DMG: Okay, disclaimer: I own nothing, happy? Not Yu Yu Hakusho, not the song, 'Sound of Silence,' by Simon and Garfunkel, though it is one of my personal favorites. I just put the song in randomly, because I happen to be listening to it at the moment. Yep, nothing much more to say. Oh, wait, I don't own LOTR, either, or anything else I might feel the need to include.

asian princess 61(): Sorry… but, unfortunately, she WILL have a *slight* run-in with the evil fangirls. MWAHAHAHAHHAHAHA! *coughs* Thanks for reviewing! ^_^

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            Aspen stepped lightly out into the evening air that still smelled faintly of rain. Careful not to splash in the puddles on the slick pavement, she hummed to herself.

            It was a rare autumn night that contained hints of departed summer in the smell of the cool air. Aspen's nose always had been keen. She started singing faintly to herself, a random song she had been listening to:

"Hello darkness my old friend,

I've come to talk with you again,

Because a vision softly creeping

Left its seeds while I was sleeping,

And the vision that was planted in my brain

Still remains –

Within the sounds of silence…"

            Her lilting, soft voice faded into the damp air as she spun, trench coat swirling around her ankles. 'I'm getting the strangest feeling that I'm being watched…' she laughed nervously to herself. Shrugging off the feeling, she strolled on. It was still a good few blocks to Shuuichi's house.

"In restless dreams I walked alone

Narrow streets of cobblestone

'Neath the halo of a streetlamp,

I turned my collar to the cold and damp

When my eyes were stabbed

By the flash of a neon light

That split the night,

And touched the sound of silence – "

            There it was, that damn feeling again! Aspen couldn't fathom who would be following her, if it were only a bunch of thugs they would have confronted her long since. She rolled her gray eyes. She was most likely being foolish for nothing. Scared of shadows, pfft!

"And in the naked light I saw

Ten thousand people maybe more

People talking without speaking,

People hearing without listening,

People writing songs, that voices never share;

No one dare

Disturb  the sounds of silence…"

            Aspen shivered slightly; now she was definitely not imagining ghosts. There really was a person watching her, she knew it. Exactly how she knew, Aspen was never quite sure, but she undoubtedly had a knack for sensing another's presence. And this person was… above her? How strange. 

"Oi, you! Whoever you are! Stop following me!" she shouted at the dark treetops.

"Fools, said I, you do not know

Silence like a cancer grows

Hear my words that I might teach you

Take my arms that I might reach you

But my words, like silent raindrops fell

And echoed in the realms of silence.

And the people bowed and prayed

To the neon god they made

And the sign flashed out its warning

In the words that it was forming

And the sign said the words of the

 Prophets are written on the subway walls

And tenement halls

And whispered, in the sounds of silence…"

            Her receding voice finally faded into a whisper as she finished the song, the only sound left the echo of her footsteps in the alleyways, leaving a certain someone with crimson eyes wide with shock.

            "Scout 2 to Leader, this woman, I mean, the Quarry, she's absolutely crazy! She's singing to nothing and shouting at trees not to follow her! But she's getting closer to The Destination…"

            Mariko's, that is to say, the President of the Shuuichi Minamino Fan Club's, brown eyes narrowed slightly at the information transmitted over the walkie-talkie. "Girls!" she began in a booming voice, addressing the sizeable 'army' of teenage girls assembled in her kitchen. "Are we going to let the American wench get our own, our preciousssss?" Her eyes flashed, but her voice took on a disturbing quality, almost like Gollum from Lord of the Rings. 0.o

            Deafening cries of, "No!" and, "Never!" and, "He's OURS!" greeted this announcement.

            "Then prepare for war," Mariko finished coldly.

            The girls streaked their faces with red and green paint and armed themselves with dull kitchen utensils and eyeliner. They streamed out of the lighted doorway and dispersed into the night, a pack of rabid weasels after the object of their jealousy.

            It was quiet. Too quiet. The fingers on Aspen's right hand twitched, as if longing for a trigger. The feeling of impending insanity hung heavily in the night air. Aspen was ready for anything, including an attack from a mob of bloodthirsty preps out for her life. She laughed at the absurdity of this thought, chastising herself for being so silly. Little did she know she was not far from the truth.

            Jaganshi Hiei had not moved from his branch in the tree, sitting with his brow furrowed in thought. (Cute picture, ain't it?) That girl… she had sensed his presence. NO ONE was supposed to be able to do that, when he masked it as well as he did. Well, that wasn't entirely true, he reflected. Kurama and Kai could always tell when he was around, but they were special. She didn't know him… This human, whatever Kurama said her name was, was certainly worth looking into.

            The fire demon vanished in the direction of Kurama's house, where he deducted that this girl must be going. Weak energies stalking in the shadows cause him to pause for a bit, but he decided they must be petty human thugs, nothing more.

