Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, etc., of Inuyasha or Yu Yu Hakusho. This story is for entertainment purposes only, and not for profit.

FIRE IN ICE

A/N: Whew! So it hasn't exactly been four years since last I posted a chapter, but it has been a while. I wanted to thank everyone who has continued to show interest in this little story, which just started hopping back into my life. (Damn plot bunnies...'the hip hop, hippie to the hippie, the hip, hip a hop, and you don't stop'-okay, I'm done, haha. Though if you can tell me where the lyrics come from, I promise to post up a new chappie that much sooner...

As you can see, I am not above bribery.

(YFate)

Second A/N: I haven't checked my ffnet inbox in a long time, and I just stumbled across an awesome fanart done by reebajee on the fight from last chapter. Holy smokes, how awesome is that! Thank you, reebajee, I am just so stoked!

Please check it out, just remove the spaces. =)

:/ / w w w . a r t / - a n d - - 7

Chapter Twelve

"That," Genkai spat, "was exactly what we didn't want to happen."

She glared at the slayer, who sat stiffly silent, a white washcloth pressed to her neck. A few drops of blood smeared the washcloth, but the wound was hardly serious. More serious were the two cracked ribs. Riippp! Genkai took her anger out on the cloth she was tearing into long strips for a brace.

"It's not as if we expected the fight to go to that level - "

Genkai snorted. "Which means you underestimated her, fox."

The kitsune coughed, green eyes sliding to Sango and then quickly away.

"Haha, she's got you there, Kurama!" Yusuke chortled.

"Stow it, dimwit. You were hardly better." Genkai threw her student a withering look.

"Oh, come on, Grandma! How was any of that shit my fault? Hiei shot his mouth off, and Sango called him on it! Those two weren't going to settle it any other way but to fight."

"You're the Spirit Detective. He's your teammate."

"But - "

"Spurring them on, aiding and abetting - "

"I wasn't betting!" Yusuke denied staunchly, then grinned. "But if I was a betting man, I'd say Hiei was more interested in making love, not war. At least, there at the end."

Brown eyes widening, Sango's face abruptly drained of color.

"Yusuke Urameshi!" Botan rounded on the detective, cheeks as pink as Sango's were pale. Her oar was in her hands and swinging for his head before he could react.

"Ow!" Dropped on his ass by the furious ferry-girl's sudden strike, Yusuke rubbed his throbbing noggin with a scowl. "Whatcha do that for?"

"Because you're an idiot, Yusuke! And you deserved it!" She fetched him another one, as clearly the first hadn't taken.

"Ow! Jeez, Botan! What the hell!"

"We're not in hell, thank you," the ferry-girl said primly, her look darkening. "Although I seriously feel like taking you there. Right this very minute, as a matter of fact."

"There's no need for that." Kurama intervened. "At least, not yet."

"Eh?" Botan blinked in confusion, even as Kurama gently removed the oar from her distracted grip.

"The dimwit isn't ready for the Dark Tournament, let alone a field trip to hell." Genkai crossed her arms, her gaze cold. "You really are a dim wit, dimwit."

"Sheesh! You can't sweat me for telling the truth - "

"It's not possible."

They all turned at the taijiya's low comment. Her eyes were dark with denial.

Yusuke's brows rose.

"He's a demon," Sango continued, voice fervent, as if trying to convince herself more than anyone. "I am human."

"It's not only possible," Yusuke suddenly grinned, "it's proba-"

"Why, just look at the time." Genkai abruptly stood up, bandages falling from her lap.

"Huh?" Yusuke stared at her.

Examining her fingernails, Genkai idly rubbed her knuckles against her other sleeve. "We're having fresh fish for dinner. Stewed, thanks to the taijiya. You have to earn a good supper like that. I think two hours of mountain hopping ought to be a good start."

"But - "

Pointing her index finger, which glowed with swirling energy, Genkai casually took aim.

Scrambling to his feet, Yusuke's protest turned into a wail of protest. "Aw, come on, Grandma - ye-owch!"

A snap and sizzle at the end of Genkai's finger, and the back of Yusuke's jeans started smoking as Genkai shot him in the butt.

"Damn it, you old hag!" Yusuke protectively covered his rear.

"Outside, dumb ass," Genkai grimly ordered. "Now."

