Vertical(ly) Challenge
By Tagalog
Chapter 4: Tragicology
" Hhn. Does
she expect me to wait this long for her?" Hiei sat on the ledge, impatiently
awaiting Naomie to open the window. He had previously knocked on the frame
twice: taps that would grab the attention of a person close by without
perturbing the entire area. Hiei was prepared to leave when it was opened.
" Hey," she
yelled and whispered coincidently, " Where are you going?"
" You're too
late. Maybe you should refit and I might return in a few centuries." He climbed
back up the roof until he felt his legs receding.
" Oh no, I
want to talk." She sounded like a child: a tone that was anything but rational.
" Let go, or
I'll kick you!" She gave another resolute tug.
" Get your
butt in my room or I'll rend your pants off you!" Hiei writhed a foot free and
kicked towards Naomie. She dodged and made on decisive tug and Hiei hit the
floor. " Told you so." A small figure kneeled in front of him surveying the
damage she caused. "Ech! What happened to
your face?! Did Genki do that to you?"
" It's
nothing." Hiei sat up, covering his contusion with a fist.
" Let me see."
Naomie scampered to Hiei and tried to remove his hand.
" Go away." He
pushed her aside, " If you have nothing significant to say, then I'll depart."
" Wait!"
Hiei stopped,
but continued to face the other way. He heard Naomie standing behind him as she
released a disheartening sigh.
" Well?"
" I… I want to
know what you and Genki saw when I was reposed." Hiei had forgotten that he
received some of Naomie's thoughts during that trial.
" I can't
remember them."
" Can't you
think?!"
" Look, I
didn't come here to be criticized!"
" No, I'm
sorry, just stay and hear me out!" She grasped onto his shoulders, pulling him
closer to her wistful gaze. Hiei hadn't noticed, until now, how small and
helpless Naomie appeared. Despite his diminutive height, she was even shorter
than he; her head was barely level to his. Hiei still managed to look at Naomie
with unwavering eyes.
" You were alone
in the alley crying out for help. There's another where you're rifling through
an old house. How's that for starters?" Naomie shuddered and fell to the floor.
Her eyes were wide with remorse and her face drooped with misery.
" Hey Hiei,"
She choked, " Will you punch me in the face? Please." He was taken aback by her
request. He wasn't a doctor, but he knew when a body had reached it limits.
" No offense,
but it appears that you've had enough bruises for today anyway." She giggled.
" Just clobber
me on the nose then, just enough to cause my eyes to water. If I cry, I want to
weep over physical pain so I don't feel like a complete wuss crying over
nothing." Hiei threw back his fist and reluctantly punched Naomie's nose. She
reclined to the floor as she began to weep.
" Thanks," She
spoke between sobs, " I needed that."
" Better keep
your whimpering to a minimum. I'm sure you don't want everyone to awake and
discover how pathetic you are." Hiei listened to Naomie's groans and wasn't
sure if she was laughing or crying.
" You're right
Hiei. Go ahead and sit on the bed. I'll go and freshen up and cease my
whimpering." She pulled some garments out of her knapsack and trudge to the
bathroom.
" Stupid
human."
Hiei laid out
on the bed and unexpectedly, fell asleep. It was in his daze that Naomie's
memories raced through his mind. He heard the crying of an infant and the
corpse of a pregnant woman, motionless. A middle-aged man stood over the baby,
his face downcast and fatigued. He knelt and picked up the child and cradled
her in his arms. Hiei caught a glimpse of her back: two diagonal slashes on
each side, streaming with blood.
" Sleepin'
Beauty," Naomie lightly slapped Hiei's cheek, " Time to wake up." He focused
his eyes and saw Naomie caressing his hair.
" What the
HELL!" Hiei sat up so quickly that Naomie lost her balance and fumbled off the
mattress.
" Well, you
mustn't be that tired if you can still launch me off!" She rubbed her backside.
" Served you
right! Vulgar human!" Hiei yelled down at her.
" Did I keep
you up past your bedtime?" Hiei gave Naomie a stare that suggested an imminent
beating if she didn't quit. " Okay. I'll shut up. So why did you look so
disturbed?" She stuttered on those words as she tried not to start bawling
again.
" More of your
memories." Naomie cringed.
