*Anemone's attic...Ellen's arrived...and Kurama's...well...still knocked out...but, on a lighter note, Mirai Trunks was able to teach Hiei how to play the drums in an hour's time, and since Hiei's REALLY quick at adapting, he's actually become a VERY good drummer*
Anemone: *first to notice readers, tuning her guitar* hey there!! We actually got into practicing a song! We've got the music all set but...*turns to the far corner, Kurama propped against the wall* we can't practice the vocals until our lead is...well, you know...conscious...
Mirai Trunks: *examining Kurama's injury again* Hiei really plowed him a good one to the head...
Hiei: for the last time!! He's FINE!
Everyone: *blinks at Kurama, brief pause, glares at Hiei*
Ellen: Hiei, um...NO! You decked him upside the head with a freakin' symbol! He looks dead!
Anemone: *pokes Kurama* hmm...he doesn't SEEM to be dead...
Hiei: Kitsune is strong. Leave him alone. He'll wake up...eventually...tomorrow tops...
Ellen: TOMORROW?!
Anemone and Mirai Trunks: *heavy annoyed sighs*
Anemone: looks like we gotta put a hold on practicing...
Ellen: but...
Anneliese: ...but?
Ellen: but...!
Mirai Trunks: what?
Ellen: erm...I kinda need him to wake up...like, now...
Anneliese: why?
Ellen: er...
Hiei: *looks reeeeeeeeally narrowly at her* what did you do...?
Ellen: I already planned a gig.
Anemone and Mirai Trunks: WHAT?!
Anemone: for when?!?
Ellen: er...
Mirai Trunks: er?! What does 'er' mean?!
Ellen: ...soon-ish...
Anneliese: how soon...?
Ellen: like...really soon...
Hiei: ...like, next week type of soon...?
Ellen: no...
Mirai Trunks: then what...?
Ellen: like...tonight...
Everyone: WHAT?!!
Anemone: *shakes Kurama* FOX! WAKE UP!! *jerks him back with every word* WE, NEED, YOUR, VOICE!! AND, YOUR, PIANO SKILLS!!! *shaking him frantically*
Mirai Trunks: okay...okay everyone calm down...
Hiei: dammit...*turns to Anemone* what the hell are we going to do, Onna?
Anneliese: Hiei, you knocked him out...WAKE HIM UP!!
Hiei: how the hell am I supposed to do that?!
Mirai Trunks: hmm...*walks out of the room, re-enters holding a rose*
Anemone: Future...?
Mirai Trunks: wave this in front of his nose, Mones.
Anemone: OH MY GOD YOU'RE A GENIUS, TRUNKS!! *pecks him on the cheek, takes rose, waves it in front of Kurama's nose*
Kurama: *begins to stir slightly, and, still mostly unconscious smiles* mm...Botan...
Anemone Anneliese and Ellen: huh?
Kurama: *still partially unconscious, jerks at Anemone and frenches her*
Anemone: *muffled, wide-eyed* Mfhf?!?!
Mirai Trunks: *blushing insanely in anger* KURAMA!!
Anemone: *decks him upside the head* FOX!
Kurama: *jerking in all directions, confused and scared, rubbing his head, not remembering what he just did in his sleep* what?! What happened?!
Anemone and Mirai Trunks: *both blushing insanely* I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU DID THAT!!
Kurama: what?! What did I do?!
Hiei: LOL...*collapses off his drummer stool in laughter* ...my GOD Kitsune!! PRICELESS! LOL LOL!!
Kurama: what happened?! Why's everyone yelling at me?!
Anneliese and Ellen: *snicker* WOW...lol...
Mirai Trunks: *growling to himself, still blushing*
Hiei: *still hysterical*
Kurama: what, did, I, DO?!
Anemone: *grunts in frustration, turns to readers, still blushing* erm...apparently he thought I was Botan-
Kurama: -oh my God, I did?! Mones what did I do to you?!-
Anemone: -but, erm...no harm done, I guess-
Mirai Trunks: -what do you mean by that?!
Anemone: shh! Okay I gotta go talk to my boyfriend-
Hiei: -lol who, Kurama?
Anemone: NO! MIRAI TRUNKS!!
Kurama: for the last time!! WHAT DID I DO?!
Anneliese: *leans over, whispers the story to him, Kurama slowly growing a little wide-eyed*
Kurama: oh my...*looks a little scared at Mirai Trunks* um...heh?
Mirai Trunks: *grunting to himself, trying to reassure himself that it didn't mean anything* he was unconscious...he was unconscious...he was unconscious...
Hiei: *a single tear at his eyes from the laughter, slowly calming down* ah...to experience the embarrassment and trauma of the people I am forced to come in immediate contact with...life is good...
Anemone: Future...?
Mirai Trunks: *still trying to stifle anger* ...he was unconscious...he was unconscious...he was-
Ellen: it would seem everyone has...issues...*turns to face behind her, Trunks ignoring everyone as he tries to justify what Kurama did, Hiei laying on the floor, tired from his laughter and staring up at the ceiling smirking, Anneliese patting Kurama on the shoulder as he sits awkwardly, Anemone rubbing Trunks's back reassuringly* so, uh...oh yeah! *faces Kurama* we have a gig tonight.
Kurama: WHAT?!
Anneliese and Hiei: oh yeah! I forgot about that...
Anemone: yeah-how-bout-we-forget-bout-the-whole-kiss-issue-and-get-into-practicing-the-song?-K?-K!-EVERYONE!! TO YOUR INSTRUMENTS!!
