Author's Rant

Lady A: Hey everyone! Sorry for being so late with updating. Between tropical storms knocking out the power and a weeklong stay from my dad, my muse had taken an impromptu vacation, but she's back now so let's get this party started!

Joey: Don't listen to her! She was too busy making out with Kaiba to update.

Lady A: What the hell, Wheeler?! You're not even supposed to be here! This is a Yu Yu Hakusho fan fiction not a Yu-Gi-Oh fan fiction! Go bother Tristan!

Tristan: Oh no, don't saddle me with Joey!

Joey: What the hell is that supposed to mean, ya jerk?! We're supposed to be friends and you just toss me aside like yesterday's garbage?!

Seto: More like last year's garbage.

Joey: You want to make somethin' of it, Kaiba?! I'll gladly beat ya to a bloody pulp in a duel!

Seto: *smirks* Keep dreaming, Wheeler, because that is what it will always be… a dream.

Joey: Why I oughta…!

Tristan: *grabs a hold of Joey and drags him away* Come on, man. I think it's time that we let Lady A get to her story.

Seto: Lady A, I suggest you do the next chapter quickly, so that we can have our duel.

Lady A: *sighs heavily* Patience, Seto and don't worry. I'll get around to doing a Yu-Gi-Oh fan fiction soon.

Seto nods his approval then leaves and Lady A mumbles something about how a YYH fic has been invaded by the Yugi universe.

Disclaimer: I do not own YYH or any other shows I make references to, so quit harping on me you crazy lawyers.

Chapter Two: Home

It had been three days since her near death experience and Artimes felt like she was on cloud nine. She was currently in the kitchen washing dishes from dinner while Hiei was busy exploring the rest of her house. The house itself was quite large with three stories, sporting a dojo, several studies and bedrooms, the library of lives (which Hiei promised not to read any of the others' life stories), and a basement which Artimes converted into a giant library to house and organize the many books, scrolls, and such she had acquired over the last few years.

Artimes thought briefly on the mental link that Hiei had created in her mind. It wasn't like the normal link he shared with Kurama. The link between herself and Hiei went deeper. When the link was not active, Artimes could feel Hiei's emotions to some degree. Although she is not entirely certain if he meant to do that or not, so she neglected to mention it. She quite enjoyed knowing how he was truly feeling. It gave her a sense of trust between them, not to mention a certain advantage when dealing with Hiei.

Artimes resisted the urge to chuckle as she felt Hiei's surprise as well a feeling that could only be described as 'a kid in a candy store' effect. She had no doubt that Hiei had finally stumbled across the armory, a room which contained many weapons; the ones already with the shrine and those that Artimes had collected herself. She tried desperately to prevent herself from laughing which ended up as quiet giggles.

She glanced out the window above the sink and sighed heavily. It was still pouring cats and dogs and had been since shortly after Hiei had put her to bed after their little mental adventure. It was the main reason why Hiei was exploring the house. He loathed the rain, because of how it amplified his ice nature and diminished his fire nature. The effect of the rain causes Hiei to be more susceptible to his emotions and quite often to show them which is why he avoided his friends during such times. He'd rather cut out his own tongue then to admit how much he cared for his friends. Artimes thought back to a conversation that she and Hiei had about the rain.

*Flashback*

Artimes reclined on the couch, her head propped up by her hand. Her eyes were closed and her face was scrunched up in concentration. She had been trying to call up a vision of the future for over an hour, but all she was getting was static or it was downright blank. She opened the mental link to Hiei, who oddly enough was reading the book she had finished earlier.

'Hiei?' She called out through the link.

'Hn.' He answered glancing up at her.

'I don't get it. I could see the future just fine before the attack, but now I'm not getting anything. I can still see the past and the present, but the future is either murky or just not there at all. I have never seen it so in flux before. The chaos of the time stream is giving me a migraine.' She informed.

'Stop trying and save yourself the headache, woman.' He commented.

Artimes scowled at him and he simply smirked.

'That's not the point, Hiei. The point is that the future isn't there…at all. Nothing but static or blankness. This has never happened before…ever.' She retorted annoyed.

'When will the rain stop?' He asked with slight amusement.

She glared at him and closed her eyes once more. She focused on the weather only and was slightly surprised when she was given the answer. The rain would stop in eight days give or take an hour or two. She growled in annoyance.

'Eight days. Bloody freaking fantastic! I can see the weather, but not an attack or anything else long term. Damn it! I'm completely blind. If I can't see the demons coming, how the hell am I going to know how to stay alive?! I'm not an expert at fighting demons. I'm human and wouldn't last long if it came down to a fight.' She informed ranting towards the end, her panic and fear rising.

'Calm down, woman. No demon will harm you while I'm here.' He replied with slight irritation.

