Title: Overly Crimson, Not Red
Episode 2: Yusuke's Demon Teenager Angst, Hiei's Self-Destructive Tendancies
Author: Aiieke
Warnings: Same as last.
Disclaimer: Get over it.
It was undoubtedly the largest spider Hiei had ever happened upon in the Ningenkai. That was somewhat pathetic, seeing as the smallest Makai spiders Hiei had seen were the size of his fist, which this particular one didn't even approach in size. But the spider neither knew or had the mental capacity to care about what Hiei thought of it because it had a job to do. Thin legs scrabbled frantically over threads that could only be seen if they reflected light, seeming to work in a completely unorganized fashion as the foundation was set up, trailing the threads and climbing back up them again only to go back down. It worked hard because that spiraled net was part of it's purpose, the key to the little creature's survival, it's niche. For something so important, it seemed off that Hiei could have destroyed that web with a simple wave of his hand.
A noise drew Hiei's attention to the street below.
-.-.-
Kurama felt that it was highly convenient to have the school's laboratory supplies at his disposal all in one general location. Because of this, Kurama made it a point to stay after school on Fridays to work in the chemistry lab. If everything was right there and accessible, then hey, why not make use of the opportunity? Kurama figured. While most students had already left the school, eager to start their weekends, Kurama had the classrooms all to himself. Others who also stayed late were already accustomed to his presence during the after-hours. The teachers no longer questioned his reasons for working late, which was good, considering that his line of work was of a very questionable nature. But as far as Kurama could tell (which is quite far), everyone probably assumed that he was performing experiments to further the good of humanity. Those suckers.
Just as Kurama recorded a color change, an all-too-obvious cough broke the quiet. Turning to face the menace, Kurama found a girl dressed in black and navy green sitting at the desks. Kurama felt she wore too much eyeliner.
"Don't mind me," she said quietly.
With enormous self-control, Kurama forced his hand to set down the nitric acid, remove his goggles, and rub his eyes tiredly. To his dismay, the girl was still there when he opened his eyes again.
"Your irises are red," Kurama commented from out of nowhere. "Funny how that is..."
"No, they're crimson... and they're just naturally that way because it's my special character trait."
"Is it, now?" Kurama mused. He could have toyed around with this situation all afternoon, but his emotional energy was currently at an all time low. "Let's proceed to the point; sister, past lover, or just an out-of-the-blue admirer?"
"Huh?"
This one was slow, he thought. "Out of the three," Kurama elaborated, "The sister one seems quite popular nowadays."
The girl looked stumped for a moment. Then, "I'm Suzaeanne. I've had a tortured and angst-filled past. I'm not sure if you remember, but about a million years ago, bandits murdered my mother and my siblings on a raid that you led. Scratch that; I got killed too and Koenma brought me back."
"A million years," Kurama repeated.
"Mm hm," Suzaeanne nodded, "and naturally, ever since my entire family was slaughtered before my eyes, I developed an intense fascination for you."
Kurama rolled his eyes and briefly turned back to his lab counter, massing a few grams of dry chemical. "You saw Youko Kurama?"
"Yes."
Kurama faced her again. "Then why are you after me in my human form now? I've resolved to stay this way, you should know that. Really, they spent like three whole episodes addressing this issue."
Suzaeanne didn't know how to respond; she hadn't quite worked out the details all the way yet.
"And why haven't you the slightest trace of demonic energy?"
"About that-"
But Kurama didn't wait for the half-assed response that was sure to come as eyes widened suddenly as he turned his gaze onto the window behind Suzaeanne, "Is that Hiei? Outside over there?" Kurama shouted, "And..." Who else would this occult-looking girl like? "I believe that's Karasu with him!"
"Hiei?" Suzaeanne shrilled and dashed to the window. "Wait, where? I don't see Hiei. Or Karasu..." But by the time Suzaeanne looked back, Kurama had disappeared, leaving behind a beaker that was rapidly filling the room with burning smoke.
Sneaky bastard.
-.-.-
Kuwabara felt that he had a moral obligation to support his friend, regardless of whether that friend even wanted it or not.
"You've been acting moody lately, and you act like you need help, but you won't say anything either, and I'm getting sick of it!" he declared.
Yusuke gave up and threw his hands into the air. "Fine! Let's just say that I'm trying to find myself like they do in the movies. There! Are you happy now?"
"Don't give me any of that. I'm taking Psychology this semester--"
"Yeah, and you'll fail like always,"
"Shut up! I'm getting better grades than you." Kuwabara grumbled. "The easy thing to do would be to pound some sense into you," Yusuke gave a snort at that, and Kuwabara did his best to look as if he were hurt for a valiant cause, "but I'm taking the effort to do this the hard way, and you- you're not even acknowledging the fact that I'm trying to be caring for once."
