A crowd greeted us as Yusuke and me appeared in front of his house. Everyone kept asking how it went.
"Great!" I said happily. "I never really messed up, not even once!"
"Ok, back to training." Kurama started and my face fell slightly. "Now, none of that." Kurama said. "You've had three days off."
"And it was nice." I said with a grin.
Kurama laughed. "Ok, go with Yusuke for today."
I nodded and followed Yusuke to behind his house were we did what we did each time we trained, hand to hand combat. As night fell around us we returned and went to the kitchen. I sat and watched as everyone else ate and my gaze kept drifting to Hiei who never would look at me. He can't still be mad about the picture? I thought as I spoke up. "I'm going to bed now…" With that I stood slowly and Sesshoumaru quietly followed as I got back into my makeshift bed with a sigh. I laid there for over an hour before sleep finally took me.
As everyone else started off towards bed too Kurama looked around for Hiei who wasn't there. Going outside he found him beside the door, leaning on the wall. "Why were you avoiding her?" He asked.
"I wasn't." Hiei replied simply.
"Don't lie. You were really hurting her feelings again Hiei." Kurama turned around and headed back inside to get some rest like everyone else.
Hiei stared down at the ground for a second before looking up at the starry sky. Finally he grunted and headed inside as well. He went straight to the room where I slept and, avoiding the sleeping Sesshoumaru, came to my side and tapped my shoulder. My eyes slowly opened and he pointed to my sword and then pulled me after him. On the way past I grabbed it as I was tugged out the door. We kept going until we finally reached the forest where I had met Sasuke and then Hiei turned to me. "Are you afraid to go in?" he asked with a smirk.
I shook my head. "No, I'll be ready if someone comes this time. It doesn't feel strange anymore though..."
He nodded and entered the trees. I hurried after him until we arrived at the same clearing as always and stopped.
"Unsheathe your sword." Hiei instructed as he did the same. I obeyed but as soon as it was out the end crashed to the ground.
Hiei stared at me as I struggled to lift it. "Why are you having so much trouble?"
I blushed bright red as I replied. "Sesshoumaru told me that I was supposed to get it when I was still little so I could practice..."
"Well, how can they expect me to train you with the sword if u can't even lift it?"
"It's not my fault!" I cried as I looked away.
Hiei quietly put his sword away and came to stand behind me. He placed his arms around me and set his hands on mine so he could hold the sword without shocking himself. "Shrink some," he muttered. I stood in shock for a second before going down to four foot eight again and Hiei continued. He placed his head over my shoulder and I blushed bright red as I felt him lift my arms up along with the sword. "Now hold this position." I nodded and he pulled away leaving the whole weight to me. The giant blade dropped some but I raised it back as I stood trembling, trying to keep it still. Hiei sat down against a tree and watched.
A couple hours passed and still I held the position. I glanced at Hiei hopefully but still he did nothing but watch. Thirty more minutes before Hiei finally stood again. "Is it easier to hold now?"
I stared at him. "If I say yes will I get to drop it?" He shook his head and sat back down to watch again. I sighed as I renewed my grip but kept my stance.
Morning light appeared over the trees and I closed my eyes, trying to think of anything except how much my arms ached. I jumped as a hand touched my face and I realized I had let a tear of pain slip. Hiei had come to wipe it away. "Don't let yourself be distracted from the task at hand." I nodded and closed my eyes again.
Five more hours passed and the sun was well up before Hiei finally spoke. "Look at where the sword is now." I looked up to find it straight over my head and gasped. Without realizing it I had slowly raised it higher and higher as I had begun to get used to its weight.
"You can drop it now." Hiei said.
With a sigh of relief I let go and it stuck in the ground in front of me and became thin again as I fell straight backwards. Hiei darted over and caught me before I hit and lowered me gently the rest of the way. I looked over at him. "My arms hurt." I muttered with a small laugh.
He held back a smile and nodded. "I know."
We both looked up as something came crashing through the woods towards us. Hiei set a hand on his sword but I stopped him. "It is just Yusuke." I assured him and he stared at me as I wrinkled my nose with a grin.
Sure enough a moment later Yusuke appeared at the edge of the clearing. He stopped and stared at me, lying on the ground motionless and Hiei sitting beside me. "People are worried about you, wondering where you are." He said as he came closer. I grinned up at him as his face appeared above mine. "What have you been doing?"
"Training..." I muttered.
"Can you move?"
"I don't want to."
Yusuke stared at Hiei. "What did you make her do?"
He shrugged. "Just hold her sword up."
That's when Yusuke looked over and notice the reduced blade sticking in the ground. "For how long?"
"A while." Hiei replied.
Yusuke looked at me. "Can you heal yourself?"
"I don't know..." I closed my eyes and reopened them, glowing bright green. My hands glowed too but I couldn't move them. Suddenly sparks leapt up and bounced along my arms to the rest of my body, healing as they went. Eventually they disappeared and I closed my eyes for a second more before forcing myself to sit up.
Suddenly a loud clapping rang out behind us and I spun around. A tall man with a blue Mohawk stood there with a little kid beside him who had three stars on his cheek. The kid was leaning against a tree looking entirely too bored. Another pair was watching as well. One had bright orange messy hair with a little horn right in the middle and beside him was another boy with icy looking hair and eyes.
"A very nice trick." The tall one said with a laugh.
I blinked as I stared and then turned to Yusuke. "Are they who I think they are?" I whispered.
He stared from them to me. "Who do you think they are?"
I looked back at them for a second. "The big one's Chew, the kid's Rinku, the one with the horn is Gin and the icy one is Toya!"
Yusuke grinned at me. "Yep." He stood and went to greet them. "What are you guys doing here?"
"What? You're not happy to see us?" asked Chew.
"No, I just really wasn't expecting it." Yusuke replied.
