Chapter 4 – Aftermath

"So let me get this straight," Yusuke scrunched his face in concentration before slowly recounting the past three hours of relentless questions and answers. "Because of your mixed blood heritage, you have really specific needs that you have to take care of otherwise you'll just go biting other people's head off for no reason, or in my case, sucking my blood dry."

"I barely sucked you dry. That was just a taste for me." Kira mildly commented. Yusuke scowled.

"Yeah right. Don't give me that shit. I could've died for all I know and I still haven't forgiven you."

"Did I ask for your forgiveness? You were the one who rudely entered the room without knocking or realizing I am still recovering."

"That was Kuwabara, not me!"

"Hey! Don't pull me into this Urameshi! Even if I was the one who kicked that door open…" Kuwabara mumbled the last part to himself.

"Oh, what a shame. Then I should have tasted you first Kuwabara." Kira smiled in his direction. Kuwabara paled at the thought of her sucking his blood. He'd have to thank Yusuke later. 'Damn…' he silently cursed in his mind.

"But why did you barely take Kurama's blood when it felt like you were going to drain me?"

"I need a full demon's blood, not a half demon or human. It is more potent and high in youki that my body needs. He is a full demon therefore he has demon blood running in his veins despite sharing a body with a human. I could substitute it with a half demon or human but I would need more than just one person to completely satisfy me."

Yusuke and Kuwabara shivered involuntarily at her last sentence.

"Hey Kira, are you always like that?" Kuwabara asked. Kira slightly tilted her head to one side.

"What do you mean?"

"Do you go all freaky and scary like that if you don't get what you need?"

"Oh."

Three pairs of eyes stared at Kuwabara a little dumbfounded. A small 'hn' from a certain demon turned his head to stare back out the window. Kira's lips twitched in amusement.

"Well," she began softly. "Actually, no. Those are the rare times I get out of control. My body was at the limit of healing my injuries and needs something to replace what it had used up to heal me which is always blood. As long as there are demons around, drinking a pint or so won't harm anyone but I usually end up breaking the unlucky demon that puts up a fight."

A silent pause.

"Well, my curiosity is completely satisfied. But now, I have to return home. My mother is expecting me very soon." With that said, Kurama walked out of Kira's now clean room.

Kira softly sighed as she slouched a little forward on her bed. Her slender fingers gently combing through her thick hair as she began untangling the small knots. Blank eyes stared at nothing but darkness as she continued stroking her hair, her mind replaying back to yesterday.

Kira lifted her head up, eyes barely opening as blood trickled down her chin. She slowly licked her lips, savoring the last drop of liquid. The roots and vines that held her immobile slowly slithered back into Youko's uncut palm as she was gently lowered to the floor. Her legs buckled and promptly fell to the floor with a soft plop. She blinked her eyes drowsily staring at nothing.

A figure suddenly appeared at the doorway.

"You are a fool to give someone like her your blood stupid fox." said an irritable Hiei.

"Why thank you Hiei but your concern is wasted on me." Youko rumbled smoothly.

"Who said it was out of concern for you?"

"Later Hiei." Youko vanished with a swirl of smoke and in his place stood Kurama. He slightly wobbled but soon stood firm again, shaking his head.

"Hiei, help her." Kurama quietly asked.

"Hn." He stood there for a while but quickly walked to her sitting on the floor. His crimson eyes narrowed down at her.

"Get up, onna."

Kira slowly stood up, still blinking drowsily. She lifted her hand up in front of her with her palm facing upward. Every pair of eyes looked at her upturned hand quizzically. Kira tilted her head, a faint smile on her lips.

"I need help getting back to bed please."

"You're blind?" Kuwabara blurted out before he covered his mouth in fear.

"Yes. I cannot see but I can sense the living. I'm not quite fully recovered yet to sense inanimate objects."

"Hn. Baka. Don't trip." he warned before grabbing her outstretched hand and pulling her towards her bed. She stumbled along but did not trip as he put her hand on the edge of the bed.

"Thank you Hiei."

"Hn." With that said, he let go of her hand and walked toward the window ledge.

Kira squeezed her hands on her lap, remembering the pleasant warmth when he grabbed her hand. She remembered the time when her small hand was completely engulfed in his when he held her hand through the blizzards. Despite the biting cold travels during the winter, his warmth and power kept her from being frostbitten. A small smile lighted her face.

"Hey Kira, we have to go now. Get well soon."

"Thank you Yusuke, Kuwabara."

"Yeah, you take care Kira. Bye."

Both boys closed the door behind them, the fire koorime having already disappeared after Kurama left. She placed her hand over her heart and closed her eyes with a pained expression. Her heart twisted into a knot inside her chest but it did not compare to the gaping black hole of loneliness and lost of her kin, of wandering the world for over a century. Her eyes slowly opened, misted with unshed tears. She balled her hand over her heart into a tight fist as her expression hardened. Eyes rapidly blinked away the misty tears. Now was not the time to dwell in the past or the future, but the present.

Even if she could not tell him their bloodline, she will not let go of him again. The pain and loneliness was too much to bear.

A sigh escaped her lips. She slowly uncurled her fist and sat still, contemplating her next issues to overcome.

Meanwhile, a certain demon sat on the high branches of a pine tree back in the Human world, his ruby eyes glowing from the setting sun. Ever since that damn female fell unconscious and started to recover, a turmoil of strange emotions nearly took possession of him. Nearly. Her appearance shook him to his bones. His instinct raged within in his mind to stay close by her and keep her away from harm. That blinding memory he never knew continued to surface within his mind. But his conscious and reasons did nothing to soothe his raging instinct.

His hand gripped tighter on the katana.

Whoever or whatever that cursed female was, he came to a final conclusion to stay away as far as possible and keep a watchful eye on her for the answers he seek. In a way, his rage and memory cleared from his mind.

The final rays of the sun glimmered in his crimson eyes before night fell and darkness engulfed him.