A/N: Hello once again, Audience!
Here we are: another chapter.
Please feel free to review on anything in this or previous chapters that you'd like to comment upon. While I'm not particularly going through and editing things at this point, I've noticed myself some various inconsistencies while going back and reading in the past, so anything you feel is out of place, feel free to let me know.
Expect another chapter again tomorrow!
Symbols Guide:
* : Written by CM; She writes for Akari and Hiei
3 : Written by Star (supposed to be the 'heart' symbol, but FF doesn't like the 'less-than' sign, so it's a 3 instead); She writes for Shikiyoku and Youko/Kurama
~!**!~ : A universal transition between scenes or characters, sometimes used to indicate a passage of time, but most often used to transition between major scenes that are happening. As the story progresses, this will evolve into mainly separating the (usually two) scenes happening between authors/characters.
As a general rule, anything in italics is thoughts.
Unless it's used in a sentence like this, which merely indicates emphasis.
(Words in italics and within parenthesis is dialogue between Hiei and Shikiyoku via the bond between them after Hiei becomes Shikiyoku's Consort. As soon as the 'thought' occurs, it can pass between them, and does not actually have to be formed into exact words-feelings and sensations can pass through as well-in order to be picked up and the meaning translated immediately by the other. For the sake of the coherence by the reader, words and sentences are used as normal. It cannot be picked up by telepathy.)
"Quotations are usually reserved specifically for telepathic dialogue being transmitted from one being to another, but sometimes this can also mean a character isn't being careful about what they're thinking and anyone with telepathy in the nearby vicinity can listen in without taking any effort."
The only exception to that last rule is for the Shiba Inu dog, Nabu. All of his "spoken" dialogue will be in italics and quotations, but is communicated through body language or dog-like noises, so unless a character is able to translate those they are unlikely to pick up on what he is saying any more than the average person might understand his general moods like aggression (bared teeth, ears back) or excitement (wagging tail).
The Nabu Exception also applies to anyone when they are in an animal form, if the dialogue is in italics and quotations, unless stated otherwise.
Previously on Yu Yu Hakusho!
Still in Kurama's room with him,
Akari and he continue their banter,
laying around for the day.
Kurama reveals that the fox can't hear anything she says,
admitting Youko has not been active for a long while.
Akari is conflicted, and asks why,
which Kurama replies that he doesn't truly know.
Akari attempts to comfort him with distraction,
which mostly consists of massaging his scalp,
as the two of them lament their station in life.
When Akari calls Kurama adorable,
the two of them begin exchanging adjectives.
When Akari eventually allows Kurama to take over the "game,"
he insists on having her permission to do so,
even going so far as to ask her a second time,
though the second time drawing himself very close to her,
when she replies with an uncertain 'yes.'
~!**!~
Shikiyoku heads back to the labs the next morning,
only to have a much worse day than before,
yelling with Rikei and causing the scientist to leave in a huff,
discovering that her agitation becomes slightly alleviated
when she thinks on her Consort, Hiei.
Going further with those thoughts,
she suddenly finds herself gathered up
and set on the table by Iketeru,
who steps up between her knees
and insists she would be better served
by having a relaxed mind.
Teasing her skin with his fingers,
Iketeru kisses her at the last,
her energy drawing the two of them
even closer together.
Hiei's day has been equally as terrible,
but this time when he storms into the labs
with the intention of venting to Shikiyoku,
he discovers her in the midst of kissing Iketeru.
He is unsure why it bothers him,
only certain that it does,
and he steps up to the pair and separates them,
pulling Shikiyoku away with him
and insisting that this was "his time,"
dragging her back to their room.
She joins him in their bed,
setting his markings aglow
and easing the tension that he doesn't yet understand.
The next day the scientists inform Shiki
that they believe the "virus" to be more like "nanobots,"
with more sentience and drive than a simple virus.
Using her normal form's energy and injecting it
into her while in pain form,
they are tracking the change to the former
by the latter when Hiei once more storms into the labs,
sees Shikiyoku's distaste for her circumstances,
and with little thought injects himself with the second needle
upon being told it needed to be used or go bad
before scooping Shiki from the table and stealing her away.
Her energy within him starts to have a strange effect
on the hybrid, messing with his state of mind
that at another point in time might have excited Shikiyoku,
but creates a willingness she fears is completely manufactured,
and refuses to act upon so as to prevent later regret.
Shikiyoku at first attempts to ignore Hiei,
to no avail,
as Hiei begins insisting he wants her to kiss him
as she is "way behind."
Eventually Hiei ends up collapsed on top of her,
wanting a kiss to make his bad day better,
and Shikiyoku finally relaxes just a bit,
wrapping her arms around him and
embracing the yellow glow of her energy
around their bodies, saying at the last,
"I would do anything for you, fire-prince. Anything you wanted."
Hiei made a small sound as his mind fell closer to sleep, but remained aware enough that he wasn't quite there yet, teetering on the edge of sleep but not yet falling. He took a slow breath in, waiting for the contact he'd been trying to goad from her for a while now, only to find that while she said she would, she hadn't actually done so yet.
His whispered protest came out like a whine.
"Shikiyokuu… You still haven't kissed me." Another long breath in. "I won't sleep until you kiiisss meee."
~!**!~
The closeness of Kurama's face in relation to her own had her breath momentarily hitching, her mouth opening a little as if to respond to his question a second time, but only releasing a breath as her internal debate grew louder.
I dunno what you're asking of me.
But…
I…
Uhh..
Stop looking at me like that.
…..or… don't..
I don't know!
Her mouth closed and she pursed her lips a little, making a small sound at the back of her throat that could have been a response if it had been voiced, but never quite made it due to her confliction. *
Even though he knew the fox within him had not so much as stirred, somewhere in the back of his mind he took note of how much like Youko his current expression lent itself in being.
It felt somehow similar to a moment before where both he and the kitsune had been looking intently at Akari, the two of them speaking in tandem with one another, and yet he knew this time there was no Youko with which to stare.
Kurama had this vague feeling that one of those ears he sensed perked up atop his head twitched only slightly at her reaction, and he found he rather enjoyed this unintentional game almost as much as he thought he would enjoy the one he had intended to play.
"Fox got your tongue?"
~!**!~
Finally sitting in the midst of her energy, Shikiyoku could feel that his desire to kiss her was actually the only thing he wished of her at the moment and she let out a breathy chuckle.
Shifting her head so that she could face him, Shikiyoku planted a brief kiss atop Hiei's nose, pulling back to rest her head on the pillow to watch him. 3
Hiei felt his lips twitch at the contact of her lips on his nose, and his entire being felt satisfied for the moment. It wasn't exactly what he'd had in mind, but it would do.
