Yu Yu Hakusho- Another tale

Chapter 7: Imposter

The arrow took a huge curve, as Akina sweat dropped as Kuwabara ran away from the strange tangent of the arrow.
"Watch where you are aiming!" Kuwabara shouted at Akina who sighed.
"This sucks." Akina mumbled.
"You are doing better than before! At least the arrow does not fall from your grip." Yusuke laughed as Akina pouted.
"Will this really help?" Akina muttered as she aimed again but this time dropped the bow on her feet.
"She is really not suited for fighting is she?" Botan commented as Akina picked up the bow feeling dejected.
"More like she feel uncomfortable with this." Keiko replied as she sat down with Botan.
Akina stretched the string of the bow with the arrow as her hand shook. She could not do this, she could not....
"You are too tense."
Akina felt her face grow red as Kurama's placed his hand on her hands that held the bow and arrow. He was so close, she could feel her heart beating so hard that she felt it would jump out of her rib cage.
"Now aim where you want it to hit." Kurama whispered in her ear making her release the arrow too soon.
However, this time it flew straight and hit the outside of the target.
"You need to relax." Kurama tapped her shoulder as he walked away.
Akina nodded and tried the bow and arrow but...
"It's just amazing how you can release it to fly in such a weird tangent." Yusuke laughed as Akina sighed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Ha... I am really not made for this." Akina pulled her knees up to her chest as she enjoyed the hot water on her aching muscles.
They hopped that using the bow and arrow would help her control her power but rather....
"I think maybe I don't want to hurt someone." Akina blew bubbles into the water.
I am troubling them too much.
"Akina-san! Ah, you are here." Yukina approached Akina who looked up.
"Is everything okay Yukina-san?" Akina asked as she sat up.
"We could not find you so we were worried." Yukina smiled kindly.
Sorry! I... I just need to blow some steam!" Akina laughed awkwardly when she fell silent.
"Akina-san, you don't seem to be happy." Yukina commented.
"Eh? Ah... Nothing much! Everyone has been helping me, yet I cannot even master the basics. I feel like I am burdening them." Akina replied softly.
Yukina noticed Akina was feeling down.
"I am sure everyone does not feel like that. They want to help you." Yukina replied Kindly.
Akina looked at Yukina and smiled.
"Un." Akina got up from the bath feeling a little better.
"Akina-san... Your birthmark is glowing." Yukina pointed out.
"Eh? Ummm.... This again..." Akina sighed as she wore her t-shirts and shorts.
"Eh?" Yukina looked at Akina confused.
"Ah! Nothing! This happens a lot!" Akina laughed awkwardly.
She followed Yukina to the main room when she stopped by the veranda. She would be returning back to her house in the city and she was feeling a little lonely.
"Ah! Yukina-san! I shall follow you a little later!" Akina spoke out as she jumped off the veranda and walked into the open air.
The wind felt wonderful and the grass felt soft and comfortable under her feet.
Ah.... That was where those weird people attacked us." Akina walked towards the forest entrance.
Kyuketsuki was still tied up and was left hanging from the rafter near the back of the temple. Yusuke and Kuwabara literally took turns to use him as a punching back so he would relieve who sent him.
If that time I had not noticed them.... But if I had not come with them.... They would not have...
Akina walked towards the side as she crouched near the ground, and gently touched the area
If they had not come
"Akina?"
Akina turned to see Kurama approach her.
"Isn't it cold out here?" He asked as Akina stood up and shook her head.
"I like the cold weather actually so it is okay." Akina replied when she sneezed and then blushed when Kurama chuckled.
"Even so, it will be bad if you caught a cold." Kurama replied as he dropped a jacket around her.
"Thank you." Akina blushed as she pulled the jacket around her.
"Is something worrying you?" Kurama asked as he stood next to her.
"Um... Not really." Akina replied awkwardly when Kurama gently patted her head.
"Yukina-san told me that you feel like you are burdening us." Kurama looked at her as she looked away.
"If I was not here, they would have not attacked here." Akina replied in a soft voice when Kurama cupped her face.
His emerald eyes always made her feel calm.
"Akina, we chose to help you knowing what maybe the consequences. You are not burdening us because we chose this." Kurama replied as he gently rubbed his thumb across her cheek.
Her heart was beating really fast. She knew that she liked him a lot.
"I don't want any of you to get hurt." Akina tried to look away as her face heated.
