Chapter 36
Etsu dried herself off and put her lingerie on as she had just gotten out of the shower, putting the non-bloody dirty clothes and towel in the hotel hamper a moment later. She looked at the sink where she was soaking the blood out of her fighting clothes. Etsu sighed, drained the sink, wrung the clothes out, became irritated that all of the blood didn't come out, and threw them into the bathtub.
'Damn it, I waited too long to soak them!' thought Etsu. 'I'll deal with them later. I've got to finish getting dressed.'
After blow-drying and fixing her hair, Etsu finished getting dressed, putting on a pair of blue jeans and a red sleeveless t-shirt. She went into her room, put her necklace and bracelet back on, put on her socks and sneakers, went into the living room, and sat down on the sofa next to Kiyoko.
"Did the blood come out of your clothes?" asked Kiyoko, setting her book aside.
"Some, but not all of it," Etsu replied. "I'll just deal with them later."
"Ready to go see Yusuke and the others at their suite?" asked Kiyoko.
"Yeah, of course I am," Etsu replied.
The sisters were about to leave their suite until there was a knocking at the door. Kiyoko decided to stay put as Etsu went to answer the door to see that it was Y. Toguro.
"May I come in?" asked Y. Toguro.
"Of course," Etsu replied.
Kiyoko looked over at Y. Toguro coming into the suite as Etsu shut the door.
"Sorry if I'm intruding," Y. Toguro apologized.
"You're not intruding so you don't need to apologize," said Kiyoko.
"Yeah, that's right," Etsu agreed. "Anyway, what brings you here?"
"There's something I need to talk to you girls about," Y. Toguro replied.
"About what?" asked Kiyoko.
"Something important," Y. Toguro replied. "It would be best if we sat down."
Etsu sat down on the sofa next to Kiyoko as Y. Toguro sat across from them.
"This matter concerns the demon by the name of Karasu," said Y. Toguro.
"How do you know about Karasu?" asked Kiyoko.
"I know him because he's a part of my team," Y. Toguro replied. "It's my understanding that you've crossed paths with him before, Kiyoko."
"Yes, it was a month before Etsu and I left Spirit World," said Kiyoko. "I was finishing up a solo case when he ambushed me."
"I sensed the battle when it was going on," Y. Toguro explained.
"So, you're the reason why he ran off," said Kiyoko.
"I didn't want him killed before he had the chance to improve some more," Y. Toguro explained. "He's a very talented demon, but he lets his...fascinations get the best of him."
Kiyoko scoffed.
"You should be thanking me for keeping him from pursuing you," said Y. Toguro, frowning at Kiyoko's scoff. "However, it seems that his fascination has returned while fighting Etsu."
"I didn't say I wasn't appreciative," said Kiyoko.
"I'm glad you are appreciative, Kiyoko. Anyway, you girls won't have to worry," said Y. Toguro. "I told him not to bother you."
Etsu was about to say something until Y. Toguro addressed her.
"If he doesn't listen to me, just come and tell me, Etsu," said Y. Toguro, addressing Kiyoko again. "You, too, Kiyoko. I'll make sure he'll stop."
Y. Toguro stood up.
"It's time for me to leave now," Y. Toguro announced. "Thank you for letting me speak to you both."
"No problem," said Kiyoko. "But why -"
"I just don't like to see beings with great potential being terminated without a chance for them to realize it," Y. Toguro answered. "You two have a greater potential than you have now that will awaken soon."
"What do you mean?" Etsu asked.
"You will see soon enough," Y. Toguro said.
Then Y. Toguro left a moment later, leaving the sisters looking at each other in confusion. The sisters decided to not worry about it as they left their suite and went on their way to Team Urameshi's suite.
When they got to the team's suite, Kiyoko knocked on the door with different tones as she so often liked to do to annoy people, Etsu forcing herself not to laugh as Kiyoko did it again.
Knock, knock, knock, knock...knock, knock, knock...knock, knock, knock, knock, knock...knock...knock...knock...knock, knock, knock...knock...knock-
Kiyoko stopped knocking just when Yusuke started yelling as he was annoyed.
"Okay, okay, okay, hold your freakin' horses already!" Yusuke yelled, ignoring Kurama's chuckling. "I'm gonna kick your ass for your annoying knocking after I answer the door!"
