Disclaimer: I own nothing of importance.

I would like to include a special thanks to anony, Astarte and BballAnimeLover89 for reviewing chapter four. It's been fun reading all of your reviews!

Chapter 5

Hiei awoke slowly, reluctant to leave the comforting oblivion of sleep. However, as his mind gradually became more aware of his surroundings, he realized that something wasn't right. He was dry, he was lying on something that was soft and it was light. Opening his eyes, the koorime studied his surroundings as he tried to make sense of the situation. A fire was merrily burning in the fireplace, casting odd shadows dancing upon the walls. The rest of the room appeared to be charred and blackened.

Hiei blinked slowly, the sight of ruined furniture bringing back bits of memory. I was attacking someone... Kurama. My youki was no longer warded... his thoughts trailed off, the tail end of the fight replaying itself in his mind. "Hn. Baka kitsune," he murmured, chuckling as he remembered Youko emerging from the smoke, brushing soot off of his clothes and out of his hair. He broke off into a coughing fit, rolling onto his side and curling his body into a ball until the spasm passed. He let his head fall back limply against the pillow, skull throbbing painfully. He just lay there gasping for breath, the short attack leaving him utterly exhausted. This is ridiculous. I should not be so weak! he thought angrily.

After a few minutes, he pushed himself to a sitting position, shivering slightly as he noticed his lack of clothing. Glancing around the room once again, he saw his pants hanging near the fire, the burned remains of his shirt on the floor next to them. He was contemplating the best way to get what was left of his clothes when the door opened, admitting Kurama.

The redhead blinked at the fire demon sitting on the bed, the blanket wrapped tightly around him. "So, you're awake. That's good," he said, setting a cup on the nightstand before moving over to the fireplace. Hiei watched as the kitsune felt the material, apparently satisfied that it was dry. "I'm surprised your pants survived your assault earlier today. They seem to be a bit more durable that your shirt was," he commented, looking at the ruined garment on the floor. Kurama picked up the pants and turned towards Hiei. "Will you allow me to assist you?"

The koorime hesitated, gauging how much of his memory he should trust. After a brief pause, he inclined his head slightly, giving his permission. The redhead approached the bed, sliding the pants onto the wooden cast as high as they would go. Hiei slid his other leg into them, feeling embarrassed at not even being able to dress himself. The kitsune motioned for him to stand and removed the splint, supporting Hiei as he pulled his pants up and fastened them. Kurama regrew the cast around his leg, holding onto his arm to keep him from sitting down.

"One more thing," the kitsune said, pulling another seed from his hair. It grew into a stick, the top curving outwards to form a 'T' as a handle came out lower on the side. He held the crutch up to Hiei, lengthening it until it was the right size. "That should work," he said, helping the fire demon back onto the bed before growing a second crutch that was the same size. "I'll leave these here for you, should you need to get up for anything. Is something wrong?" he asked, noting the dark looks Hiei was giving the wooden items.

The koorime turned away, curling up in the blankets. "Hn."

Not wanting to press his friend for information he was not ready to give, Kurama let it go. "Atshushi is the name of the demon that held you captive," he continued. Hiei gave no indication that he recognized the name. "It would appear that he has been watching you, as well as those you associate with, for quite some time. I ran across him shortly after finding you. Fortunately, he is unable to mask his scent." A slight shift in his shoulders told Kurama that Hiei was relieved by the information.

"I've made some tea for you," the redhead said, gesturing to the cup he'd set on the nightstand.

Hiei turned his head, glaring at the cup disdainfully before rolling away from it. "No."

"It will help ease the pain of your burns, as well as any other discomforts you may be feeling," Kurama said persuasively.

"I'm not thirsty."

"One of the signs of dehydration is the lack of thirst," the kitsune pointed out. Hiei didn't respond, opting instead to glare at the wall, almost like a petulant child.

Given that the fire demon had been held in a metal box filled with water and drugged an unknown number of time during the past few days, it was no surprise he now had an aversion to both. Kurama sighed, making a mental note to come up with a different way to get Hiei to take water. The kitsune turned to leave, putting one hand in his pocket. The hard object within it reminded him of Botan, who had been informing someone else. "Yukina-san has been very worried about you."

The koorime tensed at his sister's name, but remained silent. Kurama closed his eyes briefly. So, Atshushi has taken Yukina's form, as well, he thought, anger flaring within him. He forced himself to calm down, keeping his voice the same pitch and tone as before. "I'll be in the other room. Call if you should you need anything," he said, slipping through the door.

Hiei lay on the bed, staring vacantly at the wall as he allowed his mind to process everything. Atshushi. That name means nothing to me. He is a shapeshifter, he thought, watching the shadows from the flames flickering upon the walls. A changeling. One who can take the form of another. Kurama wasn't really there. The baka wasn't really there. Yukina-- The fire demon's thought broke off as pictures flashed through his mind. Yukina kneeling on the ground, frightened eyes pleading with his as a knife was pressed to her throat. The image shifted, showing the ice maiden standing over him, a sadistic light shining in her eyes as she turned the wheel. Hiei shook his head, trying to erase the sight from his mind.

He laid there for a few minutes more, trying to distract himself from his thoughts before he gave up. Sliding off the bed, he balanced himself against the bedpost as he tied the blanket around his shoulders before he paused, eyeing the crutches distrustfully. The memory of the last time he had used them was still fresh in his mind. His hesitation annoyed him and he clenched his jaw, defiantly grabbing the wooden supports as he set off in search of Kurama.

A blast of cool air hit him as soon as he opened the door, causing an involuntary shudder to run down his back. Trying to draw the blanket a little tighter around himself, he headed down the hallway. A tantalizing smell wafted across his nose. Although the scent was appetizing, the mere thought of food was almost enough to make his stomach churn. I suppose that's natural, considering I haven't eaten since before I was captured. How long has it been, anyway...? he idly wondered as he slowly made his way down the hall. The redhead could be seen standing in front of the stove, bent over as he seasoned something in a pot. He straightened up, reaching into his pocket and withdrawing a pink compact. Hiei recognized the communication mirror, as well as the shrill beep that indicated a call.

Kurama flipped open the lid, revealing Botan's face. "There you are, Kurama! You didn't call at your usual time, so I was starting to get worried that something had happened to you!" she said.

