**Content Warnings: Mentions of sexual harassment**

Chapter Fifteen

Grin and Bear It

"I don't really think that it has anything to do with what you want necessarily. I think it has to do with what the universe - or god - or whatever you call it - wants to do with you. Why did it create you? I mean, obviously, your parents were banging, but why you."

The topic of conversation hadn't been one that either of them had purposefully brought up. It wasn't a conversation that had been born to have philosophical purposes. Neither Hiei or Ashley had set off on this path when Hiei had stormed into the flat disgruntled with how his day had gone. Somehow between asking "Shit day, huh?" and Hiei launching into exactly how much of a shit day it had been, they had discovered themselves talking about purpose and the higher-powers of the universe/God, and how the fuck do you figure that shit out.

"But if a higher power doesn't exist," Hiei countered after taking a swig of his soda, "and it's all up to you, but everything you do feels empty, how are you supposed to find your purpose when you're so wrapped up in other bullshit?"

They were talking about his current job as a mediator, of course. Ashley had figured out early in the conversation that this 'purpose' that Hiei sought, was something that he'd been trying to find for awhile. It was something that she'd struggled with in college, too, before just giving up fighting it all and just focusing on her grades.

"Okay, so what do you like to do? What brings you joy?"

Hiei leveled a glare at her, but there was no malice behind it. In fact, Ashley's stomach did a little flip as he did. He sat in his usual corner by the door, soda bottle dangling from his fingertips, one leg straight out and the other cocked at the knee. Ashley sat at the kotatsu, her grading long-since forgotten. Summer break just weeks away and her students were already beginning to lose their focus, as evidenced by their piss-poor assignments that they kept turning in. It was depressing work that often left Ashley frustrated; this break was more welcome than Hiei could possibly know.

"I enjoy fighting, and proving myself in battle." The words were soft, showing his vulnerability. They were familiar. Once, a lifetime ago, they sat in the same room sharing a meal, barely more than strangers, and he told her something similar. How far they had come in just a few months.

"Okay, obviously you don't enjoy the mediator job, but maybe you can find something that's linked to battles? The world's going to shit anyway; I'm sure you can find something where you can use your talent."

Although Hiei's glare was blank without any malice, Ashley could pick out the barest incredulity behind his gaze. "Uzai," he muttered, seemingly lost in shock.

"Excuse you." Ashley sat back, putting her pen down. "Nothing that I said called for that."

"Actually -"

She cut him off, quick to the draw. "What?"

He paused, as if to regain his composure after she cut him off like that. "That was a very assuming thing to say. I'm entirely entitled to call you that."

"Even if it was assuming-" she tried to say.

"It was." He assured her, taking another sip of his soda. "I've already thought of all that."

She huffed a sigh through her nose, "Don't call me uzai." Uzai, meaning a pain in the ass.

"I will call you anything I want."

"Okay," she relented, seeing where she could take this. "Then I get to call you a cuntpuddle."

His soda bottle was away from his lips immediately. "What the hell does that mean?"

"An unfailing bastard," she pronounced each word as if she was immensely proud of her nickname for him.

His answer, however, came swiftly. "No."

A heaviness had descended upon the room - the exact opposite from what she had intended. "Alright," Ashley backpedaled, wondering exactly how she'd managed to offend him with that. Of course, there was still so much that she didn't know about the young man sitting across the room from her. "How about cockwomble?" He lifted a brow, bottle hesitating before his lips. "It means you're a useless, bumbling fuckwit."

"That'd be more appropriate for Kuwabara," Hiei mused. "Also, no."

She huffed, crossing her arms, knowing she fully looked like a five year old not getting her way. "Then don't call me uzai."

Hiei waited only half a moment before pronouncing the word once more. "Uzai."

That got Ashley's irritation rising. Fine. "Cockwomble."

Eyes narrowed. "Fuck you."

"Fuck you, too." She spat back at him.

"Alright, then, you want to play this game? What is your purpose then? It can't be teaching your students when they keep getting grades like that."

Her mouth fell slack. "That is a terrible thing to say. And when the hell did you look at my grading?"

"It's easy enough to guess at with the expressions you make when you do it."

