Chapter 8- 'An Edge'

"…The little promises, the sweet oaths…though time and space had dulled all these memories…the heart will still be able to remember it…in an unknown magical way that neither the lover can explain…"

"Hmph," Akira grunted, glaring at her foot tapping the perfect-white floorboards of the train station; her arms crossed, her brows furrowing in annoyance. She was sitting in one of the station benches, impatiently waiting for Red-Head to arrive. He was going with her today to Genkai's temple.

The guy found a way that could help them decipher and know the obscured identity of her ethereal spirit through a magical concoction that will be brought by his demon friends today to Genkai's place. The said concoction was a potion that was made from what he referred to as the Fruit of the Past Life from Spirit World, this thing will be able to sent her back to her pre-human state…or in a much worse term, will be able to transform her back to her previous self, to the air-spirit. And on this faithful day, they're going to try the confounded thing.

For her the thought of it was impossible of course. Come on, she transforming back to an air-spirit, the idea was such a joke! It was utterly impossible!—but Red-Head proclaimed, again, as the all-around guy who knows everything, that it was possible. That the potion is bona fide and effective—Red-Head even claimed, he had used it himself and it worked.

Well for someone like him, maybe… but for her, will it work?

The idea is indeed actually very frightening. And the possibility of it caught her off-guard as well. Who would have thought a stupid, otherworldly potion that could transform you back to your past life entity, exist? Red-Head alone could—like Kazumi had said, he was the guy who can seem to do anything and was too darn good at everything.

Except for one…being damned punctual.

Her eyes glared at her blue Swatch. It was already eight-thirty. He's too damned late.

'Where the hell is that guy?' she grunted in her thoughts, fuming; mentally reminding herself to bombard the guy with acidic and not to mention, rueful words, later when he arrives. She'll make certain of that.

Didn't she ever mention that impatience beside blessed curiosity is one of her damned innate virtues? And it being unbearable most of the time doesn't help that fact either.

And now it was turning into utter ire.

With her doing nothing and the second ticking by, double thoughts and unwanted doubts regarding today's activity started to form a roll of list in her mind and were pushing her over the edge. All night, she was evading all those uncertain thoughts; afraid that it might cause her back-pedaling. But now, with her doing nothing, thinking of nothing, it was plainly unavoidable.

'This is too risky… you know one of the possible outcomes, namely, losing your own consciousness. Genkai told you that,' the other side of her sternly exulted with her decision—the coward side of her to be precise.

"That was just nothing but a baseless theory, a premise. So stop being utterly absurd and unhelpfully paranoid," she shot back. Of course, she knows the risks mainly that one. But something strong inside her urges her to do this. There are the risks but think about the possible things she may discover after this. She may finally know her whole self…finish this sort-of soul searching bustle. It's worth the risks, worth the danger. As the famous saying states, 'No guts, No glory.'

No double doubt would stop her from doing this.

'But you're scared stiff.'

"No, I'm not!" Grr…stupid, coward side of her! She should be cheering for her decision and all rather than irritating her, telling absurdity and frightening her to death with it. "I'm not scared! And stop pestering my head! It's my decision! No one's gonna stop me, not even you and your absurd, baseless threats! So the hell, stop it!"

'Impulsiveness is next to absurdity.'

She felt her teeth mashed together with an audible grinding sound at that. Her hands were balling up into fists, her whole frame shaking.

"Stop. It." She murmured under her breath, trying to control her nerves.

'And your impulsiveness is certainly a product of utter absurdity."

Pak! That had pushed her over the edge.

"That's it! Get away! Leave me alone!" She growled—actually, nearly shouted. Her voice was loud enough for her own thoughts and was quite loud enough for anyone near her to plainly hear it.

"Oops," a velvety voice spoke, warily, "Am I that too late to annoy you that much?"

Her eyes quickly flickered up and there he saw him standing in front of her, a couple of steps away from her. He was wearing an orange jacket with a plain shirt underneath it, a pair of dark blue jeans and sneakers. (Note: it was the same clothing he wear when he was finding the psychic core with Botan, Kuwabara and Kaito during the Sensui Seven Arc) It took her by surprise, it was the first time she actually saw him wear something casual not that refined, as what she was accustomed seeing him wear. It was laid-back as if he's just going somewhere and hang-out with his male friends in the mall. Though she must admit, he was still an eye-catcher in it. She could easily notice how the eyes of the young women and not-so-young-women quickly flicker to his direction. It would be stupid of her to deny that he was attractive. Because he was! With that perfect carved delicate face and that enchanting emerald eyes of him. And that long-crimson locks of his which she bet is much smoother than her own cropped short hair. He's darn beautiful, and actually, much, more, prettier than her. And the fact that he's a guy makes it worse too.

It's hard to believe that this guy here is a half-demon—a demon who is always depicted and portrayed as entities with gargoyle and golem-like repulsive appearance known for their vileness and decadence. Yet here he stands in front of her possessing the delicate, angelic features of an angel. It's seems so ironic…………………………?????????

Hey, Wait a minute!

What that hell was that???!!!!!!!

