Welcome, to chapter four of "A Debt Yet Paid" and I thank those of you who have taken the time to review. In this chapter, Yuri meets the rest of the spirit group and begins establishing friendships. I'm not really sure about this chapter, I rewrote it a few times to get it right. Tell me what you think.
Please, I'm desperate. R&R?
There was at least four inches of snow covering the ground and everything in sight was glazed with ice and snowy dust. Cars that passed on the street rolled by at a creeping pace to keep from skidding off the road that was layered in black ice.
The snow crunched beneath my boots and I reached down to scoop up a handful of the white fluff. With a giddy laugh I tossed it into the air, the snow glittering as it blew away with the light breeze. I felt like a five-year-old as I dusted my gloves off, and there was a skip in my step as I continued on my way.
School had been canceled and most of the roads were closed because of the icy conditions. This was one of the few times I was glad that I didn't have to drive a car, but I loved the exercise of walking everywhere anyways.
It was early morning and there was no sun in sight to ruin the perfect snow day, but that also meant it wouldn't be warming up anytime soon. My thin jacket and long-sleeved shirt wasn't exactly keeping the cold out, but I wasn't going to complain. Though the snow was already beginning to seep into my boots and the bottom of my jeans.
I pulled the hat on top of my head further down to cover my ears and straightened out my earmuffs. I was happy to at least have them. With the snow day ahead and not having to go to work until much later in the day, I was free to do anything I wanted for a while. So I decided to go to the park.
I wasn't the only one to take pleasure in the beautiful scenery; the bare trees were covered in snow and icicles hung overhead on the branches, the gray skies began to blend with the white hills further off on the horizon, and the large pond in the middle of the park was frozen solid.
I sat down on a bench close by, brushing the snow off the wooden seat. There were numerous people skating on the ice; children, adults, couples--and they all seemed to be enjoying themselves greatly.
I watched one particular couple, no older than me, holding hands and laughing as they fooled around. The boy skid across the ice clumsily and fell on his butt, the girl gliding gracefully after as she used her hand to cover her grin. She offered him a hand and he grabbed it, pulling her down on top of him. Laughter drifted back to me and I looked away, wrapping my arms around myself to keep warm.
After sitting there for half an hour, I stood up and stretched my cold, stiff joints and made my way to a drink stand. In the summer, they had the best lemonade you could find in the city, but in the winter the iced drink wasn't very preferable.
"Can I help you?" the man asked, shifting from side to side to keep warm. He seemed nice enough looking and he gave me a warm smile--his eyes wandered a little too much, for my comfort, though.
"One hot chocolate, no marshmallows," I told him, avoiding his eyes and squeezing myself a little tighter. He nodded and fixed a hot chocolate in a Styrofoam cup, putting a lid on it before handing it to me. I dug money out of my bag and gave it to him, taking my drink and quickly walking away.
I found my way back to the bench I had been sitting on before only to find it now occupied. As I turned around to find somewhere else to get warm, I heard a familiar voice behind me.
"Yuri-san? Is that you?" Yukina was sitting on the bench with a rather tall, rugged looking guy with orange hair.
I hadn't really placed the green hair right away the first time I had seen her, but now the color emerged vividly in my memory. "Yukina?" I blinked in surprise. "What are you doing here?" I asked, though it was a rather stupid question. She could go anywhere she wanted and the park was no exception.
Yukina giggled and stood up, rushing over to give me a hug. I didn't stiffen up this time--I had seen it coming--but it still made me a little ill at ease. I patted her on the back and she pulled away, her red eyes shining and a broad grin on her face.
"My friends wanted to enjoy the weather, and even though I'm a little sick of snow I came with them," she told me, taking my hand with hers and pulling me over to the bench where her friend waited with a confused expression.
She was sick of snow? I wondered how that was even possible, unless she was from the mountains. There was little chance of her being a foreigner from an arctic country because there was no accent in her voice.
Then a thought came to mind. "Is Shuichi here, as well, then?" I asked. I never knew of the redhead being much one for cold weather--he complained that it killed all of the plants in his garden.