He made a sound of approval at the woman and his body relaxed further into hers. And while he was indeed aware of her eyes on him, it didn't seem to bother him as he let out a breath and fell the rest of the way into sleep.
~!**!~
Akari's lips came open once more, and she took a breath that was meant to be calming. The sound that came out, however, was one of confliction, still unsure. She made a face at the redhead and released that breath, then proceeded to stick her tongue from her mouth just enough to indicate it.
"Doesn't look like it…"
But it definitely feels like it…
And I dunno how I feel about it..
Just like I don't know what you want.
Auuuggghhh.
"You're a pain."
He's about to make a comment. I just know it… *
"Do you want a fox to have your tongue?"
~!**!~
For Shikiyoku, the next few hours were spent thinking about her current predicament, unable to fully enjoy it because of her confliction about it, several thoughts running through her mind and all of them centered around the demon in her arms apparently high on her power.
With Crusnik, her pain form was able to assimilate the power and disperse it. Would Hiei be stuck like this? Would it eventually some how exit his system?
...simultaneously she found herself hoping both 'yes' and 'no.' 3
Hiei's sleep started out restful and dreamless, blissful considering his day's events. And as he continued to delve deeper into that very wonderful darkness, he let out a small sigh and his lips twitched in his sleep.
If one was paying attention, they would have noticed him mouthing the name of the person he lay on before going still and silent again.
And he would stay that way for a good long while.
~!**!~
Akari's eyebrows came down over her eyes, and she seemed to recede within herself a little at Kurama's teasing inquiry.
...Depends. If you're the fox…
The thought had all others scattering and a high-pitched sound echoing through her mind in confused embarrassment.
She made a very small sound at the back of her throat, but otherwise did not reply. *
Kurama blinked once slowly, still staring down into Akari's eyes.
"Tell me something, beautiful...are you having fun yet?" 3
Akari's eyes focused on Kurama again, and she met him stare for stare as she regarded his question.
What would come of an answer?
"...that depends on your definition of the word." *
"I wasn't asking myself." He pointed out, "I was asking you." 3
She made the same sound in the back of her throat as before, conflicted. "I.." yes? No? "...I have a feeling this isn't the game I supposedly didn't bargain for." *
Another blink, "Why, whatever gave you that idea?" 3
…
"You."
…
"...are a pain." *
"When have you ever heard me claim otherwise?" 3
You're still staring.
I..
"...never?"
I… dunno…
You're distracting.
"Have you ever been informed that you're great at distracting?" *
"You know, as of late I can't recall having been told that at all." Kurama let himself give her a small smile, "Yomi doesn't know where my true talents lie." 3
Is this a subject change?
...You're still staring. And now smiling.
…
"Good to know."
I have no idea what I'm supposed to be talking about anymore. *
Kurama didn't say anything for a moment before he finally admitted, "You know, I could do this all day." 3
I bet.
"I'm.. sure you could."
Akari raised a brow at Kurama, staring at him but not really sure what else to do or say. In that moment, she was very aware of their proximity and of his stare, and it felt almost as if she wouldn't be able to move away even if she'd wanted to. *
"I suppose-" He allowed, "The real question is if you'd let me." 3
Uh…. I.. dunno…?
It isn't like I'd be able to stop you.
…
"You're having too much fun.." *
"And you're not? Or is that why you have yet to stop me?" 3
Akari made a sound.
"You're…"
Something else, you…
"I-"
Oh no.
"You are the most…"
Irritating-
"Captivating person I have ever-"
Stupid-
"-met."
-Fox *
"You know, somehow that didn't really answer my question." Kurama appeared thoughtful for a moment before turning his gaze back onto her face, "I've been wanting to know if you're having fun too." 3
I'm just gonna… say…
"Uh, yes?"
Because I can't think.
...Jerk. *
"That's wonderful." He murmured, pausing for a moment, "I'm glad. Let me rephrase the other question."
The intensity of his stare shifted to a more gentle gleam.
"Would you trust me enough to let me pick the game next time?" 3
Akari blinked at Kurama as his stare lessened, allowing her to gather her thoughts and processes again, even for a moment. And with his question, she opened her mouth with a mumbled agreement.
I..
But you were staring and I wasn't sure and..
It isn't you. It's that-
She examined his expression.
-that look. Makes me nervous. *
"Oh, so you do trust me. Something else was wrong then. Should I take to staring at you some more? I liked that game as well." 3
Akari's mouth opened again, except this time the sound that came out was an odd sort of hesitation, her jaw hanging open just slightly and her eyes widening a little.
Just the mention of the stare had her mental faculties shutting down.
Uhh..
"N-no?" *
"I somehow get the feeling the question mark at the end of that word was meant more for yourself than for me." Kurama smiled at her again. "Should I ask again or should I just stare at you more?" 3
"Uuhh…"
Neither. It's distracting!
"No, to both of those."
An actual coherent thought! *
"Oh, well, if that's the case I suppose we'll just have to think of something else for me to do to keep us occupied." 3
"You do that."
While I regain my senses. *
Kurama's eyebrows rose a little, "You really want me to? I was being nice and suggesting we attempt to come up with something together. But if that's how you feel-" He let out a little half-hearted sigh, "I suppose I could just stare at you again." 3
Akari gave a half-hearted groan. "Noo, that's not…" Uhhh…. "Necessary." That works. "The staring, I mean." Her lips pursed together. It will get me nowhere. "I thought you had another game in mind." *
"Well I did, but I have to admit I found one that's likely just as fun as what I was planning." He gave a little shrug, "So it was easy to just have you let me play that one." 3
Akari stuck her tongue out at Kurama, making a face at him as she did so. You're a pain.
As she pulled her tongue back into her mouth, she wrapped her arms tighter around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder, so if he began staring at her again, she wouldn't see it and become…
Stupid?
Flustered!
That was the word she needed, though really, both worked. *
Kurama raised an eyebrow at her as her face disappeared from his immediate sight and he glanced down at her.
"I suppose that's permission to start playing something else, since I can't look at you when you do that." 3
Akari huffed at Kurama through her nostrils, eyes closing as she refused to answer. She had yet to recover all mental faculties, and really, if he started staring at her again, she didn't think she'd regain them at all until he got bored.
...Which she'd never actually seen him get bored of such a thing… *
Kurama finally let out a laugh when she didn't actually respond, and let his own eyes close.
"You're much too fun for your own good, did you know that?" 3
"And this is me not trying. Actually, I was trying not to be fun." Akari pointed this out in a mumble, her eyes closing. "You're just… impossible." *
"Hm. That's a good one. I kind of like that one. It's much better than being called a pain all the time." 3
"You're a pain too," Akari quickly added, "it's just that 'impossible' is better in this situation than 'a pain' is, even if it is my go-to." She made a small sound of thoughtfulness. "Preposterous works too." *
"No, I prefer impossible." Kurama quickly said upon hearing her latest addition. "You should just stick with that." 3
"How preposterous!" The word came out in a sing-song voice, Akari wriggling her toes a little as she hummed in amusement. "Absolutely inconceivable." *
"As long as you're not talking about me," Kurama allowed with a little tilt of his head.
