It's everywhere… Flames are licking up the walls, crawling their way onto thatched roofs. The smoke is so thick; one cannot see a hand in front of their eyes.
The shaking has ceased a while back and so have the screams. The only sound to be heard is the roaring fire. It drowns out the noise of pitiful weeping and chocked sobs. No one can hear the silent pleas of those choking on the smoke before the hungry fire consumes their bodies, leaving no trace of them.
May's hands grip onto a pair of strong forearms, her eyes wide and her hair sticking to her face from the sweat oozing out her pores. She takes a few deep breaths before realizing that the vivid red in front of her is only Kurama's damp hair.
Forest green eyes take her in with concern. "May…" he breathes, his cool breath rushing over her warm face.
"I'm fine. Just a stupid dream." she assures him, dropping back onto her pillow, only to grimace when she finds it damp with her perspiration. She decides to ignore the crescent shape indentations she left in Kurama's skin; he doesn't seem bothered.
Kurama looks down at her from his spot on the edge of her bed, obviously not buying her attempt to wave it off.
"Have you had nightmares like those before? I don't recall you having them before." he questions, his eyes fixed on her in a promise that he will keep asking until she relents some information to him.
She sighs, knowing she has to give him something to satisfy his curiosity. "Sometimes…. When I'm alone." she answers, leaving the last part unspoken, though she can tell that Kurama can read it from her eyes.
It's true; She has dreamed of her death before. It occurs once in a while, ever since she found herself among the living again. It has not always affecting her like this though and the nightmare was absent altogether when Kurama slept beside her in the tent for those days. She supposes the stress is getting to her, awakening simmering fears from the depths of her mind.
"What was it about?" Kurama asks next, snapping her out of her thoughts. She forgot he was still gazing down at her for a moment, waiting for answers.
"Burning." she answers simply, knowing it is all he needs to put the pieces together.
He nods in understanding. "The shower is free." he tells her, picking at a lock of her hair that is stuck to her cheek. She nods silently before getting up and stumbling to the bathroom, Kurama's concerned eyes following her all the way there.
She feels better and more awake when she slips out of the bedroom after having freshened up and put on some clothes. She glances towards the ajar bedroom door of Yusuke and Kuwabara. It looks like they are already out.
"Shizuru came by. She wanted to know if you wanted to spend the day with the girls today." Kurama speaks up, putting down a hot cup of tea for her. "She will drop by again when she comes back up from picking up snacks and drinks."
May blinks surprised. She's never really been invited to a girl's day before. She's curious, although…
"What are you going to do today?" she questions, making him chuckle.
"Don't tell me your afraid to hang out with the girls May." he laughs, making her glare pathetically.
"No." she heaves. "It's just… I'm not sure how sore Keiko still is about me keeping all this a secret. I don't know her all that well. What is she holds a grudge?" May counters.
Kurama eyes her with amusement. "I'm sure it will be fine. But if you really object to spending time with girls who are reaching out an offer to be your friends, you can always come with me and presumably watch a bloody fight." he states with a shrug.
May glowers at him. "You are such a…." She quickly closes her mouth before she says something she will regret. The first word that came to her hear once again makes her realize how much time she has been spending with Yusuke. Instead, she purses her lips, silently cursing him for guilt tripping her into spending the day with the girls.
Victory dances in his eyes before a knock on the door sounds and he saunters over to open it. "That would be my cue I suppose." she says before downing the still slightly hot tea quickly, scorching her tongue. She shakes her head at the sensation. "Ack!"
"She's all yours." Kurama tells Shizuru who stands there with her arms full of cans of soda.
Shizuru eyes the demon as he quickly slips on his shoes. "I thought you'd be off already. The match is nearly starting." she points out. "Worried to leave her by herself fox?" she questions, making Kurama tilt his head slightly, feigning innocence quite perfectly although surprised on the inside at Shizuru's on point observation.
"May can take care of herself." he shrugs. "Have fun." he tells the both of them before striding down the hallway, Shizuru's scrutinizing gaze burning on his back.
The young woman scoffs before turning back to a slightly annoyed May. Seems like he's gone from keeping her at bay to overprotective, albeit he's subtle about it. May didn't notice until Shizuru pointed it out. Can't be there a way down the middle with that boy?
"That fox is so hung up on you." Shizuru states bluntly, startling May.
"W-what?! N-no!" she sputters before falling silent from Shizuru's look. If she's ever seen anyone looking like their not buying her shit, that's one right there.
She nods her head to motion May to follow her. "Don't worry. I'm not going to shout it off the roofs kid. It's a dangerous game you two are playing here." she assures May, who closes the door behind her before accepting some of the load of cans dumped on her by the older girl.
May sighs, half in relief and also because she is right. This is a bad time and place to explore relations with someone who is hated by so many on this island. But she made the call yesterday not to give a damn, so there is no backtracking. And she doesn't want to.
"Let's not worry about it and have some fun instead." Shizuru suggests. May nods in agreement, wondering how a day with the girls will play itself out.
…
"Er…" May stammers, blinking at Botan stupidly. Shizuru's laughter echoes around the room and Keiko watches curiously, wondering if what Botan just blurted out has a core of truth in it.
No, Keiko did not bite May's head of. May decided to properly apologize before she could and it seems that was all the other girl really wanted. They appear to be getting along better now.
"Botan…" May starts. "Hiei and I are just friends." she tells earnestly, finding the suggestion of them being anything else pretty absurd.
Botan pouts. "Are you sure? I mean, you're about the only one he isn't snappy with. It wasn't that farfetched to think so, was it?" she backs herself up, a bit embarrassed now for even asking.
"I-I suppose. But really, we just have a mutual understanding or something." May assures the reaper.
"Oh. Oh, well then. Never mind me!" Botan laughs, waving awkwardly.
Shizuru manages to swallow her laughter down before butting in, "Don't worry Botan. I'd ship them to if I didn't know better now. It's because May can be a bitter little thing too. I understand completely." she says before snorting in laughter again. Keiko can't help but giggle.
"Hey!" May fumes. "I'm not bitter!"
Botan hums. "Well… You are a little bit May-chan. But not as bad as before!" she quickly adds the last part when the tropical eyes turn cold when snapping to her bubblegum pink ones.
"Is that supposed to make it better?" May asks incredulously.
Botan looks at her guiltily before realizing something. "But May-chan, now that you're alive again, you can date again! Oh! Maybe we can set you up with someone! Who do we know…?" she muses, finger to her chin as she's deep in thought. Shizuru looks on amused at May's panicked eyes.
Suddenly the perfect distraction comes to Mays' mind, "Botan, don't bother. Why don't you focus on Keiko and Yusuke instead? They have a thing going on." she quickly says, smirking when Keiko looks at her startled.
"I don't know what you're talking about!" Keiko says a little too quickly before adverting her eyes from the other girls, taking a hurried drink from her juice.
Botan snickers. "You keep telling yourself that Keiko-chan~." she sings, seeing Keiko's cheeks flush.
"Alright, enough of this. Time to return to the game." Shizuru cuts in before things get even further off track. She takes the dice, shaking them excitedly. "Prepare to pay up, because I'm buying hotels in the next round!"