Here are the current vote tallies:
Kurama: 27
Hiei: 29
Jin: 26
Well, that's an interesting turn of events….also, I'd like to make a shout-out to a reviewer who's…well, review, made me stop and stare for a few minutes.
Drachegirl14: wow! I love this story, I'd like to see a Yusuke/Kurama/Hiei/Jin love triangle kinda thing if you can do that . . . If not, Hiei or Kurama with Yususke is fine with me. Thank you!
Well….uh, Drache…I don't really know how to do that. I mean…don't triangles mean that no one ends up with the leading girl? Or would it be that Yume would end up with all three of them? I mean, if you'd help me out with it, then I'd be willing to try it. I think it's an adorable idea, don't get me wrong. I love the more-than-one-mate pairings. They just get a little difficult after a while. But I would love to try if some other people would vote. I'm keeping up the voting for a long time more. I'll be adding more options at the end of the chapters. MAKE SURE YOU READ IT! (THIS IS OUT TO EVERYONE WHO READS THIS STORY AND VOTES FOR THE PAIRINGS. IF YOU READ THIS, REVIEW, AND DON'T VOTE, PLEASE DO! I'M ASKING FOR THE OPINIONS OF MY REVIEWERS BECAUSE I CAN'T MAKE UP MY OWN MIND.) Sorry. There we go. Thank you so much for reviewing, everybody!
You'll all notice a certain part of this story that is very different from the anime. I couldn't help it. Hope you all like it! Enjoy the chapter! Also, there is a moment in this chapter that will make me think about upping the rating on this story. So you are warned.
Chapter Eight: Hiei and the Shadow Sword
Yume yawned, leaning against the school's brick wall, eyes half shut.
Damn, am I tired. Kurama kept me up all night last night with that case. Stupid fox.
Yume groaned. I almost lost my head with the Orb of Baast, I almost lost my life with the Forlorn Hope, and…who knows what will happen with the Shadow Sword…Hah! I'll probably lose my virginity or something with that one… She paused. Okay, that's not funny. I don't want that Hiei guy to be my first time…I mean, sure, that kind of 'lovey-dovey' stuff doesn't mean that much to me…but still…anywhoo. Gah! There's Keiko!
Yume gulped and got ready to run, but Keiko grasped the back of her braid.
"Ow! Ow! Owowowowowow! Damn, Kei, that hurts!" Yume yelped, trying to escape the fist twisted into her inky black locks.
"Yume! Are you trying to cut class again! I mean it, if you keep skipping like this, you'll end up like your mom!"
Yume froze. "Take that back, Keiko!" she growled.
"No! I swear, if I don't see you in school more often, they're going to take you out of school all together! And if you don't get an education, you'll wind up flipping burgers at WacDonalds, and you'll probably start drinking just like Atsuko!"
Yume's growl heightened, she flipped out of Keiko's hold, and pushed her 'friend' against the school wall. "Keiko…if I ever hear you talking like that about my mother again, I don't care if you are my childhood friend or not, I will send you flying!"
Now, that threat wouldn't have meant much to Keiko if she had been yelling, but no…Yume had to use her quiet threat to make Keiko quake in her skirt.
Yume let her friend go and ran off to God only knows where.
She was too deep in thought to notice the pair of ruby eyes following her.
The fire apparition known as Hiei stretched in his tree, fighting a yawn. The yawn won.
He'd been watching the Spirit Detective ever since she had challenged them. He had watched her kill Gouki, charm Kurama (at this Hiei snorted. Weak-hearted fool. He disgraces the name of a demon.), and gain the first two artifacts. He had to admit that she was strong for a human, but she was no match for his superior power. And she would die if she tried to take his prize away from him.
Hiei smirked down at the sword strapped to his side.
The Sword of Darkness, capable of turning anything that it cuts into a demon that would be completely dependent and obedient to the holder of the sword.
Sure, they'd most likely be brainless followers who couldn't string a single word together with anything…but whatever. Beggars couldn't be choosers.
