Shared Traumas

LK: Muwahahaha! ^o^ My back is healed!

Kuwa: wha?

LK: ^o^ I got my second tattoo! And it’s completely healed! XD

Kuwa: o.O? Nani?

Hisoka: Such a pretty tattoo on such a kawaii neko-chan. *chuckles*

LK & Kuwa: eep!

Yusuke: *snickers* I like this guy.

Hisoka: *traces Yusuke’s jaw with one finger* Such a ripe young man.

Yusuke: O.O; *hides behind LK & Kuwa*

LK: XD Hisoka rules! *glomps Hisoka* Anyway, new chappy! ^o^

XXX


“Father gave me my child back.” Tears began to seep from the corners of Koenma’s golden eyes and his hands clutched Kuwabara’s arms like a lifeline. “Simply gave it back, no trouble at all.” He choked on his words and buried his face in the teen’s shirt. “And after a decade of mourning I get to have my baby… and I’m not sure if I’m ready for it.”

Kuwabara wrapped his arms around the sobbing prince, pulling him into his lap, a repeat of what Koenma had done for him several weeks ago. “Shh, it’s alright Koenma. It’ll be okay.” He held his fellow immortal with a newborn determination… Koenma had helped him, and his honor code would not allow him to leave his friend in need. “You’ll be a great Dad… err Mom… no, Parent! You’ll be an awesome parent, better than King Enma I bet.”

The youth continued to hold the prince until the sobs were reduced to hiccups, and then a somewhat tense silence. Still he continued to embrace the other, occasionally rubbing useless comforting circles on Koenma’s back. Finally, after what seemed like hours, though it probably wasn’t, Koenma pulled away from Kuwabara.

“Thank you Kazuma… It’s been a long day, otherwise I never would have broken down like that.” He smiled and looked up almost shyly at the younger boy. “Um… I think I’m okay now.” He slowly removed himself from Kuwabara’s lap, who relinquished his hold, but as he started to stand he lost his balance and stumbled. The Prince would have landed flat on his face if it weren’t for a pair of strong arms around his waist.

“I think you better take it easy for now, I’ll take you back to your room.” Without waiting for a response Kuwabara turned Koenma’s body enough to scoop him up and carry him back to the bedroom. Koenma was stunned for a second, but relaxed and rested his head on Kuwabara’s shoulder for the brief trip. As the youth started to put him down on the bed Koenma clutched the fabric of the boy’s shirt.

“Stay with me a while?” Koenma whispered half-afraid that the boy would decline.

Kuwabara smiled and held the Prince a little closer. “Sure thing Koenma.” He went ahead and placed Koenma on the large bed, kicked his shoes off, and climbed on the expansive mattress beside the other male.

Nervousness struck again. Though they had shared a bed before and only for sleeping, it was still new territory for both. They were only friends who needed a safe place to rest, what harm could it do?

Slowly Koenma came to reside in Kuwabara’s arms, his head tucked under the redhead’s chin; his thin body flush against the muscled form of the younger immortal. Strong arms encircled him in comfort once more and Koenma sighed in relief.

“Thank you Kazuma.”

“You’re welcome Koenma.”

xxx


Botan hummed happily to herself as she walked toward the break room, she was long due for a bite to eat and a soothing cup of green tea. And just as she was reaching her destination Hiei was behind her his hand on her shoulder. She sighed and turned to face the demon hybrid. “Can I help you Hiei?”

“We need to talk.” He motioned with a jerk of his head that she should follow him and he began to walk away. The ferry girl merely sighed in resignation and started in the direction he’d gone.

“I don’t know how much I can tell you Hiei.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“It does too matter Hiei, whatever is going on isn’t any of our business and you can’t make me tell you anything that doesn’t concern the rest of us.” Botan glared at the back of Hiei’s head as he continued to walk.

He gazed over his shoulder as he stopped and opened a door; grabbing her arm and pulling her inside a room. Unable to protest Botan allowed herself to be pulled into what appeared to be an empty office, and used the second it took Hiei to close and lock the door to gather up her wits.

“Listen Hiei you can’t just-“

But Hiei wasn’t listening as he advanced towards her, his ruby eyes smoldering. “Stop babbling Woman and tell me what’s going on.”

Botan backed away from the fire demon’s heated gaze, but held firm in her decision. “I’m not telling you anything Hiei, it’s not my place to.”

Hiei growled and stepped closer, forcing Botan back until she hit the desk in the center of the room. “Would you rather I read their minds with the Jagan… Or maybe I should use it on you?”

