Kurama

"How about your place?"

"Absolutely not."

"What? Why not?"

Kurama shot Hotaru a quick glance, his displeasure quite apparent on his face- he felt the reason he didn't want to drag two unconscious boys back to his home would be fairly obvious- and thankfully, Hotaru dropped the subject. She wandered on ahead of him and Hiei as they trailed along behind, carrying the weight of Kuwabara and Yusuke on each of their backs, respectively.

Thankfully, due to the relative chaos of Sarayashiki and all its neighboring townships, their companion's current state seemed hardly noticeable. In fact, the numbers of injured or otherwise disheveled people was staggering. Kurama wondered how on earth Koenma intended to cover up such an event.

"Hm..." Hotaru mused, glancing up at the dark night sky. "Well we have to take them somewhere. Who knows how long it'll be till they wake up again..."

"It looks like it may rain as well," Kurama added, noting the dank scent of the air around them.

Hotaru turned again. "What about your place, Hiei?"

"My place?" the small demon repeated back incredulously.

"Yea! Last I checked, you weren't living with humans under the guise of being their son, so why not keep them with you?"

Kurama flinched at the comment, but let it slide. Now was not the time for arguing.

And Hiei, meanwhile, seemed baffled by the question. "No, I'm not playing house with any humans-"

Kurama flinched again.

"—But I have nowhere to put them."

"What? Your place too small?" Hotaru asked, one brow cocked and her lips pursed.

"What precisely do you mean by 'place'?"

Hotaru looked at him curiously, pronouncing each word with utmost clarity as if Hiei were hard of hearing. "I mean, where is that you stay and can we take them there?"

"I stay many places."

"Huh?"

"I generally wander from here to there... there's a somewhat acceptable grove just outside of Kurama's town."

Then it seemed to hit the girl, and her exasperation mixed with Hiei's straight-faced glare was almost enough to make Kurama forget their rude comments earlier.

"You mean…" she began slowly, her brows knit together. "You sleep in trees?"

"More often than not."

"Trees?" the girl stressed, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "You sleep in trees like some… some monkey?"

"I am not a monkey."

"I know! That's why it's weird you sleep in trees…"

Hiei growled low in his throat. "In Makai it's perfectly normal."

"In Makai, people have houses," Hotaru replied with a sharp laugh. "Sure, they may be shit houses—and some may be in trees- but they still have them."

Hiei fumed, then turned and began walking away from the group. "I've had enough of this."

Hotaru rushed after him. "Where the hell do you think you're going?"

"Over there," Hiei replied simply, pointing to the grassy side of an irrigation canal just a block downward.

Hotaru went red in the face. "You can't just dump him in the river!"

"Not 'in' the river, 'by' the river."

"That's just as bad! Even monkeys know not to sleep by a river when it's about to rain."

"If you dare call me a monkey again—"

"—I'm not, I'm saying you aren't a monkey, so you should know better!"

Kurama felt they were broaching dangerous territory, and with Hiei's already agitated state he doubted his relative civility would last much longer. So, in the hopes they could turn the conversation back to more pleasant waters, he quickly changed the subject.

"What about your place, Hotaru?"

"Oh no, we can't do that," she replied, laughing off the request. "Definitely not doing that."

"And why is that?" he pried- surely she could have no legitimate reason. He suspected she was merely just being selfish- that she didn't want to sacrifice her own comfort, even if it meant the death of both Kuwabara and Yusuke. However, her answer somewhat surprised him.

"I don't have my own place," she replied, giving a half-hearted shrug.

Instantly, Hiei was on her with defensive fervor. "So where do you sleep?"

"In a bed!" she defended strongly. "It's just not my bed."

Kurama was then overcome by a sharp curiosity, and he questioned her without hesitation. "You're in a relationship?"

"What? No," she corrected harshly, and he found himself feeling somewhat embarrassed by his assumption—why he had ever thought to assume that from such an innocuous answer, much less why he seemed to care, was a subject he purposefully did not brood on. She continued. "I'm living with a friend… temporarily, at least."

"Then ask your 'friend' to take them," Hiei suggested, clearly quite tired of lugging around an undoubtedly heavy Yusuke on his back.

Hotaru just shook her head at that. "Nope, he definitely wouldn't go for it."

Kurama watched her carefully. "Who is this friend of yours?"

"Is that really any of your business?"

"You just don't seem to be the type to-"

"To what?"

"... To have many friends," he finished, his blatant honesty obviously offending her.