The green-haired girl nodded and motioned for the boy who I had seen her sitting with. "This is Kuwabara Kazuma--he's another one of Shuichi's friends and my boyfriend," she introduced me to him, "And Kazuma this is Yuri."
The taller guy blushed and rubbed the back of his neck, sticking his hand out and I took it cautiously. "Hey, nice to meet you--you can call me Kuwabara. You're the one who saved my precious Yukina, right?" he wondered, his eyes blazing with adoration as he looked at the girl. I could tell he loved her. Yukina smiled and took his hand in hers, smiling at him in return--and she loved him, as well.
"I suppose you can say that," I told him sheepishly, rather jealous of their relationship. I would be happy if I could have any kind of closeness with another person.
Shuichi was close to me, but we were only connected through school and most of our conversations lingered on the subject of our studies. He was the most trusted person in my life so far, though, and I should have been contented enough with that. But I'm not…
"Oh! You must come and meet the others! I'm sure they would be glad to meet you," Yukina told me, clasping her hands together in a hopeful manner.
I was about to decline and come up with some story of having to go to the store, but her expectant gaze made me reconsider. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt," I replied reluctantly, shrugging my shoulders.
There was a light squeal and Yukina wrapped one of her arms around mine, supposedly leading me in the direction of her friends. I wasn't sure if I was eager about or dreading meeting the other people in Shuichi's life, but I supposed that if my friend could trust them then I could at least give them a try, as well.
I suppose that it was just so rare for me to find someone who I felt didn't judge me. Shuichi and I had known each other long before anything had happened, when my life had been carefree and I was still considered a normal person. Now I was just the "yankee at Meio High."
We went deeper into the woods, somewhere secluded and I knew that there was another pond in this direction. Kuwabara followed us (more so his girlfriend than me) like a little lost puppy, making comments every now and then about it being too cold or offering Yukina his jacket.
The trees opened up and I could see a group of people in the clearing ahead--skating, making snowmen, wrestling in the snow. The sight made me smile and I noticed one particular redhead standing off to the side, leaning against a tree with his hands shoved in his pockets.
His gaze looked my way and he seemed genuinely surprised, despite the fact that the infamous Shuichi never seemed to be caught off guard. I hated how he always knew everything, even if it seemed by pure happenstance.
"Yuri, might I ask what you are doing here?" he asked, pushing away from the tree to walk over. His question drew the attention of everyone else and I was found to be the center of attention. I mentally cursed Shuichi.
I gave him a sheepish smile, inclining my head towards Yukina who had let go of my arm to hold onto Kuwabara's once more. "I happened upon these two and was asked to come along with them. Who am I to pass up the opportunity of meeting your rather mysterious friends outside school?" I replied, teasing him with the fact that just as he could have secrets I could have my own.
"Aye, Kurama! Who's the chick?" I heard the greasy-haired guy called. I would have been offended by his blatant name for me, but I had heard much worse so I let it slide. I was also curious as to the name he called my friend by.
Shuichi, on the other hand, glared heatedly at the boy and I couldn't recall a fiercer expression from him. "Yusuke, please refrain from saying such things in front my friends from school," he said in his alarmingly calm voice.
And as if that had some sort of hidden message, the Yusuke boy stiffened and looked rather nervous about something. "Eh-eh…sorry, Shuichi," he laughed, rubbing his neck. He turned to me with a goofy smile and held his hand out, I took it uneasily. "Name's Uremeshi Yusuke."
I nodded and pulled away, giving a slight bow. I was much more comfortable with this rather than close contact. "Nice to meet you, Yusuke-san. My name is Fujimori Yuri," I introduced myself.
Yusuke snorted and I looked at him surprised. "Please, none of that honorific shit. I hear enough of it at school," he growled out in a childish manner, shoving his pinky in his ear and twisting it around.
