"You make it sound so easy," Naomi replied. She knew it wasn't as easy as it seemed. She would always have a sore spot where her parentage was concerned, and she knew she would always be easy to set off that way, if not quite to the extent of going cold.

"It's not." Hiei snorted and after a few moments moved to perch on her bed next to her. "At all. It requires work. But it has results."

Naomi just bit her lip and didn't say anything. She was starting to feel like she would end up being an unremarkable half-breed for the rest of her life, and nothing would change that.

Hiei stayed there for the time being, just relaxing a bit. They were back at her house, which was good, and he was away from the temptation of killing a few people. Which wasn't necessarily a good thing but she seemed to think it was, so.

Naomi stayed there for a few more minutes before reluctantly getting up.

"I need to let Osa know we're back," she mumbled, "and then somehow get to the train station to get my car back." Because she'd left it in parking there, thinking she'd be taking the train back rather than the magic book.

Hiei nodded and got up as well, watching her for a few moments. He'd probably end up following her, just to be sure no one tampered with her vehicle or anything.

Naomi knew he was following her, but didn't have it in her to tell him not to. To be honest, she kind of liked the company. Quickly, she made her way to Osanna's place. On a nice day like this, Osa would be in her garden. It was practically a guarantee.

Osanna was still in her garden, but she looked over when she saw Naomi and got up from examining a plant, moving over to her with a little frown. What's up? I thought you'd be gone longer?

"I thought so too," Naomi replied, sitting down for a bit. This time, there was no risk at all of her killing the plants; she still had next to no youki left. "Right up until Andromeda made me go cold."

Osanna made a face. Oh. Oops. How'd you get back, then?

"The book," Naomi replied. "Which means my car is still at the train station. I have to go get it."

I can give you a lift. I have to start my car and go get gas in it anyway. So I'll take you over to the station. Osanna grinned. Problem solved.

"Cool, thanks," Naomi replied. She sighed softly. "I hate going cold, Osa, I really do. It scares the shit out of me."

I know. But I don't know how you can keep yourself from doing it, either. She shrugged. She didn't have that problem, since she was only a quarter.

"Neither do I," Naomi replied. She tucked her hair behind her ear. "And for the moment, I'm pretty much running on empty."

Osanna nodded. I could tell. Well, take a couple days off. Sleep lots. I'll go over tonight and make dinner for the four of us.

"Osa, I can't ask you to do that," she said. Besides, she was tempted to take Hiei and Kurama back home and jump to another world for a while, if only to completely avoid any more contact with her relatives for a while. It was a highly appealing plan.

Osa shrugged. You're not asking. I'm telling. And then tomorrow when you're feeling better we can see what we want to do.

"It may take more than a day to get back to normal," Naomi warned. "It did last time."

True, but you'll feel a bit better tomorrow. Osanna shrugged.

"A bit," Naomi allowed. She rested her head on her knees. "It was just a really bad visit all around... One of those that just reminds me of how useless I really am."

Osanna frowned and hugged her tightly. She didn't think Naomi was useless. But she had no way to easily convey that at the moment, so she just hugged her tighter.

Naomi returned the hug, cuddling into it.

"I wanted to kill Andromeda for what she said," she murmured. "I wanted to tear her pretty face off. I wanted her to hurt just as much as she made me hurt. But I don't think I could have."

Osanna sighed and rubbed her back. Well, it could have been worse, after all.

"She called my mother a coward and a whore," Naomi continued. It felt good to talk to Osanna, since she knew Osa would sympathize. "But I don't think I would have been able to hurt her. I'm not strong enough."