Complicated, Carolyn Dawn Johnson. Lala, Ashley Simpson. Uninvited, Alanis Morisette. Rat in the Cage (one of the many titles), Smashing Pumpkins. Hells yes. The playlist I have for this one is over 3 hours long.
So, I have friend coming to town tomorrow, yay!! I'm normally not loved by this many people in single seasons or years even, so bare with me. I'm going to try to write and post this next week, but it could take a while. I don't have much time off. But I'm going to do my best.
I can promise there is one more chapter before the Hiei/Iruni fight comes due. So its really close. I just have to get through some filler, preparation, and Yusuke's match, then I can get to theirs. And then the finals etc. And eventually we arrive at the end. I'm thinking it's only about 5 chapters away. Not very much time left, folks. Lol.
I'm wanting desperately to make some conflict between Shishiwakamaru and Ichi, actually. I don't know why, I just want to. He seems like a suitable target. *evil laughter* We get to see some of Amon-Shinpi's old habits here, which was actually fun to write. I won't lie. I have a soft spot for characters who can switch into kill mode at the drop of a hat.
So, I've discovered I have a love for writing fluff, which might get me into some trouble later on, but ehn. Sue me. I've also been trying to work on Hiei's character a bit, since I keep having him out of sorts with himself. Hopefully I've been doing alright. So, here's the chapter!
Hiei was recovering from his rigorous workout with Yusuke and Kurama. They'd done everything in their power to bring him down and he'd managed to take most of it on the chin, without the help of his dragon. Now all three were sporting cuts and bruises, covered in sweat and hiking back to the cabin with their shirts in their hands instead of on their backs. Kuwabara had gone with Keiko, Shizuru and Yukina to the bazaar again to see if they could find enough food to fill the ravenous wolf girl waiting for all of them to return.
It had been decided that after a large lunch or dinner, depending on how long it took to cook, they'd all go up to the castle and attempt to get Shinpi her property back. No one thought it would be a problem, she commanded enough fear on her own. Coupled with their group standing behind her, it should be an easy enough request to fulfill.
"You look to be in thought," Kurama noted of his friend and the hanyou nodded.
"Hn." Was the only response they received as Yusuke opened the door to the cabin.
"Oh, Botan! You have no idea how good this feels."
"If you like that, how about," there was a pause. "this?"
"Oh gods! That's so good." The moan had them raising their eyebrows as they walked into the living room.
"Um, is there something you two want to tell us?" Yusuke asked, taking in the scene of Amon-Shinpi sitting backwards in a chair, her chin on the top and arms around the back. Botan was rubbing her shoulders with glowing hands. The demon girl looked so relaxed with her sloppy smile and partially opened glazed eyes.
"Botan is better than sex," came the lulled response, and the Styx pilot blushed slightly as she continued to massage the smaller girl.
"Then you've been doing something wrong," Hiei pointed out, and she moaned contentedly.
"So, how exactly did this," the teenager motioned to the girls to define 'this', "happen?"
"She said she was sore, and no one was here to do it, so I offered her a back rub." The cheery blue haired woman explained with a smile.
"She's a modest goddess," Ichi muttered, looking half asleep. "But you can stop Botan, your arms have got to be tired."
"Thank god, you're nothing but a ball of tension," the deity flung herself into a chair. Pointing an accusatory finger at the boys, one short black haired demon in particular, she went on. "You three ought to help her relax, or she won't heal properly. The poor girl has more knots in her muscles than anyone I've ever met."
"Drink some water," Yusuke suggested.
"If she's so stressed, maybe she could get back in bed," Hiei snapped, a reminder that his order for her to stay in the small room all day had been ignored.
"Let me tell you something, little man," Ichi raised her head just enough to glare half heartedly. "Oh wow, you're shirtless."
"Make your point, before you drown in your drool," he smirked at her, arms crossed over his bare chest.
"Point?" she asked distractedly, looking back up to his face.
"You were telling me something," he pressed, throwing his short on the table as Yusuke did.
"Oh," it took a moment for her mind to catch up. "Oh yeah. Listen up, shrimp, you don't control or own me."
