Author's Note: The second act continues with act III. I hope everyone enjoys and responds with helpful reviews.
What He Said, She Said
"WHAT!"
Yusuke cringed as he tried his best not to drop the glass plate he was washing. His mother would throw a fit if she saw a piece of her precious china broken. "Not so loud, Botan! Jeez, you scared the living daylights out of me!" The two cousins had just finished their dinner (once again without the residing adult) and were now cleaning up the table.
The anxious girl paid no heed to Yusuke and continued speaking with her loudest tone while drying the dishes. "They were all there? They were all there! I can't believe the Three were all there at that party! Oh, my God! Oh, God. We could've been hurt. Everyone could have been hurt." Botan's face paled at the danger she had unknowingly placed her friend two nights ago; her eyes were wide. "But I thought Minamino Syuuichi was known not to go to Meiou social events."
'Why would he go to this one? What made this party so different?'
"Well, he was definitely there, make no mistake on that. I saw him talking to Shinomori and Jaganshi while we were hiding in the garden, you know, when we were trying to escape. Didn't you see him, Botan? He was the one dressed as a white fox." The young man resumed doing the dishes, sinking his hands once more into the lathery sink.
'A white fox?'
CRASH!
A dish crashed against the ground, bits and pieces of glasses shattering all over the wooden floor.
"Botan?" Yusuke quickly looked up and saw a fear-stricken Botan. "Botan, are you all right? Aw, damn, you broke Okaa-san's favorite dish. I'm really in for it now." With a heavy sigh, Urameshi bent down and delicately began picking up the jagged glass pieces. Amazingly, his fingers were agile and skilled (from pick-pocketing no doubt) and were not slashed by the shards. "At least you weren't cut."
Hanasaki ignored the shattered dish and remained frozen in fear. Her hands trembled violently; her mind was completely numb. "The white fox? That redhead student in that fox costume was the one? That was Minamino?"
'He was Minamino Kurama?'
Without looking back at his cousin, Yusuke dumped the glass shards into the trashcan with clatters and jingles. "If my observations were correct, yeah. Red hair, green eyes, quick reflexes, and hangs around Jaganshi and Shinomori: That was definitely Minamino. Why? Did you see him before at the party?"
"He ran into me there."
'And more.'
Snapping his head around in alarm, the street fighter then began worrying. Fear was etched into his chestnut orbs. "Did anything happen after that? He didn't do anything to you, did he, Botan?"
Regaining her wits and the seriousness of the situation, Botan shook her head, went to retrieve the vacuum, and lied, "No, nothing happened. He didn't do anything to me, Yusuke."
'He only made me fall in love with him.'
'Why Syuuichi-kun? Why are you avoiding me? What did I do to make you to hide away from me?' Sighing, a mindless hand swatted away stray strands of chestnut hair.
"Maya-chan! Maya-chan, wait for me!"
Kitajima Maya, her black skirt fluttering in the morning breeze, turned her brunette head around as one of her closest friends ran towards her. The sight of a familiar person warmed the high school girl's heart, and she felt better someone she knew had knocked her out of contemplation.
"Kasumi-chan, how have you been doing?" the affluent student greeted kindly as she waited for her friend. Fumbling somewhat clumsily towards the more fine Maya, the glasses adorned student finally caught up with her long-time companion. "Looks like you slept in a little today, Kasumi-chan."
"Yeah, I had so much work to do the other night. It was awful, Maya-chan. But that doesn't matter right now. So, how was the clean-up for the party?" Kasumi gasped out of breath as the two resumed their walk towards school.
Shrugging with indifference, Kitajima coolly answered with a careless wave of her hand, "It was fine. I had it done in less than three hours. Otou-san's hired help held up their reputation. I'll be sure to hire them again at the next party."
Blushing slightly, the embarrassed friend apologized, "Oh, I'm sorry that I couldn't go to your party, Maya-chan. I really wanted to, but you know that--"
"It's all right," Maya assured warmly, patting her classmate on the back. "You don't have to feel sorry at all, Kasumi-chan. I understand that your parents didn't feel you were safe on the streets at night. Especially with Sarayashiki now coming into our district, your parents have a right to worry. Urameshi Yusuke really is a demon from Hell."
Seeing as the conversation was getting slightly awkward, Kasumi thought better to change the subject. "Did you get to see Minamino-kun at your party?"
"No," Maya sighed as she pouted slightly. She slightly tugged at her black skirt and twirled her chestnut curls between her fingers to express her frustration. "And I didn't even get to see his cute costume. I saw Jin-kun and had a great time with him though." The girl's elegant hand suddenly curled into a fist. "Until Shinomori-kun and Jaganshi-kun popped up and stole him away. I don't understand it. Why are those two always standing in the way to my happiness?"
"Hey, they're the cute dark, moody guys in our class, right? Aren't they close friends with Minamino-kun?" Kasumi wondered, a thoughtful finger tapping her pale chin. "Weren't those two also the ones who made Minamino-kun so different?"