"I have plenty of friends, foxface," she shot back. "A lot more than you, I bet."

"I have friends."

"High school kids don't count."

"I wasn't counting them..."

"Well whatever!" she shouted, throwing her hands up in the air and continuing down the street. "We don't have time for a fucking popularity contest! The bottom line is, I can't keep them anywhere. So... ideas?"

"We could rent a hotel room?"

"Too expensive."

"Perhaps an internet cafe?"

"That's an even worse idea..."

"Like I said, let's just-"

"No, Hiei we are not dumping them in the god damn river! Stop asking!"

Then, the three of them fell into a silence, each mulling over their own quandary. Truthfully, making sure Yusuke had a place to recover should have been Koenma's responsibility, but with all the chaos he undoubtedly had his hands full. Kurama toyed then with the idea of just taking Yusuke back to his own home- from what he had heard, Yusuke's mother was a bit... indisposed, and quite often. However, she had already once dealt with the pain of her son's death, and Kurama highly doubted she had the mental fortitude to see him in his current state so soon after his revival. It was an option, but one Kurama would rather leave as a last resort. Then again, they really were running out of places to turn...

However, before he could run his idea by the group, a sudden voice came from behind them.

"Kazuma?"

The three turned to find a young woman standing a few houses down the street from them, a couple bags of groceries around either arm and a cigarette hanging from her lips.

"He pass out or something?" she asked, sounding almost unreasonably calm.

"Ah... something like that," Kurama replied nervously as the woman approached. "You two know each other?"

"Unfortunately," the woman sighed with a puff of smoke. "Kazuma's my little brother."

Kurama felt his pulse quickening. He wasn't quite sure how well versed the Kuwabara family may have been in matters of demons and the like- Kuwabara had stated during their mission that he had always had a higher spirit sense than most, and such things typically ran in families. But even if his sister did share the same knowledge of ghosts, he highly doubted she'd be pleased- or even really understand- the situation, were he to tell her honestly what had happened.

Before he could offer a response, however, Hotaru stepped out in front of him.

"He and Yusuke got into a bit of a fight at school," she lied smoothly. "A bunch of guys jumped 'em and... well..."

"Ah yea, I heard there was some crazy stuff going on around town today," the woman replied, approaching Kurama closely to examine her brother on his back. "My brother's always getting into trouble though- I guess it's a family trait."

"He'll be okay, if he gets some rest," Kurama assured, and the woman sighed again.

"No, I'm sure he will. Kazuma's gotten his head bashed in enough times for me to know not to worry."

Suddenly, a drop of water struck Kurama square on the nose, quickly followed by another one- light, but threatening.

"Shit, I was hoping to beat the storm home," the woman cursed, adjusting her bags and heading up the street. "Come on- our house is nearby. You three can stay there till the rain stops."

"Ah... thank you," Kurama replied, following reluctantly.

"Yes, thank you! We really appreciate it!" Hotaru added, jogging up to join the woman at the front of their group while he and Hiei trailed behind.

As they followed the woman up the street, the rain began to intensify, and Kurama found himself feeling quite thankful for such a coincidence. Still, though, he was troubled. And, as they rounded another corner, Hiei spoke up next to him, sounding quite doubtful as well.

"Kurama, I'm wondering something…" he began in a hushed tone, and Kurama nodded.

"I know. It's risky," Kurama agreed. "Kuwabara and Yusuke may need a fair amount of time to recover, and the family may begin to worry. If they send them to the hospital or try to get the authorities involved, things may be a lot more complicated- and now, she knows our faces as well, so our chances of being caught in the backlash are much higher. It is not an ideal situation..."

"I wasn't talking about that."

"Oh? What is it then?"

He turned to Hiei, whose eyes were narrowed at the woman walking up the street. Then, Hiei leaned in, asking in a low voice:"... Who's 'Kazuma'?"

Hotaru

Her legs were sweating under the kotatsu, but it was far too cold to get out from under it. The rain outside had turned to hail- a little cold for October weather, in her opinion.

Thankfully for all of them, Shizuru- as she had introduced herself- had not asked too many questions regarding her brother's incapacitation. Apparently, this was somewhat of a normal thing.

Hotaru nursed a glass of whiskey—Shizuru had been kind enough to offer it to all of them upon arrival, though Hotaru was the only one to accept. She had decided then she liked the Kuwabara girl—the brother, however, was a bit of a different story. She wasn't quite sure how to feel about that.

