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Chapter 2

She couldn't put her finger on it but she had seen him somewhere. Why had he asked if she still hated him? Ai was confused, but she knew she knew him from somewhere.

"Ai… Ai, are you there?" Khana asked.

"Oh… yeah sorry."

"You looked far away."

"I was thinking."

"Okay… what do you think about the new guys?"

"Oh… they're okay." Ai responded indifferently.

"I think Yusuke is so cute!"

"What?! Oh… yeah… I guess so." Actually Ai thought he was quite cute, but she was too confused to realize her thoughts yet.

"Fifth period… only two more periods," Sakura thought as she entered her physics class. She went to her seat, and her teacher gave her a test. "Okay… I am ready. I studied," she thought.

Half way into the class the door opened, and the two most gorgeous guys se had even seen walked into the door. One of the guys had black hair with spikes and amber eyes. He was shorter than average, but she was short herself so they matched perfectly, plus her blond hair and blue eyes would set off his darker features nicely. The other had blond hair with two red streaks that fell across his cheeks. He had deep green eyes and was about a foot taller than the other.

There was an odd presence about the shorter as if he was loathing just being near the blond haired boy.

The teacher introduced the shorter one as Hiei and the other as Suzaku. They were so cute! Sakura couldn't decide which one was cuter. She looked up at the clock. The period was almost over! She scrambled to do her test.

At home the girls sat around the living room relaxing.

Sakura and Khana were babbling on about the new boys.

"Wasn't he so cute?"

"Oh my god, ye he was!"

"With his black hair and gorgeous eyes."

"Yusuke," sighed Khana.

"Hiei," sighed Sakura at the same time.

"What?" questioned Khana," who are you talking about?"

"Hiei, of course, but then there is Suzaku too," Sakura sighed. "Who are you talking about?"

"Yusuke Urameshi."

"Oh, you like the trouble makers huh?"

"Oh, and you don't? I heard that Hiei and Suzaku got into a fight after school."

"Over what?"

"I don't know. I think it was about something that happened a while ago."

"Oh," Sakura said.

"Hey Ai! What's up?" asked Willow during lunch the next day interrupting Ai's train of thought.

"Oh nothing," said Ai, in a daze. Actually, it wasn't nothing. She was wondering why Yusuke Urameshi looked so familiar. She couldn't possibly know him. Could she?

"What are they looking at?" Willow asked pointing at Khana, Jen and Sakura. "They're creeping me out." She shuddered.

Ai subconsciously pointed to the table directly in front of theirs. Surprise, surprise. The table contained Yusuke, Kurama, Hiei, and Suzaku.

"Should have known," Willow muttered to no one in particular. She sighed while eating the delicious lunch Ai made.

"Mmmm," sighed Jen, while staring at Kurama. "He looks so hot," Jen said dreamily.

"Be careful, Jen. You don't want him to see you drooling," joked Willow.

That small statement seemed to get her out of her daze.

"I wasn't drooling!" Jen said a little too quickly wiping her mouth to see if she did in fact drool.

"Besides," Jen continued, "if anyone looks like their drooling, it's those two," she said pointing at Khana and Sakura.

"Come on guys. Lunch is already over," Ai reminded them.

"Party pooper," Khana mumbled picking up her books.

Late that night Ai got a phone call. She informed the girls after the nearly two hour phone call what all her shouts of delight were about. "I thought you were a dying pig from alll that squealing you were doing," said Sakura.

"No, no, it was my sister, she's had a baby! She wants me to go to New York City on Saturday to see her and her little Nicole." Ai sputtered excitedly.

"Wow, how old is your sister?" Sakura questioned.

"She's twenty-four. Her husband is such a man, so handsome, kind and prosperous. I guess he's kind of my role model husband," Ai sighed.

"Keep dreaming," joked Sakura as she gazed at the photograph of a gorgeous man Ai had handed to her.

