Satori-Sama: HOOOLY CRAAP!!! Its new years!!!! HAPPY NEW YEARS!!! I've rejoined the land of the living after about two months of being an irresponsible writer, and I'm sorry by the way. I've just been under the books with school, and tired because of all the crap I have to do, and I haven't been able to finish this chapter, and well, you get the picture. I pumped out this chapter in about 3 days total over my winter break, and I really really hope you all like it

Words to my reviewers….

Kitsune Kit: I'm hoping MarySueness is down in this chapter, and I promise it will stay down. I've got another case for the detectives after the festival, and well, I'm gonna try. Daja is actually gonna sort herself out next chapter, at least about some issues (wink wink)!!

Living Impaired: Thanks Lena, I hope this chapter is just as up to snuff as the last. Review and tell me what you think, because as a writer, everyone's input is valuable.

Poppy: Poppy, is it okay if I call you Poppy? Awesome. Poppy, thanks for your support, please continue to read because your name is really cool.

Venusgreenight: After a few weeks of your nagging, I mean "encouragement", I've finally finished this chapter. Thanks for being an awesome antiwriters block, and just for the record, I want you to know, rocks aren't people


Chapter 16: The Festival of Lights


Daja: "Want any?"

I blink. "Eh, what?"

"I said, do you want any? Here."

A bowl of some kind of food is pushed into my lap. On autopilot, I take a little of the food and pass it to the person next to me, careful not to spill any on my jeans. I lean back against the tree and look at the food strangely, not quite sure what it is. I pick up my chopsticks and poke the food once, and then again, to make sure it is edible. What is it? It surely doesn't look like food I've had before. I mean, for one, it doesn't even look remotely edible. I mean look at it, it's triangular in shape and thin like a booklet of people I use when checking the filing system in the Spirit World. The bottom layer looks like baked bread, but on top of that, there's a strange, thick red sauce with some strange circular meat and some yellowy-white stringy stuff. I take a sniff and nibble at the edge. I make a face and set the weird food on my plate, and laughs fill the air. Looking up, I see the bright, snickering faces of those I am starting to consider more of friends than allies.

"Well." I smirk as good-naturedly as I can. "I'm glad you're having so much fun at my expense."

Kurama covers his laugh politely. "I'm sorry Daja. I just haven't seen you act so funny since Kuwabara told you looked bloated or something."

A fresh outburst of laughs at the not more than five minute old joke makes me at least smile. It's… nice to be able to laugh at myself. It's relaxing, you could say, for me to be focused on something other than myself and my past, like making these other five people laugh.

I look at Kuwabara, who immediately tries to put his laughs in check. It is highly needless to say that he fails at even this simple task. I shake my head and roll my eyes. Searching for something edible on the light blue blanket everyone is sitting on, I spot a plastic bowl of ramen between Keiko and Yusuke. Go figure, yah? I tug on Kurama's sleeve and point at the ramen like a child. He laughs again and obliges, and I finally get my first meal of the day. I pick up my chopsticks and watch as the events unfold at this… this… what was it called… picnic, that's it. At this picnic.

"You know, I'm really glad we got such a perfect spot," Botan giggles as she looks around at the many groups of people picnicking in the park around us. Looking up at the tree, "And such shade with this tree." She giggles and returns to eating the apple she was working on before her observations.

"Me too." Keiko agrees. She smiles at Yusuke who simply smiles back in the weird way he can.

"What do you think Daja?" Kurama asks as he watches at the people milling about the mini marketplace about 300 feet away.

My chopsticks stop about halfway to my face and I answer without even thinking. "Honestly, this is a waste of my time." I take the bite of ramen I was eating and everyone sitting at our blanket looks at me in horror, including Kurama. I choke on the ramen at being the sudden center of attention, and I manage to stammer out "I mean that in the best way possible of course." I smile largely, ramen hanging out of my mouth and all, and everyone bursts out laughing. I take that as a vastly good sign and continue to eat.

Everyone continues to chatter, and as I lean forward to look at the contents of another basket full of food, I catch a few words of the conversation, and what I hear scares me. "Do you think Hiei is coming?" "He said he might drop by…"

I immediately grab what looks to be a small box of sushi, and I sit back against the tree. I open it an examine the contents: some tuna and sushi, some soy sauce. I use my chopsticks to pick up a salmon one, and dip it in soy sauce.

