DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own any of the characters in this story. NONE. Do you understand that? I don't make any money off of this, either, I just find pleasure in writing fan fictions. Thank you.
~Chapter Two: Stalker~
When Hotaru, Trista, and Michelle got home, Amara was watching TV.
"What took you guys so long?" Amara asked.
"We weren't out that long, Amara." Michelle said, sitting down next to her.
"We did make a couple of friends, though." Trista said, and then looked at Hotaru. "Didn't we, Hotaru?"
"Well, you saw how Hiei was acting." Hotaru sighed, "He doesn't want to be friends with me. But, it seems that Kurama and I are friends, I guess."
"The way he was acting?" Michelle asked, "Hotaru, he was blushing the whole time! I think he likes you, but just doesn't want to show it."
"But, Michelle... why does he act so mean then?"
"Because that's how some boys are sometimes. They don't want you to think that they like you, so they pretend to hate you."
Hotaru still wasn't sure. She hadn't noticed him blushing.
"And if I didn't know any better," Trista said cheerfully, "I'd say that you like him too. That look that you gave him when we left the bookstore was a dead giveaway."
Hotaru started to blush. It was true, she did like him, but if Hiei didn't want to take interest in her, then there was no point in taking interest in him. Was there?
"Ah, you do!" Amara said, seeing Hotaru blushing.
"No! I can't like him if he doesn't like me!" Hotaru answered.
"He does like you, I can tell." Michelle explained.
Hotaru said nothing more, and went to her bedroom.
'I wonder if I'll meet him again?' Hotaru wondered, staring out her window, 'It certainly would be nice if I could make another friend. Even if it is someone as rude and stubborn as he seems to be.'
*
Weeks passed, and Hotaru hadn't seen Hiei, or Kurama, for that matter, ever since they had met at the bookstore. But still, she thought of Hiei all of the time. She wanted to get to know him - if only he would let her. She promised herself that if she saw him again, she would try her hardest to talk with him.
Hotaru was returning more borrowed books to the library when she saw Kurama nearby.
"Kurama!" She said quietly (this was a library after all), "Hi!"
"Hello, Hotaru." Kurama said, equally quiet, "What brings you here?"
"I'm returning some books. Hey, I'm just curious, but, is Hiei here with you?"
"I'm sorry, no, unfortunately he isn't."
"That's alright. I was just wondering. But the next time you see him, could you tell him that I would like to talk with him some time?"
"I'll tell him, but you must understand that he may refuse. However, I think that for you, he could very possibly agree."
"Really? Why is that?"
"Just a feeling, that's all."
"Oh, okay. Well, thank you, Kurama, but I should get home now."
"Alright. I'll see you again, and you're very welcome."
Hotaru turned away and headed home. She had a feeling that she would most likely be seeing Hiei some time soon.
*
"No." Hiei said flatly.
"Come now, Hiei, she only wants to talk with you." Kurama explained, "Why won't you talk to her?"
"She's a human!"
"And?"
"I don't want to waste my time making human friends, Kurama. Why she wants to get to know me so badly, I don't know, but she won't get to."
"Hiei, she is willing to give you a chance, why aren't you?"
"Hn."
"Hiei, just give it a chance. Try to get to know someone for a change."
"No!"
"Hiei, I know that you want to talk with her as badly as she wants to talk to you."
"No I don't. If I did, why would I be refusing?"
"Because that's what you do."
Kurama was right, but Hiei didn't want to admit it. Hiei didn't know why, but he did want to meet with Hotaru again.
"What if you did this for me, Hiei?" Kurama asked, "I want to see you make a friend, or at least try to. Please, Hiei, just talk to her!"
"Hn."
There was a long silence.
"Fine." Hiei said, surrendering the argument, "Fine, you win, I'll talk to her. But only because I know that you'll never let me live this down if I don't."
Kurama smiled.
"Thank you, Hiei." Kurama said.
Hiei rolled his eyes and left, leaving behind only a momentary blur of black and white where he had been.
*
When she got home, Hotaru told Michelle, Amara, and Trista that she had met with Kurama at the library, and said that Kurama was going to try and get Hiei to talk to her.
"That's great, Hotaru." Michelle said.
