NOTES: Um…I'm alive…its been a stressful, busy, mind blowing semester. On the plus side I won second place in my college's fiction writing contest…which was and is the most bizarre thing since I haven't won any awards since elementary school. I haven't had time to work on any of my fanfics, but now I do and I wanna attempt to attack them before something else in my life pops up to drag me away from my little pieces of semi-creation (since I don't own them, so they're not my creation, just what I'm doing to the characters is my creation so…yeah). Alright, enough of my incessant babbling.
On an added note: I have really truly fallen in love with Hiei. I think I've already mentioned this, but I have only watched what's been shown on CartoonNetwork, and with every episode I loving the little demon even more. He seems tough (actually he is) but inside he is very vulnerable. He cares, but he doesn't like to show it, and that is what makes him appealing to me. There is this look he's always giving Yuuske ( a stare and then a blink) and its when Yuuske says or does something he does not understand and is trying to make sense of it.
Ok, now I'm really gonna stop my babbling.
WARNING: Um…I dunno…some violence…
ABANDONED CHILDREN
Part IV
Hiei remembered that as a young Youkai in the Makai, the higher up in altitude you were, the safer you were. He had speed on his side from the very beginning, but there were other Youkai out there who could match his speed, and overcome him in strength. Hiding from pursuers became a necessity, and his favorite hiding places were in the high branches of a tall tree, camouflaged within the foliage of luscious leaves.
But in this particular town, there were no tall trees to take refuge in. It was dry, and bare, with only a few bushes and a scattering of thin skeletal like trees decorating the land. Below, on the dirt streets, the humans went about their business, haggling over prices in the market, socializing with friends and working vigorously at their jobs trying to make a living in their short lives. No one noticed the lithe black-clad figure settling on the roof of one of the homes, laying down flat on his back to look up at the clear blue sky.
It looked the same; Hiei found himself musing silently in his head. The sky in this dimension looked the same as the sky in the Human World back in his dimension. He had to admit that it was beautiful, almost giving him a feeling of freedom that he knew he did not possess. That was why in the Dark Tournament all those Youkai fought for that island, and all those Youkai went to watch the battles. Sure it had been to see murder and mayhem, but it was also to feel for just a moment what the stupid humans took for granted: an endless blue sky of freedom and opportunity.
Humans were such stupid and dense creatures, making themselves vulnerable. That was why he had been willing to team up with Gouki, to steal the three artifacts from the Spirit World. Vulnerable, stupid humans. It sometimes angered him that these creatures could walk about their lives, so naïve no to realize their danger. Youkai like that in the Makai died very early in their lives for such childish obliviousness. Even the oldest of humans were children compared to Youkai, and it was not age that made the difference.
Hiei shut his eyes from the brilliance of the sun, taking deep breaths to calm his dark thoughts. Humans were vulnerable because of their emotions and their feelings of attachment to others. It was what disgusted Hiei with Kurama, who had allowed himself to love his human mother, opening himself many a times to vicious attacks that he could not defend for fear that the human woman could be harmed. It was the same with Yuuske. He himself had used the Spirit Detectives love for the girl Keiko against him.
A flash of Yukina's smiling face made Hiei open his eyes. Wincing slightly he said to the blue sky, "I guess I am a hypocrite."
"Hypocrite? Why?"
Hiei leap to his feet with a half concealed gasp, turning wide red eyes to his unknown watcher. Sitting a few meters away was the golden-eyed Youkai named Goku. Hiei vaguely remembered that when he ran out of the inn, the other had been calling after him about showing him his Black Dragon or some other kind of nonsense. How had the other managed to sneak up on him without Hiei being able to sense him approaching?
Angered at his carelessness, Hiei glared at the other through narrow eyes, "What the hell do you want?"
Goku cringed slightly at the look that promised extreme bodily harm, but laughed nervously and scooted closer to Hiei, ignoring how Hiei stiffened at the lack of respect for personal space. "Y'know, you're really, really fast! I almost lost you. It's kinda cool, right, to be able to move so fast."
