A/N

The time has finally come. The ending chapter to Mik-chan. You know what wold be awesome? If all ym readers reviewed so, for the first time ever, a story of mine got to 100 reviews! :D What do you think? I think it's a good idea.

What are you doing reading this still? Get onto the story! ;)

Chapter 17

Hiei dropped me off after our date and kept watch for nearly two hours. It was a little awkward changing out of my school clothes knowing he was out there somewhere, possibly seeing me with his purple eye, but I did my best to trust him.

Now I'm sitting on my bed, twirling the car keys around my finger, and thinking up a really stupid idea. I watch the silver keys swing around and think about how the silver flash reminds me a lot of Hiei's sword. Butterflies erupt in my stomach and I press my lips together to hide a smile.

Alright, that settles it. I got to fix this messed up situation.

I run downstairs and tell my mom I'm going to drop something off at Kurama's apartment. She gives me the look, but, when I smile innocently, she manages to loosen her maternal bond a little and lets me go. I rush off into the car, crossing my fingers and hoping that Hiei obeys my earlier request and stays out of my head for the rest of the night.

Apparently, Hiei actually listened to me, because I arrive at Kurama's place without any sudden demon attacks. I grin devilishly as I run into Kurama's complex and find the elevator. I fume for the first half of the ride up (seriously—I never noticed this stupid elevator before? All those time I used the steps—!), but as I watch the countdown near Kurama's floor, all other emotion dissipates. I take a deep breathe and close my eyes.

Hiei's crimson eyes fill my mind. That helps a little, but my stomach's still curling into a knot. I don't do that great with confrontation, as you might have noticed, but I'm getting better at it. I'm tired of being pushed over all the time, or ignored. Most of all, I'm sick and tired of things getting between Hiei and I. I'm going to be his mate some day, and from then on I'll spend my life with him. I kind of want things to stabilize between us, so I feel more comfortable about it.

The elevator pops open and I nearly have a panic attack. I step out and stand rigid in the hallway, glancing around for Kurama's door, which is completely unnecessary seeing as it's right in front of me. I stare at it. Take a deep breathe, and try to become the girl who slew a demon princess.

I reach out and knock on the door before I scamper back into the elevator. I listen to the sounds of hesitant movement inside and wait until the door flies open. Kurama appears form the shadows of the dimly lit apartment. Before he even speaks, I recognize the gold shimmering in his emerald irises.

"Mikala-san?" He asks formally. He looks strained and awkward. His eyes shift around, which is totally unlike him.

I stare at him and cement the frown on my face with a hand at my hip. "Are you going to let me in or what, foxy?"

He straightens and, to my discomfort, swallows hard. "That would be unwise, Mikala-san." He glances around. "Does Hiei know you're here?"

I push him out of the doorway and enter. "Hiei's not my dad, Kurama." I turn and look him in the eye. "He's my boyfriend. I don't his permission to do everything."

Kurama backs way from the door, leaving it wide open. He stares at me for a long moment before saying, "You should leave, Mikayla-san-"

"I know about Youko, Kurama." I say with a sadistic smile. "Now let him out. I've got a few things to say to him." I crack my knuckles.

Kurama sighs forlornly. "Mikala-chan, he won't listen." Oops, he called me "chan." Bad sign. He swallows hard again and closes his eyes. When he opens them, the gold is more pronounced. "I can't keep control of him for much longer."

I grin dementedly. "Let him out." My tone is far too cheerful, but I sober quickly. "It's okay, Kurama. I won't blame you for whatever he does. Promise."

"It won't fix anything." He says placidly.

"We'll see." I say and toss my ponytail back over my shoulder. I adjust my glasses, take a deep breath, and nod that I'm ready.

Kurama shakes his head as if negate my request once again. Suddenly his whole body seizes up, like he's under going a mild seizure or a massive muscle spasm. A ripple travels through his body and, in a moment, I'm staring at the tall, lean form of a beautiful fox demon.

Youko's yellow eyes open slowly, as if trying to lure me into his golden pools. I just cock an eyebrow and cross my arms, thankful that my heart only beats for Hiei. If it didn't, I might be in trouble.

Youko smirks. "Well, if it isn't the little minx." He strides towards me and closes the distance between us. "You've finally come to me?"

"Yup." I nod sharply. He leans down, but I back away and scowl. "To talk."

Youko lies down on the couch and stretches his strong arms with a small frown. Clearly, the idea of talking bores him. "Very well. What about."

"About us." I stare him down.

