LAST
Hiei grinned at Kennedy, a show
of approval in his favorite 'clean'
version of fun…ticking people off.

LAST
NINE

"This is Shuichi's friend Hiei. Everyone, treat him like an idiot," Kennedy announced as she walked into the kitchen. "Hiei is not allowed to talk to you because he pissed me off."

Hiei's eyebrow twitched repeatedly. Shuichi laughed quietly which turned into a cough. It was a good thing that he realized Hiei actually enjoyed people standing up to him. May not like it, but Hiei enjoyed the chance to snap insults back at those stupid enough to do so—thus why a certain brash teammate had not been killed. Lynne, Michael, and Carly shook their heads at their older sister. "You're the one who attacked me just now. I should be pissed off at you…bitch."

Shuichi shook his head at Hiei's mistake. Kennedy was not like the teammate who stood up to Hiei, easily moved at terms like that. Hiei would have to move up his game. Hiei would have to attempt pushing buttons like he did on Shuichi at times, through words and obscure or implied taunts.

"Have you forgotten Hiei that I know what this Mukuro wants you to do? See children?" Kennedy turned to show off Hiei like Vanna White showed off letters on the American game show Jeopordy. "An idiot."

Hiei scowled at the eldest Malone not retaliating to what he called her. Michael burst out into laughter and Hiei snapped the boy a look. It did no good around Michael's unfiltered mouth.

"Now that is a shrimp!"

"Cork it loser face," Kennedy said pointedly, accentuating each word she spoke in an exaggerated way.

Hiei frowned off to the side and Shuichi held in his laughter, positive Hiei was confused on Kennedy's taunt to Michael when she hardly responded to his own taunt. Pity Hiei couldn't get away with just name calling Kennedy like Michael did, it would be far easier for Hiei to come back with snappy insults.

"Make me book worm," Michael snapped back.

Kennedy huffed. "No time baka. I'll drive you and Carly to school. Shuichi's idiot came to visit him anyway; we should give them time together."

"Hm? So Shuichi is gay? That's so wrong. I'll be waiting in the car," Michael sang out as he left the room. Carly raced after her elder brother, screaming for shotgun. Giving Shuichi a hard look, Lynne left for her morning classes in her car. That girl really didn't have much faith in him staying here long.

Hiei raised an eyebrow at Shuichi. "No retaliation?"

"He's teasing. And Americans are far more…open over discussing opinions on such things."

Hiei burst into a fit of laughter. "Not often you're annoyed."

Kennedy laughed as well. "You missed the best part Hiei! Say, Shuichi! High fashion or gay? Oh, the noise, the noise!"

Shuichi's face flushed, the two shades of red clashing horribly.

"Neither! And I'm not going by Robyn's insistence to meet him either!"

"Mmm? What a pity Shuichi, you have that alluring color and the polished way of holding yourself," Kennedy mused.

Hiei snickered and watched the two shades of red on Shuichi's face became one combined color. Sadly, Shuichi could see Hiei's notches of 'This Human Girl is Interesting' going up. The rating went up only because Kennedy had properly managed to push Shuichi's buttons. Hiei grinned at Kennedy, a show of approval in his favorite 'clean' version of fun…ticking people off. She waved and left the two alone together.

Shuichi shock his head. "Now she teases back," he grumbled lightly. One of the reds on his head was fading away, his hair the only reminder of how red his face actually got.

"What an awkward person," Hiei commented. "She reads you awfully well though Kurama. You should be careful with her. Compared, you can hardly read her."

"What do you mean by that Hiei?"

There was a scoff. "I thought you didn't acknowledge my reading people's thoughts. You say it's rude but then ignore it. You really have changed fox."

"Hiei, don't attempt to divert my attention. What do you mean by that?"

"She is fully aware you like her, even if you call it by something else."

He eyed Shuichi's shocked face.

"And you completely missed the form of affection she just sent you. Sarcastic and teasing and an awkward way to approach a friendship. She's not big on feelings, but she is carefully putting those feelings out. Purposely hidden though, don't take your lack of reading her the wrong way. She's awkward."

Hiei huffed in irritation, as Shuichi's face grew more confused.

"It was something you said to her earlier, from what I perceive, on her expression of feelings. Obviously, 'you have that alluring color' and 'polished way of holding yourself' are according to her. To me, you have that ridiculous idiotic denial of others actually caring about you. Except for your mother."

"My, my, we've changed Hiei. Mukuro has done you some good."

Shuichi smiled at the other's anger, but dropped the touchy subject and pensively pondered what Hiei had said. He had not really thought much on Kennedy wanting to get close, more of her giving trust in protecting her siblings. If Kennedy wanted to get close, she had a very awful way to show it. Telling him to leave and then sending him a hidden compliment. Jezz, could that girl have too many mixed feelings in showing her feelings?

And on the other hand, could he? Expecting to get close to someone with no feelings coming from the other side? Really, it shouldn't work out like that. How terrible was he to do so? Getting closer to Kennedy and had to be told that there were feelings of friendship coming from her. Now that he knew, Shuichi really did want to make that visit back home. Was that wrong of him? He was…a tease. Giving her the idea he liked her and then wishing to run away.

He groaned and drew his hand over his face. "What did you come here for Hiei?"

Hiei shrugged. "Did I have to have a reason?"

"Spontaneous does not fit you Hiei."

"I was…curious. Her water flows…differently than I have ever seen of any spirit or demonic energy. It's scary and memorizing with the way it moves."

Shuichi glanced up, understanding. "Yes. The personal power of one of the hidden people is undeniable, the fear of all not one of them. Kennedy is predictable in the flow of her water, but still… It cannot be sensed and the way it moves far too easily… Scary."

"I could see why Mukuro and Koenma are in agreement over old legends of the hidden people."

Emerald eyes flashed sharply in alarm. "Agreement?"

"Yes, as of a week ago. I've spread out my search over the period of time as so neither pick up I already know where the hidden people are."

Shuichi sighed in relief. "Too much to worry about. And as for my parole?"

"I told Koenma you were out of reach because you don't wish for your girlfriend." Hiei grinned at Shuichi's flash of anger at the term, "To be involved in such things. He understands, saying even you were allowed a break, but he still has to know where you are."

Shuichi's emerald eyes narrowed sharply. "No, he doesn't. As far as I am concerned, our missions and parole ended when Koenma fired Yusuke. What I do now is what I chose to do. And I am going to protect the last of the hidden people."

"You've gotten far too close to all of them, but especially that one girl. Kurama, stop pretending you are here to protect them on behalf of Kuronue. You're just giving living your own life a duty title. You are here because you like it here. I can tell."

Shuichi blinked.

"Quite staring at me like I gained another eye!"

Shuichi blinked again. "Okay," he drawled out. Emerald eyes looked over to the pictures hanging on the wall. "I won't. Stay some if you wish. I'm going to change."

"Tch!"

"Oh yes, please don't eat any of the snacks. Those are only for Carly," Shuichi informed Hiei as he headed up the stairs. Shrugging off his shirt, he walked his way the end of the hallway to his room.

"Idiot…so stupid…stupid…stupid…I'm such an idiot…such a..."

Stopping in the middle of the hallway, emerald eyes widened. Shuichi stood, uncertain on if he wanted to enter the room. Well, he should try not to be conflicting in allowing Kennedy to be close to him as he wanted to be close to her. And goodness knows the girl needed to know it was okay to release her feelings in front of others.

Knock. Knock. "Kennedy, I'm coming in." He opened the door before she could respond. Kennedy sat on the floor, hugging a pillow close to her red and tear-ridden face. Kindly, he looked at her face for the moment it was facing him. She wiped her head to the side, away from his line of vision.

"What do you want?" Her voice asked the question clearly but he had good ears and years of practice of listening to the sounds around him. Her vocal cords were quivering. Silently, he walked over and squatted next to her.

"Did you want to talk about it?"

Keeping her head turned away from him, Kennedy replied in her own way of saying no. "Oh it? It is a vague reference to a group of people or to an object. It is spelled with an 'i' and a 't'. Did you have any more to add about it?"

"No." With that single worded response, he sat down next to the girl and wrapped his arms about her. Her whole body stiffened.

"I don't need to know but opening up and allowing someone to help support you, all of you, is important. I'm not expecting you to cry or weep out all your troubles, I just wish for you to be able to lean on others when you need it. I'm staying and I'll help show you how to lean on others. If your mother really did yell her feelings at you, it is understandable on how difficult it is for you to lean on someone. You did not have a great example. Moments like this when you are repeating how stupid you are definitely qualified. You are not stupid Kennedy."

"Yes, I am. I should know better than to hope that…" Her bottle green eyes glanced up to the blaring red digital numbers. Shuichi blinked, surprised at how quickly her eyes had dried and the redness nearly gone. "I need to get Michael and Carly to school. Lynne's already left. And you should get a shirt on and get back to Hiei."

Shuichi sighed, knowing her practicalities were correct. Michael and Carly were waiting for Kennedy to drive them to school. Still, he knew he had to do something differently or view things differently. He hadn't expected Kennedy to want to be close to him as well. Although, she was demanding he leave for the fear of him being too close. Strange.

"Hiei and my shirt can wait."

"Michael and Carly have far less patience and school is necessary."

"Kennedy, that's not my main point." However, Shuichi released the girl and she stood up to check her eyes in the mirror. Kennedy grabbed her car keys, turned to leave, and paused as she heard his voice speak up again. "Kennedy, you should confide in someone when you don't feel okay."

"Me? I'm always fine Shuichi. I have to be," Kennedy gave him a small smile. "You never met the rest of my family…or my classmates…or even R.J. I try and hope for it, but I know sensibility. I can never have it."

"I'm here," Shuichi spoke quietly. It did not matter for the girl had already left the room. He suddenly didn't feel much for running away back home anymore. He desperately wanted to give the girl what she longed for so badly—someone to lean on and be close to. But he had already promised to leave her for a visit home. Was that such a good idea, allowing her to shun her fear of him getting close?

"I'm here," he repeated slowly.

But he left for Japan three days later.

To be continued…