"My apologies, Botan. I've been a bit preoccupied today," he replied.

"Oh? Have you gotten any leads on Hiei's whereabouts?" she asked.

"Actually, I found him this morning. He's currently resting."

"That's great! It also brings up one of the reasons I was calling you," she said, chewing her lip nervously. "Koenma wants you and Hiei to return to Ningenkai as soon as he is found."

"Out of the question."

"I'm sorry, Kurama, but you don't have a choice. King Enma was against Koenma-sama allowing you to go in the first place, and you're lucky he's given you this much time," she explained, looking apologetic.

Kurama's tone was hard. "Hiei is in no condition to travel."

"I'll open a portal for you, so he won't have to go far. He can stay at Genkai's temple until he recovers. I'll leave the portal open for ten minutes so you can get everything you need, but that's all I can do," she said. The screen went blank.

The redhead closed the mirror, the loud click the only indication of his displeasure. Send him to Genkai's temple. Perhaps I should have told her Atshushi is a shapeshifter. No, Hiei doesn't need everyone to know what he went through. However, I hope he's ready to face his sister. He turned his head slightly to the side, hearing his friend's heavy breathing behind him. "Do you need something, Hiei?"

The fire demon was standing in the doorway, eyes fixed on Kurama's back. "So, we will be leaving for Genkai's soon?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

"I'm afraid so," the kitsune replied, twisting his body a bit further to look over his shoulder at the fire demon. "Master Genkai and Yukina-san will be there. I do not know what happened during your captivity, but Atshushi no longer poses a threat. You need not worry," he assured his friend.

"Baka kitsune. What makes you think I'm worried?"

Kurama turned all the way around, meeting the koorime's gaze. Hiei looked away first. "Hn."

The redhead turned back to the stove. "Have a seat, this is almost done," he said, gesturing to the table. The fire demon moved over to it, almost collapsing into the chair and leaning his crutches against the wall. The short trip down the hall had worn him out. He was practically panting from the exertion, trying to get his breath back while cursing his frailty. He felt a familiar tickle at the back of his throat, but he firmly quelled the urge to cough.

Kurama looked at him worriedly, taking note of how Hiei was breathing as he set a steaming bowl of plain soba in front of the fire demon. Returning to the stove, he put a kettle of water on, leaving it to boil. "I have some preparations to make before we leave for Genkai's," Kurama said, slipping out of the room.

Hiei stared at the bowl of soup in front of him. It had a lot of broth and his stomach was a bit queasy, but it was also true that he hadn't eaten in several days and he was famished. Hunger won out and he picked up his chopsticks, lifting some of the noodles to his mouth. He closed his eyes as the flavor spread across his tongue, relishing the taste of what was normally considered a bland dish. Nothing he had previously eaten could compare to this delicious meal, not even sweet snow. The nauseous feeling in his stomach all but disappeared as he made quick work of the remaining soup, including the broth. The first bowl was gone rather quickly, much to Hiei's dismay and he was debating whether or not he should get a second one. Logically, he knew that eating any more at the current time was not a healthy choice. However, rational thought wasn't doing much to ease the hunger pangs in his stomach. He had just decided that one more bowl wouldn't hurt, when Kurama walked back into the room.

"All done? Good. Although you are probably still hungry, I don't think you should eat any more right now. Your stomach has shrunk and eating too much will make you vomit," he said, pulling the steaming kettle off the stove and pouring the hot water into a cup. Hiei mumbled something unintelligible under his breath, but the redhead ignored it, mixing a powdered substance into the water, turning it brown. He walked to the table, setting the cup in front of Hiei. "Drink this."

"I already told you, I don't want any tea."

"It's not tea, nor does it have any sort of medication, pain relievers or otherwise, in it. I think you'll like it," the kitsune said, taking the empty bowl and chopsticks.

Although he was wary of the unknown substance, Hiei couldn't help but notice the sweet scent drifting up from the cup. Holding the warm mug between his hands, he cautiously took a sip. His eyes brightened, a barely noticeable smile tugging at the corners of his lips as the sugary liquid touched his tongue. "What is this?" he asked nonchalantly as he proceeded to drain the cup.

"It's called hot chocolate," Kurama replied, relieved that Hiei was willing to take at least two forms of water. He took the now empty cup from the fire demon, quickly washing the dishes and cleaning up the kitchen.

The koorime watched his friend work, a pit of dread settling in his stomach once more. He suddenly wished that he hadn't eaten the small amount that he had. "When is the ferry girl going to open the portal?" he asked, trying to keep his voice casual.

"It's open now. However, I won't be able to get back here for some time, so I want to clean up before we leave," he responded, drying the dishes Hiei had used and stacking them in the cupboard. He closed the doors, glancing around the kitchen one last time. "Alright, let's go."

Hiei waved off the fox demon's arm as the kitsune tried to help him up. Leaning against the table for support, he stood up by himself, grabbing the crutches and slowly following the kitsune out of the room. The koorime was already panting for breath by the time they got outside. He leaned against the doorway, staring at the portal open just outside of it. Kurama waited until he was ready to continue.

The fire demon paused as a thought occurred to him. "Koenma knows the location of this den," he said breathlessly.

"Yes, he does. Fortunately, I never used it very often," the kitsune affirmed, staring into the swirling colors of the gateway.

The fox had to give up one of his lairs to help me, Hiei thought, glaring at the ground. Angrily, he pushed himself away from the wall, moving towards the portal. Wind rushed through his hair as he was pulled between the dimensions, his momentum coming to an abrupt halt as he exited the other side. A hand on his shoulder steadied him until he regained his balance. Genkai's temple loomed before him. "At least we don't have to walk up the steps," he muttered, making his way across the courtyard. He could hear Kurama's light footfalls behind him.

The swordsman had a bit of difficultly getting up the few stairs that led into the building, feeling drained afterwards. The crutches supported him as they continued forward, seeming to have a mind of their own, which wasn't all that surprising, Hiei mused, given who was walking behind him.

Kurama directed the koorime to the room Genkai had prepared for him. It was empty except for a single futon that had been laid out along the left wall, a portable heater sitting next to it. The redhead helped Hiei sit down on the bed, laying the crutches next to him. Troubled emerald eyes studied the winded fire apparition as the kitsune kneeled at his side, helping the swordsman wrap the blanket more warmly around himself.