Hiei sighed. Now how am I going to get her exactly where I want her? I could always use the whole 'hostage' situation…but who? The onna apparently has a big heart when you get past the garbage, and that makes me want to barf. Well…who to use? She seems very angry at that brown-haired onna…At this point, Hiei shivered. That girl had been ugly, even for a human. (Can you tell I hate Keiko yet? Cause if not, then you need to pay more attention.) Anyway. So, I can't very well use her. Her mother is out somewhere…damn, can that woman hold her liquor. I can't even drink that much. Well, I couldn't drink much in the first place…but that's besides the point. Who the hell could I use?
His eyes caught a figure walking under the tree, and his smirk widened. Perfect.
Yume gulped, looking at herself in the mirror for the second time that week.
For some odd reason, she was nervous. She was supposed to be meeting Kurama at Flame and Rain again, and she had just spent the past hour getting ready.
That was a big shock for her. Usually it was grab it, throw it on, and stuff her hair into a ponytail holder.
But today she had decided that she would actually carefully choose what she looked like.
For today, she had pulled together a couple of clothes that she hadn't worn in a while.
(Just like last chapter, I'm going to put the pictures of the clothing stuff she's wearing in my bio. I can't explain the articles without sounding like a complete…well…idiot. Please look in my bio for the URL's for the outfits. Kay? Kay.)
Yume sighed. Well…I guess I couldn't look any worse. I just hope he likes it. Wait…why do I care what he thinks? I mean, it's not like I like him or anything…do I? No, that's impossible! We're totally different! He's a gentleman from a good family, a great student, and a total hottie...forget I said that! While I'm…well, everything he's not. I'm rude, egotistical, I have a loathing hate for authority, my mother couldn't be called a great mother if you bribed anyone with thousands of dollars. I know I'm at least cute in my own way, but I'm no supermodel. Not like him.
Yume groaned. "I need to stop doing this." She looked over at her clock, only to realize she was late by half an hour. "Damn!"
She raced out of her house, trying not to fall on her ass while she ran like her life depended on it to the small café.
She skidded to a stop right outside of it, smoothing out her clothes from the run, and walked in as calmly as she could.
She looked around, but couldn't see the familiar head of fiery red hair.
Her eyes narrowed slightly and she walked up to a waitress. "Hey!"
"Yes, ma'am?"
"Have you seen a boy named Shuichi? Tall, red hair, green eyes…a hottie?"
The girl seemed to think for a second. "Oh, yes! The really cute and polite boy. Well he came in here about a half hour ago, and sat down. He seemed to be waiting for somebody. But after a while he just left. Probably a girl standing him up."
Yume felt a fist clench at her heart. She hadn't stood him up. She…had just not gotten there in time.
Yume groaned again. "Thanks." She stomped out of the café, fists shoved as deep as they'd go into her deep pockets. Why did he leave after only half an hour? I mean, I told him I'd be late. What could have made him leave so quickly?
Yume suddenly found herself on the ground on her ass from bumping into someone.
"Oof! Itai! Shimatta did that hurt!" she glared up at the figure, only to have her eyes widen. "Hiei…"
"Hn…Detective. Meet me at the Studio Five Warehouse. And make sure to bring the other two artifacts. Get there as soon as you're able. That means tonight." He disappeared.
Yume could have screamed. Just great! Could this day get any worse?
A rain drop fell on her nose, making her look up at the sky and wince. I just had to say it.
Brown eyes searched over the Studio Five Warehouse, trying to find a trap.
"Oh whatever." She broke down the door with a swift kick, bringing it crashing down onto a bunch of blue-skinned teens.
"Hiei! I'm here! Come out, ya puny little tree sprite!" Yume yelled, stepping through the shredded remains of the door, clearly very i-rate.
"So you did come."
Yume looked up, and saw Hiei sitting calmly on a support beam on the ceiling.
