Chapter 26: I'm Not Writing This One

Read the title, I'm not writing this chapter. This takes place after Kurama was threatened by Karasu and shortly after the surge of power that was Genkai being killed by Younger Toguro. Why am I not writing it? Because I think that someone else can describe it a little better than I can. Give me twenty minutes to show Hiei-sama how to use a keyboard, and you'll have your precious chapter twenty-six.

…I don't understand why she's making me write this, but then again, she's never been that smart. Hey, watch what you're typing! This is MY book, and I can edit you out completely if I want! Hn. What do I care? If you don't do this, I'll tell Yukina your secret. You wouldn't dare! Wouldn't I? Try me and find out. Alright, alright, I'll type your damn chapter…but you owe me for this! Right, whatever…

Okay, let's see…I had just sensed Genkai's death, and I came back to the hotel room to find Naoko lying facedown with her face hidden in her folded arms. She was wearing a pair of headphones blasting some variety of American music she later referred to as…what was it, Naoko? You mean the greatness known as Meteora? Yeah, whatever. She looked like something was really wrong, so I walked over to find out what the hell her problem was. As soon as I touched her shoulder, her head jerked up so fast her headphones fell off, silenced, as she cried Kurama's name. Looking around nervously, she took a breath and rested her head back on her arms.

"Sorry…" she said in a quiet tone, "I'm just a little afraid." I had never heard her say that, and I was a little surprised as I sat down beside her.

"A-afraid of what?" She sat up and idly traced the fading burns on her right hand with one finger on her left.

"Kurama and I ran into this demon on Team Toguro. His name's Karasu."

"And…" Naoko was hesitant to tell me anything, and it was a little frustrating. She wouldn't look at me, just kept her eyes trained on her hands.

"And…I don't know what he said, but…he's a master at psychological torment, and…and Kurama's scared. He honestly thinks he's going to die fighting Karasu, and…" She trailed off, looking away, but it didn't take a Jaganshi to see her shoulders shaking. "…and he just might. From what I could sense in his chakra, Karasu's…a Quest-class youkai with the power to create bombs from thin air." Even though she wasn't looking at me, I saw the color draining from her face as she spoke, continuing in a whispered tone that I don't think I was meant to hear as she tightly held the crystal around her neck. "…Kuronue, we have to do something…we have to save Kurama…please, Kuronue, help me…" She looked like her heart was being shredded and then, impulse took over.

"Naoko." She turned and finally looked at me, and I hugged her, pulling her into a sudden embrace.

"…Hiei-sama…why are you…"

"I just…I don't even know…" I didn't. I had no idea why I felt like this…I had never done anything like this before. She was just my friend's younger sister and a half-rate fighter, so why in the name of Makai did I feel this way when I looked at her? She hesitated only for a moment before returning with her own gentle touch, arms shaking.

"…Thanks, Hiei-sama…"

end of chapter twenty-six