He raises a silver eyebrow. "Oh? But I thought you were only interested in—"

"I am." I cut him off. "I'm here to tell you to stop up all those stupid ideas you're having about you and me, because I only love Hiei, and since we're already kind of sealed to be future mates and all, you're kind of practicing an exercise in futility."

My words slide off his ego like water off sleek fur. "I love a challenge." I suppose Youko's smirk is suppose to make me weak in the knees, btu I find myself scowling deeper as he goes on to say, "I am an infamous thief, after all. Hasn't Hiei told you?"

I narrow my eyes. "Stealing hearts is trickier than stealing gold, Youko."

"Is it?" He sits up, and towers over me. His face looms over mine, pure and pale as the moon. "I don't think so. Not if you have hands like mine."

I fight back a blush at his not-so-subtle innuendo. Rage coils inside me like a pillar of fire. "You're sick, you know that?"

Youko's infamous hands nearly sneak around my waste, but I back up into the coffee table and avoid them. Unfortunately, my knees buckle against the glass top and I end up falling back on it. I scream as Youko bears down on me, capturing my wrists and pinning them against the glass. His hold is treacherous—like trying to fight against a boulder. My heart pumps in my ears and I can barely think.

Youko's smile is as stealthy as it is heart-wrenching. I feel sick as he leans his forehead down against mine. "What was that you were saying, little minx?"

I widen my eyes and do the only thing I can think of—knee him in the groan.

I dance away as Youko groans. I scream, "Heavenly mushrooms!" in my head. Thank goodness that's one place demon and men alike are weak.

Youko recovers faster than most men would, and turns to where I'm hiding behind the couch. I'm glaring at him and scowling, trying not to be intimidated by his dark, golden look.

"You are a challenge." Youko mumbles, as if speaking to himself. To my horror, that chauvinistic smirk stretches across his face once more. "I like that in a woman." He heads for me.

"You stay away from me!" I shout at the top of my lungs.

To my surprise, Youko winces. Awesome—I have super-shrill powers. I thank those heavenly mushrooms again for Youko's sensitive ears and collect as much air in my lungs as they can hold. I climb onto the couch from behind and point my finger at him.

"You leave me alone!" I yell. "You think I could ever even like you? You've ruined Hiei and Kurama's friendship—the truest friendship Hiei has—and come after me because why? Because I don't fall at your feet? Because I don't find you attractive? Because I have a thing for onyx hair and red eyes instead of gold and silver? You like me because I'm the girl who got away?" My teeth are grinding against each other. Youko is simply watching me as I fall deeper and deeper into mindless rage. "How DARE you? I love Hiei. Hiei loves me. His jagan chose me out of every female in the world, and you think I'd even consider you? You're the sickest, stupidest, most chauvinist, sexist demon I've ever met! You had better leave me alone and let this stupid little whatever of yours for me drop. Because, funny as it seems, I'm not interested in being the object of any male's affections beside Hiei's, especially if they only like me because I'm NOT interested in them."

Youko pauses as his ears slowly unfurl in the silence precluding my tirade. My breaths are coming fast and hard. I'm still pointing at him, every muscle in my arm clenched upwards against my skin.

After a beat of silence, Youko's lips twist up in a smile. "Why, little minx, I've never met a woman who would DARE to talk to me in such a way."

The next moment, his hands are everywhere. I can't move. His lips are pressed against mine, closing in on me, his arms capturing my small waste in their grasp. Something goes off in my head; like the sound of a firework in the distance, it starts out as a small, screaming noise followed by a loud crack!

I pull my hand back and let my claws pop out through my cuticles. I swing them down and into Youko's cheek.

Youko pulls back in a rainbow of blood. I lean over and dry-heave blood out my mouth. I wipe my lips at the tang of copper files over my tongue. I glare upwards, feeling heat dance over every nerve in my body.

"How dare you?" I hiss. I heave in air. "How DARE you?" I stand up straight, head held high, fangs bared.

Youko barely seems to notice the four slices embroidered through his cheek. "Why, little minx, I've never seen you so attractive."

SMACK! The second slap has deepened the wounds. This time, as Youko turns back to eye me, he doesn't look lustful. At least, not for anything besides blood.

"You will leave me and Hiei alone." I growl. "Or else Hiei will kill you. And I'd really rather he not, since you're also Kurama."

"You think Hiei will fight me?" He raises an eyebrow as if the idea amuses him.

I give a bloody laugh. "Do you think you'll survive? He's going to be here in less than ten seconds. Congratulations, oh clever thief of Makai," I give a fake, awkward curtsey. "You triggered Loyalty. Hiei's already on his way. So I suggest you drop this thing of yours and give control back to Kurama. Unless you want to be burned alive."