"Come down here!" she yelled. She had a lot of pent-up frustration and it would be great if she could take it out on the small demon. Great. First my 'best friend' bad mouths me and my mom, my date stands me up, and now I have to deal with a Tree-Born Tree Sprite in a Black Dress…where'd that come from?
"Hn." Hiei's voice now came from behind her.
Yume swiveled around, nearly back-handing him.
Hiei caught it, and twisted her arm behind her back.
She yelped, the sharp sound hurting her throat.
Hiei threw her against a bunch of empty crates, and dust and debris flew everywhere. "There, onna. Did you bring the other artifacts?"
Yume coughed, pushing herself up from inside the box. She pulled them out of her purse, then pushed them back in.
"Good girl. Both that stupid orb and the precious Forlorn Hope."
Yume snorted. "Listen, just give me the damn sword and I'll let ya slide. Kay? I've got a Algebra test tomorrow on Algebraic expressions, and gee, I'd hate to miss that."
Hiei snorted. "I thought you'd pull something like that. That's why I brought insurance."
Hiei snapped and a couple of blue-skinned zombies carried out a body between them.
Yume's eyes widened as she noticed the hair and the body.
Blood red hair dirty and mussed-up beyond belief, skin smudged with dirt and dust, a bruise starting to appear just under his cheek bone, and usual Chinese-style top and slacks a dirty, ripped mess. His beautiful emerald eyes were shut.
"Kurama! What did you do to him?" She growled, turning to Hiei.
"I merely knocked him out. Of course, the fox just had to put up a fight. It was a challenge, let me tell you. But it was worth it in the end. You see, Detective, if you don't fight me or hand over those artifacts…" he snapped again, and a zombie held a very sharp butterfly knife to Kurama's throat. "…then my servant will slit his beautiful throat. His blood on your hands."
Yume gulped. Damn it. If I fight he'll kick my ass…if I don't…then Kurama'll die. And if I hand over the artifacts, he'll still kill me, but then he'll be able to take over the world. My chances do not look good.
Yume took a deep breath. "I accept your challenge. If I win, then you let Kurama go, completely unharmed, and you give me that stupid sword, letting me walk away if you're not dead."
"And if I win?" Hiei inquired, delicate black eyebrow rising.
"Then you get the other two artifacts and get to take over the world. Sound good to you?" Yume snapped.
"Hm…" Hiei pondered for a second, his calmness really grating on Yume's nerves. "Deal. But don't be surprised if I add a thing or two during our fight."
Yume snorted. "Whatever." I shouldn't have worn so much jewelry. This could be a problem. I can't fight in these clothes. The pants will be easy…but all my jewelry will make it hard, and my shirt won't be helping matters.
Again, her chances did not look good. But like Yume ever let that stop her. She'd try to win no matter what.
And so their battle began.
Yume charged forward, bringing back a fist to try and bring him down, but her fist hit nothing but air. This caused her to lose her balance and fall into a crate…again.
She looked up and saw him standing on a different crate. How the hell did he get up there?
"Surprised, detective? I guess I forgot to mention that I can move faster than you can see. Whoops…sorry." He did an exaggerated pout in sorry.
"Oh shove it, Tree Sprite." She pulled herself out of the rubble, not bothering to dust off her pants and shirt.
"Tree Sprite? Where did that come from?" Hiei asked.
"Well, every time I've ever felt your energy in any way, you've always been in a tree." Yume smirked. "Also, you're so short, it's just like a sprite."
Hiei growled. "Onna…"
Yume laughed. "Listen, I use that same growl twenty-four-seven. You think it'll scare me?"
"You're braver than I gave you credit for…I think I now know what kind of person you are now, Detective."
Yume blinked. Say what?
"You're a team player, a save-the-day superhero…" he paused, as if thinking. "I hate people like you."
Yume blinked her large, cinnamon eyes a few times in pure surprise, both of them surrounded in the suffocating blanket of silence.
A small snort broke the silence, followed by a chuckle…which turned into full-blown, unadulterated laughter coming from the young Detective.
