Chapter 1: Wolf and Boy

"Kiba, over here! He's over here!" Kyrin called to her father like figure. She was sniffing the black thing in the snow with her muzzle, noticing it wasn't moving.

"I'm here! I'm here!" Kiba said rushing over. Kiba was running frantically where Kyrin was. He was in his light brown jacket, covered in fallen snow. His ice blue eyes looked at what Kyrin found in the snow. The thing in the snow was a boy, no older than Kyrin, who was eight years old.

"Is he dead Kiba?" Kyrin asked in worry.

"Of course he's not Kyrin! He's got a terrible cold though. I wouldn't be surprised if he had hypothermia. Then again with you and your condition, he might be just like you and we won't have to worry."

"Ha ha. Very funny Kiba." Kyrin snorted. Kyrin wasn't a human, nor an apparition. She was a wolf half demon. Like all half demons, they are treated as outcasts for not being one or the other. Demons want to kill her. Humans shun her. For Kyrin, there is no place for her. In her mind, she's an abomination. She has powers though like controlling the northern lights and transforming into a wolf.

"Let's get to the cabin Kyrin. We need to warm him up." Kiba set the cold figure on the furry back of Kyrin. Kyrin shivered from the temperature of the person on her back and ran as fast as she could to the cabin.

"I'll see you later Kiba!" Kyrin called back. Kiba nodded and disappeared into the snowy wind. Kyrin ran all the way into the cabin and set the figure on the couch. She transformed from her wolf form and becomes her human form. Her long white hair skimmed the floor and her blue eyes shimmered in the firelight from the fireplace. Kyrin proceeded to lift up the blankets over the figure as she took of the person's boots. As soon as she saw that the person's feet were pale, Kyrin started to rum them gently, to help circulate the blood in the person's foot.

"Why are you doing this?" the person asked in a tired voice. His eyes were slightly open and Kyrin could see their crimson color. They were really dull and unfocused.

"I want you to get better mister." Kyrin replied in a singsong voice, recognizing that the person's voice was male. "If you want to get better mister, lie down and rest up."

"Don't call me mister you fool." the boy muttered.

"Well then please tell me your name then." Kyrin stated. "If you want me to stop calling you mister, please tell me your proper name."

"It's...Hiei..." Hiei reluctantly told the manipulative girl. He guessed that if he stayed here, he would heal up drastically and leave as soon he was better.

"My name is Kyrin. Kyrin Hasuko." Kyrin said in her again singsong voice.

"Now, what's wrong? You look sad."

Hiei was completely set off. He wasn't sad and he never said anything that implied that he was sad. "What do you mean by that?!"

Kyrin recognized his anger and lowered her head. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend but you always keep frowning. Is there something wrong?"

"Oh..."

That was all Hiei could say before her hair brushed into has face, filling his nose with a scent of lavender. He sneezed over to the side of the couch and shook his head in disgust. What the heck was that?! That scent was so...so...good...It smelled like...a garden or something...

"Hiei are you alright?" Kyrin said in concern, accidentally whipping her hair into Hiei's face again on accident. Again, Hiei sneezed. Kyrin recognized what she was doing and held her hair back and braided it fast. She grabbed a rubberband from the table and tied the end off.

"I'm sorry about that. Are you okay Hiei?" Kyrin asked again.

"It-It's fine. That just surprised me for a second." Hiei said breathlessly. 'What's wrong with me?' Hiei asked himself. 'Why am I getting all hyperactive over a girl's hair?! That snow must've made me insane or something.'

"Well, you just lie here while I get you some soup and some fresh clothes to change into." Kyrin smiled as she headed into the kitchen.

'Hmph. Arrogant fool.' Hiei thought as he staggered to his feet. As he was about to run out the door, Kyrin somehow appeared in front of him.

"Where're you going?" Kyrin asked.

"Anywhere I want to now move!" Hiei growled.

"Hiei, you need your rest." Kyrin implored. "I know that it's hard for you to stay in one place but please just lie down and try to recover."

Hiei was about to ask her how she knew that but he was on the floor faster than gravity and crossed his arms over his chest, trying to make the infernal burning and painful throbbing in his chest stop. This was unfair. He just wanted to walk over a mountain to get to the next village but a snow ogre just HAD to be there and just HAD to slash his chest. He just wanted to walk over the stupid mountain but he HAD to get frostbite in his feet. On top of that, he just HAD to be stuck with a child who thought he couldn't do anything. This day just sucked.

"Hiei, are you alright?" Kyrin asked him. Hiei couldn't take it. All this concern she was giving him was torture. He slapped her clean across the face. He exploded with rage.

"Just leave me alone you stupid girl! I'm fine now just get the hell away from me! I don't need you! No one does! I'm going back out there if it kills me and you aren't stopping me!"

Kyrin just stood in silence and didn't say anything for the longest time. She didn't even move and barely blinked. After a while, Hiei recognized what he said and felt slightly guilty. Again, his chest throbbed and the blazing inferno of the infected wound. Kyrin rushed over to Hiei and helped him up. Hiei didn't know if she was stubborn or stupid.

