Then suddenly there was a little black thing in front of them. A person, in a black outfit concealing most of the features, a hood drooping lazily down over the face. The person's mouth formed an evil-looking smirk and fangs sprang into sight. Hiei stood there blinking, not understanding. Then blood began to drip from the person's fangs and Hiei stumbled back slightly. "What the-!"
The person threw her hood back (yes, "her") and grabbed Hiei's arm, pulling him a bit past her. She made a move to hit the pressure point on the back of his neck, but Hiei was too quick. He was already past her, going into the house.
Kurama stared after Hiei for a moment and watched the girl. She let out a long hiss after Hiei, then turned to the fox. She smirked again, her eyes growing creepily wide. She licked her lips and more blood trickled down her chin.
Kurama's gaze went Yoko-cold as he held up his Rose Whip in a roughly defensive position.
She lunged at him and before he could move, her teeth sank into his shoulder, ripping the skin. She tore away, leaving a huge gash there. Kurama used her moment of distraction and flicked his wrist, the Whip trapping her ankle. He gave it a yank and she fell with a snarl. He quickly reached up and put a seed on his shoulder, the plant growing as a vine and wrapping his wound tightly to stop the bleeding. As the girl got up, he thought quickly. She was obviously trying to kill Hiei and himself, so he probably should kill her. He hated to kill, but it seemed his only option, unless he could restrain her well enough... He reached down and slapped the ground, an array of vines breaking through the sidewalk and encapturing the girl's screaming, writhing form. He jumped over her and ran into the house. She wouldn't be held long, but it would be long enough...
"Mmm..." Sosaku hummed as Edan kissed her neck lightly, clueless as to what was going on outside the house. "Edan..." she whispered, smiling slightly. "S-Stop..." She giggled softly as he began to leave tickling sensations along her throat.
He pulled back slightly and returned to her lips in a gentle kiss. After a moment, his lips were away from her and he was smiling, looking into her eyes. "Sorry." he said quietly. "Oops. I forgot. You haven't had breakfast..." He got up and started for the door, but it opened just as his hand touched the knob.
And there stood Hiei. The small Imiko glared up at the tall neko and shoved past him, going to Sosaku. He leaned over and grabbed her arm, snatching her to her feet. "Come on." he muttered, pulling her to the door.
Sosaku blinked, unable to resist Hiei's dragging her off, but she looked to Edan, who took her hand. He was as strong as Hiei, and pulled her back. "Wait." he said to Hiei. "Don't take her yet. You have to know-"
Hiei cut him off by drawing his katana. "You kidnapped Sosaku. What is there to know?" he snarled, holding the sword at chest-level. He was perfectly prepared to kill Edan.
Sosaku whimpered. "Hiei-san... Don't. Let him explain. Please!"
At that moment, Kurama ran in and embraced Sosaku, knocking Edan's hand away. "We have to go. NOW." he said to Hiei quickly. The Imiko nodded and Sosaku gave Edan a helpless look, then the three were gone.
Edan cursed and kicked the table by the bed over, causing the vase of roses to crash on the floor, the roses falling on the floor uselessly. He stomped on one of them and the petals were smashed and scattered.
"Edan, really... Temper, temper." A voice with a heavy British accent sounded from the shadowed corner. A man, also a feline, stepped out. "Dear brother, whatever is the matter...?"
Edan glared at the slender neko with black eyes, black hair and black clothes. "What the hell are you doing here!" he hissed.
The man leaned back against the wall casually. "You let her go. Vered won't like that, you know."
"I don't care." Edan replied sullenly, poking at the rose petals with a foot.
The man glanced down at the only undamaged flower, it's silken whiteness mirroring his own pale complexion. "Will you rebel then?"
Edan sighed and nodded. "I don't want to hurt Sosaku..."
The man gave a sad little chuckle and turned to the door to exit. "Love at first sight..." he said quietly over his shoulder, the words carrying a wistful, distant tone.
Edan glanced around the room quickly, then looked to his older brother. "Jacob!" he called out in slight panic.
The man turned back to Edan. "Yes?"
Edan glanced around again nervously. "I-I'll need your help..." the words tumbled.
Jacob smiled slightly. "Of course. Eri will join us too, once I explain things..."
Edan almost laughed. "What story will you make up this time?"