What a weird guy... she thought, her gaze straying over to where Kuwabara lay on the couch. He was draped with two knit blankets, his head propped up by three pillows and a swollen ankle propped up on another two.

In theory, she knew blatantly kind people existed. She knew the truth of it was that her line of work—and her own personal bad luck—had prevented her from meeting many of his type. Yet still the paranoid part of her brain kept assuming the worst of him. He had saved her back there—he had fought away those plant-like creatures, and later he had plead with her to cross that gap, and he had caught her when Kurama had so rudely forced her across—and all of it was out of a concern for her safety, despite the fact that she had been utterly useless.

Of course she knew she would be—that hadn't been the point of the expedition, at least on her part. But still, they hardly knew each other, and there was seemingly nothing to be gained for the boy. Were it anyone else she had met in her long life, she knew what this kind of situation would mean—she owed a favor, and they would rake her over the coals in getting their money's worth. Watching the boy snore peacefully under his blankets, however, Hotaru somehow knew that wasn't the case here.

He saved her because he felt it was the right thing to do.

Somewhere, somehow, there still existed people that did kind things merely because they felt they should.

It only made her feel guilty.

"You should have seen it! She's a firecracker!" Botan explained, sitting opposite Hotaru under the kotatsu. The exclamation was in regards to a powerful slap Keiko had apparently dished out to a teacher, and the comment was aimed towards Kurama, who nodded along politely.

Next to the blue-haired ferry girl, Keiko shied, turning red in the cheeks. "It really wasn't anything…"

The two had joined them an hour after their arrival after being called by Shizuru. Kuwabara and Yusuke, though really closer to opponents than friends, apparently had enough of a working relationship that Shizuru knew well enough to call Keiko rather than Atsuko once they had arrived. Hotaru was a bit disappointed in herself that in all her research regarding Yusuke she had never run across the Kuwabara boy—seeing the group together now it seemed so obvious that they were close.

After everyone had been introduced to one-another, the group had settled in the living room and Keiko and Botan had set to regaling the group with the tale of their harrowing escape. Hotaru was thankful for the distraction, as it gave her more time to sit and nurse her whiskey and stew over the confusion and shock that the simple unconscious boy on the couch seemed to rouse in her.

That, as well as the murderous energy emanating from outside the house.

Honestly, Hiei's angry signature was so strong that even she could feel it—it was beyond her how it was getting past the rest of them. He had excused himself as soon as they reached the house, but that hadn't meant he left—instead he remained outside, shifting position every once and a while from what Hotaru could tell, and releasing such a strong, hateful energy that Hotaru had to force herself to not think about it.

He was expecting answers about Yukina—she had avoided him for months and, thankfully, he hadn't brought it up in the castle (she had assumed he'd avoid the topic among others). Now though he knew he had a chance to get her alone and if his intense energy was any indication, he had no intention of losing it.

"I wonder if we'll have school tomorrow…" Keiko mused, shuffling herself into the futon Shizuru had laid out for her and Botan. She had offered to allow Kurama and Hotaru to stay the night as well, but both had refused.

"I doubt it," Botan laughed heartily. "Half the windows are smashed thanks to that pursuit—and I would bet a lot of those teachers that chased us are going to have a heck of a headache tomorrow!"

Keiko looked almost sad at that. "I hope they're alright."

Hotaru had decided she liked Keiko too—really, in her mind, anyone that cared for and helped Yusuke was good in her book, but Keiko in particular seemed to have something about her. Truthfully Hotaru couldn't place why she liked the girl; she was just your average cookie cutter nice girl—good grades, pretty look, and a shy-ish sort of cuteness. Still though, she made a good impression, even on someone as jaded as Hotaru was.

"I'm sure it will be fine," Kurama remarked with a soft, comforting tone. Hotaru had never heard him speak like that. It was strange and uncomfortable.

"There may be a bit of a mess to clean up but according to the local governments this was an isolated incident and should be taken care of quickly," the fox continued soothingly, avoiding the subject of Reikai, demons, or possession with relative ease—Botan had somehow convinced Keiko that there was nothing otherworldly about this recent event, and the rest of them had been forced to act as such. "There should be no significant fallout… Though I agree with Botan—you likely will not be going back to school for a while."

"I hope no one was hurt too badly," the human girl continued to muse before her gaze flickered up the stairs—towards Kuwabara's room, where Yusuke lay unconscious. The rest of them pretended not to notice.

