Last Time on Dragon Wielders Denpa (since it was so very long ago)
"Honestly, from what I can see, the answer is no. I wouldn't think you could make a dent in that kind of power." It was exactly what she thought he would say. Hana wasn't sure whether she should feel relieved or disappointed, so she felt both….
…"It was nice to meet you, Hiei." Now, summoning the courage to look the demon in the eyes she allowed a brief smile and walked away.
Sour Medicine
Hiei narrowed his eyes as he watched the raven haired girl walk away. Leaning back on his heels he threw his head back and clamped his eyes shut. 'Why am I doing this again?' He questioned to himself, as he returned his focus back toward the stubborn human who had turned her back on him.
He raised his voice, though he did not yell. "It's true, you don't look like much, but then again, I've been called a 'shrimp' before too. Though, few have lived to voice that opinion twice. There are those who, after seeing me, wouldn't believe that I possess the power to destroy mountains and armies alike."
She stopped, but did not turn.
Hiei shook his head, hoping nobody was within earshot. 'This is ridiculous.' He couldn't believe he was about to say this. "I heard once that 'kick ass things come in short packages too.' I suppose that you could replace 'short' with 'girly' and 'inexperienced' if you like."
She turned to face the koorime silently questioning him with her stormy eyes.
"Though in your case, I suspect some training will be in order."
She began walking again, and could sense more than hear the near soundless rustle as he moved to join her.
"Hn. Whatever my opinion might be, the fact of the matter is that Koenma honestly believes that your allegiance will make a difference."
As they drew near to the front door of Shigure's house, the sounds of an argument met them.
"Please, Kyo. I'm really worried about Hana. Shigure told me that weird stalkers sometimes lurk in those woods. What if she was attacked?"
"If there are weirdoes out there, I don't think Hanajima's the one who needs to be worried."
"Now that's just rude carrot top! If you know what's good for you, you'll get your ass out there and find her."
"Make that damn rat go get her, cause I don't wanna."
"Leave me out of this, you stupid cat."
"Guys calm down, my poor little house can't take much more of…CRASH…. this."
Hana didn't flinch as Kyo flopped toward them amongst the shredded scraps of Shigure's door, nearly landing on Hiei.
Stepping over Kyo, who was muttering something surly about Yankees, Hana smiled at her near hysterical friend. "Sorry I'm late. You haven't eaten yet have you?"
"Oh! Hana, I'm so glad you made it, I mean with all the weirdoes out and everything, I was getting worried. Kyo was just about to go look for you when…well I think he was anyway, but I guess that doesn't matter now, right? Because you're here now, and you're alright, so there must not have been any stalkers after all. Silly. Silly." Tohru knocked on her forehead with her knuckle to emphasize her overreaction.
Having only now just noticed the cloaked boy standing behind and slightly to the side of Hana, Tohru was pleasantly surprised. "Oh! You brought a friend with you," her faced paled a bit, "and he's covered in chunks of house. Sorry, I guess that was my fault in a way."
She moved toward him tentatively reaching out a hand to pick a particularly large splinter of wood off of the stranger's shoulder, but with a grunt, Hiei side stepped before she could reach her target.
The sweet brunette withdrew her hand and clasped it in the other one behind her back. "I guess I should introduce myself first, right?" She said humbly bowing her head. "My name is Tohru Honda. It's really very nice to meet you. I'm a friend of Hana's." She lifted her head. "And this is Uo, and Yuki, and the one that ran off, well that was Kyo. Let's see Shigure's around here some…"
"He's not my friend, he followed me here." Hana calmly interrupted before Tohru could get carried away and invite him in for snacks. 'My snacks,' she thought.
"He followed you?" Tohru's body went rigid as she backed a few steps away. "Stalk…er"
"Hana, why didn't you tell us you had a boyfriend?" Uo interrupted jovially, throwing an arm over Hana's shoulder, delighting in the pale blush brought on by her teasing.
Hana felt a tinge of embarrassment at the thought of having a boyfriend. The idea had always been a bit foreign to her, since she was generally avoided by her peers.
"And he's cute too," Uo continued, "for a shrimp anyway."
At that last 'shrimp' remark, Hana forgot her embarrassment. She closed her eyes in a struggle to stifle the giggle that was threatening to corrupt her trademark poker face. The annoyed vibes she was picking up from Hiei only made it funnier.
Taking a deep breath, she dared a glance in the demon's direction. The knowing glare he sent back was nearly the end to the small shred of control that she had been clinging to.
She cracked a small grin as soon as he looked away. Tohru was the source of his distraction. She was now very near to him bowing low, rapid firing a seemingly endless string of apologies for mistaking him for a stalker.
With one eyebrow raised, Hiei returned his attention to Hana who was once again poker faced. "Are they always this way?"
Hana took a moment to consider her friends. Sweet, kind hearted Tohru always put others before herself, and loyal, extroverted Uo always had her friends' back. And for the first time all day, maybe even all week, Hanajima Saki smiled genuinely. She loved her friends. "Yes, they are always this way."
"I see." Hiei now spoke with carefully measured words. He had to make her understand why it was so important that she chose to go with him. Sometimes, the worst tasting medicine is what's best for you, and so full of purpose, he let loose. "And will they still be this way when Uzgoth demolishes these pathetic barriers you humans call a home? Will they be the same when their bones are broken and their bodies torn? Will they be the same when last demon consumer drags them away kicking and screaming into oblivion?"
His ruby colored eyes were as grave as his voice as he posed his final argument. "Will you be the same knowing that you allowed that to happen, though you might have been able to prevent it?"
Hiei's face remained cool and uncaring, though he inwardly hated himself for causing such a unique smile to vanish. He visibly swallowed as he stared at her unrelentingly, waiting for an answer.
How long had that deafening moment lasted? He wasn't sure. If felt like it had been an eternity since he had narrowed his focus in, onto the little denpa in front of him. He barely even registered the steady string of curses being flung at him by her tall blonde friend or the pleas from the pretty boys holding her back that she put down her pipe. Neither did he notice Tohru's desperate petitions for patience on all parts.
And then, with a single tear, the moment came crashing down on them all, shattered like a glass full of foul tasting medicine as it hits the floor.
The air was tense, as if nature itself were holding it's breathe. Yuki and Shigure stopped shouting, Uo stopped cursing, and Tohru stopped pleading, all to watch that lone tear splash into the earth.
Tohru was instantly at Hana's side, holding her hand. In their stupor Yuki and Shigure let Uo squirm free. She was flying towards Hiei, weapon in hand, when she suddenly stopped. Hana had thrown her free arm out, palm back, in a silent message to her friend.
The three of them stood there. Tohru watching Hana with worry in her eyes, Hana looking slightly towards the ground allowing her bangs to shroud her unreadable eyes, and Uo glaring at Hiei enough for all of them.
If he noticed though, he didn't care. For, as he spoke, his low voice did not waver and his words did not reveal any sign of remorse.
"I'll find you in the morning. I expect an answer."
An instant later, he was gone, and Hana collapsed to her knees.
a/n- What should Hana do? Please review. I'm still not sure if there is really even an audience out there for this couple. Thanks for reading.
