Kurayami no Akai Bara

By: Jineka

Look, Minu-chan, someone is updating! Aren't you happy? LOL. Just kidding. I want to start writing again, and I won't be lazy. Something about turning over a new leaf...

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Chapter 2.

"Dokugai Kajin," repeated Kurama slowly, "Ah! I know you from school, the highschool right around the corner? You're a sophomore there aren't you?"

The girl looked at him quite surprised for a second and slowly said, "Yes, but I don't think I know you or your friend," taking a quick glance at Hiei.

"Oh, excuse me," Kurama said standing up, "I'm Minamino Shuuichi and this is my friend Hiei. We all go to the same school."

Kajin smiled, holding the notepad and pen against her chest with her left hand and extending out her right, "Nice to meet you Minamino-san, and you too, Hiei-san." Kurama took her outstretched hand and shook it. She then extended her hand to Hiei.

Hiei merely looked at her in a bored manner. Kajin's eyes narrowed slightly and her smile slipped off her face for a second. Kurama coughed, and Kajin hastily retracted her hand and took the pen from her left hand. "So, are you two ready to order?" She looked straight at Kurama stubbornly refusing to look anywhere else, namely, at Hiei.

Kurama looked slightly apologetic and said, "Yes, sure. I'll just have a single scoop of vanilla in a waffle cone and Hiei will have chocolate with bananas and strawberry with multi-colored sprinkles with a double scoop of a mix between pecan, rocky road and peanut butter and chocolate pieces and don't forget to put it in an extra large cone or else he will kill you." He told Kajin Hiei's order extremely fast, straight from memory.

Kajin laughed, "He'd kill me?"

Kurama looked confused, "What?"

Kajin stole a glance at Hiei. He was staring straight back with a threatening look now, but Kajin didn't lose her nerve. Her mouth curved slightly into a smirk, "I'll be right back with those." She quickly jotted something down onto her notepad and left.

"Hiei, the mission was to befriend her, get close to her. Why don't you try and be a little bit nicer?" Kurama sighed, "Honestly..."

Hiei smirked, "I thought I was being quite 'nice' already. You're the one who told her that I'd kill her if she didn't get my order right."

"I did? I don't remember saying anything about- oh," Kurama continued thoughtfully, "I did, didn't I?" He started to laugh.

Hiei continued to smirk, this was one of a very few times when Kurama messed something up, however small. "Who would've thought that 'nice' little Kurama would be threatening human girl?"

Hiei just watched as Kurama continued to laugh. Ok, so it was funny, but it wasn't this funny. Hiei caught himself before he yawned. He was kind of tired, but why? He had slept well the night before, about 4 hours, which was the most he had slept in ages, so why was he tired now? What time was it anyways? Hiei glanced around. He saw some other groups of teenagers eating ice-cream, and there was a girl and guy kissing in one of the booths, and he saw Kajin behind the counter scooping some ice-cream into a cone, but he didn't see a clock anywhere.

"Kurama," Hiei turned his attention back to his red-haired friend; Kurama was still laughing. Hiei frowned, "What the hell is the matter with you?" Kurama sobered up quickly. "Do you have the time?"

Kurama looked around the cafe/ice-cream parlour. "No."

Hiei looked angry, but calmed himself down. He would have to try to gain better control of himself. Getting angry about this was quite pathetic in his mind.

Kajin was back at the table. She had Kurama's vanilla cone in one hand and Hiei's complicated mess in another. She set them both down and smirked as she saw Kurama and Hiei's look of surprise when they saw Hiei's order. It was perfect.

Kurama looked up at her, "I don't know how you did it. I think you're the first ever to get his order right, except when I do it."

Kajin looked quite pleased with herself, "Well, what can I say? I'm amazing!"

Hiei scowled and mumbled under his breath, "Aren't you modest."

Kajin look quickly darkened and her face seemed to mirror Hiei's now, "Well aren't you pleasant." She stomped off, muttering under her breath.

Kurama looked at Hiei. His face was oddly blank. Hiei drew back a little in his seat, and said defensively "What?"

Kurama sighed, "Nevermind," Sometimes it was easier just to drop it.

Hiei rolled his eyes, "She had it coming." Kurama didn't look up. His attention was completely focused on the ice-cream cone before him. Hiei picked up his cone and licked up a drip that was threateningly close to his clean hand. Hiei opened his mouth to make another witty comment, but Kurama cut him off.

"Don't!"

Hiei smirked, taking a bite out of the cone. The ice-cream was cold and refreshing. He didn't want to push Kurama any further. It seemed like the boy had a soft spot for the girl, but Hiei couldn't be sure.

-

The fall semester wasn't starting until next week monday, so this gave Hiei exactly ten days to finish three books of required reading. Koenma had pulled some strings to get Hiei transferred into the school as soon as possible. Koenma eventually got the school to actually put someone back onto the waiting list to open up a spot for Hiei, but even Koenma wasn't diplomatic enough to get more time from the English teacher for the three books. Hiei wasn't really planning to read the books even if there was more time.

The days were sunny, but it was getting cooler. The nights were already pretty cold for this time of year. Kurama was away for the most of the week days taking some summer class that wouldn't end until the week school started. It was Friday and Kurama's summer class let out right after lunch on these days so it was 1:14 PM when Kurama walked into his apartment.

Hiei was sitting in his kitchen, three books piled up in front of him. None of them were open.