"I see you're getting back to your old self." Kurama smiled at the girl as she slowly got to her feet, determined to make the most of her day and get used to being awake again.
"Yeah," she clenched her fist and flexed the adjoining arm. "I'm feeling better, stronger."
"Faster than before." Botan and Yusuke laughed as the quoted together.
"Screw you guys," she snapped, puffing her cheeks in exasperation. "That's not funny."
"I don't get it," Hiei muttered to Kurama as they walked to the kitchen to scrounge for food.
"It's a saying from a show called The Six Million Dollar Man." He explained while Ichi continued to complain.
"Aren't you too young for that show anyways, Yusuke?" she griped, settling back in the chair the correct way with a glower, her freshly changed bandages wound up her arm from her elbow and stopped at the base of her ribs, revealing a toned stomach unblemished despite her battles. Hiei took a second to admire it as she stretched her back before turning back to Kurama who was speaking to him.
Botan was on her feet in seconds, almost compulsively rubbing the black triangles sticking out of the loose tangle of red hair.
"You never brushed your hair after your bath," the deity grimaced.
"Do you see a brush?" she asked bitterly, running her fingers over the messy scarlet jumble with a dissatisfied sigh. For a second she considered going back to her old style, so short it was beyond boyish.
Don't even think about giving that idiotic idea any serious consideration, onna.
"I haven't cut my hair since my mother died," she muttered aloud, idly studying the tips of her hair. "Not even a trim."
"Why?" Botan's hand stopped on her ears.
"I used to keep it so short everyone thought I was a boy and she hated it. When she died, I just started to let it grow." She shrugged. Then eyed Hiei a bit morosely. "Until someone had to take it upon himself to give me layers."
"Hn." He looked away.
"So, you look tired. You sure you're up to this?" Yusuke didn't have to explain what he meant to her, she knew. With a shrug she nodded. "Why don't you take a nap?"
She batted the blue haired oar rider's hands away with a warning growl and glared up at her before turning back to the hanyou with a scowl. "I don't want to go back to sleep."
"Scared you won't wake up?" he joked with a wide grin.
"Yes, among other things." She stated seriously, eyes hard set. The smile faded from his face.
"You never did tell us what that dream of yours was about," he started slowly, hoping that the gentle push would make her express the details of her own torture. She looked away, standing. "Hey, where ya going?"
"I need to find Hayato, to discuss tonight," she grabbed a black shirt off the table and walked out without another word.
"Hai must be waiting somewhere close by," Hiei huffed, looking annoyed. Walking over to the table he picked up the remaining black top and blinked, then sniffed it curiously. With a smirk he handed it to Botan. "Seems Shinpi can't distinguish scents. She took my shirt by mistake."
The two old friends were so locked in conversation throughout what had turned into a mixture of dinner and lunch that no one had bothered trying to interrupt them. They sat on the grass apart from the rest,s leaning towards one another, the girl in Hiei's shirt, and Hayato frequently wrinkling his nose anytime the wind shifted towards him from behind her.
"I don't think he likes you," Kuwabara remarked to the short demon, watching the blacksmith nod to something the girl was explaining. Her hands moved idly as she spoke, a relaxed habit the fire demon harshly noted she hadn't performed for them.
"I don't see how she can be so relaxed with him, he abandoned the one thing she loved for no reason," the angry comment made the human blink.
"I don't see how she can be relaxed with your creepy eyes drilling holes into her skull." He was on the floor with a knot on his head as Hiei closed his creepy red eyes and grunted.
"Anyone else noticing the hostility here?" Yusuke motioned between Hiei and the man whose shaggy cut brown hair shifted as another breeze passed over them.
Hayato's eyes flicked over to the hanyou and then he started to speak, leaning closer to the woman across from him, as if to keep anyone from hearing his words. She looked at him with wide blue eyes before scrunching her face, as if in she disagreed with whatever he had suggested.
"Yusuke," she turned and called, blinking. "Mind joining us for a few minutes?"
"Not at all my lord," he mocked and walked over quietly. Sitting down with them they all began talking in the small circle, her motioning some strategy with her hands and Hayato reaching over place some hair behind her shoulder as she spoke to the detective.
