Chapter 11... Any comments or such, please send them to me... 

P/S All previous chapters and the first story is posted up at my webpage:
http://members.xoom.com/hiei 

Siew Lee 
[wsiewlee@tm.net.my 

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		The Past, The Present And The Future 

		   ~~~The Present - Vengeance~~~ 

		Part 11 - Overlooked, A Lesson Learnt 

---------------------------------------------------------------------

	Yusuke stood in front of Koenma's room, knocking impatiently 
away. What was Koenma doing inside? Why was he taking so long just to 
answer the door? Yusuke raised his fist to knock again, knowing that 
most probably his employer would blow up on him. 

	*Yeah, today's Sunday so Koenma still will be in bed with his 
saliva drooling on the pillow...* muttered Yusuke, his fist banging 
away on the wood. 

	Yusuke pressed closer to the wood and tried to listen. There 
seemed to be muffled voices and he couldn't really make out the 
words. 

	Minutes later, a drowsy and sleepy looking Koenma appeared at 
the door, his hair all tousled. 

	"What is your gigantic problem, disturbing me like that? 
Today's Sunday and I also need to get rest, right?" yelled Koenma, 
getting all cross. 

	"Koenma-sama, I think it's time we opened that old archive to 
hunt around and see what we can find... Hopefully something that we 
can use to defend ourselves," explained Yusuke seriously, unheeding 
of Koenma's question. *I'll let you have the taste of being woken up 
so early in the morning... Have a taste of your own medicine! This is 
for always asking Botan to give me heart attacks barely before 
dawn...* smirked Yusuke evilly. 

	Koenma stifled a yawn and he cooled down a little. "Yeah... So 
how long do you all want to use it?" asked Koenma sleepily, looking 
as if he was about to doze off on the spot. 

	"Um... until we find something that is practical..." said 
Yusuke, running his fingers across his slicked back hair. 

	"Okay, hold on," said Koenma and he disappeared into his room. 
Yusuke waited patiently, hearing rummaging sounds and the clatter of 
objects being turned. 

	Yusuke began tapping his foot; at last, Koenma reemerged with a 
*huge* bunch of keys. 

	"I'm sorry, Yusuke; but I can't seem to remember which key," 
apologized Koenma sheepishly. 

	"How many keys are there?" asked Yusuke, his eyes bulging out 
at the sight of the mixed-up clutter of brass and steel keys. 
Mentally, he began estimating the number. A hundred over pieces 
maybe? 

	"200, approximately," answered Koenma, shoving the keys into 
Yusuke's palms. 

	"Hah?! 200 keys?! That will take forever to open the archive!" 
exclaimed Yusuke. 

	Koenma merely shrugged. "The best of luck!" Then, he closed the 
door with a slight click, leaving Yusuke alone in the corridor. 

	"Just great..." grumbled Yusuke as he studied the bunch of keys 
of various sizes and shapes. Rolling his eyes, he started running 
towards the archive. 

---------------------------------------------------------------------

	"Boom!" 

	The sound of someone kicking a heavy door echoed throughout the 
whole corridor. A string of curse words followed shortly... 

	"What is this stupid door made of? I have been trying for the 
past two hours now and I still can't get it!" shouted Yusuke 
irritably, fumbling with the keys. 

	Clinking sounds of the keys being flung against the door 
followed next. 

	Yusuke bent down and clutched the keys, cursing loudly. 

	"Let me try," offered Kuwabara, grabbing the keys from Yusuke's 
hand without even waiting for his response. 

	"Hey! Who gave you permission to take the keys?" yelled Yusuke, 
but Kuwabara was already fiddling with the lock. Yusuke rolled his 
eyes and folded his arms, looking at Kuwabara. 

	Kuwabara closed his eyes and felt with keys with his fingers. 
Carefully, he selected one and tried it on the lock. 

	Yusuke was already smirking while Kurama and Arisa looked on, 
half expecting Kuwabara to throw his hands up in the air in 
frustration. Suddenly, they heard a soft click from the direction of 
the door. "Bingo!" yelled Kuwabara and he gave Yusuke a smirk back. 