Toya looked over at me. "Who's that and what are you doing to her?"
"Her name is Kira and we're training her to be the newest member of our team." Yusuke replied as he motioned for me to come over.
Hiei helped me to my feet and supported me as I staggered over to them. Chew took my hand. "Hello love." He said. "What do they have on you to make you join them?" He said with a laugh.
"I just want to help out..." I said quietly. He nodded and released me.
"Well that's nice." Rinku said. "But I don't think you'll last long."
Before I could reply Chew reached over and whacked him on the head. "Ow!" cried Rinku as he rubbed his head. "What was that for?"
Chew looked at me as he replied. "I guess you haven't felt it yet but this young girl has far more power than you and maybe even me."
"No way..." I muttered, looking down.
Gin walked over and looked down at me. "You're a short one aren' cha?" he said quickly.
I blushed and looked up at him. "This isn't my real height!" I closed my eyes and felt my ear twitch as I heard Gin step back. When I reopened my eyes I was five foot five again. "This is my real height."
Gin laughed, his ears wiggling. "Well that's pretty neat!"
Rinku looked up at me again. "You're not full demon are you?"
I blushed again and responded slowly. "I'm almost full..." I muttered as they all stared at me.
Yusuke broke the uneasy silence. "So, what brings you out here?"
"We heard you were entering another tournament. What for?" Chew asked.
Yusuke looked away, his face falling. "They took some people from us."
Toya pounded the nearest tree and it shattered under his touch. "Those cowards..." he muttered angrily.
There was another long silence. "Umm..." I began and everyone stared at me. "The others are back at the house..." I said, my face bright red.
Yusuke nodded. "Yeah, let's go." He started towards the house but Hiei stopped me as I began to follow.
"We still have training." He muttered.
"But!" I stopped at his unwavering face and trudged slowly over to my sword. I picked it up and it grew heavy again. I turned towards Hiei and swung it around a bit with one hand. "I can lift it easily now. Can we have a break?" I asked as I sheathed it at my side.
"Well-" Hiei stopped at my scream and stared up after me with an amused look on his face. He slowly began walking back on his own.
Gin's laughter filled the air. "I heard you were afraid of heights but this is bad." He laughed as he looked down at me.
He was holding me securely in his arms but I still had my arms wrapped tightly around him with my face buried in his chest so I couldn't see anything. I felt the wind winding around us as I thought. Yeah, the wind master... I raised my head slightly and looked around. With a shriek I buried my face again as Gin started doing loops through the air.
"You'll never learn to deal with it like that!" he yelled as he released me. With a startled cry, I grabbed onto him harder as I began to swing away. He gently pried my arms from around him and I fell towards the ground screaming. At the last moment Gin swooped down and caught me again and I stared up at him in shock as he set me down by Yusuke's house. Hiei came forward and steadied me as I staggered around and Gin landed with a laugh. "She needs to get over that fear!" He said with a grin.
Hiei nodded as he steered me into the house and Gin followed close behind.
"And that's the full story." Yusuke said to Chew, Rinku and Toya.
"Full story of what?" asked Gin as he leaned against the wall.
Yusuke stared at him. "I have to tell it all again?"
Gin poked a finger in his ear. "Seems that way..." So Yusuke had to retell his entire story, which happened to be about how they found me. I added little details as well as the part where I went away with Sesshoumaru and my memories of the time I fell. By then end all four were staring at me and I blushed as I looked away.
"That's an amazing story and it seems to be true..." Chew said as he stared at me.
Toya nodded. "When trained fully I would like to fight her. She seems to be a worthy opponent even now."
I looked up at him. "Really?" He nodded and my face remained red.
Hiei finally stood and grabbed my arm, leading me outside. "What are you doing?" I asked.
"Your training keeps being interrupted." He replied but stopped outside the house. Yusuke, Chew, Rinku, Toya and Gin all gathered around the door as Hiei turned to me. "Let's race to the forest."
I looked at him in surprise. "Really?"
He nodded and turned around towards the direction we would be heading. "Ready...go!" he yelled as he took off.
I jumped as he ran and darted after him. "You're cheating!" I screamed as the ones by the door stared.
Gin touched his wiggling ears. "She's pretty fast doncha know?"
Yusuke nodded. "Yeah..."
I had caught up with Hiei and stuck my tongue out as I passed him. He saw me with surprise and increased his speed as well. We both reached the forest at the exact same time and slammed on the brakes. I grinned over at him. "It's a tie."
Hiei nodded. "I guess so." He placed a hand on his sword and slowly unsheathed it. "Draw your sword."
I nodded and pulled mine out as well. "Hold it up." Hiei instructed and I lifted it over my head with one hand, smiling triumphantly. I gave a startled cry as I let it drop and heard the sound of clanking metal.
Hiei had charged forward without warning and now stood smirking in front of me. "Never drop your guard! Lucky for you your reflexes work."
I glared at him as he sprang away. "Now!" He yelled and ran at me again. I rolled to the side and he missed. "You have to strike back!" He cried as he came at me again. I placed two hands on the hilt and blocked his attack, quickly releasing the sword with one hand and clawing at him. I caught the edge of his shirt and he gave another amused smile. "Good." He came at me again and managed to graze my arm with his blade. I clutched it and, seeing blood, my eyes flashed red as I glared at him and prepared for another attack.
We continued in this way until well into the next day when Gin came wondering into our midst. He jumped back in surprise as Hiei and I clashed blades right in front of him before disappearing and reappearing somewhere else with another stalemate. I can't even track them... Gin thought as he stared in amazement. They improved this much in one night? He approached us slowly and waved. "Hello! I was told to bring you back!" He said grinning. He fell over backwards as I appeared in his face, my eyes glowing bright red. "Back off, before you get hurt!" I yelled at him before disappearing again and meeting Hiei somewhere else.