*brief pause...Hiei, still snickering, slowly wobbles to a stand and plops back onto his stool, gracefully fingering his drumsticks in twirled motions...Mirai Trunks stands in reluctance until Anemone pecks him on the cheek and he smiles slightly, walking over to his turn-tables...Anneliese slips on her bass guitar and picks at the cords, tuning it slightly...Kurama, still kind of blank and awkward feeling, stands up and assumes a seat to the keyboard, apologizing sheepishly to Trunks...Anemone eases her guitar over her shoulder, cracks neck, and clicks on her microphone.*
Anemone: okay...we're gonna practice with Fox's vocals and keyboarding...you guys get into the chapter...ready?!
Everyone: yeah!
Anemone: *into the microphone, smooth and fast like a fifties DJ* comin' in town, let's wind it all down, but only for a minute; we're gonna blast it high, shake up the sky, read and come back, now let's freakin' SING IT!!!
Chapter 3: A Visit from the Buried Past
'I cannot believe how damn irrational Kitsune can be about his kids' safety...' Hiei seethed to himself in irritation has his intensive speed carried him as a streak of wind through the city. 'Koenma is a fool...by sending me he is depriving Kurama of a very important lesson...'
He jerked to a halt, perched to a tree limb with the twisted masses of branches and leaves locking him in near invisibility. He was concealed to the tree just beyond the school's bordering walls, the six descendants of the Urimeshi team each making his or her exit.
'...how to let them go.' he thought tenderly, casting soft-sharp eyes for Ryuuhayai, the girl smirking haughtily to her tall cousin, having confused Kane about some petty matter. 'Ryuu...my little girl...' she seemed so adult-like, now...too adult-like...she had matured to a speed rivaling her very sprints. And Hiei hated it. '...you grew up...why did you have to grow up, Ryuu?'
The Dragon shook his head firmly, blinking stubbornly from his consuming thoughts. 'All I must do is stalk Ai and Kisho home...no worries, two miles a walk...then I can go...'
"Ai," Ryuuhayai focused her dagger ruby eyes for the girl's immediate direction as she threw her gothic, black sling bag over her shoulder.
"Yes?" the red-head inquired calmly, holding her leather briefcase to her hip.
"Are you heading home or elsewhere?"
'Please say home, Kitsuna...' Hiei thought half-bitterly. '...I have to go back to the Spirit World...'
"Ho-" she pricked halfway through, her raspberry eyes stinging wide.
"Ai?" Yukio eased beside her in concern, the fox instantly jerking her stern glare over her shoulder.
"What is it?" Kane tucked his hands to the bowels of his pockets, eyeing the girl with onyx sincerity.
"Erm..." she half-grunted half-calmly. Hiei too pricked in realization.
'A demon! Oh shit no, Kitsuna don't you DARE-'
"I just remembered...I, have a report due tomorrow...I need to go to the library..." she slowly turned in her leisurely stride for the opposite direction of her friends, and began a calm walk towards the demonic ki that rang her senses. Her tail was abnormally sharp with the fur standing on end...only her brother took note of the change.
'Something is wrong...' Kisho deduced instantly at the sight of her tail. 'It only looks like that when she's anxious...' "Ai...?"
"Head home with the others, Kisho..." her voice breathed sternly without a motion towards her comrades.
"But Ai!" Gakilei practically whined. "We were supposed to go to the movies tonight!"
Yukio stepped up beside his twin. "And since when do you forget to complete a homework assignment in advance?"
Ai continued her emotionless walk, her naturally narrow eyes set firm before her.
'DAMN!' Hiei growled to himself. 'This just makes my seemingly pointless mission harder!' he cast half-annoyed eyes for the kids below, all oblivious to his presence. Let one.
Red eyes set in a milky complection side-glanced upwards into the depths of the tree, stabbing straight at Hiei. 'Father?' Ryuuhayai's thoughts rang smooth to the Dragon's head.
'Ryuu...make sure Kisho makes it home safely,' he thought in return.
'What's the significance in that?' she countered in suspicion.
'Later.' he smirked sternly, flashing from the tree without so much as a rustling leaf via his motion. Ryuuhayai's glare narrowed in annoyance, her expression matching her young father's to a scary fault.
"Hn..." she grunted lowly.
"Ryuu?" a voice pricked her to attention, the girl jerking half-calmly to face her cousin, eyeing down at her with curiosity smogging his dark eyes.
"Nothing. Let's go."
"Hey where's your dad, Ryuu?" Gakilei voiced her observation, Yukio nodding in agreement. "He's usually here...Hiei?" the girl turned towards the tree where the Dragon had stood a moment prior. "HIEI! YOU THERE?" a pause. "Hm...where is he?"
"Dunno. Let's go." the she-dragon ended promptly, whirling in her footing towards home.
"Ryuuhayai?" Kisho coiled his ivory hand about her slender wrist, the dragon jerking her sights upwards. Ruby stung corrosive against smooth emerald as the two exchanged a deep glance.
*a/n Kisho is like a foot taller than Ryuuhayai lol...Kane is Kuwabara's height, Yukio is Yusuke's, Gakilei is Keiko's, Ai is Botan's, Ryuuhayai is Hiei's, and Kisho is Kurama's*
"Let's go..." she jerked away, stalking morbidly from her companions. The group passed awkward glances before trailing silently after her. 'Father...' she thought bitterly. 'You better not let anything happen to Ai...I felt a huge demonic power in the direction she was heading, and just like Kurama she's a very bad liar...'
