-Delicate Petals-
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4:30.. Another half-hour. I sat next to Hiei.
"You'll train me then? I think it should be fun to show all of those that were there what the feeling of fear really is." Hiei smirked at me, his eyes glinting.
"It would be fun to meet all of those who fear what is stronger." He stood up. "Let's leave. I want an easy walk." We left. I had my training outfit on and Hiei.. well, he was dressed normally. In his black pants and blue tank-top. He refused to take off his katana. I smiled that was typically Hiei.
"Thanks for doing this with me." He looked at me, raised an eyebrow.
"You think I'm doing this for you? Hah." I rolled my eyes. Apparently Minako caught the conversation because I heard her light, airy laughter. Hiei looked back ahead too quickly for me to see his face. That was odd. I shrugged and ruffled Minako's hair.
"What are you doing here, Mina?" I asked, my eyes going to Hiei.
"I figured I'd come and keep you company. I figured you'd bring him." She smiled cheerfully and moved to walk next to Hiei. I didn't mind. Hiei needed social interaction once in a while.
"That was really sweet of you, Mina.. I don't know how we would have survived without you!" She rolled her eyes at me. I scowled. "Who signed me up for this damn thing anyway?"
"I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if it was the cheer squad who voted you in themselves, or coach. He wants to win this year. You never really participated in those things before." I snorted.
"Not unless its an attempt to claim my life." I muttered sarcastically.
"At least you'll be in shape." Hiei said dryly. I glared at him.
"I am in shape."
"No, you're not. You've just recovered from being sick, idiot. Don't make me call you Suzuka." I gasped in horror.
"Don't use such horrible language in front of little children!" I looked around, putting my hand over his mouth. "Well, he did do something nice for us and it helped greatly. I wouldn't be here right now if it weren't for his little bottle."
"I have to admit, after Genkai beat him to a pulp, he matured a little." Hiei stopped walking and looked thoughtful. "Then, don't make me call you Kuwabara."
"Who said my name?" I looked up ahead and saw Kuwabara with his usual gang. "Oh, hey guys!"
"Damn you to hell!" Hiei clenched his fists as he glared up at the sky. "I swear.. someone's out to get me."
"Hiei, calm down. Don't make me give you a second dose of Ridelin." He narrowed his eyes at me.
"Jackass."
"Watch the language. You don't want me to tell your probation officer about this incident, do you?" I smirked when he gave me that withering glare of his. Everyone watched us go back and forth with the insults.
"Suu-kun? Uhm.. you're gonna be late." Minako pointed out. We stopped bickering and I grabbed his wrist, dragging him behind me. Minako ran after us.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"You all have your trainers that you're working with? Very good." The coach said dryly. "And here I thought there would be some problems with comprehension." I snickered. That would've been the case, had most of the people here been first-timers.
"Today, you will run some obstacle courses and elimination rounds." The coach's 'little helper' announced, probably feeling very important. Funny, how he got a new one each week..
"Pay attention because I am going to say this only once! Have fun and try to stay in order." The last competition was so funny, most of the other teams lost because they were laughing too hard to do anything other than fall over and hold their sides. Our team was very pathetic. We were the cause of the laughter. Not to mention the one time we had a fat guy out there.. he ran off the race track because he saw a food stand. I couldn't have laughed harder. They had driven the last coach to the brink of insanity. Then there was the swimming competition. Our best swimmer couldn't swim even if he had floaties on his arms, was in ankle-deep water, and had a rubber life raft. He almost drowned. We never even made the top ten.. and there were eight teams! Hell, our team lost by laughing at their own team members.
"We might actually win this competition with you here, Minamino. Have some team spirit. Sorry to sign you up without saying anything to you, but I'll do anything to have you on this team.." I blinked. I felt bad for the poor guy.
"I'll do it. Don't worry about it. I could be the team, if that's what you wanted." Minako muffled her giggles and Hiei rolled his eyes.
"They should just put you out there. I don't see why they're even doing all this." He snorted. "I don't see the point."
"For the spirit of competition, Hiei." Mina said gently. I gave him a stern glare and he shut his mouth. "Not to worry, coach. Suu-kun will have us on the boards this time." We had absolutely no points before. I might've thought the judges to have pity on our team.
"We were pathetic before, weren't we?" I almost laughed. The coach groaned. "That's what would happen this year if I don't get in. You should get some of the other.. more athletic people out there."
"They won't volunteer. I think you might just as well be the team." Coach sighed heavily.
