by Shirin
 
 
 

The dark shadows of the corridor hide me well, allowing me to blend even more perfectly into the surroundings. I pull my cloak tighter against my body, hugging it to myself as though I am cold.

...Cold...

The very thought of the word brings her face once more to my mind.

 "...Yukina..."

My whisper dies on my lips as I feel my breath trip, my heart clench. I lean against the wall, sliding slowly down onto the wooden floor. I bow my head, resting it on my knees, which I hug tightly to my body. My body begins to rock, my movements gaining speed even as I try to choke back the tears that I feel welling up inside.

What have I done?

The smell of ozone hung heavy in the air. Mere moments before, a bright flash of blue light had escaped Yuusuke's finger, bringing down the demon that had escaped through the portal into Genkai's compound. It had surprised the four boys with its sudden appearance, lumbering toward them with slavering jaws filled with sharp, crooked teeth. It did not appear to be able to reason for it only answered their questions with insane looking grins.

"What do you want?" Yuusuke shouted, his body already tensed and ready to spring into action.

Grin.

"Who are you?"

Grin.

"I don't think it plans on answering," Hiei ventured, walking up behind Yuusuke. "Which doesn't make any difference to me. If it wants a fight, I'm more than ready."

As if in answer, the large demon rushed at them with a howl of rage, moving at a startling speed considering its bulk. Hiei barely had enough time to pull Yuusuke out of its way before it barreled into them, missing them by inches.

"Reiken!"

Kuwabara's glowing rei sword came to life as he rushed toward the larger demon, crying out an inarticulate battle cry. The demon merely turned toward him blinking its large eyes, uncomprehending. The sword buried itself into the demon's side. However, the demon did not seem much affected. It merely flicked Kuwabara away with its reptilian tail, laughing as the boy flew into a tree. The reiken fizzled out as its owner battled to keep conscious.

A vicious crack snapped in the air as a thorny vine appeared out of nowhere, twining itself several times around the demon's neck. Kurama pulled on the rose whip, bringing the demon to its knees. With a growl, the demon reached up and tugged against the whip, pulling back and bringing Kurama with it. Just in time, the redhead let go of the whip, crouching into a defensive position before the angry demon.

It screamed in fury as it tried to tear away the whip from around its neck but its efforts only made the thorns dig in deeper. Its viciously waving tail came dangerously close to the dazed boy under the tree. Noticing the potential danger, Kurama ran toward Kuwabara who was just beginning to stand, still dazed from the demon's blow. The demon turned toward them, distracted by the flash of red that was Kurama's hair. It was then that Yuusuke fired his reigun, sending a lethal bullet of reiki whistling through the air toward the demon's head. The demon collapsed.

Yuusuke grinned.

"Huh! If they wanna send a demon to kill us, the least they could do is send something stronger!"

He swaggered up to the demon's body, nudging it with a sneakered foot. The demon's body did not show any wounds other than those inflicted by the boys. Where Kuwabara's reiken had pierced its side, a colorless liquid oozed out. Only the wounds on its neck and head were bleeding. He crouched down, inspecting the demon more closely, wondering how it had managed to open a Makai portal to the ningenkai.

"Kazuma!"

The sharp cry brought Yuusuke to his feet. Upon seeing that it was only Yukina, he relaxed, sauntering toward his dazed friend. Kurama stood by him, smiling at the way Yukina was fussing and the way Kuwabara was enjoying it.

"Oi! Kuwabara no baka! Give it up. You're not hurt, and you know it!" Yuusuke shouted at his friend good-naturedly.

"Che' Urameshi! How would you know?" his friend retorted. "Oo Yukina-san, that feels good!" Yukina giggled at the bigger man's crowing as she placed a cool hand at the back of his head where it had earlier made close contact with the tree.

Hiei only scowled as he watched the spectacle from where he stood. He sheathed his katana, disappointed that it had not tasted blood in the brief skirmish. Kurama was walking toward him. Just as he neared the demon's body, Hiei noticed a small movement out of the corner of his eye. But he did not detect any youki!

