14.
"Okay so explain to me again why you can't just go talk to her! You know what you said was wrong and you hurt her really bad." The team walked onward in a somber manner in their way to the arena; Kuwabara carried Yusuke on his back as he was still sound asleep.
"It is simple, we made an oath long ago that if she were to harm me with ill intent then our friendship would end no questions asked. One cannot be friends with a person who wishes them harm." Kurama looked forward, an unapologetic tone in his voice.
"But you said that on purpose! If you didn't want to be friends anymore then you should have just said so, instead of breaking her heart that way! You didn't feel what I did, she…" Kuwabara stopped and shuddered as he looked around; the group stood amongst a crowd of demons and something very dangerous was approaching. The crowd seemed to part as Siera walked toward them. She wore a black mid-drift sweater and jeans with black boots, her hair in a high ponytail. Her whole demeanor seemed dark but it was her eyes, he was used to them turning blue; but her eyes in this moment were black, like two piercing onyx orbs seemed to burn Kuwabara from the inside like she had lit a literal fire inside his chest. He nearly doubled over in pain but was too afraid to break eye contact with her, she literally held him with her gaze with the same force as a clenched hand.
"Kazuma, I would appreciate it if you kept my name and my emotions out of your mouth."
"Y-yes, I understand." She then released him and looked at Kurama momentarily; she opened her mouth to speak as a demon came up and grabbed her ass, making the moment even tenser.
"Hey doll why is that mouth in a frown? I bet you would feel better with me in it!" She turned abruptly to the assailant looking at him with a smile on her face. She put something red and moist to her lips, taking a large bite as though it were an apple without breaking eye contact as the team behind her froze at a loss for words. The demon was confused at first and then turned pale when he realized she was holding his own heart in her hand.
"You're right, I do feel better." He fell to the ground as she laughed.
"What is wrong with you?! Do you possibly think this will make you feel better?! This isn't who you are!" She didn't acknowledge him but simply turned away still laughing.
"You have a lot of nerve to talk about someone being out of character." Zoie crept alongside them eyeing his mistress closely.
"I thought you were still angry with me."
"Oh I'm pissed; in fact I opted to her that we kill you."
"And?"
"She won't allow it; it's just as I told you."
"Naturally, her loyalty runs deeper than her hatred."
"Just so you know, my loyalty lies with my mistress; if she gave me the order last night I would've ripped your head clean off."
"And now?"
"Damn you… as shitty as it was I see what you are doing; and as much as I hate to see her feel this way I respect your logic behind it. But that is the thing; knowing how deep her loyalty runs, do you really think this spat will make things easier for her? And what will happen if you do survive this, she never stays mad at you long so are you going to keep being an ass to her to save face?"
"So what, you're trying to make her mad so that if anything happens to you she won't be sad? That doesn't sound like a very good plan especially with everything I'm picking up from her."
"That is another thing Kuwabara, what did she say to you?"
"To not talk about her, or her emotions." Zoie looked down in deep thought
"Of course, you have the shield; we had wondered what it meant. Everything she is hiding emotion wise you pick up like a sponge; even feel them like your own don't you? What are you getting now?"
"Yeah, it's weird, she really is sad more than angry but she isn't showing that at all."
"Fascinating, I will want to know more." A whistle sounded and he took off without hesitation. The team approached the arena and tried to prepare for their upcoming battle.
"Siera would you please talk to me, you will feel better when you talk."
"I'm angry Zoie, I'm hurt and I'm angry that I'm hurt."
"I understand that, no one blames you for that."
"But I blame myself."
"Why?"
"If I wasn't so damned hard-headed it wouldn't have come to this. If I had stayed home or at least stayed out of the tournament my team wouldn't have died and I would still have my best friend."
"Is it really fair to call them your teammates if you didn't learn their names?"
"Kitu, Jubi, Harune and Yabi."
"Well excuse me. I mean they would have died eventually they wanted to try their luck with the guys on the boat remember."
"Yeah…"
"So look at it this way, you actually extended their lives; even if it was by just several hours at least there was that. So don't fret over that."
"I guess so; but he went through all of this just to keep me out of it." She watched on to her ex-best friend disheartened as he stepped forward to begin his own match. She looked to the opposing member and read his thoughts and she went pale.
"He's going to use Shiori as a hostage, that guy will have her killed if K fights back!"
"Holy shit, that's really playing dirty." Siera began to hyperventilate and gripping her seat tightly.
"This is all my fault, this is all my fault; if I had stayed home she wouldn't be in danger!"
"Hey don't do that, no one could have known this would happen!"
"He told me to stay home! I could have checked in on her, protected her!" She remembered back to when she was only ten; she sat at the table with Kurama as they did their homework together as was their evening routine. Shiori brought them hot chocolate and a few cookies.
"Thank you mother!"
"Yes, thank you very much Shiori!"
"You two are studying so hard, you deserve a little break. Oh dear I forgot the whipped cream.."
"Oh I'll get it mother, you don't worry about it!" Kurama leapt up and went to the kitchen and it was then Shiori noticed what was written on Siera's notebook Siera Minamino . Embarrassed Siera covered it quickly and looked at her with panicked eyes. Shiori smiled as she knelt down to the girl and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Don't worry, your secret is safe with me. But if it makes you feel better, I would like that idea very much as well."
"Really?"
"I have always looked at you like my own daughter; you are such a sweet and wonderful girl. I know Korrin is so thrilled to be raising such a smart, pretty and good natured young lady and Shuichi would be lucky to have you." Siera began to tear at her words, it was the first time anyone had spoken to her this way.
"And even if it doesn't, I will always see you as my own." She hugged her close and they laughed.
Siera watched on crying hysterically now and shaking.
"Hey calm down look, he got the upper hand!" she saw as the dirty trickster had erupted into a bloody bouquet of wildflowers, sealing Kurama as the victor.
"That was pretty smart of him." Siera got up instantly and rushed to ringside, bounding over the barrier and leaping into Kurama's arms catching him completely off guard.
"Is she okay?! Is everything going to be okay?!" She was hysterical and crying; Kurama wiped her face with his sleeve and held her by her shoulders.
"Everything is fine." She sniffled and looked to the ground shuffling her feet.
"I have been a fool…better yet a total bitch to you. I know you have only been doing what's best for me; but I was too involved in my hurt ego to listen. If I had been home instead of here…"
"That is not your fault!" She looked into his eyes and saw the same caring friend she always had and hugged him close laying her head on his chest.
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean for all of this to happen between us, can you ever forgive me? I just want to be friends again…"
"No…not friends…" Kurama sighed pushed her back, as she sniffled again he held up his pinky with a cheesy smile and she laughed.
"Best friends forever?"
"And ever, now go back to your seat before they call security." She smiled and turned slowly a huge weight off her shoulders.
"What so now you guys are all good again?"
"It would appear so; I cannot force her away any more than I can make her hate me it seems."
"But…you see how dangerous she is, that she can be…how the hell can you be so calm about it?!"
"Kuwabara…if you cannot love someone at their worst, then you don't deserve them at their best. This rage that she has is just a mask; a mask that she made and place on herself, to hide a scared pure hearted and fragile little girl." Kuwabara nodded in agreement as he turned back to the announcer when she started talking. Kurama looked back in the direction of his once again best friend and smiled ever so slightly. I cannot push her away any more than she can try to pull. We know each other too well; know the others motives too well. She can be so cold and yet love so deeply; to be honest I knew she would forgive me, even for this. Yes, this rage is a mask she has placed on herself; hiding a scared pure hearted fragile little girl. And that fragile little girl is the one I love.