'Calm Ryuu...' Hiei thought back, just within her Jagon's reach. '...precisely why I left. Keep an eye on Kisho for me.' he then dashed just beyond her third eye's limits.
%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%
Ai walked along with steps on the cusp of briskness and calmness. The hairs on the very tip of her tail stood on end as anticipation racked her senses. 'A huge demonic power...yet...it feels...familiar...'
In truth she had never experienced this particular ki's sensation...but there was something about it that triggered an intimate link between herself and it's holder...there was a strange, smooth feel to it that was almost identical to that of a relation of her's, yet, it differed slightly...this demon had some sort of connection with her...but she had yet to realize exactly what it was.
'Damn...' Hiei husked to himself. '...she's good...she's already realized it's not some random demon...hn! Why can't I remember who this is?! I've felt it before...this specific ki...but, it was so long ago...who is it, dammit?!'
Ai's steps clicked against the concrete of the shadowed sidewalk in an even pace, her candy eyes narrowed to suit the seriousness of the matter. Something very important was up, and an eerie calmness hazed throughout the area.
Her form stalked calmly by an open alleyway, darkness streaming moist over the depths of the gap she passed. Suddenly, two veiled arms pierced outward at the passing girl, clasping about her mouth and waist. The startled girl was ripped from her footing into the darkness just to her left.
"AI!" Hiei gaped, slipping smoothly from his perch to a tree and racing for the alleyway.
"MFF!" the girl struggled against the chest of a rowdy street punk. Hiei melted to the shadows, pinning against the wall, waiting for the opportune moment to jump in.
"Hey there, pretty girl!" the punk, sweating and breathing coarsely in anticipation, eyed his lovely prey over. Perfect figure...stunning hair...flawless features...his face was glossed over with a sheen of sweat and a maniacal sneer. He grazed his nose into her bushy mane, inhaling the sweet aroma of summer roses. He snickered through a tense, vigorous smirk. "You look tasty!" he stroked his tongue against her temple, the girl whimpering in anger and irritation and grunting against his filthy hand to her mouth.
Hiei growled deeply, about to pounce from the shadows to her aid, when he noticed something. 'Her eyes...!'
The trademark pink of Ai Minamino swelled in color...and stained golden for the briefest of instances.
'Her wolf side!'
The rapist drew out a long dagger, the blade smooth with a silvery gleam...she bit hard against his greasy hand, and her eyes once again sparked golden, before she pulled a signature Kurama.
"ROSE WHIP!" she roared...Hiei pricked in amazement. Her slender hands bound behind her, she only had one option...her whip wound about the length of her mane, and with perfectly timed and massively precise jerks of her head, the whip lashed in such a way only Kurama was thought to have been able to control. The tip cracked against the rapist's chin, shooting him back against the stone wall of the building just behind. The slash sent the whip hazing over in a streaked motion, and with a jerk of her neck it struck backwards. Within a mere blink of the eye she had torn it from her bushy mane and cracked it smoothly against the air, into the punk's thighs...the skin ripped on impact, the rapist screaming in pain.
"Now you've nowhere to run, you foolish human," her stinging raspberry eyes burned against the screaming rapist's smoggy blue ones. "...if you're to rape anyone..." she smirked. "Be sure it is not a young woman with deadly defenses."
She then flicked her wrist sharply in a short jerk, and the very tip of her whip stabbed against his temple, knocking him out instantly. "Really...raping? Truly a horror on our streets." Her eyes dimmed slightly. "No wonder father never allowed me to trail about on my own."
Hiei was stunned. The she-fox was a marvel beyond words! She had performed a famous twist to her father's technique, with only his perfection. He clicked from his consuming thoughts as the girl approached the sidewalk yet again, the Dragon blurring to a distance.
He grunted a smirk to himself with pride. "Impressive, Kitsuna...I knew your father was paranoid...hn."
Again she locked her focus about the familiar demonic ki. It swelled within her an almost warm feeling of security, but her tail pricked to the tips of the fur, slight insecurity veiling over her. "I shouldn't have gone alone...I should have at least brought Ryuuhayai..."
'Damn straight...' Hiei grunted in half-annoyance. 'This demon is powerful...I can only imagine who it could be, there's no way of telling...I've met my share of demons and a tenfold...damn! I wish I could remember who this one is!'
Her walk had led her from the sidewalks to the park, trees and lawn rolling onward for a certain distance. Security welled within her in swelling rolls come every beat of her heart. 'Flowers...' she smiled. '...beauty...and defense. If need be, I've access to extra weaponry.'
'Always thinking like a true Minamino,' Hiei smirked after probing her head, but without making his presence known. He sat nimbly to a tree overlooking the girl, his corrosive ruby eyes softening just slightly.
'Whoever this demon is, he better not lay a hand on my niece...'
Rustle. Raspberry jerked narrowly for a far-off bush, the fragile leaves still swaying from an unnatural motion pressed to them. Her face tensed with a glare of headstrongness, her teeth gritting slightly. Hiei too was impeccably alert, grunting soft breaths with every sound his demonic ears picked out from the masses of noise polluting the entire city.
Her tail flicked sharply, abandoned by it's normality of graceful sways. Her posture was firm and straight, bold and prepared. 'He's here...the demon...'
Suddenly, a distillation in the air vibrated against the senses of both Dragon and Demi-Fox. A violently fast demon raced to just behind her, coiling his eerily milky grip about her tail, and jerking firmly.
"AHHHHH!!!" the girl screamed in pain, instantly binding her delicate hands to her rear and tenderly holding her hurt tail the moment it was released from the merciless clutch.
