Saiko sat on her bed, looking at the sword Hiei had given her. She looked at her reflection in the blade. The face the stared back at her was sad and tear-streaked. She sighed and set it aside. Saiko knew she had to do something to get her mind off her problems.
Saiko was surprised to learn the Spirit World had a hot spring, but she was relieved. This was what she needed to relax and get her mind off of everything going on. As she sat, Hiei's question kept running through her mind. She seriously began to think about it.
("Do I really have feelings for him? I care about him, and he did save my life… But, why would Hiei ask? Is he jealous? What should I do…? They're both demons… And what if I am? Would they still show such concern for me? God, why am I thinking like this…?") Saiko quickly dunked her head under water. She wanted to wash all these thoughts away.
Kurama walked to the hot spring. Not many were allowed here, only those with special privileges, and no one came here at this hour. Kurama sat down in the water and closed his eyes. The water was warm and soothing. Suddenly, he heard a noise. Kurama opened his eyes and looked around. He didn't see anything, but he was on guard. Then, he saw a movement in the water. Without warning, as whatever it was surfaced, Kurama jumped at it and pushed it to the side of the spring.
"Oh my God!" Saiko screamed as Kurama pushed her against the wall. They both stopped and stared at each other.
"S… Sai…ko?" Kurama stammered.
"Ku…Kurama…" Her eyes were wide in surprise. "What… what are you…"
"I didn't think you… I thought no one… Saiko…" Neither knew what to say. Suddenly, Saiko started blushing fiercely.
"Ah… Kurama…" She mumbled. Kurama moved away slowly, but still held her shoulders tightly. Saiko was watching him intently. "You know… I… I was just thinking… about you." They continued to stare at each other for a moment. Then, Kurama pulled Saiko close and kissed her passionately. Saiko was completely caught off guard as Kurama moved his hands behind her back. But then, Saiko started to relax from the warmth of the water, and the feel of Kurama's body. She slid her arms around Kurama's neck and returned the kiss. After a moment, Saiko pulled away enough to break the kiss. Kurama tried to get his lips back to her, but Saiko resisted.
"What's wrong, Saiko?" Kurama asked as he held her tighter.
"I was just thinking… this place is quite public. It might be better if… if we moved someplace more… secluded." She smiled at him seductively. Kurama smiled back.
"Where did you have in mind?" Saiko only smiled as she slowly pulled out of his arms. She took a gently hold of his right hand and slightly pulled so he would follow.
"I think we need to talk."
Saiko led Kurama to her room and closed the door. They were both standing in their towels, their clothe in hand. Saiko put a blue bathrobe on and sat down on her bed.
"You know, Hiei had asked me a very interesting question today while we were training." Kurama raised an eyebrow at her. "He asked me… If I had feelings for you." Kurama brightened a little.
"And what did you say?" He asked hopefully. Saiko turned her head away from him. She couldn't stand seeing his intent gaze as he looked at her. But it was no good. She could still feel Kurama's stare.
"I told him… that I didn't know. I don't know what to feel right now." Saiko looked away from Kurama. "I'm sorry… I know that's not…" She stopped suddenly as Kurama walked over and hugged her. Saiko froze for a moment, then relaxed in his arms.
"You looked like you were about to cry. A sad look doesn't go well with you. Saiko… I don't ever want you to be sad… And I'll do anything I can to make sure you're happy, ok?"
"Kurama…?"
"I could never make you love me… All I can do is show you how I feel." Saiko couldn't say anything as Kurama held her. Slowly, he started to push Saiko back onto the bed. He started kissing her neck, trailing down.
"Kurama…" She gently pushed his head away. "I… I care about you… a lot. …But I don't think this is appropriate. There are too many things to take care of." Saiko slid away from him and clutched her robe together. "I… I'm asking you to leave. Please." Kurama just stood there staring.
"But…"
"Please, just go." Saiko turned away from him.
"So… that's all there is to it? Saiko, I'm sorry. I put you in an awkward position." Kurama closed the door behind him.
"Oh… Kurama…" She sniffed. "I didn't want to hurt you…" She turned back to her bed, and found a single red rose laying there. "…Kurama…" there was a knock at her door. Saiko quickly wiped her few tears away.
"Saiko?" Hiei called from the other side of the door. "May I come in, Saiko?"
"Y…yes." Saiko replied. She pulled her robe closer around her as Hiei stepped in.
"N…no. I just got back from the hot springs. Come on in Hiei. What can I do for you?" Hiei closed the door behind him. ("…I sure an getting a lot of male visitors now… then again… I've only seen one other woman here… Boton, I think.") Saiko shook her thoughts away. "What's on your mind, Hiei?"
"I came to see how your shoulder was doing." Hiei looked at her strangely. "Are you ok?" Saiko stared blankly at him a moment.
"Of course I'm ok. Why wouldn't I be?"
