Chapter 5
It was him who found her, crouching on the snow, as if searching for something. "Fay?" Jin asked, leaning forward to watch her. She looked up, aquamarine eyes lighting up at the sight of him. He couldn't help the surge of joy at that, the grin that spread on his lips, but he stopped himself from hugging her.
"Hey, Jin. How're you doing?"
"Doing ok, so I am." He said, his ears moving. He couldn't help it. Jin did very much like Isis, and he had decided to give up on Fay, but...his feelings seemed at odds with each other. Which was why he found himself here.
"So what's up?" Fay straightened from her crouch, a few shoots of green, small white flowers attached to it in her hand.
"I...what's that?" Jin said instead. Fay looked down, then raised the flowers. "I spotted them. They're pretty but I don't know their name, so I thought I'd ask Kurama."
There it was. It was always clear that Fay loved Kurama, almost from the start Jin knew that, but he'd still liked Fay, very much so; until he began to notice Isis, though he hadn't realized it himself for awhile. Still, Jin couldn't help feel the emotions that Fay brought up in him. Which is one of the reasons he was here. "Could I be having some of your time?"
"Sure." Fay answered.
The two walked in silence through the falling snow for a few minutes before Jin spoke. "Yeh must know I liked yah from the beginning, right?"
"Uh..." Fay glanced away, wondering if she could make a run for it... then decided against it, feeling that she probably owed Jin this talk. She turned back to him. "Honestly, no. Not until you...uh... kissed me."
Jin sweat dropped. "Well, I like yah, I really do." Jin said, stepping closer to her.
"Hold it, I thought you like Isis now." Fay said, sounding a little affronted.
"I do!" Jin said.
Fay gave him a bewildered look. "So...you like Isis...but you like me too?"
Jin seemed to struggle with an answer and only nodded.
Fay's eye twitched, and Jin watched as she brought her fist up as if to him. "Hold on,' Jin shouted, sounding almost panicked. "I was not done talkin!"
"Then talk!" Fay hissed.
"Well, I..." Jin paused, his wavering expression evidence of his lack of knowledge on how to proceed.
"Not your usual area of expertise, is it?" Fay said with a sigh, dropping her hand. She could understand that.
"Can't say it is,' Jin said reluctantly. "Never been down this road; always busy training, so I have. Just finding new stronger opponents to beat." He supposed it was Isis's strength that had began attracting Jin, but Fay also had strength, different type but so darn strong that he- Jin's eyes widened when the hazel hair girl wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Just letting ye know, this isn't helping your case, Fay." Jin said, especially when this was something he'd hoped one day she would do on her own. His arms wrapped around her even as she patted him on the back. "Jin, I like you and always will, you're one of my dearest friends, but my feelings for Kurama will never change, so I can't return your feelings. Understand?"
She felt Jin nodding. "Aye, Fay. I be knowing that already."
Fay expected him to let her go, but to her surprise he tightened his grip on her, and they stayed that way for several long moments before Jin finally let go and stepped back, a wide grin on his face. "Sorry bout that,' he said. "Thanks for the talk, Fay. Sorry I be acting kind of strange." It finally felt to Jin as if he wasn't stuck in a quicksand of his own making. Finally, he could be moving on.
"Oh, uh no problem." Fay said, not really sure what had happened, but Jin looked okay, so she supposed it was alright.
"So, when do yah think that alliance be making its move?" Jin asked. "I want to show them all how much stronger I'm getting, I also need to get Isis back, make her see reason so I will."
Fay smiled, looking up at Jin. "Great, then I'll count on you for that."
The two stayed side by side in silence finally broken when snowflakes falling. "What's this?" Jin asked, reaching out only for the white stuff to melt. "Snowflakes." Fay answered, reaching out to catch them.
"There you are." The two looked over their shoulder to see Touya walking through the falling snow. "I was wondering where you disappeared to Jin."
"Just watching the snow fall." Jin said with a smile. Touya paused, looking from Jin to Fay, as if sensing something. He let a small smile slip and joined them, reaching out and capturing several of the snowflakes. Unlike the other two, the ones he caught didn't melt.
Fay gave an intake of breath and zoomed closer to Touya, her gaze on his hand. "How are you doing that?" She asked.
