Chapter 3 Cold Heart



"Wow! Why didn't anyone tell us that Kurama had a rose whip?" Mayline asked. "I never knew," Yuusuke said. "Wow! That's strange," Miko said. "Well, it definitely smells like roses. Oh wow!" Kuwabara yelled as Kurama used his Rose Whiplash attack. "It's over. The thorns on Kurama's whip can cut through anything, including solid stone," Hiei stated. They all watched as Kurama's whip tore through Genbu as though he were nothing but air. "How did you find me?" Genbu asked. "Your smell. After filling the room with the roses sweet aroma, your putrid odor was easy to find," Kurama said.

"Well that's no fair. Why is it that none of my battles can end that quick?" Yuusuke asked. "You fool. It only looked easy because Kurama was the one fighting. If you had fought, you would've died in under a minute," Hiei said. "There was something strange though that almost threw me off, making it a little more difficult. If you smell the air very carefully, you will smell two other aroma's as well as the roses," Kurama said. Kuwabara sniffed the air: "Hey, you're right. It smells like two different mixtures. One smells like different kinds a fruits and flowers." "The two smells are coming from them," Kurama said as he pointed to Kylie and Mayline. "That smell, Kuwabara is coming from Kylie. She owns a lot of fruits plants and flowers in our backyard," Miko said.

"Yes, I see. The other is a little more difficult. It is a mixture of ashes, blood, and pine. For a while a thought it was Hiei, but then I smelled something else that didn't quite fit Hiei. There was a small hint of strawberries in it and I soon found that it was coming from you," Kurama said, pointing to Mayline. "That would be correct. The pine is from her running through the forest time after time, the ashes are from all of the demons she's burnt to a crisp, the blood is from all of the demon blood she's gotten all over her time after time, and the strawberries are from the scent of the lotion she uses," Kylie explained. "Wow! Well we'd better get going," Yuusuke said. "I'm afraid my fight is not yet over," Kurama said. "That's right. Genbu can put himself back together no matter how many times or how small you cut him," Mayline said.

They all watched as Genbu pieced himself back together. "Disassemble me all you like; I'll still keep coming back. Actually, it makes for a very nice attack," Genbu said as he shot his body parts at Kurama. "Kurama, look out," Kylie yelled. Kurama quickly lashed at him again. "I'd like to see him put himself back together now," Yuusuke said. "Want to try again?" Genbu asked as he put himself back together again. "Ok, that was luck," Yuusuke said. Genbu shot out his body at Kurama again, who stood his ground. He then noticed a rock that gave off a strange energy signal. He waited for the next attack before reaching for it and grabbing it.

"I see my attack must have an effect on you. Your not even fighting back," Genbu said. Kurama laughed as Genbu pieced himself back together again: "Yes, I'm sure of it. Now you're laughing at nothing. Wait! How did you get on the ceiling?" Mayline, Kylie, and Miko took one look at Genbu before doubling over laughing their heads off. "What's wrong?" Genbu asked. "I've heard of breast balls before but come on," Yuusuke said between laughs. "Yeah, I'd like to see him use the toilet," Kuwabara added. "What did you do to me?" Genbu asked. "I took this," Kurama said, pulling out the stone. "What's that?" Genbu asked in shock. "I believe this is this hypothalamus portion of your brain. It regulates all the functions of the body including putting you back together," Kurama said. "Good looks, manners, politeness, and brains, all very hard to find in a guys," Kylie said. "Those may be your type of guys, but not mine. Mine are almost the total opposite," Mayline said.

