The Fate We Have Chosen...

000

All of the detectives let out a sigh of relief as they felt the atmosphere change, knowing that they had just entered the human realm once more. The trees around them swayed in the breeze, giving off a fresh pine scent which they appreciatively inhaled. Soon they would be in Genkai's temple, likely enjoying refreshments and clean clothes before heading home to their own beds. Though there had been no wounds and no deaths on their mission, it was not any less stressful.

Upon reaching their destination, they had discovered the cause of the trouble was not due to anything they had previously suspected. It was true that two S class demons were about to plan an attack, but it was not with Reikai; it was with each other. As it turned out, the trouble had started a few months ago for the two livestock owners with the birth of a three-legged pig. According to local folklore, the birth of a three-legged pig marked the beginning of ten years of prosperity for the owner of the pig. The argument was at first about who rightfully owned the pig. One demon had argued that he owned the sow that birthed the piglet, but the other demon protested that the first demon had sold him the sow, not knowing she was pregnant.

It had taken two very stressful days of negotiations for the detectives to finally convince the demons to share the pig. However, on the second day, the piglet had died. According to folklore, the owner of a dead three-legged pig would suffer ten years of bad luck. So then, of course, both demons claimed the pig belonged to the other.

It was ultimately Kurama who had solved the matter, they later decided. At one point, the two demons had become so riled that the detectives had prepared for attack. Kurama had changed into his yoko form in order to control the surrounding plants and heighten his defense. However, at the moment of Kurama's transformation, the two demons had immediately stopped their impending fight. Also according to local folklore, the appearance of a yoko had varying luck depending upon its reasoning for coming. Should a yoko visit during the night, a farmer should expect persistent bad luck or pranks, all placed by the mischievous yoko. Should a yoko visit in broad daylight, a farmer should expect his crops to prosper, and in turn his livestock. It was a lucky thing that it was broad daylight, that Kurama was a yoko, and that he had in fact been feeding his youki to the farmer's crops upon noticing their lack of attention to such things during the whole piglet incident.

Regardless of their odd, yet successful mission, the detectives were home now and trudging in the general direction of Genkai's temple. Although Genkai had died some years earlier, Yukina continued to live at and care for the temple, preserving its beauty. Because of its remoteness, Yukina would be able to live her whole life there in peace should she wish it. Even with the reveal of demons living among humans, the mixing of cultures was not yet accepted by everyone. Here she could be safe and happy.

Yukina waved to them as they entered the temple grounds, and hurried them inside where she offered them clean clothes and already drawn baths. Though they were truly happy to be back, heaviness had settled around them, so the usual din of chatter was considerably muted. None had truly forgotten the sight beneath the glacier, after all. Tired from the recent events, Kurama and Yusuke each ventured home, leaving Kuwabara at the temple. Hiei had stayed as well, becoming startlingly tired near evening.

Kuwabara, however, had something far more troubling weighing on his conscience. Now that he was sure he knew Hiei's true identity, what was he to do with this information? It would be a bad thing to lie to one's fiancé, especially when the lie concerned something she so desperately wanted to know. At first Kuwabara had thought to leave it alone. It was Hiei's business whether or not to tell Yukina, after all… But then again, Kuwabara remembered that it was Yukina's business to know about her brother for whom she had searched for so long. These troubling thoughts kept Kuwabara up long into the night until he decided to take a short walk out on the porch.

Outside he nearly tripped on Yukina who had been sitting on the steps.

"Ah, Yukina!" he exclaimed with surprise. "I'm so sorry! I didn't see you there!"

She smiled up at him and patted the space beside her. "Don't worry about it. Could you not sleep, either?"

Kuwabara sat beside her and shook his head.

"I could have made you something to help you sleep," she offered.

"No thanks," Kuwabara sighed, his gaze drifting towards the small ice maiden as she studied him with concerned ruby eyes. Kuwabara shivered internally, remembering why he was awake in the first place. Then he remembered that Yukina said she couldn't sleep… "Is there something troubling you, Yukina?"

