Chapter 6

"At least I didn't cheat," Takara stated coolly.

Ronin snorted, "If you were in my situation, I bet you would. Yet unlike you, I didn't—"

"Shut the fuck up," Takara didn't let Ronin finish his sentence. "I don't need you to tell me too." For whatever the topic was, Takara was wounded by it.

'Ok. . .' Nyoko was a bit lost and confused. Not only that but was she being ignored?

"Nyoko, good to see you," Ronin grinned as if he had read her thoughts.

"Oh," Takara blinked, "you both know each other?"

Nyoko nodded. 'Is it just me or had these two suddenly are on good terms with each other?' she sweatdropped. "You two are friends, right?"

"Sure, me and Takara go back," Ronin put his arm around Takara's shoulders.

Takara nodded as she removed Ronin's arm, "You can say we're rival friends. He can't stand the fact I can kick his ass in some things."

"Ouch," Ronin faked a hurt expression. "Why must you tell Nyoko that? Are you trying to ruin my machoness in front of her."

Takara rolled her eyes, "Watch out, Nyoko. Ronin might become your number one fan."

Nyoko blinked, 'No, he can't. . .can he?' Did Ronin really like her more than a friend? First Cho and now Takara. Who next?

"I would but woe is me. The fair Nyoko is in love with the King," Ronin emphasized the word 'King' in a rather cold but respectful tone.

'Shuichi is King?' Nyoko blinked. 'Sure he has nearly the entire population of girls in school liking him. Not to mention the fact that the teachers honor him. But 'King'?'

". . . .So yes or no, Nyoko?" Ronin questioned with a serious expression.

"Huh? What?" Nyoko blinked. She had spaced out in her thoughts to even know Ronin's question.

Ronin spoke again, "Yes or no?"

"For what?" Nyoko asked, confused. She looked at Takara for a hint but Takara just shook her head.

"Just say either 'yes' or 'no'?"

"Yes," was what escaped from Nyoko's lips. Ronin blinked and smiled. Takara put an arm around Nyoko who was still a bit confused. What did she say 'yes' to?

"I'm so proud of you, Nyoko," Takara grinned. "Good thing you didn't say 'no' otherwise I would have seriously hurt you."

"Umm. . .what was the question?" Nyoko sweatdropped.

Ronin anime-fell and then got back up. "I asked if you were a virgin. Are you?"

Nyoko turned bright red. "Of course I am." 'I wish I have my shinai so I can strike the men (in kendo it means 'top of the head').'

Changing the subject, Takara questioned, "So you both go to the same school?"

"Right!" Ronin put his arm around Nyoko. "We're also Kendokas!"

Takara looked at Nyoko with interest, "You don't seem the type to wear bogu (protective armor)."

"No, I suppose I don't," Nyoko ignored the fact that Ronin had his arm around her as well as the body heat that he radiated. 'I wonder what would happen if Yusuke saw. . .' She blinked as she felt Ronin tense for a moment. "What's wrong?"

Ronin smiled, "Oh, nothing is wrong." He looked at Takara. "Mind if I steal her from you?"

"Not at all," Takara spoke even though her eyes were not on the two but narrowing at something in another direction.

'What's going on?' Nyoko was clueless as she was being lead away by Ronin. "Wait."

"Shh. . ." Ronin had taken her behind a bush. "Unlike some others that we know of, I rather let you know the truth." Nyoko was confused. "You know that he obviously doesn't want you to know. After all, he did tell Hiei to make sure that you don't know what's going on."

'Hiei. . .' That name was familiar. She wanted to ask who didn't want her to know or who this Hiei was but she stopped as she saw someone oddly familiar appeared in front of Takara.

"That would be Hiei," Ronin whispered.

"I don't know why that fool, Koenma, thinks of letting you handle something like this," Hiei spoke. "You were letting that demon get to close."

'What demon?' Nyoko noticed Takara's hands formed fists at her sides and how she seemed to be shaking slightly. 'Takara. . .' Something rested on top of her head. She looked up and her cheeks somehow did not heat up.

