I hate school. Okay, now that THAT'S done! Let's...err...review last chapter...basically...the gang went out for ice-cream...they had a war...and Suzaku appeared! And Kaeru's...HUGGING him?! WHY?? Well...let's find out, minna-san! Oh...I almost forgot...I'd like to credit Mizu for her help with this chapter and last chapter! I couldn't've done it without her creativity, so this chapter is dedicated to Mizu-chan! ^^
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Several pairs of eyes were locked onto the very odd spectacle...sweet, innocent little Kaeru, hugging Suzaku, the cold-hearted leader of the Saint Beasts.
"Wh...wh...what the HELL is goin' on??" Kuwabara demanded, pulling Yukina closer to him protectively.
"Suzaku...?" the name didn't SOUND very familiar, but Kuronue had heard stories...and if this...THING was as bad as he'd heard, then there was no way he was going to let him hurt Kaeru! The chimera scowled, shoving the Saint Beast away from his charge. "Get away from her!" he growled angrily.
Suzaku stumbled back a few steps, hitting the ice-cream counter, and straightening, glaring at his attacker. "YOU stay away from her!" he snapped.
"Why you-" The bat demon leaned back, raising his right fist and lunging forward for a good, solid, punch. Only to stare in amazement as Kaeru grabbed his arm, hugging it to her. "Kaeru?!"
"Onegai, Kuronue-san, don't hurt him!" the Ice Maiden looked up at him pleadingly.
"Don't...hurt...why NOT??" The bemused chimera sputtered, staring down at Kaeru in disbelief. Surely she didn't...couldn't...CARE for that...MALE who obviously dyed his hair!!
"Because...he...he's my..."
"Your...?" Rei prompted. "Your what? Your father? Your pet dog stuck in another body? Your sexy, hunky lover with smoldering eyes of passion?"
Kia groaned. "You should write sappy romance novels..."
The Koorime sighed. "He was my baby-sitter."
The priestess coughed. "I was going to say that next."
Kelsey rolled her eyes. "Suuuure you were."
"He...your...your WHAT?" Kuronue seemed to be having a hard time processing this.
"Her BABY-SITTER, Bat!" Suzaku spoke up, imitating Kelsey's earlier movement with his own violet eyes. "When her mother was killed by Zenkai, the Koorime decided it was best for Kaeru to leave her home under the protection of someone Zenkai wouldn't suspect as her guardian...so Ruri chose me."
Hiei snorted. "Yes, no one would suspect a cruel Saint Beast with a sadistic bird to be the ideal guardian of a four-year-old."
Suzaku ignored him. "Of course, she was only around nine or ten in ningen terms, when I was called to summon the other Beasts and stay in Maze Castle...and I had to leave Kaeru on the island. Eventually, I was tired of being trapped and...well, Urameshi knows the rest."
"So...still evil?" Chitsuko asked, tilting her head.
"Let's just say that if Kaeru weren't here, I'd probably kill you all right now."
Everyone stiffened, but the Koorime nudged her former baby-sitter with her foot. "Stop that, you know you wouldn't."
"Would too..." he muttered, sounding more like a rebellious toddler than a cruel youkai.
"Would not. Why are you here, Suzaku?"
"Well...to Urameshi's great disappointment, I'm sure, I survived the battle with him...I've been recovering, training, and looking for you." He frowned. "It hasn't been easy, your energy's well-guarded, and you were surrounded by several powerful energies...including a very ancient one..."
"That would be us!" Kelsey bowed, and Kia smiled at her friend. "The possessors of the Densetsu no Kagami, at your service!"
The man's blonde brows rose in astonishment. "You two? You are the Mirror Holders? But...but...you're...FEMALES! Ningen females! TEENAGE ningen females!"
"Hey, watch it," Kia growled, eyes darkening at the jibe.
"Oh? What will you do, if I don't? Fling nail polish bottles and lipstick at me?" Suzaku smirked.
"No...I figure just blowing you up will be enough...or lifting you in the air and dropping you from a distance, you biased little pig." Her eyes were practically shooting out sparks.
"Biased little WHAT?" Suzaku started towards Kia, looking murderous. "You little brat, I'll-" He suddenly stopped in his tracks, looking down at his frozen legs and then behind him in surprise. "Kaeru!!"
"No hurting my friends," the Koorime stated simply, still glowing faintly. "Or name-calling." And with that, a sheet of ice formed over the Saint Beast's mouth, muffling his outraged cries. "Can we go home now?" The little Ice Maiden asked, looking up at Kuronue, releasing his arm.
He grinned at the sight of the frozen Suzaku, ruffling his charge's sea-green tresses. "Sure, Kaeru...let's go." He turned and left, calling over his shoulder, "It was nice meeting you, Suzy."
The others followed, with Kia turning around and blowing a saucy kiss at the man, mouthing "Take THAT!"
Suzaku glared at her, helpless to do anything but plot dark thoughts of revenge. *They'll pay...the brown-haired girl...the bat...ALL of them...how DARE they humiliate me?!*
***At Kurama's House...***
"Never seen so many girls in whipped cream and chocolate syrup before..." Kuwabara said dazedly as he sat on the living room floor, still dressed in his ice-cream-covered school uniform.
"Yeah, every guy's dream come true?" Suzuki said amusedly.
Kaeru tilted her head, perplexed. "Why would being covered in whipped cream and chocolate syrup be a male's dream?"
"Well, you'd have to have her naked first," Yusuke mused. He'd joined them shortly, claiming he didn't care IF they fired him.
Now Yukina looked just as confused. "Why?"