"It would be for your best interests." Hiei looked around at all of the people warming up. "They couldn't do one of our drills if they tried."
"So, this is your trainer?"
"No, he's my friend. We've trained together for years. What I know is from my own skill. I don't need anyone not even knowing my potential."
"I hope you can move fast enough for our drills." Hiei narrowed his eyes at me. I smirked.
"I'm ready for anything you can give me."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well.. I had a tough day of training. After we got out, I trained with him for an hour or two. Minako stayed and watched, saying she had nothing better to do.
"We get out in a few months. Graduation.. I find that sort of upsetting." I raised an eyebrow at her. We walked down the street, passing people who didn't know how to drive.
"Why? The place is a prison." She looked away from me and settled her gaze on her feet.
"Because.. what are you going to do after you graduate?" She looked over at me, then at Hiei.
"I'm staying here." I said pointedly. "I might go back now and then to visit my old partner. He has my lair, y'know." She smiled.
"Do you miss it?"
"Part of me does.. even if it is sort of peaceful here. I have a feeling we will be visiting it very soon." Hiei looked at me, his eyes slightly narrowed. "Hiei, we will go back soon."
"I wouldn't leave this place." He said softly. I looked over at him. Minako did as well. "My sister likes it here. I don't feel right when I leave every now and then.. This place and all of these weak people with their feelings! They're making me weak." He eyed the people he saw irritably.
"They are not making you weak." I argued, rolling my eyes. "You still hate them, nimrod. If they're making you weak, you'd like them."
"Shut up, wise-ass. No one asked you." I feigned shock.
"He cursed at me.. Wow.. I feel so blessed!" He glared at me.
"Shut your damn trap. I'm getting sick of you mouthing off!" He sounded offended and pissed off. I sighed.
"Okay, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you. I'm only picking." He must really be in a bad mood to get offended so easily. He usually knows I only make fun of him. He does the same to me. Hopefully tomorrow will be better for him. We got home and Minako left. "Ice cream?"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Okaasan sat on the couch later that night, reading her book. I sat down next to her and remained quiet. I needed to think and it was nice and quiet in here. Hiei was sleeping outside in his tree tonight, I would believe. I chewed on my lower lip. Tomorrow was going to be a busy day. School, finding Hiei, training in the gym, real training afterward, and homework. I would assume that I'm going to get tons of homework tomorrow. Just that feeling.
"Thinking?" I looked over. Okaasan smiled at me from over the top of her book. I nodded.
"I have a lot to do tomorrow." I didn't want to admit it, but I felt us growing apart. We were losing the bond between parent and child.. even though I was never really her son. I had a mind to leave all my life. It was destiny, I suppose. Silence covered us. I felt that there was something she wasn't telling me. I don't mind, considering I had hid something from her.
"I see.." She finally responded. Our conversations now were awkward and mostly filled with unease. I couldn't figure out why it was happening. I really didn't blame her for it, either. I had broken her trust.. I had betrayed her. She could only take so much pain. I got angry and stood up. I was angry at myself. For doing this to the one person who tolerated me all those long years. I would fix this problem. I would take it upon myself to fix things.
It was time to visit an old friend..
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shadows. Shadows everywhere. My eyes were sharper than that. Had anyone else ever entered this chamber, they would really believe they were trapped. I climbed the vine and pulled myself out of the hole. Darkness.. much darker than that of the chamber was before me. I knew it was against rules to light something like a match or a stick. There was no way of knowing what way you were going. Unless you knew the path. I saw it in my mind's eye. This place was always dark and forbidding. If you did light something, you would be worse off than in the dark. There were skulls and bones of those who had used this path and gotten lost in their own mind. That was why they named this path 'Death Maze'. It was only a maze if you allowed it to be. I walked along, my soft footfalls against the old stones not even breaking the maddening silence. I could hear the beating of my own heart, feel the cracking of old bones against the bottom of my shoe. I felt along the wall. Somewhere around here there was supposed to be an old rusted ladder. My hand came in contact with the cold metal. I applied pressure to the first step, making sure it wouldn't snap under my weight. I began the climb. It was quite a long way to the top. I felt around when I got to the top. I didn't want to lose my footing and fall. I walked forward, took a left, a right, then another right. I felt for the doorknob. Turning it, I pressed. I walked forward for about a few minutes then looked up, pressing my hands to the stone above me. I felt wood after a minute of searching. I pushed up and wasn't surprised when no light poured through. It was dark, the dense woods blocking out the sight of the moon. Drops fell on me, falling from leaf to leaf. I could smell the fresh scent of non-polluted air. I could smell the woods. I could smell the grass and the flowers. All of it swirled around me in a pungent, fragrant breeze. I walked for a while, seeing the dense wooded area coming to an end. A path was up ahead.
