Beyond Understanding

The roof of Sarayashiki Middle School sheltered the myriad of students from the elements, the rain, the sun, the wind, keeping them comfortable enough to study. Or in his case, kept him away from studying. Yusuke stretched against the retaining wall, lazily yawning as his body arched. He came to rest again, hands behind his head as he watches the few clouds scudder along the blue sky. It was almost time for lunch. He figured Keiko would be up then to get him. He sighed. He still was trying to get used to things. He had been dead, and now wasn’t, had just gone after three demons, one of whom he’d nearly killed, one he helped and had helped him, and one…one he’d been very lucky to catch. He frowned at a cloud that looked a bit like a dragon flying across the sky. Was this to be his life now…chasing demons…creatures he hadn’t even believed existed before? He sighed, letting his eyes drift closed.

Red eyes watched the detective as he stretched on the roof. Hiei stood with his hands in his pockets, trying to figure out this boy. He was on parole now, ordered to work with the tantei who’d caught him. He didn’t like it. That may well be an understatement. Hate, despise, detest, loathe, abhor all were closer to the truth. But, the boy, this Yusuke…he wondered what he was like. He’d heard from Kurama that the boy had gotten him on a “lucky” shot. He didn’t like that idea. Even less than he liked being on parole. He crossed his arm over his chest, his glare deepening when the girl he’d captured appeared on the roof, yelling at the boy and dragging him behind her back into the building. He frowned at the way the detective allowed the slip of a girl order him around, drag him around, even. Had he been defeated by…by…He was too angry to come up with a proper noun…any noun…for what he felt of the boy. He sat in the crook of the tree, where the branch left the trunk and contemplated a cloud that looked something like a phoenix.

The final bell sounded, pulling Hiei from his thoughts. The tantei had spent the afternoon in classes, apparently unable to escape the girl, or perhaps unwilling. She didn’t return his feelings, beyond friendship, Hiei knew. If they were merely friends, why did he allow her to order him about so? He frowned. Though the Conjuring Sword had clouded his judgment at the time, though he disliked admitting it, he knew the detective felt more than friendship for the girl. Or, at least, that’s what he thought. He frowned darkly as he saw the lone green uniform exiting the school yard. He followed discreetly, not stalking, just not letting the boy know he was being followed.

The blue-haired harbinger of death interrupted the boy’s walk home. He didn’t look terribly thrilled to see her, though. Hiei continued watching, hidden. It just seemed to be a check in visit. No assignments, nothing pending. What did girl want with him? Their conversation, once the boy established she didn’t have an assignment for him, was short and relaxed. She was just keeping tabs on him. She neglected to mention that Hiei and Kurama had been assigned to assist the detective in his duties. She was a natural flake, but she’d had assistance with this act of neglect. Hiei didn’t want the detective to get suspicious and look for him. The last thing he wanted, especially now, was to talk to the damn detective. The thought of conversing with the boy left him…cold. He frowned. That wasn’t right. It should leave him cold, but…but there was something, something about the detective that intrigued him. He frowned and left off following the boy when he arrived at his home.

Hiei needed time to think. He left the city, as far away as his parole would allow him. No point in having the blasted Reikai special forces track him down. That would defeat his purpose, anyways. He needed to think. Why didn’t the thought of being forced to work with the detective leave him cold, shuddering, revolted? He wasn’t exactly looking forward to it, but…he didn’t not want to do it, either. He sighed, settling in another tree to spend the night.

He spent the night in the forest, and the next day was still there when Kurama sought him out. “How did you find me, Fox?” He still hadn’t quite forgiven the kitsune for stepping between him and the detective, though he wasn’t sure if the grudge was actually his or the still lingering effects of the dark object.

Kurama smiled one of his gentle smiles that hid a great deal of…viciousness? “You’re in the forest, Hiei. How could I not find you?”

Hiei grunted, then asked, “Why? Shouldn’t you be in school?”

“School is out for the day, and Botan told me the detective needs our help.”

“Hn, why?”

“The Four Beasts have made moves against the Ningenkai.”

“And I care why?”

Kurama eyed the koorime. “The Four Beasts have beaten you to a few treasures, I’m sure you’d like to get them. And, if you don’t go, then Koenma will see that you serve your jail time.”

“Hn, fine, whatever. Let’s go and get this over with.”

Kurama smiled again. He’d not been expecting to win so easily. There was something else on the jaganshi’s mind. Kurama led the shorter demon to the portal and they arrived not far from where the tantei and a large, orange haired boy were being over run by the sheer number of gutter imps. The two demons grabbed cloaks off of two they happened to dispose of and Kurama spoke out, “Hey!! If you’re having trouble with these lowlifes, how do you expect to tackle the castle?”