He stared at the last spot he had seen us in. "But it was something about visiting some humans at the beach!" He cried and I stopped, catching Hiei's blade with my claws.
I stared towards Gin while Hiei struggled to pull away. "Really?"
Gin nodded as he stared in shock at me. My eyes were still glowing bright red but I had calmed down some at the mention of my family. He noted that my clothes were all ripped up and torn but noticed Hiei's were too. We were both covered in many cuts and scratches as well. Blood ran down my cheek as I replied happily. "Well, let's go!" My eyes swirled green again as I approached Gin, pulling Hiei by the sword'sblade I still held and putting away my own.
Gin laughed at my sudden change. "So, how about another flyin' lesson?"
I cringed at the thought. "No tha-" I was cut off by the surprise of Hiei shoving me in the back into Gin who grinned and lifted me into the air. "Wait!" I screamed as I felt my feet leave the ground. "That's no fair!"
As we lifted higher I chanced a quick glance below. I saw Hiei chuckling to himself as he sheathed his sword before I buried my face into Gin. He laughed at me. "You can' learn if you do that!" He let me go and I dropped a few feet before he grabbed me back up, holding me around the waist so I was parallel to him. "Now you get the full feel of flying."
I bit back another scream as I was forced to watch the ground flying swiftly past us. I blinked. "We missed the house!" I cried but Gin just laughed again.
"If we stopped so soon you wouldn't have as much fun as you should!" That said, he took off in a series of loops and turns through the air and even let me go some. I would fall a few feet before he'd snatch me back up.
A few minutes later we landed in Yusuke's yard and I wobbled into the house with Gin close behind. Everyone was sitting around the room.
I plopped down in a seat as Chew laughed at me. "C'mon Gin, she looks so beat up! What did you do to her?"
"It's fine." I said with a grin. Kurama stared at me and glanced at Hiei who shrugged and looked away. "It's helps me practice other skills too." I added as I closed my eyes. I reopened them and they glowed green along with my hands. I ran them along my cuts and scrapes and they slowly disappeared. I looked around and found Hiei. "Come here and I'll heal you too." I said with a smile.
He hesitated so Kurama nudged him forward and he came to my side. I ran my hands along his cuts and they too slowly disappeared. He stepped quickly away when I finished, as he tried to hide his blushing face. Chew pointed from Hiei to me as he looked at Yusuke. Yusuke nodded and Chew chuckled quietly as Gin grinned and Toya just calmly stared. Rinku rolled his eyes and I blinked a few times to return my eyes to normal before staring at them, missing the whole thing.
Kurama walked up to me. "Do you know what today is?" he asked. I shook my head. "It's the fourth of July."
I laughed. "Already? Do we get to go visit them?"
Kurama nodded. "If you wish."
I threw a fist in the air happily. "Alright! So... let's go!" I stopped and looked around. "Umm... who's coming?"
Chew stood. "Well, I want to go to the beach." He said with a laugh.
"And I want to soar through the air there." Gin added. "If you don' make your eyes all glowy again."
Hiei glared at him. "That was only because she was very determined and feeling slightly threatened."
Kurama turned to me. "Will you allow this many to go?"
I shrugged. "It won't bother me and we won't be there for very long. I might stay a little after you guys go back though…" I didn't notice Hiei's sudden glare towards me.
"Do you have the address?" Yusuke asked, fingering the watch he was wearing.
"Just a second!" I called as I bounded away towards my laptop. I quickly opened up the email and looked through until I found one from my mom. It was asking me to come visit and it gave the exact location of the house. I turned to Yusuke as he came up behind me and pointed to the screen. "There it is."
He stared at it for a second as the others came up behind him. "I can't read English."
"Oh! Sorry…" I muttered before reading it for him. I grabbed my bag that held my extra clothes, slipped on a new, not torn up shirt, and then returned to the others. Yusuke set the destination on the watch and me, Hiei, Kurama, Kuwabara, Botan, Yukina, Chew, Rinku, Gin, Toya and Sesshoumaru all grabbed onto him somewhere. With a sudden flurry of wind we were gone and I barely resisted the urge to cling to someone.
We landed in the soft sand that lined the driveway and slowly walked forward with me in the lead. My ears twitched and I heard splashes and shouts from around the back so we went to the side. "Hello!" I called as I pushed through the gate.
Nick, Will, Megan and Jack were all in the pool. They froze and stared at the sight of me with my sword forgotten and still strapped to my side and everyone following behind. My mom charged and embraced me. "You're here!" She cried. "I wasn't sure if you'd be coming or not!"
I pulled away and looked around. My cousins, Kelly, Andrew, Katie and Mitchell, my aunts, Debbie and Diane, my uncles, David and Berry and my grandparents were all staring at me with open mouths.
I cringed under their gazes and felt my face turning red. "H-hello…" I stammered.
Aunt Diane walked over to me slowly. "Are those real?" she asked as she began to pull on my ears. They didn't come off so she pulled harder and I yelped, causing her to let go in surprise. "They are?" She exclaimed and the others came over as well and crowded around me.
"What happened?" Uncle David asked and Kurama stepped forward to save me.
"I'll tell you if you give her some space." He said as he ushered them all away from me.
I sighed gratefully as I turned to my mom. "I don't have any bathing suits with me and none of mine probably fit now…" I muttered.
"I'll take you to the store." My mom said as she turned to my dad. "I need the keys."
He laid his book down and stood slowly to begin to dig in his pocket. He pulled me over to his side and whispered. "Are you living with all those boys?"
I shook my head. "Four of them are visiting. I am with the others though I have my own room that I share with the silver haired one." Before my dad could protest I continued. "But he's my brother and he sleeps sitting against the wall kind of away from me."
