"Erm, no sorry Bri I haven't seen him. He might be in his room? Or on a mission for Koenma with the others?" Botan said quietly. You could feel her looking at you but you ignored it looking at the door. What is going on with me? Why am I having these... Do I like Hiei -like that? And... Did he mean he liked me?

You were extremely confused, thoughts of doubt were making you question things you hadn't thought of before, but what was getting to you the most, was the fluttering you gained every time you thought Hiei might like you. Is it even possible for him to like girls? Well... Course it is, but he seems so... devoid of anything and doesn't like people to close. You sighed.

You were just making yourself more confused on the issue, you needed to speak to him.

"Scuse me Botan." You apologised, heading out your room quietly. You heard the Grim reaper giving you and concerned voice of acceptance. Which one was Hiei's room again...? You pondered walking down the corridor. Sighing you stopped outside the last room on the right, standing in front of the black painted, mahogany door you gently took the silver door handle in your hand, but released it quickly yelping in surprise.

"Fuck... that's taking 'don't go in my room'; to a whole new level, Hiei." You breathed, holding your now burnt hand; the skin had shrivelled loosing the elasticity as it does with burns. Sighing you took a glance at the door before heading to the medical bay.

Guess I'll have to come back later.

*

The rest of the day went agonizingly slowly, and you spent most of it outside training, having discovered from Botan that the detectives were on a class 6 mission. (Missions go in order of importance, so dire "destruction of the whole worlds" would be obviously classed as 1.)

The other girls had all gone out.  Kayko needing to go to school and Yukina and Shadow had gone shopping. They had asked you to go but you had declined, not wanting to wreck the day with your mood.

Feels like I'm neither here nor there sometimes... I mean; am I apart of the gang or not? You stopped from your sward practice frowning. Everything today, it seemed was riddled with possibilities, unanswered question and unresolved mysteries, and all of it was beginning to take its toll on you. Exhausted you sheathed your katana, making sure to not hurt your now bandaged hand and moodily headed back into the main room, hoping that either the boys were back or that you could find Shadow for a long needed talk.

Nether of these ideas happened, as you found out, when entering the apartment. Everything was left in its place from when they girls had disappeared. 

"Well so long to that idea, eh Bri?" You mumbled to yourself, heading to the kitchen to get a drink.

Ring, ring. Ring, ring.

You sighed as you came out of the kitchen door, opening a bottle of water as you go and picked up the phone.

"Lo?" You asked, trying to sound at least slightly interested.

"Brianey, is that you?" Your face changed quickly, as well as your mood. Smiling slightly you sighed and leaned on the wall behind you.

"Yep, mom it's me, nice to hear from you, is everythin' alright?" You asked finally opening the bottle you took a swig while she answered.

"Yes, everything is fine. Koenma gave me this number not long ago. How is everything? Are you and Shadow ok? How about your friends and everything are you-"

"We're all fine mom, quit worrin'." You chuckled you heard her give a relieved sigh, as you took another swig of your water. "How are dad and Danny?"

"Your dad and Danny are alright, too. Danny got a job as a computer technician manager not long ago. He's moving up in the world." She replied sounding highly impressed, smiling in proud-ness for your brother you nodded as you answered.

"Bloody brill! Tell him I said nice one. Oh and sorry I ain't called you. I kinda didn't have time." You trailed off, not wanting to go into your little three month disappearance with her over the phone. Or ever, if you could manage that.

"It's alright, don't worry. It's nice to hear your voice though. Oh how is the case coming up? Have they found Akki yet?" She sounded anxious, shaking your head you quickly returned to your old mood.

"No... Well he's knows I'm here, but he can't get in. I'm under surveillance, too, God damnit. I can't leave the apartment. Has everything at home been ok? No demons or... stuff?" You asked, quirking a brow at your own question.

This was not a normal conversation you had ever had with your mother, on a phone before. Suppose this is how it feels for other people who're demons... check up on death counts. You concluded, dully.

"No, nothing over here, Koenma shut all the portal off to ours, so we're pretty much safe. I'm glad you're ok though, I was worried about you." She responded you gave a small smile to yourself, closing your eyes.

