Author's Note: Hello guys and welcome to another exciting installment of the worst titled story I've ever written lol. Seriously I hate the title of my fic but I really like the titles of the chapters. Sorry it took so long you guys I didn't get to do any writing over the weekend because I was in Dallas an an anime convention and let me tell you it was AWESOME if you want the fun details I'm super excited to tell them. Either way as per last time bold italics words are in the language of the Makai and bold words are voices in Terryal's head. Don't worry this wont be an issue for long. Also big big big plus this chapter features more Hiei, Terryal amazingness so I hope you enjoy this chapter is also thanks to my friend Kagome who gave me a great idea for the direction this story should go in and this is a continuation of her idea. Please R&R you know the drill yadda yadda and enjoy.

PS I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho or any of its characters.

For Your Ears Only

"Terryal! Where have you gone?" Naresh's deep voice didn't cut through the air, it exploded through it like a cannon.

After discovering the drastic change in her tattoo Terryal wobbled back to her home claiming that she was feeling ill and then stowed away into the night when no one was watching. The childlike psychic was starting to feel disgusted with herself as she continued to do things that were out of character for her. Not long before finding herself in this situation she had willingly taken part in a fight where she used powers that were forbidden by the elders, before that she talked freely about her home, customs and the people who defected from it, and now she was hiding from her betrothed in not only body but mind as well. Terryal had done the unthinkable and the unspeakable; she had willingly cut off all mental connections with her people and hid her demon energy making it difficult for them to find her. Terryal sighed as she leaned against a tree on the outskirts of town and allowed a few tears to be shed for her loss of self. She felt dirty betraying her family and beliefs like that, no matter how much the psychic told herself it was necessary she couldn't help but wonder how anyone could ever love her now.

"Dearest sister was this not what you desired?" a deep voice swept through the night air and caressed Terryal's senses; she bolted from her position and stared around frantically hoping for some sign that the voice was real.

Svein stepped gracefully from the bushes, his yellow eyes looking almost fluorescent under the small bursts of moonlight that shined through the canopy. Terryal's body relaxed instantly and she smiled warm and welcoming towards her brother, he was just as she had remembered him. Her brother was not a tall man standing at about five feet even but he was lean and graceful which made him appear much taller. Svein had always been more graceful then his younger sister but Terryal never minded as she believed it to be one of the things she loved most about him. He never tripped over his feet or his words and seeing him now made her realize how strikingly similar she was to Kurama; a very put-together man that seemed delicate but if you knew him you knew that he was far from that. Tears rolled gently down Terryal's tattooed face and she cursed the oracle for being right in telling her that she would be constantly shedding tears for her and others.

"I knew you were amongst us brother, I knew..." Terryal whispered while taking a few trembling steps towards the closest member of her family.

Somewhere inside Terryal knew that things were very wrong but she didn't care, she had missed her brother more then she could describe. She didn't care whether she was dreaming or not at this point, all Terryal wanted right now was to spend a few moments with her lost brother.

"You should return to mother dear sister. She worries so, and your lover will worry as well." He scolded ever so gently, like he always used to.

"Please brother, speak not of Naresh. I wish to hear no more of him; I beg you please speak only of yourself." Terryal pleaded while taking a step towards her beloved brother, stretching out her hand in an attempt to touch him to verify his existence.

"Sister, is this not as you desired? You have found the one with whom you are destined, you have done nothing but plead for such joy to be known to you and now you spurn its existence?" Svein's voice was cold and harsh as he spoke causing Terryal to quickly withdraw her hand.

"Brother, this is not right. I fear I am in a dream for I have already found my beloved. You know more than any that I was unable to find love with among our family. I cannot in good conscience stay here and allow myself to become one with Naresh when I know my heart belongs to an Other." Terryal begged her brother to understand as he had so many times before.

"So this is the path you choose? You choose to deviate from the Creator's will and marry another forcing sadness and betrayal on the ones nearest to you." Svein spat while taking a step back from her as if to distance himself from a diseased creature.

