"No way, Urameshi. There's no way you beat me!"
"Look out Kuwabaka, your ego is showing," Niku said offhand.
"Huh, where?" Kuwabara said looking around.
Everyone started laughing, Kuwabara still searching for his ego. Niku stood straight, and began to walk towards the door. "Where are you going?" asked Karama.
"To get a drink." She walked off into the cafeteria. The others stood there; it was too loud to talk. Then a slow song went on.
Keiko got Yusuke to go dance with her, and Kuwabara somehow convinced Yukina to go with him. Then Botan came up to Karama. "Um, well, since everyone else is, would you mind dancing with me?"
Karama blushed and stuttered. "Um...I don't know...I don't really dance..."
"Nonsense, I'm sure you'll learn," Botan said whipping him onto the dance floor. Karama could only stare shocked for a moment. This was so wrong, he was a girl, I mean and she was supposed to be a girl. Karama was confused, and stunned, but just kept moving, that was all (it) could do.
"What do you suppose happens when she finds out he's gay?" Karama heard Niku say to Hiei. Apparently she was back from getting a drink.
Hiei shrugged. Karama frowned, but was a bit preoccupied with his/her current situation. Then, too make matters worse; Botan started looking up at him all starry-eyed. "You dance good," she said.
"Uh...thanks," Karama said confused and flustered. Thankfully the song was soon over, and Karama broke away from her blushing and bewildered.
Niku looked over at him smiling, almost smirking at him. Karama looked away and pulled at his shirt collar. He walked out of the gym and went into the cafeteria. He walked over to the tables of food and got a cup of soda. He drank it quickly and then went in to sit at a table.
He sat alone for a while, thinking, until Niku and Hiei came in. They sat down across from him and Karama didn't think they had come to offer emotional support.
"So when are you going to tell her?" asked Niku jokingly.
"Tell her what?" Karama said looking up.
"You know, that you're spoken for."
"Spoken for?" Karama said.
"Yeah, Elton John's got dibs on you."
Karama looked at her angrily for a minute. "You now I never said I was gay."
"Actions speak louder than words."
"Yeah, have you ever seen me with a guy?"
"Not just that," she said. "There's always your obsession with plants, the fact that you're always wearing pink and stuff, the fact you painted your ceiling pink, and oh yeah, your hair's pink."
"Okay," said Karama attempting to make an argument for himself. "First of all, it's not an obsession. I don't always wear those colors, and it's not pink."
"How do you explain your ceiling, and if your hair's not pink, what color is it?"
"I don't need to explain my ceiling, and it's red."
"It is not red, it's pink!"
"Red!"
"It's definitely pink."
"Sure, whatever," Karama said getting bored and frustrated. He then realized that Hiei was looking over at him suspiciously again. Apparently Kurama never would have had such an argument over that subject.
Just then, Kuwabara and Yusuke came in and sat down on either side of Karama. "Hey way to go with Botan," Yusuke said to Karama mockingly.
"Yeah, you really scored," Kuwabara added jokingly. They both grinned broadly at him and Yusuke kind of nudged him on the arm.
Just then, the girls came in. Hiei immediately disappeared. Niku left soon afterwards, unable to stand Keiko's mindless ramblings about sore feet and why not to get too hot while they were there so they didn't ruin their clothes. Botan kept looking up at Karama sheepishly and Yusuke and Kuwabara kept giving Karama the "thumbs up" sign. Consequently, Karama followed after Niku a short while later.
She saw her glancing about, like she was looking for something. Karama approached her. "What's going on?"
Niku looked over at him. "Nothing. Hey, is it me or did Hiei just completely disappear?"
Karama looked about. "No, he completely disappeared. Why don't you join us now that he's gone? I'm certain that you will enjoy yourself."
Niku raised an eyebrow at him. "Do you really think he's the only reason why I'm not having fun?"
Karama frowned. "Well, no. I just thought that without the two of you together you wouldn't make each other miserable."
"What? Make each other miserable?"
Karama sighed. "Never mind, I see you won't be swayed." They walked back to the little corner (Karama was just following Niku). He leaned there for a while and then a really cool song came on. Karama looked over at Niku who's head was bowed, arms were crossed, and eyes were closed as she leaned against the wall. "Hey I thought you'd like this song," she said with an odd smile.
