"Miss Asako, do you have anything for swelling?"

The ice maiden nodded at the blond demon in the doorway. She had to admit that some of the recruits had grown on her. Some were genuinely kind and appreciative of her healing and herbal remedies. She enjoyed helping them through the aches and pains that came with training under Hiei, and in fact, it helped the fire demon out that her work allowed his trainees to recuperate and return to training quickly and in good form.

The recruit, Kaoru, followed her into the cabin and waited while she rummaged in the lower cabinets for her baskets of balms and salves. As she searched, she sensed Hiei's presence coming closer and knew he had arrived when Kaoru stood from his perch on the couch and saluted, "Sir!"

"The hell are you doing here?" Hiei asked irritably.

"Sir, just getting something for joint swelling from Miss Asako."

Hiei grunted and disappeared into the bathroom. Asako heard the shower turn on right as she found what she was looking for. Turning back to the blond, she said blankly, "Apply this twice a day – once when you wake up and once before you go to sleep – until the swelling has been gone for two days."

He accepted the small tin she had offered and said, "Thank you so much, Miss Asako."

"No problem. Bring the tin back when you're done; I like to reuse them."

"I will," he nodded. "Have a… uh… nice evening with…"

He gestured toward the bathroom door and flushed, embarrassed at his own awkwardness. Asako nodded, remaining blank-faced. "Thank you, Kaoru. Get some rest and minimize the stress on that joint."

"I will. Thanks again!" he replied cheerfully before taking his leave.

Only a moment later, the water in the shower turned off. Hiei walked out shortly after, clad only in a pair of pants. He sank to their shared bed with a sigh. From the kitchen, Asako called, "Are you always that rude to the only decent recruits you have?"

"Only when the other incompetents piss me the fuck off."

"It's not their fault that the others are stupid."

"Obviously."

He heard Asako sigh but she didn't say anything else, evidently giving up on the conversation. The fire demon simply closed his eyes, thinking over what he could do to get the struggling band of recruits to understand the current lesson and perform well at it. He could hear Asako moving around, but paid her no mind.

In fact, he must have fallen asleep, because suddenly he felt the ice maiden beside him on the bed. She must have climbed up from the foot of the mattress and was trying to get under the covers without jostling him too much.

Blearily, he asked, "Is it night already?"

"Yeah, you've been sleeping for a few hours."

Hiei turned to look at her as she settled beneath the comforter and accused, "You didn't wake me."

"Well, I'm not your keeper," she rolled her eyes. "But also, you've been working a lot lately. And if your mood has been any indication, I'd say you needed some rest. You're not divine, Hiei; you have basic needs like the rest of us."

He ignored her sass, knowing it came from a place of concern. "You're probably right on the rest front. Although I really need to come up a way to deal with the recruits tomorrow."

"Something will come to you," she shrugged. "Come back at the problem in the morning with a fresh outlook and a rested mind."

He nodded once and watched the silver haired woman roll onto her side, back facing him. Hiei frowned for a moment before she slid backwards, pressing into him spoon style. He draped an arm around her waist before settling down to sleep once more.

Hiei awoke to a pair of lips pressing against his cheek. He almost failed at suppressing a smirk. Successfully, he made no reaction, waiting for the ice maiden's next move. She ran her fingers through his hair slowly, but he still made no indication that he was going to wake up completely.

Asako leaned in and whispered in his ear, "I know you're awake. I'm going to take a shower, and maybe use up all the hot water. It doesn't look like you'll be needing any."

His arm reached out and snaked around her waist, pulling her on top of him. Crimson eyes met sapphire and Asako returned his smirk with a smile. Mischievously, he said, "If you won't save me any hot water, I'll have to just take my share with you."

She rolled her eyes and said, "Not today you won't. But nice try."

"Save me some hot water then," he replied smoothly, placing a quick kiss on her lips. "Otherwise, I can make no guarantees."

The ice maiden didn't look amused at his jest. Rather, she frowned and her brows crawled toward each other slightly. "You win; there will be hot water waiting for you."

The fire demon studied her face for a moment. "I was just teasing, you know."

"I know," she nodded.

He detected no lie, so he asked, "What's wrong then? Was my attempt at flirtation that abysmal?"

"Not at all. Nothing's wrong," she answered. She pressed her lips to his again, then slid off of him. Hiei watched her make her way into the bathroom, closing the door behind her. He sighed, wishing she wouldn't lie and cover things up when she was upset about something. Although he had a hard time expressing himself, he had never had a hard time making clear things he didn't like. Asako still wasn't good at expressing herself in any regard, though she had grown much easier to understand than when he had first met her. The fire demon got out of bed and began fixing breakfast, musing about ways to get her talking more freely.

