"Denial ain't just a river in Egypt." -Mark Twain

Gravity

Chapter Twenty-one

My head snapped around, looking for the accusing ruby eyed demon giving off that foreboding energy.

"What's wrong?" Tetsuya asked, his eyebrows knitting together in question.

"..Do you not feel that?" I asked, my eyes searching the yard and trees. I couldn't pinpoint the energy. It raged around me like an out of control fire that was licking at my skin, but I couldn't find it's source.

"No?" he said, his voice slow as if he wasn't sure what he should say.

My eyes fell on him as he looked around, his face drawn like he was trying to focus and find whatever I was feeling. I ran my tongue over the spit in my lip as I looked back to the trees. The energy flittered away slowly, leaving my skin to chill into bumps from it's lack of heat as the breeze brushed over my skin. Am I the only one that can feel his energy do that?

I sat at the dining room table with a few sheets of paper and a pen that Yokuto had given me to write my brother. He needed a little convincing to allow Tetsuya to take the letter, but he gave in after Tetsuya promised that he would take it and come back immediately, no questions asked. We decided on a system. I would write a letter, Tetsuya would deliver it and return immediately. Then he would go back in a few days to pick up the letter from David and bring it to me. If David hadn't written a letter for Tetsuya to find immediately, he would come back and try again a few days later. That would give me enough time to focus solely on my training without having to worry about waiting, or replying to a letter.

David, was all I had written. I chewed on the tip of the pen while I stared down at the blank page. What was I going to tell him? I had these stupid weights attached to me? I had managed to beat the hell out of myself with a stick? Maybe I shouldn't. It would cause him to worry. I sighed and started writing.

I'm sorry it's taken me so long to write. I've been busy with my training. My sensei's name is Yokuto, but you probably already knew that. I think you would like him. He does really well at pushing me to be better. He even makes me get up before dawn everyday which is something that not even you could accomplish. I'm sure he's got a few tricks that you'll want to take notes of. I wish I had more teachers like him in school. Except he's always got this weird twinkle in his eye that makes him look like he's up to something. I'm not really sure how I feel about that. But he's a good man, and I'm safe here. I know you were worried. But everything is okay.

It's absolutely beautiful here. I wish you could see it. The land around it is covered in forests as far as you can see. There's a beach on the other side of the temple with almost completely snow white sand. All around the temple are sakura and Japanese maple trees that are going to be absolutely gorgeous when they finally start to bloom. The temple even has a hot spring inside of it! It's really quiet here which is something I know you would love. At night I can actually hear the crickets chirping outside my window. Could you even imagine what that's like? There's no sirens, no one is yelling, no car horns. Just the sound of the wind in the trees and the birds chirping.

I visited the beach today after my training and watched the sunset. It reminded me of when we used to go the beach with mom and dad during the summers. We should do that when I get back. We haven't gone to the beach together since the accident. I'd really like to go again.

Please let everyone know that I miss them and that my training it going fine. In fact, tell Yusuke the next time I see him I'll be able to kick his ass for all those times that he picked on me. I hope you aren't too lonely. Give Shizuru a call if you are. I know that you two have been talking. Don't make that face. Call it a sisterly intuition.

I miss you.

With that I folded the letter in half, then half again. I wrote his name in English letters on the front of it. I slid it over to Tetsuya who was sitting across from me at the table. He picked it up with a smile and stood.

"Be right back!" he said perkily. He melted into the shadows, completely disappearing. Before I even had the chance to lean back, he walked through the door way of the hallway into the kitchen. "Told ya!"

"Thanks, Tetsuya," I said, standing with only a little difficulty. I was amazed at how fast I had adjusted to these weights. Was it normal for demon bodies to adapt so quickly? If I had been human with these things I would still be collapsed on the floor in the training room. "Well, I'm going to head to bed. I gotta be well rested for Yokuto to kick my ass tomorrow." I gave him a smile and started to walk passed him, when he reached out to grab my wrist. I looked over my shoulder at him.

