Just as Kuwabara was about to make himself comfortable on the couch,
he heard a faint knock on the front door. Grumbling to himself, he walked
over to the door. `Maybe it's Shizuru...' "Who is it?" He asked. No
response. Kuwabara stood ready to fight, then slowly, very slowly, he opened
the door slightly. There didn't seem to be a possible threat, so he opened
the door fully. A young girl with red hair, and a priestess outfit,
collapsed in his arms.

        "Hinageshi!" Kuwabara exclaimed, and carried her to the couch, where
she lay oblivious to her surroundings.

                                *   *   *

        Haruka never made it to the finish. The earth she raced on erupted
in front of her, knocking her off the bike! She tried to steer out of the
way, but it happened all too suddenly. Haruka stared in horror at the
mud-monster before her. Everyone had rereated, screaming. Haruka couldn't
move. She was stuck in the mud. The thing was swallowing her up! 

***********************************************************************

Chapter 4
                           "Fleeting Moments"      

=======================================================================

        Cooking was fun with Makoto. She had taught Yukina how to crack the
eggs into the mixing bowl, how to make different shapes when baking
gingerbread, and how to peel apples and potatoes. And with every single
lesson, Makoto would crack a joke or two so Yukina would smile. Yukina's
uneasiness melted away after meeting Makoto.

        Makoto and Yukina walked home together, deep in conversation. Makoto
had given Yukina some recipes and ingredients so she could start cooking as
soon as she got back to the Kuwabara residence. Yukina told Makoto about how
wonderful Kazuma and Shizuru were. 

        Makoto smiled down at her. "That's nice. Are they your relatives?"

        Yukina shook her head. "No. They are my very special friends."

        Makoto looked up at the sky, which was now clearing. Her face
lighting up when she saw a trace of blue. She looked back at Yukina. "Where
are your parents? Don't you have any brothers or sisters?" 

        Yukina lowered her head. "My parents are in my homeland. I... I have
a brother, but I don't know where he is." She said it so softly that Makoto
had to lean down to hear what Yukina had said.

        "Makoto-san," Yukina continued. "Do you have a family?" 

        Makoto smiled sadly. "No. My parents died in a plane crash." She
walked slowly now, as if enjoying the sound her shoes made on the pavement.
"I live alone." Then brightly, she provided, "But I have my special friends,
just like you!"

        "Gomen ne, Makoto-san," Yukina apologized. "I didn't know."

        "Hey, it's okay," Makoto assured her cheerfully. "I--..." Her
sentence was interrupted by a beeping sound coming from her pocket. Makoto
took out, what seemed to be, a small electronic device that looked like a
mixture of a calculator, an electronic diary, and a compact. Yukina looked
puzzled at the strange device. Makoto's face grew serious.

        "Yukina-chan, I need to go. I'll catch you later, ok? Ja!" Makoto
turned around, and ran, her ponytail swishing back and forth. Yukina
continued to walk on, carrying the bags of ingredients for her cooking
spree. A few minutes later, she found herself on unfamiliar ground. 

        `That's funny,` Yukina thought. `What led me here?` The place was
dark, and depressing. She took tiny steps, hoping noone would hear her. She
didn't know why she was there. She knew the way to the Kuwabara residence
very well. Then what was she doing in a frightening place like this? Yukina
swallowed, her heart hammered wildly in her chest. She stopped. A figure lay
on the ground before her. Was he dead? Summoning some courage, she gently
dropped the bags of ingredients on the ground, and turned the figure over.
She gasped.

        "It's...  you..." Yukina said it like a whisper. She cradled his
head, and looked around, searching for someone to help her. Nobody was in
sight. She tried using her healing powers, but there was no trace of a wound
nor a cut on his body. `Wake up,` She begged silently. Why was she feeling
so crushed just seeing his pained expression? Because he was one of her
special friends? She didn't even know his name. All she knew was that, he
was a friend. `Something more...` A tiny voice echoed in her head. 

