TheHeartsPath: Hi everyone! I've written another chapter for y'all to read! I really wasn't expecting to get this one done so soon. Oh, also I've gone over the first few chapters that had those really big paragraphs and fixed them. So now they should be easier to read. Please read and review! Hope you like the chapter! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho or any of its' characters. They are owned by Yoshihiro Togashi. I own only Ayla, her family, and any other characters that do not show up in the series.

"Talking" Thoughts ~Telepathy or mind-reading~

NOTES:

Bento – A single-portion takeout or home-packed meal.

Chapter 17: First Day of Training

Genkai's POV

Lighting my cigarette, I watched as Ayla and the others left the temple. They were heading to an area that wasn't overly close to the temple. Just a precaution in case a particular someone's energy got out of control. Ayla had mentioned at breakfast that she wanted to start training right away. Which had surprised the hell out of the boys. Particularly that dimwitted successor of mine.

I chuckled, remembering the looks on each of their faces. All of them held surprise but each one had held something else at the same time.

Yusuke looked as if he thought my granddaughter was insane. He even asked her if she was insane. He keeps asking her that and she is going to go insane. And beat the crap out of him as a result. Now that would be something to see. Not to mention it would serve the dimwit right.

Kuwabara had looked horrified at the thought of training with Ayla. Probably because he hasn't trained with a girl before. Well he's gonna have to get used to it now that Ayla's around. I wonder how she'll react when she finds out that he won't fight her because she's a girl. Knowing Ayla she'll be fighting her temper to keep from harming the boy.

Kurama's face showed strong curiosity. He had that same curious look yesterday too. When Ayla had referred to training as something interesting to do. Right before she ended up losing control.

That thought made me shudder. Seeing Ayla in that state had scared the shit out of me. Before breakfast this morning, I couldn't have even begun to imagine how much it must have scared her. My granddaughter who never asked for any of this to happen to her. The only reason I had given the go ahead for her training to begin immediately was because of her telepathic plea during breakfast.

FLASHBACK: BREAKFAST

~Grams? I know it's not really up to me to decide when my training starts but...Please...let me start training today. Even though I don't really remember what happened...I...I don't want it to happen again. Not being able to control myself...I'm afraid Grams...no..I'm..I'm terrified...Terrified of it happening again. At a time when there's no one around to stop me from hurting or...or ki-...killing...someone...I don't care how hard the training is. I don't want to go through that again. So please Grams, please let me start training.~

END FLASHBACK

I hated the fact that she was so terrified of what had happened. She shouldn't have to be feeling that way, but she was. And the only thing I can do to help her is to let her train like she wants. Train to be more in control and stronger.

"Why the hell not?!"

Taking another drag of my cigarette, I found my thoughts focusing on Hiei and Ayla. It had been Hiei that had yelled. With his tone of voice and the way he was glaring at Ayla it was obvious he was annoyed with her. She said something in reply but I couldn't hear what it was. But I could see the mischievousness on her face as she spoke. From the look on his face she'd surprised him with her reply.

What happened next surprised me so much that I almost dropped my cigarette. Hiei had suddenly burst into laughter. It was one of those things that I had always thought I'd never witness Hiei do. But there he was, laughing. Whatever it was that Ayla had said must have greatly amused him.

Another sign that the two of them are connected on another level from the rest of us. That reminds me of that look he had earlier...

Hiei...the look on his face had caught my attention more than the others. Curiosity had been on his face just as it had been on Kurama's. But there was something else that hadn't been on any of the others. Protectiveness. In a way it was strange to see him with that expression. I've seen him with that look when Yukina's safety is involved. Shaking my head, I admitted to myself that this particular look was different. Not just protective but...possessive.

Almost as if he thought of her as belonging to him. I've seen the way he looks at her when he thinks no one is watching him. There's a gentleness in his gaze that I've never seen before. Heh, he probably doesn't even realize the way he looks at her.

Hiei's POV

"So Ayla, I hear you can make barriers with your spirit energy." Kurama said as we were leaving the temple.

She looked at him in surprise. "How did you kn-...Hiei..."

I glanced at the onna and saw that she was staring straight ahead, glaring. "What is it with you people and automatically blabbing what you know to each other?" she grumbled.