"I wouldn't worry," Botan assured with a hand on Keiko's shoulder. "Everyone is okay."

Keiko gave a nod, smiling weakly before laying down and getting under the covers—most likely for warmth.

As she did, Hotaru realized she was on her last sip of the gifted whiskey. As she sipped it down it warmed her through the chest—relaxing each of her muscles and giving her a false sense that everything really was alright. She set the empty glass down on the table, and like clockwork Kurama's voice chimed from across the room.

"Well then, I suppose we should be going."

Her gaze shot from the table to him in an instant—she was unaware they were leaving together. "So soon?" was all she replied, keeping the mood purposefully light.

"I think it's for the best," he responded, nothing malicious showing on his face, though Hotaru knew well enough it was somewhere beneath the surface. She hadn't known if Hiei would or wouldn't let Kurama in on the current situation but it didn't take a genius to figure out from that talk that obviously he had.

Hotaru had known this was coming—it was now or never.

But, as both she and Kurama stood, she decided it was maybe worth it to fight for never.

"Ah, sorry, but I think I might have another glass before we go," she began, moving to pick up the glass before Kurama reached across the table and gently lowered her hand with the weight of his own.

"It is getting late," he replied knowingly. "We really should be going."

Not quite knowing what else to do, she swallowed hard, nodding along.

They said their brief goodbyes to the remaining group, promising that each would visit in their own time until the two boys were better and thanking Shizuru for her unexpected and highly appreciated hospitality. And then, before she knew it, they were standing at the genkan.

Hotaru's fate was bearing down on her, and with the ever present reminder of Hiei's ravenous energy signature just outside the home, Hotaru found herself keeping away from the front door like it was the plague.

"I uh… shoot, I need to use the bathroom," she stuttered suddenly at the door, and Kurama gave her an exasperated glance.

"It's just at the end of the hall," Shizuru replied, before ducking into the kitchen with their two spent glasses.

Kurama, however, was reluctant to give her even an inch. "We don't have far to go. I believe you'll make it."

"Oh, I don't know about that," she laughed, gratefully accepting embarrassment over her inevitable doom that lay outside. "I've really got to go—and it's not the good kind."

Kurama wrinkled her nose, while Botan turned a bright shade of pink. "Well then," the ferry girl began. "I suppose you should go."

"No, I think it's alright," Kurama insisted, and Botan gave him a shocked look—why anyone would deny a bathroom to someone in Hotaru's fictitious situation being simply beyond her. "She'll make it."

"Kurama, I think it's best if you just let her…"

The fox paused for the briefest of moments, before letting out a sigh. "I understand it may be… uncomfortable, for her, but if we don't hurry then we'll miss the last train."

"Please Kurama, it'll be alright- Hotaru doesn't need to take the train, after all," Botan corrected, slicing cleanly through Kurama's thinly veiled excuse before leaning in to whisper. "She can do that… smoke thing, whatever it is. She'll be fine."

"Yea, that's right!" Hotaru agreed eagerly. "I can just use matatabi—no trains required."

For a split second, she almost felt victorious, until the sides of Kurama's lips twitched up into a brief smile. "Well if that's the case, then you can certainly wait to use the restroom."

Fuck, was Hotaru's only thought, as she reeled back from her almost-not-at-all victory. How in the hell had he turned that against her? She couldn't say—and frankly, she was too anxious to think on it much further.

She had nowhere to run—no more time to stall or to wait. This was it—the confrontation she had been so thoroughly avoiding was on the other side of that front door and she was about to face it in 3, 2, 1…

"—Ah, Hotaru?" came a sudden call from the kitchen. The group turned to see Shizuru, poking her head out from behind the kitchen wall and signaling inside, a question clearly on her lips that she was refraining from asking. "You have a phone call? I don't know who it is… Or who how they got this number, but…"

Instantly, Hotaru's heart was alight, and with obviously feigned humility she bowed out and headed towards the kitchen. "So sorry, Kurama, but I probably should take this."

If he was irritated by the intrusion, he didn't let it show. "Alright then," he agreed. "I'll be waiting out front then."

"Sure thing," Hotaru replied with a nod. Though his distance gave her some leeway that might allow her to escape, his willingness to give it to her only made her more hesitant. Running was probably not the best course of action… not at this point. But, as she figured, at least she had a few moments to collect her thoughts and prepare herself for what was going to be an inevitably unpleasant affair.

She waltzed into the kitchen, taking the offered phone from Shizuru. And, as she brought the receiver to her ear, she thanked whatever karmic event had brought her such good fortune.

