hey...before I begin, I'd like to thank my reviewers...it's nice to know
you like my work enough to comment on it so positively...thanks.
Chapter 12: A Ray of Hope
Kurama's sharp, furious eyes cast themselves straight ahead, into the dark of night. The fox shifted in a quivering, weighed sigh, and he set off into a slow stride.
"Kistune?" Hiei eyed the fox curiously.
"I'm going to seek Hinegeshi." Kurama's tone half-hissed. All three of his companions stole a sharp breath, Hiei less than the two humans...the fire demon cast his eyes downward, a slight red staining the slope of his nose and an awkward/fake-angry expression staining his face.
"But," Kuwabara stuttered. "We haven't even spoken to her since the whole thing with Yakumo!"
"I know," Kurama's usually calm tone breathed softly.
"What's the point in going to her temple?!" Yusuke clenched his fists angrily at the retreating fox. "We'd be better off trying to find this guy on our own!"
"Koenma knows nothing of my Yoko father," Kurama cast his head downwards. "Maybe Hinegeshi does."
"What?!" Kuwabara wailed. "how can she know something that Koenma doesn't?!"
"She may...remember, she is an intelligent ferry girl," the fox breathed calmly.
"That doesn't make sense, Kurama..." Yusuke kicked himself up from his hip on the ground. "If Koenma doesn't know anything, she wouldn't...we'd be better off following where he went!"
"Be quiet!" Hiei growled, the two boys jerking in surprise. "If Red has a reason to sacrifice precious time to see this other ferry girl, then I will abide by his judgement, trusting he knows what he's doing...he usually does." with that last seething remark, and after a brief pause looming between the three, the fire demon grunted his trademark 'hn' and slowly set off after the fox, Yusuke and Kuwabara doing likewise.
%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%
"Hinegeshi?" Kurama knocked softly against the entrance of the small temple. His companions stood leisurely behind, awaiting for the ferry girl...it had been about a year since they've seen her...they each, to some extent, wanted to see how much the girl had changed.
"Hello?" a spirited voice piped from behind the door. As the wood panel slid towards one end, all four boys gaped.
There stood Hinegeshi...but man had she changed...her scarlet locks tumbled straight down her back, tucked in a loose braid at the end. She had...grown...so to speak...Hiei noticed in particular...that is, until the fire demon jerked to reality and his thoughts immediately traced the issue at hand, a faint crimson tinting his cheeks. She wasn't any taller than a year prior...but man did she look older...in a good way, of course.
"Hinegeshi," Kurama smiled softly.
"Oh! Kurama!" she squealed happily, coiling her arms about the fox's neck in a tight hug. From the corner of her crystal-blue eyes, she caught a glimpse of Kurama's companions.
"Yusuke! Kuwabara!" she bounced towards the two, dragging them both into a one-armed hug on either side. With a flick of her head, she noticed the dragon demon, who seemed in awkward disposition.
"Hiei!" she giggled, wrapping her arms tightly about his neck and shoulders. Hiei's eyes bugged wide, his cheeks singeing a mad crimson, his trademark grunt sounding from the depths of his throat shakily. Kurama smirked faintly...'ah yes,' the fox thought slyly to himself. 'I forgot...Hiei once told me that he was somewhat smitten by her...not that he would ever admit it to her or anyone else, of course...' the fox's smile dimmed slightly. 'suppose he never told her his feelings because of my father? Most likely...just as he never told Yukina he was her brother...to keep them safe. From my demon father.'
Hiei cleared his throat loudly, his Adam's apple quivering slightly. Yusuke and Kuwabara eyed the demon curiously, whereas Kurama yet again smirked to himself and kept the secret under wraps. Hinegeshi slowly slipped from her hug abut the fire demon's neck, flashing him a sweet grin and skipping back towards the temple door, Hiei blushing awkwardly.
"What brings you all here?" Hinegeshi grinned happily at the fox.
"I'm afraid, that it's an emergency, Hinegeshi," Kurama's eyes sharpened from their happy, velvety emerald to serious, stark green.
"What's going on?" the ferry girl tipped her head slightly, a stern expression plastered about her pretty face...Hiei nearly died at the sight of her face.