"You're not supposed to be able to read me that well. I can't even read you that well."

"You are terrible at hiding how you really feel," Hiei replied, which only made Ashley blush. What else had he seen within her emotions? "But really, if we're talking about my purpose, let's talk about your purpose. What are you put on this pitiful world to do besides give shit advice?"

"That's mean." Her accusation held no blame; Hiei merely shrugged. "I don't know really. I've always loved the piano. I used to want to play as a concert pianist."

"Okay, so you're halfway there. Why didn't you?"

Ashley groaned, the truth hiding behind her lips. It was a stupid reason, really, when she thought about it now. "I wanted to spite my parents. They wanted me to get a degree I could actually use. Look at me now," she motioned to her student's papers, to which Hiei snorted.

"You could still go back, you know," he said, his words thoughtful. "You can still do it, if that's really what you want to do."

Refusing to let him play pity-sulking-party, Ashley rolled her eyes, her phone vibrating against the kotatsu's table. One quick look told her it was her mother. Before picking up the line, she leveled a finger at Hiei, who was already reaching for the iPod and earbuds of Ashley's, subdued mirth twinkling in his scarlet eyes. "Don't play that game, Hiei. You play it, I play it right back: Both of us are young; you can find your purpose, too." With that, she swiped the phone, answering it and greeted her mother.

"Ashley, you're speaking Japanese," came her mother's voice.

A quick roll of her eyes, and sneaking a glance at Hiei, who's attention was focused on scrolling through the music, and she replied in English. "Sorry; hi, Mum! I miss you!"

They'd been talking for a good hour about life and just catching up on everything: what had been going on with the company, how the wedding planning was progressing for Sophia and Daniel. Her mother had apparently had some tests come back abnormal and was getting more tests done; nothing serious, she assured her daughter.

Hiei settled into the music he listened to. Even though Ashley couldn't hear it - he kept it turned down nearly as far as he could take it - she guessed at what he was listening to. It was what he almost always listened to since they had had a conversation about it back during the typhoon. The fact that that day was two weeks ago was baffling.

Eventually the conversation turned towards what her Mum had actually called to tell Ashley about, and after a few moments of it, Ashley found herself unable to sit still, nervous energy settling in her legs. She stood and began pacing, just to try to get some of it out.

"It's just for a day," Mum said over the receiver. "And they'll come to you, so it's not like you'll have to fly out somewhere and interrupt your schedule. Jacob can even do it on a Saturday."

Ashley pinched the bridge of her nose. "And remind me, what this is for again?"

"Wright United has surpassed Techni Mobile in assets. We are now listed as one of the biggest firms in Europe. This is a huge deal, Ashley Lynn! You should be more excited!"

"I am, don't worry," she replied dryly. Yes, she was excited. This was a huge deal for her Dad and Oliver as well, especially since he was due to take over the company at some point soon. But this was exactly one of the things she had come to Japan to get away from: the company, and all the bells and whistles that came with it. "And I'll do it, but can you give me his number or something? I don't want to be waiting around for him to contact me when I can schedule it myself."

European Business Magazine wanted to do a photo spread and an interview with each of the family members, Ashley included, of course, even though she was nearly six thousand miles away.

There went a Saturday for her: time that she could be spending traveling or sightseeing. She would now have to give back to Wright United Technologies.

"Don't sound so miserable," her Mum chided. "This is good for us."

Ashley followed Hiei's gaze out the window. Two weeks since they had talked about what was always playing in her earbuds and two weeks since Kurama had been there, introducing his idea for the plants to play a roll in protecting her. At least they were pretty to look at. Her patio looked like a jungle now. It had looked even more like a jungle after Kurama had had his way with it, but Ashley had taken a pair of shears once she determined that a little upkeep wouldn't affect their protection methods at all, and had groomed them into presentable looking things. Her patio actually looked like someone lived there now, rather than the barren slab of concrete it had been before.

And the complex itself had had a greenery makeover. It looked like the landscaping crew actually cared beyond the little garden they had.

