OKAYYY, you guys. I'm begging you. Please, please, PLEASE review. I have one faithful reviewer (you know who you are) and while I am really grateful, I would like to know how I'm doing. I need multiple views of my writing, even if this is just a bit of a hobby for me.

YOUR FEEDBACK IS SO APPRECIATED, and I know that more than one person is reading my story lol.

This chapter gets the actual story rolling a little bit more! It's just a quick update.

ENJOY 3

Later that day, Kurama approached Hiei with the news of the duties he was now charged with. Kurama found him perched in the tree just outside of the small building where Genkai was training Yukina to hone her powers of healing.

"Hiei?" Kurama softly called, knowing that if he attracted Yukina's attention to where Hiei was positioned, he would be furious- anything that even alluded to them having some sort of preconceived connection other than their present one was something that he wanted to avoid at all costs.

"What, fox?"

"Well, I thought you wanted to know some news."

"Does it have to do with that wench?"

"I suppose it does, although I'm sure you could be a little more creative with the name choice."

"I already heard you and the old bat's plan."

"How did you manage that, Hiei?" inquired Kurama- although he already had a pretty decent guess, given his favorite pastime.

"It matters not, but, if you must know, my Jagan was very helpful in the process."

Kurama sighed. "Ah, well, if you insist. She's almost made a full recovery, so the transition will be in just a bit. In order to get somewhat acquainted, you two should probably go into town down the mountain and get some supplies- and some clothes for her. Genkai should be able to give you some allowance for such things. Be ready, alright?"

"Hn."

"Oh, and Hiei?"

"Hn?"

"I believe she noticed you in the tree. Maybe you should be a bit more adept in concealing yourself around her. She's not a fool."

By the time the mysterious girl was ready to be discharged from Genkai's immediate care, Kuwabara, Yusuke, and Keiko had congregated in her room. They had all been acquainted earlier that very day, although the girl didn't have much information with which they had to familiarize themselves with. At that moment, the boys were discussing what strategic method was most prudent for ditching their English course's 'midterm'- whatever that was.

Sitting up alertly, with her legs crossed, she was donning two other of Keiko's pieces of clothing. A slightly distressed pair of denim shorts that sat high on her waist ornamented her lower half, while a simple burgundy pullover comforted her upper body. She did not speak- only sat bemusedly listening to the gang's conversation. Her golden eyes followed the procession of speakers like one watches the ball during a tennis match. Keiko began her good-natured nagging just as their plan was nearing perfection.

She wondered what it was like to have a 'midterm,' and how fun they were to ditch. Maybe she would have one someday- but this was unlikely, as she seemed to be at an age too far to enter this schooling system they were in. She thought it was very unfortunate.

"Hey, she's kinda sitting there like a cute little dog, looking up at us like that," Kuwabara ever so eloquently said.

"Uh, sure, Kuwabara. Right on target with that one," Yusuke responded, turning to her. "Don't mind him, he's just a bit loveable doofus.

"Watch it, Urameshi!"

"Yeah, yeah. Anyway," continued Yusuke, peering over the young woman as if she were a very peculiar exhibit with some sort of fault he was meant to find. "You said you don't remember having a name, right?"

She thought long and hard about her reply. Her memory did recall being called certain things, like bitch, slut, baby, tightass, and pussy. Somehow, though she didn't think these were applicable to what he meant. "That is correct," she replied.

"We should name her!" Keiko giddily burst out.

The girl offered a cynical stare in her direction, but Keiko did not seem to pick up on it. I'm not some fuzzy pet that is yours to dote on and name, her thoughts chastised. Yet, on some level, she enjoyed these interactions, so she allowed herself to indulge them in these idle pleasantries. It would be nice to have some sort of title, other than the statement of her gender- as though she were nothing more than a vagina and breasts with legs. Giving consent with a silent nod, she looked to them for further ideas.

"How about Emi? Or Aiko? Michiko?" mused the tall, oafish redhead. He had the most stupidly sheepish grin on his face, and seemed to be thinking of something far away.

"And why exactly those names, you creep?" inquired Yusuke.

"Well, uh, they remind me of how pretty she is!" replied Kuwabara. "Almost as pretty as Yukina," he added in a lower voice, as though Hiei were listening intently at the wall, looking for any reason to bust it down and slay the man looking to court his sister.

"No way! They're too vain!" Keiko said. She looked up to the ceiling and crossed her arms, then resting her right elbow in her left supporting palm. Looking contemplative, she placed her delicate chin under her thumb.

The two boys remained silent; knowing some sort of explanation lecture was on its way. They knew the signs.

"I mean, it goes without saying that she is pretty. But do we just wanna name her something beautiful because she looks nice? She's pretty, like how an elegant wild animal is beautiful in its own right."

Am I meant to be insulted? Thought the subject of Keiko's verbalized rationalization. Is it normal for people to out rightly speak about others in their presence? Or do they just think I'm simple and don't understand what they're saying to me?

