What Knows No Bounds- Prologue: A Shinobi's Honor (Yu Yu Hakusho, TouyaxHiei, #22)
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This chapter is also posted on fanfiction.net at this link.
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What Knows No Bounds
Prologue: A Shinobi’s Honor
By Yodai Hiro “aka” orions_tears on 7.13.06
Revised on 8.27.06
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Pairing: TouyaxHiei
Fandom: Yu Yu Hakusho
Theme: #22, a great sorrow
Disclaimer: I don’t own Yu Yu Hakusho because Yoshihiro Togashi-sama has that right to claim.
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Claimer: I’ll claim as I need to.
Gen. Summary: Will Touya accidentally discover what it is that holds no bounds in the blind pursuit of Hiei’s heart?
Ch. Summary: One would think honor shouldn’t be so damn complicated…
Gen. Warning(s): Lots of angst. Mainly shounen-ai (1), but there will probably be some shoujo-ai (2) and het (3) as well. And there’s a big possibility I’ll be upping the rating on this fic later on down the road. So there’ll most likely be full blown yaoi at some point toward the end, meaning sexual relations between two guys. Aye, and expect lots of twists and romance to be slow because of the main pairing I’m dealing with. Violence. Cursing. Implied sexual situations. Ect.
Ch. Warning(s): CHARACTER DEATH! Mentions of shounen-ai. Slight cursing.
Rating: M
A/N: You guys FINALLY have the prologue to my Touya/Hiei chaptered fanfiction. I know some of you have been waiting forever for it. Sorry guys, but anywho, expect all my weirdness to be added in this fic. Other than that, review if it floats your boat. I’ll always be grateful for feedback, but I’m one of those rare authors who doesn’t have to have it to continue writing. -shrugs- But seriously I hope you enjoy.
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The vast crimson of the Makai (4) sky clashed brutally on the horizon with endless white blanketing the desolate plains of the Northern Territory, just like blood tainting the purity of snow with a violent splash of red. An unnerving stillness pervaded the plains, the kind of stillness filled with silence that was so heavy it could weigh one down as if it was a ton of bricks on one’s chest, instead of the gaseous substance it was supposed to be. Such silence seemed to have the “gift” of stealing one’s very breath with its oppression just so it could take on a life all its own. The wind held its icy breath, for nothing dared to move, not even Father Time himself.
The unpredictable wrath of the demon, who was the epitome of winter itself with long suppressed emotions that could erupt into an uncontrollable blizzard, was perhaps strong enough to wipe out the entire Northern Territory. Dread seemed to wait for what action the Ice Master would take against the low class youkai (5), who managed to take down the Wind Master by what appeared to be sheer dumb luck…wanted to know how Touya would avenge his fallen comrade.
“Die.” This single emotionless command was said so softly one would never catch the ominous threat bound to it, at least not until the deadly chill snuck its way up one’s spine, but by then it would be too late for the unlucky bastard because his entire body would be a frozen statue like the low class demon standing a few feet in front of Touya now.
“Shatter.” Touya once again directed his will to control his element by the mere power of a spoken word watching dispassionately as the statue began to slowly crack from the bottom.
In just a few seconds, that sole crack reached the head of the ice sculpture, where a horrified expression was etched on its ugly face. With another heartbeat, the demon’s body suddenly busted into a million shards right at the Ice Master’s feet. Touya didn’t even spare a glance at the remains of the creature, for he turned his back to the tiny shards because they would eventually blow away with the wind once it decided to breathe again.
Guilt and sadness flickered briefly in two azure orbs when they settled over Jin’s broken, bloodied body on the ground from the thousand foot plummet he made from the sky, a plummet that would have killed him immediately had he been a ningen (6). Touya saw the arrow sticking out of the Wind Master’s chest, the tip undoubtedly layered in a potent poison. He instantly knew that that youkai has been hired to assassinate the last two remaining members of the Shinobi (7).
“Looks like his job was half-assed, eh, Toy?” Touya listened to Jin try and laugh at the question he’d asked in his heavy Irish accent, only to end up gasping instead. It was just like Jin to attempt to lighten a serious situation, even one as critical as this one.
The Ice Master found himself soon cradling Jin’s fragile body against his chest, uncaring of the blood seeping into his dark clothes. He sat right there in the snow soaked with Jin’s precious life force, and he was suddenly overcome with a gentleness he never knew he possessed before, barely recognizing that he was rocking the Wind Master back and forth as if trying to comfort a small child that had taken a tiny fall just scraping his knee.
