ALONE NO MORE

Chapter Five

Hiei slowly opened his eyes.He woke up in an unfamiliar room.The morning sunshine was starting to stream in through the glass windows.He tried to sit up.His head was still feeling a bit shaky but he managed to keep himself upright.He looked around the room,he saw no one inside.But when he glanced at the sofa not far from the bed where he was,he saw a pillow and a blanket on it and he deduced that someone was with him in that room.
His musings were interrupted when a door opens.It was the door to the bathroom.Annika emerges wrapped in a bath towel,sweetly smelling from her bath.For a second she froze when she saw that Hiei was already sitting and looking directly at her.She could not make out the look in his ruby eyes.Yet she tried to come to her senses.
"So, you're awake.Welcome back,"Annika remarked.She had to turn her eyes away from him,while she tended to her hair,patting it with dry with another towel.But she can still feel his eyes staring at her while she pretended not to notice.
"Where am I?!"Hiei asked,also trying to keep his eyes off her but to no avail.
"You're in my room.In my apartment.Don't you remember what happened to you?!"
He tried to recall.Suddenly,he felt a sudden pain in his chest.He grimaced.Annika glanced at him,when she saw the expression on his face,she became concerned.
"Are you all right?!I think maybe you should lie down now.Kurama said you have to rest so you can get your strength back.
"I am fine,"Hiei insisted,even if he was still holding his chest right where his wound was.Annika went near him.
"By the look on your face,it seems you are not,"she said again.
"Who brought me here?!And since when have I been here?!"
"Well,Kurama and I brought you here.I found you seriously wounded at the place where we first met.If I haven't found you you'd have been dead by now.Kurama told me I have to keep you here until you recover because there was absolutely no way he could take you home with him.I've got no choice but to agree with him."
"So you really didn't want to take me in,did you?!"Hiei's tone was again cold,"Why didn't you just leave me to die then?!"
Annika tried to keep her voice level because she was also starting to get annoyed at him with the way he was treating her,"Believe me or not,I just can't let you die there.Just returning the favor.You twice saved my life.Guess I owe you something in return."
Annika didn't wait for his answer.She turned his back at him,and marched to her closet,"I have to get dressed.I have to go somewhere.And I hope you're not thinking of leaving while I'm gone.Kurama told me you have to wait for him before you can go anywhere."
"And what if I leave?!The two of you can't dictate me on what I should do.I am capable of looking after myself.!"Hiei's eyes were again flashed with annoyance.Annika stopped,turned to look at him,her blue eyes locking at his stubborn gaze.But,she didn't allow him to intimidate her.Somehow the look in her eyes made Hiei's composure weaken and he had to turn away from her gaze.
"So you really plan to leave,huh?!Well,have it your way.I neither have the time nor the patience to argue with you.But if something happens to you then blame yourself not me because you won't listen!"
"Why you?!...."Hiei was red with anger now,"How dare you talk to me like that..."
"You can't scare me,Hiei,"Annika still stood there,her eyes still at level with him,"Go on,do what you want with me.But I'm telling you I'm not allowing you to leave until Kurama tells us you can,get me?!"
Hiei tried to stand to get his hands on her,but his body failed to obey him.He sank back down to the bed weakly.Annika gave him a cool,look of triumph.
"Well,seems you're really not fit to go anywhere.Stop acting as strong as you think you are,Hiei.It's no use,"she opened the door of her closet,got in and closed it.While inside,she spoke,"Just let me get dressed.I'll fix something to eat after I'm done here."
Hiei had to lie down again.Annika was right,even if he could not admit it to her,his pride was still smarting.He can still feel the piercing pain in his chest.He had to stay there till he regains his strength.And he can feel that Annika was in no way intimidated by him.She was ready to lock horns with him if he insisted on having his way.He has not met a girl like her before.And admittedly he is developing a grudging admiration for her.Not only that,she really was enchanting.As she stood there wrapped only in a bath towel,he had the urge to pull her in his arms and embrace her tight.But his restraint got better of him.
Annika didn't want to leave Hiei alone but she needed to go out to buy some necessities.She would also try to pass by Kurama's place so she could inform him that Hiei has awakened.She was still having doubts if he would actually obey her and not leave.But,she knew she could sense it if he really did leave her place so she need not worry.All of a sudden,she sighed,while she was walking.Even with his stubbornness,she can't help but feel something different for himAlthough he keeps looking at her with defiance he still was a sight to behold.If she could just learn how to tame him,and if he could just learn how to keep his arrogance and stubbornness at bay,then they might just become friends.But for now she must keep some sort of distance from him as he is very aloof and seems to have trouble establishing close relationships.