Hiei grunted a wide-eyed expression. "It...it can't be...!"
Ai whipped around furiously, tears stinging at her eyes from the intensity of the pain. But her narrowed, angered eyes were met with nothing. Laughter pulsed into the air just behind her. She lashed around almost in fear, and was met with a shock of a sight.
There, before her, stood a seven-foot-tall demon of fox-like origin, a ghostly skin tone of milky white, and a sleek, lower-back length mane of blood scarlet. His face mirrored that of a murderous apparition, yet his emerald eyes held happy, thorough, innocent laughter. He was near identical to a wolf demon, with a sleek ruby tail and flicking crimson fox ears to crown his head.
"Who are you?!" she snarled firmly, still gripping her fragile tail. "Why did you attack me?!"
"Clasping hold of your tail was hardly attacking, Missy," he countered calmly, an innocent smirk about his narrow face as his left ear pinned to his scalp for a moment.
"But it HURT!" she groaned, massaging the tender bruise he pinched to it.
Hiei was lost in fear. "...not him...it can't be! If he's here...then...then...!!"
"It's a means of playing in the world of Fox demons, Missy," his smile softened kindly.
"You're no Fox demon..." she smirked, her slender eyebrow tugging upward. "...not entirely, anyway..."
"Wow!" he blinked gaping eyes in amazement. "You really are just like your Father, Missy!"
"Why are you in the human world? You're an obvious demon, and with your power it must have been difficult to slip through the dimensions..." Ai half-snarled.
"You're good, Missy," he raised an eyebrow with an impressed smirk. "...normally little half-breeds no nothing of their demonic heritage."
"How dare you!" she squealed in offense.
"Calm down, Missy...I was just kidding ya...but, really..." his laughing eyes narrowed slightly, the rest of his character lacking in change. "...I need to see Yoko."
"What do you want with him?!" she pulled back defensively, a feel of stubbornness overtaking her character.
"You know, Missy...I'd find you MUCH more intimidating if your tail wasn't betraying you..." he chuckled calmly.
"What do you mean by that?!"
"I can read your tail like a book...it abandons you by allowing your hidden emotions to seep through...Missy, you're terrified of me."
"I am not!" she countered firmly. He merely chuckled.
"Lying is bad karma." he raised an eyebrow in sync to a smirk.
"Be quiet! Tell me your business with my father!"
"Fine...I shall...I'm obviously not going to get anywhere with simply asking of his whereabouts..." he slowly pressed his flashing emerald eyes to a close.
A brief pause linked the two in an air of anxiety. "Hello, Ai," he smiled softly. "I'm Uncle Ryooki."
%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%
*p3, the club from "charmed"...this is where Ellen made their first gig...Mirai Trunks is setting up, Ellen is talking to Piper (who in case you don't know is the owner), Kurama is running through the list of songs with Anneliese and Hiei...and Anemone is freaking out in back*
Mirai Trunks: ...Mones...? *finds her inhaling into a paper bag* my gosh are you okay?! *Anneliese and Kurama walk in*
Anneliese: *pats Anemone on the shoulder* still at it, eh?
Anemone: *nods frantically while breathing into the paper bag*
Mirai Trunks: *sits down next to her* Mones, c'mon...calm down...this is our big chance!
Anemone: *wide-eyed, starts breathing harder*
Kurama: erm...I'm not entirely sure that helped...
Ellen: *bounces into the room, really happy* GUYS! Piper told me it's gonna be a full house!
Anemone: *bag pops* *pause, everyone kind of side-glances*
Mirai Trunks: Mones, are you gonna be able to do this...?
Anemone: *starts hyperventilating again* NEED...PAPER...BAG!...
Kurama: *runs to get her another bag*
Ellen: is she okay...?
Anemone: *steadily straining more and more to breath*
Hiei: *walks in* *heavy annoyed sigh* she's STILL freaking out?!
Anneliese: be quiet! Poor Mones! *Anemone clutching REALLY hard to Mirai Trunks's arm while hyperventilating*
Mirai Trunks: ow, ow, ow! OW!
Kurama: *rushes back with a paper bag, puts it to her face* Mones! Please, breath! In, out...in, out...in-
Hiei: you fools...you obviously don't know what it takes to calm a human's frazzled senses...
Mirai Trunks: *grunting from pain, Anemone still gripping into his arm* DO TELL!
Hiei: *blurs in a run, reappears with a bottle of Irish Whiskey*
Kurama: alcohol?!
Hiei: trust me, Kitsune. *pushes everyone aside, slowly rips paper bag from Anemone's clutch, and forces the open bottle neck into her mouth*
Everyone: GAH?!
Anemone: *drinks, slowly calms down*
Hiei: *gently rips bottle free* see? Good as new.
Anemone: *hic*
Mirai Trunks: is she drunk?!
Anemone: no ocifer, I is not drunk! *hic*
Kurama: *slowly let's head hang* oh no...
Hiei: er...yeah...*shifty eyes* this is EXACTLY what I intended on...*pause*
Anemone: *hic*
*continues pause, everyone glares at him* er...*pause, blurs away*
Mirai Trunks: what are we going to do?! *slowly helps Anemone to a stand*
Anemone: tonight, *hic* we ride, Winston! *collapses into Kurama*
Anneliese: *turns to Ellen* how long til we're on?!
Ellen: *looks at watch* two hours.
Mirai Trunks: we have to sober her up! *helps Kurama hold her up*
Kurama: *turns to Ellen* go get us a LOT of water...
