I was pacing around, unable to stand still. I twiddled my thumbs, pulled at my fingers, and cracked my knuckles. Nothing worked. I felt butterflies dancing in my stomach, into my chest and up my throat. They were making me gag. The dream I had last night gave me the worse stage fright when I thought of meeting my new protectors. I was quite proud of myself. I had memorized their four names and faces, something I was very bad at, but now all their faces bled together and I couldn't remember any names. Damn that King. I was perfectly content with my new body guards until that king told me what they have done over the years. I had known nothing that they had done. A curse for living under a rock. The thought still sends shivers down my spine. I couldn't think why. I knew men who have done much worse. Maybe it was the fact that they were human, like me, but also something completely different. I could hear the prince's voice, muffled through the door. God what was taking so long? Couldn't I just come out, say hello and then leave. Despite what the king thinks I really didn't need them. She wouldn't allow anything to happen to me, not while her life still is so dependent on mine. I was so wrapped up in my thoughts that I jumped at the sound of my own name. "The lady of the Night." The little prince called again, a question in his voice. I took a deep breath and slipped through the door, my hands shaking on the handle. I put on my well practiced poker face as I felt five pairs of eyes fall on me. The kimono they put me in was so strange to me. I gripped it at my sides, trying hard to keep my knuckles from going white.
"Hello." I said sharply. While living under my rock I was able to learn different languages, Japanese was my favorite. It gave me a little comfort knowing that I could understand them and they could understand me. One of the four standing across from the prince started to walk toward me. I froze. Long red hair, green eyes, and a very cute boyish face. Kurama was his name. I prayed that was his name. He took my hand in his and bowed.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Kurama." he said. He had a very velvety voice, very calm.
"The pleasure is mine Mr. Kurama." I responded back to him just as calmly. He stood up straight and took his hand gracefully from mine. I let it drop limply to my side. He gave me a warm smile. I tried to smile back but it was a terrible attempt and I failed miserably. She churned my stomach, and I tried to hold back the discomfort from reaching my face and giving me away. 'Demon.' she whispered in my ear. Two more men walked up to me. The first one to reach me was another red head. His hair was... I guessed curly. Curly would work. He was tall and built like a house. He was intimidating until I heard him speak.
"Hiya. I'm Kuwabara. Nice to meet you Miss Night." he patted my shoulder with his bear like hands. The other hand was rubbing under his nose. Though I would never say it to his face, I have to say, he sounded and looked like an idiot. This new feeling in my gut told me that she agreed. I nodded my head at him.
"Nice to meet you too. Mr. Kuwabara." my response thankfully gave me my freedom as he let his hand drop. The black haired boy pushed him out of the way, giving me an idiotic grin. "Yusuke?" I guessed. His smile dropped and they all gave me a confusing look.
"How did you know that?" he asked. I shrugged. I was panicking; no I was way beyond panicking. I took a deep breath.
"The prince gave me your names before he introduced me. I just used process of elimination to guess who you were. I got lucky picking he right name." I lied. Despite myself I think I did a good job with this lie. The smile returned to his face so it must have worked. "So my final guess is that that is Hiei." I said pointing to the very short man still standing by the desk. I didn't think it was possible but I finally found someone that wasn't at least three heads above me.
"Yes, that's Hiei." Kurama answered. Hiei looked at us and Kurama nodded him over. He just gave us a face.
'Brat who does he think he is?! Ignoring us like this is an insult! I think we should kill him.' she hissed in my ear.
"Well no one care what you think so shut up." I rolled my eyes.
"Huh?" Kuwabara's voice asked.
"Did I say that out loud?" My voice broke. I could feel my cheeks turning bright red. All four of them nodded, then to make it worse the prince started to chuckle.
"What was that?" Hiei asked. His voice was rough and aloof, but there was defiantly curiosity.
"Well you see..." I began. How do I explain this? I turned away from them completely. I hid my face in my hands. Their stares on my back were like lasers. I didn't even hear him coming, but I heard his voice, closer now asking me.
"Well we see what?" he asked annoyed. I felt something moving my hair. His breath?
"She is possessed by the true lady of the Night." The prince said, saving me from being burned alive by their stares.
"Really?" Kurama asked truly intrigued. She was laughing at me, at me. It's all her fault and she as laughing at me. I completely blocked out the conversation behind me. No doubt it was about her.
