What I Learned At Genkai's Temple

Violet Twilight
Part Two: Division

Kohari: Thanks again, guys, for all the Happy Birthdays. They totally made me feel awesome!

Kohari (again): Hey, Spiritual! Hope you don't mind that we're gonna give your character a history in the next chapter. (Unless there's something you really want us to put in.)

Jacqie: If so, ya definitely gotta let us know girl! Well, enjoy the chapter y'all. (And please ppl go review for whosaid...please??? lol)

Kit was fast asleep by the time the other girls, including Sarena, had come into the dorm room to bunk for the night. But since she had her back turned to them, nobody noticed the tears that had fallen unconsciously from her closed eyes.

In the morning, Kit awoke to find the room was almost empty. She was greeted by Daphne's "'Morning, sleepyhead." Sarena and Kai had gone down to breakfast already, but Daphne wanted to walk with Kit. She hadn't had to worry about the clothing issue - Daphne had lent Sarena some of her own.

They went down together, not really talking. As they entered the kitchen, Kit stopped dead in her tracks. Sarena was in her spot by Kurama...deep in discussion.

Sarena was the first to notice their entrance. "Hey, guys!"

Daphne flashed her a smile (Kit just tried to keep a subtle glare going) and led her blonde buddy to a chair opposite her before Kit could do anything else.

The entire meal was similar to their everyday routine, but also very different. This morning, where Kit would talk (along with Yusuke and Daphne), Sarena's tongue was speeding a mile a minute.

Daphne tried to remain loyal to Kit, but Sarena was a really nice and cool person. Daphne couldn't help but join in on the conversation. But she also worried about Kit.

Finally, Genkai ventured to ask, "So what brings you here, Sarena?"

Sarena turned red. "I...uh, well..."

"It's alright," Genkai assured her. "You don't have to tell us if it makes you uncomfortable."

"Thanks," Sarena blushed.

Kit was beginning to wonder if there was more to this chick than they had originally thought. "Ya know what?" she asked aloud. "I'm gonna go for a walk."

"Would you like some company?" Kurama volunteered.

Before Kit could reply, Sarena added, "Mind if I come along?"

"Uh..." Afraid to refuse and look like the bad-guy (excuse us, bad-girl) in this situation, she answered, "Sure."

"Awesome!" Sarena celebrated and asked Daphne for a jacket. The mornings were always a bit chilly in the forest, even during the warmest of summer months.

Kit glared at the backs of the guy who possessed the key to her heart and the girl who she felt was trying to take the one to his. The walk had begun with them all walking together, but somehow, she had fallen behind and the other two were chatting animatedly a little ways up the path.

In a few moments, Sarena stopped, looking back, and gestured for Kurama to wait and let Kit catch up.

"You okay?" Sarena asked Kit, who just kept walking past her.

"I'm fine," came the snappy reply.

"Is she okay?" Sarena turned to Kurama.

"I'm not sure," he admitted.

Just then, Daphne jogged up to them, said a few rushed words of assurance, and approached Kit, speaking to her in a low tone.

Sarena just shook it off and continued her conversation with Kurama.

The boys, in the meantime, had finished eating and were sparring with Kai. Hiei just watched, as always.

As Kai and Yusuke wrestled, Kai talked about Sarena. "I'm not sure I like her."

"Why not? She's cool," Yusuke defended Sarena, going for Kai's jaw.

"Well, Kit doesn't seem to feel comfortable around her," Kai argued, blocking and countering with a punch of her own. "And if Kit doesn't like someone, something ain't right."

"Kit just has issues," Yusuke said, earning a kick to the stomach. He doubled up in pain.

"We all have issues," Kai pointed out. "And Kit doesn't exactly suck at making friends."

"Well," Yusuke went on, recovering and trying to get in another punch, "Sarena seems to be friendly with Kit. I haven't seen any problems."

"I have," Kai told him, catching his fist in her palm. "And I don't like it."

"What are you saying?" Yusuke demanded.

"I'm saying Kit's my best friend," Kai answered. "And if she's not herself, I'm gonna be concerned. Maybe you can't understand that, but it's as clear as daylight to me."

Kai kneed Yusuke's crotch before concluding, "Defend Sarena all you want, but Kit's my friend, and I'm not gonna let anyone hurt her."

Yusuke stared after the girl as she retreated back into the temple, trying to ignore the pain between his legs.

"Something's not right about her," Kit tried to convince Daphne, pacing around the girls' room like an obsessed lunatic.

"You're being irrational," Daphne told her. "You're just thinking that way 'cause she's hittin' on your guy."

"She can't even tell us why she's here. Or even HOW she got here," Kit continued, not swayed. "All we know is her name."

"And her bloodline. That's...pretty complicated," Daphne admitted. "Too many fractions on family tree branches for me." She leaned back on her bed.

"Where did she come from? Why is she here?" Kit pressed.

"I don't know," Daphne said, exasperated. "Yes, it's strange, Kit, but there are things about us and our past that we don't like to talk about, either."

"We're dealing with the present, here, not the past, Daph," Kit reminded her.

"Maybe her past has something to do with it," Daphne argued.

The girls jumped, startled by the sudden opening of the door. For a moment, they feared that Sarena had heard them talking about her, but were relieved to discover that it was only Hiei. He shut the door behind him. "I'd have to say that I agree with Kit in this situation, Daphne," he entered the conversation as quickly as he had come into the room. "The details on this girl are too foggy."

Kit flashed Daphne an "I told you so" look.

"Hiei," Daphne began, "she's harmless."

"How can you be sure of that?" he challenged her.

"Have you seen her act agressively?" Daphne answered with a question of her own. "Besides, I don't think she could hurt us, even if she wanted to. I haven't seen her use any -."

"The absence of appearance does not mean evidence is nonexistant."

"What?"

"Just because she doesn't show signs of her having spirit powers, it doesn't mean that she doesn't have any," Kit explained.

Daphne couldn't argue with that. Or with anything they said, really. She had just wanted to maintain peace. But she wasn't about to defend one possible friendship at the cost of a deeper one. She stared at the floor, unsure of what to say.

Kit advanced and hugged Daphne. "Thanks for looking out for me," she said, understanding completely.

Jacqie: Guess what y'all! The next chapter is already written and ready to be posted...just as soon as we get...how many reviews do you think Ko?

Kohari: Umm...methinks 5 is a fair price.

Jacqie: Y'all heard the lady (or read what she said...whateverz). So I think you should be pushing the pretty bluish-purple button...