Ch. 11 – Take a chance
" I have a question for you." Ronin looks across the table at Konton. "If you're here to chaperone those two;" He points to Kagome and Kurama who are over on the dance floor. "Then why am I here?"
"You're here because we're gonna work on your tolerance."
"How are you going to chaperone them then?"
"I told them the rules. Don't worry about it. You might get drunk but I'll still be sober."
(On the dance floor)
-C'mon Suichi! I wanna dance with her too! Let me have a turn!- Youko whines.
-We're not allowed to shift.-
-I can stay in human form! Just let me dance with her! Please!?!-
-I think someone is getting jealous.-
-Let me out damn you!-
-In 2 minutes.-
-2 minutes! That's way too long! The song will be over by then!-
-That's the point.-
-WHAT! Suichi! How dare you take her away from me!-
-Would you rather dance with her now and get half a song or dance with her in 2 minutes and get a whole song?-
-I take back my last comment. I will be patient.-
( The table)
"So how are you feeling?"
"I'm doin' jus fine." Ronin replies.
"Good, cause you've only had 3 containers. If you were drunk already there wouldn't be any fun left for the rest of the night."
"Your tun."
"What number am I on?"
"… 4?"
"Wrong. I'm already on 5. Try to keep up."
( Genki's)
"What's wrong with you Hiei?" Yusuke walks over to the tree Hiei is currently residing in. "You haven't insulted Kuwabara all day and you didn't scare him when he walked by the door to your room."
"Nothing."
"If you're not threatening Kuwabara's life, as you usually do, then there is something wrong. Now tell."
"The fox has my sister."
"Cool!"
"Hn."
"I mean, sorry Hiei. Don't you trust Kurama?"
"It's not Kurama that I don't trust. It's Youko."
"Kurama will make sure Youko stays in check. You've just gotta give him a chance. You can't hide her from him; he loves her. And you know better then I about how the mind of a kitsune works. It's not like he's going to take her away for you. She'll still be around."
"You're insightful today."
"Ya, I know, not my style. This is usually Kurama's thing, not mine."
"Hn."
"Well I'm gonna go kick Kuwabara's ass at video games. Wanna watch?"
"No."
"C'mon. You know you want to see Kuwabara lose."
"Fine."
"Well let's go then or Kuwabara will think I forfeit!" Yusuke drags Hiei off.
( The bar)
( The table)
"Are you still conscious?"
"Yezzz."
"Good. Here's number 5." Konton pushes another container across the table. "You can do it, I know you can."
"Nwy."
"If you drink this last container I won't force you to drink more." She offers.
Ronin manages to consume half the container before falling over backwards in his chair. Konton looks over the edge of the table to find him knocked out.
"Well that sucks." She points at a passing waiter. "You. Bring me a few more containers."
"But you've already had 7 yourself and your friend is unconscious. Haven't you had enough?" The man inquires.
"Forget it. I'll get them myself." She gets up and walks over to the bar. "Hey bartender! I need 3 containers."
"You must have a high tolerance. Your friend has already passed out." He pushes the containers requested towards her.
"So I've noticed." Konton grabs the containers off the container. "And yes, I take pride in my high tolerance. It means that I can have more fun." She returns to the table.
(On the dance floor)
-My turn! My turn!-
-Youko, that's not a good idea.-
-But you said I could!-
-We're surround by humans.-
-I told you that I'll stay in human form!-
-I just don't think it's a wise decision.-
-I don't care!- Kurama's eyes switch from green to gold. –See? I told you it'd be fine.-
-Why don't you look again.-
Youko finds his hair to be turning silver. –Crud.-
-I warned you.-
-Shut up. I didn't ask for your opinion.-
"Kurama!" Kagome's voice brings him back from the conversation in his mind. "Your hair is turning silver!"
"Let's go up to the roof." He gently takes her hand and leads her to a door and up the stairs behind it.
Konton looks over to see silver hair and a pair of ears as the door shuts behind them. "Damn it. I told him no switching." She sighs, staring at the last full container sitting in front of her on the table. "… I'll go in 5 minutes." She looks back over at the door. "It's not like the situation is life-threatening." Her attention goes back to the container in front of her. "I'm sure they'll be fine. They just went to the roof. The most secluded place for this building. Alone. Aw, hell." She quickly downs the container. "Stay here." She states to the unconscious Ronin before running over to the door.
(On the roof)
"Kurama, your eyes! They've changed color!" Kagome becomes concerned.
"That's because I'm not Suichi." Youko states calmly.
"Youko!" She steps back.
"You love my flowers yet you won't come near me, why?"
Kagome stares at the ground. "I… I can't."
"Why? Why can't you let yourself like me?"
