Once again, I found myself falling from the sky. Forcing my eyes open, I saw that it was a small forest with a stone path running through it that lay right below. "Akumei…?" I whispered, feeling his arm around my shoulder. Well, he's taking the aftermath of the transportation, so I'll have to handle the landing. I shut my eyes tight, flipping my body around so I was on bottom. I couldn't manage to have my feet going first and when I hit ground, I slammed hard into my right shoulder. I gasped at the pain as I felt something jerk out of place and tears instantly sprang to my eyes. Then, to make things worse, Akumei's body hit hard on top of mine. "Owww…" I whimpered loudly, freezing as I felt someone close by.
I glanced over and saw a boy staring at us in shock. An orange and white bandana covered his black hair and he wore a blue and white jacket that had a name on it: Kaidoh Kaoru. "What the…?" He started.
"It's-" I cut myself off with a gasp of pain as I tried to sit up to face him. My arms were still bound by whatever the hollow had thrown at me so I couldn't raise a hand to feel my shoulder. It had jerked downward so the bonds were digging into the cut on my arm.
"Hey, are you ok…?" Kaidoh asked, inching closer. "What's that on you?"
I pulled myself out from under Akumei and to my knees, bending low forward and wincing with both eyes clamped tightly shut. All I could manage was one quick shake of my head.
Kaidoh approached and knelt in front of me. He tapped my shoulder, wincing himself as I cried out. "It's at a weird angle… You might have dislocated it. Your arm is bleeding too." He said.
I jumped as I felt him pulling me to my feet. I started to fall over so he had to hold me steady. "Where… are we going?"
"The hospital." He replied, blushing.
"I don't think that's a very good idea…" I murmured. "And what about him…?" I added, indicating Akumei who was still lying unconscious on the ground.
"Why not…?" Kaidoh asked, shooting Akumei a glare.
"Well because…" I cut myself off, staring around as I just realized something. "Hey, it's the middle of the day!"
"Yeah, so…?"
"Well I should be back to normal…!" My voice faltered as I began to glow but this time I welcomed the transformation, even though it hurt so much that I fell to my knees again. Kaidoh had let go in surprise and was backing away. The silver hair turned black again and the claws and fangs sprang out to their proper length. The ears and tail popped back out and the markings took their rightful places on my cheek and forehead. I sighed, head bowed. "This is why. Imagine what would happen if I was discovered!" I glanced over at Kaidoh who was inching ever further away. "Please don't leave! I need help…" I whimpered.
Slowly he half crawled back to my side, helping as I struggled to sit up. "What… are you…?"
I sighed quietly. "You have to promise not to leave." He nodded and I went on. "I'm… a wolf demon though part dog demon and part human as well."
He stared at me for a moment as if deciding whether to believe me or not and ended up tugging lightly on one of my ears. I sat still and just allowed it. Finally he nodded again. "What did this?" He was referring to my condition.
"I was attacked by a kind of monster." I smiled, not expecting him to believe this as easily. "I've been switching worlds trying to return home after being sent from my own. I was attacked and then brought here before I healed. Hold on, I have to try something to get this junk off." I closed my eyes and my body began to glow again. Slowly my shape changed, shrinking, and when the light cleared, I was in my wolf form. I yelped loudly as I collapsed from the dislocated leg and returned to normal almost instantly. "That didn't work. The crap shrunk with me and dug in deeper!" I cried. "But when I changed back it shifted so it isn't digging into the cut anymoreat least." I sighed in relief. It wasn't hurting nearly as bad now. I tried to heal myself but couldn't summon any energy.
"Alright…" He started, fumbling with the bottom of his shirt.
"Stop…!" I cried as I realized he was about to tear a piece off. "Go ahead and use my sleeve. It's already torn anyway."
"Sssss…" I stared as he hissed but kept myself quiet. He nodded and reached over, blushing as he grabbed my sleeve and tore from the shoulder down, revealing my arm and the cut. "It's deep…" He muttered as he wrapped the rag awkwardly around it. I could tell he was not used to bandaging cuts but greatly appreciated the fact that he was trying.