"Yes, maybe you will get to know this boy after all." Trista said.
"Just don't be crushed if he still acts mean to you, Hotaru." Amara told her.
"I won't be. If he doesn't want to get to know me, then I'll respect that."
"And like I said before," Trista said, "If he doesn't want to get to know you, then he is missing out on a great friendship."
"Thanks Trista." Hotaru said, giving her a hug.
Hotaru retreated to her room.
*
"Where are you off to?" Trista asked Hotaru, who was about to leave the house.
"I'm going to go to the antique shop, to see if they have any new lamps yet."
"Okay, take your time." Michelle said.
So Hotaru left.
She didn't find anything in the shop that particularly interested her today, so she wasn't there long. But when she came out of the store, Hiei approached her.
"Oh, hi Hiei!" Hotaru said, glad to see him.
"Kurama told me that you wanted to talk to me." Hiei answered, "What about?"
"I didn't have anything in mind really, I just thought that maybe you and I could get to know each other before you decide that you don't want to be friends."
Hiei said nothing, so Hotaru continued.
"So, would you like to go for a walk with me?" Hotaru questioned.
"Fine." Hiei replied.
They walked for a long while, and neither of them said a word. No longer being able to stand it, Hotaru broke the silence.
"So, Hiei, what are your hobbies?" She asked him.
"Sword-fighting."
Hotaru had expected him to say more, but she could still carry this conversation further.
"Sword-fighting, huh? That's cool, not a lot of people know how to use a sword. Are you good at it?"
"Of course I am."
"That's really impressive. I like to read. And I collect lamps."
"Lamps?"
"Yeah, I know it sounds weird, but I do."
"Why?"
"I don't know... I just like them, I guess."
Silence once again fell. Neither of them had anything to say. Hotaru feared that this was going to end sooner than she had expected, and she hadn't gotten to know anything about him except that he likes sword fighting. But then, two boys came up to them. One had black hair that was combed back, and the other had orange hair.
"Hey, Hiei, who's this?" Asked the one with black hair.
"Hello, Sweetie," said the one with orange hair, taking Hotaru's hand in his, "What are you doing hanging around with someone like Shorty over here?"
Hotaru pulled her hand back and glared at the boy.
"My name is Hotaru." She said, looking away from him.
"Ignore this idiot, Hotaru," said the other one with black hair, "He does this to every girl he sees. I'm Yusuke, he's Kuwabarra."
"It's nice to meet you..." Hotaru said, "I guess..."
"What do you two want?" Hiei asked, obviously annoyed of their presence.
"It's not every day that we see you with a pretty girl, you know." Kuwabarra stated, "So it's only natural that we wanted to come and see what was up."
"So, Hiei, is she a friend of yours?" Yusuke asked.
"Hn." Hiei groaned. But this time, Hotaru did see him blushing. Maybe Michelle and Trista were right. Maybe he did like her more than he was pretending to.
"Hotaru," Kuwabarra said, "If he's being mean to you, then allow me to take you away from him. We can go to the arcade."
"No, thank you, he isn't being mean to me. And I don't want to go anywhere with you, I'm sorry."
"Oh..." Kuwabarra sighed, stepping back. Hotaru saw Hiei smirk.
"Kuwabarra, come on," Yusuke said, "We need to get to the theatre, Keiko's waiting." So the two of them left, and Hotaru and Hiei continued walking.
"Were they friends of yours, Hiei?" Hotaru asked.
"Hn. More like allies." He answered.
"Oh. They seemed so much more... immature than you are. Well, actually, Yusuke seemed all right... I guess... but Kuwabarra was... childish... to say the least. Forgive me if you disagree."
"Not at all." Hiei said, smiling, "I can't stand that fool."
"So it looks like we have at least one thing in common."
"I guess we do."
By now, they had made it to Hotaru's house. Hotaru hadn't realized that they had been going in that direction until now.
"Hey, this is my house, I should go now. It was nice getting to talk to you, Hiei. I'll see you again, maybe?"
"Maybe." Hiei answered her. Hotaru said goodbye and went into her house.
"Was that Hiei that I saw out there?" Trista asked when Hotaru came in the door.
