Shonoki: (Lying on top of a bunch of blankets and pillows.) I love Christmas .

Yusuke: That was last month.

Shonoki: Yep, but I can still enjoy it! I got the complete chapter black series on DVD!

HURRAY!

Yusuke: Oh, well that explains why you're so happy, you get to watch your favorite bishie Hi-

Shonoki: Pounces on Yusuke to shut him up)

Hiei: What's going on?

Shonoki: Nothing (sweat drop)

Hiei:….Hn.

Shonoki: That's enough out of you (hits Yusuke's head.)

Disclaimer:

This is getting repetitive. One of these days I'm going to do this in Japanese.

I do not own YuYu Hakusho, only Ayame and Company.

Ayame and Hiei were now in the field practicing, and getting some training in before the day was done. It had been a couple of hours since the kiss in the woods, and to some one who might have happened upon them, they would have thought the complete opposite.

Ayame jumped back as Hiei swung downward at her with his katana. Flicking her wrist one of her daggers dropped to her palm, which was then thrown at Hiei. Taking a step to the side, the dagger flew past.

"Those really aren't going to do much good." He said as he got ready to attack her again. He raised an eyebrow when he noticed that Ayame's arm was still extended. "What are you doing?"

Ayame smirked and turned her wrist so that her palm was facing up. "Trying out a new trick." She yanked back fast with her arm. "Watch your back." She called.

Hiei turned back in time to see the dagger flying back at him. He moved out of the way again, and turned once more toward Ayame, half glaring at the surprise attack.

Ayame grinned and held her hand up, the dagger hanging from a thin wire tied to her wrist and hand. "This ought to save me from having to go back to Pontocho in the next month." In the next second she had the dagger in front of her and clashed up against Hiei's blade. "Cheater."

Hiei smirked and tried to force her back. "Ren wouldn't wait for you to be ready either." He stated. Earlier they had decided, since Hiei refused to let her do it alone, that Hiei would take care of Shin, while Ayame went after Ren.

Ayame moved her right foot so that it was right next to Hiei's left. "This is true." She replied. She then ducked under the blades tripping Hiei in the process. "He wouldn't give me pointers either though." She smiled and stretched. "I think we should take a break." She said as she held her hand out to help Hiei up.

Hiei smirked and got up. "Have you figured out what you're going to do about sleep?" he asked while re-sheathing his sword. He looked at her as she tensed slightly.

Ayame turned to look back at him, forcing a smirk. "Yeah I think I got it covered." She reassured him. She began walking, but jumped when Hiei caught her shoulder.

"You really are a horrible liar onna"

Back with the nickname again. Ayame sighed inwardly then turned back to face him. "I'll think of something. I'll probably just put up a shielding before I go to sleep." She shrugged and turned to walk again. "Eep!"

Hiei stood in front of her this time. "Can you even keep a shield up all night?" He raised an eyebrow. His arms were crossed as he waited for the answer.

"Trying isn't going to hurt." Ayame replied crossing her arms as well. She was half tempted to mock his expression too, but decided she would much rather make it home without another bruise or lump.

"Your going to be stubborn about this too, aren't you."

Ayame smiled. "Do you always ask question's you already know the answer to?" She moved to get around him and continued walking.

Hiei shook his head. "Baka onna."

(That night)

Ayame paced the floor of her room. There was no way in heck she was going to be able to keep a psychic barrier up all night, she had trouble keeping her physical barrier's up for longer then an hour. 'fricken' psychotic bastard." She mumbled to herself, referring to Ryu. She let out a long breath and sat down in the middle of her floor, crossing her legs. Taking a deep breath, she let it back out slowly, relaxing her body in the process. Her mind flashed back to her practicing with Riku when they were kids.

"Come on Ayame, your not going to get any better if you don't at least try to focus." a 9 year-old Riku coaxed to a 5 year old Ayame. She was sitting in a lotus position, but humming loudly to herself in mock meditation.

Ayame unfolded her legs and stood up. "But it's so boring." She whined as she stretched. "I'll practice later, I promise. Can I just go play instead, Please?"

Riku sighed in defeat as his younger sister started with the puppy dog eyes. "Your hopeless." He said as he knocked the side of her head with his knuckles. "Go ahead, but you are practicing tonight, understand."

Ayame nodded and hugged her brother. "Yessir! Ja ne Riku. I'll be back later."