My dad regarded me for a second and stared over at everyone I had brought before handing me the keys. "Be careful around them."
I nodded as I took them and returned to my mom. "Let's go." I said but Hiei stopped me.
"To where?" he muttered, narrowing his eyes.
"To the store. I don't have anything to swim in!" I said as we walked away. "See you in a bit!"
Everyone stood there as my family all stared at them. "Well, this is awkward…" Yusuke muttered.
My ears twitched and I laughed as I got in the car with my mom. She watched as I unbuckled my sword and set it in the seat behind me. "What's that?" She asked.
"This? It's the sword my demon father left me so long ago. He wanted to make sure I was always protected." I grew silent as my mom looked away from me.
We drove on without speaking until we came to a beach store. We got out of the car and I looked uncomfortably away as random people stared at me. We entered the store and wondered around some. We stopped by the wall of hoodies to look around and the owner of the store turned to us. "If you get a sweatshirt I'll give you a free print." We nodded and I picked out a plain grey hoodie to wear. I had a worn out looking print placed on the front of dolphins jumping through and it said Outer Banks on it. We got some t-shirts with similar designs for Nick and a neighbor who was watching our dogs only they didn't have dolphins on them. We also picked out a brightly colored shirt with a lighthouse on it and a beanie baby dog whose name was Huggins. His birth date was also the same as Jack so we had to get it.
Next we finally turned to the girl's swimsuits. I fingered a bikini nervously and my mom looked at me and laughed. "Are you trying to impress on of those boys?"
I rolled my eyes at her as I stuttered. "N-no!"
She chuckled. "Pick one out and try it on." I nodded and picked out an entirely ice blue colored one and headed into the changing room. I quickly slipped it on and beckoned my mom inside to look. "Very nice." She said. "And it doesn't show too much either."
I changed back and picked out one more that was a two-piece suit but still covered my stomach. Then we went to the front to buy everything before heading out the door.
Hopping back into the car I turned to my mom, feeling my face grow hot. "Do you know which one it is?" I muttered.
She nodded. "The short dark one."
I jumped. "Don't call him short!"
My mom laughed. "You're too tall for him Kira." She teased, sticking her tongue out at me.
I glared at her and shook my head. "No way! I can change my size!"
"Really?"
"I can shrink at least… I can't go past my natural height though." I grinned at her. "I can turn into a wolf too."
She jumped. "Really?"
I nodded. "I've only done it once though and I think it was because I was almost dead yet desperate to live."
I jerked forward as my mom slammed on the brakes. I yelled at her as she pulled over but stopped as she stared at me. "What happened?"
I hesitated at first, not wanting her to try to keep me from going back upon hearing the full story but broke down under her gaze. I told her everything that had happened since I first left the house. "Maybe I should write it down so I don't have to keep retelling it…" I ended and glanced over at my mom. She was staring horrorstruck at me. "I'm fine!" I yelled. "Look!" I held out my arm and scratched myself with a claw. I placed a hand over it and my eyes glowed green as it healed quickly up. "I can heal myself if I ever get hurt!"
My mom stared at me quietly before leaning into me and crying hard. I stared blankly over her shoulder until she finally stopped and started the car up again. We drove the rest of the way back to the house in silence.
As we pulled into the driveway I heard shouts of joy from the pool. Mom and me got out of the car with the bag of things and went through the house to the back. I stopped and laughed at the sight of Gin flying Jack around slowly in the air. Megan was jumping up and down shouting for her to be next over and over again. The others stood against the fence laughing as my relatives avoided them and started off inside.
"Hi guys!" I called as I waved to them. "I'm going to go change so I can swim some too." I took the bag from my mom and changed into the less revealing suit before coming back out. The first thing I did was make Chew, Rinku, Toya and Gin gather together with me for a quick picture to remember them with. Next I dived straight into the pool scaring Nick badly as I landed behind him. I stuck my head out of the water and laughed at him before swimming back and forth along the pool. Now it was just my family and the people I had brought left outside. "Let's go to the beach!" I shouted as I thrashed around some and grinned.
Gin grinned as well and I stared at him nervously. I dived under the water as he lunged at me but he still managed to grab me around the waist and I was pulled, thrashing, into the air. My dad stared open mouthed at me and I screamed as Gin soared off with me into the distance.
"What…was that?" my mom stammered as she watched us disappearing.
"He's trying to get rid of her fear of heights." Kurama explained as he chuckled to himself. "We should go meet them."
Without a word, my mom and dad, Nick, Will, Megan and Jack all followed the group towards the beach.
"Why do you keep doing this?" I screamed as I stared up at Gin.
He grinned as he looked down on me. "I just can' imagine anyone not wantin' to fly! I'm not stopping 'til you're over it!" He declared as he started doing loops. I nodded and held in my screams as people stared at us from below. Gin waited until he saw everyone else appear on the beach below before soaring towards them. He looked down at me. "Are you ready?"
I stared back. "For wha-" My words turned to screams as he released me and I fell towards the ground. I felt him zoom past me and placed my arms over my head as I my mom gasped below me. Suddenly my eyes widened and flashed bright red as I heard Gin come to a stop beside me. I closed my eyes tightly and felt myself slowing. Reopening them I looked around to find Gin staring at me. I gasped as I saw the flat neon green rectangle I was crouching on and I grinned at the faces peering shocked through it from below. I lowered myself slowly to the ground before standing shakily and coming to the group as Gin landed behind me laughing. I spun around and glared at him, my eyes turning red, though not glowing. "Why did you do that?" I yelled and he staggered back.
"I was goin' to catch you but you caught yourself first!" He explained quickly.
I glared at him for a second before collapsing into the sand and passing out. Everyone stared silently at me before Gin finally scooped me up in his arms. "She's tired herself out!"
