7 Hiei, you did what!

Woohoo! I'm in! I'm going to Australia! (but not until summer) I'll also be going to Minnesota over New Years for a winter survival and dog-sledding course! I'm so happy! Ureshii!

Oh! (sheepish smile) It's been a while, you might wanna do some read reading of at least the last chapter if you haven't lately. That'd be best. But I marked it where I referenced to previous chapters, so you should be okay.


Chapter 7: Hiei, you did what!

Kuwabara glanced up in alarm as the door slammed, announcing their team leader's arrival.

"Hey! I just replaced that! Be care—whoa, man, what happened to you?"

Yusuke didn't answer. He stormed through Kuwabara's living room, past Kurama, and threw himself into a chair. Kurama watched him cross his arms and put his nose in the air. Hiei spared a smirk and a single snicker from his position against the wall.

"I assume there were…complications, Yusuke?" Kurama said softly.

Yusuke glared back, well, as much as one can glare when their eyes are swelling shut.

"Ito Ami…"i Yusuke muttered past two bleeding lips. "Didn't know the jailbait had a bodyguard. Glad to see Kuwabara found your sorry ass."ii

Kurama raised an eyebrow. Kuwabara, trying desperately not to laugh, squeaked, "You got beat up by a girl? Ura-urameshi (snort, giggle) you're loosin' street cred!"

"It was Ito!" Yusuke yelled back, "The gym teacher's daughter! And you know I'm not supposed to fight back against someone with no offense! What the hell was I supposed to do?"

"Calm down, Yusuke," Kurama said, "Kuwabara, please control yourself."

Yusuke give a huff of exasperation while Kuwabara stifled his laughter.

"She saw it, didn't she?" Hiei spoke for the first time.

The last of Yusuke's anger disappeared from his bruised face. "Huh? Yeah, picked it up and everything. It flipped right open to Shin Sumi's page, too."iii

"Hn. So now what, fox?"

Kurama looked at the roll of bloodstained gauze in his hand. His blood obscured most of it, but a sensitive nose could pick out the scent of human's saliva. Why it'd been in her mouth, he didn't know.iv But he did know that she was short, brown hair and eyes, with a large bruise in the middle of her forehead. When he'd woken up, hours after the battle, he'd caught her putting on her shirt. Her ribs showed; she wasn't getting enough food.

"We continue interacting with Shin. She won't be near frightened if we approach her as every day people instead of mystery men who jump out from dark corners." Kurama decided, setting the gauze aside.

"Why's Koenma so interested in the brat, anyhow?" Yusuke muttered, accepting a first aid kit from Kuwabara.

"Her mother and father," Kurama started, "Had been two of the top psychics in the world, as well as good friends of Koenma and King Enma. They often did favors for Koenma. Mostly this meant disposing of demons that'd escaped into the living world. Their record is…was… quite fearsome. However, after defeating a demon with particularly high psychic energy, Shin Masa was cursed and Shin Sumi's memory was completely erased. Not long after, she killed herself, violently."v

The room was silent. Kurama even had Hiei's attention.

"In her suicide, she also injured Shin Toki, though not Masa. Toki was eight years old at the time. As far as we know, she hasn't spoken a word since then. She may be mute. Toki was sent to a country home for three days until her father won custody. During that time Masa swore off any alliance with Enma and Koenma." Kurama took a moment to re-adjust himself. "The next year, Masa married again to a woman named Moto Kaiya. They moved, their location has been unknown until just recently." Kurama glanced at the figure by the window.

Hiei'd done a search with his jagan. The Shin's apartment had been unprotected by everything but walls and a front door with a lock. Shin Toki, however, put up an interesting fight for one who'd never used her psychic powers before. Once he broke past her mother's barrier, Hiei'd had just enough time to get her name and location before she blocked and continued blocking him.

Hiei muttered something that sounded much like "pathetic fool…" before turning his head back to the window.

"Well I've had my history lesson for the day!" Kuwabara broke the mood, slapping his knees and standing. "I think I've got some Mac & Cheese in the kitchen, anybody up for some?"

"Me!" Said Yusuke, hobbling quickly out of the room.

"I'd better assist," Kurama added, following them at a more reasonable pace. He turned his head back, "Hiei?"

But he was already gone.


I was getting that creepy feeling again. Like someone just poured a dozen wriggling, slimy worms down your back. I turn over in my bed. There's an exciting tingle starting in my brow. The blanket feels scratchy and I just want to get out of bed. I scratch at the blouse of my P Js, pull the pants a little higher, trying to get comfortable.

Well… maybe it's time to get up…

I crack open an eye, but everything is still really dark. Grunting crankily, I flip over again, beat my pillow, and try to go back to sleep.

Maybe I'm too hot.

I kick down my blanket. That feels better. I flop around some more. I want to get up! Up!

No! Nighttime! Sleeping!