"Hiei, you're staring," Kurama warned softly, and the fire demon looked up. In a lower voice, so as to be unheard by the others he added, "Do you think Hayato is someone you should be worried about?"
"Hn." The man scoffed with an eye roll. Then he sharply turned back to his surveillance of the traitor and his teammates as the girl laughed unguardedly, shoving the taller demon away. Yusuke joined in and slammed a fist against his palm to extenuate a point. "Are they planning our invasion then?"
"A few possible strategies, mostly back up plans. From what I understand Amon-Shinpi intends to just demand her castle be vacated for her and see how it goes. They're working on the backup for when that undoubtedly fails." The fox shook his head.
"If they're fans of hers, they'll be more than happy to gives themselves over," the lackluster response made both demons turn to study one of the new additions to their gathering. Shishiwakamaru was glaring at the threesome with heavy distaste. "Suzuka and the others are just so overjoyed to meet her. It's making them more obnoxious than usual."
Hiei turned back to look at the girl without giving a reaction.
"I didn't realize you were here," Kurama started to make conversation. "How have you been?"
"Training."
"Sounds invigorating," Kuwabara laughed. Shishi stared at him for a cold moment until he shirked away.
"I hope you aren't picking on my new student," the smooth voice had four pairs of eyes meeting blue, as Amon-Shinpi stood with her hands on her hips where she stood regarding them. "I actually rather like him, so please be nice Shishiwakamaru."
"He's incapable of usefulness." Came the response and the girl rolled her eyes.
"You beat a man once and think you're invincible," she ran her fingers through recently brushed hair. "That attitude will get you killed."
"You would know."
"I see you two have met then!" Chu laughed, slipping over. The fire demon was starting to grow annoyed that so many people had invaded his space during this ridiculous dinner. "Isn't she a peach, this one? Real wild cat."
"Smells like a dog to me." Shishi wrinkled his nose. Kurama wasn't sure if he could laugh at not until the girl did, pointing a finger at the annoyed demon.
"I'm going to have to beat some manners into you, pretty boy," she nodded to herself. "So, everyone hear the plan?"
"Follow your lead?" Hiei guessed, and she paused to think about that.
"Basically." She smiled. "I'm going to ask nicely, then persuade them."
"By persuade," Jin didn't get to finish before she smiled viciously.
"I mean kill people very torturously until I get what I want." She clarified. "Anyways, we're heading up as soon as everyone is done eating."
"Are you done?" Kurama asked with a grin. "You only ate four plates."
"They were very big plates," the girl laughed with brightening cheeks as she rubbed her stomach through the shirt. "I had to save some for our guests."
"Ya do care," Jin laughed, wrapping his arm around her neck from her side. "I've been tellin' the fellas what a cheeky doll ya are."
"How kind," she pulled away. "I'm actually going for a quick walk, so hopefully by the time I get back you'll all be done."
"Want some company?" the Irish and Australian accents spoke at the same time.
"Not from you two," she huffed and turned to walk off. Kurama looked knowingly at Hiei, who surprised him by not moving.
The fire demon had a look of concentration on his face that lead the fox to believe he was trying very hard to figure something out. It had slipped his notice that wide blue eyes had very pointedly skipped over his friend, and that she had placed herself as far away as possible from the fire wielder. The youkai wanted to groan at the circle they were running in, wanting to go clear it up but wondering if it would be better if he let her have her time to herself.
And then Hayato rose as she passed and followed her and his train of thought switched to the retreating pair.
"Are you really willing to kill a whole building full of people to get what you want?" Kazuma swallowed at the thought as he walked behind Ichi, who was leading the group to the front doors to the castle in question.
"You sound surprised," she noted dryly.
"It's just, I'd expect this from Hiei. He wanted to off an entire boat once. But you seemed more reserved." He explained, a bit flustered.
"Never judge someone by just what you see of them. Always realize that something lies beneath the surface." She advised coolly. "You can consider this experience your first lesson, Kazuma: I am not a saint."
She effortlessly pushed the thick doors open and entered the lobby with enough flourish to stop the room dead as she walked to the small woman at the front desk.
"Oh! L-lord Amon-Shinpi," the girl did a quick bow. "H-h-how can I help you?"
