Wow guys, this is a really long chapter but I promise there's A LOT of action! Enjoy and don't forget to review! Oh, yeah, I do not own the song "Hot N Cold" by Katy Perry ;)
Della's POV:
I wandered around the empty house with my iPod on. It was late Friday night but mom and David wouldn't be back for hours, they were on base for some military thingy. Lucky for me, I was able to get out of it. I hated having to go to those dressy stuffy affairs where I had to make nice with all the other army brats. Technically I wasn't even an army brat, it made for a weird kind of limbo whenever I was expected to be social.
Unfortunately I was at a loss as to what to do with myself. I had already watched TV, finished my homework, and eaten dinner. I didn't have the patience to read or surf the internet, I was restless and jumpy. In fact I had been like that all day and the dark oppressive weather wasn't helping. The sky was full of black clouds and the air prickled with lightening. I almost wished Kurama would show up at my window again, the memory made me smile. In a burst of sudden inspiration I grabbed the cordless phone in my room and flopped onto the bed, I had yet to tell Lucy about my first kiss!
I had just punched in the U.S. code when an electric shock traveled over my body making every hair shoot to attention. I knew I was no longer alone in my bedroom. I raised my eyes slowly and looked at the female figure in my doorway. She was short and willowy and that was about all I could tell. She wore a loose, hooded blue robe and veil over the lower part of her face. All I could see where her cold, emotionless, violet eyes.
A sword appeared in her delicate hand so suddenly that I missed the motion. I watched unable to move as she advanced towards me, transfixed by her eyes. "Don't be afraid little one. This will be as quick and painless as possible, just relax." She raised the blade above me and all I could do was stare at the gleaming steel. What was happening? Was she going to kill me?
My window shattered, spraying glass all over my room, a strange burning errupted on my cheek but it was quickly forgotten. I blinked and a short figure dressed in black was before me, parrying the robed woman's downward strike with a sword of his own. Saving my life.
My trance shattered, "Hiei?" I gasped. I only knew one person who was that short and wore that much black. Actually, the woman was about the same height as he was. He shot me a look over his shoulder as he forced her away from me.
"Go to Kurama's and tell him you were attacked by an assassin. Now!" The figure tried to dodge around Hiei but he was faster, if that were even possible. I couldn't even see them moving; they were just suddenly in a new spot.
"But I don't…" A purple glow came from the center of Hiei's forehead behind the headband and suddenly I knew exactly where Kurama lived.
"Leave or die human!" I jumped up and ran towards my window seeing as how my door was blocked by two people with swords! On the way I stuffed my feet into my shoes, not even stopping to tie them. I shoved the window open trying as best I could to avoid the broken glass and climbed out onto the roof and down the trellis to the ground. As soon as my feet hit earth I began running towards Kurama's house. He really did live only a few blocks away. When I reached his front door I knocked and then knelt to tie my shoes, my breath coming in harsh pants. I was just straightening up as he opened the door.
"Della? What are you doing here? What happened?" He reached forward and ran his thumb over my cheek, when he pulled his hand back it was red, blood red. The sight of my blood on his hand made me feel faint, I swayed and he grabbed my shoulders. "Della, tell me what happened."
I had just opened my mouth to speak when a voice came from behind him, "Shuichi, who is it?" I looked over his shoulder and saw a pretty middle aged woman; she looked to be only a few years younger than my mom.
"Mother, this is my friend Della, Della this is my mother." It felt a little like déjà vu only in reverse, the thought almost sent me into hysterical giggles but I bit my lip. Now was so not the time to have a mental break down.
I stepped away from Kurama even though I was still a little wobbly, "Good evening Mrs. Minamino, I'm sorry to intrude but I need to speak to Shuichi."
"Oh dear! What happened to your cheek?" I raised my hand and pressed it to the gash, using the cuff of my shirt to stem the blood flow.
"A car kicked up a rock when I was walking over; I guess I didn't realize it had hit me." I didn't realize I was so good at lying; it must be the shock because I was completely deadpan. Kurama kept casting me worried glances.
"Shuichi, why don't you take care of her cut? I'll leave you two alone; it was nice meeting you Della." She turned and walked back into what I guessed was the kitchen. Kurama tried to pull me into the house but I resisted.