"You can't do this to me! Give it back," Genbu yelled as Kurama threw it up in the air. "Give it back!" "Farwell," Kurama said as he cracked his whip and split the stone in two, causing Genbu to explode. "Oh wow! You got him," Yuusuke said. "I don't think he like that," Kuwabara said. "Nice work, Kurama," Yuusuke complimented. Kurama then fell to the floor. "Kurama are you ok?" Kylie asked. "If Kurama is injured, then we're going to have some problems," Hiei said. "I'm sorry, Yuusuke," Kurama said. "Nah, you've earned yourself a break anyway," Yuusuke stated. "Yeah, I'll take the next one," Kuwabara said. "Mayline!" They all turned to see Kylie and Miko hovering over Mayline, who was crouched on the ground shivering. "Mayline, what's wrong?" Yuusuke asked as he ran over to her. "S-so c-c-cold. I'm s- socold," Mayline said. She had her arms around herself shivering wildly. Yuusuke and the others could now clearly see her breath. "This is not suppose to happen," Kylie said. "Why not? So she's cold. So what?" Kuwabara said. "Kuwabara, she's not suppose to be cold if she's a fire demon," Miko yelled. "A fire demon!?" Kuwabara yelled. "You mean to tell me that this whole time that we've been friends, she's been a fire demon!?" Yuusuke yelled. Kylie nodded.

"Hiei, do you think you could keep her warm for now?" Kurama asked. Hiei scowled, but then he looked at the shivering girl. What is it about her that makes me urge for the chance to do it? I shouldn't find any interest in this girl, but somehow I do. Hiei went over to her and wrapped his arms around her. Her skin was like ice and her breath was freezing against him. Her shivering had stopped slightly, but she was still cold. Hiei soon felt a strange warmth inside of him that didn't come from his body heat. He shrugged it off and helped Mayline to stand. He then wrapped his cloak around the both of them and pulled her close to keep her warm. "Well, not that that's settled, let's get moving," Yuusuke said. They all headed up the stairs, with Mayline in Hiei's arms.

"Kylie, you said something about a guy named Machete. Who is that?" Kuwabara asked. "Machete is a demon who has hated Mayline ever since they split apart. Together they were the best fighting pairs around, but they were more than partner's. Machete asked her if he could claim her, but that was after she found him cheating on her with her best friend. She left the Makia and found me. Machete was so furious with her that he put the curse on her. The only thing he left her with was a riddle. We have never been able to figure it out. It says 'Light shall be concealed while darkness roams. Fight fire with fire eye to eye.' We figured out the light and dark as being her emotions, but the fire and eye part is still a mystery," Kylie said. "So basically she has a cold heart, right?" Yuusuke asked. Kurama thought about it for a moment but put it aside for now.

"Kurama, how terrible is that wound?" Yuusuke asked. "It's fine. As long as I can walk," Kurama answered. "He'll survive, but he's in no shape to fight. That means we only have five fighters left, and one of them is worthless," Hiei said. "Hey don't be so hard on yourself, short stuff, and besides, there are six fighters left. You forgot Mayline," Kuwabara said. "Maybe I'm going out on a limb here but I think he was talking about you," Yuusuke said. "Oh, really. Well maybe this'll change his mind. What do you think I've been doing these past six months? Letting you get better than me? Uh uh?" Kuwabara said as he gathered his spirit energy. "Spirit sword." The same sword Kuwabara used in Genkia's tournament appeared in his hand.

"Whoa watch it," Yuusuke said as Kuwabara pointed the sword at him. "You see. I don't need that piece of wood anymore. I bet it could knock the stuffing out of your spirit gun," Kuwabara said. "Remind me to test it," Yuusuke joked. "Well, as it turns out he's only partially worthless," Hiei said. "Alright! Wanna die?" Kuwabara yelled. "I dare you," Hiei said with a smirk. "Wait a minute Kuwabara!" Yuusuke yelled. "Yeah I know. I know. Let him live," Kuwabara said. "In any case, Mayline is way too cold to fight," Hiei said, looking down at her nearly limp form. Why do I even care about her? It's as thought I have feelings for her. What's wrong with me? His thoughts were interrupted by a loud roar. The blocks on the ceiling were starting to come loose. "It's Byoko, and he doesn't sound very pleased," Kurama said. "Let's go," Yuusuke said.



Hiei's beginning to feel something for Mayline, but he doesn't know what or even why. To find out what happens, read chapter 4, Captured.



Preview. Hiei tries to hide his feelings for Mayline, but his body begins to show them to her. As time goes on, Mayline's body becomes colder and colder. Every minute she becomes more like an ice cube. Kuwabara goes up against Byoko and things start to warm up in Byoko's lair. That's all in chapter 4.