E.H.

Ayiyiyiyi…sorry for probably one of the longest delays. I won't say my longest, but definitely uncomfortably so. So, first things first…this chapter gave me so much trouble. I mean…the first part…not as much sadly…but the rest? Totally like scraping my teeth. However, after a good dream, inspiration hit. I know these chapters are kind of short, but it's just how it's working out for me at the moment. My brain has too much going on. The crazy national cyber-attack may have hit my compy…so I had to swipe my BRAND NEW compy…BUT…luckily had everything backed up and well…considering its new didn't have much on it. After that, Easter and Family… So, here is my update with the most sincere apologies for the wait!

Shout outs for my awesome lovelies! Hakudoushi9, SakiHanajima1, Chibisensei110787, and NoWarningSignsNoAlibi thank you so much for your reviews!

Passing Go Without a Glance

Kouta slid his hand over Shizuru's side and to the back of her dress. His lips danced with hers as their tongues dueled. His hand found the confining device and slid it slowly down its pathway. He delighted in the way her back subtly arched into him from the way the cool metal slid over her skin. His teeth gently nipped her bottom lip before teasing her jaw. Shizuru made a noise low in her throat. A smirk graced his mouth; pleased with himself for inciting such a reaction. His own reaction was growing harder to contain and painful to do so. He shifted and fought the urge to just yank their clothes off quickly and just bury himself deep within her. Shizuru apparently had no inclination to make things any easier on him as she shifted her hips to chase his. Their pelvic bones ground intimately together causing both to hiss and arch into the other.

"Do I have to spell it for you?" She grumbled, not nearly as intimidating sounding as she'd meant to be. Kouta paused and then grinned.

"What's this? A woman not begging for foreplay?"

"Shut the hell up and get to it." He chuckled and helped her frantically shed their clothing. He was startled when she kicked him back and knocked him onto his back. She straddled his hips and slowly dropped herself onto his member, guiding him in with her hand. He'd not had this happen before. She groaned deeply as she settled against him. "Mmm…finally."

He couldn't help it. He dropped his head back and laughed. She stilled and glared at him. He regained himself and grinned up at her. "Finally?"

Her cheeks stained prettily. "Again, shut the hell up."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize you'd been craving me that badly." He emphasized with a test thrust. Both made sounds of pleasure. Shizuru leaned over him, planting her hands on his chest.

"You gonna screw me or you gonna talk me to death?" She looked into his eyes. His playfulness died off. He moved too quickly for her to react. He had her on her side with one leg between his knees while the other was draped over his hip as he moved quickly inside her. He reached down and rubbed her in time with his thrusts. Shizuru bit her wrist, clenching her eyes shut as he wrung her insides into a tight bundle. She cried loudly into her wrist while Kouta grunted and groaned. Shizuru tried to move with him but found it increasingly difficult to do so. His right hand clutched her backside while his left teased her sensitive nub. She felt like she was tethered to a pulley yanking her quickly up the side of Mt. Fuji. She reached the peak and then plummeted face first off the pulley with a cry that wrenched itself free of her. She came hard enough to see stars behind her eyelids. He wasn't finished though, much to her surprise. She was used to being the one lying under him wishing he'd given a damn enough to let her have some form of orgasm while the guy came and then fell asleep. This was just…so different. He was still moving just as rapidly and roughly between her thighs, wringing her orgasm up to a new high. When he finally came, she was still trembling from her own. He slid free of her and rolled her onto her stomach. She groaned idly at the motion. He then proceeded to kiss his way up her body from her heels, up her legs, over her back side, stopping briefly to nip her lower back, then up her spine to her neck where he nipped her again. She laid her head on her folded hands, looking over her shoulder at him as he licked and nipped her jawline until he reached her earlobe.

"You feel good, Shizuru." He whispered huskily into her ear. She shuddered as a shiver slid down her spine.

"You didn't feel so bad yourself." She responded softly. He chuckled and moved to lay beside her.

"Sleep. You deserve it."