"Yes, it was." Hotaru answered with a smile. She looked out the window, but by now he was gone.
"How nice, he actually walked you home?" Michele questioned.
"Not intentionally." Hotaru replied, "I don't think he knew where we were going. I didn't even realize where we were going."
"Well I'm glad that he talked to you. He didn't seem very talkative at the bookstore." Trista stated.
"He isn't." Hotaru admitted, "He doesn't say much. I think he likes keeping things to himself."
*
That night, Hiei returned to Hotaru's house, but made sure that no one knew that he was there. He sat in a tree outside, watching Hotaru. He knew that Hotaru wanted to get to know him, and he wanted to get to know her as well. But not in the same way that she wanted. He didn't want to get to know her through conversation. He would observe her from a distance, keeping himself secret, and eventually learn all about her. But there was going to be a problem: he had to hide it from everyone, and that meant Kurama. Word couldn't get out that Hiei felt something for Hotaru, but Hiei knew that Kurama would most likely be able to tell; he's good at that kind of thing.
Hiei watched Hotaru until she had fallen asleep, and then left. He would continue his watch tomorrow.
*
The next day, Kurama and Hiei were at the park. Hiei, as usual, was sitting in a tree.
"Did you ever talk to Hotaru, Hiei?" Kurama asked.
"Yes." Hiei replied.
"Really?"
"Yes!"
"Good. What was it that she wanted to talk with you about?"
"That is none of your business, Kurama."
"I know it isn't, I just wanted to know. If you don't want to tell me, then don't. But please tell me this: did it go well?"
"It went fine."
"Why aren't you telling me anything?" Kurama asked curiously.
"Hn." Hiei grunted, and jumped down from the tree.
"Where are you going?" Kurama asked.
"Does it matter?"
Without saying anything more, Hiei once again vanished in a blur of black and white.
*
So again, Hiei stayed in the tree and watched Hotaru. He still remained unknown, and followed Hotaru if she went anywhere by standing on buildings, telephone poles, and trees. When there was nothing, (such as when the trees around weren't high enough, or a building was too high, or Hotaru went in a store) he would walk behind her, out of sight.
These activities went on for about a week, and Hotaru didn't suspect anything. But Kurama did.
Hotaru had gone to the bookstore one day, and Hiei followed, of course. He hadn't counted on seeing Kurama there.
"Hiei, what are you doing here?" Kurama asked, "I thought that you hated this place."
"Hn." Hiei grunted.
Kurama's eyes soon found Hotaru.
"Are you here with her?" Kurama questioned.
"Not exactly." Hiei responded.
"Oh, I get it. You're following her, aren't you? That's why I haven't seen much of you lately, isn't it?"
"Hn."
"Just admit it, Hiei. I know that's what's going on."
"Ssh."
Hotaru had seen them and was now coming towards them.
"Hi Hiei." Hotaru said with a smile, "Hello, Kurama. How have you two been?"
"Great. You?" Kurama replied.
"Good." Hotaru's eyes met Hiei's. "It's nice to see you again, Hiei."
Hiei nodded, but stayed silent.
"Hey, I was wondering," Hotaru said, still with the same sweet smile, and still looking Hiei in the eyes, "Would you like to go to the movies some time?" Her eyes moved and looked at Kurama, "You too, of course, Kurama. All three of us." She looked at Hiei again. "What do you say?"
Kurama could tell that Hiei was about to refuse the offer, so he quickly answered, "Yes, we would love too." He glanced at Hiei. "Wouldn't we, Hiei?"
Hiei glared at Kurama, but now he couldn't back out. So he nodded.
"That's great!" Hotaru exclaimed, "How about this weekend, then?"
"Sure. That sounds fine." Kurama agreed. Hiei stayed silent, still glaring at Kurama.
"Okay! I'll see you then!" Hotaru walked away.
"Kurama." Hiei said, "Why did you agree to that?"
"Hiei, you've never been to the movies." Kurama stated, "I thought that it would be fun. For both of us."
"Hn."
(A/N: Wow! I'm glad that you all like it, I had hoped that you would. As always, I thank you for taking the time to read this. If you have any questions, comments, suggestions, criticism, or anything else, feel free to say so! -and if it's a suggestion, I ALWAYS consider them.- ~Starflash)
~Chapter Two: Stalker~
When Hotaru, Trista, and Michelle got home, Amara was watching TV.