Hiei scowled, "What the hell are you babbling about?"
Goku scratched the back of his head and laughed, "Sorry, its just that I haven't met anyone faster than me, other than Humora, and that's 'cause he's a Kami." He grinned cheekily at Hiei and waved an excited finger at him, "But I can tell that not only are you fast, but your strong, and that's cool, too."
Hiei blinked at the other Youkai, and let his eyes drift to the golden diadem on Goku's brow. He could still sense the immense spiritual powers emitting from the golden trinket, and also the dark shadow of intense malignance and fury. He did not know what to make of the other, who seemed to babble and act like child, but showed potential of being something else all together.
Hiei was beginning to enjoy this mystery that was Goku. Smirking, he said slyly, "You're something else as well. Why do you hide behind that cheap metal?"
Goku's golden eyes widened, and his hand instinctively went up to his forehead, touching the diadem with the tips of his fingers. Hiei noticed the slipping of the smile on his face, and a haunting, ancient look coming into those golden orbs. But with that instant, the smile was back as Goku said lightly, "You're smart, too. That's good. Sanzou always says I have more muscles than brains. But anyway, why'd you run out. Yukina looked kinda sad when you did."
Hiei's muscles went rigid at these words, but he said nothing, choosing to ignore that last remark.
But Goku was not stopping. "Y'know, I don't know why you two won't just admit that your siblings and all. I mean, sure you might be mad at each other, but its better to just face each other." He paused than leaned in close to Hiei and asked, "You're not going to hit Yukina with a fan, are you?"
"What?!" Hiei found the prospect of having the power to hurt Yukina was frightening enough, but to strike Yukina in conscious anger was sickening to say the least. Swallowing his growing anger, Hiei snarled, "First of all, we are not siblings. There are no relations between Yukina and I whatsoever. She is an Ice Maiden, and I am a Fire Youkai, if anything we should be sworn enemies."
Goku snorted at this. "Well, you two both have the red eyes of half-breeds," Hiei felt his already tense muscles cramping painfully, "And also, you two have the same scent." He touched his nose, "And my nose never has let me down. I mean, Gojyo and his brother smell the same and they had different mothers! You and Yukina smell almost exactly alike. But then…" Goku leered at Hiei and nudged the fire Youkai with his elbow, "Is she you're sweetheart? I smelled a woman once that slept with Gojyo and they had the same scent till she took a bath."
For a very good moment Hiei was torn between throwing his head back and laughing, or screaming out to the blue sky that Yukina was truly his sister. Maybe if he just admitted that the two of them had some kind of mutual romantic relationship then the annoying monkey of a Youkai would leave him alone and stop idiotically prying into his affairs. But then the thought of even acting like Yukina was his…mate was enough to make his stomach churn uncomfortably and he hadn't felt like that since he been poisoned by a lethal plant in the Makai.
Clenching his fist, he felt the familiar gathering of his dark youki, and the crackling of the dark powers gathering around his bandaged fist. "You seem to think highly of that monk," said Hiei through clenched teeth.
Goku blinked, noticing the rise in Hiei youki and stiffening slightly. "Yeah, even though he treats me like his servant and hits me on the head all the time, and calls me a dumb monkey with no gray matter in my head…and he's stingy, and always yelling and in a bad mood…" He trailed off, looking despondent.
Hiei stared at the other young Youkai, and looked away, curling on of his knees up and wrapping his bare arms around it. "Hn," he grunted, "sounds like a master and slave to me. Why take that kind of abuse when you can tear that nasty tongue of his out of his mouth."
His words riled Goku up, though Hiei was not surprised. He had seen how Goku had reacted when Hiei threatened the blond monk. It baffled Hiei how a simple human (even though he possessed a large amount of spiritual energy) could control a creature of Goku's strength. He didn't need to fight Goku to know that the other Youkai was a force to be reckoned with. He and his friends had aided Yukina and him when he was down, so out of respect he would try not to battle with them, or become their enemies.