Ellen: right! *rushes off*
Anneliese: er...while they do that, go review, please.
Anemone: BORN, IN THE USA! DA, DADADADADADADA DUM...!!
Anemone: *first to notice readers, tuning her guitar* hey there!! We actually got into practicing a song! We've got the music all set but...*turns to the far corner, Kurama propped against the wall* we can't practice the vocals until our lead is...well, you know...conscious...
Mirai Trunks: *examining Kurama's injury again* Hiei really plowed him a good one to the head...
Hiei: for the last time!! He's FINE!
Everyone: *blinks at Kurama, brief pause, glares at Hiei*
Ellen: Hiei, um...NO! You decked him upside the head with a freakin' symbol! He looks dead!
Anemone: *pokes Kurama* hmm...he doesn't SEEM to be dead...
Hiei: Kitsune is strong. Leave him alone. He'll wake up...eventually...tomorrow tops...
Ellen: TOMORROW?!
Anemone and Mirai Trunks: *heavy annoyed sighs*
Anemone: looks like we gotta put a hold on practicing...
Ellen: but...
Anneliese: ...but?
Ellen: but...!
Mirai Trunks: what?
Ellen: erm...I kinda need him to wake up...like, now...
Anneliese: why?
Ellen: er...
Hiei: *looks reeeeeeeeally narrowly at her* what did you do...?
Ellen: I already planned a gig.
Anemone and Mirai Trunks: WHAT?!
Anemone: for when?!?
Ellen: er...
Mirai Trunks: er?! What does 'er' mean?!
Ellen: ...soon-ish...
Anneliese: how soon...?
Ellen: like...really soon...
Hiei: ...like, next week type of soon...?
Ellen: no...
Mirai Trunks: then what...?
Ellen: like...tonight...
Everyone: WHAT?!!
Anemone: *shakes Kurama* FOX! WAKE UP!! *jerks him back with every word* WE, NEED, YOUR, VOICE!! AND, YOUR, PIANO SKILLS!!! *shaking him frantically*
Mirai Trunks: okay...okay everyone calm down...
Hiei: dammit...*turns to Anemone* what the hell are we going to do, Onna?
Anneliese: Hiei, you knocked him out...WAKE HIM UP!!
Hiei: how the hell am I supposed to do that?!
Mirai Trunks: hmm...*walks out of the room, re-enters holding a rose*
Anemone: Future...?
Mirai Trunks: wave this in front of his nose, Mones.
Anemone: OH MY GOD YOU'RE A GENIUS, TRUNKS!! *pecks him on the cheek, takes rose, waves it in front of Kurama's nose*
Kurama: *begins to stir slightly, and, still mostly unconscious smiles* mm...Botan...
Anemone Anneliese and Ellen: huh?
Kurama: *still partially unconscious, jerks at Anemone and frenches her*
Anemone: *muffled, wide-eyed* Mfhf?!?!
Mirai Trunks: *blushing insanely in anger* KURAMA!!
Anemone: *decks him upside the head* FOX!
Kurama: *jerking in all directions, confused and scared, rubbing his head, not remembering what he just did in his sleep* what?! What happened?!
Anemone and Mirai Trunks: *both blushing insanely* I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU DID THAT!!
Kurama: what?! What did I do?!
Hiei: LOL...*collapses off his drummer stool in laughter* ...my GOD Kitsune!! PRICELESS! LOL LOL!!
Kurama: what happened?! Why's everyone yelling at me?!
Anneliese and Ellen: *snicker* WOW...lol...
Mirai Trunks: *growling to himself, still blushing*
Hiei: *still hysterical*
Kurama: what, did, I, DO?!
Anemone: *grunts in frustration, turns to readers, still blushing* erm...apparently he thought I was Botan-
Kurama: -oh my God, I did?! Mones what did I do to you?!-
Anemone: -but, erm...no harm done, I guess-
Mirai Trunks: -what do you mean by that?!
Anemone: shh! Okay I gotta go talk to my boyfriend-
Hiei: -lol who, Kurama?
Anemone: NO! MIRAI TRUNKS!!
Kurama: for the last time!! WHAT DID I DO?!
Anneliese: *leans over, whispers the story to him, Kurama slowly growing a little wide-eyed*
Kurama: oh my...*looks a little scared at Mirai Trunks* um...heh?
Mirai Trunks: *grunting to himself, trying to reassure himself that it didn't mean anything* he was unconscious...he was unconscious...he was unconscious...
Hiei: *a single tear at his eyes from the laughter, slowly calming down* ah...to experience the embarrassment and trauma of the people I am forced to come in immediate contact with...life is good...
Anemone: Future...?
Mirai Trunks: *still trying to stifle anger* ...he was unconscious...he was unconscious...he was-
Ellen: it would seem everyone has...issues...*turns to face behind her, Trunks ignoring everyone as he tries to justify what Kurama did, Hiei laying on the floor, tired from his laughter and staring up at the ceiling smirking, Anneliese patting Kurama on the shoulder as he sits awkwardly, Anemone rubbing Trunks's back reassuringly* so, uh...oh yeah! *faces Kurama* we have a gig tonight.
Kurama: WHAT?!
Anneliese and Hiei: oh yeah! I forgot about that...
Anemone: yeah-how-bout-we-forget-bout-the-whole-kiss-issue-and-get-into-practicing-the-song?-K?-K!-EVERYONE!! TO YOUR INSTRUMENTS!!
