Well, have I got several things to discuss with you readers about today! Phew! It seems quite a few of you are mad at me for the lack of updates, and I must start by saying "I AM REALLY REALLY REALLY SORRY!!" It's just that, life demands so much of your time and energy. . Also, most of you don't seem to appreciate the little 'language barrier' I've created. Hehehe. This one is my favorite. :)

I know a handful of you would probably more than likely love for this to be removed so Hiei and Akira can… 'understand'…. each other more, but think about it. Knowing Hiei and his given attitude, would you really want to hear and understand half of the things that come out of his bad-boy mouth? I wouldn't!!

I could just be a bitch and KEEP IT, but… I don't want to lose my reviewers by doing that. So instead, I've set up a compromise: I'll remove the language barrier and let them understand one another, as long as you tell me how great my story is in your reviews!!

ALSO, have any of you ever heard of Blkwidow77? If you have, she's posting up new chapters on , and would love it if you people could read her story. But make sure you review to her latest chapter, because she's gonna hide the next one! (You know, maybe I should start doing that…) If you HAVEN'T heard of her, go check it out anyway! Her stories are worth reading! Just like MINE, of course….

:::smiles brightly before Hiei shakes her roughly:::

HIEI: Onna, get back to writing! Stop with all these incessant delays!

ANNEMARIEH: Oh? But I thought you didn't like my story.

HIEI: :::turning a slight pink::: You're right, I don't. I just like seeing you make a fool of yourself by slipping up on that laptop thing of yours.

:::He says his words alittle too quickly. I smirk:::

ANNEMARIEH: Uh-huh… riiighhhttt…

HIEI: :::growling::: Fine! You can just stay tied to that tree all damn night!

:::prepares to storm off::: :::Kurama stops him:::

KURAMA: Not so fast Hiei, we both agreed to let her go after the last chapter. I do believe she's earned her freedom?

ANNEMARIEH: Yeah, you tell him Kurama! :(

HIEI: :::looking incredibly pissed::: Whatever! Let her go! I could care less….

:::but he relays a message to me using his Jagan Eye:::

HIEI: But you just wait, onna. The moment you leave Kurama's care…. I kill you….

ANNEMARIEH: :::sweating profusely::: I think I'm in trouble…

Pain. It was among one of the first things I remember feeling when I woke up. And it was intense. My head was pounding viciously as though my heart had been moved up there. I wanted to cry. It was so terrible. It hurt so bad….. And then, I felt a hand. Cool and soft, the fingers splayed out across my forehead. The owner's touch was gentle, and for some odd reason, it seemed to dull the sharp ache in my head, as well as in the rest of my body.

I lay there like that, enjoying the touch, for several moments, before opening my eyes with a sigh. My vision, blurred with tears, cleared and I saw faces. Faces of a lot of people!

I gasped and sat up quickly, I bit too quickly for my body's liking, however. My world tilted and I held my head in an attempt to keep it in place. Damn, what the hell was going on here? Why was I lying in bed with everyone, and I mean EVERYONE around me?

I thought hard, despite the throbbing ache, and tried to remember. To recall anything that might've lead to this…. And then it all came tumbling back, the events that triggered my current condition. That Koenma guy, who said I was a demon and was being chased by bounty hunters. What the hell was all that about? There's no way he could've been serious. It was all an elaborate joke, meant to scare me. There's no way I could be a demon… right?

I shivered, ignoring everyone's anxious looks, and swung my legs over the side of the bed, and prepared to stand. Kurama, who was standing closest to me, reached out and placed a hand firmly on my shoulder. I flinched at the sudden contact, and eyed him in concern, letting him know full-well I was still untrusting of males… especially ones who put their hands on me without my permission…

He smiled and loosened his grip, but did not remove his hand. "Aki, you need to lie down and rest alittle more. You gave us all quite a scare passing out like that! You hit your head so hard, we thought you had left us!" I could tell by his tone that he was trying to enlighten the mood in everyone, myself included, but he was hiding something. There was something he wasn't saying.

I shrugged off his hand and stood before he could do anything about it. I glanced around the room and noted everyone was there. Yukina, Botan, Yusuke, Kuwabara, the old lady…… and Hiei. Yes, even he was here, standing quietly against the far left corner of the wall, head bowed in thought. He was so still and quiet, he acted as though he wasn't even there at all!

Hiei seemed to sense that I was staring at him and picked his head up sharply, glaring at me hatefully. "What are you staring at, woman?" he growled, and I nearly fell backwards on to the floor, the shock was too great! How did he?- How did I?- What's going on here??!!

I turned to Kurama, frantic, and tugged his sleeve. "Kurama, what the heck is going on? Since when am I able to understand what he says?" I asked in a rush, and I was surprised that he had understood every word that I had said. He patted my shoulder. "While you were out, Koenma gave you, a 'potion', and it allows you to speak and understand Japanese." He stated calmly, a though he really believed this absurd fact. Don't tell me Koenma had suckered in all of these guys. Did they really believe there was a potion that could let me speak Japanese? As if! The only logical explanation to all of this was that I was dreaming….