Keiko leaned forward closer to examine her face. "Like, how her gold eyes are so bright and fiery." The girl leaned back to avoid the awkward distance that was closing between them. "And her eyebrows are strong and a bit untamed, but it frames her pretty and sharp face. And such nice eyelashes, too! I'm so jealous."

Probably the latter, she thought and sighed.

"Keiko, this isn't some sort of cosmetology examination, you know," Yusuke butted in.

Ugh, thank you.

"Yusuke, I'm getting to my point! Anyway, we should name her after something wild that resembles an aspect of her appearance. She kind of looks like some sort of fox or dog…"

Thank you…?

"… but we already have a fox on your team! Hmmm… I've got it!"

"… what?" the boys inquired, lacking much enthusiasm. Keiko wasn't the best at gauging how her audience was receiving her at times. Well, ever.

"Her eyes! They're such a nice color of gold. They almost glow like huge fireflies. So, we should name her Hotaru. What do you guys think?"

"I mean… well.. What do you think?" Yusuke asked, peering over to their subject of conversation.

"Me? I think it'll do wonderfully. Thank you for such a lovely name," she answered. Although naming me after an insect doesn't really strike me on all my chords, it'll do. She- Hotaru now- stood up from the hospital bed that she had been restrained to for so long and gave her body a long, skyward stretch. Sensing something peculiar, she walked over to the large window beside her bed. Yet again, she thought- she knew- she spotted a swirl of black and red amidst the leaves. It disappeared as soon as she saw it.

"Where is the other man?" Hotaru inquired.

"The devilishly handsome redhead, Kurama? He's off doing a little errand for us, he should be ba-"

"Nono, the other one," she pressed. "The one in black"

"No clue. He kinda does his own thing most of the time- he's sort of stuck here against his own will for the time being," answered Yusuke. Hotaru nodded in understanding. "Why do you ask?"

"I have no reason in particular," she said, glancing toward the window.

He eyed her with suspicion for a moment, then resumed his former conversation with Kuwabara.

"Hiei!" Kurama called out from the front door of where Hotaru and the trio were gathered. "It's time."

The fire and ice demon was not too far off. He hopped down from yet another tree in which he was sitting- conveniently located just outside the window of Hotaru's room.

"You really ought to get out of that habit of doing that to people. It's rude."

"Don't get any ideas, fox. I'm trying to figure out what her smell is."

"You should tell her that, I'm sure it would make her feel better if she knew."

"Shut it! She reeks of human, almost like you do, but there's something underneath. I intend to find out why, that's all. It's nothing at all like you're probably thinking."

"Certainly, Hiei," Kurama giggled.

"You're always such a pain," grumbled Hiei. The pair entered the building together. This housing in particular was used for injured students of Genkai's- her training was typically an intense one, especially for humans who desired to maximize their own potential in the arts she offered. Oddly enough, ever since Hotaru had entered the building, most of the injured and ill had recovered at a might higher pace. The building was empty- an unusual sight in itself- except for Hotaru's room

Climbing up some stairs and winding around some hallways, the two shared in further discussion.

"This place's odor is unbearable."

"An original assessment coming from you, Hiei. Really, their scent is not at all bad- just different. You're only being melodramatic."

"You can only say that because you're so wishy-washy over humanity."

"I would suppose so, but how can you say you aren't in the least? You've been working with humans for almost three years. You can't say you aren't holding in the smallest bit of compassion toward your teammates."

"Right! As if I would ever trouble myself with such a thing for a bunch of weaklings."

"Typical Hiei," Kurama whispered as they came to the patient's room they were seeking. "Just be nice."

"Hn," he scoffed.

"As possible."

The pair entered the room, and Hiei assumed a faraway position in the corner that was uninhabited. Kurama explained the whole situation that was meant to come forth as determined by Koenma and Genkai- including the cohabitation of Hiei and Hotaru. She did not seem affected, but she could tell by the trio's tense silence that something was bothering them about the situation. However, she did not have the evidence to deduce what. All the while, and unbeknownst to Hotaru, Hiei glowered at her back. He felt few things other than what he understood as loathing. The way he saw it, this menial task only further deepened his anchor to the lowliest of realms.

When Kurama had finished, Hotaru motioned to speak.

She turned around to face Hiei. Offering a small smile and her hand to shake, she continued, "Since this is our first meeting, we should introduce ourselves. My name is Hotaru, by the way."

He took in her voluminous, auburn hair that cascaded down her shoulders like a mess brown moss and her sharp, analytical golden eyes that shone like eerily yellow moons. For a moment, beneath the smell of human, he caught the scent of alluring forestry and fresh springs. Perhaps he stared for a moment too long, because he noticed the rest of the group looking at him strangely- probably awaiting his response.

"Hn," he mumbled, looking to the left, "I am Hiei." Her hand hung awkwardly in the space between them, and she began to look cross. "There is no need for me to touch you, woman."

Well, it's good to see sassy, anti-social Hiei is in full swing as always, no?

I hope you enjoyed, please let me know how I'm doing, REVIEW. REVIEW, EVEN IF IT'S ANONYMOUS. I beg you.

As always, have a great day! (: