Hiei's Harem - Pt. 2 - Maintaining

Scene 10 -------------- Early The Next Morning


* When Staci jerks awake she immediately realizes that she's back in the cave on her bed of furs. She becomes aware of voices outside and sneaks over to peek out the entrance. She listens to Hiei speaking with Sarista and the three boys.


Hiei- Silis, if there is trouble I don't want you taking any risks.. I've taught you all how to sense power levels and how to cover each other's a--es when you fight.

Troiyoku- We'll take care of the little mommy.


* He and Gamaru ruffle Silis' hair.


Hiei- Oi, I don't have time for joking around!


* Hiei looks away with his uncovered jagan wide open and concentrates a moment before replacing the bandana.


Hiei- Mukuro's only a couple days away.. Once I turn up and let her scream the s--- out of my ears for a couple days she'll be happy. I'll tell her I need a break from her overbearing a-- and she'll let me leave..

Sarista- Why do you continue putting up with her if she irritates you so?


* Hiei sighs deeply.


Hiei- I guess it's just the curse of my life to be plagued with such overbearing women.

Sarista- Gee, thanks for sharing.


* Hiei casts one of his familiar smirks at her.


Hiei- I'll be back in a week at most.. As soon as I enter the ravine I'll flare my energy.. You'll recognize it, right?

Troiyoku- Sure.

Gamaru- Why wouldn't we know it by now?

Silis- Yeah, you've only used it to kick our a--es at least once a day for the past two weeks.

Hiei- I'll do some more kicking when I return if there's any trouble.


* Hiei turns away from his subordinates to move closer to Sarista. Sensing that their instructions are done the boys wander back into the cave. Troi glances at Staci.


Troiyoku- Hey, morning.. Do you feel better?

Staci- How did I get back here?


* She follows Troiyoku over to the spring bucket.


Troiyoku- You fell asleep in Aunt Lily's garden.. Master Hiei had me come and carry you back.


* Troi hands her a cup of water.


Silis- Yeah. He said that you don't want him to touch you no more.


* Gamaru comes over as she sips the cool water.


Gamaru- Did he hurt you?


* Sarista comes back in as she answers.


Staci- No.

Sarista- Leave her alone, Boys.


* Staci glances toward her.


Sarista- Since you're awake, come help me prepare the morning meal.

Staci- Yes, Ma'am.


* Staci gives the cup back to Troiyoku and follows Sarista out of the cave. Neither of them speak as they make their way around the side of the cave to where Lily had planted a vegetable garden. Sarista glances at her when they kneel to begin picking some beans.


Sarista- Do you understand what you did last night?


* Staci sighs quietly, then nods. But she avoids the Alpha Female's scrutinizing glances.


Staci- I disobeyed him.

Sarista- Hai.. Then you did so deliberately?


* Staci picks a few more beans before answering.


Staci- Yes.


* Sarista stops picking and looks directly at her.


Sarista- Do you realize what he could have..?

Staci- He's been declaring up and down that he's not like Gamock.. Or the others.

Sarista- Then you were testing him?


* Staci nods. Sarista reaches over and brushes some of Staci's hair behind one of her ears.


Sarista- When you didn't return he got very nervous, girl.


* Staci looks at her.


Sarista- He was more worried than he'd admit that he'd chased you away.

Staci- Where would I go? How would I get past Lily's plants?

Sarista- Lily has ordered them to only allow her packmates to go through them unharmed.

Staci- I didn't know that.. Besides that, with his mark on me I'd be dead or killed in a matter of days.. If not less.


* Staci lowers her eyes.


Staci- I don't want to die.. Not really.. Not after everything I've done to try to stay alive in this.. place.

Sarista- Then what do you want, Staci?


* Staci thinks quietly a couple moments, then shrugs.


Staci- I don't.. know.. I.. I want to be safe.. I want to be happy.. Free, maybe.. I was almost convinced that he was a master I could..


* Staci shakes her head and lets the sentence die. Sarista continues picking the beans again.


Sarista- Whether you believe it or not, Master Hiei wants all of these things for all of us.. Except the freedom part. There's nothing he can do about that if he wants to keep us alive.

Staci- But you're the one that told us he was turning yesterday.

Sarista- As much as I like to think it, I don't know everything, girl.. I underestimated our new Alpha.

Staci- I've changed hands so many times, seen so many different types of deceitful..

Sarista- I think this one will keep you until your human existance ends, Staci.. He's much stronger than any of us have fully realized yet.


* Sarista glances a smile at her.


Sarista- He left me with orders to make sure you get yourself cleaned up.. He said that if he returns and your hair is still dirty he'll spank me.


* Staci's eyes go wide as she looks at the Alpha Female. Sarista chuckles and leans toward her.


Sarista- With a promise like that maybe I'll get Lily to tether you to a tree for the week.


* Staci catches the twinkle in Sarista's eyes and shakes her head.


Staci- Why are you demons such sadists sometimes?

Sarista- Why are you humans so emotional all the time?


* Staci blushes then the two share a brief giggle. Staci then stands and takes her basket over to the tomato plants. Sarista sighs quietly and continues picking the beans.