What I Learned At Genkai's Temple

Violet Twilight
Part One: Addition

Kohari: As you can see, the title "Violet Twilight" got the most votes.

NOTE: Oh, and if you come up with a slogan for the GGFs, you'll get, not one, not two, but THREE chapters of this fic dedicated to you! So put on your thinking caps! After you read and review this.

The rain poured, but no thunder cried in the dark evening sky. The Tantei and the girls were immersed in a friendly game of cards. Though, it wasn't quite so friendly as one could hope - Yusuke is a sore loser.

"What dya mean I lose again?" he shouted at his buddies, throwing his hand at the floor and scattering the cards in all different directions.

Before anyone could explain for the twelfth time why he had lost, a mysterious knock came upon the door.

"I wonder who that could be," Genkai mused aloud.

"I'll get it," Kit offered. She rose and approached the door, opening it to admit a drenched girl of about seventeen. Her already naturally dark purple hair was practically black with wet, thick strands clinging at her cheeks and neck. Her clothes were soaked, and she wasted no time accepting the invitation to come into the temple, where she received a warm greeting.

"My name's Kit," the cute blonde introduced herself, hand outstretched. "Who are you?"

"Name's Sarena," the newcomer replied, shaking the offered hand, lavender eyes meeting blue. She then took the large towel that Kurama had retrieved for her. "Sarena Ichigo Natsui. And it's a pleasure to meet you."

"Likewise," Kit responded. "Hey, you and I are about the same size. Wanna borrow some of my clothes while yours dry?"

Sarena answered, "Yes, please. If you don't mind."

"No prob," came the nonchalant reply. "Come on. I'll show you our rooms." Kit began to lead their guest to the room she shared with Kai and Daphne.

They returned with Sarena sporting a jogging outfit of Kit's (they're especially comfortable when you're waiting for wet clothes to dry, and you've just come in from the pouring rain). Yusuke had since gotten fed up with the lot of them and stomped off to his room.

"We seem to be one player short, now," Kurama pointed out, talking to Sarena. "Would you like to join us?"

"I'd love to."

Sarena warmed up well to the group. In fact, she was a completely different person from the stranger who had come in out of the rain. Her personality reminded them a lot of Botan.

They played cards late into the night, long after Sarena's clothes had dried, and long after the shower had gone. Her hair now dried, she pulled her hair into a braided ponytail, awaiting her turn.

Kit couldn't help but notice the enormous amount of attention Kurama was paying to their new guest. She knew it was in his nature to make others, especially new additions and guests, as comfortable as possible, but she couldn't shake the feeling that there was something different about his attitude this time. Or the suspicion that this purple-haired, purple-eyed chick posed a threat to her.

"So tell us a little about yourself, Sarena," Kurama requested, breaking into Kit's thoughts.

"Well, I'm seventeen," Sarena started. "I'm a demon. I'm a third ice, one third cat, and one third vampire, which doesn't really make sense, but hey, not much does, right?"

"Right," Kurama agreed with a smile.

"I'm going to bed," Kit announced with a snappy undertone, getting up after slapping her cards onto the floor. "'Night."

Though Kuwabara, Kurama, Genkai, Yukina, and Sarena didn't notice, the others picked up from her vibes that something was wrong. Daphne exchanged worried glances with Kai and Hiei and then followed, excusing herself with a polite "good night" to the new girl.

"You okay, Kit?" Daphne asked, not bothering to hide the concern in her voice.

"Everything's fine," Kit snapped, back to Daphne.

"What's wrong, girl?" Daphne rested her hand on her friend's shoulder reassuringly, only to have it brushed off.

"Nothing."

"Come on. You were fine before...oh..." Daphne realized what was going on.

"Did you see how much attention he was paying her?" Kit demanded.

"Chick, you're overreacting. He was just being nice," Daphne suggested. "That's the way he is."

"You didn't see the way he looked at her."

"Trust me," Daphne advised. "You're just tired. When you wake up, this whole thing'll seem so silly. And, she'll be gone soon enough. What's there to worry about?"

Kit turned to her, but her eyes lingered on the ground. Then, she raised them to meet Daphne's. "You know what? You're right, Daph. I'm just blowing everything outta proportion. I'm sorry." She hugged Daphne.

"Now you get some sleep," Daphne told her.

"Thanks, Daph."

Little did either of them know that this whole arrangement would pose more of a problem than any of them could imagine.

Note: Yes, we know how late this thing is. And how short it is compared to what you were expecting. But we both have a lot to deal with on our hands right now. Wanna know what?

Kohari has this to deal with: College applications (online and paper), a book she hopes will one day become published, a summer reading assignment she never completed (luckily, she doesn't have English 'til next semester)...Oh, and she will now have two (working on more) after-school clubs to go to. (By the way, this doesn't include the classes that don't get in my way so much, like Calculus and French IV.)

Jacqie's list: An AP US History course online, (Jacqie- so friggin' HARD! a word of advice, never ever take a class online, especially not an AP course!), working on two other plot bunnies for her own account that bit her and won't let go, and trying to work on an actual book that her and Ko are writing together...plus the after-school clubs she's involved in...oh yeah and she also has to work on her summer reading assignments that she didn't finish.

Note (continued): So you see where the site HAS to fall in our priorities? We're sorry for any inconvenience this may cause you. We hope to update again soon.

PS: Is this thing EVER proofread? Oh, review, please, as always! (One-liners accepted, though feedback would be nice.)

HAPPY SEVENTEENTH BIRTHDAY, KOHARI! (9/26)

Kohari: Thanks for all the "Happy Birthday" messages, guys! I felt so loved!