I'm back! And I got two reviews for my last chapter, which makes me very happy. Thank you guys! Anyway, I hope you all like this chapter. After the 4th chapter is out, though, chapters will start coming out slower. Sorry.
She smiles slightly, but the smile holds no amusement, only bitterness. "That's why I was such a prize. Whoever has me has the backing of the gods. Also, if my brother ever dies, his powers are passed along to me. My former master had hoped to have control of me, then kill my brother, gaining him his own pet goddess.
Flare almost laughed at the looks on everyone's faces, even Hiei's. She shrugged. They would have known sooner or later.
She supposed she had a very unique position. She wasn't a goddess, and wasn't all that powerful as far as abilities went. Yet, if anyone hurt her in any way, they'd have to contend with a wrathful god, since Flare's brother kept tabs on her.
This thinking of you brother made Flare wonder when he'd visit her next. It had to be any day now, since he hadn't visited her in more than a month. He was usually more frequent in his visits, but Flare wasn't complaining. She was happy that she got to see him at all.
Noticing the silence of the room, Flare turns her attention back to the others, wondering why it had gotten so quiet. Oh, wait, she'd told them about her brother. That would make anyone go silent for a little while.
Hiei was still sitting in his window sill, but he was shooting Flare considering looks when he thought she wasn't looking.
Yusuke and Kuwabara were speaking about something, their voices so low that Flare couldn't hear what was being said.
Kurama was only sitting, staring into space, a troubled, thoughtful look on his face. Come to think of it, he'd been like this all morning, which made Flare wonder what was bothering him.
As soon as Koenma began speaking again, Flare focused her eyes back on the Prince of Rekai.
"Well, Flare, that is enough for today. After lunch, the boys will take you out to test your strength." he said, sounding shaken. Flare didn't think he had expected what she said at all. It must have shocked him quite a bit.
As the rest of the boys stood, Flare did as well, following them as they all filed out of the room.
She never even had a chance to think up something to keep her occupied since Kuwabara challenged her to a game on something called a Play Station II, the game being called Soul Caliber II.
Flare had never seen anything like this, so Kuwabara had to teach her. He ended up winning two games before she began getting the hang of it, beating Kuwabara the next three games.
After getting bored watching Flare beat up Kuwabara, Yusuke challenged her himself. Too bad Yusuke was a much better player than her.
Grinning, Flare told him she'd just have to beat him later, causing Yusuke to laugh in denial.
Flare rolled her eyes, thinking as Yusuke and Kuwabara began a game themselves. She got along so well with these guys. Except Hiei, anyway. He was still quite a mystery to her.
Once Flare grew tired of watching the two detectives fight and bicker, she decided to get her something to eat before it was too late to do so.
She padded into the cafeteria, grabbing a simple peanut butter and jelly sandwich before scanning the tables for a seat.
Spotting a tuft of red in the crowd, Flare headed in that direction, since only one person she knew of had that particularly violent shade of red.
Kurama seemed to be enjoying a cup of tea as Flare sat down, taking a large bite of her sandwich.
"Mind if I sit here?" she asked, ignoring the fact she was already sitting at the table.
He looks over at her, blinking in surprise since she interrupted his thoughts. "Oh, of course, Flare."
Between bites of her sandwich, Flare flicks Kurama thoughtful looks. What was bothering him so much, anyway?
Finishing her sandwich, Flare considers her options. She could use her powers, she supposed, and suddenly felt a tiny bit guilty since she had yet to tell the guys of these other powers.
Flare could enter people's dreams, and change them to suit her will. Very deep thought could be counted as a dream, but normal, everyday thought wasn't. That would take a telepath.
But in the end, Flare decides to find out the easy way, instead.
"Kurama?" she asked, then sighed when he didn't respond. "Kurama? Kurama? Hello!"
Flare had gotten louder and louder with each word until her mouth was only inches from Kurama's sensitive ears. Kurama toppled out of his chair at the last shout, and shot Flare an apologetic smile as he got up and brushed himself off before sitting down.
"I'm sorry, Flare. I'm just preoccupied today, is all." he told her.
Flare waved off his apology. "Well, care to tell me what's got you thinking so hard?" she asked, tilting her head and studying him with her soft, golden eyes.
Kurama's smile fades. "It's only a dream I had this morning, nothing really to worry about." he tells her, not wanting her to worry about him.
"Tell me?" she pleaded. "I'm an expert at dreams." she added.
Kurama watched her face, and the puppy dog eyes she was now presenting to him. He sighed, giving in to the inevitable.
"Fine, I'll tell you." he agreed.
On a background of black, there are two, dancing flames, the first flame much bigger than the second. But the first flame begins to shrink and dim. The instant the flame goes out, the second flame grows until it is even bigger than the first was.
A bright, green leaf, a small, puffy cloud, and a sparkling drop of water soon appear near the last flame. The leaf jumps at the flame, as if to smother it, but is soon burned to ashes. The cloud then hovers over the flame, calling a wind to snuff it out. But the heat of the flame evaporates the cloud into nothingness. Finally, the drop of water jumps into the flame, easily putting it out. Then nothing is left back the background of black, the drop of water, and a small wisp if smoke.
As Kurama explained his dream, Flare expression grew darker and darker. Glancing over at her, Kurama notices this. "What? What is wrong, Flare?" he asked.
Flare eyes him, as if wondering whether or not she should tell him the meaning. Well, it was his dream, so she supposed she had to.
