I don't own anyone you know…duh
Raven stared down at the demon; she couldn't take much more of this. "Hn. I don't love anything how many times do I have to say it, love is a weak emotion! I refuse to be weak like you and those humans you call friends" The two sat up. Raven nodded she wouldn't blow up at him like last time though her irrational side was begging to do so.
"Right." She paused before looking at him, Hiei seemed angry. "Did I do something wrong?"
"Hn. Coming here."
"Well I thought-"
"You thought wrong. You're nothing but a distraction. I should be off fighting somewhere and I'm stuck here listening to you lament over womanly feelings"
"Hey you came to me, to bandage up your stupid arm" Raven was losing her cool she could feel it 'insensitive bastard. One minute we're close so close the next we're just close to ripping each other's heads off.'
"Hn. Well I got what I needed then" Hiei got up from his spot and stared at her for a minute it seemed as though he didn't like what he saw because then he turned to leave.
"So what now? You mark me and then split? What the hell am I supposed to do Hiei?" She stood up she was downright pissed at that point.
"Hn. Stay out of my way. Get off this island what you chose to do beyond that is up to you I don't really care" And he began to walk off.
"I hate you as much as I love you Hiei Jaganshi. You've got a lot of nerve to do this to me I-"
"You did this to yourself don't blame others for your misfortunes"
"So what do I do about this ugly bite on my arm huh?" She ran over to him and forcefully turned him around.
"Foolish girl I meant what I said you're mine" He sneered.
"No, fuck that I'm not yours I'm not anybody's but especially not yours. I don't know what it is about you Hiei that I keep coming back. And before you say it I know I'm a fool and I know it's my fault so shove it. And I just don't get it, what am I doing wrong why don't you like me back, I love you Hiei I really do but sometimes it seems that you wish you didn't know me" Her voice progressed to a very sad tone.
"Hn. I'd make my life a whole lot easier" he shrugged as he walked away from the broken girl. She sat down at the rock face she was standing on after cursing Hiei with every obscenity she knew she stormed back to the hotel. 'I won't be his lap dog. If he wants to treat someone like a five dollar whore he can go
to Cheri' She opened the door assuming that everyone was asleep she creped over to her bed taking her belongings and forcefully cramming them in her backpack.
"Staying over with Hiei tonight?" Cheri whispered hoarsely from the bed room floor, Raven could tell she was hung over.
"No. I never want to look at his sorry mug ever again" raven spat.
"Can you two be stable for like six minutes fighting, happy, fighting, happy I'm tired just thinking about it" Cheri had a hand to her forehead.
"Oh we're stable. We're totally stable we've come to a mutual agreement that we don't give a shit about each other. I was just so stupid to-" 'He's a stable asshole' she wasn't even thinking straight enough to even come up with a witty insult. Raven didn't even noticed that at that point she was no longer packing her stuff but the hotel room's furnishings, she caught herself before trying to cram her bag with the bedside lamp.
"Is that a hicky?" Cheri interrupted her.
"What? Oh shit that. No it's not a hicky it's a-"
"He marked you" Cheri's eyes widened. "That's like a permanent hicky" Cheri gave a small chuckled then winced as her head throbbed.
"Yes well I'm sure there's some elective surgery I can get done to remove it. Cheri I-"
"Damn you're in a big fight. What the hell did he do?" Cher frowned. "Did he sleep with the slut down the hall? She's got stripper shoes and a fish tail thing, well I have stripper shoes but that's beside the point is-"
"I wouldn't be surprised I bet he marked her too" Raven sighed her anger was cooling and her sadness was washing over her. "He just wants people to have" She snorted she threw her bag over her shoulder and started out the door.
"Hold up where are you going? Tomorrow's the big fight. Then we're done we can go home."
"I'm getting out of Hiei's way, off the island and somewhere that I can be alone" Raven sighed the lack of sleep was wearing her thin.
