Chapter 15: End o' Short Vacay; Return to Home

The next morning, Kura was woken up by Momiji and Sakura. They were making a lot of noise and dancing around the pallet Kura had made with a bunch of blankets on the floor. She opened one eye slowly. "What do you two want?" She moaned, her voice full of sleepiness.

"Get up! Get up! Get up!" Momiji and Sakura continued to sing, over and over and over again.

"Auuuggg..." Kura moaned, sitting up slowly. She, facing away from the unblocked window which the sun was shining through, opened both of her eyes and stretched her arms out while going through one huge yawn.

"Get up! Get up! Get up! Get up!" Momiji and Sakura had almost stopped dancing, now they were really just jumping up and down while singing.

"Will you two cut it out!" Kura growled, still a little tired. "Why the hell are you awake and hyper this early, Sa'?"

"Oh... Hehe..." Sakura finally stopped singing and dancing long enough to have a brief convo' with her friend. "Well... Momiji and Yuki woke me up this morning and then... we have pancakes! Yum yum! With lots of syrup! Hehehehe... Sugar!"

"... Pssst..." Momiji kneeled down beside of Kura. ".. She's just really here to see Yuki.. Apparently her boyfriend is still asleep and she is just glad that he hasn't said anything about her not spending time with him..." He giggled slightly.

"Hehe... Oh, Sakura?" Kura called.

"Hm..?" Her black haired friend answered.

"Where's Jin and what does he think about you and Yuki hanging out together last night?" She grinned.

"Oo." Sakura suddenly tried to look innocent.

"haha. I knew it! You haven't even talked to him about!" Kura got to her feet.

"Um.. But... Um.. Okay! So I haven't! He doesn't even know that I used to like Yuki! But, oooh! Please, please, please! Don't tell 'em!" Sakura begged of her friend.

"Okay.. okay.. But if you don't tell him before we leave here... I will." Kura told her, then ordered them out of the room. "okay guys.. Get out. I gotta change clothes, since I don't really feel like the whole Sohma family seeing me in my skimpy-ish pajama outfit."

"Oki-day. We'll wait outside then!" Momiji and Sakura left the room, making sure the door was pulled shut.

Reaching through her duffle bag full of clothes, Kura was attempting to find an o.k. outfit to just wear around the Hot Springs for the day. I wonder where Hiei-chan is... She thought, finally pulling out something to wear. Surprisingly, it wasn't anything black. Apparently, in all the excitment of the trip, Kura had packed nothing but lighter-colored clothes. And, to her surprise, she had packed only one pair of pants for this, approximatly 3 or 4 day vacation. She sigh and then shook her head at her lack of dark clothing. She finally just decided to wear a white tank top and a pair of light blue basket ball shorts. --. After she changed her clothes, she imerged from the room to find Momiji and Sakura, along with two new-found wanderers: Hiro and Kisa.

"This really is stupid..." Hiro said, his attitude not differing that much since the last time Kura had seen him.

Kisa seemed to keep her smile no matter what Hiro said, it was his opinion afterall. "Aww. Hiro. C'mon. You're with me.. It'll be fun!"

"Hmph." Hiro pouted, seeming to not find a way to lash out at Kisa at all.

"Well.. If it isn't Hii-chan and Ki-chan!" Kura smiled, pulling them close to her for a hug. Kisa hugged her back and Hiro sorta did. It was more like touch arm and let go. ((LoL)).

"Kura-chan!" Kisa exclaimed, hugging Kura like she wouldn't ever let go.

"How are you two! It's been forever! I thought you guys might've forgotten me!" Kura smiled as she let the two go.

"Hn. Who could forget you?" Hiro asked, sarcasticly and with a grin playing on his face.

Kura smiled again and ruffled his hair. "Funny."

Hiro's grin turned into a smile, joining Kisa, Kura, Momiji, and Sakura.

"Okay… So.. What are we doing this early in the morning?" Kura turned to Momiji and Sakura.

"Hehe… Well, we're gonna go for an adventure in the Gardens!" Momiji giggled and grinned, seeming to be very much excited.

"Um… Are you sure that's considered fun? Because… Sakura's gonna get lost easily…" Kura pointed out.

"Oh, shoosh!" Sakura stuck out her tongue.

"So…? What are we waiting for! Let's get goin'!" Momiji grabbed Sakura by her sleeve and they all headed out to the Gardens.

It wasn't exactly a hot day, it was just quite sunny.. all ready. Momiji was torturing Hiro by attempting to make him do a whole bunch of stupid things. One of them, which Kura had actualyl heard and responded to was "Eat this bug". "Momiji.. That's not a great idea." Kura said, laughing inside of her mind. Apparently, she noticed a moment later, Kisa and Sakura had snuck off. "Hey! Momiji? Hiro? Did you guys happen to see where Sakura and Kisa went?"

"Um.. No. I thought they were right behind us the whole time!" Momjij started looking around.

Hiro folded his arms across his chest. "If she gets Kisa hurt.. she'll pay."