"May we come inside?" the fox inquired politely, a hopeful, calm behavior about his character.
"Certainly," Hinegeshi smiled softly, a hint of stern realization tinting her eyes.
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"So wait wait WAIT," Hinegeshi laced her fingers into her hair in thought, her eyes shut tight and a sigh shifting her torso slightly. The group was nestled comfortably in a circle in her temple dojo, the boys having just explained the situation to her. "Lemme get this straight..." she pointed directly to the fox. "This guy is your biological demon father...and he's trying to kill you because you became human and stayed human..."
Kurama responded with a quick nod. Her hand slit the air as her point aimed for Hiei. "...and he hates you because YOUR father betrayed him by mating with the Ice Demoness he loved and having you as a result..."
Hiei grunted softly, a faint nod shifting his head. Hinegeshi's pointing finger dropped neatly to her lap as she eyed the two. "...and with all the history you both have with this guy you don't know his NAME?!" Yusuke snickered, Kuwabara remained in silent contemplation.
"Hey!" Hiei grunted. "The last time I saw the guy before I had to leave my clan, I was only three in human years...and considering how old I am NOW in human years, it was a LONG time ago...so, naturally I forgot his name."
"And when I became human, most of my Yoko memories were lost to me," Kurama added calmly.
"Okay, then I suppose that makes sense..." Hinegeshi craddled her chin in thought. "But...Hiei, if you never told Yukina you were her brother..." as the ferry girl's words leaked from her lips, Kuwabara pricked tensely, having just found out the true relationship between his Yukina and the cocky fire demon Hiei. Hinegeshi continued. "...because you knew this guy would take her away if anyone but yourself knew, then, wouldn't you have remembered his name? Making it a constant way of life to keep your feelings and weaknesses to yourself because of him?"
"You see, because it was a way of life, ningen," Hiei sighed deeply. "I got so used to it that for a while I forgot why I did it. But then, of course, when he attacked Botan and Keiko just several nights ago on the fire escape, I got a glimpse of him...and the memory of his voice and personality came back to me...but not his name."
"I see," Hinegeshi gently tucked her hand down the collar of her shirt. Kurama and Hiei both twinged in blushes, casting their eyes away. Yusuke awaited what he figured to be her demon handbook to be drawn from her pocket. Kuwabara was lost in himself, locking his thoughts upon his beloved Yukina and ignoring the entire conversation. 'I can't believe it...' Kuwabara thought to himself. 'Hiei is Yukina's...brother?!'
"Ah..." she cooed softly to herself as she drew her little handbook from the pocket stitched on the underside of her temple garments. It pages yellowed and cracked on the edge, with bright paintings spanning every other page and delicate legends in black calligraphy scribbled neatly entirely throughout the confines of the little book. She hummed lightly to herself as each page flipped before her eyes, until she caught the sight of the one fable she sought.
"Here we go!" she giggled. "According to this section all about the demon legend, Yoko of Thieves," she eyed Kurama slyly. "it gives only a slight reference to your original demon parents."
"Indeed?" the fox pricked slightly.
"Um-hm," she nodded with her signature response. "It says here that your mother was the Fox Demonness Jiaanti..."
Kurama's eyes softened. 'my demon mother,' he thought. 'she was second choice to him...I feel so much pity for her, as I would my human mother...because this beast couldn't have the Ice Demonness he eyed, he only had Jiaanti as second choice...my poor demon mother.'
"...and your father," Hinegeshi continued, her crystal eyes squinted for a split second, and flashed wide. "he was a Wolf Demon...and it doesn't say his name."
"Figures," Yusuke drew back in annoyance, threading his arms tightly about his chest. "Not only are we oblivious to the guy's name, so's this book..."
"Of course!" Hiei whispered to himself faintly, but Yusuke's ears caught this.
"What do you mean?" the Detective inquired suspiciously.
"I mean, that's why Kitsune's father has such speed...he was a Wolf Demon...they're the only demon breed that can outrun me..."
"What?!" Kuwabara suddenly sparked from his inner conflict. "He can outrun YOU?! We are so screwed..." he finished in a whimper, thinking solely upon his poor Yukina.
