Eehe. Sorry I'm a bit late guys. I was thinking I'd post on Friday, but it's nearly Saturday now. I'm barely scraping the edge here. I don't like to post right after I finish writing, because I almost always find little things to tweak, but... meh. I've read it a couple times and I can't think of anything, so here you go... Voila.
(Oh, and hopefully next week I won't be late, because I'm planning on writing more this weekend while I have time. Look forward to it.)
blackheart2071: Glad you love it and thanks for being persistent in finding me on Deviantart!
mezvers: That's the plan... get you in here and get you hooked ;] But seriously, I'm glad you enjoy her powers. Friday isn't just a one-trick pony.
btSMTMSJ: Here is more! (Sorry it's late :P)
Puppylove7: Personally, I also like Friday the predator, but for Friday it may not be such a good thing... We shall see. I'm also really having fun developing Kurama and Friday's relationship, starting with cultivating his respect. Muahaha. And your Shima x Friday is coming right up.
Angel of Randomosity: Awesome Friday is awesome. And yes, she does love to use her hands... personal touch, you know... Lol. Hati and Friday are interesting... they get into all sorts of weird trouble together. Very volatile. Poor Rikyu is just so unloved! Sniffles. He just doesn't know how to express himself, okay? Just kidding. (Though it's kind of true) *Pats him on the head* There, there. I will love you if no one else will. My goal is kind of to convert everyone like I did with Hati. MUAHAHA! I do enjoy doing that. :D Just you wait, missy. And glad I could relieve your stressful week!
Guest: Intense is Friday's middle name. Sorta... I did get some free time, but there was too much stuff to do with it T.T Here's a (late) update anyway.
mrsbeggins: I don't want to make you sad, so here's another update! Enjoy!
. . .
"Life is not lost by dying; life is lost minute by minute, day by dragging day, in all the thousand small uncaring ways." - - Stephen Vincent Benet
. . .
Ever since coming here, I've felt… unstable. Like there's another face that sits inside me. One that's consumed with hate and loathing. Behind bars, it waits… and watches. From time to time, this face I wear returns to look in on the other, see how it's progressing. It's always growing nicely.
Patiently biding its time until that moment when this face cracks. Then, it will emerge…
My eyes fluttered open, bringing an end to my idle musings.
I raised my hand in front of my face, flexing my fingers as I stared through them. It was hard to imagine that just a few days ago, those fingers had deadly weapons coming off their ends.
Shuddering slightly as I let my hand drop, I remembered that feeling of losing control, sinking into the animal within me. That other face that ran on instinct alone.
But I didn't want to think about it anymore. Couldn't think about it anymore. Whenever I got close to that feeling, it left my mind feeling clouded until I didn't even know what to believe anymore... what to feel.
I sighed and searched for patterns in the grain of the ceiling, imagining that Dale was laying right beside me on this low mattress of mine, searching too.
Was there no train of thought that wasn't so depressing?
Slowly, night fell, cutting off the light that seeped in through my windows. But the lack of light didn't bother me. I could still see just fine in the darkness.
A bird chirped sleepily outside, saying its farewells to the day as it settled down in its nest.
Well, then. I supposed it was almost time.
Sitting up, I stretched out my arms and stood. My day was just beginning.
I smiled. Today, I had vowed to have nothing to do with the Nightmares. After all, I'd worked hard enough the past few days to deserve a day off. I doubted there were still any Nightmares around to fight.
And that damned Rikyu hadn't shown his face since our last eventful encounter. I wondered how badly I had hurt him. I hoped it was at least deep, if not fatal. Preferably in a vital organ, though I doubted even that would keep him down for long, much less actually finish him off. Intolerable bastard, using a child like that.
Pulling my baggy workout shirt over my head, I tossed it to the floor where it found its home with the other dirty clothes.
I rifled through my closet. What to wear... hmm...
That grey knit sweater looked warm. I pulled it out. The neckline was somewhat decorative. It would probably look nice on me. At least Botan had some foresight, even if I didn't. I mentally thanked her again for stocking my wardrobe.