"What's so funny?!" I whisper-screamed at myself. 'You're so embarrassed!' she told me through her laugh. "Well you make me look like an idiot!" I told her through my grinding teeth. 'Than don't respond.' her tone was suddenly serious. 'Always remember you got us into this mess. Not me.' and with that she disappeared into the depths of my mind. "Come back!" I yelled. Everyone started again. I turned to face them. Hiei was closer than I thought originally thought. He backed away quickly but for a brief moment I could smell him. He smelt good, really good actually. I couldn't explain it. He had two sure inches on me but I felt tall around him. The prince continued to explain and they turned their gazes back to him. Hiei looked a lot stronger up close than he did from a distance. 'You like him.' she whispered.
"Shut up." I whispered back. "I do not, and didn't you say you wanted to kill him a few seconds ago?" I turned back into conversation in front of me. Everyone looked like they were in disbelief. No doubt they had just heard the part of my life where I died horrifically and still manage to get away as a corpse. I sighed.
"I think I can tell the rest, in time. No need to give them heart attacks." I interrupted. "Can I have the keys to the place you got me? Then we can call this a day." I continued. I put one hand out in front of me and wrapped my other arm around my stomach. I put my best defiant face on. What was I doing? The prince was taken aback.
"Alright." He answered hesitantly. He took the keys out but didn't give them to me he gave them to Kurama. 'Jerk!' she yelled. It hurt my ears.
"She's in your care now." the prince said. The door opened behind us. Kurama shrugged behind him. Yuske and Kuwabara followed behind him. Hiei stared at me and I stared back. He followed behind everyone quickly, catching up to them in no time. I stayed. I wanted so badly to glare at the prince but instead I glared at the floor. I walked stiffly behind everyone as we all got ready to head to the human world.
We had to stop at three different houses. First was Kurama's, since his mom wasn't home. He packed some clothes and left a note for his mom saying he was going camping with some friends. Then we went to Kuwabara's house. It took him an HOUR to convince his sister that he wasn't going to get himself killed. We all waited outside. I was still in the kimono and people were staring. When we all reached Yusuke's house I was on my last nerve. That's when Botan and another girl came running at me. Botan handed me a plastic bag and I looked inside. A smile ran across my face, it was clothes. Normal clothes. I thought I might cry.
"HI I'm Keiko." the girl said.
"Hi." I said back, still staring at my clothes.
"You'll be able to change at my house." Keiko said warmly.
"Thanks." I sighed. She started walking down the street and I followed eagerly. Her house wasn't far away but I really wasn't paying attention. Her house looked similar to Yusuke's. She led me inside, past a shop and a living room, then up a flight of stairs to her room. It was small, with only a bed and a desk. She stayed in the doorway as I walking it.
"When you're done, just put the kimono in the bag. I promised Botan I would look after it until you needed it again." She said warmly.
"Thanks." I said. My voice was dry. She giggled and closed the door behind her. I put the bag on the bed and proceeded to tear it apart. Inside there were a pair of dark blue jeans, a black belt, and a short sleeve shirt, also black. I was in such a rush that I made silly mistakes taking off the Kimono. It took longer than it should have. When I finally had my new clothes on I messily folded the stupid kimono and shoved it into the bag. I opened the door and looked around but I couldn't find Keiko. Wow, I remembered her name.
"Keiko?" I called.
"Right here." She said. In one hand was a pair of converse sneakers a pair of socks sticking out. In the other hand was a toothbrush and some soap. I took the things from her hands in exchange for my kimono.
"The bathrooms right here." She said pointing to the door next to her. "I thought maybe you would like to clean up." I could feel my cheeks turning slightly red.
"Thanks." I said quietly stepping into the bathroom. She closed the door for me and I heard her walk down the hall. First things first, I cracked my neck, my toes, and my knuckle. I sat down and pulled on the socks, wiggling my toes up in the air. I rolled my ankles around one more time before putting on the converse. I stood and looked in the mirror, the first time in 5 months. I fiddled around with my pin straight hair. All the red die I had put in it last year was gone, revealing my light brown hair. My eyes had turned green even though they were blue. The only flaw was that they had dark rings beneath them. My skin was pale white and all the black made it shine. 'Wow...' she whispered. After a few more minutes of staring at myself I washed my face. It felt surprisingly good and my skiing felt clean. Then I brushed my teeth, twice. When I felt ready I stepped outside and looked around. Keiko wasn't there. I heard yelling outside and flew down her hallway, down her steps, passed the shop and out the door. Keiko was yelling at Yusuke for touching her butt. EW, pervert.