Ayame's eyebrow twitched a bit. "Oh sure, now the lessons come in handy." She grumbled. She relaxed herself again, attempting to put up a barrier.

Hiei leaned against her doorway, smirking as she complained about skipping out on lessons. He watched for a few more minutes, making sure that she successfully put up a shield, before going back to his room. He still wasn't totally convinced that she'd be able to handle it all night, but he was going to let her try.

Ayame smiled when she was finished, proud of herself for completing the barrier on her own. Now came the real test, seeing how long it would last. "I hope this works." She crawled into bed, noting the time, and then turned out the light.

(Ayame's mind)

Ayame lay on the grass of a vacant field. She smiled as the wind blew lightly past her, and the sun was shining.

'Hurray! It worked. No sign of mister crazy voice.' She thought as she starred up at the sky. She began humming to herself softly, which eventually turned into her singing loudly. After all, who was around to hear her?

This continued for awhile, with her singing a number of songs, even starting to make up her own. Halfway threw the second stanza, something wet hit her face. Ayame sat up, wiping her face of the liquid. Looking down at her hand, she found that it was smeared red with whatever was on her face.

"What the-"she looked up as the sky turned a dark grey. A lite sprinkle started with more of the liquid. Ayame went wide eyed as she realized what it was. The smell of blood permeated from the ground as it soaked up the rain. "It's raining blood…" Ayame said in disbelief. She then noticed that there was now standing water, err blood, on the ground. She paled as she realized her shield wasn't going to last her the night. Getting up she ran toward the trees and sat in one.

"Let me wake up…Come on stupid wake up." She yelled at herself. As she watched the flood level rise at an alarming rate.

"Did you really think that half rate shield of yours was going to keep me out Kohana." The voice said through the sound of the rain. "You know what that is, don't you?" it referred to the rain. "That's the blood of all those you've killed, little flower. All the ones you tracked down and got rid of. Let me also tell you that it's mixed with those that are close to you. The ones that I will kill and have killed!"

Ayame's head snapped up at the last part of the sentence. What did he mean by have killed. "Who did you kill?" she asked, her voice was a bit on the alert side but she didn't really care.

The rain continued, but lessened a bit. "You don't know? I thought for sure Koenma would have at least told you the name of your parent's murderer."

Ayame's eyes widened, quickly changing to orange as the air around her heated up rapidly. "Show yourself bastard." Her voice was low, and she glared at the area in front of that was the field.

The rain stopped and the rising flood dissipated. Ayame jumped from the tree and waited for Ryu to come out. "Come on! I said get out here!" she yelled. Embers began to rise from the ground, caused by the heat, but still no one. "You're a coward."

There was a slight uneasy feeling around her as the wind blew past. The field had gone quiet again, as if nothing had happened. "I guess he left." Ayame shrugged and went to walk around. She took two steps before being enveloped in the flood.

Coming up out of the liquid, Ayame coughed and hacked. "You freaking bakayarou!"

She called out as she tried to keep her head up. She winced as the flood slammed her against a tree. She coughed again as more of the liquid washed over her. Reaching up she tried to grab for a branch, however it broke at her touch. "You've got to be kidding me!" She yelled, clinging to the tree.

"I have to admit Kohana, you are quite the hindrance. You've caused me more trouble then anybody else in your family." A hand shot up out of the blood and grabbed her throat, pinning her to the tree.

Looking down, Ayame watched as more of the body rose out of the body. What surprised her was that, whoever it was had white hair, much like her brothers. The person continued to emerge, seemingly untouched by the red liquid, where as it was staining Ayame's clothes. He stopped when he was a little taller then her, but the water was up to his waist. His hair was cut to his shoulders, and his face had very prominent features. Her eyes locked on his and she noticed that they were purple, a bit of black mixed with them on the outer rim or the iris. This was Ryu.

He smirked down at her amusedly, and yet confidently. "And just like every body else in your family, you too I must get rid of." He kept his hold on her neck but his eyes traveled a little lower, landing on the two chains around her neck. "My only problem would be getting a hold of this. See, if I killed you in the dreamscape, I would have to get to your body to retrieve it. It would be so much easier to kill you in reality." He fingered the amulet.

"Fuck…off." Ayame growled dangerously as she glared heatedly.