Ugh! What the hell are those thoughts about?!!! Did she just romanticize the fellow? View him through the rose-tinted glasses?! Ugh! Ugh! Ugh!—A feeling of disgust suddenly course through her whole body at the thought of it. Ugh! Ugh! UGH!!!!!!!!!!!

"That statement is not for you," she quickly snapped as she recovered herself; jumping off her seat, crossing her arms. Instinctively, her eyes averted from his pulchritudinous face, avoiding it. She doesn't have an idea how long she have stared at that face like an imbecile, but she'll make sure that will never happen again.

"Then for wh—"

"For no one special, that is none of your business," she retorted, cutting him off, petulance not living her tone. "Don't try to distract me. You're damned late and nothing's gonna change that. Why don't you try to start making your amends now, Mister, huh? I know your helping me with my own personal problem here and you don't know how grateful I am with that. But making me wait here like I'm some kind of a dupe is so not nice. I had a devil of a time waiting here! I waited here for almost…almost—" her sentence trailed off as she glanced back to her watch, calculating the time that had passed.

"Thirty three minutes," the Red-Head finished off her sentence before she could even open her mouth.

"Yes, thirty-three minutes," she grunted, scowling at him, "Thirty-three minutes…and twenty seven seconds all put to waste. Not problem to you at all. But I treat time more luxurious than gold."

Red-Head's lips twitched at her sarcastic tone, a crooked smile playing around the edges of his lips.

Her eyes narrowed at that, her lips quivered—trying to find words that could put him to death in guilt for making her wait. Or, at the very least, make him feel ashamed of himself. She was a woman and a man should never ever make a woman wait. It was a code of courteousness any gentlemen knew! She bet even Heathcliff and Mr. Darcy knew that! But she mentioning that to him seems to be not a very good idea. It would just make him laugh, that she was certain of. And she wouldn't let such chagrin to happen."

So down went to option two; fixed her glare fiercely at him, let alone the heat of her anger physically burn him… but the devil seemed to be more amused by it. It was annoying! Completely annoying!

She was ready to spat a rude word at him now, the acidic taste rich in her mouth, when just then she happened to notice the guy standing still behind Red-Head. Naturally, her eyes flicked passed through Red-Head toward the unknown guy, scrutinizing him.

She felt her one of her eyebrows lifted, her questioning gaze darting back to Red-Head, giving him a 'who-the-hell-is-this-one' look.

A little smile smeared to Red-Head's countenance as he took a light step back, giving him the chance to freely appraise the unknown guy—his companion, now she was certain of that. The guy has black curly hair, narrow eyes and thick eyeglasses—freckles smeared on his cheeks too. He was as tall as Red-Head but not as good-looking as the first one. He was just a plain-looking one and his features even became plainer because he was next to Red-Head with features ascetically designed to melt any sappy girl's heart. Damn the fox!—literally.

After her jiffy scrutiny, concluding that the guy was no one familiar to her, her curious gaze flickered back to Red-Head.

She doesn't know why but a tinge of confusion shot through his features in a second. And with a little smile on his face he lightly shook his head before turning his attention back to her, "Perhaps you are not yet acquainted with him."

She nodded stupidly.

"Akira, Yuu Kaito—Kaito, Akira," he introduced him to her and vice-versa, gesturing casually with his hand, the little smile on his face turning to a wry one, he then added, "He's our classmate, Akira."

Classmate…? Oh, yes, Yuu-san, one of the Meio prodigies, she thought and remembered (so stupid of her not to notice.) He was one of the proud whiz kids of Meio Private Academy; a remarkable student with a broad knowledge in Literature and lame-old History; classified as one of those rare students who would loved to stay in the library all day long rather than to go home—or in her own short words, a full-blooded nerd.

But anyway, 'what the hell was this Kaito doing here?' was the thing she wanted to know, so she turned on a meaningful glance to Red-Head. But the guy seemed to be oblivious to it.

"Hi, Yuu-san," she reluctantly turned to the dark-haired guy, trying her best to be polite as possible while internally fighting the (her) impulse to ask him directly and rudely regarding his presence today. "Nice meeting you."

"It's nice to finally meet you, Akira—personally," the guy smiled. His dark narrow eyes were unreadable but the smile on his face was friendly enough to her—plain. "I've heard so much about you and er—" he gave a quick glance to Red-Head before turning back to her, "about your uncanny situation as well…from Shuichi."

That caught her off guard.

"Excuse me?"

"I'm here to help you, Akira-san," the nerd black-haired continued. "Shuichi suddenly called me last night and discussed the matter with me. He picked me up from my house this morning that's why he's late. Didn't he mention that to you?"

She nodded at him with one stiff nod.

Well, that one was clear—clearly enough to get on her nerves. What was Red-Head up to? Seeking help from a plain human, discussing her peculiar existence to him—which is, of course, considered as a classified 'otherworldly' information meant to be kept from any plain human—including this nerd. What the hell have he done? Have he completely lost his mind?!!