"I know what the dream means, but it hasn't made me very happy. But I seriously doubt this dream of your will come true." she said, before explaining to him the meaning of his dream.
"The first flame represents my brother, while the second, smaller flame is me. In your dream, something happens to my brother, and he dies, which is why the first flame disappears. His powers them go to me, which is why the second flame grows." she said, then looked over at Kurama to check that he understood so far.
"The leaf, the cloud, and the drop of water signify the other gods and goddesses of nature. The God of Earth tries to kill me, but I win, which is why the leaf turns to ashes. The God of Air tries next, but fails as well. But then the Goddess of Water attacks me, and wins, which is the second flame is put out. The wisp of smoke means that there is a chance I will live, but the chance is slight." she finish, Kurama's expression now as troubled as her own.
He ponders for a moment, going over all Flare had told him before forming a question. "Why would they want to kill you?" he asked.
"Oh, well, one of the gods or goddesses of nature always rule over the rest of the gods, since their elements hold more influence over the worlds. They probably want to rule, and so would want to get rid of me. But your dream can't come true because my brother is fine." she said firmly.
Hopefully, Flare had reassured him, since Kurama's smile returned.
"Thank you, then, for easing my mind. But now I believe it is time to test your abilities." he says as he stands up, pointing at the clock that was located in the cafeteria.
Eyes following where his finger pointed, Flare saw it was 1:30 already. Standing, Flare caught up to Kurama as he made his way outside. He leads her to a clearing in the very beginnings of the forest that surrounds the castle.
In the very center of the clearing is an arena, which is for practicing and training, she assumed.
Hiei is already there, leaning against one of the trees with his arms crossed and eyes closed. But she knew he wasn't sleeping, since he cracked one blood red eye to regard her and Kurama.
Hearing voices, Flare looks behind her to see Yusuke and Kuwabara coming their way, still bickering over that game they had been playing.
Once everyone was together, the boys had to decide who was to fight her first. They all decided on Kuwabara since he was the weakest of the team. Of course, he states his 'I don't fight girls' speech, yet ended up in the ring anyway.
Flare studied him as he called up his spirit sword, his energy spiking in her senses.
Once she had assessed him to her satisfaction, Flare nimbly leapt into the ring, facing Kuwabara in a relaxed stance.
But when Yusuke yells for the fight to begin, Flare seemingly flies at Kuwabara, hands flaming as she attacked him.
Kuwabara tried to hit her with his spirit sword, but missed as Flare tried to punch him. he dodged that punch, but earned a singe for his efforts, which in Flare's mind were in vain.
You grin at him before attacking again, aiming an uppercut for his gut. She was the faster one, so Kuwabara was too busy with trying to block or doge her attacks to even think about attacking her.
Unexpectedly, Flare suddenly brought her leg up and aimed a kick at the side of his head. Kuwabara had been so preoccupied with Flare's punches that he never even saw the kick, much less expected it. The powerful kick knocked him clear out the arena, and his complaints as he picked himself up made her grin.
"That means I win, right?" she asks Yusuke, who nods in answer. "Then who is going to fight me next?"
Yusuke answers this question by climbing into the ring himself, facing Flare in a defensive stance, fists up. She mimics his position as the two wait for the start of the fight.
At Kurama's yell, Yusuke launched himself at Flare, getting in a few good punches despite Flare's flaming fists. She knew she'd have some beautiful bruises tomorrow from the way they felt now.
But she ignored them, pressing onward, getting in a few good hits of her own.
Flare finally lands a kick that nearly sends Yusuke to the other side of the arena. But Yusuke only grins and puts his hands together until they look like a gun. "Spirit gun!" he yells, unleashing a massive ball of energy Flare's way.
Thinking fast, Flare shape shifts into a small beetle and flies to Yusuke's shoulder, masking her spirit energy so the others wouldn't sense her position. When the smoke cleared, they noticed Flare's absence.
"Hey, where did Flare go?" Kurama asked, eyes darting around, trying to find Flare.
"Urameshi! Did you have to blast her to smithereens! Now her brother will be out to get us!" Kuwabara shouts.
"Shut up! Flare is around here somewhere, she just has her energy masked. That attack wasn't enough to kill her. So get your undies out of a bunch." Yusuke muttered.
Grinning, Flare leaves Yusuke's shoulder, flying high into the air before suddenly plummeting down to him, changing her shape along the way.
The landing was perfect. Yusuke was now flat on his back under Flare's now heavier weight. Mouth curling in a feline smile, she got off of him and began to circle him.
From the boys' point of view, it had looked like a huge panther had fallen from no where to land on Yusuke.
Deciding to end this fight, Flare stalked back up to Yusuke before he could stand and placed a large paw on his neck, flexing her claws in and out, just barely pricking him.
She then slowly let her panther form disappear, just leaving her human form with its hand around Yusuke's throat.
"I win again." Flare murmurs in a seductive whisper before letting Yusuke get up.
As he stands and brushes himself off, he sent a glare at Flare. "Did you have to squash me flat?" he asks, a bit heatedly.
"No." she admits. "But it was fun."
Muttering to himself, Yusuke leaves the arena to go and sulk.
Flare watching him go, then shook her head and looked from Kurama to Hiei. "Ok, who is next?" she asked.
"I'll fight you next." came an unknown voice to Flare's right. Turning her head, Flare met a gaze as golden as hers.
Ok, done! Now, who is this golden eyed stranger? You'll find out next chapter! He may play an important role, or he may not. It depends. Anyway, remember to review!
Signing out
Shade