"No! You understand not what I mean Brother I-" Terryal's right arm spasmed causing her to break her sentence. She gasped and grabbed it quickly with her left hoping to keep it from jerking again later.

"Next you will inform me that the laws passed down by our great elders are meant to be broken. That our customs are lies and our people are fools! Do you mean to go rogue sister?" Svein's yellow eyes stared at his sister in disgust and her tears flowed faster than ever. She had never seen such a cruel face on her brother.

"Her convulsions are getting worse. Hiei if you're going to do something do it now!" Rasped Genkai from somewhere in the back of Terryal's mind

"No Svein. Please, brother you must believe that I would never-" Terryal chirped as her legs erupted in violent spasms causing her to fall to her knees before her brother.

"What's strangeness has fallen upon me?" Terryal thought

"Then why did you fight? Why did you break the laws of our people and let your true self be shown? Why did you speak of our people to these Others?" Svein shouted,

"How is it that you have knowledge of-" Terryal began but was hit once more with a violent spell of convulsions that left her lying on her stomach with ragged breath.

"Terryal," came a wonderfully familiar voice from behind the exhausted psychic, the girl rolled her tired dull eyes toward the figure and looked up at him shock vaguely twinkling behind her distressed eyes.

Hiei had never called her by her name before.

"dammit…" Svein cursed from between his clenched teeth.

The buzz-cutted teen stumbled away from his sister and the new arrival clutching his head in his slightly clawed hands.

"How did you get in here?" he growled

Hiei eyed the man across from him and something clicked in his mind.

"That is my brother you place before my eyes…"

"So this is your brother?" Hiei purred, this was the first time Terryal had ever heard him speak his home language and it sent chills down her spine, at a loss of breath she did not respond.

Hiei's red eyes glanced at her, taking a moment to let the image of her body sink in. She was crying and had been since before he arrived, his usually nonchalant face turned into a scowl. What kind of brother would willingly make his sister cry? He didn't like the look of the situation, a woman crying wasn't something he was usually fond of anyway but something about Terryal crying struck a cord with the fire demon. Hiei growled and clenched his fists, feeling himself react unintentionally to her sadness as though her tears were calling his anger, pulling it from him and he let them do it. His red eyes found his way up to the yellow eyes that resembled Terryal's so much and the look he gave the man was terrifyingly cruel even for Hiei.

"Disgraceful" He muttered and before anyone could blink the fire apparition had drawn his sword and slashed through Svein.

Terryal shot up as though she wasn't tired at all; "BROTHER!" she called reaching out a shaking hand for her sibling's remains but Hiei wouldn't allow it.

The fire demon scooped up the girl effortlessly and walked away from the corpse while the frail body in his arms cried, reached and pleaded for her savior to at least allow her to touch the body.

"No no no, Svein! Svein do not! Do not escape from me please I beg you. Svein….brother….leave not from my sight I will be there! Please, Hiei return to him I must…Hiei please! Please I beg you allow me one last glimpse…Hiei…Hiei! He's my brother dammit! BROTHER"

Hiei's red eyes snapped open and his Jagan stopped glowing and shut as though tired from a long days work but Terryal's awakening was much more shocking. The girl had stopped convulsing long enough for her eyes to snap violently open and arch her back while releasing a bloodcurdling scream. Terryal's body fell limply on the futon her eyes still wide and her breath ragged but after a moment of yellow orbs darting around the room she did the unexpected. The girl threw herself full force at Hiei, tiny brown fingers wrapped around the boy's throat yelling uncontrollably.

"HE WAS MY BROTHER YOU BASTARD! MY BROTHER! HE WAS ALL I HAD! HE WAS MY BROTHER!"

"Terryal!"

"Sister!"

"Damn!"

"He deserved it…" Hiei choked out, he knew he could easily rip the girl off him but he wasn't sure if he was willing to hurt her right now.

"YOU BASTARD I'LL KILL YOU WHERE YOU STAND!" She roared

"Terryal calm down!" Kurama shouted over the girl, he latched onto the girl and yanked her off his friend while Yusuke pulled Hiei back in an attempt to get the two as far from each other as possible.

