Hi ya'll! I've got that next chapter I promised! I would've sent it yesterday, but I had a date and then I had to relax and write romantic poetry about the date, so I was tied up all day and all night. Sigh. Sorry it took so long to post, but I had a very busy day. Anyway! THANKS for the reviews, Suraki and Kagome39547, I appreciate them! I'll have another chappy up sometimes this week or weekend, whatever my schedule of school, friends, fam, and boyfriend will allow. Have fun and c ya!
Chapter 36: Before the next battle
Welp, Kurama leaped out of the ring like the dignified Fox he was. Even though I was ticked that Kurama had yelled at me and refused my help, I found myself scrambling over to him, examining his bloodied, bruised body as I ran.
"Kurama! Kurama, you okay?" I shouted as I ran and made a screeching half in front of him; Kurama's face had softened from the stone hard face he was using with Roto and he nodded with a very tiny smile.
"I'm fine, Siri. Just bruised, I suppose." Kurama said calmly but I just nodded coldly and then suddenly turned on my heel, marching away from him with my head held high.
"GOOD! Not that I REALLY CARED, Mr. Kurama. I'll be over here in case anyone wants to BEG FOR FORGIVENESS!" I shouted over my shoulder as I flounced away; I could almost feel Kurama's slight chuckle as he called out to me.
"This is for yelling at you, isn't it?" He called out with a smile; I stopped completely and turned my head to stare at him, intensely disdainful.
" "The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between the lightening and the lightening bug.' " I said simply, stiffly, and coldly and resumed my path back to the others; Kurama words, again, stopped me.
"Mark Twain! I didn't know YOU knew Mark Twain." Kurama said almost incredulously, apparently amazed that I had actually read something that didn't have pretty pictures…and of my own free will, too! I glared ahead as I spoke stiffly from my spot halfway to the others, where they watched us interact with bemusement.
"I may act flighty. I may act like a crazed human. That does NOT mean I do NOT read or study or pay attention when I do happen to find myself in school. Figured YOU'D understand more then the others. Apparently, I was wrong." I said coolly, scornfully, and returned on my way. Kurama's next words, again, stopped me. Man! I'm stopping and starting more then Michael Jackson's recent career.
"I'm sorry I yelled at you, Siren. I love you." He said quietly, sweetly; my stiff backbone broke, my cold gaze melted, and my stance shifted back to my own instead of Hiei's.
"You're forgiven." The words were no more out of my mouth before I found myself bounding like a puppy dog back to him. In about three seconds, I was leaping into his arms and he was hugging me and laughing. He let me go just as Hiei, Kuwabara, Boton, and even the Masked Fight, whom I had forgotten about, ran up to us. Hiei spoke first and it was dripping over with love and care.
"You're an idiot. If Siren hadn't stepped in, you'd be dead by now, just because of your stupid sentimentality towards a stupid human female." Hiei said with a sneer as he stared up at Kurama; I sighed and shut my eyes. WAS HE BLIND, MAN?
"Hiei…what am I? A male Demon or something? Didya FORGET I'm a member of the HUMAN RACE and so totally FEMALE, which is probably why you like me? HAVE WE FORGOTTEN SO SOON THAT YOU ARE SO TOTALLY IN LOVE AND SHARING SENTIMENTALITY TOWARDS A HUMAN FEMALE?" I cried exasperatedly as Kurama smirked smugly as Hiei looked away, apparently embarrassed.
"You're different. I'm allowed to share sentimentality. And I've never lost a battle because of you." Hiei muttered and I rolled my eyes. When my life is on the line, Hiei'd probably come apart faster then Kuwabara when his kitten's kitnapped. Hiei shook his head and, not looking at me, turned back to Kurama.
"But you don't have to worry about his brother; he vanished the minute Roto died." Hiei said with an almost soft look at his friend, showing that Hiei could get mad and then turn happy in an instant, though he never shows he's happy. Kurama raised an eyebrow.
"Hmm, so you both knew? How fortunate." Kurama murmured thoughtfully as both Hiei and I nodded; we have advanced hearing, ya know. Before any of us could say anything else, Yusuke spoke up in his sleep…causing me to wonder how asleep he really was.
"What a relief!" He said drowsily and turned over with a particularly loud snore, sounding like a cross between a gargle and the sound Kuwabara makes whenever he gets hit in the gut. Kurama looked over at Yusuke, a happy little smile etched on his face, amusement in his eyes.
"Yes…what a relief." He said softly while I glanced at Kuwabara and Boton, seeing that they were both looking downright confused. Obviously they have swamp algae in their ears and didn't know that Kurama's mom had been nearly killed about thirty times during the battle, and a few times outside of the battle by me.
"Okay, what on Earth are you three talking about? Secret glances, coded words, whispers…what is going on here?" Kuwabara cried as he glanced between the three as us, Boton nodding her agreement while Renku just sat down to watch the 'adults' talk. I glanced at the two boys, knowing they probably didn't have time to explain or the will to, so I grinned and spoke up.
