Chapter 10:

I stepped out of my mom's car and waited for Boten to join me. My mother smiled at me and hit the accelerator, finalizing my decision to go to the football game.

"C'mon," Boten said guiding me to a seat.

I sat and my butt was immediately freezing.

"Damn, this is a cold seat!" I said jumping up.

Boten placed a pillow on her seat, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"That's because my mom gave you a pillow to sit on!"

"Temper, temper." She scolded.

"Sorry," I said, "I'm just really on edge right now."

"I can see that," she told me, "One more step and you'll fall off the world."

"Huh?"

"Sorry," she said sighing, "it's just a phrase we use…"

"Who? You and Yuske?"

"No, the whole…"

"The whole what?" I asked.

She turned away from me, "I can't tell you that…"

"Oh." I realized, another secret, "that's okay… hey! It's Yukina! YUKINA!"

Another blue haired girl turned her head and smiled up at me. She was wearing a tank top and a skirt.

"Aren't you cold?" I asked as she sat next to me.

"Nope… are you?"

I looked at her, "Yes."

"Oh… I just really love this weather." She said smiling, "I love autumn… so many pretty colors are everywhere. It's just so peaceful… I think- oh, hello Boten!"

"Eh?" Boten said straightening, "Oh! Hello, Yukina! How's the adjustment going for you?"

"Lovely," she replied, "I simply love it here!"

"Thought you would," she said smiling.

"You two know each other?" I asked.

"Yeah, we met earlier this month." Yukina said.

"Mm-hm!" Boten agreed.

"Wow…" I said.

I thought back to earlier in the month. Hiei had left, again, to go on a vacation with some of his friends. It was the third time in two months…

"I'll only be gone for a few days," he told me.

''Promise?''

''Trust me." He said smiling.

"Okay," I said giving him the best smile I could muster, "I'll be here when you get back."

"Promise?"

"Trust me." I said smiling at him.

He kissed me goodbye and left without a sound.

"YEAH! KICK THEIR ASS!" Boten was shouting as our team came on the field.

I searched: there he was, number 13. He'd chosen it because he wanted to show that it wasn't unlucky.

'God' I thought, 'he's the fastest thing out there… let it stay that way tonight.' I had a sinking feeling in my stomach, and watched as the captains shook hands. 'I can do this, I can do this.' I repeated in my mind.

"Yuriko," Boten asked, "are you okay?"

"Eh? I'm fine." I said shrugging, trying to calm down.

"Yuriko!" a voice called.

I looked down and saw Megumi, Kitana, Serena, Yuske, Kuwabara, and Selena. They were all hurrying up the steps and sitting next to us when the game started.

"Are you okay?" Kurama asked.

"I'm fine." I lied.

He smiled and turned his attention to the game.

"Yuske! What the hell are you doing?" Megumi called as Yuske went up to the top row where a bunch of boys were.

"You'll see!" he cried and joined them.

"Hi Yukina…" Kuwabara said waving weakly at her.

Yukina smiled politely, "Hello Kuwabara."

I leaned behind her, "Hey, Kuwabara…"

"Yeah?" he asked gruffly.

"Close your mouth, you're drooling a freakin' ocean," I told him smirking, immediately he blushed and zipped his jacket up to his nose.

0o0

"WOO-HOOO!" Boten shouted as the other team scored a touchdown.

"Boten," I said yanking her down before too many heads turned in our direction, "I know that you're new around here, but them scoring is a bad thing, understand?"

"Yup!" she exclaimed.

I sighed and watched as the quarterback passed the ball to Hiei and he ran to get a first down. His legs moved so quickly that I could barely see them; a giant sized player on the other team had brought him down.

"Why doesn't he run like he can?" I heard Kuwabara mutter, and I caught Boten shooting him a look.

"C'mon Mustangs!" Kitana yelled, "You owned them last year! Do it again!"

'He can't see me, so this is all working out!' I thought. Things weren't all that bad for now.

"Okay," Serena said, "What is Yuske doing?"

We all turned in our seats and saw Yuske with his shirt off and an "M" painted on his abs.

"Hey Megumi!" he called, "I'm gonna be the 'M'!"

"Obviously." Selena muttered.

"Is it 'M' for 'mental'?" Megumi called irritated.

"No," he shouted, "If you made me come, there was no way I'd be seen just sitting there. Either I show no school pride or a lot!"

We all turned away fro him and pretended like we didn't know them as cheers laced with profanity erupted from their group.

0o0

It was the third quarter and we were tied 7-7. I watched as they hiked the ball and it was thrown to Hiei. He caught it and not a second later the giant player had slammed him down.

"And number 13 is down with a thirteen yard gain on the thirteen yard line. Spooky." The announcer commented.

I watched with bated breath as the player got up, but Hiei didn't. There was no movement, just him lying there. Everything went silent as a medic went over to check on him.

"Oh my- Hiei!" I said quietly.

"C'mon," Boten said, "we have to go!"

"Hiei…" I said as she pulled me down the bleachers.

The crowd was standing, trying to see what had happened. The player who'd hit him was on his sideline crying.

"Is he okay?" I managed to say.

"I dunno," she answered, "hurry, we have to get there fast."

"Where?" I asked stopping.

"We have to see him." She told me.

I froze. See Hiei? I couldn't do that! I wasn't ready!

"You can do it." She said pushing me forward.

I watched from the fence on the separating the stands from the track surrounding the field as they took Hiei past. He was grimacing, and I started to cry when is face suddenly went calm. He was unconscious.