A/N: This chapter is hella late but also hella long so I'm counting it as two. If I can manage to get another out in the next week so be it, but if not then at least this monstrosity stands on it's own. Sorry for the delay. A lot has happened in my life. My mom came to visit, my best friend might move in with me, my husband placed 3rd in his game at ComboBreaker. A lot of shit. Oh. And my birthday was the 29th! So this took a long time to get out. My apologies, readers. I also want to let you all know I read every review and I am incredibly happy so many of you have decided to read this story on the heels of Survivor's Guilt. Thank you all so much for your support. Every favorite, follow and review spurs me forward.
Coming home was like shedding the world's most comfortable coat. As soon as they reentered the real world it embraced them in earnest with greedy, grabbing fingers. Yusuke called Shinpi's landline with uncanny timing half an hour after she and Hiei made it through the door.
"We're going drinking. Come with us." He demanded.
"I just got home."
"Yeah, from a vacation. Don't sound so put out. Come drink with me."
"Where?" She asked. "Because if it's that bar you got kicked out of, I don't want to go. I'd be embarassed to be seen with you."
"No, it's this new grungy dive bar I found. It's filthy. You'll love it." He promised. "Beers are cheap and they have pool."
She weighed the idea for a moment, looked to Hiei who stood with his arms crossed watching her. "Yeah, alright, I guess I could go out one drink with you guys. But I swear to god Urameshi if you get me involved in another close call with the cops I will trip you and leave you to be caught."
"You're such a bitch sometimes. That's what I love about you. Here's the address. I'll meet you there." He hung up shortly after setting the time and Shinpi laughed at his vigor.
"Did you want to come get drinks with the gang?" She asked Hiei with a grin.
"You're going to go?" He asked with a frown. "How often do you go out drinking?"
Hiei always grew suspicious when she drank. She didn't blame him. The impression she'd given him of her drunk was always of a woman lost, grasping for a reason to live through a pain she no longer wanted to endure. But she had learned to cope over the years, found some of her closure. She still had a hard time on Kin's birthday every year. It would be an eternity until she didn't, she was sure. But casual drinks with friends, while still a little new to her, was comfortable and warm. It was the opposite of the earliest of her episodes Hiei had witnessed.
"Every now and then. I try not to overdo it, but when I do Kurama or Kuwabara make sure I get home alright and they tend to stay the night with me." She worked to appease him. "Don't look so worried, Hiei. It's not like I'm drowning my sorrows. I just enjoy being with our friends."
"Your friends. My allies."
"Oh please, that might have worked in the beginning but I know better by now. You're soft on the inside, Hiei. You can't lie to me." She slipped toward him, hands on his hips to hold him in place. "Sneak into the bar and join us. They'll enjoy your company if nothing else."
"Don't try to charm me into enduring a night out." Hiei complained with a frown. Shinpi moved closer to him pressing a kiss to his jaw. "Stop it."
"Alright, alright. You don't have to come." Shinpi stepped back from him with a shrug. "Don't have too much fun here all alone."
"Are you kidding? That sounds like paradise compared to listening to Yusuke grow increasingly rowdier as the night wears on." Hiei snorted. "While you're going deaf in some disgusting human bar, I'll be here indulging in the sweet sound of silence and the sense of satisfaction of not waking up hungover."
Shinpi just laughed as she breezed around him to head to her room to change. Hiei watched her go and made himself at home, wandering into the living room to take over the couch. It wasn't long after that she sauntered back to kiss his forehead, nose then peck his mouth before announcing her departure. Hiei grunted his acceptance, never opening his eyes, and listened for the door to click closed as she left. The house grew quiet, and while still comforting, it held a different hum of silence than when Shinpi was there too.
It didn't take long for him to roll off the couch, the first small rumble of hunger spurring him to investigate their food situation.
Hiei pried open the fridge to see what he had to work with. They'd been gone for a week so his hopes weren't high. But then he spied the two convenience store bentos, a note taped to the top that read I knew you wouldn't go shopping on your way back- K. They weren't the cheap, small portions either. The price made Hiei weigh the container carefully. Placing the food back in the fridge Hiei closed the door and decided that maybe seeking out their friends wasn't such a bad plan after all. He could pay Kurama back for the thoughtful meal.
"Hiei! What the hell man? When did you get back?" Yusuke yelled as Hiei appeared next to their booth.
Instead of answering the fire demon just shoved Yusuke further down the booth's bench so he could post himself on the outer edge.
"I didn't expect to see you tonight." Kurama leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table to look around Yusuke. There was a particular glint in his eye that told of an unspoken joke. "What a lovely surprise, Hiei."
Hiei shot him a glare laced with warning.
"A drink for my dour looking friend please." Shinpi called to the bartender.
Hiei's scathing look at her calling him a friend did not elude her but she didn't respond to it. If he wanted to put an end to their little game he could anytime. She flashed him a smile to let him know she was winning.
"How many have you had?" Hiei asked, accepting the beer offered to him. "I'd like to know how far gone you idiots are."
"Hichi is still on her first, actually." Kuwabara offered with rosy cheeks.
"Yeah, because she's lame." Yusuke frowned, leaning over the table to shove a finger into the woman's face. "You're lame Takani. Where is your party spirit? Huh?"
"The night is young." She shrugged, sipping her beer to look at him over the rim of the glass. Then she set it back on the table and smirked away from Yusuke, cutting her eyes to him to tease him. "Unlike a child like you, I have the experience to know when to pace myself."
"Hey! I'm a full grown man!" Yusuke growled at her, cheeks and nose doused with a deep pink to betray his inebriation, but he did it with a grin.
"Aw, did your big boy hair finally come in?" She asked him sweetly. "That's adorable. I'm proud of you, son."
"Fuck you, mom." Yusuke leaned further over the table, having to plant one of his feet in the seat to leverage himself. "At least I can reach the top shelf of the cabinets without crawling on a counter."
Shinpi leaned forward too, "That's no way to speak to your mother, little man. Do I need to teach you a lesson?"
"Fight me in the alley!"
"You couldn't handle it!" Shinpi put two fingers on his forehead and pushed him back into his seat then they both erupted in laughter.
Hiei stared at them as though they'd lost their minds but no one seemed to be the slightest bit interested on his take so instead he drank his beer and watched the night unravel around him. The entire table laughed at their antics while Hiei scanned the room. Shinpi hung out in places like this, he told himself not sure why she bothered. He didn't like the idea of her lounging around in seedy bars getting drunk and doing gods knew what. The only thing that made it okay to him was the fact she had the idiots with her. The idea of her doing this alone, knowing how far gone she might get, he hated it. He hadn't seen her truly drunk in a long time, at least not like when they were new to each other, but those interactions had stuck with him.
Celebrating Yusuke's bachelor party had sent her home with sunglasses on, her voice carrying slurred lyrics through the house while she made herself instant ramen, but she'd been in a good mood and fairly present of mind.
"Move. Gotta pee." Yusuke crawled over Hiei's lap unceremoniously and staggered himself toward the bathrooms while red eyes glared at his back.
"Me too." Shinpi slid out of her booth to follow behind Yusuke, though her posture and gait were far more sober.
"Did you two enjoy yourselves?" Kurama asked as he casually sipped from his glass. "You both look better rested."
"What did you guys even do up there in the mountains?" Kuwabara pried with his rosy cheeks and face pinched in confusion.
Hiei wrinkled his nose at them both. "None of your business."
"Don't be that way Hiei, we're just interested in your life." Kurama smiled. "By the way, Yusuke thinks you were home the whole time avoiding us so you could be alone. I thought it was the most plausible explanation."
"Shinpi did mention you were handling that. I guess I'm supposed to thank you." Hiei didn't actually follow through with giving thanks, but he smirk. "And yes, we did enjoy ourselves. It was relaxing, being alone. That's all either of you need to know."
"Damn." Kuwabara frowned, looking at Kurama. "Why are you always right?"
"I warned you. I know Hiei and I know Hichi." Kurama shrugged.
"Right about what?" Hiei demanded, distrust lining his gaze as he assessed Kurama, raising his glass to his lips. "What have you done now?"
"Kuwabara thought you might propose. I told him it was a fever dream to even imagine." The redhead grinned as Hiei sputtered as he inhaled his beer, immediately falling into a fit of coughs.
"What?!" He hissed as he worked to breathe properly. "Why would I do that?"
"Do what?"
