"You're awake." I said with a smile, but I frowned a bit when I saw the tear and look of utter disbelief on his face.

"Are you okay?" I asked, cocking my head to one side. I reached a hand out to touch his cheek to check his temperature, not wanting to aggravate his third eye. It wasn't feverishly hot like before. He was still frozen.

"My name is Yukihime." I smiled, "An ice demon."

He finally spoke, "Yuki…" His voice held so much emotion and feeling that I was momentarily thrown off.

I recovered quickly, "Um, I guess you can call me that." I laughed, "Oh, I guess you don't remember, but I'm the one that saved you earlier too when you were on top of my school."

The boy silently watched me, as if he were captivated. I continued, "What were you doing there anyway?"

The boy was still quiet, just watching me. I couldn't put a name to the expression that he was making. It was very foreign. Suddenly, I felt something enter my mind unannounced, like a presence had entered my thoughts.

I frowned, "You're reading my mind aren't you? I don't know what kind of demon you are, but among us ice maidens, that's considered rude!"

I rambled on, "Not that we can read minds, but the idea of having my privacy-

I was cut off suddenly by his lips crashing into mine. He pushed me over and I fell back onto the wooden floor of the Inari-shrine as he kissed me like I was his long lost love. Confusion froze me for what seemed like an eternity as his tongue entered my mouth and flicked across my lips, tasting and teasing, even nibbling on it. It felt...strange. It was suddenly very hot.

I pushed him away and crawled back away, my cheeks flushing like the human… 'apple' and my hands flew up to cover my mouth. What just happened?

"Um...I don't know who you are, but-

"Hiei" He cut me off, crawling towards me on all fours, staring into my face with that same expression again.

"Hiei! I'm not, um, used to…" I mumbled backing away as he inched closer, "I don't know...what you're-

My back hit the wall and suddenly there was no where for me to run. He leaned into me and I felt his arms encircle me in his very hot body. I froze in his embrace, unsure what was happening, if this was happening at all. His arms tightened and he pressed his body against me until he pulled me away from the wall and onto his lap. I was still frozen in shock.

What he was giving me was a… 'hug'. I've seen people do it at school and I had asked Botan. She had been surprised that I had not known what it was. It's an act of love. She had told me warmly with a soft smile. It's when one person loves another so much that they can't help but want to be as close to each other as possible.

I had remembered thinking that we never 'hugged' before, Grandma Yue and I. No one ever 'hugged'. But I had remembered wanting to always sleep next to Grandma Yue when I was little. Maybe it was the same concept, but I had grown out of it very early on.

My mind snapped back to the present as this demon that I had met for the...second time today was holding me as if he… 'loved' me. What is 'love'? I wondered.

"Yuki...I missed you...so much…" The boy, Hiei, whispered. His hot breath blew against my ear and I shivered involuntarily. I did not know what had come over me, but my body had started relaxing into him. It was suddenly very hot and my body was strangely comfortable even though my mind was jumping miles.

"Hi-Hiei…" I cried, as his hands pulled me in closer. I tried pushing against his chest, but soon found that my arms, my body, didn't want to fight him. I willed them to move, to push him away, but they remained limp and motionless at my sides as he enveloped me in his warm chest. What seemed like an eternity had passed while he simply held me close. I closed my eyes and melted into his embrace, relaxing against him. It just seemed so right to be there.

After a while of blissful content, I felt him recover himself as he slowly pulled away to look into my eyes. I still sat on his lap while our eyes met leveled. I felt his mind reach into me as if looking through me and all that I had seen, all that I had heard and experience them all with me. It was very intrusive, but somehow it felt okay. I felt him shuffle through my memories, especially the ones I had newly created while in the human world and he examined each one preciously as if to memorize it all. I felt him pause when he saw Hiroichi and Mikage fighting over me. Instantly, his body became warmer, as if a flame inside him had suddenly bursted and the remnants of the embers had seeped from his skin. His face changed, contorting to something that Mikage and Hiroichi had both worn while facing against each other...Jealousy?

As soon as that thought crossed my mind, Hiei immediately turned away, hiding his face. I reached over and turned him to me again gently. This man...why am I so attracted to him? He suddenly blushed and I realized he was still in my head. I turned away with a huff, avoiding his eyes, but I knew he could still hear everything regardless. Just who is this man?