Niku looked up and listened for a second. A smile turned the corner of her mouth when she heard the lyrics ("...angels deserve to die").
Shortly after the song ended the others came out of the cafeteria. "Hey Kurama, What's up?" said Yusuke as they approached.
"Nothing worth mentioning," said Karama. Then, the little Hill-Billy song about some guy named Joe came on. Karama, figuring that Hiei had left, began to dance along with everyone else, that is everyone except Niku and Hiei (wherever he was).
After the song, Karama made her way back towards the corner, but didn't see Niku there. Figuring Niku had either left altogether, or had just gone for another drink or something, she didn't think much of it. Karama continued to dance to a few songs, till another slow one came on. Seeing Botan walking about looking for him (and still very confused about the gender issue) Karama stole his way over to the back of the gym, and climbed the bleachers.
She waited there till the song was over and then went back down with the others. "Hey, have you guys seen Niku or Hiei?" Yusuke asked them.
"No, Niku was over in the corner a while ago. I suppose they either left, or found a better hiding spot," Karama explained.
They left it at that and continued to hang out and have a good time, dancing now and then. Unfortunately, the dance was soon nearly over. Not wanting to leave either of them behind everyone tried to find Niku and Hiei. They failed. Mostly everyone else had left the school (the music was still playing though) while Karama stood in the center of the gym looking about. "Niku! Hiei!" she called hoping they may just come out.
Then, quite suddenly something dropped noiselessly beside him. She looked over and it was Hiei glaring at him far more suspiciously then ever before. Looking up she had just enough time to see Niku hanging from one of the metal rafters of the gym before she swung down on the other side of him. "Is it over?" she asked looking about.
"Have you two been up there the whole time?" Karama asked.
"Well, yeah. How come?" Niku asked.
"It just seems like an odd place to spend your graduation dance."
"Yeah," said Niku. "It took me a while to find Hiei. I must admit that was a pretty good place as far as being away from the crowd."
"Yes," said Hiei still glaring at Karama. "And a good vantage point." By the way he had said it Karama realized that he'd probably seen him hanging out, which may have been pretty suspicious for Kurama to be doing the Hill-Billy dance.
Before Karama could respond the others came over. "There you two are," said Yusuke. "Where were you?"
"Around," Niku replied.
Kuwabara smiled mockingly. "You two have fun together?" he said, a distinct meaning in his words and facial expression.
Niku punched him on the back of the head and made him fall forward onto the floor. He got up rubbing his head (the little anime tears at the edge of his eyes for pain). Niku just stood there her eyes closed and her fist still where it had made contact (vein thing on head).
"What was that for!" Kuwabara asked angrily holding the back of his head. Niku opened her eyes and slowly raised her head till she was glaring up at him. Kuwabara frowned and then tried to keep his angry face. He knew why she was mad though and straightened himself and shoved his hands in his pockets. "...can't you take a joke," he mumbled walking towards the door.
They all walked outside together. "Let's get somewhere out of sight," Niku said. They moved off to a patch of trees behind the school. "I don't know if I can take all of us, but I can send a few of you through to the house," she said.
"How many's a few?" Botan asked.
"Probably, you girls, and someone else, preferably someone with less spirit energy." Everyone looked at Kuwabara.
"What are you looking at me for?" he asked confused. It took a minute to sink in. "Hey, no way, I don't have the least. Let's send Hiei."
Hiei glared at him angrily. "If you don't go who'll protect Yukina?" Yusuke asked.
"Well, when you put it like that..." Kuwabara said. "I guess I'll go."
"Good," Niku said, "now stand together." She concentrated hard, opening the hole up just shy of her own feet. They were gone in an instant, leaving the rest of them standing there. Niku sighed and leaned against a tree for a second. "Shall we," she said righting herself and setting off. Leaving, several people came up to them or waved to them as they left. Sarah came up behind Niku (careful of not going near Hiei) and said good-bye to her.
They made their way throught the parking lot and out to the road. "Think this'll be the last time we see it?" asked Yusuke turning around.
"Yes, why?" Niku said, not understanding why he'd care.
"It's just that a lot's happened there, that's all. I mean that's where we first joined up with you," he said looking at Niku, "and it's where we caught Tom, and I guess we just had a lot of good times there."