He gently lifted her chin so she was staring in his eyes.
"You saw that we are very capable of taking care of ourselves and others so don't worry. Allow us to help you." He said kindly as he embraced her.
His warmth, the very sensation of his aura made her feel so relaxed and happy, she returned the embrace.
"Understood... Although it will take a while for me to ask for help, I am happy you are all here for me." Akina replied as she smiled while inhaling his scent.
"We should get back, everyone will worry." Kurama let go of her and turned to walk.
"Un." Akina smiled as she followed him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Ha.... This was a tiring weekend but..." Akina smiled as she put her clothes in the washing machine.
She smiled as she looked at the jacket Kurama forgot to take from her. She hugged the material when she blushed.
Wahh.... I feel like a stalker.....
"I should return this." Akina muttered as she began to clean her room when the doorbell rang.
"Ah! Must be Mikiko and Sumiko! Ah! So glad I went to the grocery store before returning home!" Akina happily rushed to the door when she looked through the eye hole.
"Eh!!! No way!" She quickly jumped off from the door and grabbed her phone.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Eh!!! So Akina must also be back! I should grab Sumiko and barge into her house to eat her cooking!" Mikiko said excitedly.
"You guys should not trouble her so much." Yusuke sweat dropped as he wiped the bowl.
"It's okay... Akina is the only one we can act spoiled around... She never behaves spoiled so we are hoping that someday she will start acting a little spoiled." Mikiko replied happily.
"She has never been spoiled?" Yusuke asked as he turned to her.
"She holds back a lot." Mikiko looked dejected.
"You don't have to look so dejected?" Yusuke giggled as Kuwabara joined them.
"She is supposed to be a year younger than me but it sometimes feels like she is the older one. Even Sumiko complains that since Akina is a year younger in age, she should atleast be a little spoiled around us." Mikiko replied annoyed.
"A year younger?" Yusuke and Kuwabara looked at her.
"Eh? Did you not notice? Akina skipped a year when she returned from abroad... Well from what I know she could have skipped school altogether and gone directly to university but she mumbled about wanting to enjoy a proper school life and finally compensated by skipping a year." Mikiko replied as she swung her legs.
"EHH? SHE IS A GENIUS?" Kuwabara blurted out when Mikiko nodded.
"She learns everything really fast. Be it sketching, cooking, sewing or anything, she picked up any skill with an unbelievable rate. At first when I met her, she was too quiet and moody. The only person she seemed to open up to was Sumiko. Somehow, I misunderstood her to be a snobby well to do kid." Mikiko smiled sadly.
"Ahh.. come to think of it, Mikiko-chan was a rather difficult delinquent child...." Kuwabara commented when Mikiko glared at him.
"I was also fighting with my idiotic parents and this was the only way I knew how to manage things, besides if I did not walk that path, I would have not met Yusuke-san or Kuwabara-san." Mikiko replied.
"So how did you finally start talking to Akina-chan?" Yusuke asked curiously.
Mikiko smiled sadly.
"I was out of control... I followed this one pervert of a senior... When he tried to force himself on me....."
"No! No... Please, this is not what I want!" Mikiko screamed as he pinned her to the desk.
"Come on! You want this as well!" He whispered.
"GET OFF HER!"
Mikiko looked in tears as she realised that Akina stood there while swinging her bag at one of the delinquents who had been guarding the door.
"What do you think you are doing? Coming here all alone? Maybe... you also want some?" The pervert approached Akina who quickly kicked him in the crouch.
"We should run!" Akina grabbed Mikiko and they ran fast.
She did not know how long Akina dragged her. Before she knew, she was in a strange house.
"Ano..." She turned to see Akina out of breath and her eyes wide and exhausted.
"Ahh Ahh... Mikiko-san, are you okay?" Akina asked as she got up while looking wobbly on her feet.
"Why... Why did you save me?" Mikiko asked Akina who was boiling water.
"Eh? I always felt like you were asking for someone to help you." Akina replied simply.
"Eh?" Mikiko's eyes widened.
The door bell rang which made Mikiko shiver. Akina opened the door and Sumiko appeared at Mikiko's side.
"Are you okay? Don't worry about those people. The police already caught them... On the other hand." Sumiko turned to glare at a frightened Akina.
"I. TOLD. YOU. TO. WAIT. YOU. STUPID. GIRL!" Sumiko dug her fists onto Akina's head who whimpered.
