"I'm not touching you. I'm not touching you. I'm not touching you. I'm not touching you. I-OW!! HE BIT ME!!"

"PUU!!!"

"It's your own fault," Botan clucked and swiped rouge over Eris' cheeks, much to the smaller girl's displeasure. "You shouldn't provoke him like that."

"Ugh, well if I didn't have to sit here with you caking makeup on me for hours I wouldn't have to find things to amuse myself with," Eris squinted her eyes and tried to move her face out of range, shooting Puu a mischievous grin. "Isn't that right, my little teddy bear with a beak?"

The little spirit beast blinked dumbly. Eris snorted and ruffled the black tuft of hair on his head. "You're just too damn cute! How's my hair lookin', eh?"

"Puu."

"Like poo? I bet you're ri-ITAI! ITAI!! Ow!! Keiko!"

"Sorry," her innocent voice said rather amused. "You're going to look beautiful, I hope you know."

Eris nearly gagged as Botan attacked her lips with lipstick. "'orgi've 'e i'h I 'on't 'elie've 'ou."

Keiko raised a brow. "What did you say?"

"Nevermind," Eris licked her lips. "Is this supposed to taste like cinnamon?"

"Didn't say anything on the packaging," Botan looked at the stick of lip color in her hand and licked it. "Oh! You're right, it does!"

"Eww…" Keiko wrinkled her nose.

Eris did likewise. "That was a bit gross Botan."

The ferry girl shrugged and stuck an eyeliner pencil in the American's eye. "Try being around Koenma at dinner."

She blinked violently, jerking her head back a bit and making Keiko growl in frustration.

"Your hair is so stubborn! Stop moving!"

"Heh. And you thought there wasn't a reason why I always put it up. And tell Bubblegum Bluehead here to stop poking my eyes out."

"Hush or I'll glue your eyelashes together," Botan said and went to work with an array of blue and silver eye shadows.

"Been there, done that."

Both girls stopped and gave their living project a curious look.

"No, you really do not want to know."

Snorting, they went back to work and Eris finally shut up. For about 10 seconds.

"Did you say something about diner with Koenma?"

When Botan's cheeks turned pink, not due to any beautification powders, Eris smirked.

"Ohoho! Details! Now!"

"It's nothing! Really!"

"Chya, right. And I'm carrying Hiei's baby," Eris rolled her eyes and poked her interrogation subject. "Well?"

"When's your due date?"

"Botan!!"

Sighing, she found the lip liner and grabbed Eris' chin. "If you talk and make me mess up, I'll…do something not nice!"

Not liking the look on her friend's face, she nodded.

"Kuso! I thought I said not to move??"

Eris winced as she felt a few hairs rip out. Damn, I can't win with these people…

There was a knock on the door. "Are you three alright in there?"

"Fine, Yusuke, thanks! Now go away!" Keiko called back sweetly.

"Get worried about your girlfriend and she tells you to go away…" they heard him grumble and they laughed.

"What're you doing in there anyway?? The festival isn't for another few hours and you've been in there all morning and half the afternoon!"

"Your point?" Botan and Keiko answered.

"Uh…don't have one I guess."

"'Kay, thanks for stopping by, visiting hours are over!" Keiko slid the door shut with her foot when Yusuke tried opening it.

-(Two Hours Later…)-

"Are you done yet?"

"No."

Eris rolled her eyes up, mouth hanging open in pure boredom and directed her question towards Keiko. "Are you done yet?"

"No…"

She looked back to Botan, trying to choose between black, blue, or silver mascara. "Are you done yet?"

"No!"

"Are you done yet, Keiko?"

"NO."

"Botan-"

"NO!"

"K-"

"I swear to Kami, if you ask either of us one more time…"

Eris shut her mouth, eyes rolling around the room, over the open bottles of random hair stuff and makeup bottles before landing on Puu. She smirked.

"Hey Puu, are they done yet?"

"ERIS!"

Both girls groaned, a twitch each starting in one of their eyes.

Eris just laughed. "Hey, you didn't say I couldn't ask Puu!"

-(One Hour Later…)-
"Hey…" a sharp object poked Eris in the ribs, startling her awake.

"Ah! What??"

Botan and Keiko laughed. "Wake up Sleeping Beauty! We're done!"

Stretching her stiff limbs and standing up, Eris cheered. "Woo! Finally!"

They shoved her towards the floor length mirror on the other side of the messy room.

"Hey! Watch it! I don't need you two messing me up and then having to sit for 30 minutes to be fixed," she stuck her tongue at them, who did it back and laughed.

Looking into the mirror, Eris saw a very pretty girl with an ornate hairdo of curled black strands pulled back and pinned into a nest of tiny braids on the back of her head. A long, straight strand hung behind each ear, the ends curling like Botans and touching her collarbone. Curved silver eyes with hints of blue stared back, outlined in silver and dusted with icy frost colors.

She raised a brow. "Sooo did I lose my reflection or is the mirror broken?"

"Errm…Eris-chan that's you," Botan giggled behind her hand.

Eris did a double take and clamped her hands over her mouth, eyes wide. The figure in the mirror did the same. Moving closer, she inspected further; the blemish free skin, defined cheek bones, pink Cupid's bow mouth, and the hinted freckle near her eye now made darker and apparent.

Stepping back, Eris put her hands on her hips and shook her head. "I guess that stuff really works."

They squealed and hugged her, chattering away with excitement. Botan put her fingers to her lips and whistled loudly.

"Shizuru! She's ready now!"

Eris slumped. "Oh good Lord, there's more??"

"I highly doubt your fashion wardens would let you out of here wearing a plain yukata," Shizuru smirked over her cigarette and laid her kimono over the chair Eris had occupied the previous hours.

"Yeah, you're probably right," she smiled.

The older woman walked around the teen a few times, nodding and blowing smoke out the corner of her mouth. "You certainly clean up good."

"Er, thanks," she rubbed her neck and laughed a little. "So, what torture do you come bearing?"

"Nothing so horrendous as makeup and hair. My job's a lot less painful, especially since I see you've gotten experience keeping still for long periods of time."

"Yeah, you could say that. Lemme guess, fitting?"

"Bingo."

"Hey!! My word!!" Botan huffed, back at the makeup table, seemingly getting ready to do her own face.

"Your point?" Shizuru smirked.

"She doesn't have one," Eris grinned. "So, what do I have to do?"

"Stay there for now. Keiko-chan, where'd you stash those bags from yesterday?"