Biting her lip with venom glowing in her dark eyes, Maya responded grudgingly, "Yes. Those two are the only ones, besides me, that are able to change Syuuichi-kun's mind. But I know he'll eventually come back to me. Everyone always does."
Shying away, Kasumi muttered with an uneasy laugh, "As much as I wish it were so, I don't know about that, Maya-chan. Didn't you hear what Minamino-kun did at your party?"
Kasumi's questioning words turned Maya's blood as cold as ice. "What do you mean? What did Syuuichi-kun do at my party, Kasumi-chan?"
"Ah, well," the poor girl shuffled. "I got news from Rei-chan that Minamino-kun didn't even try looking for you there. Instead, he spent the entire night with some new girl. Even now, everyone is saying that Minamino-kun wants to go out with that girl."
"Do you have any idea who she is?" Maya demanded earnestly, clenching her fists in anticipation. "Any clue at all?"
"No, and everyone has been trying to figure it out," was the disappointing reply. "She didn't leave a name, number, or address. Some people are starting to think the mystery girl is younger than Minamino-kun. Some even rumor that she's a junior high student."
Maya bit her thumb with even more worry. Life was not supposed to go like this, not her life anyway. Her life was just too perfect to be ruined, especially by a junior high student. "But I knew everyone I invited to my party, Kasumi-chan. I made sure I didn't invite people I didn't know. So she has to be on the roster, right?"
The friend shrugged indefinitely. "I guess she was someone's date beforehand."
Eyes grew wide at the new revelation. "So she's a tramp?"
"Possibly. Or maybe she was someone's sister. You know, a nice big brother showing his sister around," Kasumi pointed out thoughtfully. "This mystery girl could even be someone's cousin."
"It doesn't matter who she is or was," Maya groaned when the girls reached the school gates. The brunette was now stomping in agitation. "What counts is that I can't let anyone take away Syuuichi-kun!"
'I can't believe this,' Botan sighed dejectedly as she collapsed beneath a tree. 'I just can't believe my rotten luck. I have one of the best nights of my life only to find out that I fell in love with one of the most dangerous fighters in the Meiou district; and if falling in love with a Meiou student isn't bad enough, I just happen to fall in love with Minamino Syuuichi.' With another exasperated sigh, Botan opened her bento box and began munching down her meal despairingly.
"Botan-chan?"
Allowing her bento box to rest on her skirt-covered lap, Botan frowned at the information running through her head. 'And Minamino Syuuichi is the worst of the Three, at least according to Yusuke and the hospital's medical reports. What should I do? What am I going to? What am I thinking? I know exactly what to do.'
"Botan-chan."
The blue-haired girl snapped her fingers at a new revelation. She grinned at her newfound genius. 'I'm going to forget that I ever fell in love with Minamino; in fact, I'm going to forget that the party ever happened. It will all just be a far off dream to me, never more. What a perfect plan.'
"Botan-chan, are you all right?" Yukina questioned worriedly as she placed a delicate hand on Botan's arm.
Hanasaki, snapped out of her reverie, stared at Koorime in surprise. While doing so, Botan nearly spilled her lunch all over herself. "Oh, Yukina-chan! I didn't know you were here. I thought you would be eating lunch with the others."
Yukina, while taking a seat beneath Botan's tree, smiled kindly at her startled friend. "Well, you were so deep into your own thoughts, I didn't think you would notice my presence."
Blushing, Botan shifted slightly so her companion would have a better seat. A moment or two of silence rolled between the two friends, the endless chattering of various students heightening an awkward atmosphere. The lovely second-year decided to break down the discomfited sensations. "What is bothering you, Botan-chan? You seem very disturbed as of late."
"Oh, I was just thinking about the Meiou party."
A small frown graced the second year's face. Her friend's words did not bode well with Yukina at all. "Are you still blaming yourself for that, Botan-chan?"
"I should, Yukina-chan," Botan sighed, pouting even more. "I mean, after all, I put everyone in danger when we went to a party with the Three. I shouldn't have allowed my friends to go to a party with the Three just waiting to hurt them!"
At this, Yukina slightly grinned, "Oh, but I don't believe the Three are as dangerous as they're rumored to be, Botan-chan."
"Huh?"
Turning to face Botan's curious stare, Koorime smiled sheepishly, "At least, Jaganshi Hiei is not as cruel as he is drawn."
"Did you see him at the party?" Botan inquired with a gasp. "You saw Jaganshi Hiei at the party? The Jaganshi Hiei!"
Yukina nodded amiably. "Yes, I saw him at the party; I even danced with him, Botan-chan."
"Yukina-chan!" the younger girl exclaimed in shock.
"Please don't think less of Hiei-san. He may not appear it, but Hiei-san is a very kind person, Botan-chan. In fact, he promised to Onii-chan to take care of me." A tear threatened to slide down Yukina's cheek, but she held it back. "Hiei-san is the only connection I have, Botan-chan. He's the only one I have to finding Onii-chan and maybe Otou-san."