"Which you rarely go to," the girl next to him spoke up in a chastising manner. "Excuse Yusuke and his manners--he has none. I'm Yukimura Keiko and, unfortunately, this idiot's girlfriend," she said, shoving her finger into the boy's chest.
I resisted the urge to giggle and bit my lip as Yusuke began to whine, only to be dragged off by Keiko. "Ignore those two, it's nothing new for them to fight," a blue-haired girl popped up out of no where and I jumped. "Oh, I'm sorry. Did I scare you?" she laughed.
"My name's Botan!" she said cheerfully, a grin plastered to her face. Her voice was gratingly high-pitched to my ears, but she seemed nice enough and I returned the smile.
"I'm glad to meet all of Shuichi's friends," I said, looking over my shoulder at the redhead. "I only know him as a dull and boring study partner during school. Tell me, is he any more interesting afterwards or is his nose still stuck in a book?" I asked in a mocking tone.
Everyone seemed to share a look that I didn't recognize, and I was only reminded that there were probably so many more things that they knew about him than I did.
Yusuke nudged Shuichi in the side and started snickering. "He's still a bookworm and a know-it-all. Though he tends to have a bit of a temper at times," the punk (or so I call him from his actions I have witnessed so far--it wasn't until much later I learned that Yusuke was known as the "punk of Sarayashiki High") harassed.
"You can say he's a different person altogether," Kuwabara piped up, only to be hit over the head by Yusuke's fist. I continued to stare bemused--I didn't understand any of these inside matters. Do I really want to…?
Keiko sighed and stepped forward, tugging on my sleeve and pulling me over to the side. "They're all crazy," she told me. "Yukina and K--Shuichi told me about what happened downtown. You really beat tat guy up?" she asked in slight wonder.
I sweat dropped and sighed as I was bombarded with numerous questions by the others. Kuwabara wanted to know who the guy was so he could beat the crap out of him, Yusuke wanted to know how much I knew about fighting, and Botan wanted to know where I got my clothes. I had never talked to these people in my entire life and they were suddenly chatting with me like I had grown up with them.
I was getting kind of claustrophobic. Shuichi seemed to pick on it and spoke up. "I'm glad that you came Yuri, and now that you've met my friends we can all do something together later," he suggested and I gave him a thankful smile. "For now, let's just stay here and enjoy the snow."
Everyone dispersed to where they had originally been--Botan was skating across the ice with Keiko and Yukina, Yusuke was rolling around on the ground with Kuwabara, and I remained sitting on the bench as Shuichi sat down next to me.
Neither of us said a word and I took a sip of the forgotten hot chocolate I held in my hands, now lukewarm but still good.
"How are you today?" Shuichi asked after a few minutes of silence. I knew the code behind those words.
"I'm fine--ecstatic about not having school today and I don't have to go to work until tonight. Kai offered to give me the night off, but I needed the extra cash so I could go to the grocery tomorrow," I continued, only to bite my tongue. I didn't like to talk about my little problems at home and work with Shuichi, because he always tended to overreact.
Shuichi looked at me out the corner of his eye, his green gaze wavering. "I could always loan you a little and you can pay me back later," he offered.
My fists clenched as I looked straight ahead, keeping my voice low. "Thank you for the offer, Shuichi…but you know I don't like charity," I finished and looked up at him with a smile.
All of it…everything was an act. Why? I wanted to be honest with him, but things would turn out badly. I remembered how badly he had reacted towards the boys at our school when they tried to take advantage of me.
Shuichi had a student council meeting after school and I had work so I didn't wait up. A group of misfits wanted to prove that they could take on the school's yankee and cornered me outside. They managed to rip my shirt off and shove it in my mouth before Shuichi came and took care of them. I had never seen my friend look so sinister, nor had I actually seen him physically strike someone before. He was always the proper gentlemen.
Of course, the next day everyone refused to believe that it was Meio's perfect student who had done such damage to the boys and it was me who was sent to detention. I told Shuichi that I didn't care, in fact, I couldn't have cared less that I was in a room all by myself for two hours to just loaf around.