	"Yeah yeah, you win!" grumbled Yusuke and glared at Kuwabara. 

	"Ah, where's Hiei?" asked Kurama quickly, changing the topic 
as he sensed a fight between them both was about to happen. 

	"Um... I've told him to come. I guess it's Mukuro again," 
answered Yusuke, deliberately ignoring Kuwabara. 

	"Shaddap now... You want to defeat them or not?" interrupted 
Kuwabara, hitting Yusuke on the arm. 

	Everybody nodded, knowing Kuwabara's behavior. Yusuke reached 
out a hand to turn the brass knob. 

	"Anyway, Yusuke, I think we better mark the key in case we have 
to return here tomorrow," suggested Kurama, taking the keys from 
Kuwabara. 

	"Yeah... I don't want to try for another two hours..." 

	Kurama produced a marker and put a little tick there. "Plant 
dye..." smiled Kurama as he noticed Arisa was staring at the blue 
ink curiously. "Besides, I hope Koenma won't mind." 

	The ancient doors creaked open and the age old musty smell 
drifted out. The small group trooped inside, their eyes still 
unaccustomed to the dark. 

	"Cool..." commented Arisa as she gazed at the wooden shelves 
filled with leather bound books. 

	"Okay, what shall we start on?" asked Yusuke as he dragged a 
chair from a corner of the room to sit on. 

	"You decide!" chorused everybody together. A black shadow flew 
into the room and sat on the top of one bookshelf. 

	"Hello, Hiei-san..." greeted Arisa politely. Hiei ignored her 
and looked away. 

	"I decide?" answered Yusuke, determined not to waste any more 
precious time. "Alright, I think we should begin on new ki attacks." 

	Kuwabara yawned sleepily, his head hung down in boredom. Kurama 
shot a glance at Hiei and saw that he was already staring at the 
empty air in monotony. He sighed a little and pulled out a book from 
the shelf nearest to him. Arisa also followed suit, selecting a book 
as she gazed at the title. 

	"Elements And Ki Of Life..." read Arisa aloud in wonder. The 
title itself was already fascinating! *Elements? What the heck do 
elements have anything to do with ki?* thought Arisa as she flipped 
open the book. 

	The manuscript writing on the pages were handwritten, the pages 
were also filled with beautiful and odd illustrations. Arisa gazed at 
them, trying to understand the strange pictures. She began reading 
the old phrases... 

	Suddenly, her eyes widened in wonder. "Hey guys! I think I 
found something!" shouted Arisa in glee. Quickly, she placed the book 
on the center table and pointed at a paragraph. 

	"What is it?" asked Kurama, unconsciously putting an arm around 
Arisa's shoulder. 

	"Well, I discovered something that will make our training a lot 
more effective and easier! Besides, it will be more compatible with 
our own capabilities," explained Arisa as she began tracing the 
outline of a diagram depicting a mass of ki divided into five 
segments. 

	"Why don't Arisa and I take turns to read out loud for you 
guys? I think that might be better..." suggested Kurama as he 
remembered that Hiei and Yusuke weren't exactly literate. Alright, 
Yusuke played truant all the time and probably missed half of his 
school years. 

	Kurama and Arisa then sat down close together, leaning against 
a bookshelf. Even Hiei jumped down and sat a few feet away from them. 
He hadn't mistaken that look on Arisa's face. *I want to know what is 
actually happening!* thought Hiei. 

	Kurama started first, reading aloud. 

~~~~~

	The art of ki usage is ancient itself. From centuries ago, this 
art has evolved and divided into many types, including into five 
elements and their sub-categories. Ki can be manipulated to perform 
many tasks for its master, but it is mainly used for fighting and 
self defense. 

	Elements play an important role in successful ki usage. 
Basically, there are five main parts, which consist of fire, water, 
wind, earth and metal. The type of advanced ki manipulation intended 
to be practiced must be based on the owner's element, which is 
decided from birth. 
~~~~~

	"Wow! I never knew that ki usage could be so complicated..." 
commented Kuwabara. 