It was a minute or two before Hiei had caught his breath. He tried not to think about what was going to happen next. However, it seemed that there was nothing to distract his mind with, so he closed his eyes, trying to calm himself as he waited for the inevitable. Yukina would be coming any second.

Kurama watched the smaller demon closely, noting the corners of his lips turn down slightly as he drew the blanket a bit more tightly around his shoulders, as if to ward off any unwanted thoughts. Although he was obviously trying to appear calm, the kitsune thought he looked more like a man waiting for the executioner. The redhead opened his mouth to offer some words of encouragement when something caught his attention. He wrinkled his nose as the scent of cats, cigarette smoke and cheap cologne assaulted his hypersensitive nose. "Kuwabara is here," he informed the fire demon quietly. Hiei stiffened at the name, his mind being plagued by an unknown memory. Is there anyone that Atshushi did not impersonate?! Kurama wondered, the anger within him growing. However, his face remained impassive, showing nothing of the emotions stewing just below the surface. He turned towards the door as the tall ningen stuck his head into the room.

"Oh, Yuki-- Hey! What're you guys doin' here?" Kuwabara asked, stepping through the doorway. His face darkened. "So, what was so important that the two of you couldn't be bothered to help out with the mission?!" he demanded.

"Mission?" Kurama repeated, blinking.

"Yeah, the one me and Urameshi were sent on yesterday. We could have really used your help, you know!" he replied, rubbing his arm as if in remembered pain. "So, I want to know-- what was so important that you couldn't come and help out your teammates?!"

Hiei's quiet voice answered before the redhead could. "I was taking a bath," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Red eyes bore into the wall, his entire body tuned to the ningen behind him, hoping the human would attack. The real Kuwabara or not, this time Hiei would make sure that he did not walk away from the fight.

Kurama glanced sharply at the injured demon, reading his intentions in the set line of his jaw and his hard eyes. He couldn't blame Hiei for his actions, but he wished the koorime would control himself until a more convenient time.

"What?! You mean, that me and Urameshi were riskin' our lives and you couldn't be bothered because you were taking a bath?!" he exclaimed, incredulous.

"That's not what happened--" Kurama began, trying to smooth things over.

"That's exactly what happened," Hiei interrupted, his voice quiet, but full of antipathy. "I am not your keeper, nor the detective's. If you cannot beat a couple of lowlife demons, then that's not my problem." He could practically feel the ningen's anger radiating off him in waves. Come on. Try to hit me. The instant you do... the fire apparition's thoughts trailed off as he waited for the inevitable attack.

"I can't believe you! You'd abandon your teammates, just like that! It's no wonder you don't have any friends or family-- you probably stood back and watched them die, if you didn't kill them yourself!"

The fire demon's eyes narrowed, his hands automatically reaching for the sword usually kept at his side. Kurama noticed the gesture and laid a restraining hand on Hiei's shoulder to keep him from rising. "That is enough, Kuwabara," the kitsune said, his voice hard.

The ningen missed the warning, as well as the lack of an honorific after his name. "Quit defendin' him, Kurama! All he cares about is himself! He'd probably sit back and laugh as he watched us all get killed! When it comes down to it, he's nothin' but a selfish, cold-blooded murderer!"

"How can you say that?!"

Hiei visibly tensed when he heard the voice, all other eyes in the room landing on the newcomer. Yukina stood in the doorway, a bowl of water, a cloth and some bandages in her hands. Kuwabara's expression immediately changed. "Hey, baby!" he exclaimed, taking a few steps towards her before he paused, surprised by the look he was receiving from the ice maiden.

She was staring at him like he had suddenly morphed into some hideous monster. "How can you say such cruel things about Hiei-san?!" she asked again, disbelievingly.

An almost defiant expression covered Kuwabara's face. "It's true! I don't know what he's been telling you, but he's lying! He's nothing more than a self-centered, egotistical freak!"

Hiei raised his hands and began untying the bandage around his head, trying to ignore the argument behind him. The blanket slipped off his shoulders, goose bumps covering his skin at the sudden change in temperature. His fingers were shaking as he tried unsuccessfully to untie the knot and he felt Kurama's hand over his own briefly while Yukina and Kuwabara were distracted. Easily untying the now loosened knot, he started unwrapping the bandage from around his head.

The ice koorime stared at the ningen in shock. Her voice was quiet when she spoke, disappointment coloring her gaze as her opinion of Kuwabara was drastically changed for the worst. "How can you so wrongly accuse Hiei-san of being selfish when he allowed himself to be captured to save me?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"What?" That was obviously not the response the tall teen had been expecting. Allowed himself to be captured? Kuwabara thought, turning to look back at Hiei. The blanket had fallen to the futon, revealing dark bruises covering the fire demon's back and arms. The ningen started as he realized the white cloth he had mistaken for the bandana was actually a bandage wrapped around his head. The tall teen stood there, staring dumbfounded at the injuries covering the swordsman's body as Yukina stepped past him, kneeling opposite Kurama.

Hiei hissed softly as the material stuck to the burns on his forehead. His breathing sped up as the ice maiden sat next to him, unable to quell the irrational fear that her presence evoked. He grabbed the edges of the blanket, wrapping it tightly around himself to hide his shaking hands. His slightly wide eyes sought Kurama's, the latter placing a comforting hand on the smaller demon's shoulder.

"Master Genkai said he had a broken leg. I think I should heal that first," Yukina said, looking at Kurama when Hiei avoided her gaze. The kitsune nodded, moving the blanket back to reveal the wooden cast.

Noticing how tense the swordsman was and guessing at the reason, the ice maiden raised her eyes to meet Kuwabara's. "If you don't need anything else, I must ask you to leave," she said, her voice cold.

The ningen looked like a puppy that had just been kicked. "O-okay, Yukina," he said, taking one last look at Hiei. He seemed unable to tear his gaze away from the welts covering his ally's back.

The fire demon looked over his shoulder, the full force of his glare landing on Kuwabara. The human's eyes widened as he saw the burns covering Hiei's forehead and he actually took a step back, shocked at the clearly visible hatred and loathing in the crimson stare. He was almost surprised the fire demon hadn't sent the darkness dragon on him yet.

"Well? Are you just going to stand there and gawk all day?!" the swordsman snarled, hiding his fear behind anger. Despite Kurama's reassurances, he could not relax with Yukina sitting so close to him and he did not need anyone else to witness his weakness, least of all Kuwabara.