When Yusuke answered the door, he was about to throw a punch until he saw that it was the sisters, his facial expression turning from pissed off to surprised.
"Hey, Yusuke," Etsu greeted.
"What was that about kicking my ass?" Kiyoko remarked.
"That was before I knew it was you," said Yusuke. "You know I can't kick your ass. Even if I tried I wouldn't be able to land a punch on you. Not only that, Kurama would Rose Whip my ass, and I would have to hear Kuwabara's lecture while I'm dying on the floor about how I deserved it for trying to hit a girl."
Kuwabara was about to say something until Yusuke told him to shut up.
"Anyway, want to come in?" asked Yusuke.
The sisters smiled in gratitude as they were let inside of the suite and sat down where the team were sitting, Etsu sitting next to Hiei as Kiyoko sat next to Kurama. Noticing the hair clip in Kiyoko's hair, Kurama thought about complimenting Kiyoko of how it suited her but decided to wait as he didn't want to embarrass her. Yusuke had just sat down as he brought up the first round of the fights that he, Hiei, Kurama, and Kuwabara fought.
"So I guess you two saw us fight," said Yusuke.
"Well of course we did," said Kiyoko.
"Yeah, and we were very impressed," said Etsu.
"You all did a good job," Kiyoko agreed.
Kuwabara was about to say something until Yusuke changed the subject.
"Hey, Etsu, where did you get that bracelet?" asked Yusuke.
"Hiei gave it to me last night," Etsu replied.
Etsu thought about thanking Hiei for giving her the bracelet but decided to wait until later as she didn't want to embarrass him, Kurama getting her attention a moment later.
"If I remember correctly, it comes with something else," Kurama hinted. "Something he's planning to give you at the right moment."
Hiei glared at Kurama as he wasn't supposed to say anything about it or even hint it. Hiei was starting to regret telling Kurama what he was planning to do after he acquired the bracelet and the mysterious item until Kurama chuckled as he spoke up.
"You don't have anything to worry about, Hiei," Kurama chuckled. "I won't say anything more."
Luckily for Hiei, Etsu thought nothing of what Kurama hinted as she was more concerned about Hiei's charred up arm. She had an idea how to help Hiei, but she wanted to be alone with him later in order to try it out. Kiyoko and The Masked Fighter already had an idea of what the mysterious item was as they understood Kurama's hint. Yusuke and Kuwabara, however, didn't get the hint and were curious of what it was as they asked about it.
"C'mon, what is it?" asked Yusuke.
"Yeah, Kurama, what's shorty gonna give Etsu?" asked Kuwabara.
"You'll have to ask Hiei," Kurama replied. "But I doubt he'll tell you."
Yusuke and Kuwabara were about to attempt to ask Hiei about the mysterious item until he glared at them, deciding not to ask. Anxious to have something done about Hiei's arm, Etsu suggested to Hiei that they should go outside to be alone. Hiei nodded in agreement. After Etsu and Hiei left the suite, Kiyoko and Kurama decided to leave so that they could also be alone together as they got up and left a moment later.
"I wonder where they're all going," said Kuwabara.
"Like hell I know," said Yusuke. "Anyway, I'm starved."
"Yeah, me, too," Kuwabara agreed. "Hey, we can order room service!"
"Well, duh, I already know that, dufus," said Yusuke. "We are staying at a hotel after all."
Kuwabara was about to snap at Yusuke until there was a knocking on the door. Yusuke answered it to see that it was Botan and let her in.
"What's up, Botan?" asked Yusuke. "I thought you were hanging out with Keiko and Shizuru."
"I was, but I wanted to see Etsu and Kiyoko and thought that they might be here," Botan replied.
"They were, but they just left with Hiei and Kurama," said Yusuke. "Didn't you think about visiting them at their hotel room earlier?"
"Yes, but I was busy," said Botan.
And by saying that she was busy, Botan meant that she was at Koenma's suite talking to Koenma about Keiko and Shizuru seeing his sisters including seeing blood on Etsu's clothes. Koenma had confirmed it based on what his sisters told him as he confessed seeing them himself, but he assured her that they were fine and could take care of themselves. Botan didn't bother telling Yusuke this as Koenma told her not to since he had enough to worry about.