In the first week, Ashley had worn the little seeds that Kurama had given her in her pocket, vowing she wouldn't be a rebel and remove them even though it was really none of their business where she went. Kurama had been adamant in assuring her that having the seeds on her body didn't necessarily tell him exactly where she was, but more of a general area. A quick game of hide and seek, with Kurama vowing he wouldn't use his enhanced senses, proved he was right. They did give a general location, and nothing more.

For the first few days she didn't hear anything from Hiei. He didn't come around, and he didn't try to reach out to her, leaving her feeling empty. Even though she was "protected" now by the plants (however protected one could really be with the help of plants - to say she was still skeptical was an understatement) - and she didn't have to worry about a certain fire demon following her around, she still found herself missing him, as absurd as that thought was. Eventually, after nearly four days of his absence, Ashley had typed out a simple, -It's not like I don't want you around.- And although it was just a simple statement, it felt vulnerable, as if she was admitting to more than the text implied.

Immediately Hiei had started showing up in the evenings, no words exchanged about her text. He would show up on her patio, fighting with the greenery, right after she got off work, and would leave before she went to sleep. It wasn't like she used the seeds while she was at home anyway; there was no point that she could see. If she was within the apartment barrier, and anyone looking would be off-put by it, what was the point of wearing the seeds inside? Especially if Hiei was near?

She didn't want to admit it, but his presence was like a steady calm when he was near. Even now, even with him sitting across the room from her, it was a comfort having him near.

When, exactly, that feeling had settled within her, evaded her memory completely.

"Fine, I'll call Jacob," Ashley finally said, relenting to her mother.

Yes, it would be good for the company, and it might even bring in more business.

"Thank you, love. Oh, also-" Just as Ashley was getting ready to hang up the phone, her Mum caught her attention. A slight groan slipped from between Ashley's lips as she danced a little in the middle of her flat; she really needed to pee.

"Bradley Eckhart will be in town as well." That name dropped her stomach and she froze. Hiei caught the movement and glanced up, watching her with narrowed eyes.

Bradley Eckhart was one of the most important business partners that her dad dealt with on a daily basis. Without his business, the company likely would not have grown into the powerhouse that it had become over the years. But all of that aside, Bradley Eckhart was known for the uncomfortable situations he often put women in. More than once he had made Ashley feel uncomfortable, bringing her into his office and tucking her hair behind her ear with a gentle, "You have such pretty hair." Sometimes he would even let her sit in his spinning office chair. It was one of the nice ones with leather, unlike her Dad's. She would sit in the chair and look over the London skyline. When the day came that he came to stand behind her in the chair and griped her shoulders firmly, Ashley made an excuse about needing to find Sophia and escaped.

Even as a child of barely ten, she was never sure exactly what was wrong, only that she didn't like him. And whenever she had to visit the office with her siblings, Eckhart was almost always around. She and Sophia had made a pact when they were young that they would always be buddies in the office, and go to the bathroom together so if anything happened they wouldn't be alone.

Nothing ever happened, of course, but they were always careful.

"He's a good business partner," their dad had said when they told him of their discomfort around him. "I'll talk to him. In the meantime, just make yourself scarce whenever you feel uncomfortable."

Now, thirteen years later, Ashley knew that wasn't the correct response, but it had been the early millennium years, and Dad had been trying to grow his company. She couldn't fault him for that, but she certainly had never forgotten that conversation.

These days, Sophia rarely visited the corporate office, preferring to hole herself away in the House, and Ashley wanted nothing to do with the company anyway. She'd always had a talent for technology and knowing exactly what was wrong with devices, but that was one of the things that pushed her away from the company the fastest: she was good at it, but it brought her no joy.

All that aside, Bradley Eckhart was coming into town. "Will you have dinner with him over there? I know he visits Japan some, but you could even show him around." Mum never learned of how uncomfortable Eckhart had made her and Sophia. It was better, in their child minds at the time, to spare her that worry when Dad had "taken care of it." "It would be good networking, and it would strengthen our relationship with his company."

Good networking. Even though Ashley had told her mother countless times that she wanted no part in the company, her mother was always trying to push her towards it anyway.

Ashley met Hiei's gaze. Perhaps he could go with her. He was around all the time these days and she remembered his demeanor when Kurama had come and told him that he was no longer needed in her protection. She could see he registered the question in her eyes and quirked a brow.

