Hello again!

My little lady started her FIRST DAY of PRE-K yesterday (tear!) and I am suddenly left with an abundance of time..for writing ;P

So! Here is Chapter 7!

-B.J.

(Updated: 11/13/15)

Chapter 7: 2 Steps Forward, 3 Steps Back.

By the time the group had made it back from the Reikai, Hiei and Kirazuki were no where to be seen within the apartment, but Keiko was already patiently waiting. "Where are they?" Botan asked softly.

Keiko shook her head slowly, "No one was here when I got here,"

Kurama on the other hand walked directly towards the back door where the balcony was, sliding the glass door open slowly and stepping out. Kira was sitting cross-legged on the floor in the corner, staring at the ground and fiddling nervously with her boot lace. He almost instantly noticed the fresh bruises and small scrapes around the entire circumference of her wrists.

Hiei stood leaning on the balcony rail not far from Kira, his arms crossed across his chest and his eyes closed, "Calm yourself, fox." He spoke, noting the sudden spike in irritation from Kurama. He opened his eyes, casting a side-ways glance towards Kira.

Keiko was now poking her head outside as well, but her eyes instead set on Kira's... Dog ears? She blinked curiously a few times, but given the serious atmosphere, said nothing.

Kira winced, her ears folding back as she sighed a long, drawn out sigh before speaking, "I tried to kill Hiei by accident."

Kurama raised a skeptical eyebrow, "By accident?"

"Sometimes.. When my body thinks I'm in danger.. It just kind of takes over," She explained shamefully, refusing to look up from the ground, "I hit my head on a tree.. And tried to kill him." If she had tried to kill her own comrade how was she supposed to be let out into the Makai? She flinched as she suddenly felt a warmth wrap around her. An intense emotion she couldn't quite pinpoint spreading through her chest. These humans were certainly changing her.

Keiko.

"It's going to be okay."

"You two have some explaining to do!" Keiko shouted out at Yusuke and Botan, having them both cornered after everyone else had departed for the night.

Yusuke winced, his wide chocolate eyes pleading to Botan. How could they possibly explain why Botan's 'cousin' from a 'foreign country' was really some weird lab creation from where people's spirits go when they die.. They hadn't quite gotten around to explaining everything to Keiko yet.. Yusuke had simply promised to inform her whenever they were leaving for one of his 'after school internship missions'..

"Well.." Botan began, "It's a long story really..."

There she stood, covered in blood that wasn't her own, a sword of ice dripping with crimson. Kuwabara's once tidy apartment now in a state of chaos, broken glass and tables spread across the soaked complex, "Come out, come out, where ever you are…" She taunted, stepping over Yusuke's broken and bloodied body as it laid limp on the floor; walking slowly down the darkened hallway and turning swiftly into the bathroom, where the light blue shower curtain gave a small wave.

She ripped back the flimsy fabric to reveal a trembling Keiko, who screamed out in sheer terror. She leaned down, picking up the frail human by the soft flesh of her neck. Keiko's eyes were full of horror as Kira held the icy blade to her throat, "It's going to be okay…"

Kira jolted awake, her golden eyes flying open, nearly knocking herself out of her tree, her heart racing as she gripped at her chest, 'It was just a dream.. It was just a dream..' She reasoned, as she tried to steady her staggered breathing.

Unbeknownst to her, Hiei sat in a tree not far from her own, having watched the nightmare as it played out; the creature was truly afraid of her own power.

The next day, training progressed as normal; although it was obvious Kira was holding herself back. Kuwabara had shown massive improvement, he was an incredibly quick learner. He could now somewhat follow her movements, blocking and dodging effectively against her. He even would have landed a punch, had it not been for his Honor Code. Tomorrow they would head out to Genkai's for the last 2 weeks of their training, Kira hated to admit but she was almost giddy with childlike excitement.

Currently, Keiko, Yusuke, Kurama and Kuwabara were preparing to go out to dinner and a movie. Botan had already left for the Reikai to finish up with some 'official' business.

"Are you sure you don't want to come?" Keiko asked one last time as she stood in front of the bathroom mirror fixing her hair. She was still skeptical, and a little cautious, about all of the information Botan had told her, but she left the topic alone.

Kira sat on the edge of the bathtub, amused by the meticulous way Keiko organized something as remedial as hair, "Honestly Kurama and Kuwabara shouldn't be going either, you and Yusuke could use some time together before he leaves.."

Keiko smiled, turning to face her, "You get used to it… Are you sure? You might not get another chance to check out human movies," She laughed now.

Kira folded her ears back, "I'd have to take human form again.. I don't like that."

"If you're sure, I guess we should leave now," Keiko embraced Kira once again, who had learned this was a human form of affection which she welcomed, "I'll see you when we get back," Kira nodded, exiting the bathroom and wishing them all well before heading out to her field for some R&R.

Kirazuki sat cross legged in the middle of her field, enjoying the view of the Ningenkai night sky. It was cloudy, but the moon still periodically peeked out at her as the clouds moved by; the crickets chirping around the vast open field. She was soaking in as much as she could, having missed such beauty for the last 104 years.