I shove my head under the pillow, thrashing my legs to knock the energy out of them. The excited, tingling feeling is still crawling across my forehead, yet my other voice is strangely silent. I listen hard for her, but all I can hear is a very quite buzz.

That's strange. I think, plopping my head on top of the pillow again. She's always hassling me. Wonder what happened to her. I shrug. Not that I'm complaining.

I snuggle my face into the pillow. It feels suffocating. I whack it back into shape and lay my head on it. Oh great, now the tingling in my forehead as switched to the nape of my neck. My ears ring gently.

There's nothing that's going to prevent me from going to sleep. Now, go away!

The ringing increases. My eyes open against my will. I groan.

Just to check the clock… Then I'm coming right back to bed!

Silently, I pull myself out of my cot. Okay, so it was more like I fell out, knocked down a stack of books, stubbed all my toes on unknown objects, tripped on my school bag and ran into the wall. But other than that, I was completely silent. Rubbing my nose, I crack open the door.

No one there….

I leave my door open, creeping down the hall. His snoring can be heard from the small kitchen, he's knocked out by the small window. All the sake must've gotten to him.

I wonder why we always have the shades drawn… I think to myself for the first time.

I check the VCR and DVD players for the time (Yes they are actually accurate.) But the time they show can't be right.

8:20? I only went to bed at eight…. I'll look outside, maybe I can see a clock from the walk.

Yes, I know, a ridiculous thought. But my mind is murky, hazy, like there's a song playing that I can't hear, but it's blotting out all my other thoughts. How stupid. Eh, I must be more tired than I thought.

I fumble with the lock. He gives an extra grunt. I keep fumbling with the door until it opens, releasing me into the cool night.

I stumble to the railing, catching the steely bar in my hands. We're on the third floor of five, on the very corner of the building. A cool breeze wafts down the corridor, compelling my short hair to drift towards the city lights that stretch out before me.

There's something familiar about this... Like I've seen it before…From farther… higher away…

My thoughts are long and drawn out. I can't concentrate. I almost want to sleep, right here…

Two very soft, very light steps go pat-pat behind me.

My eyes snap open, drowsiness gone.

Run girl! Run! Wake your father! Get away!

What are you doing back?

Just run!

I whip around. A flash of crimson eyes and black cloak are all see before something is wrapped tightly around my head and used to tie my hands behind my back as well.

I lash out with my legs, there's a muttered snicker, but no connection. I'm grabbed tightly from behind, the arm going under my elbow and across my middle. My feet spin wildly as I'm lifted from the floor.

No! Let go! Let go! Let go!

My eyes leak, I feel moisture against the—cloak?— that's binding me. I kick about, but the arm stays tightly clamped around my waist. Who's this jerk? Where's Ami when I really need her?

My other side is cursing bitterly, promising hell and more. The inside of my skull is actually starting to pound. But just as she was in another long string of profanities, she shuts-up abruptly.

A jolt goes through my attacker, as if he jumped. My heart drops and I loose my stomach when I feel him stop moving, as if we're not touching the ground anymore.

A-a a suicide jumper!

I try hard to scream—very, very hard. For the first time in years I try to say something, anything, but nothing comes out.

No way! Put me down! DOWN! I WANT DOWN! I scream in my mind.

Are you sure? Another being answers back.

I freeze at the other voice in my mind. It sounds familiar, guarded and mocking. Like that time my brain was invaded…. The cloth that was blinding me wrenches away, the knot tying my hands slips out.

I gasp.

I'm flying over the city, the night-lights flashing past us. I scramble for something to hold onto, finding only the shirt of my captor. My fear-crazed eyes find his garnet reds. It's that guy! He was the one who invaded my mind!vi

He smirks. "Still want down?"

I shake my head wildly.


The door to Kuwabara's apartment banged open. The three boys looked up from their recently finished Mac & Cheese. They were recognizing the energy, but not the entrance. Loud wasn't Hiei's style.

"Get off." Something thumped on the living room floor. "Baka musume…"

The three exchanged wide-eyed glances across the table.

"He wouldn't actually…" Kuwabara stared at Kurama.

"Yabia," muttered Yusuke.

They all disentangled themselves from the table, hurrying to the living room.

Kuwabara rounded the corner first, and was promptly run into by a small girl. She fell back, landing hard and scrambling backwards. She did a sort of flopping, teetering crab-walk until she fell against Hiei. Said demon kicked her away and leaned against the wall, glaring out the window.

"Um, Hiei…?" Kurama let it trail as the girl cowered, and scooted backward, ran into the wall, and hid behind the couch.

"You kidnapped her?" Yusuke shouted.

Hiei glared daggers him. "You said we should interact more. So go on, interact!"

Yusuke and Kuwabara's jaws dropped. Timidly, Kuwabara tip-toed over to the couch.

Hiei eyed them with scornful interest, "But I must say, you're not making such a good impression."

The room felt tense, more so than normal. It was almost like the second before Yusuke fried a rei gun.