"Sadist! Ow! Interfering old bag - shit!" Yusuke yelped as Genkai ushered him out. Silence descended as Yusuke's hot protests and Genkai's grim rejoinders faded down the hall.

A giggle escaped behind Botan's hand. Pink eyes dancing, she met first Kurama's amused gaze, and then sought Sango's. But the taijiya was all but oblivious, her expression troubled.

Her dark eyes shot up when Kurama cleared his throat. "I, ah, should probably go..."

Sango's brow furrowed.

"Yes." Clearing his throat, the kitsune quickly extracted himself.

Frowning, Botan followed him out with her eyes, then turned to Sango. "Right, then. Let's see to your ribs, shall we?"

ooOOOoo

"Wanna tell me what happened out there on the field with Sango? Maybe which head you were using?"

He didn't turn around to face his accuser. He might evade his teammates, but he couldn't evade the old priestess. Not on her own damn mountain. With Yusuke currently occupied playing hopscotch along the cliff sides, she'd sought Hiei out. Her scorn was scathing. He had nothing to say, nothing he could say. He couldn't define his actions, and would never defend them.

"I expected more from you," was all Genkai said, and that stung worse. He expected more from himself. "You're not a teenage boy, hot with first lust - "

She paused, reconsidering.

Hiei sneered. "I'm no virgin."

Genkai grunted, her voice dry. "One couldn't imagine."

She folded her arms. "But you are still young, for a demon."

"That has nothing to do with - "

Genkai smirked.

Hiei shut up.

The silence grew long. Genkai stayed put.

"I cannot teach her," he finally said, the strain in admitting that almost as choking as why it was true.

"There's no one else."

Hiei shrugged, indifferent.

"You can. You will," was all the priestess said.

He whipped around, eyes heated. "You ask the impossible!"

Genkai sneered. "You are not Yusuke, to be overrun with your emotions. You are a demon. Control your beast."

"She's human," he spat. Anathema.

"That didn't bother you earlier," she reminded, grin wicked.

A slight tick formed along Hiei's jaw, his eyes hot. No, it didn't.

It should have, his look said.

"Figure it out," was Genkai's unhelpful sally as she got up. "You're all she's got."

ooOOOoo

He expected Kurama. He didn't expect his understanding. It wasn't entirely welcome.

"The heat of battle - " the kitsune said.

Hiei sneered. "Shouldn't matter."

"Hiei - "

"No, Kurama." His eyes cut back to the tall boy. There was too much compassion in that too-green gaze. "Don't minimize what happened. Or who was at fault."

Kurama stayed silent. His green eyes spoke for him.

"Hn." Hiei deliberately turned his back.

"Genkai advised," Kurama said carefully, switching gears, "that she expects you to continue training her."

"I know." The wind rippled the edge of the fire demon's coat around him, tugging at his collar and ruffling through his dark hair. The same wind set Kurama's long red hair to tangling around his face as he frowned.

"Hiei - "

"She'll learn. But I will do it my way, fox." There was the chill of a thousand winters in that simple statement.

ooOOOoo

The sky had just barely begun to lighten when a loud thud followed by a familiar yelp roused Sango early the next morning.

"Damn it, Grandma!"

"Time to get your ass out of bed, slacker," the old priestess growled, heading for Sango's room. The screen snicked back to admit the old woman, who flicked on the light switch.

"How's the ribs?" she demanded, ignoring Kirara's protest at the sudden flood of light.

Sango reflexively inhaled, surprised only a dull ache remained of the sharp pain from yesterday. Botan had used some of her healing energy while taping up her ribs last night.

Genkai actually smiled. "Come on, then. The day ain't getting any younger, and neither am I. Time's a'wasting, and you need to spend every spare moment training."

Sango stirred uncomfortably.

"Best hurry, or you won't get any breakfast," Genkai advised, ignoring the slayer's reaction, and closed the door on her way out.

Following her advice, Sango quickly donned her armor as Kirara stretched luxuriously, her eyes slitting as her tongue curled out, before she sank back on her haunches, tails neatly curled around her front paws as she mewed.

"I think there's some fish stew left from last night," Sango reassured the hungry kitten, her mind shying away from the thought of the coming confrontation. She was not looking forward to seeing that particular demon again.

Kirara leapt down with an impatient mrew, and Sango followed the little kitten out of the room. She met Yusuke grousing in the hall, quickly dragging a rumpled T-shirt over his head. His hair was a little wild, one half standing straight up, the other mashed flat.