Not wanting to try Hiei's temper any more than he already had, the ningen turned, beating a hasty retreat from the room.

Kurama reached over, removing the cast and replacing the seed in his hair. He heard Hiei's breathing accelerate and felt his back become so rigid that he was trembling uncontrollably. He gripped the fire demon's shoulder tighter, offering his silent support.

It took all of Hiei's willpower not to run screaming in the other direction as Yukina's delicate hands neared his leg. His instinct was to flee, to escape from his enemy before she could hurt him any more than she already had. He kept repeating what Kurama had told him earlier in his mind-- the one who had hurt him was not Yukina, but merely a shapeshifter that had taken her form. However, logic failed to calm his ragged nerves and he could not help but anticipate the agony that would be caused when the ice maiden intentionally shifted the two halves of the broken bone even further apart, like she did before. No! he told himself firmly. That was not Yukina before. That was merely a shapeshifter posing as Yukina. Despite his mental preparation, he reflexively jerked away as her hands touched his thigh; clenching his jaw so tightly he thought his teeth might crack to keep from crying out at the agony the movement had caused him.

"I'm sorry!" Yukina apologized immediately, thinking she had done something to hurt him. She looked at his strained, pale face, wanting to help him, but not wanting to cause him any more pain. It's all my fault this happened to him. If only I hadn't have gotten caught... her thought trailed off, tears glistening in her eyes. "I'm so sorry, Hiei-san," she repeated, bowing her head so that her hair covered her eyes. She didn't want him to see her weakness. Her own shortcomings when it came to self-defense were the reason he was in this condition to begin with.

Kurama kept his hand on Hiei's shoulder, doing his best to calm the fire demon. "Yukina-san, Hiei's injuries have left his body rather sensitive," he explained, the tears forming in her eyes not having escaped his notice. "Perhaps it would be best if you tried healing without touching him," he suggested.

"I can do that for the bruises because they aren't that serious," she said, directing her gaze to Kurama. "But I'll have to touch his leg in order to heal the bone completely."

Hiei shook his head, angry at his reaction. "Just do it and get it over with," he said breathlessly, his voice harsh. He closed his eyes, waiting for whatever was to come as he willed himself not to move.

Hesitantly, Yukina placed her hands on his leg again. She felt him flinch, but ignored it, concentrating instead on the blue light as it illuminated her hands, reaching out to envelope his leg. It was a few minutes before she sat back, a soft smile lighting her features. "How does that feel?" she asked, watching the fire demon's face.

Hiei cautiously moved his leg, drawing it up in front of him. "Better," he admitted, avoiding her gaze.

The ice maiden didn't seem to notice, moving around to sit behind him. "Can you take off the blanket and put your arms at your sides, please?" she asked. Hiei did as she bade him and she raised her hands, spreading the fingers wide as they hovered on either side of his spine.

The familiar tingle ran across his back and arms as the blue light washed over them, the bruises fading as the blood vessels were restored. His eyes felt heavy, weariness washing over him now that there wasn't quite as much pain keeping him awake.

Yukina moved back in front of the fire demon, bringing up her hands to the swordsman's forehead. He drew back instinctively, not wanting her fingers to touch the raw burns.

"It's alright, I'm not going to touch it," she said reassuringly, guessing his fear. She moved closer as he closed his eyes. A blue light enveloped her hands, spreading to Hiei's forehead and encircling the burns, but did not cover them. Yukina concentrated harder, focusing all her will into repairing the damaged tissue, but nothing happened. "I-I can't heal these burns," the ice maiden said, her voice confused.

Hiei opened his eyes, his expression unreadable as he met the worried gaze that was so similar to his own. A little uncomfortable at the close proximity, he leaned back farther, supporting himself on his arms as he looked away from his sister's face. Stifling a yawn, he tried to appease the urge by taking a semi-deep breath and holding it until he no longer felt the need to cough caused by breathing deeply.

"I think I can explain that," Kurama said. Two sets of red eyes turned to him, one worried and the other about to fall asleep. "Were these burns made with holy water?" he asked, directing his question to the fire demon. Hiei nodded slowly. "I thought as much. I'm afraid you will have to wait and allow your body to heal itself. Can you feel your Jagan at all?"

The swordsman paused, eyes becoming slightly glazed as he delved into his mind. It was a few seconds before he blinked, coming back to himself as his gaze focused on Kurama. He shook his head.

"It is possible that, as your body heals itself, the Jagan will recover as well," the kitsune said. Noticing Hiei's eyelids drooping a bit further, Kurama decided it was time for them to leave. "In any case, there is no use worrying about it now. Yukina-san, I think we should let Hiei get some rest," he said, skillfully wrapping a clean bandage around the burns. The ice maiden nodded, leaving the room.

"Kurama," Hiei said softly, wincing slightly as the redhead pulled the cloth tight and tied it off. He closed his eyes, unable to meet the fox demon's gaze and hating himself for being weak enough to even consider asking. On the other hand, however, the physical and especially the mental torture he had endured for the past few days was taking its toll. By this time he was almost too tired to care what the redhead thought of him. He hesitated, wrestling with his pride as his weary mind tried to come up with the best way to phrase his request.

The kitsune guessed what was bothering the diminutive demon. "I'll stay with you," he said, his voice only loud enough for Hiei to hear. The redhead smiled when he saw the swordsman relax slightly. Although they relied on each other when fighting, it was nice to know that the fire koorime still trusted him implicitly outside of battle, as well.

Genkai stuck her head into the room, her gaze landing on the fox demon. "Your 'guest' has been taken care of," she informed him.

Kurama smiled, inclining his head. "Thank you, Master Genkai."

The door slid shut as the kitsune turned off the lights, plunging the room into darkness. Hiei briefly wondered what the psychic's comment had been about, but he was too tired to think about it. Laying down on the futon, he rearranged the blanket to cover himself before closing his eyes and falling asleep.

. . .

Kurama opened his eyes, not sure what had awakened him. The soft rustle of cloth caught his attention and he turned to look at the other occupant in the room.

