Disclaimer: I don't own YYH or the characters. Just my OCs.

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The next day, I was woken up by my little brother.

"Abby, I wanna go to the park," he pleaded.

I sighed sleepily and rolled over to face him. "Okay, Sorin. Give me a half an hour and then we'll go, but we can only stay for about an hour, okay?"

"Okay!" he exclaimed happily leaving me to do my routine. I didn't have classes today until later in the day and it was only like two classes. Sorin did, but at least once a month, he'd cut school for an hour and come hang out with me. His teacher knew as well as our father, but they understood. His friend Mariko was the only one he had that didn't make fun of him for his Japanese/Irish-American background. Seriously, what was it with kids in elementary school finding the worst things to pick on? It never made any sense, but teasing still hurt no matter how pointless the taunts were.

I walked out of the bathroom in nothing but a towel and walked over to my dresser mirror. I removed the towel to dry my hair but when I looked into the mirror, I saw Hiei standing there in shock. I think it was the first time I ever saw him look horrified…you know, after knowing him for one day and all. But he could NOT have been more freaked out than I was. I quickly covered myself back up with the towel and glared at him.

"What the hell are you doing here?" I yelled in a whisper. I didn't need my parents to run in here and see me naked with a boy they didn't even know standing in my room.

"I…" he started nervously, eyes still wide.

"Oh get over it," I grumbled. "I bet I'm more mortified than you are." He still couldn't speak and I sighed. "Well, now that you're here and probably planning on stalking me all day, want to come with my brother and me to the park?"

He just blinked at me. Oh for God's sake be a man and speak! "That's not why I came here," he said, his expression returning to the callous one of the previous day. Well, there's a start.

I grabbed my clothes and went into the bathroom. I quickly changed and then came out and started putting on my makeup.

"Why do you wear that stuff?" I thought that was a strange question.

I looked over to him and shrugged. "Makes me feel good about my looks, I guess." Eh, why not be honest. It's not like he's going to tell anyone.

"Pointless," he said. I shot him a glare. "What? It's unnecessary. I don't see why human females have to wear that garbage. You should all just be confident about yourselves. That's what attracts men."

I laughed bitterly. "Maybe that's how it works for demons, but most, since I don't want to generalize here, guys would rather us girls improve our looks. I honestly don't care either way. I'm not interested in dating anyone any time soon. It's just to boost my own self-confidence."

"I still think it's pointless."

I shot him a glare. "Well, maybe you just don't get it. You don't know what it's like having a mother who hates you because you're not what she wants you to be." He faltered. "Why the hell do you get like that EVERY time I say something?"

"My mother didn't hate me," he stated. Good, my point got across. I turned back to touch myself up. But I thought I heard him whisper, "Her people did."

"Huh?" He said nothing. See, just my imagination. I finished up what I was doing and then turned to face him. "Are you coming or not?"

"Hn," he said shifting his eyes to the floor.

I scoffed. "I guess that's a 'yes.' Okay, we'll meet you downstairs. If my brother asks, you're just a friend that happened to be stopping by and I forgot."

He shot out the window and left me in shock. I couldn't believe it. That bastard rolled his eyes at me.


Sorin and I left the house and found Hiei standing outside the house.

"Who are you?" Sorin asked, getting a little too close to Hiei for my liking. I pulled him back and my nerves did not go unnoticed by Hiei. I saw that same flash of sadness again.

"Sorin, this is my friend, Hiei. He's coming with us to the park."

Sorin smiled brightly. "Okay! Then let's go." Sorin yanked free from me and ran over to Hiei. I tried to grab him, but he was too fast. "So, Hiei, where are you from? Do you go to school with Abby? Do you work at the hospital?"

Hiei seemed shocked that my little brother was accosting him with questions. You would think he never met a ten year old boy before. He looked up at me nervously. Why was he getting nervous? He didn't seem this bad yesterday. The bad boy attitude he had suited him more than this uncomfortable one.

"He's from around here; he doesn't go to school with me; and he doesn't work at the hospital. We met the other day on the beach," I replied taking the heat off of Hiei.

"Oh, okay." That seemed to appease Sorin.

When we got to a crosswalk, Sorin took Hiei's hand and Hiei jumped at the sudden contact.

"What are you doing?" he asked darkly making me nervous.

"Abby says that you have to hold hands with a grown up while crossing the street," Sorin stated matter-of-factly, "and you're a grown up." Sorin smiled up at Hiei. I smiled too. Despite Hiei making me nervous, Sorin really had no guy to look up to in his life and no guy friends. The way he was interacting with him was adorable.

"Hey Abby, Sorin, um…new guy?" my friend Airi greeted when we reached the park.

"Hey, Airi, this is Hiei," I said introducing the temperamental fire demon I had met yesterday.

"Hi," Airi said with a cheery smile and a wave. Hiei just growled at her. After Airi "eeped," I glared at Hiei and suggested Airi take Sorin to go play for a bit.

When we were left alone, I snapped. "Was that necessary?"