All three men started at Yusuke's voice, turning to look at him where he swayed on his feet next to Hiei. He glanced over their expressions: humored, embarrassed and thoroughly annoyed. Then he shrugged and sat down again, trapping Hiei between himself and Kurama.
"So. What're we talkin' 'bout?" He asked with a grin. "We talking about Shinpi and how she's getting totally screwed by Toddler Pants?"
"Yusuke, not now." Kurama warned, his humor draining. "This isn't the place."
"Yeah, whatever. I don't know why she's putting up with them." Yusuke sneered leaning heavily to one side, hand wrapped around his glass. "I woulda kicked all their asses a long time ago. She could too but she won't, 'cause she's playing the long game. Psh."
"Yusuke." Kurama's tone grew colder, his eyes narrowing.
"What?" The brunet demanded. "You know it too."
Hiei looked between them curious as to why this was setting Kurama off so suddenly. His body had grown taught with tension, his chin coming down so he could deliver a chilling look onto Yusuke who didn't seem to notice or care. They all knew it was true. Shinpi knew it too. It didn't make sense for Kurama to be so angry about Yusuke speaking the truth, especially when they all were so familiar with how honest Yusuke grew when he was drunk.
"What I know is that she asked us not to talk about it and you're unable to hold to that for one night." Kurama explained darkly. "She asked for one night where she didn't have to listen to us berate her and complain about her situation. If you keep this up she's going to do it again, Yusuke. So stop it."
"Do what?" Hiei asked, curious. He'd obviously missed several important social cues during this exchange.
Shinpi had asked them to not talk about her situation with Spirit World? Was this a topic of complaint as often as Kurama implied? She hadn't said anything to him about it. He knew she was frustrated with the situation, but he didn't realize those feelings had so thoroughly permeated the group.
"Disappear." Yusuke mumbled. "Alright, alight. I'll stop."
"Good." Kurama resettled himself. "Good."
Kuwabara leaned over the table to lower his voice so he could answer Hiei's unasked question which played over his features. "Yusuke went on a tirade a few months back and Shinpi kept telling him to knock it off, but he wouldn't. So she got up and left and she wouldn't come out with us for a few weeks. She said there was no point in it if she was just going to be questioned the whole time. That we were supposed to be her safe place from the bullshit, not just another pile for her to shovel through."
"Oh." Hiei frowned.
She hadn't told him that either. He knew her letters weren't always comprehensive about her personal life here, but he hadn't realized she was leaving so much out. Her rambling ideas and explanations of her investigations were a few pages long at least when she sent them. Her love letters at least two. But he only then noticed that her letters detailing her actual life outside of those things were perhaps a page front and back. Brief. He turned his glass between his fingers. Did she think he didn't care about such things so she was sparing him? Or was it that she didn't want him to know? She did have the habit of burying her frustrations, of slapping on a mask to make it all smooth over. He'd ask her about it later.
It made him wonder what else he'd been missing out on.
"How've you been?" Yusuke elbowed Hiei, rousing him from his thoughts. "It's been a while."
"Busy." Hiei answered with a glare at his beer. "Constant work, actually. My only time to breathe is when I come here and that's been happening more infrequently than I'd like."
"Yeah, you looked wrecked last time I saw you." Yusuke nodded. "You gotta take better care of yourself man. One day you're going to wake up dead and trust me, that's not fun."
"I'll be fine. If I had more than one halfway decent soldier to delegate tasks to my life would be easier, but as it stands I'm the only competent demon and my only help is Runa." Hiei complained. "It doesn't matter. I signed up for this job and I'll keep doing it. I just have to find a way to keep my energy up without sleep to bolster me."
"You should ask Shinpi her secret because I'm pretty sure she never sleeps." Yusuke laughed.
Kurama rolled his eyes and smiled, his bad attitude lifting some. "That's not true Yusuke. She normally loses consciousness at least every three weeks."
Even Hiei huffed a laugh at that.
"I think her answer would be that she runs on spite and willpower and since I'm already full of those I'll need an additional supplement." Hiei joked before finishing his beer. Yusuke waited until his glass hit the table before he shouted that they needed another round. "Speaking of Shinpi, where the hell is she?"
"Why, did you miss me?" Shinpi asked as she slid back into the booth beside Kuwabara.
"Hardly."
"That still implies you did, a little." She eyed Hiei and then winked at him. "So, what trouble did you hooligans raise while I was preoccupied?"
"Kurama yelled at Yusuke for being an idiot." Kuwabara grinned. "And then we started making fun of you for not sleeping."
"The classics. It's good to know you're all playing the same old hits." She sighed, leaning back in the booth. "Honestly, I've never met a bigger bunch of nags than you lot and I've lived with Hai for most of my life. I sleep when I need to sleep. You make me sound like some sort of insomniac or something."
Kurama delicately coughed into his hand and she shot him a dirty look. He smiled at her pleasantly. "Of course you take great care of yourself Hichi, a model of routine when it comes to sleeping and eating and seeing daylight."
"I would set alarms but then what would you do with the time you spend reminding me?" She teased him with a smile.
"True, taking care of you is my favorite hobby." He laughed and then looked to Hiei. "It reminds me of you sometimes, when you were younger and still new to human world."
Hiei grimaced for humor and glanced at Shinpi. "Ouch. That is not a compliment."
"I wish I had seen you two together back then. I wonder what you were like. I've heard you were the dynamic duo but stories aren't the same as being there." She leaned forward. "But I'd settle for a few anyway."
"I don't know what you're expecting. We were allies and we grew to be close during that time." Hiei shrugged.
"Oh you two were close alright." Kuwabara muttered and Kurama spit into his drink as he worked not to choke on it. Hiei laughed at him because he felt that was karmic action at it's finest. Yusuke leered at them and then offered a devious smile.
"Oh yeah man. We were all totally convinced those two were boning." He declared. "You should've heard the way Hiei used to talk about Kurama. Oh he's so powerful and smart and perfect."
"Really now?" Shinpi grinned brightly and looked at the two men who were trapped on Yusuke's side of the table. "Oh do tell me more about this love affair."
Yusuke went to open his mouth and Kurama's voice cut him off. "It doesn't really matter anymore does it? Hiei and I weren't dating. We were, and I would hope still are, extremely close friends. Honestly, I don't think it's much different than our relationship Hichi. When he came to this world, Hiei found me first. We were quick allies and then partners, we had to rely on each other. It's only natural for a bond like that to be strong, don't you agree?"
She nodded but her attention on him felt probing and he didn't like it so he stared back at her hoping to ward off whatever thoughts were bouncing around her skull. She looked over at Hiei who didn't seem bothered by the topic at all. Then she shrugged.
"Too bad. I would have loved to have some dirt on the two of you." She let it go. Or so they thought. "It's also a shame, because you two would have made a handsome and powerful couple I think. I do love a good height difference between lovers. It just adds something special, doesn't it?"
Hiei looked at her and her wicked smile and almost warned her that she was stirring up the right kind of trouble from him. Instead he rolled his eyes. "I've never been very interested in romantic pursuits so that notion lacks any merit."
"It doesn't have to be romantic. Sometimes you just want to be touched." Shinpi shrugged, leaning back. "Or at least I do. And let's be honest here, there are worse creatures to take to bed than our lovely Kurama. No one would blame either of you for falling into the trap of one another's company."
Hiei merely sipped his fresh beer and Kurama swallowed having used two napkins to clean his chin and the table after his incident with his drink.
"While we're talking about friendships that looked like burgeoning romances, let's not forget Kuwabara's obsession with Yusuke, hmm?" Kurama offered to the table with a casual tone despite his glittering eyes. "You were truly enamored with our valiant leader for quite some time."
"That's right, I almost forgot." Hiei agreed devilishly. "Your entire world revolved around getting strong enough to get his attention. I've never seen a man so fulfilled by the idea of getting beaten into the ground. And you definitely had an affinity for screaming his name."
"Hey! It was never like that! Not that there's anything wrong with it or anything, it just wasn't like that!" Kuwabara's face turned red. "I just wanted to prove myself is all! Don't make it weird! It was a manly thing!"
"Don't let them rile you up, Kazuma." Shinpi reached up and started playing with the hair above his nape to calm him down. He shivered as her nails scraped his scalp and then he leaned into her touch.