"Oh, that's because..." Yusuke saw the bitter look that Hiei shot him, and blanched. "Err...umm...because...erm...forget I said anything."
"Boys..." Rei chuckled, looking over at the two Ice Maidens. "Don't worry...let's see...if you were to undress and cover your...unmentionables in chocolate syrup and whipped cream...well, they're edible, ne?"
"Hai..." Yukina and Kaeru said in unison, both wondering where this was going.
"Well, a guy can just walk up and...clean it off for you by li-"
"All right, Rei, you don't need to get into that," Kurama interrupted.
"Why not, Fox boy?" She stuck her tongue out at him. "One of your guilty pleasures, isn't it? Tell me, do you imagine doing that with Chitsuko? Or DO you actually do it?"
"Doing what?" Kaeru blinked.
"No...and that is none of your business." The Youko spoke curtly enough, but everyone could see the crimson spots blazing on his cheeks. Chitsuko was blushing too.
"What about the rest of you?" Rei persisted, nailing the males in the room with a steely green-eyed stare.
It was amazing. Suddenly every single male, be he youkai or human...or even dog, had suddenly fled. Chitsuko, Kia, Kelsey, Mizu, Yukina, and Kaeru shared a six-way glance.
"What'd I say?" The auburn-haired woman asked innocently.
***Two days later...at Suzuki's house...**
"I...I'm afraid I still don't understand," Kaeru said to Chitsuko as she, the two fox spirits, and Kuronue stood outside the inventor's dwelling. "A sleepover? And...how do you play Truth or Dare...and why would you spin a bottle?"
The girl coughed, blue-gray eyes dancing. "Umm...well, a sleepover is where friends get together and sleep in one room...like an overnight party. And see, we have sleeping bags!" She pointed to the two bags she was carrying, and the other two that Kurama and Kuronue had hoisted onto their shoulders. "As for the...umm...they're games...I'm sure Suzuki will explain them to you once we get inside." And hopefully keep Kuronue from freaking out when he finds out how they're played, she added silently.
Unfortunately, once Suzuki had answered the door, Kuronue freaked out a whole lot sooner than Chitsuko had expected.
"YOU!" he snarled, pointing a shaking finger at a certain Saint Beast, who was calmly sitting on the floor, engaged in idle chatter with the violet-haired Zyoshi.
Suzaku looked up. "You," he countered placidly, a slight smirk on his handsome face.
"Suzaku-san?" Kaeru blinked, squeezing between the two larger males and bowing to Suzuki, walking over to join the others...which included Kia, Kelsey, Jin, Mizu, Touya, Rei, Chuu, Yusuke, a grouchy-looking Hiei, Kuwabara, Yukina, and Shishiwakamaru. Rinku, Z explained to the Koorime, had caught a cold and was currently resting in bed. "What are you doing here?"
"Partying...what's it look like?" He grinned. "And so I can keep an eye on you in case your bat friend tries anything."
Kuronue bristled, but Kurama gave him the smallest of head-shakes, moving into the house with a smile at Suzuki. The chimera muttered, but followed, with Chitsuko already bounding inside to greet her friends.
Kaeru had settled her sleeping bag between Yukina and Mizu, and had already unrolled it, sitting on the dark blue cover and looking at the others expectantly. "Chitsuko-san said I should ask how to play the games."
"Truth or Dare is basically what it says," Kia explained. "You pick someone and ask them truth or dare...if they say truth, they have to answer a question that you ask them truthfully. If they pick dare, you choose something for them to do that they normally wouldn't."
Kelsey nodded. "And Spin the Bottle...well, you sit in a circle and someone spins the bottle. Whoever it lands on, they have to kiss them. Simple, ne?"
"Hai, but..." Kaeru frowned slightly. "What's this thing about Seven Minutes in Heaven?"
The two Mirror Holders looked at each other uncomfortably. "...You go in a closet with another person..." Kia said at last.
"And spend seven minutes in there," Kelsey added.
"And that's Heaven," they concluded in hasty unison.
Yukina blinked, looking over at Kaeru, who had the exact same confused expression on her pale face.
"You'll get it later," Chitsuko said soothingly, settling between Kia and Kurama. "Who's up for Truth or Dare now?"
Kelsey grinned, gray eyes sparkling. "I am!" She was quickly seconded by most everyone else, except for Hiei, who was glowering at everyone, slumped against the couch.
Rei clapped her hands girlishly. "I'll go first! Hmm..." Her green eyes twinkled maliciously as she spotted her target. "Urameshi! Truth or Dare?"
"Dare," the black-haired boy said immediately, earning himself a round of collective gasps from everyone except for Kaeru, Yukina, Kuronue, and Hiei. The former three seemed confused...the latter was unimpressed.
"Okay, then!" Rei smirked. "I dare you to put on one of Keiko's sundresses and sing that one song from Merry Poppins!"
"WHAT song?" Yusuke demanded.
"Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious," Kia and Kelsey said at once, then grinned and high-fived one another.
The Tantei sweatdropped. "Oh, come ON!"
"Gotta do it, Urameshi," Kelsey said wickedly. "Turns out when Keiko spent the night last week, she left some of her dresses...Mizu, will you do the honors?"
"Hai!" the kitsune giggled and darted off into one of the rooms, returning two minutes later with a bright pink sleeveless sundress with yellow daisies. "Here you go, Yusuke-kun!"
"I hate you," Yusuke grumbled as he emerged from the bathroom, the dress ridiculously tight on him and rising past his knees.
"Don't forget, you have to sing too..." Rei reminded him, as Kia and Kelsey silently choked back laughter.