"I can't create large ones like Isis does,' Touya said. "But I am still called an Ice Master, this isn't all that difficult for me. Watch." Touya caught more, slowly encasing them in a bubble of clear ice that magnified the different patterns to their eyes. "Here,' he said, holding it out to a wide eyed Fay. "It should last you a couple of days, more if you place it in a freezer. Sorry I can't make it last longer."
Bright aquamarine eyes gazed up at him in wonder. "That's way more than enough, thanks Touya." She gave him a one handed hug to his surprise, his gaze quickly flitting to Jin, but where before the red head would have glared, he only gave his typical smile.
"I'm going to show this to the others." Fay said, tucking the green shoots in her pocket, taking the sphere and racing past them. Once she was far enough away, Touya spoke to his friend. "I take it you're feeling better now."
"Aye,' Jin said. "Did just what I needed."
"Good to know." Touya said. "Now we can concentrate on what we really need to do."
The hidden figures had been studying the two since Jin had approached Fay. The silver hair demon well hidden by the thick snow. He highly disliked when Fay hugged other males, though he knew there was nothing behind her gesture but friendship and kindness. Still, the hug Jin gave her had lasted far longer than he liked, Youko had felt as if he'd have to step in, when it finally ended, calming him. "Are you as jealous as I am over that hug?" The other figure, dark yet just as well hidden, asked. Youko's lips curled lightly in a confident smile. "Not as much, after all I know she will always return to me."
Kuronue turned away without a word even as Youko disappeared, and as Fay approached the open sliding door, Kurama stepped out. "Kurama!" Fay called, raising her prize. "Look what Touya can do."
Kurama studied the magnified snowflakes. "Yes, they are quite unique,' he said, reaching out. Fay held out her new price, but Kurama's hand moved past it, caressing Fay's cheek. "I find you far lovelier, Fay." Despite the cold, Fay found herself heating up as Kurama came closer, lifting the ice sphere in one hand while he wrapped the other around Fay's waist, pulling her close for a kiss. Perhaps he should have added Jin to his list of males Fay should be careful around, but from the way their conversation went...Kurama doubted he need bring it up...even if he was slightly more jealous than he led on. "Your flowers,' he said, pulling back and taking them from the pocket she had placed them in. "They are known as snowdrops, as the name suggests, they are winter flowers and can bloom even under these conditions." Kurama gave them back to Fay along with the sphere. "Their meaning is hope."
"O-oh." Fay said, still a little dazed. "That's pretty."
"Yes,' Kurama said, smiling warmly down at her. "Befitting of the one who found them. Now, shall we place Touya's gift in a place where it will last?"
Fay gave an absentminded nod, then a more firm one. "Yeah, but first I want to show it to the girls, I think they'd really like it."
"Then by all means, let's go." Kurama curled his hand around hers firmly and led her in.
Kuronue watched from a distance, almost tasting the bitterness that came every time he saw those two together. Unlike Jin, Kuronue had been unable to let go of Fay; it mattered little what she said.
She stalked through city hall, reluctantly opening room five and going in, slamming the door closed behind her. "I'm here." She ignored the wave from one of the dragons, focusing on the others there.
"Clearly,' one of the werewolves said with a smirk. "We could hear the moment you stepped into city hall, little magus,' he said.
Isis glared at the grey-blue hair werewolf. "My name is Isis, call me that again and I'll make you regret it."
"Clearly she doesn't want to be here,' a blonde dragon said. "Don't worry, neither do the rest of us." He'd had to cancel a photo shoot because of this damn meeting.
"It is a necessity,' The blonde magus spoke, hunter green eyes looking around at the group. "We may not like this Alliance, but if it affords us a chance to beat those that protect The Right, then we have no choice. Our leaders have spoken."
"Stupidly if you ask me,' the werewolf sneered, red eyes looked out at those gathered with intense displeasure. "I don't plan to work with any of you, I'll take on whoever I end up facing and if I have a chance, I'm taking The Right."
"Woopdie doo,' Isis said with a roll of her eyes, ignoring the growl from the angry werewolf. "Aren't you just a pile of sunshine,' she defied that glare with one of her own. "Her name is Fay, and whether you like it or not, you have as much chance of defeating one of them,' unless it was Kuwabara. "As a skunk has of smelling like lavender."