"Hm…don't…tell me…what…to do…" She drifted off easily. Kouta smiled and snickered as he brushed her hair from her face. He then rose and covered her carefully with blankets. He looked down at her and felt a warmth clench his heart. He stilled as he remembered the last time he'd felt that foreign sensation in his chest. He dressed in his pants and boots, disregarding a top while he scooped the rest of his clothing up. He left the room and headed down the hall. He needed a good run. He piled his stuff by the back entrance and stepped out into the cooler early summer day. Taking a deep breath of the air, he leapt off the porch and took off at a run.

…..

It had to be around three in the afternoon when Shizuru finally emerged from the room. She walked in a daze to her room at the temple and gathered clothes. Once she was bathed and dressed, she made it into the kitchen. Kuwabara sat with the others who'd stayed the night; with the exception of Kouta and herself. She waved half-assed and moved to the coffee pot. She inhaled the caffeine enriched smell of brain juice just within her grasp. She pulled a mug down and began to pour some of the heaven-sent liquid into it when someone cleared their throat. She turned and found all sets of eyes trained on her. She quirked an eyebrow askance.

"What?" She grunted, leaning against the counter.

"Where is Kouta-san?" Yukina asked politely, while darting a glance around.

Shiyu grinned from ear to ear. "Still in bed?"

Well, at least the girl was open about her teasing. Shizuru shrugged and turned back to the coffee pot. "Dunno."

Kazuma was red and nearly steaming through the ears. He obviously was the last person who wanted to hear any of this. She almost snickered as an evil thought passed through her mind; telling him the naughty details would no doubt melt the poor kid's head. She entertained the notion for a few moments before dropping it. Wasn't worth the trouble at the moment.

"Well…?" Botan was practically bouncing in her seat. Shizuru lifted the hot beverage to her lips. She took a long sip and sighed in satisfaction.

"Well what?"

"Oh come on, Shizuru! Don't leave us in the dark! Did you and Kouta…you know! The birds the bees, the flowers and the trees?!"

"Ew! Botan! Please! That's my sis!" Kazuma covered his ears and tried to block it out.

Shizuru rolled her eyes at them. "None of you really have anything better to do?"

"Actually, no. We were all just rather curious over the strange fuss that seemed to emanate from down the hall…" Kurama said in such a matter-of-fact way that she almost missed the amused gleam in his green eyes.

She snorted and sipped more coffee. The door slid open that led outside and in stepped the very reason for her interrogation. Shirtless. Sweaty. And dear god…was he worth looking at like that. She felt her throat go dry and her stomach heat in a rather…low…area. Kouta paused and looked up at all the inquiring sets of eyes that were currently trained on him. Botan's face heated up as she eyed him.

Kouta raised an eyebrow at the way he was being looked at. He cleared his throat. "Uh…yes? Can I help you with something?"

"Why are you half naked?" Shiyu asked, darting an evil grin at Shizuru.

"I went for a long run during summer. Shirts tend to get rather annoying."

Shiyu thought that over before turning to Hiei. "Why don't you go for runs in the hot summer without a shirt on?"

Hiei tossed her a scathing look that clearly stated he wasn't pleased with her thoughts. "Hn."

Kazuma glared at Kouta. "That's my sister." He stated simply, making several people sweat drop and roll their eyes.

"I gathered as much." Kouta replied with a shrug.

"That's my sister!" Kazuma jumped to his feet and pointed at Shizuru. "I challenge you to a duel for her honor!"

Hiei snickered. "You'll lose, idiot."

"Back off me, shrimp!"

"What honor?" Shizuru interjected but was mostly drown out as the two shouted each other down. Yukina looked at her with a frown.

"Look, Kuwabara, no offense…but your sister's a grown woman. She gets to make whatever choice she wants without you telling her what to do."

Kazuma fell silent and spun on the midnight-blue haired man. "How'd you feel if it was your sister?"

Kouta laughed and motioned to Nabi. "The closest I have to a sister is very well involved with someone. Honestly, I don't care. Again, able to make her own choices."

"W-well-!"