"Why are you doing this?" Hiei asked Kyrin in confusion. "I just told you to..."

"Yeah I know. Go away." Kyrin snapped, which was unusual to Hiei. "Words are words Hiei. I need to help you and if you can only force me back with a couple of words, you're more drained than normal."

Hiei was amazed by her words. She didn't act like a normal eight year old. She was incredibly wise and helpful, kind of like that bandit fox he heard about. His name was Kurama or something...Anyways, she was helping him up when the pain came back and he felt himself drop.

"Hang on Hiei!" Kyrin said in her singsong voice. She caught him just in time before he hit the floor. This wasn't working. If she can't move him on the couch, Kyrin had to make do with the floor. She grabbed the blankets and the pillows from on top of the couch and set them aside. Kyrin grabbed the sleeping bag that Kiba set aside. She laid it out next to the fireplace and opened it up.

"Now be careful lying down. I'll be right back with some soup okay?" Kyrin says matter of factly as she goes back into the kitchen. Hiei didn't want to but he had to admit he was tired. He involutarily yawned as if on cue. He slid into the sleeping bag and to his surprise, it smelled like it had been recently washed. It was soft and felt good on his back. He lied his head on the pillow and it seemed like the pain stopped. His vision was becoming blurry and his mind felt like it was about to shut off.

"Here you go." a recognizable voice said. Kyrin set a bowl of soup in front of him and he snapped back to reality. He was starving and hadn't eaten in three days. He hesitated before he ate and looked over at Kyrin with questionable eyes. He didn't want it. She didn't know if she drugged it or not.

"It's not poisoned if that's what you're worried about." Kyrin answered. She got another spoon from the kitchen and tasted it.

"See. It's fine."

Hiei still was a little worried but he was starving out of his mind. He took her word and ate a bit of the soup. Surprisingly, it was actually good. It tasted weird but good. He finished the whole thing in less than a couple of minutes.

"You eat really fast Hiei." Kyrin said cheerfully, making it sound more like a compliment. She went over to his frostbitten feet and started rubbing them again. Hiei winced in pain and moved his foot away from her.

"What are you doing?! That hurt like hell!" Hiei yelled. He didn't notice when she was rubbing his feet before because he was half asleep. Now he was wide awake and had a bad temper going.

"I was helping get blood to your feet. I'm sorry I hurt you. It wasn't my intention." Kyrin said, lowering her head.

Hiei caught himself before he yelled and calmed down.

"N-no it's my bad. I'm just being a wimp. Just keep doing that if you want to. I won't object."

Kyrin nodded with a smile and rubbed his feet again. Hiei noticed his eyes were closing but he dared not to sleep in front of this child. She would wait for him to fall asleep and then she would injure him more. He didn't want to think of that and shook his head. Hiei came to from his daydream to the girl's head right in front of his, looking as his robe curiously.

"What are you doing?" Hiei demanded angrily.

"You're robe is soaked. May I ask you to take it off?" Kyrin asked politely.

"In why in heaven's name would I give you my robe?!"

"If you don't, you might have to stay here longer due to a cold you got from your sodden clothes."

Hiei didn't protest. Kyrin knew he didn't want to stay here. He sighed and took off his cloak, exposing his wound. He'd never looked at it before and was shocked. It was inflamed and deep. The blood covered most of his torso. He winced from the pain and almost yelped. It was infected. Kyrin gasped and ran into the kitchen, bringing back some hot water in a metal tub.

"Don't worry. I'll clean your wound for you." Kyrin said sympathetically. When she reached for Hiei's wound with the steaming wet washcloth, Hiei backed up and winced.

"Will you quit helping me?! I'm fine!" Hiei roared as he covered his chest with his arm, protecting it.

"Hiei, please. Stop being stubborn." Kyrin pleaded. She stared at him with her ice blue eyes. Hiei just sat there frozen. He couldn't move at all. It was like he was hypnotized by her eyes. All of a sudden, she smiled brightly, bringing him back to reality. His wound was cleaned and Kyrin was now patching him with some bandages.

"You are a spawn of the devil aren't you?" Hiei said in a threatening voice. "What did you do to me?"

"I don't know Hiei." Kyrin said while wrapping the bandages around his torso. "I just looked at you and you practically weren't there."

She was getting way too close to him, Hiei confirmed. He had to get out of here and fast. In an instant, Hiei shot up and ran to the door. Hiei yelped in pain as he reached the door. He threw it open and ran outside into the bitter cold. Kyrin raced after him.

Hiei ran as fast as his feet would take him. His eyesight was fading but he didn't care. He had to get out of there. His legs were freezing and his wound was opening again. He kept running, despite the pain. Suddenly, the wench grabbed him from behind and hugged him, gently not to hurt the wounds.