"Are you in charge?" she asked from behind the metal and fabric covering her face.
"N-no."
"Find me someone who is." The girl nodded and left to the back, allowing for some other demons to approach.
"What are you doing here?" one of them asked.
"You'll do." She looked him up and down as the cryptic words left her lips. "About eight feet three inches in height. Low C-class apparition. I'm guessing about four hundred and twenty pounds." She paused to size him up with her powers and added thoughtfully. "You're very well hydrated. That's good."
"What are you rambling about, you old washed up degenerate?" he stepped forward and Hayato, who had taken her left hand side opposite Hiei who was on her right, gave him a warning look just as an older man appeared before them.
"How may I help you?" he asked with kind grey eyes, despite being tense.
"I want you to vacate my property with earnest, and I want every demon in this castle to leave." She stated simply, in her deep voice. He blanched a few stragglers in the lobby shouted in protest. "I will turn to violence and cleanse this place myself, if I must. Just so you know."
"I can't do that." He looked shaken at the thought. "Lord Hiro-"
"Is dead." She reminded him coldly. Hayato was staring down the demon who had first spoken to them. "Is it that you can't, or that you're scared of the consequences?"
"Both," he admitted, causing her to nod. Leaning forward she reached up and grabbed his shirt front, yanking him down to her level.
"I assure you, sir, that opposing me is going to be much more painful and terrifying than listening to the orders of a dead man and a few low bred demons." She made sure to hold his eyes with her own as she spoke. Yusuke, Kurama and Hiei each blinked at the tone she was using. Releasing the man she threw him back from her, so that he stumbled and stared in fear. "If you won't do it, I will."
"I-I," he stuttered.
"He's useless," Hiei sneered at the man before turning to the red headed woman. "What is your next plan?"
"Demonstrate," she shook her head sadly. "I was hoping it wouldn't come to this."
Without being told to Hayato stepped out of the way of the demon he'd been holding back and the beast charged at the girl only to stop in his tracks when she raised her left hand, holding her arm straight from her shoulder with her palm up.
There was a strange, thick gurgling noise coming from the demon as more joined them from the rooms and around the lobby. He fell to his knees at the small wolf demon's feet, staring up in what looked like agony.
"Do you remember the fight Yusuke and Kurama had with the brothers who controlled water? Team Aikou." she asked, her question obviously directed to the fire demon who was watching in rapt attention as the man at her feet started to shrivel, tiny beads of water coming from his skin and hovering above him. When he didn't answer she went on. "This is what I was telling you about."
And then she clenched her fist and all the liquids that had been inside the demon were suddenly in a ball above the husk of his dehydrated form as it hit the floor with a hollow thud. She tilted her head and looked around, deciding apparently that one particular demon didn't look scared enough and threw the ball at him, which sent him flying backwards into one of the stone walls with a tell tale cracking noise.
"Wow," Yusuke, Kuwabara and many of the others stared in shock as Ichi flexed her fist as if it ached from hitting someone. Turning to the large group of demons that had gathered she narrowed her eyes.
"Get. Out." She had hardly gotten the words out before they were racing around to leave, spinning as the man and two women who worked behind the counter started to flee, she pointed her finger at them. "You work for me now."
"Yes sir," they all nodded feverishly, bowing deeply.
"Make sure the guests take their stuff with them," she demanded and they nodded again. "What are your names?"
"I'm Hika," the original girl stammered with mousy brown hair and, to no one's shock, mouse ears. Pointing to a girl who looked very much like herself except with darker hair and green eyes instead of brown she said, "This is Lia."
"I am Gedrac." The old man shook as he stared at the small demon.
"Do you have rooms here?" Ichi pressed, ignoring the curious she was receiving from her friends.
"No, we camp," the girl known as Lia quietly confessed. Reaching into her pocket Amon-Shinpi produced the key to the cabin and threw it to them.
"You sleep in the servant's house now. A wolf will be guarding it for the next few days, until the tournament is over, so you can rest easy. I appreciate your help. There are two rooms, four beds, and food already waiting." Then she turned and headed for the stairs. "I need to see what that asshole did to my room."