"No, Hiei said to tell you that I was attacked by an assassin. I don't even know how I got here; I mean I don't know where you live or I didn't before. How did I know where you live?" My voice was edged with the hysteria trying to force its way into my mind, I realized I was hyperventilating when the world started to tilt again.
"Mother, Della and I are going to catch a movie."
I heard a distant, "Okay" from the other room before Kurama shoved me outside.
"We need to get out of here, quickly." He took my hand and pulled me away from his house, I didn't know where we were going I just concentrated on not tripping and trying to force air into my lungs. I didn't know where we ran or how far but we slid to a halt in the shadow of some tall buildings. He pulled something from his pocket and for a minute I thought it was a compact, he flipped it open and pushed a button. "Yusuke, answer." I was trying to catch my breath but looked up with interest; he pushed another button and growled. Another button, this one apparently did what he wanted, "Botan I need you to contact Yusuke and Kuwabara, tell them to meet me at the bridge in the park."
"Kurama, you know that's not really my job…"
"It's urgent Botan, please."
"Alright, alright, I'm on my way." He closed the communicator and looked at me.
"Della, I never intended…"
A shadow moved above us causing him to break off whatever he had been about to say, before I could look up a voice came out of the darkness. "Humans, so useless and weak." I screamed and nearly jumped out of my skin. When I spun around Hiei stood behind me with a smirk. His white headband was gone, revealing…a violet eye in the middle of his forehead? My mouth gaped open in shock as Hiei turned his focus to Kurama who raised his eyebrow questioningly, ignoring me completely.
"She's good, but not quite as good as I am," he gave a small smug smile and an arrogant shrug. "I decided to let her go for the moment and see how you were doing with the mortal." They both looked at me, I didn't miss the fact the he said mortal as if it were a dirty word.
"Yeeeah, hi you two. Mind telling me what the HELL is going on here?" My voice broke at an octave I was sure only dogs could hear, I was beyond peeved at the way they were acting. I mean, I was the one in danger why weren't they talking to me?
"No time," Kurama said with a visible wince at my decibel level, "we have to get to the park and meet up with Yusuke." I was about to ask what the heck a junior high punk could do against a freakin chick with a sword but Kurama grabbed my hand and nearly yanked me off my feet. I had no choice except to follow and since I needed all my breath to keep up, there was none left over for asking questions.
We reached the park and found it deserted which really wasn't a surprise this late at night. Kurama and Hiei avoided the winding path, choosing instead to move through the trees and dense underbrush. They were completely silent as they moved while I tripped and stumbled over every tree root and rock in my way. When we reached the bridge, Kurama and Hiei stayed in the trees that gathered close to the water. Hiei sprung lightly up into a pine tree as I watched with silent awe. "How the heck did you do that?" Apparently they still weren't talking to me because no one answered. The silent treatment was really getting frustrating.
Kurama helped me climb another tree and seemed surprised when I scrambled up quickly. I looked down at him from nearly the same height as Hiei was in his tree. "I was a tomboy growing up." He smiled as he climbed up to sit on the limb beside mine. "Alright, now that we're here and Yusuke obviously isn't please tell me what's going on Kurama. I'm sick of being ignored." I looked directly into his green eyes, seeing his reluctance and then his resignation.
"For some unknown reason that most likely has to do with your friendship with Yusuke, Kuwabara, and myself you are being hunted by an unknown assassin."
"Assassin!? But why?" Hiei rolled his eyes.
"Look girl, Kurama and I are demons, just like the one who is after you. Yusuke is a Sprit Detective committed to keeping demons from the Human Realm, that large oaf is his dimwitted sidekick. Needless to say we have made some strong enemies that would want anyone close them dead. You happen to have gotten too close." I noticed the separation between "we" and "them" obviously he wasn't too attached to me. Surprise, surprise.
I lurched sideways, forcing Kurama to catch me before I fell out of the tree. Unlike the fall from my roof, this one would definitely kill me. "Demons? Spirit Detective? Human Realm? What the hell?"
"Hiei, there was no need to be so blunt with her."
"Hn, someone needed to tell her. Besides it seems to have shut her up. Finally." My mind reeled with all the information I had just received. I didn't think I could have spoken if I had wanted to, even to tell Hiei what he could do with that last comment. Kurama's branch was close enough to mine that he could put his arm around me and he needed to because I was still in danger of falling out of the tree.