*brief pause...Hiei, still snickering, slowly wobbles to a stand and plops back onto his stool, gracefully fingering his drumsticks in twirled motions...Mirai Trunks stands in reluctance until Anemone pecks him on the cheek and he smiles slightly, walking over to his turn-tables...Anneliese slips on her bass guitar and picks at the cords, tuning it slightly...Kurama, still kind of blank and awkward feeling, stands up and assumes a seat to the keyboard, apologizing sheepishly to Trunks...Anemone eases her guitar over her shoulder, cracks neck, and clicks on her microphone.*
Anemone: okay...we're gonna practice with Fox's vocals and keyboarding...you guys get into the chapter...ready?!
Everyone: yeah!
Anemone: *into the microphone, smooth and fast like a fifties DJ* comin' in town, let's wind it all down, but only for a minute; we're gonna blast it high, shake up the sky, read and come back, now let's freakin' SING IT!!!
Chapter 3: A Visit from the Buried Past
'I cannot believe how damn irrational Kitsune can be about his kids' safety...' Hiei seethed to himself in irritation has his intensive speed carried him as a streak of wind through the city. 'Koenma is a fool...by sending me he is depriving Kurama of a very important lesson...'
He jerked to a halt, perched to a tree limb with the twisted masses of branches and leaves locking him in near invisibility. He was concealed to the tree just beyond the school's bordering walls, the six descendants of the Urimeshi team each making his or her exit.
'...how to let them go.' he thought tenderly, casting soft-sharp eyes for Ryuuhayai, the girl smirking haughtily to her tall cousin, having confused Kane about some petty matter. 'Ryuu...my little girl...' she seemed so adult-like, now...too adult-like...she had matured to a speed rivaling her very sprints. And Hiei hated it. '...you grew up...why did you have to grow up, Ryuu?'
The Dragon shook his head firmly, blinking stubbornly from his consuming thoughts. 'All I must do is stalk Ai and Kisho home...no worries, two miles a walk...then I can go...'
"Ai," Ryuuhayai focused her dagger ruby eyes for the girl's immediate direction as she threw her gothic, black sling bag over her shoulder.
"Yes?" the red-head inquired calmly, holding her leather briefcase to her hip.
"Are you heading home or elsewhere?"
'Please say home, Kitsuna...' Hiei thought half-bitterly. '...I have to go back to the Spirit World...'
"Ho-" she pricked halfway through, her raspberry eyes stinging wide.
"Ai?" Yukio eased beside her in concern, the fox instantly jerking her stern glare over her shoulder.
"What is it?" Kane tucked his hands to the bowels of his pockets, eyeing the girl with onyx sincerity.
"Erm..." she half-grunted half-calmly. Hiei too pricked in realization.
'A demon! Oh shit no, Kitsuna don't you DARE-'
"I just remembered...I, have a report due tomorrow...I need to go to the library..." she slowly turned in her leisurely stride for the opposite direction of her friends, and began a calm walk towards the demonic ki that rang her senses. Her tail was abnormally sharp with the fur standing on end...only her brother took note of the change.
'Something is wrong...' Kisho deduced instantly at the sight of her tail. 'It only looks like that when she's anxious...' "Ai...?"
"Head home with the others, Kisho..." her voice breathed sternly without a motion towards her comrades.
"But Ai!" Gakilei practically whined. "We were supposed to go to the movies tonight!"
Yukio stepped up beside his twin. "And since when do you forget to complete a homework assignment in advance?"
Ai continued her emotionless walk, her naturally narrow eyes set firm before her.
'DAMN!' Hiei growled to himself. 'This just makes my seemingly pointless mission harder!' he cast half-annoyed eyes for the kids below, all oblivious to his presence. Let one.
Red eyes set in a milky complection side-glanced upwards into the depths of the tree, stabbing straight at Hiei. 'Father?' Ryuuhayai's thoughts rang smooth to the Dragon's head.
'Ryuu...make sure Kisho makes it home safely,' he thought in return.
'What's the significance in that?' she countered in suspicion.
'Later.' he smirked sternly, flashing from the tree without so much as a rustling leaf via his motion. Ryuuhayai's glare narrowed in annoyance, her expression matching her young father's to a scary fault.
"Hn..." she grunted lowly.
"Ryuu?" a voice pricked her to attention, the girl jerking half-calmly to face her cousin, eyeing down at her with curiosity smogging his dark eyes.
"Nothing. Let's go."
"Hey where's your dad, Ryuu?" Gakilei voiced her observation, Yukio nodding in agreement. "He's usually here...Hiei?" the girl turned towards the tree where the Dragon had stood a moment prior. "HIEI! YOU THERE?" a pause. "Hm...where is he?"
"Dunno. Let's go." the she-dragon ended promptly, whirling in her footing towards home.
"Ryuuhayai?" Kisho coiled his ivory hand about her slender wrist, the dragon jerking her sights upwards. Ruby stung corrosive against smooth emerald as the two exchanged a deep glance.
*a/n Kisho is like a foot taller than Ryuuhayai lol...Kane is Kuwabara's height, Yukio is Yusuke's, Gakilei is Keiko's, Ai is Botan's, Ryuuhayai is Hiei's, and Kisho is Kurama's*
"Let's go..." she jerked away, stalking morbidly from her companions. The group passed awkward glances before trailing silently after her. 'Father...' she thought bitterly. 'You better not let anything happen to Ai...I felt a huge demonic power in the direction she was heading, and just like Kurama she's a very bad liar...'
'Calm Ryuu...' Hiei thought back, just within her Jagon's reach. '...precisely why I left. Keep an eye on Kisho for me.' he then dashed just beyond her third eye's limits.