"What took you guys so long?" Amara asked.
"We weren't out that long, Amara." Michelle said, sitting down next to her.
"We did make a couple of friends, though." Trista said, and then looked at Hotaru. "Didn't we, Hotaru?"
"Well, you saw how Hiei was acting." Hotaru sighed, "He doesn't want to be friends with me. But, it seems that Kurama and I are friends, I guess."
"The way he was acting?" Michelle asked, "Hotaru, he was blushing the whole time! I think he likes you, but just doesn't want to show it."
"But, Michelle... why does he act so mean then?"
"Because that's how some boys are sometimes. They don't want you to think that they like you, so they pretend to hate you."
Hotaru still wasn't sure. She hadn't noticed him blushing.
"And if I didn't know any better," Trista said cheerfully, "I'd say that you like him too. That look that you gave him when we left the bookstore was a dead giveaway."
Hotaru started to blush. It was true, she did like him, but if Hiei didn't want to take interest in her, then there was no point in taking interest in him. Was there?
"Ah, you do!" Amara said, seeing Hotaru blushing.
"No! I can't like him if he doesn't like me!" Hotaru answered.
"He does like you, I can tell." Michelle explained.
Hotaru said nothing more, and went to her bedroom.
'I wonder if I'll meet him again?' Hotaru wondered, staring out her window, 'It certainly would be nice if I could make another friend. Even if it is someone as rude and stubborn as he seems to be.'
*
Weeks passed, and Hotaru hadn't seen Hiei, or Kurama, for that matter, ever since they had met at the bookstore. But still, she thought of Hiei all of the time. She wanted to get to know him - if only he would let her. She promised herself that if she saw him again, she would try her hardest to talk with him.
Hotaru was returning more borrowed books to the library when she saw Kurama nearby.
"Kurama!" She said quietly (this was a library after all), "Hi!"
"Hello, Hotaru." Kurama said, equally quiet, "What brings you here?"
"I'm returning some books. Hey, I'm just curious, but, is Hiei here with you?"
"I'm sorry, no, unfortunately he isn't."
"That's alright. I was just wondering. But the next time you see him, could you tell him that I would like to talk with him some time?"
"I'll tell him, but you must understand that he may refuse. However, I think that for you, he could very possibly agree."
"Really? Why is that?"
"Just a feeling, that's all."
"Oh, okay. Well, thank you, Kurama, but I should get home now."
"Alright. I'll see you again, and you're very welcome."
Hotaru turned away and headed home. She had a feeling that she would most likely be seeing Hiei some time soon.
*
"No." Hiei said flatly.
"Come now, Hiei, she only wants to talk with you." Kurama explained, "Why won't you talk to her?"
"She's a human!"
"And?"
"I don't want to waste my time making human friends, Kurama. Why she wants to get to know me so badly, I don't know, but she won't get to."
"Hiei, she is willing to give you a chance, why aren't you?"
"Hn."
"Hiei, just give it a chance. Try to get to know someone for a change."
"No!"
"Hiei, I know that you want to talk with her as badly as she wants to talk to you."
"No I don't. If I did, why would I be refusing?"
"Because that's what you do."
Kurama was right, but Hiei didn't want to admit it. Hiei didn't know why, but he did want to meet with Hotaru again.
"What if you did this for me, Hiei?" Kurama asked, "I want to see you make a friend, or at least try to. Please, Hiei, just talk to her!"
"Hn."
There was a long silence.
"Fine." Hiei said, surrendering the argument, "Fine, you win, I'll talk to her. But only because I know that you'll never let me live this down if I don't."
Kurama smiled.
"Thank you, Hiei." Kurama said.
Hiei rolled his eyes and left, leaving behind only a momentary blur of black and white where he had been.
*
When she got home, Hotaru told Michelle, Amara, and Trista that she had met with Kurama at the library, and said that Kurama was going to try and get Hiei to talk to her.
"That's great, Hotaru." Michelle said.
"Yes, maybe you will get to know this boy after all." Trista said.