Touya felt his icy heart cracking with each wheeze Jin made. Blood trickled its way down the side of Jin’s mouth prompting Touya to gently wipe it way with one hand while running his other through Jin’s wild, flaming red mane, his fingers lightly touching the little horn every now and then. Unknowingly, the ice demon was silently crying, his teardrops landing on Jin’s cheek, causing the weakening Wind Master to look up strangely at his best friend, his own ocean blue eyes widening at seeing Touya’s tears and the fear in the koori (8) youkai’s sky blue eyes.
“Toy, don’t be scared of losing me. You’ll have Hiei, so no tears, my old friend.” Jin’s voice was failing him, his eyes closing with sudden exhaustion.
Jin knew he didn’t have much longer now because he could feel the poison closing off his airway. His fever was rising to a scalding temperature causing his sweat to mix with his already blood drenched body.
“How did you…” Touya trailed off from asking Jin how he had known the truth about his ever deepening feelings for the fire demon of Yusuke’s team when he saw that his friend’s eyes were closed, the wind demon’s body flaming against him as air was no longer being inhaled or exhaled through Jin’s mouth.
“Jin?” Touya’s voice had always been soft but never weak, at least not until now.
‘Toy…promise me…you’ll tell Hiei...’ Touya heard Jin’s voice in his head and felt how frail their telepathic link was.
‘I don’t think I can promise that, Jin.’ The Ice Master knew he couldn’t promise something so impossible to the Wind Master. ‘Hiei and I cannot be…’
‘Yes you can…you’re…promise me… please…Touya! I’ve no time... left in… this world… but I can’t go…knowing…you’ll…be alone…please…just promise me…you’ll tell him…’ Jin’s voice was fading away, their link dying with him.
Touya didn’t know if he could answer…
‘Damn…it…Toy…promise me…or…I’ll haunt you…to your own death!’ Jin growled threatening the ice demon darkly, and for someone who hadn’t ever done it before, the Wind Master pulled it off perfectly.
‘Fine! I’ll tell him, Jin!’ Touya growled right back, even more upset with the situation.
‘Do…I have…your word of honor…Toy?’ Jin inquired uncertainly.
‘Hai (9) , you’ve my word on my honor as the last shinobi, Jin.’ Touya answered his best friend in the affirmative because what other choice did he have now that he made the oath?
‘You… can’t… break… your… promise… now…Toy…’ Jin chuckled quietly, sending the ice master a pleased smile through their link.
‘Go on to Reikai (10) already, and don’t forget me, baka (11).’ Touya felt himself choking up, even as he smirked at Jin telepathically.
‘Don’t… blame… yourself… for… my… death…Toy… and…don’t… doubt… that… you… and…Hiei… were…meant… to… be…because…it’s…all…apart…of…destiny...’ And Jin’s last words were perhaps the wisest thing he’d ever said in Touya’s 450 years of knowing the Wind Master.
“Destiny…” Touya whispered aloud standing to his feet, Jin’s lifeless body in his arms, his soul finally on its way to Reikai.
It seemed Destiny was nothing but a cheapskate because She stole Jin from Touya while using his admirable nature against him, for Jin was right when he said he couldn’t break his promise. Once a shinobi swore by his word of honor, there was no way of backing out because to break such a rigid code meant death by ritual suicide as a way to cleanse one’s soul of the sin of being an unworthy coward.
Perhaps, the Ice Master was already as good as dead because failure had the same consequences of breaking his word of honor. How the hell could he succeed when everything was certain to fail when it came to Hiei? Jin didn’t know they were meant to be, so how could he say something like that? To give Touya false hope? To keep him from doubting as he had said?
Fire and ice were never meant to be, especially when those two elements didn’t even know the first thing about caring for one another…
Touya yanked the arrow from Jin’s chest throwing it in the snow and watching until the last of the Wind Master’s blood flowed from the grievous wound. He could have saved Jin if he’d seen the demon in time, and he’d still have his best friend. He could’ve saved himself from the hell he was about to go through with the hi youkai (12).
Or maybe this truly was Destiny…
Holding Jin tightly, the Ice Master sighed treading through the frozen wasteland, snow falling heavily at his back. His mind was on his destination beyond the portal that linked Makai and Ningenkai (13), his destination being Genkai’s Shrine. Touya needed a place to get his thoughts together, and the old master’s home was the only legal sanctuary for demons in Ningenkai.
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TBC!
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Translation Notes:
(1) A lighter, more spirtual/emotional category of male/male love because yaoi usually consists more of sexual relations between males
(2) A lighter, more spirtual/emotional category of female/female love because yuri usually consists more of sexual relations between females
(3) female/male
(4) Demon World
(5) demon
(6) human
(7) elite group of ninjas
(8) ice
(9) yes
(10) Spirit World
(11) idiot
(12) fire demon
(13) Human World
If I missed something, or if you have questions, don’t be afraid to ask me, alright?