The poor Tantei sighed, then opened his mouth. "Ohhhh...supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, even though the sound of it is something quite atrocious...if you say it loud enough, it even sounds precocious, supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!"
The two Mirror Holders were now howling with helpless laughter, and even Hiei couldn't help smirking at the ridiculous sight. Kuwabara, of course, was snapping pictures and Mizu, Chitsuko, Z, Kaeru, and Yukina were all giggling madly. Suzuki let out a wolf whistle, causing Rinku to burst out laughing, with Kuronue and Kurama struggling to keep blank faces.
"Umm-diddly-diddly-diddly-umm-diddli..."
Jin, Touya, and Shishiwakamaru all exchanged VERY amused looks and Chuu was calling out suggestive comments, making Yusuke turn even redder. Finally, the Spirit Detective finished and dashed into the bathroom to change, amid applause and laughter.
It got even more creative as the game went on. Upon emerging, Yusuke had dared Kuronue to go to the grocery store and kiss the first ningen he saw...which, unfortunately, happened to be a paranoid old woman, who beat the hapless chimera over the head with a giant handbag. She only stopped when Kaeru came running over to plead for his life while Chuu and Suzuki, both sniggering, had dragged Kuronue away. While the Koorime was healing all of his bumps and scrapes, Kuronue had selected Z, who had picked Truth. When asked who, in her opinion, was the hottest male in the room, she had calmly said, "Hiei."
"Hiei?" Kuwabara choked. "The MIDGET?!"
The Jaganshi growled under his breath, one hand resting on his katana.
"Hiei," Z continued, violet eyes dancing, "Because he's a fire youkai, thus making him the hottest."
Everyone groaned in unison...except for two.
"That makes sense," Kaeru said to Yukina. "So why are they groaning?"
The Ice Maiden blinked. "I don't know..."
And then Z picked Yukina, who decided to be safe and go with Truth. Seconds later, she was being asked "Do you love anyone?"
Hiei stiffened, as Kia and Kelsey drew in sharp gasps, listening intently for the Koorime's reply.
Yukina smiled. "Almost everyone here is a dear friend. I love them all."
Yusuke opened his mouth to say something, glanced uneasily at Hiei, and changed his mind, falling silent.
Obviously, Yukina couldn't be very vindictive, as she proved when Kurama picked Dare and she asked him to grow her some flowers not seen on the Koorime Islands. The Youko had smiled gently and obliged, and soon both Yukina and Kaeru were exclaiming delightedly over the vivid red poppies, the morning glories, the lilies, and the African violets. Kuronue, Suzaku, and Hiei couldn't help smiling at the Ice Maidens' reaction.
Kurama, however, proved to be VERY creative at Dares, so when Chitsuko had selected that option, she had been forced to do the hula, wearing Rei's coconut bra and her own panties, a deep red blush staining her cheeks and making her blue-gray eyes seem brighter. Kuwabara snapped pictures of this too, of course, and Kia had to hand Yusuke a tissue as he got a nosebleed. Both Mirror Holders were sympathetic to the poor hanyou, hurrying the golden-haired girl into the bathroom and passing her her clothes.
While they were waiting for Chitsuko, Kelsey had been dared to wear Shishiwakamaru's clothing for the rest of the evening. The samurai went to get her a spare outfit, and the girl sat there, glowering darkly. Rinku had picked Truth when a fully-dressed Chitsuko, still flushing slightly, had called on him. Chuu called him a wimp, and Kelsey threw her schoolbag at his head, causing Kia to remark that the Warrior of Schoolbags had indeed returned.
"So...do you have a girlfriend?" The fox spirit asked.
The boy flushed, tugging his cap down over his eyes. "Liked Kotei," he mumbled.
"Kotei?" Z blinked.
"Participant in the Makai Bujutsukkai," Chuu explained. "Cute 'lil thing."
"Aww..." Kia hugged Rinku. "You have a girlfriend!"
Rinku muttered more words under his breath, then chose Touya. "Truth or Dare?"
Smiling slightly, the Ice Master chose Truth, sparking another groan from Chuu and another whap from Kelsey.
"Okay, then!" Rinku grinned. "Do you ever want to go further than kissing Mizu?"
The kitsune immediately blushed.
One of Touya's icy blue eyebrows rose slowly. "I don't believe our relationship is that far along yet...it needs more time. And her brother would have my head..."
Suzuki blinked at Mizu. "You have a brother?"
She nodded. "He's very protective of me."
"Hmm...Jin." Touya called upon his fellow Shinobi, who blinked. "Truth or Dare?"
"Truth." The redheaded youkai shuddered. "I've seen your dares."
Touya smirked. "Are you still a virgin?"
Kia choked and Kelsey patted her friend on the back as the girl went into a coughing fit.
Jin turned BRIGHT red. "Uh...umm...be right back..." He rose and started to hurry off, but Rei tackled him, swiftly moving to perch on the Wind Master's back.
"Not so fast, Windy! Spit it out!"
Poor Jin looked extremely embarrassed. "Yes, I'm still...a...a virgin..."
Chuu let out a bark of laughter, and Kia was now studying the carpet intently.
"What's a virgin?" Kaeru asked curiously.
This time, EVERYONE choked, with the exception of Yukina and Rei.
"Well..." the priestess grinned, patting the girl's head. "It's a person who's never had sex..."
"Oh..." Kaeru blinked puzzled ruby eyes. "So is being a virgin bad? Why is Chuu-san laughing?"
"Men like to think of themselves as big and macho...and 'virgin' does not fit in with 'big and macho' at all." Rei smirked. "Or, at least, experienced. See, Kuro should be experienced if you want kids!"