She felt her teeth clenched together with an audible snap. Rage pulsed through her whole self in half a second; anger turned to fierce glare flashing toward Red-Head's innocent pretense, "No. He failed to mention that to me." She said, voice sharper, her eyes tightening. "But I'll be happy to hear about it."

Kaito muffled a nervous chuckle, his anxious eyes darting back and forth between her and Red-Head—probably, feeling the physical tension upcoming in the air. And that tension will worsen, if Red-Head would not open his mouth now and explain. She'll make sure of that.

"Kaito also became one of Genkai's apprentices, Akira," the Red-Head began, starting to clarify the details at once.

Kaito gradually relaxed his tense posture with a relief sigh.

"His gifted with a strong spiritual awareness and an uncanny ability as well of manifesting territories, or the guys whose abilities are like his prefer to call it," Red-Head continued. "His specifically is the Power of Taboo. He can create his own-like dimension within a ten meter radius or so. Within that boundary, he can declare rules of his own that any individual trapped in it are forced to follow or else it'll cost their soul. He can manipulate things in his own territory, either, voiding anything he doesn't prefer in addition to that."

"His gift will help us to control you Akira. It will act as a force-field to void your energy if it gets too riotous," he continued, tone becoming serious, the smile on his face fading. "When the potion takes effect, you'll certainly lose control of your energy. It will rouse all the energy and strength slumbering inside you, not to mention, the immense energy your ethereal side may have. After that the next set of occurrences will be unpredictable for us. Aside from one of the hypotheses Genkai assumed which I know you are plainly aware of. That's the one we'll be preventing to happen."

"Mainly a precaution, Akira."

A sudden cringe course through her stomach—not a product of fear or anything—but the product of a certain edge in his voice as he spoke the word 'precaution.' The statement was indeed ominous. But odd as it may sound, she doesn't care about it. The one that caught her attention was the edge that crept into his voice; into his tone…it was not ominous…far more than threatening…it was something else…

'Passengers, the next train will arrive at exactly five minutes. Please get your tickets and be ready.' A well-accented woman voice speaking through the station speakers pulled her out of her thoughts.

'The next train will arrive at exactly five minutes. Please get your tickets and be ready.' The voice repeated, informing the passengers about the forthcoming train.

Akira quickly turned her eyes back to Kurama, having the urge to ask him about the sudden idiosyncrasy in his voice but the devil he had suddenly turned his back and pronounced 'Let's go', strolling off with his wagging-tail friend Kaito following him—leaving her behind.

She remained still, staring curiously at him. The edge of his voice that she noticed…? What was that? A caused of late puberty…? A sudden lump on his throat…? A male hormone effect…? Or was she just imagining things, inanely observing the littlest things too much…?

She shook the inane thoughts off her head. Whatever it was, let Hades himself take care of it!

"Hey, you two, wait up!" she shouted, seeing the two guys continued their pace without her. "Wait up!" she stammered to her feet and run off.

"Wow, the place didn't change at all," Kaito remarked, his amused gaze straight toward the temple's colossal gate lying still on top of the massive granite staircase. "Do Genkai really enjoy living here? It seems so…remote."

The travel going to Genkai's place just took an hour or so. In fact the travel was quite fast than the usual and went threateningly smooth too. Akira remained quiet the whole time, glaring intently outside the train with furrowed brows. It was actually odd. She always seemed so boisterous anytime, anywhere. Though he suspected she was saving herself for later and for the meantime, giving them a silent treatment (especially him).

She's mad at him, it's written all over her face. She's mad at him probably because he didn't mention anything regarding Kaito and his own choice of asking the guy for help without considering her opinion first. Such corresponding response must be a defining characteristic of the X chromosomes—women mostly have that certain reaction to such issue.

—But one way or another, he wouldn't get away with it that easily. Knowing Akira and her temper, it was just a matter of time—and not much of it either—before she starts to chide him to death. She's just probably waiting for the right time.

His eyes instinctively rolled at Akira, observing her out of the corner of his eyes. Her eyebrows were still furrowed; her arms remained crossed over her chest while her lips were pushed out in a pout—just like a typical grumpy kid.

Out of the blue, Akira rolled her eyes at him and instantly noticed his scrutiny. An immediate frown shot across her face and with an angry humph coldly snubbed him, sauntering off to the stairs—apparently as expected.

"What's with her?" Kaito queried as Akira started ascending the stairs.

"Nothing, just nothing," he answered, a hint of humor playing in the tone of his voice, "Probably just an upshot of the X chromosomes working overtime."

"Eh?" Kaito forehead creased, confused.

"A female thing," he joked with a fond smile, turning on his heel, following Akira.

He and Kaito was about to reach the mid stair when Akira, already on the mid part of the stairs, stagger to a halt. Her gaze fixed toward the colossal gate ahead of them. It took him a second to see the cause of her sudden standstill as the bright sun momentarily blinded him as he turned his gaze toward the gate. But as soon as the bright yellow ray of the sun shifted, he finally saw it, two forms standing on top of the massive granite staircase.