"What's the matter Natura? Mad that you're not in the loop?" Yusuke laughed.

Turning her glare to him she asked, "You still like your eyes where they are Yusuke?" The detective paled at her words and shut his mouth. Ayla smirked at his reaction. "That's what I thought."

The way she had shut the detective up had me smirking too. With the way she asked that question she must have used a similar threat on him.

"Before we start your training onna, we want to know what other psychic abilities you have besides barriers." I told her.

"I see." she replied. A few moments passed and still she said nothing.

"Well?" I asked.

She looked at me, the picture of innocence, "Well what?"

"Answer my question about your other psychic abilities onna." I was starting to get annoyed.

She smirked, "Sorry, but I can't do that Hiei."

"Why the hell not?!" I yelled while glaring. Now I was truly annoyed with her.

"Because you didn't actually ask me if I had other psychic abilities. You just said that you wanted to know if I had any besides barriers. So you see, I can't answer a question that you technically didn't ask." she replied, mischievousness on her face.

For a moment all I could do was stare at her in surprise. Then I burst out in laughter. Yet again she had done it. She had surprised me in a way that had both amused me and gotten rid of my annoyance. From the looks on the faces of the others my laughter both surprised them and made them curious. Curious as to how the hell Ayla managed to make me act so differently.

Kurama's POV

Who is this and what has she done with Hiei?

I couldn't do anything but stare in surprise at Hiei as he laughed. This made it the third time that I have heard Hiei laugh like this. The first time being when Yusuke had come back to life as a half-demon during our fight with Sensui. While the second time was the night we met Ayla.

It's still a little strange to hear Hiei laughing like this. But I'm happy for him. It's about time that he let himself show his emotions instead of hiding them all the time. And it's all thanks to Ayla that he's finally doing so.

Smiling to myself, I watched the two of them. Hiei laughing and Ayla smiling. I remember what Ayla said to Hiei that night they first met.

"You should laugh more. Cause you have a nice laugh."

The way that Ayla had smiled as she said those words told me something. That she would try to make Hiei laugh again. From the smile on her face right now I knew she'd continue to try and make him laugh.

Ayla's POV

"I...can't...breathe..." I huffed as I let myself fall on my back. A small giggle escaped before I could stop it. That of course had me go into a fit of giggles. Normally I'd be bothered about other people seeing me giggling like this, but I was feeling too good to care.

Damn but I've missed training! I feel great!...Even if I can't really breathe. The looks on Yusuke's and Kazuma's faces after the first few hours of training had been hilarious. They'd both looked like they thought something was wrong with me for smiling as we were training. Especially when I was basically having my ass kicked.

Remembering their faces had my giggling turn into full blown laughs. Even with my lack of breath I was managing to laugh. Though it probably wasn't a very good idea since I ended up coughing from laughing so much. Now I was having even more trouble breathing than I had before.

The next thing I know someone picks me up and starts pounding on my back. Because I've been training for several hours my body and brain are both in 'combat mode' so to speak. So I snap out of my laughing/coughing fit and yank out of the arms of whoever is holding me. I then jump in the air while spinning and kick them in the head, sending them flying.

Only after I landed did I realize who it was I had kicked. It was Kazuma. My kick didn't send him far since I wasn't using a lot of my spirit energy. Just enough to boost my speed and attacks some. Since my energy isn't stable it was decided that I shouldn't try for more than that during today's training.

"OW! WHY'D YOU KICK ME?!" Kazuma yelled after landing fifteen feet away. He was rubbing the side of his head that I'd kicked and glaring at me.

"Sorry Kazuma, I didn't realize that it was you. My brain and body just went on autopilot when you started beating the hell out of my back." I said.

"I wasn't beating your back! I was trying to help you since you were choking!"

"Kazuma I wasn't choking. I was coughing, there's a difference." I explained.

"Sounded like choking to me." was his reply.

My eye twitched, "And you sound like an idiot but that doesn't mean you are one."

"HEY!"

Yusuke was laughing his head off from where he was standing at the edge of the clearing. He, Kazuma, and Hiei had decided to stand there while Kurama tested my reflexes and for me to try and land a hit on him. Before we'd started training I swear my jaw hit the ground when he'd taken a rose from his hair and changed it into a whip.