"Hello?" she answered. The other end seemed to be little more than static, but beyond the white noise she could hear something. It was too distant—fractured and broken up by a poor connection— and after a few moments she asked again. "Um, hello? Is anyone—"

"—Strike two."

The line cut, and Hotaru stood frozen.

Shizuru, still busy in the kitchen, noticed her stark posture and wandered towards her. "You alright?"

Hotaru did not respond right away, instead continuing to hold the receiver to her ear. It was empty silence on the other end, yet she still offered another "hello". When it went unanswered, she felt the silence on the other line swell. Her heart skipped a beat, and slowly her eyes ventured up, looking towards the second floor—to where Yusuke currently lay unconscious and barely breathing.

"I'm sorry," she finally mumbled out. She had a profound need for a cigarette suddenly, and she moved her way past Shizuru and Botan with lightning speed. "Thank you very much for the hospitality. I'll be back tomorrow."

Kurama

They stood outside, partially illuminated by the overhead street lamps. The rain had stopped momentarily, yet still the smell hung in the air. Kurama wouldn't have much time to get back home before it started again, yet he dare not leave just yet.

Beside him stood Hiei, silently fuming, as they waited for Hotaru to exit the Kuwabara home.

"I don't need your help," Hiei spoke then, cutting through the silence.

"I know," Kurama offered back. "I'm only here because I want to be."

"Well maybe I don't want you here."

Obviously, Kurama thought—as if Hiei's standoffish posture and cold demeanor weren't proof enough. He was certain even before he left the Kuwabara household that Hiei would not want him present for this—even if Hiei had himself let Kurama into the know about this current conflict, it was still a personal matter, and Hiei kept his personal things very personal.

Still, Kurama felt he should be present. As to why, he could not say—perhaps it was just blatant nosiness that he was subconsciously trying to pass off as genuine concern for his friend, but he doubted it. Kurama was a curious person, certainly—most intellectual types were, after all—but he was not one to pry where he wasn't wanted.

He would serve some purpose here—he should be here, for some reason yet undiscovered. And so he told himself repeatedly, to quell the guilt.

Thankfully, Hiei seemed to be coming around too.

"She's going to run," Hiei muttered darkly from his side—a subtle way of finally accepting Kurama's presence and acknowledging that they were in this together.

Kurama ventured a glance towards the door, and could still feel Hotaru's weak and hardly noticeable energy signature milling about. "She's still inside."

"But she could run."

"She won't," Kurama replied after a beat, keeping his eyes focused on the front door. "She can't run from me."

And, sure enough, only moments later Hotaru emerged from the house.

At first, she hardly even seemed to notice them, taking out her pack of cigarettes from her pocket and lighting one with urgency. She seemed troubled—more so than she had been inside—and the hungry way she pulled at the cigarette between her fingers was almost ravenous.

After a few moments of watching her silently smoke, Kurama soon realized that she really hadn't noticed them—whatever was causing this anxiousness was something entirely separate from their presence and impending discussion. A part of him wanted to watch her—his curiosity overcoming whatever semblance of fraternal concern he may have had—but when she looked up she spotted them at once, her eyes went momentarily wide before settling half-lidded—she already looked exhausted.

"Right. I forgot you were waiting."

Hiei bristled, and Kurama stepped in front of him. Even within the Kuwabara household, Kurama had felt the presence of Hiei's Jagan Eye watching every move the girl made. And though Hotaru hardly seemed to reciprocate his aggressive stance, just Hiei's intent alone was enough to fuel an unruly fire.

"Hotaru, Hiei has told me—"

"—Yea, yea, I'm sure he's told you the whole situation," she replied, slowly making her way down the steps and puffing heavily. "I guess we should just get this over with…"

Already, they were off to a bad start, and when Hotaru looked back to him—her eyes gleaming dangerously in the dim light of the street, the dark circles beneath them seeming deeper than usual—he knew things were only about to get worse.

"Just so you know, I've just had a gigantic pile of shit dropped in my lap, and it's put me in a bit of a bad mood. So, on that note, let's make this quick," she began, approaching Hiei fearlessly, though the small demon stayed stoic. "You want to know about Yukina."

"I do," was Hiei's only reply.

"Alright, well here's the deal about Yukina," Hotaru began again, sighing yet another cloud lazily into the sky above them before her eyes rolled to meet Hiei's angry stare. "I don't know where she is."

