"Obligation and Duty"
Chapter 27
.oO{Like I said last time, I own my peeps and everyone else isn't mine. Including Saori; she's may strom's.}
#Yugi falls# You coulda made it a litte clearer #-_-()#
#Author looks like she's half-there# I have Writer's Block again. We're getting into the Dark Tournament and I don't remember much of it. SOMEONE HELP ME!!! #Author slams head on keyboard# And gosh, I need new material. The only thing that happens is Rei getting emotional and crying her eyes out over some stupid little thing. #Author is annoyed with her characters#
*****
Rei and the boys got home before dark and Rei was starting to get that 'followed/watched' feeling again. Kurama was still pondering over events from earlier that day, so Hiei seemed to be the only one that still had a sane mind.
"Didja guys have fun?" Yusuke winked at the two when they opened the door.
"What're you doing here?" Rei asked as she hung her coat on the peg.
Yusuke put his hands behind his head, "I was bored. And Mom is drunk. So hey, what the heck? I decided to hang out here again tonight. Especially since Keiko's got me hanging out with her tomorrow."
"Keiko is making you hang out with her?" Rei asked on her way to her room. Chiba hopped off her bed and climbed up her arm to sit on her shoulder. Yusuke followed her and told her the plan.
"So... lemme get this straight. You have to go shopping with Keiko tomorrow?" Rei asked as she walked to the laundry room. Throwing her new underwear in the washing machine, Yusuke caught one before it was submersed in the soapy water. Holding the lacey, pink bra up, he asked, "Pink?"
"No, Yusuke, it's green," Rei rolled her eyes and grabbed the bra from him. He smirked and walked back into the living room. Rei shut the lid on the washer and turned the knob and then she realized Yusuke hadn't answered her question. She put her hands on her hips and Chiba jumped off as she thought for a moment.
.oO{Y'know, he made me promise him that I'd always let him love me... Why?} Rei quickly walked into the living room and asked him, "Is Keiko trying to go out with you?"
Yusuke looked up from his manga a little surprised, "I dunno. Why?"
"Just wondering..." Rei could only get out before Kurama called her into the kitchen for some help.
"Could you slice these potatoes?" he asked. Rei nodded and got out the knife. She brooded over her thoughts for a few minutes before a shocking pain shot through her finger. Being deep in thought, she hadn't paid attention to the knife and there was now a nice cut on her left index finger.
Rei put down the knife and washed the cut off. Kurama noticed something was wrong, but only when Rei's eyes filled with tears did he say something. "Thanks, I can handle it from here."
She quickly walked from the kitchen and into her room. Chiba was on the bed, but he moved before Rei squished him when she fell onto it. "Oh... why do girls have to have so many emotions?!" she growled to herself through her tears. From 6 months ago till now, she had cried more than she had before she met the Spirit Boys. What was up with that?
'It's because they have big hearts,' Rei heard Hiei say in her mind, but the next voice was Kurama's.
'They have to have big hearts for their big lives.'
'That's one way to put it,' Hiei agreed.
'Why are you guys having a conversation with each other in my head?' Rei asked them.
'It's because we want you to know it'll all work out. Don't beat yourself up over it,' Kurama soothed.
'Why are you peeking in on me anyways? What if I just wanted to be depressed?' Rei asked.
There was a slight pause and Kurama laughed, 'I think I'll leave the "peaking" to Hiei. It's just that in your... emotional state, your mind seemed to call out for some help.'
'I said I DIDN'T PEAK ON HER!' Hiei tried to argue but was drowned out by Rei's question, 'What the heck? "Call out?"'
'Yeah, hard to explain,' Kurama said.
'Do try,' Rei rolled over on her bed and stared at the ceiling as she listened to the voices.
'Well, I think it comes with the "package" of you being half-human, and half-youkai. And maybe also since you're a girl.'
'Whhhaatt?' Rei asked.
'You're a whiny bitch and you need someone to give you attention,' Hiei translated.
'Hiei, what are you doing?' Rei asked.
'Playing Nintendo.'
'Shut up and keep playing.'