"Perhaps not..." Kurama fixed his emerald eyes straight ahead in deep thought. "If he is indeed my father...that would only make me half-fox, correct?"
"Yeah, so?" Kuwabara murmured in depression.
"That would also make me half-wolf, Kuwabara."
Kuwabara pricked wide eyes, as did Yusuke. Hinegeshi cooed a soft sigh and tucked her booklet neatly into it's pocket again, Hiei smirking deviously at his fox friend.
"Indeed, demi-Kistune..." the fire demon smirked. "You are demi- wolf...and with the cunning of your mother, you may just be able to stand up to your father."
"Indeed," Kurama's sharp emerald eyes softened closed as he kicked himself up into a stand. "Hinegeshi," the fox breathed calmly over his shoulder, the ferry girl calmly jerking to attention. "Does it say anything in there of his lair at the time of my thieving days?"
"What?!" Yusuke seethed. "Kurama, that was recorded, like, two- hundred years ago! Even if it DID say what his lair was at the time, what makes you think it'll still be his lair today?!"
"Obviously, Detective, you misunderstand," Hiei smirked.
"Misunderstand what?" Yusuke drew back in curiosity.
"A wolf demon's lair stays the same throughout his entire lifetime, even if it's threatened with destruction. Wolf demons stay supremely loyal to their homes...if the lair is listed there, most likely it's the same as it was even two-hundred years ago...Kurama knew this, and he wishes to know so he'll at least have a destination to try."
"Hmm..." Hinegeshi dragged the booklet from the inner pocket of her kimono, flipping through it's vivid pages and landing upon the section based upon Yoko of Thieves. Scrolling her finger and in turn her eyes down the lines of calligraphy, she caught a glimpse of an intriguing line. "Ah!" she giggled. "Here we go...this may help, Kurama...."
"I'm listening," the fox turned towards her slowly, casting soft eyes and a faint smile towards the ferry girl.
"Here we go," she smiled. "Quote: 'When Yoko Kurama was born the only pup to the widely-known Fox Demonness Jiaanti and the mystery Wolf Demon father, they were recorded to have resided in the Kyorgin Caves of Mount Shiverku.'"
"Mount Shiverku..." Kurama whispered faintly to himself, a vague Yoko memory tingling his senses. "I...I think, I think I remember..."
"Then let's go!" Yusuke kicked up, a happy glare about his face. "If a Wolf Demon lives in one place his entire life, then he must still live there...and maybe the girls are there!"
"Yukina!" Kuwabara wailed dramatically as he rushed swiftly from the dojo for the cool night air of summer midnight outside.
"Wait up, Kuwabara!" Yusuke hollored after his friend as he sped from the scene.
"Yukina..." Hiei whispered faintly to himself, a heavy weight about his heart. 'I will save you, sister.'
Kurama cast a kind smile towards the red-headed ferry girl. "Thank you, Hinegeshi," he coiled an arm about her shoulders and hugged her loosely.
"Well, what are you waiting for?!" the girl piped cherrily at the fox. "go save the girls!"
"Right," he smiled. "Thanks again, Hinegeshi." the fox jogged from the dark dojo, sprinting through the temple yard and following after the Detective and the love-struck Kuwabara.
Hinegeshi smiled faintly after Kurama's fading form, slowly turning around. She knocked softly against Hiei, who had been making his way towards the door after the others but was now caught in an overwhelmingly awkward situation.
"Oh, Hiei," she smiled, the demon coughing slightly. He had been smitten by her the instant he had pinned her to the ground to save her from a huge blast fired at him that year ago, during the Yakumo struggle...and yet he hadn't told her his feelings...because of the Wolf stalking them.
"Uh...thank you, Hinegeshi," his cheeks dusted red as he thanked the girl for her assistance. The ferry girl tipped her head perkilly towards the side, a soft smile staining her lips.
"No problem, Hiei."
In a lacing silence, the two having been standing just inches apart, the demon's heart twinged hard...how he wanted to tell Hinegeshi how he felt...but, after a life-time of hiding his feelings and supressing his emotions, how the hell was he supposed to tell her?!
"Uh...Hinegeshi..." his face stung and burned in a faint crimson, a dizziness threatening to swell over him.
"Yes, Hiei?"