"Good night, Daelyn," he said softly, with a ghost of a smile tracing on his face. A blush crept into my cheeks as his eyes slowly traced over my face.

"Good night," I murmured and he let my wrist go. I was barely able to keep myself from literally running down the hall away from the expression on his face. I made it around the corner and leaned against the wall, hiding my face with my hands. Get it together, Daelyn, I told myself. Just because some cute boy tells you that you're beautiful doesn't mean you have to have a crush on him. But he was the first boy to ever tell me I was beautiful outside of my family, or Seikatsu (who was bat shit insane so he didn't count). I took a deep breath and lowered my hands to fidget with my fingers. How dumb was I? I had a crush on Tetsuya. I mean, how could I not? He was so infectious with his laughter and his happiness. He was also handsome, in a cute boy next door kind of way.

I shook my head and pushed myself away from the wall. I could not be wrapped up in this right now. Training needed to come first. Boy's could come later. Much, much later. I continued making my way to the hall where my room was. As I turned the corner, I felt myself be wrapped into Hiei's darker energy. I looked up from my feet and my eyes fell on demon as he emerged from the door that lead to the shot spring.

My mind tripped over itself to see him just a few feet away from me and shirtless. His eyes slid over to me, the energy flaring when he fully turned to face me. I felt my mouth go dry as he crossed his arms cover his chest and squared his shoulders back. My eyes betrayed me as they raked over his body. He was all muscle. I could trace every dip and curve of the muscle that stretched under his skin. My eyes traveled down from his face, across his toned arms and chest, then further across his abs. As my gaze came to the edge of his dark jeans that hugged closely to his hips and waist, I soon came to realize when people said that the V thing that men had on their hips could turn a girl stupid.

Both his energies flared around me. The lighter energy radiated pride, like it was telling me that he knew I had been dumbstruck at his half naked figure. The darker energy almost swallowed me whole, trailing circles of lust on my skin and whispering promises of things that brought a flush to my skin in my ear. A rumble sounded from deep in his chest, causing me to go weak in my knees. I bit my lip then snapped out of my daze as pain shot through the gash there.

I shook my head and quickly rushed passed him, trying to keep my face hidden from him. I could feel his stare burning into my back as I fumbled with my door, the burning lust radiating from his darker energy trying to pull me back to him. I stumbled into my room and as I turned to slam the door shut behind me, I locked eyes with him. A smirk played on his face, with black flames turning his ruby eyes almost completely dark.

With a slam of the door, I swallowed trying to ease the dryness in my throat. I tried to ignore the budding warmth spreading through the lower regions of my body as I turned and rested my back against the door and then sliding down with a thump to rest my head on my knees. I heard Mi rustle around somewhere in the room.

"What the hell is wrong with me?" I muttered and squeezed my eyes shut. More so, what the hell is wrong with him? Why am I the only one that can feel this? There were a few moments of silence that passed before my head snapped up at a realization. I stared eye-wide but unseeing as to what was in front of me.

I was the only one who could feel it was because it wasn't his energy. The lighter part of the "energy" I was feeling were his emotions. The darker "energy" were the emotions of another being trapped inside of him.

"You have to learn to wield your weapon before you can expect it to protect you," Yokuto said, standing in front of me while I begrudgingly held the bo in my hands with sweat dripping from my face after my morning warm up of one hundred laps around the temple. "You must learn to 'spin the stupid stick' before you can further your skills with it and learn to appreciate it."

"I never called it stupid," I grumbled.

"You were thinking it," he countered. I didn't argue with that as I shot him a bland look that he returned with a knowing smile. "You must learn that frustration will get you no where. Frustration causes you to stand in one place wishing for something to change. If you must feel anything other than peace while learning to wield your weapon, let it be anger. Anger will urge you to move forward to prove that you can do it."

"So, you're telling me to hulk out then?" I asked, raising the bo up in front of me to begin a forward spin.

