~*~*~*~*~ Chapter 10 ~*~*~*~*~

Keiko pushed Kurama and Hiei into the car and positioned herself in the driver's seat. She started the car and like a woman possessed, backed out of the driveway and zipped off, in search of the proper car to follow.

Keiko glared. The glare wasn't directed at anything in particular, she just needed to vent her anger. And glaring seemed the most healthy way to do it. Keiko turned a corner and spotted a car just a little ways ahead of them. It was obviously this "Hakuma's" car for she could easily spot Botan's long, blue, hair on the passenger side. She immediately eased of the gas and slowed down enough to stay a good deal behind them while still keeping them in sight.

Kurama, who had been waiting patiently for some for some explanation as to why he had been forced in the car, looked up as the car slowed down. He glanced out the windshield to see the cause of Keiko's change in speed and saw it immediately. In the car ahead of them were two people, a man and a woman. The man didn't look all that familiar but the woman's blue hair gave her away immediately.

"Keiko? May I inquire as to what we are doing?" Kurama asked looking suspiciously at the car in front of them.

Keiko stopped her glaring and visibly paled. She bit her lip and chewed it pensively. Answering his question proved difficult. Not that she didn't know the answer, but telling him it probably wouldn't be a wise choice at this particular step in her plan. As she saw it, she had two choices: The first would be to tell him the truth. The second was to give him a very vague answer and hope it threw him off her trail.

The truth (If she were to tell him it.) went something like: "Well, Kurama, you see, for the past few months I've been sort of playing cupid. And as luck would have it, you and Botan have been chosen as my first subjects! I chose you two, because it occurred to me that she was lonely and thought you were the perfect match for her! And I know she likes you! I know! But going out with this 'Hakuma' person is ruining everything! So, I have to follow them to see if they hit it off!"

Keiko glanced sideways at Kurama and decided that may not be the best way thing to tell him. So, she went with the latter.

"I'm..." Drat! She'd forgotten she was a horrible liar! She must think of something! Think, think, think. Okay... "I'm making sure she's not going out with an axe murder. That's all."

"Axe murder?" Kurama looked at her skeptically, very skeptically, but didn't press the matter. He nodded and faced the front. Keiko must have her reasons, however strange they may be. After a moment's silence he commented, "They seem to be heading toward the coffee shop by the park."

Keiko nodded and turned down an adjoining street to take the longer route.

Okay, I think that lie threw him off. Best not press my luck.

~*~*~*~*~

Hakuma pulled into the coffee shop's parking lot and he and Botan got out of the car. He graciously held the door open for Botan and strode in after her. He grinned sheepishly as Botan thanked him and said, "There's a table over there. I'll order something and be right there."

"Okay!" Botan agreed, eyeing said table. She sat down and admired her surroundings. She'd personally never been in a coffee shop before, though she'd heard all about them. It was cozy enough. There were a few tables but hardly enough to keep a large number of people seated. Obviously, the shop was meant to just be a sort of "stop and go" place. It was nice though.

She nodded as Hakuma sat down and placed a steaming cup in front of her.

"So, Hakuma..." she began, looking for way to break the ice, "Do you have a dog? I love dogs! Particularly foxes..."

~*~*~*~*~

Keiko grabbed Hiei and Kurama's wrists and bolted through the front door and nearly crashed into the table she'd been aiming for. At the last moment she ducked and dived under the table, catching a few awkward glances from the people at the tables nearby.

"Woman! I've tried to be patient with you but you are flirting with my last nerve!" Hiei snapped after straightening himself.

Keiko shushed him angrily and sat up so she could peer over the table.

"Why you insolent-"

"Really, Keiko, I must insist you tell us what's going on," Kurama cut Hiei's rebuke short.

Keiko sat back down on the floor and muttered, "Good, they're just talking." She evidently hadn't heard Kurama.

Kurama sighed resignedly. These girls were getting weirder every day.

"Hmm...This floor isn't a very good look out spot." Keiko continued with her monologue. But she couldn't risk a better spot for fear of Botan spotting them. They needed some sort of cover. Keiko gazed around the shop for something useful.

"Ah! This'll do."

She crawled over to a nearby man's table and tugged on his pant leg in order to get his attention. Startled, the man looked down.

"Excuse me sir, but could I use your newspaper?"

It was all he could do gape at this strange girl.

"Please sir! I'll give it right back!" Keiko pleaded.

Mouth still wide open he handed his newspaper to her.

She gave the nearest thing to a bow as she could, "Thank you!" and she crawled back to Hiei and Kurama. Both of them were giving her strange looks, but not to the extent of the man's. This was probably due to the fact they were used to this sort of behavior. Though, they'd never expect it from her. When Kurama had first met her, he'd thought she was the most normal of the group. This recent behavior was proving him wrong, very wrong.

