Fate’s Foreshadowing
by GiniChapter 2 - The legend
Perhaps the idea had always been there behind his brain, but he had never really wanted to think about it or even considered using it. Perhaps somewhere under his subconscious, he was keeping that idea as the last resort. He would not use it until .....
* * * *
In the beginning everything seemed okay. The doctor released Hiei three days later after he woke up from his coma. Yuusuke and the others were really happy for him. Once again they'd brought a lot, or should he say tons of herbal stuff for both of them.
Due to the environment, they had all agreed to have Hiei live in Genkai's temple. It was a better and safer place for Hiei, especially with Genkai and Yukina there. Kurama had told his family that he's taking a long vacation. He then secretly moved in to the temple. Genkai gave Kurama and Hiei a room so it would be easier for him to take care of the demon. Obviously, she knew about the two of them.
He had noticed that Hiei's attitude was different. Ever since Hiei knew about his blindness, he had been more quiet, not that he wasn't quiet before. Hiei was just never that quiet around him. He couldn't blame him. It was hard for Hiei, and he knew it. They had tried to open up his jagan and maybe he could see with it, but the jagan was actually partly depended on Hiei's own eyes. Now he couldn't see anything, the jagan could only see dim light. At least it could still feel ki, just not as clear as before. Besides, having Hiei opened up his jagan all the time was completely off the point. The fire demon would be so exhausted and the enemy could trace him down to the temple. Therefore, the jagan plan had failed.
Kurama had been trying to look through all ancient books from Makai (Koenma and Botan found those books for him.) to find the cure to blindness. But on the second thought, if there was one, then Yomi would probably be able to see by now. It seemed like the Makai medicine plan had failed also.
Of course he didn't tell the half-Koorime about the medicine thing. Nobody dared to tell him. Who would want to put an axe above his/her own head? So during the past three months, all he could do was giving him his love and support. They would make love every now and then, but most of the time Hiei just wasn't in the mood. It wasn't really the same like before. In the past, they made love out of their loving passion need. Now it was more like a release from pain. Though it was equally passionate, it just didn't feel the same. It felt like comfort to each other, and they needed it desperately.
* * * *
After a red-hot blast of love storm, the couple lied in bed, resting in the peacefulness. Hiei could feel Kurama's body warmth pressing up from behind, and his arms encircled him.
Is it night? He wondered. Fuck, he couldn't even tell if it was night or not. He sighed inwardly. He could feel Kurama's deep and slow breathing proving that he was sleeping. What did he do to deserve this wonderful being?
He couldn't even see his love. God could be so unfair sometimes. It wasn't fair to have Kurama stuck with a handicapped youkai for the rest of his life. But Kurama didn't seem to care. At least, on the surface. The fox was true to his words that he would be by his side whenever he needed him. They did have some fun. But that was only until his self conscious kicked in. He opened up his eyes and could see only the darkness.
Just when he thought he had walked through the dark tunnel, another one immediately came. The only difference was that this one was forever.
The doctor had said that it was not permanent, but he knew that was BS. The possibility to be able to see again was next to the big fat zero.
He carefully slipped off the bed and put on his outfits quietly, afraid to wake up Kurama. Taking his katana with him, he felt his way out to the yard. By now he was pretty familiar with the structure of the temple without bumping into walls. It was something he had to learn. He didn’t want to be too dependable on Kurama.
Outside, the fresh air soothed him. He felt more in control. Walked into the deep woods, Hiei unsheathed his sword, ready to attack, or rather, to practice his skill.
* * * *
"Hmm," Kurama turned around, his hands automatically searched for Hiei, but they found nothing. His eyes shot open.
"Hiei?" Looking around but there was no his lover's shadow. "Oh shit." Quickly, he put on his clothes and hurried out the door. He forgot to tell Hiei not to wonder around tonight because there was a youkai running loose somewhere around here, and Yuusuke and Kuwabara were going to seek it tonight.
"Hiei?" He called out to the night softly. Nothing. The reason that he didn't go with Yuusuke was because he didn't want to leave Hiei alone in the temple. "Hiei!" Calling out again, a bit louder this time, but still nothing. The red head started to get worried. He didn't know how Hiei would defend himself when he couldn't even see his opponent.