"Why you,' the werewolf took a threatening step towards her only to be grabbed by the third werewolf, taller than the other, but with the same dark hair and slightly lighter red eyes. "Enough Lycaon,' Lyall said, trying to appease his younger brother. "Fight, but remember, it will be our leaders who will decide who takes the...Ms. Fay."
"Then we are in agreement,' the blonde magus said. "We have our orders,' she looked around, focusing on Lycaon and Isis. "All of us."
Isis pursed her lips but finally nodded. "Yes, aunt Nevena." But whatever happened, after this, she was done with this stupid war.
"I do have a request from our leader,' Lyall said. "One of ours wishes to speak to Ms. Fay on her own first, if successful, our fighting may no longer be necessary."
Isis chuckled without mirth. "Really,' she drawled, crossing her arms. Lyall nodded. "Sure, go ahead, but I doubt whatever you werewolves have up your sleeves will work." she said.
"Just so,' Lyall continued. "It's a chance we have to take."
Orion shrugged. "By all means, try it." Less clothes he'd be dirtying over this problem.
"So what do we do until then?" the grey- blue hair werewolf asked.
Lyall turned to him. "We wait to be summoned, Marrok."
Genkai received an unanticipated letter that morning, she read it, feeling surprise. 'I haven't seen her in years.' Strange that she would show up now. Genkai sent back an answer with the messenger and followed the noise to its source.
"I'm just saying there's no way you could have beaten me!" Yusuke yelled down at the hazel hair girl who gloated with the game control in her hand. "Do you have any idea how much time I've spend on this game?"
"When you were supposed to be in school?" Fay said. "Shame, Yusuke, shame."
His eye twitched. "Don't give me that when we both know you've done it yourself!"
Kuwabara laughed. "How's it feel to be beaten by a girl, Urameshi?"
Fay thumped the control on the side of Kuwabara's head since she couldn't reach the top of his head.
"Hey!" He protested, glaring at Yusuke who laughed.
"It should be an honor to get beaten by a girl." She said haughtily. "We rule."
"Yeah, right." Rinku said. "That's just embarrassing."
Fay glared at him. "You want to take me on you little chipmunk?"
"Bring it!" Rinku made to grab Yusuke's controller but the taller youth pulled it out of reach. "I'm not done beating her yet!" He exclaimed.
"Oh, hi Genkai,' Fay said, noticing her. "Wanna play?"
Genkai shook her head. "I'll be having a guest over in the evening, try not to go prancing around my temple and keep the shouting to a minimum boys,' she glanced at Fay. "And girls."
"We'll try." Fay said just as Kuwabara managed to take the control from her., earning him a glare.
"Okay, Urameshi, time to lose to a real man." Kuwabara exclaimed, ignoring Fay's attempt at making a jump for the control.
"Ha! In your dreams." Yusuke threw back.
Genkai sighted and left. She had preparations to make.
That evening, it seemed as if the group was keeping their promise, for the first time in a while Genkai could hear her own footsteps. She brought the tray to the receiving room, setting it on the low table, and not long after that, she sensed the other's presence and stood, walking to the front stairs to welcome her guest.
The woman looked up at her in surprise from the bottom of the stairs. "Genkai?"
Genkai nodded. "Yes, I know my appearance may surprise you, but it's still me." Unlike her, her guest's hair had turned white from its original color, and her skin held wrinkles. The woman chuckled. "It must be quite the story."
The two moved to the receiving room, Genkai serving her guest a cup of tea. The two sat in silence for a time, drinking their tea until the woman spoke. "I thought for certain by now, you and Toguro-"
"Toguro is dead,' Genkai interrupted, unfazed by the woman's surprise.
"How?"
Genkai sighted. "We finally gained enough attention that we were 'invited' to the Dark Tournament, he asked to become a demon, and in this past tournament, he died at the hands of my disciple."
"Oh..." The woman's astonishment was apparent. "I'm sorry."
Genkai shook her head. "There's no need too, he gained what he thought he wanted, and so have I."
The older woman smiled a little drily. "The fountain of youth?"
"Not exactly,' Genkai said. "Excuse me if this sounds abrupt, but I find it a bit suspicious that after all these years, and the way we parted ways,' one that Genkai remembered was full of shouting on this woman's part. "You would decide to catch up, Leonor."
