4 weeks later
The group finished with a mission a few days ago and decided to head to Genkai's. When they
arrived, Genkai greeted them and invited them for tea. They all walked to a small, well ventilated
room, and sat around a table with a fresh pot of tea on it.
"How has Sandra been doing?" Kurama asked
Genkai sighed before replying "Not well I'm afrais. She still doesnt speak or show any emotions at
all. I put her in a room next to mine, and she wakes from a nightmare ever night, falling from her bed.
She still doesnt allow me to touch her either. When she wakes in the night like that, if I reach for
her, she either pulls away, or just lays there, her eyes glazed over and responds to nothing"
Kurama nodded "She was like that when we found her. It was like she wasnt even in her body
anymore" he explained
"It makes sense completely. I would imagine six or secen year of that type of treatment would
cause anyone to be that way" reflected Genkai
"Hiei, can you try to talk to her with telepathy?" Yusuke asked
He shook his head "I couldnt even if I wanted to. I have met one girl like her before, and her
mind was completly blocked off. It was her safe haven. She flewd to her mind when people did
what they did. She kept herself barred away in her little world, and kept it safe from intruders"
he answered
"Poor Sandra" Kuwabara mumbled "I couldnt imagine having to grow up in an envirnment half
that bad, but shes had to do it for six years"
Everyone went silent when they heard the door open. They turned and saw Sandra with a tea
pot freshly steaming. She swapped out the pots, earning a thank you from Genkai. She looked to
her for a moment before leaving and closing the door behind her.
"Thats how she speaks for now. If I say something, she'll stop what shes doing, look tot me for a
few moments, then continue on her way. Most of the time I have to guess what shes saying"
"Perhaps her ability or willingless to speak will come once she truly feels safe again" Kurama
suggested"Perhaps..." Genkai paused "Koenma has asked if I would be willing to let you all stay
here. What is it exactly you wish to accomplish?" she asked, curiosity evident in her voice.
Everyone looked to Kurama who rolled her his eyes before looking to Genkai and explaining, "Both
the human and spirit worlds are safe for now. There are no missions for us now, and we were all
hoping that there might be something we could do to aid in Sandra's recovery"
Genkai cocked her head to one side and smiled lightly, "I would much appreciate the help"
Genkai looked at the table and her smiled faltered "I forgot the plates and cookies" she said
beginning to strand, but was stopped by Kurama. She smiled at him, and he stood, leaving the
room.Once he closed the door, he started to head toward the kitchen but saw Sandra a few steps
ahead, walking away.
"Sandra!"
She stooped walking and looked over her shoulder, just enough to see the red head.
'Hes the fox... who wants to help me? Whats in it for him? Probably the same thing those men
wanted' she thought to herself as she fully turned around as Kurama walked to just a few inches
away. He smiled friendly at her before continuing.
"You actually respont to your name now" he said automaticly reaching for her shoulder like he did
with hit other friends.
She looked to his hand and took a few steps back, accidently hitting her head on a lamp. She
closed her eyes and KUrama stepped forward, reaching for her reflexivly. She opened her eyes and
saw him moving toward her and she turned, running to the room Genkai was in.
She ran in and hit the floor behind Genkai, covering her head. Genkai looked to her before looking to
Kurama who was at the door, with his eyebrows knitted together and a worried expression on his
face.
"Sandra, I'm sorry"
"What did you do, fox?" Hiei asked glaring
"I saw her in the hall and started to talk to her. I autmaticly went to put my hand on her shoulder, like
I do when talking to you guys, and she took some quick steps backward. When she did, she hit her
head on the lamp and I automaticly reached for her again, then she took off" he quickly explained
Everyone looked to Sandra, who was still on the floor with her head covered. Genkai knitted her
eyebrows together and looked to everyone with pleading eyes. They nodded and walked from the room,
closing the door bahind them. Genkai turned back to Sandra with a soft tone.
"Sandra, its ok. He wasnt planning on hurting you"
Sandra didnt reply, but her posture relaxed slightly
"Trust me, Sandra. These men are good men, and only want to help you"
Sandra relaxed a bit more, causing Genkai to smile.
