Passado Presente e Futuro
por Wong Siew Lee

Presente - Vingança
Capítulo 5: Um Erro Cometido

Makai was a place of deceit, yet love was able to find its way through the grounds. Like after a violent tempest, the once barren ground was filled with various living things...

In semidarkness, two billowy figures stood quietly on the plains, occasionally stroking something in their hands. The surroundings were so peaceful, yet looks were deceiving in a way. Little did the rest of the lands know that unutterable calamity was to befall them...

After almost an eternity, the taller figure spoke, raising a delicate object in his hands.

"Feels good to have our own weapons back in our own hands," commented Yamaro as he stroked the jade flute that he held in his hands. The pleasantly cool texture of the jade pleased him, in fact. This flute had been his companion and weapon for many years now.

"Surprised me that our weapons are still intact after such a long time," said Murashi as he unfolded a fan and fanned himself. It was about ten inches in length, and yellowish paper covered the iron frame.

"Of course they will stay intact. This flute is made out of ice jade. The stone's rarity makes it priceless as it was mined out of ancient mines in the koorime country. No matter what the circumstance is, it will kill in a cold way. The music it produces is also icy; as to its name, ice jade. The master who carved this flute had used half of his life span to carve such a flute to it's finest quality," explained Yamaro, trying a few random notes on the musical instrument. "Besides, I used up nearly all my strength to send these weapons here so the guards at Reikai wouldn't be able to find them."

"How did you get it?" asked Murashi, his eyes locked on the slender object in Yamaro's hands. It was nearly unbelievable, for Yamaro would be one of the strongest around in Makai with that flute.

"Oh, I came across it accidentally, when I stumbled onto the legendary treasure of Makai," answered Yamaro. Then, he looked at the fan which Murashi was holding. Yamaro then looked up at Murashi. "You really want to know how I got it?"

Murashi merely smiled.

"It was a lonely night, long before I met you... I had long heard about the sacred weapon in the core of Makai. Ice jade. The master who carved and formed this weapon was a legendary figure in Makai. He was a hermit, a strange person; never mingling with the community outside." Yamaro paused for a while, a sly grin lit up on his face. "It was rumored that he made a weapon out of ice jade. Yes, the rumor spread far and wide, yet no one knew how true it was. I came to hear of it and I was curious, very curious. Special powers... That time, I had just learned my basic ki elements and I was looking for a suitable weapon. True, most of us don't need weapons at all, but I wanted a musical instrument very much."

"Why?" asked Murashi, interrupting Yamaro, his eyes showing interest in the past of Yamaro. Yamaro had never said much about himself anyway...

"I felt that my mind manipulating powers could work better with music. Icy and distant music. I went to the core of Makai where the flute was kept... I was scared myself as the master was somehow a very powerful individual himself, but I won. I won because I managed to trick him into falling into that groundless hole in the dark cave. After that, I practiced and found my youki rising very quickly indeed. Isn't it beautiful?" asked Yamaro as he stretched out the flute for his friend to see.

"I never quite enjoyed music myself... I prefer something to fan the flames I create," answered Murashi as he touched the jade flute softly and looked at Yamaro.

"That fan you are holding is also very special. It is made out of black iron and it can withstand anything. It fears no fire nor water. The black iron is very durable and unlike other ferrum based weapons, it will never go rusty. To produce such a weapon, the frame was crafted from the iron itself and heated in fiery flames and cooled in icy cool water several times before it was completed. Plus, the scenery painting on paper held to the frame was painted by me," smiled Yamaro as he explained the origins of the fan Murashi was holding.

"Well, that's the only thing or gift you have ever given to me so far," complained Murashi sulkily as he folded the fan up and tapped it rhythmically on his palm.

"It's the heart that counts," replied Yamaro. Suddenly, he leaped forward and touched a granite cliff before him with one tip of the flute. Within a split second, a hollow tap was heard from Yamaro.

*KABOOM!* A cloud of dust rose up and filled the air. Minutes later, Murashi looked up when the dust settled and saw Yamaro standing on the spot where the stone cliff was supposed to be.