"Erm…" the girl spun around a few times in search. "Oh! Over there by the dresser."

"Thaaaank you," swiftly tying up her long brown hair, Shizuru swiped up the bags from their resting place and brought them over to the chair. She rubbed her chin for a moment then turned to Botan. "Is it too hot for a juban?"

"Sort of," Botan brushed on some blush and paused to sneeze. "I'd go with just the eri-sugata."

"Bless you," Shizuru, Keiko, and Eris said in unison. Puu flew over with a tissue in his beak.

"Ah! Thank you Puu! The tabi socks should be in with the sandals, by the way."

"Yup! Found them!" Shizuru pulled out a pair of white socks split between the big toe along with a white collar looking thing. "Socks and eri-sugata." She presented to Eris with a factual tone.

"Hai!" Eris smiled and took them She felt like she was being initiated into something. Pulling over another chair from the table Botan and Keiko sat at; Eris plopped down and began to pull the socks on. "Ooo! Stretchy! These feel cool…"

The girls laughed good-naturedly at her. "You're just like a little kid, Eris-chan," Keiko smiled, remembering her first time at learning how to put on a kimono. Her mother had been so excited, and Keiko even more so.

"Thanks!" Eris grinned and admired her feet, knocking them together. "Alright, so do I just put the collar on now?"

"Yup. Then the kimono, you might want to stand up," she said, picking up the silky garment and brushing out wrinkles.

Obeying, Eris stood up and headed towards the bathroom connected to the room, eri-sugata in hand. Shrugging off her yukata once inside, she fitted the collar around her neck and stuck her hand out the door, taking the garment dropped into her grasp by Shizuru.

"Right side over the body followed by the left. We're not going to bury you," came the woman's muffled voice and the snorts of Botan and Keiko.

"Ha ha, I'm cracking up. Really." Eris quickly switched her folds to the correct way and stepped out, picking up the hem so she wouldn't drag it.

"Oh my," Keiko covered her mouth with a smile. "You're going to look so pretty!! I can already tell!!"

"So I've heard for the millionth time," she rolled her eyes with small smile. "It's starting to get old."

"They are right you know," Shizuru adjusted the eri-sugata to show evenly around the kimono collar and made sure the back seam was centered. "You're going to drive Kurama nuts in this!" she whispered with a sly wink.

Cheeks tingeing, Eris smiled a bit more. "Hush! Take up the hem before I get it dirty."

"Yes ma'am! Hop up on the chair for me."

"Eep! Watch where you're waving those scissors…" With some difficulty in the restricting dress, she climbed on the chair and stood still as Shizuru worked, measuring, pinning, and sewing.

"Wish I could sew," Eris stared at the ceiling, counting wood splinters. "I'm horrible at it."

"You should have Yukina teach you," Keiko said in a low voice, focusing on applying her own eyeliner and trying not to stab her eye out. "She fixed a rip in my skirt the other day and I couldn't even tell it had been there in the first place."

"Well she does have tiny hands," Shizuru said between the pins in her teeth. "Which I could use about now come to think of it. Would one of you mind finding her for me?"

Blinking widely and wiping the watery tears forming in her right eye, Keiko stood up. "I will. Botan, you're doing my eyeliner when I get back."

"Fine, fine," her friend waved her off and blew on her newly painted pink fingernails.

Sliding back the door, she jumped back clutching her heart. "Oh wow! That's weird! I was just coming to find you, Yukina!"

The little ice maiden smiled apologetically and came into the room. "I thought I felt my services needed."

"You were right, I need help with this hem. I think I've ruined it," Shizuru scratched her neck and laughed at herself.

Inspecting the damage, Yukina shook her head and took the threaded needle from Shizuru. "No, you were doing fine. The stitches just needed to be smaller and closer together."

"Hi Yukina!" Eris grinned, waving down at her.

The Koorime laughed, the sound tinkling like a small bell, and nodded in greeting. "Hello Eris-chan! Are you having fun?"

"Not really!" she shrugged, still smiling. "But I don't really have a choice in the matter."

"You're looking very wonderful though," she said pleasantly, smiling and quickly stitching the kimono.

"Credit goes Botan, Keiko, and Shizuru for the kimono. I could never make myself look even half as good as this."

"Well done then! There, you can step down now," she backed up to admire her handiwork.

"Wow! Already? Too bad certain people can't do other things that fast," Eris shot a teasing look at her friends, who were now too engrossed in their own hurry to prepare themselves to care anymore.

"Obi time!!" Shizuru held up three different sized belts, and selected the smallest one. "Koshi-himo," she said and pointed to the belt in her hand.

"Koshi-himo," Eris repeated and held her arms and long sleeves out of the way as Yukina pulled the extra material up until the new hem was level with her ankles. Shizuru tied the koshi-himo under the excess fabric, crossed it in the back and tied it in the front.

After smoothing out wrinkles and making everything straight, she pulled down the extra fabric down over the belt. Finishing this, Shizuru picked up the next belt, a little bigger than the previous one.

"Date-jime," she said, wrapping it around Eris' waist over the koshi-himo, tying it in front and leaving the overlapping fabric showing below.

"Date-jime!" Eris smiled, really enjoying the kimono lesson. Yukina clapped and laughed lightly, and whispered something up to Shizuru.

"Hey yeah! That'll really top it off. You'll have to help me though, I never was really good at that," she gathered up the last belt, which was very long and wide, and folded it in half so that it was half as wide.

Eris grinned. "I know this one!! That's the obi!"

"Yup! Hold your arms up again," chewing on her bottom lip, Shizuru looped it around her waist so that the ends were in front of Eris. Pausing for a minute, she snorted. "Okay, Yukina, you take over."

Giggling, she did and wrapped the end in her right hand around Eris' waist once more. Overlapping the ends, Yukina crossed them over to tie it once with the right end over the left.

Eris watched with wrinkled confusion, "This doesn't look like a normal obi tying job."

"We're doing a butterfly effect," Yukina said, concentrating on having the shorter end towards the top and the longer one hanging down. In a swift motion, she twisted the tie so that the short end went over Eris' right shoulder. Folding the bottom half once, she thought a moment and folded it again to make the end result smaller. Taking the short end off Eris' shoulder she wrapped it around the center of the folded piece a few times.

"There!" she said, tucking a few leftover sections under the belt and turned the butterfly bow around to Eris' back. "That looks very nice with this kimono."