"Calm down, Hii-chan!" Kura patted his head.

He just rolled his eyes.

"If they get lost... I know it's Sakura's fault." Kura sighed. "Maybe we should go and find them.."

"Why don't we just see how long it'll take Sakura to find their way out! Kisa wont care.." Momiji grinned.

".. I guess we could... It would kinda be funny..." Kura giggled.

"YAY!" Momiji said, hyperly.

Hiro, being the grumpy one he usually is, sighed once more. "I think I have a headache now..."

"C'mon, Hii-chan!" Kura said, smiling and shaking her head as the three started on their way back to the Hot Springs' "building."

--- In the Garden Jungle ---

Sakura was humming to herself as Kisa walked a little behind her, looking at and smelling the flowers.

Kisa picked one of the beautiful red flowers to give Hiro. "Heeehee. I can't wait to see Hiro's face when I give him this!"

Sakura, seeming as though she were ignoring Kisa, almost walked right into a pond. "oopsies! I guess I should watch out where I'm going!"

"Yeah. That would be a rather good idea..." Haru's voice was heard, as he stood right beside of Sakura.

"AH! Don't sneak up on me like that, Hatsuharu!" Sakura gasped for air, being a little frigthened.

"Heh. My bad." He grinned. "Do you have any clue of where Yuki is?"

"Um.. Nope. He might still be asleep. I'm not really sure, Haru!"

"Haru-chan!" Kisa walked over to them.

"Morning, Kisa." Haru said, a smile playing on his lips. "All right, well... Sorry to make this short, but I'm just gonna go and walk about for a bit. See you two later!"

"Um... Sakura?" Kura tugged at her sleeve.

"Hm?"

"Are you lost in here?"
"Uh... uh..." Sakura stumbled, feeling slightly nervous as she looked around. "Maaaybe..."

"Hehe. C'mon. I'll show you the way out! But shhhhh! Don't tell anyone that I helped you get outta here! Okay?"

"Don't worry! I wont!" Sakura said, then followed Kisa.

--Back with Kura, Momjij, and Hiro.--

The three were sitting in Kura's room, trying to think of something to do.

"Hm.. Oooh! We could play hide and seek! That would be fun!" Momiji said, energetically.

"Uh. How about no." Hiro said, solidly.

"Aw! Hiro! Why do you gotta be so mean to us all the time?" Momiji looked at his cousin.

"I don't have to give you a reason." Hiro narrowed his eyes at Momiji.

"C'mon, guys! We're all supposed to be on a vacation... That means you shouldn't fight!" Kura finally jumped between the two. "Besides, Hiro... you really do have a bad attitude. Why can't you just learn to be nice to everyone?"

Hiro just pouted with his arms folded across his chest.

Kura sighed. "You remind me of Hiei..."

"Who's Hiei?" Hiro asked, sharply.

"Oh. Heh. ( . ) He's my-- boyfriend." Kura said, restraining herself from saying "fiancé".

"I still need to meet him!" Momiji grinned.

"Oh, don't worry! In due time, you'll meet him!" She smiled again.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. "Come in!" Momiji quickly answered. It was Kyo who walked into the room.

"Hiya, Kyo!" Kura smiled; Hiro just sort of sighed heavily and rolled his eyes.

"What are you guys doin' in here, anyway? Weren't you guys supposed to be out in the garden?" Kyo asked, sitting down beside of Kura and Momiji.

"Well... we decided to leave Sakura all alone with Kisa, and see how long it would take them to get out of there. We figured that Kisa wouldn't help her out--"

"Well, you guys were right. Kisa-chan didn't help me out! I found our way out!" Sakura popped into the room, smirking.

"HOLY HELL!" Kura jumped up out of being frightened.

Sakura almost fell over laughing.

Kyo got a little laugh out of it, too.

"GOSH! Why is it always me who gets scared or falls out of beds or something like that!" Kura pouted, playfully.

"I no know!" Her friend said, then remembered something. "oooh! I saw Hiei-kins! He's looking for you, Kura!"

"Where?" She was quick to ask, once on the subject of Hiei.

"Um... What happens if I saw I don't know?" Sakura shrunk away a little, in case her friend decided to swing at her.

"Nothing, this time. I guess I'll just have to go and look for him!-- Sorry to leave you, Kyo. But I'll talk to you later! Syaonara, guys!" Kura zoomed out the room quickly.

"Is she always that hyper?" Kyo looked to Sakura.

"Um.. yeah. Most of the time!-- Usually when she's with me or with Hiei- oh wait! We're just about the only people she hangs out with! heh."

"Oh really?... Doesn't she have more friends.. At what ever school you guys go to?"

"Oh. Uh.. yeah.. I think." Sakura shrugged. "I'm not totally sure. You see, Kura's in Kurama and Briar's class 'cause she's an 'advanced learner'. So, I guess she has friends in that class..."

"Heh.-- I think you've gotten dummer since the last time I saw you, Sakura." Kyo laughed.

"Heh heh. Who knows with me!" Sakura told him, then she got a spontaneous thought and latched onto his arm. "C'mon, Kyo-Kyo! You can come with me an' we'll find Hiei-kins an' you can meet him an' Jin!" She pulled him down the hallway.

"HEY! WHY ME! WHY DO YA GOTTA DRAG ME DOWN THE HALL! AND WHERE THE HELL ARE WE GOING!" Kyo "kicked and screamed", but it was really more like he was being dragged on his butt and yelling curse words.

"We're going to find Hiei so you can meet him!- You two should get along great! Since, well, you two have soooo much in common!" Sakura grinned happily, blithely pulling Kyo behind her.

"What do ya mean 'we have so much in common'?" The baka questioned, before he thought.

"Damn, Kyo. You really are a pure baka, aren't you?" She took in a breath to start explaining. "You both like- or used to like Kura. You both have bad tempers. You both like to curse at inanimate objects and people who just like to piss you off.-- Shall I go on?"

"No. That's okay." Kyo crossed his arms over his chest.

"Hehe! I knew that would get you! Now just shut up and don't whimper." She continued to pull him down the hallways, as they attempted to find Hiei.

"Hiei!" Kura called, seeing her "favorite wittle fire demon" just outside the hallway she was coming out of. "I was wondering where you wandered off to!" She practically pounced on him.

"Morning." Was all he said to greet her.

"Morning!" Kura kissed his cheek. "What have you been up to this morning?"
"Just.. walking around. I ran into Sakura, unluckily. I was quick to tell her that I was looking for you when I found her standed in the Garden with that little girl..."

"That was Kisa! Those two, Momiji, and I were takin' a 'tour' of the Gardens. Hehe... Then, Momiji and I left them in there... They actually found their way out..."
"What else have you been up to?" Hiei looked into her emerald green eyes.

"I've just been hanging around with Momiji-chan, and Kyo-chan. That's all..."

"Kyo? That orange-haired, bad mouthed human?"

Kura giggled. "Yes. That's him, all right."

"Shit..."

"What? What's wrong?"

"Nothin'. He and I just.. got off to a bad start... That's all."

Sakura finally let go of Kyo's shirt. "Get up, and c'mon... You're going to get onto the right track. You and Hiei need to be on nice terms."

"Why me?"

"Because!" Sakura demanded.

That night, at dinner, Hiei seemed to be pissed off. Sakura kept giggling. Kura was confused.

"Sakura.. what did you do to Hiei?" She finally asked.

"Nuuuuuuuuuuthin'!"

"Liar." Hiei muttered. He sat with his arms crossed at his chest.

Sakura giggled. "Sakura...!" Kura demanded.

"Oh, all right. I made him and Kyo sit and talk. It was funny!"

"No. It wasn't." Hiei stood up.

Kurama looked at all three of them. "Going somewhere, Hiei?"

"It's none of your damn business." He muttered, then walked outside.

"You know, Sakura... you could be nicer to him..." Briar said from her end of the table.

"Why should I?"

"Because... you never know when you two could become family one day. Maybe distant family.. but family none the less."

Sakura started pouting.

Kura bit her lower lip, then slowly stood up. "Um.. I think I'm done. So, I'm just gonna go to my room and... uh... get ready for bed.- Okay. Bai guys." Then, she quickly scurried out, before anyone could say anything.

"Well, she's been acting weird lately. And that's all I'm gonna say." Briar said, then started eating again.

The Next Three days were interesting... Jin finally learned about Sakura's old crush, Yuki. But he was all right with it. Kura and Hiei kept to themselves, which meant-- pretty much-- that Kura had to avoid Kyo. She didn't want to avoid him, she just had to so there would be no further complications. So, finally the time came for everyone to pack up. Momiji was in Sakura and Kura's room, helping them pack.

"I wish you guys didn't have to go..." He said at one point, while helping Sakura gather her clothes.

"Yeah. Me, too. I had so much fun!" Sakura hugged him, then started gathering her clothes again, which were spread out all over the room. "And I bet that Kura had tons of fun, too!"

Kura had pretty much been in a daze until Sakura caught her attention. "oh! Sorry... Of course I had fun! Why wouldn't I have?" She smiled, folding her last shirt.

Momiji hugged her then went to stand by the door.

Hiei and Jin then walked in.

"Jin!" Sakura stood up and jumped into a hug.

Kura turned her head and then saw Hiei, she smiled to him. He walked over to her and picked up her bag. "Thanks." She rose to her feet.

"It's nothing..." He told her, quietly, then exited the room to take her bag to the vehicle.

"What's wrong with you two? These past three days haven't exactly been filled with your joyous presences." Jin asked, looking to the red head.

"I dunno..." Kura shrugged, nervously, then ran out of the room.

Jin and Sakura shurgged to each other, then lagged their bags outm into the van.

Everyone said their good byes, then thanked the Sohmas for allowing them to stay. As soon as they got all the bags into the vehicles.