"Morning," he mumbled, heading for the bathroom. Shrugging, Sango went the other way, towards the kitchen. Genkai was already there with a bowl of reheated stew over rice.

"Help yourself," she said, waving at the stove.

Sango wasn't that hungry, but dished up a bowl for Kirara, who dug her claws lightly into the slayer's leg in her impatience.

"Eat," Genkai ordered. "You need the energy."

Chastened, Sango filled a bowl for herself, and another for Yusuke when he finally wandered in, still looking dazed.

"Coffee," he muttered, making a beeline for the pot. He smiled lopsidedly when Sango placed his portion in front of him at the table.

"Thanks," he said, sucking down coffee and looking more human. Picking up his chopsticks, he wolfed down his breakfast, getting up for more even before Sango had taken two bites.

"Fill up, brat," Genkai advised. "You have a long day ahead of you."

Yusuke groaned theatrically, but he smiled. "I just bet you stayed up all night planning ways to torture me, you old hag."

Genkai smirked, before motioning toward the bundle beside the backdoor. "Pretty much. But I got you a present."

"A present?" Yusuke quirked a brow.

"To help with training."

"Why are you smiling?" Yusuke demanded, suspicious. Laying down his chopsticks, he pushed his chair back to go investigate. Toeing the bundle, which didn't move, he finally bent down to pick it up. Grunting at the weight, he gasped, "What are these, bowling balls?"

Thunk. He dropped the burlap sack on the counter, and reaching inside, pulled one free. He stared at the heavy metal ball suspended in the air by a heavy chain and the attaching leg iron. "Gee, Grandma, I never thought you'd fix me up with the old ball and chain. What the hell are these for?"

"Oh, you'll see," Genkai said sweetly. "Finish your breakfast."

Nothing doing, Yusuke followed her sage advice. Genkai turned a narrow eye on Sango. "You, too."

Under the priestess's implacable stare, Sango forced herself to continue. The food sat like a lump in her stomach. Unlike Yusuke, she wasn't exactly looking forward to her training.

The reason for her unease showed up just as Yusuke pushed his bowl back. "Hey, there, three eyes."

The short demon grunted, his red eyes going straight to Sango.

"Outside," was all he said, and left.

Sango flushed, her fingers tightening around her chopsticks.

"Well?" Genkai prodded, eyebrows raised.

"Yes, miko-sama." Sango took her half-eaten stew and placed it in the sink. Kirara bumped her leg in reassurance. Taking heart in the neko's support, Sango left through the backdoor, pausing to pick up the Hiraikotsu, leaning against the wall, on her way out.

Hiei was waiting, back to her. He didn't say anything, just started walking towards the dojo.

Sango followed gingerly. He finally stopped outside the door. "Leave your weapons."

She hesitated, for good reason.

His expression, cold before, grew positively frigid.

Sango went, spine stiff and jaw tensed. Unbuckling her sword and laying it on the shelf, she frowned unhappily as she deposited the rest of her knives and bombs beside it. Kirara, who had accompanied her inside, purred reassuringly, but it wasn't enough. Her hand hovered indecisively over the last knife, before deciding to leave it where it was. She didn't, couldn't, trust him. Better to be prepared. He wouldn't know, or probably care.

Hiei didn't say anything when she finally reemerged, but his eyes went straight to where she'd hidden the blade. Sango somehow felt his derision, although his expression didn't change. His gaze cut instead to Kirara.

The little neko wrinkled her nose, but didn't argue. Purring reassuringly at Sango, she twined herself between the slayer's legs in a figure eight before leaving, tails gently waving as she went to go find a spot to nap in the rising sun.

Sango watched the neko depart, her heart sinking a little. Squaring her shoulders, she faced the demon, refusing to let him see how much it bothered her.

He stared at her, an errant wind rustling through his spiky hair, stirring the startlingly white strands amidst the deeper black.

"Run."

Taken aback, Sango said, "What?"

"Run," he said, voice flat, and pulled something from his cloak. Sango tensed, expecting his sword, but frowned at the long, thin stick held in his hand. What the...?

Quick as lightning, Hiei struck both her legs, the bamboo stick snaking out with a whooshing thwack-thwack. The blows stung, her skin smarting along the outside of each thigh even through her armor. Sango's mouth fell open in outrage.