"Um Keiko?" I interrupted.
"Yeah?" She turned to me and smiled, though it was strained. She looked furious. I held up the toothbrush and soap that I had taken from her bathroom.
"What should I do with these?" I asked quietly.
"Oh you can keep them." while I distracted her Yusuke tried to make a break for it, but she caught him. Was he cowering? Keiko gave him a slap in the face that sent him flying. I winced for him.
"You can but your things in my bag." Kurama said reaching out for them.
"That would be great actually." I looked around and aside from Hiei I was the only one without a bag. I noticed something off, something missing. Kurama opened his band and reached for my things. I gave them to him still trying to figure out what was missing. Then I noticed we were missing a certain blue haired someone.
"Where's Botan?"
"She left. She said she had something important to do." The idi- I mean Kuwabara answered.
"Oh." I said stepping off the cement step in front of Keiko's door. I looked up to see the sky was pink, which meant the sun was setting. I groaned. We still had to get to the apartment. I must have had a disappointed look on my face because Kurama touched my shoulder.
"Don't worry," he told me. "The apartment isn't that far." He stepped to the side and I stepped in front of him. He put his hand between me should blades, not really touching me, but guiding me to the apartment. Hiei followed us, his hands in his pockets. He looked bored out of his mind.
"Hiei?" I asked keeping my gaze on him as I walked along side Kurama. He didn't give me any response so I continued. "If you want you can leave you can. I don't want to be doing this either." Even though I almost tripped on my own two feet, having Kurama catch me luckily, I never took my eyes off him. He gave me one short glance and then completely turned his head the other way. That pissed her off immensely. I turned my face forward, closed my eyes and took deep breaths. My hands were balling up into fists.
"Is something wrong?" Kurama asked concerned. We were halfway down the block and Kuwabara and Yusuke were running to catch up to us. Keiko was still screaming.
"I'm fine." my voice was rough, harsh and cold. It was her voice. She wanted so badly to take over the body and rip him to shreds. It was hard to keep her under control. My breathing became more and more labored. Kurama was now touching my back, I could feel his gaze on my face. I let the annoyance and pain show on my face despite my best efforts. I could feel her seeping into my eyes and finger tips so I did the one thing I could do at this point. I raised my hand and bit my finger. I bit harder than I intended and my finger started to bleed. Kurama came to a full stop and Yusuke and Kuwabara finally caught up to us.
"Are you okay?" Yusuke asked. His voice was a little airy. I took a good look at my finger.
"I'm fine." I said nonchalantly, using my voice. Hiei hadn't stopped walking, so I stuck my finger in my mouth, sucked on the blood and followed him.
"We should wrap that up." Kuwabara said. The three of them were trailing behind me. I put up my free hand in protest and glared at them.
"I don't need it." I said and walked a little faster ahead of them. We spent the next 15 minutes in silence. Sucking on my finger gave me a good excuse not to talk for a while. I stopped sucking when I couldn't get anymore blood out of my finger. I wiped it on my pants and took a look at it. She was taking care of it. There was nothing left but deep bite marks now. Hiei stopped, and I looked at him, my hand falling to my side. He didn't start walking again till I was at his side. He kept with my pace, though I'm sure it was too slow for him. Everyone tensed behind me. I looked around trying to find a sign of danger but couldn't.
"Why did you do that?" Hiei asked. His voice had changed from the fist time I heard him speak. It was a lot smoother. I looked at him but he still refused to look at me.
"Him?" I was so involved analyzing his facial movements and his tone that I missed the question.
"What made you bite your finger?" He asked again. My eyes widened. The three behind us seemed to tense even more, but it wasn't from danger, they wanted to know my answer to. I faced forward.
"When she gets too angry she tries to take over." I began. "The only way to stop her is to hurt myself. It distracts her." no need to go into detail.
"What was she angry at?" he asked. He didn't move his head but I could feel his gaze on me. I turned my face slightly to see he was looking out the corner of his eye.
"You sweetheart." She answered coldly; I quickly covered my moth and looked away. He turned his head a fraction of an inch.
"I see." He said nonchalantly. The sun was almost completely gone, the street lights coming on. He looked me over once, or at least I thought he did, and then started on his faster pace again. I looked behind me and they all instantly turned their gazes in other directions. I almost ran right into Hiei, he stopped short in front of a building.
"This is it." Kurama said. He used one of his keys to open the main door and we all stepped inside.
END OF CHAPTER ONE