"I'll think about it. Can I bring a date?" she asked, gaze never leaving Hiei's.

"I don't see why not. Again, it would be good networking, so I would say it's alright. He'll contact you in a few days. He should be in town just after Jacob leaves. You have his number, right?"

Ashley could see Hiei's face morph in a hesitant question. He could obviously hear them speaking, but the entire conversation with her Mum had been in English, which he didn't understand a word of.

"Yeah, I have it," Ashley replied quickly. "And that sounds fine to me. Anyway, I need to go. I love you."

Once they hung up the phone, Ashley placed the phone on the table, motioning to Hiei to wait a moment, and raced to the bathroom. Once she returned just a few minutes later, she sat back down at the kotatsu across from where Hiei lounged against the wall.

"What's wrong?" he was already on the defensive.

Ashley sighed, pulling out her pony tail and raking her fingers through her hair. Avoiding his gaze, she asked, "Feel like being my boyfriend once more?"

"Ugh, Ashley, I'm so sorry you have to deal with that wanker," Sophia said through Skype. Two years previously, over the course of winter break, Ashley had helped Sophia and Daniel set up Skype in the old drawing room of the house, which was where Sophia sat currently, perched in an old armchair, looking very out of place among the decorations of the house which was older than their mother.

Hiei had flitted off somewhere for the night. Ashley swore she was never going to get used to him sprinting off like he did. It was like he ceased to exist. Her eyes couldn't follow the movement at all. By the second time she'd seen him do it she finally found the courage to ask if he was teleporting.

For a moment, Ashley could have sworn her skin was melting off her face from the intensity of the glare that Hiei delivered. The only reply that followed was a curt "No," and that was the end of that conversation.

It was only Minamino - no, Kurama (his correct name was another thing she was trying to get used to) that explained he was sprinting, but had incredibly fast speed, even for a demon.

Hesitantly, she had asked Hiei if she could see more of what he could do, something telling her in the back of her mind that he wouldn't oblige, but she found her courage and asked anyway, barely able to look at him from beneath her lashes, her heart beating a tattoo in her chest.

Really, there was no reason to be nervous at all. None.

But she was, she finally admitted to herself. Why? She couldn't say, but Hiei had denied her request with a short, "You don't need to concern yourself with that," while keeping his gaze fixed outside her window.

Strangely, she had been disappointed, and tried to avoid bringing up the topic altogether, but still found herself wondering what all her fire demon could do.

Her fire demon. He doesn't belong to you like an object! And he only stuck around her… to what? To protect her from some imaginary demon out to kill her for Hiei's past decisions? That same imaginary demon who supposedly couldn't pass through the barrier that Kurama had created for her. Why, exactly, Hiei hung around these days was a mystery to her completely, besides the text she'd sent him those days after the typhoon, there was no reason for his sudden reappearance in her life. Again.

Not that she minded; it was nice having his company around, and more often than not she found herself feeling slightly nervous around him. For what reason, she didn't have a clue. It was Hiei, after all. Brusque, abrupt, sarcastic Hiei.

As it were, however, Hiei was gone for the night, two days after she'd had the conversation with her mother. Fourteen hours after Jacob had called to arrange the photo shoot and interview. It would be on Saturday, in the morning. Like clockwork, or more like he was telepathic, Eckhart had called exactly three minutes after she'd hung up with Jacob. The coincidence was almost too much, and raised the gooseflesh down her neck.

The photo shoot would be on Saturday, in the morning, and the dinner with Eckhart would be in the evening. Apparently, Jacob was interviewing Eckhart for a companion article to the company's, and Eckhart had thought it would be a "lovely idea" for them all to get together for dinner. Eckhart's treat of course, he insisted.

"I will be bringing a guest," Ashley declared when Eckhart had stopped to take a breath. "My boyfriend, Hiei."

"Well isn't that a surprise," Eckhart had replied, feigning shock through the receiver. "You've barely been in japan for four months and you've already met your significant other? You know, you can slow down. You shouldn't be in a rush for these sorts of things."

He really did make her skin crawl. She could never say anything without him injecting some of his so-called "wisdom" into the conversation.

Saturday was bound to be bloody fantastic.

