Disclaimer: I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho or it's characters. I do own Arissa and Alexia. And I've said this before, in another story, before I remembered that I had another story with the twins in it, sorry, but I own the twins.
AN: I actually listen to this music! And I want to know how many can say 'existentialism'. I can, but after stuttering several times. Talk about a tongue twister of one word, not even repeating!
Chapter Five
Arissa walked through town with the women. She listened to the three talk about various things, Yukina's twin babies, Keiko's and Yusuke's arguments over baby names, something Koenma said, the recent large amounts of deaths. This last picked her interest and she listened closely. "Well, from what Ayame reported last time I heard from her was that the England district's amount of unplanned deaths has risen by twelve percent. I know that might be a small number, and might be overlooked but not when other districts are experiencing the same spikes of UPD's. Why China's UPD rate went up be twenty-three percent. I tell you, I don't know what is going on. Nor does Koenma I'm afraid." Botan babbled as they walked into an ice cream shoppe.
She was about to say something else but was stopped by Keiko when the brunette spoke up, "Well, what do you girls want? My treat." She said, motioning to the menu. Botan nodded, taking the hint that she was babbling too freely about Reikai business around so many humans. "I think I'll have two scoops of chocolate." She said. "And I'll have a scoop of mint chocolate." Yukina said. Keiko looked at Arissa, "And what will you have Arissa?" She asked kindly. Arissa looked at the sign but couldn't read it. Apparently the 'shot' didn't help her read japanese. "Um...I'll have two scoops of mint chocolate." She said. She wasn't really in the mood for just chocolate, but she didn't know what else they had. Keiko nodded and turned to the man behind the counter. "I need a two-scoop chocolate cone, a single-scoop mint chocolate cone, a two-scoop mint chocolate cone and a two-scoop rocky road cone please." She ordered. The man nodded and rang up the amount. Keiko paid him and moved to the side to let others order as the man turned to a teen beside him and told him to get their order while he took the other customers.
When the girls were again walking outside eating their ice creams Keiko looked at Arissa. "Well, we have the practical clothes for you, jeans, shirts, and underthings, but now I think it's time we get you somethings you're interested in. It's been awhile since I was teen but I remember how I was into clothes that I like to wear and show off. Sure they weren't the styles of today, but I'm sure every girl is the same." She smiled, "So what type of clothes are you into?" Arissa didn't pause, "There was a store back there that sold clothes that I like." She said, pointing behind them, but then she grimaced and said, "But I don't want to spend so much money, the clothes I like are usually expensive and I've spent so much money already." Keiko smiled, "That's no problem." Botan nodded. "Koenma's paying for this so I say we take full advantage of it. Personally, I like to cause a dent in his emense amount of money, purely for the times he pisses me off. Like lately. He should have immediately sent the boys to look for you the moment you displayed your power. Honestly, I don't see why he didn't think it might be too dangerous to send anyone else besides Yusuke and the guys." She rambled on as they walked to the store that had caught Arissa's eye.
The women were shocked before they even entered the store. In the dispay window stood a mannequin dressed in a black tube top, a fishnet shirt, green plaid jeans with chains running from the front belt loops to connect at the back belt loops, leather cuffs and a spikey studded leather choker. Next to it were several boots. Thin high heeld knee high boots, thick three inch soled calf high boots that buckled up and other typs. "Well, now, I'd definately say the teen fashion sense has changed from when you were a teen Keiko." Botan said. The brunette nodded. Arissa turned to them. "I usually wore this type of clothing when I was out with my friends, they're usually dress up clothes for the town, at home I wore t-shirts, jeans and tennis shoes. I was thinking of getting some of my out-on-the-town clothes. Please?" Botan laughed. 'You don't have to ask. Go on ahead." Arissa smiled and ran into the store.
When they came out of the store, Arissa had green plaid pants, no chains, leather boots with thick soles that reached up to above her ankles, several black shirts, some with writting on them, like 'PARADISE' in sparkely beads across the breasts, a fishnet shirt, black jeans that had white stars on them, a studded leather belt, black pants that looked to have been sprinkled with shiny fairy dust and accessories such as black leather wrist cuff, hematite necklace, several black and purple plastic bracelettes, and a steel ball choker. Keiko looked through the bags, "Well, at least it wasn't too drastic. I don't see any dark make-up." Arissa smiled. "I tend to keep make up to a bare minimal, just neutral tones and no lipstick."
