Kurama: But Yume-chan, wasn't it you who told me looks were only skin deep?
Yume: That doesn't count when the card game has a card with Hiei on it and it says 'Mukuro's General!' I think they are trying to imply something sexual into that. Besides... she is half robot... she isn't even classified as demon! She's like a hussie robot-demon crossbreed. That's worse than being half-demon for the love of cheese!
Kuwabara: I love cheese!
Yume: --; I bet you do... (Evil glare)
Hiei: Believe me when I say that there is nothing between us like that.
Yusuke: Do you have something against half-demons? (mischievous look)
Yume: Sort of... Not really. For Mukuro it is just deep and utter hatred. I mean, I even think the Hiei fan girls would agree with me when I say that Mukuro is a no good, leechy, she-man. I mean... I even thought she was a man when I first saw her.
Austin Powers: It's a man, baby.
Yume: No shit, Shirlock. You're the regular Einstein.
Hinoki: (Patrols the set armed with a large sausage, a large trout, and a frying pan) If I see her again, Yume-chan... I'll roast her on my good ol' Mister Pan!
Yume: --; You do that, Hino-chan. Oh yeah... and I as of now refuse to do the disclaimer for it's original purpose. I think people already know what I own and do not own.
Note: Sorry to all you Hiei fan girls. I didn't get to deep into the past of Hiei. I didn't really feel that I needed to do that. Besides... I think people can look it up if they wanna get real in depth into it anyways.
Kurama had left Hinoki in the room to sleep. As he walked back into the boy's room, he gestured for Hiei. Hiei huffily followed Kurama into the hall and outside the hotel to a secreted location where the two could talk in private.
"Why did you drag me all the way out here, Kurama?" Hiei demanded.
"Because, Hiei. I had to discuss something with you of importance. It involves Hinoki and her feelings toward you." Kurama explained.
"I've already said it. I don't care for Hinoki in the way that she desires me to." Hiei said looking away from Kurama.
"And yet... the look in your eyes when you see her tells another story." Kurama said coolly.
Hiei growled as he looked back at Kurama.
The look in Kurama's eyes was burning. There was a sort of determination that Hiei felt repelled from. He quivered slightly as Kurama crossed his arms and glared at him.
"Hiei. No more stories. Now tell me the truth." Kurama demanded.
Kurama was never this fierce with Hiei. Perhaps it was how much he hated to see Hinoki struggle with inner emotions.
Whatever it was, Hiei found it annoying.
The next day, Team Akumu did not have a match. Instead, they went to go and watch another team fight. A team that Hinoki had her eyes on since the tournament began. And if they won this next round, they would be facing them next.
"Which team are we going to see again?" Kuwabara asked.
"Team Koyotua." Kurama answered.
"You don't think that this team has anything to do with her, do you?" Yusuke asked.
"Even if it does, what would it matter to us?" Hiei asked them.
"None, I guess. I mean, this would be Hinoki's thing. Right?" Kuwabara asked.
"Well, of course. Hinoki has told me about her father and what sin he had committed when she was still an infant. I believe the reason she is so determined is because she believes in her heart that the man in charge of this team is her father." Genkai explained.
"That makes sense." Yusuke whispered.
"You know... I can hear what you are saying back there, if that makes any differance." Hinoki told them.
She was at least three feet in front of the group, eager to arrive at the stadium to witness her father's fight.
"No, Hinoki. We were aware that you could hear us." Genkai told her.
"We were?" Kuwabara asked no one in particular.
"You are worthless." Hiei muttered.
"Shut up, Shrimp-cocktail!" Kuwabara shouted.
"So... the idiot actually upgraded from 'shrimp' to 'shrimp-cocktail.' How unimpressive." Hinoki muttered.
"You got something to say then say it to my face." Kuwabara shouted angrily at her.
When they arrived at the stadium, they stood up in the stands in the far back.
'Alright, old man. Let's see what you are truly capable of.' Hinoki thought as she watched the teams decide the battle terms.
Hinoki had not counted on what was next to come. Team Koyotua was facing off with Team Akubo.
"Team captain Akubo and Team captain Kakyo, please come into the ring to decide the terms." Juri asked politely.
The red-haired demon and Akubo walked up to each other, talked for about five minutes and walked off the arena.
"A free-for-all." Jury announced.
Both teams filed into the arena.
"Ready? Go!" Jury shouted.
Hinoki ignored the other team members. She watched desperately as the demon and Akubo immediately faced off.
The demon began to use fire tactics. Very peculiar to Hinoki. Akubo counted with water, a basic no-brainer.