He let out a little puff of air from his nose, finding himself smiling again. 3
"I'm definitely talking about you." Akari gave a second hum at him as she tried thinking of another word to use, except she'd run out of adjectives in that respect and was instead left with simply laying there, eyes closed and lips smiling. "Who else would I be referring to?" *
"You could have just as easily been referring to my preference for 'impossible' as being preposterous. Or inconceivable for that matter. I don't particularly see myself as either of those things." 3
"I dunno," Akari began, tone incredulous, "I feel like you could be pretty preposterous here and there. To me, anyway. It may vary for others." She poked at the back of his head teasingly. "You can be pretty silly." *
"Silly? How ridiculous of you to suggest such a thing. Foxes may be many things, but silly is most definitely not one of them." Kurama huffed as if offended. 3
Akari's shoulders moved with a little laugh she gave at Kurama. "I beg to differ. You can't say you are not silly. I've watched you chase butterflies."
With Nabu.
...I miss Nabu. *
"There is absolutely nothing silly about chasing evil butterflies. Ask anyone." His expression was perfectly serious. 3
"Oh yes, their crimes were being able to heal after having a tooth through their wings and looking too cute. How evil."
"They were most certainly bad, Akari."
That's what Nabu would say. ...Silly dog. *
It wasn't too difficult for Kurama to insert Nabu's voice after Akari's counter, one that would insist Kurama was right and that the butterflies needed to be caught for their crimes.
For a moment it had Kurama remembering the night before when Akari had mentioned missing the dog and he pulled her a little closer.
"You know, I can only imagine what kind of torture Kuwabara is putting him through right about now." 3
Akari made a small sound somewhere between a scoff and a huff, half amused half upset. "I think Eikichi would be the tortured one." The remembrance of the pup running through the apartment with a yowling cat after him had her giving a soft smile.
I want to go home.
"He's going to find out soon that Nabu is very clever when it comes to taking food that smells good. He better hope he doesn't acquire steak." *
"I was thinking more along the lines of you having trouble when you go back and discover that he and Kuwabara have been eating off the same plate. He'll be so spoiled you won't know what to do with him." 3
Akari made a sound that turned into a small laugh after a moment. "He's already spoiled. I don't share plates with him because he gets his own…. when I get the time to cook, I mean." She went quiet for a moment as she nuzzled her nose into the collar of Kurama's shirt, giving a small sigh.
"He didn't become obsessed with steak until Yusuke got hold of him. Those days are super difficult." *
"That sounds about like Yusuke." Kurama agreed.
He let out a little huff of amusement, "It's been interesting trying to guess what Raizen and he have been plotting." 3
"There is absolutely no telling." Akari gave a small shrug. "It could be very good, or very bad." And only time will tell us which it is. *
"I think it will depend on whose side you are on as to whether it's 'very good or very bad." Kurama added. "Having heard more about Raizen, it isn't all that difficult to see where Yusuke gets it though." 3
"Mmm."
Hopefully with a king on his side, Yusuke won't be as dangerously impulsive.
"Two Raizen's running around is going to be… interesting when things get heated." Akari thought on that for a moment, considering what she'd actually overheard about the king once she'd started listening to the demons around her. From what she knew, the fights would really boil down to the kings and their highest-ranking officials.
…
"How high up are you in Yomi's ranks?" *
"Not high enough to be his general. Which as I'm sure you've guessed is what it's going to come down to. I'm not terribly worried. What with Raizen not recruiting, the two of them have to be planning something else." 3
A weight she hadn't known she had been harboring was lifted from Akari's mind, and she gave a small sigh of relief. Even if they still had to fight- which she wasn't quite sure was going to happen the way she had originally imagined it- they all had a better chance getting out if they weren't high enough up on the ranks to be considered the top dog.
She herself would never be more than a simple lackey of transportation.
...which I can't do…
….
"Yomi can suck it." *
"Is that so?" Kurama hummed thoughtfully, "You know I may not be his highest ranking official, but I certainly have the would-be king's ear. I could inform him of your stance should you like me to let him know." 3
"Pft. I mean, you can if you want, though I'm pretty sure you wouldn't enjoy the trouble that would come of it. I know I wouldn't." She lifted her nose a little higher, before a thought occurred and she let her chin drop again. "Actually, trouble might be just the right amount of motivation…" ...the right motivation to get my shadows going and to get through the layers…
Then again… I couldn't even do it when-
I hate that thing. It's…
I don't want to see it.
"I take that back. I would prefer that remain between the two of us." *
"Duly noted. If you change your mind, let me know. I'm sure he's just dying to know what you think of him." 3
"I'm sure he already knows. I've done my fair share of glaring in my time here. I've also cursed him, which I'm sure he's heard more than his fill of." It's actually a wonder I'm not dead.
…
"Takeo didn't like my cursing of his precious king. That was… eventful." *
"I'll just be glad when all of this is over, no matter what happens, really." He felt as if he had reached that point, and would have gladly accepted in an instant Yusuke alternative without even asking first what it was.
That's...that's pretty bad. 3
Akari blinked and pulled a bit away from Kurama to look into his face, peering at him with a neutral expression. She blinked at him slowly, only once, and her lips pursed for a moment. She understood completely, and perhaps that is what had her staring at him.
Normally it was her thinking those things and him looking at her as if she were about to do something dumb.
…
...I'm ready for this to end.
Her lips suddenly curled upwards in a mischievous smile. "Do I sense impatience?" *
Kurama leaned closer to her, "Can you keep a secret?" 3
Akari's brows raised and her smile widened. For a moment, she only continued to watch him with that mischievous glint in her eyes and her teeth showing in a lopsided smile. She did, however, prompt him with a nod of her head after a moment. "Do tell." *
"Youko's the one with all the patience." He paused for a beat. "And he's not here anymore." 3
Ohp, there's another adjective.
Stop that.
"That's rather interesting. I never would have thought so." Akari's lips spread to show her teeth a little more. "Anything else you wish to share with the class?" *
"Well," He considered her question for a second, "I would be more than willing to let Yusuke and Raizen barge around this establishment if it meant we got to leave." 3
"Too bad they aren't here." Akari took a moment to imagine the scene, and it was a rather interesting one. Yusuke and Raizen tearing through the palace as Kurama and Akari simply took their leave. She had lost her will to fight this battle long ago; it wasn't truly hers, she'd just been tossed into it.
