~Yuko

I can't help but notice that Hiei's being sloppy. All because it's me he's trying to protect. I don't want to have him do that for me, to take risks. He does so much for me, indeed a weak human girl… I don't want to be useless anymore, so he won't look down on me…

A claw swipes at Hiei but he jumps back at the last possible moment. It doesn't catch his skin, but it does cut something else…

My eyes follow the item, the dim light glinting off of it as it hurtles over the cliffside. Hiei's eyes widen. I don't think I've ever seen him look so panicked. Without thinking I throw myself after it, into the darkness.

String brushes against my fingertips and suddenly my body is developed by the freezing cold waves below. I gasp.

….

~Hiei

"Yuko!"

I swipe my broken blade to the side, stabbing the final demon deep in its eye-socket. Suddenly I find toying with it a waste of my time. I don't even bother to look back as it drops to the ground as my legs push me over to the edge.

I scan the waves, trying to spot a mop of brown hair among the wild white tips. Nothing…

I fling the blade into the soil before taking a plunge. The icy water tries to bite at my limbs, but I am hardly bothered.

The waters are too dark, I can't see a thing in front of me. Luckily I have more senses than just my eyes to guide me. Using my Jagan I swim in her direction. The fool is sinking like a brick.

Reaching out I wrap my hand around a piece of fabric, pulling it closer so I can wrap my arm around her waist. Once she's secured I swim back up as quickly as I can. Soon the moonlight can be seen steaming into the water before I break the surface.

I hoist myself and her onto a rock making it cut into my palm. That was the hard part. From here on I can easily jump back up the cliff.

With a huff I lay her down onto the mossy ground, now stained with purple blood. "Oi, girl!" I shake her shoulder, but receive no response. Her lips are so blue… I feel my body tense, something gripping at me like it's trying to choke me. Why did she have to go and do something like that for?

"Girl!" I try again. "Yuko!" I lay a hand on her chest, pushing. After a few tries she starts to couch violently, throwing up the salty water. She looks out of it still so I rake my knuckles against her chest bone.

"Ouch!" she yells, her eyes springing open. She gazes around in confusion before her eyes land on me…. My head is spinning. I'm so….

I grip her shirt, pulling her closer. "You bloody idiot! What the hell were you thinking?! You-…." My eyes fall on the necklace clutched in her fist as she holds it up in defense.

She smiles tiredly. "I always noticed…how little you had, so the few things you do own…must mean a lot to you right? I didn't want you to lose something precious." she explains. I swallow a lump that has gathered in my throat. Something precious…

She reaches out, both her arms around my neck, her cold shaky fingers working a knot in the string. I feel relieved when the necklace is hanging back in its place.

My eyes lock onto hers. Why did she do that? Why take such a risk to do me a favor? What is it with her?

"Hiei?"

"Mmh?"

"I'm cold." she states, making me snap out of my thoughts. She's shivering heavily, her lips still somewhat blue, but not from lack of oxygen this time.

"Hn." She doesn't even flinch as I stand up, taking her with me. She just reaches back, pulling what is left of my katana from the ground and wrapping her arms around it before laying her head against my shoulder with a sigh, closing her eyes.

By the time we reach the hotel, she is breathing softly, half asleep. Breaking in through the window of her room is child's play and I set her drowsy figure onto the edge of the bed before making my way towards the bathroom.

I return with the largest towel I can find and kneeling down in front of her, drape it over her head to stop her hair from dripping all over the place. My breath is cut short by her sleepy smile…

"Thanks Hiei." she says before leaning forward and resting her forehead back onto my shoulder. I release a breath. I wonder if this room has always been so hot as I feel a wave of heat envelopes me.

"Hn." I hum, wrapping an arm around her before dragging her into a more comfortable position, laying her down.

I try to pull back, but a pair of cold arms wrapped around my chest holds me down, her face is still buried in my shoulder. "You're warm." she breathes with a sigh, her eyes shut.

