Okay, first note. Where it said Quarter-finals in the last chapter it was supposed to be semi-finals. Sin sort of went retarded on herself and miscounted matches. So the Hiei/Iruni fight will also be a battle for the last pairing, to see who wins the tournament.

After rereading what I wrote here I realized that I'm sort of foreshadowing potential issues in the future. Perhaps Hiei will understand Shinpi's insecurities in regard to him living with Mukuro eventually if this persists. Ah man. I can see it now.

Also, I love Kuwabara and his dead on perceptions. Too bad for him everyone always disregards them. It's sad, but a lot of problems could be avoided if people realized he paid attention.

The sun was setting, dripping blood red rays across the forlorn horizon. This would be the third sunset since Amon-Shinpi qualified for the semi-finals. Three whole damn days and she hadn't even cracked an eyelid at him. Hiei was actually starting to worry about the little wolf girl.

But that wasn't what was at hand currently, he remembered, eying the red head who looked over the dying sun with him. Kurama had been more or less patient with him after calling this meeting just after the girl's match. Until now the fire demon hadn't shown any inclination towards talking though. He just wanted to get it out of the way so he could back to trying to find a way to get the girl back on her feet.

"You wanted to talk to me, so speak," he finally moved to get this conversation started, feeling a bit uncomfortable with leaving the cabin for too long. It couldn't be explained to him, he just didn't understand the compulsion he had to check up on the apparition swathed in bandages and resting on a bed all to herself, except for when Yukina or Botan decided to sleep next to her as watch dogs. And he was almost always perched in the window, or close by, just in case.

"You care very deeply for our little Iruni, don't you?" the fox sighed after a few silent seconds, turning to face his friend. "I've known you a long time, Hiei, and I've never seen you so protective over someone."

It went without saying that this did not include Yukina.

"It would be disgraceful if that bastard managed to kill her from beyond the grave," the smaller demon shrugged. Realizing he was yet again dodging the bullet that Shinpi had been riding him about he leveled the fox with a glare. "Can you keep your mouth shut?"

"Always." The response was sincere and trustworthy.

"Shinpi asked me to be her mate."

No sooner had the words left the short man's mouth than the red head had his chin in a vice grip, turning his head to the left while he pulled down the neck of his shirt on the opposite side. Then he switched directions.

"She didn't bite me, I never answered her, now would you let go of my face?" Hiei griped, yanking himself from the prying hands of the ancient fox. Green eyes were wide with alarm, concern and confusion.

"You don't feel the same?" he assumed a little too fast for the smaller youkai's taste.

"She gave the option of time, and I took it, more or less," he shrugged.

"That didn't answer my question," Kurama raised his eyebrows and studied his friend closely. "Hiei, do you want to be with Iruni?"

"Amon-Shinpi," the correction was harsh.

"Whatever. Do you want to be with her?" he waved his hand carelessly. Hiei toyed around with the idea for a minute, looking up at the sky again.

When she'd fallen he had been sure she was dead. He had seen it in her eyes that she had intended to kill Hiro, whether or not the cost was her life. What had startled him was the pain he had felt as she stopped breathing, as her blood poured out, the rain chilling her unprotected body. All he'd been able to think was that he could protect her, help her, and soothe her pain. Did that mean he was ready to be with her for eternity?

But she hadn't asked for that. Yet again, a point against her truer nature, she had offered him an easier option. It struck him suddenly that she was doing everything in her power to woo him, by giving him the options no one else would've. He hadn't realized she had been playing such a strong hand in this game until just then.

Damn, she was good. It was like everything she did was two steps ahead of the situation, but he had to wonder how much of that was luck. She didn't always seem to think things through that well.

"I already am." The response drew a shocked, open mouthed stare from the red head kitsune, whose large green eyes looked ready to fall out of his head. Apparently this news was unexpected. "Shinpi and I have been loosely seeing each other for a while now."

"As in dating, or as in," Kurama wasn't sure how to finish that sentence.

"As in we're together," Hiei didn't understand the need to explain this.

"Hiei, it isn't as simple as being together just because you say so. She has incredibly deep feelings towards you, emotions that frighten her to the point of confliction. She almost died for you." The emerald eyes narrowed. "Iruni is not some random woman who likes the way you look."

