Here Again 2

…..Hiei…..

I was waiting for Yusuke to stop so that I can open the door and step out without another word since I was conveniently sitting next to the window.

"Hiei, have you ever seen that girl before?" Kurama questioned. I looked at him hesitating on the answer.

"No. I've never seen her before in my life." I declared, looking back out the window. They don't need to know about her. She's just a girl that seems to like to pick up random near fatally injured people off the street. Once I get my necklace back, I can forget all about her.

"Have you been to that restaurant before? She seemed to be very familiar with your likes. I didn't even know you liked mocha lattes, Hiei." He continued to inquire.

"Wit cinnamon sugar and dat whip cream. She seemed te like ye a lot, lady. Ye certainly seem ter be one o dem heart throbs." Jin nudged my side with his elbow. I was restraining not to throw him out the car window.

"No. I've never been there before." I lied. "Can I leave now? I'm sick of being with the five of you."

"Aw, come on, Hiei. It's been forever since we've hung out. You need to lighten up and start hangin' with us more. You never know, you might actually start to enjoy yourself." Yusuke smiled, trying to convince me to stay and be good natured.

He finally came to a red light and I managed to get out of the car. "Not on your life detective." I slammed the door and walked into an alleyway. I first flitted off into a random direction to give the impression I was headed somewhere else, then, when I thought myself far enough away, I ran back to the small tea shop to retrieve what's mine.

……….

I leapt onto the window seat. The window was hanging wide open, so technically I wasn't breaking and entering. I was simply entering, incase anybody asks.

I looked around and saw that everything is as it was from when the last time I was here three days ago. The only difference is that the recliner was gone and in its place sat a love seat.

A song played on her radio. A soft, soothing melody. Blue Moon, I think it was called. Sung by someone who the girl named as the "King of Rock-n-Roll". King or not, this song is depressing. I jumped inside to the middle of the room, making my way to the dresser where I last left my necklace. I first shut off the damn radio, not wanting to listen to the song anymore.

When I looked around, it wasn't there. I looked into her small jewelry box which was filled with one or two meager necklaces and a handful of gold, silver, and plastic rings that you win from one of those prize machines at the mall. My gem was nowhere insight. I started to panic. I looked all around the dresser for it, thinking that it had perhaps rolled off somewhere or was knocked down, or even fell on the floor. Nothing.

I went to her cot to look underneath, I looked inside her piano, under the love seat, behind the desk, the TV, I even looked in the bathroom. I had no luck. My blood started to burn in frustration. Not only did that necklace have my tear gem, but Yukina's as well. When I returned to the human world to tell her that her brother was dead, she simply let me keep it. I couldn't lose it. It meant too much to me to have it be in the hands of anyone else.

I turned around to go look elsewhere in the small apartment when my gaze was met by that damn cat's. She smirked, perhaps knowing full well where my necklace was located. My eyes narrowed as I barred my teeth at her. She simply put her paw to her mouth to stifle her giggles.

"Mow!" She stuck her tongue out at me making my blood boil. She laughed at me again.

I swear to any God that exists, I'm going to kill that cat in cold blood. Then I'll sell her skinned corpse to some lowly demons and keep her pelt to make some gloves out of.

I took a step forward, but before I could get anywhere near that cat, the door opened. I froze in place. My blood pounding in my ears. I looked towards the door and saw the girl, still in her work uniform.

"Milkshakes, time to eat." She called out cheerfully.

"Mow." The cat went to the girl, rubbing her face against the girl's legs.

"Calm down you. What do you mean we've got a visitor?" She raised her eyes to meet mine. Her expression was one of surprise. She didn't say anything for a moment or two, and I wondered if she was going to call the human police. Her face brightened into a wide smile as she came over and embraced me in a tight hug. "Hiei, I'm so happy you're alright. I was so worried about you." She let go, her hands lightly grasping at my arms. She looked around my body. "Are you alright? You didn't hurt yourself again did you?" Her blue eyes looked into my red ones. I saw the worry in her eyes, the elation at my return. It made me wonder why I had left in the first place.

I quickly pushed her off. "No, I'm fine. I'm just looking for something I had left here."

"Oh, I know what you mean." She went over to a painting she had hung on the wall. I remember gazing at it for a time while I was here. It was of an elegant woman, same hair and eyes as the girl, but seemed taller, much more feminine than girlish. Her hair reached the floor. Her skin seemed to glow a pale blue. I had wanted to ask who she is, but never thought it important enough to do so. The girl pulled the painting off the wall to reveal a combination safe. "I hope you don't mind that I had kept it in here. I didn't want anyone to steal it." She unlocked and opened it. She reached her tiny hand inside and pulled out my necklace. She turned around and held it out to me. "Here ya go." After I retrieved it from her, I put it around my neck while she locked up the safe and put the painting back in its place. "Do you need anything else, Hiei?" She smiled warmly at me.

"No." I looked away.