"It was partly Hiei's fault." Kurama said and Hiei glared at him. "You never let her have any rest after your training and it's finally caught up with her." He added.
Hiei grunted as my dad walked hesitantly up to Gin. "What are you doing?"
"I'm takin' her to the house so she can rest." Gin said as he lifted slightly into the air. "Bye!" He said with a grin as he zoomed away with me.
Kurama turned to my family as the others started walking back as well. "You should stay here for a while. You were planning to swim right? By the time you come back we'll have her up and running again." He assured them as he caught up with the rest. My family stared after them until they were out of sight and then slowly obeyed and entered the water.
As my siblings played, my dad walked over to my mom. "I don't like how friendly those boys are with her." He muttered.
"Well don't you think it's about time she got herself a boyfriend?" My mom asked and my dad stared at her in surprise. "I'm sure it's bothering her." Mom continued. "As she's going through life her friends are meeting guys and getting together and breaking up and moving on and she's just stayed the same. I can tell she's longing for someone of her own. That constant smile is just a cover up… Jack, don't throw sand!"
Dad stared after her as she went to make Jack stop. "You're right but isn't it my job as a dad to make sure she doesn't get hurt?"
Mom looked up at him and smiled. "She's a teenage girl. She has to get hurt sometime, it's a part of life."
I woke up and looked around slowly. Sesshoumaru sat on the end of my bed having a glaring contest with Hiei who sat by my head and neither noticed I had awakened. I sat up slowly and both of them jumped. "What happened?" I muttered.
"You passed out." Hiei answered quickly.
I rubbed my pounding head. "Well, yeah, but from what?"
"Our training had tired you out and the last thing you made pushed you too far." Hiei responded again. He looked up as the door burst open and Kurama, Kuwabara, Yusuke, Chew, Rinku, Gin, Toya, Botan and Yukina all streamed in.
"Happy birthday!" Botan cried happily.
I stared at her. "What?"
"It's your birthday. You are now fifteen according to your human years." Kurama said.
"But!" I started. "That means that…"
Kurama nodded. "Six days have passed while you slept."
I stared at him for a second. "But there's no way I could've been that tired!"
"It's true you had three days off but right when you got back you battled Yusuke and then went straight into Hiei's lessons for a while. You never really got any rest during that time." Kurama explained and I nodded.
"Why did everyone stay?" I asked, staring mostly at Chew and the others.
"Well, we were worried about you too!" Chew answered with a laugh causing me to blush.
I looked up as Toya offered me a hand and tentatively took it. He pulled me to my feet. "You're family is waiting upstairs." He said and I nodded again as I followed him up three flights of stairs with everyone else trailing behind.
As I emerged into the family room area everyone stared at me as I made my way to my mom in the kitchen. "Hi…" I said quietly and she turned to me in surprise.
"You're awake!" She cried as she embraced me. "You've been out for so long!" Leading me to the table she forced me to sit down and placed a plate of pancakes in front of me. "I know you must be hungry." Thanking her I started to eat them slowly, feeling the eyes of relatives on my back.
I stood and put my plate in the sink, then turning to my mom I said, "I've been here for a while but I haven't done anything. What are we going to do today?"
"We were thinking of going out to the point and spending most of the day there."
"What's the point?"
"Two beaches that meet in a kind of point in the ocean."
I shrugged. "Ok, are we going?"
"Well, we have to get ready first!"
"Then let's get ready!" I stopped as my uncle David came up behind me and tapped me on the shoulder.
"Happy birthday!" He said and I laughed as I took the cards he offered.
"Thank you!" I cried as I took out the thirty dollars he gave me. I also admired the key chain, which had the Cape Hatterus lighthouse on it and said "Outer Banks" and my name. He told me it was for when I started driving.
Soon after my aunt Diane came over with Katie and gave me a card with twenty dollars. Next up was my grandmother who gave me a blown glass lighthouse and an Ocracoke Island t-shirt with horses on it. Grinning I thanked them all and went to help my mom pack a cooler.
As I was placing some drinks inside Kurama approached me with every else behind him. "We have decided to give you some alone time with your family for the rest of the days, however few they are."
I looked at them. "So… you're all leaving?"
"We're thinking of leaving one person to take you back when it's done but yes. Do you have any preference on who it should be?" Kurama asked. I blushed and quickly shook my head, causing him to laugh. "I thought so." He turned to the rest of the group and held his hand out to Yusuke who handed him the watch. He turned to Hiei and held it out. "Would you like to Hiei?" he asked.
Hiei glared at him but glanced at me and took it slowly. "Hn." Hiei muttered and Kurama smiled as he pulled another watch from his pocket and put it on. "Well, we're leaving now." He said. "Have fun!" Everyone grabbed onto him and Sesshoumaru did after much coaxing and finally Hiei and me were alone in the game room.
I blushed slightly as I finished filling the cooler and then asked him to help me bring it to the car. "Bring it yourself!" He muttered.
"But it's heavy for just one!" I cried as my eyes swirled blue.
"You're a demon aren't you?"
"Not totally…" I whimpered. Muttering under his breath, Hiei grabbed one handle while I took the other and we brought it down the steps to our car in the driveway. My dad showed us where to put it and we slid it into the back.
I turned to my dad as I noticed my cousins packing their car too. "Who alls coming?"
"Everyone I think." He answered.
"But what about Hiei?" I asked as I nodded towards him. He looked up at his name.
My dad shrugged. "What about him?"
"Where will he ride?"
"I don't know. Grandmother and Granddaddy will be riding with us so we don't have an extra seat."
"But-" Hiei stopped me as he walked over.
"I can provide my own ride." He muttered as he set a point on his watch. In a flash he was gone, leaving my dad to stare at where he had just been. We jumped back as Hiei suddenly reappeared, his hand resting on a pure black motorcycle.