Artimes's fear subsided almost instantly. She had forgotten that Hiei was with her now. She didn't need to be afraid for her life anymore.

'Whoops. I forgot about you. Sure glad that you're home.' She commented looking over at her stoic companion to gauge his reaction to her words.

Sapphire met crimson and she had to fight the urge to smile. Hiei looked utterly confused and a bit bewildered.

"Home?" He echoed aloud.

'That's right. This is your home. You already have your own bedroom and this is the perfect place to come to when you need a break from your friends and we both know how often that is.' She stated mentally, sitting up to look at him better.

Hiei stared at her, his eyes holding an emotion she couldn't identify. His silence made her uneasy and she quickly offered him an out.

'Unless you don't want to be around me anymore?' She questioned solemnly, her eyes dropping to the floor at the possible rejection.

"I never had a home." He stated quietly.

Artimes looked up at him and smiled. Hiei quickly diverted his eyes elsewhere, but Artimes could see the faint hint of redness in his cheeks. He was embarrassed and feeling awkward because of her sincerity.

'Silly Hiei. This is your home and it always will be.' She stated giving him a warm smile.

'Hn.' He replied closing the link and returning his attention to the book in his hands.

*End Flashback*

Hiei had been exploring his 'home' ever since. With a fine tooth comb she might add. At this rate, he was going to know the house better than she did. She continued to do the dishes until she felt the mind link flare to life, meaning that Hiei wished to speak to her. She found it amusing that they used the link more often than actually speaking aloud. He seemed to say more through the link than he ever did aloud.

'Woman.' Hiei called.

Artimes shook her head at his rather demanding tone. Would he ever learn to use her name…probably not.

'Artimes.' She corrected automatically.

'Why do you have so many weapons?' He asked.

She could feel his intense curiosity through the link and she smiled. Artimes chuckled and started rinsing the dishes.

'It's a hobby of mine. I collect books and scrolls as well. After all, knowledge is power.' She answered.

She flat out refused to tell him that the reason she was so fascinated with weapons, particularly swords and other bladed objects, was because of him. Out of all the lives she had seen through her visions, he was her favorite; the person she most wanted to meet and more importantly, befriend. She didn't want him to be alone anymore. She knew better than most how lonely Hiei was and she wanted to be there for him and now she could, because Hiei had changed the future by saving her life. She was going to make damn sure that she stuck around a long time. If nothing else then to annoy the hell out of him.

'Very true. You collect weapons to guard the trove of knowledge you have obtained. Although the location of this room could be improved upon by having it closer to both libraries.' He concluded.

Only Hiei could give a compliment while making it sound like an insult. Artimes giggled as she began drying the dishes. She really did love having Hiei around. She hadn't laughed this much in her entire life.

'That's a good way to look at it and I will take your suggestion under advisement.' She replied.

In the language of Artimes that meant 'You jumped to the wrong conclusion and I am completely going to ignore that so called suggestion by conveniently forgetting about it.' Artimes snorted silently and tried not to giggle. Hiei was going to get a crash course on just how much Artimes could sound like Kurama. She finished up her work and journeyed upstairs to the weapons' room. She leaned against the door jam and watched with an amused curiosity as Hiei inspected each weapon meticulously. He made comments every now and again; balance, sharpness, handling ease, and craftsmanship. She listened closely and with great attention, storing all information he was willing to share.

Artimes could tell from the way he moved and spoke that he was trying very hard to be open with her, but old habits die hard. Hiei was not one to trust others. Even armed with the knowledge he knew she possessed, it was quite difficult to overcome the hesitation she knew he was feeling. He was not one to reveal things or as humans would call it, 'bearing one's soul.'

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Hiei looked up at Artimes and butterflies churned in his stomach. She was looking straight at him, watching his every movement. Normally such scrutiny would not have bothered him, but coming from Artimes, it made him feel flustered and off balance. It was not in his nature to trust others, but he felt like he owed her at least this much. After all, he had nearly killed her when he came into contact with the seal.

As he tested each weapon, he allowed himself to glance at her periodically. He drank in the details of her appearance and tried very hard to keep his mind away from perverted thoughts. He wasn't the damn fox. She was wearing a long sleeved, v-neck white shirt which just a hint of cleavage. Didn't help that she had her arms crossed underneath her breasts which just added to the effect. He mentally groaned and forced his eyes away from her breasts and down to her legs. She was wearing blue jean shorts which showed off every inch of her tanned legs. Just thinking about how it would feel to have her legs wrapped around him made his mouth run dry. He mentally shook himself free of those thoughts. He had spent far too much time with that perverted kitsune.

He, instead, focused on her hair. It flowed freely down her back like a crimson waterfall. It was a very exotic color, especially in Japan. His eyes finally landed on her face, to her eyes in particular. Her deep sapphire blue eyes shined with curiosity and warmth. It was her eyes that called to him the most. Their coloring was just as exotic as her hair. It was a stark contrast of opposites, fire and water.

