Alrighty then. Let's just dive in, shall we? (expilnations for the *'s are at the bottom)
A week had passed. Yusuke, Kuwabara, and Kurama had apparently been on some sort of break from school, but now they were gone again. I hadn't seen Hiei since the day in the training room. Genkai had taken over my training. The work was ten times harder than any training with the boys. She always made sure to push me past my limits, she said that she wasn't doing her job right if she didn't. That being said, my skill with the bō had increased dramatically. I could disarm and take down an opponent in under six seconds. I was also learning to take in little bits of energy and use it. My speed had pretty much stayed the same, Genkai said it would take longer to increase that. With my muscle tone returning, my balance and agility had also improved. Yukina was shocked at how quickly I seemed to recover, and I could see why. Last time I started putting on weight, it had taken over a month to see even the slightest change, but now it seemed like my body knew exactly what to do with the food I gave it. I was back to the point right before I was starved and dehydrated for a week already.
Being in heat hadn't been much of a problem so far, other than that one day. Most of the time I was alone with Genkai, who kept my thoughts straight as an arrow. When I wasn't with her, I was either eating or sleeping. Kurama was polite but distant, and Yusuke had grabbed my rear. Needless to say he didn't do it again.
"Alright, we're done." As soon as the words left Genkai's mouth, I hit the cold, soothing snow.
"Thank you, Sensei." I gasped the appropriate response, sweat running in rivets down my face. Today's training had been the hardest yet, but it also ended early. I watched the short woman head back inside while waiting for my breathing to slow. I wobbled to my feet, staggering after her before sweat started to freeze.
"You sure did finish early." Yukina greeted me with a hot cup of tea and warmed bowl of soup from dinner last night.
"Thank you. Yeah, I'm pretty sure she's trying to kill me though." I half-heartedly joked.
"If I wanted to kill you I'd get it over with and wouldn't be wasting my time." Genkai called from the living room.
Yukina let out a small giggle, sitting down across from me at the table. As I glanced over at her, I noticed how beautiful she was. Her mint-green hair posed such a nice contrast with her lovely crimson eyes.
I grit my teeth and shook the annoying fog from my head. If it kept up like this, turning every demon that walked by me into someone desirable, it might be best if I hid in the forest for the remaining three weeks. Wait. Yukina had crimson eyes. How had I not realized that before? Was I blind?
I stopped trying to hide my stares and then I noticed all the similarities. Her eyes weren't as almond shaped, they were softer, but they held the same exact pool of red. They had the same nose, the same chin, the same lips. How had it taken me this long to piece it together?
Then I remembered the first time I sat down with Yukina at this very table. I had noticed the longing behind her kind smile, but as soon as I was about to ask about it, something in my mind told me not to. There was only one demon that I knew of that could manipulate someone's thoughts so easily.
"Is everything alright, Suteki?" I heard the concern in Yukina's delicate voice, and realized that my mouth was hanging open as I stared at her.
"You… you and Hiei…" I mumbled. I couldn't stop myself. Yukina's eyes widened considerably, and Genkai walked in to refill her cup of tea.
"Good lord, girl, how dense are you? Are you just figuring this out?" The pink haired woman snorted at me in disbelief.
"Please don't tell Hiei I know." Yukina whispered, taking my hands in hers.
"Wait… So Hiei knows… but you're not supposed to? I'm confused." My eyebrows knitted together. Genkai sat down, sipping her tea quietly.
"Hiei and I are twins. Our mother mated with a fire demon, and we were born. Hiei was thrown from the floating village," The image that Hiei showed me after I revealed all of my memories to him flashed before my eyes. I never realized the significance of what he shared with me before now. "Our mother killed herself and I was raised by her best friend. I left the village to search for my brother. When I happened upon Hiei, I knew it was him. I wanted him to tell me himself though… Instead he pretends that he's looking for this long lost brother for me. Well, he used to. The last we spoke about it he told me to give up my search."
"That's…insane…" I mumbled. "So you're still just waiting for him to tell you?" She nodded sadly.
