Kurama's Spring Flower

Chapter Sixteen

Kurama was hesitant, but he eventually takes a seat on his bed whilst keeping his gaze on the woman, who much like Akina, doesn't fear nor feel intimidated by him. This irks him and it was clear that this woman was aware of this, as her smile only widens. "Why are you here?" He manages to say in a monotone to the woman. Chiharu lightly claps her hands together and speaks, "I hear a certain demon has made you an offer, and I would like to quiz you on the artefacts you are stealing." This interests Kurama but he doesn't question it as he instead gives her a nod and she says, "Artefact one, the Orb of Baast. Go." Kurama then answers, "The Orb of Baast's purpose is simple, it extracts and contains the souls of any human it comes across." Chiharu nods at the boy before saying, "Correct, now what of the Shadow Sword?" Kurama takes a moment to think before answering, "The Shadow Sword was crafted from a toxic stone, and a single scratch from this weapon transforms the victim into an E class demon. The only way to release the effects of the sword, is to use a special antidote, found in the sword's hilt." Chiharu was smiling at the demon, making him mentally question her motives only for her to speak, "Now before we discuss the final artefact, I highly recommend you join that small demon in stealing these artefacts and you chose to take possession of this third one. And if you truly know what this artefact is then you understand why I am giving you this recommendation, I mean, weren't you chasing me so you could get answers?" And once again, before Kurama could get more from this woman turns into sakura petals and flies out of his bedroom window.

Kurama quickly stood up and stares out the window in frustration before realisation dawns on him. 'The Forlorn Hope. A mirror considered a dark artefact because it grants any wish that its user may have, but at the price of the user's life. That was it! That was why the woman was quizzing me.' Kurama thinks to himself. 'She has given me the answer to saving Akina! All I have to do is form an alliance with Hiei, and once we successfully steal the artefacts I can withdraw and use the mirror to save her.'

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Shiori was smiling at the young girl, who was now freely enjoying her food after hearing from her nurse that her suppose dead brother, has now risen from the dead and is in perfect health. "That's great to hear that your brother is not dead." Shiori says to the teen, who swallows the remnants of cookie in her mouth, before replying, "Yes, this is great news. I just wish I could get out of this bed and run towards him so I can give him a big hug and welcome him back just like he did for me." Shiori gives her a hopeful smile as she gently holds her fragile hand and says, "Who knows, he might come running in here tomorrow to try and surprise you." This makes Akina giggle, but then begin to cough violently, making Shiori panic and call out to the nurse as the coughing doesn't seem to stop. But after a while of the nursing tending to the teen, she was able to help the girl stop coughing and breath normally, before turning to Shiori and whispers, "I think you should go now so we can get Miss Urameshi to rest." Shiori nods as she notes the teen's tired look before getting up and waves at the girl before leaving.

And after Akina falls asleep, a certain red haired male slips in through the window and takes a seat beside the sleeping girl, before gently holding her cold hand. His face forms into one of determination as he whispers, "I promise you, Akina. I'll successfully get a hold of the Forlorn Hope and save you." He then gives her forehead a gently kiss before swiftly leaving and aiming to return home before his mother, unaware that Chiharu was watching from the shadows in the darkest corners of the room. She smirks and makes her way over to the sleeping girl whilst speaking to herself, "My my, who knew that the heartless fox demon would develop a heart? My child is going to be the cause of many changes. Oh yes, father won't be able to stop them either." She then looks away from Akina and out the window in the direction of the Urameshi residence as she continues, "And my dear brother has no idea that Yusuke's return will help escalate the growth of your powers, nor does he know that it will help the exposure of father's greed and cold-heartedness come to everyone's attention."

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It was now morning and the young Yusuke Urameshi was debating with himself what he should get as a gift for his dear twin to apologise for making her worry so much about him and not visiting her as soon as he woke up. He sees his mum by the kettle and decides to speak, "Hey mum, what should I get Akina as an apology for making her feel even worse then she already does?" She looks towards her son with a pained and ashamed look as she releases a sigh and admits, "I don't know, Yusuke." 

Atsuko was indeed ashamed with herself for not being able to provide an answer, as she never truly visited her daughter after the first time. Yusuke use to yell at her to visit Akina but that never worked as Atsuko just didn't want to stare at her baby girl, who would be unable to look back and try to reassure her that everything's okay or even after she woke up, Atsuko didn't want to watch her daughter fighting for her life to possibly fail and leave before Atsuko could. No parent wants to outlive their children and Atsuko couldn't bare the fact of almost outliving both her children. She once accidently revealed her thoughts in a drunken haze to a bartender one evening after the fire incident at her old apartment and when she returned to the same bar the next day for him to inform this to her sober self she stormed out and chose to remain near Yusuke, which she still feels shame for. 'Will this make Akina assume that I have a favourite? Oh God, I'm a horrible mother!' Atsuko mentally cries as she watches Yusuke look down to the ground with his brows furrowed before his eyes then light up before letting out a huff as he mutters, "I can't believe I'm gonna do this." He then starts putting on his shoes and prepares to leave until Atsuko asks, "Where are you going?" Yusuke pauses before he manages to answer, "She loves books, so I'm going to try to find something in the library." And with that shocking reveal, Atsuko watches her son leave.