Facing Your Inner Demons
Ch 26: The Beach
Kelly met Yukina outside the ice maiden's room. They didn't expect to see Hiei, nor did they. The two quickly made their way out to the front of the temple, shouting farewells to Genkai who was playing a fighting game in one of her various rooms.
"There they are!" Kuwabara spoke up when he spotted the two girls approaching them. He ran towards Yukina yelling, "Yukina, my sweet! You're bathing suit is beautiful!"
Yukina blushed then looked down at her pink one piece and matching cover skirt and flip-flops. The back scooped low, the straps criss-crossing together.
"Thank you, Kazuma," she said with a smile.
Shizuru walked over and placed a hand on her brother's shoulder and said, "Careful, little bro. If you drool too much you could get dehydrated."
Kelly began to laugh as Kuwabara turned around to yell at his sister. Yukina's face grew redder by the second. Kelly laughed again then took Yukina's hand and pulled her over to where the others waited.
As they got closer, Kelly could see that Botan had joined them and that Hiei stood there as well. She couldn't tell if he was annoyed because he was there or if he was just happy to have the ice cream that he still munched on. His face was kind of screwed up in concentration... or annoyance... hard to tell with Hiei.
Kelly looked him over and noticed that in addition to the blue sleeveless shirt he had on, he also wore what appeared to be black swim trunks with a white design on the side and black sandals.
Hiei noticed her curious look and simply said, "Yusuke's."
Kelly laughed again then let go of Yukina's hand as the ice maiden went over to be appraised by Keiko and Botan. Botan was, of course, in the latest fashion. She wore a dark blue bikini, a denim skirt covering the bottoms until they reached the beach. Keiko, meanwhile, wore a low scoop red one piece with Hawaiian flowers printed on it.
Kelly turned her attention back to Hiei who had approached her. He pointed at her legs and said, "Why are you wearing boy's swim trunks?"
Kelly burst out laughing, as did Yusuke and Kurama who were standing next to Kelly as she watched the rest of the girls.
Hiei grew frustrated and said angrily, "I don't see how that's funny."
Kelly calmed down enough to answer, "Well, I don't know about in Japan, but in America, girls sometimes wear these." She motioned to her bottoms. "Their called surf, or board shorts. These are my favorite ones. My top matches, not that you can see it now…"
Her surf shorts reached just above her knees, which was why Hiei had been confused. They were white with green words scribbled over it. A crazy pair of shorts to match her crazy personality. She wore a tight fitting t-shirt that covered her matching top of white and green. Her hair was down again and held back by a pair of sunglasses. On her feet was a comfy pair of brown flip-flops from some American store.
"They still look like they belong on a male," Hiei muttered.
Kelly chuckled then went to catch up with the others who were already heading down the steps. Hiei followed behind her, still muttering and obviously more annoyed now, despite the fact that he had his "sweet snow."
They eventually made their way onto the beach. Yusuke and Kuwabara immediately threw their shirts and sandals off and then ran into the ocean.
"C'mon, Keiko!" Yusuke yelled. He watched as she took off her shorts and ran to him. He was thrown into the water as she tackled him.
Yukina and Botan ran in after discarding their own cover ups. Kelly laughed as she watched them tackle and splash each other. She didn't join them, but instead lay down on a towel she had brought and pulled out her iPod from her shorts. She put the earphones in her ears and placed her hands behind her head, using them as a pillow. She then pulled her sunglasses down so that they covered her eyes.
"You're not going in?" Kurama asked as he sat down beside her. He stretched his legs out and straightened the red swim trunks and white t-shirt that he wore.
"Nah, I'm not really a beach person… too much heat and salt…" she answered. She shrugged at Kurama's questioning look telling him she was fine. And for once, she meant it.
Hiei and Shizuru sat down as well, Hiei sitting on Kelly's other side and Shizuru sitting next to Kurama. Kelly closed her eyes and enjoyed the cool breeze that came from the mountains.
She was left in peace for a total of ten minutes before Kuwabara, Yusuke, and Botan ran over to her spot, dripping water on her.
"Hey! What're you doin'?" she exclaimed as she sat up quickly, her sunglasses flinging off the bridge of her nose.
Yusuke and Kuwabara grabbed her arms, while Botan pulled her iPod off her lap and turned it off and threw it to Shizuru who caught it and placed it next to her.
The two males pulled Kelly to her feet with more cries issuing from her. Botan quickly grabbed the hem of her shirt and, with Yusuke and Kuwabara's help, was able to take it off, despite Kelly's struggling and cries of "perverts!"
"You'll thank us for this later!" Yusuke said as he and Kuwabara dragged her towards the water.
"I highly doubt- aaaaahhhh!" Kelly was cut off as the two boys threw her out into the ocean water in between Keiko and Yukina. They too screamed as the splash from Kelly's fall hit them.
She came up spluttering and coughing while her three kidnappers laughed. She smiled wickedly as she turned to Yukina and Keiko.
"You two might want to go to shore. Those three are about to regret their latest decision," she told them quietly. She watched as they ran to shore and received questioning glances from the other three.
By the time they looked back, it was too late. A large wave crashed over them, knocking them over.
They stood back up one by one, coughing out the salt water that had entered their lungs. They looked back to see that Kelly stood with her arms out, her fingers spread apart. Her legs were spread and braced against the water.