"Just don't be crushed if he still acts mean to you, Hotaru." Amara told her.
"I won't be. If he doesn't want to get to know me, then I'll respect that."
"And like I said before," Trista said, "If he doesn't want to get to know you, then he is missing out on a great friendship."
"Thanks Trista." Hotaru said, giving her a hug.
Hotaru retreated to her room.
*
"Where are you off to?" Trista asked Hotaru, who was about to leave the house.
"I'm going to go to the antique shop, to see if they have any new lamps yet."
"Okay, take your time." Michelle said.
So Hotaru left.
She didn't find anything in the shop that particularly interested her today, so she wasn't there long. But when she came out of the store, Hiei approached her.
"Oh, hi Hiei!" Hotaru said, glad to see him.
"Kurama told me that you wanted to talk to me." Hiei answered, "What about?"
"I didn't have anything in mind really, I just thought that maybe you and I could get to know each other before you decide that you don't want to be friends."
Hiei said nothing, so Hotaru continued.
"So, would you like to go for a walk with me?" Hotaru questioned.
"Fine." Hiei replied.
They walked for a long while, and neither of them said a word. No longer being able to stand it, Hotaru broke the silence.
"So, Hiei, what are your hobbies?" She asked him.
"Sword-fighting."
Hotaru had expected him to say more, but she could still carry this conversation further.
"Sword-fighting, huh? That's cool, not a lot of people know how to use a sword. Are you good at it?"
"Of course I am."
"That's really impressive. I like to read. And I collect lamps."
"Lamps?"
"Yeah, I know it sounds weird, but I do."
"Why?"
"I don't know... I just like them, I guess."
Silence once again fell. Neither of them had anything to say. Hotaru feared that this was going to end sooner than she had expected, and she hadn't gotten to know anything about him except that he likes sword fighting. But then, two boys came up to them. One had black hair that was combed back, and the other had orange hair.
"Hey, Hiei, who's this?" Asked the one with black hair.
"Hello, Sweetie," said the one with orange hair, taking Hotaru's hand in his, "What are you doing hanging around with someone like Shorty over here?"
Hotaru pulled her hand back and glared at the boy.
"My name is Hotaru." She said, looking away from him.
"Ignore this idiot, Hotaru," said the other one with black hair, "He does this to every girl he sees. I'm Yusuke, he's Kuwabarra."
"It's nice to meet you..." Hotaru said, "I guess..."
"What do you two want?" Hiei asked, obviously annoyed of their presence.
"It's not every day that we see you with a pretty girl, you know." Kuwabarra stated, "So it's only natural that we wanted to come and see what was up."
"So, Hiei, is she a friend of yours?" Yusuke asked.
"Hn." Hiei groaned. But this time, Hotaru did see him blushing. Maybe Michelle and Trista were right. Maybe he did like her more than he was pretending to.
"Hotaru," Kuwabarra said, "If he's being mean to you, then allow me to take you away from him. We can go to the arcade."
"No, thank you, he isn't being mean to me. And I don't want to go anywhere with you, I'm sorry."
"Oh..." Kuwabarra sighed, stepping back. Hotaru saw Hiei smirk.
"Kuwabarra, come on," Yusuke said, "We need to get to the theatre, Keiko's waiting." So the two of them left, and Hotaru and Hiei continued walking.
"Were they friends of yours, Hiei?" Hotaru asked.
"Hn. More like allies." He answered.
"Oh. They seemed so much more... immature than you are. Well, actually, Yusuke seemed all right... I guess... but Kuwabarra was... childish... to say the least. Forgive me if you disagree."
"Not at all." Hiei said, smiling, "I can't stand that fool."
"So it looks like we have at least one thing in common."
"I guess we do."
By now, they had made it to Hotaru's house. Hotaru hadn't realized that they had been going in that direction until now.
"Hey, this is my house, I should go now. It was nice getting to talk to you, Hiei. I'll see you again, maybe?"
"Maybe." Hiei answered her. Hotaru said goodbye and went into her house.
"Was that Hiei that I saw out there?" Trista asked when Hotaru came in the door.
"Yes, it was." Hotaru answered with a smile. She looked out the window, but by now he was gone.