"You guys saved me?" Mikiko looked surprised.
"This idiot kept wanting to approach you and help you but she is a rather shy and moody person so she was a unable to approach you. But today when we were supposed to be enjoying crepes, she noticed you being dragged by those weird people, so we ended up following you. The remaking you know, Akina dragged you here and I called the police." Sumiko replied as Akina served peppermint tea.
"You were wanting to approach me?" Mikiko's eyes filled with tears.
"She is that kind of person." Sumiko replied with a smile
"After that, she kept looking after me even especially when she realised that I would end my life soon. Akina's kindness is the reason I have a decent life now." Mikiko announced happily.
Yusuke and Kuwabara just exchanged smiles. They had noticed that Akina was a sweet girl.
"Well... That explain a lot." Kuwabara chuckled when Mikiko heard her phone ring.
"Hello? Ah! Akina! I was just talking about... Huh? Are you kidding me? After everything? She is still standing at the entrance???" Mikiko shouted on the phone.
Yusuke and Kuwabara looked at each other.
"Eh? I with Yusuke-san... Haa? Bring him as well? Ah! I SEE! You should inform your parents before hand? Eh? They know... Sa... this should be fun... Should I call Minamino-san as... Eh? Heheh.... Well! Leave it to me!" Mikiko cut the phone while laughing evilly.
"Ne, Yusuke-san, I have a favor to ask."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The banging continued as Akina sighed. This person never gives up.
"Akina! We are here... Ah! You are here old lady." Mikiko's voice made her happy.
"Ah! Mikiko!" Akina opened the door.
"Finally you opened the door! And why are you still friends with that delinquent?" An old lady started to shout.
Akina frowned as she turned towards the old lady.
"Why are you here?" Akina asked coldly which surprised Yusuke and Kuwabara who had accompanied Mikiko.
"Ha! How dare you ask like that! I am your aunt after all!" She shouted when Akina just glared at her.
"I don't have any aunts." Akina replied as she let Mikiko, Yusuke and Kuwabara in.
"I am your mother's older sister! And how dare you let men into your house at this time of the night! Its despicable!" The woman continued screaming when Akina sighed.
"Mama, she is here again." Akina showed her phone which was on speaker.
"Reiko-nee-san! I have told you this before, leave Akina alone. She is capable of taking care of herself!"
"You don't understand Saya! She has men..."
"I know those boys! They watch over her! Not only that she spends her weekends with them! I beg you. You have already created too many rifts between me and my daughter. Now leave her alone." Akina's mother shouted as the woman shrank in anger.
"Thank you mama." Akina cut the call and the glared at her aunt.
"I don't care! You stupid girl! How can you talk to me like that!" She continued shouting.
"Is everything okay here?" Kurama's voice made her blush but Akina gave a huge fake smile as she waved at him.
"Thank you for coming over." She grabbed his hand which surprised him.
"JUST HOW MANY MEN ARE GOING IN AND OUT OF....."
"You don't get to comment on my life. My parents know what is going. Besides, I have cut all my ties with you, so you are not welcome here. Please go back home." Akina replied coldly as she pulled Kurama into her house and closed the door.
"YOU DUMB GIRL!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kurama turned to look at Akina who stood at the door.
"Akina! Where are the eggs.... Akina...? Mikiko stopped as she saw Akina's trembling figure.
She wiped her eyes and patted her cheeks.
"The eggs? Ah! They are on the table!" Akina spoke cheerfully as she rushed towards Mikiko.
That smile. It's fake
"Eh! Ah.... How I make something instead!" Mikiko suggested.
"I want my kitchen in one piece!" Akina spoke out when Mikiko hugged her.
"It's okay. Yusuke-san and Kuwabara-san are here to help. You take rest!" Mikiko said as Akina reluctantly hugged her.
"Un... Understood." Akina replied as Mikiko let go of her and then ushered a confused Yusuke and Kuwabara to the kitchen.
Akina looked down as she watched Mikiko, Yusuke and Kuwabara work in the kitchen while Kurama watched her.
"That was a rather unexpected side me wasn't it?" Akina spoke out suddenly.
"I wont deny it." Kurama replied.
"She is the aunt I told you about. She still tries to get close to me even my parents have made it clear she stays out of my life but she just can't stop. She makes me feel so angry! All I want her is to leave me alone." Akina shut her eyes as she felt tears filled her eyes.
