Ayame sighed. With every single ferrygirl there was in reikai, she just had to be the one who was picked to bring the box in her hand to her friend. Not that she minded, running errands is not in her list of most hated things. She liked doing them, especially when Koenma himself was the one who sent her to do it. The only thing that bothered her was the fact that inside the very box she was holding in her grasp, was the wedding gown that's supposed to be worn by Botan...on her wedding with Koenma. Just thinking of the very occasion caused her too much pain to think about. It was painful. Too painful she didn't think she could still stand it. Botan was one of her best friends, she couldn't get mad. She wants both Botan and Koenma to be happy. But, that's not the point either. Botan doesn't want Koenma; she likes the other tantei that used to work for reikai. Used to was right, she heard from other ferry girls that Koenma had a grudge towards the taneti, and same thing with the tantei to Koenma. It must've been real bad, since she heard Kurama..which she knew was the certain tantei's name, was the only one in the group that had a sense of doing things and a very good mind. She heard he never had been angry with anyone, unless he changed into his youko form. And she had never seen Koenma look and sound so horrible towards somebody. With this, she knew Botan wouldn't be happy even if she lasts for all eternity in Koenma's hold. There is a possibility that Botan would learn to fall for him though. Probably.

      She stopped, unable to suppress the throbbing feeling she felt in her chest. Placing the box to one arm, she held up the other to cover her lips, which were trembling with the sadness she felt inside her. Her whole world seems to move right in front of her, hitting her like a vicious storm. She walked towards one of the pillars to seek something to lean on, something to keep her balance, something to stop her from falling. Holding her head in one hand, she clutched the object in her other, feeling the moisture forming in her palms, feeling their coldness within her own touch. Tears fell, sweat beading down her temples, Ayame closed her eyes for a short rest, trying to forget about the present situation and just expect things to be okay the next time she opens her eyes. She then walked slowly towards botan's room. Holding the box down, she summoned her oar. With a single tear, she fled out of the palace gates.

      Kurama looked around. A decent sleep was all he asked, but it didn't seem for his prayers to be answered. That was not exactly what he was wishing for though. The only wish he could ever make was for someone dear to him to come back, then maybe his worries would be light enough for him to get a good night sleep. He also hasn't forgotten that he had a headache, and a day full of problems and a sleepless night was all he needed to get the hell out of a school day. He seldom does that, mostly because he never had a sleepless night…well, almost never that is.

      Kurama was still deciding whether to go to school or not. Going means having something to take his mind off matters for a short while and not going means giving his body a break after all that has happened. Thinking of his problems, another one had just struck his mind, causing the terrible pain in his head to worsen. Yui. He was supposed to pick her up for school. How stupid could he be to agree to such a useless promise? Standing up from the warm clutch of his bed and the covers, he walked towards the bathroom to get ready. Of all the things he hated, one of them was breaking his promises. Also, one of the things he hated were girls getting all upset because of things he did. Keeping a good reputation wasn't easy. Most of all, dealing with a girl as persistent and hardheaded as Yui wasn't an easy job as well.

      Hiei seldom does this, but somehow, he hasn't slept all night thinking of the same thing Kurama was. He doesn't usually think of others except for times he thinks of Yukina…in fact, he never thinks of others except for Yukina. His sister was the only one worthy enough to cloud his mind, and add that air-headed Kuwabara as well, but this isn't just plain thinking. He could feel something, he just didn't know what. As he sees it, everything going on is wrong. Botan's wedding with that son of a bitch, Koenma wasn't right. He always had reminded himself about his hate towards Koenma. Even though he had worked as a tantei for him, it didn't mean he lost that hatred. With all those bossy orders the guy makes, someone as quick-tempered as he was will never last long with Koenma in the same room. Other than that, he just hates him.