"Since Etsu and Kiyoko are most likely going to be "hanging out" with Hiei and Kurama for the rest of the day, you can see them tomorrow," said Yusuke. "I mean, tomorrow means training or watching competitor teams fight for me and the guys so..."
"Those girls have more of a fearful reputation as fighters of Spirit World than you and the others, so I doubt that they'll have any free time to spend with me, Keiko, and Shizuru doing "girly things" as you call it!" Botan snapped. "Instead, they'll be busy fighting off demons brave enough to attempt to kill them, and it's going to be that way until we leave this island!"
"You mean stupid enough," Yusuke remarked. "Anyone willing to fight them is stupid since they can kick ass."
Kuwabara didn't say anything as he knew that Yusuke was trying to calm Botan down and didn't have anything to say himself.
"Besides, you shouldn't worry, Botan," said Yusuke. "You'll be able to spend time with them even if they do have to fight stupid ass demons, okay?"
Botan nodded as she knew that Yusuke had a point of not to worry. She put on a cheery face as she decided not to worry, told Yusuke that she'll see him and the others later and left back to hers, Keiko's, and Shizuru's hotel room. Yusuke shut the door and yelled at Kuwabara to hurry up with the room service menu so he could look at it as the Masked Fighter shook her head.
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At the sisters' suite, in Kiyoko's room, Kurama complimented Kiyoko of how the hair clip he gave her suited her as they sat on the bed.
"The hair clip I gave you suits you," Kurama complimented. "You look exquisite with your hair up."
"Thank you, Kurama," said Kiyoko.
"You're welcome, my sweet flower," said Kurama.
"I was thinking that maybe we could have dinner a little later," Kiyoko suggested.
"Yes, that sounds perfect," Kurama agreed.
Kiyoko and Kurama kissed a moment later. Kurama took the hair clip out of Kiyoko's hair, set it aside as he and Kiyoko got comfortable on the bed, and started to make out.
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Outside of the hotel, Etsu and Hiei found a perfect spot outside where they wouldn't be interrupted as they sat down underneath a tree. Hiei forced himself not to grunt from the excruciating pain of his charred up arm as he didn't want to worry Etsu, but Etsu still noticed from the pained expression on his face. Etsu took Hiei by surprise as she expressed her concern and offered to help him.
"You don't have to hide the pain from me, Hiei," said Etsu. "It must be terrible. Please let me try to help you make it better."
"Hn, I'm fine so you don't need to be concerned," said Hiei. "Besides, how would you be able to help me? You can only heal yourself, not others."
"It's true that I'm only self-healing," said Etsu. "But I have an idea of how I can turn it outwards."
"How?" asked Hiei.
"It's complicated to explain," Etsu replied. "Just please let me try."
Hiei nodded as he extended his arm. Etsu hovered her hands over Hiei's arm as she didn't want to risk hurting it by just touching it. After a moment of concentration, whitish gold energy flowed out of Etsu's hands onto Hiei's arm. Hiei began feeling relieved as he felt a numbing sensation in his arm, but became alarmed when he realized that Etsu was using her life energy to make her self-healing go outward and jerked his arm away to make her stop.
"Why did you pull your arm away?" asked Etsu. "I wasn't close to being done yet."
"What's the point if you're going to wind up dead?!" Hiei snapped. "You're a self-healing fighter for a reason, so don't be foolish to waste your life!"
"Sorry," Etsu apologized. "I guess I didn't think of the consequences."
"Hn, how long will the numbing last?" asked Hiei.
"About a few hours, I guess," Etsu replied. "Look, I'm really sorry. I won't do it again."
"Hn, forget about it," said Hiei. "I'll deal with my arm on my own."
Etsu nodded and kissed him on the cheek to express her appreciation to him for his concern. Hiei blushed as he shifted his eyes. Etsu changed the subject as she finally thanked Hiei for the bracelet he had given to her the night before.
"Thanks for the bracelet, Hiei," said Etsu. "It's very beautiful, and I love it."
Hiei blushed again until Etsu kissed him on the lips. He wrapped his arms around her as he kissed her back and pressed his body against hers on the ground.
"Let's go inside to do this," said Etsu.
Hiei nodded in agreement as he grunted.
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Back inside the hotel, in Etsu's room of the sisters' suite, Etsu and Hiei got comfortable in bed as they started to get intimate.