Oh my God, I want to ride that thing! I thought as I stared at it.
Hiei looked at me. Really?
I jumped as I heard his answer in my head. Were you reading my thoughts?
He shook his head. I just had to know what you thought of it.
Why? He didn't respond so I asked something else. Can I ride it with you?
There was a minute of silence as he hesitated before I heard his voice in my head reply, if you really want to…
I turned happily to my dad. "I'm going to ride with him!" I cried.
My dad stared at me. "No you're not!"
My mom walked over. "Go ahead and let her. I used to!" She added with a laugh as she threw a bag into the car. Looking from me to my mom my dad finally gave in and I happily hugged him and then my mom.
"I'm going to change really quick…" I said as I reentered the house. I ran lightly up the steps and entered my parent's room. I found the less revealing swimsuit and put it on quickly, looking at myself in the mirror. It was a deep blue with black spaghetti straps and trim. Placing a t-shirt and some short shorts over it I ran back down the stairs, telling Nick to hurry up as I passed him in a hall.
He came after me as we made it back outside and he climbed in the car with my siblings and grandparents. I stuck my tongue out and grinned as he watched me approach the motorcycle. My dad glared out the window after me but I had my back turned and didn't notice. He rolled down the window. "Stay right behind us and don't get lost." He said to us.
"I don't get lost." Hiei muttered with a nod as he handed me a pure black helmet. I put it on slowly as he wore an identical one.
"Ok, we're going now." My dad called as he started backing out of the driveway. My uncle David started after him as Hiei got on the bike. I approached it slowly.
"Where do I sit?" I muttered, my face turning red.
Hiei sat down and turned to me. "Behind me."
I slowly obeyed and then asked, "What do I hang on to?"
"Me." Hiei responded as he started it. "Hurry, they're getting away."
I nodded and shrunk a bit before placing my arms around his waist hesitantly, expecting him to throw me off. Instead he rolled forward and swerved around the poles to turn around before heading down the driveway. Suddenly he hit the gas and with a startled cry I held him tighter. My face turned bright red and I again waited for him to knock me away but still he never did. He sped up and I felt my hair whipping around behind me in the wind. He began to slow down as he caught up to my Uncle.
We continued down the long straight road for twenty more minutes before I felt my head begin slipping. Without even realizing it I began resting it on Hiei's back and somehow fell asleep through the roaring of the engine.
I awoke later to someone shaking my shoulder and slowly opened my eyes. Hiei was twisted around staring at me and shaking me. I jumped up with my face bright red. "I'm sorry!" I cried.
"It's ok." Hiei muttered as he got off and I followed, looking around. We were in a parking lot. Across the street was a sandy road leading to the beach. I noticed my uncle's car empty beside us and walked to the other side of it where our car sat. I laughed as I saw everyone cramming inside. Inside the actual car were my grandparents, parents, Jack, Megan, my uncle and aunt and Andrew. The back was open and Kelly, Will and Nick sat with the net stretched across them that was meant to hold objects securely in place while in the back of the car.
Walking up to them I waved with a grin. "What are you doing?" I asked as my dad got out to make sure everyone was in the back ok.
"Trying to cram everyone in…" He muttered as he adjusted the net. "I don't know where you'll sit."
"We'll walk." Hiei said and I stared at him.
"We will?" He nodded and I looked at my dad who stared back. "I guess we are…" I sighed.
"The sand is really hot." My dad said.
"I know." I muttered, looking at my bare feet. "But I think I'll manage."
Suddenly my mom cried out. "The raccoons are coming!"
I ran to the front of the car and jumped as a raccoon came right up to me.
"Back away Kira! It could be rabid." My mom cried frantically.
I shook my head and sniffed. "I don't think so…" I crouched down as Hiei came up behind me and looked at the raccoon. It stared back at me and stepped a little closer. I held out my hand and it came and sniffed it before rubbing it with its head. "See? It's fine." I said before standing again.
My parents climbed back into the over crowded car and I walked up to the drivers door as my dad rolled down the window. "You're sure you're not going to pile in somehow?" I nodded and he shrugged. "Fine, just don't get left too far behind."
I laughed. "Don't worry, I won't."
I backed away as my dad turned the car around and entered the sandy road. The tires spun at first but he switched it to four-wheel drive and started off slowly. Hiei and me jogged up beside him and I waved. Slowly the car began speeding up and we followed, slipping in the sand with Kelly, Will and Nick all staring at us. Eventually we made it to our destination and parked the car. Hiei and me waited while everyone unloaded and I looked around. The water was pretty calm. To our right were two boys trying to surf and to the left were several people fishing. I waited for Nick and then turned to him. "I haven't touched ocean water since I got here. Will you go in with me?" he nodded and we started towards it before I suddenly turned towards Hiei. "What about you?"
"What about me?" He asked with a glare.
"You're wearing long pants and sleeves… How are you not dying?"
He shrugged. "I'm not weak like you."
"I'm not weak!" I cried as I turned towards the water with Nick again. Will and my dad joined us as we made our way into it. I dived down under the small waves and came up with my hair floating all around me in the water. "It's cold."
We swam around for a few hours as Hiei and some relatives watched from under the shelter we had set up. Finally we emerged from the water and got a snack. Jack got some pretzels from me and threw them to the seagulls, which were gathering. I turned to Hiei as I dug through the cooler. "Do you want a drink?"
He looked up at me. "I don't know."
"Well, here." I said as I tossed him a Sunkist. "That's the best kind!" I laughed as I got myself one too. He opened it slowly and took a drink as I watched him. "Do you like it?" I asked as I plopped down beside him on the blanket and opened my own.
"Yes." He muttered as he took another gulp. I shook my head slightly, spraying water on him. "Hey!" he cried as he glared at me.