"She likes the way I look?" Hiei made it sound like a surprised question, but failed in the fact his smirk betrayed him.

"Do not act so arrogant," he chastised. Rubbing his temples the fox tried again. "Do you have feelings for her?"

"Yes." Now they were moving in the right direction.

"Sexual or deeper?" he staggered from the unhappy red eyes glaring at him. Apparently this was a bad question to ask.

"Make your point." The demand was sharp.

"I just want to be sure that you realize how much she cares for you," the red head waved his hands. "I don't mean to be offensive, Hiei, you know that. But Iruni truly does have feelings for you, and it wouldn't be fair to either of you if you got involved with her with reciprocating."

"You're an idiot," the demon clad in black scoffed. "Why would I consider being with someone if it was purely sexual? I don't have relationships based on sex."

"You don't have relationships at all," Kurama pointed out.

"That you know of, fox." The aloof response made the other smile. "Yes, I want to be with her in bed. But I also appreciate her aggravatingly self-righteous, overbearing, sometimes idiotically stubborn demeanor, and her pure loyalty to her allies. She's a different breed of warrior, one that seems to be in rare stock these days."

"Sounds serious," the kitsune dead panned.

"Shut up, the girl and I have an understanding," he ran his fingers through his hair in a gesture that made the other man straighten with a malicious smile. Hiei was showing a sign of nervousness? Because they were talking about a girl? That was rich.

"You really are considering her offer," he chuckled, and received a grievous stare.

"Tell anyone, especially the detective or the women, and I'll use your intestines as party decorations," he warned dangerously. "Nothing is certain until after our match. If I beat Shinpi, I get her mask and her respect, and then we'll move on."

"Will you be ready to decide in just four days?" Kurama tucked his wayward hair behind his ear.

"Probably not, but like I said, she offered me time. She said spend time in Makai and think about it. I think I'll do just that." The crimson eyed man started to walk away.

"Don't take too long, Hiei, she may be certain of how she feels for you, but that might not stop her from trying to move on if she thinks you're not interested." The red haired demon fell into step beside his friend.

"She knows I'm interested."

"How?"

"Well, the fervent kisses might've been a clue."

"I knew your mouth looked swollen and hair mussed when you two arrived for Yusuke's match!" he jerked Hiei to a stop with a wild look. "The way she reacted when you talked about sex, and romance, and the fact you let her sleep on you. You two really are seeing each other!"

"Did you think I was lying?" the scoff was doubled with raised eyebrows.

"I just thought seeing each other meant something a little less," he fought for the right word.

"Intimate?" Hiei guessed, and received a nod, to which he shrugged.

"And I have to keep this to myself?" the fox chewed his lip worriedly.

"Yes, until I've made up my mind." The idea that this secret had to be kept for months made the other man fidget, but then he resolved to honor the request, calming down.

"Wow, you and Iruni, mates." He shook his hair in a bit of startled glee. "It seems so strange to imagine you with someone. Especially a woman as hard headed and domineering as her."

"Don't even get me started," the fire demon sighed. "I'm having a hard enough time believing it myself."

Shizuru stood behind Kuwabara as he regarded the wildly curly headed blonde, who was flanked on one side by an ogre wearing crisp pants, and a lab coat.

"Sorry, but the runt is indisposed, so you'll just have to wait to do your examination," he glared at the woman.

"Lord Amon-Shinpi was gravely injured and it has come to the attention of the tournament committee that she must be examined to insure her health before continuing into the semi-finals. Your friend Yusuke and his opponent have already undergone this, Hiei will have too also. But she's the next on the list." Shikari glared at him harshly, her eyes rimmed with red. "So move over, human."

"No. He'll do your little routine before the next fight, but he is indisposed, like I said." He growled, blocking her way.

"Baby brother is right." Shizuru desperately wanted this fight to be over so she could go outside to smoke. The little pyromaniac refused to let her smoke in the cabin, claiming not only Yukina's health would be endangered, but so would Iruni's.

"I wasn't talking to you," she sneered.

