A/N

Hi, hi! -grins stupidly- I'm SO happy! Thank you to EVERYBODY who reviewed -grins and hugs self- reviews give me stomachy-tickles! :3

I'm going to try and update every thrusday. Feel free to bug me if I don't. ;D Now, onto the drama that follows the awesome peace! No story can remain nice and happy for long ;)

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho, not even the abreviations, YYH , X(


Chapter 7

I'm silent as Kurama rides me back home. It's dark now, and I'm not sure whether to think my mom's pulling her hair out or she's at complete ease. With Kurama involved, you can never tell. Him and his female manipulation….

We drive up to my house, and he stops the car. He turns around and smiles at me. "Good night, Mikayla-san." He nods to me.

"'Night Kurama." I smile back and open the car door.

I shut the door and begin walking up the drive way, my thoughts distant suddenly as I stare at the porch light. I hear Kurama's voice, and turn to see that he's rolled down the window.

"Mikayla-san?" He asks.

"Yah?"

He makes a strangely somber face. "Please care for him." He says, and rolls down the window.

Before I can ask what he meant by that, he drives away and down the road. He disappears and I'm left standing on the concrete step of my porch. I knit my eyebrows together. Care for him? Did he mean Hiei? I start going back up the steps, still wondering what he meant.

Kurama is often vague and the things he says thought provoking. That's usually the thing that annoys Hiei, that and his level-headed-ness. I shut the door behind me and take off my shoes, throwing them gently to the side. So strange.

Does Kurama think I don't care about Hiei? Isn't it obvious that I care? I know I conceal the intensity of my feelings—but it had to be clear that I at least cared. How doesn't Kurama see it? He's usually the most perceptive of the gang.

I start questioning the direction of what he said. Maybe it isn't that he thinks I don't care… maybe he's afraid I won't, in the future.

A bad feeling enters my stomach. Anxiety—I know it well. I felt it the first day of High school, I feel it every time I procrastinate, and I'm definitely feeling it right now. Great. What a wonderful way to end my day.

I begin going up the stairs when I hear angry footsteps coming from my living room. I watch as my mom stalks in from the living room, in her night dress, with shadows under her eyes. It can't be that late. Right? Darn it, I've never been very good at keeping an eye on the time.

"Where have you been?" She demands, her voice devoid of any emotion other than hostility.

I try not to be intimidated. "At Kurama's. Celebrating Hiei's birthday."

One of the worst things about an angry parent, no matter how reasonable you are, they're still right, and you're still wrong. "Oh really? Is that all you were doing?"

I stop myself from rolling my eyes. Over worries—that's what my mom does. She's really tense and uptight, but I know it's because she wants to protect me. Still, there are some things that make you forget their good intentions over their obnoxiousness.

"Yes mom, that's all." I tell her. "I'm a good girl, I'm not going to do anything like that and you know it." Mom jumps to conclusions, so it's best to address what she's worrying about.

"How do I know you're telling me the truth?"

I clench my hands into fists and glare at the ceiling. "Because I'm not a slut, because I'm too loyal to my future husband to spend my virginity on someone who's not him, because you raised me not to, because it's not something I would do. Should I add more to the list? Come on mom, its late and I'm sorry for not keeping track of time, but can't I just get to bed?"

My mom narrows her eyes. "Swear to me that you did nothing."

I sigh, still glaring at the ceiling. "I swear."

"Look at me."

I turn my head sharply and un-narrow my eyes so she doesn't yell at me for glaring at her impertinently. I look into her eyes. I can see her un-willingness to trust me. Why? I've never done anything to provoke it. This is probably the first time. So why now? I've known people who've done so much more than just kiss a guy and their parents trust them more than mine do me. I resist the urge to grind my teeth.

"I swear that I didn't do anything! Alright? Geez, why can't you just trust me!" I yell and run up the stairs before mom can say anything.

I throw my bedroom door shut behind me and lock it. I grunt angrily before falling onto my bed like a board of wood. I'm still for a second, mulling over the day, and the far worse end to the day. I throw a fit, suddenly, thrashing my arms and legs against my bed wildly. Then I'm still again. I should probably get some night clothes on.