"Hn," was all I got for a reply.

"Hiei, she's my friend. You're the one who said you wanted to come."

"I didn't want any of this," Hiei said walking away from me into the park. I was visibly seething at this point and I was about to give him a piece of my mind when something unexpected happened.

"Hey, Abeline," Kuwabara greeted. "What are you doing here?"

"Abby, who's this?" Sorin asked. He was walking next to a girl with red eyes and teal hair.

"Oh, hey, Sorin. This is my friend, Kuwabara. He's friends with Hiei." Both Hiei and Kuwabara scoffed. I looked up to the girl and asked. "Who are you?"

"Oh, I'm sorry," she said sheepishly. "My name is Yukina. I'm friends with Kazuma and Hiei as well. Is this your brother?" I nodded and she smiled. "He's very sweet. He just picked me a flower."

I couldn't help but grin. Sorin was always nice to everyone, especially girls since he had that protective little brother nature. I know it's supposed to be protective older brother, but it's just so cute when he acts all concerned for me.

"It's nice to meet you, Yukina," I said holding out my hand. "I'm Abeline, but my friends call me Abby."

"It's very nice to meet you too, Abby," Yukina replied using my nickname. I smiled. This girl already saw me as a friend.

I noticed Hiei looking at us strangely, with a hint of longing in his eyes. It confused the hell out of me. What was he longing for? Being on my good side, or being closer to this girl?

"Hiei, do you want to play with me?" Sorin asked, drawing all of our attention to Hiei.

"Hah!" Kuwabara laughed. "Kid, I don't think that's going to happen anytime soon. Don't get your hopes up."

Sorin frowned and both Hiei and I glared at Kuwabara. "That is not the way to let down a ten year old, Kuwabara," I said. I looked over to Hiei. "Would you?"

Hiei shrugged and Sorin cheered running towards the sand box. Hiei followed him reluctantly with his arms crossed.

"Hiei can be really sweet sometimes," Yukina said, "don't you agree?"

I looked over to the fire demon who was surprisingly keeping his cool as my little brother was explaining how to make a sandcastle. It was definitely a heart-warming moment, but what caught me were Hiei's eyes meeting mine from a distance. For the first time, I could actually see the pain and hurt he felt. It was different then when we were on the beach though. On the beach, his eyes seemed to be begging me not to say anything degrading to him, as if one more insult would have broken him beyond repair, but that couldn't be. Now his eyes seemed to still shine with hurt but with more of a "I bet you didn't know I could be this way" kind of look. Well, he was right.

"I didn't expect it," I replied honestly.


Later, after saying goodbye to Airi, Kuwabara, and Yukina, I brought Sorin to school although it was obvious that he wanted to come to my class with me. I would love that except for the jerk I have to deal with every day.

"I can take it from here, Hiei," I said. "I'm just going to class. There's no way I could get away from you guys even if I wanted to, so you don't have to follow me around."

Hiei didn't respond; he just walked inside. I looked at him like he had nine heads. He was so hard to understand. Wasn't he just following me around to make sure I didn't try to skip town and get out of training? I thought I made it obvious enough that I would never leave here. I had too much responsibility to just give it all up because they want me to train with them for a while.

I followed him into the building, but he let me lead the way to my class, obviously since he had no idea where we were going. When we got there, I made my way to my favorite spot. I expected Hiei to hide somewhere in the back (well, I actually expected him not to come at all, but whatever). To my surprise, he joined me up front and sat with his arms crossed and eyes closed.

"Well if it isn't my favorite bitch," we both heard. Great, more Tsuki drama.

"Tsuki, seriously, get a life and stay out of mine," I replied.

"I would but you keep causing problems for me and my family," Tsuki snapped. "Do you know how much business we're losing?"

"Do you know how irritating your bitching is?" Hiei retorted without moving from his spot. "Seriously, I know some annoying people who whine like children…but you, you are making me want to cut off my own ears, so just shut the hell up."

"Why you little...who the hell are you anyway?" When I started laughing, I received a glare. "And what, pray tell, do you find so funny, you reject?"

I stopped laughing, but I had a smile on my face. "I may be a reject, but at least my life has purpose."

"I don't have to listen to this crap," Tsuki responded, stomping away like a small child who didn't get his way.

I looked over to Hiei. "Thanks for that. Usually it's just drama, but what you said made this encounter a good laugh. So worth it."

Hiei smirked. "I have no tolerance for idiots, and that guy sounded like an idiot." I nodded and then the teacher entered and started the lesson. I couldn't wipe the smile off my face for the entire class.


I didn't have to work at the rescue center that day, but I decided to go anyway to check on the dolphins.

"Hey, Tai," I greeted. "How are they?"

Tai smiled. "Both are doing fine. Harumi said they should be back out there by the end of the week."

"That's good. By the way, this is Hiei, my shadow for the day." I ignored Hiei's glare. But seriously, he was like my shadow.