"What manner of brother traps his sister in an eternal nightmare?" Hiei spat after clearing his throat. "Not even I'm that cruel" his last words were calm but somehow it hurt more hearing them that way. The words pierced through the psychic's anger and shook her ever-logical mind back into control leaving the girl with a heavy realization.

Hiei shook Yusuke off him and stalked out of the room hands in pockets and head held high. He knew he had done nothing wrong this time. An overbearing silence followed Hiei's departure and Terryal was at a loss for words she slumped in Kurama's arm the adrenaline from her rage gone leaving only fatigue and an air of depression. She sniffled a couple of times in Kurama's arms before beginning to all out cry, curling into herself and burying her face in her arms and hands as though she were embarrassed to be seen like this. Kurama placed her back on the futon allowing Yukina to rub and caress her surrogate sister's back as the browner of the two females moved and curled into the ice maiden's lap latching onto the girl's kimono like a child. Terral moaned and groaned weakly into the Yukina's lap, her stomach tight and upset from the fight. One by one everyone wondered out of the room each one stopping to console Terryal for a moment before leaving.

"You had a rough ordeal; everything will make more sense in the morning." Kurama assured

"Hey squirt…we're glad you're ok," Kuwabara mumbled

"Get some sleep Terry it'll make you feel better" Botan purred

"Hey kiddo get to bed we're playin' some games tomorrow, no arguin'" Yusuke ordered

Until it was only Genkai and Yukina.

"You should be grateful to the pipsqueak for saving your ass. He was the only one with the strength to make it into the barrier around your mind and pull you out." Genkai scolded

Terryal hiccupped and nodded, Genkai was always right but it didn't make the whole ordeal hurt any less.

"He killed my brother…" the child whispered as though it justified her behavior.

"You're as big an idiot as Yusuke. Whatever it was you saw in there was all in your head, a projection by whomever it was that entered your mind in the first place. I'm not pointing fingers here but if Hiei thinks it was your brother then he's probably right. Either way the man Hiei killed wasn't real anyway." Genkai grumbled into her pipe, the old woman got up and went to the door, "By the way the boys are all staying here tonight because of your condition so if I were you I'd thank them in the morning."

Terryal chuckled into Yukina's lap and nodded, promising to do so as soon as she awoke. Terryal didn't like Genkai making her feel bad but she knew the old woman was saying things she needed to hear so the chocolate-skinned girl found it hard to be too upset with the old woman. When Genkai left the room Terryal sat up on her futon and apologized for soaking Yukina's kimono. The girl smiled like she usually did and waved the apology away claiming that there was no harm done.

"You know, mister Hiei only acted like that because he has this thing about brothers." Yukina muttered.

Terryal's ears twitched at the information, part of her really wanted to know about her future partner but another part was still upset and wondering why she had tried to fight her dream husband Naresh to get back to the much more unevenly tempered Hiei.

"Is Hiei blessed with an older brother?" Terryal questioned even though she told herself not to.

"No, he has a little sister." She said with a smile

"Why is it that he has never spoken of her? Surely he is proud as siblings are a blessing to be shared." Terryal said, her eyes sparkling with the idea of Hiei as an older brother, it was an odd yet fitting thought.

"He…wants to protect her, so he doesn't speak to her." Yukina's red eyes darted away from her friend's as though she were hiding something, her body slumped causing the usually cheerful girl to appear sullen and distressed.

Terryal eyed her for a moment, her gaze dropped to the floor when realization hit her but she chose to play vague for the sake of her surrogate sister. If Yukina wanted to be outright and honest she would be.

"Such sadness…I cannot imagine how that must feel, I feel much pity for the girl, should she know of him of course. Yet in some ways I envy her much, it is clear that Hiei was blessed by the Creator with good character, noble heart, and a protective being. I am most certain that this sister, wherever she may dwell, is well watched and cared for." Terryal's yellow eyes captured her "sister's" and the two smiled at each other passing an unspoken pact that this wouldn't be mentioned again.