"I—" she paused, seeming unsure of how to continue. "I drugged Hiei-san, and that is why he agreed to sleep here," she admitted guiltily.

Kuwabara blinked at her in surprise. "Drugged him?" he asked.

She nodded. "He never visits, so I wanted him to stay for a while longer. I gave him a sleeping drink," she clarified. "I cannot explain it Kazuma, but I…"

Kuwabara could not help his heart from pounding. He did not want to urge her to continue, but he wished she would not pause all the same.

"I feel… connected to him," Yukina said softly, and Kuwabara let out a breath of relief. "I feel unbearably sad sometimes when Hiei leaves, like there is something I should say to him, but…"

She stopped suddenly and looked at Kuwabara, as if suddenly noticing he was there. "I'm sorry, I don't know what I'm saying sometimes," she said embarrassedly.

Kuwabara smiled at her. "Yukina, you can tell me anything. I can keep it a secret if you'd like."

Yukina's eyes widened before she returned his smile. "I do have a secret, Kazuma," she said twisting her kimono sleeve nervously.

She looked around as if making sure no one was lurking around the deserted temple. Then leaning closer Yukina whispered, "I think… Kazuma, I think Hiei—well, I suspect him to be…"

She sighed, unable to continue. Kuwabara took her hand, which was still tangled in her kimono. "Suspect him to be what, Yukina?"

Her eyes met his as she shakily breathed, "My brother."

Kuwabara's eyes widened. So Yukina knew. Both of them knew, and neither of them had confronted the other about the issue. If they wanted to be together so badly, then why were they avoiding the topic? And what was Kuwabara supposed to do? Maybe he should just play dumb… Or he could try to be clever and manipulate them to tell each other without them knowing it was his plan all along.

"Surely you have noticed, Kazuma," he heard Yukina say above the pounding in his ears. "You are psychic, after all."

"Yukina-chan," he sighed, not knowing how to approach the situation.

"Oh, fine then!" hissed Yukina, removing her hand from Kuwabara's and looking away from him. "Just avoid the topic like everyone else I ask! Everyone thinks they can keep secrets from Yukina-chan and she will be none the wiser!"

"No, that's not what I was going to say!" Kuwabara insisted, grabbing her hand again. "I was surprised because that's the whole reason I'm awake tonight."

She looked at him in astonishment. "Kazuma?"

"I share your suspicions, Yukina," Kuwabara told her. "I only made the connection today, but…"

"So it is true," Yukina said.

"I don't think that I am mistaken," Kuwabara confirmed.

Yukina then developed a sad look as she asked, "Then why does he continue to lie to me? Why does he insist that my brother is dead?"

"I—" Kuwabara tried, but his voice died in his throat. He didn't know why Hiei didn't tell her. He didn't even know if it was for a good reason.

"Why won't he tell me, Kazuma?" she asked again, her voice trembling.

He opened his mouth to answer when another thought occurred to him. "I could ask you the same thing."

"What?" she questioned with shock.

"You accuse Hiei of hiding secrets from you, but you are also hiding secrets from him," Kuwabara explained.

"But he—" Yukina protested with confusion.

"We don't know why he hasn't told you. But I wonder why you haven't told him," Kuwabara said.

Silence hung over them for a moment as Kuwabara waited expectantly for an answer.

"I fear he will be angry with me," Yukina finally admitted.

"Why would he be angry with you?" Kuwabara asked quizzically.

"I am a member of the society of women who tried to destroy him," she said heavily. "This was the reason I didn't say anything at first. I didn't know if he would hate me for it. But now I fear revealing myself to him because I have hidden this from him for years."

"Well now you have the perfect occasion," said Kuwabara. When Yukina gave him a questioning stare, he explained, "You've already drugged him. So long as he's here you should tell him the truth."

Yukina studied her shoes, suddenly feeling weary. "Yes, I suppose you're right."

Neither felt like sleeping, so they sat in a comfortable silence until morning broke over the horizon.

