What I Learned At Genkai's Temple

Violet Twilight
Part Three: Multiplication

Kohari: We were gonna have another three-part chapter-type thing -.

Jacqie: We seem stuck on that number...

Kohari: Yeah, I know, right? But I thought we'd extend it to four parts this time. I mean, there's a lot to work with, here.

Jacqie: And just for those who don't really understand what's with the Part Names, I'll explain: In "Addition," another member was being added (temporarily, we're not gonna keep Sarena forever) to the group. In "Division," the characters were all kinda divided between Kit and Sarena. And in this one...well, animosity's gonna multiply.

Jacqie (again): Well here's the next part of Violet Twilight, just like we promised. Great job with reviewing y'all...we got the five reviews we asked for in like one day!

Kohari: And guess what y'all...this chapter and two more after are dedicated to...SINOR!!! She sent in a slogan with her review for the last chapter. And here it is...(we tweaked it, though)

In the words of Forrest Gump...'Life is like a box of chocolates.' You just wanna gobble 'em all up, but ya gotta savor the flavor. And watch out for nuts!

Kit folded her clothes, freshly washed and dried, neatly and piled them into her dresser drawer according to type and favoritism. She tried to keep her mind off of Kurama and Sarena, but of course, the stronger the attempt to put something out of your mind, the more clearly and persistently it stays.

Eventually, she sighed and paused, just staring at the shirt she was currently clutching in her fists, reminding herself unconciously of "the good times." She smiled, in spite of herself. But then, the image of Sarena...and the thought that those good times would never come again. The feeling that he would never look at her "that way" again...the idea of Sarena permanently taking her place...

Kit shook her head, trying to erase those thoughts and resume the task at hand, only to find it very difficult to do so. Suddenly, the girl she least wanted to see at that time came into the room.

"Hey," she greeted. Kit replied with a curt "hey" of her own.

For a while, there was an awkward silence as Sarena just stood there watching Kit fold her laundry. But then, the former ventured to ask, uncharacteristcally serious, "Kit, why do you hate me?"

Kit, caught off-guard by the innocent question, turned to her. "I don't," she began.

"Yeah, you do," Sarena corrected her. "I know you do. You barely speak to me, and every time one of us walks into a room where the other happens to be, you tense up. Every time you see me, you get that look in your eyes that looks like anger, or sadness, or both, I don't even know, but it looks like you'll never be happy again. And your aura...it's just so negative. It's nothing like Kura-kun tells me (FYI, that's Kit's nickname for Kurama; dunno if we ever mentioned that.) - it's the complete opposite. So...I know it's me causing these things. And I wanna know why, Kit. What do you have against me?"

Kit had remained silent during the entirety of Sarena's monologue, focusing on her clothes and avoiding looking at the one she considered her rival. Hearing Sarena use the nickname "Kura-kun" felt like a stab to her heart. And now, it was apparently her turn to speak. She could feel Sarena's eyes locked on her with an intense curiosity that Kit could only begin to fathom. She didn't know why? Sarena had pretty much kept her life outside of the temple a secret, spent every waking moment with the guy that had so obviously been Kit's previously, taken her place with her friends, and she had no idea why Kit would be angry with her? Kit pursed her lips furiously until they were white.

"You really don't know?" she finally managed to say, dangerously slowly, . "Then I'll tell you. You come here out of nowhere, sad, pathetic...pitiful and dripping wet from the pouring rain like a lost dog who can't find its way home. I took pity on you...I was nice to you...I tried to be your friend. I even lent you my clothes. And you repay me by replacing me. You took my friends, the man I love...practically everything I hold dear. What's next?" she demanded, glaring at Sarena. "My life?"

"What?" wondered aloud a thoroughly confused Sarena.

Kit approached her. "Where did you come from, Sarena?" she demanded.

Sarena panicked then. "I haven't done a thing to you!" she screamed. "What do you want from me?"

"The truth would be nice," Kit snapped.

Sarena just stood there for a second, speechless, then ran out, appearing as if about to cry. Highly unusual...

Kit remained frozen for a few moments, feeling a bit guilty, but shook it off, remembering everything that had set her off against the girl. Then she returned to her work, sorting clothes and folding them.