And while she could just as easily drop through a shadow and go home, she also knew that she would be hunted down if she did so. And if Yomi came out the victor in.. whatever Yusuke and Raizen were doing, then she'd be hunted until she was slaughtered.
…
Hng..
"I'm sorry for snapping at you yesterday, by the way." The thought had been random, but she felt she needed to say it despite the fact that they were laying the way they were. "I had gotten mad at myself for not being able to get to the Ninth Layer, and I just dumped it on you. It was wrong of me; you have your own worries and trials." *
"Understandable, your frustration." Kurama murmured, mind quickly considering her issue.
Granted, her situation was rather unique, as he had not heard of any others able to move between layers, losing the ability, and then relearning it again, but he had a sneaking suspicion that she was hindering herself unintentionally, given the fright she had gotten.
"I would assist you, if you would ask." 3
Akari groaned. "But I'm so comfortable." Of course, she had considered asking the redhead about it, but really, she already had Chu and Jin for that simple reason. And it wasn't like they were doing anything wrong. She just couldn't get it. It wasn't working.
Then again, the only one of those two who knew she couldn't use her shadows for such a thing was the one who had been completely hammered when she'd said it.
…
Part of her wouldn't be surprised if Chu remembered that.
"Even my shadows won't let me through. That's why all my energy has been used up." Her tone was that of simple complaining, and she let out a breath of irritation at the thought. "It's dumb." *
"Self-preservation." Kurama immediately provided. "You don't actually want to get through so they aren't letting you through."
He shifted closer to her, holding her tighter for a moment in a silent indication that he had no intentions of going anywhere. 3
Self… preservation?
Akari mulled over the words in her mind, turning them over and over again and again. A frown pulled her lips down- her shadows were not stemmed from within her. They wouldn't feed off of-
"They will protect you when you feel your life to be in most danger."
…
But…
If she didn't make it through, wouldn't that be more dangerous to her 'life' than actually being on the Ninth?
"They do not see in black and white. They react only upon the one which they rely, and they make predictions based on your experiences. They are sentient beings, only understood by those who can control them. So, they protect those beings, seeing them as divine and precious. Without you, they would not know of their world. They would only be able to watch and follow the laws of this world. Shadow Wielders are not rare, but they are treated as if they are. To a shadow, a Shadow Wielder is necessary for life. Thus, they protect yours."
Akari made a sound of discontent. Then, Mother had been telling her of her own power, explaining the relationship between herself and the beings she had once seen as useless.
Surely they wouldn't deny me access because…
Because I don't know what's beyond this layer?
…
Akari gave another groan and buried her face in Kurama's shirt.
Stupid… I'm so stupid. *
She may not have been able to use the inbetween place for travel at first because she had forgotten how, given that she only traveled through the shadows, but after her encounter with whatever creature she claimed to have seen on the other side, Kurama didn't find it particularly surprising that she didn't want to tempt fate.
"You know, to my knowledge you're the only person who has encountered anything while inbetween. And there are many people traveling through the layers all the time. In your specific case, you were dying. I suppose my word of advice to you would be to not die." 3
Akari probably would have laughed if her first thought hadn't been that that was exactly what she was trying to do- or not do, or whatever. Because she'd already known that, she'd already told herself that if she didn't get through, Yomi would likely kill her for her uselessness in the first place.
The scene played out in her mind, being unable to traverse the layers and opening her eyes to see a smiling Yomi, as if he'd known all along she'd be useless. And then being attacked, only to open her eyes and find herself right where she had been the first time, with the overly large creature-thing turning its head to look at her.
A shudder ran along her spine.
"I already knew that," she finally commented, expression blank and tone even. She didn't let her fingers play with Kurama's shirt as she wanted to, didn't let her nerves affect the way her muscles somehow remained lax or the way she lay. "It's kind of a given, Kurama." *
"I meant not to die while you're inbetween. And what better place to not do something than when you're with me?"
Pulling Akari closer, Kurama folded the layers around them, staying between the Seventh and Eighth and letting out a deep breath as he shifted around on the bed beneath them, it feeling only a little strange from where they were, on neither layer at all. 3
…?
Before Akari could even form a coherent thought of confusion, or anything more than the general emotion of such that mixed with sudden nervousness, she felt an odd chill fall over her body as Kurama pulled her closer. Instinctively, her core gave a lurch and her arms tightened around the redhead, a small sound of displeasure squeaking past her lips as she felt the layers fold over her.
Instinctively, her eyes squeezed shut and she held her breath for a moment, before it was released through her teeth with an unvoiced threat to the redhead.
I'm going… to murder you.
….assuming I don't become a statue…. *
"Mm. Not quite as comfortable, I'll admit. But also completely harmless." Kurama noted. "And except for the threat of you choking me to death, I think we're actually perfectly fine."
He leaned over and kissed the top of her head where he could reach it, letting his nose rest in her hair. 3
"It doesn't seem to be working as well as I thought, considering you can still talk," came Akari's reply through her teeth, any semblance of control over her nerves from before shattered and leaving her just as she was, despite the kiss atop her head that was meant to be comforting.
And she didn't loosen her grip.
She wasn't even sure if she could. *
"I don't think I would let you choke me anyway. That would be...counterproductive I imagine. Wouldn't want to leave you here all by yourself." He gave a little yawn as if he were tired and settling down for a nap. 3
Akari gnashed her teeth together at Kurama's insinuation, and after a moment she slowly let her grip around his neck loosen, though she didn't move any other part of her body. "You're a pain. Impossible. Asinine. Absurd. Cretinous." She could have gone on and on, but she instead went quiet and peeled an eye open to look at the odd inbetween layer around her, the bed they had been laying on now blurred and almost insubstantial.
Pain in my backside, you are…
"Stupid fox." *
"Mm. Yes. Terribly idiotic. I'm also pretentious and particular. But not, I should remind you, 'preposterous' or 'inconceivable.'" He appeared to consider the words for a moment, then gave a little nod of finality. 3
"Pompous. Ostentatious. Prolix. Convoluted. Serpentine."
Akari took a deep breath and let it out as a huff through her lips, eyes narrowing as she looked beyond the redhead's shoulder. She tried to think of other words to call him by, but sadly, she found herself coming up blank now, lips twitching, unsure if to retain the frown or flatten out into a passive expression.
"Grandiloquent. Aureate. Baroque."
Another pause and she found more words tumbling from her lips.
"Crafty. Cunning. Clever. Devious."
…
"A pain." *
"I must say I prefer the foxy adjectives to the flowery ones. I'm not feeling very foppish today. Too wily for that. Seems to be working out rather well for me though." 3
"Underhanded."
Akari let out a scoff at that word.
"Crooked. Guileful. Sagacious."
