"Talking"
"Thinking"
-Telepathisis-
Flashback

-x-x-x-x-
Chapter Nine
Welcome Back

"Where're you going?"

I pause, guiltily, as Botan and Kat look up from their fashion magazine.

"Well..."

"You're going to go off and get hurt again, aren't you?" Kat's gaze is flat and disappointed.

I bite my tongue, but know my retort will still be sharp. "It's called 'fighting' and that's what happens, even if you're really good."

"So you want to end up like Youko?" Her hand covers her mouth as she realizes what she just said. Judging from Botan's worried glances, I am going to assume that my face is stony. Deciding that it isn't worth replying to, as I'll only make things worse, I turn and storm towards Koenma's office.

She doesn't like fighting; I get that. I really, really do. While we were fighting for our lives twenty-four seven, I grew to dislike fighting as well. We aren't doing that anymore and, unlike her, I am not content to sit safe in some castle. I thrive on adventure and fighting; I'm not making her come with; I'm not even asking her to help patch me up. She has no right to act like this is wronging her.

0x0x0x0

A week or so later finds all of them in the main room. Sora is next to Kimi; they are talking about training schedules, weapons and books. Kurama is near them, but has not joined them; he is lost in thought, though his gaze occasionally flickers over to them. Hiei is to all appearances asleep on the window sill; his hand tightly clenches his katana hilt. Yusuke and Kuwabara are arguing again; Yukina looks on, torn between amusement and worry that one will be injured. Genkai observes them all while sipping tea.

Botan flies through the open window on her oar. "Hi guys!"

All, save Hiei and Kurama, return her greeting.

"Koenma sir said he would be here; he has something to discuss with all of you." She grins before plopping down beside Yukina and engaging the girl in conversation.

Koenma appears half an hour later. "Yo." He twitches when everyone ignores him. "YO." He glares at all of them, though he now has their attention; he turns to Kurama, still twitching. "How are you?"

"I would probably be better if I had continued to train." The fox demon murmurs dryly. "Though I am very grateful for Yukina's assistance."

"But-"

"Does this mean you're coming back?" The demi-god interrupts. Yukina sighs and gives up; Kimi winks at her before continuing to vehemently rant about the suckage of Brave New World. (1, 2)

Kurama pauses, deliberately, until everyone begins to fidget. "I guess so."

Yusuke and Kuwabara whoop; Koenma grins; Hiei smirks slightly; Botan half-tackles him with a hug; Yukina smiles before prying the ecstatic ferry girl off, as Kurama isn't completely healed yet; Sora and Kimi continue their discussion, though both are smiling slightly.

"Yanno what this means?" Yusuke questions as the noise dies down.

"What?" Kuwabara asks.

"We need to have a party." There is a mischievous gleam in Yusuke's eyes.

0x0x0x0

"I am mostly healed you know." The disgruntled redhead repeats.

"Sorry, Kurama." Botan pulls her kitty face.

Yukina giggles. "Orders are orders."

"It's not a surprise." The fox demon refutes.

"But the party is for you, so you shouldn't be helping set it up." The ice maiden scolds.

"Were I you, I'd give it up." Kimi comments as she cuts through the room with an armful of banner and streamers. "They're not going to let you help."

"And you?" He is still extremely wary of her; Yusuke, Kuwabara and Sora may have taken to her, but he is reserving judgment.

"I'll be following my captain's orders." She states, then continues to the next room. "Oy! Sora!"

"Thanks!" The boy calls from atop a ladder. "Can you help me with this?"

"On it!" Is the return shout as Yukina closes the door.

"She's not too bad once you get to know her." Botan assures. "But it's the getting to know her part that's difficult."

Kurama nods, but frowns when he hears laughter.

0x0x0x0

"Oy." Yusuke flops down on the couch. "Throwing a party is too much work." Kuwabara laughs and straightens the banner that reads "WELCOME BACK, KURAMA!".

Keiko enters from the kitchen and places yet another homemade snack on the table. "Try making snacks and then complain."

The black haired boy sticks out his tongue. "I don't cook."

"Most boys don't." Shizuru comments as she places another snack on the table.

Keiko considers the room and frowns. "Where are the streamers?"

The redhead shrugs. "Kimi and Sora were in charge of them."

"Uhm...a little help...?"

All turn to find Kimi and Sora in the doorway; they are tightly entwined by the many colored streamers. They can't help but crack up; Sora flushes as a tinge of pink enters Kimi's pale complexion. Once the four are able to get themselves back under control, they untangle the two; the six of them then put up the streamers.

"How did that happen, anyway?" Yusuke inquires.

Sora makes a face at Kimi. "We were putting them up and I dropped one; it fell on Kimi. She-"

"He got to decorate me, so I returned the favor." Kimi interrupts with a grin; the boy glares before throwing a leftover streamer at her; she returns both favors.