"What about all of us, you're just going to leave us here? I mean a boats coming after the fight but still we're stranded here with all these angsty teens…and Kurama well that's not so bad but-"
"Please shut up. I don't want to be mean but I'm, I just want to be alone I don't want to talk, to you or Yukina or Hiei talking won't change the fact that I still love him and he still thinks of me as a weakling" Raven almost cried. "I'll be waiting when you guys get home. I'll make something real good for dinner whatever you want. I just can't stay here anymore it's tearing me up" Raven shook her head. Cheri for once didn't have anything to say, she didn't pop her gum she just looked at her friend even with her raging hangover she was focused only on Raven, she had always been the cool calm collected one that would keep them from getting into crap they couldn't handle. But now she needed a friend and Cheri didn't know how to help her. She just put her hand on top of Raven's head and scruffed up her hair.
"Don't tell me to shut up loser. Alright we'll see you at home. I'd like waffles for dinner"
"You hate waffles" Raven smiled.
"But you love them like their going out of style and nothing cheers a girl up like some food. So just don't set the house on fire or get arrested while we're gone. I wouldn't want to miss out on the fun" Cheri grinned.
"Thanks" Raven nodded softly as she left the room. She walked very slowly; she was weighed down with thoughts.
--Flash back--
He was asleep, raven was awake listening to the crickets outside and Hiei's light breathing.
"Fool?" He murmured his face still looked deep in slumber.
"Yes?" She nuzzled her face by the nape of his neck.
"Don't please don't" His face wrinkled slightly.
"Don't what?" She moved her head back maybe that bothered him.
"Don't close your window. Don't shut me out" He shifted slightly squirming in the covers.
"I won't, I won't ever close this window Hiei I promise" She whispered in his ear kissing him softly on the cheek.
"Please don't shut me out. I'm cold Raven I'm cold damnit. Please don't leave me out here. I promise I won't snap at you again. You're too easily riled fool" He moved again. He was dreaming or having a nightmare one of the two.
"Me?" Raven shook her head a smile on her face even though she knew he probably didn't hear her.
"I need to be here. I can't go anywhere else. I need you fool who else will take me in. I don't want to be alone again-" Raven looked at him shocked. She knew he must be dreaming he would never say such words allowed.
"Hiei" She nudged him awake, she felt a bit awkward listening in to his private thoughts.
"Damnit what? Can't you let a man sleep" He sat up in bed a hazy scowl on his face
"You were having a nightmare" She replied softly. He just looked at her an odd kind of fear on his face. "I promise Hiei" She kissed him allowing him to take over to make the kiss more harsh and passionate. "It'll always be open whether you chose to step in or not it'll never close" She grinned his tense body seemed to relax he pulled her into an embrace. She knew he wouldn't feel cold that night, that both of them would feel like they were on fire. And she wanted that feeling to last.
--End of flash back--
By the time that memory faded she was at their boat, she watched as waves crashed. "I won't break my promise Hiei it will be open I won't leave you alone in the cold that's a horrible feeling. But maybe you thought my heart was like that window, always open and free for you to enter and leave at anytime. It doesn't work that way" her voice croaked. "It's time that I closed my heart. I won't be your fool forever" She ran her fingers over the mark he had left on her as she watched the sun rise.
--Hiei Pov--
Hiei had two routes he could take. He could go tell her that he did love her; at least he thinks he did and bask in having her at his side but he'd be putting her in danger...again. Or he could make her upset, have her go home and try to patch things up when the tournament was over, she'd be safe and if he did lose the fight then she would still have a head start when running from Toguro who had sworn the death of team Urameshi's loved ones. He would risk losing her for life to keep from losing her in death he had promised to protect her. He had marked her, she was his, she was his to protect and care for and 'Love' he could now admit it at least to himself. He loved her so much that even if she didn't love him back he would still watch over her, still want her. That's why he had to mark her before he set flame to what they had, so she would know always that he was with her for good and for bad.
