Escapade
Chapter 37: On the Trail

Kohari: And another chapter. And yes, I know the title is a bit lame. It doesn't even really match... But let's keep it rollin'!

Note: Has anyone noticed how different I've become since I started this? I think my style of writing is slightly different, and I seem more mature. I guess two years of high school drama will do that to a girl. lol

Hiei, Yukina, and Toy were out on a horseback ride, one of the few outings they had been on together since Toy's arrival. They were attended by one of the guards that Toy felt was trustworthy. He had always treated her with respect, been very kind, and been very eager to ensure her comfort. Toy couldn't remember his name at the moment, but she thought he was a nice guy.

The four of them had somehow split into two couples. Hiei and Toy took the lead, with Yukina and the guard travelling a short distance behind them, enough that each group had the advantage of intimate chit-chat without being heard by the other. Toy looked back at the blond and Yukina. They looked really close. She smiled sweetly at everything he said, and she seemed to bring him as much pleasure as he gave her.

"His name is Dakota," Hiei informed her, knowing what she was wondering. "He's part wolf-demon." At this, Toy noticed a light-colored tail swaying behind the topic of their conversation and a hint of furry ears. "He's very talented, and one of the highest ranking officials in my army. I keep him with me as much as possible as an apprentice advisor. He would make an excellent military tactician in the future."

"They seem close," Toy said, hoping the observation didn't spark the protective anger often felt by brothers.

"Yes, they do," Hiei agreed. "I haven't seen her this intimate with someone in a long time. I must admit, although I'm not sure I quite approve of the match, I suppose it's an improvement. Falling for Dakota means she's gotten over the grieving process."

"What do you mean?" Toy asked.

"You wouldn't know this," Hiei explained, "but Yukina was once thought to have loved one of my old teammates."

"One of the Tantei?" Toy guessed. When Hiei nodded in confirmation, Toy ventured to inquire which one Yukina had been in love with.

"Kuwabara," Hiei spat. Toy was reminded that, of all the members of the Reikai Tantei, Kuwabara had been his least favorite. "It was mutual. But, thank the stars, they never got around to declaring themselves lovers."

"How sad," Toy couldn't help saying.

"It's not sad," Hiei contradicted her. "He wasn't good enough for her."

Toy didn't reply. After a while, Hiei remarked on her silence, noticing that she had hardly spoken to him the entire trip.

"I just...have a lot on my mind," Toy confessed.

"Would it have anything to do with Sawyer?" Hiei smirked, amused, when Toy looked at him in surprise. "Did you think I wouldn't know?"

Toy jerked her eyes away quickly, unable to meet his any longer. Just for a moment, Sawyer's embrace and the feelings it had created within her returned, and a slight shiver ran up her spine with the pleasant memory. Then, everything dissolved.

Hiei seemed to be about to say something more, but the sound of Yukina's mare catching up with them stopped his tongue. "May Dakota and I go on the Northern trail?" she asked politely. They were currently on the Eastern trail. Hiei acquiesced; he couldn't easily refuse any wish she had, and Dakota was with her, knowing what fate awaited him should he let anything happen to Hiei's darling sister.

"What's so special about the Northern trail?" Toy asked.

"It's more shaded because of the trees lining the path," Hiei answered. The mention of this simple fact made Toy realize just how hot the late summer sun was. He must have noticed this, because he asked if she would like to accompany Yukina and Dakota. Toy didn't hesitate to accept the offer. Hiei turned Blaze, a spirited black Arabian with flaring red eyes that reminded her of Hiei himself, and showed Toy the way to the Northern trail. Blaze had never given Hiei any trouble, but Toy knew that anyone else who dared approach him would immediately discover the reason Blaze was known in the stable as "that devil horse."

"What did the Council say about my actions?" Toy inquired, partially because she was curious, but mostly because she wanted to avoid reviving the conversation regarding Sawyer. The shade of the path was more welcome than she had anticipated by the time they had reached it.

"They were disappointed, as you may expect," Hiei replied. "They feel that you showed them much disrespect, so needless to say, they're pretty furious."

"I'm sorry," Toy apologized. "I didn't mean to cause so much trouble. I just...all my life, people think I'm just some doll. They think they can do whatever they want with me. But I'm a person, with feelings and opinions and dreams and a voice that I want to be heard as much as anyone else."

"I can understand why you would lose it," Hiei sympathized. "Any self-respecting woman would feel enraged at the comment he made. They just weren't expecting you to stand up for yourself. They were expecting someone who would bow to my every whim, a beautiful girl with no intelligence or free will. In other words..."

"A doll," Toy finished for him.

"Precisely."

"Why would they just assume that?" Toy wondered aloud.

"It's logical, when you think about it," Hiei responded.

"How so?"

"First of all," Hiei began, "it doesn't make much sense to them to have someone around me who has a chance of opposing me. The power of a woman can be very strong."

"And second?"

"Because a doll would suit their purposes better."

"I'm not sure I understand," Toy admitted.

"A girl with no wits about her, positioned on 'the inside,' could be easily tricked into becoming the key to my downfall," Hiei explained.

"But then again, a smart chick needs only persuasion to be more efficient about it," Toy argued.

Hiei smirked once more. "I would hope my judgement wouldn't allow me to choose a girl who is so easily turned against me." After a minute's pause, he added, "Besides, I doubt those cowards would try a stunt like that. There's too much risk that I'll be informed of their attempts at destroying me."

Although Yukina and Dakota had slowly gotten farther and farther ahead of them throughout the course of their conversation, Toy saw now just how far ahead they had gotten. Whether it was because Yukina and Dakota had been going at a slightly faster pace, because Hiei and herself had slowed a bit, or because of a combination of the reasons, Toy wasn't certain. She knew only that they were just out of her sight.

Suddenly, Blaze cut off Toy's own horse, startling her into halting. Toy didn't have time to question what was going on. Hiei, keeping his balance expertly, reached over and pulled Toy to him, careful not to make her fall off. While Hiei occupied himself with kissing her, Toy realized something. The 'magic' was gone.

Kohari: Does anyone else think this fic is getting really long? I think I'm dragging it out...

Proofread? Yeah.