Yay! People enjoy my story. I did realize Hiei ws a bit ooc when he attacked Kuwabara, sorry about that. I tried to bring everyone back in this chapter. My Keiko isn't that great though...sorry.
Kei blinked.
"What's so odd a
bout dressing a wound?"
Botan laughed. "Don't bother Yukina. Kei just doesn't work like that."
Kei shook her head. "I don't know what you guys are talking about."
The doorbell rang again. This time it was Yusuke, returning with Keiko. He was grinning like a kid at the candy store, and Keiko had her face in his chest, crying tears of joy. Botan was right, Keiko had dyed her hair-black. Hiei didn't have the attention span to ask or care why, but she had dyed it because she missed Yusuke.
Apparently, Kei didn't know Keiko very well. "Why is she crying?" She whispered to Kurama. He gave a small smile.
"She and Yusuke have known each other since childhood. When he left it was very hard for her."
"Ohh…" Kei still looked perplexed, but didn't question further.
Yusuke and Keiko walked in and sat down in an armchair, Keiko on Yusuke's lap. (A/N: Let's just say there are a lot of armchairs in this room…okay?) Everyone else resumed their former seats, except Hiei and Kei. Hiei sat right in the middle of the floor and Kei took a couch cushion and flopped down on the floor, stretching her legs and arms out before curling up in a ball.
Yusuke and Kurama couldn't help staring, but Hiei just turned his eyes away, disgusted. What demon composes herself like that?
"So, Yusuke, Kurama, Hiei, how have you all been?" Botan asked cheerfully.
"Worked to the bone," Yusuke complained. "It took forever to become strong enough to defeat that goddamn bastard!"
Keiko smacked him over the head. "Watch your mouth."
Yusuke rubbed his head. "Man, I missed those." He said to her, smiling.
She blushed. "Stop it."
Kei was peering at the two of them curiously. Hiei couldn't help wondering why, then he remembered how young she was. It wasn't uncommon for demons to live alone for hundreds of years before settling down with someone. Not that he would ever settle down.
It really irked him that he could not recall what had been said about Kei in demon world. He couldn't even remember what class she was. It then occurred to him that if he had heard things, perhaps Yusuke and Kurama had as well. Hiei glanced over at Yusuke. He didn't want to ask him, he'd ask too many questions. It might be safe to ask Kurama though. He made a mental note to do that later.
"Hiei?" He realized someone had said his name, but had no idea what had been said, so he grunted in response.
"She asked 'How was your stay in the demon world?', dumbass." Kei said. "You should pay attention when someone's talking to you."
Hiei glared at her, but when it had no effect he lost interest. "Demon world was neither enjoyable nor unbearable." He said to Botan.
"What, now you're going to talk in riddles?" Kei taunted. "You're not easy to talk to, are you?"
What a brat. He thought. Why can't she just shut up? He was about to snap at her, then remembered the embarrassing situation that just occurred with Kuwabara. No, he would just stay quiet.
The conversation had moved away from him. It seemed Yusuke had asked something about Kei.
"-it like being a wolf demon? What abilities do you have?"
Kei sat up. "Well, it gives me these," she bared her fangs. "Let's see, I can also smell and hear better than say, a normal fire apparition. And oh yeah, I can turn into a wolf."
That got Hiei's attention. He was remembering something…
"A demon that has secrets revealed to her. She was young, and a half-breed. Half fire apparition, half wolf demon. She has many abilities, including turning into a wolf. There's a scar across her stomach, but no one knows where it came from."
"What class is she?"
"No one's sure, but there are rumors going around that she's been fighting off S class."
"What are her intentions?"
That was all he could remember.
"You can transform?" Kurama asked, interested. Of course he would be, after all, he is a kitsune. That's not so different from a wolf after all.
She nodded, looking quite content with all the attention. "Yes. And I can control my actions. But I cannot speak when I transform."
"I see." Kurama looked thoughtful. "How interesting."
The others continued talking, but Hiei was getting tired fast. In fact, he was more tired than he had been in a long while. Finding his way to the kitchen, he sat down and dosed off in a chair.
"Hey, wake up."
Someone was shaking him. Groggily, he looked up to see Kei's face, looking concerned. He quickly stood up and pushed her hand away.
She seemed different now, more laid back. She was looking at him strangely.
"What are you looking at?"
"You were so cold…" He saw something strange in her eyes. Is that fear? No, it can't be…
He just stared at her. She became flustered. "I was just trying to be nice…see if I care if you die…god you're so mean!"
Hiei was confused again. What's with the multiple personalities?
"I haven't even done anything to you. I thought people in the human world were kinder, especially when I met you Yukina…but you're a jackass!"
Hiei didn't appreciate being insulted. "What are you saying?"
"Nothing. Never mind." Kei seemed calm again, which confused Hiei even more.
"What's wrong with you?" He said out loud. "Why are you so desperate for people to be kind? Most people aren't kind. It's not demon or human nature."
"I know…but…" She turned away from him, and Hiei got the impression of an unhappy human teenager. She sounded pretty miserable. Hiei almost felt sorry for her…but he didn't do the whole sympathy thing.
"You have a lot to learn, kid." He said.
She turned and focused on him again. "I know, I know…people aren't nice. You can't trust anyone but yourself." Her eyes darkened. "Even your own flesh and blood will sell you out to get something they want."
Hiei was getting seriously irritated. She just went on and on. "Are you done now?"
"Yeah…but you know, you really were very cold. Especially for a fire apparition." She turned and left the room.
Hiei touched his arm. She was right, his skin was unusually cold. He shrugged it off. It can't be that important.