Chapter Three

Dru

Dru sighed as she watched the two drunken ones out on the dance floor. She watched Hiei pull Asilin into a kiss, and her whole body tensed. She watched for Asilin's reaction, preparing to whip out Brink. She didn't care if it got her kicked out.
"You're very protective, aren't you?" he asked.
Dru turned to him. "So?"
Kurama shrugged. "No reason."
Dru sighed. "I'm out of here." She stood. Kurama was still watching the two out on the floor, and Dru suddenly felt a little guilty. "You can come if you like," she added.
Kurama looked up at her and stood. "I'd be honored."
"Yeah, yeah. You f me off, I'll throw you out the window."
Kurama smiled. "As you wish. What about--?"
"They'll be fine. Trust me. She's even more dangerous drunk..."

Dru opened the door and flipped on the light. "Don't touch anything," she said. She walked to the fridge and looked back at Kurama. "Do you want something to drink?"
Kurama smiled. "Please." He took off his scarf and coat and placed it on the hooks beside the door. He was immediately over taken by her apartment and its decor. He spun around, seeing the walls covered in paint and paintings. He looked up and his jaw hung open. On the ceiling he saw a dark sunrise, and a woman with wings stood facing it.
He noticed this same woman everywhere. "Who is she?" he asked.
"Well, I could give you some crap about it being a vision, or I could tell you the truth and tell you that it's basically me."
Kurama turned to her and raised an eyebrow. "Do tell."
"I'd rather not."
"Fair enough."
Dru handed him a bottle. "Don't worry," she said, noticing his apprehensive look. "It's root beer. It's all I drink now, thanks to Kheraldson."
Kurama smiled. "You two seem like unlikely friends."
"As do you and the short boy."
Kurama laughed. "Yes, well, we didn't have much of a choice."
"Neither did Kheldarson and I."
"Work together?"
"Yes."
"What do you do?"
"Things."
"Hmmm. Interesting." She went to look at one of the canvases on the wall and couldn't help but notice the tattooed wings again. "Your wings are beautiful."
"Thanks."
Kurama's eyes widened. That was a new response. "Your angel is beautiful."
"Quite a contrast."
"I don't think so."
Dru froze and immediately cursed herself for it. "Right. So, what's your game, Kurama? Are you a charmer? If there's someone who doesn't fall to your feet, do you try to win her over?"
"Quite the contrary. I'm sort of a loner myself."
Dru's eyes narrowed. "Right."
Kurama just smiled. He looked into the next room and smiled. "That's a beautiful piano. Mind if I play?" he asked.
Dru raised an eyebrow. "Sure." She chuckled. "This should be interesting."
Kurama sat down at the piano and lifted the small fold over the keys. Dru stood in the doorway and watched as his fingers began to grace the keys.
Dru froze. He was playing a Beethoven piece. She knew that piece anywhere. He played it with such precision and such emotion, that Dru felt her heart melting a bit. Maybe he wasn't COMPLETELY fake.
After he struck the last key, he paused and looked up. "Beautiful sound," he said, standing.
Dru nodded. "Found it in a yard sale."
"Really?"
"Yes. I bought it and brought it here and worked on it. Almost had to completely replace the frame."
"You did a wonderful job."
"Thank you."
"Do you play anything else?"
"I dabble."
"So you're a girl with a dark past who enjoys music and art."
Dru shrugged. "That's me in a nut shell."
"I don't believe that," Kurama said. "Not for a second."

A few hours later, the two were sitting in Dru's living room on the floor. "So after you publish a great American novel, what will you do then?" Kurama asked.
Dru shrugged. "No clue. Live from day to day."
Kurama nodded. "That's a good way to live."
Dru smiled. "It's the only way."
Kurama smiled. He couldn't get enough of her eyes. He was feeling very attracted to her. "You're beautiful, you know that?"
Dru almost retorted, but she felt true emotion behind his response, so she just looked away.
"You don't get comments very often, do you?"
"No," she said. "It makes someone vain and soft."
"Well, I hope I didn't just ruin that for you."
Dru chuckled. "No."
They were silent, both staring into each other's eyes. Dru couldn't seem to take her eyes away.
"Dru?"
"Yes."
"I want to kiss you. May I?"
Dru couldn't repress the flow of blood and heat to her face. She looked down. "If you want to."
Kurama laid a soft hand on her cheek and leaned forward. He placed a soft kiss on her lips and pulled back. Dru's breath came out short and fast. Kurama leaned forward and kissed her again, longer this time. He pulled away again, trying to read for any negative signs.
The lock on the door sounded, and the door knob twisted. The door opened and in stumbled Asilin and Hiei. They were laughing and singing some song in their plastered state.
Dru smacked her forehead and regretted the day she let Asilin have a spare key.