%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%
Ai walked along with steps on the cusp of briskness and calmness. The hairs on the very tip of her tail stood on end as anticipation racked her senses. 'A huge demonic power...yet...it feels...familiar...'
In truth she had never experienced this particular ki's sensation...but there was something about it that triggered an intimate link between herself and it's holder...there was a strange, smooth feel to it that was almost identical to that of a relation of her's, yet, it differed slightly...this demon had some sort of connection with her...but she had yet to realize exactly what it was.
'Damn...' Hiei husked to himself. '...she's good...she's already realized it's not some random demon...hn! Why can't I remember who this is?! I've felt it before...this specific ki...but, it was so long ago...who is it, dammit?!'
Ai's steps clicked against the concrete of the shadowed sidewalk in an even pace, her candy eyes narrowed to suit the seriousness of the matter. Something very important was up, and an eerie calmness hazed throughout the area.
Her form stalked calmly by an open alleyway, darkness streaming moist over the depths of the gap she passed. Suddenly, two veiled arms pierced outward at the passing girl, clasping about her mouth and waist. The startled girl was ripped from her footing into the darkness just to her left.
"AI!" Hiei gaped, slipping smoothly from his perch to a tree and racing for the alleyway.
"MFF!" the girl struggled against the chest of a rowdy street punk. Hiei melted to the shadows, pinning against the wall, waiting for the opportune moment to jump in.
"Hey there, pretty girl!" the punk, sweating and breathing coarsely in anticipation, eyed his lovely prey over. Perfect figure...stunning hair...flawless features...his face was glossed over with a sheen of sweat and a maniacal sneer. He grazed his nose into her bushy mane, inhaling the sweet aroma of summer roses. He snickered through a tense, vigorous smirk. "You look tasty!" he stroked his tongue against her temple, the girl whimpering in anger and irritation and grunting against his filthy hand to her mouth.
Hiei growled deeply, about to pounce from the shadows to her aid, when he noticed something. 'Her eyes...!'
The trademark pink of Ai Minamino swelled in color...and stained golden for the briefest of instances.
'Her wolf side!'
The rapist drew out a long dagger, the blade smooth with a silvery gleam...she bit hard against his greasy hand, and her eyes once again sparked golden, before she pulled a signature Kurama.
"ROSE WHIP!" she roared...Hiei pricked in amazement. Her slender hands bound behind her, she only had one option...her whip wound about the length of her mane, and with perfectly timed and massively precise jerks of her head, the whip lashed in such a way only Kurama was thought to have been able to control. The tip cracked against the rapist's chin, shooting him back against the stone wall of the building just behind. The slash sent the whip hazing over in a streaked motion, and with a jerk of her neck it struck backwards. Within a mere blink of the eye she had torn it from her bushy mane and cracked it smoothly against the air, into the punk's thighs...the skin ripped on impact, the rapist screaming in pain.
"Now you've nowhere to run, you foolish human," her stinging raspberry eyes burned against the screaming rapist's smoggy blue ones. "...if you're to rape anyone..." she smirked. "Be sure it is not a young woman with deadly defenses."
She then flicked her wrist sharply in a short jerk, and the very tip of her whip stabbed against his temple, knocking him out instantly. "Really...raping? Truly a horror on our streets." Her eyes dimmed slightly. "No wonder father never allowed me to trail about on my own."
Hiei was stunned. The she-fox was a marvel beyond words! She had performed a famous twist to her father's technique, with only his perfection. He clicked from his consuming thoughts as the girl approached the sidewalk yet again, the Dragon blurring to a distance.
He grunted a smirk to himself with pride. "Impressive, Kitsuna...I knew your father was paranoid...hn."
Again she locked her focus about the familiar demonic ki. It swelled within her an almost warm feeling of security, but her tail pricked to the tips of the fur, slight insecurity veiling over her. "I shouldn't have gone alone...I should have at least brought Ryuuhayai..."
'Damn straight...' Hiei grunted in half-annoyance. 'This demon is powerful...I can only imagine who it could be, there's no way of telling...I've met my share of demons and a tenfold...damn! I wish I could remember who this one is!'
Her walk had led her from the sidewalks to the park, trees and lawn rolling onward for a certain distance. Security welled within her in swelling rolls come every beat of her heart. 'Flowers...' she smiled. '...beauty...and defense. If need be, I've access to extra weaponry.'
'Always thinking like a true Minamino,' Hiei smirked after probing her head, but without making his presence known. He sat nimbly to a tree overlooking the girl, his corrosive ruby eyes softening just slightly.
'Whoever this demon is, he better not lay a hand on my niece...'
Rustle. Raspberry jerked narrowly for a far-off bush, the fragile leaves still swaying from an unnatural motion pressed to them. Her face tensed with a glare of headstrongness, her teeth gritting slightly. Hiei too was impeccably alert, grunting soft breaths with every sound his demonic ears picked out from the masses of noise polluting the entire city.
Her tail flicked sharply, abandoned by it's normality of graceful sways. Her posture was firm and straight, bold and prepared. 'He's here...the demon...'
Suddenly, a distillation in the air vibrated against the senses of both Dragon and Demi-Fox. A violently fast demon raced to just behind her, coiling his eerily milky grip about her tail, and jerking firmly.
"AHHHHH!!!" the girl screamed in pain, instantly binding her delicate hands to her rear and tenderly holding her hurt tail the moment it was released from the merciless clutch.
Hiei grunted a wide-eyed expression. "It...it can't be...!"