	"Baka! Of course it is complicated!" interrupted Yusuke. "If it 
isn't complicated, why do I have to go through so much suffering 
before getting Genkai-baasan's enlightenment?! Yeah, try going upside 
down in the air with only your index finger supporting your whole 
body on a needle!" 

	Kuwabara glared at Yusuke but he soon calmed down. "How are we 
supposed to know what element each of us belong to?" 

	"We'll find out later," answered Kurama as he looked down at 
the book again. 

~~~~~

	There are two ways to determine which element one belongs 
to. 

	First, through natural liking and special abilities. 

	Second, through the date of birth. The chart on the next page 
will show you which element you belong to and the formula for 
calculating will also be written; but first you will have to 
determine the pattern of your youki if spread on dust or ash. 

	***Note: All of these element calculations apply to youki only. 
Reiki users will automatically be inserted into the category metal. 

~~~~~ 

	"Heheh!!! I'm so glad! Arisa and I don't need to worry about 
categorizing!" laughed Kuwabara gleefully, rubbing his hands in an 
evil manner. "All of you need to take the test!" 

	"All of us?" repeated Arisa slowly, looking at Kurama 
suspiciously. 

	"Ah no, no, no. What he means is that Hiei and I would have to 
test..." interrupted Yusuke quickly, remembering that Arisa didn't 
know that Kurama was a youko. A youko! Gods... How would Arisa react 
if she was to know her darling Kurama was a youkai... Nine out of 
ten, she would probably faint on the spot. Arisa kept quiet, getting 
dubious of Yusuke's sudden interruption. 

	"Alright now... How are we going to *look* at the pattern on 
the ash? Blast it?" continued Yusuke, drumming his fingers on his 
lap. 

	Kurama answered, by studying the book again. "According to this 
book, you will have to put a tray of ash in front of you and then 
reach out your palm. After that, discharge your youki at a slow pace 
and look at the ripples on the ash. Arisa and I will do the rest." 

	"Fine," answered Yusuke. Hiei leaped up on the center table and 
glanced at the top most shelf for anything that might serve as a 
usable *tray*. Seeing a metal-like plate on the wood, he jumped and 
reached out for it. In a flash, Hiei appeared by the small group 
again holding out the *tray*. 

	"Thanks, Hiei," replied Kurama dryly, receiving the plate. 

	"Now, for the ash," announced Arisa, touching the plate and 
feeling the grimy layer of dust. 

	Hiei rolled his eyes imprudently and grabbed hold of some 
papers strewn around the room. *Let Koenma cry if they are really 
important. It is his own fault to leave his documents around the 
place,* thought Hiei. Carefully, he placed a pile on the plate. Hiei 
closed his eyes for a while and concentrated. The papers burned, 
creating fine gray ash on the plate. 

	"Okay, who wants to go first?" asked Arisa, holding the plate. 

	"Me," volunteered Yusuke and Arisa placed the plate on the 
ground before him. Yusuke concentrated for a few seconds and the rest 
began to feel a little tremor in the room caused by Yusuke's youki. 
The ash moved about, creating little ripples forming an elaborate 
pattern. 

	"Stop," ordered Kurama softly as he peered at the ash. Looking 
at the book, he began judging with Arisa's help. The pattern was 
simple enough, only filled with straight lines and geometrical 
shapes. 

	"Well, I think that's it. Yusuke, you are doomed to share your 
element with Kuwabara!" laughed Kurama as he came out with his 
verdict. 

	Kuwabara smirked and slapped Yusuke on the back. "No 
difference!" he said with a shrug. 

	"Hiei, your turn," announced Kurama, his heart feeling a sudden 
ache as he read out the name. *How can I say out his name without 
feeling pain?* questioned Kurama softly as another stab of agony shot 
down his painful heart. He winced inevitably, as Hiei spoke. 

	"No need to test for me. I'm a fire youkai," answered Hiei 
curtly, refusing blatantly. "Besides, I definitely wouldn't be in 
Kuwabara's group," smirked Hiei. Kuwabara glared at Hiei but kept 
quiet. 