"Finally.." I sighed. I was anxious to see my old friend. I took a left, following the path. I felt hunger pangs. A delicious smell reached my nose. Up ahead, I saw the certain flowers over the wall and knew that was my lair. I brushed aside the vines and crept silently into the cave. Fire crackled and the warmth surrounded me. I could smell his scent. "Kuronue." He turned to look at me, a grin on his face.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't my friend Youko. I could smell your scent. Why don't you get rid of that human appearance and join me? I wish to see my friend." His smile was catchy. I felt myself smiling back at him.
"I'm going to be staying a while. Help me, would you? I need to find out how to transform on my own." He tossed me a round red fruit. I caught it.
"Use that if you need to. I heard about you entering that tournament." He poked his catch with a stick. "Still not tender. We have a little while yet." He looked at me when I sat down. I took a bite of the fruit and waited. The reaction took place and I felt whole again. "Eat the whole thing and I assure you that it will last until morning." He pointed behind him. I peeked over his shoulder. "I stocked up."
"Awfully nice of you." I narrowed my eyes at him. "How did you know?"
"To gather the fruit, you mean? I knew you would visit me sooner or later." His indigo eyes twinkled. "My partner would never abandon me." He looked down at the fire. "I waited those long sixteen years for you to return."
"I couldn't leave.." I admitted quietly. "I had one partner to keep me company. Hiei tracked me down and found me, persuading me to help break into the vault in Reikai. I stole the Forlorn Hope." He grinned.
"We know one thing." I gave him a confused look. "You haven't lost that theif's soul." I wondered how long it would be before I would return. I didn't want to, now that I was back. I wanted to stay and be myself again. "I know the secret to unlocking yourself, my friend. So don't worry about that. Tell me all about the human world, Ningenkai. I want to know what it really feels like to be in the light all the time."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Finished with this chapter. Hope you enjoyed. =( Don't get mad at me for not updating.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4:30.. Another half-hour. I sat next to Hiei.
"You'll train me then? I think it should be fun to show all of those that were there what the feeling of fear really is." Hiei smirked at me, his eyes glinting.
"It would be fun to meet all of those who fear what is stronger." He stood up. "Let's leave. I want an easy walk." We left. I had my training outfit on and Hiei.. well, he was dressed normally. In his black pants and blue tank-top. He refused to take off his katana. I smiled that was typically Hiei.
"Thanks for doing this with me." He looked at me, raised an eyebrow.
"You think I'm doing this for you? Hah." I rolled my eyes. Apparently Minako caught the conversation because I heard her light, airy laughter. Hiei looked back ahead too quickly for me to see his face. That was odd. I shrugged and ruffled Minako's hair.
"What are you doing here, Mina?" I asked, my eyes going to Hiei.
"I figured I'd come and keep you company. I figured you'd bring him." She smiled cheerfully and moved to walk next to Hiei. I didn't mind. Hiei needed social interaction once in a while.
"That was really sweet of you, Mina.. I don't know how we would have survived without you!" She rolled her eyes at me. I scowled. "Who signed me up for this damn thing anyway?"
"I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if it was the cheer squad who voted you in themselves, or coach. He wants to win this year. You never really participated in those things before." I snorted.
"Not unless its an attempt to claim my life." I muttered sarcastically.
"At least you'll be in shape." Hiei said dryly. I glared at him.
"I am in shape."
"No, you're not. You've just recovered from being sick, idiot. Don't make me call you Suzuka." I gasped in horror.
"Don't use such horrible language in front of little children!" I looked around, putting my hand over his mouth. "Well, he did do something nice for us and it helped greatly. I wouldn't be here right now if it weren't for his little bottle."
"I have to admit, after Genkai beat him to a pulp, he matured a little." Hiei stopped walking and looked thoughtful. "Then, don't make me call you Kuwabara."
"Who said my name?" I looked up ahead and saw Kuwabara with his usual gang. "Oh, hey guys!"
"Damn you to hell!" Hiei clenched his fists as he glared up at the sky. "I swear.. someone's out to get me."
"Hiei, calm down. Don't make me give you a second dose of Ridelin." He narrowed his eyes at me.