Ryu shook his head in disappointment. "Really now Kohana, a young lady such as your self should speak like that." He shook his head again, closing his eyes.

Mistake number one.

His eye snapped open when Ayame dug her claws into his upper arm. She grit her teeth as he applied more pressure to her throat.

Mistake number two.

As Ryu's arm tensed from the extra pressure, Ayame was able to find his muscles and veins. Relocating her claws she dug in deep in his tricep area, then pulled back toward her, tearing through the skin.

Ryu growled in pain as he released her, dropping her into the flood. "You'll drowned here!" he yelled as he reached down and held her under.

Ayame struggled to get back up. She hadn't thought about what to do if this happened.

"Give it up, you're just tiring yourself." He said as he pushed down more.

Ayame tried harder, though he was right. She was fatigued already and this wasn't helping. She squeezed her eyes shut as her lungs began to demand air. 'This isn't going to go on much longer.' She told herself as she decided to just conserve her energy. Her arms went limp as she stopped trying to rip off Ryu's arm. This was it.

She floated for a bit waiting for something to happen. Ryu was still holding her down surprisingly. It seemed as if he had decided killing her in the dreamscape was easier after all.

'Well at least the dream started out nice.' She thought to herself. Something pulsed nearby her, catching her attention. Turning her head in the direction of it, she received another push down from Ryu. The thing pulsed again, this time stronger. 'What is that?'

Her question was soon answered when she felt herself being pulled out of the out from Ryu's grip and then out of the flood.

(Reality)

Ayame's eyes opened as she was pulled up out of bed and too her feet, which at the moment, decided not to work. "Whoa!" She fell a bit before being caught by Hiei.

"Baka onna! You said you'd handle it!" Hiei looked down at her as she took a few deep breaths.

To her, it felt like she had really been under water. Her lungs really did hurt and she was practically gasping for air. "It started out good…" she said as she tried to get control of her legs again. She stood up straight finally and looked up at Hiei, who still had his arms around her.

"It lasted a long time." She said, and then looked at the clock, which actually proved her wrong. In reality only an hour had passed, however, in the dreamscape it felt like more. "Well, it felt like a long time."

Hiei still didn't say anything. He set her down on the bed and then pulled a chair over. "What happened?" he asked finally as he sat down with the back of the chair facing her.

Ayame looked back at him, her eyes fixed on the ruby orbs. Why was it she could never tell what he was thinking? With most people it was easy, they showed there emotions or thoughts through their eyes all the time, but not Hiei. She sighed and leaned back on her hands. "It started to rain blood." She replied blandly.

"What else?"

"It started to flood and I was dragged into a tree."

"What else?"

He started to taunt me again."

"…"

Ayame's eye twitched a bit. "Is there a specific answer you're looking for?" she asked finally.

"You weren't breathing when I came in." He stated as he stared at her pointedly.

Ayame tensed a bit. "That's because he held me under." She replied.

"You saw him then."

Ayame's eye's flickered as she nodded. "Remind me to ask Koenma something tomorrow." She said as she got up off the bed.

"About what?" Hiei asked as he watched her sit on her floor once more.

"About why he never told me who it was that killed my parents even though I asked, and why he kept it a secret from me even to this day." She glared out the door as she spoke.

Hiei didn't say anything but nodded. He figured she would have found out, just not this soon. He looked back at her as she began to meditate again. "You're not doing it again." He stated while getting up.

Ayame opened one eye and looked up at him. "Why not?"

He stood over her now, arms crossed again. "Because I'm not coming back in here again if it doesn't work."

Ayame glared at him now. Apparently he had forgotten the incident earlier today in the woods. "So you're just going to let him mess with my head without any obstacles to get in his way?" she asked sharply.

Hiei smirked. "Did I say that?"

Ayame raised an eyebrow as her gaze softened. "No…"

"Hn, then stop putting words in my mouth onna." He lifted her up by the arm gently and led her back to the bed.

"What are you doing?" she asked as he set her back down on the bed, and placed his hands on either side of her temples.

"Creating an actual barrier. Not some flimsy curtain that you made." He replied. He smirked as she glared at him.

"Meanie." She stated as he finished up.

"Stubborn."

"Arrogant." She retaliated as she covered up and rolled over to face the wall.

"Baka onna." he replied. Only this time he was right behind her…in her bed.