Kurama went back to explaining. 'You're a very complex being.'
'You make me sound like a lab rat.'
'Sorry, but don't interrupt. You remember what I said yesterday? About how bored we were and just something about you?'
'Yeah.'
'Well, I think it's because your spirit heals. Your presence heals us and we feel complete, but both me and Hiei's healing powers aren't as good, so your body calls out for help for you.'
'So, I complete you?' Rei asked with a laugh.
'I didn't mean it like that,' Rei could bet her life that Kurama was blushing. 'But anyways, since we're so used to you, we notice the slight changes in power.'
Rei sat up, 'I'm seriously confused now.'
'I am a little, too,' Kurama laughed, 'But it's time to eat, so come on.'
Rei shut her mind off and walked into her bathroom to wipe off her eyes. She came back out and Chiba jumped onto her shoulder. They walked to the kitchen and both Kurama and Hiei acted like nothing happened.
"The soup is getting cold. Go ahead and dish yourself up," Kurama smiled.
"Actually, it is already cold," Hiei said.
"That's because you wouldn't turn off the Nintendo until you beat me," Yusuke smirked. Hiei glared at him and Yusuke stuck out his tongue. Rei watched them and blew on her spoon before she fed the soup to Chiba. The boys bantered each other for a few minutes until Yusuke got done eating.
"Alright, what are we going to do tonight?" Yusuke clapped his hands together as he stood up. They all thought for a moment and Rei said, "Why don't we go to the park?"
"Sounds good to me," Kurama looked at Yusuke and Hiei. Yusuke nodded, but Hiei just looked back down at his bowl. So they agreed on the park. Putting their bowls in the sink, they all got their jackets. Heading out the door, Kurama pulled up beside Rei.
"When was the last time we were at the park? Before you found out you were pregnant?"
Rei thought for a moment and nodded, "I think so."
The park was just as deserted as it was that day except today, there was the sound of a bell. They started down the path just as Kuwabara walked by the gates.
"Hey, Kuwabaka! Where ya going?" Yusuke called to him. Kuwabara called back, "I was going home."
"Why don't you hang out with us?"
"I guess so," Kuwabara gave in, walking towards them. They walked down the path under the trees towards the playground. Kuwabara pointed, "Why are we going here?"
"Ah, Rei wanted to go on the swings," Yusuke said. "I'll probably just sit on the bench."
Rei raised her eyebrows. .oO{How dare him,} she thought. When they were walking down her shrine steps, Yusuke had said he'd beat anyone on how high they could go on the swings. Rei only bit her lip though. She sat down on one of the swings and looked around. The trees provided a good covering for the playground. There weren't any kids on the playground so they were safe from getting laughed at. Kuwabara and Kurama both sat on swings and Hiei took his usual place above them on the bar. Rei stood up and sat back down on the swing quickly, making the set shake. Hiei looked down at her and glared, but she smirked back. Yusuke sat on the bench until Kuwabara and Rei started having an air competition.
"Hah, I'll beat you both," Yusuke said, sitting on the free swing. They all went super-high, but Rei had to stop because she started getting sick. The bell sounded closer than it had before and Hiei looked up. Kuwabara and Yusuke were still trying to get higher on the swing and Kurama seemed to be listening to the bell. Hiei jumped off the bar all of a sudden and pushed something.
He fell to the ground and Rei finally saw what it was he had pushed. It was a girl. Her hair was reddish-brown with blue streaks. She had blonde bangs on either side of her face and and her left eye was crimson, though the other was an amber color. Hiei was on top of her, holding her arms down. Kurama and Rei walked over to them as Kuwabara and Yusuke finally noticed something. The girl had strong facial features, dark eyebrows and eyelashes, and broad shoulders.
"What's this?" Yusuke asked, coming up behind Rei.
"It seems to be a demon," Kurama said.
"100 percent correct, now if you'd kindly get off me," the girl said. Rei was caught surprised at the intonations of the words. The first part was bright and cheery and then the second part was dark and mean. Hiei got off her, but he was still on his guard. She stood up; her loose shirt showing a tattoo in the middle of her chest. It was a full blue moon. Rei didn't look too long at it 'cause that was perverted, but she noticed the other guys doing that. Her hair reached her shoulders, and she looked about 5'4" when she stood up. But that was mostly because of her long legs.
"The name's Saori. Hi," she said light and bubbly. The guys looked as surprised as Rei. Finally, Kuwabara asked, "What are you?"
"Shadow demon," Saori answered nonchalantly, patting the dust off her backside. She turned her head and looked at it to make sure there was no more dust and they saw a bushy grey/blue tail.
"HOLY?! You have a tail!" Yusuke pointed. Saori looked at him cooly, "Yeah. So?" She tightened the string of the bell that was on the end.
"So that's what that was," Kurama thought aloud. Saori raised her eyebrow and said, "Don't think me rude, or anything, but you guys didn't give me your names."
"Oh, sorry," Rei snapped out of her musing. "I'm Rei, that's Shuichi, Yusuke, Kuwabara and Hiei."
The guys nodded or waved and Saori grinned hugely, "Hi! Nice meeting you, but I have to go now. So, bye!"
Saori waved and ran off, not waiting for them to answer. Rei's jaw dropped and she noticed the guys were all the same way.
"That was odd," Kurama mused.
"Very," Yusuke agreed. They walked back over to the swings and started talking.
"I wonder how old she was," Kuwabara said.
"That reminds me, how old are you, Rei?" Yusuke asked.
She seriously hoped he knew at one time how old she was and was just being forgetful. "I'm 14, going to be 15 next month."
"Thought so. Let's have a party then!" Yusuke grinned.
"Yeah, and then we could have a Christmas party the next month," Kurama agreed.
"Yeah! That would be fun."
"Where would we have them?" Rei asked, but she knew where the answer would be.
"Your house!"
***
They all walked home just after dark. Hiei was kinda out of it, so they let him go to his room. Yusuke, Rei and Kurama sat on the living room floor and played Nintendo, though. Kuwabara had gone home when the street lights came on; he'd said Shizuru would yell at him if he didn't.
"Move it!" Yusuke said, moving over as he moved his character on the screen over.
"Yusuke, you don't have to do the same thing Luigi does," Rei said. He was squishing her against Kurama so she moved her Toad and hit the button for him to fire off the red shell she had been keeping and made Luigi fly off the track.
"Hey!" Yusuke said, throwing down the controller and tugging Rei's hair. She had put it up in braids and was in her pajamas with a blanket making a nest around her.
"Ah, no you don't. We're supposed to be playing Nintendo, guys," Kurama said, trying to break Rei and Yusuke out of their wrestling.
"No more Nintendo. It's time for WWF!" Rei stood up and turned off the game as Yusuke grabbed her leg. They wrestled for a few seconds before Kurama joined in.
"Oh no! It's a tag-team match!" Kurama said, tagging Rei's hand and pushing Yusuke off her.
"No fair! That's two against one handicap!" Yusuke went at him. Hiei appeared at the doorway and moved the couch and chairs out of the way before he tagged Yusuke's hand. Kurama had Yusuke in a pin, and Hiei just about threw Kurama off if Rei hadn't thrown herself on him. They ended up making a dog-pile on top of Yusuke.
"Ohh! Get off, I can't breathe!" Yusuke laughed. They got off, but Kurama kept up the pin.
"One, two," Rei slapped the floor and only got to two before Yusuke broke the pin. Yusuke went after Rei then and Hiei stopped Kurama from getting Yusuke.
"No! I'm tagging out!" Rei squealed as Yusuke grabbed her legs. He grabbed her waist for some odd move when Rei held up her hands, "Hold it! Bra-break!"
"Oh, I really wanted to know that," Kurama shook his head. Rei fixed herself as Yusuke turned to help Hiei pin Kurama. Turning back, she grabbed Yusuke and put him in a full nelson.
"Agh! I give up, I give up!" he said, just as Hiei pinned Kurama.
"Oh no, it's a tie," Kurama sat up.
"Not if I can help it," Hiei said, moving towards Rei.