Leonor sighted, closing her eyes, the memory of that long ago day fresh in her mind. "I was wrong, rash, young. I wanted results far faster than possible. If nothing else, I have always wanted to apologize for that, Genkai."
"I see." Genkai said, taking a sip of her drink. Leonor wasn't the only one who remembered that day. Their small band had been trying to make a name for themselves, but Leonor had been far younger than both her and Toguro. She had thought their pace too slow, had spoken of rash ways to gain fame quickly. Toguro and her had been against it. Leonor had parted ways with them. Where she had gone, Genkai had never known, perhaps now she would get an answer.
"Why are you really here, Leonor?" Genkai asked once more.
Leonor smile was dry. "You really haven't changed." The older woman sighted. "I'm here to see my granddaughter Fay."
Genkai stared at the other, her eyes slowly widening at the realization. "You went to Midgard."
Leonor nodded. "Strange how life works out, isn't it? I never thought I would ever see you again, Genkai, especially not in these type of circumstances."
For the first time in a long time, Genkai was speechless. She stared at her once friend, catching similarities between Fay and her, the shape of their eyes, the nose...
"You were always one for surprises, Leonor." Genkai set her tea cup down and stood. "Very well, I'll bring Fay." She started away, glancing back at Leonor. "But you may find she's no longer what she once was."
"I'll take that chance,' Leonor answered.
Genkai nodded and left, closing the sliding door behind her. 'I'm too old for this,' she thought, even if she didn't look it. Genkai opened her senses, easily pinpointing where the girl was.
Fay sat across from Kurama, her focus on the pieces on the board between them. "So...if I move this one,' she said, her hand hovering over the piece.
"I would take your rook." Kurama said with a smile.
"Okay...this one?" She asked.
"That would leave your knight open."
She frowned. "And this one?"
"That would leave you open to a check." Kurama answered. He hadn't known someone could so easily play themselves into a corner, especially when she seemed so advanced in video games. Still, it worked in his favor, Kurama loved watching the expressions that flitted across her face as she tried to fight against the inevitable.
'I suck at this,' Fay thought, and there was definitely no way that she could pull the wool over Kurama's eyes and just point away and switch the board. Might work with Yusuke...Kuwabara, Chu, Rinku...the list went on, but Kurama...nope.
"I don't suppose anyone has a car they don't need and a driver's license?' Fay asked.
Kurama blinked in puzzlement. "No, whatever for?"
"So I could throw this board into it, drive to the nearest cliff and throw the whole thing into the water." She said dryly.
Kurama chuckled. "That's going a bit overboard in itself."
Fay smiled. "Ask Yusuke that the next time he loses a game."
"I see what you mean,' Kurama could easily picture Yusuke causing a fuss over losing a game. Certainly he had been doing just that when Kurama had fetched Fay from their group.
"So, your move,' perhaps it was a little mean of him to try to make Fay move her pieces when they both knew the outcome, but Kurama couldn't help teasing her a bit.
'Why do I always end up looking like an idiot in front of Kurama?' Fay thought. There was absolutely no way she was winning this game. A thought suddenly came to her, and while it made her blush...well, what the hell.
"Okay, I know what to do."
She seemed so sure, it peaked Kurama's curiosity, though it was replaced by surprise when she suddenly leaned over and kissed him, effectively scattering the pieces on the board.
Quickly over his surprise, Kurama pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her waist as he returned the kiss. The kiss continued for several long moments, slowly ending as they pulled apart, staring at each other from inches away, affectionate smiles across their lips. "As long as you only use this technique on me, I wouldn't mind calling it a draw." He said with a chuckle.
Her cheeks warm, Fay grinned. "Deal." They both laughed. That's when a knock came at the door, Genkai sliding the door open once Kurama told her to come in.
"Fay,' Genkai said, focusing on the girl who was helping Kurama pick up chess pieces. "You have a visitor." She saw Kurama tense, his expression hardening. "Once more?" He asked,
"Perhaps she shouldn't be the one to go."
Genkai shook her head. "No. There's no way around this, Kurama. She has to be present."
"Very well, then I will go with her."
"That's fine." Genkai answered.
Footsteps sounded and Botan peeked in. "Sorry to bother you two but we have a question for Fay." Botan said.
"It'll have to wait." Genkai said, already retracing her steps.