I tugged it into place, realizing that it left my shoulders bare. They would probably get cold. I dug deeper into my closet, looking for something to cover up with. A rust-colored scarf caught my eye.
For a moment, I held it, indecisive.
I spotted a small bag. It wasn't quite a backpack, but I could carry it on my back. It would do.
Dragging it out, I stuffed the scarf inside.
I glanced down and decided to stick with my jeans.
My feet were still bare.
A pair of heels dangled temptingly from a rack in the front of my closet. Should I?
Heels weren't something I was normally too fond of, but just for today, maybe...
I fished them out with a finger and placed them inside the bag, too.
On my way out the door, I shoved my feet into some calf-high white boots, my temporary footwear.
Looking back as I shut the door, I spotted my communicator sitting on the windowsill. I really should take it with me. Sighing, I returned for it.
My eyes fell on the half-used roll of masking tape that sat beside it, and my lips curved up in a faraway smile. I picked it up delicately, twisting it around in my fingers. I didn't know why, but I felt as though I couldn't leave it behind.
I secured it in a zippered pouch deep inside the bag, tossing the communicator in alongside it.
Shoving the bag onto my back, I made my way quietly down the dark corridor toward the front of Genkai's temple.
Stepping out into the entry room, I shrunk back immediately, pulling my foot out of the light. I held my breath.
What was Hati doing here so early? My eyebrows knit together.
He would never let me go out and ditch a mission if he caught me. I worried my lip.
I shuffled out slowly. Well, I'd just have to be very, very quie - -
CREEEEAAAAK.
Damn. Stupid wood floors.
Hati's ears swiveled toward the sound, and he turned his head.
"Ah. There you are, Fri - - "
Taking a different approach, I broke out into a run, escape my only thought.
"Hey!" he barked out, giving chase.
I paused to shove the door open. The wolf landed on my back, hard, knocking me to the ground.
"What are you doing?" he demanded loudly, nails pressing into my shoulder blades.
But as I hit the ground, the contents of my bag were jostled. The pair of heels flew out over my head.
Hati gasped and began suspiciously, "Are those - - ?"
I shook him off with brute strength, jumping up, and made a flying leap off the deck, ignoring the stairs completely.
I leapt onto the banister that sloped down the temple's long flight of grueling stairs and rode it down.
As I went, I flew past the boys, seeing their surprised faces so briefly that they felt like mere snapshots as I passed.
I hit the bottom and jumped lithely off, continuing my flat-out run.
"Somebody catch her!" Hati barked from the top of the stairs.
I didn't stick around to see whether they obliged.
And as I ran, I smiled, shifting the bag slightly on my back. It felt a lot lighter without the heels.
The roll of tape clinked against my communicator.
Shimabukuro...
I thought back to earlier that day:
"Oi," he got my attention.
"Hm?" I replied, turning my head toward him.
His cheeks puffed up. "Well," he began, scratching his head as he averted his eyes, "You should come with me tonight. There's something I think you'd like to see."
"Gomen," I apologized, "I would love to, but I don't think I can go out after dark. Can't you show me some other time?"
"Mmm..." he crossed his arms as he thought. Finally, he shook his head, "You can only see it at night." He blew out an exasperated breath, "Just say you'll come with me, already."
I laughed. "Fine, fine. I'll come," I consented.
"Then, I'll meet you in the city. How does an hour after sundown sound?"
"Perfect," I said.
I ducked under a tree branch as I ran.
It wasn't that I didn't take my job as head Sleeper seriously, but... well, I felt like lately I'd been taking it a little too seriously. Until all I could think about were the Nightmares, and I felt myself slowly slipping...
And, well, I'd already seen what could happen then. I shuddered, though it had nothing to do with the cold.
Sometimes, I felt that I just needed to get away from it all...
A black figure stood in my path.
I skidded to a halt and stared the figure down.
"Hiei..." I said after a moment, warningly.
He didn't move a muscle, just stood there with his arms crossed, staring levelly at me.
I sighed.
I knew if he wanted to stop me, there was no way I was getting out of here tonight.
