Our team of heroes had decided to stay in the area for the night, exclusively for the experience's sake. Except, this time, they were atop the clay crags and canyons and had found a spot of relatively high vegetation. It was almost like an area of oasis. Night had fallen some time ago, and the air was rather cold. A fire had been set and everyone sat around it, indulging each other in stories and laughter. Hiei, naturally, sat in the highest branches of a nearby tree. He did not need the warmth of the fire, and did not want to seem as though he was dependent upon companionship.

Instead, he found himself gazing at the moon. Tonight, it offered a cool glow upon the landscape. The cool tones it attributed to everything reminded him of things that caused him mental trouble. It made him think of the ice maidens, of the village he was cast from as a baby, and of his mother. Worse off, it made him think of his sister, who he knew was still residing back in the human world. Still, her wellbeing often concerned him, as did the matter of her finding out he was her brother. Spirits forbid that that blasted dunderhead Kuwabara actually succeed in his efforts to court her.

Deciding to no longer be consumed by his troubles, Hiei discreetly departed from his perch in the towering tree, unnoticed. He decided to occupy his thoughts with some walking. Perhaps that would offer different subjects for him to ponder. Yet, no matter how hard he tried, his thoughts would not wonder from the aforementioned subjects.

Until, that is, he heard a discreet shuffling in the distance. He sharpened his hearing further to investigate without investing too much time. Sounds that resembled muffled sobs, some sort of physical struggle, and harsh breathing ensued.

"S-s-stop! Please!" a voice attempted to cry. The voice was dry and weak.

Deciding that this venture might offer him reprieve from his mind, Hiei walked over to where he thought was the source of the commotion. He did so casually and with stealth, so that if he decided that if the event was not worth his interaction, he could easily avoid it. He stopped just behind a large tree, a mere fifteen feet from what he sought. The metallic pang of blood, both fresh and old, filled his senses.

The first thing that struck his attention was the enchanting female figure upon the ground. Her hair was a dark sort of maroon-purple, and her golden eyes shone above all else, magnified by the tears that flowed from them. The blue glow of the moon made her pale skin shine as if they were a perfect representation of the stars themselves. Her body was totally bare to the world- her skin was in a rash of goose bumps, and her feminine peaks were alert and sharp from both the night chill and fear. A gaping wound along her hip and side allowed Hiei to recognize her as the woman they had encountered that very same day- although she did resemble her very minimally. The wound was not the only source of blood present, however. The other was caused by the looming male figure- her assailant.

It would have taken a fool to not notice that the young female was obviously weak due to her wound. In fact, she looked as though she were constantly on the verge of blacking out. This low-level demon- a grotesque figure out of nightmare- appeared to have noticed. He pinned her weak body down with just one hand to her chest. His other hand and mouth were free to ravage her body however he pleased. They were unwelcomed advances. He had already forced his way into her long before Hiei showed up- making such a wonderful part of the body, meant for a site of pleasure and bodily adoration, one of regret, shame, and trespass without consent. This was the scent of blood most prominent to Hiei, and the scent rather perturbed his senses.

The young woman was drifting out of consciousness, but clearly had protest to what was occurring. She couldn't stop crying, but her body was so exhausted that any fight that she could have physically offered up disappeared long ago.

Hiei watched what was occurring for a few moments, debating on whether or not to intervene. On one hand, he would certainly gain nothing. In fact, this girl had proved to be a rather large hindrance earlier in the final slaying of the demon. Really, he would gain nothing. It was a simple equation, no matter how much the human code of ethics that his companions adhered to pressured him to stop this assault. On the other hand, this demon was probably one of the last stragglers that were a part of their initial mission here. Just as he was about to depart and leave the demon to his pleasures, the girl murmured further protests.

"Please…you have to have a mother, or a sister," she hoarsely whispered, "would you touch them in this way? Please." And so the rest of her energy became consumed in the sobs that took over her body, no matter how weak.

"Shut up, you fucking whore!" Her attacker declared, raising his hand to strike her, probably in the hopes of knocking her out. Just as his hand began to lower, it was stopped.

In a single, deft motion, Hiei had ripped off the demon's arm and used the same arm to blow his head off of his neck. With the weight of the demon's force no longer pinning her down, the girl did her best attempt to sit up. Failing miserably, she only managed to prop herself up on her side. The elegant curves along her petite frame reminded Hiei of the undulating waves of the ocean.

Although not entirely conscious, she peered up at him through the fog of exhaustion. She mouthed what he supposed was a phrase of thanks.

He debated on whether or not he should leave her here, or bring her back to their makeshift camp for the night. She could not be expected to survive without medical care, but what could she possibly contribute? Still, her earlier words stuck to his being. Against his better skills of deductive reasoning, he extended his hand out to her.

Somehow, she managed to accept his hand. Even though he pulled her up by sheer dead weight, it was no struggle for the demon. Against his warm cloak, her skin was like ice. She shivered with chill. He sensed no demonic aura within her, so he sensed that she was a sort of mortal being, if not human. Unintentionally, in her exhaustion, she was leaning almost totally against him for support.

"Baka onna," he grumbled. Her being totally nude from her assault, he could not help but notice the pressing of her hardened peaks against his side and front. He placed his cloak around her to avoid unnecessary speculation of the group, and threw her over his shoulder.

Upon arriving at their small camp, everyone wanted to know about their new, yet not so new, guest. Hiei explained all that had occurred, and gave her to Botan and Keiko, who went to the nearby springs that supplied the area with such nourishment to bathe her and her wounds. They tended to her wounds as best they could, and told the rest of the group that they were immediately to seek the medical care of Genkai.

Hiei noted that the scent of blood he smelled was nothing like the scent of heat he had sensed from other women. It was far emptier than that.