Asilin

Asilin looked at Dru and Kurama with a huge smile on her face. "Seems to me somebody else gained a buddy tonight," she laughed.

Dru stood up, glaring at her friend. "Why are you here, Kheldarson?"

Asilin blinked several times before answering. "Why to drop off my drinking buddy here. I figured since you and Kurama split on us, you were probably here."

"But why bring him here?!"

"Because I don't want to inadvertently kill my new pal here because of my blinding hangover in the morning." Asilin pushed Hiei in a nearby chair. "Besides, you're the only one who knows where I live in this entire city, and I think I want to leave it like that." She smirked.

"Kheldarson..." Dru began dangerously.

"I know! I'm outta here." Asilin waved before heading out the door. "Oh, and sorry for interrupting you guys." Then she disappeared.

"I swear I'm going to kill her someday," Dru muttered. "I don't care what the Boss says."

Kurama looked at her puzzled. "Why didn't you force her to leave when she entered the room? I'm sure you could have."

"Remember what I said in the club? About her being more dangerous? She's the only person I know who can be as drunk as a lord and still be able to fight like the professional she is. Sometimes she's even quicker drunk than sober."

"So, she isn't really drunk?"

"Oh, she's drunk all right. Otherwise, she'd never have come here. It's a genetic trait as far as she'll tell me."

"Really?"

"Yeah." Dru looked over to the chair Hiei had been pushed into and frowned. "Where'd Hiei go?"

Kurama chuckled. "Hiei doesn't get drunk. Any symptoms he was showing were faked."

"And here I thought only Kheldarson could pull that off."

Kurama shrugged. "He's used to stronger stuff than what's usually available in clubs."

Dru looked at Kurama curiously. "And where would you get that?"

He stood up with a smile. "You have your secrets; I have mine. But enough about that. Do you want to continue where we left off?"

Meanwhile

Asilin stumbled out into the street with a giggle. It wasn't often that she could catch Dru off-guard like that. Staggering slightly, she walked down the street, whistling a random tune while she tossed one of her daggers expertly into the air.

"Isn't it dangerous to play with those when you're drunk?" a familiar voice asked from the shadows.

Whirling around and catching her dagger, she held it to the offender's throat. Then she blinked in surprise.

"Oh, it's you Hiei," she slurred slightly.

"Who else?" he shrugged.

"How come you're not drunk anymore?"

"It takes more than fifteen beers to get me drunk."

"Wow. And here I thought I was the only one who could act drunk convincingly. You just took the prize!" she giggled.

"Hn."

"Spoilsport."

"Whatever. You should be heading home. It's a little too cold for us to be standing here talking on the street." He threw his cloak around her shoulders, leaving him in a blue tank top and his black pants and boots.

She looked at him suspiciously. "Why do you care? I only met you today, really."

"But we've known each other for months. It works out." He shrugged, sending a few snowflakes flying.

"This is just to find out where I live, isn't it?" It wasn't a question.

"Hn."

"And even if I were to leave you here, you'd follow any way, wouldn't you?"

"Hn."

She threw her hands up in exasperation. He chuckled softly. "Fine, whatever, you can come. Just no telling anyone else where I live, and don't blame me if I try to kill you in the morning."

"I doubt you could kill me," he said confidently.

"Don't try me," Asilin growled. "Anyway, let's go." She staggered off again with Hiei striding next to her.

At her apartment, Hiei glanced in surprise at the lack of decoration in her place. "Quite different from your friend's place."

