Kairai awoke in the same tree branch she had been in for the past few days. She had tried to sleep most of these days because she was so hungry and thirsty. Mostly thirsty. She hoped she wouldn't be dehydrated before someone found her. The tree provided shade, but it was only a matter of time...
Hiei sighed contentedly. It was good to be back in the Makai.
Kurama noted his companion's satisfaction and smiled. "So... shall we split up? We could cover more ground that way."
"Hn. I'll go east." Hiei replied before heading off. He hurried away from Kurama, running in between the trees. As he ran he tried to remember the girl's scent. She smelled like... baked apples and cinnamon. That would help him find her.
Three Hours Later
Hiei collapsed against a tree and wondered if he should find Kurama to see if he had found Kairai. He straightened and was about to do so when something caught his attention.
Kairai's scent.
It was vague, but he could sense her ki also. He was close enough to find her with his Jagan. He pulled off the bandana he always wore and the Jagan opened, searching. He instantly sensed her thoughts. She was weak from hunger and thirst... and she was very close by.
Kairai blinked her eyelids. They seemed to feel heavier and heavier. She was getting weaker. She would probably pass out within the hour.
Then she sensed someone approaching her prison. She recognized the presence, but she couldn't quite place it. It was close, but she just...
Kairai slumped as she felt her strength drained, suddenly finding herself falling towards the ground...
And then someone caught her. She found herself in a warm embrace, two red-almond eyes looking down at her.
The man in black... she thought vaguely.
She reached up with a shaking hand to touch the man's cheek, finding the skin there surprisingly yet comfortingly warm. "Who... are you...?" she whispered before her mind went black.
End Chapter Seven
Awaken
Two Days Later
Botan smiled as the girl in the bed she was sitting by fluttered her eyes open. "Welcome back, little one. Lord Koenma's been worried about you."
Kairai blinked, trying to clear the fog from her mind. "Botan? H-How long have I been out?"
"Just a couple of days. I better go tell Lord Koenma that you're awake." Botan smiled and stood. She left Kairai alone to try to catch her bearings.
Kairai sighed and found she had the strength to sit up. She did so and realized exactly where she was.
She was in Koenma's bedroom.
She had only been in here once before. And that was by accident. A mischievous ogre had directed her there when she was looking for Koenma to ask him a question about a mission. Coincidentally, Koenma had been taking a shower. That was the only time she had seen him naked. And, sadly, it was a complete accident.
She suddenly found that her cheeks were hot and she shook her head free of that image.
And it was at that moment that Koenma walked into the room. He smiled at her and sat in the chair Botan had been in. "Hey."
"Hello, Lord Koenma..." Kairai murmured, bowing her head in reverence to the Prince of Reikai.
Koenma reached over and tilted her chin up to face him. "Koenma."
Kairai smiled. "Koenma." she repeated. She would rather call him that than "Lord" any day.
Koenma smiled again and retracted his arm. "Are you feeling better?"
"Yes. Much better, thanks. But, um... I'm sorry about the mission..."
"Don't worry about it. You're okay. That's all that matters."
Kairai found she was blushing again. "Wh-Who was it that saved me?"
"It was another tantei."
Kairai's brow furrowed in thought. "But that can't be... It was the same man I fought, all those years ago, when I became a tantei."
Koenma looked away, cursing himself inwardly. "No... that can't be." he lied. He couldn't tell her he had had her fight a tantei. She would hate that. She hated being sheltered.
Kairai sighed. "Well, may I see the person who saved me? So I can thank him?"
Koenma started to think quickly. "Uh... Perhaps when you're better...?"
Kairai gave him the puppy dog pout. "Puh-leeze?"
Koenma thought for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. I'll go get him." he said. He gave her a smile and strode across the room to leave.
As Kairai watched him go, she knew something was wrong. Koenma was nervous. Her sixth sense told her so.
End Chapter Eight