Hiei's Harem - Pt. 2 - Maintaining

Scene 9 ----------- A Large Garden Meadow


* Hiei looks around at all the various types of flowering plants as he follows Staci into the meadow.


Staci- Lily made this.. I think it's so beautiful.. I love coming here.


* Hiei stops and watches Staci move to a bush with a lot of pink and white ball-shaped flowers. More observant of the human than the flora.


Staci- Sometimes I wish I had her ability to talk to these.

Hiei- What would you say to a bunch of plants?


* Staci glances a brief smile at him before leaning to sniff one of the flowers.


Staci- I would tell them how pretty they are.. How wondeful they smell.. How much I wish I could be like them.


* Now Hiei goes over to stand closer to her. Staci straightens up and glances toward him a bit nervously.


Staci- B-but we're not here.. to discuss flowers.. Are we?

Hiei- Why do you think I wished to get you alone?


* Staci is quiet a long moment, then she swallows and moves away from him some more. Hiei tilts his head a bit at the apprehension he feels coming from her. Of course it's never bothered him before if humans feared him. Truth be told, he rather expected, encouraged it in fact. But thsi human belongs to him, despite his discomfort that still irks him concerning the matter.


Staci- T-to.. punish me?


* Hiei focuses his eyes on her.


Hiei- What did you do that you think I should punish you, girl?


* She puts a little bit more distance between them. Hiei feels the desire to go over and grasp her, but he quells it. The urge not to frighten her more is stronger.


Staci- W-well, n-nothing that I..

Hiei- Then why are you so nervous?


* Staci shrugs and lowers her eyes.


Staci- I'm.. a human.. It's always been the only reason they evr needed before.


* Hiei's eyes travel over Staci's form, getting a really good look at her. He takes note of many things he'd never noticed before. But the longer he roams his eyes over her, the more Staci blushes. When Hiei finally takes note of her growing unease he relaxes his stance and goes over closer to her calmly.


Hiei- Do you wish to know what I'm thinking?

Staci- I.. uhhmm.. I guess.

Hiei- I think you have been a very lucky human.


* Now Staci lowers her eyes again to avoid his intense gaze.


Staci- No.. N-not lucky.. I've survived this long by being a coward.

Hiei- I've been in your mind, girl.. Remember?


* She nods.


Hiei- I've seen the things you've endured.. Which brings me to my next conclusion.. You are a brave human.


* Staci glances up at him timidly.


Hiei- Trust me. I haven't known very many that would.. survive what you have.. And still be sane, at least.


* Hiei steps closer to her and inhales her scent calmly. He only detects a very slight change, but one even his instincts can't explain. He snaps out of his reverie when Staci sinks to her knees, assuming the posture of submission that she's been taught. She tilts her head slightly to offer him access to the area where he'd marked her.


Hiei- Your submission isn't instinctual..

Staci- Please, Sir.. If you wish to take me..

Hiei- I didn't bring you here for that.


* He calmly moves around behind her, trying to ignore her continued nervousness. He reaches out to stroke her long, dingy blonde hair.


Hiei- If you're hair was washed it would look much better.


* Staci closes her eyes.


Staci- Then y-you.. think I'm.. ugly?

Hiei- That is not what I said.


* He moves back around to face her.


Hiei- You neglect your grooming on purpose.


* Staci looks up at him surprised until she sees that his jagan is glowing beneath his bandana.


Hiei- Why? How long has it been since you've bathed?

Staci- A-about a.. week.. I guess.

Hiei- Why?


* Staci swallows as she lowers her eyes again. Hiei clenches a fist to keep himself from yanking her face back up to look at him.


Staci- It's open.. You know why.

Hiei- Then you don't want to be.. impregnated.


* When she closes her eyes and flinches reflexively at his harsh words Hiei turns and starts to leave.


Staci- I- I told you.. I'm a coward.. I'm afraid to try again!


* Hiei stops in his tracks. Then he half glances over his shoulder toward her.


Hiei- As long as you fear me like this.. I won't touch you.


* He starts off again until his ears pick up her soft sobs. For some reason the sound clenches his chest and he turns back to find that she has placed her face to the ground.


Hiei- I have told all of you before.. If you don't trust me, you'll always fear me.. I detest this stench on.. my friends.. On those I consider my family. I've told you that I'm not going to be abusive, but you don't believe me.. I won't force myself on you and I'm doing my best not to be harsh with you.. But I can't help my nature any more than you can help yours.. Even humans crave to be.. taken.. eventually.. When you are ready, then perhaps you'll lose this sickening fear of me. Do you understand?


* Staci raises up some and wipes her cheeks.


Staci- Hai, Sir.


Hiei- I wasn't the one who chose to make you live this life, but unfortunately I can't change that now without endangering your life.

Staci- Gamock always..

Hiei- Shut up! That old b------ is dead! I killed him! Remember? I'm beginning to relish that fact more and more every day.


* Hiei regains his composure when he notices that she is cowering again.


Hiei- You may stay here for a while to gather yourself, if you wish. but if you don't return in time to eat I'll return and get you.. I don't need another 'Tara to deal with right now.

Staci- I get depressed sometimes.. I just can't help it.

Hiei- With humans, this is nothing unusual.. Just make sure you don't wallow in it.


* She glances up at him again.


Hiei- If you don't want to accept me.. I won't force you to.. That's what I brought you here to tell you.. But don't separate yourself from the others. They watch over you and take care of you, which surprises the h--- out of me.

Staci- Yes, I know they do.. In that respect, I am very lucky.

Hiei- Hn. Most demons eat humans.


* With that Hiei turns and blinks away. Dealing with her roller coaster of human emotions gives him a headache. Staci sighs and slumps backward to stare at the sky. She contemplates everything Hiei has said carefully. When she heard Sarista telling them all about Hiei's instincts finally taking him over it had thrown her into a panic. She tried hard to ignore it, but the longer she watched how Hiei ravaged Lily the more anxiety built inside her. She'd experienced how one of her former masters had gone from being gentle to cruel as he reached his maturity. She'd been a gift to the young demon not long after she had been brought here. Staci dwells on the memory of how he'd come close to killing her a couple nights before he gambled her bruised body away to another demon. The one who'd caused her to lose the only child she'd ever been able to concieve. Can she dare to take the chance that Hiei can be trusted? She just isn't sure any more. Then a scheme begins to blossom in her mind. What would he do if she disobeyed him? What if she didn't return by dinnertime? Staci closes her eyes to allow herself to slip off to sleep in the peaceful meadow. Only time will tell.