000

The next day had been surprisingly uneventful. Hiei never questioned Yukina on why he had gotten so sleepy after drinking some tea she had fixed for him. Yukina stayed in the kitchen for much of her time claiming she had lots of work to do while Hiei alternated between relaxing on the porch and practicing sword maneuvers in the yard. Finally, Kuwabara decided that he had had enough of this. Yukina was clearly avoiding Hiei, and she was going to miss her chance if she kept this up.

"Yukina, don't you think Hiei might like some refreshments?" Kuwabara hinted, walking into the kitchen.

"Oh," she said, startled at his sudden appearance. "I've been thinking, Kazuma, that maybe it's better if I just—"

"Yukina, you cannot keep running from this or the guilt will consume you," he lightly scolded her, folding his arms.

She sighed in defeat. "You're right. Will you please tell Hiei I would like him to join me for tea?"

"Of course," Kuwabara said as he left the room.

Yukina pulled cups from the cabinet and dropped tea into an already steaming kettle. She had planned to confront Hiei much earlier in the day, but she had suddenly found so many things to do rather than speak with him. The butterflies in her stomach were in full flight by the time Kuwabara returned and announced that Hiei had agreed to have tea with her.

"Will you stay with me?" she asked Kuwabara timidly.

"I will if that's what you want," he assured her, resting a gentle hand on her shoulder.

Yukina nodded appreciatively. Even if Hiei did not accept the news and left, Yukina would at least have Kuwabara beside her. Gathering her courage, she lifted the tray and entered the living room where Hiei was already waiting stiffly.

"Ah, I'm so glad you agreed to stay today, Hiei-san," Yukina said awkwardly, serving tea to all of them.

Hiei merely nodded and sniffed his cup. Apparently though he held no grudge against Yukina for putting the drug in his cup yesterday, he would not be taking the same chance again. Only when Kuwabara took a sip did he finally taste his.

"You see, I've been meaning to speak to you for a while now," she said, staring into her cup intently.

Hiei had finally looked up at her, prompting her to continue.

"I—you see, it is about my brother," she said.

Hiei sighed and shook his head. "I have already told you—"

"And I have already said that I do not believe you," she cut across him. "What could I give you to convince you to reveal his whereabouts? Money? I have even offered you teargems—"

Hiei protested, "I have no need for your teargems—"

"Of course you don't! Not when you could produce them yourself if you wished," Yukina said, her voice shaking a little, though whether it was from nervousness or pent up rage, Kuwabara did not know.

Hiei's eyes widened and his body went rigid with shock. "Yukina—" he tried.

Yukina cut across him, "Hiei I know you are—"

"No!" Hiei nearly shouted. Yukina snapped her mouth shut in confusion. "Please don't. Please don't say it, Yukina."

Her brows furrowed with confusion. "But you are my—"

The shattering of glass was heard as Hiei dropped his cup and lunged forward to clap a hand over Yukina's mouth. "Stop," he said seriously. "You mustn't say it, Yukina. I cannot hear those words from you."

Chancing his luck, he removed his hand and breathed a sigh of relief when she did not continue her sentence.

"But why?" she asked with hurt in her voice.

There was a long pause before Hiei decided to answer her.

"They do not call them ice witches just to be crude," Hiei said.

"What do you mean?" Yukina asked. Could it be that Hiei really did hate her?

"And they do not call me the 'cursed child' for nothing," Hiei continued. "When the elders discovered that I survived the fall they placed a curse on me."

"What was the curse?" Yukina questioned.

"It means that should I find my sister, I must never reveal myself. She shall never call me her brother to my face," Hiei said, meeting Yukina's eyes, "or she shall slowly die."

Both Kuwabara and Yukina gasped in disbelief. Kuwabara's heart sunk. Perhaps he should have spoken with Hiei instead of Yukina. If he had known about the reason…

"I don't believe the elders can cast real curses," Yukina said stubbornly.

"Why not?" Hiei asked, amusement trickling through his voice.

"Miss Rui said they called you the 'cursed child' because the curse they placed on you would ensure you would live a miserable life should you somehow survive," Yukina told him.