"Thanks." I smiled, holding in a laugh, as he blushed slightly deeper.
"We have to find someone who can do it better. They should still be at the courts if we hurry."
"Wait, what? I can't go anywhere like this. People will see me and freak out! Reporters will come!"
I flinched back as he hissed again and gave me a withering glare, watching in surprise as he took my unhurt arm and gently pulled me to my feet. Next, he took off the jacket and draped it around my shoulders, pulling it almost closed to hide my injured arm and the stuff that bound me. It also happened to cover the sword. He crouched down and took my tail, causing me to jump, and wound it around my waist, sticking the end into a wide belt loop. That way it would not swing loose. I think I had done it before myself actually. He stood and looked me over. "Oh, your ears…" He murmured, taking his bandana off and tying it on my head instead.
During this, his face had been steadily growing redder and scarier. By now, he was dangerously close to crimson and he looked like he was ready to kill someone. I felt my own face had turned red as well but it was nothing compared to his.
I smiled gratefully at him anyway. "Thank you…"
He stared at the ground, hissing again as he crossed to Akumei and jerked him up, placing his arm around his own shoulder. "Come on." He said shortly and began walking down the stone path to head out of the forest. I quickly followed, slowed somewhat by my arms having been clamped to my sides.
As we made our way down the streets, both of us were aware of the comments made. "Is that Kaidoh?" "What's he doing with a girl?" "Who is she?" "I'm jealous… Lucky snake…" "He's letting her wear his bandana!" "No fair!" "His jacket too…?" "And… why's he carrying a guy?" His face was darkening red because of the sudden attention he was unused to getting and mine from nervousness of being found out. Gradually our pace quickened until we were both almost running. It looked almost funny seeing him going with Akumei's arm slung around his shoulder but then I realized how strange I must have looked as well, with both arms tied by my sides as I trotted to keep up.
Finally, we found ourselves at a school. He quickly pulled me past staring spectators and around to several tennis courts, each full of people. As we made our way to the one containing the least amount of people, we became quickly aware that all activity had ceased and all eyes were on us.
As we stepped onto the court, a boy with brown hair and glasses approached us. "I thought you were going on a short run. Who are they?" He added, indicating Akumei and me.
"I found them in the woods. She's hurt and needs help and this guy is just unconscious."
The boy stared at me, following my nervous gaze towards all of the boys who were pretending to practice but stealing were glances instead. "Practice is over for the day. Everyone go home!" He bellowed suddenly.
I jumped and then turned to him. "No, you don't have to stop everyone on my account!"
Instead of speaking, he walked over to a courtside bench and stood in front of it. Kaidoh nudged me forward, the boy made me sit, and Akumei was propped up beside me. "Oishi!"
Another came trotting over from a group of huddled boys, the only ones left. "Yes…?" He asked, looking down at me. The group followed and soon I was surrounded by curious faces. I stared nervously down at my lap. "What is it Tezuka?" Oishi continued.
Tezuka, the boy with glasses, nodded towards Kaidoh. "He says he found her injured."
"Injured? Can I have a look then?" Oishi asked me. "Oh, and what is your name?"
"Kira…!" Before I could react further than just speaking, he had pulled the jacket from my shoulders. There was an immediate chorus of startled cries and I flinched helplessly away from them. "What… is that?" Someone asked, a boy with spiky black hair, as he began to poke the sticky bonds that held me.
"Momo, stop that. It's rude." A boy with somewhat shaggy brown hair scolded. His name was Fuji. "Though I was wondering the same thing…" He added as an afterthought.
Then another boy with hair slightly shorter than Momo's and glasses made a new discovery, my sword. I swung my feet up onto the bench and rested my side against the back to keep anyone from touching the handle and hurting themselves. "Is it what it looks like?" Inui, the boy, asked. "A sword…?"
Wordlessly I nodded, jumping as I realized he was writing down everything he saw about me. "Wait, don't write this down!"
"I have to for the sake of my data collecting. This is all very interesting…" He replied before taking more notes.
