Winds of Thyme

By Sakura Takanouchi

~*~ Winds of Thyme Chapter Five- The Sorrow of Solitude ~*~

Disclaimer: Yes, I know about two things: My name is in this fic a lot, and the chapter title for this chapter is deep. I don't even think I understand it, and I'm the authoress! Hmm...... By the way, I own nothing. Bet ya didn't know that! Yay! I enlightened someone!

Hiei sighed as he leaned against one of the more comfortable trees in the park, this one being a Magnolia. His thoughts dwelled on Sakura. 'I wonder if she is human,' He thought. 'I better keep an eye on her.' And with that, he laid against the tree and went to sleep.

~*~ At school the next day ~*~

It was after lunch, and all of the teachers and most of the students were going to recess. All, that is, except for Sakura. She was busy cleaning the table that she and her friends had eaten at. She then collected her things and went out to recess like everyone else.

She had just reached the cement walkway when she heard a voice. "Wait up, Sakura!" It was... Kurama. He ran a little to catch up with her. "Konnichiwa, Kurama!" Sakura said. "Why didn't you come to lunch?"

"Oh, I was cleaning my locker, and then I decided I'd better come to recess," Kurama replied. So together, they went down to recess.

~*~ At recess (At the same time the previous paragraph was going on ~*~

Yuzuriha and Kirameki were talking about the newest cell phone when Kirameki caught Sakura talking with Kurama out of the corner of her eye. "Oh! Look!" She said, and Yuzuriha also saw them. "They look so cute together!" She said. "Hey! I've got a great idea! Maybe we should play matchmaker on them! It'd be fun!" Kirameki said.

"There's just one problem about that," Yuzuriha said sadly. "What's that?" Kirameki asked. "I'm madly in love with him."

"Aw, screw that," Kirameki said exitedly. "If you're not doing it I'll ask Ryuzo!" "Wait!" Yuzuriha said. "Maybe... The three of us could do it together!"

"That's awesome!" They both said in unison. "What's awesome?" A guy-ish voice said from behind them. "Look! Aren't they cute?"

"Ah... Young Love," Ryuzo said contentedly. "I've got some great ideas about putting them together. I've got some contacts on the faculty. I'll be happy to offer my services." And so the three matchmakers began, well, ... matchmaking.

~*~ At Sakura's home later that day~*~

'Ooh, why can't I stop thinking about him?' Sakura thought as she could find nothing else to do except think, and nothing to think about except him. Shuiichi Minamino. She went over to her window and flung it open, to stare at the stars. "Maybe I am in love with him," She said to the sky.

But someone was listening. A certain koorime who, as he heard this, hie eyes widened and he tried to contact her with his telepathy, but all he got was, Kurama... math... Kurama... TV... Kurama... and so on.

~*~ At Shuiichi Minamino's House ~*~

Hiei barged in through Kurama's window and rested inside his room for several seconds to rest his breath. It seemed like he had been running the whole way there. "Well, Hiei, that entrance is more like you," Kurama said from his position at his desk. He was studying, like he always is whenever he's in his room.

"Tell me... What do you think of her?" Hiei asked hurriedly. "You mean Sakura," Kurama said, more like a statement than a question.

"No, I mean your mother. Now tell me!" Hiei said.

"Well... And this is Sakura, not kaasan... All of the reasons I told you earlier, plus... She is very intelligent, enjoys helping people, seems aloof, has a somewhat tragic past... and she had been on my mind quite often for the past few days," Kurama admitted.

"Hn," Hiei said.

"Why do you want to know this, may I ask?" Kurama asked anyway. "Hn. I was just at her house," Hiei said. "...And?" Kurama asked. "And... I can't tell you," Hiei looked away.

"And why not?" Kurama asked, curious. He was right. A bit of his youko side did show through when the topic was Sakura.

~*~ At school the next day ~*~

"Alright class, We have a new assignment," The social studies teacher told the class. "You will be working on a project about Japanese History. I will pair you up into groups of two, according to how your grades are right now. You can choose any topic, as long as it involves Japanese History. The first group is Takanouchi Sakura and Minamino Shuiichi. The second group is Akitaka Takeru and Wakaramisa Ayao. The third group..." The teacher rattle off the lists of groups as the students began to go to their group partner.

"Well, So I have you as my partner," Kurama said as he took a seat across from Sakura so they could start working on their project. "What do you suggest that we do?"

