This one is much longer. Sorry I took so long to update. I am head honcho at home now and it has me run ragged. I have not had the ideal time to sit and think about this. Here it is!
The rest of the visit went by like a blur. Both Hiei and Keiko were really too tense to pass for pleasant. Both were thinking the same thoughts inside their heads.
Keiko's POV
Is he looking at me? What is he thinking? Why is he here anyway? Does he know?
She tried desperately to keep a smile plastered on her face while these thoughts tormented her. She couldn't help look over at the fire demon sitting in the chair in the corner. Every once and a while, when she looked over his head would turn just a fraction, like he had been looking at her.
Her heart was pumping hard as she took a deep breath. Why was she doing this? What was it about Hiei that made her go all weird? She didn't know, but she hoped that he couldn't see her reaction to him.
Hiei's POV
Why did I think that this was a good idea? She's going to see me looking at her, and she's going to freak out.
He growled under his breath. HE was getting tired of the fox's long chat and he wanted to get out of this chair. But he would stay, until Keiko left.
He could feel what was left of his heart thudding in his chest. It was starting to hurt, like a bad headache or something.
He chanced a quick glance at her, and she wasn't looking at him. He took a moment to admire her face, and how soft it was. Even though it made her look like a weak human girl, he could see a fire raging in her large brown eyes.
A sudden thought entered his head at that moment.
She's not mine.
He frowned at this. He knew it, but did not want to believe it. It wasn't like she already belonged to that stupid Detective. If Yusuke had made any sort of move, he might accept that, but he hadn't. He also knew how they were betrothed from birth.
I need to get out more. I'm starting to depress myself again.
Then Kurama stopped talking and stood, thanking them for their visit. Hiei stood and blurred upstairs, back to Kurama's room. He hated to say goodbye to Keiko.
Keiko's POV
She stood also, stifling a yawn. She hadn't really been paying attention to him, but she felt good for coming anyway. She shook his hand and turned to shake Hiei's, but he wasn't there.
He must have left already.
She hid her frown and stepped to the door and got her coat, preparing to go outside. Kurama waved to her and started upstairs to his room. She smiled at him and opened the door, walking out,
Why did I think that was a good idea? It was a good idea until Hiei showed up. I can't think when he's around.
She shivered as a tingling ran down her spine. She shook away those thoughts and focused on the road ahead of her. She decided to visit Yusuke, while she was at it. She knew that he would be in the human realm for a while, after one of big missions that he had said he was going on.
As she walked down the street, she began to feel as if she was being followed. She could feel eyes on the back of her head. It was unnerving her. She turned her head but didn't see anyone. It was strange. There were not many people out today, and on a Saturday, that was very strange.
She turned down the familiar streets and neared Yusukes's house.
Strange. Normally I'm all jittery when I go to his house.
She saw his home and slowed, taking her time. She stopped at the door and listened to see if Atsuku was home. She didn't hear her so she opened the door and stepped in quickly.
She looked around the house. It was messy as always and the kitchen looked like a battlefield. She froze when she heard a loud noise, but calmed as soon as she realized that it was just Yusuke's snoring.
She walked quickly to his room, and the door was open, so she peeked her head in. He was lying on top of his bed, still in his clothes snoring like a bear. She stifled a giggle and stepped into his room.
The floor of course was littered with clothes and junk so she had to watch her step as she made her way to the bed. She sat on the edge of it and watched Yusuke sleep.
How peaceful he looks.
She stared at his face for a long time. It had definitely changed. It was hard, and his cheeks weren't that round anymore. He was handsome, but she didn't feel very jittery anymore. She pondered on why this was.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the realization that her eyes were staring into his big brown ones. She jumped, and stood, embarrassed. He sat up and rubbed his eyes.
"Morning Keiko. Haven't seen you in a while." He mumbled to her. She nodded and looked down.
"It's nice to see that you are back in one piece." She told him looking up and meeting his gaze. She could see her worried eyes reflected in his. He frowned and moved to wrap an arm around her.
"It's nice to see that someone was worrying about me." He said into her ear as he gave her a one armed hug. She smiled, holding in her tears. It broke her heart every time he spoke like that. He broke off and looked into her eyes, some unknown emotion raging inside them.
She sat there and pondered their would-be relationship.
What relationship? We don't have one. Yes, we care about each other, but that's all.
Her moody thoughts depressed her. It was true though. They would never be anything but friends. They could pretend that they loved each other, but it would never work. With him in the Makai all the time and her at home worrying, it would never work.
She looked up and could see a question burning in his eyes. He cocked his head and a puzzled look came on his face.
"You look different." He said matter-of-factly. She frowned and nodded. She could feel his eyes on her burning cheeks. She stood and started cleaning his room, absent mindedly. She couldn't take it anymore. Maybe she was cracking. Maybe she knew why.
This has to end.
Hiei's POV
Hiei ran up to Kurama's room and jumped out the window. The fox would understand. He hopped into the tree and hit the ground. He was no more than a blur as he crossed the street and hid in the trees over there. Now he would see her and be able to follow her again.
When she came out of the house, she looked troubled. Sad, even. He frowned. She had seemed cheery enough through the visit.
He watched her walk down the street, oblivious to him. His blood red eyes burned a hole in the back of her head. She stiffened visibly and looked behind her, looking for the one she would never see.
I am a shadow. Your shadow. Get used to it Keiko.
She turned back and quickened her pace. She turned down the street that went to the detective's house.
She's going to visit Yusuke.
His thoughts immediately became hard. What did she see in him? He leaped up onto the roof of a house and looked down on her as she took the familiar route to his house. She seemed to be calmer than she normally was when she visited him.
She stopped at his door and waited, listening he presumed. Then she slowly entered is house. He watched her, his eyes reflecting a deep sadness.
She's not mine. She never will be. They will want me at their wedding. I won't go.
His heart was thudding hard again, but he wasn't tired. Unknown emotions circled around his heart, clouding his head. Keiko shut the door and he could hear her careful steps with his better than average hearing.
He could hear Yusuke's god-awful snoring. He could see in his minds eye, Keiko gazing lovingly down at the sleeping boy. It made him sick. Then it stopped.
"Morning Keiko. Haven't seen you in awhile." Hiei listened carefully. He could hear Keiko say something, in a worried tone.
This conversation had gotten too mushy for my taste.
He waited a long while, waiting for them to speak again. The Yusuke's voice.
"You look different." For some reason, this did not sound very loving to him. The voice was puzzled, interlaced with regret and sadness. Then it hit Hiei.
Something told Hiei that this wasn't exactly a very common conversation to be having with your lover. It was too pained. Too burdened with pain. He realized now. They were pretending. They didn't love each other. They never outgrew their friendship and never would.
Then she is not his.
This sudden thought lifted his spirits immediately. Here was his chance. No more Yusuke. No more stupid wedding. He could already see her face, reflecting his love for the girl. He couldn't contain his excitement. He had to let it out.
He jumped off of the roof and ran. He ran to the Makai border and slipped through, unnoticed by the guards. Then he ran as fast as he could, trying to unleash the joy inside him. He had never been this excited. It was like he had already told her.
You will be mine.
He promised Keiko this, with all of his heart. He knew what he had to do. He knew now that the strange emotions inside of his heart were just his feelings for her. Jealousy for Yusuke, love for Keiko. His face, once so heavy with torture was uplifted.
Yes, Keiko.
You will be mine.