Once Genkai ended Hana's training Hana staggered down the stairs. When Hana reached the bottom, she was slightly disappointed to see Hiei was not there. She hoped Hiei would be there to help her back home. She was too tired to walk herself home, but he wasn't there. She decided to walk herself home despite how she felt. Hana started walking toward the subway. She didn't get far before falling over from exhaustion. However, much to her surprise, she didn't hit the ground. A hand grabbed her and pulled her back up and into a warm embrace.
"Are you okay?" A familiar voice spoke. "You look dead on your feet."
Hana looked up to find herself in Drake's arms.
"Drake, what are you doing here?" She questioned, more than slightly suspicious.
"I was just passing through the area." Drake answered. "You seem very tired. How about I help you home."
Hana knew that rejecting his offer would be a very bad idea. She was exhausted. There was no way she could get home before collapsing. Yet, how would she explain to Hiei if he saw them together?
"No, I'm fine," Hana replied, "I don't need to be escorted home."
"Are you sure?" He asked, "You look like you'll fall over any moment."
"I'm fine," She said tartly trying to keep her legs from shaking.
Drake sighed, "This morning you wouldn't let me walk you home despite it being dark. Now you won't let me walk you back home even though you're ready to fall over. Is there something you don't want me to see?"
Drake's kindness seemed genuine. Try as she might, she couldn't figure out why he was so insistent. Hana inhaled sharply. She needed a good lie that he would believe.
"I'm not tired, I'm just clumsy." She lied.
"Fine, but I swear you were staggering earlier," Drake spoke. He didn't want to leave, but he wasn't going to force her. "I don't know why you are so cold to me every time you see me."
His words stung a little. Hana really didn't want to talk to Drake anymore, the more time she spent talking to him the greater the risk of Hiei noticing.
"Well, I need to get going." Hana swiftly said good bye and then ran off in the opposite direction.
Once Drake was out of sight, she stopped. Finding the energy to run caused Hana's legs to buckle out from underneath her and she fell to her knees.
'I got to stop using the little energy I have left recklessly,' Hana thought. 'Maybe I can find Hiei if he's close by...'
Hana closed her eyes and clasped her hands together and focused on Hiei and his energy. The black fire appeared and was pretty close from what Hana could tell. She unclasped her hands and opened her eyes. Hana turned to her left and look at the forest where she sensed Hiei's energy. She hauled herself up and walked toward Hiei's energy, using the trees to keep herself standing. Hana reached the edge of the clearing to see Hiei stared at the remains of a cut up VHS tape. Hiei looked up and noticed Hana.
"Hana-," Hiei started.
Hana could barely hear Hiei though. She closed her eyes and let her exhaustion take over.
Kari was in a cheerful mood as she walked to the small café on Wednesday night. Even though she married Youko Kurama, this was her first date. Their courtship hadn't involved the human custom. Yet, after reading about "dating" and over hearing stories from students, dating seemed to be a great way for them to reconnect.
A waiter took her to a small table at 7:45. She knew she was early, but she was too excited to wait any longer. Besides, flowers, candles and the moonlight created a calm atmosphere. With all the quizzes and papers the school required her to assign in preparation for midterms, relaxing was a luxury.
Time passed on while she waited and 8:15 came. She allowed herself to order a cup of tea. By 8:30, her cheerful smile turned to a small frown. Finally, at 8:47 on the dot, she paid her tab and left.
The way home seemed quieter than usual. Kari couldn't decide if her feelings made it feel somber or if it really was a gloomy night. Either way, Kari welcomed the surroundings.
As she sat down on a bench half way through the park, she pondered her next step. Her teaching contract held her until the summer, unless the spirit world pulled her back to the demon world. She was breaking about hundred rules just by being here.
"Ms. Fujiwara." A demon wrapped in layers of clothing handed a black orb to Kari. "King Yomi sends his regards."
As sudden as he appeared, he disappeared.
"Thanks…" Kari sighed and looked at the orb. "When it rains, it pours…"
With a sigh, Kari entered the apartment. As she kicked off her shoes, Hana walked into the living room.
"You're back early." Hana took a seat on the couch. "How did your date go?"
"Horribly." Kari replied and sat down next to her. "Kurama didn't even show up."
"That doesn't seem like him." Hana pondered. "Do you have any idea why?"
"Because he isn't invested in our relationship?" Kari offered. She rubbed her temples. "I don't know why I'm even trying. I should have known better than to follow him. In the demon world, I was fine. Everyday was consistent and reliable. I had a steady stream of income, friends, and nobody bothered me."
"Don't say that." Hana scolded. "If that was true, you would have stayed."
"I came after Kurama because I didn't want to be wrong." She replied after a long pause. "I wanted to be right about Kurama and I, our relationship. Not many demons get it right the first time, like you and Hiei. I don't like being wrong. Mistakes suck."
Sympathetically, Hana rubbed her back. She knew Kurama wouldn't just leave Kari. That didn't seems like Kurama. Maybe if Kari and Kurama had a chance to talk about it… If they had a little time away from school and the spirit world business… Hana grimaced. Kari had a fair bit of pride. She wouldn't want to see Kurama without an apology if she believed he wronged her. Come to think of it, Hana didn't know what Kurama's side of the story was; would he agree to met up with Kari?
Last night, Kurama didn't get much sleep. King Yomi's request for Kurama to return to the demon world kept him awake. Muruko extended the same request to Hiei. They would be enemies. Furthermore, Yomi couldn't be trusted.
Still, Kurama yawned through the school day. He looked forward to Kari's class. She would bring some respite to conflicting thoughts filling his head. Somehow, her presence always brought him peace. In fact, it was in times of trouble that he realized just how much he relied on Kari. She was a candle in a storm. Throughout the darkest of times, she remained bright to show him the way.
So, when she acted uncharacteristically cold and harsh to him in class, Kurama decided to question her on her actions after class. The bell rang and the last of the students filed out of the classroom, he approached her.
"Kari," Kurama cut her off at the door, "I would like to talk to you."
"Oh," She looked at him incredulously, "now you want to talk? I'm sorry, but I have other things to attend to." Kari tried to side step him but failed. A second attempt in the other direction was also foiled. "Would you let me pass? I have papers to grade."
"Not until you tell me what wrong." He folded his arms. "It's not like you to act like this."
"It's not like…" Kari couldn't even repeat his words as her temper threatened to boil over. "How would you know how I am? You can't even spare enough of your brainpower to remember we had a date last night. How would you know how I behave on a regular basis?"
"Oh, shit." He swore. "It's that what your upset about?" Kurama reached out to embrace her. "I'm sorry. I had things come up." Rejecting him, Kari glared and moved out of his reach. "Don't be like that. It was just one date."
Being a thousand years old and in the teaching profession, Kari prided herself on being able to control her emotions. Thus, she didn't cry, even though every part of body shook with the effort. Her temper, however, wasn't mastered as easily.
"It wasn't just a date to me." Kari ground out. "Do you realize that we haven't gone on one single date? I've been here a month, Kurama."
"You're my teacher!" He countered. "How was I supposed to approach the situation?"
"You could have asked me plenty of time outside of school." Kari folded her arms across her chest. "Believe it or not, people aren't constantly watching and making sure students aren't dating teachers."
"You said you didn't want a relationship!" Kurama replied. "I was just doing what you asked."
"Youko Kurama wouldn't have taken 'no' for an answer." She muttered. "If you really wanted me, neither would you."
"What did you wanted me to do?" He asked sardonically. "Sweep you off your feet, against your will?"
"If that's what it took, then yes." The simple phrase stabbed him like a knife. "Or at least something to show you cared. You could have sent flowers. It's not like you would have difficulty gathering up a few plants!"
"Is that what you're upset about? You didn't receive gifts?"
Kari was silent. It's not the flowers or knick-knacks. It's what the symbolized. A token to show that he was thinking about her; something to let her know he cared.
"I wanted anything to show that you were serious about wanting me back." Kari looked down. "I ran into Yomi, or rather King Yomi, while you were on your mission. He asked me to be his mistress and…" She paused. "And I actually considered it. I wanted to push him away; tell him I already was with someone. I didn't. I couldn't."
"I've had my adventure." She said with conviction. "I'm ready to settle down and start living life, instead of trying to stay alive. For a few hours of my day, Yomi is offering me stability."
"Is that what you want?" Kurama raised his brow. "To spend the rest of your life turning tricks in bed?"
"At least he's honest about what he wants." She shot back. "I have no clue what you want, wife or otherwise. It will be quite difficult to convince Spirit World to let me stay here as your lover. Or did you forget that I don't belong here and could be killed at any moment for being a demon living in the human world?"
"Stability." He repeated slowly. "You think Yomi is going to want you as his mistress forever?"
"I'm sure we could work something out when he tires of my company." Kari rubbed her arm. She knew it wouldn't last, but Yomi could afford to provide her with comfortable retirement.
"Don't you see that he only wants you because I have you?" Kurama shouted, frustrated. "As soon as he gets you, he'll have his fun and then toss you to the curb."
"Are you implying that demons can't find her attractive?" She growled. "That the only reason someone would ever want me is because my name is affiliated with you?"
Kurama instantly regretted what he said. He hadn't meant it like that.
"Get out." Kari opened the door. "I may have to deal with you in class, but after school... Get out."
Obeying, Kurama exited the room. Without showing any sign of emotion, Kari closed the door gently and returned to her desk.