"It is late; I should probably get to bed. Will you be ok in this room by yourself?" concern twinkled behind gentle red eyes and the bronzer female gave a reassuring smile and nod.

The two bid goodnight to each other and Yukina left the room, turning out the light as she went. Terryal listened intently to the pitter patter of her sister's feet as they walked across rows of tatami mats and it was only when she heard the sound of a sliding door open and close that the psychic finally threw the comforter from her body and patted across the tatami herself towards the backyard. The psychic had stubbornly refused to go to bed as she felt she had been sleeping long enough, or at least it had seemed that way. Once outside she released a sigh of content as the sounds of the night greeted her, the grass crackled and shifted with the weight of millions of insects, the cool night wind blew and whooshed through the trees and shrubs bringing the rest of nature to life in its own symphony. A choir of crickets joined the band as well as the distant rumbling sounds of Kuwabara and Yusuke snoring in their beds. Terryal's ears twitched in an attempt to catch every note and tune.

Bronze skin lifted and fell as Terryal's chest filled with air in one deep calming breath, she let it out through her mouth and drew her right foot forward then around herself in a semi-circle, imitating the ballet move rond de jambe. Terryal's body remained remarkably still for a moment before violently springing into action. She danced outside with the sounds of the night as her music, the same steps that she used while fighting Kurama, Hiei, Yusuke and Kuwabara. Her moves were quick, precise and unrelenting, she wasn't just dancing, she was training; Terryal wasn't sure why the desire had suddenly sparked in her. Whether it was training her body for the sake of health or training it in case the desire to fight rose in her once more she wasn't sure, but she had to let the feeling out lest she remain restless the entire night.

Terryal was completely enthralled in her training, so much so that she didn't notice a figure in the darkness watching her, waiting for the opportune moment to strike. It was only when Terryal landed perfectly on one foot and continued to carry her momentum in roundhouse kick motion that she even realized someone was there at all. What better way to notice someone then having your shin collide with them?

Hiei stood before the psychic, forearm raised, blocking the kick that was meant for no one particular. The two eyed each other, red eyes on yellow and a challenge passed through the boy's ruby orbs. Terryal's shocked eyes softened to a look of calm determination and the challenge was accepted, Hiei kicked off the match by throwing the first punch and Terryal countered by bending backwards and cart wheeling away.

"It's dangerous to be out here alone." Hiei said between punches,

"It is apparent to me that I am not alone, as you have clearly demonstrated," Terryal said with a smile that almost resembled a smirk.

The fight between the pair clearly wasn't the same as the one that had occurred earlier, it was more of a stress reliever. The two seemed to understand that the other was stressed and whatever it was about they didn't care, which Hiei was grateful for, he didn't want his opponent to know that he had gotten his feathers ruffled over a girl like her. It was obvious why Terryal was stressed but she appreciated that Hiei made no move to question her sudden desire to fight, or to criticize her abilities. Instead he kept silent and allowed her to vent just as she was doing for him. The match ended when Terryal's kick was caught in Hiei's grasp and she was tossed aside like a rag doll. She had rotated in a way where she should've landed upright but she had rotated too far so instead of landing on the full sole of her foot she hit her heel and didn't brace herself in time. Terryal fell flat on butt with a small "oof" while rubbing her sore cheeks she glanced up to see Hiei approaching her as though he were coming in for the kill. However, Once Hiei reached the girl she burst into her twinkling laughter causing the approaching male to stop and give her a look of utter confusion which only brought more laughter from the girl.

"Forgive me," she giggled, "I have only now realized how out of character for me this is. I have gone through many changes and it scares me so…"

"And you're laughing about it?" Hiei asked, his eyebrow quirked

"True, it is not the most normal of responses. In reality I assume that I find humor not in the knowledge of what I am becoming, but instead for the fact that it is all for the sake of impressing another. I fear you must think me as soft as a human." Terryal chuckled; her smile was pained yet sincere.