Hiei openly scowled at the display. He did not like that, not one bit. He was more than aware of Shinpi's casual affections being put onto the others but this was a public place and the satisfaction on Kuwabara's face read as obscene to him. If nothing else, he should have the decency to guard his reaction. What sort of idiot just looked that comfortable being caressed in the open? Also, Shinpi cutting off his fun wasn't fair. She'd gotten to have hers. She tossed him a conniving smile that alluded to her action being intentional.
"Just like you to get handsy with a Kuwabara." Yusuke snickered at the shorter woman. "You still chasing Shizuru's skirt or have you moved onto bigger prey?"
Shinpi didn't rise to the bait, instead shrugging. "Shizuru was very firm but kind in her rejection and I would never dream of disrespecting her by questioning it. I do have my eyes on a few choice cuts of meat though. Why the interest, Yusuke, are you and Keiko already in the spicing it up part of your marriage?"
Yusuke inhaled his drink too suddenly and it sloshed down the front of his shirt and all over his pants. He cried out at the cold contact, the table rocking dangerously as he jumped to his feet in an attempt to wipe the liquid off. Shinpi snatched her glass at the last second, saving herself with a pleased smile as she watched him complain. Kurama too had managed to grab his beverage. Hiei's cup sat empty and therefore posed to danger to anyone but Kuwabara's glass…
Well no one had thought to save that particular beer so it too fell victim to Yusuke's buffoonery, upending and sending it's contents over the table and consequently all over Shinpi's pants.
Her smile faded rather quickly as the taste of victory was buried beneath the scent of hops and alcohol. Swearing to herself she stood up too, though with far more control, and handed her drink to Kuwabara. "That backfired rather quickly. I'm going to go try to clean myself up."
She cuffed Yusuke on the back of his head with an insult as she passed him on her way to the restroom.
"That's what she gets!" Yusuke grumbled, his cheeks carrying a dark pink hue. "Keiko and I are just fine! She needs to keep her hands to herself." Then he turned to glare at Hiei and Kurama. "One of you needs to pull the reins on her or something! Maybe if she got laid she wouldn't be such a brat."
"I don't think sex is the solution to her attitude." Hiei announced casually, his grin completely missed by the detective. "In fact I'd go so far as to suggest it might even embolden her."
"Yeah well then maybe you aren't the guy for the job." Yusuke huffed, the pink dousing his cheeks and nose growing deeper in shade. He turned and jabbed a finger toward the redhead of their group. "Kurama, what about you? Do you think you could tame that beast?"
Hiei turned in his seat to pointedly await the answer. Kurama cleared his throat, closed his eyes and waved a hand gently. "The mere idea that any man could change Hichi in anyway she didn't want to be changed is ludicrous Yusuke. You're asking for a miracle that none of us are in the position to grant. Have another drink."
Kuwabara made a small noise and they all noticed his face was beet red still, the color having crept up to his ears. "I don't think we should be talking about Hichi this way. We're not a bunch of boys in a locker room, you know. We're real men and we're her friends."
"Aw, you're scared of mom." Yusuke teased him, his annoyance immediately forgotten in favor of taunting his friend. "And here I thought Kurama was the momma's boy."
"Original." Kurama rolled his eyes.
"Oh shut it. You're the one who pouted for three weeks the last time you made her mad!" Kuwabara's expression turned sly. "You got so upset about it you even bought her flowers and told her sorry. Even Keiko was shocked. You never even do that for your real mom."
"Are we still doing this gambit?" Hiei wondered aloud, ignored by everyone present. "She's not your mother."
"Well, at least I didn't have to ask her to take me suit shopping!" Yusuke barked.
"Yeah, because you don't wear a suit because you're not a respectable man."
"Oh shut up."
"Now now children, settle down." Kurama laughed at them. "You're going to get us kicked out."
Hiei pulled his foot up to rest on the bench seat so he could prop his arm against his knee. He was actually enjoying himself something he was sure Shinpi would gloat about later if he ever admitted it. Yusuke's bluster lacked bite and Hiei knew it wasn't actually based in bitterness. Yusuke cared about Shinpi deeply, just as they all did, and it was clear to Hiei now that his frustration with her was rooted deeply in her perceived lack of interest in changing her situation. He could relate. Yusuke likely didn't even get to see Shinpi in her darker moments when the frustration and anger leaked out from whatever bottle inside her she'd been keeping them hidden in. He probably hadn't ever walked in on her pacing her house like a caged animal, snarl on her face as she ruminated on her metaphorical chains. And Yusuke probably didn't know how quickly she was coming to the end of her patience with Enma and his wretched taunts of giving her the truth about her resurrection.
One of the only reasons they'd been able to keep her alive in the beginning was by promising Spirit World that she'd be an indispensable ally, and so far she'd fulfilled that role. She'd proven them all right, had earned her place. But he knew that Shinpi wasn't sitting idle, she wasn't a helpless complicit creature tossed about by her circumstances. Shinpi always had a plan, always had a goal, always had a way out.
His woman was not afraid of making powerful enemies and if Spirit World didn't start giving her crumbs to sate her hunger then she'd go out hunting for herself, and quite frankly Hiei was not convinced that any of Enma's toy soldiers would be enough to stop her. They needed to start appreciating that she was playing their game for their sake and not her own. Especially given that not one of the team would be willing to take up arms against her if she did choose to sever her tenuous connection to the arrogant god lauding his imagined power over her.
Hiei lifted himself from his thoughts at the sound of the bar door slamming open and a gruff voice preceding a stifled feminine utterance of pain. The entire table grew quite, Yusuke stopping mid-tease his fingers still in Kurama's hair where he'd been ruffling the strands just to be annoying. Kuwabara openly scowled at the newcomers, the man average height and built like a gangster who had been too high a station for too long and thus had lost what muscle had once made him useful. The woman was thin, the frail sort of thin that spoke of induced malnourishment, her dark hair shining only through the grace of whatever products had been applied to it to produce the look of health. The small dark horns atop her head blended with her hair. Her skin held color, her cheeks painted pink, her lips painted red, her eyes painted grey and smudged from tears that had been shed before being meticulously wiped away to avoid ruining the rest of the applied makeup.
Bruises on her upper arm.
Caked on makeup around one eye.
Same eye had busted a blood vessel tainting the whites a harsh red that matched her lipstick.
Clothes look expensive, well tended, but loose. Meant for a body she'd had months before not the one she was sporting now.
Heels high enough to make it hard for her thin ankles to stabilize.
The four men glanced at each other and shifted their scrutiny away just before the man turned to look at them. They'd need to decide if they were going to intervene and if so how. A confrontation in the bar? On the street? If he had his way it would be a quick, quiet, dispatch of the wretch and the police would the find the body exsanguinated in an ally and celebrate one less gangster on the streets. But he couldn't have his way.
"Oh fuck." Yusuke's eyes grew increasingly more clear as the situation sobered him. He kept his cursing quiet, but agitated. "Oh goddammit. Don't go in there."
Hiei turned to barely peek over his shoulder and closed his eyes as the man shoved the woman toward the restroom. Great.
"Is she still in there?" He asked quietly.
"Yes." Kurama sighed. He signaled for another round of drinks before pushing his way out of the booth to go and pay up their tab. He brought the beers to the group and bowed his head. "I suggest we spread out vantage point so we can better observe the fallout. There's a pool table. Yusuke, Kuwabara time for revelry. Hiei-"
"I'll keep an eye on it." Hiei smirked already aware of his role. "I might need your help if it comes down to pulling her off the cretin."
"Naturally."
Shinpi grumbled under breath as she dabbed at the beer soaking her pants. She probably reeked of alcohol. Dammit. Commercial bathroom paper towels left a lot to be desired in the absorbency department and she hated that the damn rough brown paper existed at all. Maybe she should just stop trying and go beg a bar rag off the bartender. Or she could cut her losses and go home. Hiei would probably prefer that.
She hoped he was having more fun that he showed.
Just as she gave up on actually cleaning the mess of her pants the door to the bathroom opened and another woman walked in, heels clacking against the tile. Shinpi had always appreciated the sound of high heels on hard surfaces, they played a song of power and confidence, a war song. A warning. But the steps she heard then were hesitant, careful, cautious. They came to a stop when she raised her hand to assess the maestro of the score. She did not like what she saw.
Bruises, mistreatment, fear.
"Are you okay?" Shinpi asked quietly, burying her sudden anger under layers of gentle friendliness.
"I'm fine." The quick response accompanied dark eyes that widened with shrunken pupils, a body going stiff but still managing to fold in on itself a little. "Why do you ask?"