"I'm not as creative as Dru is, so I don't have the bunch of stuff she does." She shrugged. "Besides, I need the space for training."

"Training? Why do you need to train?"

"None of your business."

"And if I made it my business?"

"You wouldn't be living right now." She smiled sweetly at him.

Hiei glanced at her in curiosity. "You keep changing character."

She shrugged indifferently. "Keeps people on their toes. Plus, if nobody knows which side of me is the real me, then they can't use it against me. It helps with the job."

"And what's your job?" He glanced at her slyly.

"Nice try, Hiei," she laughed. "But I'm not so drunk as to fall for that. You're not going to tell me your job, are you?"

"Hn." He looked away.

"Didn't think so." She giggled. "But I'm sure I'll be able to find out. Anyway, you're welcome to stay on the couch if you want. I'm going to bed to see if I can't sleep off this alcohol." She headed over to the bedroom. "Oh, and don't knock on my door in the morning. I've killed several guests that way."

He chuckled wickedly. "Actually, that sounds like fun." He walked over to her as she stared at him like he was crazy. "Good night, Asilin." He drew her into another rough kiss. She struggled briefly, but his arms kept her locked in place. Finally, he let go.
"If I wasn't so drunk, I would probably kill you for that." She glared at him.
"I'm sure." His only answer was the slamming of the door.

Dru

Kurama embraced Dru and kissed her again. He began to pull her closer, kissing her more passionately, but Dru pushed him away gently. "No," she said gently. "I think it's time for you to leave," she said, turning abruptly, heading for the door.
"What?" he asked in confusion. "I thought we--"
"Kurama!" she said, opening the door. She looked at him. "You have all ready pushed my limits tonight. Go home."
Kurama blinked. "Pushed your...?"
"Kurama!" she nearly yelled.
A great amount of tension began to build between the two. Kurama sighed. "Fine," he said. He grabbed his coat and scarf and went out the door. He stopped. "Can I at least have your--"
The door slammed.
"Phone number," he said lamely, looking at the closed door.
Dru stood staring at the door, tears in her eyes and rage building in her body. She growled and went to her piano. She tried playing. She played violin. When none of that worked, she tried to paint--but even that couldn't soothe her. She looked at her newest creation, the tears welling again. She reached her hand into the paint, gathered much in her hands, and slammed it against the woman in the picture, crying out as she did so. She then froze, looking at what she had just done.
"That's it," she said softly. "It's time to go kill someone." She donned her coat, and grabbing Brink and Alucard, she stomped out of the door.

The demon ran from her down the dark alley. "Come back here!" she roared, she stopped and raised Alucard, and let out a single bullet. The thing howled and fell into the side of the building. Dru caught up with it and straddled the thing. She grabbed it around the neck. "He thought that he could get me into bed. He thought that if he charmed me long enough, I would give in!" she slammed his head into the pavement. "I ask you, is that fair? Is that all you men ever think about? Answer me!"
The thing lay underneath her with the swirly eyes to indicate that he was unconscious.
Dru sighed. She stood. "Figures." She put Alucard away. The demon would live. She was too angry to kill, which put her in an even more foul mood.
"Stupid charmer. I knew it, I knew it!" she said to herself madly. She was walking, swinging her sword, shaking Alucard, and being just...well, creepy...
She eventually stopped. She felt something cold and wet land on her nose. It was snowing again. She sighed. She kept walking, head down, deep in fuming thought.
She stopped suddenly. Looking up, she saw the skating ring. She and Kurama had skated there not to long ago.
"Woah!" she said, shaking her head. "None of that now."
"None of what?"
Dru spun. Her eyes narrowed. There stood Kurama. He stood, hands in his pockets, merely watching her. "You," she hissed. With a cry, she brought Alucard out and held it against Kurama's throat. "Are you following me?"
"Maybe."
"Were you?"
"Maybe. Again, you have your secrets," he said pointedly. "And I have mine."
Dru blinked. "What?"
"I'll tell you what. You tell me why you threw me out tonight and I'll tell you if I was following you or not."
Dru watched him a moment, and then lowered her sword. "No deal," she said, walking away.
"Dru! Don't walk away from me!"
Dru froze. "Oh no, he just didn't." She turned. "Did you just try to tell me what to do?"
Kurama nodded. "Yes, I did."
Dru sighed. "That's why I threw you out."
Kurama raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"I threw you out because you were getting ideas of what you wanted me to do. I don't...I can't do that."
Kurama blinked. "I'm confused."
Dru sighed. "Never mind," she said. With that, she walked off, leaving Kurama to think.

