14thShrineMaiden: I decided that Jin and Touya are an inch or so taller than Yumiko (5'2").

Millefiori

Chapter 2

'D---! Those green eyes! I can't get them out of my head!' She whacked her forehead repeatedly, hard enough for it to sting sharply. 'It's like they're burning holes through my mind!' Shaking her head to clear it, she restarted her homework and studying.

'Green eyes.'

'I have to stop thinking about them!'

'Green-'

'Not thinking! Doing math! The green eyes are not watching!'

The whimsical ring of the doorbell jolted her out of her distraught state. Three sharp knocks echoed through the house, the air of authority reaching her in her first floor bedroom. She stayed where she was, trying to decide whether to get up or not.

'Could it be that guy? Did he call the cops?' She slowly rose out of her swivel chair, now wishing that she had her socks on for padding on the wood floor to create footfall sounds.

"Is she not home?"

"Nah, she's always home! Never been a day when she didn't come home after school."

"She has her team practices though."

"I thought that was in the fall! Ah well, we can always ring the doorbell again."

"Jin, if she's not here-"

A jumble of bangs and bumps on the doors were heard, the noise erupting and echoing in the hallway. Hurriedly opening it, she received a knock to the forehead- he had apparently forgotten to stop banging.

"Oi!" She was then tackled by a grinning redhead. In his wild, deep red hair, a small white horn was there. Bright blue eyes and long elfin ears were other traits that distinguished him from the normal ningen. He wore no shirt, only comfortable white pants, showing his muscular torso. "'Ello Yumi!"

"Jin! Me favorite Irish-accented demon! Come in! I'll bring ye all a shot of brandy and gin!" Trying to imitate Jin's Irish accent and failing, she pried Jin off and shooed Touya inside to close the door. "How do ye both do?"

"We're good! Me 'n Touya decided to stop by your place!"

"I noticed. How are you m'boy? Still as chipper and ice blue as ever?"

He glared slightly, but a smile replaced his detached expression. He had two icy blue eyes with no pupils. Light blue hair covered his head; several jade green bangs shadowed his forehead. His clothing consisted of different shades of blue, and he had a pale skin. Although his body was more covered, one could tell he was also in shape. "You could at least try to be serious."

She flapped a hand at him, grinning, but dropped the accent. "Serious is below me, Aoi. You should know that by now."

"Do not call me that."

"Why not, Aoi?"

"Because it is an appalling nickname which I intensely hate ever since you gave it to me."

"Too bad." She stuck her tongue out. "Jin likes it. Don't you, me Irish lad?"

"Fits you very well Touya!"

"Why you-!"

She whapped him lightly on the head. "Hey, no fighting between the two of you. I still have to repair that chipped walls that you guys killed. Takeo keeps on forgetting to get around to it."

She headed into the kitchen, with them following, nosing around in the fridge. "So what do you guys want to eat? We're ordering out- I don't feel like cooking."

"Whatever is fine."

"Pizza!" Jin grinned. "That good stuff!"

"Okay, pizza it is. Here Jin." Yumiko tossed him the phone. "You order two pizzas. One with meatballs- all for you. The other with one half chicken, the other half plain. The phone number is on the cabinet. And tell them my address. Got it?"

"Yup!" He levitated over to the phone, while Yumiko sat down on the sofa. Touya remained standing.

"Where's your guardian?" Touya asked.

"Takeo? He said he'd be coming home late. Don't worry," she said hurriedly after his expression. "He doesn't do it so often now."

"Still-"

"Never mind about me!" she interrupted nervously and quickly turned the conversation. "So, what brings you two here?"

He let her go in his own discomfort. "We wanted to see you. It has been a long time." He twiddled with his fingers and the temperature dropped a couple of notches.

She stopped him. "I'm not a demon, but I can sometimes tell when people lie."

"We wanted to discuss something with you."

"And you came all the way to the Ningenkai to tell me? You could have gotten arrested."

"Koenma allowed us, just for a couple of days."

"Really? So what is it?"

"Now is not the time."

"Just make sure you haven't already run out of opportunities." She winked, before going to her room, shuffling around. "Hm, got to be some extra cash around here… rather not go into Takeo's stash and get routed out by a booby-trap." She finally picked out some money hidden under a pile of papers. "Should be enough for two pizzas…" She heard a crash from the kitchen.

"JIN!"

"Ah, darn it." Another crash. "Oops!"

She rushed to the kitchen. "Jin, stop flying around! You'll knock down another-!"

Crash

"Ugh…"

He smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, Yumi. I didn't mean to."

"It's alright, just don't do it again-"

Crash

"Get out of the kitchen now."

"Ehehe…" He ducked out. "Sorry!"

Muttering under her breath, she found the broom and dustpan and began to clean up. The doorbell rang again. "Touya!" She rushed over and shoved the money into his hands. "Give the guy all the money. It will be enough."

"Is the pizza here!" Jin bounded in.

"Yes, now get out!" She grabbed his arm. "No, not the kitchen!" She opened the hall closet, and shoved him in, closing the door behind him. "Shut up, Jin!" she hissed through it.

"Thanks for the tip, man. Have a nice day!" The ice apparition closed the door behind him, pizza boxes in hand.

"So where'd you hide him?" he asked with raised eyebrows once he had turned.

She slid down to a seat against the closet door, moaning. "Don't let him in the kitchen. He already broke a plate and three glasses. Did the delivery guy see him?"

"No."

She sighed in relief. "Thank you, the gods might not be completely against me today."

Wham

"Where's the pizza?" Jin whined. "I'm hungry."

"Jin! What was that for!" Yumiko had stumbled across the hall because of Jin's push on the door, sending her tumbling into the wall with a solid thump.

"Sorry Yumi."

"Never mind- I'll get you your soda. And water for you, Aoi." She went back into the kitchen. "After I finish cleaning up, I'll pop in a movie."

Jin had already started. "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon!" He waved a disk from where he sat, having gone through her collection.

"Is that all right, Aoi? They have some cool effects in there."

"Sure."

---

Yumiko yawned, waving Touya and Jin to stay after the movie credits ended. "I won't allow you two to go to a hotel and pay for sleeping. You guys are staying in the spare bedroom." She got off the sofa, walking down the hall and up the stairs with them following. "Don't break anything, and don't make a too much of a mess, because I'm the one who will have to clean it up. Most of the stuff you need is in the bathroom, and you might have left some spare clothing in the closet. Night." The door closed behind the two shinobi, leaving them in private.

Jin flopped down on one of the twin-sized beds occupying the room. "So, didja tell her?"

Touya sat down gingerly on his own bed. "No, not yet. You interrupted."

"But you're going to, right?" Jin looked at Touya.

"Maybe."

"You should Touya. She would really want to know what's going on."

"Jin." The demon's voice was icier than ever. "Shut up."

The wind demon stayed quiet for a moment. "Don't keep the secret too long."

"Jin," Touya warned. Jin zipped into the bathroom, and soon afterward, the sound of running water was heard.

Touya sighed and leaned against the wall next to his bed. He didn't want to admit Jin was remotely right on this subject. He just… didn't want her to know.

: End Chapter

14thShrineMaiden: second new and improved chapter! Reviews, please