        The figure slowly opened his eyes. "Yukina!" He exclaimed it, but it
came out breathy, like a whisper. He struggled to get up, but he was too weak. 

        "Don't move," She told him. "You are weak, and need to regain your
strength." Yukina felt warm talking to him. Why was this person affecting
her so? "You know," Yukina continued. "We've seen each other many times, and
yet I still do not know your name." She gave him a teary smile. Why was she
crying?

        "Gomennasai," Yukina wiped the tear that almost escaped her wistful
eye, and turned away. "I don't know why I'm crying."

        "Yukina..." Was all he could say. His head screamed at him, "Tell
her! Tell her!" He felt disgusted with himself. He got up, and looked down
at Yukina, who was kneeling down on the rough and stony pavement. He was
about to walk away from her when he heard a clatter, like a stone falling.
He faced her again, and saw that she was crying freely now. It tore at his
heart to see her like this.

        "Yukina," He began, swallowing convulsively. "I'm Hi--..."

        He didn't finish. He felt a presence nearby. He took out his sword,
its blade gleaming. Darkness was his forte. Whoever or whatever it was, it
was gonna get it.

======================================================================

        Kurama was amused at the bubbly girl he had met earlier. She
reminded him of Botan. He chuckled at the thought of those two meeting up.
First things first though, what was that strange force he felt? His youkai
spirit was calling him, telling him to act now. How could he? He didn't even
know what was wrong! He shook his head to shake off the feeling. He turned
at the corner, and for the second time that day, he bumped into someone!
Luckily, the girl wasn't carrying any heavy shopping bags or cartons. 

        "Gomen..." They said in unison. The girl stood up, dusted off the
dirt from her beige slacks, apologized to Kurama again, and headed off. 

        Kurama slowly stood up, and watched her from behind. He had caught a
glimpse of her earrings. Rose earrings. Somehow, he sensed that those
earrings were the first things people notice. Not for him. He had noticed
her eyes. It was the shade of deep green, like the wisdom of a tree. Bright,
cheerful eyes that showed determination and courage. He smiled.

======================================================================

        Makoto slowed down her pace. She looked behind her, but saw no trace
of the guy with the long red hair. "Dreamy..." She commented, and continued
to run to meet Minako.

        Makoto passed through a shopping center, hoping the route was much
shorter, and faster. She paused suddenly. It was empty. Where were the
people? This place always used to be so crowded. She took quiet, steady
steps, and tried her best to be brave. The sound of every step she took on
the marble floor echoed all across the center. She heard a faint rumble. She
laughed in spite of herself. Imagine, going on sailor business without
getting a bite to eat!

        She walked faster, her uneasiness disappearing. She hummed a tune as
she walked through the deserted shopping mall. Maybe the stores went
bankrupt. Maybe that's why nobody was here. Makoto scolded herself for being
so ignorant.

        The rumbling sound grew louder. That wasn't her stomach anymore! The
floor shook violently. Makoto tried to keep her balance, swaying her arms
wildly. The floor erupted underneath her! She screamed, but was able to move
out of the way. Unfortunately, her right leg had been hit. The cut was deep,
caused by a sharp marble fragment from the floor. She whimpered, and tried
to limp away from the evil force attacking her. She looked at her injured
leg. Blood. She winced. 

        The floor seemed to have a mind of its own! The floor crumbled, and
a monster made of marble, with a cross sign on its forehead, appeared. It
looked hungrily at Makoto, and lunged. Makoto wasn't fast enough. The
monster, with its teeth and claws bared, was heading for her! The center
echoed with her scream.

========================================================================
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Hugs and smileys galore!
Animatedly,
KC ;D
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http://www.skyinet.net/users/kcmisa/UForest.htm
http://members.theglobe.com/tourmaline/tourmaline2.html
ICQ #: 703221
Oh... and, uh, another home page is on its way... eh-heh... ^_^
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