"Sure, but what's going on?" Botan asked curiously.
"Someone's here to speak to me." Fay said, already looking uncomfortable with the situation. Last time this happened, one of her friends had been kidnapped.
'Oh, oh!,' Botan thought. "That's never good." She turned, racing back the way she came. 'Better let the others know.'
"Shall we go?" Kurama held his hand out to Fay and she set her hand in his. He squeezed it in reassurance. "It'll be alright, I'm here."
Fay nodded, tightening her grip on him. "It's just...I wish they hadn't shown up at all." The last two weeks had been so quiet...well when it came to the Factions, that Fay supposed she had let her guard down, but this was an unpleasant reminder that until she could get rid of the power inside her...people would still be coming after her.
"I know,' Kurama said. "However remember; this will only last until we complete the crest." They may not have the necessary pieces yet, but Kurama knew it was only a matter of time until the being who had it showed themselves, certainly by now they may very well be feeling impatient.
Fay took a deep breath and nodded."You're right, let's get this over with."
Footsteps sounded behind them, belonging to Yusuke and Kuwabara. "Botan's telling the others." Yusuke said, tapping a fist to his open palm. "Let's go see who we're beating up next."
That made Fay smile. "Sounds about right."
Hiei appeared as they followed after Genkai to the receiving room, once there she turned to the group. "Let Fay go first, the rest of you wait here."
"But what if-" Kuwabara began.
"I'll be there,' Genkai assured them. "If you're needed, feel free to show yourselves."
She glanced at Kurama who nodded, reluctantly letting go of Fay's hand.
Genkai turned her attention to Fay. "Ready?"
Fay shook her head. "Let's go."
Genkai slid the door open, letting Fay step in before she did, but the girl didn't. Instead, she stared with eyes large in surprise at the person waiting for her.
"What's wrong, Fay?" Botan asked, slowing to a stop, the rest of the group behind her. She peeked into the receiving room, her own surprise apparent when she spotted the older woman. 'It's her...it's...'
"Isn't that the woman we saw outside Fay's house?" Koto whispered to Botan. Botan nodded. "But how is she here?"
"Grandmother?" Fay's words sent shock through the rest of the group.
"What...' Fay swallowed, feeling as if her tongue had suddenly gotten heavier. "What are you doing here? How?" Her brain couldn't seem to work it out. Her grandmother shouldn't...shouldn't...
Leonor smiled. "Come now, mi pequena, there's no need for such surprise." She held out her arms. "Don't I get a hug like always?"
Instead of stepping forward, Fay took a step back, managing a jerky shake of her head. "What are you doing here, grandmother?" She couldn't believe Mary Anne had spilled the beans to her grandmother and brought her here, Mary Anne would have let them know first, of that, Fay was sure.
"Our apologies,' Kurama said, taking a hold of Fay's hand, the action not going unnoticed by Leonor. "Your appearance is highly surprising to all of us, as you can see." As he spoke, he guided Fay into the room, sitting her across the low table, himself next to her.
Leonor tilted her head, studying the young man. "And you are?"
"My name is Kurama."
"That's not what I meant." Leonor responded.
"I know." Kurama said.
Fay suddenly slammed her hands against the table, her aquamarine gaze narrowed. "What are you doing here, grandmother?"
Leonor narrowed her own gaze. "That is no way to greet me, Fay."
"Then answer me!"
"I am here to bring you home with me."
"The hell you are!" Came Yusuke's yell.
"You belong with us, Fay,' Leonor continued, ignoring the boy. "If your mother had not forbidden it, by now you would know your true roots." Her gaze caught on her granddaughter's hands and she reached out quickly, bringing them to her for examination, causing Fay to pitch forward, almost slamming her head on to the table.
"You could just ask." Fay growled.
"What is this?" Leonor demanded, pointedly looking at the rose ring and the new charm bracelet. "What happened to the bracelet I made you?"
Fay sweat dropped nervously. "Let's just say it started falling apart, and the rest,' Fay jerked her hands from her grandmother's hold. "Let's leave it for later. What roots?"
Leonor let it rest for now, deciding to explain to Fay. "Your father may be human, but your mother is not; she is part of the Werewolf House, and may have been part of the Faction if she had chosen too, instead she chose to leave us entirely."