"True, it's where we first joined up, but not where we met. Tom wasn't a big deal, and if by good times you mean coutless hours of teachers rambling on about a lot of stuff I already knew, then yes there were good times," Niku said in an off-hand fashion.
"Yeah, I guess you're right," Yusuke said. "That was stupid." Still he looked back upon the building and frowned.
"You know," Karama said leaning in towards Niku's ear and whispering. "Most people have things called feelings. They also feel conections to places where they've been a while or where things have happened to them."
Niku looked at him and frowned. "Yes, well apparently I'm not one of those people."
Karama rolled his eyes and kept walking. Once again Niku was much like Michelle by being uncharacteristically heartless. They walked down the road, the darkness becoming deeper as they moved away from the lights. The moon was a thin crescent tonight, and the stars though bright, were not very numerous.
They moved off the road and back into the cover of the trees. They were in no rush, but soon came to the small shack. They moved the junk pile, opened the trapdoor, moved the rock, and made their way inside. Now with the abscence of Keiko, Niku lit the torches(in her own way) and they continued down the tunnel.
They were relatively quiet the whole way, now and then one of them (usually Yusuke and sometimes Karama) would bring up some small talk or discuss what they would be doing for summer vacation. They reached the end shortly and Yusuke hoisted Niku up to move the rock again.
They made their way out into the cool night air. Karama sighed deeply, taking in a breath. It was a gorgeous night and the fragrant smell of the trees filled the air. "How about a race?" Niku asked.
Everyone looked at her. "What do you mean?" asked Yusuke puzzled by the notion (apparently it was a bit out of character for her).
"I mean we all run to the house and whoever gets there first wins."
"Oh, okay. Let's get ready then. What about you two?" Yusuke asked. Karama agreed.
"I suppose it would be nice to stretch our legs, yes I'll come along," Karama conceded. "What about you Hiei?" Karama asked almost jokingly smiling at him.
Hiei looked at Niku who smile-smirked at him. "Yes, if it get's us there faster." Karama suspected he was just looking for a good test of skills between him and Niku.
All four of them lined up and did sort of a sprinting position. "On your marks..., get set..., go!" Yusuke said and they took off.
Niku and Hiei seemed to instantly disappear as they raced onward. Yusuke remained visible for a moment as he hurried after the others, leaving Karama running after them. It was then that Karama realized that she had no idea how to get back to the house. The best she could do was to head in the general direction that the others had taken.
Niku made it to the gate of the house first, Hiei following by only moments. Instead of gloating she simply smiled at him and they waited silently for Urameshi to arrive. Yami made his way over to Niku who patted him on the head and congratulated him for the large bone in his mouth.
Yusuke arrived about thirty seconds later panting hard. "I don't...know how...you guys do it but,...you sure are fast."
"How long do you think it'll take Kurama?" Niku asked Hiei.
"Not sure, it depends. He may just want to take in the foliage."
"He won't be too long I'm sure," Yusuke said. "What do you say we go inside and wait for him, just let the others know we got here?"
Hiei and him began to walk towards the house but Niku stayed. "I'll wait out here a little longer. If he's not back in like, ten minutes I'll come in."
"Suit yourself," Yusuke shrugged heading in.
Karama pushed on through the trees. Branches scratched his exposed skin as she walked by and it was very difficut to keep a straight course. Still, she moved on, the realization of her situation closing in upon her.
Niku walked into the entrance hall alone. "Any sign of him?" Yusuke asked.
She shook her head. "Not yet."
"Oh, dear. I hope he's alright," Botan said concerned.
"I'm not too worried about it," Hiei said flatly.
"Yeah," Niku said, "he is after all Kurama. I used to go to bed listening to stories about 'the Great Fox Thief'. He'll be fine."
"Yeah, I guess you're right," Yusuke said.
"Who's up for video games!" Kuwabara said loudly.
"What, feel like being schooled again?" Niku asked.
Yusuke shrugged helplessly. "I'm in. Who's gonna watch?"
"I will," Botan said eagerly.
"I suppose it would be amusing..." Yukina replied.
"Well, I guess so," Keiko said.
"What about you Hiei?" Yusuke asked as the others turned to leave.
"I wouldn't waste my time. I choose to fight within reality."
"Okay," Yusuke shrugged as he and the others went out the front door and into the house to the right of the biggest one.