"Ha, ha, Funny. I'm leaving Friday. I better call to buy a plane ticket and start packing. As Ai said this, she rushed off towards her room and shut the door. Sakura sighed. She's always loved babies. She was even considering a part time job in child-care but with school and all she knew she couldn't. She longed to have a soft innocent child herself, with baby blue eyes filled with laughter and joy. But she'd have to wait until after college. Her mother had always told her how important education was , and she was determined to maintain her perfect 7.0 GPA. She glanced up at the clock, nearly six and a major test tomorrow. She grabbed her book and began studying.

Three hours later, Willow and Khana burst through the door. With all the commotion, Ai and Sakura rushed into the living rooms. Willow had an ecstatic grin spread all over her face. "I got it!" she shouted.

"Got what?" Ai questioned.

"The gig, I got the gig. The band and I will be performing at Siamese Park at the Rock Festival, the main show! Oh my god, I'm so excited!"

"That's great, when is it?

"On Saturday, this Saturday night. This is the perfect gig to launch my career!" Several seconds later, Jen walked in back from her weekly manicure, and joined the girls' exuberant glee and congratulated Willow. Everyone was very excited, except for Jen. The two were good friends. She loved Willow, but for some reason sometimes where she saw her it brought back bad memories. She reminded her so much of that woman. That horrible, awful woman. Every night she silently cried, remembering the cruelty of her abusive mother, rubbing the scars that covered her body. The monster had left when she was fifteen, gone who knows where. She imagined what would happen if she suddenly came back and shuddered. Yet, she always managed to paint a smile on her face in front of everyone, even her friends, not even best friend Khana knew.

The next day, Jen admired her French manicure as she at her Chicken Caesar Salad. Was it her imagination or had she seen Kurama past by the manicure shop door. She always seemed to run into him in the hallway, on the highway, everywhere. Coincidence, she didn't think so. She was playing hard to get and gave him a slight smile or just pretended not to notice when he glanced at her. There was no doubt it was working, because the 'coincidences' were occurring more and more sine the tactic was established. Kurama would soon be hers.

It seemed the entire high school was at the Rock Festival, decked out in their hottest clothes and concert T's. It was loud and noisy, and the music hadn't even started yet. Then finally around six, it began. First there was a jazz group, to kind of warm up the audience, and then several country western singers. Kurama, though he would never admit it to anyone, especially the guys couldn't help from tapping his foot at the twangy guitars and belty western draw; singers began playing. After several other performances, it was ten minutes from the main show. Willow sat with her band members as they tuned their instruments and began vocal warm-ups. Willow was thankful that she didn't have a sore throat or congestion that day, a perfect day for singing. She gazed around the room at her friends, wild Wilie, the drummer, Sean, a curly haired blod basist, Arman, the talented keyboardist, and Joey, the Chinese basists. She was the lead guitarist with finders that were nimble and quick and the talent to play everything from an enchanting Spanish style song to hard rock head banging music. Before they were announced she clutched the golden four leaf clover on the necklace she wore. Kissed it for good luck, and smudged on some glittery red lip gloss. Then finally, as her heart pounded excitedly, she heard the magic words expel from the announcers lips. "And now, the guitar swinging rock cus you've been waiting for Crash and Burn!"

A scream of applause exploded from the audience as Willow and the other members of the band walked on stage. A simple power chord, a soft lingering guitar lick, then bang, the song began to grow. As Willow began her solo, her fingers flying over the strings as fast as Angus Young, the adrenaline rush came, and she felt capable of doing anything. She spotted the new boys in the front row and flashed them a dazzling smile as the powerful pleasing rocking song continued. Smoke rose from the stage as the stage became illuminated in violent light as the song ended, and the next began.

Hiei gazed in amazement at the lead guitarist. Didn't she got to his school? She'd been standing in the lunch line near him the other day that was it. She had looked like a preppy teenager, one of those girls who spend all their time at the hair and nail saloon, but he knew for sure that he had been wrong. He was intrigued by the way the light reflected off her brilliant green eyes, how they glittered with confidence and strength. He would have to find her and talk to her after the concert. He leaned over to Yusuke and asked. "Hey, the tall lead guitarist, do you know her?"