Hiei sat cross-legged on the earth in front of his former opponent, pondering her words as he did so. He was wondering who she was trying to impress, surely there was no one she cared about that much, to bring down her traditions just for the sake of pleasing someone. It couldn't be Yukina because she was somewhat of a pacifist herself; though the ice maiden didn't deny the pros of violence when needed she did not openly search for a fight so gaining strength would not impress her. The firey demon knew Kurama liked Terryal the way she is, he was fascinated by her culture and wanted only her safety and comfort and if being comfortable meant keeping some over-religious traditions then that was fine with the fox. The Oaf would never force a girl to fight just like he would never fight one himself and the Detective already had a woman of his own and Terryal was well aware of that…which left…

"Who are you trying to impress?" the question was almost like a demand.

Terryal blushed and averted her eyes from the red rubies that shined with a twinge of curiosity. When she finally decided to meet the boy's eyes the blush was still there but a sly smile that she had picked up from Yusuke had curled over her features.

"It's a secret," she whispered with a wink which caused Hiei to huff and look away in frustration.

He hated that grin Yusuke would get when he knew something that you didn't. Hiei didn't often get that knowing smile from the detective but when he did the fire demon would debate why he chose to stick around the somewhat human teen. However, what probably made Hiei angrier then the look itself, was that on Terryal, it looked cute, a sign of her changing.

"Are you aware of the fact that your nose crinkles when you have found something that causes annoyance?" Terryal chuckled, she was sad to know that she was bugging Hiei again but it made her smile to see his facial nuances at work.

Hiei swiftly relaxed his face and eyed her with a small glare as though he were trying to say "No I don't". But the reaction he gave just caused the shorter of the two midgets to burst into giggles once more at his childishness, and there went Hiei's nose again. When Terryal was finally able to stifle her laughter she stared up into the stars in silence, her legs were spread wide apart and her hands were on the grass between then, bracing the girl's slouching upper body. Hiei took a moment to ponder over the dark-skinned psychic as she stared into the sky, the moonlight causing her yellow eyes to glow.

Cute really was the best word to describe her, but Hiei wasn't complaining, he did enjoy the look of women, he had seen many in his lifetime and had plenty of time to choose what he liked. However, even though he had seen a lot of appealing body types, some of them even human, he preferred hers the most. Hiei was by no means a pedophile, he liked women not children, but something about her young body was enjoyable to see. Though Terryal was of proper mating age she was still young and her features showed it, and maybe that's what was fascinating about her, Hiei knew that she wasn't done growing and seeing her change so much now almost made him wonder what she would do next. This particular fire apparition liked to observe, he usually hid away not because he didn't like the others company, but because he liked watching how things played out. It was sort of like a game and Terryal was a living version of it. The demon boy knew that if he stuck by Terryal long enough he'd see quite the transformation, the knowledge of this plus the wonder of what she would become all brought a sort of excitement to her character. Though he'd never admit it, Hiei often pondered what Terryal would turn into the longer she stayed in the Ningenkai, the team had seen her give up more then she ever intended and the boy couldn't help but wonder what she'd give up next.

"Hiei…" Terryal mumbled looking at the sky distressed.

The boy in question grunted in response to his name, and eyed the deomoness curiously.

"It seems…I am once again in need of your forgive-"

"Don't apologize" Hiei interrupted causing Terryal to jump from the sudden sharpness of his voice, her yellow orbs showed confusion as she looked at her future lover.

"Hiei I-"

"You had every reason to be upset; it looked like I killed your brother." He stated flatly

"Do you still have it in your mind that he was the one who trapped-" she began

"Yes"

Terryal punched Hiei's arm causing the fire demon to jump and stare at the female with a gaze of confusion and light shock. This definitely wasn't her style; she'd been around Yusuke too long.

"I would find great pleasure in continuing our conversation if you swear to interrupt me no longer. I was raised as the youngest child and I know too well what it feels like to be shoved aside simply for your age, I wish not to be reminded of such annoyances." Terryal's tone was annoyed, the first time Hiei had ever heard her use such a tone.

