(Like I say below, this is the last for a long while again. I think I might take a break and work very hard on the rest of the DT, and then post. But if I do update before then, I can e-mail anyone to tell them. Just leave your e-mail address in your review. Thanks!)

"Obligation and Duty"

Chapter 34

.oO{See my half-dozen other notes of non/ownership.}

#Ferio drops by# Wow! Another one written in a day. #he means my last chapter#

#Author nods sadly# Yup, but it's going to get slow again. I might have to buy the next videos like I did the last time, or else do.... things. #^_~#

*****

The first thing Yusuke did when they got out of the stadium was yell, "WOOHOOO!!!" at the top of his lungs. Rei--still in kinena form-- and Botan just laughed at him and Kuwabara, who had joined in the yelling. Kurama smiled at them and shook his head and Hiei seemed thoroughly annoyed. The Masked Fighter didn't seem to care about anything they did. Yusuke had forgotten his jacket and shoes in the stadium but Rei had picked them up, so she was stuck carrying them.

"Hey, Yusuke, didn't you cut your heel?" Kuwabara reminded him. Yusuke looked blank for a second and then remembered. "My shoes! And my jacket!"

Rei stepped forward and handed them to him. He looked at her for a few seconds before taking his stuff. Botan had an evil twinkle in her eye, and ushered the rest of the team along. Yusuke leaned against a tree and looked Rei over. He slipped his shoe on his left foot and asked, "Rei?"

"Yup," she answered, giving him a smile. She walked over to him, bent down and lifted his right foot to clean off the blood with the handkercheif she had put around her leg. Yusuke tweaked her ears as she did so, though. When she stood back up, he pulled his shoe on and noticed her tail peeking through the slits in her dress. He grabbed her ass, but his excuse was, "I was trying to grab your tail!"

She shook her head and gave him an unbelieving smile. "Sure, Urameshi. Sure."

He smiled back at her and threw his jacket over his shoulder, holding it with his left hand. "So, why do you have ears and a tail?" he asked, sliding his right hand around her waist.

"I have kinena blood in me," she said, but decided to explain more, due to Yusuke's confused look. "Oh, that's right, you weren't here. Kinenas are Chiba's species. I don't know all the details, but this is my 'demon form'. Since I'm 15, I can turn into this."

Yusuke's mouth made a little 'o'. "It's hard to explain," Rei finished. Yusuke nodded, "I think I get it."

They walked in silence for a minute before Yusuke asked, "I'm sorry I missed your birthday and Christmas party."

Rei hopped in front of him and gave him a hug, "I don't mind. If you hadn't have been training, you would be dead by now. Chu was a really strong fighter."

Yusuke hugged her back and answered, "Yeah, he was. But from here on out, they just keep getting stronger."

Rei loosened her hug and got off her tippy-toes. She looked straight up into his eyes and said, "Just don't die on me, okay?"

Yusuke smirked, "I promise."

They walked back to the hotel and made it back to their room with only a few problems. Such as, Yusuke just about tripping over the carpet because he was looking around and a few demons that weren't happy with the outcome of the last fight. Rei quickly walked into the room and Yusuke happilly closed the door.

"Man, those demons are crazy," he sighed, walking over to the couch and plopping down next to Kuwabara. Kurama and the Masked Fighter were on the other couch and Hiei was sitting on the window seat. Yusuke grabbed Rei's hand as she walked by and pulled her onto his lap. She listened to the guys talk for a few seconds before Botan appeared at the door.

"Are you guys hungry?" she asked. They all answered yes, so she managed to get Kuwabara to help her get the food. The Masked Fighter left to take a run and Hiei seemed to zone out a bit. Rei looked around the room and only half listened to the guys talk. Only when Yusuke's hand slipped under her dress--via the slits on the sides-- and grabbed her tail did she notice it had been twitching nervously. Yusuke looked at her imploringly to stop because it was making him 'uncomfortable.' {^_~}

Kurama chuckled to himself and Yusuke looked over to the other couch. "She does this to you, too?" he asked with a tired expression.

Kurama shook his head, "I can't say my kitsune side hasn't fantasized about it, but no, this is the first time I've seen her for more than 5 minutes as a kinena, so I can't say she has."

Rei's mouth was slightly open as she shook her head. Yusuke pulled her tail out the slit so they could see it better and she slightly turned her head, just in time to see Hiei look away from her with a small smile on his lips. Kurama asked her a few questions about the whole kinena incident-- meaning, the day Botan came home with all the 'good' news-- and Rei answered them. Yusuke started teasing her about how Chiba had 'chosen' her and she turned to the small kinena that was on the coffee table.

"Sic him, boy," she said, pointing to Yusuke. Yusuke only held her closer to his chest and winked, "If he comes after me, I'm using you as a shield."

"I feel so honored," Rei rolled her eyes. Yusuke stuck out his tongue and turned back to Kurama. "Wait a sec, if kitsunes are foxes, then you and Rei-nei can't have kids."

Kurama looked up, "Why not? And where did you get Rei-nei?"

"Because, she's not fox. She's Scat."

Hiei looked over from the window seat and raised his eyebrow, "Scat?"

"Squirrel and Cat. Scat," Yusuke smiled as if he was a genius. "Annnndddd, to answer the 'nei' thing. I have no clue. It just came out."

Rei giggled, "Well, either way, I wouldn't have any kids right now."

Yusuke squeezed her waist and asked, "Learned your lesson last time?"

Rei looked into his eyes and noticed he wasn't sad, mad nor happy. He was just asking a question, almost as if it had never happened to them.

"And this question is coming from the one that--" Rei started but was cut off by Yusuke's hand on her mouth. Kuwabara had come back, but he was only there for a second. He had forgotten his wallet. He looked at the three in the living room with a raised eyebrow, but left without any questions.

"So," Kurama began with a smile, "What were you saying, Rei-nei?"

Yusuke glared at him and Rei laughed at the red-head. Since they were on the subject of kids, Kurama told Yusuke about Sachi and the babysitting job from hell.

"So that's who that little kid was," Yusuke said, remembering when Rei had run into him and Kuwabara at the grocery.

Kurama nodded, "Yeah. She wasn't THAT bad, but when you add a VERY moody Rei and an annoyed Hiei, it becomes a lot worse."

Rei and Hiei defended themselves at the same time, "I was not!"

Yusuke and Kurama laughed at the two short ones, and Rei pouted. "That's not fair. I don't think I'm meant for kids."

"Me neither," Hiei agreed, looking out the window.

"Nu-uh! You're actually pretty good with kids. I think you'd make a great dad," Rei said. Hiei looked over at her and the other two guys gave her odd looks. "Just as long as I'm not the mom!" she quickly added, holding up her hands in defense.

"That sounds better," Yusuke nodded.

Just then the door opened and Kuwabara came in again with his arms full. "What sounds better?" he asked, setting the food on the coffee table, making Chiba jump onto Rei's lap.

"Food," Yusuke answered. Rei smacked him upside the head, but that went unnoticed by Kuwabara. Botan came in with more food and the Masked Fighter closed the door after her. They all ate the fried rice and talked until the guys were too tired to stay awake.

Which was around 8 o'clock.

After all, they had all fought a match today. Yusuke got his shower and walked back to the couch as Kuwabara went in to get his. He sat and listened to Kurama, Botan and Rei talk until his eyes started getting too heavy. Everyone had a shower by 10 o'clock and Botan had gone back to the room she was sharing with Keiko and Shizuru. Yusuke had fallen asleep on the couch, so Rei grabbed the blankets and pillow off his bed to make him comfortable.

When she draped the blankets over him she heard him ask, "Care to join me?"

She bent down and looked at him. He opened his eyes and lifted the blankets a little. Rei shook her head and chuckled to herself, climbing onto the couch with him. She fell asleep against Yusuke's warm chest, mentally thanking whoever had made the couches for building them to fit two.

***

When Rei woke up the next morning, she was the only one on the couch and she wasn't in kinena form. The blankets were draped over the back of the couch, making a tent, so she rolled over easily without getting wrapped up. Kurama was watching her from where he was sitting on the other couch sipping his coffee.

"Good morning," she said, blinking. Kurama set down his cup and said, "Good afternoon is more like it."

"What time is it?" Rei asked.

Kurama looked at his watch, "Almost 11 o'clock."

Rei sat up, "It's still morning."

"You've practically slept half the day away, though," Kurama picked his cup back up. Rei stuck out her tongue at him and Kuwabara came out of the bedroom. Rei stretched and got off the couch, pulling the blankets behind her. She made Yusuke's bed and found an outfit in her suitcase to wear. Since Kurama and Kuwabara were going to leave anyways, Rei thought she had better get dressed so she could take a walk or something. She dressed in a tank top and floppy pants-- almost like pajamas. When she came back out, Kurama was getting ready to leave.

"Where are you going?" she asked.

"To watch some fights," he answered and threw a cereal bar at her. She caught it and thanked him. Grabbing her sneakers, she slipped them on and munched on the breakfast bar as she locked up the room. She walked out of the hotel and looked around at the trees. Hiei was bound to be somewhere around here. Rei walked along the beach and watched the tide roll in. She felt Hiei somewhere by the beach, but she was stopped when she heard someone call her name.

"Hey, Rei! Where ya goin'?" Saori was running in the sand up to her.

"Hi, Saori. I was just taking a walk," Rei smiled up at the taller girl.

"Do you mind if I walk with you?" Saori asked. Rei shook her head, "Be my guest."

They walked a little ways up down the shore in silence until Rei saw some demons getting drunk and messing around with other demon girls right in the middle of the clearing of trees.

"Meh, it's a good thing I don't have any parents. If I did, they'd freak if they knew where I was," Rei sighed. Saori looked away and asked,"You didn't have any parents?"

Rei sunk her sneaker toe into the sand, "Well, I did. But they're dead."

Saori looked a little startled, but nodded. Rei wanted to ask about Saori's family, but decided not to because of the painful look in Saori's eyes. They walked a little ways more in silence until Saori said, "Hey look! There's Kireau!"

The two girls ran up to where Kireau was on the grass picking flowers. She looked up at them and smiled, "Hi guys. Whatcha doin'?"

"We were just walking. What are YOU doing," Saori winked. Kireau smiled down at the little bouquet she was making, "I needed some more for my newest weapon."

Rei raised her eyebrow and Kireau explained, "I'm a fire kitsune. I use plants for my weapons."

"Oh, like Kurama," Rei said. Kireau looked down and blushed a little, "Yeah, like Kurama."

"Just watch out. When she gets excited, she tends to catch things on fire," Saori mumbled to Rei. Rei tried not to laugh when Kireau stuck out her tongue at her shorter companion. Kanu hopped out of a tree above the three. "There's nothing wrong with fire," she said.

"Except when you catch people's homework on fire," Saori said quite seriously. Kanu glared, "That was an accident. I was trying out a new technique."

"Woah, so both of you use fire?" Rei asked, pointing to Kanu and Kireau. They nodded in unison and Rei turned to Saori, "And you're shadow demon, right?"

"You remembered!" Saori bubbled. Rei blushed and scratched the back of her head, "Don't get too excited. I don't remember things often."

The three other girls laughed. "That's alright," Kanu said, sitting down on the grassy ground. "Yeah," Saori added, "I forget things ALL the time."

Rei sat down and they talked for a few minutes before Ces came up.

"Hello, girls," she said as she sat down, completing their little circle.

"Hi, Ces," Kanu and Rei said. Kireau and Saori were busy discussing something, so they only waved. "What's up?" Rei asked.

"Nothing really. I was bored, so I took a walk."

"Ditto," was the reply from the others. Kireau and Saori went back to their discussion and Kanu laid back on the ground and zoned out. Rei scooted over on the ground so she could talk to Ces.

"So," she started, "What type of yukai are you?"

Ces took a breath and seemed to think backwards in time. "I'm not a full yukai. My great-great-grandma was a miko; a shrine priestess or whatever you want to call them. She ended up falling in love with a Wind demon and so here I am; a miko Wind demon."

"So that explains your awesome ESP," Rei guessed. Ces nodded, "Yup. My great-great-grandma was really good with that stuff. For some reason though, I'm the only one since her to have any powers."

"Really?" Rei was intrigued. "You mean your parents don't have any powers?"

"From what I remember, no. For all I know, they could be dead," Ces sighed.

Rei nodded and sighed also. Then she remembered Saori's look from earlier. "How long have you known Saori?" she asked.

"Longer than I've known Kanu and Kireau. About... two years, I think. I met Kanu and Kireau this summer when we moved from the Makai."

"You and Saori have been living together?"

"She's like the little sister I never had," Ces said, detering any perverted demons that were listening to think she and Saori were gay. "When I met her in the Makai, she was a fugitive for Kami knows what. I helped her out and she's stuck with me ever since."

Rei thought for a moment and then leaned closer, whispering, "What happened to Saori's parents?"

Ces sighed and looked over at her taller-- but younger-- friend, "Saori doesn't like to talk about it."

Rei left it at that and leaned back. Just then, Ishida appeared and pulled her backwards, making her lose her balance and fall on her back. She sat back up and slapped Ishida on the arm as he sat down, "Hey, loser, why'd you do that?"

He gave her a look and answered, "I felt like it."

Rei and Ishida had a glaring contest before Ces asked him, "What are you doing here?"

"I was looking for you five. Aren't you guys going to watch some matches today?"

The girls shook their heads. "No, probably not," Kanu answered from where she was laying.

"Ah, I see," Ishida said and noticed Rei's clothes. "That's a... different outfit. Did you roll out the window while you were sleeping?"

Rei glared at him again and answered, "No. I was fully awake too when I put it on. Have you looked at yourself lately?"

Ishida looked down at his clothes. A thermal shirt under a short-sleeved red one and wrinkled black pants. His hair was disheveled; Rei guessed he hadn't even brushed it today. He looked back up at her and gave her a 'shush' look.

"You two are interesting to watch," Saori spoke up. The other girls had been watching Ishida and Rei 'fight' and they looked like they were about ready to burst out giggling. Rei pursed her lips and rolled her eyes and Ishida quickly stood up, "Well, I just wanted to see what you all were doing. I'll be going now."

"I'm going, too," Rei said. Ces gave her a questioning look and she said, "I had originally been looking for my 'team'. I'll see you guys later."

They said goodbye and Rei walked back towards the beach. She could tell she was getting closer to wherever Hiei was because of his spirit energy. She was zoning out as she walked through the tide. The water started getting into her sneakers, so she took them off and walked in her barefeet.

She stopped when she saw Hiei standing on a rock, trying to lift his arm. It was his right arm; charred and bruised. He almost cried out in pain, but he wouldn't. He never would. He was too strong for that. And yet, he wasn't strong enough to lift his arm. How ironic.

"Feh," he sighed and sat down to take a break. He looked at his useless hand and felt like cutting it off and throwing it into the sea. But that wouldn't fix his problem; that would probably only make it worse. Hiei took another breath and started to stand up to practice again. He noticed Rei standing in the water, watching him. Warmth flooded to his cheeks and he decided not to get up. He didn't want anyone to see him this helpless; especially not Rei.

He looked at Rei again out of the corner of his eye. The wind was blowing her hair around and tugging at her pantlegs. Her eyes were staring at the horizon with an unfocused look and Hiei found that his face wasn't the only place warmth was rushing to. {^_~} If it hadn't been for Rei, he'd be... A bolt of pain shot through his right arm and he clenched his teeth as he tried not to touch it.

"Dammit, Rei, go away. Please..." Hiei whispered pleadingly. The wind seemed to have carried his soft words to Rei's ears, because she looked up at the rock he was on and turned back towards the hotel. Hiei watched her as she walked back through the trees and he stood up, grasping his sword in his left hand to start practicing again.