I go to my closet and pick out a large m&m's shirt. I change and turn on my lamp. Then I turn off the big light in my room and slink into bed. With a flip of the switch, my room is entrenched in darkness. I lay there for the rest of the night, anxious about the day to come.

I head for history class, dodging and avoiding contact with the many strangers pushing through the halls. I duck into the room (number 255) and take a deep breath. I'm exaggerating, seeing as I wasn't really suffocated in the crowd, but I feel it a needed affect.

Suddenly, someone runs into me from behind, and I'm sent toppling into the ground. My face hits the linoleum floor and I hear my glasses skid. I can feel my books lodge themselves in my diaphragm.

"Ow." I squeak out and raise my head off the floor.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" I hear a beautiful voice call out to me. I blink as I realize someone's crouched in front of me, reaching out. My vision is blurry without my glasses, so I can't make out any details, but there's a splodge of blue.

"Are you hurt?" I hear them ask, and I can tell they're female.

I stand up with a little of their help and rub my cheek. I let out a small cough, and stare at the blurry face directly in front of me. Whoever they are must be short.

"Fine." I answer. "It was just my face. Don't worry, this happens a lot." I tell them.

I hear them let out a small giggle. I shift around, squinting and blinking, trying to see my glasses through the blur. "Hey, um, can you help me find my glasses?"

"Oh, I'm sorry! Of course." She says quietly and quickly. I kneel down as does she and we search the floor together. It takes a few minutes, but my fingers brush against the cool steel frames of my glasses. I quickly snatch them up and place them back on my nose.

I blink to adjust to the clarity of my vision. Then I turn to where she's searching. "Found them." I say and stand up. I dust off the knees of my baggy jeans.

"Thank goodness!" She says and stands up, dusting off her dress.

I stare at her. She's beautiful, and Asian. Definitely a transfer student.

She's my height exactly, not a centimeter either way. Her hair is long and flows like a crystal blue waterfall. Her face is cute and round, her lips small but beautifully pout-ish. Her eyes look amazingly serene, and are the exact shade of silver everyone wants their necklaces to be.

I wouldn't call myself a jealous person, but as I look at her, I can't help but feel a tinge of envy. She looks like an angel, or a doll created by an angel. She moves with grace as she walks to me with her slim hand extended. Why can't I be like that?

I push my less than friendly thoughts away as she takes my hand.

"I'm so sorry for running into you." She apologizes again as we shake hands.

I smile my mask-like smile, "It's fine, really. It happens often enough." She looks sad at that, so I switch the subject. "My name's Mikala, by the way. Are you new here?"

She nods gently. "Yes I am. I just moved here a few days ago. My name is Angel."

How appropriate. I smile despite. "That's such a pretty name."

"Thank you." She giggles a little and a perfect blush enters her cheeks.

I try not to grimace.

I didn't notice Mr. Benison enter, but he is sitting at his desk with his legs crossed and hands intertwined. I catch sight of him and snap my head to look at him. That's when I realize the bell's already rung and Angel and I are the only two people standing up. I feel a hot flush wash over my neck, face, and ears all at once. Angel's cheeks remain the color of a rose bud.

Mr. Benison smiles at me. "I'm glad you've met our new student, Mikala, but I'd like it if you would take your seat now."

I smile nervously at him. "Er, yah. Sorry." I scurry off to my seat. Once in it, I shrink down so I'm shorter than ever.

Mr. Benison looks at me with an amused smile. It pays off to be his pet.

He turns in his twisty chair to look at Angel, who is searching the classroom dreamily for a place to sit. He clears his throat and she slowly looks over her shoulder to look at him.

"Class, this is Angel Bikou, our new transfer student from Japan."

I knew she was Asian.

Angel curtsies and I can't help but get a despairing look on my face. Mr. Benison looks at me and I immediately wipe the look off my face. He looks at me as if he understands how I feel and I look at my hands.

I may only have met her, but I knew I couldn't hate Angel. Nor do I feel inclined to, but I do wish I could be like her. I sigh quietly.