"Ooo it does!" Botan smiled and walked around Eris a few times. "It just completes it. Wonderful job Yukina!"

"Thank you!" the mint haired girl bowed briefly and smiled.

"I wonder what the boys have been up to all this time?" Keiko pondered out loud, moving to the bathroom to put on her own kimono.

"Easy. Video games, food, and trying to kill each other," Shizuru lit a new cigarette, chucking her empty package into a nearby trashcan filled with used cotton balls and tissues.

-(With the boyzersboogles…ignore me… ::falls over::)-

"HEY! Watch where you're swinging that thing, shorty!! You could hurt someone! Like me!"

"That was the idea."

"Grr, why don't you come over here and say that to my Spirit Sword!"

"Figures you would think an inanimate object could talk. The cloak of stupidity around you is even thicker than I thought."

"You know," Yusuke rubbed his chin, trying not to laugh. "Hiei just has a way with words that amazes me."

"Yes," Kurama grinned, watching the other members of the Reikai Tantei getting closer to bloodshed. "The poetry that is Hiei."

The fox demon and delinquent looked at each other and burst out laughing. Distracted, the arguing couple glared at them.

"What's so funny??" Kuwabara diminished his Spirit Sword and crossed his arms.

Yusuke shook his head and waved him off with a hand, the look on Hiei's face making him laugh harder.

"Kurama!!" Kuwabara actually stamped his foot in frustration. "What's he laughing at?!"

"How much of a pansy you really are," Hiei smirked, narrowing his eyes and enjoying the colors of red fluctuating over the oaf's face.

"YUSUKE! You get off that floor right now before you get your hakama pants dirty!!" Keiko's voice sobered him up right quick. Yusuke got to his feet, brushing off his pants and grumbling slightly.

"Haha Yusuke, you're so whipped!" Kuwabara chucked a handful of chips at him and laughed, angry mood forgotten.

Rolling his eyes, he caught a few in his mouth and smirked. "You should talk!"

"Whaaat?! You don't know what you're talking about, Urameshi."

"Oh no? Better not wipe your hands on your kimono like that; Yukina will think you're a slob. Not that we already don't," he laughed as Kuwabara ran to the bathroom.

"Buffoon…" could be heard muttered by Hiei in the corner.

"We should be leaving soon," Kurama looked at the clock on the wall. It was also starting to darken outside.

"Yeah," Yusuke said and rapped on the door to the girls' room. "You hear that in there?? We're leaving!!"

"Don't get your kimono in a twist, Yusuke! Kami, we're coming!"

He snorted and shuffled away from the door. "Yeah in two more hours."

"Up for another ass whipping on Mortal Kombat?" Kuwabara asked, still worrying his kimono top.

"Nah, I'll let you recover. Let's wait outside, maybe they'll freak out when they don't hear us out here and think we left."

Agreeing, the four fighters stepped outside into the cooling evening air and stood or sat at various places on the front steps.

"Yuuuusuke!!"

"Kami, help me. Whaaaaaat??" he whined back, turning around and nearly fell on his face. "Keiko?!"

They all stood up, eyes wide at the lengths they'd gone.

"Wow, Keiko, pink's a good color on you," Yusuke rubbed the back of his head and blushed.

Keiko laughed and slid her arm through his. "Aww, Yusuke."

Kuwabara meanwhile was struck dumb (not that that's very hard to do) and spluttered out nonsensical words as he ogled at Yukina. Hiei rolled his eyes and was only stopped from shredding the moron to pieces by a firm grip on the back of his normal black cloak.

"You should be happy someone gives her attention," Kurama said through the side of his mouth.

"But not him!" the short fire demon growled through clenched teeth and gripped the hilt of his katana until his knuckles turned white.

With a hard look, Kurama silenced his friend and switched to a smile when looking back to the girls. "Now where has Eris gotten to?"

He wasn't admitting to himself he'd been waiting on edge to see her for the past hours. Each of those sixty minutes had seemed to crawl by slower than a snail riding on a tortoise, but nothing compared to now when Kurama knew she was around but not in his line of vision. A prickle of worry began crawling up his neck. Hiei 'Hn'ed beside him and leaned against an invisible wall of discontent.

Looking around, blue locks pinned up and out of her face for once, Botan put her hands on her blue kimono covered hips with a grin. "Eris! Come out here!"

"Oh, Kazuma! You're heating up again!" Yukina said in a worried tone as she watched Kuwabara's face quickly turn several shades of red. "Have you seen that doctor yet?"

"Don't worry baby! It's just the-"

"Power of love, right?" the voice of Eris interrupted. They looked up to see her leaning against the doorway of the temple, waving a white fan back and forth slowly and smirking.

The fading sun drenched her white kimono with the colors of sunset and made the silver-blue dragon look alive in its frozen moment of flight in the stitching. The included flowering trees in the scene seemed to bow in an invisible breeze and brush its petals and leaves against the shining scales as she walked towards the group.

"Where'd you guys go?? I turn around for one second and you disappear," Eris poked Botan and laughed, fanning herself still. "I hope it gets cooler, this thing is hot."

"Close your mouth, the fish look doesn't work for you," Hiei mumbled to Kurama.

Immediately he closed it, but opened it again in an effort to say something. Only problem was that nothing would come out. As she laughed again and turned to head for Kurama, he felt his heart speed up again.

He looks good in that. Eris thought to herself and smiled. The breeze of the evening made his hair dance around him, the red strands already looking like fire in the tinted sunrays. The pattern of green leaves and bamboo stalks carefully stitched in the black material of his kimono intrigued her. When he moved, the dieing sun caught a flash of silver thread among the bamboo: a fox. She smiled wider. How fitting! Scratch that, he looks damn good!

 Something wasn't right though. Why does he look so…tense?

"Are you feeling alright?" Eris asked, worried, and put a hand to his forehead. "You're a bit warm."

Kurama closed his eyes against the cool of her hand and smiled, opening them slowly and gently taking her hand away. "I'll be alright in a moment."

"Keeeeeiko!!" Botan had to restrain herself from jumping up and down.

"Wha-oh!" Keiko had to bite her finger to stop from squealing when Botan pointed towards Kurama and Eris, both looking quite taken with each other. The two plotters giggled behind their hands and congratulated each other on a job well done.

"All right, enough happy giggly moments, let's get the heck out of here," Yusuke grinned and latched an arm around Keiko's waist.

"Hey! Where's my sister?" Kuwabara looked around, while trying to snake an arm around Yukina at the same time.

