Dreams of Fire, Dreams of Ice

Okay, so after a hiatus of…

…*checks*…

…three and a half years, I'm wrapping this story up. Which is admittedly a long time, but considering how many other authors just kinda drifted away and never updated ever again on this site alone, it hardly merits this kind of reaction:

'Devastation 2/26/11

You bitch! How could you stop on that cliffie and not touch the story for two years! Boo you whore!'

That's just rude. I was long out of the fandom by that point and had posted a notice to that effect a few months before that review was written. The only reason there's an ending now is because I actually happen to like this story.

Besides, I can't be a whore. I write fanfiction, for God's sake. Dumbass.

…I never did do that illustration I promised in chapter nine, either. Ah well.

Those of you who still remember this story, this is for you.

Disclaimer: Don't own it, but the fans heckle all the same.

Chapter Ten

"I am your brother."

It was amazing how the simplest sentences could completely shift someone's perception. In this case, both literally and figuratively, as Hiei's world tilted on its axis before refocusing on Yukina's face. And what he saw made the bottom drop out of his stomach.

She was crying. Not the quiet, dignified weeping or panicked sobs he'd unfortunately come to associate with the many, many times his sister had been brought to tears, but sobs that wracked her entire body, caught between relief and fear and Kami-knows-what-else. The solidified crystals vanished into the snow at their feet, sinking into powdery whiteness.

Around them, the ice maidens gawked in horror. Some had forgotten, it seemed, why it wasn't so startling that Yukina had chosen to leave in the first place. That she was a twin, one-half of a forbidden pair. The elder looked appalled at the confession.

"Come!" she said sharply to the others. "We should not be near these two." With that, she herded the other koorime up the ice bridge, making damn well sure it melted directly behind them.

Hiei completely ignored them, taking Yukina's hand from his cheek. "…I should not have allowed this to happen," he said icily.

"Why?"

He froze at the small, broken question. Yukina was staring at him as if she'd never seen him before, pinning him in place with her gaze. He couldn't have fled even if he wanted to.

The answer came with difficulty. "You didn't need to know. So I…was merely a guardian."

Her expression softened, and Hiei wanted nothing more than to vanish, never to be heard from again, rather than face her pity. "That's why you've always watched over me. Why with Tarugane…and even poor Kazuma…"

He turned aside. "You were never to know."

Cold lanced up his arms. He jumped, and found himself fixed to the spot. Ice coated his forearms and hands, radiating from Yukina's hands. The koorime was glaring at him now.

"So instead you do this?" she bit out. The ice advanced another few inches, and Hiei hissed in pain. "You make me believe you're dead? You drive yourself half to death?"

"How did you—"

"It told me." She released him just long enough to jab an accusing finger at Hiei's forehead. "It told me enough of your memories for me to know just how stupid you've been. You found me, Hiei—brother. You found me, and then you never told me! Even when you were free to!"

"I—"

"No." Yukina melted the ice from his skin, though she kept a tight hold on his wrists. "No more talking. No more lies. No more excuses. You can't run anymore. I won't allow it. You are my brother, and we've been searching for each other for far too long."

Hiei, for the first time in a very long time, was struck completely and utterly dumb. His mouth opened and closed a few times fruitlessly before he snapped it shut. What could he say? He'd been cornered, and the secret was out despite his best efforts. And regardless of what Kurama and the Jagan had said…he didn't feel any better for that fact.

Well, maybe a little.

"…Don't tell the oaf," he said at last. His old cockiness was seeping back into his tone. "I want to see his face when he learns about it."

"Remind me to ask you later who knew about this." Yukina huffed. "I should be furious with you."

"You weren't?" Hiei was honestly baffled. "Then what was that, just now?"

"A lot of things. Only a little bit of anger." Her smile was cheeky. "Come on, brother. We should be getting back to the human world. The others will be getting worried."

Hiei's mouth twitched into a smile as he heard the leaves rustle nearby. "I doubt it," he said quietly, making a mental note to seriously hurt Kurama for this later. "But if you want to go, we will."

Yukina took his hand. There was a brief flicker of heat and cold, of fire and ice between their opposing natures as they headed back to where Kuwabara was no doubt driving himself mad over his beloved's absence. But they embraced it. They were, after all, siblings, and for the first time in their lives, they were going home.

The End