"If you'd like to think of it like that," he said bemused while watching my hands. "Transition to third spin."

I clenched my jaw and let the bo spin just a few moments longer before pulling back my left hand to try and spin with only my right. As my hand retracted I was unable to slow the bo enough and it smacked across my knuckles with a loud pop, and flew out of my hands. A hiss of pain escaped me as I rubbed my knuckles into the palm of my other hand.

"You're thinking to hard about it," Yokuto said, reaching down to grab the bo off the grass. "You know the spins. Transitioning between them needs to be second nature and come fluidly. Try again," he said handing the bo back to me.

I gripped it with a sigh and tried to clear my mind as I started to spin it in a front spin again. It was easier said than done to not think about it when I was worried it was going to hit me in the face again. After a few nonexistent heart beats I tried once again to fall into a third spin. I managed to successfully to pull my hand back, but I over corrected with my arm and the end of the bo stabbed into my shin. I clenched my teeth hard enough to almost give myself a head ache while closing my eyes and tucking my shin behind my calf to ease the pain. I gripped the staff tightly enough that my fingers throbbed. I took a moment to take a few deep breaths to calm myself down.

After I felt like I was calm enough to not snap the stupid stick in half, I fell back into position and tried, once again, to transition from first spin to third spin. Before I could even try to switch spins, my fingers fumbled with the staff and it slipped from my hand. I dodged my face away from the end that popped up, having learned my lesson from the split in my lip. It ended up missing my face but slapping against my collar bone and shoulder. I let out a stream of curses as I glared down at the stick in the grass, laying there as if it were completely innocent.

"You're getting frustrated," Yokuto observed.

"No, I'm not," I snapped. He smiled at my response.

"Daelyn, I chose this weapon for you because of your dancing," he said.

"What of it?" I grumbled, snatching the stupid stick off the ground.

"Think of this as a part of your dancing," he explained.

"This is not like dancing," I scoffed. "Dancing is easy. This is stupid."

"Dancing is easy for you because you practiced until it was easy," he said with a smile at my attitude which caused me to scowl. "What do you do to prepare yourself before you dance?"

"I close my eyes," I said jabbing the end of the bo into the dirt. "I let the music drown out my thoughts. And then I just move." He pulled something out of his pocket. I watched as he unraveled the gold ribbon I had covering my eyes on my first day of training. He stepped behind me and placed the ribbon over my eyes, plunging me into darkness as he tied the two ends together behind my head. He pulled my arms up and twisted my hand to hold the bo horizontal to the ground for a first spin.

"Spin it," he said, lowering his hands from my arms and I heard him step away. I sighed and did as he instructed. "Now, focus on the sound of your bo spinning. Don't worry about the movement. Just listen." I did as he asked. I let bo spin faster and faster until I could hear it slicing through the air. Once I heard that I focused solely on the noise of it as it became methodical in my ears. I only barely picked up on him saying "Fourth spin."

I transitioned without doubting myself. My hands moved in one fluid motion, twisting it into a new direction. I felt a grin break out on my face but pushed it away. I needed to keep focusing on the sound of the staff spinning. I could celebrate later. My body moved like water with the staff, the methodical sound of it turning into a beat that I could move with.

It was like my body had been doing this for years. I didn't question myself as the bo was shifted from hand to hand, spinning forwards and backwards, over my head and behind my back. I didn't dare try throwing it and catching it again like Yokuto had, but this was well enough for me right now.

I was completely out of breath, with my tongue sticking to the roof of my mouth from thirst before I let the bo fall still and yank the ribbon down off my eyes. I came to realize that I was alone, and the sun was setting. How long have I been out here? I wondered, glancing around to see if I really was alone. With the bo still gripped in my hand I hesitantly made my way to the temple. I found Yokuto sitting on the steps, much in the same manner of how he was when I first met him.

"How do you feel?" he asked, the trail of tobacco smoke curling up from his lips as his eyes slid open to look at me.