At those words, Kurama's first instinct was to look to Hiei, and the small demons anger was apparent on his face.

"What do you mean you don't know where she is?" Hiei repeated back, each word dripping with murderous intent.

Hotaru gave a shrug in response. "I don't know where she is."

Hiei stepped forward, and Kurama moved in front of him to stop his charge. Hiei did not press on, and instead snapped at the girl from behind him. "So you're saying you lied?"

"Ah, not quite," Hotaru replied, with a slight tut. "At the time, yes, I knew where she was. Now, though… well, things change, Hiei."

Hotaru gave a casual shrug and Kurama could feel Hiei's energy spiking from behind him. "Is she hurt?" Hiei asked, curtly. "Is she even still alive?"

Please say yes.

"Maybe."

No…

"What the hell do you mean by 'maybe'?!" Hiei spat, baring the majority of his teeth.

And Hotaru, stupid as she was, just laughed in his face. "When I say 'maybe', I mean 'maybe'. I have no idea where she is—how am I supposed to know if she's okay? Use your head, Hiei."

This is turning bad, Kurama thought, moving once again between them and trying to play at peacekeeper. "Surely you're doing something to find her, correct?" he asked, desperate. "You're looking for her, aren't you?"

Hotaru's sharp gaze moved from Hiei, and she stared at Kurama instead—those dark eyes, outlined with dark circles, were more filled with malice than he had seen in a long while. He had begun to believe it was just his imagination—a machination brought upon by grief at the time of his mother's illness—but he had been right. There truly was something dangerous about this girl.

"Am I looking for her?" Hotaru repeated incredulously, before giving a derisive snort. "Am I looking for her? Are you fucking serious?"

"Well…" Kurama began, a sense of foreboding upon him. "… Are you?"

"No," Hotaru spat back through gritted teeth. "I'm not."

Hiei moved forward again, but luckily this time as well Kurama was able to stop him. Hotaru just watched, before turning again to take another drag of her cigarette. And when she exhaled, she launched into a tirade.

"I'm not looking for her, and do you want to know why? That's fucking why," she began, pointing to the house behind her.

Kurama wasn't sure how to interpret that. "You mean… because of Yusuke?"

"Yea, because of fucking Yusuke," Hotaru sneered. "I'm trying to keep Yusuke safe, and I'm trying to keep him alive, and as of right now he's up in that house half-fucking-dead, and it's all your fault!"

"Our fault?" Kurama replied, taken aback by her sudden accusation. Ever since they had left the castle she'd shown next to no signs of anger or disappointment regarding Yusuke's condition, and the sudden flare of her temper was unexpected—and inopportune. "Just how are we implicated?"

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Hotaru laughed again—a dark, angry sort of sound. "You two were the ones that sent him in to fight Suzaku alone! You are the ones that told him to go on ahead, even though I told you not to! And—guess what—look where we are now!"

"You want to blame us, but you didn't lift a finger against those beasts," Hiei snarled from behind her, obviously offended.

"It's not my job to fight those things, it's your job," Hotaru retorted, stepping around Kurama once more to speak to Hiei directly. "It's my job to advise you how to do your job, and you did it fucking poorly."

Things were getting worse. Kurama knew he had to stop this—pushed any further and Hiei might do something drastic. But Hotaru would not relent.

"And now, the one thing I'm trying to do—the one person I'm trying to save—is in massive recovery. So I'm sorry if I don't give a shit about your little sister at the moment," she finished, each word dripping.

Hiei's energy was spiking again. It was almost a visible aura around him now. "You promised you would take me to her."

"Yea, well, sometimes people break promises. Or have you forgotten our first deal, Hiei?"

Hiei's jaw clenched, and he spoke through gritted teeth. "This is more important than that."

"Oh, really?" Hotaru laughed back. "Well I'm sorry to be the first to tell you this, but just because Yukina is your first priority doesn't mean she's mine."

Hotaru took another heavy drag, exhaling another large cloud up into the sky, and rounded back on the bother of them. She pointed back at the house once more, and he couldn't help but notice the slight tremble in her outstretched hand.

"Yusuke is my first priority," she stated sternly. "Everything else comes second to that—your little sister included. So, until I know that Yusuke isn't dead, and until he's back on his feet, Yukina's problem is on the back-fucking-burner."

Then, in one swift motion, she swept past them, taking only a brief moment to lean in close, looking at each one in turn.

"And, if either of you have a problem with that, you can take it up with Koenma."