The following morning I was awakened via slobber from Sen. With a groan I turned to the side and said, "Ew…Sen, stop waking me up like that…" I heard a chuckle and looked over to see Yusuke standing over to the side grinning, as well as Kurama smiling in an amused manner. I blinked in surprise as I glanced between the two boys. "Am I missing something? Why are you both in here?"

Kurama chuckled and explained that Yusuke hadn't been able to wake me up so he had went to get Kurama to see if the red head could. They had walked into the room expecting to find me still sleeping and had found Sen licking me awake. They were pleasantly surprised and found my reaction amusing…hence the chuckles. I nodded at the explanation and told them to leave so I could get ready. They did, and I was walking down the stairs (Sen at my heels) about ten to fifteen minutes later. Kurama gave me a bowl of cereal, and I quickly ate it and walked outside to see Yusuke stretching and waiting for me. I stretched as well and then we started our training.

The training was fun: Yusuke had decided that instead of the usual "try-to-hit-me" tactic he had us use, he turned it into a game. So for a few hours we played tag…only way more violent. Yusuke explained that the only way the "it" position changed was if the "it" person was to punch the other. He was "it" first; I think he just really wanted to punch something, and I just happened to be the target. I really didn't mind too much…seeing as how I was able to punch him back. Kurama called out to the two of us that lunch was done and we walked inside laughing after I had punched him while he was distracted.

We all ate the meal Kurama made, and then all of us went outside to start the training with Kurama. Kurama had somehow suckered everyone into helping me. I found it highly interesting that even Hiei agreed to help when it wasn't his day to train me. I quickly brushed all thoughts aside as I listened to what Kurama was saying about what we were about to do.

"I want you to relax and clear your mind as I have the rest of the group hide." I gave him an odd look as he spoke. He chuckled. "I want them to hide somewhere close by in the woods so you can try and find where they are by sensing their energy, whether spirit or demon energy. Now please close your eyes and clear your mind." I did so and heard the boys jump away the moment I did so. "I want you to open your mind and find out if you can feel the energy that I am releasing." I scrunched my eyebrows together in concentration then almost gasped as I felt a presence in front of me, and saw a silhouette in a deep green of a person in front of me as well. "Good, I'm going to move and I want to see if you can follow my movements not by my voice but by my energy." I felt him move around me in a clockwise motion. When I felt him stop I turned my head in the direction I felt him stop. "Very good." I heard the smile in his voice as he spoke. "I want you to open your eyes and look around."

I did so and my eyes widened as I saw a few colors floating around me. "What do you see?" I told Kurama that I saw streams of colors around me. He smiled. "Good, those are the energy trails that I had the boys leave. I want you to find the faintest one and follow it. It would more than likely disappear if you didn't look for it now." I nodded and searched the colorful streams. I saw a navy blue trail, a crimson trail, and a reddish-purple trail. I squinted and then I saw a faint, pale orange trail. I quickly took off after that one, weaving between trees and over short shrubs before finally stopping and seeing Kuwabara sitting on the ground and grinning at me. I smiled and shook my head as he led me back to Kurama.

"Good, you found Kuwabara. It seems you do not have a problem in finding a spirit energy trail. It took Kuwabara a while to learn that trick." Kuwabara started complaining as I laughed at his disgruntled features. "Now find the faintest trail after Kuwabara's. Go find that person." I looked around and found that both the navy blue and reddish-purple seemed to be about the same in the amount of faintness. I glanced toward Kurama and saw him looking at them with the same amount of confusion. Realization dawned on his face and he was quiet for a second or two before the reddish-blue became stronger in color and started nearing a more red tone. I followed the navy blue trail after that. I went a little farther into the forest than I had when I was trailing Kuwa's. I found Kori a short time later. I grinned as he led me back to the place where Kurama and Kuwabara were. He stopped half way back and picked me up and carried me back. I screeched when he did so; he laughed and said that this way was faster and that Yusuke and Hiei were more than likely getting impatient.

Kurama had me follow the purplish-red (the one that used to be the reddish-purple) and I found Yusuke. He carried me back from the beginning, laughing when I screeched. I found Hiei through the crimson trail. However, it took me a little longer to find him because, unlike the others who were on the ground, Hiei was near the top of a tall tree. I scowled at him when I found him and he took off, leaving me to find my way back on my own. All the way back I was silently cursing, ranting, and raving about the teme. I was sure he had heard me because he didn't look too pleased when I finally made it back. A small smirk of satisfaction graced my lips as I walked up to Kurama and asked what I was to do next for this training.

Kurama gave a small smile before he said, "Now you are going to try and find them without a trail to follow." He chuckled when I blanched. "It will not be that much more difficult than the first time as the boys will stay closer to the house than they did the first time. Later on, however, we will increase the distances that they will venture from the vicinity." I sighed and closed my eyes when Kurama instructed me to do so. I again heard the boys leaving the area and sighed. Kurama didn't speak as he quickly dashed around me. I figured he was trying to see if I could feel his presence when he stopped. I focused all my attention on following Kurama so that when he stopped I turned in the direction he was in and opened my eyes to smile at him as he smiled back.

"Very well done Kimiko, now look out into the woods. Do you remember the colors of the energy trails, and who they belonged to?" I nodded. "Very well, concentrate on finding those colors as you venture through the woods. You will be able to find them Kimiko. Do you remember the distance it took you to find Kuwabara?" I nodded, my eyes already beginning to search the woods to find a familiar color and presence. "That is the distance that I have restricted them to. They will actually be trying to hide this time, so it will take you a little longer than it did the first time. Also, you do not have to follow the ones you find back here to begin again. Once you find them, they will come back here on their own so you can continue to look for the others. Understood?" I nodded and smiled, already spotting the general direction that Kuwabara's faint silhouette was positioned. "Good, you may begin."

I ran off in the direction that I sensed Kuwa and followed it in many directions until I realized he was running from me. I grinned and increased my speed to catch up to him. I finally caught up to him a few seconds later. I grinned again as I imagined his reaction to what I was about to do. I increased my speed to as fast as I could go and was in front of him in the blink of an eye. He yelped and stumbled backward. I laughed out loud as he stared at me in a scared way that clearly said that he had not been expecting me to do that. "One down…three to go." I took off into the woods again trying to find a sense of energy from any of the other boys.

I found Kori next. I had to actually tackle him to the ground in order for him to cave in and admit that he had been caught. After I had caught Kori, I went to find Yusuke; I knew I wouldn't fine Hiei for a while, so I decided to save him for last. I searched the area for a while before I caught onto Yusuke's energy signature. I found him out by a stream. When I approached him, he grinned.

"I was wondering when you were going to find me." He started scratching his head and added in a sheepish tone, "I kinda can't find my way out…That's why I'm glad you came." I started laughing. I laughed so much that I had started buckling at the waist and eventually was sitting on the ground. "Okay it's not that funny," he said dryly after a minute or so of me laughing. I knew it wasn't that funny, and it wasn't. But the face he made while he said it was that funny and was the reason I was laughing as I was.

I managed to squeak out, "Your face was priceless" in between breaths and laughing. He joined in my laughing and we finally calmed down a minute or so later. I stood and wiped a tear from my eye. "Okay, the way out is that way. After you get a little farther, ask Kurama to spike his energy…that should do it." Then I sighed and said, "Now it's time to find Hiei…" I glanced at Yusuke and asked, "Save a plate of dinner for me?" He snickered as he walked the way I pointed. I sighed and closed my eyes, opening it to see the energy signatures that I was familiar with. My eyebrows scrunched together in confusion as I felt Hiei's presence behind me. Directly behind me.

I opened my eyes and turned around and nearly screamed when I saw Hiei standing not even an inch away from me. My face was priceless I was sure. "Uh…" was all I could get out as I stared at him. I had never really taken the time to take in his looks. I knew he was attractive; that much I knew from the dream I had had before I even met the guy. But now I decided to actually take in his features. His eyes were a beautiful and unique color: crimson with specks of black here and there. His eyes were angular and gave him an evil look, but I didn't feel that kind of vibe from him. His chin was slightly pointed, but it suited him well. His hair looked soft, but I did not dare try and find out; though it was hard to believe it could be soft with the way it was standing up on end as it was. I knew that he had a muscular upper body from the time that I had watched the boys train and he was shirtless. At the time I had asked Kurama if there was a reason behind his half-naked figure, but Kurama simply smiled and said that he usually fought without a shirt. I also knew that he was the shortest of the boys, but was still taller than me by a few inches, which kinda irked me; I was forever cursed to be the shortest. I did not know if his legs where as muscular as his chest and arms, but I figured they were with how fast he ran. I also noticed that he had a bandana around his forehead, and he had never taken it off around me. Just as I was about to open my mouth to ask about such thing, Hiei cut me off.

"I will not tell you about what is under my bandana Onna. Let's go, the others are starting to worry…especially that brother of yours." He sounded highly annoyed about the latter part. Then my brain realized what he had said and I tried to hide the blush that surfaced to my cheeks. He had heard me as I took in his features…well shit. He surprisingly walked a little ahead of me but still with me. We arrived a short while later. Kurama decided that my training would be done for the day. He and I walked inside as the other boys decided that they wanted to train some more.

I had walked in with Kurama wanting to get away from Hiei for a while; my embarrassment was far too great for me to stay. I walked in and helped Kurama with dinner. While we worked I decided that I would be safe to ask Kurama what was under Hiei's bandana.

"Hey Kurama, what's under that bandana of Hiei's?" He smiled and asked me why I wanted to know. "Well, I've never seen him take it off, and I was just wondering." I looked up from the vegetables that I had been cutting when I heard him chuckle. "What's so funny?"

