One Guarded Secret

By Silverwolf

Karasu sat along the floor. Kurama sat along the bench. The pair had time to waste between classes.

Karasu: Biochemistry bites.

Kurama: Only because you could tell the whole lecture before the professor even began speaking.

Karasu (laughing): True.

Kurama: Have you seen Hiei?

Karasu shakes his head and returns to his book.

Kurama: Why do you read that crap?

Karasu: It's not crap. It's quite splendidly written, thank you.

Kurama: Yeah. Uh-huh. I believe you.

Karasu hands him a book. Kurama looks at him confused.

Karasu: Just read that one. If you don't like it you can call it crap. But if you do like it you have to tell me why. If you want another one I'll let you borrow it.

Kurama: Interview with the Vampire. Yeah, like I'm going to get into this garbage.

Karasu: Just read it and give me an opinion. Even you can manage that. We all know you're full of opinions.

Kurama: Yeah. Okay. I'll do it. That doesn't mean I'll enjoy it.

Karasu: So what if you don't like it then you don't like it.

Karasu returns to reading. The pair isn't paying any attention as Hiei slips past them. Hiei glances back towards the pair.

Hiei: Sorry guys. I'm busy right now.

Hiei walks to his class carrying his book and the rest of his stuff. Karasu glances at his watch.

Karasu: I got a class soon. I'll see ya later.

Kurama nods. He watches as Karasu walks down the hall. Karasu enters the classroom. He notices Hiei sitting quietly on the other side of the room. Next to him sits a young child. Karasu watches the crimson-eyed child sit playing with a few metal cars. One of the cars looks like a dragon. A coloring book and a box of crayons become the road as the cars are pushed along the desk.

The girl sits holding a stuffed silver winged black dragon. The child uses a pair of similar wingless dragons to lift a car resembling a white rat from the desk. One of the dragons is green with a white back; the other is yellow with a pink back. A pair of violet winged dragons sits on the desk near a toy cheetah. One dragon stands on two feet with two small front feet. The other lies on its stomach since the child has posed its four feet that way. Under the desk sits a backpack with an orange winged dragon lying near it. A wingless green dragon lies on the desk. It also can only be stood on two feet. A large dragon stands on top of the orange dragon in the floor. The creature is orange and yellow. It has two heads. One is violet and has two horns on the side of it. The other is orange with a horn protruding from its nose. A small plastic black dragon lies on the desk.

The child is dressed in a pair of double dipped blue jeans with stars printed at the bottom. The girl's white shoes also have stars printed on them. Her raven hair is tailed back with a dark blue ribbon. A navy blue sweat jacket is hung on the child's chair. There is a raccoon printed on the upper left side of the jacket. A group of raccoons surrounded by baskets of apples are printed on the back. Karasu watches the girl slide out of the desk. She then sits in the floor and glances towards him. Karasu smirks at her. The girl smiles and then hides under Hiei's desk. Karasu turns his attention to the professor as she enters the classroom. The girl plays quietly with a multicolored hacky-sack as the professor begins the lecture.

With most of the class falling asleep Karasu returns his attention back to the girl. She is wearing a sleeveless shirt with a black dragon standing boldly along it. As the class comes to a closing the child shoves her coloring book and crayons into the backpack. She then gathers the toy dragons, cheetah, hacky-sack, and metal cars. As the professor allows the class the leave as girl stands at Hiei's side. He slides on his jacket and then zips hers. Hiei snatches his bag from the floor and the child slides on her backpack. He then lifts her from the floor. The girl holds her stuffed dragon.

Karasu: That looks like some work out? So where have you been hiding?

Hiei: Stay out of this. I was never hiding.

Karasu: If you weren't hiding then how come Kurama hasn't seen you once today?

Hiei: Some things don't involve him.

Karasu: I see. Is she one of those things?

Hiei (leaving with the girl): Goodbye Karasu.

Karasu (calling after Hiei): I'll find out eventually.

Hiei leaves the building with Karasu following close behind.

Hiei: What do you want?

Karasu: Who is she Hiei?

Hiei: Who she is should not concern you.

Karasu: Can I at least know her name?

Hiei: No.

Karasu: Why not?

Hiei: Because she does not concern you.

Karasu: Fine then.

He walks past Hiei. Hiei watches him leaves for his dorm. Hiei sighs in relief.

Hiei: The least he knows about you the better off you are.

Kata giggles.

Hiei carries the child into a small cafe. He meets up with Kurama.

Kurama: Hey Hiei. How have you been?

Hiei: Busy.

Kurama (referring to Kata): Who might she be?

Hiei: Kata.

Kurama: How old is she?

Hiei: Two and a half.

Kurama: I see.

Hiei: No you don't.

Kurama: Is she yours?

Hiei: If I tell you I'll have to harm you.

Kurama: Uh-huh. Okay, new subject. Have you seen my roommate around anywhere?

Hiei: Last time I seen him he was headed for the dorm.

Kurama sits quietly for a moment. Karasu joins them.

Karasu: Sorry I'm late...(speaking to Hiei)...I didn't expect to see you here.

Hiei: Everyone has to eat sometime.

Karasu: Will your little friend be joining us also?

Hiei: Hn.

Karasu: I take it she is.

Hiei: She has to eat just like you.

Kata sits next to Hiei quietly. She drinks out a lidded cup filled with juice. The girl sits eating dry cereal with an arm still wrapped around the stuffed black dragon.

Kurama (speaking to Kata): What's that on your shirt?

Kata (boldly): A dragon.

Karasu: Do you know what color dragon?

Kata: Black.

Kurama: Why is there a black dragon on your shirt?

Kata: Cuz he burns things up.

Hiei smirks proudly.

Kurama: I'm betting she belongs to you. There's only one question, where's her mother?

Hiei: What gives your that impression?

Karasu: Gee..."cuz he burns things up."

Hiei: If I tell you guys anything you can't spread it to the Makai.

Kurama: I won't. Hiei you know too much about me all ready.

Hiei: Karasu?

Karasu: What do I get some kind of prize for not telling?

Kurama (shaking his head): Karasu, just promise.

Karasu: And if I don't?

Kurama: I could punish you a lot worse than Hiei could.

Karasu (defeated): I promise. Jeez love I never get to have any fun.

Kurama: I'll let you have fun later. Right now please be serious.

Karasu (voice purring): Remember you said that lover.

Kurama: Now Hiei, what is it?

Hiei: She's mine. Her mother died when she was born.

Kurama: How come you never told me?

Hiei: At first I thought it was better if you didn't know. Then I thought you guys would think I was foolish. I mean having her with me makes me out to be another stupid teenage father.

Kurama: So you guarded her from us?

Hiei nods.

Kurama: If Yusuke and Kuwabara found this out they would have a field day so I understand. But remember Hiei I have never allowed anything to come between us. You're my best friend. And besides you know enough about me to make my life miserable. I mean my mother knows but if you told Yusuke or Kuwabara about my love life they would go ballistic especially if you tell them who I'm with...(glancing towards Karasu)...no offense lover.

Karasu: None taken. I completely understand.

Disclaimer: I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho or any of it's characters. However, I do own Kata. She is mine you cannot have her. Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice.