"Obligation and Duty"

Chapter 1.46.2

The Dark Tournament is over, but the Adventures for Rei & Co. are FAR from over.

.oO{Chapter 1 of Part 2. Chapter 46 of OaD in it's entirety. I own a lot of what happens in this segment. Yoshihiro Togashi still owns YuYuHakusho}

#Author hits CDplayer:# Darn thing. Anyways, this is the second installment of OaD. It's out of character sometimes, out of the usual storyline and just plain crazy most of the time. It might scare some of you; especially those of you who have a weak heart when it comes to Kurama. #okay, I'm just joking. But most of this is pretty corny.#
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The ship brought the Gang to Tokyo without problems. Everyone headed off to their homes, leaving Rei with Hiei and Kurama; but Kurama went to visit his mother after a few hours of having to clean Rei's house.

"It has to be cleaned! We haven't been here almost all month; who KNOWS what kind of animals have made their home here," Rei said, standing on a ladder and dusting madly away in her short, cotton skirt and peasant blouse.

Kurama stood there for a second and tried to take his eyes off her legs before he gave her an apologetic look, "I know, but I have to visit my mom."

Rei finished dusting and shrugged as she moved towards a bucket of water, "Okay then, say Hi to her for me."

Kurama said he would and hurried to get out of the house, leaving Hiei glaring behind. "He coulda taken me with him," Hiei mumbled as he walked to the kitchen. Rei looked up from where she was down on her knees washing the floor.

"Huh?" she asked. Hiei shook his head and Rei asked," Have you finished the living room?"

Hiei tensed; no, he hadn't finished cleaning the living room. He covered it with an, "I'm hungry," though.

"Mmm... I kinda am too." Rei got off her knees and started towards the refrigerator but her foot caught on the leg of the table. Hiei saw her trip and managed to get his arm around her waist and turn her before she fell face first, but it didn't stop them from hitting the floor. Their lips met on impact and Hiei found his hips nestled between her thighs.

Red tinged his cheeks as he quickly moved away from her. Rei 'eeped!' and pulled the flowing skirt over her thighs, but not before Hiei caught a glimpse of her sky blue undies. Rei crawled a little and got on her knees as she opened the fridge door. .oO{I coulda sworn the table moved,} she thought before she saw what was in the refrigerator.

Absolutely nothing.

"Ughck," she groaned. "I forgot we finished everything up before we left for the Tournament."

Hiei didn't answer, so she looked over her shoulder. He was standing there, looking at the table as if waiting for it to jump around. He blinked a few times and turned his head towards her, "Hn? Oh, o-okay."

Hiei quickly exited the room. .oO{Damn. That was weird. But then again...} Hiei's mind went to the 'fall'. He tried not to smile as he thought of how Rei felt against him. Sitting himself indian-style on the couch, he replayed the last few minutes over and over in his mind, speeding up things and slowing others down. Rei only fell on her butt; that was why Hiei fell against her. His left arm had still been around her waist, so his right went under her left arm onto the floor to steady him.

Hiei crossed his arms over his chest and winced; the middle of his back felt sore. Then he remembered pressure on his back as Rei hit the ground. Once more, he played that part in his mind; slowing it down. Yes, there had been a pressure on his back, pushing him towards Rei. But as he passed that part, he saw from the corner of his eye something white and foggy.

"Hey Hiei, could you c'mere?" Rei called from the kitchen before he could investigate. He got off the couch and went into the kitchen. Rei was standing on a chair, searching the cupboards. Hiei averted his eyes as Rei stood on her tip-toes to reach the very back of the cupboard.

"Well, there's nothing to eat. We could go to the store and buy something but--" Rei turned on the chair and lost her footing. Again, Hiei saw her fall and did the only thing he could think of. When he opened his eyes, Rei was on top of him-- and her shirt hanging open right in front of him.

Hiei felt something trickle from his nose and wiped it away with his hand, only to see it was blood.

"Oh, oh no. I'm sorry," Rei said, getting off him. "We hit the ground pretty hard." Rei got a washrag and wet it with cold water. He had a hard time believing that was the reason he had a bloody nose, though. He sat up as Rei wiped the blood off his hand and face with the rag then held it to his face, "Here. Tilt your head back."

Hiei lifted his left hand and covered Rei's as it held the rag to his face. He saw that same foggy-whiteness move out the door and said to Rei, "I'm alright now; thanks."

He stood up, almost knocking Rei over and used the rag to make sure his nose wasn't bleeding anymore; then he ran the direction the fog had. He couldn't see it anymore and checked around the house a few times before heading back inside.
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After a dozen near-falls--all of them causing embarrassing after-affects to Hiei-- Kurama finally came home. He was carrying a box and set it on the table.

"An offering from my mother," he grinned. Rei opened the box and saw enough food to last them the night and most of tomorrow.

"Ah! We're saved!" Rei mock-cried. She and Kurama started putting away the food as Hiei skulked into the kitchen. "What's wrong?" Kurama asked him. Hiei gave him a tired look and walked out the kitchen door. Kurama turned his questioning gaze towards Rei, who just shrugged.
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Rei had finished cleaning that night and sat around the next day until Kurama suggested she go with him to visit his mother. Since Hiei wasn't home, Rei agreed. "We might as well go shopping while we're out," she said as she got her purse. Kurama didn't protest and they walked out the door to Shiori Minamino's house. Arriving there, Kurama knocked on the door. The 40 year-old woman opened the door and smiled, "Shuichi! I have great news! I'm going to be married this fall!"