"Why the sudden interest in Hiei, hm?" I blushed and looked back down at the vegetables in front of me, hoping that my hair that had fallen in front of my face hid my blush. From the chuckle that came from Kurama, I realized that it hadn't hid anything, but only added to his humor. I opened my mouth to defend myself, but he shook his head and said, "I'm sorry, but I can't tell you. If Hiei hasn't told you when you asked, then I can't tell you…as a friendly courtesy."

"Why do you think I asked him?"

"I saw the way you looked annoyed with each other, and when you asked…I put two and two together," he stated shrugging. I sighed and went back to cutting the food.

…

Kimiko had been quiet all through dinner, even when Yusuke had tried to cheer her up by praising her on how far she had come since coming to live with the boys. She only murmured a quiet thanks and went back to messing with her food. Kurama had looked at with worry. She had been unusually quiet since he had told her that he couldn't tell her what was under Hiei's bandana. Surely that was not the reason she was so quiet? Kurama glanced at Kori to find the young man staring at his sister with worry as well. Well at least Kurama had been right to worry. A mental sigh resonated through his head as Kimiko continued to be quiet and messing with her food, her face held a slight twinge of sadness as she stared at her food with blank eyes. Kimiko's wolf had laid its head on her lap and stared up at its owner in what appeared to be worry, but Kurama shook that thought off as Kimiko set her plate down on the floor and allowed her wolf to finish her food.

"Did you not like the meal Kimiko?" Kurama asked worriedly as he stared at his friend. She snapped her head up to look at him and blinked in repetition a few times then said that she did like it but wasn't that hungry. After the wolf had cleared the plate, Kimiko stood, picking up the plate, and walked over to the sink to rinse her plate off and then headed upstairs, the wolf right on her heels.

"Good night," Kori and Kurama had called, followed by Kuwabara and Yusuke. A quiet "Night" was the only response the boys received.

…

I walked up the stairs and into my room then started to change without caring whether or not the door had been closed. My mind was racing with thoughts. Was there another reason why I had been so curious about Hiei? Was there another reason behind trying to improve in my training, especially with Hiei, other than that I wanted to improve? Was there an alternative motive in everything I did that concerned that demon?

"What's the matter with you?" Sen was obviously pissed at my lack of attention.

I snapped out of my thoughts and looked over at my wolf. "Nothing." Then I noticed that she had closed the door when she had followed me inside.

"The hell it's nothing! Why are you so out of it tonight? You even gave me your food; I'm not complaining, but it's not like you. Are you sure you're okay?"

I sighed and collapsed on my bed then stared at the ceiling. "I guess it's just that I was worried if there was another reason why I was so curious about Hiei…and if there were other reasons that I did some of the things that I did when it came to him." I heard her laughing, or what I supposed was her laughing. My left eye started to twitch; first Kurama's laughing at me and now Sen…great… "Is there something that I'm missing?" I snapped as my wolf continued to snicker.

"Yeah, you're starting to develop feelings for the rude mother fucker.*" She started snickering again as she watched my expression change from anger, to confusion, to embarrassment, to anger again.

"I do not like him!"

…

"I do not like him!"

Kurama, Kori, Yusuke, and Kuwabara all stared up at the ceiling in confusion. The same thought was running through their heads: 'Where did that come from? And who doesn't she like?'

Kori and Kurama looked between each other, and then toward Yusuke. Said half demon caught their glances and instantly put a stop to any scheme they might have had. "Oh no, I went up there the last time and was uncomfortable as hell. One of you two go up there." Kurama suggested that Kori went.

"Are you kidding? The last person she would want to talk to would be her older brother…at least about a boy whom she doesn't like." Kori had said "doesn't" with a sarcastic tone, indicating that he knew his sister was in denial about liking a guy. "You are the only one Kurama…" Kori said with a smile (that he was trying to hide) on his face and shook his head. Kurama sighed and stood to go and take care of the issue at hand. He was about halfway up the stairs when the TV turned on and Koenma's face appeared on the screen.

"Boys, get Kimiko and come to my office…there is someone I want you all to meet." The TV turned off and Kurama proceeded up the stairs to retrieve Kimiko, thankful that the issue of sorting out feelings had been put off...at least a little while.

*I couldn't resist having Sen call him that XD I hope you all enjoyed this part. Okay, as far as I can tell this is the last filler...or at least for a little while. The actual plot is starting to come together.

Are there feelings between Hiei and Kimiko, or is it just one-sided at this point? Find out next time on Tamer of the Dragon.

Next time on Tamer of the Dragon, Kimiko gets her new teacher Kiara (that I think will now be named Kara) and starts her elemental training. Many things will be learned, and others relearned, but the training will not be easy...especially with a trainer like Kara. Anyway, tune in next time for Tamer of the Dragon! (Okay so I completely just sounded like the ending for Yu Yu Hakusho XDDDD...bare with me...please.)

I have finals coming up in the near future so I might not be able to update for about two weeks or so...unless you guys let me know how much you -really- want me to update ;) I really enjoy writing this story, but I know for a fact that there are a lot more people reading this story than there are people reviewing. So please please please review; it helps me keep wanting to write this story.