"A real sword…? Why would you be carrying a sword around?" A boy with reddish hair that curled at the ends asked. He had a white bandage on his right cheek, just for show, and his name was Kikumaru. "Nya…? What's this?" He continued, leaning behind me with wide eyes. "A tail…!" He shouted, grabbing it.
"Aiyaa! What are you doing?" I screamed, snatching it away from him. "That hurt…!"
"It's… not fake?" Kikumaru asked in shock. "Then what are those two bulges under the bandana?" I couldn't raise my arms so it was easy for him to snatch it away, allowing the two black wolf ears to pop back up. His face lit up with pure glee as he went about pulling, poking and rubbing them both.
I was able to do nothing to resist besides wriggle around as they all took turns messing with them but finally I couldn't take it any longer. "Will you all just back off?" I shouted and they all stumbled away in surprise.
Tezuka, however, remained rooted in place. "You need to talk with more respect to your elders."
"What?" I cried. "You're not my elders! I'm older than all of you!" I froze as they all stared wordlessly. "What… you don't believe me?" It was then I realized that I had shrunk in size to enable Kaidoh to disguise me easier. Closing my eyes, I was back at my regular height instantly, taller than any of the surrounding boys.
"What school do you go to? I haven't seen you around before and I think I would've remembered if I had." Momo asked, after a short pause in which he realized I had grown suddenlytaller.
"I go to school in the United States. I'm going to start eleventh grade after summer vacation and I'm sixteen, making me older than each of you!"
"We're sorry Kira-senpai." A boy with spiky brown hair, Kawamura, said timidly.
"The States? What are you doing here? And what did you do to get yourself in this condition?"
"Well first off…" I began. "I don't mind if you just call me Kira." I smiled and continued. "Second, yes I live in America to attend school and you can ask Kaidoh about what happened."
Kaidoh jumped as he found everyone staring at him. "No, you can tell it yourself." He hissed.
I frowned. "Umm, ok then… You're not going to believe me but I'm a demon, part human as well, who was sent from my world with him." I paused, nudging Akumei. "I've been switching between worlds trying to get back and at the last one I was attacked and didn't have time to get fixed up before I was sent away and ended up here. Now I am asking for your help because my arm and shoulder really hurt. Kaidoh said it may be dislocated and the arm is just cut deeply."
There was a long pause of stunned silence before Oishi kneeled in front of me. I was turned so my injured side was facing out and the ok side resting against the back of the bench so it was easy for him to work. He laughed, unwrapping my bandage. "Looks like someone tied up your wound with your torn sleeve?"
I nodded, smiling through my winces. "Kaidoh." I saw him walk slightly away, blushing, out of the corner of my eye.
Oishi only laughed. "Well it served its purpose." Fuji handed him a first aid kit and he pulled out the proper bandages to rewrap my arm. Once done he noticed my face. "Oh! If it was hurting you that much you should have said something!"
"I'm fine." I muttered through clenched teeth. "This is nothing..."
"Nya, she's as tough as our baby boy here!" Kikumaru cried out, throwing his arm around the smallest boy there. He looked like just a kid. He grunted and knocked Kikumaru away, crossing his arms.
"Oh yeah, when Echizen hurt his eye during that match and kept going!" Momo recalled aloud.
They quieted as Oishi spoke to me again. "Ok, are you ready? I'm going to pop your shoulder back into place." I nodded and gritted my teeth as he set one hand on my shoulder and the other on my upper arm. He jerked them together and with a loud crack, it fit back into place. I gasped out at the pain, seeing Kawamura appearing to almost faint but Momo kept him up. "There, all better." Oishi smiled. "I'm impressed at how well you handled it. Now be gentle to start-"
His voice faltered as he saw me already on my feet, both eyes closed in concentration. Everyone stared but I blocked them out as I started pushing my arms away from my sides. "Ow…" I whimpered quietly.
"Hey, I said to take it easy!" Oishi shouted.