"Tell us a little about yourself." Mr. Benison requests.

Angel smiles gently at the class. "Um, my name is Angel Bikou as has already been said. My favorite animal is the dove, and I love birds. My hobbies include watching sunsets and making friends."

I rest my chin on the heel of my hand. It's going to be a long semester.

Finally, History ends. I run through the hallways, trying to get to English as fast as I can. I dash into the room and sit down in my seat. I ever so naturally look out the window and wait calmly, even though my stomach feels like its doing super sonic back flips.

Is it going to be awkward between Hiei and me now? I mean, well…. I hadn't ever kissed a guy by choice before yesterday, and I don't know what to expect. We're more than friends now, right? Is it official? Is Hiei going to be my boyfriend now, or are we just going to ignore what happened? How do people officially go out with each other? When do people decide that they're boyfriend and girlfriend, anyway? Is there some cosmic moment that tells them it's time? Kinda' like when people get married, except a little less permanent?

A few second later, I finally figure out I'm staring straight through Hiei's head. I blink and a blush flushes through my face. I know it's not the color of a rose bud.

I gulp. Nice. I'm feeling awkward already. "Hi." I whisper to him.

He turns his head and looks at me. His eyes are blank for a second, as if he had been thinking deeply. Then his eyes light up. I see my reflection in his red-brown pools and my stomach tries to leap up my throat.

He just nods to me.

I look down at my desk. My hands are clasped together. Yup, definitely awkward. I just wish I knew whether it's just me, or both of us. I blow a puff of air out my mouth as the rest of the gang files in through the door. Kurama takes his place in front of me, Yusuke behind, and Kuwabara at my right.

It's silent between us, which is unusual. Again, I feel like I've missed something. I sigh very quietly, wondering what it is this time.

I look up to see our over-stressed teacher is late. He usually is. Probably one of the many things he gets stressed about. I half-smirk at the idea of his scrawny, red face sweating and panting.

Why do I feel like a sudden bridge has been created between us? Hiei's only sitting a foot away, maybe two. Yet, for some reason, it feels like there's a big gorge separating us. Why? Is this punishment for having such a great day yesterday?

I sound melodramatic even as I think about it, but whenever something goes right with my life it's as if some undetermined fate says to itself, 'Uh-oh. Mikayla's happy, better mess it up'. It sounds melodramatic. I know it does. I sigh through my nose and lean my forehead down on my knuckles. I feel the ends of my eyebrows pull together.

A large knot forms in my chest and my throat feels tight. Why do I feel like crying? There's no way I'm crying in front of my classmates. There's no way I'm letting them see me that vulnerable. My own family hasn't seen me cry in over a year. Stupid pride issues.

By the time I raise my head, I see the teacher's started class. He's wheezing as usual, but I can't concentrate on his eccentric form. I stand up, aware but ignoring the gang's eyes on my back, and walk over to the hall-pass sign up sheet. I sign my name, the class period, the time out, and the date. I take the little laminated clip and snap it onto the edge of my jean pocket.

The halls are always eerie. Even when I know I'm safe, I feel afraid. I keep my eyes on my shoes as I walk and fold my arms across my chest. There's something wrong. I can feel it in the air.

Like a deadly gas I can taste apprehension swirl around the school. It's amazing how no one notices it. Maybe a few do, but they more than likely don't know what it pertains to. Neither do I, as a matter of fact. I wish I did.

I enter the girl's bathroom. I casually glance at the floor of all the stalls. Good, no one's in here. I turn my back to the sinks counter and put my palms on its edge. With a quick hoist, I'm sitting on a dry spot on the counter. I pull my knees to my chest and wrap my arms around them. My nose brushes against the rough fabric of my jean legs and I close my eyes. The knot grows larger, and it's getting harder to breathe. I take a deep breath and my throat gets tighter.

What is it? What's going on that I can't see?

More than once I've contemplated the idea that I'm unstable. Maybe there's just something wrong with me. Little things make me break. I don't even know something's wrong, yet I'm sitting in here, alone in this cold, bleakly white bathroom— striving not to cry. Maybe I should just take myself out of the picture.