"Hn. I don't love anything how many times do I have to say it, love is a weak emotion! I refuse to be weak like you and those humans you call friends" The two sat up. Hiei could feel himself start to free fall he wanted to take it back but it was too late, it was now or never he would save her from Toguro, from himself she deserved someone better than him, she was marked by Hiei Jaganshi but if she chose to be happy with someone else he wouldn't be surprised and he'd try to be happy for her. 'One of us should be happy'
"Right." She paused before looking at him, he saw the hurt in her eyes but he would ignore it just like he was ignoring his own emotions.
"Hn. Coming here." 'I want you to stay!' His heart yelled. 'But that stupid demon heart of mine is what got me into trouble in the first place. I need to start following my fighter's instincts' he coached himself.
"Well I thought-"
"You thought wrong. You're nothing but a distraction. I should be off fighting somewhere and I'm stuck here listening to you lament over womanly feelings" He cut her off quick saying what would be predicted from a cold hearted demon such as himself.
"Hey you came to me remember? To bandage up your stupid arm" Raven was losing her cool he could tell by the flushed look in her face he wanted to pull her into an angry kiss, some of their best moment were sparked by an argument, though few as serious as this.
"Hn. Well I got what I needed then" Hiei got up from his spot and stared at her for a minute he let the reality of what he was doing sink in. He frowned at the fact, that was how it had to be as he turned to leave.
"So what now? You mark me and then split? What the hell am I supposed to do Hiei?" She stood up she was downright pissed at that point. He looked at the mark he had made the skin was a bright pinkish color. She didn't get it, that mark was a sign of devotion. 'She'd never understand and this would all be for shit if I explained it to her'
"Hn. Stay out of my way. Get off this island what you chose to do beyond that is up to you I don't really care" And he began to walk off. 'Be safe fool, go home, live a life where no demons will threaten you on my behalf. If I'm involved with you this will be one of many messes you'll get yourself tangled into, can't stay out of trouble can you? I'll be at your window when I come back. If you take me back I swear I'll protect you from anything. If you won't I'll still protect you. From a distance' His mind rambled on with incoherent thoughts
"I hate you as much as I love you Hiei Jaganshi. You've got a lot of nerve to do this to me I-"She still loves me? I must have heard her wrong; I swear that's what she said. Hates me too, hell that's to be expected. Why did she have to say it today why did the fool tell me today that she loved me? If she didn't I wouldn't have to take such drastic measures now that we love each other I can take no chances if she gets hurt I swear all hell will break loose.'
"You did this to yourself don't blame others for your misfortunes" he didn't know where all this was coming from but boy did it sound convincing.
"So what do I do about this ugly bite on my shoulder huh?" She ran over to him and forcefully turned him around.
"Foolish girl I meant what I said you're mine" He sneered. Her touch was electric 'just leave me alone. Do I have to write it out in blood?'
"No, fuck that I'm not yours I'm not anybody's but especially not yours. I don't know what it is about you Hiei that I keep coming back. And before you say it I know I'm a fool and I know it's my fault so shove it. And I just don't get it, what am I doing wrong why don't you like me back, I love you Hiei I really do but sometimes it seems that you wish you didn't know me" Her voice progressed to a very sad tone.
"Hn. I'd make my life a whole lot easier" he shrugged as he walked away from the broken girl. 'That's not a lie it would. But it'd be a boring life and Raven isn't boring.' He watched her from the trees knowing she was too angry to sense his energy. He followed her back to the hotel room but once she stepped inside he just lingered. He was lost. Could he talk to Kurama about this? 'No right now I need to clear this from my head and focus on wining tomorrow.' He calmly walked the hall, eyes closed, he
neatly tucked away all feelings, all emotions, all thoughts that did not apply to his dragon, his opponent or his goal. He could get a little sleep, he didn't really need it. 'What the hell' He shrugged it wouldn't hurt him to be rested; this day had been too long too stressful.