"Still very powerful, your skills haven't deteriorated after all," commented Murashi as Yamaro began playing a cold tune to the winds of Makai. Icy and heartless, the tune flowed far and wide through the lands.

Yamaro stopped playing suddenly.

"Let's get ready and plan what are we going to do when we reach Ningenkai. With preparation, we'll take the fools at Reikai by surprise," suggested Yamaro. Murashi nodded mutely and stuck the folded fan into his cloth belt.

Both of them walked out into the vast plains of Makai, away from their old hideout. Perhaps one might hear a shrill note of a lone flute or a gust of fierce wind created by the iron fan through the furiously vast lands.

"Hi Kurama!" yelled Yusuke as he was about to shoot his Rei-gun at the treetop which Kurama was sitting below. Kurama had a tendency to sit below trees; maybe it acted as a place of peace and serenity for him.

Kurama sighed as he got up from his hiding place. He didn't actually hope that he would be discovered so soon. He put down the rose that he had been holding for the past couple of hours. He narrowed his eyes a little at his friend and snapped out of his thoughts. At least he was gaining self-control over the heat which tormented his mind and body endlessly.

"Why are you sitting there all alone, practically hidden?" yelled Yusuke from the far end of the ring as he saw Kurama getting up and walking towards them. Yusuke raised a curious brow and folded his arms.

Kurama heard him but didn't want to yell back. *Yelling makes my voice crack...* thought Kurama and clenched his jaw. Instead, he hurried over to the duo and stood in front of them. He looked again at Arisa and there was another sinking feeling in him. She flashed a bright smile at Kurama and he nodded back at her.

"I'm feeling quite bored and I had nothing to do, so I just sat under that tree and thought how I could upgrade my youki in order to defeat that pair of monsters," explained Kurama, a wry smile lighting up his handsome face as he focused on Yusuke, trying to ignore that tugging sensation in his mind.

"Yeah, I guess I've got to find some way to get through the barrier Yamaro and Murashi created... I'm not even sure what they used against us," said Yusuke as he reached up with the back of his hand to wipe away sweat forming at his forehead. They stood there, under the gentle evening sun rays, chatting away with Kurama. When Arisa was not looking, Kurama quietly gave Yusuke a hand signal motioning him not to tell her about his youko origins. *Yeah, the same old Rose Whip sign...* Yusuke sighed and nodded slightly, acknowledging Kurama.

"Have you figured out any effective way to defeat Yamaro and Murashi?" asked Arisa, speculating how powerful might the pair be.

"Not yet, for the moment, but I'm experimenting on one. It is on duo attacks and two people teaming up to defeat an invincible team. Sad to say that I don't have anybody to try it out with me," answered Kurama, hoping that Yusuke and Arisa might give him any chance that he could get to train up with them. Although he didn't actually like the idea of training with others but loneliness had already begun to catch up with him. *Just because of Hiei...* thought Kurama bitterly and silently bit his lower lip.

Sure enough, Yusuke invited him to join along.

"I'm also looking for someone other than two of us to train with. Why don't you join us? Three heads are better than one, right?" smiled Yusuke as he said that; genuinely wanting Kurama to go with them. At least he could ask that smart youko to help him figure out how to turn into his youkai form. Yes, Yusuke's youkai form - a S- class toushin.

Both Arisa and Kurama nodded readily.

"Okay, let's start now," announced Yusuke with a clap.

For the next hour or so, Yusuke taught Arisa how to use her Reiki properly, instead of firing it without control like the situation in Koenma's office. Arisa was a smart girl and she could learn very quickly. By the end of the day, she could even control small Reiki attacks and blasts. Even Kurama willingly showed her how to make garden flowers bloom even more beautifully by mixing Reiki or Youki with the plants, seeds and whatever part. Alright, she couldn't actually think twice before saying anything and that was why Kuwabara refused to get near to her. Sharp tongued, she was.