Ah, perhaps it was Kurama's plants...At that very moment, the rose whip around the demon's neck uncoiled, falling to the ground. Kurama bent down to retrieve it ...

...and was sent sprawling toward Hiei!

The demon was still alive!

It backhanded the redhead as soon as the Makai plant had left its flesh, rendering it once more active.

Hiei grunted as he caught the redhead. The demon's blow had been strong and Kurama lay dazed in his arms, blood trickling from his mouth. The boy gasped painfully, clutching at his chest where the demon's claws had left bloody tracks across his torn shirt. Hiei lowered his friend carefully to the ground, whispering softly.

"Stay here!"

The demon's movement had caught Yuusuke's attention and he prepared to shoot another reiki bullet at the waking demon. Kuwabara had moved from his seated position, sheltering Yukina's small body with his own. He tensed, waiting for Yusuuke to distract the demon so that he could send Yukina to safety.

"Reigun!"

Again Yusuuke shot at the demon, but it only laughed, deflecting the oncoming bullet as it would a fly. A look of dismay fell across Yuusuke's features.

"K'so! What a time to get my wish," he exclaimed.

At that moment, Hiei leaped into the air, unsheathing his katana in the same movement. He slashed at the demon's back and was surprised to see the absence of blood. With a howl, the demon launched itself toward Yuusuke, ignoring the fire demon behind him. Yuusuke managed to jump out of the way but Kuwabara was not as lucky.

"No!" Hiei screamed as the demon fell upon the larger man...and Yukina!

Without thinking, he summoned the black dragon.

"Jaouh ensatsu Kokuryuuha!"

"Hiei! No!" Kurama's cry came too late. Already the dark flame dragon encircled the demon, devouring it with relish.

No!No! What had he done? Hiei's heart dropped when the realization hit him. Kuwabara and Yukina would also fall prey to the dragon's ravenous appetite. Hurriedly he threw a kekkai around the prone bodies under the tree, at the same time trying to bring the Kokuryuhaa back under control. With an exasperated howl, the curling serpent flew back to its master, embedding itself once more into his flesh. Hiei dropped to his knees, exhaustion threatening to overcome him. But ...

Yukina!

He pushed himself to his feet, running toward the kekkai that was beginning to dissipate, Kurama close on his heels. Relief washed over him as he saw Kuwabara sit up, shaking his head. He was actually happy to see the irritating human alive! But his relief was short-lived. Yukina had not stirred. She lay on the ground, pale and unmoving.

"Yukina-san!" Kuwabara's cry only gave voice to his own silent scream.

"Hiei."

Someone was calling my name...I open my eyes, shaking my head slightly. My vision cleared. I must have fallen asleep.

"Hiei!"

Kuwabara? I try to struggle up to my feet but his hand keeps me in place.

"Hiei, get some sleep." His voice was surprisingly gentle, bearing none of the usual cutting tone he normally uses when he speaks to me. I look up into his face. He smiles, a small, sad smile. My heart lurched.

"...Yukina?.." I choked out her name, unwilling to hear the answer that would accompany that sadness I see in his face, yet needing to, no matter how it would hurt. His gaze drops, wrenching a small cry from my throat. I shrug off his large hand, and rush into the room, looking for her.

"Hiei!"

She is on the bed, propped against a large pillow that seems to eclipse her small body. She still looks pale, too pale...

"Hiei." I feel Kuwabara's hand on my shoulder, gripping it strongly. I look up at him, pleading with him to let me stay and watch over her.

"She's alr..."

She moved! My eyes grow wide as she turns toward Kuwabara and I. She smiles before closing her eyes again. She's alive!

"She's alright!" I shout to the man beside me, unable to contain my relief and my joy.

"Baka! That's what I've been trying to tell...oomph!" His answer is cut off as I threw my arms around his middle.

I will probably regret this in the morning, but right now, I am too happy to care!