Here is the next chapter I promised you guys. Things start to heat up between Hiei and Aki! Oh, and in case any of you are wondering what my character's name translates to, Aki means Autumn. I thought the name matched my character perfectly, and apparently, it does.

KURAMA: :pops up out of nowhere: Yes, I agree! Am I going to be in this chapter, too?

ANNEMARIEH: Kurama, I'm beginning to wonder if your gentlemanly nature is just a disguise for your insanity…

KURAMA: It's not. It's what I have in place of Youko. Would you prefer him or me?

:sounds kind of challenging, but I assume that is Youko speaking:

ANNEMARIEH: Um….Actually Kurama, I much prefer you, and yes you will be in this chapter as well so chill! By the way, have you seen Hiei?

KURAMA: Hmmm…nope! Not at all! Don't worry! I'm sure he'll come around here sooner or later when you're trying to write more of your story.

ANNEMARIEH: That's exactly what I'm afraid of….

I yawned and stretched, only to be immediately engulfed in agonizing pain. Gods, why did my muscles hurt so bad? 'Oh yeah.' I thought drowsily, 'I ran away from my father's and met that strange freak Hiei, and his super-nice friend Kurama and his friends, and suffered fro a major headache. Everything is perfectly fine.'

Actually, I couldn't be more wrong. Everything was not fine, as I soon discovered I wasn't the only entity in the room. I jumped when I heard a deep, masculine voice address me. The voice was familiar, and I spun around to face a lone figure standing in the corner, his body cloaked completely in shadow except for the silver katana at his side. Memories came rushing back to me, and I sucked in a breath of air as the figure's name found its way back to me. I looked up at the person fearfully. "Hiei?..."

Hiei stood up straight and stepped forward, separating from the darkness and walking over to me casually. His sword jingled in its scabbard at his side as he walked. He stopped mere inches from me, leering down at me with an intimidating glare. I supposed I might as well get used to it. Maybe this was his way of saying 'hi'?

I dared myself to look up at him and meet his blood-red gaze. Yes, his eyes still held that magical effect on me. Every time I looked into them, I felt as though I was slowly being sucked into his gaze, only to realize it was a trap. And then he would hold me forever prisoner until he decided to let me go, and I doubt he would do that. His eyes glittered curiously, as though he were faintly interested in me, although he didn't say it. His thin, crescent lips curled up slowly into a look of slight disgust. Yes, he still didn't like me like yesterday. I figured it would be awhile before he would trust me like I was hesitant to trust him. I knew he was very dangerous!

I shifted uncomfortably under his piercing gaze and averted my gaze elsewhere, preferably the ground. He hn'ed in response and stepped back, no longer concerned about me. I sighed and shuddered involuntarily. He felt so warm, and my body deeply craved him to stay by my side while my mind did not. What was going? I hardly even knew the guy! Wait, that was incorrect. I didn't know the guy. And I doubt he would let me get to know him.

Suddenly, Hiei decided it was fair enough to actually grace me with his voice. " Something in Japanese.>"he said, his tone vibrating through the awkward silence and reaching my sensitive ears. I shivered and became curious as to what he had said. After all, I didn't understand Japanese! I eyed him curiously. "What did you say? I'm afraid I don't understand Japanese." I replied, only to realize it was a waste of my breath to speak. Hiei couldn't understand English!

But, unlike me, he was curious and wanted to know what I had said. His brow furrowed in confusion and he stepped closer to me before kneeling down on one leg and bringing his face inches from mine. That incredible heat his body seemed to produce returned and wrapped itself tauntingly around me.

I bit back a shiver and withdrew from him slowly. He honestly didn't care about invading someone's personal space, now did he? Hiei smirked, but did nothing more. " Something in Japanese? " he asked, his tone slightly curt and demanding. It was obvious he wanted to know what I had said to him, and he wasn't going to leave me alone until I explained myself.

But how are you to explain something in English to someone who didn't even speak or understand it?

I sighed and stepped back from him before glancing at him sadly, letting him know I hadn't said anything offensive and that my words were of no importance. Hiei didn't seem remotely convinced but snorted and stood up before retreating back to his 'corner of darkness'. There, he crossed his arms over his chest and glared at me coldly. He was back to staring at me with that untrusting look. Oh well, at least I tried to get on his good side. And then I laughed. Maybe Hiei didn't even have a good side! And if he did, I wonder where he hid it?...