Karama had managed to stumble through the forest for a good half hour before coming upon the clearing. It was an open expanse of grass, somewhat raised from the forest. The trees at the edge stood so close together that someone could shine a spotlight throught them and the person on the other side would hardly see anything.
Just then, Karama heard a rustling in the bushes behind him to the left.
"I win again," Niku said cooly as Kuwabara threw his controller on the ground.
"You cheat!" he said in disbelief that anyone could beat him at Judo Master, the game he had practically grew up on.
"There's no cheating in having superior skill."
"Fine, I want to beat Urameshi again."
"You never did beat Urameshi."
"Well, that's cause he cheats too!"
"Listen, I'm really getting worried about Kurama," Yukina said from behind them. "I've been watching the window this whole time and I haven't seen anything."
"Yeah," Yusuke said dropping his head. "Maybe someone had better go look for him."
"I'll go," Niku said hopping over the back of the couch. "I could use the exercise." She walked out the door onto the lawn. "Here boy," she said to Yami who had been laying outside of the door. He followed her out across the lawn and through the gate.
"I'm glad someone's finally looking for him," Botan said relieved.
"Yes, I'll feel much better once he's back though," confessed Yukina. "I have this horrible feeling that something's gone wrong."
Karama tried desperately to get the rose she had pulled from his hair to transform. "Come on, come on," she said flicking it with her wrist. "Do something."
She glanced up at the approaching demons. They had just popped out of the bushes suddenly and had rushed upon Karama. Some of them had drawn crude weapons but most simply brandised their long claws, or gnashed their rows of teeth, and they were getting closer.
Niku walked quietly throught the forest, her head down and her eyes closed. She kept her hands in her pockets and she sighed quietly. "Kurama's really good at not being found," she said to Yami who was sniffing eagerly about the underbrush wagging his tail.
The truth is, neither of them were looking very hard. Niku wasn't too worried about Kurama, she was just glad to be outside. As for Yami, he was just hungry and was sniffing out various woodland creatures for supper.
Karama finally got the whip to extend, just in time to sloppily slice the closest demon in half. It's blood sloshed onto her clothes, causing her to wrinkle her nose in disgust. She didn't have much time to brood over cleanliness though as another one came at him.
Narrowly dodging it by turning aside she managed to begin attempting the thorn wheel. Using both hands she swung the deadly weapon above her head clumbsily. More than once she nearly removed her arms, and once nearly cut off her own head. She kept fighting as best as she could but the demons were gaining the upper hand.
Niku sat and leaned against the trunk of a tree. Yami came over and curled up in her lap. She leaned her head back and stared up into the branches. "Where the hell is he?" she said closing her eyes.
Karama struggled as best she could, the demons clawing at her mercilessy. The whip wasn't helping much anymore and his fists weren't doing great either. Each passing second brought him closer to death as he was cut and sliced more and more.
Then, the blows stopped. Karama looked about weakly for the cause of his "good luck". She soon saw it. A relatively large demon stepped in front of the others smiling. He was obviously the leader as the others bowed their heads before him.
Then it spoke. "Well, well. What have we here," it said in a deep voice. "A stray human. A fighter though," he added looking about at the many slain bodies surrounding Karama. "My men are very valuable to me, how are you going to pay me back for all of them?" it asked still smiling. Karama got the feeling that he couldn't pay him back no matter what he offered.
Karama just glared at him panting, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. "I'll spare you your life."
It chuckled. "You're hardly in a position to be threatening me. I see we'll have to deal with you the hard way." He made a motion with his hand and Karama felt something poke him in the side. Looking down he saw a dart sticking in his side and a wave of hot dizziness swept over him. Staggering in an attempt to stay on his feet he kept his eyes locked on the demon.
He fell over and landed on his back. A sharp pain had begun in his chest and it was very difficult to breath suddenly. Karama also couldn't help but notice that she was paralyzed. The demons beagn to whoop loudly and slowly increased in volume. Looking up he saw the clear sky above him and the form of the demon leader grinning down at him, something silver glinting in his hand.
(Still in blue shirt and blue jeans with chain belt)Niku looked at her watch and frowned. She had been looking for nearly an hour and there was still no sign of him. She figured he was just taking his precious time in examining flowers and was about to head back when she heard something, a loud whooping noise. It was distant but distinct.