"And it has been pretty shitty," Hiei pointed out.

"Perhaps there has been more misfortune than normal, but many good things have happened to you," Yukina insisted. "You have friends here, and you have become very powerful. Not to mention it must have taken some sort of good luck to survive a Jagan implant! And… you found me," she said. "I do not believe in the elder's curses."

"Then perhaps you should," Hiei said, rising to leave. "I do not fear the elders, but your life is not something I am willing to risk for my own selfish wishes."

With those words hanging in the air, Hiei exited through the screen door fully intent on leaving. Before he could use his speed to make his escape, he felt a hand close around his wrist.

"Maybe it is a risk I am willing to take!" Yukina snapped, not relinquishing her grasp even as he tried to brush her off.

"Yukina, you are being foolish," Hiei argued.

"No, you are the fool here, Hiei!" Yukina said. "It is so like you to wallow in your self-pity!"

"What?" Hiei hissed. If he had ever been truly angry with Yukina, this would be it.

"Oh, poor Hiei and his horrible life! Well excuse me for giving you a reality check!" she shouted at him. "The truth is that you want to blame all your problems on some supposed curse! To you it doesn't matter what you do because you have resigned yourself to always be what the elders have dictated you be!"

"And what is that?" Hiei demanded loudly.

"Cruel!" she shouted.

Hiei looked as if he had been slapped.

"But I have seen how kind and honorable you are at heart, Hiei," she continued, her voice still louder than normal but certainly not shouting anymore. "I know you have been hardened by hardships in your life. You have to be practically made of stone in the demon world to survive there. But your only reason for being cruel is that you believe on some level what the elders have said."

"Yukina—" Hiei tried again tiredly.

"The elders will not decide my fate, and I will be damned before I let them decide it for you!" she pressed on.

Hiei protested weakly, "Don't—"

"You are my brother Hiei," Yukina said firmly. "And we both know it."

There was a long silence in which they both stood facing each other, Yukina having long ago released Hiei from her grasp in all the excitement.

"And as you can see, I am not dead," she said curtly.

Hiei looked her up and down. "No, you are not," he confirmed.

There was another awkward silence.

"I'm sorry for all of the things I said, Hiei," she apologized suddenly. "I don't think you like to wallow in self-pity—"

"Yes I do," Hiei muttered.

"No, I was just so angry!" Yukina assured him. "You're actually very selfless when it comes to many things, and…"

She trailed off, not sure how to continue. She had never actually had a fight with someone who she wanted to make up with afterwards. Luckily, Kuwabara, who had been forgotten on the porch in all the commotion, broke the silence.

"Uh, you guys, it's about to rain. You might want come back inside," Kuwabara called.

They both looked at the sky, noticing the dark clouds for the first time. Yukina flinched as she felt a raindrop land on her nose, but smiled as she noticed Hiei glaring at the gathering spots on his shirt.

"Hiei," she laughed as the rain picked up. "Try this!"

She turned her face skyward and opened her mouth to catch the raindrops in the sudden downpour.

Hiei watched her for a moment before he shook his head in amusement. "You look stupid."

"And you're soaking wet," she laughed, pointing out Hiei's drenched attire. "How about we go inside and dry off."

Hiei nodded and they ventured inside for warm clothes and towels. When they were dried off, Yukina made a new batch of tea and cleaned up the mess from earlier. Hiei watched she and Kuwabara chatter about this, that, and the other numerous things he would not ordinarily care about. Today, however, Hiei thought that listening to such dull things was not as unbearable as he originally thought. In fact, today those dull things were a little bit… pleasant. And today Hiei allowed himself to think that maybe, just maybe he was not so unfortunate as he originally assumed.

'Perhaps,' Hiei thought, 'today could even be… a happy ending...'

000

Yes? No?

Fun fact: I originally came up with the story of two S class demons fighting over a three-legged goat. Then my friend informed me that in some Indian cultures supposedly believe that three-legged pigs will bring good fortune… So, three legged pig.