With that, both demons moved, attacking the imps, sending them flying in various directions. When a sufficient number had been cleared, the two came to rest in front of the two humans. Hiei spoke up, “The two of you alone wouldn’t get very far, anyway.”

With a quick gesture, that looked almost rehearsed, the two removed their purloined cloaks, Kurama asking, “Care for some help?”

Yusuke goggled at the two demons, “Where’d you come from?”

The orange haired boy stammered out, “Who the heck…?”

In answer, of sorts, Yusuke said, “Kurama and…Hiei?! What’re you two doing here?!”

Hiei noticed the hesitancy between his and Kurama’s names. He wondered about it, but kept the frown that wanted to grace his lips at bay, allowing Kurama to answer. “Heh…Community service in lieu of jail time, you might say. We might even earn pardons if we help you two out.”

How the detective kept looking at him bothered the koorime, though he wouldn’t admit it. He looked away.

Yusuke became excited, eagerly welcoming the two, “Good ol’ Koenma, unpredictable as ever!” Turning to his orange haired friend, he continued, “Kuwabara, allow me to introduce Hiei and Kurama.” The koorime wondered why his name was first, even though the fox had done the talking.

Kurama politely answered, “Hi,” to Kuwabara’s greeting.

Wanting to regain some distance, some edge over the too friendly detective, Hiei spoke up, “You’ve got Kurama’s angle, but here’s mine: I’m out to snatch the treasures and weapons the four beasts beat me to. So, don’t expect any help from me, got it?”

Kurama had the gall to laugh!

Kuwabara had the nerve to get…uppity, “What’s with the shrimp? He’s coppin’ a pretty high and mighty attitude!”

Calmly, Hiei replied, “Does a death wish cause you to speak that way to me?”

The heated reply came, as predicted, “You don’t like it, runt? Tough toenails!!”

Kurama broke in before the hiyoukai could further antagonize the human, “Stop it, Hiei. We can squabble after this is finished.”

Ignoring the orange monkey in front of him, Hiei turned to his actual target, “Yusuke, I still have a score to settle with you.”

Kuwabara growled out, “Don’t forget me, short-stuff!”

Continuing to ignore the tall teen, Hiei continued, “I’ll warn you once: Watch your back.”

Yusuke shrugged and smiled…smiled?...at the koorime. “Yeah, whatever. Frankly, I’ll take any allies I can get.”

Did the detective just not get it? He had just been threatened, and he just shrugged it off and smiled!? The koorime grunted as the four turned to head toward the castle. The imps were now too intimidated to attack so the rest of the journey was made in relative silence.

When they arrived at the gate of the castle, Yusuke let out a noise of appreciation, “That’s some entrance!” They looked up at a large fanged skull with a …

“Long dark tunnel. Brrr” Kuwabara commented.

Screwing up his courage, Yusuke glared at the empty eyed skull. “Well, nothing ventured, nothing gained! Let’s go, guys!” It was obvious he didn’t know what to expect, or have any clue what to do, other than directly barge in, leaving the others with little choice but to follow.

They walked a long time through the straight dark tunnel, gradually coming closer to the light at the end. When they were close enough, they saw a winged eye waiting for them. Yusuke seemed startled to see it, though.

“Welcome to the Labyrinth castle.” The eye spoke without a mouth, though this did not seem to surprise the detective as much as it’s appearance. “Those who dare to enter will be tried at the Gate of Betrayal.”

The humans repeated, nearly in unison, “Tried?!”

In answer, the eye flew across the room and used one of its dangling tentacles to pull a lever. A rumbling over their heads gave them their answer.

“The ceiling’s dropping!!” Yusuke shouted, dropping into a crouch with his hands over his head, trying to prepare in someway to stop his body from being smashed into a pancake, to try and save those with him. All four dropped to their knees, the weight of the ceiling pushing them down, but not crushing them. They grunted under the weight.

They eye flew into their line of sight, “The gate is keenly sensitive, quite smart, and very wicked. It analyzes the strength of each person and applies the exact amount of pressure that he can tolerate. If even one of you relaxes in the slightest-SPLAT!!”

Yusuke growled, “Blast you…!”


The eye continued, laughing, “If one of you strives to save himself by escaping, the others will be flattened. If none of you attempts a betrayal, you’ll all exhaust yourselves in this futile effort and die together. As you can see, only craven traitors may enter this castle. The choice is yours.” With that, the eye flew out of sight, waiting to see what would happen.

“Kee-ripes!! What a load ‘a crap!” Kuwabara complained.