"I really missed you, Hiei. And so did Milkshakes. Or at least she missed annoying you."

"Meow." It rubbed against my legs, demanding my attention.

I remained silent. I didn't know what to say to that. I hardly ever know what to say to any of her endearing comments. "Hn." Was the best I was able to come up with.

"By the way, your friends seem very nice. I've never been given such a big tip before. Tell them thanks for me."

"Sure." I was reminded of something. "You didn't try to say hi to me while I was in the shop."

"You were with your friends, and I didn't want to intrude. Anyways, if you wanted to introduce me you would've." She smiled. I nodded in agreement. "I guess you gotta go now huh?" She held her smile but her eyes held a bit of sadness.

I opened my mouth to answer but I stopped. "I could stay for a bit if that's alright."

The brightness in her eyes returned ten fold. "Absolutely. Would you like to stay for dinner? I'm making spaghetti." I nodded again, wondering why I wanted to stay a little longer.

……….

I returned to the temple late that night. When I stepped through the door I was once again tackled to the ground by seven squealing children. "Uncle HIEIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!" All but two cried with joy. One was silent while the other had a pacifier in his mouth. They were all piled on top of me, straddling my stomach. It went from the youngest on my chest, to the eldest just above my groin area. Hieyoru, Uzu, Tossa, Toshi, Samui, Saji, and Yusuke Junior. "We missed you, Uncle Hiei." They chanted.

I rolled my eyes. "I missed you too."

"YAAY!!" They cheered, their hands flailing up in the air.

"Alright ye little buggers, time fer bed. Ye know your mums and dads 'll be angry wit ol' Uncle Jin if he don get all ya sleepin soon." Jin came in, ushering the children off of me and into the bathrooms to have them brush their teeth before they go to bed. I was able to stand up again.

"Yes, Uncle Jin." They moaned . "Good night, Uncle Hiei." They gave me a group hug around my legs and waist.

"Good night." I patted them on their tiny heads, then pushed them towards the wind master.

"Who knew you were so good with kids." Shien came from the kitchen, most likely after helping Yukina with the dishes. She is a tall woman, coming to Kuwabara's shoulder. There's a tiny beauty mark on under her left eye. Her straight, jet black hair comes all the way down to her knees. She has no bangs, and her hair is always neatly tucked behind her ears, away from her face. Only a short stray lock of hair defiantly stays against her forehead.

She joined our ranks ever since she came to Japan, transferring from another college. Kuwabara introduced her to us. They went to the same school. When she came here, she immediately went to Genkai for help on controlling her psychic powers. She claims to have taken out an entire neighborhood block with an earthquake when she was still living in a place called "America". Shien is now almost as powerful a psychic as Genkai.

"Hn."

"By the way, where's the big lug? He's been skipping out on taking the girls to ballet practice again." She questioned.

"I wouldn't know. It's not my turn to watch him. Try the detective. They're probably knocking what little brains they have out of eachother." I replied.

She grinned, giving an amused snort. "Very true." She walked in the direction of the dojo.

I went in the direction of the bedrooms. Mine was on the second story, seeing as I liked high up places. When I reached the second floor, I walked down the hallway towards my bedroom at the end. I kept hearing noises. There was some giggling then shushes coming from my sister's bedroom. Her door was slightly open. When I came to it, I pushed it open and looked inside to see my sister and Touya on the bed just about to… I'd rather not even think about it.

When Touya spotted me, he immediately tumbled off the bed in shock, taking half of the blankets with him. "Hiei. I… we… Uh…" I looked to my sister. She was scrambling to close her kimono, her face a beet red.

I rolled my eyes. "Save it. Just be a little quieter tonight." I closed the door, making sure to lock it for them.

Show of hands. Who thought my sister ended up with the oaf?

Well, you're wrong.

After he went to college, their relationship started becoming more and more of a friendship to her. When Jin and Touya came, the ice master started to take a liking to her as well. He courted her, then at the end of Kuwabara's first term of schooling, they were mated, and Yukina was pregnant with Saji and Samui. I was actually relieved she and Kuwabara didn't end up together.

The oaf didn't take the news as well, though. He was, of course, happy for her, but it was sickening to see him moping around like a kicked dog. You don't need to worry about him though. When he got back to school, he met Shien, the transfer student from "America". He immediately fell for her, practically worshipping the ground she walked on. Then half a year later, they were married and pregnant with their twin girls, Toshi and Tossa. Luckily, they look exactly like their mother, There was even that same beauty mark underneath the left eye. The only thing they inherited from their father is his orange hair color.

I made my way into my own room, locking the door behind me. I opened the window to allow the ending summer air to make its way into my room. I took my cloak and shirt off before settling onto the bed. I closed my eyes recalling my time with the girl earlier today.

It was nice. Nothing awkward or strained. She seemed to be very relaxed. The only thing I was really concentrating on was the food. The cat sat herself in my lap, disregarding me entirely as I tried to ignore her.