Yami perked up his ears and sniffed the air. Then he growled menacingly and the hair on the back of his neck stood up. Niku looked down at him and frowned again. "We may as well check it out," she said. "I've got nothing better to do." She began to casually make her way towards the sound of the continued whoops as they began to grow louder, she was still nearly a mile away.
Karama looked up helplessly and wide-eyed as the demon leader stood over him, dagger raised. "Any last words?" it asked in a cruel mocking voice.
"Can't we talk about this?" Karama asked desperately stuggling with the ropes that had been bound over his hands while he was still immobilized (which wasn't necessary, she still was).
It chuckled. "Huh, huh, ha. No." It lowered the dagger and began to strike. Karama closed her eyes and opened them in time to see a dark blur plow into the chest of the demon, knocking him away.
Landing softly in front of him was Niku. Her face was set in an angry and serious expression as she glared at the demon. She righted herself up straight and glanced at Kurama out of the corner of her eye.
The leader got up angrily having been knocked from his feet by Niku's kick. He looked at his stunned subjects and yelled at them angrily. "Well, don't just stand there. Get her!"
Niku smirked evily lowering herself into a fighting stance. The demons charged them, Karama still paralyzed and tied on the ground. As the demons approached she leaped in. Karama saw a little black streak come in the back latching onto the chest of one of the demons and removing it's throat. Yami jumped away from his victim and plowed into the next hitting him low so it fell over, then jumping on its chest and tearing away at the flesh.
Niku moved through them swiftly punching, kicking, smashing heads and thoroughly enjoying herself. Karama would have to roll over now and then to avoid another demon who was taking a stab at him. Niku never went far though and would kill them before they could do anything.
Turning her attention back to Yami's battle Karama stared in shock as a whole line of demons attacked him at once. Yami jumped back, growled evily, bristled his hair and opened his mouth wide as if in a roar. Instead of noise however, a barrage of flames spewed forth from his open mouth incinerating the unfortunate victims.
Karama struggled with her bindings as more and more demons were slaughtered. Then, with many running about screaming in pain as they slowly burned to death, or as their own blood began to drown them, they began to retreat, many of them fleeing straight into the forest. The leader, seeing his people running away turned to follow suit.
He was just making it to the edge of the trees when something grabbed his shirt collar and he fell onto his butt. Niku was holding his shirt in one hand and his own dagger in the other. "Now, now we weren't going to leave without saying goodbye were we?" she asked, a smirk lining the corner of her mouth.
The demon leader only stared at her openmouthed in horror. "Wha..what are you g...going to do to me?" it asked quickly eyeing the dagger.
"Oh, nothing too bad," Niku said turning the dagger over in her hand. "Probably just the same thing you were going to do to that guy over there." She gestured toward Karama.
"I, I wasn't going to do anything, I swear!" the demon said putting his hands together and pleading. "Don't kill me!"
Niku looked suprised. "You weren't going to kill him? Wow, with the knife and the say your last words, and all I figured...but if you weren't going to do anything..." she said offhand rolling her wrist and glancing away as she let go of his shirt.
He looked bewildered for a moment, then, hardly believing his good luck he sprinted off towards the trees. Niku however, would not allow her pray to get away so easily. Shutting one eye she threw the dagger just to the left of his head, purposelly missing it by an inch, the blade stuck in a tree. The demon froze then turned about, eyes wide with fear.
"Let that be a warning, next time I won't miss," she said coldly. The demon took back off into the trees. Niku looked after him a moment, then Yami came up beside her. She looked down at him and smiled. "Kill him." Yami howled, then took off into the woods after the demon. Karama heard his screams continue as he raced off into the night, Yami nipping away pieces of his flesh, playing with his food before he ate it.
Niku walked over to Karama and looked him over. Karama smiled weakly up at her, "You're late."
She smiled back. "Yeah, I came though. Just be glad it wasn't Kuwabara looking for you." She shook her head "Wow, you're a mess. What happened?"
Karama looked away. "I was caught off guard, that's all."
"That doesn't sound like the Kurama I know. Oh well, let's get you cleaned up," she said stooping and cutting the ropes from his hands with a knife she took from the body of a demon. Helping him to his feet, she let him put an arm over her shoulder and helped him limp away.