"Jackass."
"Watch the language. You don't want me to tell your probation officer about this incident, do you?" I smirked when he gave me that withering glare of his. Everyone watched us go back and forth with the insults.
"Suu-kun? Uhm.. you're gonna be late." Minako pointed out. We stopped bickering and I grabbed his wrist, dragging him behind me. Minako ran after us.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"You all have your trainers that you're working with? Very good." The coach said dryly. "And here I thought there would be some problems with comprehension." I snickered. That would've been the case, had most of the people here been first-timers.
"Today, you will run some obstacle courses and elimination rounds." The coach's 'little helper' announced, probably feeling very important. Funny, how he got a new one each week..
"Pay attention because I am going to say this only once! Have fun and try to stay in order." The last competition was so funny, most of the other teams lost because they were laughing too hard to do anything other than fall over and hold their sides. Our team was very pathetic. We were the cause of the laughter. Not to mention the one time we had a fat guy out there.. he ran off the race track because he saw a food stand. I couldn't have laughed harder. They had driven the last coach to the brink of insanity. Then there was the swimming competition. Our best swimmer couldn't swim even if he had floaties on his arms, was in ankle-deep water, and had a rubber life raft. He almost drowned. We never even made the top ten.. and there were eight teams! Hell, our team lost by laughing at their own team members.
"We might actually win this competition with you here, Minamino. Have some team spirit. Sorry to sign you up without saying anything to you, but I'll do anything to have you on this team.." I blinked. I felt bad for the poor guy.
"I'll do it. Don't worry about it. I could be the team, if that's what you wanted." Minako muffled her giggles and Hiei rolled his eyes.
"They should just put you out there. I don't see why they're even doing all this." He snorted. "I don't see the point."
"For the spirit of competition, Hiei." Mina said gently. I gave him a stern glare and he shut his mouth. "Not to worry, coach. Suu-kun will have us on the boards this time." We had absolutely no points before. I might've thought the judges to have pity on our team.
"We were pathetic before, weren't we?" I almost laughed. The coach groaned. "That's what would happen this year if I don't get in. You should get some of the other.. more athletic people out there."
"They won't volunteer. I think you might just as well be the team." Coach sighed heavily.
"It would be for your best interests." Hiei looked around at all of the people warming up. "They couldn't do one of our drills if they tried."
"So, this is your trainer?"
"No, he's my friend. We've trained together for years. What I know is from my own skill. I don't need anyone not even knowing my potential."
"I hope you can move fast enough for our drills." Hiei narrowed his eyes at me. I smirked.
"I'm ready for anything you can give me."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well.. I had a tough day of training. After we got out, I trained with him for an hour or two. Minako stayed and watched, saying she had nothing better to do.
"We get out in a few months. Graduation.. I find that sort of upsetting." I raised an eyebrow at her. We walked down the street, passing people who didn't know how to drive.
"Why? The place is a prison." She looked away from me and settled her gaze on her feet.
"Because.. what are you going to do after you graduate?" She looked over at me, then at Hiei.
"I'm staying here." I said pointedly. "I might go back now and then to visit my old partner. He has my lair, y'know." She smiled.
"Do you miss it?"
"Part of me does.. even if it is sort of peaceful here. I have a feeling we will be visiting it very soon." Hiei looked at me, his eyes slightly narrowed. "Hiei, we will go back soon."
"I wouldn't leave this place." He said softly. I looked over at him. Minako did as well. "My sister likes it here. I don't feel right when I leave every now and then.. This place and all of these weak people with their feelings! They're making me weak." He eyed the people he saw irritably.
"They are not making you weak." I argued, rolling my eyes. "You still hate them, nimrod. If they're making you weak, you'd like them."
"Shut up, wise-ass. No one asked you." I feigned shock.
"He cursed at me.. Wow.. I feel so blessed!" He glared at me.
"Shut your damn trap. I'm getting sick of you mouthing off!" He sounded offended and pissed off. I sighed.
"Okay, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you. I'm only picking." He must really be in a bad mood to get offended so easily. He usually knows I only make fun of him. He does the same to me. Hopefully tomorrow will be better for him. We got home and Minako left. "Ice cream?"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Okaasan sat on the couch later that night, reading her book. I sat down next to her and remained quiet. I needed to think and it was nice and quiet in here. Hiei was sleeping outside in his tree tonight, I would believe. I chewed on my lower lip. Tomorrow was going to be a busy day. School, finding Hiei, training in the gym, real training afterward, and homework. I would assume that I'm going to get tons of homework tomorrow. Just that feeling.