"We always know when to ask, don't we?" Shinpi smiled softly. "Women protect other women even when we don't why."
The other woman wrapped her arms around her middle and looked toward the bathroom stall. Shinpi looked that way too, then the door.
"I'm not here to cause problems for anyone. But if it turns out you aren't actually fine, and instead that you're maybe in a lot of trouble and absolutely terrified of someone then just know that I'm tougher than I look."
The terror that showed on the woman's face as Shinpi finished talking startled her, because she hadn't meant to frighten the girl. And now as Shinpi looked her over again that's what she saw, not a woman but a girl. Nineteen, possibly twenty. Grown enough to make her own choices but still so incredibly young. Shinpi shook her head slightly and headed for the door, wondering how to best approach this. Because she was definitely going to do something.
"Wait." A small hand wrapped around Shinpi forearm stopping her from opening the door. She turned to look into those broken dark eyes as the girl spoke in a quiet voice that cracked with fear. "You're not here alone are you?"
"No. I'm here with friends."
The girl nodded looking somewhat relieved. "Good. You should stay close to them. You're really pretty."
Shinpi eyed her with understanding. "You're bait."
The girl's hand retracted quickly as she rushed to step back and away. She tried to stutter a response to the negative but Shinpi lifted a hand to stop her.
"Don't worry little one, I'm in no danger. And by the end of the night you'll be safe." She promised before whisking out of the room determined and furious.
Shinpi stumbled toward the bar and offered a sloppy grin to the bartender, ignoring her four compatriots as they played pool. She felt eyes on her, her nape tickling with the sensation of being watched, but she didn't react. She purposefully didn't look over as Yusuke and Kuwabara loudly bickered over the rules of the game. Instead she leaned heavily against the bar and placed an order for a mixed drink before laughing loudly.
"My friends just left me here. What bitches, right?" She giggled to the bartender as they slid her the drink. With raised eyebrow they glanced toward the boys but Shinpi winked and shook her head. "I guess I'm walking home, but not before I drink this. I need new friends."
She laughed again, putting effort into being as obnoxious as possible.
The frightened rhythm of heels scurrying over the dirty wooden floor caused Shinpi to glance toward the woman and now the man who sat across from her. His eyes were glued to Shinpi and she forced that drunken grin to remain in place as she beamed at him. Then she lifted her drink and sipped it, swaying her way toward their table before casting herself down in a chair.
"I need new friends." She announced again, a little too loud. "Mine just left me here. That's rude right?"
"Incredibly." The man smiled at her and even that expression looked sleezy.
Across the bar, Kurama glanced at Hiei who glared away from the scene, annoyance playing over his features. He watched through a mirror that advertised Heineken beer in bold green letters. Yusuke scratched, the white cue ball slamming into the corner pocket even though he'd had a clear shot to knock a ball into the side pocket. He swore loudly playing up his stupor with his grumbling.
"What is she doing?" He asked quietly, marching to stand beside Hiei as Kuwabara took his turn.
"Getting herself kidnapped." Hiei responded darkly. "There must be more to this than the two of them."
"When they leave-"
"All four of us would attract too much attention. You and Kuwabara can go home. Kurama and I will handle the rest. I'll have Shinpi contact you when everything is done."
"You sure?"
"Yes." Hiei refocused on the mirror as the man began speaking, following a loud and lengthy tale of lies woven by Shinpi to explain her situation.
"Well, if you need a ride home we can give you one. It'd be a shame if something happened to you out there all alone. Lots of pretty girls been going missing lately. You can't be too careful." He slid a forked tongue over his lips, one hand on the back of the neck of the young woman filling the seat at his side.
"You're so nice! I'm so lucky." Shinpi beamed at him and nearly fell out of her chair. She followed his prompt to get to her feet so they could leave and then followed them out the door.
Kurama and Hiei waited for a moment before leaving the bar, hanging back just enough to catch the man opening the back door of the car for Shinpi and the other woman. He promised he would take good care of her and then laughed as he slammed the door closed, walking around to the driver's side. Hiei's eyes felt permanently narrowed.
They'd been back for less than a day. Could she really not avoid trouble for twenty-four hours?
"Once again I have to admit, I'm shocked by her ability to act." Kurama told Hiei as they started to walk, the soft glow of the Jagan hidden under Hiei's bangs and the white bandana wrapped around his head.
"She spent the first twenty-four years of her life acting like someone she wasn't. She has plenty of experience." Hiei reminded him. "I can't believe she just launched herself into this without consulting anyone. Is she always this brash when I'm not around?"
"I'm not sure how to answer that." Kurama pressed his lips together and hedged. "Shinpi is confident in her abilities and her plans. Even the ones she has barely just finished plotting. But, to put you at ease, not to my knowledge. Normally she at least attempts to include someone else, if it's only to let us know what she's doing. I think she only threw herself into this because she knew she could precisely because you were there to watch her back."
Hiei mentally swore as he realized he hadn't paid for their drinks in his petty attempt to pay Kurama back for buying them food.
"You need to stop coddling her." Hiei shot at his friend instead. "If you keep taking care of her she's going to grow reliant on you. I saw the bentos you bought. It would have served us both right to go hungry for not making the correct plans."
"I don't mind." Kurama argued as they turned a corner. "I actually think it's good that she's a little reliant on me. It gives her a reason to remember she's not in this world alone."
"I'm not saying she needs to be alone, I'm saying she needs to be independent. She's lived for centuries without our interference. When we met her she was entirely self sufficient. Now she's forgetting to buy groceries. What's she going to do when you get your own life?" Hiei explained hotly. "You're setting her up for a crash, Kurama. If you keep this up then when you can't do it anymore she's going to fall apart."
"I see your concern Hiei, but I just don't agree. Plus, I enjoy doing these small things for her. It allows me to check in." Kurama pushed his fingers through his bangs. "She gets lonely. We all get so busy with our own lives that it isn't always possible for us to meet and catchup or hangout. And you know as well as I do what happens to her when she gets lonely. She starts to doubt things. If all I have to do to keep her from spiraling is stop by now and then with some food then I'm going to keep doing that."
"It's still that bad?" Hiei looked up at him. "Her moods, I mean?"
"It can be." Kurama nodded. "I keep telling her to just call one of us when she's feeling isolated but it's hard for her to reach out. She feels like she's a burden if she asks for help. That independence you want from her is still very much so alive, but it costs her to do everything on her own."
"I didn't think about it that way." Hiei admitted quietly, but still with a gruff tone. "She doesn't tell me these things in her letters."
"I'm aware. I've spoken to her about that as well. She doesn't want to worry you." Kurama's tone shifted to reveal his own frustration. "I hope now you understand why I'm not going to stop doing things for her."
"Fine."
"Fine."
Hiei tilted his head, changing the subject as he watched the car come to a stop in his third eye. "They've arrived at a large building. An apartment maybe? Or an office? Keep up."
He took off running and Kurama lamented having to jostle his sloshy stomach. He should have suggested dinner before drinks instead of assuming they'd be able to wander around after to get food. They both knew that Shinpi could handle herself, but that nagging sense of uncertainty always gripped him and he guessed it hooked into Hiei too. That fear that this would be the one time she didn't have it under control. So, he pushed himself to keep pace with Hiei as best as he could.
Which was easier said than done. While Yusuke, Shinpi and Hiei made a habit of sparring and training on the regular he had let himself grow soft. His legs burned with his lungs. This was a sign he needed to get back into shape. Even Kuwabara, as busy as he was, found time to exercise and work on his energy training.
What a strange feeling to realize he was the weakest member of the group at the moment.
Something would definitely have to be done about that.
Shinpi stared up at the building, assessing the innocuous exterior. Just another hotel. It looked like so many other places and that only fed into her fury. This place was out in the open. This den of horrors had the audacity to look like a respectable place of business.
She would reduce the whole goddamn thing to rubble if she had her way.
The hair on her nape stayed on end and that was enough to inform her that Hiei was out there watching, ready to help if she needed it. She was glad they'd let her do this her way. If they'd confronted this bastard at the bar they might not have found this place and the other victims would have continued on being used and abused. The idea of it tensed her jaw.
A firm hand grabbed her by the back of her neck and shoved her forward, fingertips digging into her flesh in an attempt to gain control over her. Against her nature, Shinpi allowed herself to be moved despite her heels wanting to dig in. Hot breath hit her ear. "Welcome to your new home. We got lots of friends for you."