Many pairs of eyes fastened on the chimera, who was now glaring at Rei.
"What does Kuronue-san have to do with anything?" Kaeru tilted her head.
"Because the more experienced, the more pleasure-"
"ENOUGH, Rei!" Z growled.
The little Koorime seemed to be thinking hard. "Suzaku-san had a lady friend once...she said he wasn't very experienced...does that make him a virgin?"
Suzaku colored slightly. "NEXT person!!"
Jin smirked. "Okay, Suzuki..." And it continued. Suzuki had picked Dare...and he was made to...kiss Axe. For thirty seconds. Kuwabara, of course, snapped even more pictures while everyone else either looked on with amusement or disgust. Rei soon announced that Axe was disgusted by the entire thing and was COMPLETELY straight. The blonde youkai grimaced, quickly choosing Mizu. Once the kitsune had decided on Dare, she had to stand outside and flash the ningens. When she returned, she had a twenty-dollar-bill clenched tightly in her fist and looked rather smug. Touya seemed a little perturbed, but told Kia he was fine when she asked him about it.
Then it was Shishiwakamaru's turn. The samurai had to wear a trashcan lid on his head while singing the Sesame Street song...as the words "Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street?" filled the room, Kia was cracking up, with Kelsey leaning against her as a sort of stand, shaking with laughter. Kaeru couldn't really see what was so funny, as Shishiwakamaru seemed to have a pretty decent singing voice.
Kia should've known better when Shishiwakamaru picked her and she selected Dare. But she didn't...which was why she was soon standing outside asking a ningen man in his thirties to marry her. Imagine her horror when he agreed. Those watching from Suzuki's door and windows could hear her shriek of anger and saw her slap the man so hard that he fell off the curb, unconscious. Then she stomped inside and proceeded to go after Shishiwakamaru with a murderous gleam in her brown eyes. Kelsey and Rinku cheered Kia on, while Kaeru and Yukina looked horrified, and Kurama tried to settle everyone down. In the end, Yusuke and Suzuki finally caught Kia, dragging the girl over to a chair, while Chuu produced a ball of twine and proceeded to bound the Mirror Holder securely, ignoring her furious rants.
Maybe that was why Kia picked Chuu for a Dare...and soon the drunkard was wearing one of Rei's fuzzy pink sweaters and a mini-skirt. More pictures were taken and Chitsuko declared that a skirt that short on a man that hairy had to be a crime SOMEWHERE.
Kaeru had also chosen Dare, causing the scantily-clad Chuu to ruffle her hair and proclaim her a brave little sweetheart. Apparently, he didn't have the heart to do anything mean to the Koorime, so just had her make him a tiny ice sculpture of himself...without the mini-skirt and sweater, of course. Kaeru had made the mistake of asking Kuwabara if he'd ask Yukina to marry him, causing the orange-haired boy to howl "YUKIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINAAAAAAAAAA!" enthusiastically until Hiei had knocked him out with his katana. Rei had taken his place, and dared Hiei to kiss Yukina, who grumbled under his breath, but pecked his sister on the cheek. But the Jaganshi got his revenge.
Soon, Rei was out in the middle of the street, carrying a can of whipped cream, and wearing a lime-green tube top and black mini-skirt, doing a sort of striptease and singing the song "Hot Stuff" from The Full Monty. She had soon created a traffic jam and Kia and Kelsey shook their heads, watching the psychotic priestess howling the song at the top of her lungs. "Shameless," Kia remarked.
When Rei returned, she asked Suzaku the name of the girl who had dubbed him "inexperienced." The Saint Beast had stiffly replied that it was none of her business...but little Kaeru had told Rei her name, and found out that the priestess knew the woman personally. Suzaku flatly refused to make Axe do anything, insisting that it was just a weapon and causing Rei to slap him.
"Alrighty..." Chuu rubbed his hands together after he had changed back to normal clothing (earning a relieved sigh from everyone). "Now it's time for...Spin the Bottle!"
"Chuu-san?" Kaeru cautiously prodded the bottle. "What sort of bottle is this?"
"It's a MAGIC sake bottle, Kaeru!" he told her, grinning. "See, it flashes different colors!"
Mizu rolled her eyes and flicked on the television.
"...In other news, some strange happenings have been occurring in Osaka today. First, a tall man with long black hair molested an elderly woman, but was then dragged off by what we think were his two accomplices. We believe they have kidnapped a young girl, who was seen with them, and have toyed with her hair as a disguise." The newswoman cleared her throat. "Also, a teenage girl...err...displayed the upper half of her body, stunning several passersby. Not too shortly after that, it's been reported that another girl asked a man to marry her...upon his agreement, she promptly screamed and slapped him. This man turned out to be the thirty-year-old pedophile police have been searching for. Finally, a woman clad in unacceptable clothing and doing an obscene dance routine stood out in the street for a full twenty minutes. Albert Jones, a tourist from England, was rushed to the hospital after he had a heart attack and is now in critical condition."
Everyone stared at the TV, mouths dropping open.
"Rei...you...hospitalized some OLD guy!!" Kelsey squeaked, finding her voice at last.
"He...he...he was...a PEDOPHILE??" Kia shrieked angrily. "Okay, UNTIE me NOW! SHISHI, I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!!"
"I didn't molest her!" Kuronue protested. "She ATTACKED me!"
Chitsuko grinned. "Well...back to the game, then?"
*OOC*
Well...like I said, Mizu helped me immensely on this one! Thanks again...^^;; And please review, it always makes my day! Next chapter!
