Chapter 25: I don't Swoon… Deja vu?

My head was pounding. Hiei held onto me, it felt better when his hands were on my head, like he was keeping something away.

"Thanks." I rested my hand over his.

"Don't be stupid, you don't have to thank me." He rolled his eyes. "are you not mine?"

"now wait—"

"the same as I am yours?" he finished, he cocked a brow at me and smirked… did he just troll me? Who the heck taught him that?

You did, Nuni. He brushed a kiss onto my cheek.

Well, then, you can't use it against me like that.

You should rest. Your head will feel better after some sleep

"No." I shake my head and press it into his hand "I want to know what's going on, how Marik knows me and why he thinks I'm his queen."

Kurama flicked his rose whip in a small circle "I'd advise against that, Nuni, you had a strange reaction to him almost… a swoon." He cracked a smile.

"I do not swoon!" I snap. My heart drops into my stomach. why is that so familiar? My head erupts into pain. I wrap my arms around Hiei and press my head into his chest.

"Nuni." He pushes the top of my hair back, this length feels a lot better.

"I—" I wince at the sound of my own voice. It hurts, and I don't swoon

I know you don't. you're not stupid enough to want to man like that

Man like that?

Weak, liar.

Liar? Did he say something you know isn't true?

He called you his queen, that is a lie. I've never seen him in your memories and like I said, you wouldn't go for a man like that.

Just a man like you I tease him considering he's the only human—pers—livin—thing I'd ever gone for.

Exactly he holds me tighter.

So where do I know him from and why is he lying.

Who wouldn't want you?

Uh… my family I reminded him. He hadn't seen too much from my brothers family but he had seen my memories.

You were too good for them he petted me, ruffling the top of my hair and trailing his finger along the shaved part of my head. This fool seems to think he can trick you into being his.

But what for? Why is he doing this. There's a bigger plan.

I don't know what he wants beyond that, but he does want you and that's plenty reason for me to kill him.

Hiei… you don't need a reason to kill someone.

Yes, but I have one now, so I'm going to make it hurt.

Pain stabbed at my head. I pressed my head into his chest.

"I'll fix this." He whispered to me.

I want to know why I can't remember before I left home, Hiei, don't kill him before that, please.

Only at your request am I waiting.

Thank you.

"Nuni!" Marik's voice makes my chest squeeze in every wrong way. I don't believe him.

He won't touch you "what is it!" Hiei snaps Kurama goes to the door and cracks it open.

"Nuni is still resting."

"Of course, I brought towels and a change of clothes so she can wash up. It might not look it but this place does have running water. The shower to this room is at the back to the left."

"Thank you." Kurama took the towels. "I'm sure she'll be happy."

"Come out whenever you're ready to chat." Marik offered a smile around the door at me. "Get some rest."

Hiei scoops me up and snatches the towels and change of clothes from Kurama. "watch the main door."

"Are you going to shower with her?" Kurama chuckles. Hiei's face turns red but he doesn't respond. He's… he's not going to, right? He is dramatic enough to do something like that, not to make me uncomfortable but to protect me. it would still be uncomfortable.

"You'll shower in private." He assures me as he pushes a curtain aside revealing a weirdly modern looking bathroom. "but I will be in this room with you." He sets me in front of the tub. "Get undressed and get in, call me when you're in so I can come in and make sure you don't get kidnapped." He pauses at the door "again."

"Okay." I wait for him to walk out before stripping and hopping behind the curtain.

Hiei

I can't believe Kurama's comment made me blush like that. of course I wasn't going to go in with her. I am going to stay right beside her, she has a habit of getting kidnapped.

"Ready." She calls after a few seconds of the water running.

"I'm coming in." I brushed the curtain aside and took a seat halfway between the tub and the shower. I could see her silhouette through the curtain. I kept my eyes trained on the wall in front of me and my ears on her. No one is going to touch her, not ever again. I swear it. I'll kill everyone who so much as breathes in her direction.

"Hiei?" she calls out, I can feel her reaching for me.

"I'm here." I assured her, I filled the room with my aura. Letting everything that isn't her feel the intent. Come near enough and you will die.

"You know I didn't swoon over some guy… right?"

"I know."

Nuni stays in for awhile but she's relaxing finally. It's been awhile since she's had a shower. She showered every morning and night back home, this must feel amazing for her. I want to reach back for her but will that be too close. She likes to be alone sometimes and she hasn't been for too long. She needs Kurama and me to stay as close as possible.

"I'm getting out now." She turns the water off.

"I'll be right outside." I left her to herself for moment. I could hear her moving, drying, changing. She sighed and stepped out rubbing the towel against her head.

"Feel better?" I asked.

She nodded and smiled at me "yes."