As his eyes adjusted from the sudden ray of sunlight, he beheld the two forms clearly; a poker-faced blond one and a red-head. The red-head was vigorously waving his arm over his head, a grin stretched wide across his face. Jin. He was smiling so big it looked like it would hurt his cheeks. Next to him was Suzuka, standing still, his arms crossed, his face serious, trifled cocky as usual with a pint of edginess.

"They're my friends," he whispered to Akira the moment he was behind her.

Her dark-brown eyes were still on the two individual waiting ahead of them, her face mixed with emotions of anxiousness, confusion and irritation. And then she turned sharply on him, "Can I talk to you for a meantime." And then with a fleeting look at Kaito, she added, "Alone."

Kurama nodded a single nod, positively aware of the reason behind Akira's action.

And without any further gesture, Akira grabbed a fistful of his jacket in one hand and roughly yanked him a couple of feet afar from Kaito.

"What the hell are you thinking?" she murmured, keeping her voice even though a dominant tone of petulant was present.

"Particularly about what?" he queried back, nonchalantly—that irritated her more.

"About them," she hissed, scowling, pointing toward the temple's gate, "About choosing these people to help me with my problem, to help us know the obscurity regarding the existence of the air-spirit inside me."

"Kaito's doubts me and the things you told him about me. He still doesn't believe in it—completely—that's why he's here to see it for himself. And that red-head one over there, he's seems to be so careless. He doesn't care about anything at all. While the blond one cares only about his self. He's narcissistic beyond words! Far more than you know. He's an egocentric stud."

For once, he was speechless. She does have a brilliant mind, to end up concluding such things.

Appraising words have never astonished him even once in his human life. Humans are judgmental, always having their own shades of opinions regarding everything there is under the sun—though most of the time they're wrong. He's aware of that thing. It's an apparent fact.

But when it comes to Akira…again, it's different…accurate. Truthfully, Kaito doubts are easier to explain. He's a human, speculative in nature. But Akira's own insightful view about the other two which is frighteningly true is another different thing to explain, a harder one. She had merely seen Jin and Suzuka—and had never spoke to them yet—but still her assessment regarding their attitude hit the truth. It was sort of remarkable.

"And what makes you conclude that?" he queried quite curious.

Akira growled, giving him an incredulous look. "Look, it's natural for me to know. Enough said."

"Elucidate," he demanded blasé but quite obstinate.

She made the same grumpy growling sound again but gave up with a resigned sigh. "It's natural for me to know these things. I assessed them by their appearances…glimpse at their thoughts. One of those two guys over there seems to be here only to prove something…probably the effectiveness of the potion itself…if he made it—I'm not sure. And then the other one, the red-head, he just wants to see you, or maybe, see my capability too. He's all jumpy about it. And Kaito…grr…" she rolled her eyes dramatically. "You don't know what kind of irritating thoughts he has about me. He's thinks I'm diabolic—satanic with a pint of voodoo. I hate to look at his face and know the thoughts circling around that cynic mind of his. It irritates me to death. He's lucky I didn't punch him or what!"

"Thoughts?" he repeated the word, he just heard from her mouth. "You can read thoughts?"

Akira shook her head vigorously. "No, not exactly read their precise thoughts. Who do you think I am, Wonder Woman? That's impossible, way out of reality," she winced at her last words, probably doubting the word to even exist after the things she saw, considering her own situation as well. "I can only know the things going on in a human's mind when I look straight to his face, a fleeting look would work too…similar to face reading but much more profound…and kind of accurate. Or maybe it's just plain face reading with my descriptions getting way out. Sometimes it's cool but most of the time it's plainly annoying."

'They can read intentions, know the past, present and the future.' Koenma words repeated on his head. Koenma did mention the thing when he told him some of the air-spirits abilities. So it was really true.

"Then it means you can read mine too?" he asked, truly curious about the possibility.

Akira made a face and answered him in a mocking tone, "No, I can't and no, I don't want to. It's hard to read your face, you know—and no doubt, your mind as well. You have a one-hell-of-a-talent oppressing your expressions. But I bet you're the type of person, who loves to keep his thoughts only to himself. Keep their opinions inside them unless their needed to be said. You're a very secretive person…maybe far more than you know—an inborn irritating obscurest!"

"I will just gain a headache rummaging through your humongous brain," she snorted, adding.

His lips twitched at that. Even irritated, Akira can still be remarkably amusing.

"It's a gift Akira." He remarked to her with a smile.

Akira grimaced.

"I'm acquainted with these guys, I know their abilities, the things they can do and the things they are capable of. I know where all these anxieties of yours are coming from. It was dense of me to remind you of the dire outcome earlier in the station so forgive me," he said, smiling apologetically. "But these qualms are wholly unnecessary, Akira. I assure you, you're not going to lose yourself. All you have to do is to trust them. Trust me."

"You make that sound so easy," she sardonically mused out, frowning.

Kurama smiled at her and she sarcastically smiled back.

Just then a call echoed in the distance. "Kurama, hey!" someone shouted his voice thick with an Irish-like accent.

