Okay, this one is a little shorter and there's a little less going on. Anyway... Happy reading!
I grabbed a sweater and a pair of jeans before jumping in the shower. As the hot water pummeled down, I let out a relieved sigh. I started working the dirt and knots from my hair, thinking that I needed to cut it soon.
When I got out, I instinctively went to grab salve and bandages to redress my throat, but stopped when I saw the light pink scars decorating my arm. They were thicker across than I first thought, and pale instead of puffy like a new formed scar. I began to think that they were almost beautiful, curling up and twisting, almost dancing across my flesh. Then I remembered who gave them to me and growled. What were they intending to do when they carved them? Drain out my blood and watch me die a slow and painful death? Or was it a part of a ritual? I spat angrily in the sink, baring my fangs at the wet and disheveled reflection that stared out at me.
I wanted to hate them. I wanted my blood to boil every time their faces crossed my mind. I couldn't though. I was only angry because it seemed that whenever I had any sort of power, I lost all control. If I had control, they would still be alive. They wouldn't be able to hurt me, but they would be breathing. Maybe I could've explained how I didn't mean to kill Mother. Maybe we could have been some sort of family.
Tears threatened to run down my face, and I gripped the sink so hard it felt like my fingers were going to break.
'No tears.' I thought coldly. 'They don't deserve it. Neither one of them deserve it.' As the tears cascaded down anyway, I convinced myself that they were not for the loss of my potential family. They were just hysteria. They had to be. I couldn't be crying over the men that tried to kill me, men I barely knew.
I gave myself a few minutes to catch the breath I didn't know I was holding, and washed my face. I dressed myself and checked my reflection one last time. My cheeks were still flushed and my eyes still shined slightly, but I could blame those on the heat of the shower. I walked down the stairs slowly, growing irritated with the sweater I was wearing. I hadn't worn it before, and it felt too tight. Surely it was just the wrong size, who on earth would want to wear something that clung to you like a second skin?
Everyone was already sitting at the table, chatting excitedly. I slipped into the room and into an open seat without anyone noticing. Well, almost everyone. Hiei opened his eyes to meet mine and then closed them again, seemingly trying to block out the loud conversations around him. Genkai also glanced at me, pausing from her talk with Kurama. Soon he caught on as well.
"Suteki," He said, surprised, "How are you feeling?" Eyes fell into place, seeming to bore into me. Voices quieted one by one.
"I'm fine, thank you." I smiled, nodding my head slightly.
"Everyone stop gawking at the girl. Eat." Genkai started piling food on her plate and I followed suit. The other paused for a moment before doing the same.
The food was amazing. I felt like all the bold flavors where disagreeing with my stomach that had only processed bread, rice, and soup for over a month, but I choked it down anyway. I reviled at the sensation of potatoes and meat side down my throat with no pain. After the main course was finished, Yukina brought out a stack of what looked similar to the sandwiches she made for the boys after morning training. As I took a bite, I realized it was filled with a sweet bean paste. The sweetness reacted harshly on my taste buds. Nausea fought its way forth, and I quickly sat the pastry down.
"Does it not taste good, Suteki?" Yukina gave me a worried look.
"No, no," I tried to reassure her though I felt color drain from my face and thick saliva swarm my mouth, "it's delicious. I've just never had anything this sweet."
"Suteki." Genkai sat down her tea, drawing all eyes away from me.
"Yes, ma'am?" I asked softly.
"Tomorrow we start your training. I will be overseeing it, but the boys will be the teachers. Kurama will cover weapons, Yusuke will cover strength, Kuwabara will cover Energy Awareness, and Hiei will cover speed and agility. In that order. Do you understand?" The hard look she sent me said that there was no discussing the matter.
"Yes ma'am." I nodded, trying to look determined.
"Good. I suggest you get some rest tonight." With that she gave up and went to her room.
I helped Yukina clean up and then went to sit in the living room with everyone. Yusuke and Kuwabara playing a video game with Botan jeering them and Yukina quietly rooting for Kuwabara, Kurama studied a science book, and Hiei sat in his window sill. I pulled my feet up and crossed my legs on the chair closest to the door. I was watching Yusuke and Kuwabara before strands of hair slowly started intruding my field of vision. I roughly shoved them away, only to have them come back a few moments later.
"Where are the scissors?" I abruptly asked, probably sounding ruder than I intended.
"Why?" Kurama cocked and eyebrow, giving me a skeptical look.
"I need to cut my hair." Even as I spoke it crept forward, shadowing the world.
"Oh! I can cut it! I've gotten very good over the years!" Botan beamed, jumping up and running into the kitchen. I didn't care what it looked like. I just wanted it out of the way. In fact it would've been wonderful if Botan would just shear it off at the scalp.
"Suteki, in here!" I heard her call. I sighed and went to her, only to be forced into a chair. She wielded a pair of scissors and a fancy brush as if they were weapons. "So, I think I can do a cute little bob, or maybe-"
"Botan… I just want it gone." I gave her a small smile, growing weary of the sharp metal that was much too close to my face.
"Okay, okay." She smiled and started pulling the paddle shaped brush through my hair. A loud yelp forced its way out my throat as she yanked through the knots. "Sorry!" She apologized, but she kept on.
I closed my eyes when she started sniping away and kept them closed till I heard her stop. I felt her brush hair off of my shoulders.
"All done! I think it looks wonderful!" She sat down her weapons triumphantly and picked up a small mirror, holding it in front of my face. "What do you think?"
"It's out of the way. Thank you." I glanced at it in the mirror to appease her, then stood and ran my hands through it. It was cropped short, like I wanted, but she had left a little length up top. So long as it didn't end up on my face or blind me, I was happy. I gave her an appreciative hug and went back to the living room after trying to make her let me help with the cleanup. Of course she adamantly refused.
I said goodnight to everyone and headed to bed, hoping that tomorrow wouldn't be too difficult. I thought nerves would keep me awake, but the amazing sight of my bed had me out as soon as I hit the sheets.
"Hiei." Kurama called after the short fire demon before he went into his room for the night.
"What, Fox?" His crimson eyes slid toward the man casually leaning against the wall across from him.
"I know that you've been working with the Jagan." The long haired man pushed himself from the wall and took a few step closer, a serious look on his face.
"And?" Hiei was growing irritated. He just wanted to be by himself. It seemed like more than not he was stuck in a room with at least one idiot.
"Do not use Suteki as an excuse to try it out." Kurama's arms crossed.
"Hn." Hiei went into his room and closed the door on Kurama's disapproving look.
He would do whatever he wanted with the girl. It's not like she could stop him.