Hiei was moving restlessly on his futon, barely audible words escaping his lips as he dreamed. The scent of fear was strong as he struggled with whatever horrors were plaguing his unconscious mind and the temperature of the room began to rise as the fire demon tried to use his youki to defend himself. Kurama started to stand, intent on waking the koorime before he burned down the temple, when the swordsman sat up, fully alert and breathing hard.

The deep breaths set off a coughing fit, which left Hiei feeling exhausted as he lay back on the bed, concentrating on nothing more than drawing a small amount of air into his lungs and exhaling it. His breath caught in his throat as he heard a soft noise, informing him that he wasn't alone. He tensed, silently cursing his dependence upon the Jagan as he tried to make out the figure in the darkness.

"Relax, Hiei. It's me," Kurama said quietly. "We're currently in a room at Genkai's temple. Do you remember coming here?" he asked.

There was a pause before the fire apparition answered. "Yes, I remember," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. He seemed to relax a bit, feeling more in control of the situation with the confirmed knowledge of where he was and who was with him. One thought, however, was still bothering him. He hesitated, turning to face the redhead. "What happened to Atshushi?" he asked, trying to keep his voice neutral.

"He has been detained," Kurama replied. "How are you feeling?"

The swordsman snorted. "How do you think I'm feeling?" he retorted sarcastically.

"Paranoid. Betrayed. Confused."

"Hn." Although it was annoying, the fire demon was a bit surprised to find that he didn't mind that the kitsune could read him so easily.

Seeing that Hiei seemed to be up for at least a partial discussion, the redhead decided to appease his curiosity. "It is obvious that Atshushi took several different forms during your captivity, including mine. I have it on good authority that he has been watching you, and obviously those around you as well, for several years. Being a shapeshifter, he would be able to take either of my forms and should have been able to pass as me simply by observing our interactions during the Dark Tournament. However, in my lair, you seemed reassured of my identity when I took my demon form. Why is that?" he asked.

"It's because of your vanity," he replied.

"My vanity?"

"You like to make a spectacle of yourself when you transform-- all that smoke and lightning, creating quite a dramatic entrance. He couldn't do that, so I knew it wasn't you," Hiei explained.

"I see. Were there any such hints to indicate that it was not really Kuwabara? Or Yukina?" Kurama asked.

Hiei was silent for so long that the kitsune didn't think he was going to answer. As it was, the response was so quiet he almost missed it. "No," the fire demon whispered.

There was another pregnant pause, each lost in his own thoughts. After a moment, Kurama spoke, his soft voice breaking the silence. "I'm sorry I was late that night. I wasn't able to get away as fast as I thought I could. When I arrived at the park, you were already gone. There was a crowd gathered around a ningen that I assume you knocked unconscious. I questioned him and learned that he had been hired to chase Yukina. After talking with Koenma, I learned that Genkai had found her drugged at the foot of the stairs shortly after you disappeared. She asked to be kept updated on my progress during my search. She has been very worried about you," he said. Hiei didn't reply, so he continued. "Yukina is a kind soul who likes to help those around her. However, she is starting to take a particular interest in you. I believe it started or, rather, she first noticed it when you were recovering after acting as my support through the worst of my illness. She cares for you deeply, although I doubt she understands why."

"It doesn't matter," the swordsman said, his voice coming out a bit harsher than he'd intended it to.

"No, I suppose it doesn't."

The room fell silent once more. After a few minutes, Hiei pushed himself to his feet, mumbling something about needing to use the facilities. Kurama walked with him to the bathroom, waiting outside until the fire demon was done. Although he didn't need the kitsune's help, it took all of his remaining energy to make it back to his futon, the short trip having worn him out.

The redhead studied his tired friend carefully. "What's wrong?"

Hiei shook his head, indicating he didn't know.

"Can you describe the symptoms to me?"

"Lungs...feel heavy... Can't breathe..." the fire demon said in between breaths. He broke into another coughing fit.

The kitsune thought about what might possibly be wrong with the koorime. The room where he had found Hiei flashed in his mind, focusing on the metal box that was half full of water that the swordsman had been kept in. "Did you inhale any water?" he asked.

The small demon paused, trying to force his suddenly weary mind to remember back to his captivity. He nodded.

"It sounds like you have developed pneumonia."

"...what?" Hiei asked, starting to get his breathing back under control.

"Pneumonia. It's an infection in the lungs. It takes an average human several weeks to recover from it, but I think the time will be considerably shorter for you," the redhead replied.

The fire demon laid his head back, closing his eyes. "So, this is what it's like to be 'sick?' "

"Yes."

Hiei turned away, pulling his blanket around himself and signaling the end of the conversation. Kurama tried not to smile as his sharp ears caught the fire demon's muttered comments about weak ningen and their stupid illnesses.

. . .

Yukina walked down the hallway carrying a tray laden with several bowls, cloths, a cup and chopsticks. She could hear someone coughing as she stopped in front of a room, balancing the serving platter on one hand while she slid the shoji open.

Hiei glanced up sharply, turning his gaze back to the window when he saw it was Yukina. He was sitting on his futon leaning against the wall, a blanket wrapped around himself although it was more for comfort than to ward off the cold. His throat was raw from coughing and had been for the past two days. He didn't look up as the ice maiden kneeled next to him, setting down the tray.

"Kurama-san asked me to change your bandage," she said, noticing Hiei clench his jaw. He didn't say anything, turning his head further so she could untie the knot. She did so, slowly pulling the material away from the damaged tissue. Picking up a cloth from the tray, she dipped it in a bowl of warm water, wringing it out and gently wiping the old poultice from the last application off his forehead.

The fire demon sat with his eyes closed, back rigid as his sister cleaned the wounds.

"The burns seem to be healing quite nicely, and it's only been four days," Yukina commented. "It should only be a few more before you won't need a bandage at all." Hiei didn't reply.

A little disappointed by his silence, the ice maiden continued cleaning his forehead, rinsing out the cloth as necessary. "It will be good to let the burns air out a little, so I'll wait until you finish eating before I replace the bandage," she said when she was finished.

Opening his eyes, Hiei looked at the tray set before him. Plain soba. Again. Why doesn't that baka kitsune cook some real food? he wondered, glaring at the soup. The fire demon picked up a bowl of rice and began eating, pointedly ignoring the soba.

Yukina watched him, her expression unreadable. Hiei glanced at her once, but she quickly averted her eyes. When he was done, she picked up a bowl containing the new paste Kurama had made and began to carefully rub it onto the burns, her fingertips barely brushing against the damaged skin. "Kurama-san is very knowledgeable about herbal remedies. It is good that he is here to help," she said.