--Dream--
"Idiot I hate the snow why'd you drag me out here" Raven's face was rosy in color, her teeth chattering her eyes tired, he glanced back at her as she followed behind her hair was disheveled it's red color popped against the white scenery.
"Hn. Fool because I don't want to be cooped inside" His foot prints were light in the snow; he could feel the flakes nestling in his hair. Then he felt a blow to the back of his head, a cold feeling running down his neck.
"Ha ha. I win" Raven laughed her eyes filled with life for a moment or two her hands in the air. He scowled he'd show her he crumpled up snow in his small hands and went to throw it. But instead of snow, Hiei's dragon scorched her pinning her to the ground dismantling her.
"What?" He looked down at his palms what had happened? he flickered over to her side as the flames died down. The memory from the previous winter had meshed with Hiei's thoughts about the match causing a hellish dream.
"I promised Hiei to keep the window open I promised I'd be at the house when you got back. Why would you do this why would you hurt me Hiei?" She yelled out in pain her eyes clenched shut.
"I...I'm sorry" He tried to help her up but she flinched away from him.
'No you're not, you're selfish, and you're a liar. I'm going to close the window Hiei you're not invited in my home anymore, not in my life" She yelled.
"Raven" He hated being so weak, falling to pieces over some stupid girl, but he couldn't help it.
"Watch out!" She pushed Hiei out of the way, a battle axe, Bui's battle axe had been thrown and she had sacrificed herself for him.
"Why?" He watched the snow melt as blood pooled around her.
"Idiot I love you. Don't be such a pansy about it. Where's the Hiei I know the snarky smartass? won't you hold my hand Hiei I know it's not your thing. But I feel so alone so cold Hiei please" Her voice grew soft and distant.
"Fool don't die don't leave me here in this human world with these simple minded creatures. I love you alright I said it" He clenched her hand with one of his; his other held his katana he looked around for Bui he would make him pay. He felt a small puff of cold hit his face, snow, it melted quickly on his skin.
"I win" She smiled sleepily closing her eyes.
--End of dream--
"Hiei" Kurama nudged him out of his sleep looming above the small fire demon. Hiei wished Raven had been beside him to wake him from that horrid dream but he shook his head today was the day, Bui would pay. "You were having a nightmare were you not?" Kurama watched as Hiei slid his boots on fumbling slightly.
"How much did you hear?" Hiei scowled.
"Hear?" Kurama looked puzzled, though in truth he had heard the majority of the dream but knew his friend would be ashamed to know that his feelings had been revealed. They met up with kuwabara and Yuske at the main door to their room.
"Let's pick up the girls first. I need to see Yukina before my big fight, she's my motivation you know" Kuwabara laughed, Hiei threw up a bit in his mouth. They walked to the girl's room Kuwabara knocked feverishly.
"Someone needs to get him a leash" Hiei scoffed. "And a muzzle" he added.
"So boys are you ready?" Botan greeted them at the door. The girls Eli and Connor were all standing behind her.
"Ready as we're going to be" Yuske shrugged.
"Let's go" Kuwabara took Yukina's hand to walk forward.
"Wait. Raven. Where is she?" Yukina frowned.
'I don't know I haven't seen her all morning" Keiko shrugged. Hiei knew where she was, back in her ugly purple house in her ugly room, with her closed window. He noticed Cheri scowling at him. Did she know? Would she tell everyone? It didn't really matter it was better that they thought of him as a heartless bastard it's what he was.
"You know us demons. We hate staying in one place for too long" Cheri shrugged. "Speaking of that I want to get out of this hell hole let's get a move on". Hiei didn't know why she did that but he was thankful that she didn't elaborate.
The teams were staring each other down, staring down their fates. The first match was Kurama vs. Karasu. The girls cheered from the stands much to the dismay of the demons around them.
"Damnit if they start a riot Raven you'll have to save their sorry asses" Yuske shouted into the bleachers. Raven nodded a small smile on her face she stood next to their line of seats.
"Fair enough". And then her eyes caught Hiei's.