"…I… was hurt, a long time ago…"
"I would never do anything that would cause harm to you Kagome. I care for you a great deal. I want so badly for you to return my feelings, but I will not force you to like me."
Konton comes up the stairs and decides to listen while staying behind the door to the roof. She sits down on the stairs and remains quiet.
"I want to know… what your feelings are for me." Youko speaks slowly.
-And this is where I leave.- Konton thinks to herself. –I think I'll go check on Ronin.- She descends the stairs, making sure to keep her footsteps quiet.
"I… I can't."
"Please… give me a chance?" Kurama fully shifts to Youko. He pulls a rose out of his hair and holds it out to her. "Please?"
"…I… I don't know…"
"I think you do know, you're just scared." He uses a little bit of his demon speed to get really close to her. He wraps his arms around her and holds her close, hugging her. "It's ok to be afraid. I know you've been through a lot. I'm not asking you to love me. I'm just asking for you to like me at least." He looks into her eyes. "Please?"
"Ok…" She whispers.
"Thank you. That's all I ask." He lets her go. "But since I asked you earlier and we can still here the music out here..." He offers her a hand. "Wanna dance?"
"Sure."
(An hour later)
( The table)
"Maybe I should go check on them and see if they need to be separated… nah." Konton looks over at the still unconscious Ronin. "What would happen if I dumped cold water on you? I'm just curious." She walks over to the bar. "I would like bucket of the coldest water you've got please."
"Sure thing." He hands her a giant bucket. "Here you go, have fun."
"Oh don't worry, I will." She smiles evilly and grabs the bucket, walking back over to the table. She slowly raises the bucket over Ronin's unconscious form. Just as she's about to tip the water out of the bucket she hears something from upstairs. She pauses a moment to listen. She hears another sound. "Aw hell!" She slams the bucket down on the table and runs up the stairs. She kicks open the door to find Kagome stuck behind a barrier, Youko pinned to the fence with spirit cuffs and Hiei, sword drawn, looking very pissed off.
"Hn." Hiei glares at her.
"What are you doing here." She states instead of asking.
"Why weren't you watching them!?"
"Well you didn't specify that I had to be in the same room."
"That was implied."
"Just because it may be implied doesn't mean I'm gonna listen."
"I told you to make sure Youko didn't come near her."
"He's part of Kurama, what did you expect?"
"I expected you to do the job that you were given even though I disagreed with it in the first place."
"Why are you here Hiei?"
"I was just passing by."
"Wrong answer."
"You calling me a liar Konton?"
"That's a lame excuse. And yes, I am calling you a liar. So you better come up with a different answer real fast cause I'm gonna send you back to Genki's. A one-way trip that will make sure you don't leave your room for the rest of the night. So speak up, I have little patience for you."
"I sensed that you weren't doing your job so I came here to fix the situation before it got worse."
"You were worried."
"I clearly said that I did not want Kagome to see Youko."
"And I clearly don't care. If they like each other, who cares! If they want to hang out together, who cares! It's their life; it's their decision. You must stay out of it."
"I do not approve."
"Do I look like I care? Oh wait, let me fill that in for you… NO!"
"Do not raise your voice at me woman."
"You annoy me. Be gone." Hiei gets sucked into what appears to be a wormhole that opens up above him.
Kagome shifts to demon form and breaks down the barrier. "Where did you send him?"
"I don't know. He'll end up in his worst nightmare."
"Ok." She smiles.
"Ok? Kagome… do you know what he fears the most?"
"I sure do!" She laughs. "I have a feeling you two are going to get alone even better now!"
"… Where exactly did I send him?"
"You'll have to ask him when he comes back."
"I have a feeling you're not going to tell me."
"Nope."
"… Please?"
"Nope!"
"I'll torture you!" Konton threatens.
"Bring it on!"
"Um… before you two argue some more… could you like, maybe, get me off this fence?" Youko inquires. "Please?"
"I'll get him down if you tell me where I sent Hiei." Konton offers, trying to tempt Kagome into talking.
"Nah… I'll get him off the fence myself." She makes a fist and it glows with her blue energy. "Shot gun."
"Aaa!" Youko shuts his eyes, remembering the affects of that attack from Yusuke.
"Oh please, I didn't even touch you. Did you not trust me?" She looks sad.
"I'm sorry." He hugs her. "I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I was just remembering the last time Yusuke used that attack."
"That's because Yusuke doesn't think before he acts."
"So now that you guys are both ok, I'm gonna go back to the bar and wake up Ronin." Konton leaves.
(W/ Hiei)
Hiei is finally released from the wormhole after being pulled around by swirling colors for half an hour. He slowly opens his eyes to find himself somewhere he never wanted to be ever again. "Kill me. I'd rather die then be here." He looks around. "At least it's dark in here." All of a sudden a light goes on. "AAAAA!"