"Hey, man," Tai said waving at Hiei. He didn't seem bothered by Hiei ignoring him. "Anyway, what are you doing here? It's your day off."

"I just wanted to see them," I sighed. "Can you blame me?"

"No, I can't," Tai replied. "But I do know your mother will be pissed if she finds out you came here on your day off."

Hiei looked over to me with a confused expression. He must not have overheard my fight with her the day prior. "Who cares? I don't do what my mother tells me, you know."

Tai sighed in defeat. "Look, you don't want a fight with your family. Everyone knows it never works out. I know you love your family more than anything, so just try to work things out. As long as you do your part, then you'll feel better about yourself."

"I have tried, Tai. She just doesn't get it," I muttered.

"Have you tried to tell her about it?" he asked. "If not than can you blame her."

"Look, no one knows what happened," I replied. That was kind of true. I may have told Hiei a little of what happened, but he didn't know the full story. "I'm not going to give into her will. She has that old mentality that women are supposed to be quiet and devoted and not have a voice, and that is not who I am."

"If you feel that way, then why don't you move out?" Tai inquired.

"I need to be there for my dad and Sorin," I answered. "They're what's important. I need to go now."

I left without waiting for Hiei. I could hear Tai telling Hiei to apologize to me for him later before he appeared next to me.


When we made it back to my house, I told Hiei to meet me in my room. I didn't want to have to explain who he was to my mother. I quickly unlocked the door and found my mother sitting on the couch with her arms crossed. She had that disappointed scowl on her face. I could already tell I was in for a rough ride.

"I'm home," I said bitterly.

"I see that," mother responded. "Why are you home so late, though? Today is supposed to be your day off. You should have been home an hour ago."

"I'm sorry, but I just wanted to make sure everything was okay at the rescue center." I knew never to lie because she would always have heard the truth from someone else and it never worked out for me. "I came straight home as soon as I knew."

"Unacceptable!" she shouted. I winced at the sound. "I wanted you home. You missed the appointment I set for you."

Appointment? "What appointment?" I really hope she didn't.

"Etiquette classes," she answered nonchalantly. Oh, she went there.

"And what makes you think I would have even gone?" I asked challengingly.

"Because I said so," she replied smugly. "In exchange to keep your job."

"WHAT?" I screamed. "Why would you do that?"

"Because you need to learn proper etiquette, especially towards our neighbors."

"This is stupid!" I growled.

Mother smiled a sickeningly sweet smile. "That may be, Abeline, but it's the only thing you can do that will make me accept your job."

It took all my power not to blow up at her and I used my will power to get me up to my room before I did or said something I would regret. I slammed the door and turned around to see Hiei standing in the middle of my room staring at me with his eyebrow raised in confusion.

"Not in the mood," I said to him, jumping onto my bed and hiding my face in my pillows.

"What are 'etiquette classes?'" he asked me. I should have known he heard everything.

"Pretty much the equivalent to hell," I answered. "It's just a bunch of stuck up people who think they're better than everyone else instructing you on how to be 'a proper lady,'" I sneered. "My mother hates the fact that I'd rather be an independent woman who stands up for what I believe in than conform to the views of society. What does she think I am, a fucking princess?" I heard Hiei chuckle. "What the fuck is so funny about this?"

"I can't picture you like that," he replied with a small smirk. I couldn't help but return the smirk with a smile. It was the first time I think I had ever seen him with a sense of humor.

"Trust me; I can't either," I admitted. I rolled over and looked at the ceiling. "I just wish she'd let me be myself."

"What does she have against you working for the rescue center?" he asked. "It's just a job."

"Yeah, a job where I get dirty, build up my muscles, and go against our 'loving neighbors.' That job is an embarrassment to her because it reflects how she raised me…at least, that's what she always says."

"Hn. It should embarrass her that you have more pride than she does."

"Well, not exactly," I confessed. "I'm going to give into her and take the damn classes."

"You still have pride, because you still get to show your true colors. These classes won't change you."

"Since when did you get on my side? I thought you hated me. Isn't that why you're stalking me? Because you don't trust me to stay in town long enough to train?"

"I never said that."

I must have looked surprised because Hiei's face grew serious and his eyes seemed to be asking the question, "what?" He looked insulted, maybe because I accused him of playing baby-sitter. I seemed to always be insulting him. What was wrong with him? What happened that made him so touchy?

After silently staring for a few minutes, he surprised me when he asked, "Why do you think so little of yourself?"

My mouth fell open as he rushed to the window and disappeared. He was pissed because I somehow managed to insult…myself? The little fire demon seriously confused me, but what confused me even more was what his statement implied. He hadn't spent the day because he had to spend time with me, but he had spent the day with me because he actually wanted to spend time with me. I only had one thing to say.

"What the hell just happened?"


A/N: Yay, OOC Hiei chapter XD Come on, it's impossible not to write one of those from time to time. So this chapter was meant to just give even more of an idea of Abby's home life plus, Hiei got to see some of it. Hope you all enjoyed it.