"Look, just come back." Kazuma turned to the doctor, trying to emphasize the male identity of his fallen friend. "He'll undergo your tests when he's good and ready."

"Move," the voice was deeper and clearly not impressed. The woman and doctor were shoved out of the way of the kitsune and the fire demon who stalked into the house.

"What's going on?" Kurama asked curiously.

"These two are trying to bully me into letting them do some stupid examination on Ichi." The rooster haired boy scoffed. "As if I'd let them. He's perfectly fine."

"He's right, now go away." Hiei turned to the doctor.

"If you don't let us do this, Amon-Shinpi be disqualified," Shikari held out a paper to the small demon, who took with a quick read before passing it on. "Tournament rules."

"It said that she has until the match," he pointed out. "So we'll see you before the match."

"If the fighter waits he has to redo the preliminary qualifier, as well." The doctor spoke up for the first time. "If he passes one or both, he can continue in the tournament, but if he fails both, he'll be barred from continuing."

"He'll pass," the door was promptly slammed in their faces as Hiei looked up and down the tall human boy with distaste. "So you aren't completely useless at protecting people, who'd have known?"

"I heard that Hiei refused to let Kurama carry her," Botan was stroking the downy fur of Amon-Shinpi's animal ears, seeming to forget the head in her lap was a demon and not a dog. Akira was stationed outside under the window, sleeping. "He was so worried when he brought her in."

"I know," Yukina smiled softly, looking across the length of the bed at the blue haired woman. She was stationed at Ichi's feet. "He refused to leave while Genkai and I tried to heal her. He even wrapped her bandages. He's been very caring."

"It's really unlike him, but he's doing it in the typical 'You'll probably screw this up so just let me' fashion."

Yukina laughed quietly. "He is quite hard headed when it comes to his heart."

"Typical man," the pink eyed deity laughed.

They both stopped at the sound of a groan coming from the woman between them. She was swathed in bandages from her belly button to her elbows. They hadn't bothered changing her pants originally, more concerned with the life threatening wounds on her torso. Now she was clothed in the soft black bottoms she'd been given by Kurama.

"It's been three days," Yukina murmured, looking down at her hands. "What do you think is keeping her from waking up?"

"Maybe she's just having really good dream," Botan sounded hopeful, but her eyes were just as concerned as the Koorime. The door opened and Hiei grunted an answer to something someone behind him asked before raising an eyebrow at the ferry girl.

"What are you doing to Shinpi's head?"

It was white.

The whole damn place was an endless mass of white, determined to either drive her insane or trap her. She didn't care which. All she could focus on was trying to find a break in the uniformity, a sign something else was there. It was so empty and lonesome.

It couldn't be limbo, she'd have run into some sort of deity, like Koenma. So where was she?

"Damn it," she didn't have the energy to yell, instead choosing to halt in her torturous wanderings and look around. Even the ground was white, if you could call it ground. Really it seemed more like she was floating and moving forward than anything close to walking.

How long had she been here? She hadn't been keeping track. Not that it mattered. There was no sun to go by. It was a void. Purgatory.

"I'm lost," she whimpered to herself, actually frightened by the possibility that she might not be coming back. She tried to remember the faces she was leaving behind and it felt like the hazy clouds around her had invaded her mind, preventing the images. She had lost something important to her life, but she couldn't figure out what it had been.

But she'd kill Hiro, she'd done her job. She'd won. Why wasn't she free? What was she holding onto that was preventing this? She just wanted to be back with the others, her friends, her partners. Was that wrong? Had she not earned it?

"I have to keep moving," she forced herself forward again, blinking as a place ahead seemed to glow brighter than the fog around it. Even running felt sluggish in this hell. She had to move on, she had to find out what was in that brightness, praying it was better than where she was now.

"She's not a damn dog, onna!" Hiei griped at Botan as she started to stroke soft black ears again. With a glare he pointed to the door. "Get out."
She looked at the other three boys as they walked in and shrugged at her in turn, before she pouted as she rose.

"If you ever bothered to appreciate anything about her, like a real man, you might realize that her ears are really soft, and she seems to relax when they're touched." She huffed before slamming the door. Kuwabara quickly took her place and eagerly started stroking the furry triangles.