Homesickness was finally setting in.

"Me too... look mom I have to go, I'm really sorry. I have a paper to write." You mumbled. "What are my results like? Do you know?"

"You're getting straight B's. I'm very proud of you. I'll... I'll let you go now. I love you take care, please." Her voice was begging. It made your heart clench.

"I love you, too mom. Very much, give my love to dad and Danny." You heard her acknowledge you and say a quiet 'goodbye'; before putting the phone down. Looking at the opposite wall you sighed into the silence of the room.

"I hate homesickness."

*

"Brianey? Hello we're back. Anyone there?" You jolted slightly, groaning at the sudden difference in lightly as you opened your eyes slightly. Mumbling a reply you curled back up onto the sofa as Shadow and Yukina arrived in the room.

"There you are. Wake up sleepy!" You mumbled curses as you are attacked by a pillow. Moving you swatted the attacker - Shadow - with your own ammo of pillows before getting tackled to the floor.

"Get off me you nut case! I was asleep!" You exploded, laughing slightly as you tried to push her off you. Yukina was watching laughing at your antiques while Shadow simply ignored your out burst.

"Yo, we're back... What in the hell?" Yusuke had appeared at the living room door and you quickly stopped laughing pushing Shadow off you lightly you moved out of the room, pushing past Yusuke as you went.

Fucker. You thought icily, however stopped half way down the corridor.

"Good afternoon Brianey how was your day?" You smiled slightly at the red head.

"I'm alright Kur, just a bit bored." You replied, you see him give you a slight nod of understanding.

"Sorry we left you without warning. We had no ch-"

"Don't worry 'bout it." You interrupted. "It's your job I can't stop you. But... Erm... could we all do something as a group? Say Saturday?" You asked, I hate feeling left out of the loop. Besides, they're my friends we should do something. You rationalised. Seeing Kurama smile brought your smile back.

"Sure we can if you want to. I will tell the others." He replied you nodded to him and went to continue on, however he called to you looking slightly unsure. "Does that... include Yusuke and Kayko for the invitation?" You frowned slightly.

Oh.

"Um... I suppose they can come too - but just... Don't expect much from me." You replied to him, you continued down the hallway again heading back to where Hiei would hopefully be now.

Hiei's Point of View

You were lying on your back on the bed, staring annoyed at the ceiling above you. The mission had gone fine but that was not the reason as to your mood. Why did I say that to her? You thought quietly frowning at the red, Chinese wallpaper. Sighing you sat up.

"Am I going weak?" You questioned again, frowning at the prospect. You couldn't be right? Hiei, the forbidden child. Cut throat, infamous thief and assassin of Makai. Could you be going soft? Or was this normal for any demon, whether they're kind hearted, such as your sister Yukina, or... different, such as yourself.

"Fucking feelings are confusing." You mumbled in an undertone as you swiftly moved from the bed.

Taking your shirt off you headed for the bathroom, to take a shower before the fox came back to tell you dinner was ready.

Knock, knock, knock.

"Hn?" You grunted, turning to the door in mild surprise. Dinner couldn't be ready yet, you'd only been back half an hour. So who was it? Could it be... oh fuck. Please don't be.

"Who is it?" You asked slightly snapping. There was a pause before an answer came.

"Let me in, Firefly." You closed your eyes sighing slightly. It was the person you didn't want to see. Well, you did, and didn't.

"Go away I'm busy." You replied once again stepping for the bathroom, however, you stopped in agitation as she came in your room and closed the door behind her.

"I said go away onna."

"Yes, I'm not deaf. I just don't care what you said. I wanted too..." she trailed off. I knew it.

"You wanted to know if what I said was true... Correct?"

Brianey's/Your Point of View

Well here's my answer. You thought quietly, bracing yourself slightly. You felt slightly out of place in the situation, confronting boys on their feelings was never something you'd normally do. Heck today was full of surprises.

He remained looking at you for a while, contemplating, and you began to find it hard to look him directly in the eyes, the knot of confusion in your stomach was beginning to be joined by a pit of uncertainty and nerves. What was this feeling?