His grip tightened on the sword he was holding as he recalled her past. She had suffered so much, more so than any human he had ever encountered. It started when she had been abandoned by her parents and as the years progressed it became steadily worse. She had been beaten, raped, and left in alleyway to die. She had been attacked by numerous demons, but thanks to her gift of sight she had been able to escape with her life. She had learned how to fight, not just with a sword but with her fists as well. So much darkness she had seen, so many hardships she had endured, and yet here she stood, eyes warm, bright, and accepting; a smile playing on her lips. Hiei had a great deal of respect for Artimes, but he be damned if he ever admitted it aloud. He actually liked her…again not even torture would reveal that.

He paused in his testing as her eyes dulled. He watched as the color drained from her face and she began to shiver. Her face scrunched up in pain and she fell backwards. Hiei dropped the sword and in a blur of speed, he caught her before she hit the floor.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Artimes felt like she was freezing like someone had just dunked her in ice water, but then the icy feeling began to subside as she felt something very warm envelop her. She felt a pair of strong arms wrap around her as the heat intensified, chasing away the cold. She opened her eyes slowly, her vision slightly blurred. She blinked a few times until she saw a pair of crimson eyes shining with concealed worry.

"Hiei?" She said groggily, her body feeling rather numb.

"What happened, woman?" He bit out harshly.

Artimes tried to clear the fog in her brain as she attempted to answer him.

"Um…I'm…I'm not sure. I think it was a vision, but it was so distorted that I couldn't catch it. I never had a vision that painful before. It felt...It felt like I was being stabbed in a million places…only to be drug through shattered glass." She answered shakily, her breathing ragged and shallow.

She tried to move only to have a massive amount of pain, accompanied by a wave of extreme dizziness, course through her body. Her face scrunched up in pain and she couldn't stop the small scream that erupted from her lips. Through the pain, she heard Hiei growl deeply.

"Stop moving, woman." He ordered, his tone demanding.

She complied and gradually the pain subsided to more tolerable levels. She opened her eyes again as she tried to slow down her breathing. At this rate, she was going to hyperventilate. She examined Hiei closely. He had a stern look on his face, but his eyes told a different story. She saw fear lurking deeply within those crimson orbs. Hiei was afraid, but why was he afraid? Hiei feared nothing except the loss of his sister, Yukina, so why? Why did fear shine so brightly in his eyes?

As she tried to understand what she was seeing, Artimes was hit by another wave of pain. This time, the pain was much stronger and was accompanied by sporadic flashes of a vision. A woman with long brown hair and brown eyes flashed in her mind's eye. It was Keiko, Yusuke's wife. The vision was quickly replaced by another one. This time it showed a tall, reptilian like demon. It had green scaled skin, large yellow eyes, and humanoid looking as well. Its sharp claws gleamed purple as poison dripped from the tips. The vision faded as a flurry of images passed through her mind, telling her roughly when and where the event would take place.

Artimes screamed in agony as wave after wave of pain wreaked havoc on her mind and body. She knew her vision was trying to tell her something. Something very important and directly linked to her which is why it was able to bust through whatever it was that was interfering with her visions. Artimes's screams intensified as the pain continued to grow. She couldn't see, feel, or hear anything beyond the pain. The all-consuming pain that threatened to destroy her sanity.

That's when she felt it. Something hot and cold surrounding her, but it didn't hurt. It was oddly soothing.

"Artimes!" Hiei's voice echoed through her mind, disrupting the pain.

Her visions began to fade into obscurity once more, the pain going with them. Artimes opened her eyes slowly. Her mind felt so heavy as she tried to focus on Hiei. After a few moments, she was able to see his face clearly, the fear in his eyes so much stronger than before. Was he afraid for her? Did he care enough to not want her to be in pain? It seemed so foolish in her thoughts, but then again, Hiei did have a knack for being unpredictable. She could feel his youki enveloping her like a blanket of warmth and coolness. For once in her life, she felt completely safe. She could feel the darkness creeping in as her body was beginning to succumb to exhaustion. She needed to tell him what she saw and quickly.

"I saw…the future. K-Keiko…attacked…by a demon…two weeks…from now…the park…by her home." Artimes spoke, her voice trembling from the strain.

Her sight clouded over with darkness and her eyes slipped closed. She drifted to sleep, her body relaxing while basking in Hiei's youki.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Hiei cradle the unconscious Artimes in his arms. Never before had he experienced true fear, but when she had screamed in agony, it felt as if someone had ripped out his insides and left him as hollow as the void. For a few minutes, he fought to gain control over his emotions. The fear he felt refused to leave him completely. He did not know what kind of connection he had with this woman, but he knew he had one and couldn't begin to understand what it meant or how it would affect his life. He removed the cloth covering his Jagan. It flared to life and he entered her mind.