He and Akira quickly shifted their head at the precise direction—to Jin. "Kurama, chum!" he called again, waving his hand and enthusiastically leaned into a half-crouch, as a light blue aura started to stir around him—probably in unison with the unseen wind. In a second, his body started to levitate and with a wide grin plastered on his face, flew in demon speed darting toward them.

"The hell," he heard Akira muttered under her breath, obviously flabbergasted.

"He's Jin," he whispered at her, rolling his eyes at the stunned Akira, "the Wind Master of the Spirit World Shinobis. Needless to say, he can control the wind—you probably already figured out."

A sudden strong wind whipped against his face as Jin halted to a sudden stop in front of them, his feet still floating on mid-air. "How d'yea pal, long time no see, man," he said, smiling, his words pouring out so quickly. "I thought yea' and th's little fella here are fighting, wanted t' stop both of yea'," he chuckled, his eyes flickering a momentary look at Akira's startled face. "Up there, it looked like he wanted t' kill yea, man—"

"Looks could kill," Akira said, cutting Jin's swift words—implying subjectively to the singular form of the word 'looks' which is look, in the sentence. Her voice was snappish again, though he could notice how her eyes ogle intently at Jin's fluffy red-hair—probably to the little horn that poked out from it—and the look it caused to her face. "And I'm not a He," she continued in saccharine tones, raising her eyebrow. "You should try visiting the optometrist, you know. You have a serious problem with your eyes, man."

Jin ogled closely at her, blinked, and then laughed, "Yea' too cool for a girl," he remarked. "I'm Jin, a shinobi—nice t' meet yea!"

"Hasegawa Akira," she introduced herself, a crooked smile appearing on her face, "an uncanny hybrid meant to confound all the living organisms here on Earth—and on the other worlds as well…including you—a half-celestial, half-human entity to be precise with it."

"Nice to meet you too, Jin the wind-controlling flying freak," she joked. And with her chin, gestured to Jin's feet perched several inches above the floor. "You wouldn't mind getting on your feet so we can make this acquaintance more formal, right?

"No sweat," Jin answered, dropping down the ground with a soft wind whoosh.

Akira held out her hand and Jin took it—both shaking their hands rather more enthusiastically than courtesy demanded while grinning at each other—it looks more like they were old friends seeing each other after a long period of time.

The other minute, she's suspicious of Jin; the next, there were already like the best of friends.

Impressively erratic…

Seems like the wind has a magical connection to all the individuals innate having the same element…Or was it just because Akira resembles Yusuke, while Jin was likely similar to Yusuke and that Jin understands the quirky correlation between the first two…?

The convoluted sentence got him smiling. Well, one thing he knows, it takes one to know one, right…?

Akira lifted the glass bottle to her face, unwillingly; the blood-red liquid concoction sloshed, the Fruit of the Past Life bobbing inside. Entertainingly, he watched her sniffed the unknown mixture. And as expected, she flinched from it, and then made a face.

There were already trying the concoction with Genkai's permit and guidance. Kaito was standing beside him, prepared to unleash his gift of manifesting-dimensions at his sign. While Jin was at his other side, grinning at Akira's every disgusted expressions. Genkai was standing a few steps behind them, her arms crossed, her eyes zeroed on Akira. Yukina was beside her, anxious, her frail hands slightly quivering on her chest. Suzuka was near at them, standing with the same smug look, bored; his hands clasped on his waist.

"It smells…ewe—revolting…" Akira remarked, wrinkling her nose. Then her dark-brown eyes flickered to him, "How did you stand drinking this crap? By plugging your nose…?"

The edge of his lips twitched, fighting a smile. Suzuka rolled his eyes. Jin chuckled.

"Kurama must have a strong stomach," Jin smiled sheepishly, "Want me t' help yea' plug yea'r nose?"

Akira shook her head, grimacing, "Bet it wouldn't help in any way."

Genkai cleared her throat. Suzuka snorted.

"Enough with your aversions; drink it whether you like or not," Genkai sternly ordered the same time that Suzuka snapped, "If you don't like it, I'll take it back."

"Fine, I'll drink the stupid poison—I mean, potion. No need to tag-team, okay?" she answered back, obviously mocking.

Akira gulped. "If I die—drinking this poison, potion—only Yukina will have the rights to gain my stuffs," she murmured as she reluctantly lifted the bottle back to her face. Already stiffened and ready, she took a deep breath, squeezed her eyes shut, and wrinkled her nose. He could hear the fluid concoction slopping around in the bottle again as her hand shook. Startlingly then, in a quite vigorous manner, she shoved the glass bottle to her mouth, and drank with her eyes tightly closed.

Then Jin broke into a roar of laugher. Kaito muffled a chuckle. Genkai wearily sighed.

Akira's mouth was beginning to bulge—she was not drinking the concoction but keeping it stock in her mouth. Her cheeks were beginning to flush…and slowly started to turn a tinge closer to green. She was nauseated.

"Swallow the damn thing, dimwit," Genkai harshly ordered. "Do you stupidly think it would possibly work that way?"