Kurama and Hiei exchanged a look, realizing the room they'd been in before was hers and that she probably wouldn't be pleased about it.
"Anyone else think that was disgusting?" Yusuke finally asked and a ghost-white Keiko and Koenma nodded. "Sheesh. I didn't know Ichi could do that."
"I didn't realize how cold she could be," Rinku looked a little startled. "It's like she's two different people."
"Nah," Jin rubbed the kid's head. "She's just a fighter, blood and bone. She's also a leader, and knows how to handle politics here."
"I've never seen her so ruthless," Botan seemed afraid of the thought.
"Stop acting so shocked, you knew Shinpi was a demon, and you knew he was particularly cruel and full of herself. This display is probably tame to what he could have done and he only killed someone who attacked first." Hiei snapped at the group in general, put out with their behavior and at having to work to use the correct pronouns for the new 'servants'. "You're all acting like startled children."
"Not all of us are used to bathing in blood, shorty!" Kazuma yelled. "Besides, the fact she can kill someone with the squeeze of her fist should scare the crap outta you! You fight her next, after all."
"Here's a tip, don't piss her off enough to kill you," the fire demon growled. "Baka human. You understand nothing of Makai or its habits."
"I hope she kicks your ass," the orange haired boy frowned at the shorter man. "You could use the help getting off that pedestal with all this, I'm a demon I'm better than you, nonsense."
"She's not going to beat me," the demon huffed.
"You'd better hope not," Keiko walked passed him with Yusuke, her eyes closed indignantly. "I'm starting to think she really wants to lose to someone."
"What?" he asked dumbly as they walked away, the rest the group slowly following as Amon-Shinpi reappeared to direct everyone to their rooms for the rest of their stay.
Her forehead pressed the glass of her darkened room, lit only by the glow of the lanterns in the hall outside her open door. She was looking over the forest that had at one time been a village, wincing for every ruin her eyes could pick up through the darkness as the incomplete moon weakly bathed the tree tops in silver.
A wolf howled and she lowered the arm she'd been using to balance from where it pressed against the glass above her head. Akira had gathered reinforcements and brought them closer to the tournament, including Nama and their pups. Nama. What an animal. Red and wild, untamable even by the girl who knew her best. She would always be the most wild of the wolves.
It only seemed fitting that the uncontrollable female would have mated and with the docile Akira. He was so gentle, so lucid in comparison. Ichi wouldn't have had it any other way.
Stepping away from the glass with a heavy sigh, she continued to stare out into the night. It was open here, no lights to pollute the sky. Stars, the moon, the trees all the way to the desert could be seen from this room. The wind pulled the leaves of the plants and played with them, as if the way they rustled were a sweet song. She had missed this lullaby.
"Hello, Hiei." She didn't have to turn around to know the demon had stepped into her room. "What do I owe the pleasure of this visit?"
"You haven't been yourself since you woke up," he walked over and stood beside her, studying the same scene she was. "I wanted to know if it had anything to do with Hayato."
"No, I'm just troubled," she brushed off his concern lightly, her voice soft as it was the first time he'd heard it by the spring he was currently staring at. His hands were in his pockets beside her, hers clasped behind her back.
"The dreams you won't tell us about?" he didn't look at her, but knew she nodded. "I would think that your family would offset any nightmare."
"This was a particularly effective dream," she shook her head. "And it's recurring. I haven't slept much since I woke up."
"I never thought a dream would scare you," he glanced at her with crimson eyes and noticed she had her forehead pinched in thought. "Shinpi?"
"I just realized I have only a few days until our match." She blinked. "The tournament is only two weeks from ending."
"The detective's match is the day before ours," he nodded, turning back to the view. "This is an expansive sight."
"Before," she smiled softly, "you could see the whole village from this spot. And some say they could see me too, but most of them thought I was too far up and away."
"Are you going to rebuild?" he studied her.
"One day," she nodded. Touching the glass tenderly she watched him walk passed her, his heat brushing her skin as he went and laid on her bed. Well, Hiro's bed. She wanted to burn it and find herself a new one. The bastard had been sleeping in her bed as his own for all this time. It was too sadistic for her to think about.