Behind Sophia, a candle moved off a side table and dropped to the floor. On it's own volition.

"Busy day?" Ashley asked instead of replying directly to Sophia. This kind of activity with the House was not abnormal.

Sophia replied by rolling her eyes for the camera dramatically, and bending to pick up the candle and set it back on the table. "Emma says hello."

"Hello, Emma," Ashley said aloud, only half as enthusiastically as she spoke to Sophia. Truly, nothing was there in the room with Sophia. Nothing and no one. How Sophia was able to determine who was who in the household and distinguish between the five spirits was beyond Ashley's range of knowledge.

"It really is obvious, at least these days," Sophia replied, cutting Ashley off, not that she minded. "I mean, how many signs are we up to these days? I don't have my notebook with me, but um, let's see here…" she trailed off as she leaned back into her armchair and began counting off events on her fingers like a child might. "There's the clocks, which were the first sign. Then the writing on the wall began at the same time that the whisperings came. Then the electricity flickerings, and just in the last few weeks or so have they started pushing items off the tables. Grandmother's old vase was pushed last week. No idea who did that."

Ashley wasn't listening. "Can I see the writing?"

Sophia paused. "Um, yeah, I'll get a picture to you. But I'm guessing that's not why you called."

Truthfully? No. That wasn't why Ashley had called at all, however, it would be nice to at least be able to picture this obscure "writing" whenever Isla or Sophia mentioned it. Ashley shook her head. "You've got me there. I am curious, but it's not the sole reason I'm calling.

"I was wondering if you could ship me a dress. One of the old dresses, maybe? There's no time to go out shopping this soon before dinner. Especially with work right now."

"Are you trying to show off for your boyfriend?" Ashley internally flinched at the word. Hiei had said he would be her boyfriend for the evening even though Ashley had masterfully dodged his questions about why she had suddenly become so tense during her conversation with her Mum. "Or, are you trying to tell Eckhart to back off?"

"C. All of the above," Ashley replied, already having two dresses in mind. "I can't decide between the red with wine flowers and the blue."

Sophia thought on it for only a moment before declaring, "Blue. Definitely blue. Was it ever really a question?"

Even though they a few years apart in age, it helped that they were similar in personality. "Well, I just couldn't decide."

"Really? The red is way more sensual than the blue. But the blue is like royalty. Plus, you slay in that dress." Sophia replied with a wink. The candle tipped off the side table again. Again, Sophia replaced the candle on the table.

"I also wanted to ask you," Ashley began, drawing out her words and stumbling before she finally found the right phrasing. "Have you spoken with Oliver recently?"

Immediately, Ashley could see Sophia tense. She sat a little straighter, and her hands clenched in her lap. "I have," she offered stiffly.

"And what do you think? It's bollocks, right?"

Sophia sniffed, not looking directly at the camera. "Well, I will agree that demons are causing too much upheaval in the world, right when we need peace ourselves, but Oliver is going about it the wrong way altogether." Ashley could at least see where Sophia was coming from. The woman in front of her had always loved history, even the messy bits. Perhaps that was why she loved the House so much. It was part of their family's history. It was personal history.

"Besides, you don't need to worry about Oliver, Ashley. Dad is trying to convince him his ideas are too extreme."

"Wait," Ashley cut her off before she could say anything else. "Too extreme? He was just mouthing off some rhetoric to me before. It's the stuff he likely found on a blog somewhere. What are you talking about "his ideas"?"

Sophia raised her hands in surrender. "Look, Ashley, I'll be honest with you: I've been trying not to listen too much to Oliver these past few months. It's like he joined a cult or something and got brainwashed, so I don't really have a good idea of what he's spouting. Dad spends way more time grooming him to become CEO of the company, but Dad says it's bad, and definitely not something we want our image to reflect.

"If you want advice, don't spend your time worrying about it too hard. Enjoy your time in Japan. You'll never get another experience like this."

Ashley pulled in a breath. "I know you're right, but I'm still worried about him."

Sophia, always mothering anyone who would let her, wore a tight, sad smile. "I am too."

"That's it, now turn - turn - turn - don't look at the camera, love."