"A little," responded the fighter, "her name is Willow. She's from South America. I think."

"Oh really, a feisty Latino," Hiei laughed. As Hiei was admiring Willow, someone was watching him. Sakura gazed dreamily at him from backstage, Willow had said any of the girls could go there if they wanted to. She may hate music, but she could swim in that perfect face.

"I wonder what Hiei's so transfixed by," thought Sakura curiously.

But by the time the fifth song ended, she knew why when Hiei shouted. "Hey Willow! Will you marry me?!" Sakura gazed cruelly at the giggling Willow and fire burned in her eyes. Not only did the girl disturb her and her life, she was taking her man.

"I'll think about it, cutie," said Willow simply. A small smile appearing on her face. Her emerald eyes sparkled brightly as she turned around to return to the band, getting ready to play the next song… a love song too.

A chuckle escaped the chocolate brown-eyed boy. "What are you laughing at?" asked the amber eyed boy.

"Oh nothing." A small, abrupt chuckle escaped his lips. "Just didn't think that you… a demon who is normally so cold hearted could love a mere mortal."

"What about you? You and your marriage proposal, Urameshi."

The young man made no counter strike… instead looked away. It hurt him dearly… hurt him so… what had happened with her. He had given his heart to her… then… then…

The last song of the night ended… a cruel look was planted upon Sakura's face as she glared at Willow. Mentally she hated herself for offering Willow a place to stay at her mansion. Another part of her couldn't bring herself up to hate the Latino. How could she someone with so much… talent?

The moon was glistening in the midnight sky by the time the four friends returned home. A star stuck look glazed over Willow's eyes as she entered the house. The fame was getting the better of her… especially since everyone loved her so.

A simple 'night' left Khana and Jen's lips as they went upstairs to their room… leaving Sakura, a look of pure venom upon her face, and Willow still fingering over her guitar.

"Willow-chan," stated Sakura simply.

"Huh?" asked Willow her eyes drooping from tiredness.

"Doushite?" asked Sakura simply.

"Why what?" asked Willow, her emerald eyes full of innocence.

"Hiei-kun, do you really love him? Cause if you do… I… I…" tears stained Sakura's normally bright blue eyes. Her voice started to break… trying to find strength to continue.

A small chuckle left Willow's lips. "You're silly Sakura. Hiei… yeah… he's cute and all… but he isn't my type. He's really simpatico but… but… too… out there you know?"

"Then why? Why did you lead him on so?" asked Sakura.

"Didn't want to break his heart. Besides, trust me Sakura. He's all yours… as long as some other girl doesn't go for him. Hint, hint you better tell him soon."

A small, crimson blush ran under Sakura's eyes. "I…I…gomen," muttered Sakura before looking down at her fingers. A small giggle left Wiillow's lips. Before she got up, her guitar case in one hand. "'Night."

"'Night," muttered Sakura… still embarrassed at her outburst and revealing her love for Hiei in such a subtle way.

One week came and gone… only one email came from Ai telling them that she had arrived in America and that was it. No return time; no other messages. All the girls started getting worried as another week went and gone… some a month then another.

It wasn't till one night in summer when the skies rang with anger… lightning flashing in the sky. The sound of thunder raged in the midnight sky showing no relief. Silence eloped the household only the sounds of a grandfather clock in the living room could be heard… the sound of the pendulum swinging back and forth with the ticking of the seconds hand.

A lone, long doorbell disrupted the peace… interrupting the group of girls from their studies. A simple 'I got it' left Sakura's lips as she bounded to the door… pulling the cherry door open revealing a soaked young woman wrapped in a cloak. A large bundle in her arms and a suitcase next to her feet.

"Ai-chan!" cried Sakura… immediately throwing herself upon the young woman. Ai immediately backed away… her eyes filled with pain, torment, and sadness. The happiness and innocence had left her normally cheerful crimson eyes… leaving only that of a hollow shell. "What happened to you?"