The fire apparition scoffed at the idea that her life was so bad, but he couldn't help but chuckle at the sound of her pouty annoyed voice. The chuckle caused Terryal's heart to be set aflutter; it was a deep masculine sound that the girl wanted to cherish forever. But the fact still stood that he was laughing at her so instead the girl glared at him to the best of her abilities (which turned out looking more like a childish pout).

"What has amused you so?" Terryal grumbled, her voice mixed with her pout of a glare only caused the boy to snicker once more.

"You're not very intimidating," he insulted, and it was an insult in tone and stare but there was an almost inaudible lightheartedness to the very end that made Terryal smile once more, he was pulling faces from her again.

"I am in the belief that there was a battle between me and a certain demon in which I more than proved my ability to be intimidating." The girl teased while pulling her knees up to her chest and resting her chin on them while she eyed her companion, waiting for his response.

"You're mistaking. Even in that state you're so weak even the oaf could beat you." Hiei taunted his trademark smirk now in place.

Terryal didn't have a response and she didn't care to make one, she merely smiled at him admiring his facial features while he felt triumphant. The smirk eventually vanished and the air went from lighthearted back to serious as Terryal started pondering more about the lengthy dream she had.

"You don't think it was your brother, do you?" scoffed the boy, he clearly thought it was stupid of her to believe anything else.

"I wish not to believe it, as he has never done anything to harm me before, but if it will please your mind to search for him then I will offer any information I can give." Terryal whispered reluctantly

Hiei eyed her, shock dancing in his ruby colored orbs. The Jagan master hadn't expected Terryal to say that, he didn't want her to be stupid and keep the information when there was already a good chance that her brother was at least guilty of hurting her if not her family. However, just because the answer seemed logical doesn't mean that she was going to give it to him.

"No tricks?" Hiei asked before he could stop himself.

"It would not do me well to fool the man I am attempting to impress." Terryal replied with a nervous yet somehow still sly smile on her face. "However, I regret I must ask that we wait until tomorrow to have this conversation as it is late and I am finally beginning to feel the affects of fatigue. I bid you goodnight Hiei."

Terryal stood up with that gentle smile still on her face, her half hooded eyes and softened and relaxed as she stared at the fire demon, taking in his features before turning and walking back towards the temple. Hiei had watched her stand up and leave wide red eyes curious as he pondered her smile. The look had sent something in his gut ablaze making his chest warm and his stomach hop as though it were standing on a hot surface. She glanced back at him once more before she reached the door with those same gentle eyes causing Hiei to avert his gaze quickly to hide the light heat blazing beneath his cheeks. What good would impressing him do for her?

"Hiei," the psychic's voice was perfectly aged like a fine wine, "I beg you not to inform the others that I have chosen to give this information to you. I wish not to be telling my life and family to an audience as it brings me great embarrassment to do so. I have come to learn that the Creator wishes for me to trust more in others and I have chosen to do so with you as you have proven that, despite moments in which I annoy you, have always attempted to do what you feel is best for me and the others. I do not regret a moment of this night or what is to follow. I will tell you all that you ask of me, but please keep in mind that the words I speak are for your ears only, you may tell this information to whoever you wish but only once I am done and gone from your sight."

"for your ears only…" something about the way she spoke those words made a small chill run up Hiei's spine, it sounded as though she was planning to tell a secret to a lover.

All Terryal got was a "hn" in response but her smile showed a hint of satisfaction as she opened the door and shut it again. Hiei listened to her footsteps until they were completely inaudible before turning and going to bed himself.

Small, soft brown hands caressed a green face from beneath a deep blue sea. Red eyes opened to meet face to face with a pair of brilliant yellow ones that stood out in contrast to the blue that surrounded them. Hiei recognized this dream, this feeling; he realized very quickly that he was exposed to Terryal once more in his demon form; all eyes were on her as she stroked his cheek. The psychic slowly pulled her hand away from the demon boy's face, allowing her fingers to linger for a moment as though she were trying to memorize the texture of his skin. Hiei watched her, entranced as she floated upwards towards the surface, holding out that tiny hand as though asking for the boy in the water to join her.