Hiei on her bed, however, was a sight she thought she might adjust too. His legs were crossed at the ankles, his face blank as his arms tucked themselves behind his head for support against the soft pillow. She had given him is own room, but he seemed more than content to sleep where he was. Taking a deep breath she gagged, supporting herself against the wall as she choked.
"I can't even breath without his scent overwhelming me," she sputtered, anger flaring as the musky scent of copper invaded her senses. Her hand against the wall turned into a fist, her muscles clenching. "I can't even sleep in my own room because of that loathsome little worm. It's going to take me forever to rid this place of his reeking stench."
Hiei made no move to help her, more than satisfied where he was, but he did watch as she calmed her breathing down. Her room was large, and now that he knew it was hers he liked it better than he had when it had been Hiro's. She fit into it better, though the walls were barren and the only furniture pieces were a bed, table and empty regal desk against the wall. It was a rather large empty space. His eyes wandered to the window. He could get used to that view, given the right chance and company. It struck him that this life was part of her offer to be with him.
"I think you're right," he agreed suddenly, smirking at her when she blinked in confusion. "You need to do something about this smell."
"What's your suggestion?" she huffed, taking her sword off and placing it on the table, where she sat down to watch him. The way she sat, with her shoulders hunched and legs splayed a little, head bowed, it made him wonder if she wasn't putting on a brave face again. She looked desperate for rest. Her body leaned to the left as she rested the side of her face into her palm, her elbow on the table.
"Cover it up," he grunted, sitting up. "You've been avoiding me, Shinpi. Ever since you woke up you've been trying to put distance between us."
"Have I?" she raised her eyebrows lazily, no other reaction revealing anything.
"Yes, you have," he glared at her. "Are you regretting your revelation, now that you have someone readily available to work for you, at your side?"
"Hiei," she groaned, rubbing her eyes before pinching the bridge of her nose and shaking her head. Sometimes he just didn't get it. "If you're suggesting that I'm retracting what I said about wanting you to be my mate just because Hayato is in the picture then you're truly a fool."
"I've just noticed how cozy you two are," he remarked sharply.
"Not as cozy as you and Mukuro," she shot back with a tiredly defiant stare. "And to answer you, no, I'm not retracting anything. But if you're looking for an out, you don't need one. The door is more than open for you to leave anytime you wish."
He got to his feet and walked over to her, placing his sword beside hers on the table.
"What exactly are you doing?" she demanded, shifting as he looked her over. His hand gripped her chin suddenly, forcing her to stare at him. "Hiei?"
"You need sleep," he stated firmly.
"Thank you, master, for your keen insight, but I can't sleep." She glowered at him. His hand moved over her neck, tickling her skin with his heated fingertips, and then fisted in her hair at the back of her head. Pulling, he got her to stand and used his grip to force her head to the side with an impish smirk as her lips parted to protest.
"Don't even think about complaining, we both know this doesn't hurt you," he warned and she narrowed her eyes but remained silent. "If you aren't going to rest, for whatever reason I'm sure you're devising, then you might as well be doing something beneficial."
"Oh?" she asked sarcastically.
"Yes. You could be filling this room with a far more pleasant scent, instead of sitting there staring at nothing." He went to go on but was interrupted.
"You aren't nothing, Hiei." She breathed, a little shocked the words had come from her mouth. He furrowed his brow, then the smirk widened and his fist in her hair tugged a little bit, making her come closer to him. Arrogent bastard.
"Baka onna," he whispered against her lips before kissing her roughly, his other arm holding her hip as her hands pressed into his back, bringing them closer. Kicking the chair out of his way, Hiei moved forward a little bit, causing her to walk backwards. She felt the cool chill of glass against her skin, through the shirt, as her back pressed into the window. Their lips never parted, and when he lightly nipped her bottom lip she gladly gave him what he was asking for.
His thumb lightly stroked a small line against her hip, making her moan softly and pull him closer. He pulled away slightly, giving a few inches of space between their lips.
"The air in here is already more tolerable," he muttered, moving his lips to her jaw and slowly making his way down her neck, earning another moan. "And I'd like to point out that you're wearing my shirt."
"Oh, am I?" she feigned innocence rather poorly in this case, causing him to lightly bite the side of her neck, making her jump.