"I have no master, and will never be anyone's slave or servant, ever!" said Goku angrily, his eyes shining with a fiery light.
"Then why are you letting yourself be treated like a dog on a leash?" Asked Hiei cruelly.
Goku did not reply, his hands clenched at his sides. He looked away, down at the people below. Smiling, talking and totally oblivious of the two youkai above them on the roof. Hiei dropped his chin to his knee, letting his red tinged eyes to shut slowly and relish the silence. He was being bluntly cruel to Goku, even though he didn't know the other at all. He had seen already that Sanzou had a lot of bark in him, but why would Goku let the human control him?
It was all about control, and power, thought Hiei. Survival of the fittest, the winner takes it all and the losers either dies, or disappears into the shadows. He had always wanted control and with that gained power beyond compare. Control over his powers and the situations around him that dictated his life, and power to protect him and those he deemed worthy of his protection. Power so that he would not lose that precious control and go spiraling down into a stream of uncontrolled events that he could not stop.
Like falling through the air and seeing the ground coming up to meet you with death…
"You talk like Humora," said Goku suddenly, in a quiet voice.
It was the second time Goku had mentioned that familiar name. Hiei remembered that she-bitch mentioning a Kami by the name of Humora that she wanted him to go after to retrieve a scroll from him. It seemed that Goku and his friends were the center of everything.
"Who is Humora?" Asked Hiei, still not sure whether to rule out this man as an enemy or potential ally.
Goku brought his clenched fists up and said angrily, "A real bastard, even though he's a Kami. He keeps on showing up and pulling us around like we're puppets, and then beats me up and tells me that I need to get stronger. Bastard." Goku sighed and looked up to the sky, "But he's really strong, but I am gonna get stronger and beat him up so bad that he'll never forget it!"
"Why would he want you to be stronger?" Asked Hiei, finding this conversation interesting. "You are enemies, and it sounds to me that he's defeated you many times. Why not just kill you?"
Goku fell silent; letting the gentle wind ruffle his hair. Looking at him, Hiei once again felt the same feeling of something ancient. The moment was broken when Goku's stomach growled.
Hiei gaped, and Goku groaned, "I'm soooo hungry! Do you think its time to eat yet?"
Hiei couldn't help but chuckle at the silliness of the moment, "How should I know?"
Goku stood up and stretched saying, "Then lets go back and see! Knowing Gojyo, he'll eat my share as well as yours. You can also make up with Yukina if it isn't time to eat yet."
Hiei snarled, showing his fangs, "You go and make up with her yourself, fool! Quit getting into my business!" He had hoped that the monkey had forgotten about their earlier discussion, but the other young Youkai seemed not to easily forget things.
Goku tsked and shook his head, "Stubborn. What should I tell Yukina if she asks me where you are? She'll be worried about you, and won't rest till she sees you safe."
"Words of experience?" Hissed Hiei, angry that the fool was making sense…again.
Goku frowned at him, "You really are bad tempered like Sanzou, you know. Now quit arguing and come on, I don't want to make Yukina sad."
Yes, Hiei was a hypocrite. His vulnerability sat in the inn chatting with Goku's friends. She held a power over him that he let no one have…ever. The power to make him get up and follow her wherever she may go to insure her safety. The power to curb his anger and rage so she would not be subjected to the mere sight of the ugliness within him. The power to put cracks into his stone facade so that he could feel emotions other than the engulfing wrath that forever would consume him soul.
With a defeated sigh, Hiei stood and faced Goku who grinned triumphantly at him. Hiei felt an unexplained urge to hurt the other, to make him feel the turmoil and helplessness that he felt. Looking straight at the diadem on Goku's brow he asked, "Why do you limit your powers so? It seems like a habit for you, doesn't it? Why not take it off? I'd like to see what powers you possess that you try so hard to hide."