Seeing Yukina's reaction softened Botan's heart. At least now she had one reason not to completely hate the Three. Botan would do that much for her orphaned friend. "I-I--I understand, Yukina-chan."
'You need the Three to show the way to your loved ones.'
Wiping away some tears, the sea foam haired girl looked up at her confidant expectantly. "But Botan-chan--"
"Yes?"
"Becareful with that Meiou student. I don't want you to get hurt." The second year's crimson eyes bore into Botan's amethyst ones; she felt like her soul was transparent as crystal. It was like that feeling at the party--Somewhere in Botan's memory, another pair of scarlet orbs flared the same emotions, the same nakedness of her soul. But now was not the time to reminisce.
"Get hurt?" Botan chuckled somewhat nervously. She waved a playful hand at Yukina. "But Yukina-chan, I don't even know Jaganshi-san. And I won't get hurt as long as it stays that way."
"Not Hiei-san, Botan-chan. Another Meiou student," Yukina warned. The voice she was using was intuitive and inscrutable; and it was giving the blue haired one chills down her spine. "There's another Meiou student tied to us, but I'm not sure who. Be careful with that one, Botan-chan, because he has the power to hurt you more than anyone in this world."
About then, the school bell rang.
Lunch was over.
"Ayame-san. We need to talk."
Looking up from her book work and finding herself locked under fierce emerald eyes, Ayame greeted warmly, "Good afternoon to you too, Kurama-san."
"Ayame-san, who is your blue-haired Sarayashiki friend?" By his stern expression, Kurama was in no mood for pleasantries.
The pair of second years was fortunately in an empty library, for Kurama's words were rather dangerous; however, the passive young lady was not fazed and indifferently began to pack away her schoolwork. "My friend, Kurama-san?" the second year girl muttered skeptically, not returning Kurama's gaze. "What words you spout today: must be results from the party. Are you suffering from a severe hangover like Kuronue-san? Or maybe you are in lack of sleep?"
"Ayame-san, do not play games with me right now. I am far from the mood," Kurama glared, his steely expression his proof. "Who was that blue-haired girl at Maya-san's party? I know you know who she is because she was from the Sarayashiki district and an invite from your hand."
An arcane smile appeared on Ayame's face. At first she thought her mission had failed; however, her plan had somehow worked itself out. What wonderful fortune. "And why is it so important to you, Kurama-san, to know who she is?"
"Ayame-san."
"Besides," the second-year girl sighed as she rose from her seat. She closed her book shut and put it away. "If she and her friends had not left as quickly as they did, I am pretty sure you and your friends would have harmed them without a care." A knowing look stabbed at Kurama's conscience. "Promises are easily forgotten through sport, are they not, Kurama-san?"
"I would not have hurt her, Ayame-san, and that's not the reason why I'm looking for her now." At least, that was the reasoning in the young man's mind. He prayed that at least that much was true for himself.
Ayame carefully watched Kurama with sharp blue eyes. Her suspicion was properly placed, considering the situation. "Then why are you looking for this girl, Kurama-san?"
"Because I don't even know her name!" Kurama groaned in aggravation. All of his patience and self-control were now gone. "Ayame-san, she has been haunting me day and night ever since Maya-san's party. I need to know who she is; I need to know if I can see her again! This is all I have been thinking about when I am allowed to think. Even when I'm unconscious she's there in my mind."
Ayame felt moved by Kurama's powerful words: a little, anyway. "And you do not care she is from Sarayashiki High?"
"At this point, it does not even matter if she hates me," the young man added pointedly. His emerald eyes were pouting like a five-year old boy. "I just want to know her name and if I can ever see her again. This is all I am asking from you, Ayame-san."
"All right then." Ayame quickly scribbled something on a piece of paper and handed it willingly to her friend. "This is her address, Kurama-san. And her phone number as well."
"Hanasaki Botan?" the redhead read from the slip of paper, taking it gingerly from Ayame's hands. "A peony?"
"Lovely flowers, are they not?" Ayame smiled serenely, waving good-bye to Kurama.
As blue locks peeked into a darkened dojo, a small voice echoed through the silent room. "Genkai-chan? Genkai-chan, are you here?"
Stopping immediately in her exercises, the Martial artist looked to see who her surprise guest was. "Oh, this is new. Botan-chan, what are you doing here of all places? If you're looking for Urameshi, he isn't here. I probably would have kicked him out of the dojo by now."
"I just came to visit you, if there's anything wrong with that," Botan giggled, tossing Genkai a clean towel. "You've been working so hard since your last tournament, Genkai-chan. I rarely get to see you anymore."
Shrugging, Genkai calmly answered, "I came only in as second place in the last one. I wasn't good enough. But that's all right, I'm going to do much better next time, especially with everything I learned from all of my opponents." After drying off a little, Genkai gave her friend a cunning smile. "So, how was the party? Was it a thrill as you expected?"