This time, when Akari sucked in a breath, it was because she was genuinely out of adjectives, out of things to call him. She released the breath in a long sigh, finding her muscles relaxing after her little "tirade" of "curses". In the back of her mind, she recognized what he was doing, but didn't think on it.
Because it would shatter the calm that was beginning to creep back up her body.
"I don't like you." *
"You don't have to like me, beautiful. I'm secretly a terrible person anyway." A pause. "Not-so-secretly. Not the point though. Not liking me has nothing to do with any of it. However, not liking me also won't get you anywhere." 3
Akari stuck her tongue out, the action accompanied with a slight humming sound that would indicate the gesture even if he couldn't see it. You're a pain and I don't like you and…
Ugh. *
Kurama let the silence wear on, forcing his breathing steady, hearing nothing while here inbetween other than the usual noises a body makes, a heartbeat, inhalation and exhalation, the occasional shifting as he grew more comfortable and let his thoughts ebb away other than the ones focused on the demon in his arms.
I don't think sleeping here would be too bad. 3
Akari pulled her tongue back into her mouth and let herself lay there, her body eventually relaxing entirely as the calm aura around Kurama seemed to seep into her own system and force herself to feel the same. Her ears became attuned to Kurama's breathing as it evened out, creating a steady rhythm that she could easily focus on as time wore on.
She shifted very little here and there, where it would be necessary to grow completely comfortable with where she was at.
And after a while she released a sigh and let her eyes close, her nose finding Kurama's jawline and resting just close enough to let the tip of it touch his skin.
...Thank you. *
Not that he had ever tried it before. Hadn't been a need.
"The trick will be seeing if you allow yourself to go the other direction with me." Kurama sighed the sentence out. "But I don't really think it was a specific placement that you were worried about." 3
Akari made a small noise of acknowledgement, considering Kurama's words for a moment. She wouldn't know if it worked or not until he tried it, considering she had such a hard time even getting here. Honestly though, if he'd gotten her here, she didn't think there would be much of a problem for him to get her to the Ninth.
It wasn't like there were any shadows within the inbetween that might bar her entrance, as they'd been doing from their own realm.
…
Actually, she wondered if that would work if Kurama was with her then, too.
Likely not.
"You're the driver." she mumbled out, eyes closed. *
"Don't sound so pleased about it." Kurama teased, unwrapping the layers from around them and leaving the pair laying back out on the bed. "You're welcome to try." 3
Akari gave a little puff of air that bordered a scoff at Kurama, her lips turning upwards a little at his taunting as the feeling of the mattress sinking underneath their weight became prominent. She forced her mind blank, deciding she'd have to try it sometime, whether it be with him or when she's in her own room again.
Or with Jin and Chu.
…
She'd much rather figure it out here.
She took a deep breath and concentrated, trying to make herself duplicate that odd sensation of moving between the layers. While nothing immediately happened, she almost felt as if something in the back of her head prickled. *
"If it helps," Kurama began patiently, "You can think about it in several different ways. You can slip between this layer and the next. Or you can fold them around you. You could metaphorically step sideways..." 3
"That last one sounds like I actually have to move. And I'm quite comfortable," Akari grumbled, taking to thinking on the idea of the layers folding over her.
...Like a blanket.
Yeah.
It had felt like a cool blanket being tossed over them. Maybe a sheet? A thin, silky sheet that she'd only once ever lay under. It had been so comfortable and cool to the touch, and she'd-
Focus, Akari.
The moment she told herself to focus, however, she realized the sensation began to slip away, and her eyes came open as if she could reach out and grab the metaphorical sheet that was sliding away.
She made a sound of discontent and imagined the sheet again, finding that it paused, as if waiting for her to tug on it again.
I have no idea how I did that. *
"It's why I said 'metaphorically.'" Kurama almost grumbled, "I wasn't about to let you move anyway."
"I tend to think of wrapping myself in them." He added. "Especially when I'm not moving." 3
The image in Akari's head that was produced from Kurama's addition had her blinking once, and almost laughing at the prospect. Her first image she found herself creating was one where the redhead simply twirled in place and disappeared, like an illusionist wooing a crowd of humans.
The second was closer to how she wanted to be in that moment, where she imagined him taking a corner of a sheet and rolling across a bed until he was in a burrito-like wrap of blankets.
Both had her giving a snort.
Don't get distracted.
Her eyes came closed again and she imagined taking that silk sheet she'd felt earlier and wrapping it around her body, around Kurama's as well, and creating a cocoon around them. And, surprisingly, she began to feel as if such a cool material was sliding up and over her arms, around her body.
She imagined pulling it tighter over herself.
And in the next second she felt the bed beneath her change, as if insubstantial, and her stomach gave an odd flop that said she wasn't comfortable with the way the mattress had almost just dropped out from under them, when she knew it was not the case.
"...That's… going to take some getting used to… The shadows are so much easier to fall into…" *
Kurama opened his eyes to see the usual blurriness that accompanied the inbetween, though he could feel the change before confirming it by sight.
"Well done, pup!" He praised, smiling at their surroundings, "Well done, indeed." 3
"It feels icky."
A chill ran up the back of Akari's head, prickling at her scalp at the sudden image in her head that had her briefly tensing before throwing it away. She knew there was no reason to fear this place at the moment, that the atmosphere was not the same. That the chill on her skin was not from power, but from existing on no real layer whatsoever.
...Which was chilling in and of itself…
"I can see why they call it The Veil." she suddenly commented. "It has a… similarity…" The chill is kin, in a way. Subtle. Undesireable.
...At least it isn't smothering. Or oppressive… *
Kurama still looked about them a bit as Akari spoke.
"Supposedly the only thing separating the living from the dead." He gave a little huff of a sigh and cuddled closer to her. "We're just lucky you're so warm." 3
I don't like it.
Akari made a sound akin to a scoff. "You're meaning to tell me that Takeo could be standing over my shoulder right now, and I couldn't kill him a second time if I wanted to?" She gave a pout. "What a shame." *
Kurama chuckled, "We're not really sure how it works, but I suppose anything is possible."
He nudged the top of her head with his nose.
"I'm proud of you." 3
"I don't like it," she admitted, giving her shoulders a little shake as if to rid them of something sitting there. She gave a sigh and concentrated on the feeling of Kurama's nose in her hair, the hairs that quivered with his breathing. It made it easier to ignore the feeling on her skin.
Which reminded her that she was wearing one of his shirts, the sleeves falling up her arms.
"...Your shirt is comfortable." Even though it's almost twice my usual size. *
"That would be because it's twice your size." Kurama pointed out, tugging a little at one of the sleeves. 3
Akari pulled back a little, blinking up at Kurama a few times.