Goku blinked at him and frowned, "Trust me, you don't want to ever see my true form."
"Why not? You think you can beat me?"
Goku looked straight at him, making full eye contact; shimmering gold clashing with crimson red. Hiei was slightly taken aback by the total seriousness in the look, having the fleeting haunting, ancient look now directed toward him.
"No," said Hiei, "I wouldn't be able to stop myself from killing you, because I will not be conscious, only the beast that this Youkai Limiter holds back will be present, and he wants nothing more than to coat his claws with blood."
Hiei stared at this, unsure how to react to this sort of disclosure. Goku seemed powerful as is, but could the diadem be holding back something so great that Goku could not control it, consuming him, and forcing him to become a sort of mad killing machine? It was like his Black Dragon, if his strength was not enough, his own attack would consume him and send his soul to oblivion.
Goku turned away from him and dropped down off the roof and into the middle of the busy street, startling the humans as they gaped the youth who seemed to have fallen from the sky. Hiei watched as Goku started walking away, ignoring the stares he was receiving. Shaking his head, Hiei leapt off the rooftop to another. Unlike Goku, Hiei did not want to mingle with the humans if he didn't have to.
***~*~*~***~*~*~***~*~***
Yukina's head shot up when the front door to the inn was flung open followed a cheerful voice saying exuberantly, "I'm back! I'm hungry! And I brought Hiei too!"
At the sight of Hiei's dark brooding visage, Yukina felt herself relax. Since Hiei had abruptly left, Yukina could not help but feel that in some way she had insulted him with her words. Who was she to disapprove of his actions or his attitude? She knew that Hiei's threat to Goku had been idle, just a reaction to his annoyance and being pestered by the other young Youkai. Truly, what right did she have at acting so familiar with him?
Standing, she strode up to Hiei who looked at her with unfathomable red eyes and looked away, a scowl knotting the edges of his brows that were not covered by his white bandana. Yukina then bowed, and she could sense his surprise and the other's eyes on them as she said, "Please forgive me. I overstepped my bounds, and accidentally insulted you, Hiei. Please, forgive me."
She was startled when she felt his strong hands clamp onto her shoulders. With a gasp she was pulled up straight so that she could face Hiei on equal grounds. His red eyes pierced into her soul, only hinting of the dark secrets that the other kept closed behind doors sealed shut from the light. She had never met any creature, Youkai or human, which held such a mix of pain, sorrow, and anger to the extent that Hiei did. It saddened her, for she considered Hiei as a dear friend, and wished that she could relieve him from some of that pain that she knew he bared alone. But her healing powers could only heal a physical wound, unable to touch the true scars of the heart.
Hiei let his hands drop from her shoulders, and then he looked angry with her, "How is it that you think that you insulted me? That…that you have bow before me and beg my forgiveness?" He hissed at her, "I am not so petty, Yukina, so do not make me out to be one."
Yukina realized it wasn't her previous words had not insulted him; it was her words that she had just spoke. Yukina dropped her own red eyes, letting her bangs to try to hide them. She had messed up. "Forgive me, Hiei…I did not mean…"
"Stop it," he said sharply. "Just forget this. You never have to apologize to me, for it isn't necessary. My feelings aren't so raw that some few words can bite me." His voice gentled, and Yukina looked up to see him looking away, his eyes for a moment so vulnerable that she wanted to take him into her arms and hold him like she did when he was still laid out from poison. "You don't have to worry, because I doubt that you are capable of hurting me."
From behind, Yukina heard Gojyo snidely remark, "Sheesh, nobody in this room knows how to express their feelings."