*Mindscape*

Hiei walked through the darkness of Artimes's mind. No longer did her barriers resist him, but freely granted him access to her mind. He did not meet her mental self this time which meant that she was exhausted not only in body but in her mind as well. Hiei spent little time on the other barriers in her mind, knowing exactly where each of them would lead him.

Finally he reached the liquid silver barrier that contained the mysterious seal. He needed answers, but could he honestly risk her life to get them? The answer to that question was no. From the moment he met her, she was under his protection even though he, himself, didn't know it at the time. Deep inside himself, Hiei truly wanted to protect her. Not because he needed to, but because he desired to.

He stared at the barrier thinking over her last statement. Keiko was going to be attacked in roughly two weeks at the park near the former detective's home. Personally, he could care less what happened to the foolish female, but she was carrying Yusuke's unborn child. Hiei held a deep respect for the former detective, and he knew that the loss of his mate and child would no doubt bring about the destruction of all three realms which would undoubtedly put Artimes in danger and he could not allow that.

Hiei sighed inwardly. He would have to rescue Keiko himself if he wished to avoid revealing any information about Artimes and her gift of sight. Hiei inhaled sharply as a stray thought ran through his mind. If the other were to learn of Artimes and her powers, it would no doubt reach the ears of the Reikai. Hiei clenched his fists tightly and a growl resonated deep within his chest. No doubt the toddler prince would be interested in Artimes and the gift of sight she possessed. Kamis know what sort of experiments they would put her through and what lengths they would use to claim her. He growled viciously at the mere thought of her being tortured in such a manner. No, he will not allow those Reikai bastards to touch what is his. He will allow no one to hurt his Artimes.

Before Hiei could backpedal his thoughts, the barrier rippled and the seal appeared once more. The intricate layers expanded and began to spin and turn. It continued to spin until an audible click was heard and Hiei was blasted out of her mind once more as the next layer unlocked.

*End Mindscape*

Hiei came back to himself just in time to see a faint silver glow around Artimes's body before it vanished without a trace. Hiei was undoubtedly confused. He had not touched the barrier this time. He had been simply standing in front of it, thinking. Was it possible that the barrier responded to his possessive thoughts?

Hiei frowned, but pushed his thoughts aside when he noticed that Artimes wasn't convulsing this time. In fact, she wasn't as pale as she was before and was sleeping quite comfortably in his lap. He smiled slightly. A few days ago, he despised having such close contact with people, but with Artimes it just seemed right having her so near. He didn't mind it as much as he should have, but if it kept the woman happy, he didn't care how much it wounded his pride.

Damn, what the hell was this woman doing to him? Hearing the rain, he concluded that it was simply his ice nature causing the changes in his behavior. Hiei flat out refused to believe that he would have such strong emotions for a woman he just met a few days prior. He was in denial and he knew it, but refused to even consider the foolish notion. He lifted her off the floor and carried her to bed. Once she was settled on her right side, he quickly joined her. He pulled her to him until the back of her body fit snuggly against him. He placed his head in between her neck and shoulder, his lips just above the pulse point. He fell asleep enjoying her stormy scent as the rain continued to fall.

Author's Rant

Lady A: Chapter Two of The Celestial Seal: Home is complete! Don't suppose anyone has any ideas about what the seal is or how the next layer will be unlocked, ne? Chapter Three will prove to be entertaining because it will be time to rock the boat a bit in that chapter.

Artimes: Has anyone else noticed that Hiei and myself end up in bed at the end of every chapter?

Hiei: *has an amused expression on his face*

Lady A: Hiei, get your mind out of the gutter or no sweet snow for you.

Hiei: *glares at Lady A*

Artimes: *sneaks a bowl of ice cream to Hiei while Lady A isn't watching*

Hiei: *smirks and nods his thanks to Artimes before demolishing said ice cream*

Lady A: *sighs heavily* If you two don't quit, I swear I will have Hiei pin Artimes to a wall or something in the next chapter.

Hiei and Artimes: *raises an eyebrow*

Lady A: Gack! Oh forget it! There is just no way I can work with you people if you don't even bother to listen to me.

Hiei: We never listened to you to begin with, you baka onna.

Artimes: *giggles profusely* Now now, Hiei. There is no need to get snippy with the authoress just because your ice nature is amped up.

Hiei: *blushes slightly* Will you shut up?

Artimes: No.

Lady A: Alright enough is enough, you jokers. Anyways please read and review. The more reviews, the more chapters.

Hiei: Review or be devoured by my dragon.

Lady A and Artimes: *glares at their favorite hybrid*