Ai whipped around furiously, tears stinging at her eyes from the intensity of the pain. But her narrowed, angered eyes were met with nothing. Laughter pulsed into the air just behind her. She lashed around almost in fear, and was met with a shock of a sight.
There, before her, stood a seven-foot-tall demon of fox-like origin, a ghostly skin tone of milky white, and a sleek, lower-back length mane of blood scarlet. His face mirrored that of a murderous apparition, yet his emerald eyes held happy, thorough, innocent laughter. He was near identical to a wolf demon, with a sleek ruby tail and flicking crimson fox ears to crown his head.
"Who are you?!" she snarled firmly, still gripping her fragile tail. "Why did you attack me?!"
"Clasping hold of your tail was hardly attacking, Missy," he countered calmly, an innocent smirk about his narrow face as his left ear pinned to his scalp for a moment.
"But it HURT!" she groaned, massaging the tender bruise he pinched to it.
Hiei was lost in fear. "...not him...it can't be! If he's here...then...then...!!"
"It's a means of playing in the world of Fox demons, Missy," his smile softened kindly.
"You're no Fox demon..." she smirked, her slender eyebrow tugging upward. "...not entirely, anyway..."
"Wow!" he blinked gaping eyes in amazement. "You really are just like your Father, Missy!"
"Why are you in the human world? You're an obvious demon, and with your power it must have been difficult to slip through the dimensions..." Ai half-snarled.
"You're good, Missy," he raised an eyebrow with an impressed smirk. "...normally little half-breeds no nothing of their demonic heritage."
"How dare you!" she squealed in offense.
"Calm down, Missy...I was just kidding ya...but, really..." his laughing eyes narrowed slightly, the rest of his character lacking in change. "...I need to see Yoko."
"What do you want with him?!" she pulled back defensively, a feel of stubbornness overtaking her character.
"You know, Missy...I'd find you MUCH more intimidating if your tail wasn't betraying you..." he chuckled calmly.
"What do you mean by that?!"
"I can read your tail like a book...it abandons you by allowing your hidden emotions to seep through...Missy, you're terrified of me."
"I am not!" she countered firmly. He merely chuckled.
"Lying is bad karma." he raised an eyebrow in sync to a smirk.
"Be quiet! Tell me your business with my father!"
"Fine...I shall...I'm obviously not going to get anywhere with simply asking of his whereabouts..." he slowly pressed his flashing emerald eyes to a close.
A brief pause linked the two in an air of anxiety. "Hello, Ai," he smiled softly. "I'm Uncle Ryooki."
%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%
*p3, the club from "charmed"...this is where Ellen made their first gig...Mirai Trunks is setting up, Ellen is talking to Piper (who in case you don't know is the owner), Kurama is running through the list of songs with Anneliese and Hiei...and Anemone is freaking out in back*
Mirai Trunks: ...Mones...? *finds her inhaling into a paper bag* my gosh are you okay?! *Anneliese and Kurama walk in*
Anneliese: *pats Anemone on the shoulder* still at it, eh?
Anemone: *nods frantically while breathing into the paper bag*
Mirai Trunks: *sits down next to her* Mones, c'mon...calm down...this is our big chance!
Anemone: *wide-eyed, starts breathing harder*
Kurama: erm...I'm not entirely sure that helped...
Ellen: *bounces into the room, really happy* GUYS! Piper told me it's gonna be a full house!
Anemone: *bag pops* *pause, everyone kind of side-glances*
Mirai Trunks: Mones, are you gonna be able to do this...?
Anemone: *starts hyperventilating again* NEED...PAPER...BAG!...
Kurama: *runs to get her another bag*
Ellen: is she okay...?
Anemone: *steadily straining more and more to breath*
Hiei: *walks in* *heavy annoyed sigh* she's STILL freaking out?!
Anneliese: be quiet! Poor Mones! *Anemone clutching REALLY hard to Mirai Trunks's arm while hyperventilating*
Mirai Trunks: ow, ow, ow! OW!
Kurama: *rushes back with a paper bag, puts it to her face* Mones! Please, breath! In, out...in, out...in-
Hiei: you fools...you obviously don't know what it takes to calm a human's frazzled senses...
Mirai Trunks: *grunting from pain, Anemone still gripping into his arm* DO TELL!
Hiei: *blurs in a run, reappears with a bottle of Irish Whiskey*
Kurama: alcohol?!
Hiei: trust me, Kitsune. *pushes everyone aside, slowly rips paper bag from Anemone's clutch, and forces the open bottle neck into her mouth*
Everyone: GAH?!
Anemone: *drinks, slowly calms down*
Hiei: *gently rips bottle free* see? Good as new.
Anemone: *hic*
Mirai Trunks: is she drunk?!
Anemone: no ocifer, I is not drunk! *hic*
Kurama: *slowly let's head hang* oh no...
Hiei: er...yeah...*shifty eyes* this is EXACTLY what I intended on...*pause*
Anemone: *hic*
*continues pause, everyone glares at him* er...*pause, blurs away*
Mirai Trunks: what are we going to do?! *slowly helps Anemone to a stand*
Anemone: tonight, *hic* we ride, Winston! *collapses into Kurama*
Anneliese: *turns to Ellen* how long til we're on?!
Ellen: *looks at watch* two hours.
Mirai Trunks: we have to sober her up! *helps Kurama hold her up*
Kurama: *turns to Ellen* go get us a LOT of water...
Ellen: right! *rushes off*
Anneliese: er...while they do that, go review, please.
Anemone: BORN, IN THE USA! DA, DADADADADADADA DUM...!!