* Hey, give me a break! Teenagers have their cravings. Sorry to those people who enjoyed the last two chappies – there won't be anything related to the 7th and 8th chp (like love-making and whatnot) from now on.
*I'm going to resume where we left off: I think it was around chapter 5. Oh well… ah, here it goes… I'll probably be going REALLY fast because I don't feel like boring details. If I go too quickly and you're confused, yet again, tell me and I'll rewrite it or slow down the next chappie.
* Oh, another thingy- I don't know anything about the Koorime except that it's cold. So, yet again, I'm making this up!
Vertically Challenged
Chapter Nine: Novel Undertaking
By Tagalog
" Come on you two! Get up! You've been asleep for a few days now! Surely that fight didn't take up that much energy!" Genki retrieved Naomie and Hiei from their OWN dorms and hurriedly shoved them down the hall and into Koenma's room.
" Why do we have to get up?" Naomie rubbed her eyelids and brushed her hands through her frizzy hair. They stood in front of the monarch looking dazed and confused. She turned her head and gave the physic a malicious glower.
" Quit complaining!" Genki slapped her over the head. " Hiei knows better than to protest! Why don't you get it?" Naomie turned around and yawned, not even responsive to the strike she'd received.
" *YAWN*… well maybe because Hiei's asleep. You can't whine when you're snoozing." Genki's face turned red and she stood in front of Hiei. The fire demon was fast asleep on his feet with his head partially cocked to the side.
-SMACK-
" Dammit you stupid hag!" Hiei cursed at her as they seated themselves, among their other comrades, in view of Koenma from his desk.
" Please keep the ruckus to a minimum. I only desire to explain your mission once." Koenma grabbed the remote and reclined in his chair. "These are slides are taken to assist you when you arrive in the Makai." He clicked the remote as his detached audience (Hiei, Naomie, Genki, Kuwabara, Kurama and Yusuke) watched.
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Hiei's POV~
I felt so tired. I hadn't been drinking again, but my body suffered so form of weariness from the past nights. Maybe it was when Naomie and I were together that evening. That was a strong possibility. Naomie looked even more stressed than I though. She wouldn't explain how we arrived back at Spirit World, after I was asleep, but somehow I know Kurama was implicated in the orchestration. I'll have to have a word with him later.
The new mission sounds promising. There are plenty of demon warriors to encounter on the way. I'm fervent for this mission, for once. I know that district: it's the same one Yukina grew up in. I secretly hope she wouldn't be there. Kuwabara will probably try and flirt with her again. I'll have to warn him later not to interact unless he desires death. But I also am bothered by why Koenma chose the Koorime locality. It doesn't sound like a mission: we have to travel to the Koorime and they provide the details on the ordeal. Odd.
Everyone seems to be spacing the procedure of the new assignment. Except for Naomie. Her eyes are set on the screen. My eyes must be playing tricks on me, is Naomie crying? I see the blue tinted drops on her face, the same I noticed the other night. What? Why is she crying? Some demon she is.
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3rd Person POV~
" Well that was the most boring presentation I've ever had to stomach." Yusuke announced as he intruded into Kurama and Hiei's room. Kuwabara soon followed to complete the team's presence.
" Well that mission sounds fun. Heh, do you think Yukina will be there?" The teen spun circles thinking of his true love. Hiei sat in the corner trying not to illustrate any death glares.
" Is that all you think about Kuwabara?" Yusuke teased as he sat on the floor.
" It must be. His mind can only hold so much, you know?"
" You starting that again, punk!" Kuwabara turned around to his teammate in the corner. " I'm not in the mood for this right now Hiei, so if you want a piece of me, come and get some!" Hiei glared at him before smacking the giant in the face.
" I don't know what the hell your problem is, but I didn't say anything, you ignorant fool!" Hiei scooted further away and sat on the windowsill.
" But I don't understand. If Shorty didn't make that comment, then who did?" He turned around and was face to face with Naomie.
" I did."
" Bu- ! Wha-! HEY! Why did you say that? Do you want a piece of me too, Short Stuff? Maybe I should call you Shorty instead, now that you're the shortest member on the team!" She shook her head and sauntered out the door.
" I'll be ready in five minutes. When are we starting the mission Yusuke?" The Spirit Detective pulled out his fingers and began to count.