POP!

Everyone jumped. Hiei blinked suddenly, scowled and cursed. He plunged his hand straight through the couch. Shish-ka-bobbing the cushion.

"Oi! Hiei! That's my couch! What are you doing?" Kuwabara yelled

Hiei snatched something from beneath the couch. A small breeze publicized his departure.

Kuwabara stared at the open door, which had been slammed close, sighed and shook his head. He peeped behind the couch. "Shin? Shin Toki? Is that you? It's Kuwabara Kazuma from school…" He pulled the couch away from the wall. "Oh don't tell me you crawled under it…." He muttered, getting on his hands and knees to glance under. He frowned and stuck his entire head under the couch. "What the…!" a muted shout came, followed by a muffled curse as he hit his head.

Yusuke backed quickly out of the way as the couch was capsized. A blouse and pajama pants are lying on the floor.

"Hey!" Kuwabara shouted, "She's gone!"


What the crap?

Okay, status check. I'm about fifty feet in the air, naked, and falling very quickly towards the ground.

The air whips past me, I'm flailing in every possible direction and facing up. All I can hear is wind. I'm falling, falling, and there's no one who can save me.

Suddenly, I'm tackled from the side. Who ever grabbed me slides along the ground, I have no idea how they caught me. My savior grunts heavily.

I'm naked! I remember, sitting up and running away. But then I freeze. No freaking way…

It's that house, home, the place of my dreams, where I nursed the demon-human Kur-Shuichi. vii

How the heck did I get here?

Something is pulled over my head. I open my mouth in a silent scream, but my head pops out an opening. Surprised, I wiggle around a bit and find I'm wearing some kind of cloak that falls all the way to the ground.

"You transported."

I jump, fall on my butt and try to get away. Standing over me is-is that … Hiei person from before. He rolls his eyes.

"Baka musume… You only transported yourself, not your clothes."

He throws my PJ's at me. I latch onto them and start running. BAM!

What the… How you get there!

I stare up at Hiei, who is in front of me again.

"It's calling running. You don't seem to be very good at it."

I pick myself up and glare at him. Okay, let's get this straight. I transported here, at least five miles away from where I was kidnapped, I'm wearing your cape and you're reading my mind!

He glares back, chills run down my spine. No, you're the one sending telepathic messages!

I can't do anything like that.

He gives me a blank look and mutters something under his breath.

I am not an idiot!

Suddenly, I find myself hanging by Hiei's fist, which is oh-so-calmly wrapped around my throat. This guy is fast!

"Here's what you're going to do. You're going to take off my cloak, put on your clothes, and then we're going back to the buffoon's house to clarify some things. Can your stupid ningen brain under stand that?"

I nod meekly. He drops me to the ground in a crumpled heap. I suck in air.

"Hn," he says, glowering at me. "Don't even try to run, not that you can humiliate yourself much more."

I scowl at him, but I keep my mind carefully blank.

"Not here you stupid ningen!"

I let the cloak drop back over me.

Well where do you expect me to change?

There's the slightest dusting of pick over his face, but maybe that's just the moonlight.

He turns sharply away from me. "Kamawan…!" he mutters. "Behind a bush or something. Baka musume…"

I stick my tongue out at him, wandering away to a thick shrub nearby.

"Immature little brat…" Hiei grumbles from the dirt road.


Glossary

Arigato-gozaimasu—Thank you very much!

Baka—Idiot

Kamawan—I don't care

Musume—Little girl

Ningen—Human

Oi—Hey!

Rei—Spirit

Ureshii—Yay/I'm so happy!

Yabia—Uh-oh

Yatta—I did it/hooray!

Things to pick up on

i This refers to when Yusuke was beat up by Ami in Chapter 6 because he was "stalking" Toki

ii In chapter 5, Kuwabara and Yusuke were looking everywhere for Kurama who was lost after some mysterious battle that I have yet to explain. BUT it does have something to do with the thunderstorms and Mrs. Ito. (wink wink)

iii Yusuke and Hiei are referring to a book they planted in the school library to try and find Sumi and Masa's heir (Chap 5)

iv The gauze is the same roll that fell in Toki's mouth while she was looking for Advil for Masa (Chap 1) And what she mysteriously found in her skirt pocket after calling to it. (Chap 4)

v A longer version of this from Toki's POV can be found in my one-shot, Independence Day

vi When Hiei was looking for her for the Tantei (Chap 6)

viiSee chapters 4-5

Yes soooo sorry for being gone for so long, Algebra is killing me…. Next one will be better. (I don't know why the roman numeral thingies messed up... I'll do something else next time.)

What really kept me going was that I kept getting reviews, even when I wasn't updating! (Ureshii!) Thanks to all ye faithful!

I should have the next one up soon. Drop a comment on your way out please, it's my only way to know that people still enjoy reading my story.

Arigato-gozaimasu!