CHAPTER 9

AUTHOR NOTE - THANKS!!!!!!!! ARIGATOU SO MUCH!!!!!! AND THANKS FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT ON VINDICTIVE!!!!!! I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!!!!!!

To the rest - THANKS!!!!!!!!!! LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!!! And again, thanks soooooooo much for supporting me in this huge mess!!!!!! Hope you enjoy this chapter!!!!

Disclaimer - I don't own......... *sob*

"Is what you said true?" Keiko repeated, her hands on her hips.

Hiei continued to stammer nonsense words, Keiko not listening. Everything was a lie? Everything he told her was a lie?

Angry tears stung her eyes, and Keiko started running towards the door to leave, but Hiei grabbed her arm, trying to make her listen. "Keiko! Let me at least explain!"

"Just leave me alone!" Keiko shrieked, her hand coming towards Hiei's cheek and slapping him.

His face stung red, his eyes wide with the shock. "I don't ever want to see your face again!" Keiko spit, her eyes glaring at him. Her heart had been finally open, but now........ she had been hurt again. No more. No more.

Keiko ran, her heart beating wildly, her eyes filling with more tears. Continuing to flow endlessly.. never seeming to stop.

Hiei tried running after her, but was lost in the crowd. "Keiko!"

Keiko layed on her bed, her head propped on her pillow, trying to forget the soft touch of his lips against hers. His warm arms encircling her, his crimson eyes burning deep into her soul....

It's time for me to forget him. I have to, in order to live again... I have to. But, I'll never expose my heart again.... An icy frost encircled her heart, her emotions. An icier one than the time Yusuke broke her heart.

*Month later*

Hiei hung up the phone, slamming it down in frustration. He was still trying to get in contact with Keiko, and yet still no luck.

No matter how many times he called, visited, or sent anything, she was never there. He needed Keiko, he couldn't live without her. Somehow, he had to speak with her.

Getting out of the bathroom, Keiko wiped her mouth. It was so strange. For the past two weeks, she'd been throwing up during the mornings. Trying to forget about it, Keiko dressed slowly in a light blue dress with tiny little flower buds on it. Wearing white sandals and her hair down, Keiko left her apartment, going out into the streets.

Her heart still grieved, but Hiei had given her a lot of wonderful memories. Many wonderful feelings. She was grateful to him for letting her have those new emotions.

Walking into a hair salon, Keiko asked the hairdresser, "I have a hair cut appointment. But, is it okay if I'm a little bit early?"

"Why of course. Come on in."

"Hope you like your new do!" a voice called out of the opening door.

Keiko smiled a small smile and left, her dress swishing back and forth.

Somehow, she felt refreshed and cleansed. Not the old Keiko, but a new Keiko. It was time to abandon her old life, abandon her old self.

After a few hours of shopping, Keiko got into her place and closed the door behind her. Walking to her room, Keiko put in her new clothes and looked at her new image. She liked it. Her brown hair was up to the middle of her neck, and she had gotten red high lights in them. Keiko smiled at her reflection and felt happy with the way she looked.

Keiko heard the door open and close once more and headed downstairs. Now she had to go tell Botan her other big news.

"Botan!" Keiko yelled, running to where she was.

"Keiko! I love your new hair style!" Botan cried, hugging her

"Thanks." Keiko said smiling. "There's another reason why I wanted to talk to you though."

"Okay then, shoot."

Keiko bit her lip, trying to be calm, "I'm moving to Kyoto."

_____________________________________________________________

Author Note - CLIFFY!!! MUWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! Lol. Anyways, Hope you like it!!!!!!!! And GOMEN GOMEN for making it short.

PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!