Suddenly, a trace of youki flickered. It was not Hiei's. So that means...
"No. Hiei!" Kurama ran toward the youki appeared earlier.
* * * *
No. It was no good. He couldn't estimate the distance. So whenever he jumped from trees to trees, he ended up on the ground or slamming himself into some other trees. Suddenly, there was a flicker of youki, and it was very close to him. He knew it wasn't Kurama ... so it must be ...
"Shimatta" Hiei cursed his own luck as he felt a youkai landed somewhere near him, but he couldn't see.
"Well well well, who do we have here? It's Hiei the speedy demon," the youkai said with a teasing tone.
"Hn."
"The words have been going around, saying that you are blind."
"That's non of your business," Hiei snapped.
"Oh but it is! Because now I have an advantage over you. I can see!"
"You wanna die?"
"You can't catch me. You can hardly know where I am standing. Can you see how many fingers I am pointing out?" Saying that, the youkai laughed.
Hiei's blood was boiling in his every vein. His grip on the katana was hard, getting ready for a fight. He had never felt so humiliated in his whole life.
"Come on, we will play hide and seek. I will count to ten and then you can go hide," the youkai burst out his laughter once again.
"Yeaaaa!" Hiei plunged his sword toward the source of the voice, but found that he didn't slash anything except a couple of leaves.
"Missed!" The youkai kicked him from behind, causing him falling onto the ground.
"Die!!!!!!" The fire demon madly and blindly thrust his katana, but missed every single time. What was worst, he got tripped by the branches so many times.
"Hahhaha ... seriously, is that all you have? Try this!" The youkai knocked him down to the ground and stepped hard on his stomach, making him cried out his pain.
"Heheheh ... you can beg for my mercy, maybe I will consider about it."
Hiei spitted. "Go to hell."
"What? I think you really want to die tonight. Well, I don't blame you. I'd rather die than live without my eyes!" The youkai kicked him hard. Withdrawing his own dagger, the youkai was ready for the final attack.
Suddenly, the dagger was snatched away.
"Huh? Who's there?"
"Someone you don't want to mess with." Kurama walked out of the trees.
"Who are you?" The youkai looked at him curiously.
"You don't need to know."
"Such a pretty face shouldn't be here. You are no ordinary ningen, that I can tell. But I don't care who you are, you will die because of your interruption to my plan!" With that, the youkai threw a couple of bombs around. For the next few minutes, Kurama attacked but the opponent was tougher than he thought. He couldn't really focus on fighting because his mind was on Hiei.
Unexpectedly, the rescuers came. Yuusuke shot out his rei-gun and the youkai tumbled down onto the ground near Hiei.
"Are you all right, Kurama?" Kuwabara asked and he and his partner landed.
"You ... you are Kurama?" The youkai said in disbelieve. But Kurama just ignored him. He asked his friends, "So he's the one you guys have been tracking?"
"Yeah. He's pretty tough, but anyway, we can take him from here," Yuusuke said with a assuring smile.
"I am afraid not, humans or youko," the monster took the hold of Hiei as his captive, "come any closer and I will kill him."
"Hiei!" Kurama called out nervously. Yuusuke and Kuwabara were all set into battle action.
"You, the legendary youko. Kneel down, the rest of you better don't move a muscle because this little guy right here might be dead in a second," the youkai commended.
Kurama stood there, hesitated.
"Kneel down!!" With that, he pointed the dagger a bit closer to the fire demon's neck.
"Don't do it! He is tricky," Hiei said through his teeth.
But he had no choice. He couldn't see his beloved being tortured. He was on his knees.
"Good boy!" The youkai said with a disgusting voice. He then kicked the fox across the face, sending him flying.
"Kurama!" Kuwabara shouted. The fox sit up slowly, wiping away a drop of blood that was sliding down from the corner of his mouth. Yuusuke had his firing pose ready, he wanted to shoot that guy in the face.