"Tired," I answered, wiping my free hand across my forehead. "But good. I'm proud of myself."

"Good," he smiled. "Keep that ribbon with you. I have a feeling that depriving your senses of sight is going to help you a lot. Now, go get something to eat and rest. Tomorrow is going to be painful."

I pursed my lips and nodded. I did not like the sound of that. My feet carried me back to my room where I found Mi chasing her toys around across the floor. She mewled happily at me and pranced over to rub against my legs.

"Hey," I said kneeling down to pet her, after I leaned my bo next to the door. She leaned deeply into my hand as I scratched her behind the ears. "You hungry?" I asked her. She mewed in response and nibbled lightly at my fingers. I picked her up and made my way to the kitchen with her kneading into my shoulder. Although I didn't sense Hiei in his room, I walked by his door faster than my usual pace and made an effort to not look at the door. Since my realization last night I hadn't seen him. There had been a few times while I was running that I could sense him in the tree line, but I made the effort to ignore him. I was not ready to deal with that. Not that I knew how to deal with it anyway.

Once in the kitchen I gathered two small bowls for Mi, filled one with water, and the other with some canned chicken and let her begin to eat as I searched for something for myself. My mind wandered back to Hiei. How was I supposed to deal with this anyway? Was I supposed to just walk up to him and call him out on it? I could only imagine that conversation. "Hey, what's up with those crazy feelings that you're feeling towards me? Cause what your feeling and how your acting are different and I'd just like to know how you really feel." That was laughable. It's not like I would get an answer from him anyway. He'd probably just scoff or grunt at me and ignore me, electing that my question was too stupid to answer. He could be so annoying! And hormonal! It was like for a few hours I would think that we were decent with each other, maybe even friends then on the flip of a switch he was glaring at me and calling me pathetic, then he would mood swing again to moments like last night that would make my head spin, leaving even more confused than before.

"You know nothing is going to magically appear in that cabinet the longer you stare at it, right?" A voice came behind me. I blinked and turned my head to look over my shoulder where Tetsuya was smiling brightly at me.

"O-oh," I said blushing and closing the cabinet. "I got lost in thought. How long have you been standing there?"

"A few minutes," he chuckled. He came over to lean against the cabinet next to me as I pulled out a loaf of bread from another cabinet and a few other things from the fridge for a sandwich after I decided that I didn't want to bother cooking anything. "What were you thinking so deeply about?"

"Things," I said, blushing even further. "You might not want to stand so close to me. I probably smell. I haven't bathed yet."

"Nonsense," he said waving my remark away with his hand. "I've been waiting to talk to you all day, but you've been busy training," he continued. My ears picked up a faint accent in his words that I hadn't noticed before.

"Me?" I asked. "Why have you been wanting to talk to me?"

"I'll tell you so long as you tell me what you were thinking about," he answered with a smile.

"I guess we're at a stand still then," I said, pursing my lips, then returning his smile as he laughed.

"I'm going to go and check if your brother wrote a letter for you tomorrow," he said following me to the table.

"Thank you," I said happily. "What did he do when he saw you? I forgot to ask you last night."

"He wasn't there," he answered, leaning his cheek against his fist. "I left it on the coffee table for him to see when he walked through the door though. Did you tell him to leave the letter where I could find it easily?"

"No," I admitted. "But he's smart. He'll figure it out."

"I hope so," he said. His coal eyes slid up from the table to look at me. "I don't want to have to disappoint you tomorrow if there's no letter for me to give you. I don't want to make you upset."

"You won't," I said blushing and averting my eyes away from him. "David works a lot. There's no guarantee that he's even been home."

"But it would still disappoint you," he stated matter-of-fact. "You can't argue with that."

"Yeah," I sighed. "It's dumb but my brother and I are really close. We haven't spent this much time apart since he became my guardian."

"It's not dumb," he assured me. "He's your brother and you love him. It's nothing to be ashamed of."