"… Let me have a look at your shoulder." Saiko sat down on her bed, turned away and pulled her robe down over her shoulder. Hiei removed the bandages. "It seems it's finally closed…" Hiei lightly touched it. Saiko started to sob silently. "Does it hurt? It might still be bruised…"
"No, it feels fine." Saiko sniffed.
"Then… why are you crying? If you are not in pain, then it is a waste of your energy." Saiko looked over her shoulder at Hiei.
"One doesn't have to have a physical injury to be in pain. There are all sorts of pains besides wounds…" Saiko pulled her robe over her shoulder again. "I'm sorry, you're right, this is uncalled for…" She wiped at her eyes. "But… I can't seem to stop. This is so pathetic."
"Saiko… It… there's nothing wrong with sadness." Hiei scrunched his face as if trying to think. Hiei felt very embarrassed. "…Go ahead and cry…" Ha lightly patted her good shoulder. "… I don't know what good I am for this, but… I am here if you need me."
"Thank you, but I think I'd like to be alone now. I'll see you in the morning. I'll be testing you on the maneuvers you've learned this far." Saiko smiled slightly. "Bright and early, ok? It'll be the first thing we do… And If you're ready, then we'll move on…"
"There, a smile suits you better." Hiei reached out and wiped a tear from Saiko's cheek. Hiei turned and left quickly. He almost slammed the door closed. He leaned his back against it. "I must be a fool…" Unconsciously, he licked the remains of Saiko's tear from his hand before stuffing both his hands into his pockets and walked off.
"So, what was so important that you had to get me up before noon on a Saturday?" Yuske yawned as he stood by Koenma's desk, rubbing his eyes.
"For real. I think this is just a little strange. Usually, all the big things happen on a Monday…" Kuwabara stretched his muscles.
"I wish this were something simple I could give you boys…" Koenma shook his head. "…But it isn't. Here, this letter was found today." Koenma hands the small paper to Yuske. He read it to himself.
"Well… isn't this odd? It seems like those demons want us to fight with them." The other's look at him with inquiry. "It says for the spirit detective, and the two demon dogs who work for him should come to the place on the enclosed address. Koenma, you have that address?" Koenma nodded. "It also says it will be worth our while."
"Hey, what dose it say about me?" Kuwabara asked. Yuske looks over it again.
"It doesn't say anything about you." Kuwabara sat down with disappointment. "Let's go tell Saiko. I'm sure she will want to know about this. Where is she right now?" Everyone looked at Yuske. "Has anyone seen her this morning?"
"She and I were supposed to practice this morning, but…" Hiei trailed off. "In the name of the mortals God…" Everyone looked at each other for a moment, then ran off towards Saiko's room.
Saiko was surprised to learn the Spirit World had a hot spring, but she was relieved. This was what she needed to relax and get her mind off of everything going on. As she sat, Hiei's question kept running through her mind. She seriously began to think about it.
("Do I really have feelings for him? I care about him, and he did save my life… But, why would Hiei ask? Is he jealous? What should I do…? They're both demons… And what if I am? Would they still show such concern for me? God, why am I thinking like this…?") Saiko quickly dunked her head under water. She wanted to wash all these thoughts away.
Kurama walked to the hot spring. Not many were allowed here, only those with special privileges, and no one came here at this hour. Kurama sat down in the water and closed his eyes. The water was warm and soothing. Suddenly, he heard a noise. Kurama opened his eyes and looked around. He didn't see anything, but he was on guard. Then, he saw a movement in the water. Without warning, as whatever it was surfaced, Kurama jumped at it and pushed it to the side of the spring.
"Oh my God!" Saiko screamed as Kurama pushed her against the wall. They both stopped and stared at each other.
"S… Sai…ko?" Kurama stammered.
"Ku…Kurama…" Her eyes were wide in surprise. "What… what are you…"
"I didn't think you… I thought no one… Saiko…" Neither knew what to say. Suddenly, Saiko started blushing fiercely.
"Ah… Kurama…" She mumbled. Kurama moved away slowly, but still held her shoulders tightly. Saiko was watching him intently. "You know… I… I was just thinking… about you." They continued to stare at each other for a moment. Then, Kurama pulled Saiko close and kissed her passionately. Saiko was completely caught off guard as Kurama moved his hands behind her back. But then, Saiko started to relax from the warmth of the water, and the feel of Kurama's body. She slid her arms around Kurama's neck and returned the kiss. After a moment, Saiko pulled away enough to break the kiss. Kurama tried to get his lips back to her, but Saiko resisted.
"What's wrong, Saiko?" Kurama asked as he held her tighter.
"I was just thinking… this place is quite public. It might be better if… if we moved someplace more… secluded." She smiled at him seductively. Kurama smiled back.
"Where did you have in mind?" Saiko only smiled as she slowly pulled out of his arms. She took a gently hold of his right hand and slightly pulled so he would follow.
"I think we need to talk."
Saiko led Kurama to her room and closed the door. They were both standing in their towels, their clothe in hand. Saiko put a blue bathrobe on and sat down on her bed.