"Come to the surface. Enjoy the sun." the gesture said and after a moment of thought the fire apparition reached out a much larger tentative hand, and took the girl's. Her smile brightened and she kicked up, pulling them towards the sky and once the water broke Hiei felt that strange energy serge through his body as though everything was aligning together.

Hiei found his dream girl in the kitchen chatting away with Yukina over something he didn't particularly care about at the moment. Her ears twitched as he entered and their conversation stopped immediately. Terryal turned to meet Hiei's angry red orbs as he stalked up to her, his rage seemed to flare as he noticed her holding a bowl of something out to him, the girl's face was lit with joy as though she had done nothing wrong.

"I bid you good morning Hiei, I am pleased to see you awa-"

"I told you to stay out of my mind woman," the boy's cold voice froze Terryal mid-sentence and Yukina looked up from what she was doing praying a fight wouldn't break out.

"Forgive me but I only desired you to get first pick of the strawberries, as I have not awoken anyone else yet. "A little bird told me" as they say, that these were among your most favored. Sister was kind enough to show me to a garden she, with help from Kurama, has been tending and they are most wonderful." Her cheery smile was slowly calling calmness from the fire apparition and he hated that.

The black-clad male eyed the bowl with suspicion, they were indeed strawberries and they looked to be more delicious then Terryal promised them to be. Red eyes jumped and fell between fruit and smiling face for a moment as though pondering which to take a whack at. Eventually, with a lot of frustration in his movements, Hiei picked a rather large strawberry from the bowl and nearly stomped out the room, the end sweet and sour fruit already being popped into the demon's mouth. Terryal, after stifling giggles from Hiei's awkward reaction, turned to a very stiff Yukina and gave her a triumphant grin.

Hiei couldn't believe the nerve of that girl. Waking him up, invading his privacy and buying him off with cheap treats…never mind the fact that it actually worked. The realization of this probably frustrated the already firey demon more. He hadn't intended to give into her so easily but he couldn't say no to the strawberries, especially not when she looked so excited to be giving them to him.

"It would not do me well to fool the man I am attempting to impress…" her words echoed in his mind once more causing his cheeks warm up.

He found that random things Terryal would say would frequently appear in his mind; he didn't like the idea because it caused him to realize how much he hung on her every word when she spoke. As Hiei walked towards the backyard, not bothering to hide the still visible blush as he figured no one else was awake but his eyes jumped up from the tatami to the sliding door in front of him as it opened to reveal a dirt-covered Kurama.

The redhead stopped in his tracks when he saw his much shorter friend in the most unusual position he had ever seen. Before him Hiei stood pink cheeks and small, but still masculine, fingers clutched around a monster of a strawberry which was still halfway into his mouth. The red eyes of his companion were wide with the shocking realization of how awkward he must look. Kurama swiftly covered his mouth attempting and failing to hide a series of snickers at his friend's expense.

"You know Hiei, this is why I didn't tell you about the garden" the fox teased.

"Shut it fox," Hiei grumbled, his face was hotter then before but his eyes threatened slow and painful death which only brought more laughter from his red-headed friend. "Besides I didn't take them, the girl gave them to me."

"The girl…oh you mean Terryal," Kurama chirped while pulling his dirt covered shoes off before entering the temple.

"What are you doing up right now anyway? That girl said she hadn't woken anyone else up yet." Hiei said in an accusatory voice, now choosing to blame his embarrassment on the young psychic.

"She didn't wake me up, I woke up with Yukina to tend the garden…wait…did Terryal." Green eyes widened with realization, "Terryal…woke you up, the same way she wakes everyone else up?" Kurama was sure he already knew the answer but he had to ask anyway.

Hiei said nothing only glared harder before stuffing the last large chunk of strawberry in his mouth and shoving past his friend with the sentence "I'm going to go train," lingering in the air. The many implications of the fire demon's silence caused the red head to grin in his all-knowing and foxy way.