Arisa was so delighted that she gave Kurama a bear hug, saying that she would most probably win the next school gardening competition. Of course, Kurama's face turned pink for a few seconds, but soon it dispelled.

Soon, the trio became the best of friends. Every evening or so, the sports ring in the quiet Imperial garden would be full of laughter and the sounds of ki attacks. It was indeed a very happy period for all of them.

A shrill scream erupted followed by a low moan. Soft panting floated out from his throat as he inhaled and exhaled slowly. The prickly sensation from the linen bed sheets didn't help much but aggravate his bodily sensations. His clothes lay in a pile on the floor but he was still experiencing fiery sensations in him.

His chest was covered by a thin sheen of sweat and his head of red hair was tousled and tangled by his wild trashing. The curtains blew a little, bringing in the soft breeze from the dark night. He squeezed his eyes shut, relishing the gentle touch of the wind on his naked torso.

Slowly, he rolled over and buried his face in the fluffy pillow. Yelping loudly, Kurama lay on his back again, easing the pressure on front part of his body. He opened his eyes little and things were starting to get back in focus.

There were already a few nights when images of beautiful youkai, female or male, tortured his thoughts. Seductive voices echoed in his head endlessly and Kurama groaned. Everyday life was becoming an ordeal to him, especially with that Arisa girl. He felt the pain when he balled his fists whenever there was an urge to make a pass at her. *Damn that heat cycle... Why must it hit me now?!* grumbled Kurama and struck his fist on the mattress, groaning out loud.

He knew how to ease the cycle that tormented him by instinct. He needed someone to relieve him of the tension within his body but he couldn't just go out there and kidnap a girl to sleep with him! For days and nights, Kurama had been toying with the option of turning back into his youko form to seduce some beautiful youkai in Makai but that choice had always been the last. He was Shuiichi Minamino now and he had self-respect! Not that he didn't have any when he was still in Makai, but things changed. He wasn't that youko who could hit and run anymore.

He had survived the last round without women so he knew he would live through this one. *But there was Kuronue the last time...* whispered a voice in his head and Kurama winced at those sharp words.

Kurama knew that this round of heat would go on for the next two weeks.

Just another two weeks, he would be back to normal.

Softly, another groan escaped from his lips before arching his shoulders off the bed when another wave of lust hit his wracked body.

Time passed very quickly, flowing past without looking back. Two weeks had passed and tomorrow would be the last day of the grand holidays. It was night time now in Reikai. Inside the Reikai spirits division office a boy in his late teens and a girl was sitting in front of a computer terminal, busily typing away.

"Still no progress," sighed Koenma, sucking away on his pacifier. He still couldn't kick that bad habit. Now, he was in the process on shifting all his leftover Reiki since that Sensui saga to a gold chain around his neck. It wasn't very thick, it was just the right size.

"At least you managed to get Enma-Daiou to buy you a computer terminal after all these years," said Misuko with a smile.

"Okay, it does make life a lot less miserable for me as I work in the office. Especially where I could get into the Internet of Ningenkai. You won't believe what new and weird things I have seen over the net," agreed Koenma as he typed the word 'Titanic' on the keyboard.

"Even with the Internet, it's still difficult to find the whereabouts of Yamaro and Murashi's weak points. You and I have been trying to track them down for the past week, but it's still fruitless," commented Misuko dejectedly.

"I've been facing the computer screen for nearly the whole day. Sorry for not finding enough time to be with you," apologized Koenma, momentarily prying his eyes from the computer screen to give Misuko a peck on the cheek.

"I guess it's better not to come over to my room at this moment," sighed Misuko as she rubbed her eyes a little.

"Why?" asked Koenma, curious to know.

"Arisa's staying in my room and it won't be very sweet for her to see you in my room like that," explained Misuko.

"Speaking of Arisa, I haven't seen her for quite a long time. How is her Reiki training going?" asked Koenma, changing the subject a little.

"Ever since she and the rest managed to defeat that youkai you wanted to capture, she has became obsessively engrossed with creating new types of Reiki attacks. Now, it had even become dangerous for to sleep soundly in my room. In the middle of the night, you could hear her yelling something like 'Rei-gun' at the top of her lungs and the ceiling board will drop right in the middle of the bed," said Misuko.

"How often?" asked Koenma.

"I think she has practically blasted the ceiling ten times over the past week," sighed Misuko again.

"She practices in the bedroom?"

"No, she doesn't. According to her always hundred percent correct philosophy, the Reiki attacks get out of control whenever she sleeps," answered Misuko as she rolled her eyes and gave a exasperated sigh.

"Her Reiki attacks get out of control? More like her dreaming of herself attacking someone as she blasted the ceiling out of existence," laughed Koenma as he heard Misuko's repetition of Arisa's lame explanation.

"Yeah, sometimes she can be very opinionated," said Misuko. "I guess that's how she acts all the time."

"I'll get a handyman sometime soon..." said Koenma.

Koenma suddenly switched off the computer terminal and went to the door. From there, he peered into the complete darkness outside. It was long past normal office hours and all the onis and ferrygirls had gone back to their quarters. Even George, after three rounds of persuasion from Koenma. Satisfied, he closed the door again and locked it behind him.

"Coast's clear, at least we can have some privacy," said Koenma as he walked back to lean back in his armchair, next to his desk. He stared at Misuko wistfully and sighed.

"Koenma-sama, I'll be going back to Ningenkai tomorrow. I will still have to attend school," said Misuko as she looked at the exhausted Koenma in the armchair.

"Hm... remember to come and drop by always," reminded Koenma as he sat up and looked into Misuko's deep brown eyes.

Koenma then pulled open a drawer and rummaged through it. "I have something for you to see... Ah ha!" Koenma produced a small red velvet box. He took both of Misuko's hands and pressed the small box into them.

"What's that?" asked Misuko as she studied the small box that Koenma handed over to her.

"Open it," said Koenma as he smiled at the girl lovingly. He had practically missed his lunch to get it done yesterday...

Misuko smiled at him back and opened the lid of the box slowly. In the middle of the box lay the bloodstone gem... set in a beautiful gold ring, edged with tiny rubies at the sides.

"What is that supposed to mean?" asked Misuko, grinning widely, her eyes twinkling.

"Isn't it nice?"

"Well, yeah. Where did you get a gem so alike to the bloodstone pendant you gave me?" asked Misuko curiously.

"Um.. I reset the gem to a ring. I thought it might look better on you this way..." explained Koenma slowly as he gazed deeply into her soft eyes. "I want you to wear this ring."

"Wear it?"

"Yes. Wear it. Besides, I have cut the pendant into half. The other half is on my left hand now," said Koenma, showing Misuko his left hand. "Will you wear it?"

"I... I don't know. I don't know whether I'm ready to accept such a heavy commitment or not..." replied Misuko slowly. Her took the ring out from the small box and touched it lovingly. *What?! He cut my present into half? Yeah, he could be so immature at times... Yes, he didn't ask me...* thought Misuko as she stared at the small piece of jewelry. *Yeah, you are so young and you are now standing face to face with a chance to be the Junior Empress of Reikai,* whispered a soft voice in her head.

Koenma nodded. "I understand. I'll wait for you. I'll wait until the day when you come here with the ring on your hand."

Misuko merely smiled. "I'll come with the ring. One day... One day... Take care, Koenma-sama."

Koenma gave Misuko a hug, feeling her slim body frame under her bulky kimono. "Goodbye..." he whispered into Misuko's ear. After that, he gave her a tiny peck on her cheek.

Suddenly, a voice yelled 'Rei-gun!' and the door splintered into pieces. Koenma released Misuko quickly in shock and turned to glare at the intruder. It was Yusuke Urameshi standing in place of the door, his hands poised as a gun.

"Yeah... just right for a romantic moment..." muttered Koenma under his breath. *I hate him,* added Koenma mentally.

"Um... sorry for barging in at the wrong time. I burst in because I thought both of you were trapped in here as I can't find you guys anywhere else in this building. So I tried the doorknob, but it was locked so... er... I though George locked both of you in here. I decided to break the door open. Sorry again," stammered Yusuke as he tried to excuse himself quickly. He rubbed his eyes and looked again. Sure enough, Koenma was looking down at the floor while Misuko blushed fierily.

Both Koenma and Misuko forced a smile at Yusuke. Koenma got up and smiled at Yusuke. "What's the commotion all about? Is there something going on up there?"

"Actually, we are having a party in my room as some of us are going back to Ningenkai tomorrow. Are you guys joining us?" invited Yusuke as Koenma stood before him.

"Er... sorry, I guess both of us are not going. Say goodbye to the rest for me," answered Koenma, giving Yusuke a pat on his shoulder and smiled.

"Alright, have fun!" said Yusuke as he gave both of them a wink before sprinting off towards the elevator. Koenma and Misuko's eyes trailed the lithe figure as it retreated to the elevator at the far end of the long hallway.

"I guess I'll have to try to employ a handyman around here," sighed Koenma as he studied the remains of the door hanging weakly on one hinge...

"They are not coming," announced Yusuke as he burst into the noisy and brightly lit room.

Keiko and Yukina were watching some kind of television program over in the middle of the room. Soccer, probably, as Keiko was cheering for her favorite team and screaming out loud when someone scored a goal. Hiei was sitting by the windowsill, holding a can of beer and drinking away recklessly, many thanks to Yusuke whom handed Hiei half a dozen of cans. Botan, Kuwabara, Arisa and Kurama were playing poker around the living table. All of them were also drinking heavily, except Botan, who was allergic to beer.

"Urameshi! Come and join us! I won't let you win this time!" shouted Kuwabara as he saw Yusuke in the room. He played with the cards and shuffled them with his long fingers.

Yusuke nodded and walked to the refrigerator and pulled out a dozen cans of beer. He walked to the little group playing poker and set the cans down on the table. He took a sinister glance at his friends and grinned evilly.

"C'mon, let's start a new game! Whoever loses, will have to drink half a can of beer at a time as penalty," announced Yusuke as he sat down on the carpeted floor with them. He puffed out his chest and set the entire pack of liquor on the glass table. *I'll show them how much my skills have improved!*

"Yes! I can't drink legally in Ningenkai, so I'll drink here..." cheered Arisa and snapped her fingers before opening a can. She took a gulp and relished the icy cold liquid flowing down her throat.

Everybody cheered and Yusuke began shuffling the cards. Obviously, everybody was celebrating and having fun to the fullest.

"Where's Koenma and Misuko?" asked Kuwabara.

"Oh, they are having a time of their lives right now in Koenma's office," answered Yusuke as he dealt each with a card.

"Misuko and Koenma? How do you know that? Yusuke-kun, don't tell me that they were doing *that* in front of you!" scolded Arisa, sticking out her tongue at Yusuke.

"Not that I purposely wanted to see, but since you guys insisted on wanting Koenma and Misuko here, I went to call them down just now. When I looked in Koenma's and Misuko's room respectively, there was no one in. I thought they might be still in the office. I took the elevator and went down. When I reached Koenma's office, the lights were still on, but when I tried the door, it's locked. Suddenly, I heard some scraping sounds and I thought they might be trapped inside. I didn't bother to find the keys so I used my Rei-gun to blast the door apart," explained Yusuke in detail, repeating what he had actually done just now.

At this point, Arisa's eyes widen in mock horror. "So what happened?" asked Arisa. The rest also gathered even more closely to listen to Yusuke.

"Guess what? I saw them hugging each other... Misuko was holding some type of jewelry..." Yusuke burst out laughing as he described the awkward scene.

"What a couple..." commented Kurama as he played around with a deck of playing cards he had taken from Yusuke. He shifted uncomfortable and fidgeted uneasily when Botan's bare feet accidentally brushed against his leg. *Damn, not Botan now!* groaned Kurama inwardly and wiped away the droplet

"Speaking of Misuko, she isn't as soft as we thought she was, you know," said Kuwabara suddenly and fingered his chin.

"How do you know?" challenged back Arisa. "I know I'm the rougher one, but not my cousin. She is the wishy-washy type of girl."

"Well, I'm just giving my own opinion. You guys should have seen how she captured Koenma-sama's heart... Any fool will be able to see that he is madly in love with that girl," explained Kuwabara cheekily.

Everybody oohed and aahed until Arisa announced that she wanted to start playing poker now.

Three hours passed...

"I can't believe I lost again... I don't usually lose a lot... What bad luck!" grumbled Arisa as she set her cards down and finished off her twelfth can of beer since the game began. Most probably her twentieth since the party started. Her eyesight was also going slightly hazy.

"My situation is about the same as yours. I have lost about 20 times out of 50 games so far," interrupted Kurama as he set down his cards to be shuffled by Kuwabara after being shoved a can of beer by Yusuke.

"Give me a five!" yelled Arisa, raising a opened palm to Kurama. Kurama returned the high five and felt his body shivered at her touch. *Why is his palm all wet and sticky?* asked Arisa inwardly and stared at her own hand. Kurama didn't seem to notice her reaction; instead, he resumed peering at his cards.

"Arisa, the day after tomorrow would be the orientation day... So which bed are you... Sorry, so to which class would you be going?" asked Kurama and tried to keep his speech under control. With the effects of the alcohol, the heat was getting unbearable but Kurama slowly kept his actions restricted to stroking the pokers cards carefully laid out between his fingers.

"Class 6A. Which class are you going to?" asked Arisa in return before opening another can of beer and took a few mouthfuls.

"Your turn, Kurama," reminded Kuwabara and gave Kurama a slight punch on his right arm. Kurama pushed Kuwabara's hand off and acknowledged him with a slight nod.

"Yeah," said Kurama as he put out a few cards. Then, he turned back to Arisa, trying too hard to act like himself. Arisa looked at himself quizzically but Kurama's acting skills were far beyond ordinary.

"6A too. Why don't we sit next to each other? At least we could exchange ideas about class work," invited Kurama... At least when it came to missions they would have nothing to hide from each other.

"Yeah, sure. If I don't sit with you, I would have to sit with some other geeky guy... I can't believe I'm in the first year of Sixth form..." replied Arisa, secretly pleased with his suggestion. Well, he was cute and smart in a way...

"Hey! Why, I lost again!" yelled Kurama, slamming his cards down on the table.

Another hour passed by. Both Kurama and Arisa were taking turns to gulp down huge amounts of liquor. The clock sounded twelve times, marking it was midnight now. Both Arisa and Kurama's faces had turned into a slight shade of red. What unluckiness... It was said that if you could win 20 games straight then you could lose 20 games straight too...

*Owww... I feel very happy now... All my troubles and worries are gone! Hiei's gone! All the pain is gone!* thought Kurama dizzily and he looked at his cards. The spades were starting to look like clubs while the hearts were slowly contorted into rounded shapes of red. Kurama squeezed his eyes shut but only succeeded in introducing more lust and heat to his mind. *Damn... I need to get back to my room quick or I'll do something embarrassing...* mumbled Kurama and forced himself to lay the cards back on the table.

"Enough, I think that's all for now," said Yusuke as he saw Kurama and Arisa weren't in very good shape now. He put down his cards slowly on the table and looked at the faces around him.

"No! I want to play some more," answered Arisa as she picked up her cards and began shuffling. She dealt each a few cards and took a peek at her cards.

"Great! I lost again!" said Kurama as he put down his cards, also half drunk now. *Yes! I feel so light and airy... I wanna get drunk... I could forget about Hiei this way! Drink more!* commanded Kurama mentally and picked up another can of beer, the fox spirit starting to lose his judgment and senses. *Hiei! Where are you when I need you the most? I hate you, I love you!* Kurama bit on his lower lip to keep himself from moaning out loud.

"Okay, I'm not playing anymore," announced Arisa as she tried to get up. She reached a hand to balance herself but fell back on the sofa, obviously also drunk. Keiko immediately rushed over and held her by the arm.