"I'm starting to think he never will. It almost makes me angry." A strange laugh came from her throat, sad and angry but amused. I squeezed her hands, not liking to see her sad. The fog loomed at the edge of my mind from the physical contact, but I managed to keep it away. I just wanted to comfort her, to see her smile again.
"He's just…" I started, but I didn't know what to say. Yukina knew the man much better than I did. How could I make assumptions on why he acted the way he did?
"He's just as thickheaded as the dimwit." Genkai finished my sentence, sounding irate. I lifted my eyebrows and tilted my head towards her in a kind of agreement.
"Thank you, Genkai." Yukina's smile returned, making me happy. I leaned back and continued my meal.
"Where did Hiei go anyway?" I tried to ask through mouthfuls as casually as I could, letting the fog creep forward a little. It was draining to constantly fight it. Genkai shot me a warning look.
"He said he was going to the Makai, to check in with Mukuro." Yukina didn't seem to sense the meaning behind the question, and answered honestly. Something similar to jealously pursed my lips.
"Why would he go see her?" Everyone in the Makai knew of the Three Kings, and the shocking news from the last tournament had even reached the camp. Mukuro was discovered to be female, but I didn't remember hearing of any connection between her and Hiei.
"He's her second in command. Well, he used to be. He got bored of the position quickly. Now he just advises her from time to time. There were rumors running through Makai that Mukuro had claimed him." Genkai took another sip of her tea, watching me carefully.
A growl rumbled in my chest, and the fog almost overtook me. So he ran off to advise some maimed wench? My jaw jumped and I closed my eyes, trying to regain control. I knew it was just the heat driving my emotions, but it rubbed me raw nonetheless. After I calmed, I stood and started cleaning up my meal, no longer hungry.
"Oh, those are just rumors though. Honestly, I don't think that Hiei is the type to be claimed." Yukina gave me an odd smile, something glinting mischievously in her eyes. I kept focused on the dishes, feeling done with the conversation. In the quiet, the exhaustion from my training rolled over me. I walked into the living room and gazed longingly up the stairs. I wanted to dive in my bed and sleep for weeks, but I wasn't sure I could make it all the way up without passing out and falling. Instead I curled up on the loveseat closest to the window, letting the filtered rays of the sun lull me into a dreamless haze.
I awoke to the front door opening. I lifted my head tiredly to see who it was, but the lights were off and the sun no longer shone. My eyelids drooped heavily, as I waited for my eyes to adjust. Before they hand the chance, the light above me clicked on. I moaned and ducked my head back down, hiding from the blinding bulb.
"Ah, Hiei. How was the Makai?" I heard Yukina's voice from the kitchen and a grunt in response. I stayed put, waiting for the fog to recede after the sound of the male demon's name. After it did, I stood and trudged after the scent of dinner. I made a pointed effort to keep myself from seeing Hiei. I didn't feel like fighting my instincts any more than I had to.
Yukina sat a plate and a bowl of rice in front of me and handed me a pair of chopsticks. I thanked her and started filling my plate with the meat that sizzled on the teppanyaki* grill in the middle of the table. I glanced at Yukina, sitting next to me, who was giving me a reprimanding look. Sighing, I added a few vegetables as well.
"Where's Genkai?" I mumbled through a mouthful of beef, forgoing manners in my half-asleep state.
"She went to talk to Koenma about extending the house to add an indoor arena." Yukina ignored my rudeness, probably sensing just how tired and sore I was.
"That'd be nice. She's been bugging me to wear those stupid shoes when we train. If we could do it inside maybe she would stop." I wiggled my toes and pulled one foot under my other leg to sit more comfortably in the chair.
"You should wear shoes when it's cold. You'll get frostbite." Yukina closed her eyes and scolded me lightly.
"I wear a jacket now, isn't that enough?" It was tiring to have the same conversation that we seemed to have had every night this week, but I was trying hard to ignore the warmth radiating from across the table.
"I can't grow your toes back if you lose them." She sighed. There was an annoyed clatter and the sound of a chair scooting back. I made the mistake of looking up.
