kind of soul is incredibly rare. Anything I can do to preserve your gentle heart, I will.'

Shuuichi was, quite literally, floored by this. He sat down quickly. 'But, Yusuke and Kuwabara-" he protested feebly.

'The Goddess of Darkness' powers of illusion are legendary. She can make their deaths the noblest in centuries. They will die, but their friends and loved ones will be comforted by pride in their noble deeds.' A thought occurred to Youko, one that he felt certain would make his human half see the good in the Goddess' offer.

'Shuuichi, we would be doing them a favor.' The human looked up, startled and confused.

'In the Ningenkai, a relationship between them would be frowned upon by society. They cannot love one another as they truly want to, for fear of ridicule or persecution by others. In death, in the Reikai, they could live as they wished, together, for all time.'

Shuuichi's emerald gaze spilled over with tears again, both for himself and for his friends, for he knew that he would soon be forced to either kill his comrades or kill himself. There was no way out.

Youko came and sat beside him. The two could not touch, could never comfort one another through caring embraces or gentle caresses, but the desire to do so was shared through their mental link, and that, for now, was enough.

Well, that's the new chapter!! Tell me what you think, guys!! If you read and review, I answer!! And, if you're reading this, and you like it, tell a friend!! Tell two friends!! I just like logging on and seeing that so many people are actually reading it...

ko-krama: My faithful friend!! I'm glad you like reviewing...That makes this a win-win situation!! ^_^ Well, Kurama seems to be agreeing to the deal...Keep reading!! (Don't you hate cliff-hangers?) This chapter got a little more mushy than I originally intended, but I think it turned out all right...What do you think?