The fire was only a diversion, as Akubo soon found out. Because through the steam came the red-haired demon with a swift fiery punch. He landed it on Akubo's left cheek.
"Very clever." Hiei muttered.
"Akubo!" Hinoki shouted worriedly.
Akubo must have heard her shout, because he managed to take the hit straight on without faulter.
He waved to her before firing up for his next attack. Water swirled around him and his hair shot up as if he were standing over an updraft.
The water circled around him in streams, nearly enveloping him within a watery coccoon.
Tadara was very swift and short-tempered. He didn't wait much longer. Instead, he fired a number of fiery blows, each one of them landing on the watery coccoon that surrounded Akubo. The fire practically melted in into steam.
The streams seperated and fired at Tadara. Tadara did not know what to do and jumped out of the way, but it was too late. The stream had formed a drill and ran right through Tadara's shoulder.
Hinoki turned to the group, "I think we are distracting them from their fight too much. Perhaps we should leave."
"You kids can go, but I intend to stay." Genkai informed them.
"That's fine. The rest of you do what you like. I'm getting out of here." Hinoki said.
As she filed out of the ring alone, two demons approached her. "Hey, man. Is this her?" Asked one of the demons.
"Yeah. She's the one." The other replied.
Hinoki's gaurd was raised high now. What did these simple fools want?
"Excuse me, miss. But my buddy and I were hoping to get an autograph." aid the first one holding out a pen and pad of paper.
Hinoki sighed and quick signed her name with a small kiss to both the demons on the cheek.
Satisfied, they ran off giggling like a couple of girls.
"Your reputation is proceeding you, Hinoki." Hiei said from behind her.
"Hiei!" Hinoki said, whirling around.
Hiei stepped closer to her, watching the two fools run off.
"Is there a reason you came here, Hiei?" Hinoki asked.
Hiei smirked mischievoulsy and before Hinoki could say another word, he threw a punch at her.
Hinoki was fortunate to block it in time with her arm.
"You've gotten better, Hinoki." Hiei complimented.
"It seems like that compliment took some effort." Hinoki said flatly.
Hiei smirked, she was being obnoxious because of her grudge against him.
He recalled what Kurama had said, "Hiei, why struggle with your emotions and continue pushing Hinoki away? She truly loves you, Hiei. She accepts you for who you are, possibly more than Yusuke or I could in a lifetime. And yet, since you turned her love down in fear she also struggles with the pain dwelling in her heart. I think it is time both you and Hinoki heal the wounds of the past together."
Hiei looked down at his feet when an idea struck him hard.
The glint of mischievousness sparkled in his eye.
"You're still just a rookie, Hinoki." Hiei said with a smirk.
Hinoki twitched with annoyance. She whirled around and left him.
Hiei chuckled as she left. Her temper was uncanny.
He looked on as she left, he made a promise to himself that he would bridge the gap between them and heal the wounds of the past. Even if that meant making new ones.
Note: I realize this one is not exactly a fanfic appetizer... but it should hold you off until the main course. Sorry... all this talk of food is making me hungry. I must leave my domain to forrage(getting to lazy to spell things right) for food. I am, after all, a sly and elusive creature that sneaks out of it's domain only to hunt for food. And when I am turned down at the gates to supper, I'll knaw their flippin' faces off! Mwahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! My supper! Mine! MINE! You can't have it! Nya nya! OO... Oh crap... Yusuke... put that tomato away... No! Not the spirit gun! It's just a damned sandwich! HOLY HELL! AAAAAAAAAAAH! KYAAAAAAHH! HIEI! KURAMA! HELP MEEEEEEEEE!!!! Oh Crap! Dead-end!
Yusuke: Soko made da! Kono Akutou me!
Yume: Eh heh heh heh...
Yusuke: Zettai ni makenai!
Kuwabara: Aku wa horobu!
Kurama: Nani?
Yume: (looks around a bit confused) .... eh? As far as I can tell... the English overvoice has been broken... or the English cast went on a lunchbreak and the japanese cast took over when they shouldn't have... (Walks into the casting booths and kicks all their asses out)
Japanese casting people: IIE! Kora! tasuke wo tsurete koi!
Yume: Kire! Kire! Kire! ... Nani? (growls and drags English voice cast members back into their booths) IIE! IIE! IIE! IIE! Gohan Kudasai!
English cast: realizes what has gone wrong and dashes back into their booths.
Yume: Does it work? Yay! Taberuzô! :P
Hiei: Wo ai ni! (huggles Hinoki plushie)