He seemed different, sharper, like I noticed every muscle, every hair, and every movement. Everything seemed to focus around him and the remaining sleep shook from my mind. As he turned to walk out, he slid his eyes to mine for a fraction of a second. I bit my lip, trying to push the fog back, but it seemed stronger than before. With my hunger forgotten, I got up and followed him up the stairs. He had left his door open, and when I entered I shut it behind me. It was dark, the only light was the dull moonlight pooling from the window.
His warmth engulfed me before I felt him push me against the wall. His mouth dominated mine, forcing his tongue past my teeth and exploring every crevice. He tasted like the tea Yukina had served with dinner. A moan pushed against my throat as I felt his hands grip my shoulders roughly. He moved from my mouth to my neck, nipping and licking slowly. My knees trembled and I had to rest my forehead on his shoulder to stop the lightheadedness. His normal scent was slightly different. As my knee was sliding to press against his thigh, I realized what the difference was. Under the soft burning that usually dominated my nose when he was close, there was the smell of sweat, sex, and another woman.
I snarled and shoved him away, right as his hand moved to push up the hem of my shirt and press against the bare flesh of my hip. He was claimed. His eyes seemed to glow with irritation as he pressed against me again.
"You mated with that Mazoku* bitch." I spat the words in his face, boring into his eyes with an enraged glare. "Now you expect to mount me like I'm some omega trash while you still have the stink of her all over you?"
"Shut up." He growled quietly and grabbed my chin, his other hand grabbed my hip.
"I will not be taken by a male who is so weak he was taken himself." The fog was thick, so thick it controlled my tongue and thoughts.
"On'na, if you don't shut your mouth you'll regret it." His face was so close I could feel his lips brush against mine as he spoke. He dug his nails into my skin, and even though the sensation sent a thrill jolting around my stomach, the fog would no longer let me enjoy his touch.
"Get off of me, Jūjun'na otoko*." I bared my fangs, daring him to defy me. I watched as his eyes hardened, wandering from my face down my neck and back up. His hand went from just holding my chin, to encompassing my jaw.
"I never should have come back for you." He pushed away from me, turning to sit on his bed. The fog seemed to clear, and where his hands used to rest felt cold.
It felt like forever that we both just stayed there, watching each other. Hiei leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees. I pressed against the wall, trying to work out what I had said while the fog controlled my brain.
"Hiei…" His name left my mouth without my consent.
"Get out."
"No." I walked towards him, cautious not because of fear, but because I wasn't sure why I defied him. When I was in front of him, I knelt. I made sure not to catch his sent or touch him, worried that the fog would come back. "Why did you come back at all?"
"I don't have to explain anything to you." He growled. I bit back a responding snarl and closed my eyes for a moment.
"If I irritate you so much then why don't you throw me out?" I gazed back up at him, meeting his stony stare.
He turned away with his lips forming a thin line.
"Can you at least tell me why you left?" I was desperate for answers, any answers.
"You need to get out." That was all he said. I swallowed thickly and reached up, cupping his face in my hands and turning his face to mine. I felt his jaw tense, and I managed to just keep the fog at bay. Holding my breath, I pressed my lips against his. His eyes slid closed, but other than that he didn't move. I ended the kiss and went into my room before he opened them.
I wasn't sure if it was the heat or just me anymore. But I wanted Hiei regardless.
*teppanyaki- a small grill that is used to cook meals right on the table(yummy!)
*Mazoku- the Three Kings are considered these type of demons, I think it means "Tribe of Evil"
*Jūjun'na otoko- supposed to translate to "submissive male/man"
oh and for a short explanation on why Suteki's heat flipped out when she found out about Mukuro, I went off a description of how wolves act when they're in heat. they're very possessive of their mates. that's why when she was talking, it didn't seem like her. her wolf demon side was kind of taking over. wasn't sure if that needed an explanation, but I put it here just to be safe.
Oh, and in the next chapter, we're kind of diving right into my next plan for where this story is going. Should be fun!