Hiei twitched and glowered at the man.

"What do you think you're doing?" he demanded in a low, seething voice.

"I'm petting the pretty doggy ears." Came the happy response.

"I-You-" the fire demon sputtered before shaking his head in dismissal. "Make a move towards the tail and die."

"No problem!" he smiled widely. Hiei shook a little with the urge to smack him, then turned to the detective, harnessing a rather blank look.

"What did you want to talk about?" he asked, leaning against the wall to keep a watchful eye on the overzealous carrot top. The baka already had his heart wrapped around one woman, there was no need for him to get attached to another.

"Look, you're obviously madly in like with Iruni, so why aren't you just admitting it to us, so we can help you two get together already?" the detective demanded with his arms over his chest. Red eyes flicked to a red head, who shook his head slightly to decline his involvement with this revelation. "Don't stare at Kurama with your blame filled eyes. You more than told us at her match. We couldn't keep you under control."

The smaller demon glared at him and crossed his arms over his chest.

"She's my teammate, I believe I'd actually reacted the same way over Kuwabara, and I hate him." He scoffed at the disbelieving looks on their faces. "Besides, it would be a shame for such a strong fighter to be killed by such talentless scum."

It didn't look like they bought the lie, but Yusuke moved onto easier topics.

"So, Hayato said he's planning on coming to visit his old commander." He ran his hand through his hair as he looked down at the girl. "Says he wants to check up on her personally. He also wants to talk to us about something to do with the territory."

"We don't control this land," Hiei furrowed his brow.

"No, but according to him, and he was her right hand man at some point after her father died, she'd want us to act in her stead." The hanyou looked truly bothered by this. "Geesh, I already have one place vying for me to come back to power, and now this one too?"

"Hokushin isn't doing well as a leader?" Kurama asked quietly and the boy shrugged.

"He wants me to do it, if for no other reason than I seem to be respected," the detective slumped down on the vacant bed in the room. "Not the point."

"The point is half-pint here," Kuwabara gestured to the girl whose ears were captive in his fingers. "Will be up in no time."

"Your faith is unshakable," Kurama smiled at his more naïve friend, "but she's badly injured, even now after these days of rest. She's simply not healing herself."

"But she will," he shrugged. "You just gotta have faith in her. Ichi is strong, and she's stubborn, and she's not going to fail. She'll wake up and decide that it's time for her to get hurt again."

"Yeah, that's right," the black haired boy turned to the demon against the wall. "You're her next match, right?"

"Hn."

"She'll wake up for that, she can't resist a chance to embarrass us," the teen demon laughed lightly. "Kuwabara is right."

"Hn." Hiei studied his bandaged palm, ignoring them and their optimism. "Get on with it, detective."

"Oh yeah. Well apparently Hayato has something to say about the territory, but he wanted all of us to be here. Especially you, Hiei. He seems to think you and Kurama will be the ones who know how to best proceed."

"He wants to regain power," the fire demon scoffed bitterly.

"He's her second in command now, so if I were you, I'd at least play nice." Brown eyes narrowed on the temperamental demon, who growled in response. "Oh stuff it up your ass, Hiei. He's her friend."

"She claimed to not have any friends," he shot back.

"He's not out to kill her."

"He's going to have to prove it."

"You're going to make me rupture a blood vessel."

"I'm going to rupture something of yours if you don't-"

"Will you two shut up?" Kazuma snapped at the two dark haired males as a soft groan of annoyance and fear sounded from the small form on the bed. Everyone grew silent, but she didn't stir. "I think she can hear you or something, guys."

"Don't be a fool," Hiei huffed, but didn't continue his argument, just in case, his red eyes scanning Amon-Shinpi for any sign she'd been disturbed or that she was in pain. He'd stopped trying to get into her head when he had started hitting nothing but a wall of white. It was the strangest experience he'd had when invading a mind.

She was locked up tight in that body, and their best efforts hadn't been able to pull her out yet. They just all had to accept that this was something she had to do alone, there was something she had to decide and they couldn't persuade her. She needed to find her own reason to come back to them.

So close.