"Are you sure you aren't a telepath?" *
"I'm just extremely good at reading people." Kurama met her gaze evenly. "You should try it sometime. It isn't all that hard." 3
Akari gave a frown at Kurama and stuck her tongue out at him. "You mean how I've noticed you won't kiss me?" She raised her brows at him and her nose lifted a little higher in the air. "I notice things, I just usually don't point them out, fox." *
"Noticing things and reading people are two completely different areas of expertise." Kurama responded loftily. 3
"It's also easier for you to read me because I never learned to hide my thoughts, thank you very much." Akari wasn't sure if she was making excuses or just being stubborn.
Probably both.
"You're a pain." *
"That just sounds like an excuse." Kurama raised an eyebrow at her. "Besides, someone can hide their thoughts and still be completely readable. It's a matter of paying attention." 3
"Just like you avoided what I brought up by focusing on one half of what I'd said," she pointed out, expression turning almost curious as she refused to say anything more.
She hadn't meant to bring it up, it had just been a random thought.
And now that she'd brought it up, she was curious as to why. *
"Making excuses is rather different from avoiding a subject. The second requires the ability to manipulate a conversation while the first simply implants a reason as to why you aren't doing something. And it's usually a lame reason." He gave her a pointed look. 3
"You're adorable when you're desperately avoiding a conversation, did you know that?" She made a sound and her lips curled into a playful smile. "Actually, cute works better here. That was a smooth subject change. I will see your effort to avoid a subject and fold my hand of curiosity for a better-dealing pot. You have a better poker face." *
"Hm." Kurama grew thoughtful. "Add that to the list of adjectives of which I am never. I think the day you see me as desperate would be a dark day indeed." 3
Akari's eyes flashed in amusement at Kurama as the layers unfurled from around them, leaving them on the bed again. "I rather enjoy making lists. I do all of that on purpose."
She paused, suddenly raising a brow.
"You know a lot of adjectives on my lists. Can I hear a few of the ones on your lists? I'm dying to know." *
Kurama appeared to look thoughtful for a minute before he started speaking.
"Stubborn. Devious. Manipulative. Intelligent. Annoying. Jaded. Powerful." 3
She wasn't sure which word piqued her interest first, but somewhere during Kurama's little string of words, Akari's eyes had narrowed and she pursed her lips at him, searching his expression. I didn't… specify who, I suppose...
"I already know what Yomi is like. Tell me something I don't already know." *
"Well, how about this one: Fun-loving. Jolly. Hyper. Excitable. Sunny..." 3
Akari's brows raised as she listened this time, thinking about the people she might know who fit such a description. Because there was no way this was anyone like Yomi.
"...Jin?" Definitely not Chu. Loud wasn't there. *
Kurama nodded, moving on to someone else.
"Soft-spoken. Smart. Smooth. Cool. Level-headed..." 3
Akari took to mulling over those adjectives for a moment, two or three people coming to mind as she considered each word carefully. For a moment, she couldn't decide after weeding it down to two off the top of her head.
"...I want to say Touya..?" Maybe Yukina? *
Another nod.
"Loud. Adorable. Easily distracted. Loyal. Smart." 3
"Kuwabara, Kazuma." Akari's lips twitched fondly as she thought about the carrot top. "He's.. somethin'." *
Kurama shook his head, "While Kuwabara might be all of those things, that is not who I had in mind. Guess again." 3
Oh, duh. He wouldn't call Kuwabara "adorable".
"Nabu." Silly me. "Quite the adorable one himself. Very handsome too." *
"That's much closer, I'll give you that. However, I don't see the older Nabu as 'loud' or 'easily distracted.' He was as a pup though, and that's what I had in mind." 3
"Oh, so you're doing past and present. Good to know." Akari nodded her head once as if making a strong mental note about it. Her eyes lifted to Kurama again and she had a brow raised, waiting for him to go on. This was a rather entertaining game. *
"Determined. Reserved. Impulsive. Loyal. Temperamental." 3
Akari's brows rose high again, thinking about the people she knew and their qualities. This one seemed a little tougher, as if she didn't really know this person. She pursed her lips in thought as she regarded Kurama.
...I.. I don't know this one?
"Gimme a hint?"
~!**!~
Hiei stared into the darkness of the room, eyes trained on the female whose face was mere inches from his. He'd woken at the normal time, but hadn't moved as he felt no reason to. No one was waiting for him outside the room, and no one seemed to be moving through the halls this morning.
So, he scooted his face a little closer to Shikiyoku's, his voice a breathy whisper.
"Shiki? Are you awake?"
She stirred at the sound of her name, and he quickly closed his eyes, pretending to be asleep. *
Shikiyoku shifted around a little, pulled from her slumber by a voice she knew she recognized.
Replaying back the question, she shook her head a little and mumbled.
"Nooo." 3
"Oh, okay. Just checking." Hiei shifted a little again and rested his cheek on the pillow all over again, his eyes closing. "Tell me when you wake up."
And not a second later he fell asleep. *
~!**!~
"How about...grumpy." Kurama smiled a little, imagining that he had given it away, but the adjectives had been a little vague given Akari hadn't much interaction with this particular person. 3
Akari's brows furrowed a little more as she considered the new word, momentarily unsure.
And then Nabu's voice rang loud and clear in her head, and Akari let out a joyful laugh.
"Hiei!"
~!**!~
When Hiei woke again, he could hear movement throughout the fortress, telling him he'd slept in quite a bit. His eyes were again on Shikiyoku, a finger extended towards her cheek but not yet touching it.
"Shiki…." Hiei whispered out for the second time this day. "Shikiyokuuuu…" He prodded at her cheek this time. "Wake uuup…" *
Shikiyoku frowned, "I dun' wanna." 3
Hiei gave a mock frown.
"Shikii… I'm bored." Hiei continued to whisper, as if afraid someone might overhear. "And I can't sleep anymore…." He paused, blinking at her. "Shikii, wake up." *
Shikiyoku didn't pick up on Hiei's not-so-subtle stage whisper, shifting a little in place and saying, "Aren't you supposed to be...doing something? For, like, Mukuro?" 3
Hiei quickly reached out and gathered Shikiyoku's cranium in his arms, pulling her face towards his chest until he was smushing her nose into his bandages. His lips parted to issue a harsh shushing sound as one hand took to petting her hair.
"Shhhh!"
He paused to take a breath and return to his whisper. "Don't talk about it… or they'll come get me…. I think they forgot I'm here..!" *
...
"Hiei...are you..." Shikiyoku opened an eye, but couldn't see much of anything where he had her pressed up against his bandaged chest.
She didn't even finish the sentence, instead letting out a tortured groan. 3
"Shhh! I don't want them to come get me. I wanna stay right here."
Hiei paused and took a breath, still petting Shikiyoku's hair as if to soothe her.