She tilted her head when she heard some hard music. She turned to the women. "Will that music store," She pointed to a store across the street, "Have any other music besides japanese?" She asked. Keiko shrugged. "Probably not, at least probably not 'your' music if I'm guessing right about what you listen to from the clothes." Arissa's shoulders drooped. Botan cheered her up. "I can probably get the music you want, and get you a cd player while I'm at it. How does that sound?" Arissa nodded happily.
As they walked back to the shrine Arissa began to hope that now her life would go back to being a little normal.
Hiei sat in his favorite tree, thinking about the mission, the bloody house, and the girl. Something about her stirred an ancient memory, one he was sure he didn't want to remember, whatever the reasons. Another thing bothered him, what she said she had seen the day she displayed her power. -Dead eyes...Dead eyes. Why does that ring a bell?- He pondered.
"What troubles you Hiei?" Came a voice from below. Hiei looked down at the green eyed kitsune. Kurama had seen his short companion's reactions to the girl and what she said. "What is it about her that has you perched up in this tree deep in thought instead of sleeping?" He slightly teased. Hiei had a lazy streak when he wasn't up to his 'tricks', the occasional thieving, fighting or patroling the boundary between Makai and Ningenkai.
"Hn." Hiei replied. He wasn't one to speak his thoughts on request. If he wanted his opinion or thoughts known he'd say them, regardless what anyone might think about it. This time, he didn't speak them because he really wasn't sure what they were.
Kurama looked up at the fire apparition for a few more seconds before he shrugged and leaned against the tree. "What she said about the dead eyes struck a nerve. I think I might have heard something similar in my past life. I can't recall where or what the details were. It's almost like a ghost of a memory." He shrugged again. "Hopefully Koenma can find something about these beings. In the mean time, I think we should start to train her. She needs to learn to control her powers. We might have to ask Jin and Touya to come and help. But I think all she needs to learn is how to control her emotions and maybe if she learns how to control one element she'll figure out to control the others. I'm sure somewhere deep down she already knows how to." He looked up. "How about it. She needs it." "Hn," Was the reply, this time it had the ringing of 'okay'. Kurama smiled, after all these years he had learned to distinguish the meanings of Hiei's trade mark reply.
The next day Arissa was sitting in a small room with the three women, listening to them talk, when Kurama came in. "Excuse me ladies. Arissa, I was wondering if you wouldn't mind Hiei and myself training you to control your powers?" He asked politely. Arissa thought about it, then nodded. "I guess."
He led her outside where Hiei was waiting along with the elderly Genkai. "I thought I might as well help the girl, since you two have never taught some one in harnessing their powers." Genkai said. Kurama sweated, and rubbed his head. "Well, I thought I might be able to teach her the way I taught myself." Genkai shook her head. "The only thing you taught yourself was how to use your plant manipulation offensively. You already knew how to control your powers. This girl doesn't." She turned to Hiei. "The same goes for you. I don't think you two will be needed as teachers just yet. I think the only thing you could teach her now would be how to fight." Hiei just 'hn'ed while Kurama nodded. "Very well." He and Hiei left.
Genkai turned to the blonde. "Now, how about we start by meditating." She then led the girl into the big room and closed all the doors, pitching the room into darkness. Soon, however, it was illuminated by a few small candles. Genkai took a seat on one cushion of several in the big room. She motioned for Arissa to sit in front of her. Arissa sat on her knews like Genkai. "Now, close your eyes and empty your mind. It's harder than it sounds, though. We'll train only in this until you can empty your mind without trying to." Genkai rasped out as she closed her eyes. Arissa took her lead and tried to empty her mind. After awhile she sighed, -The lady is right. It is harder than it sounds.- She stretched and went at it again.
That night she sat at the dinner table stiffly. She had sat in the same position almost all day except for the times that she was allowed to stretch and wake up her sleeping legs. She wasn't sure what was more painful, the headache she had gotten from concentrating to empty her mind or the sharp pins and needles that ran up her legs everytime she moved. Even now she felt the sharp tickly pain that made her want to laugh and cry at the same time. She pretty much ate in silence, not even really paying attention to the conversation. That is not until Botan popped in. She had left shortly after Arissa started to train.