Yami came back, blood dripping from his mouth and something oddly like a dog smile on his face. "Good boy," Niku praised him. Niku led Karama into the trees and into an odd sort of leeway tent made by the tree boughs. There she leaned him against a tree trunk and let them take a break.
Seeing his heavy breathing Niku looked at him concerned. Seeing her face Karama smiled weakly. "I was shot with...some sort of...dart," Karama said. "Ever since...I've been paralyzed,...and it's...harder to breath," he wheezed.
Niku thought a moment. "Taperroot poison. Very deadly if not treated."
"That's comforting," Karama said rolling his eyes.
"Yeah well you should be really glad you're not with Kuwabara now. I happen to know the antidote, but it'll take me a minute to get everything I need," she said trailing off. "Yami, stay here with Kurama," she instructed the dog who was happily gnawing away at a pile of demon bones he had gathered.
He looked up at her and kind of cocked his head, then went back to gnawing on his bones. Niku took off leaving Karama sitting there in the dark with a ferocious dog that didn't like him as his only companion and protector while he sat there the life slowly draining out of him as it became harder and harder to breath.
Karama sighed and looked up at the moon, it's pale light reflected in his bright green eyes. Shutting his eyes and bowing his head Karama smiled and thought to herself. It was only her second night as being Kurama and she had already turned into a guy, gotten Hiei wise to her, caught a spirit world criminal, graduated the eighth grade, gone to the best school dance in her life, gotten lost in the middle of nowhere, been attacked by hordes of demons, and was now slowly dying from a potent poison that was coursing through her veins.
Then, a rustling in the bushes brought her back to reality. Something stepped through the bushes, but Karama was relieved to see who it was. Hiei stood there looking down at him, an angry frown on his face. "It's only you Hiei," Karama said relieved.
"Yes, only me," he said in an odd voice. He looked about. "Where's Niku?"
"She left to go find some things," Karama replied puzzled.
"Good," Hiei said looking around again. Yami looked up in mild interest but continued to leave most of his attention on his bones. "So having difficulty fighting?" he asked in an odd tone.
"Oh, yes, I was uh-hum...caught off guard."
Hiei frowned down at him. There was a long pause, then he spoke again. "Do you think I'm stupid?"
Karama looked bewildered. "What? No."
"Well then you'd know that I can see through your little cherade. I was watching you (Karama noticed the headband on his head again). Did you honestly believe that I wouldn't notice. I've fought with Kurama for years, and he fights nothing like you did tonight."
"Hiei, I..." Karama started when another rustling turned their attention back to the trees on their right.
Niku stepped through and looked upon them. "What's going on?" she asked curiously seeing the odd expressions on their faces.
"Nothing, you were taking too long that's all," Hiei said turning to leave. "Oh, meet me in my room when you get back, will you Niku?"
"Sure," she said still confused. Hiei left and she turned her attention back to Karama. "How're you doing?"
"Well, thank you. I'm still alive at least."
"Yeah, what was that all about?" she said, obviously asking about Hiei.
"Oh, that? That was nothing." Karama looked away.
Niku got to work grinding up some herbs, roots, and fungi she had gathered into a fine powder which she mixed with some water from a hip flask. She pulled a large leaf from a nearby bush and usud it as a funnel. "Here, drink this," she said handing the mixture to Karama. "I added Polinkweed so it should help your cuts too."
"Thank you," he said taking it and drinking it. It tasted foul, but immediately after drinking it she felt a hot sensation coursing through his body. Breathing quickly became much easier, and the stiffness left over from the paralyzation disappeared. "That's a handy little recipe," Karama said smiling.
Niku smiled back. "Yeah, it gets the job done."
"I never expected you to be a healer," Karama said impressed.
"Yeah," she said. "You've got to know this kind of stuff to be a kid in the makai though." She looked up sorrowfully into the sky, then looked back at Kurama and smiled. "You learn some handy stuff there."
"Yes," Karama said. "How about we get back now?"
"Okay," Niku said getting to her feet and helping Karama up. "Need help?"
"No, I should be able to walk now," Karama replied. They walked in relative silence, Niku leading the way through the mess of trees, Yami walking around them, not acting very hungry (can't imagine why). Karama had a bit of a limp on his right leg.
After a while they got to the gate and walked inside. Karama walked towards the middle house but Niku was going towards the one on the right. She looked at Karama and said, "Come on. Everyone's waiting for you in the game house."