"Hn."

Yukina turned away to hide her expression as she wiped the remaining poultice off her fingers. Schooling her features, she turned back and started wrapping the bandage around Hiei's head when she noticed him tense as his breathing became more strained. Quickly tying it off, she started to ask him what was wrong when he turned away from her, his body shuddering as he began to cough.

The spasm did not last long and Hiei sat back, inwardly groaning as his throat protested the rough treatment. He silently cursed his weakness.

"Here, drink this," Yukina said, holding out a cup of water.

Hiei glared at the liquid disdainfully. "I'm not thirsty," he replied, his voice a little raspy. He turned his head away, allowing his gaze to rest once more out the open window.

The ice maiden lowered her head so that her bangs were hiding her face, clutching the cup with both hands. "I'm sorry, Hiei-san," she whispered, a slight tremor in her voice.

The fire demon turned his head sharply, the sorrowful tone startling him. "For what?" he asked, the words coming out a bit harsher than he had intended.

"For everything. It's all my fault," she said, her voice so soft Hiei had to strain to catch the words. Her hands gripped the cup tightly as her shoulders began to shake. "You were captured and tortured because of me."

The fire koorime was shocked. What is she saying? Why is she apologizing? Does she think that I blame her for what happened? he wondered, incredulous.

"I'm so sorry. If I wasn't so weak--" Yukina continued.

"No."

The ice maiden fell silent, but did not look up. Hiei gently took the cup from her hands, raising her chin until he could look into her eyes. He mentally cursed himself for the tears glistening underneath the ruby irises. "It was my decision to disarm myself and it was my overconfidence that allowed the demon behind me to escape my notice. What happened was not your fault," he said, holding her gaze.

Yukina closed her eyes, shaking her head. "Then, why?"

Hiei blinked. "What?"

"Why do you cringe every time I enter the room? Why do you pull away from my touch? Why do you avoid looking at me? Why are you trying to distance yourself from me?" she asked, her voice soft.

The fire demon's eyes widened slightly. He hadn't realized how perceptive his sister was. He sighed, directing his gaze to the floor. "It's not you I'm trying to pull away from," he answered quietly.

"Then who?" she questioned. Hiei just shook his head. Yukina sighed, stacking everything back on the tray. She looked up suddenly as she remembered something, meeting the stare that was so similar to her own. "That night, the demon that held me, he said something," she said, watching the fire demon. "He said, 'The life of this woman is very important to you, isn't it?' Am I important to you?"

The fire demon didn't have to think about his answer. "Yes."

"Why?"

The swordsman hesitated, not having anticipated this question. "There's just something about you," he said after a long pause. "Everyone can feel it. You're innocent and naive to a fault, but I think that, in a way, you remind us all of something we have lost."

"Is that all?" she asked, not satisfied with his answer. "I wasn't even sure which one you were when you were fighting in the Dark Tournament, but my heart almost stopped when I thought you might have died after you gathered the antidote to cure Kurama's poison a few months ago. I care deeply for you, Hiei-san, but I don't understand why!"

The fire demon stared down at his hands, his expression unreadable, as the silence stretched between them. "You feel an odd attachment to me because I was the one who freed you from Tarukane's grasp," he said after a long pause. "Yuusuke and Kuwabara were both there as well, but they weren't in the room with us, so you don't have the same affinity for them as you do for me. That is all."

Yukina opened her mouth like she wanted to say something before closing it again. She nodded her head once, averting her eyes as she picked up the tray and left the room. Hiei watched her go, feeling a little guilty. Sighing, he leaned back against the wall and continued gazing out the window. The sun shone down on the trees, the branches swaying gently in the breeze as an occasional bird landed on them to rest for a moment before taking flight once more. The scene was lost on the pensive fire demon, his concentration turned inwards as he pondered the conversation that had just taken place.

He wasn't sure how much time had passed when he heard the shoji slid open, turning sharply to see who it was. His forehead throbbed unexpectedly and he winced, reflexively raising a hand to the bandaged area. What was that just now? If felt as if...of course. I wanted to see who had entered the room and tried to use the Jagan. It responded and tried to open, thus upsetting the burns. It is still useless to me at present, but it is recovering, he thought, the corners of his lips turning upward slightly.

Kurama looked at the swordsman worriedly. "Are you all right, Hiei?" he asked.

The fire demon snatched his hand away from his forehead, a scowl settling across his features. "Hn."

The kitsune sighed, sitting down next to his partner. "You're upset with me about Yukina," he stated. Hiei snorted.

"I know you didn't appreciate me asking her to change your bandage, but you can't avoid her forever. It will take time before you are completely at ease in her presence and I understand this. However, you are not being fair to her," the redhead continued. "As I told you a few days ago, she worries over you and she believes you blame her for what happened. Your avoidance of her has not helped the situation."

The swordsman diverted his gaze back to the window. Just because the fox was right didn't mean he had to like it.

Seeing that Hiei accepted his reasons, if not quite agreed with his actions, Kurama changed the subject. "You put your hand to your forehead when I entered the room, as if it pained you. Is the poultice I made no longer working?" he asked.

"I tried to open my evil eye. It responded," Hiei replied. Although he tried to keep his tone neutral, the kitsune could hear the relief in his voice.

Kurama smiled. "That's good to hear. At the rate you're recovering, you should be completely over your pneumonia in a few more days. The burns should be healed enough to allow the Jagan to at least partially function by that time, as well."

"Hn."

Kurama chuckled. Hiei had not complained during his period of mandatory rest, but the redhead knew the lethargy and weakness caused by the illness were probably driving the fire demon insane. Even though he did well at concealing his emotions, the kitsune knew his friend couldn't wait to be well and whole once more. The last few days will be the most difficult. Hiei will feel much better, but he'll need to continue resting to prevent a relapse. It will not be easy to keep him here and he will have quite a bit of pent up energy waiting to be released by the time he's allowed to leave... the fox's thought trailed off as his smile widened, thinking of the sparring match that they were supposed to have the night Hiei disappeared. Of course, if Hiei is as restless as I believe he will be, he is going to be looking for a fight when he leaves. This could be rather interesting, indeed.

. . .