"Outside!" Keiko pushes them out.

Both grin and run off.

The brunette blinks. "I'm guessing they took that as a dismissal."

0x0x0x0

"Welcome back!" Everyone save Hiei yells; Kurama grins and is startled as he views the fruits of their labor. The room is tastefully strewn with streamers; an entire side table is littered with snacks.

"Thank you." He murmurs; all, exempting Hiei, grin.

"Let's party!" Kuwabara yells and turns on the stereo.

0x0x0x0

"Bummer." Sora murmurs as they trek back from a section of demon world famous for its flowers.

"Meh." Kimi mumbles, sulking. "Well, second best will have to do."

"What?" He questions.

"I have some salves that assist healing. Considering he's still injured, they should be appreciated."

"After the party..."

"Yep?"

"...how did I..."

"Your power was to take metal and bend it into any shape you wanted. It will use some of your energy, but I don't know how much. If you want to train using it, I'll train with you."

"You're on."

0x0x0x0

"Is it me or are we missing someone?"

"Kimi and Sora." Kurama supplies.

Keiko frowns. "Maybe they thought I meant they weren't allowed inside..."

"Nope." Both state as they enter. Kuwabara, Yukina, Botan and Yusuke are happily partying; Kurama, Keiko and Shizuru are sitting on a couch, chatting; Hiei is on his window sill, observing (and secretly making sure Kuwabara keeps his hands off Yukina).

"We were in demon world." Sora explains as he offers Kurama the balms.

He accepts them with a quiet "thanks". "...what are they?"

"One heals bruises; the other, cuts. Both work on severe injuries but not as well." Kimi comments. "We were going for the argen astrum, but we ran out of time." (3)

"What do you mean?" A red eyebrow arches; Keiko and Shizuru grin before excusing themselves.

The demoness hesitantly sits on the wing chair next to the couch. "The portals in demon world cycle; my friends and I were bored one day so we figured out how long each cycle lasts." A slight grin tugs at her lips as Sora takes a seat on the couch in between the two.

"I'm guessing something amusing happened..."

"If you count the fourteen of us starting off in America and ending up in England, Australia, Brazil, Madagascar, Russia, Italy, Lesotho, Chile, Indonesia, Turkey, Panama, Denmark, Morocco and...Iceland...as amusing, then yes."

"...wow." Sora mumbles. "What a mess..."

"Nah, it spawned a new game for us."

"Portal tag?" Kurama suggests.

"Uh...yes, actually. We have rules, though."

"All games have rules." The fox demon comments blandly. She stands, nods to Sora and promptly joins the girl's DDR competition.

Kurama directs a questioning look to Sora.

He sighs. "She is generally only relaxed around but she forgot to adjust her behavior. Between you surprising her, being civil, then jumping on her for a mistake, she probably decided you weren't worth trying to hold a conversation with." He yawns. "She likes to know where she stands with people and you're confusing her." Another small yawn escapes him. "Sorry, that hike was brutal. ...how're you doing?"

The fox demon is slightly taken aback. "Fine, thank you. How's your arm?"

"It's doing better, although I've been banned from doing push ups for a while..."

The uneasy conversation continues as both begin to relax; once the topic of books is broached, however, the conversation flows smoothly.

0x0x0x0

"Looks like they might be best friends again soon." Yusuke comments.

"Maybe..." Kuwabara murmurs as he watches the girls DDR.

"Why'd we let 'em take it over, anyway?" Said brown eyed boy grumbles.

"Because Keiko and Shizuru asked." The more intelligent male replies calmly as the two girls in question fix Yusuke with a "Look".

0x0x0x0

"Do you think you'll stay on the team?" Kurama questions.

Sora frowns. "I'm not sure..." He pauses. "I enjoy the missions for the most part and training with everyone is fun...but I miss being a normal teen."

"Don't try going back."

The amount of sadness and bitterness in that statement makes the other boy stare. "You...tried?"

"Before I really got reinvolved, yes. I tried it again these past three months..."

The shorter boy's grin is sympathetic. "Didn't go so well, huh?"

"That sums it up nicely."

"Maybe..." The black haired boy pauses again. "...maybe you enjoyed 'human' life so much because you only got it in small doses...like candy."

The corner of the fox demon's mouth twitches at the analogy. "I normally don't eat sweets." (4)

The bat demon bites his lip in an attempt to conceal a grin.

A red eyebrow arches. "What?"

The other boy shakes his head. "I've spent far too much time with Kimi."

"I've only seen you two together in school."

"We get each other up, depending on the day; we train every morning and evening; we generally do homework together-she's a whiz with English; we also normally eat breakfast and dinner together too." He rattles off.

"That explains a lot." Kurama murmurs. "How has your training been going?"

"Hand-to-hand and meditating have gotten easier...the running's still murder, though."

Kurama nods in reply.

"D'you wanna try training with us?"

