Alrighty, this chapter feels like a filler to me, but really there's some important stuff in here. I think I finally have a firm grasp on this story, and it's about time. I've got tons of ideas for the next few chapters, so they'll probably come out relatively fast. I'm not saying I'm going to start posting like crazy, because I usually have to reread my stuff a few times before I'm happy with it. Speaking of that, I didn't reread this one as many times as I would like, so reviews are welcome to help me out. Tell me what you think!
"Suteki, I made you some tea. There's Echinacea to help prevent infection, and gotu kola to help heal your wound, mixed in it." Yukina smiled, greeting me as I walked in the kitchen. The boys were already sitting at the table. Genkai was nowhere to be found. I took a seat next to Kurama and graciously accepted the cup. "Would you like for me to redress your wound after you finish?"
I nodded carefully and smiled. The first sip caught me by surprise and I gagged. It was extremely bitter, even though it was obvious she had added a ton of honey. I sat the cup down in a hurry, and gave Yukina grateful smile when she turned around. When she went back to cleaning dishes, I glared hatefully at the porcelain cup. Yukina was nothing but nice. She made this tea just for me. I rallied my courage and quickly chugged the burning liquid. I gasped and wiped my mouth, slamming down the cup with an accomplished look plastered across my face. Kurama hid a chuckle behind his fist and handed me his cup of tea.
"Here, wash it down." I gratefully accepted and took a sip. The tea was unsweetened, but it was much sweeter than mine was. I held the delicious liquid in my mouth until I deemed it had washed out the terrible flavor and then swallowed. I smiled in thanks and tried to return his tea but he held up a hand. "You can keep it, I'll get another."
I pursed my lips when I realized my social mistake. This was not Master's camp, where everything was shared among the girls. Kurama didn't want to drink after me. So I held onto the cup. I stayed perched in the chair and listened contently as Yusuke, Kuwabara, and Kurama chatted about their upcoming week.
'I wonder what kinds of things they learn about in this school…' I thought as Yusuke complained about something called homework.
'Useless human things.' I almost fell out of my chair when I heard the voice in my mind, but quickly calmed myself. Glaring at Hiei across the table, I decided to cut all ties from our minds. The idea of having no way to easily communicate with the rest was fine with me. If I had something to say I'd remake the connection.
After losing interest in the conversation around me, I stood to go find Yukina. She had finished the dishes and wandered into the living room a few minutes ago, luckily she was still there.
"Ah, Suteki. I've got the bandages and ointment ready. We'll go ahead and do you're healing for the day too, if that's alright?" She gestured to a place on the floor, set up with a small bowl of water and a towel. I smiled softly and sat. It was so hard not to smile around her. Soon she was kneeling next to me and peeling away the bandages around my throat. I closed my eyes and ignored the pull on the slowly forming scab. Suddenly the cool, wet rag was pressed on the fevered flesh and I sighed, relaxing into the Ice Maiden's gentle touch. When it was clean, I felt her fingertips rest on my collarbone. "Can you try clearing your throat?" I did try, but the sharp pain mocked me for it. I shook my head carefully, my eyebrows knit together and my eyes still clamped shut. Slowly her fingertips worked their way up until they were right underneath the deep cut. A warmth spread over me and I couldn't stop the sigh that escaped my lips. It was an odd feeling, tissues deep in my throat stitching back together, but the relief was immediate. Apparently she was going to heal me from the corners of the slice inward, since it was on the outside edges that the tingling was easiest to feel. We sat there for who knows how long, and after she finished she asked me to try and clear my throat again. I did, and when I did some disgusting pieces of crusty scab and puss came forth. I opened my eyes and spit into the bowl of murky red water.
"That's great! I didn't think it would heal that much the first time. It seems your body is much more receptive to the healing than we thought it would be. At this rate, it should only take about half the time we estimated before." Yukina beamed brightly, and started smoothing on ointment. I smiled back uncomfortably, thinking about how I would have to come up with a plan of where to go after this much sooner than I expected. Right when she finished wrapping me up, there was a knock on the door. She moved to go get the door, and I cleaned up the mess. Passing Yusuke, Kuwabara, and Kurama as they exited the kitchen, I was caught off guard when I saw Hiei still sitting in his seat. I uncomfortably started washing and putting everything away before turning around and leaning against the counter. Our eyes locked, and I slowly broke down the barrier I had put up. If he wanted to know everything, here was his chance. There was nothing that I had wanted to hide before, I had just wanted everything to be on my terms, not forced from me.
He was in front of me in an instant, pinning me roughly to the counter and growling menacingly. His eyes burned intensely as he scoured through every memory I owned. I grimaced when he rifled through the times when Master had taken advantage of me, but didn't break eye contact. Soon he was finished, but he stayed where he was. His growling had stopped, but my back was still pressing uncomfortably against the counter.
Slowly, an image flooded my mind.
A baby on a cold, floating island. Falling, falling, falling.
I gasped hoarsely as the image came crashing through the canopy and stopped. I was breathing hard, and when I opened my eyes, I realized I was gripping the front of Hiei's light blue shirt. His gaze wasn't as harsh, but it was just as unreadable. I let go and waited for him to leave. He stayed a moment longer before disappearing, leaving nothing behind.
"Suteki! Come in here!" Yusuke hollered from the living room. I jumped at the sound, and hurriedly collected myself before going. When I entered, there were two new women standing by the door.
"Hello, I'm Keiko, Yusuke's girlfriend. I hope he isn't bothering you too much." She was a pretty girl, with short brown hair and beautiful eyes to match. I waved, and shook my head. When I looked around, Hiei was nowhere in sight. I frowned, not knowing how to communicate with these new people with no middle man.
"Cat got your tongue? Ha! I'm just kidding. The boys here told us you can't talk. I'm Shizuru. Kuwabara's older sister." This woman was tall like her brother, with long, light brown hair. She smelled similar to the tobacco Master sometimes partook of, and it was comforting. I gave them both a small wave.
"It's so nice to have another girl around, we'll have to go shopping." Keiko walked forward and grasped my hands. "We can get you something that fits." Her smile was warm, but I was momentarily confused about her term 'shopping.' I smiled and nodded anyway.
"Are you guys ready to go?" Shizuru jabbed her thumb over her shoulder towards the door.
"Yeah, yeah. We'll be back tomorrow afternoon, Suteki. Try not to kill Hiei while we're gone!" Yusuke laughed and bumped my shoulder with his fist before heading out the door. Kuwabara gave Yukina a gentle hug before waving and leaving as well.
"We'll go shopping tomorrow, I promise!" Keiko gave me a hug and followed Shizuru after the boys.
"Make sure not to wander too far around the grounds. Hiei is usually in the clearing training, and I think Genkai went to see Koenma. If you need anything, just let Yukina know and she can call me." Kurama grasped my shoulders gently, apparently sensing my nervousness at being left so soon. "Everything will be fine." His emerald eyes sparkled, and I nodded, trying to convince myself I wouldn't be alone. Yukina was there. Even Hiei was there. With that they were gone.
It was a strange idea, the thought of someone leaving and then coming back. I was so used to being left forever that part of me was scared when the door shut. It took more control than acceptable to stop myself from running to the window and rooting there until they returned.
I had to trust that they would come back.
What did you think? Too rushed? Too corny? Good? Bad? Let me know what you think! Oh, and if you haven't read 'Haunted By Love' by WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH YOUR LIFE!? I've been so wrapped up in it I've lost hours of sleep! So since you just got done reading my stuff, go read hers! I'll see you guys next time!