Jacob had been the family photographer for articles with Wright United for years, and he was only a few years older than Ashley herself. The number of times they had ended up working together for an article made him practically like family, minus his very American accent, and he always delivered stunning photographs.

Ashley knew his style well, and the type of images he liked to go for. So she just acted for the camera, smiling and having a grand time in the park that Jacob had picked out to be their location for the day. In the middle of the urban jungle and skyscrapers that lined every side, it was a small respite, the greenery providing a nice escape from the bustle of city life.

Even with the stifling heat that Tokyo had adopted for the summertime, Ashley still wore jeans with a light blouse to match. The reason had less to do with what the weather had decided to do and more along the lines of what the article was for. It was a professional piece for the company so she, one, had to look professional, and two, didn't want to show off her legs for the camera. Millions of people read these articles, and there would be a copy of it on their digital site. There was no way she was wearing shorts, even when the weather was like it was.

Every so often, usually as Jacob would move Ashley into her next position, Ashley would glance up and scan the team of people who hung back letting Jacob do his work. Hiei was back there somewhere, usually around the monitor that would flash the image on a screen before the next would appear.

His arms crossed over his chest, Ashley could tell he was tense. Perhaps it was being out in the open like this, or maybe he just didn't like large crowds. But the difference between him and the others was stark; how she'd missed it before she couldn't quite find, but maybe it was because she now knew he was a demon that it was obvious.

He was still of average height, but his body was defined in ways that it wasn't with others. The biceps of his arms and the pectorals of his chest strained against the black button-up he wore, sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He was more built than anyone else in the crowd, and he looked sturdy too. The humans that moved around him gave off every image of frailty, but Hiei looked more like a workhorse. A workhorse who had seen his fair share of shit.

And it was to be expected, really, as he'd let her know after she'd hung up with her mother. He'd come to sit at the kotatsu. She'd be out in the open, he'd told her, and if anything happened, he would be risking his anonymity as well.

How she wanted to close the distance between them at that moment. Take his hand in hers, feel what it felt like, but she kept her distance. Whatever they were at that point, they were not dating, and she had no right to harbor these feelings toward him.

"We can't live in fear and make all our decisions based on that fear, right?" Really, it was something Mum had told her when she'd been bullied back in middle school, but it seemed to connect with Hiei, and he'd relented.

At that memory, almost as if he was in her mind itself, Hiei glanced up from the monitor, and met her gaze from across the distance that was between them. Immediately, Ashley's stomach dropped and filled with nerves, and she only found herself able to hold his gaze for a moment until she had to look away, flustered.

She could still feel Hiei's gaze on her as Jacob moved her into the next position.

Ashley tried not to watch Hiei from across the crowd, but every so often, she found herself catching his eye and looking away just as quickly. Soon enough, Jacob ushered her into two armchairs that had been set up in the park for the photo shoot. Before they began Jacob had explained to Ashley that they would be doing the interview for the article and taking a video of the interview to edit together to create a video to go on their page. So while they could edit the video, she knew she needed to get her words correct the first time.

Their lawyer, Winston, had once coached her three times a week for a month before college. Only say good things about the company. Any personal opinions, keep them to yourself. Only comment on things that the CEO, her father, had made public. Keep herself in a good light. Any controversial topics, stay away from completely. The laundry list of rules always made her brain hurt just thinking about them all.

"So," Jacob began in English, getting comfortable in his chair and crossing his legs at the knee. "Tell us about your time here in Japan. What are you doing over here so far away from your family?"

Someone brought her tea, which she accepted readily, as they did with Jacob. It was like they were back in England… but in Japan.

Ignoring the design choice, she opened up about her job and the adventures she'd had so far, leaving out the dating prank that she and Hiei had started on, as well as everything to do with Dion and her current predicament. By the end of the article, she would be just a normal young adult exploring the world by teaching English abroad, and not a young adult exploring the world by teaching English abroad while also avoiding death and dismemberment by a crazy demon bent on destroying her life because of something her faux-boyfriend did years ago.

Yeah, totally normal.

"Now, Ashley. Your brother, Oliver, is engaged, as well as your sister. The wedding dates have been set for one year, and two years out, respectfully. Do you see love on the horizon for you? Are you seeing anyone?"

