AN: So sorry this took so long to get up! I've been swamped with homework and stuff like that… Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter, I certainly did ;) Read and review!

Disclaimer: I have no money, how could I possibly own Yu Yu Hakusho?

Chapter 7

"Long time, no see, Kuwabara" Anne grinned.

"Yeah, it's been like two weeks, hasn't it?" he nodded "Probably the longest two weeks of my life" Anne looked up at him

"Was it really that bad?" she asked. Kuwabara looked down at her. She didn't look worried, just curious. Something about her reminded him of a little sister, not that he'd had one before, an older one was plenty.

"Not really," he shook his head "He just doesn't like me for some reason"

Maybe because you're in love with his sister? Anne thought. Kurama had filled her in on most of the details of the group.

"Well, you should be fine with Kurama," she said finally "though I'm not sure what your training will be like since we don't exactly have the same powers"

"Yeah," he said "Well, see you around"

The two had been walking down the same path they had followed two weeks ago. As Kuwabara walked away from the clearing, Anne waved good bye and closed her eyes. She could find Hiei with her eyes open now, but it was a habit. There he was, to her left. Anne sprinted in his direction, hoping he wouldn't run away from her. She'd never be able to keep up.

She found him leaning against a tree. His arms were folded over his chest. He glanced up at Anne as she walked to him.

"Faster than I thought" he said under his breath.

"Thanks" Anne smiled.

"So tell me," Hiei pushed off the tree with his foot, so he was standing on his own "How is it that you hear Songs?"

"What do you mean?" Anne asked.

"I mean, I've never seen a human who had the ability, let alone one as long as you"

Anne smiled and leaned back on a tree.

"What? You haven't used your Jagan yet?"

"Why should I bother just for a human?" he retorted. Anne laughed.

"So, I'm not worth it?" she stepped forward and pulled off her sweatshirt "Guess we'd better get started, so I can prove I am."

Hiei looked at her curiously. She was wearing clothes like the ones she'd been in yesterday- t-shirt and shorts, and she still had that damn smile. She tossed her hoodie to the side.

"Are you ready?" he asked.

"Ready as I can be" she nodded.

Hiei charged at her, slow enough for her to see, but she still had little time to react. She sidestepped and swung her staff up.

"You anticipated my move" Hiei nodded. He'd turned around after her sidestep to attack from above. He pulled his katana back and charged again. Anne blocked and returned the attack. Hiei blocked and charged again. They continued the cycle, dancing around each other. They fell into a rhythm. Block, attack, block, attack. Their weapons moved too fast for normal eyes. Hiei eventually pulled back.

"I'm going too easy" He looked at Anne.

"Well if just barely keeping up is easy," she grinned, slightly out of breath "then you'd better step it up"

Hiei frowned slightly, What is with this girl? Anne cocked her eyebrow,

"What are you waiting for?" she called "I thought you didn't like me!"

Hiei smirked,

"You asked for it" he jumped down and attacked.

Anne fell to the ground, pain erupting from her chest. She hadn't even seen Hiei move, but suddenly he was above her, still smirking.

"What? Too fast?"

Anne looked at him, still trying to catch her breath, fighting against the pain. Hiei shook his head and turned.

"Don't come back until you're actually ready" he began to walk away, sheathing his katana.

"Wait!" Anne called, struggling to her knees "How… the hell… am I supposed… to get better if… you won't train me?" she demanded, rising to her feet.

How hard did I hit her? Hiei wondered. She had looked fine until she'd stood up. Even now, she was trying to look normal, but he could see how she clenched her jaw, how pale her skin was, even though it was normally very pale. Especially against her dark brown hair that had managed to mostly fall out of its ponytail, so it framed her face and-

Hiei frowned, why was he thinking like that? His attention snapped back as Anne bit back a groan.

"Sit down" he instructed. Anne gave him a blank look "Sit" he said again. Anne made a move to sit, but her legs gave out from underneath her. She began to fall but Hiei moved and caught her before she hit the ground.

"Thanks" she whispered, suddenly out of breath. Hiei simply nodded, shifting her so he held her off the ground with both arms. Carefully, he lowered her to the ground.

"Where does it hurt?" he asked.

Anne hesitated, wondering whether or not to admit she was hurt. Finally, she gave in, pointing to her chest. Hiei gently pushed down on different spots.

"Ow!" Anne gritted her teeth "Right there"

Hiei nodded and started to pull up the bottom of her shirt, but stopped when Anne exclaimed

"What are you doing?" she blushed.

"I'm checking if your rib is broken, what did you- oh" he looked away when he realized how Anne might have misinterpreted him-

"Oh, sorry" she smiled, apologetically. Hiei returned back to work, wondering why she'd jumped to such a conclusion, and why his heart, which normally beat very slowly, had beat several times in the past few minutes.

Hiei gently looked over Anne's ribs. One of them was definitely broken; he'd need the fox's help. He tugged down Anne's shirt, and pulled off the blindfold on his Jagan.

Kurama?

Yes? What is it? He replied.

Anne has a broken rib.

Already? He sighed.

Yes.

I'll be there in a minute.

Hiei covered his Jagan again,

"Kurama will be here soon"

"Okay," she nodded, making a move to sit up.

"Don't." Hiei put a hand on her shoulder. He hesitated a second then pulled off his cloak "Here." He tossed it at her.

"Oh," she caught it, surprised "Thanks." She rolled it up and put it under her head like a pillow. Hiei, now shirtless, sat down a few feet away. The two waited in silence for Kurama. When he arrived, he gave both of them a once over before shaking his head.

"A broken rib?" he asked. Hiei nodded. Kurama knelt next to Anne.

"Could you lift your shirt a little so I can see the break?" he asked politely. Anne stifled a laugh as Hiei looked away, and lifted her shirt. Kurama looked at her quizzically, but didn't say anything. He examined Anne's ribs, occasionally applying something to her side.

"Would you sit up please?" Kurama asked. Anne nodded and Kurama helped her sit up. He wrapped a bandage around her chest, and then helped her lay back down.

"There, you'll be fine in a day or two. The ointments have already started working" Kurama stood up.

"Thanks" Anne sat up, happy to find the pain subsided to a dull ache.

"Be careful, don't rush it" Kurama warned.

"Don't worry," Anne smiled "I'll be fine."

"You'll have to let one of us take you home." Kurama said "You're in no condition to go alone." Anne shook her head.

"I'll be fine" she said, standing up to prove it. Unfortunately, as she stood, a stabbing pain shot through her chest. She collapsed, and this time both Hiei and Kurama caught her.

"I'll take her" Hiei said to Kurama "The baka is still waiting for you"

Kurama looked at him.

"Are you sure?"

Hiei simply nodded.

"Alright, I'll see you later then" he stood up and left. Something's going on between those two.

"Ready?" Hiei asked Anne. She shook her head.

"Not really"

"Which direction?" he asked. Anne pointed. "Let's go" he leaned down and picked her up in both his arms. As Hiei started running, Anne found it hard to think about anything other than how Hiei still hadn't put his shirt on.