My voice became pleading, perhaps a little more than I was proud to admit: "Just let me go. Don't you see? Those moments now are the only times I feel normal."
The silence stretched between us, I mumbled dejectedly "Although... I would understand if you don't get why that's so important to me."
He was a fire apparition, after all. A powerful one. And he reveled in his power. How could he understand the need us humans had to feel normal... if only every once in a while. To feel like we belonged.
There was certainly no point in unloading my feelings on him. It wouldn't help my cause, and in fact was rather likely to do just the opposite. Superfluous emotions weren't really Hiei's forte.
I sighed again, and felt my shoulders slump.
Sorry, Shimabukuro. I guess I'm not going anywhere tonight.
"Well, it's inconvenient, but it doesn't seem like there are many Nightmares out there tonight. We won't miss you," he spoke sharply.
I looked up, eyebrows climbing in surprise. Hiei was now reclining lazily against a tree, arms still crossed.
He tilted his head, meeting my eyes with cold crimson ones, "After all, don't think that just because you're the only Sleeper we have, we can't manage fine without you. In fact, such low-class creatures will hardly make us break a sweat. It's a pity this mission has to be so dull." And beneath his eyes' cold exterior, there was something shining. Something that looked like mirth.
I blinked. He was giving me... permission?
Grabbing the straps of my bag, I shifted its weight on my back and nodded.
"Wait," a voice said, stopping me in my tracks, as another revealed himself from his place in the shadows of the forest.
As the redhead walked out from the cover of the trees, I frowned.
How long had he been listening? Discomfort channeled to annoyance.
"If you're going to say something to try and stop me, you should just sav - - " I began my retort, eyebrows shifting downward as he walked toward me.
"You dropped your scarf, Miss Kuronosuke," he said lightly, as if he had been used to saying my name all along.
I was so stunned that I couldn't think of a single thing to say. So I just stared numbly as he lifted his arms to lightly drape the scarf around my neck.
Looking down as the folds of the warm, rust-colored fabric fell into their natural folds around my neck, I wondered when I had even dropped it. It must have happened when that wolf tackled me to the ground...
That wolf!
My head jerked up, and I scooted away, navigating my way around those two.
"Ah... Th-thanks," I shot back at them as I shuffled hurriedly backwards, then turned and began my run to catch the bus into town.
Yusuke caught up to me while I was stuck waiting at the bus stop.
"Hati said you're going on a date," he said with a cocky smirk as he leaned against the posts of the metal awning.
"Oh. Hey, Yusuke," he had startled me, "Well, I don't know if you could call it a date, exactly..." I pondered with my chin on my hand.
"What the hell. Where's the fun in that?" he grumbled, not understanding.
"Wondering is much more fun than knowing, Yusuke," I told the engaged boy, flashing him a wide smile.
"Whatever," he grumbled, twisting a finger in his ear.
I snorted and just climbed onto the bus that pulled up in front of me.
At that moment, Hati came tearing down the mountain, the other three boys following right behind, though none of them seemed quite as enthusiastic as the wolf.
I told the unfamiliar bus driver to step on it, and leaned out the door, waving goodbye and laughing.
The boys stopped running once they reached Yusuke, standing around with their hands in their pockets for the most part. Hati kept running, chasing the bus like a dog would chase cars.
I started to retreat inside. "Oh," a thought struck me as the bus picked up speed. I leaned further out the open doorway, "Don't tell Botan, will you?" I called back my request, cupping a hand around my mouth.
Yusuke gave me a thumbs up and winked.
"Would somebody please explain..." Kuwabara panted, hands on knees, "What the heck is going on?"
I chuckled, taking a seat on the empty bus. Dropping my bag on the floor, I sprawled out. It was warm inside.
Tugging the scarf off gently, I let it sit for a moment in my hands, then folded it up carefully and placed it in the bag.
That guy... I would never understand him.
I let my head drop back onto the top of the seat behind me.
.
.
.
"What game are you playing at, fox?" Hiei addressed me as the girl disappeared from sight, running down the hill to the bus stop.
"I'm afraid I don't understand what you're referring to," I replied, settling into a comfortable stance with my hands in my pockets.