Youko's ears twist, obviously picking up on the sounds of Hiei's approach. "Aright, little minx. You win for now." He smirks. "But I'll be keeping my eye on you."

I glare. "Just remember you're walking a really thin tight-rope, buddy."

The exact instance Youko's visage melts back to Kurama's, Hiei flies in through the window and the temperature raises nearly twenty degrees.

Kurama moves backwards. "Hiei, please calm down. Just listen-"

"I trusted you, fox!" Hiei barks through his elongated fangs.

In the next instant, there are blurs flying around the room. A lamp breaks. Sparks light the air. The lights go out. My demon vision provides enough for me to see the fight, just catches and bits, but enough to know Kurama is fending Hiei off at every turn. Rose whips fly through the air; the air grows so scorching I'd be fried if I wasn't in demon form.

I dive off the couch and jump onto the coffee table. "HIEI, STOP!"

He doesn't listen. I leap off the table and dash into the fray. Horror makes my wrists pulse wildly, but I miraculously manage to get a hold around Kurama's chest, and cling to him desperately.

When Hiei computes my presence, he goes deathly still. I keep my eyes closed, too scared at first to open then. After a minute of harsh breathing passes, I open one eye and catch a glimpse of my samurai.

His eyes aren't the crimson I know, but the bleeding red they become in battle. They glitter malevolently, trained solely on me, staring as if he's never seen me before. His arms are tense and shaking.

Slowly, Hiei straightens out. I'm too scared to let go of Kurama, so I stand and keep my hands braided between the creases of his nightshirt.

"Hiei, don't hurt him. He didn't do anything. I'm the one who came here to—"

"To cheat on me with the fox." His words are barely more than growls.

I gape in shock. "What? Excuse me? How could you even suggest-?"

"Silence woman!" He cuts me off, his white teeth gritting together.

My mind buzzes in anger. Woman? WOMAN? He's never called me that before! "Excuse me? My name is not "woman" it's Mikala!" He's about to interrupt me, so I raise my voice and plow on, "AND I came her to tell Youko I'm not interested in anyone BUT YOU! So you and I could FINALLY have so merciful peace to be ALONE!" My face is red and burning.

Hiei stalls. His mistrust is so pronounced, so condemning, he can't even relax his fighting stance. He doesn't trust me. He won't trust me. He can't do it.

I shake my head at him. "Like you even have an excuse to see ME as the unfaithful one. I'M NOT THE ONE WHO CHEATED WILLINGLY! Youko grabbed me and forced a kiss on me! Not like you, Mister I-love-demon-princesses!" Childishly, I shove past him and run out the door.

I slam into the elevator and jam my finger against the close door button. It shuts just a second before Hiei appears in the hall. I fall back against the metal, feeling a melting sensation pulling at my eyes, and trying to block out the sound of Hiei and Kurama yelling above me.

Their voices fade, and the pain builds. I slink downwards until I'm resting on the floor. I bury my face in my knees and try to force the pain away, to shove it off into some box or other, to lock it away and pretend I was never hurt, that I couldn't be hurt. I try to pretend I don't even love Hiei, so it doesn't matter. The attempt it so futile, the pain increases.

Tears pour down my face as I sob. I can't believe this. I used to watch chick flicks like this all the time. My sisters would be killing trees by the dozens in their tissue quantity, and I would sit there skeptically, mentally making fun of the heroine. If she just stopped to think about it, I would say to myself, she would realize that she's making the whole thing a lot more complicated. Stupid girl, I would say. I was the stupid one. I never knew the kind of pain that heroine felt, how much of a stupid brick she already felt like, how she was beating herself up and how bruised and mangled her pride was. How vulnerable, sickly, and helpless she felt like.

I wipe my nose and swallow dry sobs. Now I'm the one who needs tissues.

The elevator doors ding. I look up to see a couple—a perfectly normal, human couple with normal, human problems—moving towards me. I look at them in envy. No split-personalities to worry about, no mating rituals, no demons or demon princesses or demonic killing powers. Just a normal, sweet life of love to give and bills to pay. Just what I always thought I'd have.

They notice me a split second before they enter the elevator. They stop and look down at me. The girl kneels down with her wide, brown eyes trained on me and flushed cheeks from the cold weather.

"Are you alright?" She asks in a kind, concerned voice. "Is something wrong?"

"Oh, no." I shrug nonchalantly. "My boyfriend just got jealous over his friend's personality split's actions and thinks I just cheated on him, which I didn't. Oh, and he's demon and I have to mate with him in the future or we'll both die, and now I'm not sure how I'm going to do that since he doesn't trust me." I look at their blank faces. "Normal stuff." I shrug.