Nodding, Botan quietly answered, "And a lot more."
Genkai's eyes quickly narrowed in suspicion of a story. "Spill."
"I-I fell in love at the party."
Rosy eyes suddenly grew wide. "In love? With a Meiou student?"
"Ah--"
"Don't tell me," Genkai quickly muttered, turning away. She sighed at the issues that had just appeared before her. What a mess her friend was in. "Don't tell me anything that'll get you in trouble, Botan-chan. Anything that would be dangerous, keep it to yourself."
Nodding in agreement, Botan murmured, "All right." And she had so hoped Genkai could advise her about her feelings; Genkai was naturally good with advice. Alas, Botan had to face her ordeal alone so it seemed.
"I want to help you, Botan-chan, I really do; but this situation is something that I can't touch. So don't tell me anything, especially anything that'll make Karasu jealous."
At the mention of the name, the sky-haired girl cringed. "Karasu--I forgot all about him. I haven't seen him around as of late, so my mind just pushed him back like it did before, when I first came here." Botan groaned and slumped to the floor: another problem for her. Why did she ever get involved with Karasu in the first place? She should have listened to her parents.
"Botan-chan, even when he's not around, you have to be on your toes as long as he's in the same district," Genkai muttered, restarting her exercises. She gave the air one high kick. "Karasu will go at any lengths to have you back again, even if it's without your consent. And he's going to try and find away that leaves everyone in the dark, especially Urameshi and myself."
"I don't know what to do about Karasu," Botan sighed, drawing dust figures along the floor. "With regular boys, usually when you say no, they're gone for good with some other girl. But Karasu--I came here to live with Yusuke because I didn't know what else I could do but to run from him."
"Then keep on running."
Botan jerked her heads upward in surprise. "What?"
"Keep on running," Genkai continued, giving the air another right straight. "If that's all you can do, just keep on running, Botan-chan. And while you run away, the rest of your friends will fight and place obstacles in Karasu's way. We'll find a way to stop him while you run as far and as fast as you can."
"I hope I find someone to run with," Botan murmured with a small pout. "Running alone gets really lonely."
"I'm sure you'll find someone," Genkai assured.
"I'm home!" Botan sighed happily as she skipped through the front yard and ran towards the door. After making her quick visit with Genkai, Hanasaki had made her way home as fast as she could, knowing she had the house to herself for most of tonight. She merrily whipped out her house key and nearly unlocked the door when--
"I wish I had realized that you were from Sarayashiki High sooner, Botan-san. Your clues were so obvious, as if you wanted me to know who you were."
Botan froze at the doorway, her heart skipping a beat. She could recognize that voice from anywhere; and the terrible fact was she recognized it now. 'Oh, my God! It can't be him. He can't be HERE. He just can't be.' Slowly and shakily, Botan turned to see a familiar handsome redhead.
"But then again," Kurama chuckled as he stepped unknowingly into the Urameshi front yard, "that would have gotten you in trouble at that party, I believe?"
"What in the world are you doing here, Minamino?" Botan demanded in fear.
Kurama smiled serenely at Botan as he stepped right in front of her. "So, you discovered my other name. I have to admit, Botan-san, you are a rather mysterious and resourceful girl who is really hard to find. I just cannot believe that I did not realize you were the sixth member of the Sarayashiki party that night. And please, call me Kurama, like the night I told you my name."
"Minamino, you have to get out of here," Botan whispered, still in shock. She had completely ignored Kurama's request and was only thinking of worst-case scenarios. "You can't stay here, especially here, Minamino! Please leave before you get in trouble!"
"How are you allowed to step deep into the Meiou district without getting hurt?" Kurama inquired with a slight tilt of his head. "If it's easy for you to get into a rival district without problems, I'm thinking it shouldn't be so hard for me either."
"Please, Minamino!" Botan begged, grabbing Kurama's sleeve desperately. "Please leave here now! I do not want you hurt!"
And when Kurama saw the fear in the lavender pools, the young man felt compelled to obey; however, he needed his questions and desires answered first. Only after that would he leave. "Botan-san, I will leave as soon as you answer my questions and cease calling me 'Minamino.' So please calm down and do not worry. It will help the both of us."
"Kurama-san, why are you here?" Botan demanded, wanting the inquiry quickly done.
"That was my question for you," Kurama replied in reaction.
The young lady sighed. "I live here, Kurama-san."
"No," Kurama chuckled, smiling apologetically, "that is not what I meant, Botan-san. What I meant was why are you here in Sarayashiki? Why aren't you in Meiou like you said at the party?"
"I never said I attended Meiou High, Kurama-san," Botan firmly answered, crossing her arms sternly. "I only told you I was a first year in high school."
"But you said you were new to the district!"
"Meaning that was my first time visiting Meiou," the young lady defended. "And that was most definitely the truth." Kurama realized he was fighting a losing battle. This young woman was a true trickster; and Kurama did not know whether to be impressed or hurt by her lies.