"Kazuma!" Shizuru snapped, setting her coffee mug down harder than necessary. She marched over to him and grabbed the back of his shirt. She dragged him from the kitchen outside and slid the door shut behind her forcefully. She let go of Kazuma, slightly shoving him. He stumbled, as she figured he would. He spun to look at her and protest. She silenced him by raising her right hand. "Can it. What I do on my own time with my own body is none of your concern. Got it?"

"Bu—"

"No. No buts. Do you hear me telling you how to live your life, bro?"

"Well no, but—"

"Kazuma! Drop it!" She growled, glaring at him through dark topaz eyes.

Kazuma sighed and looked down at his feet, shuffling them idly. "I jus' don't wanna see ya hurt, s'all…"

"I know. But you have to let me live, Kazu. I'm a big girl, damnit. I can take care of myself just fine."

She smirked and walked up to him to ruffle his hair. "'ey! I ain't a kid no more, sis!"

"So? Still can ruffle your head!" Shizuru chuckled and walked past him.

…..

"Kazuma-san?" Yukina approached quietly as Kazuma sat on the steps leading down from the temple. He looked up surprised.

"Oh, hey Yukina!" He started to rise only to pause as she smiled and sat beside him.

"Something is bothering you?"

"Well…er…kinda…yeah." He grumbled, sitting back down and leaning his chin on his hands. "My sis is…"

"Having a romantic fling that disturbs you." Yukina concluded for him; she giggled softly at the look of pure disgust that crossed his features. "Kazuma-san, I understand that you are…unhappy with the situation…but perhaps it is for the best?"

"…don't see how…"

"Would you desire for Shizuru to be happy?"

"'Course I would." He sat up wide-eyed. "I ain't gonna wish her unhappiness!"

"Then perhaps you should look at it this way…Kouta-san and Shizuru may enter into a situation where they are both happy."

"Gah! I know! But, Yukina…she's my sis! It's gross ta think 'bout!" Kazuma dropped his head back to his hands. Yukina sighed before resting her hand on his arm. He looked up at her hand then her face, turning really red. He turned to her and clasped her hands in his. "Yukina…you are…so sweet!"

Yukina smiled. "Kazuma…you're so funny." She tilted her head to the side. "Are you hungry?"

"Yeah!" Kazuma exclaimed excitedly.

"All right. I will make you some lunch then, Kazuma." Yukina stood up and tugged his hands softly. Kazuma stood and went to pull his hands back out of respect to her. Yukina, however, did not released one hand and walked with him in silence while holding his hand. Her pale cheeks were dusted with a slight rosy color while Kazuma's face could have passed for a red traffic flare.

…..

Shizuru sat in her room with the windows open while she read an art magazine and smoked her cigarette. She flipped the page and reached for her opened beer can as her door opened. She glanced up and halted her motions. Kouta leaned in the doorway, smirking at her. Her eyes drank in the sight of him in a pair of well fitted jeans, white t-shirt, and his hair down around his shoulders. She'd not realized just how long his hair was until then. It brushed the tops of his shoulders in soft waves of deep blue while his mismatched eyes watched her. She found herself forgetting what the hell she was doing three seconds prior. She swallowed her desire and tore her gaze from him to stare at her magazine.

"Yeah?"

"Just wondering how you were doing."

She snorted, "really?"

"Really." He moved into the room uninvited and closed the door. He moved to the window and leaned against it to look outside; this gave Shizuru the perfect uninhibited view of his well-formed back side. She literally bit her cheek to give herself a wake-up call. 'Casual, Shizuru. Just casual.'

"Just casual what?" He turned and frowned slightly.

She glared at him. "I really hate saying things twice."

He grimaced and held up his hands. "Sorry, I know. Stay out of your head. But seriously, you project like a damned missile."

"Then ignore it."

"Have you ever tried to ignore someone stabbing your brain with obvious thoughts that are as loud as a scream directly in your ears?"

Shizuru shook her head. "Nope."

"Didn't think so."

"Where do we go from here…?" She couldn't help but ask.

"Same as we planned. Nowhere. Simple. Unattached. No need to feel obligated for anything else."

"Right. Good."

They fell into silence as he stared outside again and she tried desperately to ignore him.

"You'll make an amazing tattoo artists."

"What?" She looked up.

