Spreading Your Wings

Ch 3: Preparations

Kurama had left after a few more harsh words. The words didn't matter though. It was what was said in between the lines.

It was Hiei's fault Kelly was dying and if she did die, Kurama would come back to avenge his friend's death. Hiei would be killed. ANd if that happened, Hiei didn't know if he would have the guts to fight back, considering the circumstances.

Hiei went and sat on one of the chairs in his room and put his head in his hands. She was dying. Because of him, no less. Just like the time he had seen Lon stab her, he went completely numb. He was devoid of all thoughts except that she was dying.

Mukuro looked over at him in disgust and pity. She was disgusted because her most powerful warrior was in shock, sulking, and upset. And he was just sitting there. He needed to go do something! And the pity was for, well, obvious reasons.

She went and knelt beside him. He looked at her only when she placed a hand on his shoulder. She was startled when she saw the dead look in his eyes.

"Hiei, I will not tell you what to do. I will support you no matter what it is you decide," Mukuro whispered to him, "But, let me give you some advice. Choose whatever makes you happiest. You cannot force yourself to do something you don't want to."

She stood and walked to the door. Before she walked out she turned back to him.

"But you do love her, Hiei. You will have to admit it eventually. And honestly, I'm getting tired of your moping." She left, leaving Hiei to his thoughts.


That very same day, back in human world, Kelly's family left for Texas and her friends in Japan got ready to leave in the morning.

Kelly had arranged for them to stay at the hotel they had all stayed in when they had first come to her house.

Yukina had called her the day after she had been informed of their visit. The ice maiden told her that they had all bought her presents and were bringing decorations and even a cake. It was going to be a party the first day there.

So, Kelly sat in her living room waiting for them all to arrive. Yukina had said that Koenma was going to provide a portal in the same spot he had twice before for Kelly. They should all be arriving at any minute.

Right on cue, there was a knock on the door. Kelly got off the couch and went to answer the door, at the same time mentally preparing herself for the multiple hugs she would receive.

"Kelly!"

She sighed as she was embraced by…hmm, one, two, three people. Yusuke, Keiko, and Kuwabara. And as soon as they had let go, she was caught in the arms of two more people; this time Botan and even Shizuru.

When she had finished greeting them she turned to Kurama, Yukina, and Genkai. She held her arms out and said, "Come on. I know you want to."

Kurama and Yukina instantly went for it. Genkai merely gave her a gruff, but sincere greeting.

"You guys got into the hotel alright?" she asked.

"Yup. Everything's taken care of," Keiko told her.

"Good."

"Like your hair, kid," Shizuru said as she ran her fingers through Kelly's hair. "What'd you do with all of it?"

"Donated it to wigs for people with cancer."

"Well, ain't you a saint? Hey, you got any beer?"

Kelly gave a small laugh, though it was very weak, almost forced. She pointed out the doorway and said, "There's a beer miser in the kitchen."

"Right. Okay, Keiko, Botan, and Yukina come with me. We need to get this party started."

They nodded. Yukina went and grabbed a large box while the other two grabbed various shopping bags that filled up their entire arms. They then scurried off to the kitchen to prepare.

Kelly sighed and walked over to sit on the couch with Kurama and Yusuke. Genkai sat in a large rocking chair while Kuwabara lounged in an armchair. She leaned into Kurama, using him as a pillow, and closed her eyes.

"How are you sleeping?" he asked her.

"I actually got four hours last night instead of the usual two," she said. "I think knowing you were all comin' helped out a bit."

"Only four hours?" Kuwabara asked, concern laced throughout his voice, "And you usually only get two?"

Kelly cracked an eye open to look at him. "Not now, Kuwabara. It's my birthday party."

Yusuke snorted. "Yeah, and you're sitting on a couch falling asleep."

She lazily swung her hand at him and missed. "Shuddup."

"You need to sleep, Kelz," he said softly.

"And you need to stop gellin' your hair, Zuko."

Kurama interrupted Yusuke's retort. "I think Yusuke's right. You need to get some rest. We'll get everything done for your party. When you come down, it will be done." He gently shifted her so that she sat upright.

"Fine, fine," she murmured as she got up. As she walked up the steps to the livingroom, the others could hear her muttering under her breath. "Little fuckers. I don' need sleep. Stupid people." The muttering disappeared with the sound of a door slamming.

"She talks the same, but she looks horrible," Genkai said. "Only a month, right?"

"Yes," Kurama said with a sigh. "The doctors said that in the last week, she'll most likely go into a coma and then... never wake up."

"And what did the runt say?" Kuwabara asked.

"Not much. I don't know what he will do."

Yusuke shook his head. "I think that's the first time I've ever seen her and her iPod not within reaching distance." He turned to Kurama. "She really wants nothing to do with music anymore?"

"The last time she sang was at your wedding. Her mother had been surprised she had even done that," Kurama informed him. "But she loves us all too much. She couldn't say no."

Kuwabara nodded. "She had told me once how grateful she was for us. She described it as 'finally stumbling out of the darkness.' But it seems she's been plunged back into it."

"Whoa, Kuwabara just said something intelligent," Yusuke said with a smile. "Poetic even. School really is workin' for ya, huh?

"Shut it, Urameshi!"

"Both of you shut it!" Genkai said loudly as she stood. "Now, let's go. We can't let those girls go overboard or Kelly will kill us."

The three boys stood and followed Genkai. Kurama stopped at the bottom of the stairwell and looked up. Kelly's bedroom door was right next to the top step and Kurama could see that it was still shut.

He walked away, knowing that nothing he could do could help her now. Only one person could do that. But even Kurama didn't know if he would show.


yeah, this chapter was kinda slow, or boring or w/e choice word you wish to use. but it was necessary i think. it showed you how blase Kelly is over dying. she so laid back and lazy that it's not really affecting her. that and the fact that dying is what she ultimately wants right now. so i think its natural for her to act this way.

i also wanted to show how Hiei was handeling it, or how he wasnt handleing it. how he just goes numb.

anyways, i think you'll all like next chapter. i like it myself, though for much different reasons than you will. hee hee.