'She's no different from Her. But--But her eyes say differently.'
"So why did you dance with me if you knew perfectly well I was a Meiou student? Why put yourself through the trouble?" There was bitterness now in Kurama's cool voice, and Botan could not help but to notice the change in tone.
"I danced with you, Kurama-san, because my friend told me that I would make a friend from you."
"Do you usually kiss newly made friends, Botan-san? And with that much passion?" Kurama cut in coldly. He felt betrayed and hurt once more, for he had fallen for another cruel vixen's game. A girl he had finally thought dissimilar was no different than any other woman who had looked his way. Why was Fate so cruel to him?
Minamino's words lashed maliciously at Botan's heart, and he probably did not know it. But Botan would remain strong; she had to. "No, I don't usually kiss new friends, Kurama-san. But I thought you were different. I had faith in you."
"But when you found out who I was, you ran away," Kurama snapped, the young man burrowing himself in all of his fury. "I hardly call that faith, Botan-san."
The tone Kurama used offended and hurt Botan all at once. She felt her own anger begin to boil. "I didn't run away from you, Kurama-san! I ran away from your friends who were going to hurt me!"
"Not if I stopped them," came the retort.
"But they would have hurt MY friends."
"None of you should have been there in the first place," Kurama snapped back.
Botan instantly replied, "Like you shouldn't be here now."
Realization struck Kurama hard as he awakened from his rage, and he felt waves guilt and failure. Everything he had aimed for was veering badly of course. Kurama had ventured to Sarayashiki to find his mystery maiden, not to argue with her and build a wall because of an ancient feud. He felt like an idiot. "I'm sorry, Botan-san," Kurama apologized, letting go of his anger. "I'm sorry, I did not mean to yell at you like that. I did not mean for us to meet like this."
"No, I'm sorry for all of this, Kurama-san," Botan murmured, blushing in embarrassment. Her eyes abruptly became firm, and in a strangely solemn voice, Botan said, "Please, Kurama-san, please just leave Sarayashiki now before trouble starts."
Not wanting to fight Botan or upset her anymore, Kurama began to make his way down the street. Before he left her yard though, the young man turned around and stared directly into Botan's beautiful eyes. "Botan-san, is there a way we can see each other again?"
Biting her lip apprehensively, Botan honestly answered, "I don't know, Kurama-san. And I don't think it would be a good idea."
"But I want to see you again, Botan-san," Kurama murmured softly. There was a wistful look in his emerald eyes, and Botan knew she was falling in love all over again. The emotions bubbling inside her willingly believed Kurama and everything he said (even if he was a Meiou student).
"Really, Kurama-san? Do you mean what you say?"
Nodding, the youth replied, "If you have no objections."
Botan pondered wordlessly a moment before she came to a solution. She silently thanked Ayame for the answer. "Kurama-san, would you by chance know that small café a little bit out of town, in the neutral territory?"
"Yes." Kurama smiled at Botan's wonderful idea. This girl truly was different from the others; she, at the very least, used her head.
"Do you think you could be there at seven at night?"
Kurama could not possibly grin any more or be pleased further. Fate was finally on his side: finally. "Which night would you like, Botan-san?"
"Whichever night you wish, Kurama-san."
The redhead pondered a while before he sly asked, "Would all of them be all right?"
Botan gasped; she had not expected that question. The young lady had nearly fallen over from shock. Kurama certainly was a persistent young man. He was almost too persistent, like Karasu. And in Botan's universe, her world froze, her mind panicking. Would Kurama be a repeat of Karasu? Was she falling into another endless hole?
'What am I doing to myself?'
"All of them, Kurama-san?"
"Well, you don't mind do you?" Kurama grinned, his green eyes filled with pleasure. "I was not lying when I said I wanted to see you again, Botan-san. And I will take as many chances as I can get to achieve that. Shall I see you tomorrow night at seven?"
Kurama's warm, sincere voice was nothing like the empty, seductive tone Karasu used. The two young men were polar opposites, and Botan was pleased about this. She possibly might have found someone who was not evil by nature, someone who would not harm her selfishly. Botan prayed desperately that Kurama would prove her right.
"Yes, yes, you will, Kurama-san. I'll see you tomorrow night at seven."
On the other side of town, the Meiou district, Fate was creating another net of hearts.
"Well, well, look what we have here," a thug cackled as he circled around a girl. "Now where does this blue uniform seem familiar?"
"A Sarayashiki girl," another jittered. "Never seen them around here."
"Heh, how much should we make her pay for crossing?"
"Please, may I just pass by? I have nothing to give you," the defenseless girl pleaded, frightened by these human vultures. The pack of ravenous wolves continued to mercilessly circle the poor maiden.
Walking down the street, Jin tried his best to ignore the lower class street fighters. Although he was in a mood for a brief brawl, the young man knew better than to waste his time with those boys; he would have them begging for mercy in less than ten seconds. But Fate had other ideas. Jin, for some unknown reason, turned his cerulean eyes towards the worthless gang and caught sight of an unfortunate girl stuck in the middle. And although the stranger was a grade-A beauty, the object that really caught Jin's attention was the pendant around the girl's neck. He knew right away what he had to do.
