Chapter One-Excuses

I'll be there. Five sharp, she had promised, but it was almost sunset and he had been standing in the rain for almost two hours. Thinking that she would be punctual just this once had been a mistake. He should have known. He had been such an idiot…trusting her over and over again when there was never the chance that she would keep her promises.

"Sorry I'm late," her voice came suddenly, just above his head. He looked up and saw standing on a branch above his head, grinning at him and drenched in rainwater. There was also a faint odor about her. It seemed she had been sopping it blood but the rainwater had apparently washed it away.

"You look like hell," he muttered, leaping unto the same branch she stood on and steadied her, seeing that she was about to take a dive into the mud pool below them.

"Would it be a surprise if I told you that wasn't the first time I've heard that today?" she asked, and then taking a weak step forward, collapsed into his chest.

"Stupid girl. You should save your energy," he said, putting his arms underneath her legs and picking her up off the branch. "You'll need it when I beat an explanation out of you."

The girl did not hear him. She could just feel her head ringing through her ears. Placing her head on his shoulders, she passed out.

"I think she's coming around," she heard a voice say and opened her eyes and stares about half a dozen curios faces staring back at her.

"Oh no! I'm late!" she cried suddenly and tried to leap out but went back down when she felt a sharp twinge in her left hip. She laid back down and winced, muttering to herself, "Oh…yeah…I'm already late…"

"That you are," he said from his place on the windowsill.

"Sorry…" was all she said and listened for his reply. Rather than hear words she heard movements. A few seconds later the door to whatever room she was in slammed shut. And he was gone. Everyone but the girl stared after him.

"Hiei seems more pissed of than normal today," said one the boys in the room.

"I think it has to do with the girl," said another girl.

"Well of course it has to do with the girl! He isn't the type to waltz around saving people!"

"Oh calm down Yusuke. Take your nonsense somewhere else".

"I'm going after Hiei," Yusuke said then started out of the room before Kayko could protest. Keiko sat clutching Puu to her chest as she watched Yusuke leave. I doubt he's even going to bother looking for Hieishe thought then returned her gaze to the girl.

And gasped.

"Guys…I think she's crying…"

Surely enough the stranger in Yusuke's bed was welled up in tears. Kayko took pity on her immediately although she had absolutely no clue why she was crying. She just stared at her wishing she had some sort of special powers like every other person she knew in the room so she could help her.

"I think we should give her some room," came an aging voice. Kayko, Kurama, Botan, and Yukina turned toward the old psychic Genkai. Then, all at once, stood and begun to file out of the room. As Kurama was about to exit the room, Genkai placed a hand on his arm. "No," he whispered to him, "you stay. See if you can find out what's going on." Kurama nodded and stepped back from the door as Genkai left the room and closed the door. He turned back around toward Yusuke's bed. The girl still lay there, curled up on her side, facing the wide glass window.

Kurama sat down near the door as he watched her.

"I take it you have some sort of connection to Hiei?"

No answer.

"Speak now, won't you? If you want us to help you it's best you admit to it."

Nothing.

"Giving me the silent treatment? Very well. Just answer me this one question. Why is it that Yukina's healing powers won't work on you?"

Silence.

Kurama sighed, hating what he had to next.

Standing up, he walked over to her and placed his hand on the left side of her hip—the injured side.

He pressed down.

Hard.

The girl yelped and jumped.

Kurama pulled his now bloody hand away and waited for words. They came of course.

Angrily.

"What the hell is wrong with you? Do you have any idea how much that hurts! Have some freakin' decency!" the girl shouted as she turned to face him.

"You talk as much as you bleed. Wonderful. Tell me now, what happened to you?"

"I tripped and had a nasty fall," she muttered, wiping her face.

"I'm sure."

"My little brother ran me over."

"I don't think your little brother is licensed to drive."

"He used his bike."

"And you ran to Hiei rather than to your parents?"

"I didn't ran, I crawled."

"Then it's amazing how you had no track of mud on you when he brought you here."

"I have mud proof skin."

"I'm sure."

"Is that all you ever say?"

"No, I can also say you sound as ridiculous as a talking monkey."

"That's the worst crack I've ever heard."

"I don't dedicate my time to humor much."

"I can tell."

"I guess you would know," Kurama muttered, raising an eyebrow.

The girl glared at him.

"So why won't Yukina's powers heal you? A nasty fall should be a breeze for her but just by trying to heal that nasty cut on your face, she started to become unconscious."

"I guess the witch should keep her powers to herself."

" 'Ice Maiden' And that would be Hiei's sister you're insulting."

That shut her up.

She curled up once again into a protective ball taking her eyes off Kurama.

"I see you're very sensitive about him. Care to tell me why?"

Silence.

"We don't have to go through this again, do we?"

Silence again…no wait…there was noise…was she…crying again?

"I wish you would open up more, dear girl, what's pestering you?"

"Where did he go?" she sobbed.

"Hiei? My guess is to find somewhere to gather his thoughts."

"I should have stayed home."

"Perhaps you should have. I think it would have been best for all of us."

"Yes, you're right," the girl said lifting legs off the bed and wincing as she did so.

"I think that's where I'll be heading now."

"I'm afraid I can't allow you to do that to yourself."

"Then go to hell," she said plainly, then made an attempt to stand.

It was no trouble-free attempt.

"If you're so set on leaving, allow me to know your name," Kurama said sighing.

The girl had wiped her face and had her hand on the door's handle by now.

"It's Spectra," she replied quietly, then opened the door.

Botan stumbled unto the floor in front of Spectra.

"Uh huh…." Spectra muttered raising a brow.