She relaxed her stance and a smug look came across her face. "Idiots," she said.
"You did that?" Botan asked in surprise.
"Duh," Kelly said with a roll of her eyes. She laughed at their expressions. They had obviously never heard an English "duh" before.
She slowly made her way towards shore. As she walked past them she said, "You're lucky that my elemental control is as limited as it is. If I had had the choice, that wave would've been much bigger."
They waited until she was out of earshot to let out their held breaths.
"Man, that girl can be scary when she wants to," Kuwabara said quietly.
"Tell me about it," Yusuke agreed.
Kelly walked back to her towel in the sand, dripping a trail of water behind her as she went. Keiko and Yukina passed her on their way back into the water. They were laughing and as they passed, they slapped high five with Kelly, whose hands were held up in waiting. She laughed in return then went and sat on the edge of her towel.
"The look on their faces was priceless," Shizuru told her. "Nicely done."
"Thanks," she replied with a laugh.
Kurama shook his head. "You are a piece of work."
Hiei snorted and said sarcastically, "Yes, but that's just one of the beautiful qualities that defines her."
Kelly doubled over in laugher along with Shizuru and Kurama. Hiei merely smirked.
He looked Kelly over. She had laughed more today than he had ever seen her laugh before. She really was happy with them.
Hiei trailed his eyes over her curved figure as she sat watching those in the water. Her wet hair hung down the sides of her face and dripped water down her exposed back and stomach.
He knew the reason she didn't want to go into the water was because she didn't want to be so exposed as she was. Just like with what she had worn to the club, the bikini top was not something she would normally wear. Honestly, Hiei was glad she was getting bolder.
He followed one of the drops of water as it fell from her bangs and down her cheek. It rolled down her neck and slowly made its way to her chest and slid in between her breasts.
He felt the heat rush to his face and to the rest of his body. He was normally warmer than most demons and humans, but now it was if he was on fire. He tore his eyes away from Kelly.
It was then that Kelly chose to look over at him. She was surprised to see that his face was beet red.
"Hiei, are you okay?" she asked in a concerned voiced.
Hiei had to clear his throat before he could speak.
"Yeah, I'm fine," he said in a strangled voice.
"Are you sure? You're all red…" She trailed off as she went to place her hand on Hiei's forehead.
Hiei swallowed trying to find his voice again, but it was lost when he looked back over at her. Her outstretched hand exposed her stomach and showed off her hourglass figure.
Hiei closed her eyes as Kelly placed her hand on his forehead. She immediately withdrew it.
"Ow! Hiei, you're way warmer than you usually are."
This drew the attention of Kurama who now looked over in concern. One look at Hiei's face however, and the concern turned into amusement.
"Hiei is fine, Kelly," he told her. "It's probably just the heat. Right, Hiei?"
"Right," Hiei barely managed to say. He quickly stood up and said, "I better go cool off. I promise not to touch the last pint of sweet snow until you come back." He said the last bit to Kelly, but refused to look at her. He disappeared in a blur, a gust of sand kicking up slightly in his wake.
Kelly rounded on Kurama. "It is not the heat. He's a fire demon! Don't fuck with me, Kurama!"
Kurama's eyebrows rose while Shizuru laughed.
"Such vulgar language from the little lady," Shizuru stated.
"Not the point! Kurama, wha's goin' on?"
"Calm down, Kelly. Hiei's alright," Kurama assured her. "He just… um… got a little excited." Kurama couldn't lie to the girl, but he refused to tell the whole truth.
"Excited…?" Kelly's brow furrowed in thought. Her eyes widened after a bit and her eyebrows disappeared into her bangs. "Oh! OH! No way!" She looked around quickly as if looking for someone. When she found no one she turned back to Kurama. "But I'm the only…"
Kurama looked at her pointedly.
It was safe to say that Kelly had lost all composure at this point.
"Me?!" she squeaked. "But… no! No way. I mean, it's me we're talkin' 'bout. I mean… Yusuke and Kuwabara were fine. And so are you!" She pointed at Kurama accusingly.
Kurama chuckled and said, "Yusuke and Kuwabara have eyes only for their girlfriends. I see you as a close friend, a younger sister, if you will. Hiei sees you for the young woman that you actually are and so he is affected by you the most."
"Oh… I see," Kelly said after a minute. Kurama could see that she was confused.
"Don't fuss over it, kid," Shizuru told her. She leaned over Kurama and flicked Kelly's ear. "Guys are a pain in the ass."
Kelly laughed and nodded. She lay back down on her towel and put her earphones in again. She closed her eyes, determined not to think of what had just occurred.
okay so i know Hiei was a little ooc but i wanted to show that he was not only falling for Kelly but he is also finding that he is attracted to her physically as well. in all the other instances, it's only Kelly thinking of Hiei's looks, not the other way around. I dont like the whole going out with someone jut based on looks, but i wanted some of it in here. just to show the reader, you know?
oh, and i dont think i've shown much of it, but Kelly and Yukina are very close. Kelly is closer to Yukian than any of the others besides Kurama and Hiei. Hiei, of course, is the closest to her. But Kelly spends most of her free time with Yukina so its only natural that they become something like best friends.