Chapter 16

Private Talks

"CANNONBAAAAAALLLLL!!!" We screamed as two figures dove into the pool from behind us, shouting 'CANNONBALL!' A huge wave poured over us, getting us soaked. We started laughing uncontrollably.

Yusuke popped up out of the water and, hands on hips, said "Bet we surprised you, huh?" Suddenly, Kuwabara came bursting to the surface to grapple with Yusuke and dragged them both under the water. "AAHH(gurgle splurt splut)!" That only made us laugh even more. When they came jumping up again, I said –

"Yeah, but not as much as it surprised you!" (more laughter)

"Now, now, be kind," said another voice. Natalie smiled as the redhead came walking back into the room, Hiei right behind him. I smiled and waved, earning a smirk. A thought suddenly occurred to me…ummm…

When he was close enough to hear without anyone else listening in, I asked "How much of that did you guys hear?"

"We heard nearly everything" he motioned to himself and Kurama, "but I doubt that those idiots heard a thing over the sound of their own voices."

I blushed and looked down, mortified. I could see Natalie doing the same (she must have asked Kurama the same question…and gotten the same answer). "Hey, she's my best friend. We hide absolutely nothing from each other," I said, trying to regain my somewhat diminished pride.

"Does that mean you told her about the other thing?"

"…No. I want to be able to talk to her alone when I do."

"Weren't you just alone with her?"

"Oh, please. With our new connection, I could feel you coming. I assumed that the others were with you, and I was right so HA!"

"'Ha', yourself." He traced my mark with his finger (gently, as he knew that it was still sore), then walked away to sit in the grass nearby. Leaning back, his eyes closed and he began to nap. I looked at him, remembering that…situation.

As our energies had "mixed", something else…something strange…had happened. I still wasn't sure what it was, but I felt like something had taken over me and…overpowered Hiei! He had almost fainted from it. Thankfully, he didn't (that would've been…awkward…), and seemed to be back to normal right afterward.

Great, another question.

Anyhow, I wanted to tell Natalie, who I knew in turn would tell Kurama, who I hoped would have an answer…or at least some sort of explanation. I knew that it had to have something to do with the Phoenix, but still… "AHHHH!!"

I screamed as I was dragged under the water. Opening my eyes, I saw an orange head wearing an annoying goofy smile. I kicked the jerk in the face and swam back upward. I broke through the surface and started coughing and spluttering.

""You jerk!!"" I saw that Natalie was yelling, too. Yusuke must have gotten her. The two doofs were laughing. Hiei and Kurama didn't look too amused, though. Hiei was actually in the water, holding Kuwabara up by his T-shirt. Kurama was just shaking his head at both of them (Yusuke and Kuwabara). While Hiei was giving Kuwabara the whole "hands off!" speech, I snuck over and lunged at the spiky-haired demon.

"Gotcha!" I shouted as we (me, Hiei…and Kuwabara – oops) fell over into the water. I jumped back up and started laughing. Hiei came up next, and not with an amused expression either…oops again. Kuwabara came up last and coughed repeatedly, then ran out of the water.

"Onna…" Hiei snarled.

"Sorry, I couldn't resist." Pride diminished.

He turned around and got out of the water. "Hn. Stupid Onna. I could've avoided that easily if I'd wanted to." I couldn't see his face, but I had a feeling that he was smirking at me again. I will never understand that boy (even though my understanding is what got us together…). Oh, well. I smiled anyway.

So we just hung out for a while, Yusuke and Kuwabara decided to climb the mini-cliff (like ten feet high) and do a few horrible dives, two of which included unintended belly-flops and back-flops. I watched and wished I knew how to dive (I used to try to do flips but they always ended in back-flops…). After a little less than an hour though, the guys left, leaving me and Natalie to talk.

I told her about what had happened. At first, she seemed to find it humorous. However, she saw the seriousness in my face and agreed to ask Kurama. So, she left and I was left all alone lying on my little patch of grass (letting my hair dry out)…or…so I thought. About to drift off into a nap, I suddenly felt a presence above me. Opening my eyes, I saw that pair of blood-red eyes that I loved so much.

"Can I help you?"

He walked around until he was sitting beside me. He just sat there silently, looking at the grass.

"Are you okay?" I asked tentatively. It was weird to see him like this.

"I'm fine. The question is if you are or not."

That was unexpected.

"Why wouldn't I be?" My brows furrowed slightly.

"…"

"Come on, just say it already, Bajito."

"…Were you ready?" This was said so quietly and hesitantly that at first I couldn't understand what he had said. When I finally understood what he was talking about I exhaled in relief.

"Is that all? Bajito, if I wasn't ready…okay, look…(I swung around to face him, forcing him to look at me) If I had been the least bit hesitant, had any doubt…if I had been even the slightest bit unsure, then I wouldn't have gone through with it. I did it because I wanted to, because I was ready to. Okay?"

He looked away slightly. "…You were in pain."

"It hurts the first time for every single human female in the universe. But only the first time. Is that what you've been so worried about?"

"…"

I leaned in to kiss him on the cheek, then said slyly "If you don't believe me…" then whispered something in his ear. He grinned and I could've sworn that his eyes turned a deeper shade of red. All doubt left his face and I felt very pleased with myself. So much for being sore.

Kurama was left deep in thought. "It's most likely exactly what she thought it was: just a reaction of the Phoenix and the Dragon mating again. However, it wouldn't hurt to get a second opinion." The redhead continued to think as I sat down next to him (we were back in the room).

"She just wanted me to let you know and see what you thought."

"Thank you for telling me, Nat."

"That's the first time you've ever called me 'Nat'." Normally, he stuck to addressing me as "Natalie" or even "Sweet", so this came as something of a shock to me.

"Do you not like it?"

"NO, no, it's fine!! I just hadn't expected it…is all…"

He chuckled at me…AGAIN!!

"Will you stop doing that?"

"What?"

"Laughing at me!"

"I'm not laughing at you."

"YES YOU ARE!!" I tackled him, laughing all the while. Just imagine the sight we made…wrestling on that plant bed. I had to admit, I was glad that last night hadn't changed anything between us. Actually, if anything it made us closer and more comfortable with each other. My thoughts traveled to Hiei and Sarah, and I hoped that the same had happened for them. She had seemed so happy when I talked to her, and Hiei seemed less tense (but just a little bit) until Kuwabara practically drowned her. Everyone could notice the change in the little koorime. He just seemed…well, I wouldn't necessarily say happier (just 'cause that seems a little too weird)…but, more…okay, happier. Happier, less aloof, a little gentler, not always frowning, yet still strong, able, agile, and determined. It was a nice change.

"Told ya."

"Hn."