More silence...the demon felt as if his head would split from the agony of this...he couldn't stand it...just looking at her lovely little face, directly parallel to his in height, he felt as if his chest would explode and his face would singe itself right off. Finally, in one impulsive move, the demon dug his lips into hers, the girl's face flashing expressions of shock, confusion, and melting straight into calm serenity in seconds. Hiei quickly forced away, his form melting into nothingness against the air and leaving behind a smitten, confused, but happy Hinegeshi to sort out the second's passing occurrance.
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Anemone: hey there...sorry about the late update, but the week has been and will be chaotic, and I might not be able to update as often as you're all used to...but hey, on a lighter note, now Hiei ain't a bachelor...
Hiei: *blushing* Hinegeshi?! You, you set me up with, Hinegeshi?!
Kurama: I think it's sweet!
Anemone: yeah...and, since I like Kurama more than you, I'm gonna listen to him...besides, I think you like her in reality...*Hiei blushes angrily and shuts up* anywho, please review...latr.
Hiei: *mumbling...lying* I don't like her...
Kurama: but, if you don't like her...then why on the trip we took to Vegas with Anemone, Mirai Trunks, Kagome, Inuyasha, Sango, Miroku and Botan *dreamy look as he says "Botan", jerks back to reality*, you got all drunk you told me you were falling in love with her and you got so depressed you nearly killed the bartender until Inuyasha knocked you out with the hilt of the Tetsuiga?
Hiei: *really red, pissed off, remembering that incident well* KURAMA!! I told you NEVER to speak of my drunken antics EVER again!!
Kurama: oops...
Anemone: THAT'S what happened?! You told me a bunch of demons broke into the casino and you guys all had to fight them off!!
Kurama: *shifty eyes* err...
Anemone: and you got Miroku and Mirai Trunks in on it too, didn't you?!
Kurama: uhh...
Hiei: dammit! Now the ningen knows! Way to go, Kitsune...
Kurama: *shifty eyes* heh...er...please review, patient readers...er...I must go...uh...meet Botan...somewhere...*brief pause, he rushes away*
Hiei: *really mad, embarrassed, and still blushing* hn...
Anemone: just, review...please...thanks.
Chapter 12: A Ray of Hope
Kurama's sharp, furious eyes cast themselves straight ahead, into the dark of night. The fox shifted in a quivering, weighed sigh, and he set off into a slow stride.
"Kistune?" Hiei eyed the fox curiously.
"I'm going to seek Hinegeshi." Kurama's tone half-hissed. All three of his companions stole a sharp breath, Hiei less than the two humans...the fire demon cast his eyes downward, a slight red staining the slope of his nose and an awkward/fake-angry expression staining his face.
"But," Kuwabara stuttered. "We haven't even spoken to her since the whole thing with Yakumo!"
"I know," Kurama's usually calm tone breathed softly.
"What's the point in going to her temple?!" Yusuke clenched his fists angrily at the retreating fox. "We'd be better off trying to find this guy on our own!"
"Koenma knows nothing of my Yoko father," Kurama cast his head downwards. "Maybe Hinegeshi does."
"What?!" Kuwabara wailed. "how can she know something that Koenma doesn't?!"
"She may...remember, she is an intelligent ferry girl," the fox breathed calmly.
"That doesn't make sense, Kurama..." Yusuke kicked himself up from his hip on the ground. "If Koenma doesn't know anything, she wouldn't...we'd be better off following where he went!"
"Be quiet!" Hiei growled, the two boys jerking in surprise. "If Red has a reason to sacrifice precious time to see this other ferry girl, then I will abide by his judgement, trusting he knows what he's doing...he usually does." with that last seething remark, and after a brief pause looming between the three, the fire demon grunted his trademark 'hn' and slowly set off after the fox, Yusuke and Kuwabara doing likewise.
%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%
"Hinegeshi?" Kurama knocked softly against the entrance of the small temple. His companions stood leisurely behind, awaiting for the ferry girl...it had been about a year since they've seen her...they each, to some extent, wanted to see how much the girl had changed.
"Hello?" a spirited voice piped from behind the door. As the wood panel slid towards one end, all four boys gaped.