I was snapped out of my thoughts as the wooden door slide open and in stepped Kurama along with the blue-haired girl from yesterday. It was Botan. Kurama smiled in relief upon seeing me awake. "It's good to see you're up now, Aki! I'm sure I've introduced you to Botan yesterday, correct?" he asked, and I nodded in agreement. Botan took this as if on cue and jumped in front of Kurama. She smiled down at me with an eerie, and almost crazy, smile plastered on her lips.

"Hello, Aki! Pleasure to see you again, even though we met just yesterday and all!" she spoke loudly, causing me to jump clean out of the bed sheets. I placed a hand over my racing heart and didn't notice how Hiei was chuckling slightly to himself in the corner. I looked up at Botan in bewilderment, and she smiled all the more brightly. "Erm…it's nice to meet you too, Botan. Since when did you speak English?" I asked slowly, daring myself to speak to her. Botan clapped her hands together excitedly. "Oh, I'm supposed to know how to speak it! I'm the Grim reaper and I have to know all the languages on the planet to communicate to the different souls I cart to Reikai!"

Okay, at least I knew one thing was correct. This girl was nuts. Just what the hell was a 'Reikai'? And how could this bright, bubbly person be the Grim Reaper? I thought the Grim Reaper was supposed to be a rotting bag of bones with a black cape and a sickle and….

I was snapped out of my wild thoughts by the sound of Hiei's cold laughter. I wasn't the only one to turn to him in surprise. " Something in Japanese!.>" he said to Kurama, chuckling slightly. Kurama frowned and turned back around to face me.

"You do understand what Botan is saying, right?" he asked hopefully, and I bit my tongue to refrain from shouting in his face. I nodded my head slowly and glanced over his shoulder at Hiei, who had a very smug expression on his face. I knew that he understand the situation. He knew that I didn't believe a damn thing Botan had said.

Kurama noticed I was looking past him at Hiei. He smirked. "I see you've already met Hiei this morning. Did you two get along after what happened yesterday?" he said playfully, raising an eyebrow curiously. I didn't understand what he had been implying, but I'm sure it wasn't as innocent as it seemed. I was more concerned on how he knew what happened between us. "How did you know?" I asked, and the red-head shrugged. "Hiei told me." He replied simply, ending the conversation right there.

"Come on Botan. Let's let Aki here get some clothes on. I'm sure she'd like to change." He said, and Botan stood up. She smiled at me cheerfully before strutting out of the room. Kurama turned to go, and Hiei made no sign that he was planning on leaving (A/N: loyal little thing, ne?) I stopped Kurama before he could leave. "Kurama, um…where do I get clean clothes?" I asked, barely above a whisper. I felt so humiliated asking him such a stupid question. He pointed to a door behind me. "The closet's right there, and if you need to take a shower, follow me." He replied. I smiled and stood up, walking over to the closet and ignoring Hiei as he continued to watch me closely. Gods, did the guy have a staring problem or what!

I gasped at the large variety of beautiful clothing before me. 'My history book wasn't kidding on how the Japanese prided themselves with detail.' I thought in amusement, pulling out a pair of satin black pants and a white shirt with a single red rose in the center. When I came back out of the closet, I was relieved to see that Hiei had finally left, thank god. There was something about him that made me… desire… him, and that was a feeling I was not used to at all. I had never desired anyone before, and I sure as hell wasn't ready to start doing it now!

Kurama stood waiting patiently outside the room and lead me to the bathroom. This temple-place was pretty big! If I didn't have someone like Kurama to show me around, I might get lost! He opened the door and I was relieved to see the bathroom was just like the one back at my father's home. My father's. I shivered upon remembering him, but the sudden fear was quickly drowned with confidence. I was finally free of him now. I would never have to worry about him again. EVER.

I thanked Kurama for helping me out before closing the door and locking it. I was finally to myself now, and I would relieve any fears that I had. This was my time, and no one was going to ruin it. Not even those who I considered my friends.

I turned on the water before taking my shower, unaware of the hidden entity watching me closely.

Whew! That was along one! My brain really hurts now, but it was worth it! Please tell me what you think!