"I don't know."

"What?" You asked confused. How could he not know?

"Onna, go away." He replied he went to once again go into his bathroom but you blocked the way. Hiei narrowed his eyes dangerously.

"Go away." He grunted. Shaking your head to him he pushed you back slightly. You dug your foot into the ground countering the force.

"Onna move!"

"Answer my question then!"

"I did!"

"That wasn't an answer that was an indecisive excuse!" You retorted, he growled angrily and shoved harder. Slipping back from the force you toppled through the bathroom door your back connecting with the shower screen with a resounding thud. The wind was slightly knocked out of you. Nevertheless you moved to look at Hiei annoyed, and confused.  Why is he acting so annoyed?

"Why did you say you want me?" You repeated. He was staring fixedly at you breathing slightly hard from annoyance and from pushing you.

"Did you mean it? What? I don't get it. Just-"

You were cut off, by his lips meeting yours, hard.  Your head moved back quickly hitting the screen making you open your mouth to groan from pain. Hiei, however, had other plans and quickly deepened the kiss, nipping your tongue slightly as his hands held onto your forearms tightly. Slightly dazed; your mind swimming; you slowly reacted; kissing back slightly hesitantly.

Is this his answer? You wondered, the butterflies in your stomach increased dramatically and your skin felt all tingly. What in hell was up with you?

After a short space of time he pulled away from you, letting your arms go as he stepped away. You look at him confused, and your stomach gave a slight twinge as he returned the gaze.

"Brianey- Go, I... I need to be alone, so go away." He told you bluntly, thought his words were laced with befuddlement. Not sure on what to do and with your heart racing; you moved from the white tiled bathroom and out of his room shutting the door behind you. What the...

You turned back to the door in complete surprise before heading down the hall, more confused than you had been, twenty minutes ago.

Hiei's Point of View

I... kissed her? You thought dazed, staring through the clear shower screen. Your breathing was hard and you could still taste her on your lips, and smell her scent on you. I wanted to kiss her, but...You blinked into the tense silence of your bathroom before going to the sink and turning the tap on splashing water over yourself.

"..." You stared at your reflection, watching the water run down your face and around you lips slightly you creased your eye brows before moving angrily away from the mirror. Storming into your room, you grabbed your removed top. Pulling it over your head you threw your window open and place one booted foot onto the sill; throwing yourself out and flipping expectedly into the nearby Sakura (Cherry Blossom) tree.

"Kurama I need to speak to you. Forest clearing, twenty minutes." You relayed to the Kitsune before disappearing from the grounds. Hopefully he might be able to help you.

Brianey's Point of View

"Who is it?" Shadows voice rang from behind the door. She sounded busy. Maybe I should leave her? You debated what to do, however your answer remained undecided as the door opened; a flustered Shadow taking it's place.

"Bri? What's wrong?" She asked her tone became worried as you moved past her quietly, your gaze fixed on the floor.

"Um... Is it a bad time to talk to you?" You asked sitting on the only available space in her room - the window. You saw her shake her head quietly, closing the door and coming over to you, kneeling on the floor in front of you.

"Ok."

"Bri? What's wrong, you look...?" She mumbled unsure, you gave her a half smile, not quite sure what to say.

"Erm... Well. Y-Y'know the last time I spoke to you... About Hiei saying..." You watched her nod in understanding, confusion was glued to her face but it suddenly changed, as if realisation had been thrown at her.

"Did he do something to you?" She sounded angry and worried. Looking at her you nodded but quickly go onto explain, seeing her thinking the worst.

"He didn't hurt me. Don't panic. Just... Kissed me?" you mumbled still not believing it yourself.  You glanced up at her to see her shocked, but smiling?

"Why are yo-"

"I knew he liked you!" She laughed in triumph, you gave her an annoyed glace causing her to frown at you. "What? He does... "

"He said he doesn't know. I'm... confused as hell I don't know what's going on!" You ranted slightly, looking back up you see she'd sobered up quickly. Smiling at you reassuringly she shifted to sit by you.

"That's understandable, but... Well do you like him?" She asked listening, you sighed confused.