I felt a pair of eyes watching us, a familiar feeling that I had been getting a lot recently. I tilted my head up towards the trees and noticed Hiei sitting on a branch overhead.
He was looking out towards the pond where the girls were skating, and I figured he was watching Yukina. I was becoming more curious of the relationship between the two--since the girl already had a boyfriend. Maybe he was a secret admirer, as corny as it sounded.
"Hiei-san, why don't you come down?" I called up to him and he looked down at me with an intense regard.
Shuichi followed my gaze and chuckled slightly at Hiei for some reason. "Yes, Hiei, why don't you join us?" he asked, biting his knuckle to keep from laughing out loud.
With a "hn," the black-clad boy climbed down at an extremely fast pace at which I was sure he would slip and fall. "Careful," I shouted, watching wearily as he jumped the remaining ten feet to the ground. I heaved a sigh, he looked remotely okay.
He gave me an annoying look and I huffed, crossing my arms over my chest. I was only warning him--it'll be his own fault if he gets hurt. Kurama seemed amused at the two of us.
"Mind your own business, onna," he snarled at me and I blinked at him in only mild shock. "What are you doing here anyways?" he demanded and now I felt a little offended.
My brow furrowed as I watched him and his callous manner. Shuichi shifted beside me but remained quiet--I preferred sticking up for myself when I could.
"I'm sorry if my presence here bothers you," I said politely standing up and brushing the snow off my clothes. "I was asked to come by Yukina, though if you would like me to leave I will?" I spoke in an unasked question. "I suppose it was rude of me to stay without seeing if everyone was alright with it."
Hiei continued to glare at me for a few minutes, and I waited to see what he would say. With a dignified huff, he shoved his hands in his pockets and turned away. "Yukina was the one who invited you. I don't give a damn if you stay or not," he growled and walked off to the tree line.
I tilted my head and hummed as I turned towards Shuichi, who was looking rather tense. "Worried that he'll kill me in my sleep?" I joked, nudging his foot with mine.
"Exactly," he replied with no humor in his voice.
I sighed and sat down again, glancing at Hiei every now and then. He was leaning against a tree and his eyes were closed, keeping his balance perfectly. I was wondering how he didn't freeze in only that black cloak--maybe he had three layers of clothes on underneath.
A few hours passed and it was maybe one in the afternoon, and I had long since finished my hot chocolate. Just sitting around I was getting cold, and I wanted to lean over on Shuichi--though that might fuel Yusuke and Kuwabara's ridiculous assumptions that we were dating. The idiots looked like they were planning something, and I was getting a little weary.
Suddenly, out of no where, they launched an attack on everyone and I sat there in cold shock as something icy hit the side of my face.
"Snowball fight!!!" The two shouted and I couldn't help but laugh and pick up a scoop of snow. I tossed the ball at Yusuke's head and it hit dead on.
"Shuichi, wanna' be on my team?" I asked and the redhead consented with a smirk. The other girls teamed up and everyone (minus Hiei) started a snowball barrage on Yusuke and Kuwabara who were left exposed until they ducked behind some trees.
I jumped behind the bench and pulled Shuichi with me, using it as a shield. I threw a snowball at the unsuspecting Botan and she glared at me as she hurled one in return. With a scream, it hit my right on the neck and I jumped up shivering. I hated how sensitive my neck was and the cold seemed to magnify by tenfold as I quickly brushed the slush off.
Of course, my little show had attracted some attention and I was an open target, so various snowballs were hurled at me. I spotted Yusuke and scooped up another handful of snow, forming it into a perfect, round ball. Aiming carefully, I pitched it as hard as I could only for the boy to jump out of the way and back into the trees.
Unfortunately for me, Hiei had been standing right behind Yusuke and it hit him square in the face. I gulped nervously and gave a whimpered; I was sure he hated by now.
Hiei leapt in the air at the sudden wet, cold hit, swatting at the ice on his face. His blazing red eyes found me in an instant and I bit my lip, trying to resist the urges of both laughing and screaming.