Instead, I just strained harder. "Ow, ow, ow…" I continued in a high pitched yelp as the sticky bonds began stretching out.
"Don't know about you guys, but I'm going to help." Momo declared as he went to my side and grabbed hold of the junk. He gritted his teeth as he began pulling as hard at he could. "Hey." He gasped. "Someone hand Kawamura a racket!"
"But…" The timid voice suddenly burst into shouts as the racket was inserted into his hand. "Come on baby!" He shouted, crossing towards us as well. "Burning!" He stood behind me, as Momo stood in front, and grabbed hold as well, also pulling. Everyone else just started in quiet shock. There was a strange noise as the stuff began to strain and suddenly came apart with a loud snap. All three of us toppled over, landing in a heap on the ground.
The tennis racket clattered to the ground and Kawamura's face turned bright red. "Oh, I'm sorry Kira-senpai!" He cried, jerking himself free and pulling me up as well. Momo was left to gather himself up.
"Thanks." I laughed. "And just Kira is fine." I began stretching out my arms, in front of me and behind my back, and high into the air. "Yeah, this is much better." I turned to the group who was staring at me. "You guys might want to back up a bit." I said with a small smirk. "Gotta test out my arms again." They scurried back as a group as I drew my sword. I dipped the end under the restraints we had just removed, which now looked like simple rope. Tossing it into the air, I swung downward once, splitting it down the middle along its length. I sheathed my sword and snagged one half in each hand, letting out a little spirit energy that was suddenly reachable again. The ends caught fire and disappeared completely in puffs of smoke. I sheathed the sword and turned around, flashing a victory sign to the group of shocked guys. How can I not show off...? They are all so cute! I thought to myself with a grin. They are younger than me though... I continued, hidingaslight pout."How was that? Oh, and before I forget…" I placed my hand on the cut on my arm. It glowed green for a second and then I removed it, pulling off the bandage along with the hand. "Oishi, you're a miracle worker." I teased.
"But I just… It was still bleeding!" He stammered in shock.
I grinned. "Just a little skill of mine." There was an awkward silence, which I broke hesitantly. "Umm… Anyone want to show me how to play tennis?" I asked quietly.
"Err, have you played anything like it before?" Fuji asked.
"I've done soccer, basketball and softball… Any of those count…?" I laughed nervously.
"No, not really…"
"I will teach you!" Momo cried, stepping forward. He left the group and picked up a spare racket, then returned to my side. He placed it in my hands and took my shoulders, leading me to one of the courts. "Stand there." He instructed. I nodded and watched as he picked up his own racket and stood on the court opposite me. "Ready?" He called, tossing a tennis ball in his hand.
"Yes!" I called, gripping the racket tightly.
"Alright…" He started as he tossed the ball into the air. "Here…!" He slammed it at me and I acted out of instinct, swinging and batting it back.
"I hit it!" I cried excitedly, jumping for it as the ball came back to me. "I got it again!"
Momo laughed. "Ok, I can see you are kind of a natural. Try this then!" He swung with both arms, slamming the ball to the corner away from me as he spoke.
"Ah!" I started in surprise as I leapt towards it, bare feet sliding across the ground as I managed to tap it back towards him in the air.
"She got to it…!" I heard the others whispering in shock.
"Not bad, but you've set it up perfectly!" Momo cried. I stared wide eyed as he leapt high into the air close to the net after the ball that I had weakly hit back to him. "Dunk smash!" He screamed as he slammed it downwards.
"Tch…" I muttered as I leapt towards it again, caught off guard by the ball's sudden increase in speed. Somehow, I got beside the ball and swung with both hands, sending it flying back towards him. Frantically he held his racket in front of him. The ball hit and bounced off back onto his half of the court. He stared from it to me, blinking in confusion. "How… did you do that?"
I shrugged, smiling nervously. "I don't know… Beginners luck?"
"I want to play her!" Kikumaru shouted, almost bouncing in excitement.
"But that was luck!" I protested.
