An: Well, here is the continuation of chapter 24, obviously. I decided to be nice and post the next chapter today! Yay.. right, so continue to read.
"When I was 10, Kohana and her parents were brought to my house. At first, I couldn't wait for my father to kill Kohana, I am sad to admit. I really did detest her. Then one night, I was wandering around and just so happened to stumble upon her room. That day, her parents had been killed. I was planning on continuing on my way, but I heard the most depressing sob ever. So I decided to at least see the girl that had occupied my father's mind. I was really shocked when I saw her, I guess I never thought she was human or something. There was nothing special about the way she looked." Ryoichi said, it seemed that he wasn't really aware of what was going on. He seemed lost in his story.
"After our first meeting, I decided to see her everyday. Not because I wanted to friends with her or anything. Being around her made me feel better about myself. My life seemed better compared to hers. I really felt powerful also, because I could control her in a way. I could make her happy, or sad, it all depended on how I felt that day. Eventually I ended up feeling guilty, and convinced myself that I loved her. It was weird, because I also hated her completely. Can you actually love someone completely without hating them too?" He asked no one in particular.
"I don't know. I don't hate Keiko, so I suppose you can love someone without hating them." Yusuke said and Ryoichi nodded his head. "You are lucky then, I suppose. Do you ever feel the same way I felt? Do you feel powerful when you can control her?" Everyone, excluding Hiei, shook their heads.
"We don't control her, she is her own person." Kurama said. Ryoichi shrugged his shoulders. "To an extent I suppose she is her own person. But to her, she is still in that little black room, probably waiting for you to hurt her." Ryoichi said.
"Why did you leave?" Hiei asked, startling Ryoichi for 2 reasons. 1. He had forgotten Hiei was there. 2. It seemed bizarre for that Hiei would even ask a question.
"I guess I left because it became to much. I couldn't handle it anymore, her always depending on me. I was always feeling suffocated. I had to leave." Ryoichi answered and Yusuke snorted in disgust. "Isn't that what you wanted? For you to have power over her?" Yusuke asked and Ryoichi nodded his head.
"Yeah. I guess you are right. I was going to take her with me, but I knew I wouldn't be able to do that to her. Removing her from that room would have shattered her whole world." Ryoichi said. "You're lying. You were to selfish to save someone you cared about. How could living there be better for her? She deserved freedom after what happened to her." Kurama said. Ryoichi's eyes flashed dangerously, showing Kurama and Hiei that his buttons have been pushed.
"Don't tell me I am lying! You are wrong. Taking her with me would have been a bad idea. How would she have survived? How can you free someone who doesn't even know the meaning of the word?" Ryoichi said and stood up suddenly. "She has survived so far." Kurama said calmly, and Ryoichi glared at him.
"So far. How long will it take for her to freak out? And when she does, will you be able to hand it?" Ryoichi asked and the guys stood up. "Yes, if she freaked out we would be able to handle it." Kurama replied and Ryoichi laughed sarcastically.
"What will you do when you find out that Suki really did hire me to kill Kohana? Will you be able to chose between them?" Ryoichi asked and everyone was silent. "I tire of your game, tell us where Kohana is, or I will kill you." Hiei said suddenly and grabbed the hilt of his katana.
"Where's Kohana?" Ryoichi smiled mockingly and shook his head. "Not good enough of an answer, sorry. Suki is dangerous. I need to know, would you be able to chose?" Even though Ryoichi asked everyone, he made eye contact with Kurama.
"Yes." Hiei replied and slowly began to un-sheath his katana. Ryoichi laughed and raised his hands in defense. "Ok, I will bring you to Kohana. There is no need for violence." Ryoichi said and walked over the fallen door.
"So that's it?" Kuwabara asked and Ryoichi looked at him confusedly. "What do you mean?" Ryoichi asked.
"We passed you test?" Kurama asked and Ryoichi shook his head. "No. You failed." He replied lightly.
"If we failed, then why are you taking us to Kohana?" Yusuke asked and Ryoichi shrugged his shoulders. "Well, if I erased your memory of Kohana., she would never forgive me." He answered.
"Well, how did we answer wrongly?" Yusuke asked and Ryoichi stopped walking and sighed impatiently. "The right answer to the last question would have been that you would kill Suki for Kohana" He replied and continued to walk, stepping over the door and waiting for them in the hallway.
"I really don't think it would ever come to that." Kurama said and joined Ryoichi in the hallway. "Really? I think it will come to take sooner or later." Ryoichi said and walked to his door, pulling out his keys when he got to it.
"She was right across the hall the whole time?" Kuwabara asked and Ryoichi nodded his head. "Yeah, aren't I a genius? You would have never guessed she was here." He said and opened the door, only to be promptly hit with a pillow. "What was the for?" He asked and Kohana laughed sheepishly.
"I thought you are a rapist or a serial killer or something." Kohana replied and got out of her hiding place. All she did was lay on the couch. "Wow. Thanks. It's good to know that you thought I was going raped you. It's scary that all you did to protect yourself was throw a pillow." He said and Kohana shrugged her shoulders.
"I would have done something more." She said lazily, and Ryoichi raised his eyebrow. "Like what? Attempt to throw pants or something like that at me?" Kohana laughed and there was a moment of silence as she stared at the black TV screen.
"The guys are here to take you home." Ryoichi said and motioned to the guys who were standing behind him. Kohana smiled brightly and ran to them, giving each of them a hug. "Why didn't you tell me they were coming to visit?" She asked, completely ignoring the fact that he said they were taking him home.
Ryoichi didn't reply and Kohana laughed nervously. "So, I never even knew you told Kurama where you lived. Well, actually you told me that when you phoned him you didn't…" She trailed off and nervously looked at Kurama to Ryoichi and back again. They were both glaring at each other murderously.
"Did I miss something?" She asked and Ryoichi sighed. "Go home Kohana. Have a nice life." He said wearily, and sat on his couch. "What do you mean?" She asked.
"Go. Home. Now." He repeated slowly. "Just leave me alone." He said and Kohana looked at Kurama, hoping that he could somehow explain how her friend changed s quickly.
"Lets go home Kohana." Kurama said and started to lead her out of Ryoichi's apartment. "But I don't understand! What happened?" She asked and Yusuke shook his head.
"We will explain it when we get to Kurama's house." He said and followed them out of the room. The only person left in Ryoichi's apartment was Hiei. "Hiei, please make sure she gets my letter." Ryoichi pleaded and Hiei left the apartment, not even bothering to reply.