" Let's see, how bout one hour?" His apprentice looked unresponsive.
" Sounds fine. I'll meet you boys in Koenma's office."
" See ya, Naomie. I better get some supplies also." Yusuke resumed standing and trotted out the door. " You too Kuwabara, it's going to be cold out there."
"Wow, I've never seen her so serious before! Wonder what's eating her?" The two friends dragged themselves out of the room and off to theirs. Kurama and Hiei were left alone in their room, already prepared for their approaching assignment.
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" So, dead tired again, are we?" Kurama smiled as Hiei tried to look alone as he stared out the glass.
" Leave me alone."
" With Naomie again were we? I think you two have had an adequate amount of each other." Kurama smirked, but dropped his expression when Hiei came to his side and grabbed his demon friend by the collar.
" If you ever hint or discuss that matter at anytime, you know I'll have to kill you."
" Don't be kidding Hiei." Kurama waved. " I would never, but I want some details as to what you did with her." He smiled deviously, trying to force Hiei to escape his mask once more.
" It was fine." He grumbled.
" FINE? All you can say is fine?!" Hiei blushed slightly as Kurama wandered around in exasperation. " You were asleep for a few days all because of a one night stand and all you can say to sum up your incident, is that it was fine!" Hiei shoved his demon friend to the bed and covered his mouth securely.
" Kurama, I'll smother you in the pillows if you make another remark relating to Naomie and I." He released and exposed a smiling Kurama. "What's so amusing?!"
" Your face is as red as my hair Hiei. I won't say another word." The fox retired from the room and left a stunned Hiei unaccompanied. He stared estranged out of the glass before grabbing his weapon and proceeding after Kurama.
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" Ready, set, let's go!" A merry Botan transported the gang to the Makai. Eager and excited faces filled the group except for Naomie. She was quite during the transportation and refused to speak a word to even Hiei.
(Maybe she does believe that evening we shared to be a one nighter.) Hiei thought uneasily while biting his lower lip, being cautious not to allow his expressions to falter. Kurama kept him in view the entire time and shot looks of concern to both of the lovers.
(We don't need this now you two;) Kurama thought, (we need to be even more cooperative in this mission than the last.)
" Have a wonderful time boys!" Botan waved joyfully. " Oh, and of course, how could I forget? You keep an eye on these rambunctious teenagers, Naomie." With a flick, her oar it appeared and she flew away into the blood-red sky. Yusuke yawned.
" So what's our mission again?" The demon posse shook their heads in unison as they listened to their team leader.
" We're supposed to start by making our way to the outskirts of the Koorime. After we've accomplished that, we must find refuge in a Koorime household. Maybe Yukina could possibly accept our company." Kurama elucidated softly.
"YEAH!" "NO!"
Two noisy responses were emitted from the group and now a human redhead and a hotheaded demon were in a face off.
" Hey, why can't we go see Yukina?" Kuwabara pleaded. " I know she'll allow us to stay."
" And did you ever think maybe we'd be imposing if we were to reside there? No, of course not, because you were thinking of yourself first!"
" I was not! And what would an egotistic demon know about self-sacrifice? Besides, I was thinking of Yukina first." He fell to his knees and went teary eyed. " She must miss me…" Hiei turned away in disgust.
" Bullshit!"
" Hey Shorty, I think you're just jealous of me!"
" Jealous? Why would I be jealous of a incompetent human like you?"
" Because I have a beautiful girlfriend and you don't even have a sweetheart! I bet you were dieing to get Yukina as your girlfriend, but I got to her first, so now you can't have her!" Kuwabara folded his arms in triumph. Hiei's face was covered with mixed emotions of hatred, stress and embarrassment, but he managed a response.
" Like I said before, bullshit!"
They continued to fight hysterically each comment more out of place than the previous. Naomie continued to detach herself from the group, but flashed smirks at Hiei every now and again.
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" Come along you two! I don't want this mission to end up like the last ones." Yusuke trotted as he instructed his teammates.
" Needn't worry Yusuke. The outskirts of Koorime approaches."
" That's a relief. I thought we'd never hear the end to Kuwabara's complaining."
" Shut up! It's not my fault it's cold! At least I'm normal enough to be affected by the all this snow and ice! Stupid demon." They continued to bicker as they drew nearer to the outside barriers.