---
This chapter is also posted on fanfiction.net at this link.
---
What Knows No Bounds
Prologue: A Shinobi’s Honor
By Yodai Hiro “aka” orions_tears on 7.13.06
Revised on 8.27.06
---
Pairing: TouyaxHiei
Fandom: Yu Yu Hakusho
Theme: #22, a great sorrow
Disclaimer: I don’t own Yu Yu Hakusho because Yoshihiro Togashi-sama has that right to claim.
---
Claimer: I’ll claim as I need to.
Gen. Summary: Will Touya accidentally discover what it is that holds no bounds in the blind pursuit of Hiei’s heart?
Ch. Summary: One would think honor shouldn’t be so damn complicated…
Gen. Warning(s): Lots of angst. Mainly shounen-ai (1), but there will probably be some shoujo-ai (2) and het (3) as well. And there’s a big possibility I’ll be upping the rating on this fic later on down the road. So there’ll most likely be full blown yaoi at some point toward the end, meaning sexual relations between two guys. Aye, and expect lots of twists and romance to be slow because of the main pairing I’m dealing with. Violence. Cursing. Implied sexual situations. Ect.
Ch. Warning(s): CHARACTER DEATH! Mentions of shounen-ai. Slight cursing.
Rating: M
A/N: You guys FINALLY have the prologue to my Touya/Hiei chaptered fanfiction. I know some of you have been waiting forever for it. Sorry guys, but anywho, expect all my weirdness to be added in this fic. Other than that, review if it floats your boat. I’ll always be grateful for feedback, but I’m one of those rare authors who doesn’t have to have it to continue writing. -shrugs- But seriously I hope you enjoy.
---
The vast crimson of the Makai (4) sky clashed brutally on the horizon with endless white blanketing the desolate plains of the Northern Territory, just like blood tainting the purity of snow with a violent splash of red. An unnerving stillness pervaded the plains, the kind of stillness filled with silence that was so heavy it could weigh one down as if it was a ton of bricks on one’s chest, instead of the gaseous substance it was supposed to be. Such silence seemed to have the “gift” of stealing one’s very breath with its oppression just so it could take on a life all its own. The wind held its icy breath, for nothing dared to move, not even Father Time himself.
The unpredictable wrath of the demon, who was the epitome of winter itself with long suppressed emotions that could erupt into an uncontrollable blizzard, was perhaps strong enough to wipe out the entire Northern Territory. Dread seemed to wait for what action the Ice Master would take against the low class youkai (5), who managed to take down the Wind Master by what appeared to be sheer dumb luck…wanted to know how Touya would avenge his fallen comrade.
“Die.” This single emotionless command was said so softly one would never catch the ominous threat bound to it, at least not until the deadly chill snuck its way up one’s spine, but by then it would be too late for the unlucky bastard because his entire body would be a frozen statue like the low class demon standing a few feet in front of Touya now.
“Shatter.” Touya once again directed his will to control his element by the mere power of a spoken word watching dispassionately as the statue began to slowly crack from the bottom.
In just a few seconds, that sole crack reached the head of the ice sculpture, where a horrified expression was etched on its ugly face. With another heartbeat, the demon’s body suddenly busted into a million shards right at the Ice Master’s feet. Touya didn’t even spare a glance at the remains of the creature, for he turned his back to the tiny shards because they would eventually blow away with the wind once it decided to breathe again.
Guilt and sadness flickered briefly in two azure orbs when they settled over Jin’s broken, bloodied body on the ground from the thousand foot plummet he made from the sky, a plummet that would have killed him immediately had he been a ningen (6). Touya saw the arrow sticking out of the Wind Master’s chest, the tip undoubtedly layered in a potent poison. He instantly knew that that youkai has been hired to assassinate the last two remaining members of the Shinobi (7).
“Looks like his job was half-assed, eh, Toy?” Touya listened to Jin try and laugh at the question he’d asked in his heavy Irish accent, only to end up gasping instead. It was just like Jin to attempt to lighten a serious situation, even one as critical as this one.
The Ice Master found himself soon cradling Jin’s fragile body against his chest, uncaring of the blood seeping into his dark clothes. He sat right there in the snow soaked with Jin’s precious life force, and he was suddenly overcome with a gentleness he never knew he possessed before, barely recognizing that he was rocking the Wind Master back and forth as if trying to comfort a small child that had taken a tiny fall just scraping his knee.
