Chapter Text
This is a Yu Yu Hakusho songfic broken into two parts. This, obviously, is the first part. The pairing featured is Kuwabara X Hiei, and the song used is '100 Years' by Five For Fighting. There is angst in this, more so in part two, but in this part, as well.
When You’ve Only Got A Hundred Years To Live—Kuwabara X Hiei (100 Years—Five For Fighting)
[I’m fifteen for a moment,
Caught in between 10 and 20, and I’m just dreamin’,
Countin’ the ways to where you are]
Fists flew in the warm spring breeze, amiable chatting and an ancient temple in the background providing an ill-fitting backdrop to the brawl. Crimson eyes rolled as a carrot-top was pinned to the ground, obviously not the victor of the battle. “What was that, Kurama?”
“I was asking how you and Kuwabara are doing, Hiei,” Kurama reiterated before taking a sip of his drink. Loud shouting from behind him caused him to turn his head, seeing Yusuke Urameshi holding up a thoroughly defeated Kazuma Kuwabara by the back of his shirt, grinning as though he was posing for a picture. He shook his head, turning back to face Hiei once again.
“Fine,” Hiei replied, rolling his eyes yet again at the look of determination on his lover’s bruised and bloodied face. Focusing again on the fox, he noticed something different about his demeanor, almost as if he was trying to hide something. “Why does it matter?” He added, looking for cues in the other’s body language upon his reply.
“Well,” Kurama began with a measured tone, “something’s been addling my mind lately, about the two of you…” He paused a moment before continuing. “Hiei, what are you going to do when Kuwabara dies?”
Hiei was noticeably taken aback by the question. His mind wandered off before he could formulate a reply. While he knew that he’d likely outlive Kuwabara by many hundreds, or possibly thousands, of years, he’d never entertained the thought of being alone after his partner’s death, for that’s exactly what he would be; alone.
[I’m 22 for a moment,
And she feels better than ever, and we’re on fire,
Makin’ our way back from Mars]
That night, awake beside a sleeping Kuwabara, Hiei was still contemplating the issue at hand. The warmth of his lover next to him only reminded him of how cold he’d feel when he was gone. Memories started flooding back to him, crashing into his consciousness like tidal waves—when Kuwabara had confessed his feelings; their first kiss not long after; their first time with each other—every memory shared; every touch, every word, from yelling hateful obscenities to sweet whispers in the dead of the night. Everything, and it hit him all at once.
Looking towards Kuwabara, Hiei studied him through the darkness. Most would’ve said that the human wasn’t very easy on the eyes, and that may have been true, but it was what most couldn’t see that made the yokai stay with him. His hair was orange and styled unusually, yes, but that said nothing of how soft it actually was, un-gelled and falling in his eyes. Although his eyes were small, looking into them gave you a glimpse straight into his soul, proving that he was a man who held nothing back. His lips were thin, hiding how warm and supple they actually were. Perhaps the biggest contradiction about his character, though, was between his punk demeanor and how amazing of a person he actually was.
Hiei was coming to the conclusion he knew he’d reach the whole time; he couldn’t live without Kuwabara. He couldn’t carry on after his death, for there wouldn’t be anything left of him. He cursed himself for becoming so attached to another being that their death became his own. Another glance at his sleeping partner told him that he had to do something—surely, something could be done so that he wouldn’t be damned to an eternity of loneliness after his mate’s passing.
A moment’s thought gave two options, both equally ridiculous: One, lengthen Kuwabara’s lifespan somehow, or two, shorten his own somehow. How in any level of hell was he supposed to go about doing that?
Suddenly, the answer came to him. Koenma. Koenma was the only one in the three realms capable of manipulating lifespans; as much as he hated to admit it, he needed the godling’s help. With the proposed solution came another question, however, a question of how to go about requesting the other’s assistance. Neither were very fond of each other, and chances were that Hiei would be blown off before he was able to explain the reason for his request. Threatening the prince of Reikai would only land him a stint in prison, so his usual method of persuasion wouldn’t work...
Hiei was still deliberating his options when the younger man beside him roused, lazily tossing an arm over the other’s waist. “What’re ya still doin’ up, shorty?” Kuwabara asked through a yawn.
“Thinking,” Was Hiei’s reply. Luckily, Kuwabara had long since grown accustomed to his lover’s one-word statements. A hand tousled his bright orange hair. “Go back to sleep, Kazuma,”
“Mm, not yet,” The arm around Hiei tightened, and he was soon pressed to the vast expanse of the human’s chest. “What’re ya thinkin’ about?”