"I have a home." Shinpi figured some sort of resistance would be necessary, some fear. It would be more suspicious for her not to try to fight a little, right? "I thought you were taking me home?"
"I did." He tightened his grip. "Get in there girly, because if I have to make you your value goes down. Every bruise knocks off a dollar sign."
"No." She shook her head and pulled back. He grabbed her by the arms and worked to overpower her half-hearted flailing. "No! Let me go!"
"Let-let her go, please." The young woman pleaded suddenly, moving to pull his hands off of Shinpi. "Please, let her go."
The back of his hand sent the girl stumbling with a cry of pain. Shinpi grew still, surprised and alarmed. He had hit the girl so hard. Taking her sudden stillness as compliance, the man smirked before grabbing them both by their arms and dragging them inside. Shinpi only stopped resisting because she didn't want the other girl to play hero again. There was no way she was letting her get hurt.
They were walked through an bustling lobby and passed reception. Not one of the men in the room moved to assist them. The men ranged from obviously human to atrociously demonic. The girls, most of whom were humanoid in appearance just different enough they couldn't hide their demon nature, took in Shinpi with mingled pity and fear. Their gracious host tossed both of them into room lined with beds but lacking windows.
"Get her cleaned up and ready to be assessed." He demanded of the girl, gesturing to Shinpi. "And clean up your face. You're going back on the floor as soon as you're done."
The door shook when it slammed closed, the heavy sound of a lock turning filling the room.
"Why did you do this?" The girl demanded quietly, nearly in tears. "I tried to warn you."
"I told you. I'll be fine. And you will be too." Shinpi got to her feet then helped the girl up as well. "What's your name?"
"Asuha." The girl swallowed. "There's no leaving this place. They guard the doors and-"
"Do the guests sign in?" Shinpi cut her off.
Asuha blinked and then stammered, "I think so."
"Good. I'll be taking that book with me." Shinpi nodded and started to look around the room. "You mentioned guards, how many?"
"Um. I don't know. Maybe ten?"
"Exits? I'm assuming there's the front door, two emergency exits at the end of both halls and obviously some way for the owners to slip out if there's a raid. Is that right?"
"I think so. There is definitely two emergency exits. Guards are on them at all times. Just in case someone runs." Asuha wrapped her arms around her middle. "How are you so calm? Why aren't you terrified?"
"I'm making a plan." Shinpi explained as if this answered the question. Objectives, get the girls out of the building and returned safely to their lives, get the register, eliminate as many of the perpetrators as possible while keeping the external damage to the building at a minimum to avoid alerting the human authorities. Guests would likely have to wait for punishment unless they put up a fight. No humans to be harmed.
The level of demon trafficking would unfortunately require reporting to Koenma. SDF would need to get involved.
Hiei and Kurama would be on them soon. By now they'd have assessed the building as she had.
God this would be so much easier if she could just lay waste to every guilty soul in the place. Guests and gangsters alike. Just evacuate the girls and drop a twister on the damn hotel and let it be done. Spirit World was so stringent when it came to what they thought was justice. These men hardly deserved mercy.
At least she could demonstrate her wrath on the demons involved. Set an example.
Her lips twisted up in a grin that spoke of the chaos to come. "Right. Tell me about this assessment?"
"Oh. Well. They take you into a room and they examine you and they ask you questions to determine your value. For first timers they set a base price then they take you out to the floor and have the guests bid on who gets to be with you first."
"Horrific." Shinpi growled. "Gods I'm going to enjoy this so much. Am I to be assessed by the leader?"
"Yes. And his top men." Asuha nodded. She moved to a bed and pulled makeup out to start reapplying, covering the redness the backhand had left on her face. She pointed to a thin cotton robe hanging on it's own peg on the wall. "They'll want you to put that on."
"If I don't?"
"They'll make you. And they'll punish me for not convincing you." Asuha put her makeup down to turn to look over at Shinpi. "But I'll take the beating. It's okay you don't-"
"No. I'll do it." Shinpi stripped her shirt over her head and tossed it onto a bed, her pants following. Her silver Infinity Chain wrapped around her wrist and she kept it one as she donned the robe, tying it closed. The sash would come in handy.
"They're going to hurt you." Asuha's voice was so quiet it trembled from the effort to be audible.
"They're going to die." Shinpi shook her head. "When you hear the screaming start, try to get the girls out of here. Go through the front doors but try to stick together. I don't want anyone getting stolen during the havoc."
"Screaming?" Asuha questioned.
"Oh yes. It'll be loud. You'll hear it."
"But the guards-"
"Won't be an issue. Just stay safe, don't fight, and try to keep everyone calm. Everything will be alright."
The door opened and the man with the forked tongue assessed Shinpi then Asuha. "Aren't you done yet?"
"I'm sorry." She rushed to apply blush and then scurried around him out the door, not before tossing one more worried glance toward Shinpi.
"Time to see what you're made of girly." He grabbed Shinpi by the upper arm and she let him while daydreaming about breaking his fingers at the joints.
He marched her down a hall and then down a set of stairs into an underground room where three other men stood. An array of instruments lay on a table near them, a large bed in the center of the room. In the corner set up like a dressing room. The heavy scent of cigar smoke clogging the hair. Shinpi stood and assessed her captors as they looked her over. The hand on her arm let her go, only to move into her hair and take the strands in a balled fist.
"Bow to show respect." The demand was growled at her by the man at her side. He tried to force her head down but Shinpi refused to move. Instead she kicked out and her heel slammed against his shin.
"Don't touch my hair." She hissed, he went to strike her but she evaded his hits before slamming her head against his face. Two of the other men grabbed her arms to pull her away as the man swore and spit blood to the side. He raised his hand.
"Don't bruise the merchandise." A strong, firm voice stopped the assault. The third man, who had not moved, watched them all with cold eyes. "Get out. You two, tie her hands."
Shinpi growled as they wrapped rope around her wrists. If they thought that would stop her, they were dead wrong.
"You're spirited." The man stepped forward, head tilted. "How did he manage to get you here?"
"I chose to come." Shinpi informed him curtly as he prowled closer.
"Chose?" He laughed. "Why would you do that?"
"Men like that idiot never work alone. I knew there were others. I wanted to meet you personally." Shinpi's tone was even and cold.
"Well, you've managed to succeed. Here I am. Now, is there another part of your plan?" He seemed to believe she was in over her head, it shone in his eyes and smile. One of the men flanking her walked behind her to grip both arms as the leader reached forward to collect a few strands of her hair, allowing it slide out of his grip. "I see why you're defensive of your hair, it is quite lovely."
"Are you the real leader or does this ring go deeper?" Shinpi questioned.
"What good would that information do you?"
"Well, when I'm done massacring your men, I want to know if I should keep you alive or if there is someone else I need to go after." Shinpi lowered her voice delicately, offering him a smile.
"That's adorable. You really fancy yourself a hero, don't you little girl?" He leaned over her. "It's just me, I'm the top of the food chain and right now you're a the bottom. But given all this attitude you have I might not even put you out on the floor yet. I might just keep you for myself until I grow tired."
He grabbed her face and got dangerously close to her.
"I'm going to break that spirit of yours." He promised.
"Better men than you have tried." She murmured back, shoving her weight back into the chest of the man holding her arms. Using him as a base she lifted both of her feet in a kick that landed in the leader's chest, sending him staggering back. As her feet came down, Shinpi threw her weight forward and down, jerking away from her captor. Her tied hands slammed across his face before she kicked his diaphragm and when he doubled over, she dropped a kick down against the back of his neck so that he sagged to the floor. Her hair flared around her as she summoned her wind and her smile glinted like a knife as she nodded toward the second flunky. He moved to rush her and she spun around, her leg arching in a kick that sent him flying backward into the far wall, blood staining his clothes from the gash her wind cut across his torso.
Shinpi turned at the sound of the leader scrambling up the stairs. She allowed him the lead for the moment, listening as he shouted for the guards closest to him for help.
Fat lot of good they'd do for him, she thought, but still she shrugged as she decided it wasn't worth having words over. Her stomach rumbled and it made her frown as she started to climb the stairs. "Oh damn. I forgot to eat. I wonder if I'll be able to convince Hiei to go out for food before we go home."