Touya felt his icy heart cracking with each wheeze Jin made. Blood trickled its way down the side of Jin’s mouth prompting Touya to gently wipe it way with one hand while running his other through Jin’s wild, flaming red mane, his fingers lightly touching the little horn every now and then. Unknowingly, the ice demon was silently crying, his teardrops landing on Jin’s cheek, causing the weakening Wind Master to look up strangely at his best friend, his own ocean blue eyes widening at seeing Touya’s tears and the fear in the koori (8) youkai’s sky blue eyes.
“Toy, don’t be scared of losing me. You’ll have Hiei, so no tears, my old friend.” Jin’s voice was failing him, his eyes closing with sudden exhaustion.
Jin knew he didn’t have much longer now because he could feel the poison closing off his airway. His fever was rising to a scalding temperature causing his sweat to mix with his already blood drenched body.
“How did you…” Touya trailed off from asking Jin how he had known the truth about his ever deepening feelings for the fire demon of Yusuke’s team when he saw that his friend’s eyes were closed, the wind demon’s body flaming against him as air was no longer being inhaled or exhaled through Jin’s mouth.
“Jin?” Touya’s voice had always been soft but never weak, at least not until now.
‘Toy…promise me…you’ll tell Hiei...’ Touya heard Jin’s voice in his head and felt how frail their telepathic link was.
‘I don’t think I can promise that, Jin.’ The Ice Master knew he couldn’t promise something so impossible to the Wind Master. ‘Hiei and I cannot be…’
‘Yes you can…you’re…promise me… please…Touya! I’ve no time... left in… this world… but I can’t go…knowing…you’ll…be alone…please…just promise me…you’ll tell him…’ Jin’s voice was fading away, their link dying with him.
Touya didn’t know if he could answer…
‘Damn…it…Toy…promise me…or…I’ll haunt you…to your own death!’ Jin growled threatening the ice demon darkly, and for someone who hadn’t ever done it before, the Wind Master pulled it off perfectly.
‘Fine! I’ll tell him, Jin!’ Touya growled right back, even more upset with the situation.
‘Do…I have…your word of honor…Toy?’ Jin inquired uncertainly.
‘Hai (9) , you’ve my word on my honor as the last shinobi, Jin.’ Touya answered his best friend in the affirmative because what other choice did he have now that he made the oath?
‘You… can’t… break… your… promise… now…Toy…’ Jin chuckled quietly, sending the ice master a pleased smile through their link.
‘Go on to Reikai (10) already, and don’t forget me, baka (11).’ Touya felt himself choking up, even as he smirked at Jin telepathically.
‘Don’t… blame… yourself… for… my… death…Toy… and…don’t… doubt… that… you… and…Hiei… were…meant… to… be…because…it’s…all…apart…of…destiny...’ And Jin’s last words were perhaps the wisest thing he’d ever said in Touya’s 450 years of knowing the Wind Master.
“Destiny…” Touya whispered aloud standing to his feet, Jin’s lifeless body in his arms, his soul finally on its way to Reikai.
It seemed Destiny was nothing but a cheapskate because She stole Jin from Touya while using his admirable nature against him, for Jin was right when he said he couldn’t break his promise. Once a shinobi swore by his word of honor, there was no way of backing out because to break such a rigid code meant death by ritual suicide as a way to cleanse one’s soul of the sin of being an unworthy coward.
Perhaps, the Ice Master was already as good as dead because failure had the same consequences of breaking his word of honor. How the hell could he succeed when everything was certain to fail when it came to Hiei? Jin didn’t know they were meant to be, so how could he say something like that? To give Touya false hope? To keep him from doubting as he had said?
Fire and ice were never meant to be, especially when those two elements didn’t even know the first thing about caring for one another…
Touya yanked the arrow from Jin’s chest throwing it in the snow and watching until the last of the Wind Master’s blood flowed from the grievous wound. He could have saved Jin if he’d seen the demon in time, and he’d still have his best friend. He could’ve saved himself from the hell he was about to go through with the hi youkai (12).
Or maybe this truly was Destiny…
Holding Jin tightly, the Ice Master sighed treading through the frozen wasteland, snow falling heavily at his back. His mind was on his destination beyond the portal that linked Makai and Ningenkai (13), his destination being Genkai’s Shrine. Touya needed a place to get his thoughts together, and the old master’s home was the only legal sanctuary for demons in Ningenkai.
---
TBC!
---
Translation Notes:
(1) A lighter, more spirtual/emotional category of male/male love because yaoi usually consists more of sexual relations between males
(2) A lighter, more spirtual/emotional category of female/female love because yuri usually consists more of sexual relations between females
(3) female/male
(4) Demon World
(5) demon
(6) human
(7) elite group of ninjas
(8) ice
(9) yes
(10) Spirit World
(11) idiot
(12) fire demon
(13) Human World
If I missed something, or if you have questions, don’t be afraid to ask me, alright?
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