Last chapter.

-YSendo

Chapter 28: Epilogue, sort of

The summer sun was setting behind the horizon obstructed by human buildings and false trees. Hiei and Yukina walked slowly, taking their time, to get to Kuwabara's house. Both of them were attending a party that Botan decided to throw for Yuumei, although Hiei was doing so begrudgingly.

It was Kurama's suggestion that the fire demon should pick up his unknowing sister, just so Kuwabara doesn't end up being her escort. Now, Hiei realized just why the fox urged him to do it: Yuumei's apartment was along the quickest route from the temple to the human's house.

"Hiei, we can pick up Yuumei too," the ice maiden suggested when she realized where they where. She recognized the little apartment block from a few weeks before, when Botan suggested that Yukina and her go visit the "young" woman. They ended up not going. Yukina smiled at Hiei to convince him.

Hiei looked at her, then up at the darkened window. He doubted the woman was home, but she be preparing in the bathroom or bedroom…He shook the thought out of his head. Last thing I need is to think of her in a bedroom, he thought to himself.

But, he grunted to Yukina and told her to stay there on the sidewalk while he jumped up onto the second floor and peered into one of the windows.

Hiei scowled at the boxes littered around the room, and at the blankness shrouding the rest of the apartment. Silently, he flitted over to the next window, then the next, until he scouted every entrance to the place. Every room was dark and empty. One box sat on the bare bed opened. As far as he could see, it contained clothes. He appeared next to Yukina with a thoughtful expression and a distant apology to Yukina. "She must have already left then," she suggested.

"Yukina! My love!"

"Shut up buffoon. You are making my ears bleed."

"Hiei, be nice."

"Hn."

Yuumei turned her attention away from the window and smiled at the commotion at the door. Well, that would explain why he wouldn't use a window. She leaned back against the windowsill, sipping from the glass of lemonade that Botan passed around.

Hiei took his eyes off Yukina and Kuwabara as the oaf was, again, trying to woo her. Instead, his eyes landed on the interesting woman he has come to know. She wore that little cocktail dress from Kurama's school get-together; her hair was tied up in a similar clumsy bun. Yuumei smiled at him sweetly, a different smile than the one he often got from Yukina. It was as though, through that smile, Yuumei was conveying the same emotion that they, him and her, can share through a kiss.

Hiei looked away with a mix of shame and excitement. He couldn't deny to her, or to himself, that there was nothing between them. Which reminded him…

"Woman." That was the first word Hiei spoke to her since he found her standing on a cliff in the middle of nowhere. Yuumei smiled against her glass, happy that the short demon didn't question what happened yesterday.

She was reluctant to come to the party at all, but decided that it couldn't really hurt. Now, she mentally patted herself on the back for thinking of coming. Hiei was worth it.

Hiei turned and walked meaningfully past Kurama to the backyard, which was lit with cheap paper lamps, which gave off a dull yellow glow. Stalking to the tree, he gestured with a nod of his head for her to come around the tree, blocking them partially from the view of a certain lip-reading fox.

"I'm sure Kurama knows about us," Yuumei mentioned with a slight smile. Hiei glared at her, making Yuumei feel that something was wrong.

"That is not what I dragged you out here for."

"Oh? Then what is it?"

"Where are you going?"

Yuumei sighed and closed her eyes, "I can't tell you that."

Hiei bristled, "Why the hell not? I'd think that as your…" he frowned a bit, "I deserve to know."

"And what," Yuumei asked while leaning closer to him, "are you?"

Hiei scowled, but did not turn his face away as her breath brushed against his face. He said nothing. Yuumei pecked him gently on the lips and straightened, not meeting his gaze. "I won't tell you."

"Why not?"

"I …want to be rid of you."

Hiei raised a brow, knowing very well that she was lying through her teeth. "Why do you insist on lying?"

Yuumei grinned and turned back to the house, "Find me, and I'll tell you."

On the way out the door, Yuumei stopped by Botan and handed her the demon compass. "Keep it," the ferry girl said, "you might need it in the future."

"Well," Yuumei said with a sad smile, "good-bye."

Yukina smiled back obliviously, "We'll see you around sometime." Yuumei's heart clenched, but she couldn't correct the ice maiden. She left.

It has been a month, Hiei realized vaguely, since Yuumei's party. He paused in his training to glance up as drops of water littered the ground. As he predicted, the storm is going to be rough. Sheathing his sword, he walked to the boulder and collected his coat; no one wanted to be caught in such a storm.

Silently, the shadow flitted between the branches to the quaint apartment block surrounded by lush pine trees. Third floor of the yellow building, fifth window from the right. First, he tried to push the window open, then, he started to pound on the glass.

"Goddammit," he heard a voice curse. The window opened violently and Yuumei stared at him almost as though she barely recognized him. "What are you doing here?"

"Rain." He slid into the apartment, finding himself at the end of a short hallway. He could see a light and the sound of running water coming from what he assumed was a bathroom, as well as an open door through which he recognized her dresser.

Yuumei wore a full-length nightgown, her hands still glistening with moisture. She frowned at him, although he could sense her spiking heartbeat, she had missed him. "I'm sure you don't melt," Yuumei was silenced by a stroke of lightning and a sudden increase in the flow of water outside. Sighing, she went back into the bathroom and grabbed a towel, "I swear you do this on purpose."

Hiei simply smirked, closing the window behind him. When Yuumei came back, she ran a hand through his hair, slickening some of his spikes. "I need a place to stay," Hiei said gruffly.

"Of course." Yummei's voice was deadpanned, as she waved him off down the hallway and headed to her own bedroom. Hiei flitted in front of her, striding into her room with a calm, "I want the bed."

Yuumei bit her cheek, "Then I'll take the couch." She turned to leave, but was caught by the elbow.

"You will stay with me," the words were almost whispered into her ear, making Yuumei grin before turning to drape her arms over Hiei's shoulders, leaning down slightly.

"I lied because-"

"You love me, I know."

...Such a crappy ending, but oh well.

Announcement time:

I am interested in maybe writing a sequel, something a little more emotional than action

If you have any suggestions or would like to chat with me about ideas, feel free to e-mail me, PM me, or IM me (servant_of_)

Hope you enjoyed it, I look forward to talking with whoever wants to talk.

-YSendo