When she got to the door she didn't bother testing it, instead just throwing it open by slamming the bottom of her foot against the wood and letting her energy do the rest. There was definitely a scream that met her ears at her entrance and she glanced toward the main lobby, glad to note that Asuha was doing her best to rush the girls out of the hotel. Footsteps behind her allowed Shinpi to duck away from the guard meaning to attack her. These men were so unprofessional. Or maybe her standards were just too high. She forgot sometimes that not every thug had trained to fight.
She'd been spoiled by her boys and their relatively quiet footsteps.
Spinning around on bare feet, Shinpi eyed the man coming toward her who seemed perplexed. He stopped, lowering his fist. It was then she realized she was still dressed in the robe with her hands bound. She must've looked so small to him.
"Please! Help me! Someone just started attacking people and I don't know what to do!" She cried out, looking around wildly. "I barely made up the stairs. I don't know where to go. Please, help me. Please."
"I have one of the girls in the corridor." The guard spoke into the walkie-talkie clipped to his shoulder. "Keep your eyes open. You. Get back to your room, we'll take care of the intruder."
"I don't know where I am. I was out with friends and I just woke up here." She pleaded with him. "Please, you have to get me out of here."
"Fuck me. A newbie." He rolled his eyes and walked over to her, taking her arm with far more gentleness than most of the others had shown. "I'll show you."
But being gentle didn't change the fact he knew what he was doing. Shinpi planted her feet, closed her eyes and wondered how the world could go so wrong for so many.
Hiei and Kurama both waited outside the hotel, backs to the wall as Hiei watched through the Jagan. Shinpi willingly playing into the hands of this cretins was enough to chafe him raw. Stripping down to her underwear to be examined, donning nothing but a robe? Allowing them to bind her hands? She craved a challenge and it was going to get her killed someday.
"She's such a fucking fool." He growled, eyes pinched closed. "But she's asked the girl from the bar to guide the others out here. She intends to eliminate the guards herself."
"You're surprised?" Kurama smiled, though his friend couldn't see it.
"Surprised? No. Growing increasingly aggravated with her antics tonight? Definitely."
"I'll tend to the ladies once they start fleeing. I assume you want to join Hichi."
"I might. I also might just let her do it all herself since she's so damned determined." Hiei groused. He looked up at Kurama, caught sight of the knowing look being cast his way and snapped, "Don't you start. I can practically hear you throwing my words back in my face."
"I didn't say anything." Kurama put up his hands.
Someone inside the building began shouting and pandemonium quickly followed with men and women alike fleeing the building. Kurama and Hiei nodded at each other, the fox running to calm the girls and guide them to safety and Hiei to see how many of the patrons he could collect before Shinpi inevitably needed his help.
Groans filled the air, blood slicking the floor and staining the ruined cotton robe Shinpi wore. It had fallen open at some point and now streaks of red splattered over her skin as well. Her nails dug into the cheeks of the man from the bar as she lifted him to his toes, her still-bound hands wrapped around his jaw.
"Where is the boss?" She demanded, fingers tightening as she bared her teeth.
"Never." He grunted.
The man she sought made his way, slowly and quietly, to the door. Crawling on his belly he let his underling distract Shinpi so he could escape. A good enough use of the man's life. He nearly made it when suddenly a foot landed against the space between his shoulder blades, pinning him down. His startled and pained cry earned Shinpi's attention over her shoulder.
"You almost let one get away." Hiei told her, pressing his weight down onto the man's back without mercy, earning another groan. "You're sloppy."
"Sloppy?" Shinpi released her no longer useful victim and watched him scurry back from her. "Oh please, darling. I had this under control. So easy I could do it with my hands tied."
She displayed the rope on her wrists to him with a smile.
Hiei hated that he found the display enticing in the moment. There were moments when Shinpi's feral, demonic nature showed through and it called to a particularly brutal part of him he'd never been able to fully outgrow. This was one of those times. She had no right to look so alluring standing before him, surrounded by her broken enemies, wearing little more than her blood-streaked skin. She. Had. No. Right. To appease his mounting frustration, Hiei pressed his heel down into the back under his foot, knowing his expression probably spoke of both his desire and his intense anger.
Shinpi looked him over, admiring Hiei in his dark jeans and tee, his heavy boots. His usual human attire. The way his eyes literally glowed like embers right then because there was no denying his was utterly furious with her for any number of things. But his engorged pupils gave him away and she knew his weak spot.
"What are we doing with this one?" Hiei demanded as she crept closer.
"Save him. I'd like to pick his brain." Shinpi offered a smile she knew didn't look safe. She extended her wrists to Hiei, chin lifting slightly. "Untie me?"
Hiei looked down at her hands, then back up to her making no move to undo her binds.
"Please?" She pressed.
He reached out and grabbed the rope, using it to yank her close to him, his grip unrelenting. He was glad there was something to grab other than her wrists because the rope whined under the pressure of his hold and he knew if he'd held onto her, it would have left bruises.
"You think you've earned the right to run free?" He demanded in a low, rough voice. "You've lost your mind."
"Are you angry with me?" Shinpi tilted her head in mock innocence. "Whatever for?"
He pulled her an inch closer by her binds. They were only a few inches apart. He couldn't make up his mind if he wanted to kill her or take her. Either way, she was going to pay for putting him through this ordeal. Her blank confidence wavered under his scrutiny, her throat moving as she swallowed. Her eyes dipped down to his mouth, her chest rising and falling heavily, and not from the exertion of her work. Hiei watched her struggle and still did nothing. Didn't even smirk or smile.
Shinpi swallowed again and her voice was breathy when she spoke his name.
Still, he didn't move. The ropes offered another complaint as his fingers tightened again. He could feel the heat of his skin radiating and it was sharp.
"Ask me again." He demanded, cool and in control.
"Hiei, please." Shinpi whispered. "Untie me."
He broke the ropes with his bare hands, allowing the tattered pieces to fall to their feet. Shinpi nodded her thanks with a quiet word, realizing she had actually upset him. Her fingers went to smooth over her wrist to soothe the harsh red marks left behind when Hiei wrapped one hand around her forearm and used the other to capture her palm. Bowing his head he planted a few searing kisses over her skin.
"Which one of them dared to put their hands on you?" He demanded, tense and warring with a battery of emotions.
"The other two are downstairs, but he's the mastermind." Shinpi nodded toward the man trembling under Hiei's heel. "I need him alive, Hiei. I have questions that demand answers."
"He'll survive. You'll just have to wait a few days for your interrogation." Hiei promised her, that hot glare turning to the man on the floor. "Go outside Shinpi. When the SDF asks you what happened to him, it'll be in your best interest not to know the answer."
She hesitated and then pulled her robe closed and walked around the two men to exit the building. Hiei watched her back for a moment before removing his foot so he could kneel down next to the boss of the group responsible for this mess. His fingers burrowed through dark strands of styled hair, yanking the man's head back.
"You are a lucky man. You should count your blessings. A few years ago and she likely wouldn't have let you live. And if she didn't need you, I sure as hell wouldn't." Hiei informed the man, who immediately stammered his thanks. "Don't thank me. I won't kill you, but you put your filthy mark on her by tying her hands and now I'm going to leave with your several, far more permanent marks to remind you to keep you hands to yourself."
Kurama watched Shinpi approach with shock at her appearance. "Is that your blood?"
"Of course not." She sighed, running her fingers through her bangs then the rest of her hair. The act caused her robe to fall open a little as she focused on her thoughts and not her attire. "Hiei is furious."
Kurama felt color swim into his face as he learned what color her undergarments were. Clearing his throat he pulled off his sweater and offered it to her with a pointed look despite the act leaving him in a tee in the winter. Shinpi only then seemed to fully understand that she was nearly naked, it was incredibly cold and that she had worn lingerie meant to entice her partner. Blushing she hurriedly accepted the garment and tugged it over her head.
"I should call this in." She decided looking around at the huddled masses around her. Blinking, she looked at the groups of men who were still there. "Kurama?"
"Hiei rounded them up. He said it would give him something to do while he waited for you." Kurama explained. "Thoughtful of him. It'll help your case, at least."
"How angry do you think he is?" She asked, picking at her lip worriedly with her teeth. "He looked dangerous."
"He was decidedly aggravated." Kurama offered gently. "He didn't like you throwing yourself into danger without consulting with anyone. I told him you only did this because you knew he'd have your back. It didn't seem to help."
"Thank you all the same." Shinpi rubbed her arms. "I don't understand why he's angry, I do dangerous things all the time for work. So does he."