	"Alright then. That means we are done!" announced Arisa. "I 
think we should continue in the afternoon..." 

	"Well, Arisa-san, why not you go first? We can manage on our 
own here..." suggested Yusuke, remembering that Arisa needed plenty 
of rest and besides, Kurama had to undergo that test... 

	"No problem... Just tell me when there are any discoveries..." 
agreed Arisa, stifling a yawn. 

	All of them secretly heaved a sigh of relief when Arisa closed 
the heavy door with a dull thud. *Good,* thought Kurama as he began 
to smoothen the ash by shaking the plate a little. 

	Slowly, he concentrated for a while and a complicated pattern 
of entwining lines and organic-like symbols formed on the plate. 

	"Earth!" announced Kurama when he finished checking the table. 

	"One thing, Kurama. Does Arisa-san know about your youko 
origins?" asked Kuwabara, sensing the now relaxed situation in the 
room. 

	"No," answered Kurama as he shook his head. "Promise me... 
Please don't tell Arisa about all this..." 

	Yusuke and Kuwabara nodded while Hiei looked away which Kurama 
took for a 'yes'. He secretly heaved a sigh of relief, besides he 
wouldn't want Arisa to be in fear after knowing that deadly rule that 
Inari-sama set centuries ago... 

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	It was nighttime in Reikai and everybody had just finished 
their dinner. Lights were switched on in nearly every room in the 
living quarters of the palace. 

	Arisa stood there, looking at the mirror in the bathroom. The 
door behind her was locked. She could never get accustomed to the 
practice of not locking bathroom doors although she knew pretty well 
that there was only Kurama outside. Besides, he had seen everything, 
right? 

	Arisa sighed again for the tenth time at the reflection. She 
still couldn't shake off that strange feeling of Kurama hiding 
secrets away from her knowledge. What were his secrets and why was he 
taking all the trouble to conceal them? 

	She gave a shrug and walked out, wrapped only in a towel. The 
amber glare of the lamps by the sides of the bed met her in a 
blinding daze. The privacy of the bathroom was soon gone. The silence 
gone... 

	The sound of a pen nib scratching paper echoed in her ears as 
she gazed at Kurama who was busying writing away. Gently, Arisa sat 
down beside him and peered over his shoulder. 

	"What are you writing? I always see you writing into that 
book..." asked Arisa curiously, putting an arm around Kurama's waist. 

	"Er... nothing," answered Kurama quickly as he shut the book 
with a clap. He picked the leather bound book up and dropped it into 
a drawer in the chest beside him. He knew pretty well that he 
couldn't ever let her see its contents. It was too dangerous in a 
way and he didn't want to hurt her by his true voice. His *true* 
voice was cruel, as cruel as the naked truth. This world was a 
cold world... 

	"A journal? Or a diary?" asked Arisa, putting her face close 
onto Kurama's neck and feeling his long hair tickling her nose. 

	Kurama gave a smile and refused to answer. Instead, he looked 
at her directly in the eyes. "Are you willing to let me sleep on the 
bed tonight? I hate sleeping on floors..." 

	"Of course..." murmured Arisa as her arm encircled Kurama in a 
half hug. "You are my future husband... Have you forgotten that?" 
Kurama looked into her eyes, but she wasn't sure what she saw in his. 
Doubt? Regret? Remorse? Guilt? It was all in a medley, but she saw 
confusion there. 

	That look flashed past in a split second, leaving no traces. 
Kurama was back to himself again, at least from Arisa's perspective. 

	Smiling, Kurama kissed her and gazed deeply into her black 
eyes. He then began staring at something on her shoulder... It was a 
red mark there, shaped oddly. It was something like a circle 
tapering into a straight line. There were three little lines pegged 
across the main streak. 

	Arisa began to grow self conscious... Blushing, she asked him 
gently, "I thought you had seen everything..." 

	Kurama just kept quiet, unable to say anything. His conscience 
was already betraying him in a way... He was now lying to himself, if 
not already lying to the entire world including the girl that he was 
marrying in front of him. That red spot there reminded him of Hiei's 
black dragon tattoo... "Your birthmark?" croaked out Kurama hoarsely 
at last, forcing his sorrow back into his gut. 