Chapter 27
.oO{Like I said last time, I own my peeps and everyone else isn't mine. Including Saori; she's may strom's.}
#Yugi falls# You coulda made it a litte clearer #-_-()#
#Author looks like she's half-there# I have Writer's Block again. We're getting into the Dark Tournament and I don't remember much of it. SOMEONE HELP ME!!! #Author slams head on keyboard# And gosh, I need new material. The only thing that happens is Rei getting emotional and crying her eyes out over some stupid little thing. #Author is annoyed with her characters#
*****
Rei and the boys got home before dark and Rei was starting to get that 'followed/watched' feeling again. Kurama was still pondering over events from earlier that day, so Hiei seemed to be the only one that still had a sane mind.
"Didja guys have fun?" Yusuke winked at the two when they opened the door.
"What're you doing here?" Rei asked as she hung her coat on the peg.
Yusuke put his hands behind his head, "I was bored. And Mom is drunk. So hey, what the heck? I decided to hang out here again tonight. Especially since Keiko's got me hanging out with her tomorrow."
"Keiko is making you hang out with her?" Rei asked on her way to her room. Chiba hopped off her bed and climbed up her arm to sit on her shoulder. Yusuke followed her and told her the plan.
"So... lemme get this straight. You have to go shopping with Keiko tomorrow?" Rei asked as she walked to the laundry room. Throwing her new underwear in the washing machine, Yusuke caught one before it was submersed in the soapy water. Holding the lacey, pink bra up, he asked, "Pink?"
"No, Yusuke, it's green," Rei rolled her eyes and grabbed the bra from him. He smirked and walked back into the living room. Rei shut the lid on the washer and turned the knob and then she realized Yusuke hadn't answered her question. She put her hands on her hips and Chiba jumped off as she thought for a moment.
.oO{Y'know, he made me promise him that I'd always let him love me... Why?} Rei quickly walked into the living room and asked him, "Is Keiko trying to go out with you?"
Yusuke looked up from his manga a little surprised, "I dunno. Why?"
"Just wondering..." Rei could only get out before Kurama called her into the kitchen for some help.
"Could you slice these potatoes?" he asked. Rei nodded and got out the knife. She brooded over her thoughts for a few minutes before a shocking pain shot through her finger. Being deep in thought, she hadn't paid attention to the knife and there was now a nice cut on her left index finger.
Rei put down the knife and washed the cut off. Kurama noticed something was wrong, but only when Rei's eyes filled with tears did he say something. "Thanks, I can handle it from here."
She quickly walked from the kitchen and into her room. Chiba was on the bed, but he moved before Rei squished him when she fell onto it. "Oh... why do girls have to have so many emotions?!" she growled to herself through her tears. From 6 months ago till now, she had cried more than she had before she met the Spirit Boys. What was up with that?
'It's because they have big hearts,' Rei heard Hiei say in her mind, but the next voice was Kurama's.
'They have to have big hearts for their big lives.'
'That's one way to put it,' Hiei agreed.
'Why are you guys having a conversation with each other in my head?' Rei asked them.
'It's because we want you to know it'll all work out. Don't beat yourself up over it,' Kurama soothed.
'Why are you peeking in on me anyways? What if I just wanted to be depressed?' Rei asked.
There was a slight pause and Kurama laughed, 'I think I'll leave the "peaking" to Hiei. It's just that in your... emotional state, your mind seemed to call out for some help.'
'I said I DIDN'T PEAK ON HER!' Hiei tried to argue but was drowned out by Rei's question, 'What the heck? "Call out?"'
'Yeah, hard to explain,' Kurama said.
'Do try,' Rei rolled over on her bed and stared at the ceiling as she listened to the voices.
'Well, I think it comes with the "package" of you being half-human, and half-youkai. And maybe also since you're a girl.'
'Whhhaatt?' Rei asked.
'You're a whiny bitch and you need someone to give you attention,' Hiei translated.
'Hiei, what are you doing?' Rei asked.
'Playing Nintendo.'
'Shut up and keep playing.'
Kurama went back to explaining. 'You're a very complex being.'
'You make me sound like a lab rat.'
'Sorry, but don't interrupt. You remember what I said yesterday? About how bored we were and just something about you?'
'Yeah.'
'Well, I think it's because your spirit heals. Your presence heals us and we feel complete, but both me and Hiei's healing powers aren't as good, so your body calls out for help for you.'
'So, I complete you?' Rei asked with a laugh.
'I didn't mean it like that,' Rei could bet her life that Kurama was blushing. 'But anyways, since we're so used to you, we notice the slight changes in power.'
Rei sat up, 'I'm seriously confused now.'
'I am a little, too,' Kurama laughed, 'But it's time to eat, so come on.'
Rei shut her mind off and walked into her bathroom to wipe off her eyes. She came back out and Chiba jumped onto her shoulder. They walked to the kitchen and both Kurama and Hiei acted like nothing happened.
"The soup is getting cold. Go ahead and dish yourself up," Kurama smiled.
"Actually, it is already cold," Hiei said.
"That's because you wouldn't turn off the Nintendo until you beat me," Yusuke smirked. Hiei glared at him and Yusuke stuck out his tongue. Rei watched them and blew on her spoon before she fed the soup to Chiba. The boys bantered each other for a few minutes until Yusuke got done eating.
"Alright, what are we going to do tonight?" Yusuke clapped his hands together as he stood up. They all thought for a moment and Rei said, "Why don't we go to the park?"
"Sounds good to me," Kurama looked at Yusuke and Hiei. Yusuke nodded, but Hiei just looked back down at his bowl. So they agreed on the park. Putting their bowls in the sink, they all got their jackets. Heading out the door, Kurama pulled up beside Rei.
"When was the last time we were at the park? Before you found out you were pregnant?"
Rei thought for a moment and nodded, "I think so."
The park was just as deserted as it was that day except today, there was the sound of a bell. They started down the path just as Kuwabara walked by the gates.
"Hey, Kuwabaka! Where ya going?" Yusuke called to him. Kuwabara called back, "I was going home."
"Why don't you hang out with us?"
"I guess so," Kuwabara gave in, walking towards them. They walked down the path under the trees towards the playground. Kuwabara pointed, "Why are we going here?"
"Ah, Rei wanted to go on the swings," Yusuke said. "I'll probably just sit on the bench."
Rei raised her eyebrows. .oO{How dare him,} she thought. When they were walking down her shrine steps, Yusuke had said he'd beat anyone on how high they could go on the swings. Rei only bit her lip though. She sat down on one of the swings and looked around. The trees provided a good covering for the playground. There weren't any kids on the playground so they were safe from getting laughed at. Kuwabara and Kurama both sat on swings and Hiei took his usual place above them on the bar. Rei stood up and sat back down on the swing quickly, making the set shake. Hiei looked down at her and glared, but she smirked back. Yusuke sat on the bench until Kuwabara and Rei started having an air competition.
"Hah, I'll beat you both," Yusuke said, sitting on the free swing. They all went super-high, but Rei had to stop because she started getting sick. The bell sounded closer than it had before and Hiei looked up. Kuwabara and Yusuke were still trying to get higher on the swing and Kurama seemed to be listening to the bell. Hiei jumped off the bar all of a sudden and pushed something.
He fell to the ground and Rei finally saw what it was he had pushed. It was a girl. Her hair was reddish-brown with blue streaks. She had blonde bangs on either side of her face and and her left eye was crimson, though the other was an amber color. Hiei was on top of her, holding her arms down. Kurama and Rei walked over to them as Kuwabara and Yusuke finally noticed something. The girl had strong facial features, dark eyebrows and eyelashes, and broad shoulders.
"What's this?" Yusuke asked, coming up behind Rei.
"It seems to be a demon," Kurama said.
"100 percent correct, now if you'd kindly get off me," the girl said. Rei was caught surprised at the intonations of the words. The first part was bright and cheery and then the second part was dark and mean. Hiei got off her, but he was still on his guard. She stood up; her loose shirt showing a tattoo in the middle of her chest. It was a full blue moon. Rei didn't look too long at it 'cause that was perverted, but she noticed the other guys doing that. Her hair reached her shoulders, and she looked about 5'4" when she stood up. But that was mostly because of her long legs.
"The name's Saori. Hi," she said light and bubbly. The guys looked as surprised as Rei. Finally, Kuwabara asked, "What are you?"
"Shadow demon," Saori answered nonchalantly, patting the dust off her backside. She turned her head and looked at it to make sure there was no more dust and they saw a bushy grey/blue tail.
"HOLY?! You have a tail!" Yusuke pointed. Saori looked at him cooly, "Yeah. So?" She tightened the string of the bell that was on the end.
"So that's what that was," Kurama thought aloud. Saori raised her eyebrow and said, "Don't think me rude, or anything, but you guys didn't give me your names."
"Oh, sorry," Rei snapped out of her musing. "I'm Rei, that's Shuichi, Yusuke, Kuwabara and Hiei."
The guys nodded or waved and Saori grinned hugely, "Hi! Nice meeting you, but I have to go now. So, bye!"
Saori waved and ran off, not waiting for them to answer. Rei's jaw dropped and she noticed the guys were all the same way.
"That was odd," Kurama mused.
"Very," Yusuke agreed. They walked back over to the swings and started talking.
"I wonder how old she was," Kuwabara said.
"That reminds me, how old are you, Rei?" Yusuke asked.
She seriously hoped he knew at one time how old she was and was just being forgetful. "I'm 14, going to be 15 next month."
"Thought so. Let's have a party then!" Yusuke grinned.
"Yeah, and then we could have a Christmas party the next month," Kurama agreed.
"Yeah! That would be fun."
"Where would we have them?" Rei asked, but she knew where the answer would be.
"Your house!"
***
They all walked home just after dark. Hiei was kinda out of it, so they let him go to his room. Yusuke, Rei and Kurama sat on the living room floor and played Nintendo, though. Kuwabara had gone home when the street lights came on; he'd said Shizuru would yell at him if he didn't.
"Move it!" Yusuke said, moving over as he moved his character on the screen over.
"Yusuke, you don't have to do the same thing Luigi does," Rei said. He was squishing her against Kurama so she moved her Toad and hit the button for him to fire off the red shell she had been keeping and made Luigi fly off the track.
"Hey!" Yusuke said, throwing down the controller and tugging Rei's hair. She had put it up in braids and was in her pajamas with a blanket making a nest around her.
"Ah, no you don't. We're supposed to be playing Nintendo, guys," Kurama said, trying to break Rei and Yusuke out of their wrestling.
"No more Nintendo. It's time for WWF!" Rei stood up and turned off the game as Yusuke grabbed her leg. They wrestled for a few seconds before Kurama joined in.
"Oh no! It's a tag-team match!" Kurama said, tagging Rei's hand and pushing Yusuke off her.
"No fair! That's two against one handicap!" Yusuke went at him. Hiei appeared at the doorway and moved the couch and chairs out of the way before he tagged Yusuke's hand. Kurama had Yusuke in a pin, and Hiei just about threw Kurama off if Rei hadn't thrown herself on him. They ended up making a dog-pile on top of Yusuke.
"Ohh! Get off, I can't breathe!" Yusuke laughed. They got off, but Kurama kept up the pin.
"One, two," Rei slapped the floor and only got to two before Yusuke broke the pin. Yusuke went after Rei then and Hiei stopped Kurama from getting Yusuke.
"No! I'm tagging out!" Rei squealed as Yusuke grabbed her legs. He grabbed her waist for some odd move when Rei held up her hands, "Hold it! Bra-break!"
"Oh, I really wanted to know that," Kurama shook his head. Rei fixed herself as Yusuke turned to help Hiei pin Kurama. Turning back, she grabbed Yusuke and put him in a full nelson.
"Agh! I give up, I give up!" he said, just as Hiei pinned Kurama.
"Oh no, it's a tie," Kurama sat up.
"Not if I can help it," Hiei said, moving towards Rei.