"Shiki."
…
"Shiki, kiss me." *
As if her energy wasn't already starting to tingle across her skin, in spite of the fact that she really felt as if this wasn't exactly Hiei, she felt her core give a little jolt.
"I...I did. I mean, I have. I already did." 3
Hiei made a sound. "Nuh-uh." He shook his head, taking in a small breath to speak in a harsh whisper again. "You didn' kiss me, like, ever." *
Still smooshed against his chest, Shikiyoku felt her words coming out more mumbled than she intended, though her energy kept seeping into the air around her.
"I did so. Right before you fell asleep. If you don't remember that's your fault." 3
Hiei quickly made a shushing sound, hand stilling on the back of Shikiyoku's head as the sound died away again in the quiet room. The fire demon blinked three times before he drew in a breath, smelling her scent on the air that was thickening a little with her energy.
"But you didn't do it right," he complained, shifting gears just a little. "You know you wanna." *
Shikiyoku...couldn't actually deny either of his points, and the part of her brain that wanted to give into the energy that kept pouring out into the room continued affirming every little thing he said.
The other part felt strongly that if she gave in to whatever fly-by-night whims Hiei came up with, she would come to regret it later.
"All you said was that you wanted me to kiss you." Shikiyoku grumbled against his chest, her entire face pink with the blush of the situation. "And I did that." 3
Hiei gave a small scoff and released his grip just enough that if she wanted, she could pull away if she wanted to, but not without some protest or another from the fire demon. He kept his red eyes on her, blinking slowly here and there when necessary.
Despite his surprisingly neutral expression, his tone was what would usually accompany a pout. "I've kissed you many times. At least once a day for…" He paused, trying to do the math. "For a while now. You're behind."
He gave a little shrug of his shoulders and relaxed again.
He'd get one, at least one, sometime today. *
Shikiyoku opened her mouth to answer and then closed it again, frowning.
Everything she could think to say she could also hear him arguing with her about.
"You've...never cared before. About me being behind." Shikiyoku shifted her eyes to the side, feeling the heat at her neck and cheeks. 3
"Well, I did, I just didn't know so until the lab monkey was-"
Hiei paused, scowling.
"I don't like it."
(The lab monkey, I mean.)
The fire demon gave a huff and rolled onto his back, keeping only one arm around Shikiyoku as his eyes moved to stare at the ceiling.
And all at once he shifted gears again.
"Shikiii, my bandages itch." *
(Lab monkey?)
(...oh.)
It took a moment for Shikiyoku to follow.
Had that actually bothered him? She didn't think so at the time. Was he not as upset about his 'time' being cut into as he was Iketeru kissing her?
How was she supposed to know that?
Because, really, when had he ever expressed a desire for her to kiss him? Or even in the reverse outside of his 'job.'
Shikiyoku sat up and gave Hiei a glance.
"You didn't tell me you had a day off." It wasn't accusatory, only noting the fact.
Speaking of, I probably need to get down to the labs. 3
"I didn't tell me I had a day off either." Hiei gave another shrug, lips twitching on a very minescule level before his expression turned neutral again. "I know nothing more than you."
…
"I think they forgot I was here. I hope so. I get tired of fighting. It's boring and I only get a few hours with you. I can't be a Consort if I'm not with you."
Another shrug.
"Shikiyokuu… I'm bored." *
"...you're sure you're not just late for something?" Shikiyoku wanted to know, "I'm fairly certain that might be bad." 3
"I'd be dead if I was late," Hiei pointed out nonchalantly, turning his eyes onto Shikiyoku and watching her for a minute. "Shiki, you should kiss me." *
"Well, I can't." She replied, starting to scoot over to the edge of the bed. "You're too far away." 3
Hiei's expression reflected confusion for a moment, and he was about to ask when he noted Shikiyoku moving away, to which he quickly reacted to by grabbing around her middle and pulling her back again, not registering her excuse until a second later.
"I'm closer now." He pulled her close enough that her shoulder touched the bandages around his torso, and he scrunched his nose at her in hopes to get the message across without saying it. *
Stopped short of making it off the bed, Shikiyoku hadn't been expecting Hiei to grab her.
Without moving her head, the glance out of the corner of her eyes was quick to return forward and she frowned again.
(What are you doing?)
(...oh.)
Letting out a noise full of confliction, Shikiyoku turned swiftly and gave Hiei a quick kiss on his lips, slouching back the other direction as she felt her scalp tingling as her energy meandered further into the air. 3
Hiei brightened quickly thereafter Shikiyoku's compliance with his request, but that happy surprise dimmed when she pulled away just as quickly as she had the night before, a bit of disappointment setting in. He stared at her for a moment, expression neutral again as he considered her.
"No, that's not right." The fire demon made a sound of unhappiness. "You have to do it right." *
"Right?" Shikiyoku questioned, almost letting out a dry laugh. "I kissed you. That's what you asked for."
...and yet she wasn't making any moves to get out of his grasp. 3
Hiei let out a sigh at Shikiyoku, one that was slightly disappointed and yet amused at the same time. Because now, he'd be getting three if it went well. "You have to kiss me right." he repeated, turning to face her and staring at her intently. "It doesn't count if you don't do it right." He stared in silence. *
Shikiyoku closed her eyes, no longer attempting to hold back the energy that was thrilling around them, as both Hiei's arms holding her and his continued insistence that she kiss him was making her core giggle in her chest.
And really it wasn't as if his actions didn't excite her, but with him acting so strangely she almost felt as if it would be taking advantage of his willingness, something that she could just see being an issue later when he returned to normal.
If he returns to normal.
...
The thought that he might not return to normal had her tensing for a second, because no matter how much self-restraint she had gained-when did I get so much and how did that happen?-she knew there would be a breaking point when she couldn't resist his amiability. And then they would both be in trouble.
"Right?" Shikiyoku echoed, feeling a little confused. "A kiss is a kiss, flame-boy. That's what you asked for and that's what you got." She paused and clarified, "Twice now. Actually." 3
Hiei's expression remained much the same, patiently expectant as he stared point-blank at Shikiyoku, arms never removing from around her. For a moment, he wasn't sure whether he wanted to press on, or wait a while and try again. After all, he'd already been awarded more than he'd thought he'd get.
But that didn't mean he couldn't get more.
I want more.
(Because I like you.)
And this is fun.
He opened his mouth, sucked in a breath that almost turned into a sigh, and then said, "One more! To make sure you get on the right track for catching up!"
Pause.
"Shikiii, kiss me." *
It felt strange how sincere his admission to liking her felt as it floated through their bond. As if nothing that passed between them could be false.
Just...heavily influenced.
...by my energy.
Shikiyoku felt her lungs expand in a rather large sigh as she played back to herself the rest of what he had said.