It seemed like just when her fingertips would graze the light filled opening something shifted and she lost contact with it. She felt as empty as the endless chamber of brightness around her, blinding her and her senses.

That stopped her movements and the light halted from its evasion.

Why was she empty? Was her entire life so callously based on hatred that losing the drive to kill a particular person had literally stripped her of anything worth living for?

The light came closer.

"Oh, screw that," she snarled and the light crept forward unnoticed as she continued berating whatever force of nature was holding her here. "My life was not just based on that cretin. I had friends, granted not very many and not for long, but they were there for me. I had someone who would be disappointed and disgusted to see me this way. One of them has to be worth looking out for, at the very least."

She had to have a purpose waiting, this could not have been her calling all along. Five hundred years of brute strength, stubborn determination and fortifying herself for one lousy demon? No thank you. Blue eyes flicked to the side of her head where she realized the opening was widening beside her. With an outlandish cry she dove forward and got sucked into something of the world she'd left behind.

Grass hit her cheek and she pressed her palms into the earth to lift her upper body up enough to see she was in what looked to be the field outside her castle, except the grass was greener and much shorter. There was also a single apple tree in the middle of the space, a dark figure holding a small body upside down by the ankle.

"Kin?" her eyes focused on the laughing child, unable to see his face. Then she realized the hand holding him in the air was bandaged and she roved up it until her sapphire eyes met crimson. "Hiei?"
"Where have you been?" he demanded with a raised eyebrow, then gave an amused smirk as the boy in his grip struggled to get free. Eyeing the child, who couldn't have been older than four, he continued speaking. "You know how restless they get when you aren't around."

They? She didn't see anyone else, so she rose slowly to study the two males. Hiei set the little boy down, and she realized he was dressed just like the man casually leaning against the tree, allowing him to brush himself off and get to his feet.

When he turned around she was startled to find that he was definitely not Kin. No, not even close. This child was something else. Her heart swelled at the sight of him, so small and perfect with his short cut black hair and a red starburst starting to show in his bangs. His red eyes glittered with happiness as he ran forward and jumped into her arms.

"Mommy! Daddy was showing me out to beat up Uncle Kuwabara." He boasted, flexing his arms. She shot a reproving look to the demon man, but found her anger falling short of expectation. The smoldering look he gave her made her want to swoon.

"I wish you wouldn't allow that idiot human to be considered family," he sniffed, trying to cover the expression in his eyes.

"Mommy!" a little girl flung herself at the small woman, red hair flying. Her eyes were wide and blue, a startling throwback.

"Go find Akira and his pups," Hiei walked over while speaking the demand and pulled his apparent son from her arms gently, setting him on the ground with a soft push. "Me and your mother need to talk."


"Ew. That means he's gonna kiss her!" the little boy made a disgusted face and ran towards the woods with a laugh.

"It's not gross. Daddy loves mommy!" the little girl, approximately the same size and age as the boy called, chasing him. Ichi realized they were twins. A slightly rough hand moved the hair from her face, allowing for a warm mouth to kiss a scar on the juncture where shoulder meets neck.

"I missed you," he breathed huskily, slipping his arms around her waist, as he began nuzzling against her. "I think we need to make up for lost time, while they're busy."

Just before his lips pressed to hers the world turned black and she heard a strangled cry.

Everyone in the room stopped, staring at the twisted face in Kuwabara's lap. Ichi's eyes clenched closed, her mouth opening as she gave out of a cry of pain, fury and longing. It choked with the dryness of her throat, causing her to sputter and flail a bit, eyes flying open as she tried to sit up and promptly realized her head was pinned down by some force.

Panic was understatement for her reaction.

"Oh gods, no. NO!" she screamed, and shook, staring at the ceiling as if she couldn't see the four concerned faces hovering around her. Her legs had kicked the sheet off of her, tangling her ankles, and her stiff and aching arms ripped at the device holding her head down on the soft surface. Nothing was registering. "Get off me! Let me go!"

Her hands clawed the mattress and Kuwabara's leg, making him yelp and fall to the ground, scampering backwards in a crabwalk to get away.

"Shinpi!" Hiei promptly slapped her cheek and stalled all further thrashing as she jumped at the sound of his dark voice, eyes falling onto his form.

