Chapter16: Team Mur

Being free of her brother's not-so-savory remarks, the group realized it was dark outside.

"So in a matter of hours Team Mur shall fight." Yasu said softly. Rai looked at Yasu with a little confusion.

"What's so special about Team Mur? I haven't heard any teams like this one."

"Something is different about the way they fight. It's not just 'kill or be killed' for them."

"How do you know? Have you talked to them?" Kuwabara asked. He seemed at a loss for thoughts of when she might've talked to them.

"No."

"Then how do you know?"

"A feeling."

"You're basing your opinion of this team, that you haven't even met yet, off of a feeling?" Yusuke said skeptically.

"Yes."

Yusuke was speechless for a moment. "What is it? Can you sense someone's intentions just by looking at them?"

"No. This team is just different." She stood. "Now if you don't mind, I'm going to sleep." She walked out of the room, leaving everyone to stare after her.

"She's changed a lot since we met you guys." Rai said out of the blue.

"Really?" Kuwabara asked, "I've noticed anything different about her."

"Well, you didn't know her before she came to the Human World. She seems to be more considerate of what people are. When we first came here, I think no one was important to her. Not even herself. But now it's a different story. There's me, her, and, Kurama." She finished with a big grin at Kurama. She stood up and stretched, "Who knew one could have a serious conversation after talking to Inasuwei?"

"What was he going to say anyways, Rai?" Yusuke asked.

"I'm not going to repeat it. He doesn't have the cleanest mind in the world. It was a very inappropriate thought." She said. She walked towards the door.

"You're going to sleep too?" Kuwabara asked.

"No. I'm going to take a little walk." No one really noticed Hiei had left.

Rai reached the forest without meeting anyone. The tall trees crowded the light path that had been created. She found a large pond. The moonlight reflected off its smooth surface. Tall grass rushed in the cool breeze. Trees created a circle around it. It was a beautiful scene.

She hugged herself and looked up at the sky. It was dark, only lit by the full moon, glittered with bright stars. "Such beauty… Its sweet scent can only barely counter my bittersweet feelings for home." She whispered to the wind, a line from a song that she knew once long before now.

"An interesting phrase coming from you." She didn't even need look back to tell that it was Hiei. He walked up to her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Will you tell me why you decided to follow me out here?"

"You attract trouble."

She laughed. "You're my guard dog, then."

"I never want you out of my sight." He said, "I'll always watch over you."

She turned to face him, "I don't say this often. I don't get why. But I love you, Hiei." She kissed him tenderly on the lips, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"I know." He paused, and slowly added, "I do too."

A soft smile graced her light pink lips. Gathering up some courage, she brought a hand to his hair.

"What are you doing?"

"Something I've wanted to do for a while." She ruffled his hair and giggled. Hiei looked at her like she was crazy. "Okay, now that that's out of my system." She kissed him on the lips.

They parted. Shocking blue looked into deep red.

"This is perfect scene. So peaceful and serene. The complete opposite from what our lives have recently." She whispered gently. Hiei didn't answer, but instead, brought closer into him. It was his turn. This turn it was fiery and passionate. He was in control, and she let him.

They separated for air. Rai stepped back, but tripped on tree root, dragging Hiei down with her.

"You have the worst balance that I've ever seen." He said in disbelief.

"Maybe." She paused when she noticed their position. "But I guess it's a good thing we're alone right now." Her face went red, but Hiei's shadow blocked any light that would've revealed it.

Hiei noticed this comment. He was currently less than two inches from her face. But that wasn't it. There was the fact that, now he was practically lying on top ofher. Thoughts involving this position arose. He suppressed most of them. The thought that kept returning was how beautiful she looked to him. Underneath him.

"Uh, Hiei."

"What is it?"

"You haven't moved yet. You're kind of squishing me here."

He picked himself up about an inch, just enough for her to be 'un-squished'. A deep chuckle emerged from deep within him. He surprised himself. Not even a year ago, he would've scorned any ideas of romantic dealings including himself, but now he in a very suggestive position with the love of his life.

He leaned his head down and kissed her. She didn't protest. Not that she could. After a few minutes, she brought her hands to his face and pushed him away an inch.

"Sorry to break the mood, Hiei, but this is probably not the best time or place to be doing like this." She said, the effects of the kiss were evident in her voice.

"Hn." He picked himself up off of her. She sat up.

"Heh, for a minute I thought we'd be going all the way, there." She paused, "If I didn't know any better, I'd say that someone put the root there." She laughed. Hiei looked at her. She was very different. She was happy, but not enough to be annoying. The more he thought about her, the more he saw traces of where she placed herself in his heart.

"Why did you fall in love with me?" A simple question. "No one was supposed to."

Rai looked at him and thought for a moment. "At first, the attraction may have started how much you reminded me of my brother. But then," She paused, "Then you grew different from him, and I liked it. I don't really know why. I just know that I do." She stood up, dusting herself off. "And I guess I like stepping on forbidden ground every once in a while." She hugged him from behind and drowsily added, "You're wonderful and I love you." She fell asleep holding him.

He rolled his eyes. He somehow managed to sling her over his shoulder and into his arms. One hand under her hand and one under her knees. He walked to hotel with a smirk on his face.

Elf: Hiei-kun was having a little too much fun there. But since are seen as minors and this story currently a, basically, PG rating, I will certainly not have them go all the way in this story.

Kuronue: You had too much funwriting this chapter.

Elf: DID NOT! (whacks him with a pillow) Anyways, sorry about the long wait in updating. I had a lot of schoolwork with having school end for the summer. I was going to update Tuesday, but I couldn't get a hold of a computer.

Kuronue: You spent most of with your friends at the arcade playing DDR. Even though you played those "sniper" games. Your friends were so surprised at you. Your friend in took a picture, she was so surprised.

Elf: How did you... I HAVE A STALKER!

Kuronue: (steals the pillow and whacks Elf with it) Shut up. I just wanted to know what you were doing. You didn't come home after school.

Elf: How sweet! (hugs her Batman)