" Well Koenma didn't mention this." The gang tilted their heads upwards and traced the looming peaks that extended into the heavens. " How the hell are we supposed to climb that?"
" They're mountains all right, but they seem to also be glossed with ice. Not a very fun climb if you were attempting to scale this summit." Kurama examined.
" Yeah, but they won't be as fun as hammering a bunch of lowlife demons."
" You don't need to fret Spirit Detectives," A familiar voice floated on the frigid air. " The Koorime will show you our hospitality." An amiable ice apparition greeted them before they tried to ascend the mountains.
" YUKINA!" Kuwabara rushed to her side and immediately began flexing his muscles. She, as usual, laughed and misread his manliness for humor.
" What a fool." Hiei began to proceed but was halted by Yukina.
" I apologize, but our village will offer hospitality to everyone but a few of you." She remarked sadly.
" But, Yukina, why can't they support all of us?" She shook her head in dismay.
" I've been told that some of you may not enter the village unless they take a challenge of honesty and sincerity." They appeared shocked and shaken by her explanation.
" A challenge? Who will take it and what for?"
(Yes, what trial? I guess they haven't forgiven me for being a fire demon born from an ice demon's womb.) Hiei thought undoubtedly. He stood erect and turned towards his sister.
" What must I do?" Everyone turned around stunned and looked at the willing demon. Naomie's face went awry as she listened to Hiei accept the challenge.
" This must be the mission." Kurama whispered to himself silently.
" Why Yukina? What does this have to do with the mission?"
" I honestly don't know Kazuma. Our elders didn't give an understandable explanation. I'm just doing what I've been told to do."
" I didn't do anything! Don't make me climb that awful wall!" Yusuke began to grovel and was interrupted by Yukina's giggling.
" Don't worry yourself Yusuke. I was told that the humans are allowed into the Koorime without having to scale the fortress. The demons, however, must be interrogated by the elders." She turned towards Hiei and Kurama. " You'll have to wait out here. I apologize."
" It isn't your fault Yukina. I'm sure if you had the authority to prevent this puzzlement, you would have." Hiei sighed and watched as Yukina bowed in front of him.
" Thank you Hiei." She walked away leaving the two in the snow.
" Well, it sucks to be them. They can handle a climb though." Yusuke smirked. " Hey, what's Naomie doing back there?" The Spirit Detective turned around and stared at the impassive apprentice.
" I wonder if…" Yukina bit her lip and continued into the heart of the village. " Just leave her be. I think she knows what she's doing."
" Yeah, like she knew what she was doing when we went to the dance club." Yusuke huffed. " Oh well." The last words were echoed as Yukina, Kuwabara and Yusuke disappeared behind the fortress.
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" Well what do you suppose of this test?" Kurama inquired.
" Suppose? I presume I'll have to climb wretched wall. I don't see why though. "
" So, do you think this has anything to do with your past relations with the Koorimes?"
" That's what I first thought. I guess they keep grudges."
" Better cease the chit-chat, the elders are approaching." They were draped in kimonos very similar to Yukina's, but consisting of more elegance. The trio of fighters gaped at the sophistication of the group approaching them. Hiei began feeling a tug in his inner mind as images of his past flooded his thoughts. He had to sit as the reflections raced.
To his astonishment, more, foreign, memories prodded. He saw, again, the little baby with the scars on her back with a mourning parent at her side. Another flash and he was retrieving the sensation of flying overtop the Koorime. It was still a dream. The village appeared more defenseless than it did now. He realized he was in the middle of a horrendous attack from the sky. The few trees that lined the district were ripped from the winds and used as projectiles. Hiei felt sick at the thought of what it must have felt like. The flying brigade departed a vandalized Koorime and soon the images returned to flickers.
Once Hiei regained control, he rose to face the elders in front of him. He tried his best not to give them a cold stare, so he diverted his glance toward Naomie who was behind the cluster of ice apparitions. Her face appeared distressed and he could see her fighting back tears of rage. Unexpectedly, she glanced back.
(What did you just see, Hiei?) Her thoughts reached into his mind. He countered with an enraged glare.
(What the hell are you doing here?! Get back into the fortress with Yusuke and the others!)
(You can't force me!)
" Pardon to interrupt your staring contest children, but I require your attention." The leader female interjected their mental conversation. Hiei and Naomie broke off their squabble, both remotely embarrassed by being caught.