"Thinking?" I looked over. Okaasan smiled at me from over the top of her book. I nodded.
"I have a lot to do tomorrow." I didn't want to admit it, but I felt us growing apart. We were losing the bond between parent and child.. even though I was never really her son. I had a mind to leave all my life. It was destiny, I suppose. Silence covered us. I felt that there was something she wasn't telling me. I don't mind, considering I had hid something from her.
"I see.." She finally responded. Our conversations now were awkward and mostly filled with unease. I couldn't figure out why it was happening. I really didn't blame her for it, either. I had broken her trust.. I had betrayed her. She could only take so much pain. I got angry and stood up. I was angry at myself. For doing this to the one person who tolerated me all those long years. I would fix this problem. I would take it upon myself to fix things.
It was time to visit an old friend..
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shadows. Shadows everywhere. My eyes were sharper than that. Had anyone else ever entered this chamber, they would really believe they were trapped. I climbed the vine and pulled myself out of the hole. Darkness.. much darker than that of the chamber was before me. I knew it was against rules to light something like a match or a stick. There was no way of knowing what way you were going. Unless you knew the path. I saw it in my mind's eye. This place was always dark and forbidding. If you did light something, you would be worse off than in the dark. There were skulls and bones of those who had used this path and gotten lost in their own mind. That was why they named this path 'Death Maze'. It was only a maze if you allowed it to be. I walked along, my soft footfalls against the old stones not even breaking the maddening silence. I could hear the beating of my own heart, feel the cracking of old bones against the bottom of my shoe. I felt along the wall. Somewhere around here there was supposed to be an old rusted ladder. My hand came in contact with the cold metal. I applied pressure to the first step, making sure it wouldn't snap under my weight. I began the climb. It was quite a long way to the top. I felt around when I got to the top. I didn't want to lose my footing and fall. I walked forward, took a left, a right, then another right. I felt for the doorknob. Turning it, I pressed. I walked forward for about a few minutes then looked up, pressing my hands to the stone above me. I felt wood after a minute of searching. I pushed up and wasn't surprised when no light poured through. It was dark, the dense woods blocking out the sight of the moon. Drops fell on me, falling from leaf to leaf. I could smell the fresh scent of non-polluted air. I could smell the woods. I could smell the grass and the flowers. All of it swirled around me in a pungent, fragrant breeze. I walked for a while, seeing the dense wooded area coming to an end. A path was up ahead.
"Finally.." I sighed. I was anxious to see my old friend. I took a left, following the path. I felt hunger pangs. A delicious smell reached my nose. Up ahead, I saw the certain flowers over the wall and knew that was my lair. I brushed aside the vines and crept silently into the cave. Fire crackled and the warmth surrounded me. I could smell his scent. "Kuronue." He turned to look at me, a grin on his face.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't my friend Youko. I could smell your scent. Why don't you get rid of that human appearance and join me? I wish to see my friend." His smile was catchy. I felt myself smiling back at him.
"I'm going to be staying a while. Help me, would you? I need to find out how to transform on my own." He tossed me a round red fruit. I caught it.
"Use that if you need to. I heard about you entering that tournament." He poked his catch with a stick. "Still not tender. We have a little while yet." He looked at me when I sat down. I took a bite of the fruit and waited. The reaction took place and I felt whole again. "Eat the whole thing and I assure you that it will last until morning." He pointed behind him. I peeked over his shoulder. "I stocked up."
"Awfully nice of you." I narrowed my eyes at him. "How did you know?"
"To gather the fruit, you mean? I knew you would visit me sooner or later." His indigo eyes twinkled. "My partner would never abandon me." He looked down at the fire. "I waited those long sixteen years for you to return."
"I couldn't leave.." I admitted quietly. "I had one partner to keep me company. Hiei tracked me down and found me, persuading me to help break into the vault in Reikai. I stole the Forlorn Hope." He grinned.
"We know one thing." I gave him a confused look. "You haven't lost that theif's soul." I wondered how long it would be before I would return. I didn't want to, now that I was back. I wanted to stay and be myself again. "I know the secret to unlocking yourself, my friend. So don't worry about that. Tell me all about the human world, Ningenkai. I want to know what it really feels like to be in the light all the time."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Finished with this chapter. Hope you enjoyed. =( Don't get mad at me for not updating.