Akira seemed to hesitate at first but the stern look on Genkai's face must have convinced her. Though against her will—and probably against her impulse to cough out the mixture—she swallowed it hard, and then moaned quietly with her eyes still closed. She stood stagnant for a moment before her arms slumped down and she suddenly slouched down to the floor, her head ducked down.

Kaito's human energy stirred up in response to it.

"Hold still, Kaito," Kurama evenly cautioned to his friend, lifting his hand. "It would take a considerable amount of time for the potion to absorb into her body and changed her. Let's observe first."

He saw Kaito straightened and nodded in his peripheral sight.

A low grumble from Akira pulled his attention back to her. Then he saw her hands abruptly flew to her mouth with a soft sound. She was groaning. And when Akira turned her face to them, she was all green, nauseated to the edge. Before anyone could react, she staggered up to her feet and precipitately streaked to the nearest tree, coughing and vomiting with her back to them.

Jin burst out into a roar of laughter so as Kaito. There was a 'you deserve it' bitter muttered from Suzuka and a jaded sigh from Genkai while Yukina ran to Akira's side, maternally caressing her back, comforting her.

"Damn rancid potion," he heard her moaned and cussed under her breath.

"I'll throw that stupid repulsive potion as soon as—and I'll kill both of your stupid butts—laughing morons, after—"her words completely trailed off by a convulsive groan. And then off she darted back to the temple, her hands clamped over her mouth, followed by Yukina.

Kurama couldn't help not to sigh. This would be harder than he imagined.

"Suzuka, Eyeglasses boy and Kurama's workin' on it. Kurama estimated it will take time for th' potion t' change int' smoke," the red-head elemental demon declared, his words pouring out quickly that it was hard to understand, and the Irish-like accent he has makes it worse too—an Irish demon, weird. "So need not t' worry, 'kira; yea' still have plenty of time t' recover."

His last statement would sound sweet if it really came out of real concern only it wasn't, it was taunting. He was mocking her, purely enjoying every single moment of her being violently sick from Blondie's potion—poison, should be the right term though.

"Shut up, Jin," she growled through her teeth and then winced when a sudden pain twisted in her stomach, her hands instinctively fluttering to her mouth. Yukina who was beside her instinctively started rubbing her back again with her tender little hands.

Jin snickered.

If she's not just sick, she had already smacked Jin's head. He was annoying, the same as—him! She was right. The stupid thing wouldn't work but Mr. Know-It-All insisted it would. Damn him! Was he really helping out…? Caused it seems like he wanted to kill her first. What's with the ludicrous idea of letting her drink some dratted brew made from some ethereal fruit handpicked from the realms of the Netherworld? Curse the Red-head!

She cringed again when another round of pain hit her stomach.

Jin laughed again.

"Yea' should better drink some human remedy, 'kira," he managed to get out between his snickers. "Or better, take something th't would wash the green out of yea'r face. Yea' can pass as a plant demon with th't—and no one's gonna suspect at all!" He howled with laughter, rolling over his stomach while suspended in the invisible air.

Akira rolled her eyes heavenward. Seriously, do all red-head existing in this universe completely annoying? Or just the ones who happens to be ethereal? She should try to visit the otherworldly authority some time and insist them to make a law sanctioning these irritating Red-Head demons to be killed. Haunt them and torture them. No doubt, she would gladly volunteer for the job.

"Are you feeling fine now, Akira? I will tell Genkai and Kurama if not." the all-caring Yukina offered for the fifteenth time since she had first vomited in front of them—truly embarrassing…all thanks to Red-head.

Akira half-smiled and lightly shook her head, lying.

"Are you sure?" Yukina asked, unconvinced.

It must be obvious in her face that she was internally wishing a pit would open in the sand-colored ground and eat her alive. Well, she would probably prefer that rather than to try another round of experiment again—like some stupid Guinea Pig. She's sure, it will not be long enough before Red-Head and his stupid scientist friends are done with their new scheme—and for her to try it. What a terrible nightmare is this…!

The potion didn't work—on her—as she assumed it would be. She had involuntarily vomited the concoction out of her body before it had infected her system and transformed her back to an air-spirit (although truthfully, she was seriously grateful she did.) Her stomach seemed to be convulsively allergic to it that even Genkai didn't have the heart to provoke her to try the confounded crap again. She thought they would give up with it and prayed they will. But of all the rotten luck—that Hades had brought forth upon her—Red-Head instantly thought of another approach.

It was something about some magical box called the 'Idun Box' or the Reverse Magic Box, if she recalls it properly. It was an item similar to the nasty potion only it contained smoke rather than a red revolting liquid designed to gag you up. The smoke, according to Red-Head, has the same effect as the potion caused it was made from it—only it will have a rapid effect from the latter caused naturally the smoke would be absorbed quickly by the body the same as air compared to liquid. Simple Science.

And of course, everyone agreed to his brilliant idea. No one has the guts to go against the notion of the almighty Red-Head and his humongous, alien-sized brain.

Drat.

So off it goes—so as her bad luck continue—Suzuka started to worked on it after borrowing an ancient-oriental wooden box from Genkai with Kurama and Kaito.

Double drat.