	"Um... yes... but a fortuneteller once told me that this mark 
will cause me misfortune, or even my death... but I don't believe 
what he said anyway. Besides, how can a birthmark do such a thing?" 
shrugged Arisa, pulling the blanket around her as a cool draft from 
the opened window blew onto her. 

	Suddenly, Kurama began feeling pity for the girl. He knew very 
well inside that he didn't love her, but he had feelings towards her. 
It was sympathy, maybe for her, maybe for himself... This, he 
couldn't really differentiate. He was wrong in the first place but he 
still couldn't bear to break her heart. She loved him, alright, but 
what was the use of clapping with one hand? He had already wronged 
her, but he had worked hard to make amends, wasn't that enough? His 
thoughts turned back to the deadly rule set by Inari-sama and a 
niggling query remained in him, unanswered, and he badly wanted to 
know the answer. 

	"Arisa, I'm just asking you this question. Will you still be by 
my side in every situation?" 

	"Like?" Arisa's brows met in a puzzled expression. 

	"Um... If I'm not human..." 

	Pause. 

	"Well... it depends," answered Arisa finally, unable to say 
anything after being asked this bizarre question. 

	"Yes... or no?" 

	"Yes." 

	Smiling again, Kurama pinned her down and switched off the 
lights. Almost tentatively, he kissed her on her lips deeply, feeling 
her warm body beneath him. If both of them needed sympathy and pity 
from each other, why not find them in each other? His head was 
already spinning wildly as the cold wind blew into the room 
continuously... 

	He knew that she needed him in every respect. 

	He also needed her in a few aspects. 

	*Who cares about Inari-sama?* smirked Kurama secretly, his old 
youko attitude began sneaking back into himself. 

***

	A sparrow hopped onto the windowsill, its bead like eyes 
looking into the sunlight filled room. Through its innocent eyes, the 
room was quite untidy, save for the bits of loose papers lying 
scattered on the floor. A boy and a girl were lying there in each 
other's embrace, still sleeping soundly and covered scantily by a 
blanket. 

	The girl gave a tired yawn, scaring the sparrow away. Arisa 
opened her eyes halfway, looking at Kurama's delicate facial features 
next to her. *He looks more like a girl...* thought Arisa 
mischievously, using her index finger to trace his lips and nose. 

	"Aaaachooo!" sneezed Kurama, instantly waking up. Some of 
Arisa's tousled hair had obviously found their way into tickling 
Kurama's nose. With sleepy eyes, he looked at Arisa and gave a slight 
smile. "What's the time now?" asked Kurama drowsily, squeezing Arisa 
lightly on the arm. 

	"No idea..." 

	Kurama turned to look at the alarm clock set beside the bed. 
"10.10?" half shouted Kurama, immediately releasing Arisa and jumping 
out of the cozy bed. 

	"What?" asked Arisa, alarmed by Kurama's sudden shout and 
actions. 

	"I promised Yusuke and the rest that we would be there by 
9.30am and now..." explained Kurama in a hurry, pulling up his pants 
and gathering his creased clothes on the floor. 

	Still blushing, Arisa admired Kurama's lean body and near 
perfect physique. "C'mon! What are you looking at!" rushed Kurama as 
he pulled on his shirt and ran into the bathroom. Arisa snapped out 
of her daydreams and grabbed her towel, wrapping it around herself. 
Pulling open the closet, she picked out a few clothing articles and 
hurried Kurama out of the washroom... 

	In less than five minutes, a couple was seen running at a very 
fast speed down the corridor, nearly knocking down a maid who was on 
her daily cleaning duties... 

---------------------------------------------------------------------

	"10.15am..." announced Yusuke, glancing at his newly bought 
watch. "Where the hell are Kurama and Arisa? I took an entire month 
off my ramen stall in order to train and yet I'm wasting my precious 
holidays here waiting for that youko..." grumbled Yusuke, tapping his 
fingers on the wooden center table. 

	"10.16am..." continued Kuwabara before sounds of feet scuffling 
on the floors of the corridor sounded nearer and Kurama burst through 
the door. 