"I think we should do Japanese Samurai," Sakura began exitedly. "I have several great books on them, and it's actually quite an interesting topic."

"Well, I wouldn't mind doing that. Let's submit our idea to Mr. Inakashi and decide a time to meet and work on our project," Kurama said.

"How about we meet at 10:00 on Saturday at your place?" Sakura asked. "I'm sure my kaasan wouldn't mind," Kurama said.

From his position in the corner with Kirameki (They both had the worse grades) Ryuzo smiled. "Ah, young love," were the only words that one with such wisdom as he could say in matters such as these. Kirameki smiled for a second, and then yelled at him for being disagreeable about their project.

~*~ At Kurama's house ~*~

Sakura rang the doorbell of the Minamino household bright and early at 9:55 AM, dressed in casual clothes. She as greeted by someone who she guessed was Shuiichi'' kaasan.

"Ohayo Gozaimatsu. You must be Takanouchi Sakura? Watashi wa Minamino Shiori. I hope you will enjoy being here. Shuiichi is in the living room," Shiori said politely.

"Arigato," Sakura said, leaving her shoes in the hallway as she went towards the living room. Kurama was sitting there with a stack of books on a coffee table. He was dressed casually, as well. Two cups of tea were beside him, as well as a small plate of sushi.

"Ohayo," Kurama said politely. "Ohayo, Shuiichi-kun!" Sakura said with a smile. She was also carrying several thick books.

"I think we should do a power-point for our project," Sakura said. "We could project it on the wall so everyone could watch it," She added. "That's a good idea," Kurama said. "Oh, here, help yourself to some sushi and tea, if you didn't have any breakfast." So the two of them snacked and worked on their project.

What they didn't notice was that someone was watching them. Ryuzo poked his head into view of the living room with a pair of binoculars. (Bet ya thought it was Hiei!) "Sweet love," he said.

What all three of them didn't realize was that Hiei was watching all of them. "Hn. Kurama, you're getting soft," He muttered. But he didn't mind that Youko come up whenever Sakura was around. That he had no problem with at all.

"Well, that's just about everything!" Sakura said. She then checked her watch. "I'd better head on home," She said. "I shouldn't be wandering about at night alone." "I'll take care of the rest," Kurama said, and then Sakura got up and left Kurama with his work.

"Arigato for coming, Sakura-chan," Shiori said as Sakura got her shoes on. "Kurama doesn't bring many girls over. You're welcome to come back anytime you wish." As she said that, Sakura blushed and hopped up with both shoes on. "Ja ne, Minamino Shiori!" She called as she walked home. It was early for the sun to be down, but it was fall, and the days were getting shorter. She was nearing the place where her apartment was, the park in particular, when she heard a voice.

"Hey, cutie, ya wanna come with us?" A random drunk asked. (He was NOT Ryuzo) "Naw, I'll pass," Sakura said nonchalantly. "But we insist," He said coming closer to her. Sakura's back was pressed against a wall. (There were walls in parks?)

Of course, Hiei watched all this in anticipation. He would step in and kill the ningen if she got badly hurt, but he wanted to see if she would use her supposed spirit energy.

Sakura looked around, and she saw no one. Her body then started to glow a pinkish-purple color, and the tone of her voice changed. "You will regret the day you said your first word to me," She said.

Hiei's eyes arched in amazement. 'Is it possible that anyone has better threats than me?' He thought, but then he sat back to enjoy the show.

"Whaddaya talkin about, missy? I only wanna have some fun," The random drunk said, coming closer. Sakura's eyes narrowed, and she assumed a fighting stance. She then pulled something out of the lining of her boot. It was a shuriken dagger. She twirled it several times, before running up to him and giving him a little nick in the shoulder. He dropped down to the ground mostly out of shock. "This dagger contains a paralyzing potion. You'll be unable to move for a while," Sakura said, and then left him where he lay.

Hiei could do nothing but follow as she calmly walked away from him and towards her apartment, for some good needed sleep.

'So maybe she didn't use her spirit power,' Hiei thought, 'But she still makes a worthy advisory.' He then curled up in the tree. She would be fine on her own.

~A/N~

Good, long chappie-ter, huh, minna? Review and tell me what you think. I've got several other fics, too, so check those out. *mimes spirit gun*

Bang.

Sakura Takanouchi

(!!) ß Kirby (shake it to the right)