"...I don't think she would like that." Green eyes linger on the demoness engrossed in DDR.

Sora grins. "Why not ask?"

0x0x0x0

"Kimi."

The demoness turns, cup of water in hand, to find Kurama. "Yep?"

"Sora has invited me to train with both of you."

She looks thoughtful for a moment; she then shrugs. "Cool."

"No arguments?"

"Well, for future reference, I only spar hand-to-hand...and when you start to spar with Sora, take it easy. He may be regaining his old skill, but a severe injury would set him back a lot."

Green eyes blaze. "Do you honestly think-"

"Not on purpose, no. His strength and speed are aided by his energy but it occurs at random." She sighs. "He's having a rough time learning to control his energy."

"Do you think I'm trying to hurt him?"

"If you had asked me that before, the answer'd've been yes. I overheard the 'bury the hatchet' bit when I was passing."

That earns her a flat look.

She sighs. "'Kay, in the future I'll try not to be near you when you're talking to others."

The look intensifies. "That's not-"

The demoness abruptly rejoins the girls; Kurama spots Sora approaching.

"What was that about?"

"She overheard the 'hatchet' conversation."

Sora grins mysteriously. "Good."

0x0x0x0

Kurama and Sora sit on the couch; the girls (minus Kimi) are in bed; Hiei is outside; Yusuke and Kuwabara are playing games with their reclaimed system.

Kuwabara pauses the game. "Something's up."

A second later, Hiei enters via the window; beneath his bandanna the jagan is glowing. "I can't tell what's coming." He snaps. "That damn defensive barrier..."

"Let's get everyone up." Kurama stands; the five then split up.

0x0x0x0

About ten minutes later finds everyone but Sora and Kimi in the main room.

"What's going on?" A sleepy Keiko asks.

"Something's coming and the barrier won't allow us to tell what it is." Kurama explains.

Genkai frowns. "Where are those two?"

At that moment, Sora's energy flares sharply.

"Of course." Kurama snaps mentally as he summons his whip and races towards where Sora is. "They're going after the weakest two first."

0x0x0x0

"There...jeez." Sora manages to force the door open; the chair and dresser barring it are dislodged. "What is wrong with you?" He exclaims; there is no answer. "Kimi, now is not the time to screw around!" The only sound is the wind through the leaves on the trees. "...Kimi?" He approaches where the demoness sits. His hand finds her shoulder but he freezes before he shakes it.

Twin slashes carve both her throat and eyes open.

0x0x0x0

Kat and I are not on speaking terms now...oh well. If she wants to carry on and make a scene then so be it. As it is, I'm heading to Koenma's office.

Truth be told, I'm glad to get out of here; the attitude as of late has definitely been 'anti-demonic'. Most of the ferry girls and ogres I have made friends with refuse to acknowledge me now...though with the way things are going, I can hardly blame them.

"Ah, Kimi..." Koenma looks up from his papers; the ferry girl who supplied them sniffs haughtily and tries to walk out with her nose in the air. I keep my face straight as she walks into the door with a scandalized squawk. Huffing, she glares at me like it's my fault and slams the door behind her.

I turn to Koenma. "Bitchy, isn't she?"

He smiles wryly.

"Not that I'm not...but still." I roll my eyes. "'I am sooooo superior to you. I know how to walk into doors'." I proclaim in an imitation of her voice.

He struggles not to grin. "Alright, alright."

"Okay, I'll be non-bitchy starting...bitchbitchbitch..." I cough when he regards me sternly. "...now."

"I'm assuming that you've noticed the..."

"Stick up their ass attitude?" I suggest blandly.

"...yes. That."

"I should care...why?"

He considers me for a moment. "While I appreciate everything you've ever done for me..."

"I'm being fired?" I ignore the lump forming in my throat.

"No. I'm sending you to America. Things are getting dangerous here; demons I trust you against...powerful political factions that are skilled at using money and manipulation to get people they dislike locked in spirit world prison for eternity are another matter."

"Thanks." I mutter dryly.

"I know you learned how to play politics and politicians from one of the best." He adds. "But it's impossible to play and win the game when nearly everyone is prejudiced against you."

"My life has been a bit like that, yanno." I comment.

"Life with your family-"

"Clan or tribe. I'm not related to the lot of them."

"-isn't like prison."

"Fine." I grumble and cross my arms grumpily.

"Oh, and you'll be attending human school." He spins his chair around so I can't see his face.

"WHAT?"

-x-x-x-x-

(1) - ...okay, so it's not a word...

(2) - Worst. Book. Ever. (well...it's up there with the rest of those stupid dystopias.)

(3) - "Silver star"...just a semi-rare demon world plant.

(4) - Okay, Sora's thought on that was a lil' perverted...he was thinking "no, you suck on them"...thus his comment...

Woo. About twice the normal length. Win XD

Enjoy.
Emma