Fay stared in disbelief. The shouting arguments, the cold glares...it began to make sense to her now; her mother had wanted to shield them from this. It was hard to reconcile the truth with her grandmother, not when Fay had memories of the older woman picking her up when she cried, teaching her to be brave and strong...playing in the backyard, walking around as if they were Frankenstein or...the big bad wolf...
Her grandmother was speaking and Fay made an effort to focus her attention on her. "Your mother insisted on not saying anything, and well, I thought the gene had skipped you, just like your oldest sister, but now I understand,' Leonor leaned closer, her gaze bright with excitement. "You never woke as a werewolf because of the power sleeping within you, it kept it down, but now,' she tried to reach for Fay's hands but the girl jerked away from her. "Fay, you truly belong with us, you are one of us! Just imagine what we can accomplish now, together we could-"
Fay tried to stand, managed to stumble back a few steps, Kurama standing, placing himself between her and the older woman. "That is enough. I would have thought, as her grandmother, you would understand the burden Fay carries and not try to exploit it."
Leonor pursed her lips, standing. "Young man, this has nothing to do with you! Get out of the way." Before she could manage to pull it back, a snarl escaped her lips.
"You really haven't changed as much as you think, Leonor." Genkai said. "Drop the disguise, at least afford Fay that."
Leonor looked from Genkai to Kurama who stood between her and Fay. The older woman's voice had reminded Leonor to calm herself down and as she breathed a sigh, she let the glamour of age drop away to reveal dark brown hair, lighter brown eyes; the woman now looked as if she were twenty five.
"Fay, please,' Leonor held out her arms out again. "Come here, my dear one."
Fay felt the urge to run to her, welcome her as she always did, and the memories were still running through her head, but this woman...she looked like Leonor but...like her mother as well. 'She's...a werewolf?' There was a rush of denial in Fay. This couldn't be happening, her family were humans, not...not...
~Fay!~
Hiei's voice woke Fay and she realized her vision was starting to go. She blinked, forcing herself to stay conscious.
"That's enough,' Genkai stepped forward, joining Kurama in blocking Leonor. "You've said your part, Leonor. Let your granddaughter digest this and make her decision on her own."
Leonor looked past them to her granddaughter. She had to admit Fayre looked overwhelmed, and that wasn't what she wanted. "Very well, I will take my leave." She picked up her purse, but before she left, glanced at Fay. "You are a part of us Fay. I can give you two days to realize that, after which I won't be able to block the alliance from attacking you."
She left, closing the door behind her.
"Fay, you don't look well." Botan said, approaching the girl.
"What do you expect?" Shizuru said. "She just found out her grandmother's the enemy."
"I'll get her something cold to drink,' Yukina said. It was the last thing Fay heard before the shock finally won and she fainted.
The five year old cried in the backyard of her house, her shirt wet. The brown her woman sat next to her, rubbing her back. "What's wrong Fay?"
Fay sniffed, hiccuping. "Ryan and Duncan scared me and,' she began crying again. "They got my shirt weeeet!"
"That's no reason to cry,' her grandmother said gently. "You can take on those boys."
"How?" Fay sniffed.
Her grandmother made a face and growled, making Fay laugh. "Because you're a big bad wolf, come on, try it."
Fay tried, raising her hands as if they were claws, trying to growl. Her grandmother laughed. "That sounds more like a cat in trouble, let's try it again." She stood, raising her hands and growling. "I am a big bad wolf."
Fay laughed and imitated her, though her walk looked more like a robot. "I'm a big wolf, rarara, I eat all the cookies."
Her grandmother laughed but continued to play along.
~Are you going to sleep for the next week this time too?~
Hiei's voice woke Fay and she jerked into a sitting position, looking around. She was back in the room she shared with Botan and Yukina. Kurama was on her left, Hiei leaning against the far wall. There was a small table with a cup of cold water on it and Fay grabbed it drinking it all down.
"Feeling calmer?" Kurama asked.
Fay gave a nod. "Still really, really confused though."
"Fair enough." Kurama answered. He doubted many wouldn't be in the same position as her.
"You awake?" Yusuke slid the door open, the others peeking in as well.
"All of you might as well come in,' Genkai said, walking in herself. "This is something we must discuss."