"Yes, you are." He pulled away again. This time she just nodded, and smirked. Her hands fell from his back and went to the bottom of the article of clothing in question and she quickly tugged it over her head and offered it to him, leaving her in just pants and bandages. He noted that her hips were actually bruised from her fight, something only noticeable because without a belt her pants fell very low on her.
"You're wearing mine too, you know," she tilted her head to the side, spilling hair over her shoulder as she regarded him. He smirked and tugged the shirt off, tossing it with the one she'd been wearing so that they both landed on the table.
Her back pressed against the glass again as he stalked closer, his palms pressing against the window above her shoulders on either side of her head as he kissed her again, his chest pressing to hers. He grunted as she grabbed his hips, bringing him to her body as the length of her pushed against him, glad for the warmth he offered and enjoying the way his skin felt under her hands as she slid her hands up over his stomach and chest to lock her arms around his neck. His trailed the opposite direction of hers, down over her the front of her body until he was gripping her pants in an attempt to keep their bodies meshed.
Her lips left his, but didn't stop kissing as she made her way down his neck, determined to force him to moan the way he made her. The fire demon was a little startled as her hand bunched in his hair the way his had been in hers, as she playfully nipped at his neck only to kiss the spot a second later. He groaned, turning his head to let her do whatever she wanted as long as it felt good. Moving to pull away he was stopped by a soft growl and hands pulling him back, lips against his again.
Fairly impressed with his own self control, he had to wonder about hers. Hiei felt her shiver as a cool gust of wind slipped over the outside of the window, and pressed his body closer to hers in response. He wasn't sure if there was room left to close between them, but he did his best, slipping his arms around her waist.
If he was being honest with himself he was more than a little astonished at her tenacity. He'd never been with a woman who was actually as dominant as he was, not like this. It left him unsure of how to react at moments, despite knowing what he wanted to do.
"You'd better beat me by a mile, Hiei," her voice was ragged in his ear as she spoke.
"I will," he confidently grunted, opening his eyes to study her face. She still looked exhausted, but the determination in her eyes outweighed all the other things swimming there. "Are you tired yet?"
She laughed, shaking her head with a lopsided grin, and then nodded.
"Yes, I suppose I am." Taking a deep breath, she pushed him away slightly, surprised he when his arms stayed around her. When she shook slightly against him it had nothing to do with the cold.
"I missed you."
She looked at the man holding her with wide, fearful eyes before she could control herself. Blinking it away she nervously began chewing on her lip.
"You're freezing again," the deep voice didn't seem to be affected by her fleeting reaction to what he couldn't see, and she nodded slightly, distracted. "Shinpi, are you alright?"
"I'll be fine," she smiled.
"That's not what I asked," he frowned at the evasion, allowing her to walk out of arms and to the bed, were she sat and stretched, before falling backwards with her feet still on the ground. He wondered how she managed to look so long, being so short. It took a short moment of him scanning over her body to realize that she actually had decently long legs for her size. Not absurdly long, or to the point someone would immediately notice, but still.
Not much about Amon-Shinpi was extraordinary enough to be taken in at first glance, he noted mentally. It took time to appreciate her, mostly because she was locked up tighter than Enma's vault.
"I'm just tired," she murmured, eyes closed.
"Are you sleeping in that?" he gestured to her pants and realized she couldn't see him.
"Unfortunately, I don't get a choice." She idly picked at the pants she had on, and then lifted her head to look at him for a moment. "I can't very well sleep without, with so many guests."
"Do you normally sleep without?" he raised an eyebrow.
"Depends on my mood, but generally speaking," she nodded before falling back down. "I'm going to have adjust I suppose. It would hardly do to wake up to an attack and fight in a sheet."
"I'd like to see that," he chuckled at the very vivid image that danced in his head. Her body rolled and she was laying on her stomach, head on the pillows and legs a half foot away from the end of the bed. Her arms closed around the pillow, face scrunched at the smell, and her breathing was deep and even.
Shaking his head at her, the fire demon grabbed his shirt and sword, replacing both on his person, and left her to sleep. He quietly shut the door behind him as he left to go explore the large stone building she called home.