The wonderful Detective of the Spirit World was rolling on the ground, holding her stomach with tears rolling down her face at the sheer momentum of her mirth.
Hiei could only stand and blink in shock. She was laughing at him? He had all-but-insulted her and she was laughing? Was this girl crazy? She was laughing, completely unguarded, in front of the man who had sworn to kill her and her boyfriend.
That stupid fox is her boyfriend…correct? Are they? I don't remember the fox mentioning a female in his life…I'm thinking about this too much. His eyebrow twitched in irritation. She's still laughing at me.
"Onna…I fail to see what is so hilarious about this situation."
Yume gasped for air, finally getting her sudden case of the giggles under control. "Oh. Yeah. Sorry, Tree Sprite. It's just…I thought that was very, very funny! Now," she stood up off the ground, dusting off her pants, straightening out her appearance. "Don't I have a fight to win?" she smirked at him.
Hiei was shocked. Not only had this woman, human though she may be, insulted him, laughed at him, and was now teasing him. "Hn. I doubt you shall win this fight."
"Oh, I beg to differ. Though, it will be kind of saddening to punch you in the face. You're so cute, I'd hate to bruise it." She winked at him, giggling. I can't believe I just giggled.
Hiei nearly fell off his perch near the top of the building. Had she just…flirted with him? Hiei righted himself and shook his head. "I should kill you for that, onna."
"It's Yume, you vertically challenged chibi!"
"Chibi?" What in the name of the three kings of Makai is she blathering about?
"A chibi…is a very small, adorable person that has no nose and is very huggable…" Yume paused. "In fact…" Yume disappeared, momentarily sending Hiei off guard.
Yume reappeared behind him, and…hugged him as hard as she could, yelling "Kawaii!"
Hiei stiffened, his face burning from the heat of the blood rushing over his face to color it a bright red.
Her arms, for some reason unknown to him, were wrapped around him, pinning his arms to his side, his chest pressed into her stomach, the top of his flame-shaped hair just barely tickling her chin.
But what made him the most uncomfortable was the certain area his nose was currently buried in.
What the hell? What is she doing? Is she actually hugging me? Why? What reason would she have to do this? And why am I blushing so hard? I mean, sure…her chest is very soft…damn, what the hell does she use? She definitely doesn't bind it. Wait a minute, I'm beginning to sound like a pervert…
Hiei shook his head, trying to get away from her by squirming as hard as he could…needless to say, it didn't work.
Finally, Yume let him go, dropping him to the ground nearly twenty feet below them.
She sighed. "I feel better."
"What the hell was that, onna?" Hiei placed the sharp point of his sword to her neck, good for him she was currently pressed against a wall, they were now near the back of the warehouse, and she had nowhere to go. She was surrounded on all sides by boxes, a wall, and his sword.
"That was called a hug, shorty." She smirked, ignoring the sword pointed at her throat.
Hiei's eyes narrowed, darkening the red of his eyes to a near-black ruby.
He slashed his sword down, meaning to cut her stomach open, but Yume moved a little, accidentally squirming…
The sound of ripping fabric filled the silent air, and Yume's eyes widened as she felt the cool air caressing her newly-exposed skin and the cold steel of Hiei's sword pressing against her skin.
Oh. No. He. Did. Not.
She looked down, and saw her shirt had been split right down the middle…what was worse was her bra was a goner too.
Now, Yume didn't usually care if she accidentally gave a guy a pretty good view, but she did care when you tore her shirt to do it.
Hiei's eyes had widened slightly, making the red of his eyes lighten up.
This was a different discovery, according to the shade of his eyes, you could tell what his mood was.
A very light red meant surprise, apparently.
Hiei's eyes roved over her exposed skin, taking in the image in front of him.
Eye candy for any sane (or straight) male.
To say the girl wasn't well endowed would be an outright lie.
He could also see she was lean and toned from all the fighting she did, her skin a nice tan color.
Also, he noticed the way her hair fell into her eyes, shadowing the red-brown orbs.