Pink eyes narrowed in anger and betrayal. “You even dare to do such a thing Hiei and I’ll open a portal and drop you right into the Arctic Ocean! And every time you find a portal into Reikai I’ll have it send you right back there!”

Hiei stood there not two feet away from the enraged Ferry Girl, surprised that she even had the guts to say such a thing to him. “You think you can?”

Botan took a step forward in her anger. “I can guarantee that I can open a portal faster than you can rip that bandage off your Jagan!”

Hiei looked up at Botan, the anger gone from his crimson orbs, which were now filled with something new… It was as if he had never really looked at her before. He nodded at her.

“Fine… what can you tell me?”

Botan continued to glare at him, his change in attitude making her wary. “Sensui hurt Koenma in the past… and he repeated the same thing with Kuwabara. So they share a common pain, and they’re reliving it together as part of the healing process.”

Again Hiei nodded. “But why is Koenma ill?”

Botan looked thoughtful at the question, the anger seeping out of her body. “I can’t say, it’s not my place to tell… But you can’t go around forcing answers out of people Hiei. Especially your friends, it’s wrong.”

Hiei snorted. “Fine.” And just like that he was gone, the door swinging open behind him.

Botan leaned heavily on the desk behind her… “Stupid youkai.” She sighed and decided to forego the snack and tea that she had been so intent on before… What she needed was a nap.

xxx

Hiei slipped quietly into the room through the partially open window, well aware that the only occupant of the space knew he was there. In fact said occupant watched in curiosity with a vibrant green gaze. And Hiei took a seat on the floor in front of the window, in case he was in need of a quick exit, not that he thought Kurama would attack him, at least not physically.

They sat in silence for a moment, Kurama mildly curious and Hiei indecisive. Finally Kurama’s curiosity got the better and the kitsune cleared his throat, just enough to let Hiei know that his patience was thinning bit by bit.

“Whatever Sensui did to Kuwabara he did the same to Koenma ten years ago. And they seem to be bonding over the experience…sharing their pain is part of their healing.” Hiei looked at Kurama and added quickly. “I tell you only what Botan told me, those were her words.”

“Botan?” Kurama gave a small chuckle of amusement. “You’re calling her by name now…I’m guessing she earned your respect?”

Hiei scowled, but it faded into smirk. “She threatened me.”

Kurama laughed outright then at the mental image of Botan brandishing her oar in tantrum against Hiei the forbidden child. “It would take something like that to impress you.”

“Hnn.” Hiei’s smirk returned to a scowl and he spoke in attempt to redirect the conversation away from him. “What do you think Sensui could have done to them both that would scar their emotions and minds so badly?”

Kurama managed to stifle his laughs and follow Hiei’s train of thought. “Any kind of prolonged torture could have damaging effects on a person. We don’t know if Sensui kept Koenma hostage for any length of time ten years ago, but he only had Kuwabara for a few hours…”

Hiei nodded. “You would think that would narrow the possibilities down some.”

“Perhaps, or perhaps not.”

Crimson eyes looked at the kitsune skeptically. “What?”

Kurama thought for moment and continued. “Sensui was a very unique individual, a master of manipulation. Whether he hurt them physically or just traumatized them mentally we may never know…Unless they decide to tell us.”

“You’re against my probing their minds with the Jagan then?”

Kurama sent his comrade a very hostile look. “I can see now why Botan was forced to threaten you, of course I’m against it…Forcing answers from them would only hurt them more.”

Hiei nodded his face calm and almost thoughtful. “Since the two of you are so against it I won’t…but if we are to help we need to find out what happened.”

“Maybe we should not interfere…” Kurama looked uncertain. “Our intentions may be noble Hiei, but they may dislike our intrusion.”

“Then what do you suggest we do fox?”

“I believe we should follow Yusuke’s lead.”

“And that would be?” A sneer made itself known on the hybrid’s face.

“To stay as Yusuke would say: “The hell out of their business”.

XXX

LK: OMGz! O.O; I actually finished another chap! Woo! Let’s bring out the alcohol and celebrate! *pours herself some rum and coke.

Kuwabara: *sweatdrops* Uh, Kitty…aren’t you underage?

Yusuke: Oi! Gimme some of that will ya? *grabs rum from LK*

Kuwabara: -_-;

Hisoka: *rubs his hands in eagerness, waiting for Yusuke and LK to get drunk* ^____^

Kuwabara: o.o; Maybe you two should drink somewhere else…I don’t like the look the clown guy is giving you.

Yusuke & LK: *look at each other and grin*

Yusuke: It’s fine Kuwa, he just wants to play.

Kuwabara: That’s what I’m afraid of. >.>;