Kurama looked up to the youkai with a cold stare. "You are finished." Just then, a bunch of veins burst out from where the monster was standing. Using that moment, Kurama snatched Hiei away from the deadly grasp. The veins lifted the youkai high in the air. Yuusuke and Kuwabara gave each other a look and then nodded. They jumped up to the youkai's level.
"Spirit gun!"
"Spirit sword!"
A bright explosion burst out into the dark night.
"Whew. That was fun," Yuusuke said sarcastically after dusted himself clean.
"Definitely," Kuwabara murmured under his breath.
"Kurama!!!!" Both of them jerked up and went back toward the direction where the Hiei's voice was.
"What happened?" Yuusuke said as he approached the two on the ground. Kurama was lying unconsciously on top of Hiei, and a dagger - the youkai's dagger - was on his back with blood pouring out onto his white clothe. Hiei was frantically searching for what was wrong with his fox.
"Hey, calm down shrimp, he just got knocked out," Kuwabara explained. They carried both of them to the temple.
"How did he get hurt?" Genkai asked while helping Yukina to clear Kurama's wound.
"Well, it looks like during the final blast, that youkai used his last strength to throw that dagger at Hiei. Kurama saw it and he ... you know ..." Kuwabara analysed.
"Well, is he going to be all right?" Yuusuke asked.
"Hai, Yuusuke-san. Kurama-san's wound is deep and he has lost a lot of blood, but he will be fine after a couple of days," Yukina said with a faint assuring smile.
"Wah~ Yukina-chan, you are the greatest healer in the world!" Kuwabara exclaimed, holding the little koorime's hands.
"Always suck up for pretty faces," Yuusuke sighed, "Eh? Where is Hiei?"
"I think he went back to his room," Genkai answered.
"Poor Hiei-san, he must feel terrible," Yukina said thoughtfully.
"How's so?"
"He must felt that it was his fault that Kurama-san got hurt."
"Well, it was kind of his fault," Kuwabara said but got a bunch of cold stares.
"Kuwabara-san, you mustn't blame Hiei-san. He can't help being blind," Yukina said.
"Yes yes. Of course. Whatever you say, Yukina-chan."
* * * *
Hiei was sitting on the edge of the bed beside Kurama. Yes. He felt terrible. Terrible than ever. It was all his fault that Kurama got hurt. If he wasn't there, Kurama would have finished him off long time ago. Kurama wouldn't have to face the humiliation that the bastard had made him. If he wasn't there, then that youkai would never make hostage of him. And Kurama would never get that wound because of him.
If .... So many ifs .....
If he stayed with Kurama any longer, he'd only be in his way. Kurama, his love and only. How could he have the heart to destroy his future?
No. He didn't want to be his burden. He wanted Kurama to have a wonderful life. Being with him, Kurama would never truly be happy, and he deserved more than just a great life. Fate could be cruel sometimes. Actually, it had always been reckless to him. He had put up with it, but if it were to do something bad to Kurama, he would not allow it.
Kurama. Only God knew how much he loved him. Maybe this would be another test for both of them. If that were the case, he certainly had failed it.
No, this just simply couldn't go on. Love might conquer anything but no everything.
In the dark night, he made a vital silent decision.
* * * *
Kurama had sensed Hiei's change ever since that night. They never got the chance to discuss about it since they rarely talked these days. Occasionally he'd bring up some topics, but Hiei would snap at him like he was in a bad mood. He wondered what he did wrong to make the fire demon so angry.
The worst thing was that Hiei had begun to refuse close contact with him, and that includes bed activities. He had to sleep on the floor, letting Hiei have the bed.
At first he thought he was the only one but he quickly discovered that he was not. The only person the fire demon never aimed his fireball cannon at was Yukina. Except her, everybody else had a thing or two to comment on Hiei's behaviour.
Each day Kurama would find himself sunk into a deeper level of depression.
"How's Hiei doing?" Koenma asked when the fire demon wasn't around. They had a small gathering for New Year's eve. Everybody was here to have dinner.
Kurama smiled. "He's doing well."
"That's not what I've heard."