"Is the Makai sky just as wondrous?" She called out, sensing what could only be the fire demon approaching nearby.

Hiei could've given a snarky response regarding how it was better than the Reikai basement, but he chose not to, "It's.. Better," He responded, nonchalantly, standing next to where she sat with his hands in his pockets.

"No human movies for you?" Kira questioned with a smirk, knowing all too well they were certainly below him; she stretched out her legs and fell back into the grass.

Hiei sat now with his knees propped up and his arms resting on them in front of him; it was almost as if he wanted to make sure he was always a step ahead of her. He smirked in return, closing his eyes and shaking his head, responding with a simple, "No."

They sat in quietude for quite some time. It wasn't an awkward quiet by any means; more of a mutual respect for silence. Although Hiei sat about 2 feet away from Kira, she could still feel the heat radiating off of him; wondering to herself what it was like to be so warm all the time.

"Do you think Yusuke and Kuwabara are ready?" She asked suddenly in a small voice, almost afraid to break it.

"Genkai will take care of them." Hiei replied as Kira's mind wandered to Keiko, how horrible it would be if something were to happen to Yusuke.. How devastated Keiko would be. "The Detective will be fine,"

"I thought I told you to stay out of my head," Kira snapped, her ears folding back in displeasure.

Hiei smirked. Goodness, did she want to hit him, "And I told you not to think so loud."

The silence ensued again, Kira trying her very hardest to 'not think so loud'.. How does one quiet their own thoughts? She shouldn't even have to, they were her thoughts! Out of the corner of her eye she saw a small glint falling into the grass, sitting up quickly to observe it. Then, something landed on her leg, freezing over instantly. Kira blinked in confusing. What was this? Another on her shoulder, then in her hair, all freezing the second they touched her. Before she knew it they were all around, "What are these?" She panicked, fleeing quickly to the shelter of a nearby tree, half coated in a layer of ice. One would think that having control over ice would leave you impervious to the cold, and this would normally remain true, as long as the ice was produced by a demon, and not the Ningenkai sky.

Hiei chuckled. Hiei chuckled. That was a new one. As he made his way over, the falling water having the complete opposite effect on the fire demon, causing him to steam instead, "It's rain, or do they not have that in the basement of Reikai?"

Kira glared at him, shivering, "It's evil."

"Ice mutts get cold?" Hiei questioned condescendingly, a smirk plastered across his face. Smug Bastard.

"When coated in ice that isn't mine…"

Hiei sighed in irritation, reaching up to unfasten his cloak, before tossing it carelessly towards Kira, "So you don't end up an ice statue on the way back,"

"How sweet," She snapped sarcastically, wrapping up in the cloak, which was still incredibly warm.

Hiei shook his head, taking a step closer to the tiny creature, "To help you defrost," Although he had meant it as a snarky remark, Kira took it upon herself to close the distance between the two, sinking her arms under his. The sudden temperature difference actually caused Hiei to shutter, goosebumps radiating down his arms. He narrowed his eyes, "I was being sardonic.." He spoke through gritted teeth.

"I don't care. I am literally frozen." She responded quickly, turning her forehead onto his collar bone, "You smell nice," She grinned sheepishly in an attempt to compliment him, as if that would somehow make up for the fact she was using him for his own body heat.

"And you smell like wet dog." Hiei counter; she didn't really, but he wasn't going to let her think he was too kind. He supposed it was his own fault for 'offering'.

"Then I take it ba-" Kira had started to raise her head to glare at him, but instead her nose had come in inadvertantly traced the bridge of his own, coming face to face with the fire demon. She fully expected him to retreat with a snide remark; but he didn't. Kira stood completely frozen, her stomach twisted in knot that seemed to run up her entire throat, she could hear her own heartbeat in her ears, it felt like it could've jumped out of her chest; had she not been able to feel his breath on her cheeks, she would have thought she accidently froze him. It was like the entire Ningenkai had stopped moving, paralyzed in time.

And then the rain stopped.

And they both disappeared.

Kirazuki leaned on the balcony rail, watching the cars pace by, lost in her own mind. What the hell was that? Her stomach knotted up again at the thought. She had spent only a week within the Ningenkai and she was already being distracted. She had to keep herself on track, she couldn't afford to lose focus; she was here for one purpose only. She let out a deep, wavering sigh before closing her eyes; no more distractions.

Kira felt a sudden pressure on her shoulder and her instincts kicked in full swing; she grabbed whatever was on her shoulder, spinning around, pulling and twisting until she heard a definite 'pop' of dislocation. A familiar, female scream rang through the air and she instantly released, her hands beginning to tremble, "No.."

Keiko.

"I'm so sorry, Keiko, I'm so sorry," Kira panicked, "I didn't..." She looked up to see Yusuke, standing in the doorway. He looked confused, shocked… Angry even. Her heart was in her throat, she felt as if she couldn't breath; she needed to get out, she needed to disappear..

And she did.