When she was angry, he noticed that the red in her eyes became more prominent, and he had seen her when she was sad, the brown overpowering the red.
Her hips were shaped well, enhanced by the tight hips of the pants she was wearing, and she wasn't really 'skinny' as you would say. But more…built.
Hmmm…she is beautiful for a human. And she's been able to divert too much damage from me so far. She is strong. For a human female. Someone like her could make a good bearer of pups. He smirked, remembering their wager. I think it's time we add something to make things interesting.
"Oi, Detective."
"What?" She snapped, obviously unhappy with her shredded shirt.
"I have something new to add to our wager."
"Oh really?"
"Yes, if I win, than you have to become my mate."
"Mate? What's that?"
"A mate for a demon is the human equivalent of marriage."
Yume blinked. Is this guy serious? "Are you serious?"
"Very."
"If you win…then I'd have to…mate you?"
"Well, to mate you I'd have to fuck you first." He said this bluntly, almost like he couldn't really care either way.
"…" Yume was silent. "…Fine. I know that if I try and say 'no way in hell' then you'll just cut my head off. But if I win, you don't even lay a single hand on me, understand?"
"Understood. Now then…" Hiei rose his sword, preparing to strike down.
Yume rushed forward and tackled him around the waist, pushing both of them down into the rubble that was on the floor of the warehouse.
The two landed on the ground with a prominent 'thud'.
Hiei's back exploded in pain, making him cry out momentarily.
She…tackled me…? Great, now I'm under her and something is poking into my back.
Of course, he wasn't really complaining about the fact that his face was currently buried in her breasts.
Yume groaned. She hadn't really thought that one through too much. She had just jumped forward.
Okay, that was stupid.
She pulled herself up, not noticing that she was straddling Hiei's hips as she pulled her shirt back together.
She sighed and pulled the shirt off entirely, wrapping the remains around her chest and tying it off, making a make-shift tube-top.
"There. Now," she looked down at the demon beneath her, smirking. "Well, looks like Mr. High-and-Mighty is caught." She knew that not many guys could really move when their hips were caught. The only thing that could move without popping it out of place was his arms, and his sword had fallen out of his hands during the fall, lost amongst the rubble.
Hiei snickered. She thought she had him. What a foolish human.
Yume noticed the snicker. "What? You got a problem, shorty?"
"No. Actually, I'm quite enjoying this." He smirked at her. "I know for a fact that many men like being trapped under females."
Yume quirked an eyebrow. "Say wha?"
Hiei's smirk widened, and he thrust his hips up.
Yume jumped, not holding back a yelp. "Hey! Don't do-Yeep!"
He did it again, hips grinding against hers.
She gulped. She'd never done anything anywhere near this.
What the hell is going on? I mean…he isn't going to rape me, is he?
During her moment of confusion, he flipped them over, pinning her under him.
Yume yelped, and then cursed quite vividly for a human female.
Hiei snickered. "Language, language."
"Oh shut up!" she snapped. She hated to admit it, but she was trapped. This guys' hold was unbreakable by her human strength, even though she was stronger than your average human female. There was no way she'd be able to get out from under him.
She squirmed, trying to find an opening. Nothing.
She blinked when she felt something very sharp prick against her neck.
She looked down, seeing his claws at her neck. She gulped.
"If you're going to kill me go ahead…"
Hiei stared down at the girl underneath him, his claws at her slender, soft throat.
All I have to do is move my hand, move my hand across her neck and she's dead.
But that little nagging voice in Hiei's head decided to pipe up.
But you can't kill her, can you?
What makes you think I can't? I can so, all I have to do is move my hand.
But you won't. You don't want to kill her. She intrigues you. She is unafraid of you. She can hold her own against you in a fight. Hell, she can even laugh at you and not fear death. She hugged you. She said you were adorable. Now that was funny, if I do say so myself.
Shut up. I am not adorable. (A/N: Now, who here thinks Hiei is adorable? I thought so.)