" We apologize."
" Thanks for the apology Kurama, but you had no involvement in any of this. You needn't fret. You don't have to scale the wall."
" But-"
" Go into the fortress, we'll have a word with your teammates." She assured him and even went so far as to assign him a pair of apparitions to escort him to the Koorime village. After the fox was gone, their leader turned towards Hiei and then shot Naomie a glance. " Strange."
" What's so strange mistress?"
" This is Hiei. The child who was cast out of the Koorime when born by one of our own." She whispered quietly so Naomie couldn't hear the discussion. Hiei tried to elude her eccentric gaze, but was unable to escape. She smiled callously and glided over to Naomie. She sat gaping at the Koorime with a look of almost disgust boiling in her eyes. The mistress spoke a few words, which calmed her down some. Next, the apparition placed a hand on Naomie's back and began to press gently. Her face was stone solid, but Hiei could sense great pain was being relapsed within her. After a minute or so, they stood and embraced.
" What was that for?" Hiei questioned. Naomie looked up to face the demon's eyes as she approached him. The elders were retreating back to the fortress leaving Hiei and Naomie outside.
" She explained our mission to me."
" Our mission? I thought I was on this alone."
" Not this time."
" What must we do?"
" Climb it before sundown."
" Why is this a challenge? What are they trying to make us prove?"
"I don't know myself Hiei, but let us begin."
" What was with her placing her energy into your back and the long hug?" Naomie avoided an answer.
"Why? Are you jealous Hiei?" Her charm and flirtatious attitude began to resurface, to Hiei's dismay.
" No."
" Good. Let's begin our vertical challenge!" She chirped.
" Are you trying to poke fun about my height?" Hiei grumbled.
" Why would I? It's not like I'm any taller." He shook his head at her and she smiled warmly. " Come on Shorty, let's climb!" She grabbed him by the collar and ran towards the facade of the barrier.
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" What is this thingy for?" Yusuke looked at the blue screen and prepared to kick it. " Don't worry, I'll get this to operate!"
" No need." Yukina stepped forward and chanted a spell. " Now it's on. You have these in the human world, but this is television powered by spirit energy."
" Yeah, but I'll feel guilty watching Saturday morning cartoons when my teammates are breaking their backs climb up a mountain."
The screen altered from blue and fizzed to spots of color; the picture appeared and revealed Hiei and Naomie at the base of the peak.
" Hey, Urameshi! Where's Kurama?" Kuwabara jolted his head from side to side trying to see if the demon was in the screen.
" I'm present." A soft voice came from behind them and Kurama entered followed by a group of the apparitions.
" But why Hiei and Naomie?" The remaining team questioned the apparitions. They shook their heads and pointed to the screen.
" Watch and we shall learn what we want to know." The gang stared up at the large monitor and tensed as the partners grasped on the first ledge.
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" Ah! It's sharp!" Hiei held his fists, which began to ooze the deepest blood.
" And slippery!" His associate cried as she rubbed her backside. " Better be more careful, I wouldn't want to slip when I'm higher than a foot off the ground." She glanced at Hiei. " What are you doing?"
" I'm going to scale this mass, and prove to these demons what they want." He tore a previous bandage and wrapped it around his bleeding hand; he rose up and began to climb slowly. Naomie followed with even less success: she slipped and fell and bruised her body like a banana, but managed to keep up with the fire demon.
" You think the reason we have to go through this ordeal was created by your birth!" She hollered. Hiei halted his movements and glanced downward at Naomie.
" I don't see any other purpose for me having to climb this heap! What about you? Why are you here!" His contradicting questioned almost caused her to lose balance.
" I have my reasons." She replied almost as an aside. Hiei didn't persist and resumed his ascend. She followed him. They were both unaware that they were being under surveillance and soon their feelings for each other would be revealed to their oblivious teammates.
* GAH! That went a little long. This story is almost over and you can bet your buttons, there will be a sequel. Hopefully one more organized and laid out that this was! Honestly, I'm not happy how this turned out so I'm eager to publish a follow-up with a better plot, but don't get too excited, I have many other fics I have to manage and update first. I remember reading that the Koorime was a floating ice island. Oh well, in this story it isn't… flames? Suggestions? I'm open to all…