Ai made no comment as the rain continued to pour down her face… mixing the cold rain water with that of her tears. The sounds of footsteps echoed in the mansion revealing Khana, Jen and Willow. A squeal left the girl's lips the moment they saw Ai. Willow immediately grabbed Ai's arm pulling her inside the mansion while Khana grabbed her suitcase.

Once all five girls were situated in the living room an eerie silence filled the room only to be broken by hat of a baby's crying. "What the heck," muttered Jen. "What is that? It sounds like a baby crying."

"It is," muttered Ai. A light blush eloped her cheeks as she cradled the bundle in her arms before removing the piece of the pink cloth that covered the bundle. The girls immediately turned and stared at Ai and the child in her arms. An infant barely six months old… flawless ivory white skin and a set of beautiful amethyst eyes with a hit of ruby red in them. A cute button nose and black fuzz that would one day be hair.

"Where'd you get the kid from? Asked Khana.

"She's mine," said Ai simply… her eyes still filled with that same sadness and pain as she glazed down at the baby in her arms.

"NANI!" cried Sakura and Jen… while Khana and Willow stared at Ai with disbelief as their eyes turned plate size.

A small forced chuckle left Ai's lips. "Ilie. Not the way you're thinking. She's actually my sister's child…"

"Then why do you have her?" asked Sakura… her face was still pale as she tried to get over the shock.

Ai's eyes clouded over as she pulled the baby into a tighter embrace. "My… my sister… she died not long after this little one was born. The doctors said the strain of childbirth mixed with her weak heart killed her."

"Oh…" Silence covered the room… only the crackle of the burning fire could be heard before Willow broke the silence. "What about her… her father?"

Ai licked her lips once. Her eyes burned with hatred as she spat out the rest of the explanation. "That no good baka. He abandoned her… the day after my sister died… he disappeared. That… that son of a b…"

"Ai-chan!" cried Sakura. She hated foul language even though she could easily understand how Ai was feeling now. Her once role model, her impression of a great husband now crushed by a selfish act a father did to his child.

"Gomen nasi," muttered Ai… a little embarrassed at her choice of words. "Any ways, when that baka left… what choice did I have. I mean our parents passed away years ago. I couldn't leave her at the orphanage… my experience in one taught me how horrid Japan's orphanages can be. Who knows what the one America are like, so I had to adopt her."

"NANI!" cried Sakura. "Demo… school."

"And you're so young… not even eighteen yet," added Khana.

"Yeah… about that. That's why I came back. I… I wanted to tell you guys that I'm moving out. I've decided to quit school and immediately go find a job somewhere."

"Nuh uh," said Sakura simply. "You are not quitting school, and you're not moving out. We're going to help you raise the kid, right guys?"

A mixed expression of 'hai' filled the room… causing tears to form in Ai's eyes. "Arigato… arigato… minna," whispered Ai.

"So… what's the cutie's name?" asked Jen simply… she had been quiet through this… but the thought of raising a child delighted her. It was like a dream come true.

"Well… her birth name was Nicole…but… I thought she needed a new name … for her new life with us. So… I gave her a new name… Hikari."

"Hikari… cute," commented Khana… as she inched forward, lightly stroking the baby's face.

"Very… Katana Hikari," said Sakura stating the baby's full name. "Aren't you just plain adorable Hikari-chan."

"Hai, light very appropriate," commented Jen as she reached over to take the baby from Ai who gladly handed th infant over. A smile broke from the baby's lips as Jen lifted her into the air. "Aren't you just plain adorable Hikari-chan? And so lucky to have so many aunties to teach you things… like makeup… girl things… and guy." A mental picture of Kurama in his dojo outfit flashed through her mind. He looked so freaking cute yesterday in gym class when they were practicing the new fighting style the sensei had just taught them.

"Thinking of Kurama-kun?" asked Khana teasingly as she watched Jen space out into her own little world. In her perfect little world, it was just her and Kurama alone without a care in the world… for all of eternity.

"Hey! Not fair… what about you and Yusuke-kun?" asked Jen teasingly.

"Jen-chan!" gasped Khana. "That was a secret!"

A/N: How was it? Please tell us through reviews. WE LOVE REVIEWS!!!