"I only love him some of the time," I said with a laugh, trying to lighten the mood. "Most of the time he's just a pain in my ass." He met my laughter with a chuckle of his own. "Well, I'm going to go and bathe then probably get some sleep," I said standing.

"If you get done with training early enough tomorrow, would you like to go on a walk with me?" he asked. "I was going to explore the grounds and find out what hall Yokuto has tucked away and hidden in that forest of his," he went on with a smile.

"Sure," I said while feeling my ears grow warm. "I'd like that."

"Good!" he said brightly. "I'll see you tomorrow then. Good night."

"Good night," I murmured and hurried passed him with Mi quick at my heels. I made it to my room without running into an incident (read Hiei) and gathered the things I needed for a bath. Mi laid out on my pillow after kneading her a comfortable place as I left the room, leaving it cracked for her to get in and out should she want to.

It was dark now. The stars were twinkling through the areas that the trees didn't cover over the hot spring. There were no electric lights, but instead I saw lanterns that I hadn't noticed before. I found a box of matches sitting next to one of them and lit just the few that I needed. As I undressed to shower I stared up at the empty spaces that the branches from the trees didn't cover. Being so far away from a populated area meant that there wasn't hardly any light pollution. The stars were shining brighter than I had ever seen them. David and I lived so close to Tokyo that besides the moon, you couldn't see anything in the night sky except for airplanes.

I showered quickly, wanting to hurry to soak in the hot spring. My muscles were staring to ache from spinning my bo all day and I wanted to make sure I wasn't too sore for training tomorrow. Especially after Yokuto's warning, and with that mischievous twinkle in his eye that he always had something told me that "painful" was going to be a big understatement.

I didn't stay in the hot spring for very long, just staying in long enough to ease the tightening in my muscles. After I dressed, I put out all of the lamps and made my way back to my room. Once in my room I flopped down on the futon and rested my face against Mi's body drawing a purr from her. Sleep soon captured me.

The sun flowers were as vibrant as before. I didn't have any time to take in my surroundings before a figure began to appear in front of me, setting my spin stiff and straight. My jaw clenched tightly as I started to back away from the blue haired demon standing in front of me.

"It's been too long, Daelyn," Seikatsu said with a strange smile splitting across his face. "I'm sorry I didn't come and visit you sooner. You see, when you disappeared to your teachers temple I had a hard time finding you."

"Just leave me alone," I said, trying to sound a lot harsher than I actually did. My words came out in a quiet whisper.

"Why would I go and do something like that?" he asked, closing the space between us. "I had you in my care before. It was a fluke that Tetsuya was able to get you out, along with that demon. I do plan on getting you back." He ran his finger across my jaw and smiled down at me. "I just wish you wouldn't fight me. I only want what's best for you."

"And what's best for me is for you to leave me alone," I said yanking my face away from him and glaring at him.

"I gave you life, Daelyn," he said darkly. "I can very easily take it back."

"But you won't," I scoffed.

"That's true," he hummed. "I've grown fond of you." His eyes slid over my face as he smirked. "I should have realized that Tetsuya would betray me. His heart is too soft."

"He's just not blind enough for be fooled by you," I said jumping to his defense. "I'm sure your people wouldn't be so fond of you if they knew you weren't the man that you're telling them you are."

"Probably not," he chucked lightheartedly. "But that doesn't matter. You'll come to see my ways soon enough. I'll just have to force your hand and make you come to me."

Before I could open my mouth to respond I felt a warm energy appear behind me. Seikatsu's face darkened, his lilac eyes narrowing as he looked over my head. I felt a warm hand grab around my arm and yank me back. My back collided with something hard and warm.

"I applaud you, fire demon," Seikatsu chuckled, with his face twisted into a dark grin. "You've gone so long without a taste of her. How is that dragon fairing for you?" Hiei growled behind me. I could feel the rumble through my own body. Seikatsu's gaze lowered to meet my eyes. "I'll see you soon, my Queen. Please, if I may ask, don't let him wrap you into his wants. I don't like sharing." With that, he smiled and faded away.