Yusuke appeared to be in thought, trying to figure a way out of this trap, examining the options. Hiei had seen this look before, and it had caused him to be caught. He was startled when the detective turned to him, “H-Hiei!!” Hiei’s eyes went as wide as the strain allowed them to go and the boy continued, “You’re a lot faster than the rest of us! Run out and try to raise that lever by the eye guy!!”

Hiei was left speechless, surprised that the detective would turn to him, who readily admitted that he wouldn’t help, who didn’t want to be there, who had tried to kill him.

Kuwabara yelled, “Are you outta yer mind, Urameshi?! You go!! You don’t wanna trust that little creep!!”

Hiei laughed a bit, “So, Mr. Flat face is not a complete idiot after all.”

Kuwabara protested, “Mr. Fla…You talkin’ ‘bout me?!”

Ignoring him, again, Hiei asked, “Do you really want to trust me?”

Yusuke answered confidently, “I can support your share of the weight for a second or two if I give it all I’ve got. GO, Hiei! Just don’t take too long, ‘kay?!”

The detective looked directly into the koorime’s red eyes, those brown eyes showing complete trust and confidence. This gave Hiei pause. No one had ever looked at him that way, there had always been some lurking hesitancy when people said they were relying on him. Reaching a decision no based fully on logic, Hiei darted out to the lever in less than an eye blink. He could hear the detective grunting under the added weight. Hiei hesitated briefly, wondering what he was doing, if the humans and the fox were really worth it. Why had he allowed the detective to influence him?

“What’re you waitin’ for? Raise the lever!” the orange haired one yelled.

Still Hiei waited, hesitated, unsure.

“Think it over, Lord Hiei. Leave them to their fate and I will escort you to Master Suzaku. A criminal of your caliber…will be given a hearty welcome by the four beasts.”

Kuwabara shouted, “Yo, Shorty!! You’re gonna betray Urameshi’s trust just like that?!”

‘Urameshi’s trust’…Yusuke’s trust…why? Why did it matter? Hiei laughed, “What a bunch of morons.” He could see Yusuke looking at him, his expression unchanged except by the strain of more weight on his hands. “YOU HAVE NO IDEA!!” Faster than he’d moved before, he drew his katana across the eye demon, wounding it before lifting the lever.

“It stopped,” Yusuke sighed, relieved.

Hiei continued to glare at the eye demon, “Tell your masters…I’ll spare their lives if they submit to my will! They get one chance to beg for their lives! That’s IT!!”

The eye demon flew away, frightened and in pain. Things were not supposed to go this way.

The three who’d remained under the ceiling staggered out, Yusuke more unstable than the other two. “You okay, Urameshi?”

The detective staggered as the other two watched, “Whoo! I’ll let you know in a second!” He turned and smiled at the koorime who watched dispassionately. With an upraised thumb, he cheered, “Good work, Hiei!! Thanks!” Hiei looked at the boy as if he’d lost all sense, but Yusuke continued, “You made us sweat with that imperious act of yours!” His arm went around the koorime’s shoulder, a gesture Hiei found…odd…and he didn’t understand why he didn’t feel an overwhelming desire to remove the boy’s arm as Yusuke continued gushing, “You’re one supremely twisted guy, m’man.”

Hiei pulled away with a grunt, trying to restore some balance in his mind. Viciously, he stabbed a finger at the tantei, “I didn’t do it for your sake!!” ‘Why do I feel like I’m lying?’ “This will go faster with backup.” He turned and stalked away, trying to understand his own mind.

Kurama had seen the conflict in the petite demon’s eyes. He also knew that Yusuke should have died for touching the koorime. ‘Interesting,’ he thought as he smiled and told the humans, “Heh…In his own way, he’s trying to say ‘you’re welcome.’” ‘At the very least…’ The red head resolved to watch the hiyoukai from there on out. There was something going on, and he had a suspicion what it was. ‘Very interesting…’

~*~*~*~
A/N Story line mostly follows Volumes 4 and 5 of the manga…most of the dialogue is from there, as well…I will add my own spin to things…as I have already. I know how far I’m going into the manga story line….and I’m not telling :D Hope you like it.
I also really do need a title for this piece...I can't think of one. I've had "Parole" and "Community Service" and "Rigid Rapport" suggested to me....
This was written as a request for a Hiei/Yusuke without Kurama. Yes, Kurama's involved in the story, but he will not be involved in the ...relationship aspect.
Also, this has nothing to do with Dreams and Reality...just so you know...luv ya people...Now...REVIEW damn it!
I think griping about the manga dialogue counts as a disclaimer, don't you? But I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho