The Search For A Mate
The Search For A Mate
Chapter 10
Kurama and Beth had decided that they wouldn't mention Beth seeing Rayna in town. It would only put Hiei on the defensive. It was all too new and fragile to insert doubt into the picture. So they took a wait and see attitude. The week passed quickly and Kurama and Beth both coached Hiei on what to expect.
They had been together when the subject of movies came up. It surprised Kurama that Beth suggested a horror movie. She giggled. "You never took me to a movie before we mated." To Hiei she explained. "Well, there's the obvious. She'll get scared and cling to you through the whole movie. Then there's the practical. You should have at least an idea of how she reacts to blood and gore. There seems to be quite a lot of that in our world. Getting scared is one thing. She'll get over it. I did. It making her physically ill would be an issue. If she gets through the movie only squeezing your arm til it's numb, you're good to go. If she runs to the bathroom to puke, then you have a problem." Kurama snorted. Then choked. A tear trickled down his cheek. By the time Beth hit him with the couch pillow, he was laughing so hard he had trouble breathing. "Only you could turn a movie into a relationship test."
Beth defended her logic. "It's not like she has anyone she knows who can help her through a demon initiation. I was related to this menagerie, remember?" Kurama was beginning to catch his breath. "You were thrown into it before you ever got here. You just didn't know it." She squeezed her mate's hand. She still missed her father.
Friday was spent with Beth giving him last minute advice. His head was full of everything that his friends had told him. He would not screw this up. It was only a stupid ningen ritual. How hard could it be? It was supposed to be a little chilly tonight, so Beth had told him to be sure and wear his jacket. "Why? I don't get cold." Beth had only smiled at him. "No. You don't. But Rayna might. And a woman always appreciates a gentleman giving up his jacket to keep her warm." "Then why doesn't she just wear one of her own?" Beth shook her head. They had to get him mated soon. If he had to depend solely on his romance skills, he was sooo screwed.
Hiei arrived at the tree just before six. The sun hadn't set yet, but he kept a watch for Rayna's arrival. There would be no crowds for her to get lost in tonight. He would insist on walking her home. She wasn't getting away this time. He leaned against the tree with his arms crossed. Beth had warned him Rayna might be late. She knew it annoyed him to be kept waiting, so she had told him that it was a common practice for human females. Something about making an entrance. He'd only asked why they couldn't make the entrance on time.
Rayna checked her appearance in the mirror one last time. She had to go or she'd be late. Her father wasn't home. That was a good thing. No explanations to make. That would only take time she didn't have. She'd left him a note that she'd be home later. Turning out the lights, she closed the door behind her.
She smiled to see Hiei leaning against their tree. He turned to her when he sensed her arrival. She had quiet footsteps. He gave her a small smile. "Where would you like to eat?" "Somewhere with hamburgers." He liked hamburgers too. He could do this. He held out his arm to her as Kurama had shown him. She grinned and took it, looping hers through his. "Such a gentleman. I'm not used to that." He led her off to the restaurant where he usually ate with Beth and Kurama. He knew their burgers were good.
The waitress recognized him and led them to a booth in the corner. The one he usually chose so his back was to the wall and he could see the entrance. Old habits, but they had kept him alive this long. He couldn't recall the waitress's name. She was short, with short brown hair. "The usual, sir?" He nodded. "And you, miss?" Rayna handed her the menu. "I'll have the same thing he's having." "Ok. Be right out." The waitress walked off.
"How do you know you'll like what I get?" Hiei asked her. "Didn't you get the same thing you ate at your family's picnic? That's the way I like mine." She frowned. He reassured her. "Yes. That's the way I like mine. I wasn't sure you would remember." She smiled again. She wouldn't tell him she remembered everything about that day. It would probably only inflate his ego.
Rayna noticed how his eyes would stray to the door whenever it opened, and he would cast a furtive glance to anyone who was seated close to them. She supposed it was because of his work. He would be used to observing everyone in any given setting. If she weren't sitting across from him and watching him, she probably wouldn't notice. She guessed he was very good at his job.
Their food arrived just as he'd asked her how her week had gone. She talked about her boss. He was such a nice man. He'd given her a challenging project. He seemed to have confidence in her. She hoped she didn't let him down. She asked Hiei the same question. Since he was on vacation, he pretty much relaxed and spent time with his nieces and nephews.
They were almost finished when he asked if she had a movie preference. "I don't know. I like different kinds of movies." She grinned. "I won't suggest a chick flick. I wouldn't do that to you." Thank the Gods, Hiei thought. She was thinking of what the choices were. "I heard the new Godzilla movie is out." Hiei looked down quickly. How was he going to sit through that without laughing and making snide comments? She would ask what he found so funny. Was he supposed to tell her that he could introduce her to demons that would make that idiot ningen in that stupid rubber suit piss himself?
He remembered Beth's advice. "Do you like horror movies?" "Oh. Yeah. There are a couple out. I've heard good things about both." He took their bill to the register and left the waitress a generous tip. She held his arm as they walked the two blocks to the movie theater. They let the starting time decide which of the two horror movies they chose. One started in fifteen minutes. The other didn't start for an hour.
Hiei got their tickets, then got sodas. Rayna declined popcorn. She was full from dinner. He led her up the stairs to the very last row. He always preferred his back to a wall, but especially didn't like sitting with a bunch of humans behind him. He scanned the rest of the moviegoers. Nothing out of the ordinary. Mostly couples, probably on dates too. He relaxed somewhat.
The theater got quiet as the lights dimmed. Rayna had shifted to the side of her seat bringing her closer to him. He shifted toward her. Some time into the movie, he felt Rayna's arm slip under his. She was clinging to him. He smirked in the darkness. Beth had been right.
Hiei wondered if this was one of those times Kurama had told him a non-sexual touch was called for. He raised his arm and she reluctantly let it go. When he draped it around her shoulders, she snuggled into his side, laying her head on his shoulder. He had to admit that it felt… nice. He laid his head on hers, pulling her closer.
He was surprised, but he was enjoying the movie too. Stupid ningens doing stupid things was nothing new. But watching them get slashed and chopped up was very entertaining. Even if it was predictable. He'd even heard one girl several seats down talking to the movie. She was telling this idiot blonde ningen in the movie not to do things. It was quite funny.
He was disappointed in the ending though. The idiot blonde ningen lived. The villain turned out to be some psychopathic ningen. He died in the end. Hiei heard the talking girl's companion tell her the villain wasn't really dead. They were making a sequel. That raised Hiei's spirits some. Maybe the idiot blonde ningen wouldn't survive the sequel.
Hiei and Rayna followed the crowd out of the theater. He took her hand and led her across the street to an ice cream shop. "Would you like some swe… ice cream?" She nodded. "That sounds good." He ordered a double dip strawberry, Rayna a single dip chocolate. They ate their ice cream as they slowly walked back toward the park.
When Hiei finished his cone, he took Rayna's hand again. She looked down at their joined hands. "I had a good time tonight, Hiei. Thank you." "Hn. You're welcome. I did too. Which way to your home?" She frowned. "You don't have to walk me all the way home. We can part company at the park." He shook his head. "The park is dangerous at night. So are the streets. I'm walking you home."
Great, Rayna thought. She should have known he'd have to be the white knight. She indicated an apartment building only two blocks from them. "Ok. That's where I live. But you can't come up. My father will be home. You'll have to let me go once we get to the building. I promise I can take care of myself from the street to my apartment." He looked into her eyes. He saw a kind of panic there. What kind of man was her father?
They stopped at the front of the building. She tugged on her hand. He didn't let it go immediately. "When can I see you again?" She smiled at him. "The park tomorrow. Get your mommy to pack you another lunch." He smirked. "Should I bring enough for my playmate too?" She nodded. "Please?" He let her hand go. She stopped and turned back. Before she could change her mind, she kissed his cheek and ran.
Hiei was left wide eyed staring after her. She turned a corner and disappeared. He waited for some time, listening for any disturbance. He wasn't sure he liked what he was learning about her father. He was sure now that her father was a problem. But what kind of problem did it present for him and his plans? The plans that were beginning to focus on Rayna as the key figure.
Rayna watched him stand there. Why wasn't he leaving? He had to think that she was inside by now. She closed her eyes. She really hated lying to him. She needed to think. Her hair was ruffled by a breeze. She smiled as she saw the clouds move in. She watched as Hiei noticed the change in the weather. She hadn't checked the forecast before her date. Perhaps she should have. She wondered if he would stand in the rain, or go home.
Hiei looked up. The breeze smelled like rain. He could see the clouds growing darker. He hadn't checked the weather. He was glad it had held off until after his date. The first raindrops began to fall as he turned toward the park. Once he was out of sight of any ningens, he took to the trees and ran full speed for Kurama's. Damn, he hated the rain.
Rayna saw him leave. She gave him a few minutes to get out of sight. Then she walked back down the stairs and made her way to the park. She was going to have to do something soon. He had insisted on walking her home tonight. How long before he insisted on meeting her father? That would not be a good thing. Father had a way of intimidating everyone he thought beneath him. She could only imagine how he would treat Hiei.
She entered the park, looking cautiously around her. She stood in what was now a downpour. She listened to the thunder. It was music to her ears. The lightning flashed in time to the thunder. A symphony of light and sound. The rain felt good. Gods, she loved the rain.
To be continued….