"You mean your chaperone?" Shizuru popped seemingly out of nowhere and gave her brother a firm knock on the head. "Right here."

"Aww, chaperone?! Who said I needed a chaperone?!" the tall orange haired one glared at his sister, holding the spot where she'd hit him.

"No one," she smiled sweetly and put her lit cigarette to her lips, blowing a smoke ring now and then. "I thought it would be loving of me to take up my sisterly duties tonight."

She smoothed her dark blue kimono with white blossoms and yanked her brother's ear towards her, eliciting a satisfying yelp. "And that means if I see groping your ass is mine," she muttered darkly in his ear, and then smiled again. "Kay?"

"Yeah, yeah, fine! Just take your meds and stop with the scary mood swings!" Kuwabara rubbed his red ear and began walking. "Let's go already!"

Eris clamped a hand firmly over her mouth and squeezed Kurama's arm. Curious, he took her wrist and moved the hand away; Eris burst out laughing. Laughing himself, he put her hand back and led her down the stairs after the others.

"Oh wow…" Eris breathed as the group came in sight of the festivities they'd prepared so long for. The walk from the temple to the large park where the festival was being held had been a short one, filled with pleasant chatter between them all (laced with sarcastic remarks, insults directed at Kuwabara, and endless banter of course).

Now coming under the soft glow of dozens of colored rice paper lanterns of various shapes, Eris marveled at all the people gathered under the groves of flowering Sakura trees. The petals ranged in colors of light purple, white, to soft pinks; breaking away from their branches and floating down like fragrant snow. Their perfume drifted on the breeze, pooled with the chatter of the people and lazy music to create the sense of a dream.

Every hundred steps or so, small bonfires were fed by the clusters of festival goers, all done up in their best kimonos and obi's. The pleasantries were already starting to gnaw at Hiei's level of human tolerance. Characteristically he left without a word, only Yusuke, Eris, and Kurama noticing the sudden shadow through the trees.

"Lasted longer than I thought," Yusuke directed the words to no one in particular and led his friends over to a fire where not many people where. Those people quickly left, as if sensing something hovered around the group that attracted unwanted things.

"Hmm." Eris raised a brow, smiling politely at the fellow celebrators when they passed and bowed their heads in the same politeness.

"Something wrong?" Kurama asked in a light tone, smiling softly.

She shrugged a shoulder and smiled back slightly. "Nothing. Just seeing something through Hiei's point of view."

"And?" He asked, curious and pleased that someone else could find reason in the thought patterns of his unruly friend.

"I quite agree," Eris zoned out for a bit, then quickly shook her head, making her hair bounce around her face and smiled.

"I do hope Genkai won't be troubled without me around the temple…" Yukina bit her lip, she herself a little nervous around the sudden large gathering of people. "Maybe this wasn't such a good idea for me to come, Kazuma…"

"Don't worry, babe. Genkai's old and can take care of herself fine," Kuwabara gave her a goofy grin.

The low music in the background began to pick up and get louder; cheers were heard amongst the crowds and rings of dancing were formed.

"C'mon Yusuke! Let's go dance!" Keiko grabbed his arm and began pulling him over towards the dancers.

"Aww you know I hate dancing," he groaned but a small smile leaked out as his girlfriend gave him a peck on the cheek.

"Please?" she gave him the loathed puppy eyes. His defenses crumbled like a sandcastle in a tsunami.

"Would you like to dance?" Kurama asked Eris. Around them, Kuwabara led Yukina after Yusuke and Keiko, the two of them laughing together. Shizuru followed them at a reasonable distance, watching her brother's hands like a hawk.

"I've never danced like that before though," Eris looked over at her friends running from circle to circle and twirling with their hands locked together.

"Truly? Then I'm afraid you give me no choice but to teach you," before Eris could get a word in, Kurama had her on the edge of a circle and pushed her into the dance.

"Kurama!!" she hissed at him as he latched his hands onto hers and spun her around like the other partners around them. "What are you doing?!"

"Dancing with you of course," he casually answered. The look in his eyes showed he was highly amused with the situation. Eris glared at him, only making him smile innocently and spin her again.

Eventually she caught on to the steps of the dance (with coaching from Kurama of course. And irritated barks from the owners of the toes she stepped on.)

"Eris-chan! Eris-chan!!" a high perky voice distracted her attention. Looking towards where it came from she spotted Botan. Holding a camera. And smiling like a goof.

"Oh geez…" she rolled her eyes and laughed. "Kurama, look."

"Hm?" he looked over to where she pointed and laughed. "I think she must want a picture."

"Ya think?" Eris grinned. "Alright. We'll give her a picture. Oi! Botan!"

"Hai! Look this way!" she called, waving one arm and positioned the camera, finding her match made couple in the lens smiling at her as they danced. Ecstatic, Botan congratulated herself and Keiko. Just as she pressed the shutter button Eris stuck out her tongue and pulled her nose up like a pig's. Kurama laughed so hard they had to exit the dancing circle and sit down at their fire.

"I don't think Botan found it very amusing," he grinned and sat down on a log next to Eris.

"Eh, she'll get over it. I have a feeling she'll be popping up every once in awhile and snapping pictures anyway," Eris grinned and laughed as Botan snapped one from behind a bush. "Botan. What are you doing?"

"Just being the photographer for the night! Go about your business, don't mind me! I'm not even here!" she giggled and snapped another picture.

Eris' eye twitched. "At least the flash isn't blindingly bright," she mumbled and rubbed her eyes.

"Don't you rub your eyes! You'll mess your face up!" the blue haired deity scolded before flitting off.

"Aw man, that just makes me want to rub it more…!" Eris began to lift her hands, stopped, and then sat on them.

Kurama laughed quietly and smiled. "You look wonderful with or without the makeup."

The corners of her mouth lifted. "I'd wipe it all off right now, but Botan would kill me. That and I didn't sit in the same spot for hours for nothing." They were quiet for a few minutes, looking at the fire, poking it with sticks, and taking pleasure in the happy sounds of the people walking around them.

"Are you enjoying yourself tonight?" Kurma asked faintly, leaning in towards her slightly.

"Mhm…kinda don't wanna leave," Eris sighed with a smile and poked the fire, making it pop and crackle.

"Careful, that log is going to-" he caught her hand and just as said log fell, sending up a shower of red embers. "-fall." Kurama winced as a few landed on the back of his hand.