"Hiei." He said again, answering my question before I had even asked. Must be convenient. I thought loosely.

"Sometimes." He answered again. I was really going to have to work on keeping my thoughts in check, I glared.

"Would you like it more if I didn't read your mind?" Hiei asked sincerely. It surprised me, that this man who had...kissed me...was suddenly asking if he could read my thoughts or not. It seemed...contradicting.

"I'm sorry for earlier." He apologized, "I couldn't help myself." I felt him pull away from my mind and knew I was alone in my own head again. I let my thoughts wander. I replayed the entire scene in my head again and blushed when my thoughts stopped at the...kiss.

Shaking my head, I turned to Hiei, "Do I...or rather, did I know you?" It seemed obvious that he at least knew me, but I truly could not recall a time I had ever met him before. It can only be the minor memories that Koenma had mentioned, but they were minor, right?

I saw the confliction flit across his face as he struggled to find an answer, "Yes…" He settled plainly, "It's okay if you don't remember."

I frowned, "But you seemed to really...care for me. Did I maybe...care for you too?"

Hiei burned bright crimson, "You said you...loved me."

It was my turn to blush, "Can you tell me what I have forgotten." I asked tentatively, but he only shook his head.

"I think it's best if you...don't remember." Hiei said, brushing my cheek softly. I had not known that men could be so gentle. I closed my eyes as my body enjoyed his touch. I nuzzled my cheek against his hand, and opened my eyes to see the most beautiful smile I had ever laid eyes upon. It was small, but blissful and content. It held the joys of a thousand years of searching come to an end.

I suddenly had the urge to do something I had never done before. Leaning in closer, I pressed my lips tentatively against his, hesitant at first, wondering how he would react. He stiffened for a second and fear pulsated through me. I withdrew immediately, thinking I had done something wrong or overstepped my boundaries, but was stopped with his hand to my chin, turning me back and pulling me closer. His lips came to mine again and this time, he showed me just how much he had been holding back.

He pushed and we fell back onto the wooden floor. His hands kneaded at me gently, caressing my cheeks to my neck and he laid kisses from my lips to my ear and back again down to my nape. One knee was between my legs, holding himself up just enough to avoid touching our lower parts together. He seemed strained as one arm was used to prop himself away from me while the other explored. All the while, his hands never strayed under the loose folds of human 'uniforms'.

I didn't like the distance he held solidly between us, so I reached both hands to the back of his neck and pulled him towards me, wanting to press more of us together. Surprised, his arms buckled and he fell onto me. That was when I first felt the bulge that grew where he had secretly hid from me. Just as soon as it grazed me, his arm lifted him away again. I looked up at him as his mind entered mine again. He looked away with a semi-pout. After awhile, he sighed.

"It's...what makes me a man…" Hiei sighed, knowing exactly just what question was spilling from my tongue.

"No, I am not showing it to you." He said resolutely. I pursed my lips as he untangled himself from me and propped himself against the wall with one knee bent. His mind pulled away again.

"Hiei…" I began, not sure how to ask, "Why does it feel like I've known you for all my life when I don't even remember seeing you?"

He was silent. Maybe I had asked something I shouldn't?

He finally answered, "I don't think you lost your memory. When I looked into your mind earlier, it felt more like it's...locked away. It's still there. That might be why it feels like you still know me."

"Then...why is it locked?" I asked, confused.

Hiei smiled reassuringly, sensing my unease, "I know who to ask, but for now, I don't want to think about anyone else except you."

He pulled me to him again, leaning me to his chest. It was hard to believe that I was already this intimate with someone I had only met today, but I couldn't shake off the feeling of contentment whenever I touched him. Was this...love?

"Why were you passed out again?" I asked suddenly, remembering our first meetings.

He placed a hand on my head tentatively with an awkward pat, then relaxed into more comfortable stroking, "I was searching for someone."

"For who?" I asked curiously.

"For...you." He blushed again, turning his face towards the ceiling. I chuckled.

"What's so funny?" He pouted defensively.

"Nothing." I smiled, nuzzling my head into his hand while he continued to stroke my hair. Eventually, the rhythmic petting grew slower as I let sleep take ahold of me. The last thing I felt was his head resting on top of mine and his hand moving to hold me closer as we both fell asleep in the comfort of each other.

Sorry! No hot steamy lemon this time! I promise there will be one later! :)