Kurama's face darkened. "What have you heard?" He asked in a soft voice.
"That he has been acting like a tyrant. That he has been more violent than before."
"I am sorry about it. You can't really blame him. I guess losing his sight ability is really bothering him."
"Hey, " Koenma put a hand on his shoulder. "We don't blame him. We know how tough it is for him and you."
Kurama lowered his head. "He would never be the same again. Not unless a miracle happens and restore his sight." The red head mumbled the sentence, but deep in his heart, he knew this was the truth. Hiei would never ever be the same. They desperately needed a miracle. No matter what, he was prepared for the worst, and he would stick by him to get him through this. He knew they could make it.
Koenma sighed. "There is a way."
"What?" Kurama's head shot up.
Koenma looked away. "I just found out yesterday about this. You might have heard it before during your life time as a youko .... "
"Tell me."
Taking a breath, the Reikai God started. "I was flipping through some of the antique books and I found out this legend of Granting Stone. The name itself is pretty self-explanatory. There is this stone that will grant your wishes, but it’s not for free. You will have to pay the price. " Koenma paused to check on his friend, who was pale.
"Go on," Kurama said weakly.
"The way it works is pretty simple, though I have never known anyone who has used this before. There is an old phrase, and you just have to cite it silently while holding the stone when you go to sleep at night. This phrase is like a chant. It will, according to the legend, take you to this Granting Land where you will make the wish."
"The stone? What stone? Any stone?" By now Kurama was as pasty white.
"Any small stone," Koenma hesitated, "but tear gems work the best."
Kurama nodded slowly.
"You are right. I have heard about that legend before," Kurama looked away. "But I never knew that I would end up using this."
"It’s not the best method, considering not many people have used it before. We can never know what will happen while you are on that Granting Land. It could be dangerous."
"I know. Do you have the phrase with you?"
"Yes." Koenma took out a small old torn scroll under his belt. "I want you to know that I really don’t recommend you using this."
Kurama took the scroll, opening it. "Thank you for your concern, but for Hiei, I’ll do anything."
"'Tis a truth, 'tis a lie
All is there when thou close thy eyes.
Dream, dream, dream thou shall
With the versus from the legend fall.
Once wished, shall be grant
With the prices thou shall give."
Granting stone here I come
With the hopes in my arms.
Wishing thou wilt grant my wishes.
My fate pattern is in thy hands.
Here I am, to behold
Any results shall befall.
No turn back. No regret.
Granting Stone forever more!"I knew you would say that. But still, I didn’t tell you the legend in front of others just because I wanted to give you a chance to think this over. Sleep on it or something. I won’t ever mention this again. Not unless it’s necessary." Koenma paused.
"Hey! Hot pot is almost ready!" Keiko and Botan yelled.
"Coming!" Koenma quickly turned back to the fox. "There is one more thing."
"What?"
"I guess this is more like a warning. I have also heard that this Granting Stone is ... tricky, or evil should I say, " he inhaled, "the price you have to pay might be great. Nothing is free, you know."
Kurama hid the scroll away, nodding. "I know."
"Anyway. It’s just a legend," the Reikai God shrugged. "It might not even work. But don’t think you have to do it. We still have lots of medicine books that we haven’t gone through. Maybe the cure we need is in one of them. You never know."
"Hm," Kurama answered mindlessly.
All throughout the dinner time - with Hiei sitting beside him, quietly drinking sake - he couldn’t help but think about the legendary stone. In a way, this was like a destined fate, because Hiei gave him a tear gem necklace - it was a necklace made of two black tear gems. He touched the stones in front of his throat unconsciously. It seemed to him that he had to do it. That the legend was pulling him.
From the way Koenma was telling him about the legend sounded like he was afraid of it himself.
Anyway, it’s just a legend. Koenma had said that.
Oh, but it was more than just a legend.
He remembered now. Whatever stone was used had to be carried with the person who made the wish always. And that stone would become the Granting Stone. That was where the name came from. He had also heard about the consequences people had to suffer. The bigger the wish, the heavier the price. He was scared of it too. Scared what the price or prices he had to pay in order to restore Hiei’s sight.