"Miss Kuronosuke?" he scoffed.
"It's common courtesy to call one's teammates by their names, is it not, Hiei?" I replied easily.
He snorted in disbelief, but said no more. I could feel the sting of his crimson eyes examining me.
It was true, I still had my reservations about that girl... Friday. It was unlikely that I could bring myself to call her so familiarly any time soon, but "Miss Kuronosuke" was a decent start.
All predators deserve a proper name, after all. But a predator with both instinct and insight, well...
I will admit that Friday was more than she, at first, seemed. I couldn't keep calling her "the girl" forever.
Footsteps pounded into the clearing.
"Why are the two of you just standing there?" Hati demanded, Kuwabara following close on his heels, "She must have come this way."
We didn't answer.
"Well, whatever. Come along," Hati huffed and sniffed her scent out down the hill.
With a reserved sigh, I followed, Hiei running easily beside me.
If the fire apparition had anything else to say, the opportunity had already passed.
.
.
.
"Can I look yet?" I grumbled, impatient with the hands over my eyes. I hated feeling like I couldn't see my surroundings.
"We're here," Shimabukuro said, dropping his hands.
I gasped.
The lights were so beautiful. Lanterns gleamed their warm colors in a multitude of strands that continued all the way to the end of the long walkway. Beyond the place where the street ended rose the skyline, tall buildings with gleaming squares of light rising into the darkness. And far above, the stars shone dimly, dusting the place with a cool light.
On either side of the path were situated quaint little vendors' stalls, selling everything from food to perfume. Jewelry gleamed in the lantern's light and to the right a splashing sound caught my attention.
A child laughed, clapping his hands as he celebrated his aim. The vendor fished the ping pong ball out of the top of a bowl and handed the fish inside over to the small boy, who grinned.
The atmosphere was nice here. It almost felt like stepping into another place, one that I had been to long ago, when I was still a child. A magical place. It felt like any number of good things could happen here.
Turning to Shimabukuro, I smiled.
"Do you like it?" he asked tentatively, brow crinkling with worry or one of its derivatives.
I laughed and spun around, flinging my arms out in a wide circle. Breathing in the air filled with so many intriguing scents, I grinned, feeling free. I stretched up into the night sky, almost believing that I could take flight.
"Like it? I love it," I reached out, grabbing his hand and pulling him along behind me down the street, "Let's go!"
I flashed him a smile, and noticed the faint blush that stained his cheeks as he stared fixedly down at our clasped hands.
.
.
.
"You're distracted, Kurama," Hiei addressed me suspiciously as he wiped the blood of a Nightmare from his blade.
I hummed noncommittally. It would do no good to admit that Friday was the one occupying my mind, though Hiei didn't need me to tell him such a thing. It was obvious enough to the quick-eyed Jagan master - - even without the use of his evil eye.
And if it would do no good to admit she was the one on my mind, then it would certainly be even worse to admit exactly what she had me thinking about.
In a word: romance. Such a strange phenomenon. Purely human, as far as I had been able to discern in all my long years.
My brow furrowed speculatively.
It was true, I had tried my best to live as an ordinary human male these past few years. At the time, I thought I had been doing a fairly decent job.
But all the things I had observed in the girl, Friday, made me realize that I had never really been living as a human at all.
My brain simply didn't function like theirs did. Where they fell so easily into romance, I had never once felt such a stirring or inclination. Such a thing was nearly incomprehensible.
Even in all my years as Youko, I had never experienced romance. It simply wasn't something demons or spirit beings were prone to feeling.
Perhaps the closest I had come to encountering the human emotion was the bond I shared with my mother, though that could hardly be called "romance" in the human sense.
Although it was a wanton, unnecessary feeling that would make many a demon gag, the love that I felt for my mother was just that.
Demons build partnerships. They take what they can, when they can. If an alliance is valuable, it is maintained. If the partner starts to drain on you, you leave them behind. Or kill them. It all depends on what suits your fancy.
But human relationships... to value the person for their sake over yours...
That was something very few demons would ever have the chance to experience.