"I'm going to take care of your cheek, alright Della?" He waited until I nodded before pulling some things out of his pocket and beginning to tend to my face. I didn't feel it, if I hadn't been in shock before I was now. Demons? These two were demons? I looked at Hiei; it was no stretch of the imagination to imagine he was one with the eye in his forehead visible, but Kurama? I looked up at him in disbelief.
"Yes Della," he said quietly. "Don't be fooled by my human appearance, inside I am a demon simply living in this human body for the time being."
"But…but you're so normal." I whispered in a small stunned voice. I glared at Hiei when he gave a dark chuckle. I opened my mouth to respond but before I could running footsteps sounded below us. I looked towards the bridge and saw Yusuke and Kuwabara running towards us from the opposite side followed by a blue haired girl in a pink kimono riding…an oar? As if tonight weren't freaky enough.
They stopped after they had crossed the bridge and looked around. "Damn it, where the hell are they?" Kuwabara asked in his deep voice.
"I don't know, Kurama said to meet him here." The girl on the oar said, I recognized her voice from the communicator. Hiei's hand moved so fast it was a blur as he snatched a pine cone from the tree and threw it at Kuwabara's head. It connected with a solid thunk leaving a raised bump. I started laughing as the small group turned towards our trees, Kuwabara grabbing his head and swearing. Hiei jumped and landed lightly on the ground.
"You little punk! I'll get you for that Shorty just you wait!"
Hiei snorted derisively, "Don't hurt yourself trying, baka."
"WHAT!? I'll kick your ass anytime shrimp!" Kurama sighed as he helped me climb down from the tree. In truth I didn't really need his help, I just liked the way he held my hand or steadied my waist. Once we reached the ground he took his hands off me and we walked towards the others in an awkward silence. I pondered over his odd behavior. Sometimes I could swear he liked me (like when he had kissed me the night before) while others he placed a cold distance between us (like now). I was so confused and this emotional rollercoaster was giving me whiplash. I giggled a little as I thought of the Katy Perry song "Hot N Cold." It was totally inappropriate but the lyrics began playing through my head, echoing my thoughts. Kurama slanted me a confused look, making me laugh harder.
Someone call the doctor
Got a case of a love bi-polar
Stuck on a roller coaster
Can't get off this ride
"Hey, Kurama, what's this emergency you were talking about? And what's she doing here?" My laughter had drawn the focus of the small group to us; I was now the center of attention. Joy for me.
"Hi Yusuke, nice to see you too," I replied with acidic sarcasm. "Tonight has just been so much fun! Apparently I have a demon assassin after me." There was a strained pause.
"What are you talking about Della? Everyone knows demons aren't real! Ha ha haha!" Kuwabara forced a fake laugh that just sounded painful as he looked at everyone nervously.
I put my hands on my hips, "It's too late for that Kuwabara, so don't even try I know the whole story already. She's already been after me once, Hiei saved me."
"Hn," the demon turned way as if this detail were inconsequential. Kuwabara burst out laughing.
"Oh man! Hiei saved you? I guess you're not so selfish after all, huh Shorty?" Hiei did not reply.
"Where's the assassin now?" Yusuke's voice was all business; I'd never heard him sound or look so serious.
"Hiei said that she had escaped for the moment."
"Hiei, can you track her down and detain her in Spirit World for questioning?" He disappeared into the trees with a single bound.
"Someone has seriously gotta teach me how to do that," I breathed.
"Botan, go update Koenma on the situation, we're taking Della to Genkai's place. She should be safest there for the moment."
"Right. Nice to meet you Della, sorry about all this, I'm sure we'll get better aquatinted later," the girl, Botan, jumped onto her oar and took off into the sky. I turned to Kurama.
"I'm asleep on my couch. In the morning I'm going to wake up and wonder what I ate for dinner." He gave me a sad smile and took my hand, I would have called him on his hot and cold thing but at the moment I was simply too far gone to care. Besides, his hand felt nice.
"I'm sorry Della, but this isn't a dream and you're not going to wake up. Now get ready for a bit of a hike."
Made it! Lol so what'd you think? Besides it being uber long? And to the people who don't review...I know you're out there, just pushy the little purple/blue button and tell me how fabulous this story is ;) Love ya!