Hiei stepped away from me. A chill came across my skin as the warmth of his body left me. I turned to look at him and froze. He was staring down at me, with a blank expression, his ruby eyes tracing over my face. His hands were shoved in his pockets in the usual manner. Everything about him was normal except for the black flames swirling around his right arm that was covered in the bandages that I had always seen him wear. The flames were licking across his skin, then twirling out towards me before disappearing in a never ending dance.

"What," I breathed. "Is that?" I saw his stance stiffen immediately as he saw what I was staring at. He didn't answer me. The flames grew bigger and started moving faster. "Hiei?" I asked, my eyes tearing away from his bandaged arm and to his face. His jaw was clenched tightly. His expression was torn, between what? I wasn't sure.

"Wake up," he said finally.

My eyes flew open and my body snapped up to sit, disturbing Mi which she protested grumpily. I was alone, and still in my room. My eyes fell on the window and horror quickly over came me as I saw the first rays of light coming over the horizon.

"Shit!" I cursed, scrambling to my feet. Yokuto was going to be pissed. I rushed to get ready, yanking on a pair of shorts, and then I decided that I didn't have enough time to try and find a shirt, so I went with just my sports bra that I had fallen asleep in. I rushed out of the room, and grabbed the gold ribbon and my bo as I went, and ran outside.

Yokuto was sitting on the steps of the patio with his legs crossed, leaning back on one arm while the other held his pipe to his mouth. He turned his head to look at me with one molten eye.

"You're late," he stated.

"I'm sorry," I mumbled, "I over slept."

"Clearly," he answered. "Start your laps. I expect you to be done with them an hour earlier than yesterday."

"But I'm already an hour behind!" I exclaimed incredulously my jaw dropping open.

"Then you shouldn't have over slept," he said simply, turning to look back out over the forest.

I thought about protesting further, but then decided that it was probably in my best interest that I didn't. So, grudgingly, I leaned the bo against the temple, hung the ribbon off the top of it and headed down the steps. I gave a few moments to braid my hair, then stretch my arms over my head and stretch my legs before setting off and a much faster speed than I had been doing for the last two days. I very quickly realized how much this was going to suck.

As the sun started to rise into the sky, I had to keep pushing myself to not slow down. A nitch in my side was making itself well known, and my legs were quivering with every step. I could feel Yokuto's eyes watching me closely as I ran passed him counting with each pass what lap I was on.

On lap forty-seven I passed by Tetsuya who flashed me a smile. I gave him a half-hearted wave, with the hand that wasn't clenched into the nitch in my side. I was barely close to being half way done, and the sun told me I only had an hour left before I needed to be done. With a groan I picked up my pace even faster. I was honestly afraid of what Yokuto would make me do if I didn't make it in time.

I wanted nothing more than to just collapse into a heap on the grass and catch my breath. I knew if I did that though, Yokuto would probably get even more pissed than he already was. Lap after lap, I counted in groups of five. At lap sixty I only needed to do five more laps eight more times which was ten laps four times. The sun seemed like it was racing me as it got higher into the sky, and we were neck in neck. Sweat was pouring off of me, the cramp in my side worsening with every step, and I had long since lost my breath, but I refused to let the sun beat me.

On lap ninety-nine, I kicked it into high gear, using ever last drop of energy in my reserve to sprint as fast as I could. As I bounded around the temple, I slid around the corners almost losing my footing each time, but I was determined to stay on my feet and finish.

When I finally passed Yokuto for the hundredth time, I fell to the ground with a thump while gasping for air. I rolled over to my back, and held my arm over my eyes to block the sun as my lungs fought to gather as much oxygen as they could. I heard Yokuto approach me. He tossed the bo to me, landing it directly next to my head. I didn't have to hear him tell me to get up. I could sense by his mood that he was still irritated that I was late. So, while still trying to catch my breath I reached for the bo and stood. I took the ribbon from him that he was holding out to me.

