B.J. again!
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I've had another idea rolling around in my head for quite a few days now.. Perhaps another HieixOC, perhaps something else, I haven't decided with a direction yet but I have definitely decided on a main platform for it, keep your eyes peeled though!
-B.J.
Chapter 8: What Happens in the Dome..
Hiei and Kurama stood stoically on the balcony, watching the large dome-shaped blue glow pulsing in the distance, "Hn.. She's going to draw too much attention.."
Kurama nodded in solemn agreement, turning back now to re-enter the apartment; Keiko was seated on the couch with Botan, who was currently healing her shoulder; Kuwabara, once the commotion died down, had gone to bed to prepare for the morning travel to Genkai's. Yusuke sat in the chair across from the couch, tapping his foot rapidly in anger.
"It was my fault…" Keiko said quietly, wincing in pain, "I surprised her, she didn't know it was me.." Yusuke sighed, running an irritated hand through his hair, he knew she was right. He knew Kira didn't do it on purpose, he saw the look of terror on her face when she had realized what she had done. It was just how she was.. raised didn't seem like the right word to Yusuke.
"She's very distraught," Kurama spoke suddenly waving for the group to come observe as he slide open the door to the balcony, everyone filing outside behind him, "Her Spirit Energy is reacting to her distress; I would imagine she has never experienced this type of emotional response to injuring another being," He explained, glancing towards the distant dome.
"You have to get her," Keiko pleaded, turning to face them, "Please, you have to tell her it's okay," The feeling of guilt in her stomach was overwhelming.
"I'm not leaving," Yusuke protested, staring intently at Keiko, who turned pleadingly to Kurama and Hiei.
Hiei remained impassive, "I suppose we have no choice if she's going to continue producing a beacon to the humans…"
Kurama nodded in agreement, and they were off towards the dome.
Kurama and Hiei stood at the edge of the pulsing half-sphere, the grass, trees, bushes, the flowers, everything before them was coated in ice. Kurama put the very end of his shoe beyond the barrier; as soon as one of the pulses traveled to the edge, his shoe had frozen over completely. He cast a weary glance towards Hiei, who gritted his teeth, shoving his hands in the pockets of his cloak, "I already know, fox," He harped, before walking into the chilled dome.
"Tread carefully, Hiei," Kurama called out, "She may lash out.."
Hiei halted momentarily, closing his crimson eyes, "Don't worry about me."
Kirazuki's small frame sat on her knees in silence in the middle of a fairly small clearing, tinkering absently with a frozen daffodil, her ears laying lamely against the sides of her head. Everyone back in the Reikai had been depending on her; she was positive she would be sent back after this. What would happen to them? This was their test run, and she, the one who was supposed to be the best of them all, had failed at controlling herself; on a human. On Keiko no less..
"Are you quite done with your tantrum?" Hiei spoke coldly from somewhere behind her; she didn't bother to turn around, she had known he was coming.
"Leave," Kira commanded sternly, setting the daffodil down on the iced ground.
"I wouldn't be here if you weren't threatening to signal the entire Ningenkai," He didn't heed her warning, walking closer to the tiny demon.
She began to tune him out, looking up at the dome above her, she hadn't even realized there had been a dome.. "I didn't mean to.."
Hiei sighed, crouching down in front of Kira now, "She knows."
Kira turned her attention to him, her eyes were full of tears; it was very foreign to her, never in her post-training existance had she ever even felt the smallest of urges to cry, never had she felt any kind of remorse for a single action she took; her voice was only a small, painful whisper, "Is she hurt badly?"
Hiei seemed to almost soften at the sight, the dog really did have a soft spot for the human. It was… almost touching, "Botan took care of it."
The barrier seemed to collapse in that exact moment, swirling dangerously back into Kira as her tears finally overflowed with relief, as if she was unable to contain them; she tried to wipe them away as quickly as possible, "Do I have to go back to Reikai now?" She sniffled, turning her head to the quickly melting ground.
Hiei smirked, realizing she had very little ability to control any of her emotions once they arose, so much so that they manifested themselves; he tucked his pointer finger under her chin and lifted her face to maintain eye contact, absentmindedly swiping away a stray tear with his thumb, "No."
Kira sniffled again, "I'm sorry," She choked, "I keep making everything a bigger hassle,"
Another smirk, "Yes, you do," He taunted, becoming increasingly aware of the close proximity; unaware of when exactly he had grown not only comfortable with it, but prone to it as well.
"I can't go back to Kuwabara's," Kira's voice was full of heartache. Of course she had wanted to see Keiko before they set out, she may never have the chance to see her again, but she couldn't bring herself to face her, surely Keiko wouldn't wish to see her, she was probably terrified. But at least, should she never return to the Ningenkai, whether it be death, mission failure, or just coincidence, at the very least Keiko knew she never meant to harm her.
"She sent us," Hiei responded as probed the creature's thoughts. Kira was far more terrified of herself than Keiko was, probably a poor choice on the humans part.
Kira glared at him, the ground around her immediate proximity freezing over yet again, "Stay out,"
Hiei smirked again, tightening his grip on her chin, "So you can continue to wallow in your own self pity?" It was probably not the time nor place to get under her skin, but he couldn't resist, he did enjoy taunting the creature.
"Yes," Kira joked lamely with another sniffle, but she smiled this time, subconsciously shifting her head towards the warmth of his hand until her cold cheek found his palm. For once, the heat was comforting, "And thank you.." She paused, contemplating her next words carefully, "I know you didn't want to, but thank you for coming to the rescue, even if it was only because you were the only one who wouldn't freeze," She laughed, finally lifting her golden eyes from the ground.
Hiei's eyes widened a fraction, he seemed almost taken aback by this statement; a large part of him wanted to retreat for some unknown reason, but running had never been his style; but instead he quickly regained his composure, "Yes, I'm just a regular knight in shining armor," Sarcasm was his go-to defense.
Kira grinned in return, "Perhaps just a black cloak.."
Hiei couldn't tell if she was serious or not.
'I do hope I'm not disturbing anything,' Kurama's thoughts finally pierced his head. He clenched his teeth, shifting his eyes over Kira's shoulder. Sure enough, there stood Kurama, a horribly cocky smile plastered on his face. That damn fox. Or was he? Why was he cursing his sudden presence? No, of course Kurama wasn't disturbing anything.. Right?
Hiei shifted his crimson stare back to Kira, momentarily tightening his hand on her cheek, his thumb tracing her cheekbone, almost as if he didn't quite want to let go just yet, but he did. He rose to his feet grudgingly, extending a helping hand out to the creature without a word.
Kira stood without taking it, rolling her neck, "An eye for an eye," She said quietly, before turning to Kurama, "Has your shoe defrosted?" She joked. The dome had been.. Almost like an extension of her, she knew every single detail. She had known when Kurama had placed his shoe within it, she had known when small finch had entered its boundaries from the sky, she had known when the wind from outside had blown a single leaf beyond its territory... She needed to learn how to do that on her own.
Kurama chuckled, settling his hands in his pant pockets, "Yes but I'm afraid it's uncomfortably wet,"
Hiei, at some point, had disappeared yet again. Kira didn't bother to ponder why, she already knew why. She approached Kurama, "I won't go back there... I'll stay somewhere nearby but… Please tell Keiko I hope to see her again.." She said in passing, while he turned to follow her.
Kurama nodded, "The portal will appear tomorrow in our regular training field once the sun begins to rise. It will bring us to Genkai's,"
Kira returned a nod, "I'll be there."