(Catching up?)
Oh boy.
Please don't tell me he's been keeping count.
I haven't even been keeping count.
In the middle of deciding how exactly she was supposed to handle the situation she found herself in, a knock resonated from the outer door of their rooms, a knock that for the first time Shikiyoku felt relieved to hear.
"Hiei-" Shikiyoku tested his embrace by trying to pull away from him slightly, "I have to go. I'm supposed to be down in the labs this morning." 3
The fire demon slowly let his grip on her loosen, eyes moving to the door he had heard being knocked on, disturbing his moment of almost earning another little kiss. Theoretically, anyway.
He let her move away, hands dropping to his lap and a small pout causing his lips to jutt out a bit.
And then his mind was made up, and he too was standing, glancing briefly at the corner of the room where his cloak lie on the floor, torn and bloody from the days prior.
And he made to grab it, deciding he'd wear it anyway. Even if the holes were a bit breezy and slightly distracting.
Plus, it looked cool when the bandages underneath didn't hide the swirling mark on his skin that was shown in those holes.
Without another word, he made for the door. *
A single blink and he was already leaving the bedroom, Shikiyoku still sitting on the bed with her mouth slightly ajar and what could have been a strangled sort of noise dying in her chest before it could reach her throat.
"Hiei-" She slipped off the covers, chasing after him and grabbing for his arm, "You should definitely go back to bed. And you should definitely not wear that until I mend it. Which I can do when I get back." 3
Hiei stopped mid-stride, turning his head to look at Shikiyoku expectantly, an eyebrow quirked as he glanced at the hand around his forearm. His eyes trailed back up, a thoughtful gleam in his eye.
"You're right."
He made a small shrug, easily causing the material to loosen around his shoulders, his free hand pulling it away from his body until he had to pull his arm from Shikiyoku to remove that arm from the sleeve. His eyes flanced at the marking on that arm, pausing briefly as if admiring it.
(My mark's too cool to cover up anyway.)
"You don't have to fix it as soon as we get back." Another pause. "I want to see you work." *
Whereas before Shikiyoku felt as if Hiei was more closed off to her than normal, this morning it almost felt as if he either couldn't control what filtered through their bond or he simply didn't care to censor himself.
Possibly both.
She blinked at him as he shucked off his cloak.
We?
...o-ho, no.
"No, I-" She struggled not to groan, "I really think you shouldn't be going out right now."
Another knock at the door and she started to move in front of him to answer.
"It's boring work in any case. You'd be bored."
Thinking about how the routine of her day went, Shikiyoku most definitely did not want Hiei to witness everything that went on in the labs.
There were...certain things he didn't know yet that she hadn't quite figured out how to explain to him. 3
That's not fair.
I don't like being cooped up.
"I think I'd be bored sitting here," Hiei said after a moment of thought, gesturing to the room even as he followed after her to the door. His expression remained much the same: unreadable, blank. His eyes, however, wandered every now and then as a new thought would cross his mind, some plausible enough to consider, others just brief observations he filed away for another time.
"I mean, I can wait, and then be there in about ten minutes. Or," he paused, sending the impression of a shrug through the mental bond unintentionally. (Either way.) *
Well...I mean...I guess he has to find out some time.
Shikiyoku set her hand on the door knob and turned it, swinging the door inward.
...wasn't exactly how I planned it but-
"Kuraku!"
More than one voice echoed the sentiment and left Shikiyoku blinking up absently at the demons gathered at the portal. Most of them had grins on their faces-rather idiotic ones-and while Shikiyoku recognized the faces as ones that had more than once escorted her down to the labs, they weren't ones she particularly liked.
Any one of them would jump at the chance to get her alone.
"I brought this for you, Kuraku." The one standing in the front held out some sort of package or another that Shikiyoku almost immediately dismissed were it not for the fact that she instantly realized she would be unable to get rid of the present before Hiei knew of it like she had been with all the others.
At the first one having already extended his gift, it left the ice broken for the others who had something with them to do the same, each speaking at the same time as the others a spew of words Shikiyoku had heard many times since the escorts had started.
There was more than one implication of 'mate-gift' in their little speeches, if they did not come right out and say it exactly.
Perhaps one of them did. She couldn't rightly say she was paying any attention, though her bored expression didn't seem to put a damper on their enthusiasm.
These were not ones she would so much as fancy having as a mate.
Without so much as saying a word, she took the gift stuck under her nose and tossed it uncaringly behind her as she always did, pushing through the small crowd forcefully, since they barely let her by, and proceeding to ignore every single one of them as she left them behind staring after her for the briefest of moments as she continued down the hall. 3
Hiei had let Shikiyoku stay ahead of him, which put him unable to see the door for a moment- or rather, the patrons outside the door- and in the perfect place to catch whatever it was that Shiki threw over her shoulder.
Which he did so easily, the scent on the little thing foul and offending in his opinion. Charged with some emotion or another that brought him to disgust.
His earlier cheerful demeanor switched so quickly that even the demons who had seen him didn't notice until he too was pushing through the crowd.
And as he passed, various little boxes and things that they held in their hands went up in flames and smoke, slowly burning in a cinder that only he could extinguish.
And he paid no mind to any third degree burns on the hands holding those objects either.
"Let that be your one and only warning."
He didn't even glance back as he followed a few paces behind Shikiyoku. *
"You know, that was much easier than what I'd been doing with them." Shikiyoku muttered as she felt Hiei come up behind her.
The troupe of demons were only momentarily deterred, and while they maintained more of a distance than normal, that is to say they were feet away from Shikiyoku rather than inches, they did turn to follow after her once she got passed them. 3
(If they weren't Mukuro's…)
Hiei was very much aware of the following predators, though his eyes remained steadily pointed forward, his ears trained on the footsteps behind him.
...I'd kill them all in a cinder unlike any other.
Though, he had a feeling they'd been put up to it.
Which wouldn't be surprising.
He stepped up to Shikiyoku's side, spine straight and steps deliberately matching hers. And while he did seem to have more patience than normal, since he had yet to issue another threat, he found it rather difficult to not do just that, accompanied with a few more third-degree burns.
I could have them fearing fire by the end of this trek.
(What a sight that would be.)
To see them running and screaming.
(Heh.) *
Shikiyoku glanced at the fire demon next to her out of the corner of her eye after a while, hearing the various lines of dialogue leaking through their bond and able to fairly easily guess at the entire conversation.
And for some reason, she kind of wanted quirkiness from earlier back.
(You're not allowed to go to any such trouble, fire-prince. It's your day off.)
At that, as they walked, she stretched up on the tips of her toes to plant a single, quick kiss on his cheek before facing forward again. 3
Thanks for reading! Bless your face. If you sneezed during this chapter, bless you. Peace off!