Disclaimer: I do not own YYH
The Dream: Chapter 16
"What are you doing now Fox?" "Putting her in my bed for the night, that couch is not the best place for her to sleep." "Fool." "Maybe so."
Lilly woke up with the sun the next morning, she stretched out across the bed that felt more like a cloud and took in the sweet smell that was all around her. She sat up realizing she was not in her own bed or even her own room, as her thoughts traveled back to the night before she couldn't help but wonder why Kurama hadn't taken her back to her own room. Instead of leaving the comfort of the bed, a flower on a table at the foot of the bed caught her attention. She studied the floor, lying on her stomach, feet in the air, fingers delicately tracing up the stem and across each peddle; as she played with the floor before her, it started to bloom and stand with pride, much like that of the rose in her dream.
"It reads the character of the soul and if you are unworthy it can be very deadly." His voice rang from the door way that he was leaning against as she watched her admire the flower. "It is beautiful, must have a good soul if it isn't attacking me?" "Must." He paused, not sure if he should continue his plan; after all it was her idea to train her energy and see if she had any powers. He signed quietly, "This one is not as generous."
He threw a seed in her direction and it bloomed into a long vine that started to wrap around her feet and ankle. "Kurama what the hell? Get this off me." "I cannot, it is called a viper vain. It will weave its way around a victim, crushing it much like a viper. Then it will devoir the life force. Very deadly, but beautiful in its intensity to win at all costs." Starting to panic, Lilly was rolling around on the bed trying to forcefully kick the vine off as it started to inch its way up her leg. She looked to him with pledging eyes, but his eyes were cold and focused, carefully watching her reaction. "Kurama please, I don't know what you are trying to do but get this off me." "No." "Why the hell not?" "We are testing your powers." "What?"
She tried to sit up, but the vine had made its way to her waist keeping her in tied to the bed. She glared at the taller man in the door way, but slowed her breathing. Closing her eyes, she focused on her energy, keeping it calm; then tried to since the energy of the vine, but she felt nothing. Slowly she looked back at Kurama, "So you decided to attack me as soon as I woke up? Kinda smart." Looking at the plant that had now consumed her lower half and had started to tighten, she watched how it worked for a few more seconds then reached out to it. Tracing along the growing vines, much like she did to the flower, she was in a state of awe. "It is beautiful." Kurama's eyes widened at her comment, "What?"
She did not look at him, but continued to study the plant petting it as if it were a pet. "It is beautiful. The way it protects itself, plants have adapted so much to their environment, but in the end never seem to win. This one however is, I can't even since its energy like I can with the flower. Truly a survivor. It is a subject of yours?" "Yes. It took me many tried to get it right. So it will grow and think on its own without my aid." As he narrowed his eyes on the plant, now up to her chest he was in a slight state of confusion. She thinks it's beautiful? But it is deadly and will crush her, how can she think that? As he battled her intensions in his head, the plant had stopped growing and started to loosen its hold on her body; she was smiling at the plant and petting it, showing it respect and in turn it no longer saw her as a threat.
After a few more minutes the viper vine had completely let her go and laid in a mass at the head of the bed. She sky blue eyes connected with his, "Why did you stop it?" He was caught between staring at her and staring at the plant in shock, "I didn't. You did." She laughed at him as she crawled off his large bed, "I didn't do anything, simply understood its nature and defenses and accepted it. If that plant felt it needed to kill me for its own protection, then so be it. Not like you would have let it really hurt me, but yeah. I did nothing."
She was now standing before him, the top of her head barely reaching his nose; she looked up at him and smiled. "Good lesson, but I don't believe I have power over plants like my dream has shown me." "No, I believe it might be something more." His eye brows frowned together as his mind was deep in thought. The stood there for almost 10 minutes, she looking into his eyes, his mind adrift somewhere else; until all his senses snapped back to the present. "I do not think you control plants, as I do. I believe you connect with them." It was her turn to frown in confusion, "Connect?" "Yes. Like you said, you understood the plant and its needs. You connected with it, opened up to it, saw its' beauty through the dangerous outer appearance, showed it respect and I believe it did the same to you." A small smile crept to her lips, "A plant whisperer? Really Kurama? I know you don't think demons need to sleep, but maybe you could use a nap."
His look was sharp and unmoving, "No. I believe I am right and we will need to test it."
"KKurammaa," she whined at him from her spot in the middle of an open field. "I am tired and we have been at this all day. PPPlease, I am bored."
It was true, they had been in the field for almost the whole day and nothing too extraordinary had happened all she had managed to do was allow the flowers around her to grown. But Kurama knew there was more to her and to this power than what even he could see, "I suppose you are right, shall we go see if dinner is ready?" Lilly jumped to her feet in excitement, "Yes please, I am starving and could use some time in a book." He couldn't help but smile at the way she acted so childish.
Their walk back to the temple was long and Kurama felt a nagging pulling at the back on his neck the whole way. Before they reached the tree line, Lilly stopped walking. Her head was hung low and he could smell the fresh tears. "Kurama, can I ask you something?" She took his silence and turn towards her as a yes. "It's about Tou, he has been gone for so long and I… I am worried something happened to him. I know he is strong and can handle himself, but… but do you think something bad happened? Why would he be gone this long?"
Kurama took a step closer to the crying girl, only a few inches from her, "Hiei left this morning to go find him. I am sure he is fine and probably got wrapped up in his search." Her small shoulders were starting to shake as the tears fell faster, "But why wouldn't he have come back? You have the book and… and Jin and I are here." Understanding now, her fears and worries came from a place of losing another loved one; Kurama placed his hand upon her shoulder. "He will come back and if something did happen to him, know Hiei and myself will take care of whoever caused him harm."
Her tear filled eyes found their way to his and without thinking she leaned in towards him. Time slowed as the shorter girl closed the gap between the two, raised up on her toes allowing her lips to almost reach his, one hand to reach up and run through his red hair, and then time stopped. Does she want me to kiss her? Is her fear of losing Touya causing her to become irrational, after all her connect with Hiei seems stronger than mine. No, I can't let this happen. We still do not understand her dreams or what she truly is. You must not let this go on any longer. But before he could step back, time sped back up and her lips were on his. They were soft and warm, much like she was; the spark that flew from the connection was undeniable to him. His free hand pulled at her lower back as he deepened the kiss. Stop this now. Do not go any further. The slow parting of her lips caused the voice in his head to silence; he slowly closed his eyes and fell into the sensation of her lips and for a moment he felt as though he would never pull away.
As his hand on her lower back twisted to her waist and his other still placed on her shoulder, he gently pushed to a few inches away. His eyes were hidden behind his bangs as he let go of her. "Kurama I…" she was cut off when his lips attacked hers once again, this time more hungry. She gave into whatever his tongue demanded and the two stood in the darkening woods, kissing for a few more moments until Kurama could almost not stand it anymore. Again he pulled away, his voice was low when he spoke and she could feel his energy had shifted, "Enough." He left her there in the woods as he walked towards the temple.