"Please Hiei..." Kyrin sobbed. "I don't want you to die...I'll heal you up as fast as you can. I know you want to face death more than my face and I know you hate me with a passion but please don't die out here with no purpose..."

Hiei didn't know what to say. His body wanted to run but his rebellious mind told him to stay. Hiei's vision became blurry again and his chest throbbed. He bent over and clutched his chest again. Although he hated to admit it, the girl was right. If he continued to run like this, he would perish. He just had to live with the girl for a little while, just until he recovered. He sighed and stood up.

"Fine." Hiei finally said. "I'll go with you. Just don't get any hopes up. I still don't trust you and I suggest you keep your guard up."

Kyrin was overjoyed. "Thank you Hiei!" she hugged him one final time before letting him go. He was really warm. Actually, his temperature was off the charts. Kyrin didn't mind that now. She had to get him inside. Kyrin then turned into a wolf in front of Hiei and set him on her back. Then she took into a full sprint toward the cabin.

Kyrin transformed into her human form and set Hiei down into the sleeping bag again. Hiei was exhausted. He couldn't feel his legs but he was positive that it was from the snow. This time, Kyrin rubbed his feet softer and more rhythmic, as if she was trying to hypnotize Hiei to sleep. So far, it was working a little. He still didn't trust her enough to sleep in front of her. Kyrin moved to his legs. Still rubbing gently, she helped with the frostbite that was numbing his body. Hiei needed to stay awake. He figured talking would help.

"Why do you insist on helping me?"

"I just want to help those who are in need, like you."

"I noticed you can turn into a wolf. Why is that?"

"Well, I am a half wolf spirit. I can turn into a wolf at will."

"What's the half for? Aren't you all demon?"

"No. I was a human that was forced into this form to protect myself and my mother. My father gave his life and power to me to save me and my mother."

Hiei knew that he was only going to get short answers from her. Kyrin noticed that he was sweating a bit. She caressed his hair off his forehead and sighed. It was too quiet for the both of them. Suddenly, the door opened, making Hiei and Kyrin jump.

"Hey Kyrin!" Kiba said as he took off his boots and hung up his coat on the coat rack.

"Hey Kiba! Hiei, this is Kiba. He's my adoptive father." Kyrin said.

Hiei studied the man. He was face was steely but his eyes were filled with life. Hiei instinctively inched away from him on the bed.

"Kyrin, you can relax. I'll take care of him for now." Kiba said getting the first aid kit from the cabinet above him.

Kyrin nodded and Hiei watched her run upstairs, her braided hair trailing behind her. While Hiei was distracted, Kiba took out his stethescope and pressed the ice cold surface on Hiei's bare chest. Hiei winced.

"That's friggin cold!" Hiei hissed.

"I'm sorry but that's all I can do. Please calm down so I can listen to your core."

Kiba knew that Hiei was a demon as demons have cores instead of beating hearts. None the less, Hiei reluctantly let him check. Kiba moved the stethescope several places before he put them away.

"A couple of your ribs are broken unfortunately..." Kiba concluded.

"Your lungs are okay though."

Hiei sighed and slowly lied back down on the couch. 'I'm never going to get out of here,' Hiei thought. All of a sudden, a thermometer was jabbed into his mouth. He glared over at Kiba.

"Relax Hiei. Just checking your temperature." Kiba said. Hiei sighed. On any other day, he would have been able to dodge the thermometer, even sense it coming at him. His senses were draining fast. He was extremely exhausted...He could barely move now...and his head was spinning with questions...

That was when Kiba began to lightly shake him.

"Hiei..." Kiba called. "Hiei...come on..." Hiei had somehow zoned out and jarred awake a couple of minutes after Kiba started shaking him.

"Huh?!"

"Thank goodness." Kiba said relieved. "I see you're lightheaded. I think after you take some medicine, you should sleep. Do you think you can stay awake for just a couple of minutes?"

Hiei nodded. He was still a bit out of it. He leaned against the couch, trying to stay awake while Kiba went into the kitchen to get some medicine. Faster than Hiei suspected, Kiba came back quickly. He was holding out some white tablets and a cup of ice water.

"Here. Take these." Kiba said. Hiei didn't move.

"Hiei, if you don't take them, you'll have to stay here longer." Kiba stated with a confident smirk. Hiei didn't need him to say that twice. He took the pills and chugged the water. Surprisingly, he felt slightly better. He couldn't stay awake any longer. His mind shut down as he crashed onto the bed without a second thought. Kiba laughed and slowly took off the bloody bandages off Hiei's chest. The hot water wasn't enough and Kiba went into the kitchen to mix up a healing aid. Kiba got the herbs and some paste and mixed them together. He went over to Hiei and rubbed it over his wound. It was starting to become less inflamed. When he was done, he set the medicine off to the side and wrapped some new bandages over the wound, making it able to heal faster. He left Hiei to rest and went to his room.

Okay so it's a little long but I want people to get an idea. Please RxR your opinions!