CHAPTER 8

Attraction

Hiei put his hands in the cool stream water and cupped them so he could hold it as he brought it to his face. The coolness of the water caused him to shiver nicely and brought him back to his normal self.

Water seemed to do that. It seemed to cool down part of his demonic element while at the same time adding to his other one. (A/N: I made this up please don't be mad)

"Okay," Minoly said after a moment. "You can look at me now."

He looked up. She could see what his face looked like now. She saw a few cuts but it wasn't as bad as it had first looked. Blood always seems to make things look worse than they really are...

Still; she wanted to get a closer look.

She climbed off the rock she'd been sitting on and waded toward him. "What are you doing?" Hiei asked watching her.

"I'm just making sure of something," she replied now right in front of him.

"What?" he asked feeling real nervous.

She was so close. A strange energy seemed to be emiting from her. The instant she touched his face again he found himself staring at her differently for some reason. Her face anyway. In moonlight it was half in shadow. Even so; her purple eyes were bright as if they were creating a light of their own. Her pale skin looked silvery in the moonlight and her black hair blow slightly in the breeze.

Somehow, to him, she actually looked pretty...attractive. (She's always been pretty but he's just noticing now)

He felt that energy surge go through him again.

"Whoa!" he exclaimed pushing her face away.

"What?" she asked, confused. "Don't you want me to look at your cuts?"

"No," he told her. "I'm fine now. Just leave me alone."

"Okay," she said stepping back. Now more of her face could be seen.

That feeling came back. Attraction.

Hiei looked away. "Umm... go back to the shore please," he said nervously.

"Please?" she was surprised at his choice of word.

"Do it!" he snapped.

"All right!" she shot back as she made her way to the shore. "I'll start a fire."

"Whatever."
He heard the sound of water as she climbed out. He sighed. What a relief, he thought. What is wrong with me all of a sudden? Why did I get a feeling like that?

Minoly found a bunch of sticks as she looked around for firewood. She quickly collected all the wood she could and headed back to where she and Hiei had stopped to rest. When she reached the spot she set the sticks down, picked two up, and began rubbing them against each other.

"What are you doing?" Hiei asked walking out of the trees.

"Starting a fire," she replied rubbing them harder.

He gave her a disgusted look. "You'll never get one started at that rate," he informed her.

"Then how do you plan on doing it?" she asked, looking up at him. "Do you got a match I don't know about."

He shook his head. He walked over to her and sat down beside her. "Here, let me."

She stood up and stared down at him with her hands on her hips. "Fine," she said.

"Thank you."

Hiei picked up one of the sticks and stared at it a moment. His hands grew hot. Suddenly it burst into flames. Satisfied that it had worked, he set it on the rest. "There you go," he said standing up.

She stared at him, her eyes wide and her mouth hanging wide open. "How did you do that?" she asked.

He looked over at her. "Wouldn't you like to know," he said.

Actually she did. But she could tell by the cocky expression on his face that even if she asked he wouldn't tell her anyway. So she didn't say anything. She just sat down by the fire and stared at it.

Hiei looked down at her. He was still thinking about what they'd talked about ealier. "So," he said.

"Hmm?" she implured.

"How come you always carry that book around?" he asked. "Is it that special to you?"

She nodded. "Like I said before; it was the last thing my father gave to me before he died. I feel that if I keep it close to me I won't miss him so much and he won't seem so far away."

"You loved him that much didn't you?" he wanted to know.

She nodded. "Hiei?" she said.

"Yes?"

"Why are you asking me this?"

"No special reason. I just wanted to know."

Even as he said this he felt bad for lying. He began to wonder. If my mother had given me something before she died would I have kept it? He remembered the ice tear gem he was looking for. His mother hadn't given it to him. Her friend had. And his father... well... he never knew him.

Is love really that powerful? he wondered now.

He looked at Minoly again. She smiled at him. Maybe it is for a few people, he considered. Just not for me. He remembered his sister. He loved her, didn't he? He'd even gone looking for her and saved her...

So maybe I do know what love is, he thought. I just wish I understood it better. I wonder why it's bothering me so much? I never thought about it before. He looked at Minoly once more before he sat down by the fire. Maybe it's her...

He rested his head against a tree trunk and closed his eyes. But I shouldn't be thinking about this right now! he reminded himself. I have other things to worry about. Namely that bastard Noda!

At that moment Noda the shadow demon was in his shadow form searching the forest for Hiei and his human girl friend. They are here somewhere, Noda thought as he dodged from tree to tree imitating their shadows as he went. I will find them no matter what it takes. That little welp isn't going to escape me again! Neither is his bitch girlfriend!

All of a sudden an area to his right was filled with extreamly bright light. He turned his head toward it but it vanished almost as soon as it had begun.

What was that? he thought still staring in that direction. A light? Something about it seemed un-natural.. The fragerance of dandelions filled the air. What's that? Huh? A light then the scent of flowers?

He stopped and stood completely still for a moment. Why do I get the feelng another demon is in the forest...

A/N

I admit it. I don't know if Hiei can do that with his hands. I just figured he could because he's part fire demon. Correct me if I'm wrong... Umm I don't really remember actually who gave Hiei his ice tear gem but I'm pretty sure it wasn't his mother. You know what? I think Yukina is his twin sister. After all their mom killed herself after he was born. :sweatdrop: All well. I guess you guys already knew that.. About the part with Noda and the light and flowers.. You'll find out about that later. Just be patient, okay?

Umm sorry for any spelling, grammer, or character personallity errors. And If I'm aplogizing too much I'm sorry. I just don't want any trouble..