There stood Hinegeshi...but man had she changed...her scarlet locks tumbled straight down her back, tucked in a loose braid at the end. She had...grown...so to speak...Hiei noticed in particular...that is, until the fire demon jerked to reality and his thoughts immediately traced the issue at hand, a faint crimson tinting his cheeks. She wasn't any taller than a year prior...but man did she look older...in a good way, of course.
"Hinegeshi," Kurama smiled softly.
"Oh! Kurama!" she squealed happily, coiling her arms about the fox's neck in a tight hug. From the corner of her crystal-blue eyes, she caught a glimpse of Kurama's companions.
"Yusuke! Kuwabara!" she bounced towards the two, dragging them both into a one-armed hug on either side. With a flick of her head, she noticed the dragon demon, who seemed in awkward disposition.
"Hiei!" she giggled, wrapping her arms tightly about his neck and shoulders. Hiei's eyes bugged wide, his cheeks singeing a mad crimson, his trademark grunt sounding from the depths of his throat shakily. Kurama smirked faintly...'ah yes,' the fox thought slyly to himself. 'I forgot...Hiei once told me that he was somewhat smitten by her...not that he would ever admit it to her or anyone else, of course...' the fox's smile dimmed slightly. 'suppose he never told her his feelings because of my father? Most likely...just as he never told Yukina he was her brother...to keep them safe. From my demon father.'
Hiei cleared his throat loudly, his Adam's apple quivering slightly. Yusuke and Kuwabara eyed the demon curiously, whereas Kurama yet again smirked to himself and kept the secret under wraps. Hinegeshi slowly slipped from her hug abut the fire demon's neck, flashing him a sweet grin and skipping back towards the temple door, Hiei blushing awkwardly.
"What brings you all here?" Hinegeshi grinned happily at the fox.
"I'm afraid, that it's an emergency, Hinegeshi," Kurama's eyes sharpened from their happy, velvety emerald to serious, stark green.
"What's going on?" the ferry girl tipped her head slightly, a stern expression plastered about her pretty face...Hiei nearly died at the sight of her face.
"May we come inside?" the fox inquired politely, a hopeful, calm behavior about his character.
"Certainly," Hinegeshi smiled softly, a hint of stern realization tinting her eyes.
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"So wait wait WAIT," Hinegeshi laced her fingers into her hair in thought, her eyes shut tight and a sigh shifting her torso slightly. The group was nestled comfortably in a circle in her temple dojo, the boys having just explained the situation to her. "Lemme get this straight..." she pointed directly to the fox. "This guy is your biological demon father...and he's trying to kill you because you became human and stayed human..."
Kurama responded with a quick nod. Her hand slit the air as her point aimed for Hiei. "...and he hates you because YOUR father betrayed him by mating with the Ice Demoness he loved and having you as a result..."
Hiei grunted softly, a faint nod shifting his head. Hinegeshi's pointing finger dropped neatly to her lap as she eyed the two. "...and with all the history you both have with this guy you don't know his NAME?!" Yusuke snickered, Kuwabara remained in silent contemplation.
"Hey!" Hiei grunted. "The last time I saw the guy before I had to leave my clan, I was only three in human years...and considering how old I am NOW in human years, it was a LONG time ago...so, naturally I forgot his name."
"And when I became human, most of my Yoko memories were lost to me," Kurama added calmly.
"Okay, then I suppose that makes sense..." Hinegeshi craddled her chin in thought. "But...Hiei, if you never told Yukina you were her brother..." as the ferry girl's words leaked from her lips, Kuwabara pricked tensely, having just found out the true relationship between his Yukina and the cocky fire demon Hiei. Hinegeshi continued. "...because you knew this guy would take her away if anyone but yourself knew, then, wouldn't you have remembered his name? Making it a constant way of life to keep your feelings and weaknesses to yourself because of him?"
"You see, because it was a way of life, ningen," Hiei sighed deeply. "I got so used to it that for a while I forgot why I did it. But then, of course, when he attacked Botan and Keiko just several nights ago on the fire escape, I got a glimpse of him...and the memory of his voice and personality came back to me...but not his name."