"Now who's repeating themselves?" He smirked over his shoulder at her.

"Whatever." She smirked back despite herself. "Why do you say that though? I haven't even decided I want to do it."

"Yes you have."

Her eyes narrowed in warning.

"I didn't grab this from your head. Promise. I can see it without having to in your eyes. Every time you look at my tattoos, your eyes light up. You may not believe you've decided yet, but your heart is in it."

"Damn, philosophical and sexy. Where the hell'd that come from?"

"What can I say?" He turned to lean his back against the wall and open his arms out to his sides, palm up. "I'm a walking female wet dream."

She laughed. "And there's the ego to match."

"Without ego, I'm naught but a simple man."

"I doubt you've ever been a simple man."

"Guilty as charged."

"…you really think I can do it?" She tucked her hair behind her ear, staring intently at the magazine art.

"Yeah. If you want, you can practice on me."

She snapped her attention up at him. "Serious?"

"Dead serious."

"But…what if I screw up?"

"Then I simply do what I do best and remove it." He shrugged.

"Remove it? But isn't that hard and pain—" By the flash of amusement in his eyes she snapped her mouth shut.

"Come on, Shizuru. I'm sure you'll be great."

She grabbed something from under her futon and tossed her sketchbook to him. "Here. Look. If you still think I'm so good at this, pick out your favorite."

He caught it deftly and flipped through them. He stopped and stared at her over the sketchbook. "Please tell me you're fucking kidding me…"

"About what?"

"You drew these?"

"Yeah. That's why I carry it."

"Shizuru, how the hell can you say shit like 'if it's good enough'? This is probably the coolest art I've ever seen."

"Shut up."

"Do you think I'm kidding?"

Shizuru shrugged, taking a long drag.

"Come on, Shizuru, this is really impressive."

She took a swig of her beer and looked up at him again. "So, can I tattoo your ass?" She grinned.

"You can do whatever you want to my ass, Shizuru." His eyes flashed at her suggestively. She shifted a bit. She fought back the annoying desire to blush at his statement. She was a grown woman well versed in the doings of the body.

"Dream on." She grinned. He laughed and pushed off from the wall and crossed the room to leave her alone again. He paused in the doorway and looked back.

"By the way…"

She looked up with a raised brow. "Hm?"

"Your legs are sexy. Don't be so ashamed of them." He then left the room. She blinked before she threw the book at the door.

"Said stay outta my head!" Despite her tone, she was still grinning. She chortled before she stood and decided a walk was a good idea. She grabbed her beer can and made her way across the temple. She paused at Yukina's door. She stepped back a step to peek in. "Hey sweetie, what's wrong?" Shizuru stepped in quickly when Yukina looked up with such a…heart rendering expression. She carefully shut the door behind her and moved to sit by the young demon girl.

"I-I…I had…a vision, Shizuru-san." Yukina started and then stared at her hands. The beginnings of tears gathering in her eyes.

"A vision?" Shizuru set her hand over Yukina's small, cold, pale one. "Tell me about it?"

Yukina smile weakly, her lips wavering. "I stood with two children. They were full-grown adults at the time, but they…they were beautiful. Twins." She flashed her crimson eyes at Shizuru. Her smile grew a bit yet there was still a sadness to it that made Shizuru's heart break.

"Did it bother you?"

"No. It was correct." Yukina frowned, thinking for a moment. "Almost as though it was always meant to happen."

"What did they look like?"

Yukina laughed a small, almost watery sound. "The son was taller than I. He had pale aqua hair with a small portion of brown-orange discoloration at the top of his hair. His eyes were deep brown and bright with excitement. The daughter was only a little taller than I. She had long flowing orange-brown hair. She was fierce and had deep red eyes…" Yukina looked up. "I stood with my children, Shizuru-san."

Shizuru blinked for a moment before biting back a small laugh. Sounded like Kazuma would get his fondest dream after all. "So where was their father?"

Yukina's eyes began to leak as her smile fell. Her pale hands lifted and buried her small face within them. "Long gone. I'm going to out-live him, Shizuru!"