They did, though none of them spoke right away, so Genkai did so. "What is it you want to do now, Fay?"
Fay rubbed her face with her hands. What was she supposed to do? She had no clue, not when she still had to wrap her head around what her grandmother was, what her siblings might be...that damn connection to the werewolves. Dammit! Why did her grandmother have to mess with her life even more? Still, now a lot of what her grandmother did in the past made sense. It also made her scarier; who the hell was after her when they had to run from hotels by sliding down the window, be snatched from Santa's lap and made to run through the damn mall at the age of six and nine, though to be fair...the second time it was in a motorcycle her grandmother had taken from the middle of the mall.
She realized her friends were talking and she focused on them. "Idiot, it doesn't matter, she's not just going to go join her grandmother." Yusuke was saying.
"Wouldn't you?" Touya asked.
"No!" Yusuke shouted. "I'm not a damn puppet!"
"Ha! But she seems to place a lot of weight on family,' Hiei sneered. "Just like Isis; what makes you think she won't betray us just as her friend did?"
"Excuse me!?" Fay jumped to her feet, glaring at Hiei. "I am not Isis!"
"And I'm no fool, don't you think I can't see those memories running through your head?" Hiei demanded.
"No one told you to look!" Fay shot back. "And just because I do have them doesn't mean I'm turning tail and running to her!" Fay's voice became louder. "She threw me off a damn airplane at several thousand feet in the freakin air!"
There was silence. "Really?" Koto asked. "How are you still alive?"
"I had a parachute,' Fay admitted. "But she still threw me out before the instructor was finished explaining." Fay had been so scared, she had forgotten about the parachute...until said person had deployed it herself.
"And you forgave her?" Hiei asked in disbelief. If someone had done that to him, whomever it was, they would be dead.
Fay sighted. "Well, she meant well...' she knew her grandmother would never do something to her that would actually harm her...right? "Plus she's family so I kind of have too-"
"Yes, family,' he sneered. "That seems to be the excuse for everything. Isis used it as well to betray us,' Hiei scoffed. "Why shouldn't we believe that you'll use that same excuse just as easily to stab us in the back at any-"
The sound of a slap echoed as Fay's hand made contact with Hiei's cheek, who's eyes went wide in shock .
"How dare you! How dare you think I would do something so awful just because of our connection! You big, big, idioooot!" Fay shouted before turning and running away.
A moment later, Hiei was gone as well.
Yusuke looked one way then the other, not sure which way to go, it seemed he wasn't the only one; Kurama did the same then finally went after Fay while Yusuke went the other way.
'Stupid, stupid Hiei!' Fay thought. Since they had been in her room, she ran to Kurama's and walked back and forth inside it. 'How could he think that! He can read my mind!' She kicked the wall. 'Idiot, he might as well go join the-'
The door opened, Kurama walking in and watching her. He leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "I've known Hiei for a couple of years now, and while he has never spoken about his past, it was simple to ascertain a few things about him, including that he has very little experience with family and therefore may not very well understand the feelings behind those connections. All he has is Yukina, and even she he keeps at a distance. What's more, he may not show it, but I believe Isis's betrayal may have affected him more than he lets on."
Fay paused in her walking, starring at Kurama. 'I guess if you put it that way...I have to understand. Ah, dammit!' She started kicking the wall again. 'Then it's my stupid fault!'
"Son of a vanilla, coconut, chocolate chip macadamia..."
Kurama sweat dropped, uncertain what she was doing. "Fay...are you hungry?"
"No!" She huffed. "I'm not used to using the real bad, bad words so I just use flavors!"
"I...I see." She went back to it and Kurama looked down, his hair hiding his expression, but his shoulders began to shake, and outside the room, there was a snort followed by laughter, Botan, Kuwabara and Yusuke falling into view laughing.
"It's not funny!" Fay bristled. "You try cussing in front of my mother!" This incited more laughter from them and the ones she still couldn't see but knew were there.
"Kurama!" She turned to him only to see he was laughing as well...he was trying to hide it, but it was failing. "I swear I'm going to-"
"What? Pound the chocolate pudding out of us?" Yusuke laughed.
"You're welcome to do just that, Kuronue!" Fay shouted, having heard his voice only to realize... "You're laughing too!"
