A/N: Finally, to be writing again. I find it necessary to explain why I've not been writing. I'm in my second year in high school and there will be a major exam this year. Since this virtually will decide my future, I may not have time to update frequently as I have to study. Certain fics may also be put on hiatus if necessary. I hope that justifies my delay. Thank you:
Crimson Alessa – Thank you for the encouraging review. I'm sorry I couldn't update earlier.
Coodle – Thank you so much for the review.
Izanami-fire – Thank you!
Asilin Kheldarson – If you think that was sweet, I've got some coming!
Eternal Wishes – Thankies!
Disclaimer: I don't own YYH.
"…" talk
'…' thoughts
… telepathy
Bold changes in scene/time
Chapter 15: Zutto Boku no Soba ni Iru: Always By My Side.
'Concentrate…mo sukoshi dake…' A passer-by could very well be shocked at a sight of a levitating rock in front of a temple. And they'd probably be shocked to see a violet-haired girl standing near the rock, glowing bright blue. But Mizuko need not worry about passers-by, or them seeing her giving off light. She had her eyes closed as she visualised the rock floating in the air. When it was about five feet above the ground, she suddenly gritted her teeth and her eyes snapped opened. At that moment, the rock came crashing down. Mizuko yelped as the ground beneath her feet shook and dust rose into the air. 'Thank goodness we're in an isolated area.' That could've qualified for an earthquake.
"Still training I see." Mizuko felt a smile crept up her lips. She nodded and said without turning around, "Yeah. I still can't keep it in the air." Mizuko walked towards a tree and sat under it. Hiei dropped to the ground beside her. "I prefer sitting in the tree." Mizuko patted the ground beside her. Hiei took the indication and sat down. "I'd rather stay close to the ground, thank you very much." Hiei glanced over to the golden-eyed girl. "You're afraid of heights?" Mizuko stuck out her tongue at him. "No!" The fire demon raised an inquiring eyebrow but dismissed her reaction. Instead, he shifted his ruby eyes to the rock.
"I can levitate it when I try to imagine. But every time I open my eyes to see how I'm progressing, it just drops." Mizuko sighed, "It's so much harder to lift compared to shurikens." Hiei wrapped his arms around the girl. Mizuko leaned in to his touch and smiled. Such subtle shows of affection were only done away from any prying eyes, when they were alone. Hiei would rather keep this gentler side of himself to the two of them. Something Mizuko would understand. "Don't worry." Mizuko nodded.
"I want to try again."
"…" Hiei released his grip. Mizuko closed her eyes again. She formed an image of the rock rising into the air and focused her mind. Hiei watched silently as Mizuko was enveloped in youki. Soon, the object in question began to float, very slowly. This time, when it got to about three feet, Mizuko opened her eyes to look. As she feared, the rock dropped and shook the ground again. Mizuko flopped down to the ground.
"Again…"
"Don't think too much."
"Huh?"
Hiei was looking straight at her. "When you lift it, don't think of how it might drop. Never doubt your own strength."
"Mizuko-chan!"
"Kuwabara, what is it?"
"You're, uh, not trying again are ya?" Mizuko blinked, clueless. "You see, when you drop this thing," Kuwabara waved his hand at the rock. "The ground kinda shakes and it kinda knock things down."
"Oh, I didn't realise! Gomen nasai." Kuwabara noticed Hiei and asked, "What're you doing here?"
"None of your business." Kuwabara glared daggers at the Jaganshi. "What did you say, shrimp!" Mizuko sensed trouble and quickly stepped in. "Hiei was helping me out in my training. Say, where's Kurama-niisan?" Kuwabara straightened up. "I have no idea. Hadn't seen him at all today."
"Sou ka? Well, let's get back inside." Kuwabara nodded and the three of them moved back to the temple.
Tai's hideout, Makai.
The dark chamber was only lit with candles. But the light did not reach the end of the room, where the man that Kou wanted to see was seated. That man said nothing as Kou marched in. "He who was given a task to complete, came back empty-handed."
"Tell me, did you fail this time? Or have you chosen not to carry out this mission?" Kou did not kneel this time. His face bore utmost seriousness. He could not see Tai's face, but he could feel his gaze.
"If I bring her back, if I bring Sairen Mizuko to you, will you hold your side of the bargain?"
"…"
"Kotaero!"
"This is your last mission. That is all I need to tell you."
Kou snarled. For a while he glared into the darkness. Then, he turned around and left the chamber gritting his teeth.
'If that is how it has to turn out, then so be it!'
Uh? Mizuko's pen stopped in mid-sentence. She lifted her head from the book she was peering over. 'Nani ka…kono kimochi?' She closed her book and walked to the window. 'I thought I felt something just now.' She shook her head. 'Must be my imagination.' Mizuko stretched, just realising that the day was almost over.
Just then, there was a knock on her door. "Yuki-chan?" Said koorime entered the room. "How did you know it was me?"
"I can hear your thoughts. You wanted to tell me that dinner is ready, right?" Yukina nodded. "Alright. I'll be there in a minute."
At the dinner table
When Mizuko enter the dining room, everyone was seated at the dining table. Well, everyone except Kurama anyway. Hiei usually doesn't join them for meals other than the occasional lunches. 'I wonder if he even actually eats.' Mizuko made a mental note to ask. Yuusuke looked around the table, "A re? Isn't Kurama here yet?" Yukina shook her head. "I can't find him."