"No way…" He persisted, pushing Momo out of the way. "Ready? Go!" He served the ball before I had a chance to reply. With a startled cry, I ran for it, swatting it back over the net to him. He ran to it, hitting to the corner furthest away from me. I got to it without much trouble and knocked it back to him again. "Hoi hoi!" He shouted, hitting it much harder than before.
"Ah!" I cried, taken off guard. It was just out of reach. Without even thinking, I tossed the racket to my left hand and slammed it back to him once more. "What's… wrong…?" I blinked as he just stared at me, letting it go by. I turned and saw the others all staring as well. "What?"
"Nitouryuu…" Inui murmured, taking more notes.
"What's Nitouryuu?" I asked them, returning to the group, with Kikumaru right behind me.
"Nitouryuu is when you can switch hands and hit with both." Inui explained.
"But I can't do that!" I protested, voice faltering as Fuji pointed to the racket I was now clutching in my left hand.
"Didn't you start with it in your right hand?" He asked with an amused smile on his face.
"Oh…" I nodded, laughing uneasily. "I must've done it out of instinct…"
"Lets see…" Inui said, almost to himself. "She's extremely fast, strong enough to return Momo's dunk smash, acts upon instinct to return difficult shots…"
I blushed, scratching the back of my head. "Beginners luck…"
"…modest…" Inui added to his list. "Hey, are you thirsty?"
I nodded. "Yeah…" I said hesitantly, taking the glass Inui handed to me. It was full of an almost puke green colored liquid that seemed to have a sludgy texture. I sniffed it warily. "Gross… it stinks! What is this?"
"Just try it." Inui said eagerly.
"I wouldn't…" Momo warned.
"Oh, it's not that bad." Fuji smiled.
"What are you talking about?" Kikumaru screamed at him.
Everyone turned to see me gulping down the contents with both eyes closed. Wordlessly and with eyes still tightly shut, I handed Inui the cup and wiped the back of my wrist across my mouth. I kept it held there as I felt it trying to come back up. Suddenly my eyes flew wide and my other hand flew to my stomach. "Oh crap!" I shouted, gagging right after.
Kikumaru grabbed my wrist and led me away where I collapsed and threw up once. "Disgusting…" I muttered, wiping my mouth and climbing back to my feet. He brought me to wash my face and hands and then we returned to the group. "That is some nasty shit you got there." I said, with a forced smile as I spoke through clenched teeth.
"You're… already over it?" Inui asked in surprise.
"Yes… you expected me to be out longer? Well that was nice…" I gagged again. "Ugh, trying to kill me!" I glared at him as he took more notes and stuck out my tongue, trying to rid myself of the aftertaste.
"Here." I caught the water bottle as it came flying at me and drank without hesitation, looking afterwards to see the name written on it: Kaidoh.
I smiled as I handed it back to him. "Thanks."
"Ssss…" He hissed as he took it and turned away again.
"Well… now what?" I grinned.
"I know!" Momo almost shouted. "You can come shopping with me and Echizen! We have to go anyway."
"Umm… ok?" I laughed. "But what about my appearance?" Wordlessly Kaidoh walked behind me and tied the bandana back onto my head. I laughed and thanked him, smiling as he blushed and moved away. I tucked my tail back into a belt loop and looked up. "I guess I'm ready… Oh! Is it ok to leave Akumei with you guys?" I asked the group. Akumei was still passed out on the bench.
Oishi nodded. "Yes, we'll take care of him."
"Thanks!" I called as Momo was already pulling me away. He, Echizen and I were out of view before I finished speaking. "What's the big hurry?" I asked, a little annoyed.
"Oh, no rush. I just want to make sure we get to the store quick enough that they'll still have the things we need in stock. Don't want a repeat of last time, do we Echizen?"
The boy just closed his eyes and kept walking. "Not much of a talker are you?" I laughed.
He stopped and turned to stare at me. "What exactly are you? Ow!" He asked, yelling right after as Momo hit him across the head.
"Well that's really rude!" He shouted.
"I know you're wondering too!" Echizen yelled back.