* Spin the Bottle and Seven Minutes in Heaven...it only gets worse, my dears...
* There's a power outage! Why does Hiei feel that something's not right? And WHY THE HELL DID THEY LEAVE KAERU AND YUKINA ALONE?!
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Several pairs of eyes were locked onto the very odd spectacle...sweet, innocent little Kaeru, hugging Suzaku, the cold-hearted leader of the Saint Beasts.
"Wh...wh...what the HELL is goin' on??" Kuwabara demanded, pulling Yukina closer to him protectively.
"Suzaku...?" the name didn't SOUND very familiar, but Kuronue had heard stories...and if this...THING was as bad as he'd heard, then there was no way he was going to let him hurt Kaeru! The chimera scowled, shoving the Saint Beast away from his charge. "Get away from her!" he growled angrily.
Suzaku stumbled back a few steps, hitting the ice-cream counter, and straightening, glaring at his attacker. "YOU stay away from her!" he snapped.
"Why you-" The bat demon leaned back, raising his right fist and lunging forward for a good, solid, punch. Only to stare in amazement as Kaeru grabbed his arm, hugging it to her. "Kaeru?!"
"Onegai, Kuronue-san, don't hurt him!" the Ice Maiden looked up at him pleadingly.
"Don't...hurt...why NOT??" The bemused chimera sputtered, staring down at Kaeru in disbelief. Surely she didn't...couldn't...CARE for that...MALE who obviously dyed his hair!!
"Because...he...he's my..."
"Your...?" Rei prompted. "Your what? Your father? Your pet dog stuck in another body? Your sexy, hunky lover with smoldering eyes of passion?"
Kia groaned. "You should write sappy romance novels..."
The Koorime sighed. "He was my baby-sitter."
The priestess coughed. "I was going to say that next."
Kelsey rolled her eyes. "Suuuure you were."
"He...your...your WHAT?" Kuronue seemed to be having a hard time processing this.
"Her BABY-SITTER, Bat!" Suzaku spoke up, imitating Kelsey's earlier movement with his own violet eyes. "When her mother was killed by Zenkai, the Koorime decided it was best for Kaeru to leave her home under the protection of someone Zenkai wouldn't suspect as her guardian...so Ruri chose me."
Hiei snorted. "Yes, no one would suspect a cruel Saint Beast with a sadistic bird to be the ideal guardian of a four-year-old."
Suzaku ignored him. "Of course, she was only around nine or ten in ningen terms, when I was called to summon the other Beasts and stay in Maze Castle...and I had to leave Kaeru on the island. Eventually, I was tired of being trapped and...well, Urameshi knows the rest."
"So...still evil?" Chitsuko asked, tilting her head.
"Let's just say that if Kaeru weren't here, I'd probably kill you all right now."
Everyone stiffened, but the Koorime nudged her former baby-sitter with her foot. "Stop that, you know you wouldn't."
"Would too..." he muttered, sounding more like a rebellious toddler than a cruel youkai.
"Would not. Why are you here, Suzaku?"
"Well...to Urameshi's great disappointment, I'm sure, I survived the battle with him...I've been recovering, training, and looking for you." He frowned. "It hasn't been easy, your energy's well-guarded, and you were surrounded by several powerful energies...including a very ancient one..."
"That would be us!" Kelsey bowed, and Kia smiled at her friend. "The possessors of the Densetsu no Kagami, at your service!"
The man's blonde brows rose in astonishment. "You two? You are the Mirror Holders? But...but...you're...FEMALES! Ningen females! TEENAGE ningen females!"
"Hey, watch it," Kia growled, eyes darkening at the jibe.
"Oh? What will you do, if I don't? Fling nail polish bottles and lipstick at me?" Suzaku smirked.
"No...I figure just blowing you up will be enough...or lifting you in the air and dropping you from a distance, you biased little pig." Her eyes were practically shooting out sparks.
"Biased little WHAT?" Suzaku started towards Kia, looking murderous. "You little brat, I'll-" He suddenly stopped in his tracks, looking down at his frozen legs and then behind him in surprise. "Kaeru!!"
"No hurting my friends," the Koorime stated simply, still glowing faintly. "Or name-calling." And with that, a sheet of ice formed over the Saint Beast's mouth, muffling his outraged cries. "Can we go home now?" The little Ice Maiden asked, looking up at Kuronue, releasing his arm.
He grinned at the sight of the frozen Suzaku, ruffling his charge's sea-green tresses. "Sure, Kaeru...let's go." He turned and left, calling over his shoulder, "It was nice meeting you, Suzy."
The others followed, with Kia turning around and blowing a saucy kiss at the man, mouthing "Take THAT!"
Suzaku glared at her, helpless to do anything but plot dark thoughts of revenge. *They'll pay...the brown-haired girl...the bat...ALL of them...how DARE they humiliate me?!*
***At Kurama's House...***
"Never seen so many girls in whipped cream and chocolate syrup before..." Kuwabara said dazedly as he sat on the living room floor, still dressed in his ice-cream-covered school uniform.
"Yeah, every guy's dream come true?" Suzuki said amusedly.
Kaeru tilted her head, perplexed. "Why would being covered in whipped cream and chocolate syrup be a male's dream?"
"Well, you'd have to have her naked first," Yusuke mused. He'd joined them shortly, claiming he didn't care IF they fired him.
Now Yukina looked just as confused. "Why?"
"Oh, that's because..." Yusuke saw the bitter look that Hiei shot him, and blanched. "Err...umm...because...erm...forget I said anything."