He sighed bitterly within. Why didn’t he think about the Granting Stone at first? Maybe the legend really had him frightened. Perhaps the idea had always been there behind his brain, but he had never really wanted to think about it or even consider using it. Perhaps somewhere under his subconscious, he was keeping that idea as a last resort. He would not want to use it until .....
Until ....
Until what? Hiei needed his help, and all he could think right now was how spooky the legend was.
Maybe he would wait a bit, like Koenma suggested.
"Hey! Kisama! Are you deaf or what!? I have been calling you for hours!" Kurama snapped himself back to the reality and found everybody was staring at him.
"Oh. Sorry," he mumbled. Hiei was pissed. He was drunk and wanted another bottle of sake.
"Hey, get me another one of those fucking thing," the fire demon growled.
"But Hiei, you are drunk already. I don’t think you should drink another bottle," Kurama said mildly.
"Why the hell not? I said I want another bottle, and I will get another bottle."
"No Hiei," Kurama put an arm around his shoulder to steady him, "it’s not good for you body to drink too much."
"Why! Just because I am blind doesn’t mean my health is not good." The nasty demon slapped him away.
Yuusuke nearly choked on his noodles. Everybody was nervous when the topic was getting sensitive.
"Hey! Shri-, err, Hiei," Kuwabara cut in, trying to suppress his own anger, "why don’t you sit down and try some of these crab balls, they are really tasty."
"Shut up, you big dopey head. I don’t want to deal with you right now," Hiei snapped angrily. It took Yuusuke, Keiko and Botan’s strength to stop Kuwabara from standing up and give the fire demon a punch on the face.
"Hiei-san, you are really drunk," Yukina said good-naturally.
"And, nobody asked for your opinion, sissy."
They all stared at Hiei open-mouthed. Tears began to welled up in Yukina’s eyes.
"That’s enough Hiei," Kurama said sharply, half-dragged and half-carried him back to the room.
"You let me go, you stupid fox!" Hiei struggled violently.
"Don’t wait up guys. I am sorry, but Hiei and I need a long talk."
Everybody nodded.
* * * *
"Hiei, what's wrong with you!?" Kurama demanded once he was sure the door was locked.
"What's wrong? What's wrong!? I'll tell you what's wrong. This!" Hiei said, pointing at his own eyes, "is what's wrong!"
"But it hadn't been bothering you before ... why all of a sudden..--"
"Oh, it has always bothered me. Always."
"I know how you feel Hiei, but -"
"No! You don't know how I feel," Hiei shouted to cut him off. "Being blind ... for an ordinary person it's okay. But for me. For me! It's totally different. I am Hiei. I used to outrun my opponent with me speed and my sharp alert. But now ... Now I am just a useless piece of shit!"
"That's not true." This had to be the longest conversation he and Hiei had ever had since that night. Kurama paused to think for a moment. "Does this have anything to do with that incident?"
That incident, meaning that night the youkai ... He had suspected that Hiei had been in such a bad mood because he felt guilty about it.
But the fire demon said nothing.
"Hiei, " he went over and sit beside his lover on the bed, "it wasn’t your fault that night. I wasn’t careful enough."
But Hiei didn’t seem to hear a word he said. "I feel like I am being trapped in this cage. No. This cage! And I will never get out of here. Never!"
"You mustn’t think that way. Didn’t the doctor say that it’s not permanent. It will come back to you sooner or later."
The koorime turned to face him, red eyes cold. "You believe that shit?"
For once, Kurama found he had nothing to reply. He wanted to believe the doctor, but part of him knew better.
"We are trying our hardest to find the cure, Hiei, you just have be patient and - "
"Yeah. Sure. Do you think I am that stupid? I may be blind but I am not deaf. You guys can’t find anything about it. Stop thinking of me as an idiot!!"
Kurama’s patience was running short.
"We never look at you or think of you that way, Hiei. If you stop being childish, maybe you could figure out that yourself."
"I have to admit that you are right. If I wasn’t so naive, I would have figured out that there is something between you and that toddler."