"Do you think that it is odd that we are being found?" Ronin's chin was resting on top of her head. He somehow managed to go behind her and encased her in his arms. Nyoko swallowed at such intimacy presented between them. She knew it was not the time to tell Ronin off but let him continued. "Best believe in the supernatural now. After all, those around you might be a demon."

Nyoko's head started to hurt. What was Ronin talking about? Why does she feel like something is being hidden from her? Is the world around her going nuts? 'What a time to start stressing out. . .' She focused her attention at the scene in front of her.

"You know what, Hiei, why can't you stop it," Takara hissed. "You already called me a fucking, stupid-ass, moronic fool. And you know what else. . .I am not weak. No one is weak if they have emotions. Sometimes I wonder if you have one."

Hiei growled, "I wouldn't still be talking if I were you, onna. I will not hesitate to kill you. I may not be able to take a human's life. . . but I can take a demon's." There was a sudden flash.

'What the. . .' Nyoko paled as Hiei was in front of her, holding a bloody katana.

"Hiei!" shrieked Takara. "I told you I can handle it."

"The dead should stay dead," Hiei spoke. "He was going to kill her."

"Ronin. . ." Nyoko stared at the sight of a fallen friend. 'He's dead. . .' She clutched her head, unable to comprehend what just happened. This Hiei had killed Ronin.

"Come on, I'll explain this to you," Takara placed a hand upon the shoulder of the teenage girl.

Hiei scowled, "We don't have time."

"Hiei's right so why don't I explain," Nyoko froze at the sight of Ronin standing next to her. There was two of him. One was alive and standing next to her while the other was on the ground dead. She blinked. Wait, there was a dead creature on the ground where she had saw a dead Ronin. It was too much for her. . . .

"She's waking up," it was Takara's voice. "Good thing she wasn't out for long."

"One hour is long for me," complained Ronin.

"Still sore that you didn't kill the demon who took your appearance before Hiei did," Takara said.

"Feh. That demon was a coward for sneaking up behind me," scowled Ronin.

Nyoko sat up and found herself on a couch. "Can someone explain to me what's going on?"

"First off, you're at my place," stated Ronin. "Also this will be easy, seeing that you've read that book about the supernatural."

"What does that have to do with anything?" Nyoko questioned.

Takara pulled out the book, "Do you know where this book came from?"

"No, I brought it at the marketplace," admitted Nyoko. "Why?"

Takara grinned, "This is book. . .let's say that it used to be Koenma's bedtime stories of the three worlds. We do not know how this book went through before it came into your possession."

"Ok," Nyoko went. 'Everything seems too real to be a dream.' She listened as Ronin and Takara revealed the fact that there was a demon hidden among the city that is after something of hers but they do not know what. She was told of the Reikai Tantei but not of who they were except that Hiei was one. "Umm. . .what about you two?"

"I'm. . .doing some service for Reikai at the moment," Takara stated. "Ronin's just helping. In fact, the only person besides me from Reikai knows of him is Hiei."

"And you're positive he won't tell?"

Takara nodded, "Hiei won't. It's not his thing to tell the others just yet."

Nyoko knew it was personal so she didn't ask about the relationship between Takara and Hiei. 'What I really need to know is how there were two Ronins?'

As if knowing what she was to ask, Ronin spoke, "Well, you don't need to worry. I was with you during the time except when that bastard demon held you." Nyoko paled. A demon had held her. She got goosebumps from thinking about it. "And to not let you be in the shadows, we will tell you something. This secret will give you some reassurance of your safety."

"I am a lightening apparition," Takara held up two fingers and Nyoko saw static electricity between them that glowed brightly. "Ronin, here, will be a little bit more complicated."

Ronin snorted, "All you need to know is that I'm an infamous bat demon of the past."

'Ok. . .' Nyoko then spoke, "I have one question. Why am I taking everything you're saying so calmly?"