"'kira," Jin began, interrupting her thoughts. Seriously, what's the use of nicknaming if you'll just exclude one letter from the original name? Would it be harder for him to call her Kira with an additional 'A' in the beginning? Or was it just a problem regarding the Irish accent? Sheesh…

"What…?" she grumbled, annoyed by the elastic taunting grin plastered across Jin's face.

"Why don't yea' try going airborne—with me? Go whoosh way up, up to the sky! Maybe, you'll get sick as crazy that Kurama wouldn't insist anymore to—"

"What did you say Jin?" she jerked up, her tone an octave higher; interrupting Jin's swift words and startling Yukina. Fly—a sudden surge of enthusiasm ran through her veins at the thought of it.

"About being sick as crazy?"

"No, the other one…"

Jin stared at her blankly.

"About going airborne, Jin," she answered for herself, a little miffed that Jin wasn't really paying any damn attention to the things he's saying. "About flying!"

Jin's teasing face instantly disappeared. Cocking his head a bit, he gave her a weird look, "Yea' really hate Suzuka's items, don't yea'?"

"Who cares about his stupid items when you just mentioned flying?" she beamed, wide-eyed. Flying—just hearing it sounds cool. No, not cool. Much more than cool—awesome! She saw Jin fly earlier and it was already cool. What more if he soars up in the sky and race with the falcons and eagles up there? Or much better, fly around the world with no worries except for some storm and weather disturbances—might well include the world-wide satellite. NASA would probably be confounded if there was a strange signal in their radar. But either way, it still sounds awesome!

"Let's try it now, Jin," she insisted, taking a big stride toward the now-confused red-haired elemental demon. "Let's fly! I don't care how fast. Let's do it!"

"Back up a sec, 'kira," Jin started, backtracking. "I thought yea'r sick."

"Jin—Schmuck, I can handle it! I will not vomit on you, okay?" she said, waving her hand frivolously. "And if you're worried about my weight. Don't worry, I'm not that sturdy. I bet you can handle me, what's the use of being a demon? I'll be as light as a feather to you! So let's go! Go! Go! Go!!"

Jin deliberated; his deep blue eyes thoughtful.

"I—still don't know, 'kira—Kurama might—and I was really just joking 'bout it," Jin stammered, trying to find some excuse; clearly reluctant at the idea.

"Joke or not, who cares! It's my decision. Kurama has nothing to do with it. I'll kick him if he chides you, I owe him a good one," she interrupted. No one's gonna stop her. It's already a made-decision. "And besides, I want to go whoosh to the sky! Maybe it'll help me recall some of my past memories. Air-spirit incarnate, remember?" she pointed at her chest with an already-triumphant-smile, "I used to soar endlessly through the skies, Jin. That's what air-spirits do."

Jin stared back at her, still deliberating.

"Come on, Jin!"

Jin gave up with a sigh, nodding half-heartedly with a martyr look on his face as he crouched into position.

Her grin widened as she excitedly approached Jin and eagerly climb at his back like a little kid up for a piggy-back ride. For a second, she was quite uncomfortable touching Jin's skin. Most of his skin was bare; only two strips of white clothes donned on his body stupidly looking like a thick X suspender against his light-brown skin. But more than that, he's skin was burning hot. Hotter than the normal human temperature—must be a demon thing.

"Yea're really sure 'bout 'tis?" Jin asked over his shoulder, still hesitant.

"Sheesh, Jin!" Akira huffily grumbled, clamping one of her arm around Jin's neck, playfully choking him, "Let's just fly! Enough with all the dumb questions, okay? I'm not going to say no, if that makes it clear." And with her other arm she gestured up to the sky, "Just go Wind Master, fly with the wind!"

"Yea're a bit strange even for a half-human, yea' know that?" Jin deeply sighed but regained his cheery self again. "But anyhoo—aye, pilot!" he cheerfully said while mocking a military salute.

Yukina who was standing in front of them and remained quiet thorough her 'flying' conversation with Jin—probably still worried—finally chuckled.

"Hold on tight, pilot or yea' might fall. Get ready t' go whoosh t' the sky and fly wit' th' wind!" Jin said to her with a smile in his voice—Akira followed, anyway, tightening her grip on him, the instant she felt Jin's powerful aura incite, the wind in harmony with it. Slowly then she felt Jin's body hoist off from the ground and with a strong gust of wind, launched himself aloft.

And off they were flying.

There was the strong wind that wasn't there before, blowing her skin against her skull and flinging her hair behind with enough force that it felt like someone was tugging on it. The wind was intensely whipping at her face, stinging her eyes that she could barely see anything; trying to fight Jin's rocketing force with the gravity. For a minute, it felt like she was sticking her head out the window of an airplane in flight or like riding a motorcycle drove by some manic driver on his way to hell (not that she experienced both or what, both are just one of her stupid unrealistic déjà vu.) The speed was truly exhilarating! Incredible! …The way how the wind blew her skin…the thrilling speed… the sound of the wild breeze…the feeling of freedom…

It was truly AWESOME!