So far I haven't even gotten close enough to hit him, though I am getting closer.

There was a whistle like sound coming from behind me. I flung myself to the side barely managing to dodge the attack that I knew was from the former fox thief. Turning around I found that Kurama was quickly closing the distance between us. "Rose Whip Lash!" he yelled, suddenly lashing his whip everywhere that was in my direction.

My eyes widened in shock and all I could think was one thing.

Oh hell...This is gonna suck!

Several Hours Later

"Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow!" I hissed while cleaning my injuries from training with Kurama. Even with trying my hardest I hadn't been able to land a hit on him. However, the same could not be said for that damn fox. From head to toe my clothes had tears and I was covered in scratches from that blasted rose whip of his. Some of them were actual cuts but those weren't Kurama's fault. Nope, those were because of my bad judgement on some of my dodges...Okay, so a few of them were because of my klutziness. But let's not talk about that shall we?

Yusuke and Kazuma had gone back to the temple around noon for lunch. Kurama had tried to get me to do the same but I had refused to do so. I was enjoying training too much to want to stop for anything like eating, even if I was feeling hungry. After ten minutes of trying to get me to go and my continuing attempts of trying to hit him, he finally gave up. I thought that I wouldn't have to take a break until I was willing to.

Turned out I was dead wrong.

FLASHBACK: EARLY AFTERNOON – TRAINING

An hour ago Yusuke and Kazuma had left for lunch. Now they were back and watching Kurama wipe the floor with me. Dodging another of Kurama's attacks I found a possible opening that would allow me to whack him. Not about to let this chance pass by, I focused more of my spirit energy into my legs. Then ran like hell right at Kurama.

Five feet away, the closest I'd gotten to him since we started training and Hiei suddenly appears. Smack dab in between me and Kurama. I tried to stop the moment I saw him. Unfortunately, my klutziness decided that now was the perfect time to rear its ugly head. Meaning I ended up tripping over my own feet and crashing right into Hiei. Thus sending us both to the ground at Kurama's feet.

When we landed I was laying on top of Hiei. Our faces were mere inches away and both our faces held shock. My face started to burn in embarrassment at how close we were.

"S-S-Sorry H-Hiei." I stuttered, getting off of him as quickly and carefully as I could. I was so embarrassed that I couldn't look him in the eyes and ended up staring at the ground. Why, oh why did my klutziness have to kick in just now? I can't believe that just happened! I was laying on Hiei!

For a few moments none of us spoke. I think the three of us were trying to get over the shock of what just happened.

"So Hiei...Why did you decide to interfere with Ayla's training?" Kurama asked, breaking the silence.

"The onna needs to take a break and eat something. At this rate she's going to end up passing out." Hiei answered.

"I'm not going to pass out." I growled out.

"Really? Then tell me something onna. Why are you shaking and swaying when all you're doing is standing?" demanded Hiei.

I jerked my head up to glare at him. Damn it all! I was hoping he wouldn't notice! "So? I can still keep training Hiei. It's not like I haven't trained in this condition before."

He glared right back saying, "I could care less if you've trained in this condition before. You aren't going to be doing so this time onna."

"Like hell I'm not! Now get out of the way so I can continue training!" I yelled.

His eyes narrowed in response. Before I could even blink Hiei had suddenly tossed me over his shoulder and begun walking away from Kurama.

"What the? HIEI WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!" I screamed at him.

"Hn, what does it look like I'm doing onna? You are taking a break to eat whether you wish to or not." he replied.

"I AM NOT TAKING A BREAK DAMN IT! NOW PUT ME DOWN YOU INFURIATING, ARROGANT, POMPOUS, EGOTISTICAL, DOMINEERING JACKASS!" I bellowed while pounding the hell out of his back.

A moment later I was dumped painfully on my ass. "OW! DAMN IT! WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR HIEI?!" I yelled while glaring at him. The damn bastard was smirking.

"You said to put you down onna. You didn't say anything about how." he quipped.

Growling at him, I looked away since I knew he was right on that. I hadn't said anything about putting me down nicely. Just that he put me down. Why the hell did I have to get stuck with such an arrogant male? Although I think the better question would be this. Why the hell do I have to be attracted to such an arrogant male?

Something was gently set in my lap. Looking down I saw that it was a wrapped up bento with a pair of chopsticks on it.

"You can go back to training after you've eaten." Hiei said before disappearing in a blur of black.

"Well what do you know? So that's where the lunch Yukina made for you went." Yusuke said. I looked at him in confusion. "When we got back to the temple for lunch and mentioned how you wouldn't stop training to come and eat she decided to make you a bento. She wanted one of us to take it with us so you could eat here instead." he explained.

"I'm still trying to figure out why Hiei had it." Kazuma said.

"Most likely Hiei was getting worried about Ayla and went to get something for her to eat. He didn't seem to like the way she was pushing herself so much." Kurama spoke up. I hadn't noticed when he got over here.

Hiei was worried about me? I looked at the bento and smiled. Unwrapping and opening it, I started eating so I could get back to training. Unable to stop smiling the entire time.

END FLASHBACK

Now that I was done cleaning my injuries I was trying to figure out if I could use my spirit energy to heal them without losing control. I need to heal them up as soon as possible. I mean going to school covered in bandages isn't going to help matters with the principal and teachers. They'd probably think that I'd been going around picking fights or something.

I heard soft footsteps behind me and looked up. It was Yukina and she looked worried. "What's wrong Yukina?" I asked.

"When you came back from training with all those cuts I wanted to help you by healing them. But...when Kurama offered to clean them for you, there was this look in your eyes like you were a little scared. You said that you didn't like other people tending to your injuries. So I didn't think you'd want me to help you either." she answered sadly.

"Oh Yukina, I'm so sorry. It's just that..." I trailed off, not sure if I was quite ready to tell someone why.

"Ayla?" Yukina asked kneeling beside me. "What happened that makes you scared of someone helping you when you're hurt?"

I bit my lip and looked at my lap, not saying anything for a few moments. Taking a deep breath and letting it out I started speaking, "When...when I was younger...and living in America I...I was bullied because of my eyes. So I got beat up a lot. Meaning I ended up going to the nurse quite a bit." I noticed that it was easier to talk about this with Yukina than I'd thought.

"The nurses from the schools I went to were the same as the kids and other adults. They were all bothered by my eye color. A few of the nurses were nice and gentle when patching me up. But most of them were really mean. They'd be really rough while cleaning up cuts, using way more disinfectant than necessary, rubbing the cleaning cloths in them really deep and hard. All kinds of things like that. I started not trusting anyone but my family to take care of me when I was hurt because of that."

"Now I understand why you don't like other people taking care of your injuries. But you do realize that none of us would do something like that don't you Ayla?" Yukina said.

Nodding I replied, "I know that Yukina. It's just...it's become second nature. Sorry if I upset you earlier because of what I said."

Yukina gave me a gentle smile filled with understanding. "You don't have anything to apologize for Ayla. I do have one question for you though. Will you let me heal your injuries now?"

I smiled in return, "Yeah. Yukina? Thanks for listening."

"You're welcome." As she healed my scratches she spoke, "Kazuma told me that you mentioned having healing powers."

"Ah, yeah I do. But they aren't very good. Grams has been so busy these past few years that she never had the chance to train me how to use them really well." I responded. Hmm...I wonder...

~Hey Grams? Since you're having to train Kira, would it be alright if Yukina trained me with my healing powers?~

~Yukina will be a fine teacher. She is one of the best healers I know.~

~Thanks Grams!~

"Hey Yukina? I was wondering...Could you teach me?" I asked.

"I'd like that very much. But what about Genkai?"

I chuckled, "I just asked her. She's totally fine with it." Yukina looked at me confused. Pointing at myself I reminded her, "Telepath?"

"Oh right." she giggled, "The next time you're up here we can start work on your healing powers. Though we're going to have to wait until after you train with the guys."

"What better time to learn healing? I mean look at me after one day, scratches from head to toe." I grinned.

Yukina chuckled, "True. Shall we go join the others for dinner?" She was done healing me.

"Sure, I'm starving!"