"The gift of demonic drugs," Ronin said dramatically. "Don't worry there are no side-effects. It's to keep your nerves calm." Nyoko blinked as the two demons feed her more information that she would have not known if they weren't here. . . .

"I know what else you wanted to ask," Takara spoke as the two were walking. It only had been a few hours since the talk in Ronin's place. "You want to know what's up with me and Hiei."

"No, I didn't," Nyoko lied though it was futile. She knew that Ronin was taking that book and putting it somewhere just in case if it was the object that the demon was after.

"You're lying," Takara smiled sadly. "In case you didn't notice or if Ronin didn't tell you, I love Hiei."

"I hear 'love,' not 'loved.'"

Takara sighed, "Hiei's making it complicated for me. I mean he could have said that he wasn't interested. Instead he just insults me."

"Then why do you love him?" Nyoko looked at the apparition.

Takara closed her eyes, "I can't explain why I do. I just wish the pain will go away." There was silence for a moment. "Aren't you going to ask what memory Hiei suppressed from you? Or have you forgotten what Ronin said to you?"

"No, I didn't feel that it was the time to ask," Nyoko said softly, "though I want to know."

"You have a demon stalker." Takara seemed amused at Nyoko's startled look. "Don't worry. He's not evil. He finds you interesting and that is a compliment for you see not many demons of his status go for a human."

Nyoko blinked, "Oh, I see. I'm not supposed to know about the supernatural so Hiei had to suppress it, right?" Takara's lips twitched. "Hey, you're not answering me."

"Don't worry," Takara grinned. "You have those who will protect you."

"You still didn't answer me."

'I hate being a teenager,' Nyoko rested her chin on her arms. It was another boring day at school with tests. She had of course finished hers but not before Shuichi. She glanced over at him. 'And here he reads to pass the time. I miss that book. Damn you, Ronin, for taking it away just because it belonged to Reikai once.' So why was Nyoko hating herself for being a teenager? Well, it was her hormones. Closing her eyes, she thought, 'I really have a perverted mind.'

Now what was Nyoko fantasying about? It wasn't Shuichi. 'This is what happens when I see Yusuke's bare chest.' Yes, she saw how toned her friend was. 'No, bad Nyoko. Yusuke is Keiko's. Just because he has a sexy upper body doesn't change the fact that I see him only as a friend.' She glanced over at Ronin who was sleeping. 'He does remind me of Yusuke. . .' She blinked as Ronin opened one eye and winked at her. Then he went back to sleep or was he really sleeping? She looked over at Cho who was working hard on her test. Of course, this was Mr. Katsuma's class. She recalled something Cho had said.

"It's healthy, you know," Cho was telling Nyoko. "There's no law that says you can't check someone out whether he's single and you're not or vice versa." Nyoko understood what Cho was saying. "After all, we do check out celebrities and real men."

Real men. . .that made Nyoko laugh on the inside. Some of their classmates still acted immature. Now back to Yusuke's sexy chest. She mentally groaned. 'Ok, I need to stop thinking about Yusuke's chest or how great his butt looks in jeans. Wait. . .Dammit!' Then she pictured a line of fallen girls at the sight of Shuichi in jeans and shirtless. She kept herself from cracking up.

Suddenly the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. She saw Kai looking at her from the corner of her eye. Not only that but so was Mr. Katsuma. 'Must be a coincidence.' Her eyes then met Shuichi's. His eyes seemed to be studying her and she could have sworn she saw a smirk on his face for a moment. She turned and looked at Ronin who tapped his nose.

"Well, here's one thing you now need to remember," Takara was telling Nyoko. "Demons, especially males respond to females who are aroused."

Nyoko blinked at Takara, "That doesn't help at all."

"Yusuke rubbed off on you, didn't he," sighed Takara. She smiled, "As long as you're not alone, that's ok."

'Ok, Ronin's a demon but that doesn't mean Mr. Katsuma, Kai, or Shuichi is one,' Nyoko thought, though a heavy weight fell on her stomach as the bell rang.