Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Slight Problem ❯ Late Visits ( Chapter 5 )

Alright, here's chapter five!! Please R&R!! I really want to know what everyone thinks of my story!!

 

I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho. Just Natalie and Lisa.

 

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In the medical ward, Hiei was currently sitting in a chair at the bedside of the dark haired girl. She hadn't stirred, but with the ointments and treatments that the doctors here had given her, it wouldn't be long before she regained consciousness.

Hiei had attempted to use his jagen eye on the young woman, to see if he could learn anything about the two of them, but had been more than a little surprised to find that she had placed a ward up around her mind. He could penetrate it if he used more power, but that might cause her considerable pain. He knew if he did that, he would never hear the end of it, both from Koenma, as well as the others. Especially that kitsune, Kurama.

But the ward also served to raise his initial suspicions. The fact that she had a ward up around her mind told him that she was wary of anyone who might have the ability to peek into her mind and take information from it. But what information might she have to hide from them?, he had to wonder. His fiery eyes had remained on her steadily, and he thought back on the explanation that the tall blonde woman had given them as to how they had gotten here. He believed the story of their arrival here, but he could tell that much of what she had said were twisted half truths. And the way she had continually cast nervous looks in his direction and quickly looked away told him that she was aware of his power. And yet, if she were a normal human and had not yet seen him fight herself, how would she know of his power and why would she be so nervous in his presence?

Hiei couldn't wait to find out.

He knew all this information meant that these girls definitely knew more than they were telling them. Somehow, Hiei suspected that they knew things about THEM. The fact that she had called Kurama by name and that she had been avoiding looking directly at Hiei seemed to support that. But how they come across this information when they were both from an entirely different realm... that was another mystery altogether... and it was one that the koorime was most definitely looking forward to solving.

So he sat and waited in silence for a good three hours, never changing his position or taking his eyes off of the girl, only occassionally being interrupted by one of the medical staff who came in to check on her.

Then, only a half hour after the last check, the girl let out a small moan and opened her eyes.

 

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Natalie first became aware that she was lying on a soft bed covered in blankets... and she felt a powerful presence right at her side. A demonic presence. It didn't feel mingled with a human in any way, and so she thought it was safe to assume that it was Hiei.

She thought carefully for a few moments. She couldn't fake sleep for long, she knew, and she knew she had to be extremely careful in her dealings with the sly and perceptive koorime. Because she could feel no one else in the room with them at the moment and that meant if he started to threaten her... there would be no one to stop him from killing her if he thought it was necessary.

She just had to keep her expression neutral... just like his. Keep a poker face until she was no longer alone with him. And, of course, seeing as how he was probably going to have a million questions for her, she knew she was going to have to think carefully about how she responded to them.

So, she shifted slightly on the bed, felt a sharp pain lance through her side, let out a small moan, and then opened her eyes.

Just from a quick glance at the room around her, she knew she was in the medical ward of Koenma's palace. She turned her head to her left and, sure enough, her dark green eyes met fiery red.

They just looked at each other for a long moment, neither saying anything. It was Natalie who finally broke the silence.

"Where am I... and where is my friend?" she asked, her voice low and with a barely perceptible threat. She already knew that Lisa was likely okay, but she had to pretend ignorance.

Hiei gave his telltale snort. "Hn. You're in the Spirit World Medical Ward. And your friend is fine. She's probably resting in her own room right now."

Natalie then tried to sit up, and her efforts were rewarded by a searing pain shooting up her side and back. She cursed mentally. She was fucked if Hiei decided to take advantage of her injured state. Then she thought back on the series and decided that Hiei had more honor than that.

"I guess getting up's not an option for me right now," she said with a slight scowl as she settled down once more.

"Hn. You got yourself in this mess, ningen. If you had stayed where you were in the first place instead of running off when you sensed us coming, you never would have encountered those wayward demons in the first place. Also, running off when you were injured only aggravated the injuries you had sustained. This is your own fault."

She looked at him, her eyes a little hard as she framed her reply. "Considering our circumstances at the time, I thought it best for the two of us to avoid any possible confrontations. Two demons in a group of four people are not good odds and so I thought it best to distance ourselves from any possible violence. I'm sorry if you thought my logic in that particular matter was unsound. Also, despite the fact that you and your companions seemed to want to help us, demons are demons and I don't trust your kind so easily. Lisa's safety is my top priority, so I opted for the road of caution and took off again, obviously not aware of just how bad my injuries were. I'm sorry if you have a problem with that."