"You know, Hiei had asked me a very interesting question today while we were training." Kurama raised an eyebrow at her. "He asked me… If I had feelings for you." Kurama brightened a little.
"And what did you say?" He asked hopefully. Saiko turned her head away from him. She couldn't stand seeing his intent gaze as he looked at her. But it was no good. She could still feel Kurama's stare.
"I told him… that I didn't know. I don't know what to feel right now." Saiko looked away from Kurama. "I'm sorry… I know that's not…" She stopped suddenly as Kurama walked over and hugged her. Saiko froze for a moment, then relaxed in his arms.
"You looked like you were about to cry. A sad look doesn't go well with you. Saiko… I don't ever want you to be sad… And I'll do anything I can to make sure you're happy, ok?"
"Kurama…?"
"I could never make you love me… All I can do is show you how I feel." Saiko couldn't say anything as Kurama held her. Slowly, he started to push Saiko back onto the bed. He started kissing her neck, trailing down.
"Kurama…" She gently pushed his head away. "I… I care about you… a lot. …But I don't think this is appropriate. There are too many things to take care of." Saiko slid away from him and clutched her robe together. "I… I'm asking you to leave. Please." Kurama just stood there staring.
"But…"
"Please, just go." Saiko turned away from him.
"So… that's all there is to it? Saiko, I'm sorry. I put you in an awkward position." Kurama closed the door behind him.
"Oh… Kurama…" She sniffed. "I didn't want to hurt you…" She turned back to her bed, and found a single red rose laying there. "…Kurama…" there was a knock at her door. Saiko quickly wiped her few tears away.
"Saiko?" Hiei called from the other side of the door. "May I come in, Saiko?"
"Y…yes." Saiko replied. She pulled her robe closer around her as Hiei stepped in.
"N…no. I just got back from the hot springs. Come on in Hiei. What can I do for you?" Hiei closed the door behind him. ("…I sure an getting a lot of male visitors now… then again… I've only seen one other woman here… Boton, I think.") Saiko shook her thoughts away. "What's on your mind, Hiei?"
"I came to see how your shoulder was doing." Hiei looked at her strangely. "Are you ok?" Saiko stared blankly at him a moment.
"Of course I'm ok. Why wouldn't I be?"
"… Let me have a look at your shoulder." Saiko sat down on her bed, turned away and pulled her robe down over her shoulder. Hiei removed the bandages. "It seems it's finally closed…" Hiei lightly touched it. Saiko started to sob silently. "Does it hurt? It might still be bruised…"
"No, it feels fine." Saiko sniffed.
"Then… why are you crying? If you are not in pain, then it is a waste of your energy." Saiko looked over her shoulder at Hiei.
"One doesn't have to have a physical injury to be in pain. There are all sorts of pains besides wounds…" Saiko pulled her robe over her shoulder again. "I'm sorry, you're right, this is uncalled for…" She wiped at her eyes. "But… I can't seem to stop. This is so pathetic."
"Saiko… It… there's nothing wrong with sadness." Hiei scrunched his face as if trying to think. Hiei felt very embarrassed. "…Go ahead and cry…" Ha lightly patted her good shoulder. "… I don't know what good I am for this, but… I am here if you need me."
"Thank you, but I think I'd like to be alone now. I'll see you in the morning. I'll be testing you on the maneuvers you've learned this far." Saiko smiled slightly. "Bright and early, ok? It'll be the first thing we do… And If you're ready, then we'll move on…"
"There, a smile suits you better." Hiei reached out and wiped a tear from Saiko's cheek. Hiei turned and left quickly. He almost slammed the door closed. He leaned his back against it. "I must be a fool…" Unconsciously, he licked the remains of Saiko's tear from his hand before stuffing both his hands into his pockets and walked off.
"So, what was so important that you had to get me up before noon on a Saturday?" Yuske yawned as he stood by Koenma's desk, rubbing his eyes.
"For real. I think this is just a little strange. Usually, all the big things happen on a Monday…" Kuwabara stretched his muscles.
"I wish this were something simple I could give you boys…" Koenma shook his head. "…But it isn't. Here, this letter was found today." Koenma hands the small paper to Yuske. He read it to himself.
"Well… isn't this odd? It seems like those demons want us to fight with them." The other's look at him with inquiry. "It says for the spirit detective, and the two demon dogs who work for him should come to the place on the enclosed address. Koenma, you have that address?" Koenma nodded. "It also says it will be worth our while."
"Hey, what dose it say about me?" Kuwabara asked. Yuske looks over it again.
"It doesn't say anything about you." Kuwabara sat down with disappointment. "Let's go tell Saiko. I'm sure she will want to know about this. Where is she right now?" Everyone looked at Yuske. "Has anyone seen her this morning?"
"She and I were supposed to practice this morning, but…" Hiei trailed off. "In the name of the mortals God…" Everyone looked at each other for a moment, then ran off towards Saiko's room.