Left in the Shadows
Chapter 9: Mixed Signals-Part 2
(Ahem. As you will see and as you could tell from earlier, I was really bored when I wrote this and all the other "disclaimers" I just feel that they're fun to write, though.)
Me: Okay, I'll just say it this time. I do not own YYH and I never will. I only own my Oc's and my storyline. And any of the songs that are in this chapter, I do not own either. They belong to their own artists and singers. I had a lot of fun with this chapter. I finally got to get the romance started! (Slightly, seeing as it IS Hiei we're talking about after all )
Hiei: …
Kurama: (blurts out) So please continue reading Left in the Shadows!
Chapter 9: Mixed Signals-Part 2
Two blurs streaked across the ground, engulfed in their respective elements, (fire and a newly discovered wind element) only pausing when a pair of sais and a katana met. Sparks flew through the air and one of the combatants was thrown back.
"Don't be afraid to give it your all, onna." Hiei commented, sheathing his sword. Amanda just growled; she hadn't been able to get the upper hand, even for a second, all day.
"I know, I know…" she sighed. "I can't believe I haven't unlocked my demon form yet… I wonder what I'll look like…"
"Hn. Most likely a kitsune, onna."
"I guess that makes sense. My dad was one so…Hey, are we done for the day?" Amanda asked, changing the subject.
"I guess…" Hiei paused, looking at the sky, "I guess this is enough for today. Besides, the detective should come for you any minute now, for that ridiculous kereoke event.
"Come on, Hiei! Why won't you come?" Amanda asked, slipping her sais into their sheaths at her thighs.
"Because it's idiotic and pointless. Singing in front of the bakas is not my idea of 'fun'." He replied.
"You actually know what fun is?" Amanda asked, looking totally surprised but Hiei could tell she wasn't serious.
"Hn. Be quiet, onna."
"Okay then. Be that way, volcano-head. I guess you'll have to be bored for the rest of the evening."
"Hn."
"Oh sure. That's such an original answer." Amanda said sarcastically. She was a bit ticked off because Hiei refused to do anything with anyone all the time.
"Hn." Hiei had a smirk on his face now. He had loosened up ever so slightly since they began training together. But it was only around her. They had both changed since the week started. By now there was only a few days left until Christmas and since it fell on a Friday, there was the weekend to look forward to too.
"Hey Mandy!" Yusuke called, entering the clearing. "Come in and get ready!"
"Okay." She replied, following him back.
"Hey, ol' three-eyes isn't coming?" he asked curiously.
"Nope. He's being a wet blanket."
"Ah don't let him get to ya, Mandy." Yusuke said, ginning and slinging an arm around her shoulder. "Let's go have fun."
"Okay!" Amanda laughed.
"I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly…I'll make a wish, take a chance, make a change… and break away…"
"Tried to give you warning, but everyone ignores me…told you everything loud and clear, But nobody's listening!"
"Hush, my love, now don't you cry…everything will be alright…"
Everybody was at the chuu-gakkou kereoke bar. People were taking turns singing and playing at the arcade in the corner. Amanda, Kuwabara, and Yusuke had bet with each other that whoever received last place at the arcade had to treat the other two to meals. So far, Amanda owed one meal, Yusuke owed three, and Kuwabara owed five.
"Hey, Mandy! Sing us a song!" The two boys chorused. Amanda shook her head.
"You know I can't sing." She protested. But they merely shoved her on stage.
"Yes you can! C'mon what song?" Kuwabara asked.
"No!"
"Yes!" This time it was Yusuke. Kurama and the girls were watching them argue with interest and amusement.
"Rrrg… fine then. I want…hm…One Last Breath."
"Sure." The two boys went to the machine and punched in the correct information. In a matter of seconds, the gentle guitar solo filled the room and the song began. Amanda took a deep breath and began.
"Please come now, I think I'm falling
I'm holding on to all I think is safe.
It seems I've found the road to nowhere
And I'm trying to escape.