            'Hm, there already!' Aspen thought triumphantly as Kurama's apartment, thing, came into view. (Thinks – I don't really know where Kurama lives. So work with me here.) The home stretch. But the trouble was just beginning.

            One of the fangirls, codenamed for the 'mission' Scout 1, spotted the figure dressed in a long trenchcoat walking under a stray streetlamp and motioned the hordes forward. Yelling, they tore down the suburban-ish street, drawing nearer to their quarry with every leap and bound.

            Aspen twisted to face the sudden commotion, and her normally piercing and emotionless gray eyes shot open in shock. She had barely time to utter a startled, "Meep!" before they were upon her. Crazy b*tches! They even had warpaint! Aspen didn't fail to notice that the colors matched Shuuichi's hair and eyes. And she began to really, truly pity her friend. But there was time for that later! Right now, she had to save herself from a fate worse than death! They were armed with dull butter knives and eyeliner, oh dear!

            Aspen did the only thing she could have done under the circumstances. She ran. And she could outrun a wild horse, if she did say so herself. Just not on the timed mile. But one of them was faster. It was Mariko, the President.

            It was a face off like might be seen in an old Western. Insults flew thick and fast between the two warring women. Finally, Aspen got fed up.

            "I don't have time for this!" she snapped. "Shuuichi is waiting, FOR ME!" Catching her 'rival' off guard, Aspen slapped her full across the face, sending her flying backwards onto the pavement, completely ruining her expensive designer skirt.

            Aspen gave a satisfied smirk, and jogged the few feet up the steps to Shuuichi's apartment.

            "You are late," Shuuichi commented as he answered the door. "I was beginning to get worried. Did anything happen?"

            Breathing heavily, Aspen mustered enough indignant anger to glare at him. "Do you remember what I told you when we first met, that I'd hold you personally responsible for any bodily harm your fan club caused me?"

            He nodded, slightly confused.

            "Well, that still holds."

            He rubbed the back of his head. "Gomen nasai," he winced. "I hope you're not hurt?"

            "No, I'm fine. I'm just lucky I'm fast, and they all didn't catch me…"

            "I'm relieved to hear that. Please come in, dinner's ready and I would like you to meet my mother…"

            Aspen liked Shiori Minamino on sight. She had a kind face, and eyes that seemed to permanently smile. She shook the older woman's hand warmly and grinned in response.

            "I'm pleased to meet you, Minamino-san," she said.

(Erm, you know what… I don't know what Japanese dinners are like…so, once again, I am skipping ahead. ^_^;;)

            "Shuuichi, why don't you show Aspen around while I make tea and clean up?" Mrs. Minamino suggested after the meal.

            Kurama nodded and motioned her to follow him upstairs.

            "This is my room," he said, opening his door. "We can wait in here if you want to."

            Aspen stepped slowly inside and wandered over to his desk. "Did you grow these yourself?" she inquired, gently fingering the leaves on the rose plants spilling all over the shelves. "They're beautiful."

            "Thank you," he replied, smiling. "I did. I always loved roses," he said fondly.

            "Mm, I love how they smell," she agreed, her attention wandering to the framed photographs arranged neatly on the dresser. "Who are they?" she asked, indicating a picture of the Reiki Tantei.

             "They are… friends of mine," he said carefully. "The short one with black hair is Hiei, the girl standing next to him is Kai, that is Kuwabara, Yusuke – "

            "Yusuke Urameshi?" Aspen interrupted curiously. "I met him once. I didn't know you were friends."

            "Yes. We met… a while back when he helped me."

            Aspen could tell he wasn't eager to talk about it, so she let the matter drop. "What about the other people?"

            Kurama was furious with himself for forgetting that Yusuke had met Aspen, and for even naming the people in the picture. But he couldn't back out now. "That's Keiko, Yukina, Boton, Kuwabara's sister Shizuru, and Genkai." 

            "Are Yukina and Hiei by any chance siblings?" she asked, leaning closer for a better look.

            "Why do you ask that?" He was startled. No one was supposed to know that.

            She shrugged. "They look very similar. The eyes, the height."

            "About that, yes, they are, but Hiei would appreciate it if you never talked about it," Kurama said slightly nervously.

            "Oh…" This just got much more confusing. Shuuichi sure had a complicated life.

(More than you know. BWAHAHAHAHA!)

            Aspen opened her mouth, no doubt to ask another difficult question involving the Reiki Tantei, but the world shall never know. It was at this moment that the pair became aware of muffled sounds coming from outside the window. They exchanged a quizzical look before the answer dawned on them.

            "Fangirls!" they breathed simultaneously.

            "Oh no!" Kurama moaned. They were out to ruin his life, he knew it!

            "It's okay," Aspen sympathized, patting his shoulder comfortingly. "One day, they will realize you're not interested, miraculously mature overnight, and move on with their lives."