Ayame turned over to face him. "Again I ask. What are you doing?" She couldn't help but give a small smile as she watched him.

Hiei closed his eyes, wrapping his arms around her. "In order for the barrier to stay up all night, I need to be in physical contact." He stated while pulling her closer.

Ayame couldn't help but smile more. "Right….that's not just some lie so that you can sleep in the same bed as me is it?" she asked as she turned to face him completely.

Hiei smirked but said nothing.

"Sneaky." She said as she closed her eyes and rested her head on his chest. There was silence for awhile as Ayame listened to Hiei's breathing. She could tell he wasn't falling asleep, so she decided to help him. Softly she began to hum, the same melody as the last time they shared a bed.

(Morning)

Ayame cracked her eyes open a bit, shutting them almost immediately after the light hit them. "Stupid sun." she mumbled while turning away from it, and laying her head on Hiei. She had almost forgotten he was there, but she felt better knowing he was. Last night's experiment was successful, and Ryu hadn't attacked her once Hiei had put his own barrier up, so she got a full night sleep.

Forcing herself to let her eyes adjust to the lighting of the room, Ayame yawned. She looked up as she felt Hiei's arm wrap around her again. "You awake?" she asked,

Hiei kept his eyes closed. "Yes." Was the blunt reply. He opened his eyes know and stared at the ceiling. "Mind telling me how you do that?" he asked, still holding her.

Ayame looked up at him, slightly confused. "Do what?"

"Put me to sleep." He looked down at her, still looking a little drowsy.

Ayame raised an eyebrow. "I don't know. It could just be what I sing, or how I sing." She smiled and closed her eyes. "Glad to know it works though. You were really tense last night."

Hiei was silent for a moment. He ran his hand up Ayame's spine stopping when he came to the two scars on her back. He traced over one with his finger, realizing that it was more of a welt.

"That tickles." Ayame said as she tried not to start giggling.

Hiei's eyes shifted to her and he smirked. "Really?" he said in a way that got Ayame's attention.

"No."

"I'd listen to you why." His hand was still on her back.

"Because I'm providing you with a house and a bed at the moment."

"A tree is just as good."

"Because I'm cooking food for you."

"I'm capable of getting my own meal." His finger slid over the welt once more.

Ayame tensed, resisting the urge to start laughing.

"Please don't."

"Resorting to begging now are we."

"No, just asking nicely."

Another brush over it and Ayame had to squeeze the comforter to keep her self stable. "You're evil." She stated.

"You're realizing this now onna?"

"You bite."

In an instant she was pinned under Hiei, a small squeak of surprise getting out as he leaned in close to her. "Do you mean that?" he asked, voice low and eyes flashing.

Ayame felt the heat rush to her cheeks as her breath caught in her throat.

Hiei smirked, then leaned and kissed her. Ayame let out a breath of relief when the kiss broke. Hiei snickered at her reaction before getting up.

Ayame sat up and chucked a pillow at him. "I thought you were serious baka ojou!" she huffed and got out of bed as he caught the pillow and tossed it back at her.

"Watch what you say next time." He said as she grabbed a pair of jeans and a shirt.

Ayame looked up at him when she realized he wasn't leaving the room. "Do you intend on watching me change." She raised an eyebrow as she spoke.

Hiei leaned against the wall and crossed his arms, staring at her.

"Meh, suit yourself." She said as she shrugged and turned around. She was about to start acting like she was going to change when Hiei grabbed her sides and started tickling her.

"Ahaha-Hikage-haha-you-haha-freaking-hahahahahahah-baka-Hahaha!" Ayame clutched at her sides and struggled to get away. "Hahaha-let-ahah-go!" she some how managed to turn herself around to face him, still laughing. Looking up, she saw something that almost would have made her stop laughing all together.

Hiei was smiling. Not smirking, but flat out smiling.

She smiled inside, seeing as how she was already laughing and smiling on the outside, and went back to getting away from the tickling. She put her hands up and pushed forward, causing Hiei to fall back and onto the bed,

"Glad to see you're having fun." Ayame said as she grinned and picked up her clothes.

"Hn." Hiei went back to smirking and made his way from the room.

Ayame smiled and shook her head. It was going to be a long day.

Shonoki: Well that was fun to type. And I got it done in two days. Hurray for the return of my muses . I might have gone kind of overboard with the mush in this one though. Let me know what you guys think. R&R please.