It hadn't even occurred to me that Hiei might be here. I assumed that he was somewhere in the Demon World, probably at Makuro's castle. I eat the piece of sushi and pull my knees into my chest, balancing the box of sushi between my stomach and thighs. I had hoped deep down that I wouldn't have to face him and my problems today. I had deemed today the day I let the past go. I had finally accepted that fate hated me with a burning passion, and that I was just going to have to fix things on my own from now on. But… well, everything… concerning Hiei is just… too much… too much…

Kurama taps my shoulder softly. "Do you want to go walk around the marketplace for awhile?" His emerald eyes look concerned and I take that as a sign that I might want to go with Kurama.

"If you insist." I respond quietly.

We begin to make our way to the marketplace after we promise to be back at seven o'clock for the opening ceremony. It is supposed to be the best one in years, or so Keiko says.

We walk around in silence for a few minutes before Kurama speaks. "So how have you been Daja?" After a second, he adds, "The truth this time. Not what you told everyone else. Do not make the mistake of thinking you can fool me behind that mask you wear."

I had hoped that he wouldn't see through me…

We stop in front of this one market stall, and I look at the goods this vendor has to sell. Bolts upon bolts of beautiful silks and satins, traditional kimonos, even some quirky festival outfits. I pick up something blue with various shades of blue polka dots all over it.

"You want to know how I am, yah?" I press the shirt up to my chest and try to imagine what it would look like on me. "I'm not good, but I'm not rock bottom yet either." I set the shirt down and smile at Kurama, who just returns with a puzzled look.

"Kurama, can I ask you a question?"

He nods as we walk along the stalls. "If it is reasonable, I will answer it."

I look at him appraisingly, then turn away. "Have you…ev-ver… f-felt-t…" I stutter for a moment and fall silent.

Kurama puts a hand on my shoulder. "What's wrong?"

I look away and feel a sudden change of heart. I can't let on how much I hurt, how much I am confused by these feelings. Feelings like these are secret, private, meant to be held on the inside. I can only watch from afar, that is the only safe way…

"Never mind…" I mutter and stick my hands in my pockets. I look towards Kurama.

"Daja," he whispers as he puts an arm around my shoulder, "Just know you can talk to me about anything."

I smile and lean into him. "Understood."

And with that, we continue to walk through the bustling market silently.


Hiei: This is a waste of my time. Although the detective and his friends try to make me feel welcome at this "picnic", their efforts are in vain. They are only making the situation worse, and I must exercise every ounce of self control I possess because that Idiot Kuwabara keeps calling me shortie. I could claim that is was an accident if I do "accidentally" mortally wound Kuwabara. Kurama, the one voice of reason I will listen too when it comes to the subject of murdering that Idiot, seems to have disappeared with Daja into the marketplace.

Daja…

I look away and fix my gaze upon the lake at the bottom of the hill. I have to be careful around her in what I say and do…

"Hiei? HELLO!?!" Yusuke shouts irritably from a few feet away.

I glare and look at him. Coldly, I reply. "Detective, do not shout at me again."

Yusuke smiles hands me some food. "That's what I thought you were gonna say. Here."

I push it back at him and frown. "I wont poison myself with human food."

"Geeze." Kuwabara mutters and when I turn to glare at him, he immediately turns away.

I lean back against the tree and close my eyes. Everything is so loud, there are too many people here for my liking. It hurts my ears; my sensitive hearing is sometimes a fault.

Why did I feel I needed to be here? Not even I can answer that question. It's not like I have any amount of affection for these people who consider themselves my friends. I do not have friends. This situation is troubling, and I do not like the risks I am taking.

Wait… Risks?

I open my eyes and look at everyone sitting on the blanket. They seem to be playing some kind of worthless game, and from the pleased expression on Kuwabara's face, he seems to be winning.

It wasn't like I am taking enormous risks sitting here in this throng of humans. I can sense demons from miles away, and it will be simple to avoid them if necessary. It is a common, everyday occurrence in the Demon Realm, and I run into suicidal demons who wish to kill me even in the lands under Makuro's rule. Since I am her legal heir, no man, woman, child, or even lower level demon in Makuro's domain may lay a finger on me without suffering the penalty of death, yet many still try to slay me in vain hopes of their own self glory.

I frown.

It has been this way for as long as I can remember. People chasing after me, trying to kill the abomination that I am. I am a taboo on my race, the forbidden child, exiled into the land of the mere demons that kill each other without regret. I am half Koorime, half dark fire demon—two species of demon that are traditionally mortal enemies. I do not belong with the either line of blood for I am of mixed parentage. I am not proud that I am of either side of demon blood. The dark fire demons kill without remorse, and will slaughter entire villages if even only slightly provoked. As much as I dislike the dark fire demons, I perhaps dislike the Koorime more. From what I remember of the mile high village, and what ancient scholars have told me, the Koorime is a race of ice faring demons from the northern Demon Realm. They detached themselves from the realm nearly five thousand years ago, and little of them is still known. They are as brutal the Amazon women of the Human World's myths, yet as gentle as feathers from the wings of the holiest angels in the sacred realm. They are fierce warriors when the need arises, but prefer to keep to themselves on their island in the sky. The Koorime dislike all that is different. They cry tears that turn to jewels because their body heat is so low, and the tear gems bring in billons of dollars on the black market, which is why Yukina was held prisoner two years ago.