"I see," Hinegeshi gently tucked her hand down the collar of her shirt. Kurama and Hiei both twinged in blushes, casting their eyes away. Yusuke awaited what he figured to be her demon handbook to be drawn from her pocket. Kuwabara was lost in himself, locking his thoughts upon his beloved Yukina and ignoring the entire conversation. 'I can't believe it...' Kuwabara thought to himself. 'Hiei is Yukina's...brother?!'
"Ah..." she cooed softly to herself as she drew her little handbook from the pocket stitched on the underside of her temple garments. It pages yellowed and cracked on the edge, with bright paintings spanning every other page and delicate legends in black calligraphy scribbled neatly entirely throughout the confines of the little book. She hummed lightly to herself as each page flipped before her eyes, until she caught the sight of the one fable she sought.
"Here we go!" she giggled. "According to this section all about the demon legend, Yoko of Thieves," she eyed Kurama slyly. "it gives only a slight reference to your original demon parents."
"Indeed?" the fox pricked slightly.
"Um-hm," she nodded with her signature response. "It says here that your mother was the Fox Demonness Jiaanti..."
Kurama's eyes softened. 'my demon mother,' he thought. 'she was second choice to him...I feel so much pity for her, as I would my human mother...because this beast couldn't have the Ice Demonness he eyed, he only had Jiaanti as second choice...my poor demon mother.'
"...and your father," Hinegeshi continued, her crystal eyes squinted for a split second, and flashed wide. "he was a Wolf Demon...and it doesn't say his name."
"Figures," Yusuke drew back in annoyance, threading his arms tightly about his chest. "Not only are we oblivious to the guy's name, so's this book..."
"Of course!" Hiei whispered to himself faintly, but Yusuke's ears caught this.
"What do you mean?" the Detective inquired suspiciously.
"I mean, that's why Kitsune's father has such speed...he was a Wolf Demon...they're the only demon breed that can outrun me..."
"What?!" Kuwabara suddenly sparked from his inner conflict. "He can outrun YOU?! We are so screwed..." he finished in a whimper, thinking solely upon his poor Yukina.
"Perhaps not..." Kurama fixed his emerald eyes straight ahead in deep thought. "If he is indeed my father...that would only make me half-fox, correct?"
"Yeah, so?" Kuwabara murmured in depression.
"That would also make me half-wolf, Kuwabara."
Kuwabara pricked wide eyes, as did Yusuke. Hinegeshi cooed a soft sigh and tucked her booklet neatly into it's pocket again, Hiei smirking deviously at his fox friend.
"Indeed, demi-Kistune..." the fire demon smirked. "You are demi- wolf...and with the cunning of your mother, you may just be able to stand up to your father."
"Indeed," Kurama's sharp emerald eyes softened closed as he kicked himself up into a stand. "Hinegeshi," the fox breathed calmly over his shoulder, the ferry girl calmly jerking to attention. "Does it say anything in there of his lair at the time of my thieving days?"
"What?!" Yusuke seethed. "Kurama, that was recorded, like, two- hundred years ago! Even if it DID say what his lair was at the time, what makes you think it'll still be his lair today?!"
"Obviously, Detective, you misunderstand," Hiei smirked.
"Misunderstand what?" Yusuke drew back in curiosity.
"A wolf demon's lair stays the same throughout his entire lifetime, even if it's threatened with destruction. Wolf demons stay supremely loyal to their homes...if the lair is listed there, most likely it's the same as it was even two-hundred years ago...Kurama knew this, and he wishes to know so he'll at least have a destination to try."
"Hmm..." Hinegeshi dragged the booklet from the inner pocket of her kimono, flipping through it's vivid pages and landing upon the section based upon Yoko of Thieves. Scrolling her finger and in turn her eyes down the lines of calligraphy, she caught a glimpse of an intriguing line. "Ah!" she giggled. "Here we go...this may help, Kurama...."
"I'm listening," the fox turned towards her slowly, casting soft eyes and a faint smile towards the ferry girl.
"Here we go," she smiled. "Quote: 'When Yoko Kurama was born the only pup to the widely-known Fox Demonness Jiaanti and the mystery Wolf Demon father, they were recorded to have resided in the Kyorgin Caves of Mount Shiverku.'"
"Mount Shiverku..." Kurama whispered faintly to himself, a vague Yoko memory tingling his senses. "I...I think, I think I remember..."