Glowering, Eris mentally smacked herself. "Sorry, that was a dumb move…"

"Think nothing of it," he smiled slightly as Eris took his hand and started to inspect the angry red burns. "It may have been worth the pain."

Looking up, Eris laughed a little and blushed, blaming it on the fire being too close. Brushing her fingers lightly over the burns she tried not to notice his eyes. "Does it hurt?"

"Yes," Kurama answered bluntly, but quietly. "Eris."

"Hmm?" she looked up again, almost reeling back by the steadfast look in his eyes.

"He wants to suck off your face." A curt voice cut through the air close by. Turning, they saw Hiei leaning against a tree just outside the light of the fire, eyes almost glowing as they scowled at the back of a certain orange haired oaf with his hands on Yukina.

Eris blinked, then glared slightly at the fire apparition for causing Kurama embarrassment. Glancing back at the reddening Kurama, she grinned and leaned over to place a light kiss on his lips, completely surprising them both.

Turning away before she could see his shocked reaction, Eris looked up and smiled at Yukina and Kuwabara who had come back to take a break from dancing.

"Having fun?" she asked, eyes dancing.

"Oh yes! Thank you so much, Kazuma-kun!" the little maiden smiled, clapping her hands, and hugged Kuwabara. He smiled (not like a goof for once :o ) and hugged her back happily.

"See! I told you you'd like it," he set the jacket he'd brought along with him on a log for her to sit on so as not to dirty her purple kimono. Eris had to stifle a loud 'aww' by biting the inside of her cheek.

A low growl escaped from Hiei who glared knives at those who looked back at him. Kuwabara ignored him, discreetly giving him the finger by scratching the back of his head.

Hearing the click of Hiei readying his katana, Kurama narrowed his eyes. Don't you dare.

Kuwabara was further saved by Yusuke coming back, Keiko on his arm, and raising a black eyebrow in the demon swordsman's direction.

"Hey buddy," Yusuke clapped his friend on the back. "What d'ya say we get these lovely ladies some drinks, eh?"

"Heh. Yeah!" Kuwabara grinned. "We'll be right back," he winked at Yukina who smiled.

Hiei growled once again, catching the attention of his sister. She looked behind her, her own red eyes widening when she spied him not 5 feet away.

"Hiei-kun? Why do you always hide like that?" she asked and stood up.

Kurama and Eris exchanged looks, smiling a little and turned politely away.

"So, Keiko, where are Botan and Shizuru? We haven't seen them for awhile," Kurama struck a conversation as Yukina approached Hiei.

"Hiei-kun." It wasn't a quiet question.

"Hn." His eyes weren't quite so cold anymore as he re-sheathed his sword and crossed his arms.

"Why don't you join us by the fire, Hiei-kun?" she asked, smiling sweetly. He had a hard time ignoring her when she was like this.

Even with the usual no answer, Yukina wouldn't give up this time. She dropped the bomb that would crumble the wall. Or at least she thought.

"Ani, please," she bowed her head. "Come by the fire and celebrate with us."

The normally cold and indifferent loner had the grace to show his shock for once. "W-what did you call me?"

Straightening, Yukina smiled softly. "Watashi no ani."

Instead of being relieved, a surge of anger like none other washed over him. Hiei turned away from his sister, not wanting her to mistake the anger in his eyes was directed at her, and sprinted off.

Who did it?? His mind screamed like the wind rushing past his ears. Who would dare?!

He ticked off the suspects, each less likely than the last, before coming to stop on this Eris onna.

She knows. His jaw clenched. She knows everything!

Unleashing the fury through his katana, Hiei slashed through a thick tree several times, still not feeling any better.

Back at the festival, Yukina sighed. "I suppose I shouldn't have expected anything more…" she whispered to herself and walked quietly back to sit next to Eris.

"You ok, Yukina-chan?" Eris asked, turning concerned silver rimmed eyes on her.

"Hai…" the corner of her mouth lifted slightly. "I'm fine."

"I see Yusuke and Kuwabara have succeeded in their mission," Kurama grinned.

"You have no idea, fox boy!" Yusuke muttered out the corner of his mouth and winked.

Kuwabara set down a box of something on the ground. The contents inside rattled and clinked against each other. Grinning and snickering, the two delinquents rubbed their hands together and plucked a label less bottle out of the box with a few plastic cups.

Kurama stood up and took the bottle from Yusuke, examining it. "Should I be worried?"

"Nah!" he laughed and scratched his neck. "Not yet anyway. Here Eris-chan! Have a drink!" Quickly he snatched back the bottle and poured the bottle's liquid substance into a blue cup until it was half full.

"Erm…ok…" cautiously, she took the offered drink and sniffed it suspiciously. It smelled surprisingly sweet. Like honey and apples. Shrugging, she took a tentative sip and licked her lips.

The group watched for her reaction. She looked at them funny, "What?"

"How's it taste?" Yusuke grinned.

Eris shrugged and drank some more. "Not bad, a little funny after taste though. What is it?"

"Just a little something we found," Kuwabara achieved a look of passive innoscence amazingly well, and took another bottle from the box, this one labeled with Japanese kanji.

"What's that?" Eris asked, nodding to Yusuke who poured more of the sweet smelling drink into her cup.

"Sake!!" they both laughed and each dug a sake-drinking cup from their pockets.

"Uh oh," Kurama shook his head and grinned.

"Ditto," Eris laughed. "I have very poor and unhappy brains for drinking. I could well wish courtesy would invent something other custom of entertainment."

"I'm not sure you should be drinking that," he said a little worried.

"If there's liquor in it I'll skin them alive," she said before taking a deep gulp.

"Yusuke," Keiko poked her sake-guzzling boyfriend in the ribs, making him choke a little. "What did you give Eris-chan??"

After sputtering a bit, he rolled his eyes. "Relax, it's only got a mild amount of alcohol in it. Besides," he laughed, "She seems to like it! Let's just say it's my part in your matchmaking plans."

"What if she's never drunk before?" Keiko crossed her arms.

"Well," Yusuke poured himself more sake, already feeling a faint buzz. This was a good bottle! "Then she'll be singing show tunes in about-" he checked his watch, "-thirty minutes."

-(Thirty Minutes Later…)-

"…the tangooooo Maaauureeeeeeen!!!"

"Would someone shut her up?!" Kuwabara groaned, laying on the ground and rubbing his head. "She's been singing for an hour straight!"

"Don't be stupid," Yusuke kick his friend's foot, his head still quite clear despite the 3 empty sake bottles next to him. Alcohol tolerance runs in the family apparently. "Didn't you see the time change thingy? It's only been thirty minutes."