"Okay, take one of these," Keiko divided the paper into the three sections. Holding the paper in front of her face she climbed into the chair. Kurama followed, though somewhat reluctantly. He was just happy to be off the floor. Hiei grunted and did the same. Keiko looked expectantly over the top of the news paper to the table Hakuma and Botan were sitting at.

Kurama looked over at them, as well. And was surprised to find he did know this mysterious Hakuma. Why it was none other than the pale man from the laser tag place! He looked over at Hiei to tell him this but he found his friend staring fixedly at the crossword puzzle.

"Oh! I can't hear a thing!" Keiko complained, trying desperately to read lips.

"Well, we are very far away," Kurama said pointedly.

"Then we'll just have to move closer. Follow me."

Keiko stood up, still holding the paper in front of her face and made way across the room. She dived into an open chair and a table merely feet away from Botan. Kurama and Hiei slipped into the chairs next to her and listened.

"And that's what the song 'Ring Around the Rosy' is about!" Botan exclaimed cheerfully, lifting her coffee for a drink.

"Oh..." Hakuma began, somewhat mystified, "That's... somewhat morbid, actually."

"Oh! It's horrible!" Botan agreed, "Don't even get me started on 'Three Blind Mice'!"

Hakuma shook his head, "I'd rather not know."

Botan laughed at Hakuma's squeamishness. And took another drink from her coffee only to find she had none left, "Oh dear! I'm out!"

Hakuma nodded and looked at his cup, which actually hadn't touched. It was still filled to the brim. He slid the cup aside so she wouldn't notice, "You know, Botan, I'm very happy you came with me today."

Botan smiled cheerfully, "Oh! It was nothing! It was nice talking to you." She looked around for a trash container. (Not even noticing the three newspaper-reading people at the table a little ways over.)

Hakuma returned her smile, but with a more sly appearance, "I hope to see you again." He inched towards her and leaned forward, his face a measly inch from hers. Botan noticed this and shifted her weight away from Hakuma, hoping he'd get the hint.

Kurama had forgotten his newspaper, it lay abandoned on the table. He glowered at this pale creature, what did he think he was doing? He didn't even notice as Keiko signaled him to pick his disguise up.

Botan smiled weakly, he still wasn't getting the hint and he was leaning dangerously close. Hakuma mistook her smile and groped Botan's leg.

Kurama sprang to his feet.

Botan fell out of her chair.

She yelped and closed her eyes in preparation for the impact. But instead of meeting the floor she felt something surprisingly soft. Had the floor been carpeted and she hadn't noticed? She opened her eyes to see.

"Kurama?"

But Kurama wasn't looking at her. He was sending a seething look in Hakuma's direction. He looked positively livid. Looking past his shoulder, Botan could she the two stunned faces of Hiei and Keiko.

Hakuma looked as though he would faint from shock. He was actually shaking with fear. Clumsily, he stumbled to his feet and grasped the back of the chair for support. Eyes wide with fear, he cast a wary glance around him. The entire coffee shop was watching them by now. Hakuma turned back to Kurama, he looked as though he would strangle him at any moment. Not wanting him to follow out with this action he darted for the door.

With Hakuma gone, Kurama's expression softened and he help Botan to her feat.

"Are you all right?"

"Yes," she muttered weakly.

Hiei and Keiko stood up and walked over to them, Hiei's glares making the onlookers look away.

Keiko clapped her hands together in order to ebb the tension, "Let's go home, then."

~*~*~*~*~

Hakuma fumbled out of the coffee shop with a speed that would be hard pressed to match. He didn't bother with the car. It wasn't his anyway. He ran down the street and turned a corner into an alley. He didn't want to deal with anything right now. He was fairly upset with is recent failure and didn't want to deal with anything at the moment.

He sat down on a box and slumped over. He cursed vehemently. Twice he'd had his chance and twice his plans were foiled! By the same man! Quite frankly, Hakuma was growing sick of it. If he were ever to get his plans completed, he'd have to dispose of that meddlesome, red-headed, idiot!

"Oh, and I'll find a very painful way to do it too! Humiliating me twice! Oh, I'd like to wring his filthy little neck!" Hakuma demonstrated this by wringing the invisible neck in front of him.

"Hahahaha! You are a scream Hakuma!"

Hakuma looked up and glared, "It's not nice to sneak up on people, Arisu," he said grudgingly.

"Oh! But it's so fun to listen to you rant!" Arisu countered with a giggle.

Hakuma regarded his sister with indignation, "Leave me be, wench."

Arisu flipped her long white hair back as she laughed, "And where is this girl you've been talking of? Didn't you say she'd be yours by this time today?"

Hakuma grunted, "I've met an obstacle in my plans. Don't worry. He'll be disposed of soon."

Arisu arched her eyebrow, "Is this the man who humiliated you twice?"

Hakuma didn't reply.

"How's about I get out the Big Book of Tortures and we see if we can find a suitable death for him?"

Hakuma nodded, "Very well..."

~*~*~*~*~

Ugh... It's late, I'm tired, and I want sleep. G'night everybody!

Please don't hate me.