"Don't hit her!" All the boys snapped at him at once.

"She was throwing a fit," he retorted without guilt, smoothing his thumb over the redness now rising on the smooth pale skin, his crimson eyes softening as he took in her calmer appearance.

"Am I- Is this another dream?" she whispered hoarsely, her body and voice in desperate need of hydration.

"No, you're awake, finally," Yusuke teased, leaning over the short demon's shoulder while Kuwabara raced to get her some water. "Took you long enough, lazy ass."

"I just had the strangest, most frightening dream," she breathed, eyes sliding over the hanyou back to the fire demon.

"You remembered your dream?" he raised his eyebrows, a bit surprised.

"It was awful," she admitted weakly. Without Kuwabara weighing her hair down on the bed she rose onto her elbows then with the help of Kurama, made it into a seated position. Rubbing her face she added, "I feel like hell."

"You don't look much better," Kurama elbowed Yusuke in the ribs. "What?"

"Here's some water," Kazuma reappeared, slamming the door in the curious faces of the rest of the house guests. "Hey Yusuke, Hayato is here for ya."

"Damn, alright, I'll be right back," the dark haired boy ducked out of the room shouting as he went. "Will you animals get away from the door? What does this look like, a peep show?"

"Why is Hayato here?" the girl looked up curiously, before taking the glass from the only human present and drinking so quickly that she choked, sputtering as she tried to take in air around the water in her throat. It surprised them that when Hiei actually moved to help her she shrunk away from him slightly, wincing at the movement and the effort it took to breath.

"Uh," Kuwabara raised an eyebrow then decided to answer her question while Hiei glowered at Kurama, who had started to rub the girl's back to soothe her coughs. "He wanted to talk to us about something concerning you. He said the team would be trusted to decide since you weren't able to."

"Well, I'm awake now, so I guess I'm able," she held a hand to her chest as it ached. Her eyes slid to the black clothed demon, then looked away quickly as the image of him holding their son danced in her brain. Their imaginary child, in an imaginary world, where they had made an imaginary commitment to one another.

Gods, she had gone insane.

She could not risk thinking of the god awful dream in front of the telepathic fire demon, worried what he'd decipher from it. She wasn't even sure what it had meant for her, how could she explain it to him? He'd probably freak out and rationalize it down to her wanting to have children with him.

She tried to scoff at the idea, but found herself unable.

Did she want to have his children? Worse, did she actually have feelings deep enough to call love? She groaned, trying to escape that line of thinking. It was hard enough admitting she wanted a relationship with the dragon wielder, wanting more would be going against both their natures.

"What do you think you're doing?" the deep voice snapped as she swung her legs out of the tangled sheets and to the floor, not liking how much her muscles strained with the movement. Blue eyes glared at the fire demon. How long had she been asleep? Yusuke had made it sound like she had been in a coma.

"I'm going to talk to Hayato," she stated stubbornly.

"No," he shook his head. "You just woke up after being unconscious for three days, and you haven't even healed from your wounds yet. You're just going to hurt yourself."

"I am not a child!" she yelled defensively, color coming to her cheeks as he moved to stand right in front of her, bent at the waist so their noses were nearly touching.

"Until you stop acting like one, that's how you'll be treated," he made the statement quiet, but forceful. "Now be a good little girl and get back in bed."

She swung at him as the door opened and he caught her fist effortlessly and pushed himself forward, which forced her backwards onto the bed. When Yusuke and Hayato entered the room the fire demon was laying on top of the flustered red head, both of their feet on the floor, and his chest pressing hers into the mattress as they snarled at each other.

"As much as I hate to interrupt," the teen coughed into his hand, and black ears laid flat against the messy red nest of red hair as the blue eyed wind demon peeked over her assailant's shoulder with a growl.

"I'm going to kick your asses, the whole lot of you!" she then let herself fall backwards and added in a barely understood mumble, "As soon as my head stops spinning."

Hiei's face hovered above her own as he smirked, before shoving himself away from her. "You're freezing."

"Blood loss does that," she shivered at the sudden cold his absence created. And that reminded her of how hot he was, in the most literal sense, and her blush deepened. "Jerk."