"There you are! I was wondering when you would get here, woman!"
The boys eyeing the young girl earlier turned and stared at Jin in fear. "You know her, Shinobi?"
"Know her? She's my girl, you knuckle brains," Jin snapped irritably, grabbing the stranger's wrist and speedily pulling her away from the shoddy crowd. "And if any of you needle heads ever make a move on her again, not only will you have to answer to me, but the Three as well. You hear?"
"The Three?" The thugs' faces all paled at the thought of the Three's wrath. The Three showed no mercy to any of their opponents, even if they were from the same district.
"Yup," Jin chirped, walking away with his prize. "Now scat, all of you, before Hiei or Kuronue hears about this." Obeying quickly, the gangsters scurried away.
"Can you believe it? Shinobi is with a Sarayashiki girl!"
"This is going to be bad, especially for our school."
"Who cares? He's digging his own grave."
When her attackers were out of sight, Jin and Yukina both breathed soft sighs of relief. "There, you're safe now," Jin grinned as he continued to lead Yukina down the streets but at a slightly slower pace. "Sorry that I didn't recognize you sooner or else I would have nipped you out of there before anything happened in the first place."
"You know who I am?" Yukina whispered in fear, anxiety returning to her.
Seeing the lass's frightened expression, Jin answered with warm assurance, "Oh, don't worry, miss. I don't know exactly WHO you are, like your name or where you're from or where you live, but I know that you're here to see Hiei. Am I right?"
Nodding, Yukina muttered, "How did you know?"
"That necklace," Jin replied, pointing to his own neckline symbolically. "I could recognize your pendant from anywhere. I nearly had my hand cut off just for even touching the thing. And that mistake I won't be making again, if you know what I mean."
"Is Hiei-san like that?" Yukina inquired with wide frightened eyes. Her question was vague, but the idea behind it was rather clear. Jin blushed embarrassingly when he realized he had spooked the pretty girl.
'Way to go, Jin, scaring the lass. You're always scaring the girls with your damn big mouth.'
"A figure of speech. Hiei really wouldn't do something that (to a friend at least), but he wouldn't just give that charm to anyone unless she was really important, like you must be. Anyway," Jin laughed merrily, prominently lightening the mood, "I guess it's about time I take you to Hiei's house, ne? Isn't that why you wandered to here?"
"Yes," Yukina murmured sheepishly.
"My name is Koorime Yukina," the girl introduced, bowing politely to the Meiou student.
"Oh." Jin blushed and bowed as well; however, out of habit, the European boy also held his hand out Yukina. Jin's blue eyes twinkled brightly. "And I'm Shinobi Jin. Please, let me take you there. I promise you won't meet any trouble with me around."
Taking the spirited redhead's hand, Yukina smiled cheerily and received a toothy grin in return. Meiou students definitely were not as bad as rumored.
"Syuuichi-kun, do you have anything planned tomorrow night?"
Looking up from his dinner, Kurama blinked curiously at his mother. "Tomorrow night? Why, Okaa-san?"
"Well," Shiori smiled sweetly, standing from her seat and putting her own dishes away, "I want you to meet someone. Or really, I wanted you to meet Kenji-san and his son, Shuuichi-chan. We were going to go out for dinner tomorrow night at seven."
Kurama had returned home less than an hour ago, meeting his worried mother at the door. Because of his travels in Sarayashiki, Kurama had arrived home two hours later than usual; many rumors about dangerous gangs flew across the district, and Minamino Syuuichi was not one to be tardy. Thus, Minamino Shiori had worried for her only son's safety.
"At seven?" Kurama frowned, disliking the dilemma he found himself in. Fate had switched sides on him once more. 'But I'm supposed to meet Botan-san tomorrow night at the café. Curses. I'm on thin ice as it is, and I'm quite sure there will be nothing for me to salvage if I miss our date tomorrow night.'
Sensing her son's discomfort, Shiori put down her chopsticks and questioned, "Is there something wrong, Syuuichi-kun? Did you already have plans?"
"Ah, well sort of," Kurama blushed. He felt a little embarrassed his mother had caught him in the middle of his thoughts. "But I can cancel my plans if you want me to, Okaa-san." In a split second, Kurama had made his decision. 'Okaa-san's happiness must always come before mine, no matter how much I hurt. She has done it for me, and I must repay her love.'
Her motherly senses being suspicious, Shiori immediately protested, "No, I wouldn't want you to do something like that, Syuuichi-kun. You shouldn't cancel anything on my account."
"Well," Kurama laughed lightly, "I had promised to meet this girl tomorrow at seven, but I just can't deny an invitation to dine with you and Hatanaka-san. It is as important to me as it is to you, Okaa-san. I'm sure that I can cancel a date for once and spend time with Okaa-san and her new beau."
