By Shiny
Chapter 2 – IntelligenceNow, no one was saying that Hotaru wasn't intelligent. He was a genius on the battlefield thanks to his style – or lack of. No, the man was not stupid, just a little…slow. The others were well aware of this; Kyo and Bon and Akira. They had actually known him, but Yuya was yet to find this out.
XxX
Yuya shot out of her futon with a soft yell. Her breathing was erratic, her heart beating wildly, and she was covered in a light sweat. She clutched her chest, right over her heart. Sometimes, she still had nightmares about Shinrei's waterwyrms. She knew they were gone, thanks to Kyo, Hotaru and everyone else, but it didn't stop the night terrors.
Yuya securely fastened her yukata and stepped out her room. She wandered down the hall of the Inn to the boys' room, just to check they weren't disturbed by her cry. She slid the door open a crack and peeked inside.
Relieved, she noted that the men were still sleeping. At least, that's all she could think with Tora and Bon's loud snoring. She gave a sigh of relief and slid the door shut. She wandered down the hall, knowing there would be no more sleep for her this night.
Yuya stumbled out into the garden, looking for a quiet place to sit. The small garden consisted of a Koi pond next to a small hill. On the top of the hill was a large oak tree, leaves splayed out under the full moon.
Yuya padded over to the tree and settled under it, leaning her back against the cool bark. She hugged her knees, curling into a tight ball. She was on the verge of tears, as her nightmares so often made her. She had never been so scared before, not even in her first time in meeting the great Demon Eyes Kyo.
A Koi leapt out the water, as if greeting her. Yuya smiled, and childishly waved. She knew it was stupid, waving at a fish, but it helped to ease her pain. She let out a small whimper, hugging her legs tighter. But, a voice broke through her pain.
"Kyo's woman?"
Yuya looked around for the voice, but couldn't see anyone or anything.
"Who's there?" she asked, reaching into her yukata for her gun.
"You don't know me by now?" came the reply. Above her, the leaves rustled and fell. Yuya gasped, jumped away from the tree with her gun drawn. Sure enough, lying on a branch was her questioner.
Even in the moonlight, Yuya could make out that orange hair, those narrow cold eyes and that double bladed sword.
"Hotaru?" she said, more of a statement than a question.
"Mmm," was his answer.
"What're you doing up there?" she asked, putting away her gun but making no move to sit back under the tree.
"Watching the clouds," he muttered aloud
Yuya sweat dropped, and told him, "It's night, Hotaru. You can't see the clouds."
"Hmm?" He looked at Yuya, and then back to the sky. "Well, so you can't."
Yuya shook her head. She could never understand the fire-bender. He was just too… illogical and plain dense.
"So, why are you out here?" Hotaru asked
Yuya jumped. How he had gotten behind her, she didn't know, but damn he was scary sometimes. She turned her head to look back at him, and found him unarmed and staring blankly at her.
"Can't sleep," she said simply. "And you?" she added
Hotaru sharply glanced at her before returning to his blank stare. "I don't sleep well at night. Never have," he answered monotonously.
Yuya cocked her head at him, silently wishing him to go on. This is the first time he had ever shared something remotely personal with her. And Yuya very much wanted to get to the bottom of the mystery they called Hotaru.
Hotaru moved past her, back towards the tree. "You should watch the clouds," he told her, while passing.
"But it's night, so how can you see them?"
"The stars outline them. It's nicer to see from the tree, though," he said.
"Well, not all of us have superhuman powers, so not all of us can so easily get up the tree," she retorted.
"Come on then"
"Wha…?" Yuya said
"Come on," Hotaru repeated. When he saw Yuya making no attempt to move, he walked back over to her. He casually slung an arm around her waist and hoisted her up.
"Yeep!" Yuya squeaked, startled by the man's actions.
Hotaru sprang forwards, earning a startled cry from Yuya. She clenched her eyes shut, grasping his arm like he would drop her.
"I wouldn't drop you," he said, setting her down on a branch.
They were on the highest branch on the top of the large tree. It was sturdy, easily holding both their weight. It was here that Yuya realised how lithe Hotaru was. He was smaller than the others, with thin, powerful arms and legs.
Carefully, Yuya sat on the branch, dangling her legs off the edge. Hotaru sat against the trunk, legs crossed. He stared out into the sky, and Yuya followed his line of vision.
He was right. From the top of the tree, she could see the bright stars shining, outlining the small clouds floating past. It was so beautiful, with the moon helping with the illumination; casting a beautiful blue shade over the sky and Inn.
She smiled and looked towards Hotaru. He was bathed in an eerie blue light, white yukata hanging off his shoulders. He was staring off into the sky, like he was trying to figure out the meaning of the universe.
Yuya kept watching Hotaru instead of the sky. He intrigued her at the moment. His eyes were so deep, not like the cold ones she usually saw. He happened to look at her, and Yuya turned her head away, blushing lightly.
Sprung!
She looked to the sky for a few minutes, then happened a glance back to Hotaru. He was still watching her, with those same deep eyes as before.
"What?" she asked him
"Hmm? Nothing," he answered. "You just look like…"
But she cut him off with a loud sigh. She knew where this was going; she got it so many times. "Yeah, yeah. I know," she said, rolling her eyes. "I look like Sakuya."
"You just look like you're in pain," he repeated.
Yuya looked at him, stunned. "I'm not," she replied, plastering on a fake smile. She looked at him, and then his eyes. Cold eyes pierced hers, penetrating her defences. She held her breath, feeling like he could suck it away with his eyes.
"Even if your mouth says no, you're eyes say something different" he said. Hotaru turned back to the sky.
Yuya let the breath she was holding out. She never knew Hotaru could be this… smart? Could you even use the words Smart and Hotaru in the same sentence? Yuya smiled, this time genuinely. She laid down on her side, supported by the branch, legs still dangling.
She tilted her head up, catching one last glance at Hotaru before she closed her eyes and nodded off. Half an hour later, Hotaru noticed this.
"Kyo's woman?" he asked, prodding her lightly. Yuya didn't rouse, but mumbled something that sounded like, "No, five more minutes." Hotaru sat back against the tree in defeat. He watched her and the sky; just to make sure neither of them fell.