Friday, March 26, 2004

   Past Collides with Present: Chapter 4 Part 1
I'm posting this chapter in two parts because it's so long.

Chapter 4: Meetings

"Shiori!" She was nearly bowled over by her husband and step-son. She stepped back onto her bum ankle and cried out, nearly blinded by the pain. She sank down to her knees, Hatanaka apologizing profusely. "I'm sorry, sweetheart, I didn't mean to hurt you. What happened? Where have you been? We were getting so worried."

"I'm sorry," Shiori said. "It's a long story. Where's Shuichi?"

Hatanaka and the younger Shuichi exchanged glances. "He isn't with you? He went out looking for you."

Shiori shook her head. "I haven't seen him. Of course, he wouldn't be looking for me where I was at."

Just then, the door behind her opened, and in walked Kurama, back in human form.

"Shuichi!" Shiori jumped up and threw her arms around her son, careful to keep her weight off the twisted ankle.

"Mom! Where have you been? I've been searching everywhere!" Kurama returned the hug carefully. Pushing her away, he looked her over, then proclaimed, "You're hurt."

Shiori shrugged. "I'm fine. Just a few scratches and a twisted ankle."

"And a burned hand." Kurama held it up gently. "You need a visit to the hospital. How did this happen?"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you, and it's not that bad."

"I agree with Shuichi," Hatanaka said. "We're going to the hospital."

Kurama picked Shiori up and carried her out to the car despite her constant complaints. He deposited her in the front passenger seat, then leaned down to hug her. "I hope you don't mind if I stay behind, 'Kaasan. I have to take care of a few things here."

Shiori shook her head. "No, I don't mind. I don't even think this is necessary-"

Kurama shut the door as Hatanaka started the car. They drove away, and Kurama turned to his younger brother. "I'm calling a few friends over, Shuichi. I would appreciate it if you didn't bother us."

Shuichi nodded as they walked inside. Kurama called Yusuke, who agreed to call Kuwabara and get over there as soon as he could. Kurama trusted that Hiei would already know his presence was needed. That Jagan really was amazing.

Fifteen minutes later, the entire Reikai Tantei had gathered in Kurama's room and were sipping sodas (except for Hiei, who would rather be thirsty than drink a ningen drink). Kurama quickly outlined the night's events. When he was finished, the group stayed silent for a few minutes.

Finally, Yusuke gave a low whistle. "That was a close one, Kurama. You should have called me first. Or Hiei, at least."

"She even said that you reminded her of you?" Kuwabara asked.

Hiei snorted. "You are such a baka!"

"Hey, shrimp! That wasn't needed!" Kuwabara almost knocked over a side table as he stood up and started toward the window where Hiei was sitting. Kurama caught the table while Yusuke rushed to get between Kuwabara and Hiei.

"Children! We've got more important things to worry about." Yusuke pushed Kuwabara away from Hiei, who was still sitting serenely on the windowsill. "So how about it, Kurama?" he asked when he finally had Kuwabara sitting down again. "Why didn't you contact us first?"

"To be honest, I didn't think it was anything worth worrying about. You know how women are. If they meet a friend in the store, they'll talk until Christmas. I didn't think much of the demon I smelled at first. The smell was so faint that I was sure it was long gone, even if it had been there in the first place." Kurama paused to take a sip from the coke*. "As you can tell, we're both fine, except for a few minor injuries on her part. I just wish I had had the time to confront that demon and find out exactly what he wanted from me. I'm sure he kidnapped my mother because of me. Why else would he want in her particular?"

Yusuke frowned. "It could be a coincidence."

Kurama shook his head. "I don't believe in coincidences, especially when the lives of my f
family are at stake."

"Couldn't you just go back to Makai and find him?" Kuwabara asked.

"No," Kurama answered. "I'm not going to risk opening another portal tonight, and anyway, the demon is most likely long gone from that area."

"Oh," Kuwabara looked a bit crestfallen. "Then why don't we ask Koenma about it?"

"First smart thing he's said all year," Hiei said, still staring out the window.

"That's right," Kuwabara said. His face grew redder as Hiei's insult finally sank in. "Hey! I don't see you adding much to the conversation, short stack!"

Yusuke was up and between them before Kuwabara even had a chance to try knocking the table over again. "Knock it off, you two. Hiei--"

"No," Hiei said.

"--could you go to Reikai and inform Koenma..." Yusuke's voice trailed off at the end. "Oh come on!" he yelled. "Kurama has to stay here and wait for news on his mom! I promised my mom I'd be home in an hour, which won't happen if I have to make that side trip! And do you really want Kuwabara to go?! By himself?!"

"Same my name a little louder, Yusuke," Kurama said sharply. "I don't think my brother heard you yet."

Yusuke clapped a hand over his mouth. "Sorry," he whispered.

"Hey, why can't I go?" Kuwabara demanded, but everyone ignored him and stared at Hiei instead. Finally, Hiei growled.

"I get your point, detective. But you owe me, understand?" With that, he opened the window, jumped out, and disappeared into the rainy night.

"Well, now that that's settled." Yusuke looked at Kurama. "Would you like some company while you wait on news?"

Kurama smiled. "I thought you promised your own mother that you'd be home soon."

"Oh, that," Yusuke looked off to the side. "I kinda said that because I didn't want to go see Pacifier Face. Mom's on one of her binges. She's too trashed to worry about me."

Kurama snickered behind his hand. "I thought so. But anyway, you don't need to stay. I'm a big boy now, you know."

"Whatever you say." Yusuke headed out of the room and started down the stairs. "Come on, Kuwabara, your kitten's waiting," he called over his shoulder.

"Shut up about my kitten!" Kuwabara snapped back. Kurama saw them both to the front door.

"Be careful out there," he warned, then walked into the living room and collapsed onto the couch with a sigh.

"What was the yelling about?" asked Shuichi, who watching television.

"Nothing," Kurama replied. "Yusuke just tends to get excited sometimes."

* * *


While Kurama had been discussing the night's events with his friends, Shiori had been relating them to her husband, who had to pull off the road and stop at one point to keep from swerving the car into oncoming traffic in surprise. He sat in stunned silence as Shiori finished.

"Shiori, are you sure about all this?" he finally asked. "It sounds more like a hallucination to me."

"Believe me, I kept wishing it was," she said. "Especially when I first saw that fox-eared demon. I was so shocked I fainted."

"But, Shiori, what would a demon want with you?"

"Beats me. But I'm glad I was able to find help."

"Sounds more like help found you."

"I suppose." Shiori looked at the rain beating on the windshield. "So strange," she whispered. "He reminded me so much of my son."

"Any particular reason why?" Hatanaka said as he restarted the car and pulled onto the road.

"No. He just.did."

"Well, maybe you'll feel better once your wounds get treated. Then we can put this behind us."

Shiori wasn't listening. She was still lost in her own little world. "I didn't even have to point the way home. Somehow, he already knew."

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