"He wasn't furious when we got here. Just annoyed. Something else must have-" Kurama stopped talking, grabbing her hand so he could shove the sleeve of his sweater up her arm to study the rope burns. For a breath he said nothing but when he looked at her Shinpi felt another shock of recognition at the emotion playing through those brazen emerald eyes. Sucking her breath she held it. Kurama's cool fingers tightened just barely. "How did you get these?"
"They tied my hands together." Shinpi explained.
"And you let them."
It wasn't a question, it was an accusation and it sent Shinpi down into her shoulders. "Yes. I let them. I had questions and if I didn't-"
"You take too many risks! What if they had decided to apply energy binds? What if they had the inhibitor? You were setting yourself up to be hurt Hichi. This was irresponsible." Kurama laid into her quietly, but firmly. "You are far too smart to fall prey to such obvious tactics."
"It was a calculated risk." She defended herself quietly. "You and Hiei need to have more faith-"
"I have all the faith in the world in you," Kurama cut her off darkly. "Don't you dare suggest otherwise Amon-Shinpi." She winced at the use of her full name. "This is why Hiei is furious with you. Because yet again you chose to allow yourself to be limited in some capacity as though you're infallible. Do you have any idea what we would have done if something had happened to you?"
"Nothing was going to happen. I had it under control. There have been rumors about this ring in the underground and none of those rumors suggested such things. The SDF and I have been trying to pin them down for a while. Tonight was just stroke of luck." Shinpi looked down at where Kurama still held onto her. It didn't hurt. She could have pulled away. "I didn't plan to do this tonight, but I couldn't just walk away."
Kurama's other hand came up to cup her cheek, his expression still firm and cool, but his thumb smoothed over her cheek. He let her arm go and pulled his hand back to himself seconds before Hiei appeared next to them.
"I'm sorry for scaring you." Shinpi offered readily to him. "Kurama just laid into me about my mistakes. I hadn't thought about how it would appear to you."
Hiei looked her over then shoved her clothes into her hands without a word. He turned to Kurama and gestured to his jean pocket. "You'll need to contact Spirit World. Someone left her communicator at home."
Shinpi just nodded and trudged away to find a semi-private place to change back into her outfit. Hiei only glanced her way once her back was toward him, and then he swept his attention over the grounds. Heat rolled off him to the point that Kurama actually stepped closer to him to stave off winter air.
"You're coddling her again." Hiei accused quietly, turning to assess his friend after Kurama placed the call to Koenma.
"Not this time. She was in the wrong." Kurama shook his head. "She didn't think this through and any number of things could have happened to her before we arrived. If you think I'm not angry at her too, you're mistaken. Allowing the enemy to capture her is one thing, but to allow them to disarm her is entirely different."
"Good." Hiei popped his neck to try to relieve the tension swirling through him.
"Are you okay?" Kurama squinted to try to pinpoint the emotion playing over Hiei's face. It wasn't his usual righteous anger.
"No. I'm not." Hiei warned him. "How could I be? Did you see her, Kurama? She took out a gang looking like that and bound and I'm supposed to be okay? I'm frustrated at her lack of foresight. I'm angry with her for dragging us through this. Then she has the audacity to strut around in her bare skin and blood-stains. That really set me off."
Kurama decided it was best not to vocalize his realization that Hiei wasn't just angry, but most definitely frustrated that he was turned on and couldn't do anything about it. It wasn't something Kurama had meant to conclude.
"Why was she wearing your shirt?" Hiei asked suddenly.
"Oh. I gave it to her. I thought you might not appreciate me seeing her so exposed. Or anyone else for that matter."
"It suits her." Hiei's offhand comment surprised Kurama, who blinked. "The color and fit."
"It swallowed her." Kurama pointed out, confused. "It was practically a dress and the sleeves were far too long."
"So?" Hiei raised an eyebrow. "You don't find that attractive?"
"Girls in over sized clothing?" Kurama clarified, received a nod and then shrugged. "It's never been something I've considered much."
Shinpi emerged from the shadows in her beer-stained jeans, shoes, and Kurama's sweater still on over her shirt. She had the sleeves rolled up to reveal her hands. Kurama stared at her and felt annoyed that Hiei had a point, it did suit her. It was cute, he guessed. In that sort of generic way that girls looked cute in their boyfriend's clothes.
"Are you cold, Kurama? I thought I might borrow this for the night so I could wash it, but if you're cold I'll give it back to you." Shinpi plucked at the material clearly only offering to return the garment because she felt she needed to make the attempt.
Hiei's aura spiked again as he stared at Shinpi. Kurama glanced down at him and then smiled. "No, I'm fine actually. I think if I stand close enough to Hiei I'll be nearly sweating."
"Bastard." Hiei hissed quietly.
"I'm in good company." Kurama responded with a smile.
"Thank you both for coming with me tonight. I realize I worried you and that I should have taken more precautions. Failure just never occurred to me because I knew you were both there, waiting to help. I promise I am far more calculated and careful on my own."
"That is not comforting to me." Hiei warned her. "You should be that way no matter who is with you. I swear to god, Shinpi, if I get called back from Mukuro's because you managed to fuck up a mission by appeasing your pride I will not forgive you."
"This wasn't about pride." Shinpi frowned. "It was about information."
"Just beat it out of them next time." Hiei demanded. "Don't compromise yourself."
"He's right, actually." Kurama agreed, arms crossing in a mirror of Hiei's stance.
"One of him is bad enough, Kurama. I don't think I can compete with two of you." Shinpi offered with a sigh. "I am throughly beaten. I submit. I was wrong and I'll endeavor to never make the same mistake again. Just please stop looking at me like that."
"You're not forgiven." Hiei told her with a glare. "I should, by all right, tie you up again and fight you myself to see if you can actually hold your own."
"Sounds like it would almost be an even fight then, darling." Shinpi offered him a wry smile.
"In whose favor?" Hiei wondered quietly, dangerously.
"Still mine." She shrugged.
"You think there are lines Hiei won't cross, but I can assure you that is why we made such a good team. Those lines mean nothing to me, Amon-Shinpi." Kurama narrowed his eyes too. "If Hiei follows through with this idea I want to be included. He's not the only one who was drug through the night and then made to sit idle with worry. You owe me as well."
"A less even fight." Shinpi frowned. "I've never believed you were capable of actually hurting me before Kurama, but the look in your eyes tonight is chilling. I'd rather not put myself at your mercy. Especially if that would require me facing down your joint efforts."
"You not wanting to do it is making the idea of it more enticing, Shinpi." Hiei drawled darkly. She opened her mouth to respond but didn't as the SDF came into view.
"You were supposed to report your findings, not destroy everything in your impatience." Matsuma immediately marched up to Shinpi. "You are so impertinent. What mess am I cleaning up for you now?"
Both Kurama and Hiei bristled at the tone the man took with Shinpi.
"This wasn't planned. I was out drinking with the team-"
"You're not on a team, Amon-Shinpi." Matsuma snapped at her.
"I didn't say it was my team." She snapped back at him. "I was out, and one of the girls and her handler happened to come into the bar. I happened to speak to her. It wasn't designed to be this way, Matsuma, but the opportunity arose and I had to take it."
"You didn't have to do anything. You chose to." He corrected. "As per usual. How many casualties am I writing in, Amon-Shinpi?"
"None. I didn't kill a single one of them. Spirit World and rejoice in it's backward ideals." Shinpi sneered up at him. "Plenty of injuries though. Also, as you'll loathe to note, plenty of victims rescued. Plenty of patrons captured."
She gestured to the separate groups.
Hiei watched the exchange and then looked up to Kurama, whose jaw had grown taut with his effort to not speak. Ah, so this wasn't something Kurama had expected to see.
"I left everyone in the building in mostly working order." Shinpi declared. "Including the boss. Then I came out here and I called you. If I was the loose canon you think I am, I would have killed every man complicit in suffering in that building and I wouldn't have a said a goddamn word to you about it. Just to be clear."
"You think you're exonerating yourself, but you are only displaying the disgusting truth underneath that human mask. You're a blood thirsty mongrel." Matsuma told her, stepping closer.
"She is not!"
Matsuma lifted his head as the girl from the bar walked over, barefoot and battered. She shook with fear but still she came to stand by Shinpi, holding herself as tall as she could. Her voice trembled but still she spoke.