" Oh, I guess
I should explain what you're seeing, before you end up like me." Hiei laughed.
" Me? Like
you? He snickered coldly and briefly closed his eyelids, leaving a split-second
for Naomie to punch Hiei in the shoulder.
"BASTARD! What makes you so different from me?!" Hiei's laughter died down as he listened to Naomie's slurs. An imperious smug still spread across his face as she impassioned with her reminiscence.
" That
pregnant woman, you told me about, is my mother."
" So, who's
that clamorous child?" Naomie glared at Hiei for that crude remark.
" That
boisterous child would be me."
" I knew it.
Not much change I see. That made it easy to recognize you."
" So I assume
your nativity was just as majestic." Hiei refused to answer by looking back out
the window. Naomie took a chance and sat next to Hiei. " Why do you think I'm
so different from you?"
" What could I
possibly have in common with a human?"
" You and
Yukina." Hiei swirled around, bewildered that Naomie knew of his sister's
existence, " You and her are twins, correct?"
" How? Who?
Where did you get that information?!!!!!!" He spewed.
" Relax. A
little birdie told me."
" But what
does Yukina have to do with this conversation?"
" Well, technically,
I'm a twin too!" Naomie's mirth filled the room as Hiei's jaw dropped. " Sadly,
my twin brother was never brought into this world. My mother died giving birth
to me. So I should call myself the lucky one."
" Do you feel
lucky?"
" In a way,
but I try to enjoy myself; I try to live life for my brother."
" Touching."
Hiei stood up without the slightest sympathy for Naomie's confession.
" I think you
should enjoy life too, Hiei. Live your own life, instead of being guilty over
your birth."
" Why should I
feel guilty?"
" You searched
the Demon World for Yukina; you find her and yet you're ashamed to tell her
that you're her brother. I call that guilt."
" Shit! Who
told you all this?! Those Detectives will pay!"
" Whoa, relax.
They didn't squeal. I found that info on my own!"
" One last
question. Why was there blood gushing from your back? Were you beat?"
" Well, I…"
She searched desperately for an excuse, " Come on, haven't you been to a
delivery? There's always blood everywhere!" Hiei glared at her very un
amused.
" Look, I
know, but there were two slashes on your back. Are you suggesting that infants
are born with cuts on their skin?"
" Hiei, I'm
curious, are you a good fighter?"
" Are you that
incompetent?! I am…OOF!!!!" Naomie punched Hiei and sent him flying.
" Really? An
experienced fighter never drops his guard!" Naomie giggled and began climbing
on the outside of the building.
" YOU!!!!"
Hiei forgot about being silent as he yelled and cursed as he scaled the wall
after Naomie.
" Hey, I'm
having a total déjà vu here! Hurry up slowpoke!" Naomie continued taunting him
as she came onto the roof. Hiei soon followed with a vengeful vigor. " Ready
when you are my valiant opponent." She waved her fists rowdily and struck a
fighting pose.
" I'll make
you take back all of your wise cracks! Each one I will shove back down your
throat!" He nimbly charged at Naomie, eager to thrash and flog her senseless.
Naomie's eyes never changed as Hiei rampaged: her stare wasn't serious; it was
almost frivolous. Her eyes twinkled in delight and she bit her lip to hold back
a foolhardy giggle.
" Ha!" She
dodged Hiei's onslaught and began a flank of her own. Hiei was aware of her
attack, but didn't budge. He grabbed Naomie's fist and threw her across the
rooftop.
" Stay down,"
He yelled as she recovered, " That way I could kick you to my content and then
we can call it even!"
" You expect
me to furl and give into your demands when we've hardly fought! You sound lazy
to suggest my when I've not been hit!"
" Bring it!"
Hiei resumed attacking, but found it vain. Naomie blocked, dodged and countered
every attempt. She really wished for a distraction, but instead, received a
full-fledged brawl. As much as Hiei loathed, he admitted to himself that she
was a fair adversary and quick too.
" Well, how's
about a rest?" She attempted to hide fatigue behind her smirk, but Naomie was
obviously, breathing heavy.
" Surely
you're not satisfied with this fracas? I thought you'd enjoy beating me up just
as bad as that semi was going to."
" How generous
of you! Maybe you're not as pigheaded as you seem." He smiled at the thought of
finally releasing his anger on Naomie.