            He sighed. "I don't know why they keep following me…"

            At this, she raised her eyebrows. "You seriously don't know? Well, I do. Actually, anything female (or… well, we won't go there) with eyes knows why."

            Kurama laughed quietly. "If only they knew…" he murmured.

            Aspen watched him silently. Knew what? And why was there a touch of… bitterness… in his laugh when he said that? She could sense there was something she was not seeing, something he wasn't telling her. It showed in the way he sometimes got a faraway look in his melancholy green eyes. How there was a faint touch of sadness, and maybe…regret?… behind all his movements. Aspen resolved right then to find what was wrong, and help him if she could. Because… she was starting to wonder if she felt more than friendship for her red-haired friend.

            Impulsively she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and rested her head against him. "I don't know what's wrong, and I don't think you want to tell me. Just know, please, that I want to help you if I can, and if you ever need someone, that I will be there…"

            Kurama didn't speak. He didn't dare. He was afraid that if he let words pass his lips, he would confess everything. He would take his secret and lay it at the feet of this human girl, to await her judgement. Why? Because… that thought was dangerous to finish. Kurama was aware that if he let himself become attached, his enemies would use it against him. But... the idea was enticing nonetheless.

            For the moment, he forgot about the danger. He chose to ignore that he was a demon thief. He pulled her close to him in a tight embrace.

            "Thank you," he whispered near her ear.

            Outside the window, sitting in the branches of the tree that was conveniently situated near Kurama's window; Mariko dropped the binoculars she was holding with a muted shriek. Her eyes welled up with tears. How could he? Didn't Shuuichi know that he was hers, and hers alone? It wasn't fair.

            Hiei observed the sobbing girl in the branches below him with bored distaste. She wore her emotions like a badge for everyone to see. Not only that, but she was sitting in his tree, using it to spy on his friend. Silently, he crept down the trunk, careful of being seen. He gave her a tiny push, just enough so she slowly lost her balance and grip on the study limb.

            She hit the ground softly but with a satisfying, 'oomph!'

            Kurama and Aspen broke apart reluctantly.

            "What was that?" he asked.

            "I think I know…" she said, opening his window and peering out. "Eheheh… Fox, I think you should look at this, but don't feel too guilty please."

            "Oh dear…"

            Mariko was lying spread-eagled on the springy ground, twitching slightly.

            "D'you think we should help her?" Aspen wondered aloud, thinking she could be seriously hurt. "Nah… on second thought, she looks alright to me…"

            Indeed, the girl was already getting shakily to her feet, and starting to hobble away surprisingly quickly.

            "Oi, fox, do you still get the feeling we're being watched?" the girl asked dubiously. "I'm starting to get a funny feeling around these stupid trees…"

            'Hiei,' Kurama concluded mentally. "No, I don't think so."

            "Oh. Well. I think we should answer your mother now. She's been calling for the last two minutes."

            "Well, it's getting late. I should go," Aspen said, reluctantly pulling herself away from tea.

            "It was nice to meet you, Aspen," Shiori Minamino said warmly.

            Aspen smiled back. It was hard not to. Mrs. Minamino was such a nice woman. "The pleasure's all mine."

            "I will see you around, Shuuichi, ne?"

            "If you don't mind, may I walk you home?"

            "I would like that."

            "Very well then."

            They arrived at the familiar steps leading up to Aspen's apartment much too quickly for Kurama's liking. Still, the night couldn't last forever, and the kitsune knew for a fact that Hiei was waiting up in a tree to tell him something.

            "I guess, I'll see you tomorrow in school…" Aspen bid him goodbye and stepped lightly up.

            "Hiei, you may come out now," Kurama called to the trees when she was gone from sight.

            "Hn. Baka no kitsune," the short fire demon said as he leapt casually onto the pavement. "What are you doing?"

            "To tell you the truth, even I don't know."

            "She called you, 'fox.' Does she know?"

            "No, she doesn't."

            "Then why did she call you that?"

            "She just does…"

            Hiei glared at his taller friend, then promptly changed the subject. "She sensed my presence, a while back in the trees."

            "She certainly has high spirit awareness," Kurama agreed. "She knew when Yusuke shot the rei gun."

            Hiei didn't give any outward sign of approval. But he thought on the matter and decided to tell Kai when he got back to her den.

            "Her ki is rising," Kurama said abruptly. "I didn't notice it before, but now I'm sure. It's almost as if something awakened it…"

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DMG: Yes! Another chappie done! And the plot thickens! (PWP?) I have a few QUESTIONS to ask all you reviewers, and people who are reading but not reviewing.

1. Should Aspen find out about Youko in the next few chapters?

2. Should she and Kurama get together before or after she finds out about Youko?

3. Should she meet and befriend the Reiki Tantei before or after?

I'd really appreciate it if you include your opinions in your reviews. That's all for now! Ja! (Oh, and yes, I would like to have 20 reviews by the next chappie, so if you would kindly help with that! ^_~)