She couldn't help the blush that rushed to her cheeks. "Okay, that's it-" Before she could take more than a few steps, Kurama hugged her, hiding his face in her shoulder. He was still laughing. She started muttering, but since it was in ice cream flavors, it only incited more laughter. "Next time you guys do something dumb, I'm going to really enjoy laughing at you!" Fay shouted over the laughter.
Once the laughter had died down and Kurama let her go, Fay had stomped away. Yusuke hadn't found Hiei, but Fay thought she might know where he was. She made a stop in the kitchen then headed out the back of the temple, passing several trees until she found the one she'd noticed he seemed to like; the girl looked up, catching sight of his form high up on a branch. "There you are, Hiei,' Fay called up. "Come down here, will you."
He didn't respond, but then Fay didn't expect him to. She sighted. "I'm sorry I slapped you,' she called up at him. "Sometimes I act without thinking."
"Ha! Sometimes?"
'At least he's talking.' Fay thought.
"Yes, only sometimes." She said firmly to a disbelieving silence. "Come down here, your chocolate's going to get cold."
"I have no need for it."
"Don't make me come up there!" Fay shouted in warning. When he didn't answer, Fay stepped up to the trunk of the tree. "I'm coming up!" It might be tricky with the cup in her hand, but she could probably do it..maybe, and if she didn't...well it wouldn't be the first time she'd done something dumb. Fay grabbed the nearest branch, about to pull herself up when she was swept off her feet, cup and all, and deposited on the branch. Hiei sat back down next to her, leaning against the tree.
"So? What now?" He demanded.
Fay held out the cup to him. "I'm sorry?"
Hiei watched her in silence before finally taking the cup from her. "Apology accepted."
She smiled in relief, watching as he hesitantly took a sip from it. Apparently he liked it, since he took a second, larger swallow.
She hesitated in speaking, trying to figure out what she wanted to say, but since he continued his silence, she had plenty of time.
"Yes, she's my grandmother and family,' Fay finally said. "But that doesn't mean I'm going to suddenly run to her. Isis had her reasons, but she and I aren't the same person." Fay leaned closer to him, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek she'd hit. "My loyalty is to you and our friends, no one else."
Hiei stared at her, once more mystified by her actions. Whenever he thought he had this girl figured out, she would do something he never saw coming. There were few who could leave him without words, she was one of them. "Are you sure about that? What makes you think I won't turn against you?"
Fay gazed at him before she laughed, wrapping him in a hug. "Nope, don't believe you'd ever do that. You're awesome that way."
Hiei balanced the drink before it spilled on him, then glared at her from the corner of his eye. "Let go."
"No way." Fay said, rubbing her cheek against his to his total bewilderment. "You still hurt my feelings, so this is my revenge."
"You have a very strange view of revenge,' he remarked.
"Yup, that's me." Fay continued to rub her cheek against his. "Also, sorry I thought that you could make it as one of the blue man group."
There was a chuckle from underneath coming from Kurama and followed by Kuwabara asking what that was.
"No idea." Yusuke said, he seemed to fall silent for several seconds before he and Kuwabara burst out laughing. "I just looked it up, she's right!"
Hiei's eye twitched. "You're signing your death warrants, I hope you know!" His word were met with more laughter.
"Fine, I get it, let go Fay!" He said, sounding vexed.
She finally did, content to sit beside him as Hiei continued to drink the chocolate.
"Just so you know, I love you just as if you were family,' she said, looking up at the clear dark sky glittering with stars. "So it's just that much more important to me that you know I would never betray you."
Hiei's bewilderment continued, and it was apparent in the way he gazed at her, just as suddenly he turned away. "I didn't ask for that."
Fay smiled. "You don't have too."
Hiei watched Fay covertly as she stared up at the sky before he let a small smile slip. "I'm sorry too, I shouldn't have said what I did."
"Apology accepted." Fay said cheerfully. The two continued their amiable silence, watching the sky.
'They made up.' Botan thought, watching a little further back with the girls. She couldn't tell what they were talking about, but from their posture and the fact that Hiei wasn't taking off somewhere else, she thought it went well.
"They're friends again." Yukina said happily.
"It looks that way,' Shizuru muttered. In all honesty, she couldn't make heads or tails of that relationship, but whatever it was, it seemed to work for the two, and she supposed that's all that mattered.
AN: R&R