Hiei smirked. She was stubborn, distrustful and obviously had a sarcastic side to her. That much he believed. So far she had given nothing away, obviously more practiced at twisting the truth and perhaps outright lying than her tall blonde friend. Everything she had said so far had been said without hesitation and her features had given nothing away. The koorime liked a challenge. Sometimes the best way to bring secrets to the fore was to ask directly.

"We know you and your friend come from another dimension. How did you get here? Your friend told us to talk to you about it."

Her expression never changed at all and her words came out without even a hint of hesitation, clear and precise, leaving no room for argument. "I'm not saying anything about that matter until my friend is with me again. Because I don't trust you."

His smirk grew. "Well, that's one thing we have in common, ningen. I don't trust you either. And, incidently, you don't seem to be very surprised that you're in Otherworld. How is it that you can take this so calmly?"

This time it was her turn to snort. "If you've really talked to Lisa, then she must have told you about my magickal practices and mental techniques. We have an Otherworld in our dimension, too. I've never actually been there physically, but I know it's there, and I know, to some degree, what it's for. Besides, after being physically transported to another dimension in the first place, it would take a lot to surprise me."

So, she had guessed correctly that her friend had already been questioned by them. He guessed she would only find it logical, considering the circumstances of their arrival here. But still, he had to wonder... If she was so concerned about her friend, why was she not going out of her mind trying to figure out, beyond any reasonable doubt, that she was all right?

Then Hiei, looking deep into her eyes, saw the carefully concealed fear that was warring under the surface. She was afraid of something, all right. And perhaps she even was concerned about her friends well being. Then a thought came to him.

"Why do you have a ward up around your mind?"

Her gaze went a little hard and there was a hint of accusation behind them. "Because nobody has any fucking business poking around in there. I always have a ward up to prevent practiced psychics or malicious demons from taking information from my mind and using it against me. Since you asked that question, I think it's safe to assume that you tried looking into my head, right?"

He nodded, letting a smirk come to his face once more. Then he reached up and took his headband off, revealing his third eye. "I have the ability to read people's minds. However, I never used much force, and only tried a gentle probe when it came to you, considering the extent of your injuries, as well as the fact that my companions would not be impressed with me if I inadvertently harmed you. However, I could use more force and easily break through that ward if I chose to do so."

He probably could too, Natalie knew. And if she accidently gave anything away, she had a feeling he WOULD. That meant it was all the more important f or her to use her words with great care when dealing with Hiei.

She was about to frame her reply to his subtle threat when the door opened and a blue man with horns sticking out of either side of his head entered the room. Natalie couldn't help it as her eyebrows shot up. She had seen the ogres in the series, of course, but it was strange seeing them for real. Seeing that the ogre was wearing a white jacket, she knew that he was a doctor.

He smiled immediately, seeing she was awake. "Ah, you're awake! That's good!" He came over to her bedside, seemingly ignoring Hiei. "So, how do you feel?"

She looked at him, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. "Like I got the royal fuck kicked out of me. How do you think?"

He chuckled and out of the corner of her eye, she saw Hiei smirk. "Well, you did at that, but we'll have you fixed right up in no time." He looked at a chart that was hanging on the foot of her bed. "As it is, your recovery is coming along nicely. I'm just going to change your bandages, reapply some ointments, and give you a few remedies to drink. By tomorrow morning, you should be as good as new."

Natalie was relieved to hear that. It meant she wouldn't have to be confined to this damned bed and under the watchful eye of a certain demon for much longer.

The doctor looked at Hiei as he started preparing some bandages. "You mind telling Koenma and the others that she's awake now? We need privacy for this anyway, so you shouldn't be in here."

Hiei scowled and the man lost a few shades of blue. Then, much to his apparent relief, the demon shrugged and got to his feet without another word. His red eyes fell on Natalie once more. "I advise you not to try anything while I'm gone. I would hate to have to hurt you so early in the game."

She scowled at him. "Do I look like I'm in any condition to try something, shorty?"

His red eyes narrowed dangerously for a moment. "Don't call me that," he warned, his voice low and filled with danger.

She didn't look in the least bit concerned by his expression or tone of voice. "What do you expect me to call you? You never even told me your name."

He growled low in his throat. "It's Hiei." He started for the door, before he stopped and turned to face her again, a smirk on his face. "You know, it's interesting. Only seconds after you lost consciousness, your friend called one of my companions by name... before having been introduced to any of us. How is that, do you suppose, when you two come from a completely different dimension?"

Hiei felt his first victory as he saw the woman's face go white. But now was not the time for further questioning. He decided to leave her in her current state of mind, and to leave his words with her. Turning once more, he left the room.

Natalie's eyes remained on where Hiei had been standing only a moment before, and she mulled over what he had said. It looked like Lisa hadn't been able to avoid suspicion. But then, she realized from his earlier questioning that he had been trying to catch her in a lie. His efforts up until that last moment had been futile. She scowled inwardly. She hoped he felt happy with his little victory.

