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Chapter 2: A Ningen World; A Pathetic World

Look at those creatures

Who could not even protect themselves

Relying on other kinds
Without even knowing it. Pitiful, isn't it?
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Hiei's POV

The door opened and there stood Shiori, Kurama's so called mother.

"Oh! You must be Hiei-kun. You look just like the way your mother described you. Come in. Shuuichi, help the guest to take his luggage."

I swore the 'mother' Shiori talked must be Koenma. I handed the bag back to Kurama and was led into the house. As much time as I spent in Kurama's room, the whole house was unfamiliar to me. I was brought to a room near Kurama's and was told that it would be my room. I did not even care how it looked like.

As soon as Shiori was gone, Kurama started unpacking. Isn't everything a waste of time?

"You will go to school with me tomorrow."

"I cannot stand those Ningen."

"You must learn to. Have you not learnt to tolerate after living for about three centuries?"

There was a wink of mischief in his eyes. It seemed simple enough to understand his expression but is it the real meaning behind it? Things are not completely what they seem on the surface if you have lived decades of centuries. Even I am young compare to him, or should I say immature? Age of a youkai could not be clearly defined by young and old. I could not even classify the form I call "Kurama" standing in front of me. He was not the cold-blooded seductive Youko Kurama, nor the normal Ningen Minnamino Shuuichi. I did not know what to make of him.

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"Ohayou! Today we have a new student coming to our class. His name is Tanaka Hiei. Hiei-kun, do you mind introducing yourself?"

"Hn." Who was this person standing in front of everyone anyway? Why was I made to stand here too? Why was there a dead silence in the air and why was everyone staring at me? I could never understand these silly simple mind if Ningen.

"Well, looks like Hiei-kun does not like to talk. Please sit beside Shuuichi-kun."

I almost did not respond to the name Shuuichi.

"Yoroshiku, Hiei-kun." Kurama gave me one if his nice-to-meet-you smile and I heard many girls behind me squeal in delight. I merely gave him a glare. If he continues to smile that way, my eardrums would burst form the noise.

I knew Ningen are stupid, but I did not expect them to be so extremely boring too. I almost fell asleep, but woke up by Kurama's knock on the head. Felt like slicing him up again.

Finally, a bell rang and I could get out of that room. I sped to the rooftop, wanting some fresh air. Opening up my jagan, I saw all of the school building, but no trace of unfamiliar youki was found. Who the hell am I spying on?!

"Hiei, time for lunch!"

I almost jumped out of my skin.

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Kurama's POV

I knew it was a hard day for Hiei but that's the way life goes. Finally it was lunchtime and I went to the cafeteria and bought lunch for both of us. I have to teach Hiei table manners, or just how to use the chopsticks, fork and knife to eat. This is going to be a tough job.

"Hiei, come here. I have something to teach you."

He eyed the lunchbox suspiciously and reluctantly came over, I handed him disposable chopsticks, fork and knife and took out the noodles and pizza I bought. Hiei turned the 'weird Ningen objects' in his hand, looking coldly at these brittle things.

"What are they for? Killing birds?"

Such fantastic imagination.

"No. You use them to eat. Take the knife in you right hand and the fork in the lift, like this."

He held them right, but bit the chopsticks between his teeth. Everything was like mission impossible, and by the end of lunch, there was nothing left but tiny bits of ash and a very pissed off Hiei.

"Ningen are all stupid, and you are just as foolish to follow them."

"Then you are saying yourself stupid for accepting this mission, right?"

He just glared at me, and suddenly vanished, I felt a rush of wind beside me heading for the staircase but I got there before him. I stood staring into a pair of red orbs and felt his ki burn up.

"Calm down and remember you position, Hiei."

"Get out of my way!"

I did, and in a flash, I was behind him. I wrapped my arms around his small but solid shoulders, his ki almost burning me up, but I held. His body tensed up, and slowly, his ki ebbed down.