"How nice, he actually walked you home?" Michele questioned.
"Not intentionally." Hotaru replied, "I don't think he knew where we were going. I didn't even realize where we were going."
"Well I'm glad that he talked to you. He didn't seem very talkative at the bookstore." Trista stated.
"He isn't." Hotaru admitted, "He doesn't say much. I think he likes keeping things to himself."
*
That night, Hiei returned to Hotaru's house, but made sure that no one knew that he was there. He sat in a tree outside, watching Hotaru. He knew that Hotaru wanted to get to know him, and he wanted to get to know her as well. But not in the same way that she wanted. He didn't want to get to know her through conversation. He would observe her from a distance, keeping himself secret, and eventually learn all about her. But there was going to be a problem: he had to hide it from everyone, and that meant Kurama. Word couldn't get out that Hiei felt something for Hotaru, but Hiei knew that Kurama would most likely be able to tell; he's good at that kind of thing.
Hiei watched Hotaru until she had fallen asleep, and then left. He would continue his watch tomorrow.
*
The next day, Kurama and Hiei were at the park. Hiei, as usual, was sitting in a tree.
"Did you ever talk to Hotaru, Hiei?" Kurama asked.
"Yes." Hiei replied.
"Really?"
"Yes!"
"Good. What was it that she wanted to talk with you about?"
"That is none of your business, Kurama."
"I know it isn't, I just wanted to know. If you don't want to tell me, then don't. But please tell me this: did it go well?"
"It went fine."
"Why aren't you telling me anything?" Kurama asked curiously.
"Hn." Hiei grunted, and jumped down from the tree.
"Where are you going?" Kurama asked.
"Does it matter?"
Without saying anything more, Hiei once again vanished in a blur of black and white.
*
So again, Hiei stayed in the tree and watched Hotaru. He still remained unknown, and followed Hotaru if she went anywhere by standing on buildings, telephone poles, and trees. When there was nothing, (such as when the trees around weren't high enough, or a building was too high, or Hotaru went in a store) he would walk behind her, out of sight.
These activities went on for about a week, and Hotaru didn't suspect anything. But Kurama did.
Hotaru had gone to the bookstore one day, and Hiei followed, of course. He hadn't counted on seeing Kurama there.
"Hiei, what are you doing here?" Kurama asked, "I thought that you hated this place."
"Hn." Hiei grunted.
Kurama's eyes soon found Hotaru.
"Are you here with her?" Kurama questioned.
"Not exactly." Hiei responded.
"Oh, I get it. You're following her, aren't you? That's why I haven't seen much of you lately, isn't it?"
"Hn."
"Just admit it, Hiei. I know that's what's going on."
"Ssh."
Hotaru had seen them and was now coming towards them.
"Hi Hiei." Hotaru said with a smile, "Hello, Kurama. How have you two been?"
"Great. You?" Kurama replied.
"Good." Hotaru's eyes met Hiei's. "It's nice to see you again, Hiei."
Hiei nodded, but stayed silent.
"Hey, I was wondering," Hotaru said, still with the same sweet smile, and still looking Hiei in the eyes, "Would you like to go to the movies some time?" Her eyes moved and looked at Kurama, "You too, of course, Kurama. All three of us." She looked at Hiei again. "What do you say?"
Kurama could tell that Hiei was about to refuse the offer, so he quickly answered, "Yes, we would love too." He glanced at Hiei. "Wouldn't we, Hiei?"
Hiei glared at Kurama, but now he couldn't back out. So he nodded.
"That's great!" Hotaru exclaimed, "How about this weekend, then?"
"Sure. That sounds fine." Kurama agreed. Hiei stayed silent, still glaring at Kurama.
"Okay! I'll see you then!" Hotaru walked away.
"Kurama." Hiei said, "Why did you agree to that?"
"Hiei, you've never been to the movies." Kurama stated, "I thought that it would be fun. For both of us."
"Hn."
(A/N: Wow! I'm glad that you all like it, I had hoped that you would. As always, I thank you for taking the time to read this. If you have any questions, comments, suggestions, criticism, or anything else, feel free to say so! -and if it's a suggestion, I ALWAYS consider them.- ~Starflash)