If Kurama was surprised he certainly didn't show it. "Really? That's great, Mother!"

Rei felt a little out of place but Shiori ushered them inside before Rei could go anywhere. Shiori started making them some tea as Kurama introduced her, "Oh, Mother, this is Rei Amerasu." Rei bowed and Shiori likewise. "Nice to meet you, Rei. I thought we had met before, though."

"Not properly," Rei smiled. Shiori smiled back as she handed them their tea, "Oh, that's right. I was still in the hospital. Well, Shuichi, why didn't you bring your girlfriend around after that?"

Kurama choked on the tea and coughed, but Rei beat him to answering, "I'm not really his girlfriend. Just a good friend."

"Oh," Shiori's look was a mix between embarrassment and relief. From the corner of her eye Rei could see Kurama giving her a look, but she covered it by sipping some tea. The three of them talked for more than an hour before Kurama told his mother they should go. Shiori saw them to the door and they said goodbye as they walked down the sidewalk. Kurama was quiet as they walked until they reached the grocery store.

"Hiei," Kurama said. Rei looked up at him and wondered if he was losing his mind until Hiei emerged from the shadows. "What?" he asked, somewhat annoyed.

"Help Rei shop. I'm going back to my mom's," Kurama said and walked away before Hiei could sputter out a 'Hn!?'. Rei watched Kurama walk away before turning to Hiei, "Sorry."

He breathed out and shrugged, "Whatever. Where do you have to go?"

Rei pointed to the store, "There, and I was hoping to go to a records store. I need new music."

Hiei shrugged again and Rei led the way. They bought enough groceries for the rest of the week and stopped in the nearest music store. Rei had to leave Hiei outside with the groceries because the cashier gave them a dirty look; so Rei had to make her choice quickly. She went over to the bargain bin, but found nothing she'd like. Then she went to the newest selection and picked up a tape. It was Highlights: The Very Best of YES. She turned it over and read the listings: 'Going for the One', 'Owner of a Lonely Heart', 'Leave It', 'Rhythm of Love'.

She quickly walked to the register and bought it. Rei hoped the $12 were wisely spent. She walked outside and found Hiei leaning against the building with the bags at his feet. He stopped daydreaming and straightened up, "Done?"

"Yeah," she smiled. "You have anywhere you need to go?"

They started walking again with their arms full of groceries. "Uh, is there a bookstore around?" Hiei asked. Rei was surprised that Hiei was interested in books, but decided not to say anything about it because of Hiei's look. "Yeah, there's a bookstore. Near the park."

"Good," Hiei said, "I'll leave you with the groceries this time."

They arrived at the bookstore and Hiei made Rei sit at a picnic table with the groceries while he went to look. After a few minutes, someone sat down next to Rei. Slowly, she turned to see who it was and gasped.

"CES!"

"Totally forgot about us, didn't you?" the shorter girl teased.

Rei's jaw dropped. "OH MY GOSH! You're right! I didn't even check if you guys were alright after the Dark Stadium fell. How'd you get off the island? I everyone still alive?"

Ces nodded, "It's alright. Everyone is fine and we got off the island the same way you did. You just didn't see us on the boat."

Rei felt bad for totally forgetting about her friends, but Ces didn't mind. They talked for a few minutes before Ces asked about Hiei. Just then Hiei returned and Ces muttered, "Ah, speak of the demon."

Hiei noticed Ces and chin-upped and she returned the guesture. "Thanks for those wards," Hiei said, picking up some groceries.

"No prob," Ces said, standing up, "I'm a miko; that's what I do."

Rei looked back and forth between them; obviously confused. Ces nodded at them and said, "Well, I had better be going now. I'll see you around."

"Yeah, later," both Rei and Hiei said at the same time. Rei lifted the rest of the groceries and and asked Hiei, "Didn't find anything?"

"No," he said. After a few minutes of silence Rei asked, "Wards?"

Hiei nodded quickly, "With my fight against Bui. She was the one who gave me the wards."

Instantly an image of Ces tying the wards and bandages on Hiei's arm sprung to Rei's mind, but she tried to shake it away. .oO{Forgot how to tie them, huh?} Rei jumped the gun. Millions of scenarios played out in Rei's head as they walked home, and none of them made her happy. Hiei noticed she was tense and asked, "Something wrong?"

"No!" Rei said quickly. Hiei looked her over before shrugging. Rei opened the door and set the groceries on the table. She put them away as Hiei went off somewhere. Before she finished, Kurama came back. Rei heard him talk to Hiei outside--meaning Hiei was on the roof again-- and come inside. Kurama looked her over for a second then asked, "You wanna go change?"

Rei looked at him; confused. "Why?"

"I ran into Yusuke on the way here. He wants us to go to a nightclub with him."

Rei's jaw dropped, "A WHAT?! I can't. They won't let me in."

Kurama raised his eyebrow, "You mean you've tried?"

"Eheh... Well, I mean," Rei tried to backtrack.

"C'mon, it'll be fun," Kurama smiled.