For a moment, Ashley entertained the idea of telling him that yes, she was seeing Hiei, until she realized that that was no longer their Truth and they were again just putting on a show. "No," she replied instead. "I'm not seeing anyone."

"Well, there's gotta be someone you have your eye on. Maybe in this crowd even?" If he didn't feel like family, Jacob might be good looking to her. He wore his red curly hair long, long enough that he usually had to brush the curls out of his eyes and away from his square-rimmed glasses. He was tall and lean and dressed well, even casually. A dusting of freckles fell across his nose and cheeks and when he smiled or felt embarrassed about something, he would look away. He was talented: one of the best photographers that worked for himself and ran his own company. By Ashley's age she'd started his own company that several magazines used several times every month. He was incredible, and knew what he wanted to do with his life, but he was like a brother.

Ashley caught Hiei's eye, her stomach dropping into nerves before he turned and walked away. "There's someone," she admitted softly, turning back to Jacob next to her with a gentle smile. "But I don't think my feelings would be reciprocated."

When Mum had first told Ashley about the photo shoot and dinner, Ashley had called Kurama almost immediately. He seemed the best person to help her in this moment of need: being a demon himself and working for the corporate world. Surely he knew a thing or two about finding a suit for a demon who was pretending to be human but knew absolutely nothing about being human.

Kurama had come through.

Ashley had asked Hiei to come over after the photo shoot. He'd disappeared into the crowd during her interview, not being able to understand a word of it anyway, but had reappeared via her porch as soon as she returned home without a word.

It didn't take much for him to get ready; just a quick shower and then he was ready to pull on the pieces to the suit. Ashley, however, after showering, pulling back her hair into a loose bun and donning her makeup, took nearly an hour. Sophia had been able to overnight the dress to Ashley, which was truly a blessing; one less thing to worry about.

It had been one of her favorite dresses. The one she had worn to the company Christmas party back in college. Royal blue all the way through, and high-necked so no cleavage showed. The only decoration was the beading from the torso to the neckline, but it was breathtakingly gorgeous, and nearly two thousand pounds in cost. It was likely the most expensive thing she owned, but it was worth it; she always felt like a queen while wearing the dress.

"Well, what do you think? Shall I do?" She asked as she stepped out from the bathroom, in the space between the kitchen and the kotatsu.

As she did, her breath caught. Hiei was dressed in the suit: black button-up with sharp black slacks and a jacket that fit him perfectly. His hair he wore in his usual way: messy and looking like he just stepped out of a wind tunnel, but he was drop-dead handsome in that suit. Kurama had done well.

At that moment, Ashley just wanted to forget all about this damned dinner and rip off his clothes herself, but she instead pulled her lips into a line, being careful not to smudge her lipstick.

As soon as his crimson gaze turned from the tv to meet hers, her heart raced into a gallop and a warm heat settled in her belly. His stare was intense, and he looked like he was waging his own battles, too, his eyes roaming over her body. This, she realized, she didn't mind at all.

But they weren't dating.

Sucking in a breath, she steeled herself. This is just for tonight.

Still.

"You look nice," she muttered when he didn't say anything, and she realized she wasn't ready to go quite yet.

Closing the distance between them, Hiei looked her up and down once more. "You don't look half bad, either," he said in his brusque way.

Ashley was reminded of the first time they got into each other's space like this. It had been months ago when he'd come to her apartment in the rain and she'd gotten in his face about behaving himself and respecting her or something. Then, just as they were now, Hiei stood over her, but unlike before, Ashley wasn't pushing her weight around. Now, she stood so close she could feel his natural warmth rolling off his body. She tried to ignore her racing heart, tried to ignore the urge she felt to close these last few inches and just kiss him already, tried to ignore the desire she felt for wanting to feel his body press against hers, tried to ignore just how close he was to her... She realized this was the closest they had ever been without wanting to strangle the other.

Instead of the tension they had between them months ago, things were different between them now; charged. When the change had occurred, Ashley wasn't sure, but she was positive she didn't want it to disappear.

"What are you thinking?" she finally broke the silence between them. In her clutch, her phone buzzed; likely the driver of Eckhart's town car letting them know he was downstairs. Ashley didn't make a move to check it.