Two things woke Hiei that night. One was a feeling that something was off. The other was feeling Asako slide closer, resting her forehead lightly between his shoulder blades. He shifted and he felt her tense immediately, clearly not having meant to wake him. The fire apparition turned on his other side, wrapping her up in his arms. He buried his nose in her hair, basking as always in her natural, sweet smell, but said nothing. It wasn't clear what was bothering the ice maiden, but he could at least offer her some form of comfort.

"Hiei?" she asked softly.

"Hn?"

"Are you dissatisfied?"

"What?" he asked, suddenly much more awake.

"Because we aren't physical," she clarified.

Hiei adjusted his arms around her, holding her closer. "Of course not. Why would you think that?"

"I keep shooting down your advances," she sighed. "I know as a mature demon you have needs that I just can't satisfy yet."

"I am very much in control of myself; my primal urges have never ruled me. I've been with women in the past to satisfy those urges, but I am not a slave to them." After a moment's pause, he forced himself to admit, "I am much happier doing things this way."

The ice apparition peered up at him from beneath her lashes. "Yeah?"

He nodded. "You said it yourself; with you, this is something real. Don't feel pressured to do anything you don't want to do. I understand."

"It's nothing to do with you," she mentioned, not meeting his gaze anymore. "I really do trust you, Hiei."

"I know," he assured, running his fingers through her long silver locks.

Asako sighed. "It's just… my body…"

Hiei frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I never gained back as much weight as I wanted to after having food withheld from me at Minato's, and the scarring is... extensive. And I feel like I'm still trying to figure out who I really am and how to be myself, let alone working on my confidence."

"Asako, you're strong. You'll get there," he comforted. She knew that he found her attractive, and that her scars wouldn't turn him away. Telling her again would do nothing to help her. Besides, her confidence shouldn't hang on what he thought of her, but what she thought of herself. "I'm glad to be beside you as you do."

"I'm glad, too," she replied softly. "I feel lucky that you're willing."

He was silent for a moment, contemplating if he wanted to voice his thoughts aloud. Such an admission was a vulnerable one, and that didn't sit with him well at all. But she had overcome hurdles far steeper than his own and shown him vulnerability; if she could afford him such a privilege, he would strive to return it. "You make me happy, and happiness isn't something I've felt much of in my life."

"I know," she said gently. It was a simple phrase of two meanings; she knew and understood very well that his life had been a difficult one from the very beginning. But she also knew firsthand the feeling of having a distinct lack of happiness in her life. Her observation that they both needed someone warped by the world's harshness had been astute. "You make me happy, too."

Even though he already knew, on some level, her words to be true, hearing her say so out loud had his chest tightening. He had never imagined a reality where he could make someone else happy just by being. Hiei didn't work for her, didn't fight for or with her, but was just traversing life with her. Yet somehow made her happy. Perhaps that was something he'd never quite understand.

"You have turned out an excellent batch of soldiers, Hiei. They will be a most successful company," Mukuro complimented. "You have earned a week off. Perhaps you can finish your training with the healer and dump the extra baggage, hm?"

"I don't consider her as such," he replied smoothly, tamping down the irritation rising in his chest at her insulting words. "My training is nearly complete, but I have no intention of parting ways with her."

"Oh?"

"I see her as a potential mate."

The two demons allowed silence to envelope them. Hiei knew that being direct was the best route, so he just bit the bullet and could only wait for her reaction.

"I suspected you were bedding her," Mukuro said casually. "I am somewhat surprised that you are more serious. Why did you keep this from me?"

Now for the hard part. "She is an ice maiden."

"What?"

The response was a venomous hiss that had the fire demon internally flinching. Keeping a stoic expression on his face, he nodded. "She is an ice maiden."

"I overestimated you, Hiei," Mukuro sneered. "I thought you were strong and had worked your way through your past, but you are fraternizing – courting! – one of the creatures which caused you so much pain?!"

"She hasn't hurt me in any way," he answered simply.

"Those women rejected you for what you are; she is one of them!"

"She isn't the same as those women. She resents their actions and does not condone their way of life. She left the Glacial Village."

Mukuro just shook her head. "I don't believe that. I do believe you're being blinded by lust or something of the sort; those women ruined you."

He was immediately affronted by her words. There was no denying that he was rough around the edges, that he had a hard time feeling and communicating, but ruined? With narrowed crimson eyes, he retorted, "I am not blinded by lust; I have not lain with her."