"Hn." He turned to scan her once-second in command.

"Lord Takani," he bowed to the girl with a grin.

"Way to defend me, you ass," she crossed her arms over her chest as she pulled her legs back onto the bed, looking put out. "What do you want?"

"I was wondering why you're new Guard hadn't already placed you where you rightfully belong," he gestured to her 'Guard' which apparently contained all four members of the Reikai Tentai team.

"Oh," she blinked and scratched her head sluggishly. "They aren't exactly my Guard, Hai. You see, Kurama works for Yomi, and Hiei is Mukuro's second in command, and Yusuke was the heir to Raizen but he gave that up to Hokushin. Not to mention they're all working for Koenma."

"I thought with the way this one," he pointed at Hiei, "was looking after you that he was surely your new third."

Hiei scoffed for all to hear at the proclamation. "I'll have you know that I was offered the position of her second if I chose to take it."

"But you didn't," came the unbothered retaliation.

"Hai," the girl called in a pacifist voice, already rubbing her temples at the impending argument. "Stop antagonizing Hiei."

"Yes, Hai we wouldn't want that," Hiei snapped.

"Oh, bloody hell!" she exclaimed. "What is your issue, hot head?"

"Weren't you discussing your rightful place?" he glared at her, finding a place to glower against the wall, his arms over his chest.

"Oh for the love of," she cried out.

"Ichi," Hayato stepped forward with his hands out to end the argument. "I apologize for my behavior. But my question remains unanswered."
"I don't have a Guard anymore," she rubbed the back of her neck, her mind wandering to the thought of whether or not Botan might give her a massage if she asked kindly. "But I do miss my home. I suppose I'll have to burn the bed though. I have little need to know what sort of things have dwelled there courtesy of that barbarian and his bride."

"It's good to have you back," the demon blacksmith chuckled at his less than lady-like commander. "I would also like to point out that it is only a matter of time before the kings and Enki find need to meet with you."

"Alliances, alliances," she fell into to the routine of thinking of her land as a business all too easily. Yusuke blinked at her confidence. "Look, I can arrange to meet with the kings if I have too, but right now I'd like to focus on healing."

"Of course," he bowed.

"How did you survive the onslaught?" she asked suddenly, her voice deceptively quiet as she regarded the man with cold, menacing eyes. "Everyone in the village was killed. Kin was killed. You should have died before him."

The man didn't even blink at her words, as if he'd expected them, though the others had their own reactions. Hiei looked a bit too smug at her accusation. Yusuke seemed offended that she had so disregarded her friend's health. Kurama didn't look surprised at all. And Kuwabara seemed conflicted on how to react, on one had he was appalled. On the other he was proud she was sticking up for her lost brother.

"I wasn't there." He admitted a bit softly.

"I'm quite aware of that." She continued to stare. "I'm waiting for a viable reason for why."

"I was looking for you," he told her seriously. Hiei stiffened. "Your father charged me with your care. You charged me with Kin's, but I knew the minute Hiro set foot back in our village that you were dying somewhere. Kin was a smart boy he-"

"You let my brother die in some ill-fated hope that he'd be alright so you could find me?" she turned away from him, her eyes icy as her tone. "Hayato, you failed."

"I know." He bowed his head again, in shame.

"What, did you take a lesson from my own cowardice and greed and decide to see if it was worth it?" she turned back to him with the question.

"You were a wonderful teacher, in that concern," he suppressed a smile. "I honestly thought he'd have fled. But you raised a warrior, and he did exactly as you'd have done. He refused to admit defeat and fought to the death with an opponent who bested him."
She was quiet for a few moments, seeming to consider this information.

"Do you think you made the right decision?" she asked quietly, a thick emotion in her voice as she thought about her brother fighting valiantly as she had always taught him to.

"No," he admitted, blinking and looking at her a bit coldly. "I wish I had saved the prince, then maybe all of this could've been avoided."

"Then you live," she breathed out, her eyes full of mist. Hardening her gaze as she realized red eyes were studying her with concern she turned back, trying to force humor into her voice. "Now, how do you think we should go about getting me castle back so my friends have decent accommodations for the rest of their trip?"