"Boys..." Rei chuckled, looking over at the two Ice Maidens. "Don't worry...let's see...if you were to undress and cover your...unmentionables in chocolate syrup and whipped cream...well, they're edible, ne?"
"Hai..." Yukina and Kaeru said in unison, both wondering where this was going.
"Well, a guy can just walk up and...clean it off for you by li-"
"All right, Rei, you don't need to get into that," Kurama interrupted.
"Why not, Fox boy?" She stuck her tongue out at him. "One of your guilty pleasures, isn't it? Tell me, do you imagine doing that with Chitsuko? Or DO you actually do it?"
"Doing what?" Kaeru blinked.
"No...and that is none of your business." The Youko spoke curtly enough, but everyone could see the crimson spots blazing on his cheeks. Chitsuko was blushing too.
"What about the rest of you?" Rei persisted, nailing the males in the room with a steely green-eyed stare.
It was amazing. Suddenly every single male, be he youkai or human...or even dog, had suddenly fled. Chitsuko, Kia, Kelsey, Mizu, Yukina, and Kaeru shared a six-way glance.
"What'd I say?" The auburn-haired woman asked innocently.
***Two days later...at Suzuki's house...**
"I...I'm afraid I still don't understand," Kaeru said to Chitsuko as she, the two fox spirits, and Kuronue stood outside the inventor's dwelling. "A sleepover? And...how do you play Truth or Dare...and why would you spin a bottle?"
The girl coughed, blue-gray eyes dancing. "Umm...well, a sleepover is where friends get together and sleep in one room...like an overnight party. And see, we have sleeping bags!" She pointed to the two bags she was carrying, and the other two that Kurama and Kuronue had hoisted onto their shoulders. "As for the...umm...they're games...I'm sure Suzuki will explain them to you once we get inside." And hopefully keep Kuronue from freaking out when he finds out how they're played, she added silently.
Unfortunately, once Suzuki had answered the door, Kuronue freaked out a whole lot sooner than Chitsuko had expected.
"YOU!" he snarled, pointing a shaking finger at a certain Saint Beast, who was calmly sitting on the floor, engaged in idle chatter with the violet-haired Zyoshi.
Suzaku looked up. "You," he countered placidly, a slight smirk on his handsome face.
"Suzaku-san?" Kaeru blinked, squeezing between the two larger males and bowing to Suzuki, walking over to join the others...which included Kia, Kelsey, Jin, Mizu, Touya, Rei, Chuu, Yusuke, a grouchy-looking Hiei, Kuwabara, Yukina, and Shishiwakamaru. Rinku, Z explained to the Koorime, had caught a cold and was currently resting in bed. "What are you doing here?"
"Partying...what's it look like?" He grinned. "And so I can keep an eye on you in case your bat friend tries anything."
Kuronue bristled, but Kurama gave him the smallest of head-shakes, moving into the house with a smile at Suzuki. The chimera muttered, but followed, with Chitsuko already bounding inside to greet her friends.
Kaeru had settled her sleeping bag between Yukina and Mizu, and had already unrolled it, sitting on the dark blue cover and looking at the others expectantly. "Chitsuko-san said I should ask how to play the games."
"Truth or Dare is basically what it says," Kia explained. "You pick someone and ask them truth or dare...if they say truth, they have to answer a question that you ask them truthfully. If they pick dare, you choose something for them to do that they normally wouldn't."
Kelsey nodded. "And Spin the Bottle...well, you sit in a circle and someone spins the bottle. Whoever it lands on, they have to kiss them. Simple, ne?"
"Hai, but..." Kaeru frowned slightly. "What's this thing about Seven Minutes in Heaven?"
The two Mirror Holders looked at each other uncomfortably. "...You go in a closet with another person..." Kia said at last.
"And spend seven minutes in there," Kelsey added.
"And that's Heaven," they concluded in hasty unison.
Yukina blinked, looking over at Kaeru, who had the exact same confused expression on her pale face.
"You'll get it later," Chitsuko said soothingly, settling between Kia and Kurama. "Who's up for Truth or Dare now?"
Kelsey grinned, gray eyes sparkling. "I am!" She was quickly seconded by most everyone else, except for Hiei, who was glowering at everyone, slumped against the couch.
Rei clapped her hands girlishly. "I'll go first! Hmm..." Her green eyes twinkled maliciously as she spotted her target. "Urameshi! Truth or Dare?"
"Dare," the black-haired boy said immediately, earning himself a round of collective gasps from everyone except for Kaeru, Yukina, Kuronue, and Hiei. The former three seemed confused...the latter was unimpressed.
"Okay, then!" Rei smirked. "I dare you to put on one of Keiko's sundresses and sing that one song from Merry Poppins!"
"WHAT song?" Yusuke demanded.
"Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious," Kia and Kelsey said at once, then grinned and high-fived one another.
The Tantei sweatdropped. "Oh, come ON!"
"Gotta do it, Urameshi," Kelsey said wickedly. "Turns out when Keiko spent the night last week, she left some of her dresses...Mizu, will you do the honors?"
"Hai!" the kitsune giggled and darted off into one of the rooms, returning two minutes later with a bright pink sleeveless sundress with yellow daisies. "Here you go, Yusuke-kun!"
"I hate you," Yusuke grumbled as he emerged from the bathroom, the dress ridiculously tight on him and rising past his knees.
"Don't forget, you have to sing too..." Rei reminded him, as Kia and Kelsey silently choked back laughter.
The poor Tantei sighed, then opened his mouth. "Ohhhh...supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, even though the sound of it is something quite atrocious...if you say it loud enough, it even sounds precocious, supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!"