Apparently she thinks so. Come on, admit it. You like her.
I don't like anybody. I never have, and I never will.
But you want to. You want someone to accept you. To love you. To say that you mean something to them.
Shut up…shut up…SHUT UP! I don't need anyone! I don't need someone to accept me, I don't need someone to love me! I don't want anyone to love me! I'm happy being alone! I don't need anyone! I don't need anyone!
You can keep telling yourself that, but you know that it's not true. Denial, thy name is Hiei.
No it's not. I'm not in denial. I can't. No one. No one would ever love me. They couldn't. I'm a thief, a convict, a murderer…too many things. I won't let anyone love me. I'll kill myself and that person before I let that happen.
But you can't kill the one person who would actually accept you.
Hiei's eyes widened, his claws receding from her neck.
Yume blinked. Why hasn't he killed me yet?
She looked up at him, only to have her eyes widen. His eyes, usually an untainted ruby red, were fighting with an icy blue, as if he was having an internal conflict. "Hiei?" she whispered.
Hiei looked down at her, eyes finally red, his claws receding. "I…Damn it!" Hiei yelled, slamming his fist down, narrowly missing her head.
Yume gasped, feeling the cracks in the concrete near her head. He looked so angry. But it wasn't at her. It was at himself. He was angry with himself.
Can he…not kill me? Is that why he's so angry? He can't kill me for some odd reason?
Hiei growled. "Onna…why? Why can't I kill you!"
She blinked. "Nani?"
Hiei picked her up, placing her in a sitting/leaning position against the wall. What is he doing?
"Onna, I'll let you go and give you the sword. If you can pass a small test."
"What test?" she questioned.
"This." Hiei's hand cupped the back of her neck, making her lean her head back, and his lips claimed hers in a hot, fierce kiss.
Yume gasped, opening her mouth on accident.
His tongue slipped in, caressing every corner of her mouth, memorizing every crevice.
She whimpered. This was so different from Kurama's kiss. That had been gentle and chaste, like him.
But Hiei's kiss…it was so wild. Hot, alluring, arousing.
Yume whimpered again, but allowed her eyes to close, responding to his kiss, her tongue wrestling with his.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer.
For some odd reason, she felt so warm. She never wanted him to stop kissing her.
God he's so tense…Yume slid her hands over his chest, which was bare from their fight, him having taken his cloak off. Her hands slipped to his back, massaging it with her fingers.
Hiei groaned, pressing his mouth harder against hers. What the hell was she doing to him?
He felt her legs shift, moving one between his legs, adding to an already growing problem.
Maybe I should stop…or maybe not…he groaned as her lips left his only to slip to his neck, suckling and biting. Oh god, she's hitting my weak spot…So get her back. Okay.
Hiei groaned again as she sucked on his neck, his hand slipping up to feel the soft warmth of her breast, hand kneading it.
Yume gasped. No one had ever touched her there and lived. But…for some odd reason she didn't mind when he did it.
Hiei groaned again, her ministrations on his neck becoming nearly unbearable as she kissed up to his ear, sucking on his earlobe, her warm breath caressing it. He shivered. Damn, if I don't stop soon, I'm gonna end up fucking her. Why not? You want to…Uh, hello! I may be a demon, but I don't believe in rape. Sure, I'd get a kick out of it. But I'd like to keep my dick thank you!
Finally, Hiei pulled back from her. "You passed." He smirked.
Yume shook her head. "Whoa…I mean…whoa…"
Hiei's smirk widened, he leaned in and kissed her again, softly this time. He whispered in her ear. "I'll see you later, Yume." He then disappeared.
So after that, Yume had returned the three items, saved Kurama's ass yet again, and told him what happened (leaving out the fact that she and Hiei had made out with each other.).
She just said that she fought him, and he had come close to killing her, but she had stolen the sword and he had run off.
And that was that. Even though Koenma still got in trouble. (As usual.)
A/N: Well, that's it for this chapter. Sorry it took so long to get out!)