Chapter 4:

I hurried to my next class and waited for Serena to show up. Serena was Selena's twin sister, but they were only somewhat alike in personality.

"Hey!" I called upon seeing Serena, "I need to ask a favor."

"Oh? And what might this be?" she asked sitting down.

"I need you to give this to Hiei," I said handing her the note.

"Can I read it?"

"Sure." I said out of desperation, besides, it was better that I didn't have to say it out loud this time anyway. The knot in my stomach seemed to be going away.

"Hmm…" she said reading it. Serena smoothed out the creases and looked from me to the note, and back to me. "I'll do it."

"You will?"

"Yeah, but you just gotta tell me one thing," she said.

"What?"

"What's under that white thing on his head?" she asked.

"What?"

"You heard," she shrugged, "I'm not going to give it to him if you don't tell me what's under that white cloth."

"I can't."

"Why?"

"Because even I don't know. He wouldn't even take it off when we were on a date!" I blurted.

"Oh?" Serena seemed a little taken aback by this. "He should've. That jerk! Doesn't he know that keeping secrets from you is bad?"

"I don't think he wanted me to see it, anyway…" I answered quietly.

"Oh he's getting this note," Serena agreed, ''and a piece of my mind!"

"Really?"

"Yeah. I'll give it to him eighth period." She told me, storing it safely in her bag and writing on her hand to give it to him.

"Thank you!" I said hugging her.

"Yeah, yeah." She said after I released her, "But I still want to know what's under that white thing."

"I don't know how you'll find out."

"Either he shows it to me willingly, or I rip it off of his head." She said.

"Please don't!" I pleaded, "If he wouldn't show me, then he certainly won't show you, and if you take it off of him, it might embarrass him."

"So?"

"Serena, I still like him."

"So hate him."

"How can I hate him if I like him?"

"Just hate him."

"But I don't want to."

"Still you should hate him."

"Hate him because I like him? That doesn't make sense, Serena." I pointed out.

"It makes perfect sense."

"Then care to explain?"

"Not really."

I had to just deal with her saying to hate him; otherwise she might not give it to him.

"Wait, Serena," I said.

"Yeah?" she asked as the bell rang.

"Make sure he reads it."

"Do you hate him yet?"

"No."

"Then I'll make him read it."

"You have a very dizzying logic." I said as I parted with her and headed to lunch.

Serena and Hiei were so much alike, saying one thing when they wanted the opposite answer. I remembered when he had done that to me.

We'd been staying after school one day when I was complaining about how much they made us run. He was pretty off on the subject, saying how much he liked running and how I'd be slow if I never ran.

'Hiei,' I told him, 'That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard!'

'It's true though,' he replied taking my hand and lacing his fingers with mine.

'And you're so fast right?' I teased.

'Damn straight,' he said, whirling me around and kissing me.

'I still hate running.' I told him.

'I know.' He said sweetly, and we went our separate ways home.

I got on the line for lunch and was immediately spotted by Yuske and Kuwabara. The pair totted over, and I was suddenly very aware of the skirt I was wearing.

"Hey, Yuriko."

"Hi Yuske." I said dryly, "Hi Kuwabara."

"What's up?"

"Nothing." I answered flatly.

"You sure?" Kuwabara asked crossing his arms. Yuske moved to my other side, so now I was flanked by both of these idiots. Just. My. Luck.

"Yeah." I said, wishing I had something to hit them with besides my fists. A sword would be nice… maybe a stick….

"Because we heard from our good buddy, Hiei, that you dumped him last night." Yuske said.

"What if I did?" I asked annoyed.

"Well we might have to fix that."

"Yuske if you even think of touching me, I will punch you so hard your grandmother will feel it."

"Oh I'm so scared!" he said laughing, Kuwabara chimed in too.

I glared at them, until Kuwabara stopped laughing.

"Dude," he said to Yuske, elbowing him, "I think she's serious."

"No duh!" I exclaimed as the line moved again, "Look you two, I am having a really bad day, and I just want to have people stop asking me why."

"You wouldn't be having such a bad day if you hadn't dumped Hiei." Yuske muttered.

"Yuske!" I shouted, "You want to know the truth? I still like him, okay? I still, honest-to-God- like him, and you two have just been the thorn in my side all period!"

They both stared at me.

"This is what I'm like when I'm angry! I do stupid stuff!" I said still simmering, "That's what Hiei made me feel like last night: like I was worthless. He was being rude, and he was ignoring me, but you know what, dammit, I still like him, even though he did that! I am patient, in fact one of the most patient people that you'll ever meet, but I can't deal with a sixteen year old acting like a freaking five year old!"

They were gawking now.

"And furthermore," I added, "If you try to threaten me again, there will be consequences!"

I was panting, and the lunchroom had gone quiet. I felt tears in my eyes, and all of a sudden I wasn't that hungry anymore. I backed out of the door, and the lady in front of the bathroom didn't even try to stop me as I fled into the girls' room.