Hiei's footsteps echoed in the empty corridor as he returned to the room he was nominally sharing with Missy. Just who did Kurama think he was issuing orders for Hiei to give up his freedom and a certain amount of his free will to this human girl? Still, it wasn't her fault that they found themselves in this situation. In fact, if anyone was a victim in this affair, she was the most likely one. Not that Hiei really cared what happened to her.

Entering the room where Missy slept, oblivious to Hiei's presence, He stopped and stared at her for a moment. She was fairly pretty, for a human. And she didn't deserve to die before she ever had a chance to live. Besides, she did make good fudge. The memory of the flavor heated his thoughts, among other things. That led to other memories of other things she did well and with enthusiasm. It might not be so bad.

Hiei stepped to the side of the bed and leaned over the sleeping girl. He slowly placed his lips on hers and gave her a quick kiss. No effect. Perhaps it required a bit more. Hiei sat down on the edge of the bed and gently gathered Missy into his arms. She lay there, limp and unmoving. He lifted her face to his and proceeded to kiss her with all the skill and affection he could muster. Somewhere in the middle, he felt her lips move against his, and the next thing he knew, he was flipped onto his back and was having his kiss returned threefold.

There seemed to be a flash of light and suddenly Hiei wondered what he had been fighting against. He wrapped his arms around Missy and they spent an immeasurable amount of time renewing acquaintanceship and getting to know one another's bodies. Their garments disappeared like magic and when they finally came up for air, they were both pleasantly relaxed. They sighed and cuddled together.

The sun was setting. Faith could feel it and she slowly rose from her deathlike trance. The first thing she noticed was a strange scent in the room. Actually, it was emanating from somewhere outside her room. She sniffed again, trying to identify the illusive odor. Then she stiffened. Sex! She was going to kill that little spiky headed freak! Jumping from her bed, she raced toward the room where she had left her sleeping sister. She paused outside the door for an instant. Then she flung the door wide, causing it to slam against the wall with a resounding crash.

The single large lump under the blankets that had been giggling just an instant before sprouted two half faces, the blanket still pulled up to just below a pair of wide, startled blue eyes and a trio of glaring reddish brown ones. Faith gasped, sputtered and stepped back just as the door finished its rebound from the wall and closed. Her face turned almost as red as her eyes had just been. From inside the room, she heard a pair of whispers followed by two voices laughing. She didn't want to know what they found so funny. Faith's temper returned.

"Sorry to disturb you two lovebirds, but aren't there some OTHER things we are all supposed to be doing?" She snarled. It didn't help when her only reply was more giggling. Finally, Hiei deigned to answer.

"Keep your fangs retracted. We'll be out in a moment. We just need to figure out what happened to our clothes." As this statement was punctuated by the sound of skin slapping against skin and more giggles, Faith snorted in exasperation and went to sit by the door to wait for Hiei to show her where he had hidden the latch THIS time.

Eventually, Hiei and Missy emerged from the room. Missy seemed to be hanging onto Hiei's every word as well as his arm. When she saw her sister, however, she squealed and raced forward to envelop her in a tight hug. So tight, in fact that it was a good thing Faith was a vampire and didn't need to breathe, or her sister might have done her a damage in her excess of affection. Faith hugged her back more carefully and decided that since Missy was all right, everything was forgiven. For Now.

"Hate to interrupt your reunion," Hiei finally broke in. "But Faith needs to feed and I need to go collect the last member of our little party before it's too late."

"And what has one to do with the other?" Faith asked.

"Simple, There are six minions of Kharistahl's out there waiting to ambush me when I leave so they can break in here and steal your sister's sleeping body." Hiei smiled at Missy who glided over to him and wrapped her arms around him. "I'd rather they didn't realize we had moved you ladies to a different location. I can block their memories, but so can you and Kurama and I agreed that it might be best to let you get well fed before I bring Kuwabara back here."

"Kazuma Kuwabara? The human capable of slicing through the Kakai Barrier?"

"Yes. Have you met him?"

"No, but Kharistahl has mentioned from time to time that he would be a fairly handy addition to her arsenal."

"I imagine so. Still, he works with us and until Kurama says something definitely one way or another on the subject of Kharistahl, I guess we're keeping all our options covered."

"He still hasn't told you his decision on whether he is going to work for Kharistahl or not?"

"I'm not sure he knows himself. I imagine he is going to go through the steps necessary for cooperation until he deems the time right to deny her. Or fully agree. Whichever, he wants you girls in a safe place under the protection of the most trustworthy individual he knows. Kuwabara may not be the brightest crayon in the box, but he can be depended on to protect those placed in his care with his life."

"That's quite a compliment, Hiei. Why would we need such an awesome hero? Is there something you think we need to be protected from that I can't handle?"

"Faith, this may be for a while and you are incapable of being protection night AND day. Besides, you'll enjoy tormenting him. He'll be a pushover." Hiei looked at Faith. She had tossed her head up and sniffed. Then she glared at Hiei.

"Who else did you bring in here? And don't try to lie. I can smell them."

"That would be Kiki. She's asleep and I am not supposed to wake her until after you have cleared our company from the door. She and Kurama have a thing, but she's a bit squeamish."

"I know who Kiki is," Faith snapped. "I remember when she came to Kharistahl begging for help to get to the human world to meet Kurama. Kharistahl laughed after she left and said she would kill two birds with one stone with her."

"Never mind that now. You can pick on her all you like once the doorway is cleared and I've waken her up. Once I get back, you all are going to need to move out quickly." Faith rolled her eyes at that, but went silently out through the door and ensured that Hiei would be able to depart and return unseen. Hiei watched with his Jagan until he saw her take out the last watcher and then started down the hall to wake Kiki.