The next day, after Laena woke up at 9:30, and berated herself for it being too late, she met Suichi at the Dunkin Doughnuts in town. "Caffeine." she practically yelled. So she hung out with him for a good part of the day, and told him about the events of the night prior.

When they got to Suichi's house, she was amazed by all of the artifacts he had in his room. They looked like they had come from all over the world. But there was no color on the walls. "Don't worry Suichi," she said, "'ll paint your room up real artsy fartsy, and it'll look awesome, like mine." She had said, before they spent the rest of the day rocking out to Oleander.

However, she had met his Mother prior, and then found the boy also had a passion for plants. There was a certain rose bush that intrigued her, and inspired her to draw a picture of Roger the Shrubber. This picture, she stapled to a stake and then drove it into the ground next to the rose shrub. "Can never have too much British humor, is what I say." she said.

Suichi seemed to think that the ordeal with the rescuer in the woods was still there. And that she should try to confront him, and if he were a psycho to bring a rubba hose.

(More effective than a hand gun, harder than a brick...)

When she got to her house, and watched an episode of Justice League to build her confidence, she went up to her room, and took out again, the big sketch pad, and her pastel crayons. She fashioned a pleasing picture , rolled it up, fingers still stained by the crapauds, laced up her boots, and set out.

Meandering into the woods at about the same time as the night before, she found the tree in the middle of the forest, and looked up towards the top.

With a sigh, she stuffed the picture in her pocket and began to climb- not very well- to the branch she sat on only a day ago.

And, once there, she sat, and waited.

And waited and waited and waited.

"What the fuck?" she mumbled a slouched in disappointment. (I know how to spell!)

Laena was just about to make up her mind to leave when she heard a rustle in the leaves, and shadow fell over her.

"Do you have a death wish?" came that refined voice, with a slightly annoyed undertone.

Again, she jumped, almost in repeat of the night before, but to save themselves the embarrassment, the figure caught her arm, hauling her back on to her perch.

"Will you stop just appearing out of nowhere?" She hissed at him in a hushed voice. The man stepped back, seeming like he would depart.

"No, wait." Laena pleaded. He went still, but kept his aloof look on his face.

"I wanted to- would you sit down, please?" she asked getting nervous and frustrated already. (Should have watched the Wonder Woman episode)

He didn't move. Instead, "Onna, why do you come back time and again to the place you almost lost your life twice?" He asked, crossing his arms. Laena stopped and stared at him. "You know what?" she asked a bit challengingly, "That is a great question." she looked away to think of a reason, and then felt the tension of the branch lessen.

She looked over to where the Figure was standing, but he was gone, again. Giving up after looking around, but with no sight of him, Laena hooked her feet, and began to lean backward, swinging up side down on the branch. She crossed her arms and cursed.

What is she doing? The figure thought, as he watched her from another tree. And with a scowl, he got up, and jumped up the big tree again, and appeared on the branch below the swinging human. "Why are you here, onna?" He asked tiredly.

Laena stared at him for a moment, and then mumbled something under her breath before she pulled upward to get something from her pocket. "Here."

The man raised an eyebrow skeptically as he raised his arm to accept the rolled paper. As soon as he took it he sat back down, against the tree, and unrolled it, keeping his unsure eye on the human.

She watched with apprehension as he opened it, but began to talk, a little nervous. "I drew it as a meager thank you gift ." She explained as she swung upward, and balanced her self on the branch for a moment. Then she grabbed her coat and slipped down to his level. "Ya know, for saving me... twice, or once... I'm not really sure right now." The figure snorted before he finally looked down at the picture.

He sucked in his breath as he took in what he saw. A woman- no, a girl with her arms outstretched, wearing a simple gown, twirling in the snow. He gazed at the face, with the eyes a vermillion he knew only all too well.

"Where did you get this?" He asked in shock laced with a threatening tone.

Laena frowned. "I drew it." she replied carefully. "I like the snow, and the winter, and I remembered, for some odd reason, your red eyes..." she laughed nervously. Oh, man... "Watch your fingers on it." She warned, holding out her own color-stained hand.

He just looked back at the picture, ignoring her. A awkward silence ensued, and Laena felt like she was going to scream.

"So..." oh, yeah, real nice. "What are you doing in the woods?" She paused for a moment. "Every night?"

No answer.

She narrowed her eye at him. "Do you just wait for damsels in distress?" She asked dramatically and added a huffy noise for effect.

The figure snorted, rolling the drawing up. "You, onna, are no damsel." Laena gave a teasing look at him. All he did was lean back against the tree, crossed his arms and shut his eyes. Laena arched her head to one side. "Aren't you cold?" she asked, noticing his bare arms. (Drool)

"No." the only movement was from his mouth. She shivered and rubbed her arms, forgetting about the newly re-opened cut. "Ow.. Damnit." she griped, looking down at it. "Where did this come from?" She whispered more to herself.

The man opened one eye. "You landed on a rock." he sighed and closed his eye again.

"Really? Last night? Well, that makes sense."

"No, not last night." he said in a strangled voice. "Four nights ago."

"Yeah, but I dreamt that." she argued. He didn't make any more movement, so she figured he fell asleep.

Wait. Sleep? How could he just go to sleep while she was talking to him? Nervy little prick. Then it dawned on her. Remember, you're talking to some guy who lives in a tree.

(Tree!)

Shrugging on her coat, with a frustrated sigh, Laena prepared to get down the tree. Before doing so, however, she paused and said quietly, "Thank you again. My name is Laena, by the way." (Oh, that sucked so bad.) And then she dropped from the branch, and climbed down the remainder of the tree.

The man opened one eye when he knew she was gone, and then he heard her jump to the ground.

She began to walk away after her not-so-graceful landing, when she heard a rustle of leaves above her, and then that refined voice ring from the shadows.

"Hiei."

A smile spread across her face, and then she went on her merry way.

Oh, man, did that thoroughly suck?

Well, that's the next installment. It might be while before the next chapter, because I still have to think it up.

Of course.

I have been stricken with an ailment for the past three days, and have not been motivated to write anything, or do much of anything for that matter.

So, I'm sorry for the crappiness of this chapter.

Kurama: But at least you got to watch three movies on Friday.

Ackie: yeah, The Naked Gun, Pirates of the Carribean, and LOTR Two Towers. With my dad. I love the part when they meet King Theoden, and they start kickin' ass like the WWE.

Sano: Yeah? I missed it.

Ackie: It was cool. And Aragorn and Eomer were just about the coolest things since... um, individually wrapped cheese. Yeah. Cheese.

Au revoir, mes enfants des bon bons!