Yukina let her heart lighten at this. In his own way Hiei was trying to tell her: Don't worry, I'm not hurt, don't worry, I don't want you to think that you hurt me, don't worry, please stop looking at me like that…
She smiled at Hiei gently, and brushed her cold fingertips against his bandaged hand. It was hot to the touch, and Yukina could only wonder at the complete difference between them. Fire and ice…forbidden elements that should never be mixed together. Her thoughts drifted to her missing brother. A baby, torn from her mother's arms and ruthlessly thrown off the floating Island that was the home of the Ice Maidens. The Forbidden Child, that everyone in the Makai knew of his reputation, but no one knew exactly who he was or where he was.
"Hiei," she said, "Sanzou has already ordered a meal for us, then we will be leaving. And Hakkai bought me a new outfit since the trip will need me to be more mobile. I was about to go change, so wait here!" She whirled around, her teal colored hair brushing against his cheek before she sprinted excitedly up the stairs to the rooms.
Shutting the door behind her, she went to the bed where Hakkai had left the paper wrapped new clothes for her. Slipping out of her kimono, Yukina put on a pair of light colored pants, and a long tunic that draped down to her knees that was the color of her kimono. A cloth sash of red went around her slim waist, complementing her eyes, and soft pull on shoes that would be good for running if there were a need. Truly, Hakkai had outdone himself. Folding her torn kimono, she escorted herself down the stairs, feeling a brief moment of shyness that sent a slight blush to her pale cheeks.
She was greeted by seeing Hiei sitting stiffly at the table with Sanzou and his friends being served by three waiters weighed down by trays heaping with food. Hiei was the first one to see her; his eyes widened slightly, but said nothing, which Yukina took as approval. Hakkai smiled at her, and Sanzou was too busy holding Goku back from diving into the food before it had even been set down on the table. Gojyo stood, grinning from ear to ear and pulling an empty seat for her to sit on.
She nearly giggled at this treatment and let herself be seated in between Gojyo and Hiei who was giving Gojyo and odd look. He looked at her and asked, "Why is it that fools are always attracted to you?"
Yukina laughed at this, shaking her head, "Hiei, even dimensions away you still make fun of Kazuma."
She let herself settle in her seat and start to eat human food. Kazuma had introduced some of it to her, and she found some of the dishes quite appetizing. She especially like fried spring roll stuffed with vegetables. Glancing over at Hiei, she saw him sipping at a mug of warm streaming tea, his red eyes studying the four other table occupants.
Hakkai was sipping some sake from a small porcelain cup, his eyes shut in contentment. Goku was clashing chopsticks with Gojyo yelling something about the red head snitching from his plate. Sanzou seemed to have developed a margarine, his hand covering his eyes and twitching in growing anger at the two dueling Youkai. It was so entertaining that she could barely look away from them. She noticed other people in the inn were staring at them.
"SHUT UP!!!!" shrieked Sanzou, pulling out his white fan and knocking both Goku and Gojyo upside their heads with it in one swing, not an easy feat in Yukina's opinion. It had to have been perfected after a lot of practice.
Yukina had to cover her mouth with her hand to stop herself from breaking out into gales of laughter as the two Youkai turned on the ill tempered monk, declaring the other as the evil instigator and thief of scrumptious food. The two went silent as Sanzou pulled out his gun, brandishing both fan and gun threateningly as he growled, "Choose: death by bullets, or death by pummeling." The two crawled back to their seats, watching the monk warily as he went back to eating.
"Ah, was a magnificent feast," sighed Hakkai from beside Hiei. "But Hiei, I see you haven't touched any of your food."
Yukina looked at Hiei's plate and found nothing but cooling food and untouched chopsticks.
Hiei put his tea down and glared at Hakkai. "I don't need your cooked human food to maintain my energy."
Goku perked up at this and chirped, "If you don't want it then I'll eat it, Hiei!"
Hiei shrugged and pushed the plate away, watching in almost nonchalant wonder as Goku proceeded to almost finish the contents of the plate in one gulp.