"Arissa! Guess what! I've got you the stuff I promised!" The bubbly woman said as she handed Arissa a bag of cd's. Arissa quickly looked through the bag, 3 Doors Down, Bon Jovi, Breaking Benjamin, Cold, Crossfade, Collective Soul, and Disturbed just to name a few. She squealed and hugged the ferry onna tightly. "Thank you Botan!" Botan laughed. "You're nearly squeazing me to death now, I'm afraid how you'll react once you see what's in your room." Arissa let her go and dashed to her room.
Inside was a large sound system, surround sound speakers, a Sirius radio, and most importantly, a large multi-cd player, able to hold twenty cd's at once. She screamed this time, causing Hiei, who had been snoozing in a tree nearby, to use his amazing speed to come to her side, sword drawn. "What is it!" He asked, then he noticed the jumping girl practically hugging the sound system. She turned happy eyes to him. "Look!" She squealed, pointing to her sound system. Hiei just stared at the girl, then he growled, sheathed his sword, and stormed out, cursing music loving kakou hoshi apparitions. The others laughed as they came to the room to see the girl sifting through her bag of cd's. It was a rather large bag. Kurama turned to Botan. "How many cd's did you and Koenma get her?" He asked. Botan paused, then answered cheerfully. "Thirty-eight regular cds and one compilation of various singles." The others sweated at this. Botan rubbed her head, "Well, Koenma and I want her to be happy, especially after what she went through. We'll do whatever it takes to make her happy, even if it means rapidly depleating Koenma's allowence." She paused then jumped. "Oh I forgot!" She dug into one of her sleeves of her pink kimono and came out with a large black cd holder. "Arissa, this is for you to hold your cds." She said as she handed it to the golden haired girl. Arissa jumped up and hugged Botan again, tears in her eyes. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" She chanted. Botan smiled and gently disentangled herself from the teenager. "Now, how about we leave you to go through you bag of treasures." She said as she walked out of the room. Arissa squealed as she went back to the bag. The others followed Botan's lead.
Arissa sighed as she went over the list she had compiled.
Arissa's Music: (38 cds, 1 compilation)
3 Doors Down
10 Years
AFI
Bon Jovi
Breaking Benjamin
Cold
Collective Soul
Crossfade
Dave Matthews Band
Default
Disturbed
Element Eighty
Evanescence
Goo Goo Dolls
Hinder
Hoobistank
Incubus
Lacuna Coil
Linkin Park
Live
Mudvayne
Mindless Self Indulgence
No Address
Nonpoint
Pearl Jam
Powerman 5000
Prom Kings
Rammstein
Sarah Mclachlan
Savage Garden
Seether
Soil
Submersed
Switchfoot
System Of A Down
Theory Of A Deadman
Train
Trapt
Vertical Horizon
Compilation:
40 Below Summer (Breathless)
10,000 Maniacs (Because The Night)
Earshot (Wait)
Fall Out Boy (Sugar, We're Going Down)
Hawthorn Hieghts (Ohio Is For Lovers)
Life House (Hanging By A Moment)
Oasis (Champaign Supernova)
Skillet (Savior)
Social Distortion (Reach For The Sky)
Straylight Run (Existentialism On Prom Night)
Taking Back Sunday (This Photograph Is Proof (I Know You Know))
Thousand Foot Krutch (Move)
She had put all the cd's in order in the cd folder, along with their booklet. The compilation cd was put in the back with a paper that had the list of music on the cd. She was very happy with her music. -Now maybe I can dance.- She thought, then looked at her small room. -But I'll need a bigger space to dance. Maybe there's a small clearing outside that I could dance in. But that would mean asking for a battery opperated boom box.- She thought for awhile. -I really don't want to ask for anything more, and I also really don't want everybody to know I dance. They might want to watch and I get embarrassed and shy when people watch. Maybe if I pulled Botan aside and asked her privately? I think I'll try that.- She sighed and stretched. "But right now I have to get to sleep. I think I'll have sweeter dreams tonight with some music." She shuffled through her folder and brought out her Vertical Horizon, Evanesence, Lacuna Coil, Savage Garden and Train cds and put them into the player and turned on the system with the volume low. She sighed as Vertical Horizon's "We Are" filtered through the speakers into the small room. Listening to the music brought memories of better days to her as she laid down and drifted to sleep.