When I said my good byes, she asked me if I would visit again.

I said yes.

……….

It's fall now. I had been visiting the girl almost every weekend whenever I'm in the human world. I never understood the need to go back. It seemed like an addiction. As I learn more and more about her, I kept feeling the need to be with her. I'll sometimes find her on her piano, playing that same song I had awoken to when I first met her. She said it was called Moonlight Sonata by some composer named Beethoven. I enjoyed listening to her play it.

I kept her a secret from my friends. I felt as if I was living a double life at times. During the day, I'm Lord of Alaric and Uncle Hiei. At night, well, I have yet to find a title to that.

I'm meeting with the girl again today. Since I disappear often while I'm in the human world, no one has asked any questions. I count my blessings.

She says she's going to bye some groceries. She asked if I'd like to join her and I automatically said yes. I find myself bending to her will more often than not.

I met her in front of the tea shop. She looked… childish. She wore her favorite dark green jacket and a short powder blue skirt. Her black socks came up mid thigh from her blue tennis shoes. Not that I was looking.

"Ready to go?" She asked with a smile. I nodded. She led the way, my steps in line next to hers. There was no conversation for a while. We merely walked. She held a small, black umbrella in her hands and carried a little backpack.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"The marketplace. If you want anything, let me know, k?" Her bright smile warmed me in the cold weather.

As the day progressed, she took me into one shop after another.

"I need to pick out a gift for Mei. It's going to be her birthday soon and I want to get her something special." She declared as she pulled me towards another clothing's store. Her hand grasped mine tightly. "This is a maternity shop. Since Mei's getting so big, I thought I'd get her a few things from here to help her out." Her smile was ever present on her face. It seemed to never wear off. She let go of my hand to get into the shop, but my reflexes quickly took it back. She stopped at the sudden contact. She looked to me and smiled warmly. Her hand grasped mine again as she led me inside.

The day passed by in a blur. I didn't really pay attention to anything besides her. It almost felt as if I was escorting her like a bodyguard would except our hands were conjoined the entire time. When she finished the shopping, she invited me to dinner again. I had to turn her down, seeing as Mukuro wanted me back early to meet with the other two sisters of Memoru and Jade and bring them to the human world to have them start searching for the Aoitsuki. Koenma had finally agreed to let them through. Took him long enough.

Half way back to her apartment, it had started to rain. She quickly opened the umbrella and held it over the both of us. I had to let go of her seeing as she's now holding the umbrella in the hand that was previously occupied with mine. I shoved both of them into my pockets.

She sighed happily. "I love the rain." She said it mostly to herself. After a few minutes of silence she turned to me and asked innocently, "If you had one wish, what would it be, Hiei?"

"I don't know." I answered. I merely wanted to avoid the question. The one thing that I want, what my friends have, is something that I don't deserve to have. "You?" I tried to redirect the attention on her. I catch myself doing this often.

"Hmmm…" She took a few moments to think. "Well." She looked away, a blush creeping on her cheeks. She then boldly looked into my eyes to answer. "If I ever get my first kiss," She looked up to the sky. "I'd like it to be in the rain." She gave a small laugh at her wish.

We finally stopped at the entrance to her tea shop. She rummaged through her back pack, trying to find her keys while trying to balance carrying the bags and the umbrella. I stood there, amused. She never did ask for my help with anything. Usually she just wants me to reach for the salt shaker on the top shelf. "Thanks for walking with me, Hiei."

"Hn."

"Here it is." She pulled out the key. "I'll see you later, Hiei." She waved before setting the bags down to put the key into the hole.

"Right." I slowly walked away, allowing the rain to soak me through. I was trying to convince myself that I needed to get back to the demon world, that I had to go see Mukuro, and that I can't stay here. However, even as I ran these thoughts through my head, I still turned on my heel and walked back to her. She turned around and was about to ask what was wrong but I silenced her when I put my lips to hers, taking her and myself by surprise.

I grasped her long black hair in my hand and snaked an arm around her waist, bringing her small pliant body against mine. I tried to make the kiss gentle, sweet, but the demon inside of me demanded I take total control and claim dominance. The hand in her hair pushed the back of her head to deepen the kiss. She slowly started to melt into the kiss. Her body was first stiff against mine then slowly relaxed as my hand went up her shirt to be placed at the small of her back.

She gasped at the contact, allowing me access into her tiny hot mouth. As I explored, she slowly brought down the umbrella, exposing us to the rain. She set it down next to us, the handle sticking up in the air as the bowl collected water. Her arms wrapped themselves around my neck, her lips tentatively kissed me back. She was shy and hesitant. It only made me kiss her more fervently. There was nothing that had me feel so complete. Her lips were as soft as flower petals, her skin so warm under my touch.

I finally allowed us to part. She put her head against my chest, taking in shuddering breaths. I smirked at how much I had affected her. It made me realize what my title was by night.

It was lover.

TBC…