I run past them before they have time to call the men in white coats. I push my way out the lobby doors, and the cold air freezes my tears on my cheeks. I take three harsh, wavering breaths and try to control myself. Everything feels like it's breaking apart. I rub my eyes and stumble towards where I know my car is. I stop when I see two rubies glinting out from the shadows.

I quickly stop wiping my tears and harden my features. "You didn't kill Kurama, did you? Because I don't have an alibi for the murder if the police get involved."

Hiei scowls, but quickly sobers his expression. He opens his eyes and looks at me. They're crimson now, not pools of blood. But I find no comfort in his stony gaze.

"No." He answers simply.

"Good." I cross my arms against the chill and head towards him. "Because I'm obviously the one who deserves it, right?"

I try to move around him to unlock my car door, but he grabs hold of my elbows and forces me to stand directly in front of him. I struggle and fight, but he's too strong. I continue like that—trying to break past him using my nails and kicking his shin, but, naturally, it's useless. I end up slapping his stomach and abandoning my attack.

A strained moment passes, ripe with silence an empty of words or emotion.

"You better apologize." I whisper, though I sound disheartened rather than angry.

Hiei pauses. "I'm sorry."

I close my eyes and hesitantly rest my head against his collarbone. It's a vague signal, but Hiei catches on in the way only he can, and wraps his arms around me. He pulls me to his chest and rests his chin on the crown of my head.

"The idea of anyone else touching you . . ." His voice is still like one large, guttural noise, " . . . is more painful than I could ever describe."

I rest my hands against his chest. "Hiei, you can't be like this though. I'm . . . I'm still hurt. From Angel."

Hiei pulls back and takes my face in his hands. His eyes wander over me wildly, searching for the pain.

I roll my eyes a little, and remove his hands. I place them against my heart. "No. In here."

His eyes soften indefinitely. "Mikala . . ."

I strive desperately to control it, but the urge to cry rises again. It wells up like a bubbling spring and, before I know it, a tear betrays me.

"I still think about her and you, and the fact that you could so easily think of me betraying you—that you trust me so little . . . ." I can't finish; a sob jumps up in my throat and cuts me off.

Hiei watches a tear fall down my cheek and hang on my chin. He wipes it away and pulls me to him again. His arms tremble as they encircle me.

"Don't cry." He murmurs. His words aren't animalistic anymore. "Please."

Hiei hardly ever says please. That's how I know how badly he means it. I bury my face in his chest and breathe in his scent—the scent of spices and the fragrant outdoors.

"Hiei, you have to trust me."

A long silence passes.

"I've never trusted anyone." His arms are still shaking. "I don't know how."

I raise my head and cup his cheeks in my hands. His face is set in stone, the edges smooth and emotionless. But I can see the fear hidden deep in his crimson pools.

That's why he was so angry. Hiei was just letting me in—bit by bit, and then he thought I had betrayed him. Like everyone else in his life had done. I still wasn't sure about everything in Hiei's life—a lot of his past was still a mystery—but I know it wasn't good. I don't want to add to that. I want to heal it.

"Hiei." I stare into his eyes. "I will never willingly hurt you. Never. You can trust me, I promise." I press my cheek against his. "I love you."

Hiei pauses before pulling me tightly against him. That's the first time I've ever said that allowed. In a way, I was too scared to say it before. Like it was my one last layer of protection. But it's time for the fear to end. In both of us.

"I love you, Hiei." I whisper.

"I love you, Mikala." Hiei murmurs.

Hiei takes me in his arms, and lays me back against the car. I lift my chin and close my eyes as he slowly presses his lips to mine. My heart flutters until I think it could nearly escape. I feel Hiei's voice in my mind, enwrapping me like a heating blanket.

It's a promise, my mind rings with his voice.

I know it is. Our kiss is a promise. We'll work harder to be better. We'll work harder to trust each other the way we need to, the way we've always wanted to trust someone.

Above all, we will stay together as long as demonically possible.

The End.

A/N

You have no idea how good it feels to write "The End." :)

BTW, I had to rewrite this entire chapter, which is why it has taken so long. It was pretty differant before, but the original was deleted off my laptop after it got a virus and completley crashed.

And, for all the faithful Mik-chanXHiei fans, I'm going to be working on the sequal :) Ooooh. I've got some pretty awesome ideas. I'm so excited! :D

Tell me what you think! Constructive critisism is always taken into careful consideration, and appreciated. Praise is even more appreciated ;) haha, just kidding. Either one is great.

Warning: Flames will be swallowed by my awesomeness.