"Shup Ure-ugh…"

"Pansy."

"Nope, don't know that one," Eris giggled and burped. And giggled again. "Yay! I burped!"

"Nice one!" Yusuke gave her thumbs up. Eris tried to do one back, but her muddled head couldn't figure out how it worked. She stared at her hand in confusion.

"She's got a screw loose somewhere…" Kuwabara moaned, Yukina not quite sure how to comfort him just sat and rubbed his back, giggling behind her hand at Eris' antics. Keiko was enjoying the show as well.

Suddenly, Eris looked up at Kuwabara's words. "Loose! FOOTLOOSE! Kick off your Sunday sho-eww…" a hiccup cut her singing off abruptly. "That tasted like a chili dog…when did I have a chili dog…?"

Kurama sweatdropped, not exactly thrilled with Eris being drunk even if it was funny. "Maybe you shouldn't have anymore to drink tonight, Eris."

"Aww…why?" she asked in a pouty voice and plopped herself in his lap. He had to grab her around the waist before she fell over.

"You are going to hurt yourself if any more gets in your system," he frowned.

"Hey, is the sky supposed to be spinning like this?" Kuwabara turned green. "Whoa…"

"Spinning? Spinning! Yay!" Eris laughed and jumped off of Kurama, throwing out her arms and spinning in circles. There was stick she didn't see, and probably didn't care if she did, and tripped over it.

Green eyes widening, Kurama lunged and caught Eris just before her head hit the ground. He shook her gently to open her eyes. "Eris!! Are you all right? Wake up!"

"I'm SUPER! Thanks for asking! All things considered I couldn't be better I must saaaay!" she laughed, practically strangling him as she threw her arms around his neck and continued singing. "I'm feeling supeeeeer! No nothing bugs me!! Everything is super when you're-don't you think I look cute in this hat?!"

Keiko had to lean on Yusuke for support, as she was laughing so hard. He looked at her and scratched his head. "Maybe you should stop with the drinking for the night too…"

(Eris in the background as she is being propped against a log by Kurama: "I'm so sorryyyyy!! Mr. Cripple!" she threw a rock at Kuwabara who threw it back, missing. "But I just can't feel to bad for you right noooow! Because I'm feeling, so insanely super! That even the fact that you can't walk can't bring me down!!")

"Why?! I'm not the one singing like a gay man," she laughed again and stole his sake.

"Yusuke, if you ever give her a spiked drink again…" Kurama let the threat hang unfinished, his hands full with keeping Eris still. And away from any nearby alcohol.

"Oh you don't have to worry about that, she can get it on her own now," Yusuke grinned.

"What?!"

("…everything is super when you're-don't you think I look cute in this hat, these matching pants, this tie that I got at Vogue?! I'm SUPER!!")

"Yeah, I gave her the address to the shop that sells that stuff. They ship anywhere. Shipping's free if it takes more than a week to get there. Awesome, huh?" he laughed and stretched; ignoring the glare sent his way. "Geez, where did Botan and Shizuru get to anyway?"

"I last saw Botan taking a picture of Shizuru talking to a young man," Yukina said, trying to discreetly alleviate Kuwabara's dizzy spells. She herself had been smart enough not to touch any of the drinks.

("Skittles!!")

"Someone should search for them," Kurama had to duck as Eris whipped out her arm. "We should really be getting Kuwabara and Eris back to Genkai's temple. Can you walk still, Yusuke?"

"Yeah, I'm perfectly fine. Don't know what their problems are," Yusuke laughed and stood up, a little shaky, but still stable. Nonetheless, Keiko hung on to his arm in case he decided to spontaneously fall over.

"I gotta go potty!" Eris announced, suddenly serious (or as serious as she could be under the circumstances.) They paused and looked at her for a moment.

"Are you sure?" Kurama asked, helping her up. Now how was this going to work?

She nodded in rapid successions, not stopping until Kurama held her head still. "Can you wait? We should really be finding Botan and Shizuru first."

Eris blinked one eye, then the other. "Nope."

"Eris-"

"Do you want me to pee on myself?"

"Actually-" Yusuke started, snickering, but let it drop with a look from Kurama.

Sighing, he started walking with her towards the bathrooms. "You four start looking. We'll come back together near the restrooms in fifteen minutes," he said over his shoulder.

Slowly, they made their way through the crowds, Eris hanging awkwardly on Kurama as he almost dragged her through the park. The vinyl thong on Eris' zori sandal caught on a large branch lying on the ground, making her stumble horribly. If another pair of hands hadn't caught her, she would have taken Kurama to the ground with her.

"Thank you," Kurama sighed in relief to the young man who had helped.

"No problem," he smiled and shrugged. "Need any help? You look like you're in a hurry."

"Yes, we've lost a few friends and she needs to use the restroom," Kurama adjusted her arm around his neck and set her more firmly on her feet.

"Potty!!" Eris giggled. "I gotta go, man! Where's the potty at? HEY! Where the potty at?? Girls is on their way, where the Bacardi at?"

"I could take her there while you look for your friends," the young man offered. He was actually not much old than Kurama himself.

Kurama regarded him for a few moments. He looked trustworthy enough and had kind brown eyes. His green and white kimono was a bit rumpled and his hair stuck out at odd angles, but he didn't seem the kidnapper type.

A glimpse of blue from the corner of his eyes caught Kurama's attention and saw Botan wandering past a rice ball vendor. "Botan!" he called out, but she'd already gone. Making a split second decision, Kurama took Eris' arm from around his neck and carefully handed her to the kind young man.

"Suuuure, just hand the drunk girl off to some stranger," Eris mumbled.

"Don't say such things," Kurama brushed the stray black strands from her face. "This nice man is going to take care of you until I come back, all right?"

"It's because I'm black, isn't it?!" she cried out dramatically and went limp, both men lunging to catching her again.

"Eris," Kurama said under a strain, "You are not black."

She blinked. "I know."

"Wow, how much did she drink?" The Good Samaritan tried not to laugh and used himself as a crutch to prop Eris up. "I'm Ieyoshi, this is Eris I'm presuming and you are…?"

"Kurama," he nodded a thanks and proceeded to follow Botan.

"Aww, where's he goin'?" Eris pouted.

"Off to find your friends, remember?" Ieyoshi walked her to the portable outhouses nearby.

"Ooooh yeah…'kay!" she said and promptly passed out on the man's shoulder.