Kit had just begun to set the table for dinner when Kurama approached her. "What did you say to upset Sarena?"

Kit didn't reply immediately. Instead, she placed a plate in the center of every spot.

"Kit," he growled warningly.

"Kurama," Kit mimicked him mockingly. "Why don't you go ask your darling Sarena what I did? Or better yet, what she did to me!"

"What she did to you, Kit? She came and found me outside earlier, and she was crying! She's a guest here, Kit, and everyone should be trying to make her feel welcome here, not hurting her."

Kit didn't answer this time; she just walked over to the cabinets to get the silverware and continued to set the table. Just outside the room, Daphne was...well, she was eavesdropping. She had been hanging out upstairs with Hiei for a while after her conversation with Kit, but had gotten worried about her and decided to come find her. Her search had inevitably led her to where she was now, her ear pressed against the dining room door, trying to hear every word that was being said. And frankly, she didn't particularly care for what she had heard so far.

"Daphne, what are you doing?" asked Hiei as he walked up behind her.

"Shhhhhhhh! I want to hear this!"

"Daph-" Hiei was cut off when Kurama's raised voice floated through the door to them.

"Kit! Even if you do not intend to answer my question, I believe that you owe Sarena an apology!"

Daphne couldn't even hear Kit's reply to that particular statement. She was too pissed off. Hiei had to hold her back so that she wouldn't storm in there. "Calm the hell down, woman!" he hissed into her ear.

"Calm down? Calm down? How am I supposed to calm down when he's treating one of my best friends like she doesn't even matter?" she hissed right back at him, glaring daggers in the direction of Kurama's voice.

"Kit, don't you dare walk away from me like that. You owe Sarena an apology," Kurama's voice could again be heard outside the door.

Kit just continued walking towards the door leading outside, apparently completely ignoring the man she loved. However, just as she opened the door to step outside, she surprised Kurama and the eavesdroppers when she twisted around, looked straight at Kurama, and said, "You know what Kurama? Fuck you!" She then disappeared outside.

Outside the room, Daphne couldn't contain herself anymore. She broke out of Hiei's grasp and barged into the dining room. "You asshole!"

"I hope you weren't referring to me, Daphne," Kurama stated as he turned to face her.

"You see anyone else in the fucking vicinity?" Daphne questioned before she punched him, actually managing to hit him. (A/N: Apparently those training lessons with Hiei are actually starting to pay off...)

Kurama managed to stop himself from stumbling too badly and then looked at the girl who had hit him in the jaw. "I wasn't aware that I was now a punching bag, Daphne," he said, his voice chilly.

"What the hell do you think you're doing? Are you even aware of how much you're hurting Kit with the way you've been acting ever since Sarena showed up? No, of course not, since you've been too fucking busy spending time with Sarena to even notice Kit. Then again, maybe you just fucking don't care about Kit as much as you used to!"

"Daphne, I don't believe that any of this is your business. And I would appreciate it if you would stay out of it." His voice was so cold this time that it was a wonder Daphne didn't freeze. He obviously thought that the conversation was over, but Daphne had other ideas...

"None of my business? None of my business? I beg to differ, fox; it is my business when you're hurting one of my best friends. I mean, come on! You're supposed to be dating Kit, and if this is how you treat your girlfriends, then I don't want to know how you treat your enemies! Honestly, Hiei has been a better and a more attentive boyfriend to to me today than you have been to Kit ever since Sarena fucking showed the hell up! I'm just trying to warn you now, Kurama. You'd better fucking decide whether Sarena is more important to you than the girl who actually fought for you. Otherwise, you're gonna lose her forever."

Kurama was speechless. He seriously had no clue how to respond to what Daphne had just said. Before he could find the words to respond to Daphne, Hiei walked in. "I think you've said more than enough, Daphne. Now let's leave Kurama alone to consider your words," he said as he led her out of the room.

As soon as Daphne and Hiei were out of the dining room, Kurama sat down heavily into one of the chairs to think about everything that Daphne had just told him.

Kohari: Wow. Check it out. Our longest chapter to date.