It didn't take a brain surgeon to figure out who she was talking about. Shizuru took a deep breath and fought down the sting of knowing the pain of outliving someone you care for. She swallowed it however and reached over to pull the smaller woman to her arms carefully. "Yukina…sweetheart, do you really think Kazuma cares? He probably knows better than anyone that you'll outlive him."

"B-but…I-I can't ask that of him!"

"No. No you can't. But that's the beauty of it…" She pulled back enough to stare into the smaller woman's face. "You don't have to. He's offering it to you without strings attached. It's not my place to say this, but hell with it…he loves you, Yukina. Not like some stupid little boy's crush; he loves you like a man was meant to love a woman. He has for years. He's never strayed from you once. He's blindly faithful to a fault." She smiled and chuckled. "Dumb as a box of rocks, but at least he's loyal and loving."

Yukina pulled back and wiped her head, nodding her head. She stared at the floor where the hiruseki jewels fell. "Thank you, Shizuru-san…"

"Of course." Shizuru suddenly felt rather awkward, not knowing what to do. She rose and nodded. "Well, I'm going for my walk now."

"Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to keep you!"

"Nah, you didn't. I wanted to talk." Shizuru smirked and headed to the door without looking back. She found slight irony in the way she'd just popped in to talk briefly and leave. Reminded her to Kouta. With an eye roll she opened the door and paused. "Don't keep him waiting too long, Yukina. He'd rearrange the stars for you if he could." She then slid out into the hallway and headed on her merry way.

The sun filtering through the trees was warm and comforting to her. In an odd way it felt as if the sun was trying to tell her something. She let out a long breath and stretched her arms up over her head and dropped them back to her sides, tucking her right into her pocket. Her white button up blouse was loose around her frame. She came to a stand-still and sank onto a large rock. Once she knew she was away from everyone, she hung her head in her hands.

"What the hell am I thinking?" She ran her hands through her hair.

"You're not thinking." Came a grumpy reply from above her. She rolled her eyes at her luck. She leaned back and looked up with a glare.

"It was rhetorical, Hiei."

"Hn."

"But what the hell, why don't I just ask you for advice? So what do you think, Hiei?" Sarcasm laced through her words like a venomous snake.

"I could care less."

"Then why the hell would you comment?"

"You sat beneath my tree and asked."

"Your tree?" She laughed drily. "Oh, now there's a classic statement."

"Hn. Humans are all foolish."

"Can't argue there…"

Silence permeated the air for several long moments. Shizuru stared at the ground, almost wondering if he left.

"He's demon."

Shizuru snorted. "No shit."

A growl from above came before, "his primal instincts rule him."

"Gathered that too."

"You're hopeless then." Hiei snapped and with a sudden electro-charge in the air, took off. The air suddenly felt rather devoid of life for a moment. Shizuru tucked a knee up to rest her arm over.

"Also figured that too…"

…..

Unknown to Shizuru, a figure watched her closely from the underbrush. The fire demon was getting rust if he didn't notice the presence either. The figure shifted and kept their energy tightly bound so as not to be detected. It snuck closer to the brunette until it was level with the tree behind her.

'So this is the little human you chose, Kouta? So foolish. So fragile…' A malicious smile spread over the figure's hidden face.

Shizuru felt a warning shift within her. She moved to turn and look around her; more specifically, behind her. As she turned, it happened in slow motion. A figure burst from the underbrush. Shizuru reacted purely on instinct and dove to the side. The figure rolled to their feet and with a speed that had to be demonic, was before her. She looked up with wide eyes as the figure grabbed her throat. The smaller form lifted her effortlessly from the ground in one hand. Shizuru kicked and tried to pry herself free desperately. As her vision began to dim, she made one good solid kick to the figure between the legs. Realization crashed over her as her vision blurred into darkness.

"And to think, he chose a little human girl." Vicious, snarling, clipped words barely registered before Shizuru was out cold. Her body went limp from the lack of air to her lungs.

Cliffhanger, I know. However, you won't hang to TOO long this time! So, I have to say, all of your reviews were beautiful, appreciated, and amazing. Thank you so much!

We'll find out who our villain is in the next chapter! Mwahahahahaaaa!

Erika Hearken