Ieyoshi smirked and hoisted her up to carry her better. Well, this just makes it easier for me then.

They came to the outhouses, but he didn't stop and wake Eris up. He walked right on by towards the streetlight dotted road bordering the park and crossed. The bright lights behind her eyelids made Eris twitch and groan, waking up slightly.

Ieyoshi took her past the glowing windows of a convenience store into a dim alley. Eris' muddled mind woke up to someone's lips pressed against her own and a concrete wall against her back.

"Kurama…?" she tried to see a face but it was hard with the limited light. A voice didn't answer, but actions speak a lot louder than words and the owner of the lips spoke loud and clear by moving down her neck.

Definitely wasn't Kurama. He'd never be as forward as this, and he'd at least make sure I was comfortable with it. Eris' first rational thought spread slowly through her brain and set off a warning alarm through her nerves. And he'd never try to screw me in an alleyway!!

Panic continued to rise as unfamiliar rough hands grabbed her hips and pushed her more up against the wall. They bruised her arms as she tried clumsily to push whoever was on her off.

"Stop it!" She growled and felt skin tear under her fingernails. Her head was slammed against the wall, sending bright pinpoints of light across her vision and almost put her into unconsciousness.

Something kept her awake, however, and forced her to calm down and not panic. I'm in a dark alley plenty far away from any people. Not that they could hear me if I screamed anyw-AY! Damnit!

She could distantly feel someone groping her in places she'd normally beat a person senseless for even looking at wrong.

Second rape attempt in a week, the fates must be having a theme at work, Eris seethed. Well, if he succeeds I'm making sure the fucker is sterile first!!

Eris kicked out her foot, hard, and was caught mid-strike. "Oh no you don't," a vaguely familiar voice laughed, continuing his work on loosening her obi belts. "Women always look so enticing in these things, but they're a bitch to get off…"

"Here's an idea," she slurred out and tried to kick him again, grazing a shin and grinning as she heard a pained grunt. "Get the fuck off me!"

A hand grabbed her neck, sending her head into the wall once more. "How about you ask me again. Maybe I'll listen…" he kissed her again and snickered. "Or maybe I won't."

Eris wheezed and tried prying the fingers off her throat weakly as the faint light became even fainter. Her survival mode kicked in, popping an idea into her head. It was a long shot, but better than nothing.

I just hope someone's passing by… she squeezed her eyes shut, loosened her zori sandal, and summoned the last of her energies to turn her body and kick it out of the alley into the street.

As she had hoped, it made a loud SMACK against the pavement. Her captor laughed loudly and shook his head. "Did you really think someone would notice that? Aww, you did!"

"OI! TEMEE!!"

A new voice rang through the alleyway; Eris almost cried with relief. Something, or rather someone, ran into the assaulter and wrenched him off. She sank to the ground, coughing and rubbing her neck to get the feeling of the phantom fingers to go away.

"What the hell do you think you're doing??" her savior yelled.

I know that voice…

"Shizuru…??" As the person turned, more light hit their face and revealed that it was indeed her friend.

"Kuso, Eris, is that you?!"

"Y-yeah it's me."

"Kami, you're lucky I ran out of smokes," she turned and hauled the guy up by the front of his robes and glared into his face. Eris saw the face now: the so-called "Good Samaritan," Ieyoshi. She groaned and held her head in her hands.

Maybe it'll all go away…pfft, fat chance of that...

"Hey man! What's your problem?? We were just talking!" Ieyoshi laughed nervously.

Shizuru was absolutely not amused. "Right, 'cause everyone likes to choke the person they're talking to in dark alleyways and rip their clothes off!"

"Hello?"

"Who's there?"

"What's going on down here? Does someone need help?"

A chorus of familiar voices echoed off the buildings, making Ieyoshi curse and struggle to get out of Shizuru's grasp. She laughed humorlessly gave him a good blow to the cheek.

"That's right, you're in deep shit now you little punk ass-"

"Shizuru?? Is that you?"

"Yeah, Yusuke, it's me. Eris is here too."

"Eris??"

She lifted her head and tried to bite back the quiver in her voice. "Kurama…?"

"What the hell are you guys-oh geezus…" Yusuke's slightly unfocused eyes cleared quickly at seeing the scene in front of him: Eris huddled on the ground, looking up at him through wide, skittish eyes, and Shizuru looking about ready to beat the guy in her hands within an inch of his life.

Kurama pushed past him, faltering a bit as realization of what happened was figured out in a fraction of a second. He gave Ieyoshi the most piercing look; if it had been a weapon, he'd be dead with a poisoned thorn through the heart. Resisting pulling out a seed that would do just that, Kurama kept his composure and gathered Eris into his arms. She clung to him like a vine, her shaking the only outward sign that her mind acknowledged what happened.

They stood there, she shaking in his arms, and he staring at Ieyoshi in his calm way of regard. Yusuke, and eventually Kuwabara, started heckling the offender, but Kurama continued to stare, each second growing calmer…each second the calmness becoming deadlier as his eyes bored into Ieyoshi's through the dark.

The youkai blood pounded in his ears, making every sense sharper; he could smell the foreign scent of Ieyoshi all over Eris. By scent alone he could pinpoint every place he'd touched her; a suppressed growl rumbled in his chest. Eris heard it, and clenched her eyes shut tight, blocking out the sounds of Yusuke's taunting, Kuwabara's threats, and Shizuru's jeers.

He's letting him out…

"Kurama," she whispered. "Don't…"

"Yusuke." He said it low, but it seemed to echo. Their three friends turned, their demeanors instantly changing at seeing Kurama. Shizuru and Kuwabara gave each other sidelong glances, both instantly feeling the change in the air and stepped back a few paces. Yusuke nodded, gave one last disgusted look at Ieyoshi and spat at his feet before stepping back, arms crossed and glaring at the wall.

He seemed to rise to the imposing height of his demon counterpart as he walked forward, releasing Eris into the motherly like arms of Shizuru. Ieyoshi trembled visibly, but tried to shrug it off and look coolly back. Unfortunately, you can't hide the scent of fear from a fox demon.

Kurama stopped only inches from his prey, gold specks glittering in his eyes. Regally, he looked down with a stoic face, every inch of his body radiating dominance.

"I trusted you with her." His tone was so removed and calm it sent waves of ice down the backs of everyone present. It was clear that the more pensive and still Kurama became, the more comfortable he felt with ending your life.