The anticipation nearly destroyed her. Hiei didn't dare come close to touching her, hands shoved in his pockets, but he searched her eyes, his own flitting back and forth between hers as he tried to figure out something in that brain of his.

"You never explained to me why you don't want to go to this dinner alone."

The disappointment that flooded her body was nearly fatal, she was sure. Sucking in a breath, she didn't step back but instead stayed exactly where she stood.

"You've been protecting me, right?" She asked. It was rhetorical, but Hiei nodded once nonetheless. "Well, I need a protector tonight." Quickly, feeling the phone vibrate in her clutch once more, she summarized how Eckhart had made her feel uncomfortable in the past and how she was helpless to do anything about it. About halfway through explaining the situation, Hiei stepped back and ran a hand through his hair, tension suddenly gripping his body.

"Why did you even agree to this in the first place?" he snapped, his eyes burning like coals.

She knew his anger was not directed at her, but she still snapped back. "Sometimes you don't have a choice in these things. He's an important part of the company. Unless I'm sick with something, I can't miss a dinner like this."

She didn't give him a chance to respond to that. "We are - no. I am late and need to go. I would like for you to come with me. Not only as a buffer from Eckhart," she thought back to all the times she'd been with Emmett back in college and the other guys at a party would back off when they learned she was with someone already. "But also, I feel safe when I'm around you," Ashley finally admitted, rolling her lips together and glancing away after she did. She could feel the heat flooding her cheeks at that admission, and the embarrassment that was right on its heels, but she continued. "I feel like I can conquer any situation. Even the tough ones.

"So, that's why I don't want to go to this dinner, and that's why I asked you, too. But the town car is downstairs, and while I'd certainly like for you to come with me, it's your choice." She shrugged her shoulders and headed for the door, half expecting him to stay in her flat while she walked out.

Yes, she should have told him all the details immediately, but a part of her realized that by keeping the details from him, she had now entrapped herself in the situation and he couldn't try to talk her out of it. The dinner was something that needed to be done, regardless of how uncomfortable the whole thing made her.

She was nearly to the car downstairs when she nearly jumped out of her skin, feeling a hand brush against the small of her back. Looking up, however, reassured her. Hiei was there, by her side. He didn't bother to say anything to her, there, or during the ride into Tokyo, but at some point during the ride, his knee came to rest against hers. It was a small gesture, but calmed her racing heart anyway. This dinner was going to be the hardest test she'd had to face in awhile.

It was to be in one of the skyscrapers that overlooked the city. Fifty two stories up, and Ashley was sure she could see her flat from the restaurant. The restaurant that had been rented out to accommodate the four people that would be sitting at the round table situated in the middle of the room. Windows encapsulated the walls completely, creating the image as if they were floating above of the sea of lights below them. Even a grand piano sat in a corner, its player tapping out a slow jazz.

As approaching footsteps rounded the corner of the entrance, a low whistle announced his presence, making them spin.

"Ashley Lynn," his voice reached their ears, his words cloying. "What a beautiful young woman you've turned out to be."

- End of Chapter Fifteen -

It's Sunday still somewhere in the United States…even if it's not still Sunday where I am. But this chapter ended up growing another thirteen hundred words even when it was already six thousand words long, and then I had to edit the damn thing, on top of a busy Sunday. I know I could have done it on Saturday, but shhhhh.

We finally have met Eckhart! Sort of. Kind of. He'll be here for most of chapter sixteen, unfortunately, but he holds a key later on in the plot, so we have to put up with him, now.

On a better note, I had such fun writing that first scene with their nicknames. Those also come into play later, but oh my goodness. Writing those dialogue bits was a blast. That's where the extra 1300 words came from. I hope you liked that scene as much as I do. I'm so glad I've reached a point where they are comfortable with each other (to a point, of course) and can actually banter back and forth.

Thank you to WistfulSin, musicnutftw, ProperEnglish, and BlkRoseOfMine for your lovely reviews on Chapter Fourteen! I loved getting to see your comments; thank you.

I do not own, in any way, the characters, places, or ideas of the Yu Yu Hakusho universe created by Yoshihiro Togashi. I only own my own characters and plot.