"This woman saved us when no one else bothered. When no one else looked. Don't you dare speak to her that way!" Asuha pointed at the towering form of Matsuma. "She risked her life for us and all she had to go one was me. I'll never forget that and I won't let you demean this woman."
"Asuha, it's alright. He's big and loud but he's generally harmless." Shinpi eased the concern of the girl. "Are you alright? I saw you working to save the others. Thank you for doing that for me. Without you they may not have made it out safely. The guards were trying to usher people back to their rooms."
"Women protect women." Asuha told her quietly, turning to her with tears in her eyes. "Thank you so much."
She threw her thin arms around Shinpi's neck and held her close for a moment. Shinpi hesitated before returning the embrace with gentleness. The look she cast at Matsuma over Asuha's shoulder was anything but warm though. It warned him to speak again. Dared him even.
"The SDF will take you all somewhere safe to make sure you're healed and they'll work to find your homes. I'm certain your families will be overjoyed to have you all back." Shinpi smiled softly at the girl. "If they hassle you, please ask for me. I will come to help."
"Are they really safe?" Asuha asked quietly.
"Yes. They are." Shinpi assured her. When the girl walked away toward the group of huddled women, Shinpi turned back to Matsuma who watched with tightly pressed lips. "If anything happens to those girls in your care I hope you know what'll happen to you."
"Threatening me?" He demanded hotly.
"Promising you." She corrected. "Hate me all you want, Matsuma, but those girls have been through enough without the SDF mistreating them. They someone's daughters, sisters, mothers, friends. They are living and real and they will not be revictimized by you or your underlings. This is not a discussion."
He stiffened but then he looked over at the crying faces and nodded. "They've been through enough. We'll make sure they get home and that the guilty face their punishment."
"Good." Shinpi pulled back and resettled herself. "I want an interrogation with the boss, if you find him. He didn't escape but I couldn't seem to locate him before I left."
"Is that so?" He allowed his suspicion to color his stare.
"Cowards hide, Matsuma. I'm not perfect, I can't find everyone all the time." Shinpi narrowed her eyes. Then she straightened. "Call me if you find him. I'm tired and hungry. I want to go home."
"Were those two involved?" Matsuma turned to look Hiei and Kurama over.
"They followed me here. Kurama helped the girls. Hiei rounded up the fleeing patrons. They left the dirty work to me. They know the rules and my job. They know I'm responsible for whatever happens on my cases." Shinpi told him with all the confidence of a woman who wasn't covering for her lover.
"Out of obligation I have to ask, did you sustain any injuries?" He rolled his eyes.
"Yes, actually." Shinpi pushed up her sleeves to reveal the marks on her skin. "I was overpowered and my hands were tied together. I wasn't even able to use my Infinity Chain to defend myself. I had only my wits and my energy to work with. No weapons. Did I mention that I was stripped to my undergarments and put into a robe before I was tied? Because I was. Kurama and Hiei can both attest to that. I changed back into my actual clothes out here."
Matsuma examined Hiei with heavy scrutiny. "You said you were overpowered? But your little accomplice over there did nothing?"
"Hiei trusts in my ability to handle my own business. If he worried about me at that level do you think he'd leave for such long spells?" Shinpi challenged. "He knows what I'm capable of. I'd go so far as to say that his only concern would have been that I wouldn't have shown enough restraint."
"That is, generally, a concern." Hiei allowed, evenly.
Shinpi's statement irked him none the less. She made it sound like he didn't worry over her when he was gone. Did she think that to be true? Did she sincerely believe he stayed away so long because he didn't concern himself with her well being? Tonight was rife with issues for him to address. Like Shinpi, he just wanted to go home.
"Anything else?" She asked coarsely.
"I'll follow up later." Matsuma assured her. "Leave the rest to us."
She nodded before walking over to the two men waiting on. "Are we going?"
"Yes. Because if I listen to him speak to you for another minute I'm going to carve his tongue out." Hiei nodded sharply, turning on heel to go.
"Agreed." Kurama frowned, waiting for her to join him. "Hiei likes that sweater on you."
"Does he?" Shinpi asked with subdued happiness. "Well at least he likes something about me at the moment."
"He's right to be angry with you." Kurama kept his voice low as he spoke to her while they walked behind Hiei. "But you also know that he would do anything for you."
"Almost anything." Shinpi allowed with a smile. "Anything is such a big word."
"Anything." Kurama repeated firmly. "I've never seen Hiei care about someone as openly and as deeply as he cares for you, Hichi."
"Back to Hichi? Has your anger dissolved so quickly?" Shinpi asked him tersely. "I quite dislike the sound of my full name on your tongue, I would like to keep it out of your mouth entirely."
Kurama lifted a brow at her, then rolled his eyes.
"Amon-Shinpi Takani is your full name. I merely used your first."
"You sound like my mother and father when they would harangue me for misbehaving, using my first name in anger that way. No one ever uses it in pleasure or in fun. It is always in anger." She complained quietly. "Just once I'd appreciate it if someone would call me by name with warmth."
Kurama exhaled with effort, then he reached out and took her hand with this chilly fingers weaving between hers. With warmth and gentleness he told her, "Amon-Shinpi, you are an exalted woman, but Hiei is right to his anger. And I am right to mine. But that does not mean we care any less for you."
"So close." She sighed, attempting to pull her hand away. "Soft tones and holding hands does not forgive the truth in your words, Kurama."
He did not let her go. "Hiei will figure out how to handle his emotions."
"Honestly if what it takes to earn back both of your warmths is to bind my hands and prostrate myself before you then so be it. At least then I'll have my two favorite men on my side again." Shinpi didn't return the squeeze Kurama offered to her fingers.
"We are always on your side." Kurama lowered his voice again to be gentler.
"I can almost assure you that Hiei won't allow me to touch him for several days. He might sleep at my side, eat with me, travel with me, but he won't allow me to get close. He never does when he's angry like this." She explained, once again attempting to pull free of Kurama's hold only to be denied by him. "And you're just as angry. Yours is more bitter to me because you hide it under your well meaning touch and gentle tone, but I saw your eyes Kurama and you are just as full of fury."
Kurama did not, at all, like that Shinpi could see through him so thoroughly. He'd been trying to hide his reaction, trying to vocalize his feelings instead of showing them.
It was as Hiei had described to him a few times: Shinpi heard what they didn't say.
"I might as well save myself the trouble." Shinpi muttered. Her voice grew louder. "I can't wait to go to sleep tonight. I'm so tired and all I want is to sprawl out in my bed unencumbered. It's been a long night."
Kurama watched Hiei miss a step. The fire demon glanced their way. His voice didn't carry but his lips formed the question, "Unencumbered?"
Shinpi didn't seem to notice.
"I'm hungry." Shinpi announced, her stomach growling. This time she didn't give Kurama the chance to keep hold of her hand before pulling out of his grip. "I'm going to find somewhere to eat. You two go on without me."
"There's food at the house." Hiei told her. "Kurama bought bento boxes for us."
"I'm not in the mood for bento. I'll be home later." Shinpi ducked her chin down so that her bangs covered her eyes. "You two get home safe. Hiei, you should see Kurama's new apartment. It's lovely."
And then she was gone.
Hiei stared at the spot where she'd been standing before slowly turning his attention to Kurama. "What the hell was that?"
"Unfortunately that was what I was talking about earlier. Shinpi told me she knew you wouldn't be warm toward her for several days and that she knew I was angry too and then she did what she does best." Kurama pushed his bangs up.
"Pulled a tactical retreat." Hiei frowned. "You're cold."
"Naturally. I hadn't meant to walk this far without my sweater." Kurama nodded.
Hiei walked over to him and stood roughly a half foot away. "I'll take you home before I hunt her down."
"Maybe you should give her space." Kurama suggested. "You could spend the night at my apartment and go to her in the morning."
"No, if I actually let her sleep alone tonight she's going to think I'll never forgive her." Hiei told him. "But, she probably is actually hungry. I have time. I'll do what I used to do and sneak in through the bedroom window to slip in bed."
"You say it so blandly, but it sounds rather romantic." Kurama admitted to him with a soft chuckle. "It's like someone is describing a young adult drama to me."
"I don't care to learn what you're talking about." Hiei deadpanned. "At any rate, it's never been a romantic act. In fact it is almost always my way of sneaking in when Shinpi is angry with me for some reason."
"You two are adorable in your own way."
"Shut up Kurama."