"Wondering what?" I jumped and spun around as the voice came from behind me. There was a boy with brown hair that covered one eye with another who had shoulder length purple hair standing slightly behind him. "Didn't mean to scare you…" The brown haired one laughed.
"Oh, it's all right." I smiled.
"Kamio, what are you doing here?" Momo shouted, getting defensive.
"Just walking through town. What about yourselves?" Kamio asked.
"And did you just ask this girl what she was?" The purple haired boy, Ibu, added.
"Well it's a reasonable question." Echizen pointed out.
"Hush!" I cried, turning towards the new pair. "He doesn't know what he's talking about…"
"Why don't you show them what's under the bandana?" Echizen smirked.
I shot him a glare as Kamio stared at me. "Hey… isn't that the snake's bandana?"
"Yeah, he let her borrow it." Momo replied. "So cute!"
"Ugh, shut up!" I cried in embarrassment.
"The snake? Being nice to a girl? No way…" Kamio scoffed.
"What are those bulges?"Ibu asked.
"W-what bulges?" I stammered, bringing a hand instinctively to my head.
"You obviously know they're there."Ibu pointed out, reaching for the bandana. I shrank away but Kamio jumped behind me and pulled at it. We had a short tug o war before it finally slipped from my fingers and they both stared for a moment. "Then I suppose this is your tail?"Ibu asked, pulling at the fur around my waist so it fell from the belt loop. "Ah, I wasn't being serious. Are they real…?" I nodded reluctantly.
"Now I want to know what you are too…" Kamio murmured.
I sighed, bowing my head slightly. "Mostly wolf demon with human and dog demon mixed in as well…" All four froze and stared and I felt my face turning red. "What…!" I shouted defensively, pulling the bandana back and replacing it on my head.
"A demon, huh?" Kamio smirked.
"Don't make fun when she could kick your ass in a foot race." Momo bragged.
"Quiet, don't say that!" I pleaded.
"Oh, she could?" Kamio asked, raising an eyebrow. "Well, lucky for you I'm in my rhythm! Let's have a race, right here, right now."
"Go get him Kira!" Momo urged, pushing me forward.
Kamio stood with his arms crossed confidently. "Ready?"
"I guess… where are we racing to?" I asked.
He laughed. "Just try to keep up and you'll see for yourself."
I frowned at him and got ready to bolt forward as heprepared also,right beside me. Suddenly I wanted to beat him to knock him down a few notches. He was too cocky! "Go!" Momo shouted and Kamio took off with me right on his heels.
He looked over his shoulder, expecting me to be far behind but instead I was right there with him. His eyes widened and he increased his pace. I grinned and pulled up even with him. "Is this the best you can do?" I asked, sticking out my tongue.
"N-no!" He stammered and sped up once more but I easily kept with him.
"Don't try to best a demon who's already naturally this fast. Plus I've undergone intense training to increase my speed further." I pointed out to him. He stared at me for a second and then stopped suddenly. I jumped and froze as well, sliding forward a bit on the pavement and then backing up to stand beside him again. "What's wrong?"
"I give up. You're obviously much faster than I am and there's no point in tiring ourselves out."
"Oh… alright then." I smiled. "But you are extremely fast for a human."
"Thanks." He replied with a laugh.
We both looked up as Ibu, Momo and Echizen came sprinting up the road after us. "What? Why have you stopped already?" Momo asked in confusion.
"I gave up." Kamio said bluntly.
"What? Why Kamio?"Ibu asked, voice somehow constantly void of all emotion.
He just laughed again. "Well you can see I'm already starting to breathe heavily and she's still perfectly fine. Well, we'll see you later." Both Kamio andIbu turned to leave.
"Wait!" I called them back. "You have to let me take your picture, preferably with me in it as well."
"Why…?" Kamio asked untrustingly.
"I'm keeping track of all the people I meet and now you two are now included in that." I grinned. Eventually I got each of them to agree and I stood in between them while Momo snapped the picture. "Thanks!" I cried as the two walked off, waving as they went.
Once they were gone, Momo turned on me. "Hey, don't you want a picture of me?"
