wow, I'm really moving with this story.
I feel like I'm ignoring my other two stories, which I promise I'm not!
I'm just finishing these chapters faster is all haha

Returning to her apartment after the group slowly disbanded she allowed herself to plop back onto her bed and sighed as she stared at the ceiling. She could hardly remember the last time she really laughed or the last time she could recall really having fun, "It has been too long..." she muttered to herself. Sitting up on the bed she shrugged off her coat and pulled the vase from her inside pocket and placed it on her nightstand. Walking to her bathroom she proceeded to get herself ready for sleep. Her mind continued to play back the wonderful time she had with her new friends.

The next day she decided to stay in, she was sitting Indian style on a bar stool, her focus completely on the canvas that was in front of her, the tray beside her filled with black and white paint and all the mixed shades between the two, brushes were held in a ceramic container and the cleaning solution in a bowl on the lower shelf. Ninia decided to wear comfortable clothing; soft denim jeans that were worn through the knees, her shirt was a loose black tank top. barefooted and her hair was clipped back so it wouldn't bother her train of thought. The girl only slept a few hours when she was struck with the need to paint, her inspiration came in the forms of her new found friends and the little bit of stories they told, of course she had a feeling they kept a lot of the detail out of their tales, but who could blame them for not completely trusting a stranger who also had her own secrets to keep. Either way this project consumed her time and she was nearly completed when she heard a knock on her door.

"Ninia? It's Shuichi," she heard her neighbor's voice from the other side of the door. She gave a sigh of relief that she didn't realize she held as she got up from the stool and quickly pulling on a wrap around her bare shoulders before opening the door. He gave a smile to her, she tilted her head a bit in silent question before her eyes caught sight of a tray of baked goods in his hands, "My mother came by to visit earlier, I can't possibly eat all of these, I was wondering if you would like to have some?" he offered, "I hope I wasn't interrupting anything," he added noticing quite a few smudge marks from her paints spotting her face and hands. He found her appearance rather adorable, but kept himself composed and from making a comment other than what he already said, he didn't want to embarrass her or anything.

Ninia blinked at the offer and then glanced inside her home. It was a bit messy just due to her putting her project in the middle of her living room, but it wasn't too bad, "Sure, I needed the break anyways," she answered him as she looked back with a small smile, "Come in, just don't mind the mess please, I'll put some tea on," she offered in return opening the door fully to allow him to enter.

He gave a nod in response as he watched her walk to the kitchen, stepping in he glanced around, having the chance to see how Ninia lived was an opportunity he would be foolish not to take. In his scanning he took notice of her paintings, sketches and drawings scattered in an orderly manner around her living quarters, he also noted that her place had minimal furniture, as much as she made the space comfortable to her, to him, it looked more like a temporary space that she lived in, not her home.

He followed her to her kitchen where he placed the treats on her small dining table. "I hope you enjoyed yourself last night," he spoke up as she turned the stove top on to boil the water.

Ninia gave a nod, "Yes, I did, thank you, but I'm going to take a wild guess that Hiei usually doesn't join in the festivities," she giggled softly in amusement, Shuichi too couldn't hold back his own chuckle at the comment and shook his head.

"No, he doesn't, he must think fondly of you Ninia, Hiei's not the type to do anything like that for just anyone,"

"Oh, I see, I'll have to thank him the next time I see him then, time slipped away from me today," the whistle of the kettle came and she pulled out two cups, placing strainers in each cup and some loose leaf green tea she poured the bubbling liquid into each cup and placed a cap over them before transferring the hot beverages over to the table and sitting down with Shuichi.

"I have to say, your work is rather amazing," he commented, Ninia glaced to him to see he was looking at some of her finished works she felt her face go red when she saw that he had found her latest work still sitting on the easel, "Is that? Of us?" he questioned as she quickly moved to the easel and covered the painting with a towel.

"Sorry, I'm not finished with it yet, but yes, the stories your friends told gave me inspiration, I would like to show you all once it's done," she confirmed with a sheepish smile. Shuichi apologized for his nosiness which she forgave and they both settled back at the table and shared in the sweets and hot tea.

After a few moments of enjoying the treats she took a sip of tea and then placed her cup down, "Um, Shuichi..." she spoke up bringing his attention back to her, "I am very much aware of what you are, like I know you are aware of what I'm not," she started and held her hand up when she saw he wanted to speak, but she had more to say, "It's been a long time since I felt comfortable enough to let my burdens be shared, the last time I did I... I never saw him again..." she spoke as she stared intently on the cup of tea in front of her, "For longer than I could remember I had seen and been subjected into so much evil and unkindness that when real kindness came from another demon I hardly knew what to do at first... I did as he told me to, I kept running... I've been running for so long, been to so many places, but never was apart of any it and after a while I felt that it would be my fate," she smiled softly as he watched her intently, "And then I met you and your friends," she paused a moment, "I would very much like to stay here and I feel like I can trust all of you with my secret,"

So that's the end of this chapter, let me know your thoughts!
The more reviews the faster I write an update lol
Thanks bunches and I hope you are enjoying my story!