She sighed inwardly as the doctor carefully removed her shirt and started redressing her wounds.

We are so totally fucked, she thought. Natalie knew she would have no choice but to tell them the truth, and when Hiei found out... well, she guessed she was just going to have to deal with that when the time came.

 

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Kurama was seated on the couch in Lisa's guest room, sitting patiently and listening to the even breathing of the young woman sleeping in the bed now. He was contemplating what information he had gotten from her, musing how it could be possible, when a familiar voice entered his mind.

Kurama, I'm coming to you. Is that ningen woman sleeping?

Yes. So if we are to visit with one another, I do hope you will be considerate and keep our conversation telepathic.

Hn.

A moment later, the door swung open silently and the koorime entered the room, his red eyes casting a glance at the bed where the young woman was sleeping. Kurama motioned to him from the Sofa and he wordlessly sat down beside him.

The other one is awake, Hiei said simply.

Kurama turned to face him. Did you learn anything from her?

Hiei snorted. Hn. I learned that she's as good at deception as any demon. I couldn't catch her off guard... until the last moment when I left her. Her story seemed to perfectly match Lisa's, and her eyes gave nothing away.

Kurama considered this. Ímpressive for her to not be intimidated by one such as you. At what point did you catch her off guard?

Hiei smirked. When I mentioned the fact that her friend called you by name before having been introduced. She turned white and her eyes went wide at that point. I guess I must have hit a nerve.

Kurama frowned a moment, contemplating. I spoke with Lisa before she went to sleep.

And? Hiei questioned when the kitsune didn't elaborate.

He sighed. And we were right, I'm afraid. They do know more about us. A great deal more than we had originally anticipated. However, for some strange reason, Lisa was unable to explain to me how it was that they know of us. She gave me detailed information about myself, as well as Youko, and when I tried to demand an explanation, she told me that the only one who could explain how in a way I would understand was her friend, Natalie.

Hiei's eyes flashed a little dangerously. Just how much do they know?

I'm not really sure, to be quite honest. Her exhaustion cut our conversation short.

The fire apparation growled low in his throat. If those two know about Yukina...

If they know about Yukina, I am sure they will keep it a secret, Hiei, Kurama cut in. Lisa is very much intimidated by you and I'm sure she would never indulge a secret like that to someone else... especially when she knows what the possible consequences would be.

Yes, but what about that one in the medical ward? She's stubborn, defiant, and headstrong. I don't trust her at all.

Kurama shrugged. Let us not jump to conclusions just yet, Hiei. We will wait until she is well again, and then we will see what she has to say about all of this. Until then, we just have to be patient.

That ningen woman had better have one fucking good explanation for us...

The fox shrugged. I guess we'll find out. Then he blinked. I promised Lisa I would wake her when I heard something about her friends condition. If she is awake, perhaps I should let her know. She is greatly concerned about her friends condition.

Hiei shrugged. Whatever. I don't think she can see her until tomorrow morning anyway. Although the doctor said her recovery is coming along nicely, she will not be well until then.

Nodding, Kurama got to his feet and gently roused the girl. She blinked sleepily and looked up at him, her face going a little pale when she saw Hiei standing behind him.

"Hiei told me that your friend is awake now. But she will not be fully recovered until the morning."

Lisa was wide awake in an instant. "Natalie's awake?"

He nodded and gave her his patented smile. "Yes, but we should just let her rest until she is fully recovered. When that time comes, we will bring you to see her and we will question her about the details of your arrival here. Until then, you should get some more rest, all right?"

Lisa looked a little warily at Hiei and then nodded.

The koorime snorted, sticking his hands into his pockets. "Well, I came here to tell you that, so I'll go now. And incidently... Koenma told me himself that he fully intends to get all his answers in the morning."

She paled a little more and nodded, refusing to meet his gaze.

Hiei looked at her coldly for a moment longer before leaving the room without another word.

Kurama gave her a gentle smile. "I know he makes you more than a little nervous, Lisa, but he will not try anything as long as I am with you. You are safe. And you are still exhausted, so I think it would be best if you just went back to sleep."

She blinked, and then nodded. She still felt really tired and with all the stress... well, it wasn't helping matters.

She layed down once more and was sleeping soundly in minutes.

 

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Okay, there's chapter five for you!! In chapter six, Natalie has to spill the beans!! Exactly how does that dimensional travel work? How can the Yu Yu Hakusho universe exist in the first place? Tune in and find out!! She lays it all out in chapter six!!

And review, please!! REVIEW!!!!!