"Tch. You really are an idiot. Did you not hear a single word he said? You speak Japanese now." Hiei said from across his corner, pushing himself off the wall and walking over to us casually. I couldn't help but to cringe as he drew closer, the memory of him touching me still imprinted deeply in my mind. Why was it that he desired to torment me so? Was this his revenge for me disturbing him that rainy day when we had met?

He stopped short before us, a look of mild disgust etched across his features. He turned his full attention to me and locked gazes, and I curled in deeper….. "You may be a new asset to our team, but don't expect me to ever welcome you as one. You are still the worthless fool I first met." He said in a bland voice, but he couldn't hide the ridicule and contempt in his tone. Actually, I don't think he even tried to.

I stared at him in shock as he swiftly turned on his heel and left the room, without another word or a single glance back. Leaving me to struggle with the confusion and hurt that followed afterwards in his wake. I don't know why his words stung so bad; maybe it was because I could understand him now. However, the odd thing was, when I spoke in Japanese, I still felt like I was speaking English.

I moaned as the pain in my head came back ten-fold, and I wobbled on my feet. Maybe, I should listen to Kurama and rest a bit. It might be able to prepare me for more of Hiei's nastiness!!

I glanced at Kurama, who was still watching me like a hawk from the sidelines, waiting to see how I would react to what the dark youth had said. I offered him a faint smile, just so he would stop looking at me like that. Seriously, since when did he decide to up and be my nanny? He blinked, and his eyes softened greatly. "My apologies Aki. That's just his way of a greeting. He isn't too trusting of others, but I'm sure once you get to know him, you'll see what a real softie he is on the inside."

I nodded my head slowly, shrugging a bit. I don't think he even knows what or who he's talking about. That prick, a softie? Like Hell….

My attention was turned from Kurama to the old lady when she spoke up, startling me out of my thoughts. "Kurama, you failed to mention the other half of the story with Koenma. You can't keep everything from the girl." The woman said, looking at me with a neutral expression. I shivered. Don't tell me she's like all the others. She's too old to be acting like another freak. Haven't I dealt with enough of them today?

Kurama sighed, a grim expression befitting his features before he turned to me. "Aki, I have something else to tell you." He started, and I wish he'd cut with the theatrics and get to the point already! "….Because of recent events and the hunters that are after you, Koenma has assigned one of us to supervise you as well as train you, in case anyone should attack." I blinked. That's it? That's the bad news? I get to learn how to fight? How is that bad?

Wait, it's not bad. It's GREAT!! Finally, I have a worthy excuse to kick a$$, and I'm more than ready to train! But, which one of these freaks volunteered for the job??

I tilted my head to the side, pretending to be suddenly curious in what it was he had to say. "Okay Kurama, I understand." I said sweetly, and he looked at me in surprise. "You do?" he replied, perplexed out how easily I had accepted his little speech. Sure, why not? I can take whatever these loonies throw at me…

"I'd love to train! But, who will be training me?" I continued, pretending to study the nails on my hand. I just have to keep up the act for alittle while longer. He smiled. "Well, if it pleases you, I will be your secondary teacher when it comes to training…." Whoa whoa whoa. Rewind!! What does he mean 'secondary'? Who's the first freak to train me??

I held a hand up to silence him, and he stopped, eyeing me in concern and question. "Yes, Aki?" he asked, and I frowned. "You said secondary. You mean to tell me, more than one person plans on training me?" He nodded. "Okay…. Who's the first teacher?"

"Me." came a cold voice from the door.

I jumped and snapped my head around, in the direction of the door. My heart sank. No, anyone but him. I knew there was a catch. There always is.

Hiei glared at me, arms folded loosely across his chest, face set in a usual scowl. Why he loved that expression, I have no idea. He snorted when he had my undivided attention. "Tch, don't frown at me that way, woman. I will be your master. Get used to it." He huffed, and my hand twitched. One of these days….

I looked up at Kurama, still frowning. "Master?" I questioned dryly, "I thought it was teacher." Kurama patted my shoulder reassuringly. "He is your teacher, Akira. But what he means is, in other words, he is the master and you are the apprentice." I groaned inwardly. Damn it all. This Japanese way of speaking was giving me an even bigger headache…. Hiei shifted on his feet and prepared to leave the room. "Remember this woman, I hate you, and I always will…. Your training starts two days from now at dawn, so recover all you can."

I stared after him in shock as he exited the door again, and I shook my head. "Really Kurama, I thought you said he was a softie. All I see is ice." I muttered. He chuckled in response. "I don't know Akira. Hiei does seem very interested in you…"

I lifted my head to gaze at him inquisitively. "Oh?" He grinned. "Yes, it would seem that, there is a strong chance that he even likes you."

I sighed. Really, when was this madness going to end? He didn't like me. Hell, he didn't even like looking at me! But maybe what Kurama has to say, may lead to some solid proof. All I can do is wait until he tells me. And knowing him in his riddles, that will be a long time….

Well, I hope you all like this chapter. I know there's not a whole lot of action going on, but don't worry. There will be some in the next chapter!! Just remember, I ended the 'barrier', now starting sending those reviews!!