I yelled back when I heard thunder
But I'm down to one last breath.
And with it let me say…
Let me say:
Hold me now,
I'm six feet from the edge and I'm thinking,
Maybe six feet
Ain't so far down."
"She sings pretty good." Kurama whispered to Yusuke as another small guitar solo played. He nodded.
"She's just shy sometimes. Around people she doesn't really know, you know?"
"And it seems that Hiei has decided to show up." The fox spirit murmured, chuckling. It was true. Hiei had barely come in and was now sitting in one of the back tables, watching the girl onstage with interest.
"I'm looking down; now that it's over
Reflecting on all of my mistakes.
I thought I found the road to somewhere,
Somewhere in His grace.
I cried out, heaven save me.
But I'm down to one last breath
And with it let me say…
Let me say:
Hold me now,
I'm six feet from the edge and I'm thinking,
Maybe six feet
Ain't so far down.
Hold me now,
I'm six feet the edge and I'm thinking,
Maybe six feet
Ain't so far down
Ain't so far down…
Sad eyes follow me…
But I still believe there's something left for me…
So please come stay with me!
'Cause I still believe there's something left for you and me,
For you and me,
For you and me…
Around this time, Amanda caught a glimpse of Hiei in the corner, watching her intently, and she froze. His expression was one of which she had never seen. It wasn't exactly mesmerized, but it wasn't just mild interest either. Their eyes met, causing butterflies to flutter in her stomach, and she quickly looked away, almost missing her cue. Kurama smiled, he knew exactly what was going on.
Hold me now,
I'm six feet from the edge and I'm thinking…
Hold me now!
I'm six feet from the edge and I'm thinking,
Maybe six feet,
Ain't so far down!
Hold me now!
I'm six feet from the edge and I'm thinking,
Maybe six feet
Ain't so far down…
Please come now,
I think I'm falling,
I'm holding on to all I think is…
Safe…
(A/n: I do not own this awesome song, One Last Breath. It belongs to Creed.)
The whole kereoke bar was quiet as the song ended. After a few seconds of silence, everybody who was there-basically just the group- began clapping. Yusuke and Kuwabara were whistling as Amanda quickly stepped off the stage.
"That was awesome!" Kuwabara said, one of his huge smiles on his face.
"One more?" Yusuke teased.
"No! …Well…maybe." Amanda sighed.
"You really do have a good voice." Kurama complimented.
"Thanks…" she mumbled.
"Now treat us to dinner! I'm starving!" Yusuke grinned. Amanda rolled her eyes in exasperation.
"Whatever."
"Hey, volcano-head, looks like you decided to come after all." Amanda said, sitting down with some food at the table he was at.
"Hn."
"Come on, just say something other than that!" she sighed, exasperated.
"Why? I know it'll piss you off." He answered, smirking. She looked at him.
"Okay…what's that supposed to mean?" she asked.
"Exactly what it sounds like, onna."
"Okay…" she paused. "Wow what's gotten into you? Have you taken some happy pills or something?"
"What makes you say that, onna?" Hiei asked.
"Because you're not usually like this. What happened to the Mr. 'I-don't-give-a-crap-about-anything-so-leave-me-the-hell-alone' guy?"
"He took a day off." He answered calmly. Amanda raised an eyebrow.
"Okay…"
"Come on, can't you say anything other than that?" Hiei mocked her.
"Okay, you are really scaring me. Are you gonna act this way around the others?" she inquired, smiling a bit. As if on cue, Kuwabara walked up to their table.
"Hey, Mandy, wanna come do a trio with me and Yukina? You and her have really good voices!" hearts appeared in his eyes at the though of Yukina.
"Um… it's okay. Maybe later."
"Sure. Oh hey, shrimp. You come to do a song?" he smirked.
"Hn. No, you fool. Only idiots would agree to this."
"Whatever, shrimp. Suit yourself." With that, he left. Amanda turned to Hiei, a look of mock hurt on her face.
