Thank you SO much for the comments! No flames yet! I'm very happy…I'm so moved…

And I think I forgot something very important…I own YYH! No, I don't. I don't speak Japanese. And I'm just some teenager in China who wants to rule the world by ff.

_

Guess not…next chap! I'm sorry if Hiei seems a bit weird in this episode; I'm not a Hiei fan, and I don't know everything on him! Hehehehehe…

Chapter Seven: Brother and sister

The next day, Ditrina had explained to them what the hell was going on.

"It's like this," she had said to Kurama, "You must remember the other necklace that Mother gave you before she died? That thing, it sucked power out of you. How much? Let's just say that it's enough for you to become an upper X class demon. In other words, it could mean that it would be a very messy situation if other bad guys got hold of it."

"What does that mean?" Kuwabara had asked her.

"It means that all that energy was secured in a safe place by my brother, and now there are demons on the look for it. Which also is how Karasu and those other freaks found their way to the stadium. They were following me, because they thought that I knew where it was. Actually, I only heard that brother had hidden it in a secret place, I didn't know where."

"Which means that I'm in danger?" Kurama said calmly.

"Yes. You're the only one alive who knows where the energy is. I'm almost expecting Karasu to walk through the temple's door anytime to kidnap you."

There was silence as everyone digested the knowledge. Then Hiei said: "Why the hell did you even bother to steal this thing for me? It helps a lot in battle, but I don't accept mysterious, powerful items without knowing why the hell I have them."

Ditrina just said: "Just wanted to help."

Mishouri sighed impatiently. "Look, it's almost New Year's Eve. Speaking plainly, that would be tomorrow night. Have we even prepared yet?"

Yusuke grinned evilly. "Yeah, we're on it. Kayko's out buying stuff. We just have to hope she doesn't decide to bring some new clothes, too. And Mishouri, I'll write a poem for you and recite it on New Year's Eve. It should go like this: As I strolled down the forest road on a fine night, I saw Mishouri and K—"

Mishouri slapped him before he could finish. Unfortunately, Kayko and Yukina had just walked in the door.

"Hey…when Yusuke says that, does he mean--?" Kayko didn't finish the sentence.

"Oh dear…what was that supposed to mean?"

"It meant that Kurama and Mishouri were doing something very irregular beside the creek yesterday."

And that's why Mishouri was chasing him all over the place on New Year's Eve.

Dinner was over, and it was near midnight. Kurama was just leaning on a door, chuckling at them.

"Come on, knock it off!" Ditrina managed to grab both of them by the collar and haul them to the backyard. "Come on, why don't we just enjoy ourselves in the snow."

It was beautiful. Snowflakes fell from the sky, twirling around as if dancing.

"This is so beautiful! If only my brother was here to see this."

Ditrina turned to watch Yukina looking up at the snow, with a smile on her face.

But this smile was different. It was bitter, sad, and there were a few tears hidden in it.

Ditrina felt rage well up in her heart as she recalled the painful days without her brother.

She would use a rock to carve the same words on a piece of wood every day: Ditrina, Spirit Fox, Kurama. She had told herself that she could forget anything but him, her dearest brother, the one who never showed any mercy to his enemies, yet smiled so warmly at her every day.

She managed to force out a dazzling smile, and patted Yukina on the shoulder.

"Don't worry, I'll find him for you before New Year."

Yukina looked up at her, her eyes filled with hope, wonder and disbelief. The same Ditrina had felt when she had managed to leave that horrible place.

"Really?"

"Yes, Yukina, yes. The person who falls from that tree at 12:00 exact, is your brother."

"How do you know?"

"Oh, I don't know…you'll know when you see him."

Her eyes flashed as she turned to Kurama. "Brother, can I go for a second?"

"Sure, Ditrina."

She saw Yukina looking at her from the corner of her eye, the Koorime's eyes filled with inspiration and jealousy. Jealous of her being able to find her brother…she was going to change that soon.

Now it happens that Hiei had heard what she said, and was very skeptical about it. He didn't believe in stupid human superstitions or chances. He only believed in surviving.

He could feel Ditrina approaching him. In a honeyed tone, she asked: "Hiei, would you practice with me for a moment?"

Hiei hesitated, but what was there to be afraid of? They wouldn't be using spirit energy; it would be too dangerous. He assumed a position and they fought.

The fight hadn't gone on for long, when Ditrina giggled and disappeared. Hiei felt rather nervous for some reason; not nervous, just jumpy. She wasn't even in the same area anymore. And then he noticed that his necklace was gone.

That's when he realized where she was.

In the backyard, on the tree.

His heart skipped a beat as he rushed there in a few seconds.

There it was, glistening in the moonlight, hanging on a branch. Hiei stole a glance at the clock. 11:59.

He jumped on the branch and reached for the necklace.

But as he brushed it with his fingertips, he slipped off and fell.

How could he have lost his balance? Then he hear a snap.

So the branch was too weak.

He heard the noise as the clock struck 12:00. Whoops and yells.

And he also heard someone crying.

He stood up, with a very bad feeling, and saw Yukina.

She was crying, gem-like stones dropping to the ground. She said something, very quietly.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Hiei avoided her gaze. He hated to see her cry.

"I don't deserve to be your brother."

She walked towards him, step by step.

"But…I've always liked you…you were always so strong and protective in my eyes…you were just like the brother I suffered so much for."

She hugged him, very suddenly, and he was caught in an awkward position.

He couldn't say any anything. Except for: "Sister."

Ditrina watched, feeling very, very satisfied.

Wah! What a touching chapter! Just kidding. It's pretty crappy, right? R&R!