Yukina sighed and took a bite out of her spring roll, savoring its intricate taste. Like Hiei, she had at first never even thought of eating human food. But when she had been captured and imprisoned, the only way for her to survive was to force herself to eat the meager meals that were given to her. After Hiei, Kazuma, and Yuuske saved her, it was only Kazuma's constant pleading that made her try some more, allowing her to develop a taste for it. She was what Shizuru, Kazuma's sister, called a 'vegetarian', one who never ate the meat of another creature. She wondered about Hiei's preferences in food.
"Hiei," said asked, "some of these dishes are quite good. Why don't you try just a bit?"
Hiei shook his head, saying, "Eating a lot makes one lazy. Besides, humans make their food with spices to make it appealing for their greedy mouths. See how they present them? Its meant to all be finished, and it is a luxury that I won't allow myself to fall into."
Hakkai looked at him for a moment, and then asked, "Hiei, what will you eat, then? All we have is our food, and the land we will be crossing for the next day is not the developed in vegetations, nor is it populated by many wild animals."
Gojyo made a disgusted face, "I hope your not planning to hunt down and eat some squirrels."
Goku, his mouth still stuffed with food, turned to Sanzou and pulled at his long sleeve, "Sanzou, are squirrels delicious?"
"Why don't you go find out yourself?" Snarled Sanzou.
Hiei glared at them one by one in surprise at what they were proposing, then hissed, "Idiots. I already said that I have no use for your food. Leave it at that."
Yukina sighed and reached to the middle of the table where the fruits basket sat, picking up a shining red apple she offered it to Hiei, smiling, "Hiei, I'm guessing that you don't want anything that is cooked and spiced. I've grown used to this kind of food thanks to Kazuma. But the human fruits are not so different than the fruits in the Makai. I'm sure some of them will be to your liking."
Hiei stared at her, his red eyes matching the redness of the apple she held. Yukina wondered if Hiei ever knew his mother. Had she died when before she had shown him some love that only a mother could grant to their child? Had she been rough with him, demanding of him things that he had difficult achieving? Youkai in nature did not keep their offspring for long, since it was a danger to them. Some were becoming more civilized in the cities, but in the wilderness survival of the fittest was the only way of life. She tried to imagine what Hiei's mother had been like: probably small in stature like Hiei was, with black hair and the alluring red eyes that cut down through anything.
Yukina's imaginings were cut out when Hiei relieved her hand from the apple, taking a small bite out of it, chewing, then taking a larger bite. It seemed he approved of it.
Gojyo nudged Goku and snickered, "Someone just can't say 'no' when pretty red eyes and begging."
Suddenly, Hakaryuu swooped in from an open window, chirping happily. To everyone's surprise, the little white dragon landed on Hiei's head, tucking its thin leathery wings and wrapping its snaking tail around Hiei's neck. Hiei sat stiff, his fingers digging deep into the apple, his eyes wide in shock that any creature dared to settle on his person. He shivered visibly when Hakaryuu buried its head in his hair.
"Scratch me and I'll tear your wings off," growled Hiei, returning to his fruit despite the dragon that had made a home on his head. He stopped when Hakaryuu lowered its neck and chirped in his face. With an exasperated sigh, Hiei tore off a small chunk of the apple and let the little dragon eat it off his fingers, letting it lick the sweet juice and pulp off his hand till he was clean.
They all stared at this, and Yukina felt her chest swell in happiness. One of the reasons that she had slowly become attracted to Kazuma was because of his gentleness toward animals, especially little kittens. Even though he and Hiei always fought and bickered, here was a common ground: The need to be gentle to a creature that was defenseless.
"That," said Gojyo, "is just damn cute."
Hakkai laughed, "I think Hakaryuu likes you, Hiei."
Hiei grunted, "As long as he doesn't scratch me he can do as he likes."
Sanzou stood after this, saying, gruffly, "Lets go." Shoving his chair away, he briskly walked out without another word.
Hakkai wiped his mouth with a napkin and stood as well and smiled benignly when Goku whined up at him, "But I'm still hungry!"