I don't know what possesses me, but I don't even try to pull away. Instead, I lay down myself. My fingers twitch as I lift my arm, my only sign of hesitation before draping it around her torso.

I might kick myself in the morning, but right now this is fine. She's a handful, giving me a whiplash every chance she gets, but she's alive, safe, with me.

…

~Yuko

I stretch before pulling my face out of the pillow, blinking sleepily as I look around the room. It's empty.

I sigh as I hoist myself into a sitting position, feeling emotionally drained, but stable I guess. Yesterday was a mess. I swallow hard when grandma's face comes to mind.

Shaking my head, I get out of bed completely, shuffling towards the bathroom. I need a shower really bad. Grains of oceanic salt are clinging to my skin and I'm still in yesterday's clothes.

Reaching for the knob, I jump back when it suddenly turns, releasing a shriek in fright. Who the hell is in there?!

"For pete's sake Hiei! You nearly gave me a heart attack!" I scold, watching him roll his eyes. Looks like he took the chance to make use of my bathroom, his hair his still moist.

"Don't be so jumpy. You look like a fool." he scoffs, making me huff.

"Hey, don't say that. You never know who you might run into." I tell him pointedly.

"Like Toguro?" he asks rhetorically.

"Huh? You know about that?" I wonder, a bit confused.

"Of course I know, I've been in your head girl." he reminds me. Right. Though I don't know how much he poked around in it. I suppose he took some liberties.

"You're not going anywhere on your own again until you learn how to use your power properly." he states with a no nonsense tone, making me balk.

"I don't need a babysitter!" I argue, making him stare blankly at me.

"I beg to differ." he argues back bluntly. "You're like a magnet for trouble. I don't think I've ever come across someone who causes so much trouble. You are like the equivalent of the bullied student with a tag on their back that says 'kick me'."

I stare at him for a moment with my mouth open. "You're so mean… Would it kill you to say something positive for a change?"

"Who knows?"

I grin at his lame attempt at humor before feeling my face fall. "Am I really such a bother?" I wonder quietly, gazing at the ground.

After a moment I hear him sigh, no doubt rolling his eyes again. I prepare for the worst. "Don't take everything so seriously. I say a lot of things, do you actually believe everything I say?"

I blink back at him. What? "Sooo, am I to just guess what you really mean when you fling insults at me? That's such a childish way to act!" I say incredulously, making his eye twitch.

"You bloody idiot. I'm throwing you a bone here."

"No bones Hiei! I'm not a freaking dog! Just be straight forward with me for once!" I shout exasperated.

He takes a menacing step forward. "I'll show you straightforward!"

I'm suddenly kiltered off balance when he yanks on my shirt, I have half the mind to throw my hands up to protect my face, but freeze instead.

I feel my face grow red and my heart thumping in my ears when his coarse lips slam into mine. I feel like I should question his sanity. Hiei showing any form of affection is pretty crazy, but he's actually kissing me?

'Oh shut up mind and take it like a woman!' I scream to myself before finally closing my eyes.

I almost groan in protest as he pulls away just as quickly. I can only blink back at him in confusion, my mind set in a whole different kind of turmoil while Hiei blinks for a moment, actually looking surprised by his own actions for a second before wiping all emotion from his face.

"You are a pain in the ass." he says straight to my face in a calm voice. "But you're my pain in the ass and I'm going to protect you for as long as you need it." he states, making my heart swell.

"Now clean yourself up. I've just had a dose of salt to last me a lifetime." he grumbles, pushing past me before leaving out the window.

….

~Shizuru

I take a long drag from my cigarette before meeting Keiko's eyes who's sitting on the couch across from me. The girl has a bright blush on her face. "They do realize we can hear them every time they're in there together right?" I question.

These walls are paper-thin. They were lucky it was only me and Botan here when they were discussing Yukina last time.

"Not her boyfriend my ass."