I started snickering and I quickly covered my mouth, my shoulders shaking. "I'm sorry."
Apparently, everyone else including Hiei thought I was crying and started blocking the black-clad boy from my view and me from his.
A giggle escaped my lips and I burst out laughing, clutching my sides, and everyone looked at me like I was insane. By now I probably was. "Ha-ha…I'm so sorry, Hiei. I was trying to hit Yusuke and he moved so…" I tried explaining as I calmed down.
He still looked as deadly and I could have sworn I seen steam coming off him, but he remained where he was and everyone seemed to relax.
Shuichi coughed and spoke up, breaking the tense silence. "I suggest that we all go and get something to eat. It's about lunchtime and I'm sure that it has been awhile since we all have eaten," he spoke, ever the mediator.
Everyone seemed to agree and began to make their way back to the city. I lingered for a few seconds as Hiei followed them (probably to prevent being dragged along anyways and to keep an eye on Yukina). He stopped in front of me and I was about to apologize to him again when he lashed out and grabbed my neck in a suffocating grip.
From previous experiences with Hiro, I kept quiet out of habit and that seemed to infuriate him more. "Watch yourself, onna. I have very little patience for intolerance and idiocy," he told me in a harsh whisper before throwing me away and I stumbled back.
I placed a hand on my neck, my body trembling as thousands of memories of my father flashed through my mind. I flinched and closed my eyes as Hiei walked past again. "Weak," he scorned and continued on.
If Shuichi seen the handprint around my neck, he would undoubtedly know where it came from. Expertly, I hid the mark with a scarf I dug out of my bag, and quickly hurried after the others.
"Yuri!" Botan caught my arm and pulled me along with the other girls, seeming eager to talk to me. "So, you and Shuichi go to school together, right?" she asked and I nodded.
Keiko walked in step next to me, leaning over to whisper in my ear. "Are you two…dating…or anything?" she asked. Botan and Yukina seemed interested on my answer, as well, and looked at me expectedly.
I flushed and shook my head quickly. "Kami, no," I replied. "Don't get me wrong, I love Kurama, but more as a brother than anything," I told them strictly and they seemed to deflate in their excitement. They were exactly like the girls at my school, though somewhat more tolerable.
We came to a quaint, little restaurant, one I hadn't been to in years. We got a table for eight and that was, of course, after Yusuke and Kuwabara somehow bribed Hiei into coming with us. I was forced to sit across from Hiei, but fortunately I was in-between Shuichi and Yukina.
I avoided looking at the black-haired boy in front of me and put all of my efforts in talking to Yukina. We eventually came to the subject of her long lost brother, whom she was apparently looking for. I couldn't help my eyes drifting to Hiei who glared at me in return, as if daring me to say anything.
I held his gaze for a few seconds longer before turning back to Yukina and assuring her she would find him one day.
When our food came, I ate as slowly as possible to savor the taste--this was the best food I had had in a long time. I hoped I had enough money to pay for it…I still had my paycheck, though. I was good--I continued to eat.
"So you go to the same school as Shuichi, Yuri?" Keiko asked me once she had finished her soup, setting it to the side as a waiter took it away.
I nodded and wiped the corners of my mouth with a napkin (just because I grew up in a uncouth neighborhood didn't mean I lacked etiquette) and placed gave my own bowl to the man. "Yes. We're in the same class, too," I told her. "He had told me a bit about you guys--good things of course--but I think it's much better meeting you all in person." With the exception of Hiei, I added bristly.
"So you must be a nerd like Red," Yusuke laughed, elbowing Shuichi in the arm causing him to drop his spoon in his soup. The redhead shot him an irritated stare. "Or your folks must have a lot of money for you to pay your way in," he added offhandedly and I felt a pang at his words.
He must have realized he said something to offend me and started sweating, while Shuichi spoke up to save his skin. "Actually, Yuri is among the top of our class. She's ranked fifth in the school, and that's with her working two jobs…" then he paused and the expression on his face told he had said something he probably shouldn't have.