The two Mirror Holders were now howling with helpless laughter, and even Hiei couldn't help smirking at the ridiculous sight. Kuwabara, of course, was snapping pictures and Mizu, Chitsuko, Z, Kaeru, and Yukina were all giggling madly. Suzuki let out a wolf whistle, causing Rinku to burst out laughing, with Kuronue and Kurama struggling to keep blank faces.
"Umm-diddly-diddly-diddly-umm-diddli..."
Jin, Touya, and Shishiwakamaru all exchanged VERY amused looks and Chuu was calling out suggestive comments, making Yusuke turn even redder. Finally, the Spirit Detective finished and dashed into the bathroom to change, amid applause and laughter.
It got even more creative as the game went on. Upon emerging, Yusuke had dared Kuronue to go to the grocery store and kiss the first ningen he saw...which, unfortunately, happened to be a paranoid old woman, who beat the hapless chimera over the head with a giant handbag. She only stopped when Kaeru came running over to plead for his life while Chuu and Suzuki, both sniggering, had dragged Kuronue away. While the Koorime was healing all of his bumps and scrapes, Kuronue had selected Z, who had picked Truth. When asked who, in her opinion, was the hottest male in the room, she had calmly said, "Hiei."
"Hiei?" Kuwabara choked. "The MIDGET?!"
The Jaganshi growled under his breath, one hand resting on his katana.
"Hiei," Z continued, violet eyes dancing, "Because he's a fire youkai, thus making him the hottest."
Everyone groaned in unison...except for two.
"That makes sense," Kaeru said to Yukina. "So why are they groaning?"
The Ice Maiden blinked. "I don't know..."
And then Z picked Yukina, who decided to be safe and go with Truth. Seconds later, she was being asked "Do you love anyone?"
Hiei stiffened, as Kia and Kelsey drew in sharp gasps, listening intently for the Koorime's reply.
Yukina smiled. "Almost everyone here is a dear friend. I love them all."
Yusuke opened his mouth to say something, glanced uneasily at Hiei, and changed his mind, falling silent.
Obviously, Yukina couldn't be very vindictive, as she proved when Kurama picked Dare and she asked him to grow her some flowers not seen on the Koorime Islands. The Youko had smiled gently and obliged, and soon both Yukina and Kaeru were exclaiming delightedly over the vivid red poppies, the morning glories, the lilies, and the African violets. Kuronue, Suzaku, and Hiei couldn't help smiling at the Ice Maidens' reaction.
Kurama, however, proved to be VERY creative at Dares, so when Chitsuko had selected that option, she had been forced to do the hula, wearing Rei's coconut bra and her own panties, a deep red blush staining her cheeks and making her blue-gray eyes seem brighter. Kuwabara snapped pictures of this too, of course, and Kia had to hand Yusuke a tissue as he got a nosebleed. Both Mirror Holders were sympathetic to the poor hanyou, hurrying the golden-haired girl into the bathroom and passing her her clothes.
While they were waiting for Chitsuko, Kelsey had been dared to wear Shishiwakamaru's clothing for the rest of the evening. The samurai went to get her a spare outfit, and the girl sat there, glowering darkly. Rinku had picked Truth when a fully-dressed Chitsuko, still flushing slightly, had called on him. Chuu called him a wimp, and Kelsey threw her schoolbag at his head, causing Kia to remark that the Warrior of Schoolbags had indeed returned.
"So...do you have a girlfriend?" The fox spirit asked.
The boy flushed, tugging his cap down over his eyes. "Liked Kotei," he mumbled.
"Kotei?" Z blinked.
"Participant in the Makai Bujutsukkai," Chuu explained. "Cute 'lil thing."
"Aww..." Kia hugged Rinku. "You have a girlfriend!"
Rinku muttered more words under his breath, then chose Touya. "Truth or Dare?"
Smiling slightly, the Ice Master chose Truth, sparking another groan from Chuu and another whap from Kelsey.
"Okay, then!" Rinku grinned. "Do you ever want to go further than kissing Mizu?"
The kitsune immediately blushed.
One of Touya's icy blue eyebrows rose slowly. "I don't believe our relationship is that far along yet...it needs more time. And her brother would have my head..."
Suzuki blinked at Mizu. "You have a brother?"
She nodded. "He's very protective of me."
"Hmm...Jin." Touya called upon his fellow Shinobi, who blinked. "Truth or Dare?"
"Truth." The redheaded youkai shuddered. "I've seen your dares."
Touya smirked. "Are you still a virgin?"
Kia choked and Kelsey patted her friend on the back as the girl went into a coughing fit.
Jin turned BRIGHT red. "Uh...umm...be right back..." He rose and started to hurry off, but Rei tackled him, swiftly moving to perch on the Wind Master's back.
"Not so fast, Windy! Spit it out!"
Poor Jin looked extremely embarrassed. "Yes, I'm still...a...a virgin..."
Chuu let out a bark of laughter, and Kia was now studying the carpet intently.
"What's a virgin?" Kaeru asked curiously.
This time, EVERYONE choked, with the exception of Yukina and Rei.
"Well..." the priestess grinned, patting the girl's head. "It's a person who's never had sex..."
"Oh..." Kaeru blinked puzzled ruby eyes. "So is being a virgin bad? Why is Chuu-san laughing?"
"Men like to think of themselves as big and macho...and 'virgin' does not fit in with 'big and macho' at all." Rei smirked. "Or, at least, experienced. See, Kuro should be experienced if you want kids!"
Many pairs of eyes fastened on the chimera, who was now glaring at Rei.
"What does Kuronue-san have to do with anything?" Kaeru tilted her head.