I nodded. "Yes, but with the rest of your team as well."
With Momo satisfied by my answer, he, Echizen and I went to the store to pick up some tennis gear and then hurried back to the courts. We had already wasted enough time with the short meeting and race.
"Wow… they're so good!" I cried as we returned with the boys in sight. They were practicing vigorously and rarely made any mistakes that I could see. We walked up quietly and I sat with the newly bought goods on the bench where Akumei still slept while Momo and Echizen joined the others.
After a couple hours of watching their monotonous play, I began to feel weary and eventually drifted off into sleep. My dreams were very troubled. In them I was running, being chased by something I could not see. Then I realized I wasn't running but flying instead! I pictured it perfectly, the wings emerging from my back and them spread high above me, flapping once downward every now and then to propel myself forward. Then suddenly it was upon me! I couldn't see it but I felt it tearing at my back, pulling on the wings, ripping them out! I started screaming.
"Kira…? Kira-senpai! Wake up!"
"Wha…?" I moaned, slowly removing my hands from my face. I saw Oishi's worried face peering into my now gray eyes.
"Are you ok?" He asked.
"What happened?" I whimpered, wiping the tears from my eyes.
"You were screaming. I think you may have been having a nightmare." Fuji informed me.
"A nightmare? What happened to make you freak out like that?" Kikumaru asked.
"Something was chasing me… Then it caught me and started clawing my back…" I shivered from the image and immediately yelped in pain.
"What happened?" Momo cried.
"I don't know…!" My voice trailed off as I realized what had happened. Slowly I leaned forward and the huge feathery black wings spread out on either side of me, confirming my fears. When I had pictured it in my dream, they had come out in real life. "My wings came out…" I murmured. Wincing, I climbed to my feet, causing the group of boys gathered around me to scramble backwards. I clenched my fist as droplets of blood fell from my back to spatter on the ground below.
"You have wings…? But how?"
"During a fight with a demon… I inhaled some gas he made and the result was my getting wings." I sighed. "Though it still hurts me to withdraw and release them…" my eyes closed and I fell forward but someone caught me and held me up. "It takes a lot of energy as well…" I whispered. "To make them come out…"
"Kaidoh, lie her on her stomach and I'll bandage her back." Oishi ordered. Slowly I was lowered to the ground and Oishi sat on his knees beside me, first aid kit in hand once more. He lifted my shirt in the back and went about bandaging around my shoulder blades but the wings made it difficult for him. "Well, it's not the prettiest job but it should stop the bleeding soon. You're not going to simply heal yourself again after all my hard work, are you?"
"I don't think so…" I murmured, pushing myself up to sit on my knees.
"Are you usually plagued by this much trouble?" Fuji asked.
I shook my head. "No, usually it's worse. I don't know how many times I've been cut, stabbed, shot, kidnapped, or captured…" I muttered, face grim.
"Wow…" Kawamura gasped with wide eyes. "It's tough being a demon!"
"Not really… I think it's just me." I said darkly.
I stood, wobbling slightly, and started back towards the bench where Akumei sat. I stumbled and was immediately caught by Fuji, who was the nearest at the time. "You need to take it easy… wait, are you ok?" He asked, looking at me closer.
I whimpered, sinking to my knees again and supporting myself with my arms. "I bring trouble wherever I go to whoever I meet! Sometimes I don't think it's worth going on anymore…" Big tears dropped to splatter on my clenched hands and I lowered my head to try to hide my face. "Tezuka had to stop practice and Akumei's too tired to do anything other than sleep just because he's trying to spare me anymore pain. Every time I can't defend myself, someone else steps in to help and gets hurt themselves. I-I can't do this anymore!" I was sobbing openly now, on my knees, forehead pressed to the pavement with my clenched fists on each side. The bandages on my back were already soaked crimson with blood and that just added to my pain. "I can't do this…"
Someone kneeled in front of me and lifted my head gently so I was forced to look at them. It was Oishi again. "It's alright, don't even think such things." He smiled warmly but I could see the sad look in his eyes. It made me feel guilty for troubling him with my problems. I should have kept them inside! I screamed at myself. Like I usually do…
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry… I shouldn't bother others with my troubles…" I whimpered as more tears leaked out.