"Two jobs?" the punk said, scratching the side of his face in a thinking manner. "Gees, I can barely manage having one. What's up, aren't your parents giving you enough allowance?" he asked in a teasing manner and Keiko nudged him with a stern look.
I felt my shoulders stiffen and that seemed to draw the attention of a certain demented, red-eyed boy sitting in front of me. "My father can't work," Technically not a lie, I thought, where he's drunk all the time. "And my mother…is away at the time." Another pang in my chest.
I could feel Shuichi's eyes watching me wearily and guilt began to creep up on me. I had never told him what had happened, and I think he was a bit hurt since I supposedly told him everything--from my first crush (which turned out disastrously) to the time I had been almost raped at the restaurant (which was why he disapproved of me working there). It simply didn't feel right to keep things from him.
The main course came and it was ate with less straining and tense topics, and Hiei had still yet to say a single work throughout the entire meal. I almost felt disappointed--I wanted to know a bit more about him, but he was harder to figure out than the others. I could read their personalities
Hiei was nothing but a brick wall--impenetrable and just as chatty.
I glanced down at my watch and almost blanched--it was three thirty. When had time passed so quickly? "I'm sorry, I have to go," I said, pushing my chair back and standing up. I dug out enough to pay for my food and give a share of the tip. "My shift starts in thirty minutes. It was nice meeting you all and I hope we can do something again later?" I said. It was more for mannerisms, though, because I rarely had the time for these social visits.
Everyone gave me their goodbye's and I was only slightly surprised when Yukina stood up and offered me a hug. I accepted the gesture and returned it generously, becoming a little more comfortable with this gentle girl.
"Visit us at the temple, soon, alright?" she asked and I nodded despite myself. I didn't have the heart to tell her no.
"Bye!" I called, dodging the people walking in and out of the restaurant.
My last day of work for the week, and then I was free all day Sunday to spend to myself. I would probably go
Chills unrelated to the cold ran up and down my spine and I glanced back over my shoulder. No one--no other people on the sidewalk and no cars passing on the street. It was a relatively quiet place.
Pulling my jacket tighter around me, I continued on at a jogging pace towards the Hasegawa's Café.
~x~
Once everyone had finished at the restaurant, they all began going on their own separate ways. Yukina lingered behind, telling Kazuma that she needed to talk to Hiei about something. He gave her a sad, disappointed look, but went on anyways--stopping ahead at the corner to wait on her.
Hiei came out, looking as dejected as usual, but as he approached the koorime his hardened gaze lessened up a bit.
"Hiei-san…" Yukina stood there, her hands clasped in front of her in a hopeful manner. "I have a favor to ask of you," she spoke, her quiet voice seeming even more hushed than usual.
"Hn," the fire demon grunted and nodded his head ever so slightly. That was what the ice apparition took as consent to continue.
A small smile graced Yukina's lips and she bowed her head. "I know that you don't like Yuri-chan very much…" she trailed off, her eyes level and steady with his, "…but I owe something to her and I was hoping that you could watch over Yuri for me. I don't know much about her or what kind of life she lives, but Kurama seems concerned about her well-being."
Of course the fox would be worried over a frail, ningen girl, Hiei seethed and clenched his fists inside his cloak, but no matter how much he hated the human, his sister was asking this of him and he couldn't refuse her. "Hn. I will do it," he replied coarsely.
Despite the harshness of his answer, Yukina's smile only broadened as she thanked him continuously. When she left, Kurama approached him, a knowing smirk on his face. "Yukina seems to be coming very attached to Yuri, don't you think Hiei?" he asked.
"This is all your fault, fox," Hiei spat before disappearing in a black blur.
~x~
Well, that's it for now folks. I hope you all liked it, and I've got the next chapter up and ready for posting. I'll just be waiting to see how many reviews I get...Remember! Reviews are important, especially to those of us who spend our time writing the stories. I personally like to know how my readers are taking in my work.
Arigatou!
~Shiro