"Why don't you invite your friend to dinner, Syuuichi-kun?" Shiori smiled, resuming eating. "I'm sure Kenji-san and Shuuichi-chan wouldn't mind having another guest, especially if she's as sweet as you make her to be."
"I don't think I could, Okaa-san," Kurama chuckled nervously. "We just started seeing each other, and I think she's a little uneasy just being around me. Asking her to dinner might scare her off."
'And ruin any chances I had left with her.'
"I don't think so, Syuuichi-kun," Shiori assured her son. "You've always been able to have your way with girls. Anyway, I think your friend might enjoy getting to know your family; not many people know enough about you, Syuuichi-kun. She'll see it as a perfect opportunity for herself."
'She's right,' Kurama sighed to himself in defeat. 'Okaa-san is right. She's always right. Why couldn't I have a friend with this kind of genius?'
"As you wish, Okaa-san."
"What are you doing here?"
Yukina blushed as she shyly stared at the ground. "Oh, I'm sorry if this is a bad time, and excuse me for not calling ahead--it's just--it's just that I really wanted to speak with you, Hiei-san."
Hiei blushed. Here he was standing in the doorway in front of a guest (a lady no less), and he wore nothing but black slacks. "Come in." Opening the door wider for Yukina, Hiei quickly retreated to his room. Yukina closed the door quietly behind her, surprised by her own initiative.
'I've come this far,' Yukina told herself. 'I can't cower and go home now.'
After Hiei returned from his room and wore something more appropriate, he seated Yukina and himself in the living room. Black leather couches, tinted with setting sun, awaited the pair. Once settled with some tea and snacks (and all other etiquette completed), Hiei asked, "How did you get here, Yukina-san? Did you run into any trouble along the way?"
Yukina shook her head. "I ran into a little trouble when I first entered the district, but a friend of yours, Hiei-san, kindly helped me there and the rest of the way."
Hiei raised a brow at Yukina's words. "A friend of mine?"
"Um," Yukina pondered, placing a thoughtful finger on her chin, "Jin-san, I think his name was. He's a taller young man with wild fiery hair and very cheery blue eyes. He was quite nice and very polite."
At the description, Hiei sighed in relief and ran a hand through his unruly hair. "That's Jin. All right, then that's fine. He's a better fighter than Touya, so he'll do a better job at protecting you if any trouble comes around. Although I would feel a hell lot better if you had met Kurama or Suzuki instead; at least they have the best manners and can keep their hands to themselves."
"Do you live alone, Hiei-san?" Yukina wondered as she looked around. The apartment was strangely quiet and in order, almost as if no one lived there. Other than the room's furnishings, there was no sign of life within the home.
"Until my stepmother calls me back home, I live alone for now," Hiei muttered as he closed his eyes and leaned against the couch. His stepmother: a person he never wanted to see again, if he had a choice. Whenever they met, she always received punishment from the clan for whatever he had done to anger it. He did not want to see her again if it meant she would get hurt because of him.
Yukina's ruby eyes widened slightly. "Your stepmother?"
"Do you live alone as well, Yukina-san?" Hiei questioned, wanting to change the subject. Issues dealing with family (excluding his sister) were topics the young man hated with passion; they never died nor left him in peace. Instead, they would always find some way to haunt him.
Nodding in answer, Yukina replied amiably, "Yes. Okaa-san had no living relatives, and Otou-san's identity is unknown, so I'm on my own. I don't have anyone to depend on."
Hiei suddenly grew worried. He had no idea that Yukina was worse off than he was. He, at least, had the family clan and his stepmother for assistance. Yukina, who deserved everything, had nothing. "What about money? And where are you staying, Yukina-san?"
"Well, Okaa-san had a small fortune hidden safely away," Yukina grinned with a thankful smile. "So fortunately I have enough money to get me through high school. And the landlady was quite close to Okaa-san and me, so she is letting me stay in the apartment I've lived in with a small fee. I only need a part-time job if I want to be frivolous here and there."
Yukina's words had removed a chunk of Hiei's fears, however, the Meiou boy still pitied the young lady before him. She deserved so much better; she should not have to work at all. "Then you're just lonely," Hiei muttered, refocusing on Yukina's main need. "Like me."
"But you have family, Hiei-san," Yukina replied, a little surprised. "And you also have many friends. How can you be lonely?" To Yukina, Hiei did not seem the lonely type. Never had she considered the young man alone or to feel loneliness. A kind, sweet person as Hiei surely would have hordes of friends beckoning for his company; Yukina was sure of that.
"Friends aren't the same as family. And I have no family," Hiei growled fiercely. "Only my little sister."
Yukina placed her hand over Hiei's, surprising the young man. He stared into crimson orbs that were a reflection of his own. Hiei could warmth radiating from Yukina's eyes, warmth like from the burning sun. "But now, Hiei-san, you have me as well. I'll be a part of your family, if you don't mind."