"I suppose he's warming up to her" Kurama though with a smile.

Terryal looked up as Kurama wondered into the kitchen, her smile spread from ear to ear as she greeted the boy with a hearty "good morning" and went back to feverishly stirring what looked like pancake batter.

"Is this not fascinating Kurama? Dear sister has been so kind as to share with me a recipe she learned for these strange "pan-cakes". She promises them to be most sweet and delightful and I have hopes of presenting them to everyone on this morning for breakfast." Terryal clucked looking quite proud of herself.

"She woke up begging me to teach her how to make a traditional breakfast for everyone as a show of gratitude. But I had to explain that a traditional Japanese breakfast would take much too long to make so we settled for a westernized meal instead." Yukina explained while she carved out the stems on the remaining strawberries.

"I'm sure everything will taste delicious" the fox complimented with a cheery smile of his own causing the bronzed girl's beam to brighten "You know…I saw Hiei this morning as I was coming back from tending the garden"

"Was he still mad?" Yukina asked in a worried tone, she knew that Terryal was quite determined to win the fire demon's favor but the girl was also aware that if her sister-like figure continued as she did then she might push her partner away rather then bring him closer.

"I guess you could say that." Kurama chuckled at the memory, "I think he has definitely taken a fancy to Ms Terryal though."

Terryal's ears twitched and her face brightened more if that was even possible.

"Then with this new hope in my heart I shall prepare a breakfast feast fit for a king!" she cheered while spooning the cream-colored goo into a frying pan.

Yukina chuckled at her surrogate sister's antics and proceeded to help the psychic with the pancakes.

Not long after a table was set and with the help of Terryal's talents all the boys were awake, Yusuke and Kuwabara eyed the spread with greedy stares. The table was covered by a mountain of pancakes, fresh fruits, flavored syrup, butter, and rolled Japanese style omelets. The youngest boys at the table took no prisoners as they dove into the meal thanking Yukina and Terryal for preparing it between mouthfuls of deliciousness. Everyone was enjoying the food save for Terryal who was standing at the table waiting patiently for the shortest of her male companions to arrive. When Hiei did enter the room his, unknown to him, future lover bounded up to him in a joyous display of grins and giggles holding out a plate for him that she had prepared herself. Hiei eyed the small Mt. Everest of pancakes smothered in syrup and decorated with strawberries on top and around the base like a cake. Kuwabara stared opened-mouthed at the display of kindness from the girl while his long time friend tried to smother snickers, Yukina and Kurama pretended not to notice.

"I do hope that the plate is too your liking, I am afraid that I am only able to assume as to how you prefer your meals." She mumbled with a deep blush on her cheeks bronze cheeks, averting her yellow eyes to the plate in her hands

"However if you choose not to eat this delightful tower then I will have no shame in devouring it myself," she thought.

Hiei reluctantly took the plate from her hands and sat down at the table as far away from everyone as he could reach; knowing Genkai had a thing about him running off with plates in rooms where they didn't belong. Terryal beamed at him and took the seat next to her surrogate sister and watched the boy out of the corner of her eye while she enjoyed her own pancakes which were decorated in much the same fashion as the fire apparition's. Genkai wondered in when everyone was finishing up their respected plates (Terryal, Yusuke, and Kuwabara were on their second and third helpings). Her perpetually serious face somehow looked more stony then usual as she eyed the room. All chattering ceased when the group saw the look on the old woman's face knowing she was about to say something important.

"Koenma's here to talk to you kids and it seems that Terryal can't stay with us anymore."

Suddenly the room was cold…..

There it is, I hope you guys liked it 13 pages of pretty good I think. Please read and review and I'll promise to respond to all of them also my pm box is always open for new ideas for this story, I'll try to include as many as I am able and If I failed to respond to you already then I am sorry for that and feel free to bug me about it in there as well lol. As you know this chapter is sponsored by Kagome141414 just like the idea of chapter twelve was largely thanks to TooBishiForYou, send them your love.