Yusuke was about to make a sarcastic retort when he changed his mind abruptly. "What the hell? That looks like... Kurama."
"Hey, yeah." observed Kuwabara, "What's he doing out here?"
Indeed, Kurama was approaching from the other end of the street in a half-jog. Yusuke and Kuwabara waved and greeted.
-.-.-
Hiei looked down from the tree he occupied. One part of him was satisfied that because he was already in the tree to begin with, it proved without a doubt he was not a stalker. Another part was insanely curious as to what Kurama needed to see Yusuke and Kuwabara for.
-.-.-
"This is kind of out of your way, isn't it?" asked Yusuke.
"Not at all," Kurama smiled, though Yusuke thought he looked a bit flustered, especially the moment before when he was running up to them and glancing over his shoulder.
"So, how's it been-" Kuwabara started to ask.
"KURAMAAA!"
In an instant, Kurama ducked behind Kuwabara. Suzaeanne tried to sidestep and to get around him, but Kurama kept Kuwabara between them as a shield. It was pretty effective, since Suzaeanne seemed to keep her distance.
"Kuwabara, I- I am so sorry," Kurama apologized desperately from behind Kuwabara's shoulder. Yusuke brooded off to the side, feeling as though he should be laughing at his friend, but not finding the motivation to do so.
"Uh, don't sweat it." Kuwabara felt a little awkward with the creepy looking girl staring at him intensely, but he really had nothing to fear, for the might of creepy looking girls was not a match for him.
Kurama couldn't understand, which was a big deal for someone like Kurama. "That window was a three-story drop. I fused the door to its frame! "
Yusuke was interested now, but in a reprimanding way. "Did you try to kill someone again?"
Kurama grasped for some explanation to justify himself. "Well, it was the fourth one this week, and I was just--"
"You know Koenma was close to busting your ass for the last murder stunt you pulled!"
"Yes, and it would be in all of our best interests if nothing were to happen because Koenma is not going to find out, now is he?" Kurama hissed meanacingly.
"Your eyes are red." Kuwabara commented to the girl, trying to ease the tension. It didn't work.
-.-.-
Inside, Hiei was facing a dilemma. How on earth was he supposed to get Kurama's attention without looking lame? Being 'too-cool-to-enjoy-the-company-of-friends' was delicate sometimes. Next to him, the largest spider of Ningenkai caught a bug.
-.-.-
Kuwabara studied her more closely. "And you look like you've had a tortured and angst-filled past in which your parents were killed during a raid," he remarked offhandedly, "...that, or you've recently made an art project involving toothpaste. I'm not sure which."
Suzaeanne nodded, stopping. "You're right. About the first one, I mean."
"Kuwabara, if you can read people like that, then certainly you could find the causes of Yusuke's affliction." said Kurama, having calmed down, but still wary of being jumped. A few by passers on the street were giving the four of them odd looks.
"Just because Kuwabara feels like playing therapist today, doesn't mean I suddenly have problems!"
"But you have been surly, lately," Kurama insisted.
"I don't know. I'm not sure I can. People are usually more difficult that that, but this girl's really simple." said Kuwabara.
Suzaeanne took offence. "I am not simple, you... you...!"
Kurama pushed up his sleeve to check his watch. It was bad... if he didn't somehow find a way to get away without being followed again, he would not make it home in time to greet his mother from work! If only...
Some god, probably Lord Inari, whoever he was, from wherever he was at, must have heard Kurama's plea; Hiei stood a short distance away, scowling at everyone.
"Hey, look. Hiei's back..." Kurama announced cheerily, slowly coming out of hiding.
"Hey Hiei, long time no...whoa." Yusuke stopped, while Kuwabara's jaw dropped. "What happened to your leg!"
Kurama's gaze immediately dropped, to see where pants of Hiei's left leg were shredded from the knee down, complete with blood seeping through. Hiei eyed Kurama sarcastically. It certainly took him long enough to notice.
Looking back over his shoulder, Kurama waved to his friends, minus the confused girl. "I should take Hiei home now," Kurama laughed nervously, "can't have him going around like this, can we?"
Suzaeanne looked utterly forlorn, however, the first step she took in an effort to chase down her beloved had caused her to trip over Yusuke's foot that just happened to be there.
-.-.-
Later, as Hiei was getting wrapped in bandages, Kurama remembered something that was nagging at him.
"Hiei, would you mind if I asked you something?"
"Yes, I would mind."
But it was too bad for Hiei, because Kurama decided to ask anyway.
"Right. Being as it is with you on-duty in the Makai and all...how did you ever manage all the way to Ningenkai on such an injured leg?"
-.-.-
The End. Reveiw?
(Yes, I know where the plotholes are. I am sorry.)
