Winds of Thyme

By Sakura Takanouchi

~*~ Winds of Thyme Chapter Twenty-Three: A big date ~*~

Disclaimer: Yoshihiro Togashi and not I own everything that I love and cherish. NOT FAIR!!!!

~*~ That evening ~*~

Sakura picked up the phone and dialed a friend's number. "Hi, Kirameki? Look, I was wondering, me and Kurama and some of my friends from… uh, work, are going on a big group date tomorrow. We just need a date for one of my co-workers… do you mind coming?" Sakura asked.

'I'd love to," Kirameki answered. "Just name the time and place."

"Great," Sakura said. "How about you meet me at my apartment, and then Kurama and your date will swing by and we'll all go out for movies and dinner with my other two friends?"

"I'm there," Kirameki said, and then hung up. 'I wonder who my date is?' She thought.

Sakura was happy now. She could introduce Kirameki to her friends, and she could meet Keiko and Yukina.

~*~ The next morning at 11:00 AM ~*~

Kurama stood at Sakura's doorstep holding a rose. He was dressed in his school uniform as usual, and he kept looking around, as if he was looking for someone. Finally, he said, "Hiei, you're coming with us whether you like it or not."

Hiei then appeared at Sakura's doorstep as well, except he was dressed in a plain black shirt and black jeans. He wore a white bandanna to cover his jagan.

Kurama rang the doorbell, and Sakura answered it. "Ohayo, Kurama-kun!" Sakura greeted. "What's this? You got me a rose? Arigatou! I love roses!" Sakura then invited them inside to wait for Kirameki while Sakura put the rose in water.

Hiei looked around Sakura's apartment. 'Not bad with the decorating,' he thought.

The doorbell rang again. Sakura rushed to answer it. Sure enough, it was Kirameki. She was dressed in a black and dark pink shirt and a black skirt with boots. "Ohayo, Sakura!" Kirameki said.

"Hey! Now we're all here. Meet your date, Kirameki," Sakura said, motioning for Hiei to come forward. "I think you two will recognize each other."

When Kirameki saw Hiei her eyes widened, but then she smiled, as if it was a good surprise. "Ohayo, Hiei!" Kirameki said. Hiei was about to give a standard 'hn' when Sakura elbowed him (hard) so he managed a weak smile.

They all left Sakura's apartment and headed for the local Movie Theater. "Hey, It's Yusuke and Kuwabara!" Sakura waved to them, and they waved back. "Kirameki, I'd like you to meet Yusuke and Kuwabara. Guys, this is a friend from school, Tsuki Kirameki," Sakura introduced.

"Oh, we need to introduce our dates," Yusuke remembered. "This is Yukimura Keiko." Keiko smiled happily.

"And this is my darling Yukina-chan," Kuwabara introduced, only to find that she was nowhere to be seen. Hiei suddenly became more alert, in case there was danger. But Sakura saw Yukina. She was only playing with some birds several feet away.

"Is Mononoke Hime alright with you?" Kurama asked everyone as they went into the theater.

"Sure," Everyone agreed.

They all chose their seats in the middle of the last row, with Keiko and Yusuke on one end and Kuwabara and Yukina on the other end. Almost immediately Keiko and Yusuke started kissing and Kuwabara and Yukina started cuddling and talking. Kirameki and Sakura were talking, Hiei was feeling extremely uncomfortable, and Kurama was just watching the movie.

When the movie had ended, they all got up except for Keiko and Yusuke. They were still making out.

"That was a good movie," Kurama commented after they had exited the theatre.

"Not enough violence," Hiei said.

They decided to eat at a little restaurant called Hibikime. It wasn't that far away, so they walked slowly. Kurama and Sakura were holding hands, and Kuwabara had his arm around Yukina. Hiei was confused.

'Should I do that to Kirameki?' he thought. 'Maybe I should, but… it's probably a weak ningen sign of emotion. I can't let myself do that.'

Kirameki was looking confused and slightly hurt, too. 'He is so cute,' she thought. 'Why doesn't he at least hold my hand or something? He might have never gone on a date before. Sakura told me he didn't get out much.' She shrugged away her feelings as they continued to walk towards the restaurant.

~*~ At the restaurant ~*~

Surprisingly enough, Hibikime was very crowded that night. Kurama went up to see if they had any seats for six.

"Gomen naisai, sir," A waitress said. "The only seats we have left is one booth for four and one booth for two."

They all spoke, and decided that Kuwabara and Yukina would get the booth for two and the rest of them would get the booth for four.

The waitress led them to their seats. Kurama and Sakura sat on one side, and Kirameki and Hiei sat on the other side. The waitress gave them their menus, and got their drink orders.

Several minutes later, she came back to take their food orders. Kurama and Sakura had decided to share the special, and Kirameki and Hiei were also going to share the special.

"Gomen, but as we are so crowded today, your orders may take awhile," The waitress informed them. Kurama said it was alright, and the waitress left them.

Soon, Kurama, Sakura, and Kirameki were all talking about school, and how the new semester would affect them. Hiei didn't really listen to the conversation. 'This has been pretty boring for a first date so far,' he thought.

About twenty minutes later, the waitress arrived, carrying two big plates that contained the specials. 'Now I'm glad Kirameki's sharing it with me,' Hiei thought. The special consisted of a big platter that held some hibashi shrimp and steak, and some teriyaki chicken. It was mixed in with some tsukemono and served over gohan.

The waitress also gave them separate plates so that it would be more convenient to share the food. The meal was enjoyable, and they all managed to eat everything. Kurama then took a one thousand-yen bill out of his wallet. "This should pay for everything," he said. "I am going to take Sakura-chan home." Then, In a much quieter voice that only Hiei could hear, "It would be wise for you to do the same thing." Then, he and Sakura left.

The waitress then came to get the check. The 1000 yen bill covered the meal. Hiei got up from the table. "Come on," he said. "I'll walk you back to your place."

Kirameki was very pleased at this, but she tried not to show it too much. So together, they left the restaurant. It was lightly snowing outside, and it was very cold. Hiei (who was feeling very less disgruntled then he normally would be) put his arm around Kirameki when he saw her shiver from the cold.

Sakura and Kurama had made it to Sakura's house without any trouble. " I had a good time today," Sakura said as they stood on Sakura's front porch. "I'm glad," Kurama answered. He wrapped his arms around her as their lips touched.

~*~ Kirameki and Hiei ~*~

Kirameki and Hiei were enjoying a slow walk towards Kirameki's apartment. Kirameki knew very well that she had a crush on Hiei. She might have even fallen in love with him. And Hiei was feeling something he had never felt before. It could be love—but he didn't know what that emotion was. Just then, several shadowed figures destroyed their happy moment.

"Well well, look what we have here," one of them said. "A midget and a girl. Useful."

~A/N~

Yo, minna! Word up! …I know, I'm getting out these chapters really slowly, but I'm actually mainly working on WoT here. I'm almost done!!!! Yay!!! I'll have twenty-four chapters in all, and then maybe an epilogue. I dunno. You know you want to review!

Sakura Takanouchi