Chapter 11: Claustophobia

"Hah! Hate to break it to you two, but you're not getting out of their until your hour is up." "Uh, Yusuke? They can't hear you." Yusuke glared at Kurama. "I know that, you don't have to burst my bubble." Kurama sighed. "Anyway, what do you expect them to do now? I doubt anything interesting." Yusuke shrugged. "Well... I guess you're right... I'll go and let them out in a minute."

* * *

"YUSUKE!! Hello...!" Sukari yelled, banging on the inside of the wardrobe yet again. She slumped, falling into a sitting position. "Ugh. It's no use. We're still stuck." She turned to Hiei. "...You know, you aren't making much effort to get out of here." Hiei's face tinted. "And?" "...I was just pointing it out." "Hn."

Hiei crossed his arms and glared at the wall. It irked him that Sukari was making so much effort to get out, because to him, it felt like she was making an effort to get away from him. "...Hey, Hiei? What's up with you, anyway? You seem upset." "Hn."

Sukari gave him a look. "...Okaaay... don't feel like talking about it...?" Hiei turned to face the wall. "...You could say that." Sukari tilted her head, trying to hide the falling of her countenance. "Oh. Okay. If you're sure--" "Trust me, I am." Hiei snapped.

Sukari blinked, no longer able to keep the hurt look off of her face. "Oh." "...What are you so upset about?" "Nothing..." "I've told you before that you're a terrible liar, and trust me, you haven't gotten any better."

Hiei had no idea why he felt like he was sounding so cruel all of a sudden; but he ignored the little red light in his mind and kept talking. "So fess up." "...Well... you wouldn't tell me what you're so mad about..." "So you're saying that if I tell you, you'll tell me?" "No, I'm saying that that's why I'm upset." Hiei blinked. "...Oh. ...Wait, why should I tell you, anyway?"

Sukari stared at him. "Who ever said you had to?" Hiei glared back. "No one, you're right. What do I care if you're upset anyhow?" *jab* Sukari blinked, hoping to keep from crying. "... I... ugh." She quickly turned away to wipe her eyes on her sleeve.

Hiei stared. 'Wait a minute. When did I make her cry...?' He suddenly realized what he'd said, and the force of it hit him full blast. He was being undeniably cruel to her; again! Why!? "S-Suki--" At that perfectly timed moment, (duh, no), Yusuke opened the doors to the wardrobe.

"Hey you two! How's it going! Have fun? Miss us??" The rest of the cast walked up behind him. Hiei squinted in the light, but quickly turned and glared at Yusuke. "Hn. No." Yusuke frowned. "Aw, c'mon. Don't be like-- wait... where's Sukari?" Hiei blinked. "Nani? Suki-chan should be..." He turned and pointed to where Sukari was- or rather, where she had been.

* * *

"Gah... why do I have to keep crying!?" Sukari was sitting in her room, the door locked and the curtains closed. She sniffled quietly and wiped a few tears off her cheek. "I can't believe it... Nanase was actually right... but why now? We were getting along so well... maybe he was just being nice because it was my first day...?"

Continuing to try to reassure herself, Sukari pulled out her laptop from under her bed and went to go shut down her website.

* * *

"So let me get this straight. You suddenly felt like you were being squished or something, so you decided to yell at Sukari...? Am I hearing you right?" "...Hn. That pretty much sums it up." Yusuke gawked at Hiei. "Look, what is your problem?"

"Uh, Yusuke? He could just be claustrophobic." Hiei blinked. "Er, right. ...Kurama, what the hell is that?" "Claustrophobic?" Hiei nodded. "It means that you're 'abnormally afraid of closed-in places'." "Right, I'm afraid of four walls."

Kurama sighed. "Well, not necessarily 'afraid', really... just uncomfortable with. You don't like it, and knowing you, it could cause you to get angry." Hiei considered. "...Okay. Lets say I am... uncomfortable with closed in spaces. Now what?" "You go and apologize to Sukari, that's what." Yusuke snapped.

All this time, Keiko and Botan were sitting on the living room couch, watching the argument go back and forth. It actually interested them quite a bit; Hiei seemed to be upset over the fact that he had made Sukari cry. Botan glanced at Keiko, conveying her message perfectly: 'Yusuke actually knew what he was talking about this time...'

"Gah! But it wasn't even my fault!" "So what! Do you really think it would help if anyone but you were to go up there and apologize?" Hiei paused, suddenly losing his steam. Yusuke was right; he'd have to apologize. Again. "...*sigh* Fine." Hiei spun around and stomped off. "Geez." Yusuke mumbled, as soon as Hiei was out of hearing distance. "What happened to a little push?"

* * *

The stairs creaked a bit as Hiei slowly made his uncertain way up them. He was attempting to think of something to say to Sukari when he got there... but... "Ugh. I can't think of anything. I'll just have to go in an apologize straight out." He sighed. He would be at her door within two steps, and he was sure the first thing out of his mouth would be something stupid and cruel.

"Here goes..." *knock knock*

* * *

Author's Note: Gomen, minna-san! I know it took me forever to get this up, but chapter 12 will come very soon, I promise! However, I intend to just stop writing altogether if I don't get some reviews very soon. *hint hint?*

Anyway, just to let you know; yes, ladies and gentleman; Hiei is plagued by claustrophobia. ~_^