"I'm sorry! I don't like being wet…" I muttered as I quickly chugged the rest of the can. Crumpling it up I went to Jack. "Do you want to touch one?" I asked, nodding towards the seagulls he was feeding.
"Yes!" Jack cried happily and I smiled at him.
Standing, I went to the gulls and stood with an arm extended. After a few seconds one was flying towards me and settled down slowly on my arm. Pulling it in closer, I stroked it's back. "Will you let some others pet you?" I whispered to it as I approached Jack slowly. "You have to be soft Jack. And move slowly."
He nodded and reached a hand towards the bird. It shied away from his touch but didn't leave so Jack was able to feel it. My mom came running over with the camera in hand and snapped a picture quickly. Nick, Will and Megan came over too and began petting the bird as well and I called to my mom. "Can you take a picture with my camera?" I held out the small camera and my mom took it and got a couple pictures with all five of us around the bird. Finally I extended my arm again and it flew away. "It needed a break from this overcrowding." I explained to the protesting siblings. "Now I'm drying off, who wants to get wet again?"
My dad called me over. "Want to fill up the raft?"
I jumped. "We brought it?"
He nodded as Akazu came over. "Ok!" he said and my dad filled it with air using the electric pump.
Holding it over my head I brought it into the water as Akazu, Naiku and my dad followed. I climbed in and waited as Nick and Will jumped in too.
"Kira, have you shrunk?" My dad suddenly cried out. "Nick is dwarfing you now!"
I nodded. "I can change my size and it felt weird riding behind Hiei while being so much taller…"
"So can you become really tall?" Nick asked but I shook my head.
"I can't go any taller than my natural height." I shrieked as a wave crashed over our heads but managed to stay inside the raft.
I laughed as Nick was washed out of it. He replied by trying to flip it every time a wave hit. He came dangerously close a couple times but never really got it. My mom came out soon and jumped in with me as Will got out. That's when we really did flip. As a waved knocked us almost sideways Nick, Will and my dad all jumped on the side together and the raft turned entirely over. I came up from the water, rubbing my eyes with my hair all over my face. Going back under to bring it behind myself I came up again laughing and jumped back inside before anyone else could. My dad released the raft and a wave hit me, bringing me to shore. I cried out as my butt collided with the shore and looked up to find one of the surfer guys staring at me. Blushing I slowly stood and walked away with the raft, feeling his eyes on me as my tail swished side to side.
Smiling, I approached my family again. "I'm taking a break." I said as I gave them the raft and sat back on the blanket by Hiei. I looked over at him and laughed.
He glared at me. "What?"
"You're all sweaty but you still won't get wet?"
He wiped his face. "No." I wagged my tail and he flinched as the water sprayed on him. "Stop it!" he cried and I did.
"Do you want another drink?" I asked finally and he gratefully accepted as I tossed one at him.
He stared at it. "What is this?"
"It's a code red mountain dew." I said. "It's another really good one." I got myself one and returned to his side.
A second later we were joined by Kelly and Andrew. "Are those real?" Kelly asked, pointed at my ears.
I nodded. "Didn't Kurama tell you?"
Andrew answered, "Yes but we don't know if we should believe some guy who looks so much like a girl."
"That's mean…" I muttered as Hiei glared sharply at him. "But everything he said is true. Kurama doesn't lie."
They stared at me for a second and then Kelly asked, "So you really have powers or something?"
I nodded. "Can you show us?" Andrew asked as my siblings and parents came over too.
I glanced at Hiei who just shrugged and stood. "Umm… back up a little." I murmured and they did. Holding out my hand like I was gripping something I thought again of a sword and one quickly rose up in my hand. My aunt and uncle and grandparents had come over to watch as well and everyone gasped. I blushed and let some people touch it quickly. "I want to try something new now…" I said as the sword sizzled into nothing. Closing my eyes and thinking hard, I held out my hands and felt something warm appear on them. When I reopened my eyes I saw a bow resting on them. Taking it in one hand and forming an arrow in the other, I placed the arrow in the bow and drew back the string, aiming far out over the ocean. I released it and everyone jumped back as it whizzed away. I blinked as I looked at it and the arrow exploded into bright neon green sparks over the water, illuminating the darkening sky. "That was cool." I said with a smile as I sat back down.
I blushed as everyone stared at me wordlessly. "Well," said my dad. "I think that can be a sign that it's getting late and we need to go. Everyone helped to pack up the car and they slowly drove away, leaving Hiei and me behind again. I sat down in the sand and stared out at the setting sun, reflecting in the water.
Hiei stood over me. "It's time to go."
I looked up at him. "I want to try to transform. I'm all wet."
"Into what?"
"That wolf." I replied as I closed my eyes tightly.
"They're going to leave us!" Hiei said but I shook my head, eyes still closed.
"They won't leave me." I lowered my head and pictured the wolf clearly in my head. It had the pure black fur and neon green scattered throughout it. A blue crescent moon rested on its forehead and two red streaks were under the left eye on the cheek. The golden locket still hung around its neck. I gasped as I began to glow and heard Hiei step back but I kept the picture in my mind. Feeling my body changing I began to open my eyes again and looked down. Instead of a cry a yelp escaped my mouth and I knew it had worked. I looked up at Hiei and cocked my head as I stared at him. My back was level with his waist.
He stared back at me. "Now how will you ride?"
I walked over to him and pressed my still wet head against his leg. Back away or you'll get wet, I thought and he did. I shook my entire body from nose to tail until the water fell away and then looked up again with as close to a grin as a wolf can get. I sniffed the air and looked over to find the same surfer boy staring at me again. I whimpered slightly and backed behind Hiei's legs, peering around him at the boy. Let's go. I thought as Hiei and me turned to leave. I ran circles around him happily as he walked calmly through all the staring people.
Someone approached Hiei, walking a dog of their own. "How did you get all those markings on your dog?" he asked and Hiei glared at him.