"Get of me, kitsune no baka."

I smiled and released me prisoner.

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Hiei's POV

I was still angry because I was angry with myself for not being able to push that kitsune away. The feeling of his hug still lingered in my body, the way his hair brushed against my face, his firm but gentle grip, his smell of plants and roses. Somehow I did not bear to burn my ki to a higher temperature, afraid to break his fragile and delicate Ningen body. I must keep my distance away form him or else I would just become the next toy for the youko. It was hard to resist the temptations of the kitsune.

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When school was over, I had to wait for Kurama to get out of his crowd of fans. It was totally unbearable, and even a girl asked me what did Kurama like. He is going to pay for these troubles he caused me someday, yet he talked nicely to almost everyone and politely refusing their invitation to go on a date.

"How could you ever take those infants?"

"Patience, Hiei, and that is what you need to learn."

I started running, not in my usual speed of course, but the speed of Ningen. Faster that walking, at least. The wind blew through my hair, blowing away much of the mess of things I went through today. Kurama ran beside me, his hair flowing freely, like liquid fire; his emerald eyes sparkling when the rays shone into them. His movements swift and elegant, a smile tugging his lips. How could any creature be so beautiful?

"What are you looking at?"

"Nothing."

I quickened my pace and left Kurama behind.

*

Dinner was fine, consisted of eating some raw fish with small amounts of rice. At least I did not need to use those Ningen appliances Kurama showed me. Shiori was a nice lady, gentle and was the only one who did not look at me oddly. Kurama's stepfather was real normal and I did not even bother to remember what he looked like. The stepbrother who shared the same Ningen name as Kurama was childish, and although they held the same name, he was far less inviting to look at.

After dinner, I lay on the bed staring at the ceiling when suddenly Kurama knocked and came in.

"It's time to do homework, Hiei. Remember those paper the teacher gave us?"

"Hn. Why do I care?"

"That's what the Ningen have to do to continue going to school."

"Then how come I never see Yusuke and that overgrown fly have homework?"

"That's another case. Anyway I will help you with it."

After a while I understood what doing homework meant. It was to watch Kurama s he filled out blanks on sheets of paper and copying them again in another writing under my name. Good, because I did not have to do anything. I stood up and paced to the window. The view is slightly different from the one I saw from Kurama's room. I stood there, my mind in a mess, and lost count of time. Slowly I felt Kurama's ki going steadily weaker and I turned around to find him asleep with his head on the table. I poked him but he did not stir. His breathing steady, his eyes closed and he looked peaceful and satisfied. I gently lifted him up, careful not to wake him, and carried him to his own room and onto his bed. I observed him a little longer, and found his expression changing. His brow furrowed tighter and tiny beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. He clutched his hands tightly into a ball and his mouth opened as if to say something, but no sound came out.

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Kurama's POV (dream )

"Where am I?"

I looked around and found myself at the battle arena of the Dark Tournaments. Everything, everywhere was red. Blood red. It was all empty. Dead empty. I could hear my own heartbeat. Pounding fast.

"Hiei? Yusuke? Kuwabara? Where is everyone?"

"There is no use calling them, my dear youko," an icy voice replied. A chill ran down my spine.

"Who is it?"

"Have you forgotten me? How sad. You are still the one who attracts me most in the Urameshi Team after all these time, and I miss you so."

Suddenly I felt cold air behind me and someone caught hold of my hair.

"It is so long and you still have not cut it."

I turned. Nothing but air.

"This is our first meeting after a long time. A long-time indeed, dearest youko. I assume you know who is closest to you, so stay away form them or I will get jealous. Sayonara, and I look forward to our next reunion."

The surrounding exploded, and I fell into eternal darkness. A name popped into my mind.

Karasu!

I bolted up form my bed, sweat soaking through my pajamas. It was after midnight, and the moon shone through the window. Hiei was soundly asleep on the ground beside my bed. Seeing that, I felt slightly better.