And apart from my mother, I was still one of them.
That love was vastly different from the romantic interest that I had watched turn Friday's head. And indeed, she looked happier than I could remember seeing her. Maybe that was the true power of love? Perhaps we had been underestimating the human emotion all along.
I restrained a sigh to avoid arousing Hiei's further suspicions and interrogation that were sure to follow.
It seemed like she was always making me see new things, forever opening my eyes.
The truth was disturbing. I had lived for so long that it no longer felt like I was truly alive. And then by looking at the vibrant way she lived, I would see my own life as a pale reflection, and suddenly realize that I had never seen the snow, or the stars... and that I had never had a romance of my own.
I supposed, no matter how I tried, I would never be a human. I would never be alive in that same way.
Human lives were so vivacious because they were short, after all, and I still had many years ahead of me if my natural life was left to run its course.
It seemed like there was nothing I could do to immerse myself in that life, despite the fact that someone so near was practically overflowing with it, threatening to drown out the rest of us with the boldness of her life. Hati had been right when he had said the light within her was like the sun. How could she really contain it all? It was impossible.
And all the while, she made me realize all the things I've never done.
It was ironic, really. And here I'd thought I'd never made a snowman.
.
.
.
It was rare that I didn't have at least some idea what the fox was thinking. Today, I knew it was the woman who was distracting him, but as to what was going on in his head...
His face was so smooth, so flat, that it didn't give away a single emotion, despite the wheels I could practically see turning in his emerald eyes.
"Hiei... what do you think of snowmen?" Kurama asked.
"What the hell is a snow man, Kurama?" I deadpanned. Perhaps I really had no idea what he was thinking, after all.
"The humans make them sometimes. They dress them up in different clothes to look like men and fix expressions on their face. But they aren't really human. How could they be when they're just made of snow?
"No matter what clothes they wear, or what kind of expressions are fixed on their face, in the end what's inside is nothing more than ice. Frozen and unfeeling until the sun comes out and melts them away," he smiled, but the expression looked stretched on his face.
With narrowed, crimson eyes, I scrutinized the fox.
A man of snow, huh...
.
.
.
Beneath the strings of hanging lanterns, a girl strolled down the street. She turned, walking backward, and clasped her hands behind her back as she addressed the ordinary human male accompanying her with a radiant smile.
He made some sort of retort, and she laughed, spinning back around to face forward.
The human boy stuck his hands in the pockets of the long, white jacket that he wore, and followed the girl.
As he came up alongside her, she caught him by the crook of his elbow and leaned her head against his arm contentedly.
Face heating, he looked down, but made no move to push her away.
And from the deep shadows in the canopy of a tree high above, the gleam of seething, yellow eyes narrowed.
Teeth clenched and a white-gloved hand dug into the rough bark of the tree, leaving deep gouges in its surface.
Bare feet rose, vanishing into the air, as the tree branch was left vacant once more.
.
AN: Yes, Miss Kuronosuke is the equivalent of Kuronosuke-san, but I liked the way "Miss Kuronosuke" sounded coming from Kurama better, and I'm the author, so...
In case you guys didn't get the convoluted reference, Kurama is comparing himself to a snowman. Blah. I actually really liked the part where he's explaining a snowman to Hiei, not to toot my own horn. It wasn't originally in there, but I found this minuscule sentence of a note on one of my four confusingly jumbled stores of sixty page notes, and remembered it vaguely. Now it's my favorite part :]
And trouble is afoot... a bare foot! :O
I still have a deviantart account where I will be posting some pictures of characters, etc... to go with this story. Check it out if you want. I'm theanonymouspen . deviantart . com (no spaces)
Quasi-update: I have posted a WIP of the market Shima x Friday scene. It's very large, though, so it's not done. :P
Thank you for reading :)
Preview: Hmm... lesee. Looking at my notes... It appears that we're scheduled for a brief segment with Dale :D Also, there's a birthday and depending on how long the chapter gets, Rikyu may make an appearance. (See ominous foreshadowing above)
Please REVIEW! (I'm writing more, I promise! But the feedback is always appreciated.)