"She's not a dog." He muttered before walking away. I stared at the boy before running after Hiei. He looked down at me. "We're taking too long, ready to run?"
I nodded and he took off with me on his heels. We ran all the way back to the parking lot before walking calmly across the street the last few feet. As we approached the car my mom looked up. "Where's Kira?"
Hiei pointed to me and my mom gasped as she came over. "Are you really?" She asked as she scratched behind my ears.
I cocked my head and looked at her before lightly nodding my head, something dogs don't normally do. She gasped again as more relatives came over. Kelly stopped short and stared. "What is that?"
"A wolf." Hiei answered simply and she stared at him.
"It's Kira." My mom added as she turned back to Hiei. "How does she do this?"
Hiei shrugged. "We just taught her to use the energy she showed off earlier. This comes with her being a demon, she can naturally do it."
I barked and wagged my tail as my siblings came over to pet me. Suddenly I stood and rested my head on Hiei's leg again. I'm changing back now… I thought as he nodded. I backed away some more and closed my green eyes. I thought clearly of my normal demon form and slowly began to change. I looked up and smiled at everyone. "Wasn't that cool?" I asked happily as they stared.
As everyone recovered they piled into their own cars and we started home, with me on the motorcycle behind Hiei again. My family and grandparents stopped at a seafood place for my birthday and I had fried shrimp, laughing at Hiei who took it offensively. "I always have this, nothing new." I assured him while trying to get the otherpeoplein the resturauntto stop staring at my ears and tail.
We finished fairly quick and then started back to the beach house again. It was around nine o'clock so I made Hiei come down to the game room with Ncik and me. Soon Yu Yu Hakusho came on and I asked Hiei, "Did things really happen this way in real life?"
He watched it closely. "Yes, some demon must be sneaking through and telling of what goes on with us…"
I laughed. "Well, I'm glad." Hiei glared at me so I continued. "Well, even before I knew it was real it was still one of my favorite shows."
We watched the TV until around two in the morning and Hiei got to see some of the things that Inuyasha and the others went through before he met them. I got him to admit that they weren't as weak as he thought before I left to go to bed. I watched him go outside to sleep and started to feel sorry for him as I headed to my parents room. I slid onto the air mattress with Jack and tried to sleep but ended up just lying there for a couple hours. Finally I stood and walked silently downstairs past where Nick was sleeping and out the door to the pool. I saw Hiei dozing on a chair and came up behind him slowly. "Hi." I muttered and he jumped as he turned around.
"What are you doing?"
I shrugged. "Couldn't sleep. Why are you doing out here?"
"Sleeping." He said, a little annoyed at me.
"Oh." I pulled a chair over beside him and sat down, pulling my knees to my chest. I leaned my head on them and closed my eyes and was out within minutes.
Hiei leaned back and looked over at me, my blank face looking towards him with closed eyes. He stared at me for a while before turning away again with red forming at his cheeks. He shifted uncomfortably before finally falling asleep himself.
My dad came storming down to the pool the next day and grabbed my arm, shaking me awake. "What are you doing out here? With him!" He screamed and I flinched away.
"I couldn't sleep and I felt bad for him-" I tried to explain but my dad cut me off.
"I don't want to hear your excuses!" He yelled and I turned away, my eyes swirling blue.
In his haste to get to me, my dad had knocked Hiei's chair over. This resulted in Hiei falling out of it and landing with a splash in the pool. A series of loud splashes were heard but then suddenly stopped and I looked over to find him drifting under the water. With a cry of alarm I sprang from the chair, causing my dad to fall over backwards, and dived into the pool. I grabbed Hiei around the waist and pulled him up after me and leapt out of the water, laying him on the side. I stared at him and then looked up at my dad with a glare. "This is your fault! What do I do?" I screamed but he just stared blankly back. I poked Hiei in the stomach with a finger and he suddenly sat up and rolled over, coughing up water.
As soon as he stopped he glared at my dad with pure hatred and stood slowly. He held out his hand and a purple fireball appeared in it. "Stop!" I screamed as he threw it at my dad. I waved my hand to the side and a little shield appeared in front of my dad causing the fireball to sizzle into nothing as it hit. I darted to Hiei's side and clung to his raised arm with pleading eyes. He stared at me for a second before turning his back to my dad and I breathed a sigh of relief. "Go away!" I screamed at my dad and he rose and took off into the house.
Hiei sat and I plopped down beside him. He glared at me and yelled, "Why did you stop me?"
I stared back at him. "That's my dad!"
"No it's not!"
"It's the only one I know! And if you can't swim then why were you sitting by the deep end?"
Instead of answering he just blamed me. "It's your fault! If you hadn't come outside then he wouldn't have pushed me in!"
I stared at him sadly, the water still dripping off my face and my eyes swirling dark blue. "You're right…" I muttered as I stood. "Today's the last day here so I'm going to say goodbye to everyone and then we can return…" I trudged slowly away but Hiei caught my arm.
I had shrunk myself again so I stared back into his eyes and he into mine. "Thanks…" He muttered before turning quickly and hopping the fence towards the cars.
I stared after him for a while before returning to the house and going inside. It took a while but I finally found everyone and bid them all goodbye with a hug. Next I found my bag and gathered up my things and sword. Then returning outside I spied Hiei leaning against his bike and tentatively grabbed his arm. With a last wave towards my mom who had come to watch, the motorcycle and we disappeared within a sudden swirling wind.
She turned towards my dad who was still complaining to her. "That boy tried to kill me!"
"But he didn't," was my mom's reply.
"No, but only because Kira made a shield with her energy!"
"Well, they're gone now. You just missed them."
My dad clenched his fists and stared out the window at where we had just been. "She's going to get herself killed." He muttered to himself.