Hiei was ready to reply with his usual, curt, “Hn,” but decided against it last-moment. The question posed presented a chance to eliminate one of the topics of his mental debate. “Kazuma,” An eyebrow raised over a grey eye before he continued. “Suppose you were given an opportunity to have the lifespan of a demon, to live for thousands of years and age very slowly. Would you take it?”
“No,” Kuwabara’s immediate reply noticeably shocked his partner. “I’m a human, Hiei, so I should only live as long as humans do. If no one else gets a chance like that, why should I?”
Hiei nodded; that was the answer he’d been expecting. Of course Kuwabara had to be so noble as to not accept the deal of a lifetime—or three. He heard the human yawn, and decided to ask one more question while the other was still awake to answer. “Kazuma?”
“Yeah, Hiei?” Kuwabara asked through another yawn as he pulled the duvet over the two of them.
“How do you go about getting something that you want?”
Blaming the hour for Hiei’s sudden talkativeness, Kuwabara relaxed against his pillow, smiling sleepily as he replied, “You ask nicely,” before letting slumber take hold of him.
Hiei sighed; if that was his only option…
[15, there’s still time for you,
Time to buy and time to lose, 15,
There’s never a wish better than this,
When you only got a hundred years to live]
Koenma stared disbelievingly at the slip of paper in his hand. It wasn’t possible, it wasn’t logical…
…What in the three worlds had possessed Hiei to actually submit a formal request to see him? What happened to simply barging into his office? Whatever it was, he admitted to himself that he wouldn’t find out unless he approved the request, so without any further hesitation, the ink of his seal soaked into the paper.
It took a full two hours after Hiei’s arrival for him to properly convey the reason for which he’d gone through the proper channels to contact the Prince of Reikai. “So… You’re telling me that you want to shorten your lifespan? To that of a human’s?” Koenma clarified. Hiei nodded wordlessly.
A long moment of deliberation lengthened the silence that already weighed heavily on the occupants of the room. Finally, after a ten-minute eternity of quiet, an answer was given. “…Alright. I’ll help you,”
[I’m 33 for a moment,
Still the man, but you see I’m a “they”,
A kid on the way, babe,
A family on my mind]
Within the next half hour, the deed was almost done. Koenma explained that tampering with the length of one’s lifespan was permanent, and that he would die at a certain age no matter how hard he tried to avoid it. “Humans live an average of eighty to ninety years if they stay healthy, and if they’re lucky, they may even live to one hundred or more. That is the limit on your life, Hiei. You will die at the age of one hundred. Are you sure you still want to do this?” Once again, Koenma found himself wary of stamping a paper with Hiei’s signature on it.
Hiei nodded. “I’m sure,” Something addled the back of his mind, a question that perhaps he’d forgotten to ask. He dismissed it, knowing that if it was of any importance it wouldn’t be so far away from his conscious thought process. He couldn’t, however, explain why he felt a sudden tightness in his chest as Koenma’s stamp met the paper.
Hiei stood from where he’d been sitting, forcing himself to bow respectfully to Koenma before moving to take his leave. As he neared the large, ornate doors of the prince’s office, the question that once wouldn’t pose itself in his mind was beginning to take on the form of words—words that would change his life forever.
It struck him as soon as his hand moved to open the door. Dread knotted his insides, and that didn’t happen very often. “…Koenma?”
Koenma looked up from his paper-covered desk. “Yes, Hiei?”
Hiei slowly turned back around, meeting the godling’s curious gaze. “How old am I right now?” The dead silence that followed couldn't have been more deafening.
[I’m 45 for a moment,
The sea is high and I’m headin’ into a crisis,
Chasin’ the years of my life]
The Koorime people were known to keep meticulous birth records of those who were born on their secluded island in the sky, all of which Reikai had obtained copies of. Although Hiei wasn’t in their records, for obvious reasons, Yukina was, and with their date of birth on hand, only a few calculations had to be made to figure out the twins’ age.
Koenma’s stomach dropped, and he realized that they’d made a horrible mistake—one that could never be corrected. Hiei noticed the shift in the other’s energy, knowing without being told that something was wrong. “What is it?” He snapped.
Koenma could barely find the breath to answer the question through his shock. “99…” He whispered. “You and Yukina are 99…”
To be continued...