"I promise, none of them want anything more than to possibly be your friends and help you through
this"
Sandra hesitated before looing up to Genkai to see her smiling.
living room
"This is good, isnt it?" asked Kuwabara
"How is it good, ningen!?" a pacing Hiei yelled
"It means that she has at least gotten somewhat better. I mean, when we first found her, she would
have accepted the worst, but now shes at least making an effort to stop something she doesnt want
to happen from happening" piped in Yusuke
Hiei just looked at the two of them before grunting and continuing with his pacing. Kuwabara and
Yusuke crossedthier arms and glared at him while Kurama smiled and shook his head.
'Idiots' he thought 'They dont realize Hiei actually just admitted they were right for once'
'Watch it fox' he heard in his head. He turned to see Hiei glaring at him from the corner of his eye
and half smiled, scratching the back of his head. 'Sorry' he thought back. Hiei grunted again and kept
up his pacing untill Genkai walked into the room with Sandra right behind her. She looked around at
the group before looking to the floor and crossing her arms gingerly across her chest. Genkai was
the first to speak up.
"She is fine, she was just a little scared" She looked to Kurama while continuing "I think its getting
late, we should all try and get some sleep" While she was looking at him, she gestured for him to
follow and he nodded. She turned to the rest of the group before speaking again.
"I have made up rooms for everyone, Hiei, yours has a hammock in it. I know you dont use beds,
but if you prefer to still sleep in the tree outside, feel free" Hiei nodded before she continued. "As for
everyone else, your beds are ready and waiting. Get some sleep, you all will have duties to help
with tomorrow"
Everyone nodded and slipped off into thier seporate rooms, leaving Kurama, Genkai, and Sandra in
the room. The air was thick with tension and Kurama also looked to the floor before looking up at
Genkais voice. "Sandra, look at me, dear"
Sandra hesitantly looked up and listened. "You know that as long as you are here, no one can hurt
you. I wouldnt allow it" Sandra just stood looking to her, and Genkai conitnued. "This is Kurama. He
wants to help you, it was his idea to have everyone stay here and try to help as best as they can"
Kurama nodded and half smiled at her, and she looked back to Genkai.
"He, wont hurt you" Sandra just looked to Genkai for a moment before Genkai nodded and Sandra
slipped from the room, turning back to Kurama.
"I didnt mean to scare her"
"On the contrary, I'm glad you did"
"What?"
"What Yusuke said was true. What happened shows improvement. At least I know I am making
headway with her. I thought I was failing at helping her through this, but you proved I wasnt. Shes
not afraid to at least fight for what she wants.. or stop what she doesntwant"
"I suppose"
"Kurama, although that did help, try to be careful around her now. She knows you wont hurt her, but
you did move close and quickly with the little incident. I'm not yelling or lecturing, but do be careful"
"I understand"
Genkai smiled and Kurama smiled back before Genkai left the room. Kurama sighed and shook his
head before walking out as well. He walked down the hall and into his room, closing the door behind
him. Once the door was closed, a familiar voice reached his ears andhe looked to the window sill to
see Hiei sitting there.
"What she did today.. is it really good for her?" he asked uncertainly
Kurama half smiled before replying. "Believe it or not, yes"
Hiei sighed and put his head in his hands before talking. "I dont know what I'm doing anymore"
"How do you mean?"
"I know that Yukina is my sister. I know how she acts, I know how to act around her, and I know that
I want to protect her with my life, but I dont know with Sandra. I dont know what shes like, how to act
around her, and I feel bad that I dont know if I could protect her with my life"
"Dont know if you could protect her? Whats that mean?"
"The things that bother her, arent the same as everyone else!" he said as he stood and paced the
room, Kurama stepping back to give him his space.
"I havent seen you this upset since before you told Yukina about you being her brother"
"Shut up! Nobody asked you!"
Kurama sighed and shook his head. 'Why cant you relax for once?' he thought to himself
Hiei glared at him and spoke his reply out loud. "You have to stop forgetting I can read what you think"
"And you need to stop forgetting that most of the time I do it on purpose. Listen Hiei, I know your
nervous and upset, and that the whole situation angers you, but she is 17 years old. Yes shes your
sister, but your older sister. She can take care of herself, as you have seen. Shes learning how to. Its
good, it means shes getting better. She will recover, you have to believe that. And she wont always need
you, it may hurt to know that, but its the truth. Yukina wont always need you either, but it doesnt mean
that they wont like you, think about you, or want you to be around"
Hiei said nothing but shook his head and growled. "This is irritating as hell! I'm out of here"
"Hiei!"
Before Kurama could say anything else, Hiei had flitted out the window. 'Hiei...'