"We're here," Jin suddenly interrupted her momentary blissful moment, slowing. The strong exhilarating wind began to gradually fade as they slowed off and turned into a soft mild breeze as Jin break off in a halt in mid-air, probably hundreds of feet away from the ground…She was tempted to look down just to see how high they were but remembering the roll of nausea that might attack back, she didn't care to bother.

"T'is seems a nice peak, 'kira. We stop here," Jin stated and instantly Akira felt her lips pushed out in a pout. She wanted to fly, dash to the sky only, to feel the strong wind and the exhilarating sensation running in her veins but Jin was pulling her out of her ephemeral seventh heaven—it's not fair!

"Look at that," Jin interrupted her chain of thoughts, pointing north.

Akira hesitated for a second. She wants to fly not to go sightseeing. But when Akira darted her eyes toward the precise direction Jin had said…she was aghast, realizing that Jin hadn't really pulled her out of her momentary seventh heaven but was letting her behold the real seventh-heaven that was lying in front of her.

It was not a cloudless sky like what it appears down there in the ground for in what seems to be an infinite endless white blue horizon there perched a number of super-gigantic cotton-like clouds over a magical perfect blue-ocean which sparkled, like thousands of tiny diamonds were embedded in its smooth mirror-like surface. It was a beautiful…surreal…dreamlike…

"Oh…my…" she gasped as she darted her eyes around the airway milieu. Everything looks perfect up there from the enchanting boundless olive-green realm that reigned over the lower part of the magnum opus scenery offering an ideal finite terrain for the lazuli-tinted ocean, split at the upper realm administrated by the infinite white-blue sky of a fair sunny day edged by massive clouds in its perspective corners.

It was magical…like a place in a fairytale where in any minute you just expected a number of fairies to fly straight to you or an enchanting colorful zephyrs would just blew right through your face and dance around you.

If flying felt like this, if all the simple sceneries that looked archetypical down there in the ground will be as magical as an enchanting vista up here… If you can just soar endlessly through the skies and let the wind alone guide you to your path peacefully and this tranquil…how can the air-spirit inside her callously throw all of this? What's her reason behind such decision…? Well, obviously whatever the reason is, the stupid decision didn't warm the air-spirit to her.

One track of thought was in her head. It was the biggest mistake an entity could make—apparently the stupidest one too.

A sudden throb in her head abruptly overshadowed 'the-air-spirit-inside-me-sucks!' notions and made her flinched. Jin noticed.

"Yea' okay, 'kira?" the wind demon asked, concerned, "'re yea' sick?"

"No," she told him, firmly, afraid that Jin might consider the thought of bringing her down to the ground, completely bursting her momentary euphoric bubble. "It's just what you call Jetlag, a motion sickness, one of the drawbacks of being a half frail human. You're a very, very fast modern jet, Jin, you know that? I'm now considering the thought of you being a mode of transportation. That would be cool, you know… I won't be late a single day in my school life anymore."

Jin laughed a throaty laugh, obviously amused of her eccentric idea/ or her friends called it wit. A lot of people do. Now she's aware demons do also.

She gaped back at the vast velvet ocean in front of her; inhaling the clean sweet scent of the sunny day breeze while appreciating the spectacular landscape. Imagining the things that would have happened if only…

"You know what, Jin?" she said after a minute, musing out her inner thoughts, "If I could just stay up here in the sky, forever, I will. I can live like this forever. It feels much easier here, flying, aloft, on the wing. Like no problem from down there could reach you up here. It makes you feel light, free from care…free from anything!"

"Free from any damn!" she exclaimed, suddenly throwing her arms out in the air with a brisk force that send her balance staggering, her body doubling over in thin air—their balance staggering.

"Wo…Woah!—" Jin stammered, trying to regain the balance back with an apprehensive feat; leaning his body forward to forestall her from the forthcoming hazard. In result, Akira's upper body plop against Jin's back with a certain force; her arms intuitively locking around the wind demon.

"What was th't?" Jin demanded, trifle furious, glowering at her over his shoulder. "Yea' don't do crazy things like th't a hundred of feet above th' ground."

Akira started to laugh.

"Th't wasn't funny, 'kira," Jin reprimanded. "Yea' could have plummeted down like a rocket crashing straight t' th' ground. Kurama and Genkai will kill me."

"No, they won't," she disagreed, still chortling. "And besides, you wouldn't let that happen. You're a breathing predominant jet with air powers, Jin. You could save me. But truthfully I would love to know how it will feels like jumping off from a remarkable height such as this one! Sky-diving…!"

Jin grunted, "Might as well bring yea' down before yea' do more of yea'r stunts here."

"No! Jin, no," she apprehensively cried out, squeezing her arms so tightly around Jin that it would choke a normal person. Good thing, he was a demon and wasn't sensitive to her sadistic feats. "I want to stay up here! Please, please, please…"

"Or better, be a nice friendly chum by flying away from here and help me escape the hazardous threats of Suzuka's enchanting items in store for me down there," she whispered conspiratorially.

Jin chuckled lightly. "Anything just t' get out of it…" he shook his head, smiling wryly.

"Anything," Akira smiled.