"Well gee, I didn't know you thought I was an idiot. I feel wounded." She pouted.
"Not you. The others."
"Wow, now I feel special. What about Yukina?" she asked, watching the koorime sing on the small stage.
"Hn. Not her either."
"So everyone else in general then?"
"Hn."
"Oh yeah…hey, volcano-head. Wanna come Christmas shopping with me tomorrow?"
"…Christmas shopping?"
"Yeah. You know about Christmas, right?"
"Hn. I'm not that stupid."
"Meaning you're sorta stupid, right?" she asked teasingly. Hiei glared at her, causing her to smile. She couldn't help it. He was so much fun to tease.
"Why not take the detective and the idiot?" he asked curiously.
"…I dunno. I guess I…well, will you come?"
"Answer the question, onna."
"When you say that, it sometimes makes me think you've forgotten my real name…" Amanda muttered, finally getting started on her meal. "I said I don't know. I guess I just want a friend to come and I don't want Yusuke or Kuwabara to find out what I'm gonna get them." She answered. Hiei didn't say anything.
"…I guess I can go." He answered at last. Amanda smiled and stood up.
"Okay then! Now, since you decided to come here, you have to at least sing one song." She grinned, her food momentarily forgotten.
"No." he answered bluntly.
"Maybe your sister can convince you…"
"No." Amanda rolled her eyes and sat back down.
"Fine then. Be that way, volcano-head."
"Don't call me that."
"Why? I know it'll piss you off." This time it was her turn to mock him. Yes, whether Hiei would admit it or not, he was growing more and more fond of the girl sitting in front of him. "Hey, what's wrong? You…you have a weird look on your face." She told him, butterflies beginning to flutter in her stomach from the look he was giving her.
"Hn. It's nothing, onna." He replied, snapping out of his minor daze. It was at that moment when the manager of the kereoke bar came out saying it was time to close up. Amanda looked at her watch and her eyes widened.
"Damn, is it already ten!" she exclaimed in a semi-quiet voice.
"Well, we arrived here at seven." Kurama stated, coming over.
"Wow, that's still three hours." She said, standing up once more. "Are you gonna come back to the temple with us, Hiei or are you gonna stay out for a bit more?"
"Hn. I suppose I'll come."
"Oooh, back to the bad-ass attitude I see." Amanda said, rolling her eyes.
"What are you talking about, Mandy? The shrimp's always that way." Kuwabara commented, walking up. Hiei glared at her as if to say, you say anything, you die. Amanda merely gave an innocent smile and followed the others out the door.
"Oh yeah, Hiei, don't forget about the thing tomorrow!" she called before her head disappeared out the door. Hiei could hear Yusuke and Kuwabara's badgering already starting, wanting to know what the "thing tomorrow" was.
He merely gave a heavy, frustrated sigh and walked out the door after the others. (End chapter 9)
Me: well? What do you think? It didn't have much to do with the storyline but I worked on Amanda's personality a bit. She loves teasing Hiei…
Amanda: Yes, it's so much fun!
Me: …O.O whoa, where'd YOU come from! I thought you were at the temple with the others.
Amanda: yes, but I decided to see how this was coming along. Is volcano-head giving you a hard time?
Me: …he's being a prick.
Amanda: Don't worry, I'll talk to him… (leaves)
Yusuke: (blinks) did I miss something?
Me: no…they're just really close to each other.
Yusuke: (blinks again) really? Three eyes can actually be nice to someone other than Yukina?
Me: there are a lot of things you don't know, Yusuke…
Yusuke: …I suppose…anyway, please read and review!
Kuwabara: and I want to answer any questions or comments from the lovely lady reviewers!
Me: what about Yukina?
Kuwabara: …YUKINA MY LOVE!
Yusuke: …as I said before, please read and review!
Me: Hey, where's Kurama anyway?
-Squealing voices and a loud cry of help are heard-
Me+Yus+Kuwa: …