"Now that you've learned to wield your weapon, you need to learn to use it to block and attack," he said, stepping back. He pulled the pair of tonfa that he had the second day of training and spun them in his hands. "The bo can be used to swing, stab and trip for your attacks. Your spins are your best bet to deter your opponent from attacking, though that usually only works for weaker fighters and lower level demons. A stronger fighter won't see your weapon as anything other than a pair of fists and it will not stop them from attacking you. That is when you must block. Understand?"

I nodded and raised the staff into the position that Yokuto had me memorize. Feet far apart, right arm gripping the staff at my hips, and my left arm level with my shoulder holding the other end and gripped tightly.

"When I attack you, I will not go easy on you. So prepare yourself. This will hurt."

So am I the only one that laughed at the opening quote? Yes? Okay haha.

Dun dun dunnn Seikatsu had made his reappearance! I couldn't go too long without adding him in there. He's just an ass like that and forces himself into the story. I have nothing to do with it. Cough.

Dae-dae has a crushhh. How sweet. And Hiei goes all "I'm sexy and you know it" on her when he gets jealous. Or does he even realize he's jealous? Only time will tell my friends. Only time will tell.

We didn't quite make it to one hundred reviews, but that's okay:) I think we can do it this time. I was going to hold off on posting this chapter for another day but, I've been pretty consistent with my updates and I'd like to keep it that way. I think all of you are pretty happy with the every other day updates? If you'd like me to slow down a little bit so you have time to read them as they come out just let me know and I'll try and contain myself on my updates haha. I just get excited and I want to get it published for you all.

I've updated my profile with an actual summary of Gravity and kind of the back story behind it. So if you're interested in that at all, you should go and check that out:)

Mediocre Dunces: Thank you! I was trying my hardest to keep her training true to the series. I went through and watched all of Genkai's training episodes to get some ideas. More of those will show up sooner or later. I can't give out everything in her training in just a few chapters, you know? It won't seem believable. Even if these training methods are kind of unbelievable themselves but it is Yu Yu Hakusho we're talking about haha.

morbidpeach: You're too kind:). I'm happy that you're enjoying my writing so much. It makes it worth writing it, you know? I'm glad that I could help inspire you to try out your own story! I hope that you continue to enjoy this fic.

KK1372: So close! But it's okay, we'll get there! I got some sleep eventually haha. Though it may have been the next night but we won't talk about that. Cough. Jealous Hiei is definitely about to make his appearance. It's definitely going to be interesting to see. And what can I say? I love Tetsuya. If Hiei wasn't around to poke at her feelings and confuse her, who's to say what could happen..?;) Their developing relationship is definitely amusing to write. Daelyn with her confused self and Hiei with his manliness is definitely a fun combination haha.

Hakudoushi-9: But why would she want to run? I mean, who know's what a jealous Hiei could end up doing?;)

Aly Goode: I do what I can, my dear haha. I try and make everyone's wishes come true:). Her training is definitely about to be amped up. I absolutely adore Yokuto and there's a reason behind that haha. Tetsuya staying with them was something that I didn't really come up with until I wrote him. Originally I was going to have him just going to be a once in a while character, buuut, characters just kind of create themselves sometimes, you know? And do you see what you made me do? You said that you imagined him with an accent and then I had to go and write it in somehow dammit. That's okay though. I really feel like it fits him haha. Kurama definitely needs some love and his nikko will give him just that. (Oh goodness. Was that a spoiler I just dropped? I will never tell.) A show down just may be in the near future but who knows? These characters write themselves, I'm telling you. I'll have an idea and they just go "Nope, not today, I'm gonna go do this now."

XBloodMageRikaX: I'm glad you like Tetsuya! He's so much fun to write and we need someone in there stirring the pot between the two love birds to give them a kick in the right direction. A jealous Hiei is an unpredictable Hiei, so who knows what could happen?;)