Gojyo also stood and laughed, "That's all you ever are, idiot. Watch it cause when you reach your twenties all that weight that you burn so easily will come back to haunt you."
"Not like that bear belly your going to develop in a couple of years, cockroach!"
Hakkai sighed at them and helped Yukina out of her seat, "We had better hurry. Sanzou does not like to be kept waiting, and he seems to have developed a headache in the course of our meal, which is making more temperamental than normal."
Yukina looked to where Sanzou was waiting outside. "Oh dear, maybe I can help soothe the pain with my powers."
Hiei stood, and walked past them, with Hakaryuu still settled on his head, chewing happily on the apple core. "Don't waste your strength," he said to her over his shoulder. "I have a feeling that it will only come back." He gestured towards Gojyo and Goku who were grappling over the last loaf of bread. "Unless you can make those fools behave themselves I doubt you can do anything for the monk."
Yukina smiled as Hiei walked out of the inn, coming to stand a few feet away from Sanzou who ignored him. Yukina watched in amusement as Hakkai went over and pried Gojyo and Goku from the table and dragged them out while they protested loudly. Giggling, she followed them out and watched Hakaryuu fly off Hiei's head to transform into the green jeep that they would use as transportation.
Gojyo helped her to the back, with him and Goku. Sanzou sat in the front passenger seat, and Hakkai behind the wheel. Hiei stood alone with his arms crossed over his chest, contemplating on the seating arrangements before jumping onto the front hood and settling himself on it right in front of Sanzou.
Hakkai said, "Hiei, that is not a place to sit. There is still enough room in the back…"
Hiei interrupted him sharply; "I will not sit in the back with the fools. Besides, since I will be carrying the dragon on my head, then it's only suitable that when he's in this form that he carry me on his head."
"But," argued Hakkai, "the motor will get hot…"
Hiei grinned nastily, "Even the hottest of flames cannot harm me."
Hakkai still tried again, "But you can be thrown off, and…"
Hiei glared at the green eyed Youkai and snapped, "Let the dragon decide for himself, since it is his head that I will be sitting on."
"Hakaryuu?" Asked Hakkai, not sure how to handle this. But when he received a happy chirping answer he conceded. "Very well, Hiei. You win."
Yukina called up to Hiei, "Be careful, Hiei!"
Hiei looked over her shoulder and smirked, silently telling her that her not to worry about him. Then his eyes wandered over her shoulder and his eyes widened in alarm, his whole body tensing to spring. Startled, Yukina looked over here shoulder to see only the inn with its doors shut. Other than the faints sounds of the people within there was nothing to make Hiei react so.
Sanzou, who seemed to have also noticed Hiei's tensing, also looked at the inn, but not finding anything. He looked at Hiei still staring at the inn. "What is it?" He asked.
Yukina was startled when Hiei yanked off his bandana and opened his Jagan eye, the purple orb glowing. They four others gaped at this, and beside her, Yukina heard Goku hissing to Gojyo "Is it possible to have three eyes?"
"Hiei," asked Sanzou again, "what is it?"
The Jagan stopped glowing, and Hiei shook his head and relaxed, replacing the bandana on and covering it from the peering eyes of strangers. "Nothing," he said, "only shadows."
Yukina looked back at the inn and the issue was dropped and Hakkai started the jeep, wondering what kind of shadows could have seemed threatening to Hiei?
TO BE CONTINUED…@.@ ahhhh!!! All this in one sitting! Finally, after months of studying, studying, and more studying I have finally produced and completed a chapter!!!!!
Ah well, please drop me a line for constructive criticism or just plain praising, it does my ego good! Hope I kept them all in character, especially Hiei and Yukina. I just want to pick their brains a bit, especially Hiei.
Ok, gotta go now, still have two more exams (though they're easy A's for me, that's why I'm finally so relaxed) and then frrreeeeeeeeedddddooooooom!!
What fic should I work on next??