Yuusuke trudged up the main stairs leading to the temple of his sensei. "I don't see why she has to live out in the middle of nowhere in the first place," the teen muttered out of habit, halfheartedly. His mind was occupied by different thoughts. Kuwabara told me that Hiei looked pretty beat up and Yukina had said something about being captured. Why didn't Koenma tell me about it? Hiei getting captured is pretty serious. Kurama usually knows what's going on. His mom said she hadn't seen him in almost two weeks and Kuwabara said he was here with Hiei several days ago. I don't know why he would still be here, but I can't find him anywhere else, he thought, mechanically putting one foot in front of the other as he climbed the stone steps. A familiar cry startled him from his thoughts, looking up to the courtyard ahead.

"Puu!"

Yuusuke recognized the small spirit beast, his eyes widening as it was surrounded by what appeared to be black flames. He was already running up the remaining stairs and sprinting across the courtyard as the blue animal fell to the earth. The teen caught and held the creature gently, heedless of the flames as he checked to see how badly it was injured. Bright black eyes opened, staring into the teenager's chocolate brown ones and it cooed cheerfully. "Puu!"

Yuusuke blinked, startled at finding his inner reflection not only uninjured, but happy as well, as if the flying creature had been playing a game. The black flames died down, the unnatural warmth leaving as they disappeared. The teen stared down at his now cold hands. Flames that don't burn? What's going on here?

"Your beast is unharmed, detective," a bored voice said. "I was just using him for target practice." Yuusuke looked towards his left, spotting Hiei sitting on the porch. His dark clothes helped him blend into the afternoon shadows, making him easy to overlook. He was smirking at the ningen's uncharacteristic show of emotion towards the defenseless creature.

"Hiei? What are you doing here?" the teenager asked. He tossed Puu carelessly back into the air, a little annoyed at having gotten worked up over nothing. He rolled his eyes as the creature landed on his head.

"Training. Am I supposed to be somewhere else?" the fire demon asked, sarcasm coloring his tone.

"Well, yes, actually. Botan told me that you were restricted to the city, according to the terms of your parole," Yuusuke replied.

"Hn. The toddler knows I'm here," Hiei answered carelessly.

"Oh." The detective's eyes rested on the bandage covering the koorime's forehead in place of the normal headband. "Kuwabara said you got pretty beat up. What happened?"

The swordsman's eyes narrowed, his body tensing slightly as he leveled his glare on the ningen. "That is none of your concern," he replied, his voice cold.

"Ooo, touchy subject, huh?" the teen asked. I didn't think he'd tell me anything.

"Hn."

An awkward silence fell between them as Yuusuke looked around the courtyard. Nothing ever really changes up here, he thought, remembering his brief two-month training period with Genkai. None of them were very pleasant memories.

"Is there a reason you've come?" Hiei's annoyed voice said, breaking through his reverie.

"Yeah, I was looking for Kurama. His mom hasn't seen him in two weeks, so I was just wondering if he was here," the teenager replied.

"He's inside if you need to talk to him."

He won't tell me anything as long as Hiei's here. Guess I'll have to try and weasel it out of him later. "Nah, I was just wondering 'cuz his mom was gettin' worried. What's he doin' up here, anyway?" Yuusuke asked curiously.

"Acting as my parole officer," came the cynical reply.

Noticing the swordsman wasn't in the best of moods, the spirit detective thought it best to leave while he was still ahead-- and still had his head. "Alright, cool. Well, I gotta go. Keiko wanted me to go out with her tonight. Tell Kurama and Grandma I said 'hi,' " he said, heading back down the stairs. Puu jumped off his head, flying back towards Hiei. "And try not to fry my spirit beast!"

"Hn."

Yuusuke stopped when he was about halfway down the staircase, turning to look back at the arch entranceway into the temple grounds. Hiei said he was training, but... for what? He didn't look like he needed to retrain himself, but... his thought trailed off, remembering the bandage wrapped around the fire demon's forehead. Maybe something happened to his evil eye and he's trying to re-master the Dragon of the Darkness Flame? I think that would require a large space, but he could use it in the Dark Tournament and I know he didn't train here before. Besides, he strikes me as someone who prefers to train in private, without an audience. Grandma wouldn't be able to resist critiquing his attacks, either. So, if he's not here to train, then why would he stay? Unless... the Jagan itself was damaged and he's staying here until it's fully healed? That makes sense, actually. He'd be safe with Genkai and Kurama both here. The teen almost laughed at the thought of the high and mighty fire demon needing protection. He contained his mirth, however, when he realized Hiei would probably fry him for thinking such things. He was safe if the Jagan was indeed dysfunctional, but if it wasn't... What's the range on that thing, anyway? Yuusuke wondered, continuing back down the stairs at an accelerated pace.

. . .

Kurama pulled off the bandage, looking approvingly at the skin underneath. "It would appear that you have finally recovered from the affects of the holy water. Your burns are almost completely healed," the kitsune commented. "I don't think they require a bandage any longer. Why don't you open your Jagan and test its powers?"

Hiei complied, closing his main eyes and focusing solely on the implant. The evil eye opened halfway, revealing part of the violet iris. The eye looked a bit dull and very bloodshot. It feels weaker than the first time I used it. Apparently, it needs a bit more time before it is fully healed, but I should be able to use the basic abilities, the fire demon thought. He focused on Kurama's mind, trying to eavesdrop on his friend's thoughts.

/You should know better than that, Hiei/ came the mental rebuke. /Why don't you try locating Yukina or Genkai? They are both somewhere around the compound./

Smirking, the koorime cleared his mind, relaxing as he allowed his evil eye to scan the area around him. He sorted through the usual mess of confused pictures and auras that assaulted his mind, frowning as he realized just how limited the Jagan's reach was at current. He opened his eyes, meeting Kurama's questioning gaze. "Hn."

"Well, at least it is healing and, given time, I'm confident that you will make a full recovery," the fox replied.

"I'm not as incapacitated as you make me sound," Hiei retorted hotly. "I'm done staying here. Are you ready for that sparring match or not? As entertaining as it is to burn the detective's spirit beast, I am tired of restraining my energy."

A mischievous smile settled onto the kitsune's face. "I am ready for it, but I doubt you will have time for that today. Come, I've been saving something for you," the redhead said, rising to his feet and slipping out of the room. Hiei followed, a bored look on his face although his eyes watched Kurama curiously.