Yukina has never told anyone exactly what went on in Tarukene's tower where she was held prisoner. From what we know from various informants, Yukina was abused, both physically and mentally, perhaps even raped for all I know, and all so she would shed her most valuable tears. She suffered at the hands of terribly greedy, terribly evil men, and so must her captors suffer dearly. I will track down every one of them and make sure he knows what the wrath of the Forbidden Child feels like. I will avenge her suffering, though I know she will never be the same innocent girl I distantly watched from afar all those years ago.

I sigh discontentedly as I open my eyes and survey the surroundings again. Too many people.

My gaze stays with the first thing it falls on.

She looks up as if she can feel my eyes on her. Her eyes are soft, almost heartbroken, yet strong and resolute. She catches my eyes after a moment and smirks a little, just for barely a second, before turning back to the card game she was playing. Her long, long hair is in hundreds of little ringlets of soft looking brown hair with vivacious flashes of an obnoxious red sporadically interspersed within. The red in her hair contrasts wonderfully with the blue shirt she is wearing. Her skin is a creamy white, and a sudden urge to sit next to her forces me to use every muscle to stay seated right where I am.

Unbidden, a single, random fact enters my mind as if trying to convince me to sit with her. Worn on a young woman, ringlets are a sign of fertility for some tribes in the Demon World.

Forcing myself to look away from Daja, I try to fight against the acknowledgement that Daja was a human raised in the Demon World. She knows so much about the lore of demon cultures, but perhaps it is only coincidence that she wears her hair that way today.

How long has it been since I have spoken to her? More than a few months, and the silence between us is deafening, is painful. She's wasted away from the powerful fighter I once knew to the fragile looking girl in front of me.

The most confusing person I know is the one I want to speak the most to, and that boggles my mind.

"Hiei?"

Everybody is standing up, and looking at me with curiosity and laughter in their eyes. Daja is standing in front of me, her eyes wandering to the crowds walking towards the lake, as if trying to avoid contact with my eyes. Her lips form a smirk as she wets her lips to speak and pushes a stray strand of hair behind her left ear.

"You coming to see the show or what?"

After a second she stands up and looks down at me. After a moment, she sighs and looks away, and she starts to head back towards the group of people who consider themselves her friends.

It's only after they start walking away that I get up, shove my hands in my pockets, and follow behind them. They don't seem to notice me until I see Daja look back towards me. Her eyes are world weary, her expression blank.

I frown and Daja quickly turns to face the direction in which she is walking.

It seems like only a few minutes before they all stop and sit down again. What a waste of energy, was the old spot simply not good enough for them anymore?

As if he heard my thoughts, Kurama snickers and says good naturedly, "This is where the show looks its best, next to the lake"

Yusuke bursts out laughing at something Kuwabara says as he deals out the cards again to resume whatever game they were playing before they moved to a new location.

Kurama sits down next to Botan and Keiko, and they start chatting about various human ideas that sicken me as the sky begins to darken with the sun as it sets, leaving deep purple streaks across the sky.

Daja collapses on the blanket with a grace that surprises me. She looks directly at the reflection on the lake, and her eyes never waver from that. For a moment, she seems like a statue, still and unmoving. After a few seconds, she regains motion and fluidly leans back onto the blanket and stares at the deep blue sky peppered with light stars of the early evening. I continue to study her calm expression, and the sun sets. When I watch her, it is like looking at a painting. I know she is physically there in front of me, all my senses say that she is, but her mind is else where, wandering places I have yet to discover. I study her, hoping to find a trace of what she is thinking about. That is until something in the sky draws my attention away from her.

The sky is exploding.


Satori Sama: So… How was that? I hope you all at least semi liked it. I'm gonna make up my long absence from to you all by writing a lot of chapters over the coming weeks. I'm not so sure about the songfiction right now though, but the next case for the detectives is gonna be a hoot. New characters, reappearance of old ones, casinos, bars, cocktail waitresses, dirty money, evil superbaddies, and a royal flush that loses—let me tell you!!! Anyway, this is Satori, signing out.

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