Smirking somewhat and turning away from the young lady, Hiei rose from his seat and looked out his windows. Yukina could only see his black silhouette against the orange-red setting sun. "Do whatever you want, Yukina-san. I don't really care. If you really want, Yukina-san, you can be related to a monster like me."
"But you're not--"
"But if you get hurt by me, you have to promise to run away from me," Hiei quickly put in, his back still towards his sister. The Meiou student's voice had taken a darker tone. "Promise to me, Yukina-san, you'll run away from me if I hurt you."
"Hiei-san."
Turning around and grabbing Yukina by the shoulders, Hiei slightly yelled, "I don't want to hurt you, Yukina-san, but I'm a bad person! I'm a bad person, so it may not be on purpose if I hurt you. I don't want to cause you any pain, Yukina-san; so if I do, please, promise that you'll run away."
"I can't."
"What?"
Staring Hiei straight in his eyes, Yukina murmured firmly, "No matter how much you hurt me, Hiei-san, I won't run away from you. You're the only family I have until I find my brother. And I need you to find him." Tears were now streaming down Yukina's face. "So until I find my brother, I'm not going to run away from you! I won't leave you alone and I won't run away no matter how much you hurt me, Hiei-san!"
Hiei released Yukina from his hold, allowing the girl to easily slump onto the couch. Taking a few steps back, Hiei rested himself on a seat in front of Yukina. "What a fool," Hiei muttered with a small smile, his head bowed. "What a fool I am."
The sun sank behind the city's horizon.
"Do you always have strange girls meet your parents for a first date?" Botan questioned curiously as she and Kurama walked down Sarayashiki streets. Botan's sky hair was unusually tied tightly in a bun, only two tendrils of her lining her face; basic makeup was applied on the girl's face, accentuating her natural features; and she wore a stylish ebony turtle neck, a long sable skirt with glittering red rose patterns, and black sandals to match.
Kurama sported a midnight blue jacket, a white shirt, a light blue tie, and black slacks. Nothing special had been done for his hair, but that was always a beautiful aspect of Kurama. But clothing mattered little presently.
"No, I usually don't," Kurama admitted sheepishly, the young man blushing a pink hue. "I'm sorry, Botan-san. I wanted us to start a little more slowly, but as you saw tonight, Okaa-san wanted me to meet her boyfriend and his son, and I just couldn't--"
"I understand," Botan answered cheerily. "You didn't want to cancel our plans and couldn't cancel with your mother, so you sort of merged them together. It's quite all right. Besides, it was nice meeting your mother, Kurama-san. Shiori-san is a very kind person."
"Will I get to meet your family soon, Botan-san?" Kurama asked hopefully.
Laughing kindly at Kurama's suggestion, Botan replied with a sigh, "Not as soon as you think, Kurama-san. I don't think they would be as accepting with a sudden boyfriend at their door. Besides, I don't live with my family."
"Oh, I see." Kurama decided to change the subject. "I've been wondering something all night, Botan-san. How was it at dinner you knew so much about me? Every time my mother, Hatanaka-san, or Shuuichi-kun asked you a question about me, you knew the answer. You gave everyone the impression we had been dating each other for some time."
"It's amazing what street talk can teach you," was Botan's simple answer, a secretive smile lighting her amethyst eyes. "And it's amazing how infamous you are at Sarayashiki High, Kurama-san: your student and street life."
"And it's amazing a person as yourself is not more popular at Meiou," Kurama commented, resisting the urge to applaud. "Someone like you, Botan-san, makes the greatest impressions on people; and people love talking about people like you, Botan-san."
"I think my small existence is quite fine," Botan laughed, taking Kurama's hand in her own. "Less Meiou boys likely to come after me."
"We should hope," Kurama frowned, holding Botan's hand firmly. He definitely did not like the idea other boys, even his good friends, seeking out Botan's attention. He was even surprised that he would keep Botan even away from Kuronue (or was it especially from Kuronue?). The thoughts deeply disturbed Kurama.
'Since when did I become so possessive? I've only known her for two days now.'
"You shouldn't have walked with me here, Kurama-san," Botan whispered as she stood in front of the Urameshi house (still unknown to Kurama). She had released Kurama's hand and was now standing in front of him. "It isn't safe for any Meiou students here, and you're easily recognized."
"But I don't want anything happening to you," Kurama responded with as much concern as Botan. He felt some loss when Botan was no longer by his side, her hand in his, but he would make up for that. "Besides, it's already dark, and a lady like you shouldn't be walking alone at night."
"But it's so deep into our district. What if you're caught?"
With a foxy smile, the young crimson locked prince assured, "Don't worry, Botan-san. I won't be. I'll never be caught here."
"Do you promise that, Kurama-san?" Botan asked sternly. She somewhat doubted Kurama's words. Botan held out her right pinky to Kurama. "Do you promise not to get hurt or make me worry?"
Hooking his right pinky around hers, Kurama answered with a smile, "I promise."
And to Botan's surprise, he kissed her.
A kiss to seal a promise.