Kurama propped his bad up against the cupboard and got a glass of water. He took a sip. Hiei was just staring at the books. Kurama took the seat opposite Hiei and could barely see Hiei over the pile of thick books, "What are you doing?"

Hiei didn't look up, "Reading."

Kurama took another sip before glupping down the entire cup. He got up and put the cup into the sink, "Right. Good luck with that."

Hiei was up in a second, sword drawn, "Shut up. I don't need your opinion." His eyes flashed dangerously.

Kurama looked slightly taken aback. He put up his hands, "Woah, woah, what's got you so worked up?"

"Don't follow me." Hiei put his sword down and grabbed the book that was sitting on top before leaving the apartment. The door slammed in his wake.

Kurama frowned, picking the cup back up out of the sink. He refilled it, "What the heck is wrong with him?"

Hiei was walking slowly. He didn't have any idea where he was going or what he was doing. He was angry and tired a lot more often than usual and it was irritating him so much and that just made himself more angry and tired. He opened the book and began to read it, continuing to walk. Ugh! He slammed the book shut. What the hell was 'It was the worst of times. It was the best of times." supposed to mean. How could it be the worst of times and the best of times at the same time! What the heck was Charles Dickens thinking when he wrote that?

Hiei frowned. His emotions seemed to be harder and harder to control. He was constantly getting angry and it was pissing him off. He looked up surprised to find himself at the ice-cream parlour he was at just yesterday. He reckoned that he must've been led here by his feet for something and quickly entered. The bells on the door rang softly and he took a seat in a empty booth and put the book down onto the table.

One of the waitresses came over, bringing a lunch menu with her. "I hope you find something that you like," she smiled and walked away. Hiei looked up and glanced around. Kajin wasn't there, but what did he care if she was there or not?

Something in the back of his mind told him that that's why he came here. He had wanted to see her again...

This was becoming frustrating and Hiei scowled. He got up and left the parlour leaving the menu and the book on the table.

Hiei didn't know where else to go and now that he was fully conscious of where he was going, there was no place to go. He slowly headed back for Kurama's apartment. They had decided it would be easier if they just lived together. Where was Hiei supposed to get the money to pay for an apartment anyway?

He trudged back slowly, dragging his feet. He was disgusted with himself. He was paying no attention and collided with someone. It was a girl and she must not have been looking either; she had been completely knocked over. She got up and mumbled an apology.

"Oh, it's you," Hiei said simply. It was Kajin.

Kajin didn't seem to recognize Hiei at first, but soon a look of recognition came over her face. "I remember. You're that guy from yesterday, Hiei, Minamino-san's friend."

Hiei was silent. Kajin didn't say anything either, and she made no move to keep going either. Hiei just stared dumbly at her. The youki coming from her was completely gone at the moment. That was strange. It had definitely been there yesterday...

Eventually someone had to break the silence, but it sure wasn't Hiei, stubborn as ever. "So, where are you going?" Kajin asked cautiously. She seemed to want to talk to Hiei, but avoid him also.

Hiei narrowed his eyes slightly before replying. "I'm heading back to Kurama's."

"Another friend of yours?" Kajin asked. She took this opportunity to take her leave, "Well, I won't keep you. Kurama-san's expecting you right?" She didn't wait for an answer and took off at a fast pace.

Hiei turned to watch the girl go. There was something weird about her, but he couldn't figure out what. He shrugged mentally and continued back to the apartment. What did he care about that stupid girl anyway?

-

Saturday came and went. Nothing really happened at all. Kurama and Hiei had spent the entire day in the apartment. They had talked a little; Hiei had told him of his encounter with Kajin, and Kurama had scolded him for leaving his book at the ice-cream parlour, but it was just little talk. It was all quite boring and Hiei was finding it extremely hard not to hide his boredom. During Kurama's lecture about the importance of books and the importance of keeping your things with you, he had started tapping his fingers against the table, something he had never done before. He had also yawned, something he didn't do often and something he never did during the day. Strange things were happening to him, but other than that the day passed uneventfully.

Sunday was a much more interesting day. It had started in the morning. Kurama was in the kitchen, pulling out a box of cereal. He had just poured his cereal into his bowl of milk when there was a knock on the door. Kurama got up and went to open the door. It was Kajin. What was she doing here? How did she even know he lived here?

Kajin smiled and bowed politely, "Sorry to bother you, Minamino-san, but I found this in the ice-cream parlour." She handed him A Tale of Two Cities.

Kurama looked surprised. "How did you know it was mine?" It was library book. His name wasn't on it, he supposed.

Kajin smiled and opened the front cover. There was the slip of paper inside. It was just a note, a reminder to go find Dokugai Kajin at the ice-cream parlour... He slapped mentally himself for getting that personalized stationery: From the desk of Shuuichi Minamino.

Fini.

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TO MINU-CHAN:

I'll leave the rest of the 'interesting' Sunday to you Minu-chan. Let's drag this story out and make it really long with lots of side-plots ok? Ok. Takei-chan told me that she just wants me to take her spot for this story so I guess I will..

Yea, anyways. You're right about me ("Jineka's doing all the plot-changes and crap"). I'll be throwing in a lot of twists, because it'll be funner that way so watch out for them. :D

I actually could make this chapter longer and finish Sunday with my ideas, but I figured if I left you to write the rest of Sunday I'll get more of a feel of which way you want this story to go. So if you think it's too short, I'm only doing it for you, Minu-chan. :D

TO EVERYBODY ELSE:

Read and Review please.

Jineka