"Arisa-san, you're drunk! Let me help you to your room," said Keiko as she tried to help Arisa stand up properly.

"No, I'm not drunk!" protested Arisa, giving a few small hiccups, even though she was really drunk. She tried to stand up again, but with no avail.

Arisa giggled a little and looking right up at the ceiling. "I see there are a lot of fireflies flying around! I love fireflies!" said Arisa happily as Keiko tried to pull her up.

Kurama, meanwhile, was also trying to stand up. He put a hand up to clear his dizziness. At last, he managed to balance himself. He stumbled over to Arisa, his eyes filled with confusion.

"Let me take her back to her room, besides I'm also going back to my room... She shares the same room with Misuko-san too, right?" offered Kurama to Keiko and reached out a hand.

"Can you handle her?" asked Keiko in a worried tone.

"Yeah, no problem..." answered Kurama simply as he lifted up Arisa. He put Arisa's arm around his own shoulder and put a hand around her waist. His hand sneaked under her shirt and pinched the sensitive flesh on the curve of her waist. His lips curved upwards in a slight smirk when Arisa smacked his hand away and lay it on his chest but no-one seemed to notice his little action. Kurama nearly shouted aloud when Arisa's hand made contact with his damp chest. Gathering his sense of direction, both of them began their way back to their rooms.

The rest looked on as the pair teetered from left to right and from right to left dangerously but always seemed to regain their balance at the last second. In fact, they even did a few pirouettes and turns along the dimly lit corridor. The rest locked their eyes on them and stifled outbursts of laughter. All of them looked stunned, actually.

"Are you sure they will be alright?" asked Keiko worriedly. "They might get hurt, you know."

"Guess so. Drunk people can take care of themselves properly," answered Yusuke simply.

"They are a cute couple like that," said Botan as she began dealing the cards for a new game. Okay, this time without liquor.

"Watch it!" yelled Kurama as the door burst open, but it was too late. Both of them fell face first into Misuko's room. Arisa answered slowly, "Huh?"

"Ouch! That hurts. Get up, Arisa..." said Kurama slowly as he rubbed the bridge of his nose. Arisa was all sprawled out and practically sleeping on the floor. Kurama sighed and drooped his head, lying on the floor too. "Hee..." hiccuped Kurama and placed a hand languidly on Arisa's shoulder, his fingers unconsciously circling her skin through the fabric of her shirt. "Get up!" commanded Kurama to Arisa and he got up. Almost sleepily, he dragged Arisa by her arms to the bed. At the end, Kurama tried putting her upper body on the bed first before placing her legs but Arisa slipped down to the floor again.

*She's heavy. A lot heavier than Hiei...* Kurama grumbled to himself. Kneeling in front of her slumped body, he placed an arm each under her shoulders and hips before heaving her up. Gritting his teeth, he collapsed onto the soft mattress together with the girl. He reached out a hand and took off her sandals, throwing them on the floor below. Arisa lay in the bed, giving off little giggles now and then.

Suddenly, a wave of dizziness struck him and he blindly rested his head on Arisa's bare legs but it was quickly followed by instant cooling relief. He heaved up his head and buried his face in his hands. He had never been this drunk before. He took a look at Arisa's face and admired it. In fact, Arisa was very beautiful indeed, about as pretty as Misuko, although in a very different manner. Now, her eyes were closed shut and her face was slightly shaded by the dim moonlight that flooded the room. Her head of shoulder length jet black hair was tousled and it framed her face perfectly. A blush colored her face, turning her cheeks a slight shade of pink. Kurama had heard from his friends in another class that although Arisa was beautiful as a rose, she could be fierce as a tigress.

"Hehe... What can be fiercer than a fire dragon?" yelled out Kurama aloud. *Hiei... Hiei... Why? Don't you how much I want you?* Kurama laughed. He laughed a very bitter laugh and rested his head on the bed. Tentatively, he reached out a hand to stroke her left thigh slowly, sighing in pure ecstasy and the coolness of her smooth skin was electrifying to his touch.

She was mumbling something. Kurama unconsciously put a ear near Arisa's mouth and his right hand rested at the curve of her waist. *What is she trying to say?*

"Kurama... do... love..." was all he could hear. "Huh? Why is my name there?" asked Kurama emptily.

Kurama instantly put up his head. He pressed closer to Arisa's mouth. This time, he heard it clearly.

"Kurama, do you know how much I love you?" said Arisa in her mindless talk. Kurama gasped slightly, his head still dizzy from the alcohol just now.

Kurama got onto the bed and fell on top of Arisa. He could catch her eyes opening a little... He peered at her and brought his face close to hers'. "Arisa, do you really love me?" asked Kurama, his eyesight was slowly focusing better. Arisa took a sigh and smiled. Obviously, she was still drunk.

Arisa mumbled something which sounded like 'yes', then her head rolled to another side. Kurama, hearing a definite yes, leaned down and gave her a soft kiss, drinking in the sweet taste on her lips. Arisa responded a little by kissing back softly. He leaned down again, his fingertips trailing along the outline of her collarbone and straight to the topmost button of her shirt. Grinning lustfully, he kissed her neck tenderly and unbuttoned the entire row of fasteners before ripping the fabric open. With her delicate flesh exposed, Kurama trailed butterfly kisses along her creamy skin on one shoulder. He began working on his own shirt too and in least than a moment, his clothes were lying in a pile on the floor.

For a start, he gave Arisa a hungry and deep kiss on her lips and Arisa responded, more than the first time. Kurama managed to grab a piece of cloth somewhere and tied it around Arisa's eyes.

"I think you would like being blindfolded..." laughed Kurama languidly and resumed kissing her passionately on her lips, his hands roaming all over body freely.

Kurama pulled off and whispered into Arisa's ear. "You will be the only woman in my life, I promise. As Shuiichi Minamino and Kurama, my heart belongs to you now. I shall love you always and forever." After he made his declaration, he laughed even louder.

*See, Hiei? I don't need you anymore. I have Arisa. She loves me and I love her. She wants me, not like you who shoves me away,* thought Kurama aimlessly as he closed his eyes for a while. He opened his eyes and began stroking her bare arms.

*Gosh... Why am I getting dizzy again?* mumbled Kurama as he rubbed his eyes.

Arisa, who was half unconscious, barely felt a cool draft on her bare skin. "Kurama, Kurama..." she mumbled continuously, in her dreams.

Slowly, his free hand reached down to unhook the catch on her trousers before dragging it down and left the article at the foot of the bed. Kurama lay an arm under her head and rolled over, placing the girl under him. Kurama was about to kiss her again when he looked up suddenly. He reached out a hand to knock out his dizziness and stared at the window. He drew the curtains across the windowsill clumsily, thus throwing the whole room into pitch black. Kurama found the comforter and threw it over both of them. Slowly, he bent down to kiss her passionately...

It was five in the morning and it was still pitch black outside. Kurama got up silently, careful not to wake up Arisa who was still sleeping soundly there. With a flick of his wrist, he tore off the blindfold. He stood on the floor and knelt down. He began picking out his clothes from the mixed-up bundle. He glanced at Arisa briefly, his heart already sorrowful and sore from the guilt he suffered now... *No, it couldn't be...* Kurama bit his lower lip sadly and closed his eyes for a moment. He really didn't mean to do this to Arisa.

Almost after an eternity, Kurama began dressing, and dressed Arisa too. *Still sleeping so sweetly... Please... please don't let her know what terrible thing I've done to her tonight...* prayed Kurama silently.

Kurama gave Arisa a soft peck on the cheek and produced a red rose. He stuck it into a vase on the bedside table. Kurama took one last glance at the sleeping figure.

"Sorry..." was all he could say before he walked out quickly and closed the door silently behind him. Guilt and remorse trailed him endlessly into the softly lit corridor. It was a mistake.

A serious mistake.

Traduzido por Rechan // Título Original: Past Present Future