	"Sorry..." panted out Kurama, leaning on the door for some 
support after running the entire length of the passageway. 

	"Sorry..." This time it was a female voice, considerably higher 
pitched. 

	Yusuke shot them both a puzzled glance, indirectly asking for 
the ever-so-lame excuse. 

	"I overslept..." muttered out Kurama quickly, catching gazes 
from both Kuwabara and Hiei. Arisa began blushing a deep shade of 
red, encouraging choking sounds from Yusuke. 

	Kuwabara and Yusuke began snickering and the latter threw 
Kurama a book. "Ahem... C'mon, are we getting started or not?" 

	Kurama glared at Yusuke but he sat down anyway and flipped to 
the page where he stopped yesterday. "Well, I think we are getting 
started on suitable weapons today." 

	Yusuke and the rest gave slight nods... 

~~~~~ 

	Weapons are very important in any match or tournament, as well 
as in fighting. Usual ones will be swords, daggers, rods or even pure 
youki manipulation. 

	Weapons are divided into a few categories and each category is 
controlled by an element but there are certain weapons which are 
considered as neutral objects and they can be used by almost 
everybody. Example: a sword. 

	Starting with metal: Metal is a very strong element and it 
symbolizes strength and power,... 

~~~~~ 

	"Yes! Let the Great Kuwabara Kazuma defeat the two demons!" 
interrupted Kuwabara, posing in the classical Herculean pose. 

	"Shut up," shot back Yusuke. "Do you want to hear or not?" 

	Kurama rolled his eyes and continued reading. 

~~~~~ 

...thus 'metal' can be used with any weapon associated with heaviness
and power. 

	Next is the 'earth'. Earth is a very gentle and soft element, 
in contrast with 'metal'. Usage of flora and fauna is an important 
part in this element's arsenal and basically, this the holders of 
this element excel in using plants and animals in attacks although 
the latter is rather unusual. 

	Healing also serves as one of the forces in 'earth'. 

	Wind. Forever changing in shape and form. 'Wind' has no form, 
nor shape and owners can form their youki in various manipulations; 
but the most powerful of all their powers is mental manipulation. In 
a way, they can control other's with youki. 

	The most prominent weapons of 'wind' users are musical 
instruments. They may range from a typical flute to the many stringed 
harp. It depends, actually, on the owner's choice of weapons. 

~~~~~ 

	Arisa kept quiet after listening to Kurama's reading. *How good 
it would be if I were youkai... I love music and 'wind' instruments 
seem to be rather interesting and I want to learn... I don't care 
what element I am and I'm still learning 'wind' manipulations...* 
thought Arisa secretly, smiling a little. 

	On the other hand, Yusuke was thinking about something else. 
"That means that Yamaro guy is a wind based youkai..." commented 
Yusuke... "I hate his flute." 

	"Well, we will have to learn how to restrain his music from 
entering our heads," answered back Hiei, opening his mouth finally. 

	Yusuke nodded and signaled to Kurama to continue. 

~~~~~ 

	Fire... Flame and heat and everything hot. This element is a 
very powerful element if compared to the intensity of single youki 
manipulation. The single usage of individual ki attacks will be 
explained in the next chapter in this book. 

	Water is the opposite of fire. Water puts out fire and both of 
them are arch rivals. If duo fighters are to challenge each other, 
the winner shall be decided through the ki reserves. The more 
endurance either side has, the more chance of winning it has. 

~~~~~ 

	"Alright, that's all for this chapter..." announced Kurama 
as he shut the book. "I think we should train separately because of 
the differences in elements..." 

	"Yes, I guess so... Arisa-san, I don't think you can handle 
this..." said Yusuke, patting Arisa slightly on the arm. 

	"Why? I want to do my part..." 

	"Um... Arisa, after you crashed down from that broken table 
that day..." began Kurama but trailed off, his face showing sudden 
guilt. Kurama could lie very well in his youko form back then, but 
the conscience he possessed now as Shuichi Minamino forbade him 
internally... Kurama looked away quickly, feeling ashamed to drink in 
the sight of Arisa standing there wearing an innocent expression on 
her face. 

