I felt my stomach clench for the dozenth time, watching Hiei staring at Yukina while she and Botan chased one another around the couches in the room. I don't know why it bothered me so much; it wasn't like we were together, and it wasn't like I could blame him for his obvious interest in the ice maiden, but it felt like he was driving his sword into me every time I saw it.

The girls had shown up to play some games with everyone, and this was their version of a break I assumed. Hiei was sitting by the window, refusing to join in on the festivities, and I was laying down reading on some pillows in the corner of the room so I wouldn't be in anyone's way. Even Tolkien couldn't seem to distract me today.

"Where are you headed to?" Shizuru wondered, standing as well.

"Outside. Need to think." I muttered, donning my hoodie.

"I'll join you. I'll pick up some more snacks." She held the door open for me. I sighed, but I knew better than to argue with her when she made up her mind. I walked out, waiting for her. When we were headed down the first flight of stairs, she blocked my way. "What's going on?"

"Nothing. I just need some time to think, like I said." I insisted, trying to push past her arm. She didn't budge, only lifted her brow. "Shizuru, you already reamed me for not telling you about all of this sooner. I already explained why I couldn't. Please just let me have time to myself,"

"This isn't about that; something else is going on with you." She insisted.

"Just let me through."

"Not until you tell me what's going on."

"Why are you getting in my business all of a sudden?!"

"Because you're not acting like yourself. I want you to talk to me; tell me what's going on in your head, scream at me, throw a tantrum for crying out loud. Just don't keep shutting everyone out!"

"I'm not shutting anyone out! I just want some damn air!"

She glowered at me for a minute, our stubborn streaks crackling the air, before she sighed and let her arm down.

"Fine. But you do know that you can talk to me, right? About anything."

"I know." I conceded, some of the air deflating from my temper. "And I will. I just need to figure out how I feel right now. Then we can talk."

She nodded, watching me as I skipped steps down the stairs to get outside. The sun overhead was just starting to go down, casting the island into a world of gorgeous reflections of reds and pinks from the water, the occasional green shining onto the hotel. I put my hands in my pockets and started walking backwards, away from the hotel and towards the woods, cabin fever working its way in.

Kazuma had an interest in Yukina. Yukina clearly liked him back. Yusuke is head over heels for Keiko, and Keiko is so in love with him that it may as well have been written in the stars that they would be together. But Hiei liking Yukina? She's so delicate and sweet and fragile, all things he seems to detest. Is it because she's a demon? Or because she's beautiful? Or maybe those very qualities are exactly what he was looking for.

I don't even understand why the hell this is bothering me so much!

Because you're a jealous child?

I sighed, staring up at the trees above me and baring my teeth menacingly at the branches. Unsurprisingly, they seemed unfazed by my anger.

I mean, what am I even jealous about? It's not like we were even together. It's not like we've been on a date or he's expressed interest in me. The most comfortable we've gotten is eating some thrown together sandwiches sitting next to one another. It's not like I have much of a say over who he makes goo goo eyes at. But you'd think he'd be disinterested as soon as he found out she was taken at least... Maybe it's just because I really thought he was starting to like me, the way that I like him...

I pivoted abruptly, making my way to where I could feel the water pushing and pulling against the shore. I needed something to vent my anger through, and dancing didn't seem like the safest option on an island full of demons who happened to hate humans, and many of whom considered humans a nice meal to compliment their days. Screw that noise.

I climbed down the side of the rocks above the water, careful of my steps. One of the footholes wasn't as stable as I thought, and I found myself skidding down, crying out and sliding straight to the bottom. Blood came away with my hands, my jeans ripped open across the side of my knee up to about mid-thigh, my black spandex showing at the ends. I sighed, glancing at the edge of the water. Do I dare? My last attempt at healing didn't exactly go that well...

I brought my hands up and led a stream of water over to myself, concentrating, and focused once again on my newfound technique. It didn't feel quite as... strenuous... as it did when I healed Shuichi. Maybe because it was my own body instead of someone else's it's easier?

Sighing, I looked up at the sky to give myself a moment's recovery. This island was the center of a disgusting tradition between humans and demons of exploiting and killing one another; why did it have to be so beautiful when it held such evil?

Practicing was exactly what I needed as it turned out. I flowed through forms, danced with the water, practiced my stances, and worked on my shielding. I was still ecstatic over my discovery that I could absorb and reflect small bits of energy, but I hadn't anyone to practice with since the man with the sunglasses.

Wind rustled through my hair, and a laugh reached my ears from somewhere above me. I stopped, blinking to assess that fact. Someone laughed... from up in the sky.

Releasing the water, I looked up, searching the darkening hues of the sky for the source of that noise. Nothing seemed amiss, nothing out of place. I glanced to the left and right, suspicion boiling in my stomach. Behind me revealed exactly what everything else had; nothing. Was I seriously just going crazy?

I turned back to face the water once again and let out a shriek at the man in front of me, floating on air. I brought a wave up as quickly as I could, whipping about to try and follow him when he just whisped to the side of me and laughed again. He looked familiar, and I racked my brain while I backed away from him to try and figure out from where.

"Thought I felt somethin familiar! Know someone that has very similar power to yeh lass, and thought ta meself now who would be able ta do somethin like that."

"You're Jin." I blinked, recognizing the voice from the television screens and the speakers when I had been running through the stadium. "The Shinobi that fought Yusuke."

"Ah, now there was a good fight!" He grinned, his ears flapping at the memory. "Underestimated that one, I did. Tink maybe next time I'll have even more fun."

"I'm sorry, but what are you doing here?"

"Told ya lass, wanted ta see yer power." He smiled again, softer this time, and touched his feet to the ground. "Only met one other person who had a power like that, and it weren't gonna be him I found."

I stared at him, assessing the single horn surrounded by a mass of red hair and the depth of his blue eyes. A sliver of a fang was sticking out of the corner of his mouth, accenting his face in a way that made him seem almost childish despite the well defined, bulging muscle exactly at my eye level. He didn't seem to mean any harm, but what would he want with me? It was never something so simple and straightforward.

"Why are you being nice?" I blurted, unable to help myself. "I mean, not that I'm complaining because I would much rather have a pleasant experience over a negative one, but didn't Yusuke beat you? So why are you being nice to me? Shouldn't you be, you know, mad or something?"

He just grinned, stretching his arms above his head. "Like I said, lass, twas a good fight. Don mean I got ta take my loss out on Yusuke's friends."

"I never said we were friends." I pointed out.

"Ya never said yeh weren't."

"I like you." I grinned decisively. I held my hand out to him. "Ella Kuwabara. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Ah, any relation to the biggie on the team?"

"My cousin." I nodded. "I'm proud of his first win."

He laughed, shaking my hand. Pale blues, greys bordering on whites, and a breeze that was both cool and warm at the same time were what I felt. I glanced around to see clouds, clear and moving gently across the breeze. It was calm, with a warning of the storm just underneath.

I looked up at him again, blinking out the images branded in my brain. He blinked at me, oddly stoic, and then broke out in a grin again, his ears wiggling once more.

"Full of surprises!" He commented, laughing. "Never met a psychic with that ability. Saw my soul, eh? Yers is mighty pleasant yerself."

"I'm sorry. I still don't have full control of that."

"'S alright lass. Takes time. I could help ya with yer forms if yeh like." He offered, pointing at the water. "Might help with controlling yer other abilities."

I regarded him, smiling at the idea of getting help from the Irish demon. "I'd like that."

He nodded, pulling his legs up pretzel style and floating on the air again, a gentle breeze flowing around us. "Show me what yeh got."