"Waiting for me?"
"Yeah, they were all really worried. Especially Botan," Niku added jokingly.
Karama smiled and followed Niku into the house. As soon as she opened the door everyone turned around. "Hey, you're okay!" Yusuke said.
"Thank goodness," Botan said placing a hand on her chest.
"I was so worried," Yukina said coming over and looking up at him.
"You're pretty beat up," Kuwabara said looking him over.
"Yes," said Karama. "I had a bit of a scuffle with some of the locals."
Everyone looked at Niku for an explanation. She smiled. "I found him fighting off a bunch of demons. He wasn't doing too good so I gave him a hand," she said cooly.
Everyone looked back at Karama. He rubbed the back of his head and smiled at them. "Yes, that is what happened. In fact, I'm very gratefull that Niku came."
"Don't mention it, I had fun." (Her clothes and her body was stained in demon blood-she hadn't bothered to be too neat.) "Oh yeah, I still have to go meet Hiei. Later you guys," she said leaving off towards the house.
"How about some Judo Master?" Kuwabara asked showing Karama a controller.
"No thank you," Karama said waving his hands in front of him. "I've had enough battling for tonight. I may just go to my room." It was almost one in the morning.
"Okay, see you tomorrow," Yusuke said.
Everyone said goodbye to Karama and she made her way up to bed. On her way to her room she saw Niku leaving a corridor. "Where are you going?" Karama asked.
Niku looked up at him, a curious, sad and suspicious look clouding her eyes. She looked away and frowned. "I'm going to train."
"Train? This late?"
"Yeah. I want to get an early start."
Karama was worried that Hiei had told Niku that she wasn't Kurama and that Niku would be stalking him too and giving him weird looks. "Er, thanks for your help earlier. I owe you one."
Niku smiled. "Stop saying thank you and we'll call it even."
"Oh, okay. It's a deal." They smiled to each other and went their separate ways. Karama sighed. She was relieved that Hiei hadn't told her, or maybe Niku just wasn't persuaded. Karama made his way to his room and unlocked the door to the greenhouse. Looking through the glass ceiling he saw the moon shining down on his face.
Tired and battered from his day, Karama went to his bedroom door, ready for sleep. Opening his door wide he stepped inside. Throwing his keys on the desk he shut the door behind him. As it shut he noticed a dark form on the wall behind the door. Turning around he saw Hiei standing there. "Hiei! What are you...?"
"Shut up." Karama oblidged. "You know why I'm here."
"If I had known I would not have asked. What I really want to know is why you're so intent on following me."
"You know why. You may have been able to convince everyone else you're the real thing, but I knew Kurama, and you're not him."
"What makes you think that I'm not Kur-that I'm not me?"
"Everything. The way you move, the way you act, the things you say."
"I'll admit I've changed a little, but to think I'm someone else, come now Hiei."
"Am I honestly supposed to believe that you went from Yoko Kurama to 'Cock eyed Joe' (refering to the school dance-Karama wasn't being very convincing) within two days?"
Karama tried to make the most pained look he could. "Hiei, something is obviously clouding your judgement. I am Kurama, why can't you see that?"
"I can see just fine, in fact (his jagan glowed) I saw your whole fight tonight. Caught off guard, huh? 'Can't we talk about this?'"
"What are you talking about?"
Hiei drew his sword, lunged for him and pinned him against the headboard of the bed before he could say anything else. Karama looked anxiously at the blade now held an inch from his throat, the moon reflected on the shining silver. "You know damn well what I'm talking about (he slammed his head against the board and grabbed his throat). I may not have been able to fully convince Niku but she's watching too, and I swear to God if you put one foot out of line I will not hesitate to put this sword through your skull."
Karama put his hands up, "Hiei, please..."
He drew back. "Stop talking to me like you know me, as far as I'm concerned you're nothing but an imposter who is threatening my existence," he said sheathing his sword.
Karama looked after him sadly as he stalked out of the room. "That could have gone better" he thought to himself. Karama thought that Kurama had to be in there somewhere because she was feeling a lot more hurt about that then she should have been.
Karama plopped down onto the bed and held her head. None of this made sense, nothing fit. Niku had started to talk about being a kid in the makai and now Hiei was out to kill her. Karama fell asleep that night thinking about everything that had happened and about what to do.