	"Well, I guess I still can go behind the screen right? I can 
read up stuff and find if there is any useful information..." 

	"Okay... anything... One more brain is better..." agreed Yusuke 
at last. 

	Arisa gave a desperate sigh and plucked out a book entitled 
'Wind'. "I'll read this in my room..." After saying that, she walked 
out of the archive, leaving the rest sitting in the room, confused by 
her sudden actions. 

	Well, it was good in a way. At least Kurama could have some 
privacy practicing his youki attacks without Arisa knowing secrets 
she shouldn't know. 

	Kurama also knew that Arisa was a very fiery tempered girl... 

---------------------------------------------------------------------

	*Kurama's hiding something away from you...* A voice whispered 
endlessly in Arisa's head. That look just now... Why was he so 
ashamed when he requested me to go first? No! It couldn't be true! 
She trusted Kurama too much to believe that he would ever lie to her! 

	*Kurama's hiding something away from you...* The same voice 
whispered again, this time getting louder. Arisa stopped by the 
corridor, leaning heavily against it. A whole nebula of dark emotion 
whirled in her, causing deep panic and confusion. 

	*Kurama's hiding something away from you...*

	The voice was practically shouting by now. Arisa couldn't shake 
it off, unable to will herself from to prevent the voice from 
entering her thoughts, her mind and her sanity. For once, Arisa 
thought she must be going insane. 

	"Arisa Kino! Kurama is your husband! How could you suspect him 
in this way!" shouted Arisa to the empty walls as she slid down to 
the floor angrily. Angry at herself, angry at this miserable world. 

	*What made you suspect him in the first place?* asked another 
voice gently in her head. 

	"Yes... A lot of things... Those strange questions he asked 
me... The way he looked into my eyes... It was like his eyes were 
filled with remorse and blame on himself... Hiei-san... The way 
Kurama looks at him..." 

	"There is only one way to find out." 

	"Yes... There is only one way to find out... His journal..." 
Arisa knew that Kurama kept a journal. One book which he was always 
writing into..." 

	*No! You mustn't invade Kurama's privacy! He has the right to 
keep secrets!* yelled another voice. 

	*You must know the answer!* 

	*No! Sometimes things are better kept as secrets!* 

	"No!!!" shouted Arisa, tears began streaking down her face. 
Wiping them away carelessly with the sleeve of her T-shirt, she got 
up and ran towards the room which she shared with him. 

	It was getting nearer and nearer. Arisa could only hear her 
own footsteps echoing throughout the whole way. 

	Arisa's eyes were already blurry from crying and she couldn't 
even focus properly on her steps now. A gush of cool air blew onto 
her face as she collapsed onto an armchair next to the sliding glass 
door near the bed. 

	"Should I?" Arisa asked the final question once again. 

	Without much further thought, Arisa pulled open the drawer but 
it was locked. Kurama kept the key himself thus locking the drawer 
every time he finished writing. He was simply too careful, but still 
he didn't anticipate that Arisa would do anything to get the journal. 
She couldn't care more or less anymore... Reaching up to her neatly 
tied up hair, she plucked a hairpin out and began picking the lock. 

	A soft click of the lock giving way to the pin sounded in the 
still room and Arisa began thinking again. 

	"Should I?" she asked again. 

	Closing her eyes, she pulled open the wooden drawer. Slowly, 
blinking open them again, she gazed at the reddish leather bound 
notebook. 

	Her hand was trembling when she finally gathered enough courage 
to flip open the book. 

	Kurama's neat handwriting filled the pages line after line. 
The first entry was twelve weeks ago... 

	Her eyes started to fill with tears again as she read the first 
line slowly. Slowly discerning the words one by one... 

	One by one, to the ultimate rule. 

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Copyright reserved 1998 W. Siew Lee 

All standard YYH disclaimers apply this fanfic. 

E-mail: Siew Lee [wsiewlee@tm.net.my] 
URL: http://members.xoom.com/hiei 
UIN: #14025577 

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