Chapter 13: Some News and Unexpected Visitors

Torashi was sleeping when a knock came from the front door, startling her awake. She listened carefully to see if anyone else was awake before a louder, more urgent knock came.

Grumbling, Torashi got up to open the door. The bubbly, blue haired girl who was supposed to be the Grim Reaper had come, smiling.

Torashi leaned on the doorframe. "Can't you be a bit quieter? It's a weekend, after all. We need our sleep."

"Yes, I can see that," Botan replied, noting tousled red hair and rumpled clothed. "Sorry, but Koenma-sama told me to tell you..."

Torashi yawned. "Sorry. Not interested."

Botan laughed. "Let me finish. He sent me to tell you we've discovered a way to get you home. We're almost positive it will work, but it has to be done next weekend."

"Home?" Torashi asked, tiredly. She had almost forgotten she was from a different dimension. That, and her mind was still half asleep.

"Yes, home. Or have you already forgotten?"

"No, I haven't forgotten," Torashi replied, trying to regain her composure. "Is that all? 'Cuz if it is, then you can go now."

"Yes, it is. Meet us at the riverbed in the park next Saturday. See ya then!" Botan finished. She held out a hand where a boat paddle appeared and hopped on, flying away.

Torashi yawned again before going inside. Nothing seemed to faze her now, especially since she was half asleep. The 'Grim Reaper' flying off on a boat paddle wouldn't seem weird after fighting super natural things like yokai.

Torashi sat in the hall in front of Kurama's room, waiting to tell him the news. She didn't have to wait long. He came out and looked at her, asking, "Who was at the door?"

Torashi looked at the wall, not wanting to see Kurama's reaction. She said tonelessly, "That was Botan. I'm supposed to go to the riverbed next Saturday to go home."

"Really. Well, then, let's make the most of this weekend."

Torashi smiled weakly as she looked up, finally making eye contact.

Kurama brushed a hand across her head as he walked by, saying, "You might want to get ready," before walking down the hall.

Torashi pouted for a few seconds, annoyed at the motion. Why was everyone picking on her? But, she walked back down the hall to her corner. She got her street clothes on, brushed her hair, and then flipped it back into a ponytail. (I don't care if that isn't true terms. I think it fits, so...)

By that time, Kurama had gotten ready as well, and, together, they left to go explore the city.

The weekend went by quickly, and Torashi was left to her own entertainment for the last week of her dimension travel. She wandered carelessly through the city for the whole week, trusting others not to pick a fight with her. Torashi had discovered the best shops and food places were on the weekend, and chose to window shop. She would go to walk with Kurama after he got out of school to the Minamino home.

There was little variation the whole week. A couple of times, Ms. Shiori's boyfriend had come over with his son, so Torashi had eaten up on the roof to leave the soon-to-be family alone.

On Tuesday, she had taken a wrong turn looking for a specific store, and wandered down a shadowy alley. Some men blocked her exit as when she was half way through. Torashi turned to leave but four men had also blocked that way. Torashi realized they were a gang, and, from past experience, she thought there should be one or two up on the short roofs to keep her from running.

She cursed her stupidity, knowing she should have been able to see the trap and easily avoided it. Torashi gauged them up, deciding she should only take them on one or two at a time. Her best bet would have been to take out the tree in front and then run for it, but she never liked running from a fight. Torashi also could have risked climbing the wall, but she knew she probably would have screwed that up.

Before Torashi could take action, there were several cries from the rooftops. A black shadow jumped down, and, in a flash, took out the four gang members in back of her, then the three in front.

Hiei stopped directly in front of Torashi. "They aren't dead, but you might want to get out of here. You should be more aware of your surroundings."

"I had that completely under control," Torashi shot back.

"If you don't like it, talk to Kurama."

"What does Kurama have to do with this?"

"How should I know. You both are dealing with stupid human emotions."

"You suggested it."

"Hn," Hiei snorted before disappearing.

Torashi walked down the ally way, thinking, Damn that short bastard. He helps out, then disses you and takes of. Lovely attitude.

As she merged back with the crowd, Hiei watched her from the top of a building.

Torashi had walked to the academy just as it let out. As they walked back, she complained to Kurama about what Hiei said.

"Torashi-san, I'm sorry. I didn't want anything bad to happen to you while I was at school. I asked Hiei to watch after you so you wouldn't get into too much trouble," Kurama apologized.

"Kurama-kun, don't you have any confidence in my abilities?" Torashi complained.

"No. You have a knack for attracting trouble, and I didn't want it to be so much that you couldn't handle it."

"So you asked Hiei to watch my back? Kurama-kun, that sucks!"

"Oh, come on Torashi-san. You're the one drawing this conversation out. I said I was sorry, can't you leave it at that?"

Torashi smiled slyly. "Well, I am getting hungry..."

"We'll be home soon. Stop complaining."

"Aw, Kurama-kun, you're no fun," Torashi joked.

The two went on like that until they got home, a small bicker they both enjoyed.

Torashi didn't encounter any more of those kind of problems, but Kurama was testing Torashi and had her lead them home.

Torashi pushed her way through the afternoon crowd, knowing she knew the way by now. A warm presence passed over her hand, gripping tightly. For a moment, she got distracted. Then, she looked down, and, realizing it was Kurama's hand gripping hers, she looked back, making eye contact. Torashi wasn't able to find anything out through Kurama's natural calmness.

Kurama seemed to be ignoring the small gesture, so Torashi tried ignoring it too. She pressed forward, wanting to shout something to the world, what, she didn't know.

Kurama stopped, pulling Torashi to him. "We aren't going directly home," he whispered in her ear.

"Nani?(1) Where are we going then?"

"Curiosity killed the neko, Torashi-san."

Kurama pulled her through the crowded streets.

"That's not funny, Kurama-kun."

"I could tell you to close your eyes. I think that would be funny. You don't have to though."

They walked a little more until they came to an ice cream vendor.

"What kind, Torashi-san?"

"Kind? Oh. Do they have green tea ice cream? I had it once. I loved it."

"I'm sure they do. It's very popular."

They found out the vendor did have some, and Torashi ended up with a cone full. Kurama didn't get anything, saying his okasan would worry if he didn't eat anything after school. Torashi dismissed the thought, and finished the cone off before they even got home.

That was Friday, the last day she had at the Minamino house.

Side Notes: 1) What. YAY! Ok, I was just bored and I'm getting so many lovely reviews (Thanks a lot by the way to my recent reviewers Psycho Rurouni Kitsune, animegirl417 Sailor Mini Venus, blue fox demon) that I managed to type this chap. Working on the next one. See ya then!