"No, what you shouldn't do is keep them locked inside. They'll keep eating at you until something like this happens." Oishi scolded lightly. "Now, get up and calm down." He ordered, wiping my tears away.
I nodded and pushed myself up. Oishi and Fuji took my arms and helped me climb to my feet again and I was soon able to stand freely. "I'm sorry…" I whispered, wiping my face. "I'm fine now…"
"You're not going to try anything are you Kira-senpai?" Kawamura asked anxiously.
I smiled, shaking my head. "No, I'm sorry for worrying you…"
"So, you're really fine now?" Kikumaru asked and I nodded. "Alright then, do those wings really work?"
I laughed, normal good nature returning. "Yes, they actually do."
"Could I see?" He asked with eyes full of wonder.
I glanced around, checking to make sure no one else may be watching, and smiled. "I guess so." I laughed as the wings spread out. I winced as they rubbed against the torn flesh of my back but shrugged it off. "Ready?" I asked and without waiting for an answer, flapped the black feathered wings once. I shot from the ground, soaring high into the sky. My shadow fell over the boys who stared upwards with open mouths. I laughed and waved, once again my normal, cheerful, self, with eyes green again. I swooped down and landed in front of them, smiling with amusement as they all ducked in union.
Suddenly my smile faded and I began wincing again, eyes tightly shut. "What's-" I cut off whoever had spoken with a wave of my hand and held both sides of my head tightly. Kira…? It was that young girl's voice again.
Yes, I'm here.
Ok, are you ready to try again?
Of course. I said with a short laugh.
All right, get ready.
The voice faded and I glanced back towards the staring guys. "Well, I'm about to attempt to return home to my own world." I smiled nervously.
"Oh yeah… The world switching, right?" Momo asked.
I nodded. "Yes, I'm about to be transported again." I jogged to Akumei's side and stood him up, supporting him by holding his arm around my own shoulder and my other around his waist. "Oh…!" I turned to Kaidoh. "Do you need you're bandana back?"
"Keep it." He said shortly, turning away slightly.
I smiled and nodded. "Alright, thanks." I left it tied upon my head. "One last thing… I'm taking pictures of all who I meet during my travels. Could I have a picture of all you guys?" Somehow, I got every one of them to stand in position and set up the camera. I jumped in the middle as it flashed and retrieved it, returning it to the bag. "Thanks a lot!" I jumped as I began to glow and quickly picked Akumei back up as I had done before. "Well…" I started, turning to the group who had so quickly darted backwards away from my glowing form. "It's been fun. Thanks for putting up with me."
"Take care of yourself!" Oishi called.
"I will." I laughed. In the middle of exchanging goodbyes with them all, I disappeared, leaving them to stare at the empty patch of tennis court.
Momo crossed over and picked up the old tennis racket I had used. "Man, I wish she could've stuck around!" He laughed.
"She was really here… wasn't she?" Kawamura asked quietly.
Kaidoh brought a hand to his head, grabbed some hair gently between his fingers, and nodded. He uttered one word, "bandana."
Note: Echizen is 12, Momo and Kaidoh are 13 and the others are 14 while Kira is 16.
Senpai is a term used to refer to elders or someone of a superior title. Kira is older and therefore referred to as "senpai".
"Have you transported her again?" Hiei asked the girl as he saw her leaning back again.
She nodded and replied in her quiet voice. "Yes, she's on her way somewhere new right now."
"Hey, what are you doing?" Hiei yelled, turning now on Kyoshi.
The demon was bent over, concentrating hard on the something that lay on the ground before him. He looked over his shoulder. "Just experimenting."
"With what?" came the sharp reply. "More unknown gas?"
"No way, this time I'm sure of the outcome. I think Kira will like it too." Kyoshi returned with a grin.
"Hn." Hiei muttered and crossed his arms grumpily over his chest.