Asilin

The bright light of the sun streamed in to caress the sleeper's face. Asilin groaned and opened her eyes. Why couldn't her genetics have given her the ability to overcome hangovers quickly? She groaned again and tried to roll out of bed.

However, her objective was thwarted by a pair of arms. Asilin screamed bloody murder causing Hiei to fall out of the bed. Asilin grabbed two daggers off her end table, and stalked over to Hiei. "How dare you!" she yelled. "I told you the couch, not my room, not my bed, the couch!!!"

"You didn't seem to mind when I came in." He smirked. "In fact, you agreed to it."

"I was asleep!!!"

"So?"

"GET OUT!!!" He smirked again but stood up as she advanced towards him.

"I'm going."

"Go faster!" She continued to advance as he headed towards the front door.

He opened it but turned to face her. "I'll see you around," he stated with a chuckle.

"No you won't!" she screamed. He laughed at her as he headed down the hall. "I'll kill you if I ever see you again!" She slumped against the door frame and rubbed her head. The headache she had been ignoring was now killing her.

"You too, huh?" a voice said from the other side of the hall.

"That you, Dru?"

"Of course. What he do, Kheldarson?" Dru asked in dry amusement.

"I found him in my bed this morning. I told him he could sleep on the couch if he wanted, but obviously that wasn't good enough." She wandered back into her apartment with Dru following, and collapsed on the afore mentioned couch. "But what did you mean 'you too'?"

"I had some issues with Kurama. He was trying to tell me what to do."

Asilin cocked an eyebrow at her friend. "You don't have to be in charge all the time, Dru."

"Whether I do or don't is none of your concern, Kheldarson." Dru glared at her.

"Yeah, yeah, I know." She got off the couch and went into the kitchen.

As Asilin began to brew some coffee, Dru asked, "What about you? What's wrong with finding a guy in your bed, assuming he didn't do anything?"

"I can't do it, Dru. I can't." Asilin winced as the coffee maker started beeping. Pouring herself a cup, she wandered over to the window.

Dru poured herself a cup before asking, "Can't do what?"

Asilin looked sharply at Dru. "I thought we agreed not to ask about each other's past."

"You never said this was about your past."

"Well, now you know that much. Drop it."

"Don't think so. You seem to need to work this one out."

"Will you tell me something about your past?"

"Perhaps."

Asilin sighed. She knew that was the closest she was going to get to a promise from Dru on this one. "Fine. In a nut shell, I fell in love with a guy my first year in the agency. He was completely sweet and really intelligent, and I fell hard." She snorted. "That was my misfortune. Turned out he was an agent for China. I caught him giving top secret information to the head of Chinese intelligence. He was also promising to give him some information on one of the newest spies who seemed to be destined for great things. He mentioned me by name. Well, when the two parted ways, I confronted him. I killed him in the following fight," Asilin trailed off briefly before continuing. "I vowed to never let that happen again. That's what that was about. Now it's your turn." She turned to Dru expectantly.

"Don't think so." Dru smiled secretively.

"Oh, that's okay. I already know a bit about your past anyway."

"What?!" Dru pulled out Brink. "Talk. Now."

"Put away Brink. It's your own fault really."

Dru put her sword away. "How's it my fault?"

"You always paint the same guy in your paintings. And he's always holding some sort of item that can be used as a weapon. It seems to me," Asilin continued, ignoring her friend's stare, "that he's probably your dad or someone who was in charge of you during childhood, but he abused you. What?" She met Dru's gaze.

"How did you put all that together?" Dru hissed.

"There is a reason why I do the information gathering for our team."

"Well, you don't tell my story, and I don't tell yours. Agreed?" Dru held out her hand.

"Agreed." Asilin shook on it.