      Kurama being that alone and lonely about that isn't right. Not right at all. He even hates the girl he was with. Something about her, there was something about her that gave him the feeling it isn't safe to leave Kurama alone with her. He even considers her a bitch, she looked like she'll go for someone who would even try to seduce her. He never liked people, ningens, he even hated his fellow youkos. He hates almost everything. He didn't understand that part of him even up till now. There are just some cases wherein he likes some people. Some. Very few. As he could see it, the only ones he never had a grudge on was Kurama and Yukina. The others seem to bother him.

      He knew something wrong was happening in reikai. He had dropped by a lot of times, those pathetic reikai people aren't just sensitive enough to sense his presence. He also saw Kurama's former opponent in there.

He had followed him until outside the gates of reikai. With his eyes concentrated on the man he was watching.

"Get down" he suddenly said. Hiei's eyes widened in surprise and hid behind the palace rails. "I said get down. You can't hide, so don't even try, Hiei" he said again "If that is your name if I remember". Now he was certain that he was the one the black-haired youko was talking to. Hiei winced and jumped down facing the youko's back. "What do you want?" he asked from him. Hiei's eyes narrowed, hearing the voice, hearing that it hasn't changed even after the tournament. "What do you want?!" he asked again. This time, he turned swiftly around to face him.

"What are you doing here?" Hiei asked. A long pause went by after the answer came. "Stealing something, can't you see?" he answered. He walked towards Hiei, his steps making little noises that went through Hiei's ears like bells crashing down on a glass window. "It was just like the time you and your friend came here to steal those three artifacts" he said, grinning behind Hiei. His eyes then grew wide. "How did you know that?" he asked, quickly turning around to face him. Now standing face to face with his best friend's opponent, he could feel the strong ki that went out of him. "Studying. I've been studying about your group lately…when you thought I was dead" he said, glaring at Hiei with sparks of mischief in his eyes, accompanied by sparks of self-confidence and satisfaction. "Yusuke Urameshi…he's probably 18 years old by now. What a poor poor boy, he still think he's so good even if he's not" he said, shaking his head sadly. Hiei winced. Not that he was siding with Yusuke, but he wouldn't say Yusuke wasn't good. Maybe he didn't get along with him that much but there's nothing wrong with him. "Then Kuwabara Kazuma, Yusuke's former classmate and rival. That guy was the most pathetic piece of shit I've ever known!" this time Hiei smirked. He couldn't help but to agree, but his desires about getting that that carrot-headed moron, as he may call it, out of breath wasn't as heavy as this guy with him. He didn't even care about Kuwabara anymore.

He then smirked. "Then there's your friend, how long have you two been together before you met Yusuke?" Hiei didn't answer. It was none of his business. "Anyway, he was one of the most admirable person I've met. Too admirable that is, he's just one of the types I wanted to crush in my own two hands" he said, looking at Hiei with sharp glares, as if wanting to kill someone right then and there.

"So you're back?" Hiei asked. "Karasu, if I've remembered correctly" he added. He smirked. "Good thing you remembered. Was my fight with Kurama that memorable to forget?" Karasu asked. With a horrifying laugh, he leapt off, not even giving Hiei a chance to say another word.

&nsbp;     "That pathetic son of a bitch" he muttered under his breath. The memories of that incident, if ever found a space in his head, had been clogging his nerves from thinking. He felt that if ever he thought of something else, his head would expolde. He was really getting soft in the chest. He winced again and leapt off.

      Kurama walked towards the path of the sidewalk. He was kind of late, he knew that. He could only wish that Yui would be considerate enough to forgive him. Not that he minded that she be mad. At least it would take her away from him. He sighed. As far as he can remember, one last turn and he'll be facing the street Yui's house was in. A final breath, he walked on. His eyes stared straight in the direction he was taking, and suddenly noticed Yui running to him.

      "Shuuichi!" Yui ran to him happily. Her face showed how happy she was as she flung herself to Kurama. Kurama twitched slightly, not returning the embrace. Yui pulled away and smiled. "Mr. Aitenshi called" she said to him. "He said that it wuld be better if you be my lab partner, he said you haven't chosen yet" she declared happily. Kurama's eyes widened. And to think classes were meant to take him away from anyone and be with himself...alone. Great, this was just great.

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