Jacob shrugged. "Whatever pops into my head." He turned, waving over his shoulder. "Don't get into trouble until I'm there to get you out of it." He snapped his fingers and there was a flash, then he had disappeared.
Edan sighed and shook his head. "What ever happened to walking?"
Kurama jumped through the portal to Makai with Sosaku in his arms, not hearing her protests or feeling her struggles. He landed on his feet in a meadow, years of practice coming in handy. Hiei was there too in a second, standing away from them by a few yards, passively.
Kurama put Sosaku down, sighing patiently. "Are you alright, Sosaku?" he asked blandly.
Her face was flushed red from exertion and frustration, her breathing coming in short gasps. "Kurama, they were trying to help me." she replied, trying desperately to keep her tone even.
He gave her a longsuffering look. "They kidnapped you. Who's to say they were not making it up? You are smarter than that, I hope."
Sosaku opened her mouth to retort, found she had none, and shut it again exasperatedly. She stared at Kurama defiantly, though she was much shorter and looked more than a little like a stubborn child. She stayed like that, and steadily began to crumple. She looked away when she began to cry, glaring at a small yellow flower.
Kurama sighed. "Don't cry. You were misled: it isn't your fault."
Sosaku turned away from him and brought her hands up to her face, wishing Kurama would quit talking. That damned fox talked too much. She didn't want him to talk, she wanted him to hug her and comfort her or... or something! Anything but words.
"Sosaku, please don't cry..."
"Shut up!" She flung her arms down as she whirled back to face him. "Don't talk. I don't want to hear you talk anymore!" she yelled. She thought for a mere half-second about what she would do next, and it came quickly. She was emboldened by Edan's kisses, and thought that if Edan wanted to kiss her she must be worth kissing. So she put one hand on Kurama's shoulder and pulled him down slightly, planting her lips firmly against his. She closed her eyes and held it for a moment, then pulled away and stared into Kurama's widened green eyes.
Kurama glanced in Hiei's direction, to find him watching them. The imiko hadn't made a move to stop Sosaku, so Kurama assumed he didn't mind. The fox turned his eyes back to Sosaku, a half-sad, half-pleased smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. He pushed her hair back from her forehead, fondly pressing a kiss there. "Little one, be careful. I am dangerous, and you should not kiss me like that. You do not need to get too close to me. And were you not kissing someone else a few minutes ago?"
It was then that she really began to cry, tears streaming down her face though she did not whimper. "Kurama, I-I... I-"
Before she could finish, he covered her mouth gently with two fingers. "Don't say you love me. It would only cause trouble. We're friends- nothing more. It is for your own good."
She pushed his hand away. "I'm not a baby!"
He gave her a little smile. "You are a child, and know nothing of love. Do not try to rush into a relationship with just anyone. Not myself, in any case. I am older, and much more experienced. You need to grow up a little before I consider it. Do not let it bother you, though. I do not wish for you to be upset over me."
"I don't care how you say it... you're just rejecting me. Why? Just because I haven't lived in Makai for x amount of years? Because I'm younger than you? Or have you known all this time that I've loved you, and just want to crush my heart?" She knew that was irrational, but she didn't care. She was grasping at any reason- anything to explain why she couldn't love Kurama and have him love her, like in all the best tales.
He almost frowned, but resisted, saving face well as usual. "Sosaku, we are friends. I am only thinking of you."
She reached up and laid her fingers along his perfect cheekbone. "I know I'm younger than you, and haven't lived very long. But I can't learn about love if I'm discouraged from loving someone. Especially you! I've known you for ten years, and I trust you with my life. Love is built on trust. That's true, isn't it? And when I see you, I always wonder what it would feel like for you to hold me. You've always been so kind and gentle with me. And I've always adored you and loved talking to you about Mom and Dad, and school, and everything..."
He grabbed her hand and pulled it down. "No. Stop. I am Yoko. Ruthless, lustful..." He swallowed."We're not right. You are far too young and innocent. You are still pure. I do not wish to be the one to awaken the sin inside you." He released her hand, turning to look at the Imiko as he scooped Sosaku up bride style. "Back to Ningenkai, Hiei." he said shortly, carrying the girl in his arms off towards the portal.
Sosaku whimpered and leaned her head on the fox's shoulder as she began to cry again. It was a small consolation to be held by him, but she had still been ultimately rejected. She wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face in his chest as she sobbed, trying not to let him hear her pathetic bawling.
End Chapter Four