This seemed to throw the red haired woman for a loop. "Then what is it, Hiei, because the demon I knew burned with hatred for the ice maidens, save his sister."

"She is an anomaly amongst her race. I need not explain myself to you any further than that. I am merely telling you that I am pursuing someone out of courtesy and respect for our friendship and our roles in Alaric."

The former Lord looked down her nose at him. "And if I demand to meet her?"

"Not when your frame of mind won't allow you to even consider accepting her."

"You know," she said slowly, "I just recalled a task that needs doing in the south. You're the only one I'd trust with it."

"I'm really sorry."

Hiei turned to look at the source of the small, melancholic voice. "You've nothing to apologize for, Asako."

Silver locks tumbled over her shoulders as she shook her head in disagreement. "If I hadn't insisted we make our relationship known… I should have trusted your judgment. You said it would be best to be secretive and I let my feelings get in the way."

He watched her for a moment before looking away, staring up at the stalactites hanging down from the top of the cave they had chosen as camp during this mission. It provided shelter not only from the rays of the dessert sun, but from the immense heat and brutal winds which whipped sand across the barren landscape. Hiei didn't mind the heat, but the sand was harsh on his skin being outside all day. Asako healed the irritation each night. She hardly left the cave due to the hot temperatures. The fire demon was sure that Mukuro had purposely sent them somewhere ill-suited for an ice maiden's constitution. He was equally sure she had given him this assignment knowing he would hate it. Normally, he had a more authoritative role in border patrol. This time, Mukuro had him actually dealing with the humans who wandered into Demon World directly. Day after day of herding up blundering humans, erasing their memories and sending them home. He couldn't wait for the month to be up and for the new squad of patrolmen to be assigned to the area.

"Don't apologize," he repeated. "Even I didn't foresee her vindictive response. But this will pass with her. Besides, it will be better that I can let others know I am pursuing you."

"If I wasn't an ice maiden, she wouldn't have given you a task like this one, though," Asako sighed. "And anyway, I doubt it benefits you if other men know you're courting me, given my people's reputation."

"Well, you're one for two. She did react badly because of what you are. However, it is of great benefit to get it out that I am courting you. An ice maiden will be seen as an incredibly rare and valuable mate."

"Really?" she asked, doe eyes shining with surprise.

Hiei nodded. "An ice maiden who takes a mate is exceptionally rare, and that is status in our world. Plus, they heal and produce the incredibly valuable hiruseki stones."

"I suppose I hadn't considered that. Demons do often mate for status and alliances…"

"Many mate for the desire to be tied together, though," he shrugged.

Asako contemplated this for a long moment. "Do you think that there are others that would pursue me because I'm an ice maiden?"

"Yes," he answered honestly. "And also because you're beautiful."

Asako flushed brilliantly at his words. "Hiei, don't say things like that!"

He rolled his crimson eyes. "It's true. Demon men will react to the way you look in addition to what you are. You're rare, valuable and attractive. That makes you a very desirable mate for any male demon. And if I was a lesser demon, others would pursue you. But since I am widely known from my participation in the Dark Tournament, the Demon World Tournament and my position as Mukuro's second, very few demons would be foolish enough to bother you."

The silver haired woman gazed at him blankly for a long while. Finally, he said, "Of course, if there comes a time when you do not have an interest in mating me, know I wouldn't force you to stay."

She blinked several times before saying, "I didn't mean to imply that. I was just taking it all in. I wouldn't have thought I'd make a valuable mate."

It took Hiei a few moments to read between the lines. Once he had, he gruffly clarified, "That isn't remotely a consideration in my pursuit. I never intended to take a mate, Asako. Don't worry that I'm courting you for status or to show off to other men."

Asako's lips slowly twitched upward into a small smile. "So you like me for me? Enough to keep all the sleaze balls away?"

He smirked. "Enough to make them fear even gandering."

She covered her upturned mouth and cleared her throat before inferring, "Well, at least it seems you feel the payoff for this awful assignment is worth it?"

"It is," he confirmed sincerely. After a pause, he amended, "You are."

A/N: Thank you for everyone who has returned to this story with me. It's been a bit of a lengthy hiatus, and I do apologize. I admittedly fell out of love with this story and had a lot going on in my personal life. Not a combination which yields uploads. I am going to really try to make a big editing push and get the rest of the chapters up pretty soon. Thank you for the reviews on the previous chapters, the favorites, follows, views, etc. I do appreciate them, despite having gone AWOL.