Kaelyn: My god it's been quite some time. Between school and the fifty thousand hours of work each of my studio classes gave me each week, I just lost track of this. Then, to top it all off, I had to have freaking BRAIN SURGERY. Not fun. Anyways, here it is, finally published! And I promise to be better in the future, my apologies!

rainbowdragongil101: Thanks so much for your support!

KiraKittyKat: Your continued support keeps me going! I've noticed the vocabulary thing...I just write with words I actually say, so maybe that's just saying something about the other authors ;)

no name 128: Hmm... definitely not a schizo, but thanks for the words of encouragement!

Emerald Gaze: Here's that chapter! I used the unconsciousness scenes because I'm sick of reading stories where the author jumps into things too fast. I like the build :)

PiNkBuN17: The update has arrived! Thanks so much for your input, it's rare that someone would review each chapter even though the next is already published. You're the best!

whispersongs: I did continue :D so happy reading!

Also, a special shout out to joemarnc, no name 128, PiNkBuN17, Emerald Gaze, and whispersongs for adding Delicacy to their story alerts, to Hiei's Daisi for adding me to their author alerts, to Homunculus7SIN, , Shadowsammy, and whispersongs (again) for adding Delicacy to their favorite stories, and finally to KiraKittyKat for adding me to their favorite authors!

Adelyn's POV

The smell of home cooking crept its way into my nostrils, tantalizing my taste buds. But I didn't want their pity food, so I just made my own and brushed by them all without acknowledging the slightest part of their existences. It didn't last very long.

"What did you do that for?" I asked Yusuke as he threw my dinner into the trash.

"You're eating with the rest of us. Keiko went through the trouble of making food for all of us, so you're going to eat it."

"Thanks, but I don't need you're 'hospitality'."

"Adelyn, that's enough. What's gotten into you?"

"What's gotten into me, Shuichi? Maybe I was lied to, deceived, made a fool of, used?"

"It's time for you to be quiet, child. I've just about had enough of your bogus scorn. If you weren't being such an idiot maybe you'd realize that these boys were only doing what they were told. It's their job. Get a mission and complete it. That's how it's always been and how it will continue to be because none of them are in any kind of position to disobey Koenma's orders. This is my house and you will respect every single person in it. If you're not going to say something useful, than keep your damn mouth shut."

I cringed a little at Genkai's blunt retaliation to my childish behavior so, I did what I was told. I shut my mouth and took the open seat between Kuwabara and Yusuke. Immediately Kuwabara's posture stiffened as he leaned slightly in the other direction, while Yusuke rested his chin on the hand nearest me, clearly trying to cause a form of separation between the two of us. So I sat in total, alienated frustration doing nothing more than pushing my food around the plate, trying desperately to ignore my salivating palette. Minutes ticked by in an agonizingly slow pace and, one by one, everyone started to leave the table. Eventually, I was the only one remaining; even well after all the dishes had been washed and they had all sat down to enjoy each others company in the living room ΜΆ I sat alone. Their laughter taunted me. The sounds of Yusuke and Kuwabara wrestling, Keiko begging in a calm voice for them to cut it out, even Shuichi's low chuckle he tried to cover up with a cough. It all mocked me, reminding me of what was never really mine in the first place. I couldn't take it, so I left and sat in silence, mindlessly trying to occupy myself with creating the bedroom set I couldn't be bothered with earlier. I decided against having a clock. Its incessant ticking would drive me crazy far quicker than solitude.

Eventually the house went quiet, a sign that everyone had returned to their respected homes. I slipped out of my room and crept my way downstairs, tensing every time my foot found a creaky floor board. This house gave me the chills at night. During the day when it was filled with bright and cheery people, it too had seemed bright and cheery. Now that I'm experiencing it in its raw sincerity, I could tell it had seen many things, the extent of which I dared not to dwell on.

This group of friends had scarred me in a way I knew I would not soon forget. Before them, my existence was normal to me, nothing out of the ordinary. I had never felt the need to have friends, never striven to be surrounded by people because I had never known the feeling. Now I do. I know the feeling of having something, no matter how simple, to wake up to. I know happiness, but I'm too stubborn to stop pushing it away. These people I've met are amazing, all gentle, caring, and kind in their own way. Who am I, one who has had nothing close to them, to be so selfish as to want them all to myself? Why do I deserve them?

"Self pity will get you no where but in your own way." I hadn't heard him come into the room. I hadn't even known he was staying. Hiei's funny that way I guess. Like he's always there. Like a ghost.

"If you've found something worth fighting for, stop being a fool and fight. You're own stupidity is the only problem here. I've know those three fools for long enough to know they have far too kind hearted to lie for their own benefit."

"What about you then?" He just looked at me. "You talk about them, but not yourself. You speak higher of them. I can tell though, you're not that different."

"Hn. You know nothing about me."

"I can tell you started out like me, alone. But they showed you kindness and friendship, just like they did me. Somewhere along the line, you decided that they were worth fighting for. That's way you're telling me now, because you can see the similarities too. You see a little bit of the person you used to be in me, don't you?"

I watched as he stood up to leave. "Just eat your food and go to bed, onna," and he was gone.

I stood as well, pulled some of the left overs from the fridge, and ate in silence.

Kurama's POV

I had been standing there for quite some time, having followed Adelyn to assure she wouldn't try and leave. It was fascinating, watching Hiei willingly interact with someone else. He had done so for years with me, but this was different. Had had only just met this girl who is, for all intensive purposes, just a human. But here he was, being more civilized with her than others whom he has known for years now. It baffled me.

"Fox."

"Feeling talkative tonight, Hiei, aren't we?" I couldn't help but heckle him a little.

He glowered at me, "Shut up and go to sleep. She's not going anywhere." He was gone just as soon as he came.

Try as I might, the chuckle made it past my lips. Regardless of how little we know about this girl, somehow she's changing him.

And he knows it.

Kaelyn: Again, I'm so sorry to everyone! Please don't let that keep you from reviewing!