To pink elephants: You gave me quite the rant about my not updating this story for a month. Would you like my "excuse" now?

I started writing this story some time last spring, but, obviously, didn't post it until August. Almost immediately after posting it, I shipped back off to college, where I began 6 courses and work study. My work study consists of working in a preschool classroom 3 days a week. Two of my classes are evening classes and the others are spread in the middle of the day. I'm taking 2 major education classes and an English class. This means A LOT of papers. I've been up to my eye-balls in school work (I am in the middle of both an exam and an English paper as I write this. I also have to catch up on a missed assignment that was due for an education class today). On top of that, I've been volunteering my life away for different Girl Scout events because Girl Scouting is incredibly important to me. Therefore, I'm always exhausted.

On top of that, I've been struggling with how to hide my sexuality from my close-minded and Catholic parents. At first, this was incredibly easy, as I was chasing after several boys. However, this summer I struck up a relationship with a (female) coworker. So, not only was I trying to hide my sexuality, I was trying to figure out how I could mention my spending time with her without sounding suspicious (she's 5 years older than me and we used to hate one another. Every one seems to know her preferences somehow. It seemed suspicious that we were suddenly the best of friends). Friday, I made the mistake of blurting out to my mother that I'm bisexual. This only added to all the other stress. Now I have my parents trying to cope (by telling me to seek professional help) and I'm still trying not to let them find out about my girlfriend because I know they'll blame her and say she "made" me queer.

So this is the story of my life. This is the reason my writing has been slow in coming. Maybe before you tear into some one for their actions, you should know the facts. My life is an emotional roller coaster right now and I don't need crap like this from some one who doesn't even have enough gall to leave an e-mail address with their review.

Is it an acceptable "excuse"?

Thank you to all those who've been patient with me (this includes people who are waiting for more of "Forever is Just a Word" as well).

Now then, here's a bit of a preview for the next chapter. The whole chapter will get posted when I get around to completing it.

It's been said many times that you should keep your friends close and your enemies closer. This age old adage is one that Hiei not only believed but lived by as well.

Every one was his enemy.

Especially the cocky redhead that was currently inspecting one of the bedrooms.

Hiei watched carefully from his perch on the third floor landing as the young man peered around the large bedroom in which he himself (on the occasion that he felt the need) slept. Shuichi had insisted upon looking over every single room at the orphanage so he could "get a feel for the place." He had started with the rooms downstairs and was systematically working his way up, Hiei skulking along behind him and Joumu the entire duration of the impromptu tour. It didn't seem to matter to Shuichi that all the bedrooms were exactly alike -a fact which Joumu had pointed out early on- the redhead was emphatic in his seeing of every single nook and cranny.

So there sat Hiei, peering through the bars of the creaky wooden rail, watching his newest enemy survey the territory to which he belonged. His brain was working away, processing every movement of the man, storing any information that might be useful for later. It was imperative that he gain as much knowledge of the enemy as possible. He would make his move later to remove this new threat to his existence.

But for now, all he could do was wait and watch.

As he inspected one of the closets, Shuichi smiled to himself. He had long since realized there was a pair of suspicious -albeit curious- red eyes following his every movement. His back was to Hiei, but he could feel those eyes tracking him, watching, analyzing. Although he wasn't quite sure of the purpose for the teen's intense scrutiny, he was amused by the fact that some one who seemed so aloof and unconcerned with the world would take such care to remain hidden as he observed.

No, Shuichi had never been more amused in his life. If all his days at the orphanage would be like this, he was sure it would be more fun than he initially bargained for. How could it not be with that boy playing cat and mouse with him? He took this as a personal challenge.

And Shuichi was one who liked a challenge.

Hiei watched silently as the redhead slid the closet door shut and turned back to Joumu. "You have a very nice facility here." He heard the younger man remark politely, the smile still set in place on his feminine face, to which Joumu nodded proudly.

The tiniest wisp of a smile crossed the spy's face. That had been a lie -a bold faced lie- and Joumu had eaten it up. The stuffy old geezer couldn't tell a lie if it jumped up and bit him in the ass.

And Shuichi, it appeared, was very good at lying.

Hiei's brain filed that information under "crucial" where it could be easily accessed as needed.

The two men were moving towards the second floor stairs. Hiei padded lightly down the steps, careful to tread only where he knew they would not squeak. He could hear them talking, but their backs were to him and they weren't loud enough for him to discern what they were saying.

"You're an intelligent man, aren't you?" Joumu asked Shuichi as they alighted the stairs.

"I've been told as much." Came the humble response. Green eyes blinked softly as they took in the withered face of the elderly man.

"I've been getting numerous phone calls and notes about the progress of some of the children who are in school. The guidance counselor says they don't apply themselves. They skip classes, turn in half-finished class work, never complete any homework. Perhaps you can act as a sort of tutor for them."

"Perhaps." Shuichi's smile tightened for a moment. Normally, one would be more concerned about the educational prowess of the children in one's care and would not pull any old person off the street to help them with their studies. Joumu was cheap. He didn't give a damn about the well being of these children. I wonder when he lost his passion for this job…

Joumu looked at his watch, then glanced back up at the attractive redhead beside him. "It's three-thirty. Perhaps you can begin working with the children right now. Many of them, as you saw, do their homework upon their return from school."

"If that's what you wish I do." The smile relaxed and a sparkle danced through those emerald eyes. Shuichi was always compliant; always one to do exactly as was asked of him.

"Follow me."

As I said before, the completed chapter will be posted, well, upon completion. Please be patient with me. Sorting my life out and not losing my family is currently more important to me than a fanfic.