"Come to think of it, I haven't seen him the whole day."
Mizuko had a strange feeling; somehow, she felt that Kurama had entered the temple grounds. "Kurama-niisan is back. At least I think so." Yuusuke and the others turned to look at her. "But he isn't in the compound." Yukina told her. Then, the shoji slid open and indeed, Kurama stepped through.
"I'm sorry I'm late." Kurama said as he sat down. Yuusuke and the others just stared oddly at him. Kurama sweatdropped. "Ano, is there something on my face?"
"I-Iie." Yuusuke crossed his arms, puzzled. Kuwabara was impressed. "Wow! How did you know he was back, Mizuko-chan?" Kurama raised an eyebrow. "You predicted my arrival?" Mizuko shook her mauve head. "Iya, chigau. I just, felt you enter the temple grounds. More precisely, I felt a presence entering and I got the feeling it was you." Suddenly, a lot of people began talking at once. Or so it seemed to Mizuko.
Weird…
Hmm, interesting.
I can't believe she can even sense people's presence now.
Wow, that was amazing!
Could it be that she has been exercising her mind powers?
All the thoughts flooded into her mind, creating a loud buzz of noise. Mizuko's head throbbed. She grimaced and pressed her temples in hopes to relieve the headache. "Mizuko?" Is she okay?
"I-I am fine."
Yukina went to her side, a worried frown formed on her delicate face. "You look pale." Another flood of thoughts and Mizuko felt her headache worsen. She stood up hastily and backed away. "Mizuko-chan, daijoubu desu ka?" The golden-eyed girl concentrated on blocking those thoughts from invading her mind. After a while, the buzz in her ears faded and the headache gradually disappeared. Mizuko sighed, relieved. Kurama looked concerned as he asked, "What's wrong? Are you okay?" Mizuko gave him a small smile and nodded. "What happened?" asked Kuwabara.
"My telepathy was off. I can hear everything you were thinking then," the girl reseated herself. "They came flooding in all of a sudden; I couldn't stop it. Then everything just became a loud, noisy buzz. It gave me a headache." Genkai nodded. "This is probably a phase you're going through."
"A phase?"
"Because your powers are stronger now."
"Oh."
Mizuko's room, Mizuko's POV
I flopped onto my bed. I stared at the ceiling, contemplating my thoughts. Stronger? Am I? I held up my hands, "I don't feel any different. Ah, well." I decided to leave it at that and sat up. I looked up as Hiei landed on my windowsill and stepped into my room. I smiled to greet him.
"I heard what happened."
"Yeah. My power's gone haywire."
Just then, I felt it again. The sense of foreboding. It's as if something bad will happen. Hiei was ready to leave.
"Matte!"
"Can you…can you keep me company? For tonight?"
I saw the surprise in his ruby eyes, but it melted away into a warm smile. For the moment, the chilling fear inside me subsided. But it was still there.
Morning, 3rd Person's POV
The clock's hands showed that it was already nine in the morning. Yet, Mizuko was still asleep. Yukina's blood red eyes kept darting to peek at the clock. 'Could Mizuko-chan be sick?' Finally running out of patience, the koorime got up and made her way to Mizuko's room.
"HEEEEEEEHHHHHH!"
The whole household was alerted by Yukina's scream and rushed to the source of the sound. Kurama and Kuwabara were the first to arrive. The sight that greeted them caused Kuwabara's jaw to drop. "A…re?" stuttered the usually calm kitsune.
"What happened? Is there a break in?" cried Yuusuke as he and Genkai came running. Kurama shook his head. "I-Iie. That's not it but…"
Yuusuke poked his head into the room. "Hah!"
Mizuko was sleeping, no, snuggling in the arms of a particular fire demon! "Mmh…" The violet-haired girl stirred at the commotion.
"Why are you guys so noisy?" she inquired in a sleepy voice, rubbing her eyes. Hiei too was awoken but before he was even fully conscious, Kuwabara had leapt the distance between them and grabbed the Jaganshi by the collar. He then proceeded to shake Hiei roughly.
"You perverted little shrimp! What did you to Mizuko-chan? Hey! Wake up!"
"Ah! Kuwabara! What are you doing?" Mizuko jumped up and tried to release his grip. Hiei, who was rudely awakened by now, whipped out his katana. Kurama and Yuusuke quickly rushed in to break up the scuffle. A moment later, both Kuwabara and Hiei were separated and told firmly by Genkai to settle down.
"Now, Mizuko, if you would mind explaining."
"I was the one who asked Hiei to accompany me last night."
"But, Mizuko-chan! The shrimp was in you-" Kuwabara's words were cut off by Genkai's fist meeting the top of his head. "Let her finish!"
"Ano…e to…" Mizuko fidgeted, struggling to find the words to explain her situation. "We…Hiei and I…um…"
Kurama cut in, "You two are in a relationship? As in, he's your boyfriend right?"
Mizuko's face flushed red, "Heh? How-How did you know!"
At once, the room exploded with noise, Yuusuke and Kuwabara being the main source. It took them a moment before they calmed down. Mizuko sighed. She won't be hearing the end of it just yet.
Translation
Sukoshi – A little
Dake – Only
Kotaero – Answer
A/N: I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I shall try to update as soon as I can. Arigatou gozaimasu.