"Then let's go!" Yusuke kicked up, a happy glare about his face. "If a Wolf Demon lives in one place his entire life, then he must still live there...and maybe the girls are there!"
"Yukina!" Kuwabara wailed dramatically as he rushed swiftly from the dojo for the cool night air of summer midnight outside.
"Wait up, Kuwabara!" Yusuke hollored after his friend as he sped from the scene.
"Yukina..." Hiei whispered faintly to himself, a heavy weight about his heart. 'I will save you, sister.'
Kurama cast a kind smile towards the red-headed ferry girl. "Thank you, Hinegeshi," he coiled an arm about her shoulders and hugged her loosely.
"Well, what are you waiting for?!" the girl piped cherrily at the fox. "go save the girls!"
"Right," he smiled. "Thanks again, Hinegeshi." the fox jogged from the dark dojo, sprinting through the temple yard and following after the Detective and the love-struck Kuwabara.
Hinegeshi smiled faintly after Kurama's fading form, slowly turning around. She knocked softly against Hiei, who had been making his way towards the door after the others but was now caught in an overwhelmingly awkward situation.
"Oh, Hiei," she smiled, the demon coughing slightly. He had been smitten by her the instant he had pinned her to the ground to save her from a huge blast fired at him that year ago, during the Yakumo struggle...and yet he hadn't told her his feelings...because of the Wolf stalking them.
"Uh...thank you, Hinegeshi," his cheeks dusted red as he thanked the girl for her assistance. The ferry girl tipped her head perkilly towards the side, a soft smile staining her lips.
"No problem, Hiei."
In a lacing silence, the two having been standing just inches apart, the demon's heart twinged hard...how he wanted to tell Hinegeshi how he felt...but, after a life-time of hiding his feelings and supressing his emotions, how the hell was he supposed to tell her?!
"Uh...Hinegeshi..." his face stung and burned in a faint crimson, a dizziness threatening to swell over him.
"Yes, Hiei?"
More silence...the demon felt as if his head would split from the agony of this...he couldn't stand it...just looking at her lovely little face, directly parallel to his in height, he felt as if his chest would explode and his face would singe itself right off. Finally, in one impulsive move, the demon dug his lips into hers, the girl's face flashing expressions of shock, confusion, and melting straight into calm serenity in seconds. Hiei quickly forced away, his form melting into nothingness against the air and leaving behind a smitten, confused, but happy Hinegeshi to sort out the second's passing occurrance.
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Anemone: hey there...sorry about the late update, but the week has been and will be chaotic, and I might not be able to update as often as you're all used to...but hey, on a lighter note, now Hiei ain't a bachelor...
Hiei: *blushing* Hinegeshi?! You, you set me up with, Hinegeshi?!
Kurama: I think it's sweet!
Anemone: yeah...and, since I like Kurama more than you, I'm gonna listen to him...besides, I think you like her in reality...*Hiei blushes angrily and shuts up* anywho, please review...latr.
Hiei: *mumbling...lying* I don't like her...
Kurama: but, if you don't like her...then why on the trip we took to Vegas with Anemone, Mirai Trunks, Kagome, Inuyasha, Sango, Miroku and Botan *dreamy look as he says "Botan", jerks back to reality*, you got all drunk you told me you were falling in love with her and you got so depressed you nearly killed the bartender until Inuyasha knocked you out with the hilt of the Tetsuiga?
Hiei: *really red, pissed off, remembering that incident well* KURAMA!! I told you NEVER to speak of my drunken antics EVER again!!
Kurama: oops...
Anemone: THAT'S what happened?! You told me a bunch of demons broke into the casino and you guys all had to fight them off!!
Kurama: *shifty eyes* err...
Anemone: and you got Miroku and Mirai Trunks in on it too, didn't you?!
Kurama: uhh...
Hiei: dammit! Now the ningen knows! Way to go, Kitsune...
Kurama: *shifty eyes* heh...er...please review, patient readers...er...I must go...uh...meet Botan...somewhere...*brief pause, he rushes away*
Hiei: *really mad, embarrassed, and still blushing* hn...
Anemone: just, review...please...thanks.