" Despite all
you've endured, you still want to be beat." He removed his cloak and prepared
another assault.
" Two can play
at that." Naomie callously stripped off her shirt and threw it aside.
" Hhn. You
certainly have crude tactics, but they won't have any affect!" He drew his
katana and charged towards the defenseless Naomie. " Don't worry, I'll mangle you
only a little more than those humans did to you!" In a quick instant, Hiei's
sword flew from his grasp and landed twenty feet yards behind him.
" No weapons
besides our own two hands!" Naomie lowered her rifle and flung it where Hiei's
sword lay. She made an onslaught towards Hiei, showing her fortitude for the
first time in her eyes, " I'll try not to screw up your face than it already
is!" She landed on top of Hiei, pinning him under her fall. He quickly regained
stability and bucked her off. He swiftly raced and reposed his katana.
" I'll be the
victor!" Naomie's courageous appear began to leave as it was replaced with
concern.
" You're too
serious about this fight." She gaped at the blind anger in Hiei's expression.
She backed away as Hiei came. "I guess you are a good fighter, but our battle
will be postponed until tomorrow." Naomie elevated her right hand and chanted a
spell as Hiei took a swung. Her opponent felt a powerful gust come forth and
was propelled backwards.
" Damn it!" Hiei recouped his balance and managed a glimpse of Naomie as she leaped off the building. " What a fool!" Hiei ran to the ledge where Naomie had plunged. The sky below was empty: a dark endless cliff with no trace of a falling figure. " Is she," Hiei frantically looked about, " No, I can feel her energy; she's alive." Hiei sheathed his katana and descended down the side of the building, only to discover a light on in his room. He prudently peeked into the window and regretfully shook his head for his stupidity. Kurama faced him smiling, respectably at the cursing fire demon.
" I know
you're a little hot head, but I do believe it's cold outside." He was enthused
with his timing to meet Hiei just before he entered. Kurama politely opened the
window and watched Hiei stumble in.
" What the
hell are you doing in my room?" Hiei moaned.
" You mean our
room. Koenma doesn't have enough space to accommodate us all, so you and I are
sharing one." Kurama spoke cheerfully as he heard faint profanity from Hiei's
covered mouth.
" Did you have fun fighting?"
" If you think
training is fun." He replied coldly.
" There were
two of you," Hiei looked up, " I sensed you both. Why were you contesting with
Naomie?"
" Naomie is
who started it." Hiei complained. Kurama laughed at his similarity to a whining
child.
" It only
matters who finished it."
" It's an
unfinished battle. She proclaimed it before she disappeared."
" Where to?"
" Who cares?"
Hiei laid down his covered sword and cloak as he wriggled under the sheets.
" I do. She's
a very important element in the future of Spirit World. It's critical that she
stays healthy and pure."
" Hhn. Tell
her that. She wouldn't take you seriously." He rolled over with his back
towards his roommate.
" Is she a
good opponent?"
" No." Hiei
lied and muffled his reply with his pillow.
" I think
she's a worthy fighter. She led us on some wild goose chase back in the Human
World. What proof do you need to recognize that she's better than you think?"
He waited for a reply, but was left speaking to himself.
" Hiei?"
Kurama got up and leaned over his teammate to discover him sound asleep. "
She's great."
A frigid wind
blew open Naomie's window. She entered somewhat gracefully and still tense from
her brawl with Hiei.
" Whoo, if I'd
known better, I'd say he wanted to kill me then and there." She panted. Naomie
grabbed her shoulder and winced.
" I hope he doesn't remember anymore memories. That last on
nearly exposed my cover, literally." She twisted her shirt she recovered and
lightly dabbed her back. " I'll never adjust to this." She touched her back
with the cotton cloth and as gingerly as she tried, she still recoiled in
agony.
Naomie
finished cleaning her back and curled into the covers. On the floor, she laid
her t-shirt that was stained with blood.
" Damn scars."
She mumbled as she fell into a deep, brief slumber.
~ End
Chapter 4: Tragicology
I hope Naomie's character profile is somewhat clear. More shocking and ironic info to come, but I hope the next chapter will lighten things up a bit.
Note: Be
prepared for references to various songs by a numerous artists. Naomie loves music J