Instantly I banish the thought and raise my face from my knees. I wipe my moist eyes, though no tears have poured as of yet. I sniff deeply and force my lungs to heave air in and out. There are worse people out there than me, and they still get to live. I should still have the right to live. But to live without punishment, I suppose, is another matter. The fates never have seemed to like me.

A sudden knock at the bathroom door makes me jump. I take a second to calm my now frazzled nerves and look at the door. I raise an eyebrow and quickly look in the mirror. I open my eyes wide to drain the excess water out and sniff again. I look at the door again, once I'm sure it doesn't look like I've been crying.

"Um… come in?" I say unsurely.

Who knocks on a public bathroom door, anyway?

The door is pushed open hesitantly. I see graceful, yet rough, fingers appear in the crack of the door and immediately know who it is.

"What're you doing in here, Hiei?" I ask.

He stares at me intensely, as if measuring my appearance versus something else that I can't seem to understand. For a minute, I swear he's just going to stand there, but he makes his way over to me in a second.

I'm a little taller than him as I'm sitting on a higher surface. Still, my posture is bad, so I'm almost eye level with him. There's something burning and needful in his face, yet not. His face is very controlled— kind of like he's wearing a mask. But somehow I can see he's feeling something beyond that. I can almost feel a torn something about him, like he's confused.

"Mikayla." He whispers and gingerly raises his hands to cup my cheeks.

I feel the tears fill up my eyes again, and I desperately try to hold them back. I feel like such a mess. Like I'm so inadequate. It's true I guess. I'm just a silly little girl with silly problems.

Hiei's eyes narrow slightly, as if frustrated. "Don't think like that."

And his lips are on mine.

I wrap my arms around his neck as I feel the tears escape my closed eyes, and pour down my cheeks, onto his finger tips. One of his hands trails up into my hair and entangles itself there. I feel him gently push our faces closer together. I tilt my head to the side and deepen our kiss. I grab and pull him against me. My tears flow on, as if they won't stop. Cursed things.

Our lips move against each other perfectly, as if they had been created specially to embrace one another. We pull back as second for air before starting it up again.

He wraps his arms around my waste and pulls me slowly off the counter. We continue like this for who knows how long until I hear the bell ring. I pull back as does he. I look up at him, my entire face a stark, beat red. Even his cheeks have a light pink dust to them.

There are so many things I want to ask and say, but I can't take it. I stare into his torn eyes and feel my heart shatter. What's going on, Hiei? Why do I feel like you're trying to remember why you like me? Why do I feel like you're trying to cling to the feelings you have for me?

My chest is hurting, the knot is painful. My throat feels like its contracting into itself, it's so tight. I look away from him and run out the door. My eyes are closed as I run through the halls, trying still to figure out why this is all happening.


A/N

Poor Mikala. -Pets character- You get so confused. What was up with that almost suicide wish, anyway O.o ?

Mikala: How am I supposed to know? You're the one writing the story, baka.

-pouts- So?

Mikala: -rolls eyes- Just get to the sneak peek for the next chapter -sigh- which includes lots of damage to my mental health. Yay for future therapy -twirls little flag sarcasticly-

-Grins- Right! So, review people! Reviews make me tempted to update on time, evey time ;D -nudge, nudge-

Sneak Peek:

...I guess the best way to describe it is to say it's like a bottle. A very pressurized bottle, and I know someone's only a few seconds away from blowing off the top.

Just as I suspected, Yusuke breaks.

"YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING ME!" Yusuke suddenly yells. He whips around to turn to Hiei and grabs the back of his shirt.

Hiei remains calm, not even batting an eyelid to the abrupt violence.

Kurama, and I swear he wasn't there a minute ago, is taking hold of Yusuke's arms. "Yusuke, this won't help. You have to understand—"

"NO IT DON'T!" Yusuke barks and hits Kurama's hands away. He ceases the front of Hiei's shirt and flips him so they're face to face. "Don't you know what you're doing Hiei? Not just to yourself, BUT TO MIKAYLA-CHAN?!" He throttles him....