"Akina..."
"I am not crying! For some reason when I lose my temper, I tend to cry! Its not like I hate her! But.... I can't deal with her anymore!" Akina yelled out frustrated.
Before when such incidents happened she was able to control her outbursts but she could not help it anymore in front of them, especially in front of him.
Mikiko looked at Akina sadly as Akina wiped her eyes unable to stop her tears.
"She wont say anything you know. This is the first time I have seen her cry like that." Mikiko replied sadly when Yusuke patted her head.
"She knows you are there for her, otherwise she would have not called you." Yusuke replied.
"AH!!! I CUT MY FINGER!" Kuwabara shouted.
"Ah! Bandaid!" Akina muttered when Kurama grabbed her hand.
"Let Mikiko-san help Kuwabara, why don't you sit down for sometime?" Kurama smiled at her.
"I know where your first aid is Akina! No worries." Mikiko rushed to her washroom and brought the first aid kit to the kitchen
"Sorry..." Akina muttered making everyone look at her.
"Akina." Mikiko smiled at her.
"I usually don't lose it like that... But she really knows how to push my buttons." Akina muttered when Kurama patted her head.
She blushed as Kurama smiled at her warmly.
"Sorry for disturbing but what about my injured finger?" Kuwabara asked quietly when everyone burst laughing.
"Here we go!" Mikiko laughed happily
Akina giggled as Kuwabara laughed as he showed his injured finger off.
"Ah! Akina! Do you have an extra plate! Ah let me check that closet!" Mikiko rushed to open the door.
"Ah! Don't open that!" Akina yelled but it was too late.
Mikiko paled the mountain of books which wobbled towards her as she opened the door, she moved away quickly as the books fell down.
"AHHH!!! My precious books!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Thank you everyone! I feel a lot better!" Akina replied happily as Yusuke, Kuwabara and Mikiko stood at the entrance.
"It's fine, besides its good to know that you also get angry at times!" Kuwabara joked which made Akina laugh.
"I am human as well." Akina replied.
"Oi! Are you staying back?" Yusuke called out to Kurama.
"I'll just stay for a while." Kurama replied.
"Hehe... Akina.. this is your chance!" Mikiko whispered in Akina's ear when she blushed.
"Ha! Mikiko!" Akina blushed.
"Tell me and Sumiko tomorrow!" Mikiko laughed as she left with Yusuke and Kuwabara.
"Mou... Don't be so misleading." Akina muttered as she shut the door.
Her heart was beating fast as she noticed Kurama sit near her table while reading a book he picked up from her huge mountain of books.
"Is it really okay for you to be here?" Akina sat in front of him
"Just to make sure you are okay." Kurama replied simply.
Akina watched him in awe. His red hair matched his pale skin while his emerald eyes shone, making it seem even more mysterious and beautiful. She liked the way he pursed his lips as he read.
"Is something wrong?" Kurama asked as he realised she was looking him.
"Eh!! Ahh!!! Is it okay if I ask something." Akina asked quickly.
"It's fine." Kurama set down the book.
"Umm... I heard from Yusuke that... you were originally a Yoko?" Akina bit her lip as she twiddled her thumbs.
"That is true. I used to be a thief but after getting injured I escaped here and merged with Minamino Suichi." Kurama replied.
"Eh... is that so." Akina replied
Ah! My mind is blank!
"Akina."
Akina looked at Kurama who looked alert.
"No matter what happens, don't leave my side." He said strictly as he stood in front of her.
The lights in her room was suddenly turned off. Soft footing could be heard. Akina suddenly felt her hair stand as she could feel her heart beat loudly.
Kurama gently grabbed her hand.
"Don't do anything." Kurama whispered as Akina nodded.
Suddenly something flashed into the room when Kurama used his whip. He quickly had the intruder in the grasp of his whip.
"Ah! My neighbour! So... so you really were a demon!" Akina muttered.
"What do you want with her?" Kurama asked as he tightened the whip.
The man laughed.
"Your aunt is in our hands. If you want to save her, you have to go where we say." The man laughed.
Akina's eyes widened.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Do you agree to the terms."
"I do."
"Do you hate her so much?"
"Had she not been born, I would not have suffered so much. My sister would have still been my pawn."
"Very well. You know what to do."
"Akina, you will pay for being born."