Foolishly, Ieyoshi let the panic and fear take over his mouth. "Yeah, your point?"

Without flinching, or even a muscle twitch in warning, Kurama's hand was around the thin neck and pinning him to the side of the building. "Would you like to try that again?"

The pressure on his throat, making him gag with horrible sound effects, cut off Ieyoshi's cough. Kurama eased it off only slightly, "You owe her an apology."

"G-go to h-hell…!"

The golden specks slowly started running together to make pools. He felt his fingernails lengthening and drawing trickles of blood from the incisions they made in Ieyoshi's neck. The low-life's cry of pain was cut off just like his cough.

"I'm not sure you quite understand the severity of what you've done," Kurama all but whispered in his terrifying repose. "Perhaps I should elaborate."

Eris came out from her recoiled state and saw Kurama holding Ieyoshi against the wall by the neck. She tensed her jaw and ground her teeth together. Good God, is that what I looked like being held like that…?

"You have wrongly touched someone very dear to me," Kurama continued, a touch of Youko's voice bleeding into his tone, taking on a further dangerous quality. "Betrayed the trust only granted to few, and that is wholly unacceptable." He narrowed his eyes and whispered. "Apologize. Or is further persuasion needed?"

Someone carefully gripped the back of his kimono; Eris buried her face between his shoulder blades, the scent of roses calming her down. "Kurama," she felt him ease a bit and caught a lock of his hair between her fingers. "Let's go home…?"

"Not unless-"

"I don't want to hear what he has to say," Eris felt her voice firm, her wits coming back. "I don't care."

He could feel her words resonating through him and slowly retracted his arm. It ached from being tense but it barely registered. Kurama continued to stare down his opponent.

"You've already given me enough reasons to kill you. If I should see you again, you will not live to remember it."

With that he took his leave, leading Eris out of the alley into the soothing light of the streets and warm company of their friends. No questions were asked about the state of Eris' dirty kimono or undone curls of her hair falling around her in a mess of black.

Back in the alley, Kuwabara gave one last kick to the form on the ground and walked away still seething. His sister came up beside him with much of the same expression.

"Something really bothered me about that guy…not just what he did to Eris-chan…"

Shizuru raised a brow. "You too, huh?"

A slight glowing aura of blue spirit energy hung around Yusuke as he looked without sympathy on Ieyoshi. He hadn't joined in on the fight for once, afraid he'd accidentally let loose a Spirit Gun or two.

Sniffing, Yusuke let out laugh. "Next time you try taking advantage of someone, take into account that they might be friends with Death."

Of course the guy didn't know that Death was really a bubbly, blue-haired airhead, but Yusuke felt the threat had a pretty nice effect.
AN: BWAHAHAHAHA!!! And you all thought this was going to be a happy "Everything Goes Right," "Happily Ever After," sunshine and daisies fic didn't ya? DIDN'T YA?? Obviously you've never read one of my fics before. Hehe. And I have yet begun to mess with your heads! I'm contemplating raising this to an R rating, as this will get fairly messy in the next chapter. Hmm…

And no bitching about how long this took to get out! . I've been working for a week and a half to get everything just the way I wanted. And I think it's the longest chapter yet. 8,993 words. So, woo. Now I'm off to wallow in teh greatness that is Duo Maxwell!! WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!! ::bounces off with her Duo plushie::

Glossary:
Itai- Ow!
Kuso- Curse word. Mostly translated as Shit.
Onna- Woman
Ani- Older brother
Watashi no Ani- My brother, literally "My older brother."
Oi- Hey!
Temee- Really rude thing to call someone. Usually translated as a curse word such as bastard.
Youkai- Demon

Footnotes:
William Shakespeare, Othello, the Moor of Venice, act 2, scene 1
Just for you Nick!! = =
"I'm Super," is from South Park, sung by Big Gay Al. Just to clear any confusion up. And yes, "Skittles!" is part of the song. lol

Review Replies:

raindropsRteardrops- didja really think so? I though ch. 17 was rather lacking, but hey if you liked it don't listen to me.

Ookami Aya- Yeah I know. But I'm the authoress and in this story she's taller darnit! lol Say hi to Mr. Happy Sunshine for me. Heeeee.

Koroga- Well! I hope this one was as well received! And er…I do hope Washu is alright. Not that I doubt her ability to take care of herself, but against an angry Hiei…? That's pretty iffy.
Sesshoumaru- Domo arigatou gaziamasu! Since I enjoy hearing your judgment on my story I'll let the hanyou comment slide. -
Youko- Yes, I know. I'm working that in soon. At least you had sort of an appearance in this one… ;; Anyway, thank you for enjoying my story so much. You all make me giddy with happiness! ::laughs::

ReiRei-chan- Yes. Yes they do. And if they don't… ::looks at her smile in her scythe blade:: hehehe. EEE! Puu! I love the Puu. He was my own little blue muse for the beginning of this one. YAY PUU! And no, you are not getting your lunch back. HAHA!

Wandering dragon- yes, I have updated once more!! Worship me!! Hehe jk.

The Fire Youkai Page- Hiya girly!! Hope this chappy occupied you well enough. ttyl!

Amethyst Anerara- Don't you just hate the threats? I mean, really. I don't work well under the pressure of my own death!! .

Nakoudo- ::waves enthusiastically:: HI LADY DRAGON!! Hehehe did this one break your laughing record? I was giggling insanely as I was writing it. ;;

InuKurama- well :p to you back. Hehe. Ooooo shivers eh? Yay! lol

NicholasGolden- Well I know where you live too. :p Yay for updatednessdom. Are you happy now??? You can stop with the nagging. Heh.

Confused person- she's about 16.5. thanks for the review!

Firekeeper727- :p like it wasn't worth it. -

Blizzard4526- Meeeow! Pushy much? lol

Lady-of-the-Dragon-Flame- Thank you! Hehehe. I didn't even mean for Ducky to come out so kick ass, but yay!!

Polaris-fire-star- lmao yessss marshmallows are teh shiz. Sadly I too have an addiction. :;hides six pack. Of COKE. - :: I'm glad to have brightened your day with the torturing of Eris. It brightens my mood too. Hehehe.

Kagomegirl555- twice?? Good lord!! Well I bet you're happy to have something new to read, eh? lol

Angelgirl26- thanks mucho!

Kitsune Kit- s'ok! Lord knows I blew a few dozen fuses in our new fusebox while writing this. Its our dern microwave, I swear! Not my fault the ramen wants to be cooked! .