Of Demons and Roses
Chapter 2: Nobara's Past and Present
"Kasan! Otosan! I'm home!" said Nobara as she walked in the door.
"Welcome home Nobara! Did you have a good day at school?" said Kurama, coming up to greet her.
"It was just like any other day. Nothing special," Nobara answered in a distant tone. Just as she said that, a chill ran down her spine. Nobara felt the same feeling that she had felt that morning; like someone was watching her.
Nobara was always able to sense when someone was coming before she could see who it was. Sometimes, she could even guess who it was! This mostly happened with either her parents or Yusuke. Nobara always laughed at that one memory of when she was a little girl...
Nobara was about 6 years old at the time. She was sitting in the middle of a closed room, having tea with Hiei and her stuffed animals. She had her hair tired up in two high pigtails. All of a sudden, she stopped and looked up. There was no sudden sound or anything like that. Hiei knew what it was, but just stared blankly downwards. After a few moments of silence, Nobara turned to the door and said "Yuuske's coming." Just as she said that, Yuuske walked in the door.
"Yuuske Oni-chan!!" shouted Nobara in delight as she ran up to hug him. Yuuske and Nobara have always gotten along well, and she started calling him Oni-chan because she always felt like he was her big brother.
"Come have tea with us Oni-chan!" said Nobara, leading him to an empty spot at the little table.
"I guess I have no choice!" said Yuuske as he sat down.
Nobara smiled thinking about that. Somehow, she is able to remember more than the normal person can. To her, it was almost as if it happened yesterday. As if her life had only just recently begun.
"Something wrong Nobara?" Kurama asked in a motherly tone.
"No. I guess I'm just a little tired. I'm gonna go to my room," answered Nobara.
"Ok."
As soon as Nobara was out of sight, Hiei appeared from the shadows. He and Kurama could both sense that Nobara's demon characteristics were starting to show again. This happened when she was younger, but this time, it seems stronger.
"Kurama, you and I both know we can't hide the truth much longer," said Hiei, breaking the silence.
"I know that, Hiei. I just wanted our daughter to have a normal childhood," Kurama thought out loud.
"You feel it too, don't you Kurama?" asked Hiei in a serious tone.
"Yes," said Kurama under his breath. "I feel a great darkness. Anger. Hunger."
"Nobara feels it too. She tries to hide it, but I can sense it in her. I know you can too. Either we have to tell her that's she's a demon, or she'll figure it out on her own," Hiei said boldly.
"I know that, Hiei. The problem is that we don't know what her true demon form is. Is she a pure youko, a fire demon, or a mix? But I guess we won't know that until she changes herself into her full demon form," Kurama said.
"Kasan, can Niji sleep over tomorrow night?" Nobara asked as she came down the stairs in black pants and a white shirt.
"Sure Nobara! That's ok with me," said Kurama smiling, acting as if the previous conversation never took place.
"Arigato Kasan!" Nobara said as she hugged Kurama. She then went upstairs to tell give Niji the ok.
//She looks so much like him.// Hiei thought to himself. He pulled his usual stunt of disappearing into the shadows and then he had to smile.
//I'll protect them both. They are my family...my life.//