Kurama’s eyes turned wide. "What do you mean? There is nothing between me and Koenma."
"Stop fooling around with me, kitsune. If there is nothing between you, then why did he pull you aside today to chat?"
So he noticed his absence. He hoped he didn’t hear what they were talking about.
"Look. We are friends, he was just asking about you."
"Yeah?" Hiei snarled. "Did he ask you when I would be dead? Did he ask you to go to bed with him?"
"Watch what you are saying," Kurama told him off icily.
"Watch? I can’t even see, goddamn it! I wonder what are you doing sticking around with me?" His strong hands found Kurama’s collar and grabbed it. "Is it because he can’t fuck you better than I do? Or is it because you are still waiting for the right moment to murder me?"
"You are really drunk," the red head said, still trying to get free.
"Maybe. You are just using me as sex tool. Fine. If that’s what you want, I’ll give you what you want." With that, he shovelled the fox to the bed. Before Kurama had the chance to climb up, Hiei was already naked and striding on his waist.
"Look Hiei, I’d love to do this, but not right now." There was a note of panic in his voice. But the fire demon just ignored him. His lips found his and he kissed him roughly. He traced down to his neck and bit it hard.
"Ah! Hiei, stop it!" Kurama tried to push him away, but found he was trapped. Hiei was obviously stronger than he was.
"Is this what you want huh? Is this what you want?" Hiei grunted between each kisses and bites.
"No. This is not what I want! Let me go!" Kurama struggled. He was scared. This was not the Hiei he knew. It was like a beast that had finally awaken and sought for revenge.
"I will show you what I want!" He began to tear off his clothes in a savage manner.
"No!" Kurama trembled.
"Oh yes, you mischievous fox. You slut! You dare to cheat on me."
Tears flooded out of his eyes and they trimming down his cheek. He would never cheated on his love. Never. But now his own love was accusing him the things he didn’t do.
"No! Stop it! No!" Kurama cried, still fighting to be free.
"Shut up fox." He raped him hard.
"Ahh!!"
* * * *
This was a bad dream. Everything was a bad dream. Now if he could only wake up, then everything would be back to normal.
Kurama curled up into a ball at the corner of the bed against the wall and sobbing quietly. He felt cold, and hurt. Hurt because Hiei had accused him of cheating on him. Hurt because the fire demon had been like a beast, and fucked him mercilessly like there was no tomorrow. He felt so humiliated. It was the other side of Hiei he had never seen before.
He slowly climbed down from the bed in search of his clothes. But all he could find were pieces of fabric only. He swallowed his tears down. He finally put on another outfit, but he could hardly walk because of the pain between his legs.
Suddenly, the bathroom door opened. Kurama whimpered a little, afraid what Hiei might do to him now.
"You are still here!?" Hiei exclaimed. Then he laughed, evilly. "I guess you want another round, don’t you?" He took a step closer toward his voice. Kurama backed away.
"Didn’t I tell you to get out of here?"
"But ... Hiei ... you can’t mean that .. " Kurama stammered.
"Of course I mean it. I don’t want to hear you voice again. Go back to where you belong you dirty fox."
"Hiei, no," Kurama grabbed his arm, begging, "I ... I still want to stay with you."
"Too bad. I don’t want to be with you no more."
"But Hiei ..."
"Which part of 'no' don't you understand?" Hiei shook off his hands angrily.
"I ..."
"Shut up!" pa!
Hiei slapped him right across his face.
There was a long moment of silence. Neither of them moved. Finally, it was Kurama who moved first. He slowly raised his hand to touch part where Hiei had slapped. He stood up quietly and painfully and walked to the door.
Kurama turned to look at Hiei through his teary eyes. "Hiei ..." he choked out the words, "I will ..... still love you." With that, he closed the door and ran away.
"I am sorry ... Kurama." Hiei’s fists tightened as he whispered.
--To be continued---
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All Characters so far are taken from Yu Yu Hakusho.
The story plot and the poem-like verse in the story were created by Gini H.L. Graciela
Copyright © December 1999, rewrote July 2000
Comments can be sent to Gini <minis945@mdi.ca>
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