The demon fox led the way to a small building separate from the rest of the complex. It appeared to be a storage shed of some sort at first glance. Wards were attached to the walls and door to keep wayward demons out-- or something inside. The kitsune removed the talisman on the entrance, lifting the wooden bar and opening the door. A demon was lying on the floor with his back to them, not even bothering to look up when they entered. An energy-binding ward was visible through his hair, attached to the back of his neck, and two metal cuffs around his ankles shone dully in the light.

Kurama watched Hiei's reaction to the demon on the floor. The fire koorime didn't seem to recognize him. "Hiei, meet Atshushi."

At the name, the demon raised his head up off the floor, shaking brown hair out of his eyes to glare at the swordsman. "So, you finally deigned to come and see me? What, were you too busy out destroying more lives?" the brunette spat, his eyes filled with hatred.

Hiei looked down at the demon coolly. I have never seen this demon before. While it is true that I have many enemies, this is the first one that I cannot place, he thought, his Jagan pulsing softly. It was easy to gain access to the changeling's mind, memories flying through his head. His upper lip curled into a snarl as he saw himself trying to defend against the ochu and then curled up on the floor trying to protect his injured leg. Setting his anger aside momentarily, he delved deeper in the shapeshifter's mind. The memories came faster now, flashing through his mind. He saw bits and pieces of him summoning the darkness dragon and of him accidentally stabbing Kurama during his fight with Yuusuke.

The kitsune stood quietly, watching the scene before him with interest. Atshushi was still on the floor, his eyes dull as he stared, trance-like into Hiei's Jagan. The fire demon's own gaze was unfocused, his attention diverted inward. It was a few moments before Kurama saw his body tense slightly, obviously having found what he was looking for.

In Hiei's mind, the pictures came to an abrupt halt. This must be a memory he has dwelt on quite a bit, the fire demon thought. In his mind's eye, he saw a village that had been burned. Blackened, twisted bodies lay in the street, some of the corpses still smoking. He followed the memory into one of the houses, a single body lying on the floor. A little ways behind that was a blackened cradle, the body of a dead child resting inside of it. His wife and child.

Going back a bit further, Hiei watched the slightly altered scene play out in his mind. A figure dressed in black stopped, looking around and smiling maliciously. Raising his left hand, he summoned a monstrous beast from out of the ground. The creature bowed in obeisance to its master before turning and locating the village. Rearing its head back, it released a massive fiery attack, completely incinerating everything in its path, including the village. The figure dressed in black threw back his head, laughing manically, before dismissing the creature and leaving. Hiei rolled his eyes at the poor depiction of the events that day. So, he is from the village that the salamander destroyed the first time I summoned it, he thought, the situation starting to make more sense.

Kurama raised an eyebrow as Hiei looked at the back of his left hand, breaking eye contact. The shapeshifter blinked, coming out of his trance as the fire demon clenched his left hand, angrily. His voice was low, an underlying edge in it when he spoke.

"You should have killed me when you had the chance. Now, it will be my pleasure to return the favor, only I will succeed where you have failed."

"What does life matter? You've already taken all that I hold dear from me. You think I'm afraid to die?" Atshushi asked, the loathing unmistakable in his voice.

"That may be so, but you will not receive a death as painless as Maliha's," Hiei said darkly.

"Don't you dare defile her by speaking her name!" the shapeshifter yelled, chains rattling as he struggled to his feet.

Although interested in how the scene would turn out, the kitsune's ears picked up a shrill beeping sound. He let himself out, closing the door behind him and leaning against it before reaching into his pocket and withdrawing the communication mirror. He flipped open the lid, watching as Botan's face appeared on the screen.

"Kurama-san, Koenma-sama is demanding to know what you and Hiei are still doing at Genkai's temple. You should have been back in the city almost a week ago!" she said.

The redhead raised an eyebrow. "I thought you were keeping tabs on Hiei. If it was a problem, why did you not call sooner?"

"Well, quite frankly, we didn't know. I assumed you would head back to the city, taking Hiei with you, as soon as possible. I talked to Yuusuke earlier today and he told me that you were still there," she replied. "You're going to get me in trouble if you stay there much longer!"

"My apologies. Yukina-san wasn't able to heal all of Hiei's injuries, so we had to stay longer than expected," he explained. He began walking away from the building as the voices became louder within.

Botan's eyes widened. "He was injured that badly...?" She trailed off, cocking her head to the side. "What is that? It sounds like someone yelling."

"Hiei is venting his frustration and anger. It is unhealthy to keep such strong emotions bottled up inside, you know," Kurama answered.

"Oh. Well, I hope he gets better soon-- I know Koenma has a mission he wants to send everyone on in the next few days. Do you think he'll be well enough to go?" she asked.

"I think so," the kitsune replied. "He's made quite a bit of progress this last week. We'll be back in the city as soon as he feels he's ready."

"Alright, I'll pass that along to Koenma. Bye!" Botan said. The screen went black.

The redhead clicked the mirror shut, returning his attention to the building Hiei was in. The walls shuddered as someone was thrown heavily against them. The kitsune smiled slightly. "We'll come as soon as Hiei is ready to let Atshushi pass on."

"There you are, Kurama-san! I came to tell you and Hiei-san that lunch is ready. I can't find him, though," Yukina said, walking around the corner.

"Hiei is a bit busy at present," the kitsune said. He moved over to her, steering her in the opposite direction. "I don't think he'll be joining us for lunch."

"Oh. I guess I'll set some aside for him, then," she said, walking back inside.

Kurama paused at the doorway. Turning, he sent a telepathic message to the fire demon. /I suggest you keep him from screaming too loudly. Otherwise, you may have Yukina coming to investigate/ he warned.

/What do you want me to do? Rip out his vocal cords?/

/Whatever suits you./

/Hn./

Turning, the kitsune disappeared into the building.

. . .

The End

Author's Note: If you would like a response to your review, please leave a signed review or include an email address. Thanks!

Post Script: I have already started working on the next story which is a sequel, of sorts, to Rachisuru. It takes place about a year after the end of the anime and is a Kurama-centric fic. The first chapter of Shireru will be posted next Monday for those of you who are interested. Thanks for taking the time to read my story. I hope you enjoyed it, and I'll catch you on the flipside!