"Kuwabara, Kurama's pet monkey that he stole from Michael Jackson had been kidnapped by Tito who always wanted a monkey but Michael wouldn't get him a monkey because he never thought Tito was a good member of the Jackson Five and Tito had been in cahoots with Roto and so Roto had this button and if he pressed it, the monkey would've gone bye bye, you could say, so Kurama couldn't let that happen, so he had to stand still and let Roto punch him, but I managed to get the button away from him. Does that explain it?" I asked with a charming smile, speaking as fast as the wind, as Kuwabara's eyes twitched, a sure sign he was going over every detail of what I just said in his mind but not understanding half of it. Kurama was chuckling and Hiei was just shaking his head, muttering something about 'baka onnas' under his breath. Finally, Kuwabara sighed.
"Well, why didn't ya just say so, Kurama? Me and Boton would've understood a man's connection with his beloved pet! Why, look at my darling Eikichi!" And thus, Kuwabara started rambling on about his beloved cat while I just grinned at Hiei, who smiled back. After a minute, Kurama managed to direct Kuwabara's attention and cat talk on to Boton and I walked over to him, a tiny frown on my face.
"Lord, that cut looks painful! Stand still and Nurse Siren will heal ya right up!" I said with a smile as I placed a hand over Kurama's check, where there was a cross shaped cut. I knew I had to heal him, lest everyone started calling him Kenshin and there was enough resemblance between the two at it was. My hand glowed blue as I used some of my basic healing talents to heal it right up.
"Siren, are you sure it's wise to be expanding energy to heal me when you might need it in battle?" Kurama asked with one of his overly worried frowns; I smiled as I worked quickly, watching as the cut shrank.
"Well, OF COURSE I shouldn't be expanding energy to heal you!" I said and rolled my eyes with a shake of my head, as if this was ever so obvious. Kurama's smile was bemused as I pulled my hand away, smiling in satisfaction at my work.
"Then…why are you?" He asked and ya couldn't miss the slight hint of dry amusement and confusion in his voice. I grinned at him as I tilted my head to the side, staring up at him with a fond light in my eyes.
"Because I can, because I want to, because I did, and most importantly…because it's you." I said simply and glanced at the others who were watching, minus Kuwabara since he was still talking, never minding the fact no one was listening. Kurama smiled tenderly at me and I smiled back before catching Hiei's eye; he nodded up at the ring and I turned around. I wonder who'd we be fighting next? Maybe it'd be someone easy? NAH! They couldn't do that…make um' seem too nice. That's why I wasn't surprised when I glanced up into the ring I saw Zeru, their apparent team leader, standing there.
"Whoa, boy! Guys, I think we're going to have a bit of a problem! Flame brain is ready to get it on!" I said interrupting Kuwabara and causing everyone but Hiei to look up into the ring, seeing what I was talking about.
"Hey! He's the team leader, he should go last…maybe there's a mistake!" Kuwabara said, looking at the remaining members of the Rhoukulyaki team. See Kuwabara's been watching way too many kung-foo movies in which the super-powerful bad guy fights last and alone against the super-powerful good guy. But this was the Dark Tournament, not Enter the Bruce Lee imposter.
"No. Zeru is obviously the most powerful of the remaining team members. He's fighting angry and obviously not taking this seriously." Hiei said, looking up at the man with contempt, while Zeru stared down at him with disdain. Boton snorted as she glanced down at the sleeping form of Yusuke.
"Yes and we're just the picture of professionalism!" Boton said with a weary sigh; I leaned over to mutter in her ear.
"Yusuke may be sleeping, but he is more powerful and that's what counts. Plus, he's way cuter then Zeru and that's what counts in the long run. There were some Demon gals in the stands eyeing him when we came here, I saw um'. I betcha he gets half the Demon female crowd in the tournament." I said with a small smile and Boton nodded; who can deny the cuteness of Yusuke? I've never been able to. Hiei growled and took a step towards the ring.
"I'll go. This one's been bothering me since last night." Hiei said and ripped off his cloak, because lord forbid he or any male go into a battle without stripping or somehow losing their shirts. I have no idea HOW they do it, but they sure do look cute afterwards! I bit my lip a second before I ran to his side.
"Hiei, be careful! Don't you DARE hurt yourself!" I said sternly as I blocked his way, hands on my hips; Hiei smirked ever so slightly at this.
"And why can't I hurt myself? Could it be that you'd miss me if I'm gone?" Hiei asked with that same kind of teasing smirk that I find ever so attractive. In answer to this, I grabbed him by the front of his shirt and pulled me to him, kissing him passionately and straight out on the mouth. (Kuwabara had the decency to pretend he wasn't totally disgusted and didn't look.) I pulled away and let him go after a moment.
"Does THAT answer your question, my darling one? You'd better not get yourself killed! Cause if you do, I will have my big bro bring you back to life and I'll kill you myself and you'll be sorry!" I purred with a stern shake of my finger; Hiei smiled and leaned in, kissing me once more, making me go all weak like.
"Love you." He whispered for my ears only, cause lord forbid any of the Demon audience or Kuwabara hear that. I grinned happily, knowing he'd be fine.
"Love you too." I whispered and then…he turned on his heel and leaped into the ring, leaving me standing there with a contented grin.