He didn't give her time to protest, darting in and laying a harder blow across each leg, first one, then the other, in roughly the same spot. She twisted, trying to block, but the demon was too fast.

"Your reactions are slow. You might see, but you don't understand." Hiei spoke in a chillingly emotionless voice, his blows landing with unerring accuracy, first one side, then the other, despite her best attempts to defend herself. Each blow was dispatched with cool calculation and the same deliberate emphasis.

"What is this?" Sango demanded hotly, her anger rising as he struck her again, darting in and out, too quickly for her to react.

"Training," Hiei said, and hit her again. She hissed, the blows whip-smart.

"Training," she repeated, furious. His contempt was clear as she tried to twist away, out of reach. Sango didn't even see him follow, just felt the next blow along her smarting thighs. First one, then the other. Grunting, her eyes narrowed. She calculated, her anger giving her sharpening focus, and went right when his switch would have hit her left. He merely changed direction, and smacked her soundly.

"You need speed. You lack motivation," Hiei said, with chilling calm.

"Motivation," Sango spat, loathing his utter arrogance as he struck once more. She hissed, the blow smarting fiercely.

"Run," he simply said, and moved forward.

Hating him with every fiber of her being, Sango turned and took off for the far trees beyond the dojo. The trees quickly enclosed her in deepening green shadows, the chilly damp of the early morning air good on her hot skin. She was surprised when he didn't immediately follow, and looked back over her shoulder.

Thwack! Hiei was suddenly there, beside her, her thighs stinging from the sharp blows, left, then right. Sango snarled, but he quickly disappeared as she ducked, increasing her speed. Trees and bushes blurred as she sped down the mountain, her feet stumbling as she tripped over a root. Hiei was right there, his stick flying out to smack her smartly, each time she paused or fumbled.

Motivation, all right. She was going to kill him. Even if it killed her.

ooOOOoo

She was pigheadedly persistent, but it wasn't enough. Her pace eventually flagged, despite the continual motivation of his stick, administered at precise points calculated to infuriate her and drive her on. Hiei kept his blows to the same spot on each leg, not holding back even as she stumbled and fell flat on her face. He stepped back, allowing her to get up, and then moved in, swinging with calculated strength. She spat something, her pants too harsh now to make out what she said, even as she took off again in a different direction.

He didn't care. Let her hate him. Maybe then she would see how utterly ridiculous this all was.

Still, she was determined. And stubborn. Even as her strength gave out, her run becoming more of a lurching jog, then a stumbling walk, she kept at it, even when she tripped and fell. She fell innumerable times, but kept staggering back to her feet, snarling as he casually struck her, one leg, then the other. She didn't turn on him, as he expected, just kept doggedly going. And going, and going, until even she couldn't go any more.

And then her stubborn ass crawled. Hiei frowned, holding back the desire to fetch her one across that shapely backside. Damn humans, they never knew when to quit.

She might think to prove her point, but it'd only proven his. Staring down at her coldly, Hiei sneered. "Pathetic."

Her mouth fell open, her body trembling with fatigue that she ignored to stare at him in utter loathing, her dark hair falling around her in sweaty tangles. Tossing his stick aside with a dismissive cut of his eyes, Hiei spat, "Hn."

And left.

ooOOOoo

Sango sucked in her breath as her body trembled in arrested reaction. She felt bruised head to toe, her thighs especially. Numerous scratches covered her face and hands where her armor didn't shield her skin, and her legs felt like soba noodles, the muscles screaming at her as she tried to move. Her head swam, consciousness going in and out. She wanted to vomit.

Kirara was suddenly there in her larger form, nuzzling her shoulder. Sango gratefully hugged the large head, her raw emotions spilling out in a single sob before she stifled the sound.

"Pathetic."

She flinched. Kirara rumbled soothingly, but Sango only shook her head, her arms tightening around the large neko's neck. Kirara knelt so Sango could swing a leg over her back to mount. Her muscles protested even that movement, dull aches throbbing to life as her body shook involuntarily. Sango slumped against the neko even as Kirara leapt for the sky.

How pathetic.

His voice echoed in her mind, the icy contempt dripping from that simple word.

Jaw clenched, eyes hard, Sango straightened even as the air whistled through her tangled hair in the wind of Kirara's passage.

Damn him. Damn him to hell.

She'd prove him wrong. Even if it killed her.