"Because the more experienced, the more pleasure-"
"ENOUGH, Rei!" Z growled.
The little Koorime seemed to be thinking hard. "Suzaku-san had a lady friend once...she said he wasn't very experienced...does that make him a virgin?"
Suzaku colored slightly. "NEXT person!!"
Jin smirked. "Okay, Suzuki..." And it continued. Suzuki had picked Dare...and he was made to...kiss Axe. For thirty seconds. Kuwabara, of course, snapped even more pictures while everyone else either looked on with amusement or disgust. Rei soon announced that Axe was disgusted by the entire thing and was COMPLETELY straight. The blonde youkai grimaced, quickly choosing Mizu. Once the kitsune had decided on Dare, she had to stand outside and flash the ningens. When she returned, she had a twenty-dollar-bill clenched tightly in her fist and looked rather smug. Touya seemed a little perturbed, but told Kia he was fine when she asked him about it.
Then it was Shishiwakamaru's turn. The samurai had to wear a trashcan lid on his head while singing the Sesame Street song...as the words "Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street?" filled the room, Kia was cracking up, with Kelsey leaning against her as a sort of stand, shaking with laughter. Kaeru couldn't really see what was so funny, as Shishiwakamaru seemed to have a pretty decent singing voice.
Kia should've known better when Shishiwakamaru picked her and she selected Dare. But she didn't...which was why she was soon standing outside asking a ningen man in his thirties to marry her. Imagine her horror when he agreed. Those watching from Suzuki's door and windows could hear her shriek of anger and saw her slap the man so hard that he fell off the curb, unconscious. Then she stomped inside and proceeded to go after Shishiwakamaru with a murderous gleam in her brown eyes. Kelsey and Rinku cheered Kia on, while Kaeru and Yukina looked horrified, and Kurama tried to settle everyone down. In the end, Yusuke and Suzuki finally caught Kia, dragging the girl over to a chair, while Chuu produced a ball of twine and proceeded to bound the Mirror Holder securely, ignoring her furious rants.
Maybe that was why Kia picked Chuu for a Dare...and soon the drunkard was wearing one of Rei's fuzzy pink sweaters and a mini-skirt. More pictures were taken and Chitsuko declared that a skirt that short on a man that hairy had to be a crime SOMEWHERE.
Kaeru had also chosen Dare, causing the scantily-clad Chuu to ruffle her hair and proclaim her a brave little sweetheart. Apparently, he didn't have the heart to do anything mean to the Koorime, so just had her make him a tiny ice sculpture of himself...without the mini-skirt and sweater, of course. Kaeru had made the mistake of asking Kuwabara if he'd ask Yukina to marry him, causing the orange-haired boy to howl "YUKIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINAAAAAAAAAA!" enthusiastically until Hiei had knocked him out with his katana. Rei had taken his place, and dared Hiei to kiss Yukina, who grumbled under his breath, but pecked his sister on the cheek. But the Jaganshi got his revenge.
Soon, Rei was out in the middle of the street, carrying a can of whipped cream, and wearing a lime-green tube top and black mini-skirt, doing a sort of striptease and singing the song "Hot Stuff" from The Full Monty. She had soon created a traffic jam and Kia and Kelsey shook their heads, watching the psychotic priestess howling the song at the top of her lungs. "Shameless," Kia remarked.
When Rei returned, she asked Suzaku the name of the girl who had dubbed him "inexperienced." The Saint Beast had stiffly replied that it was none of her business...but little Kaeru had told Rei her name, and found out that the priestess knew the woman personally. Suzaku flatly refused to make Axe do anything, insisting that it was just a weapon and causing Rei to slap him.
"Alrighty..." Chuu rubbed his hands together after he had changed back to normal clothing (earning a relieved sigh from everyone). "Now it's time for...Spin the Bottle!"
"Chuu-san?" Kaeru cautiously prodded the bottle. "What sort of bottle is this?"
"It's a MAGIC sake bottle, Kaeru!" he told her, grinning. "See, it flashes different colors!"
Mizu rolled her eyes and flicked on the television.
"...In other news, some strange happenings have been occurring in Osaka today. First, a tall man with long black hair molested an elderly woman, but was then dragged off by what we think were his two accomplices. We believe they have kidnapped a young girl, who was seen with them, and have toyed with her hair as a disguise." The newswoman cleared her throat. "Also, a teenage girl...err...displayed the upper half of her body, stunning several passersby. Not too shortly after that, it's been reported that another girl asked a man to marry her...upon his agreement, she promptly screamed and slapped him. This man turned out to be the thirty-year-old pedophile police have been searching for. Finally, a woman clad in unacceptable clothing and doing an obscene dance routine stood out in the street for a full twenty minutes. Albert Jones, a tourist from England, was rushed to the hospital after he had a heart attack and is now in critical condition."
Everyone stared at the TV, mouths dropping open.
"Rei...you...hospitalized some OLD guy!!" Kelsey squeaked, finding her voice at last.
"He...he...he was...a PEDOPHILE??" Kia shrieked angrily. "Okay, UNTIE me NOW! SHISHI, I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!!"
"I didn't molest her!" Kuronue protested. "She ATTACKED me!"
Chitsuko grinned. "Well...back to the game, then?"
*OOC*
Well...like I said, Mizu helped me immensely on this one! Thanks again...^^;; And please review, it always makes my day! Next chapter!
* Spin the Bottle and Seven Minutes in Heaven...it only gets worse, my dears...
* There's a power outage! Why does Hiei feel that something's not right? And WHY THE HELL DID THEY LEAVE KAERU AND YUKINA ALONE?!