Well, you'll probably notice that the first part of this chapter is a little bit different form my usual writing style. I'm not sure why, maybe cause I'm typing this, and it's night time…and it's 10…on a Friday night…and I have to wake up early on Saturday to watch TV (why am I still up?)…Maybe that's why. Or maybe because I've talked about Ume x Hiei so much, I'm making Tsume x Kurama's romance really kawaii (cute)…Who knows?
Anyways, I hope you enjoy this slight change, but it'll go back to normal…soon enough (probably after I sleep). If you like this new way better, then say so in a review and I'll change the way I type a bit (keyword: bit). Ok, enough making you read this, go on and read the chapter!
P.S. I changed a part of chapter 7 but you don't have to go back and see. It was only a tiny change. That and I messed up the schedule of the training, so I changed that too.
Nearly a week has passed, Tsume was slowly getting stronger. Even after all that time, Yusuke never got to talk to the guys alone. Every time, Ume and/or Tsume would come by.
It was now Friday and sunset was approaching ever so slowly. Tsume sat on top a hill on the outskirts of town. She was wishing the sun would set faster, and then a voice behind her made her heart nearly jump 30 beats. It was Kurama's voice. By now, Tsume was able to recognize it instantly. She saw Kurama walking up the hill and right there and then, she wanted time to just stop.
She greeted Kurama with a calm 'hello'. Kurama walked up to Tsume and starting teaching her ways of combining Spirit Energy with physical attacks.
"That should be enough for today." Kurama announced.
They were both exhausted in the short time of their training.. Tsume held up her water bottle and drank from it. She looked at Kurama and offered him some.
"Don't worry, I don't backwash (ewwwww…XP)."
Kurama smiled at her, thanked her, and took a waterfall (he didn't touch the water's tip, incase you don't know what a waterfall is. Birdie is the same thing). When he finished, he took a deep breath. He hadn't had clear, clean water in a long time. He handed the bottle back over to Tsume. It was already 6, then sun had set early that day and the rest of the night was theirs to do what ever they wanted. Tsume stared up at the sky, stargazing.
"In Makai, there were never such beautiful stars. I guess the human world isn't too bad. In Makai, there were always demons killing demons, so even if there were stars, you couldn't enjoy them thanks to the screams of pain coming from demons." The young girl said aloud.
Although Kurama had lived in Makai for centuries, stealing priceless artifacts, and knew of these things, he did not say anything to ruin the mood. He just sat there and nodded his head.
The red-haired kitsune (fox) put his hands on the ground for support and they accidentally fell upon Tsume's hands. Kurama pulled it away as fast as he could but because he put his body weight on it, he lost his balance and fell. Tsume tried to grab Kurama to prevent his fall but only ended up falling with him. They tumbled down the hill together until they finally reached the bottom.
Kurama landed right on top of Tsume (how embarrassing!) and quickly got up. He patted himself down as if there was dust on him. He stretched out his hand and Tsume grabbed it. She was pulled up, blushing furiously. The two tried to avoid eye contact for a while. Then something broke the awkward silence. It was the sound of Tsume's stomach growling.
"Umm…We should get you some food. It's been a long day. I'll buy; it's the least I can do for what just happened." Kurama turned his head and looked down the street.
After a brisk walk, they arrived at a small fast food joint. They both ordered hamburgers (Kurama eating burgers…That's new…ha!). Before they knew, the sun was gone, the moon was out, and Tsume had to leave.
"Thank you, Kurama, for buying me dinner." Her face was as red as Kurama's hair.
"Your welcome!" he called out as the girl ran into her dwelling.
Sunday past by quickly. Tsume did nothing but lie on her bed and sleep the whole day. She was completely wiped out from the training she went through during the week. But the main reason she was resting up because the next day, she would have to undergo the training of 'Coach Ume.' Last week was absolute torture. The wolf demon kept on pushing her to focus all of her Energy into a blow that was only used to shoot at sky so she'd be drain, then after, she was to fight Hiei (I just thought of some random training, so don't hate me! Don't hate me for making Tsume suffer either!).
Unfortunately for Tsume, Monday had to arrive, and when it did, she was not in a hurry to get to training.
-
Ume was changing into her training uniform (even if SHE isn't the one training). Outside she heard a knock at the door. She got dressed quickly and opened the door to find her mother with a small group of kids at her feet. She looked at her mother, "Um…Did I miss something here? By the way Mom…I'm sorry about-"
The woman raised her hand up and stopped Ume from speaking. "No apologies needed. As long as you help me with teaching these kids martial arts that is."
Ume looked at her watch. It read 1:30 P.M. "I guess I have an hour left before 2:30."
Tsume sleepily began to rise from her bed. She dropped back down instantly. She tried again and actually got her feet to the floor…and fell back on the bed. This went on for quite some time…
-
Ume's mother taught swordsmanship to the elder kids, Mr. Eto taught martial arts for he couldn't hold a sword (see story 1, chapter 6 for details), and Ume, along with her mother, helped clean, she helped with the registration, and taught the younger kids both. It wasn't always like this. She didn't always have to clean and work at the desk but she chose to. Ume was always up to her neck in work and kids, but she had to help her family with making money. She was not their true child, and ever since she found out, she felt guilty for taking those people for granted.
She stood there, watching the kids swinging their wooden swords at each other, making sure they didn't hurt one another. She was watching some kid by the window when Hiei appeared outside it. She told the kids to continue on while she snuck to see what Hiei wanted, although she knew.
"2:30 already, right?"
Hiei nodded.
"Mom! I have to get going! Can you take over?"
"Sure."
She left with Hiei. They saw Tsume leaving her apartment room and locked the door behind. Despite the fact that Ume disliked Tsume, she was curious and wanted to ask her some things.
"That jewel of yours," she came up from behind Tsume, surprising her a bit, "you said it was one half of another right?"
"Yea. So?"
"Why does it look like it's already one whole."
"Once both jewels are together, they fuse. It wasn't broken in half. It was just like that."
"Are you girls done talking? She still needs to get stronger."
"Yea, yea, just wait. One last question. What kind of demon are you? You keep complaining about 'humans' and talking about Makai."
"I'm a fox demon that controls elements."
"Fox and fox."
"Huh?" Hiei didn't know what Ume meant by her last comment.
Tsume ran over and covered Ume's mouth with her hand. "She didn't mean anything! Umm...I mean, why don't you go to the training area first?"
Hiei shrugged and began to go ahead. When he was out of earshot, Tsume turned to Ume and started screaming at her. "YOU ALMOST SAID THAT I LIKED KURAMA!"
"Oh brother. Don't worry, I can keep a promise. I wasn't going to say anything else about you two. Besides, I thought you didn't like Kurama." She smirked.
Kami blushed, stepped back, and practically fell onto the floor. "Let's drop the subject."
"Sure, sure."
They caught up with Hiei. "Let the torture begin." She said to herself. She looked at Hiei. "I mean, training."
Sorry it took so long to get this chapter out. I keep putting 'Kami' instead of 'Tsume.' That, and I couldn't think of much for the whole Kami x Kurama thing (I did it again...) I'm better at typing Ume x Hiei stuff. After all, I like Hiei the most. ; Anyways, thanks for the reviews so far. Continue to review please!
