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"What the hell do mean, I didn't complete the task?! I killed the damn demon, didn't I?!" Hiei swore at the platform of demons who looked down at him, an assortment of expressions on their faces. Some carried sympathy or impassiveness, but most simply looked on with content and distaste.

"NO," one of the demons spoke up, from just to the left side of the platform. "You had HELP. Outside help, which you know is NOT permitted. You should be happy we're not punishing you, half breed!" Hiei felt his hackles raise at the snide name, baring his teeth but managing to suppress a growl.

"I THOUGHT," he snarled, just barely keeping his wild temper under control, "that I was to get a reward for doing what you asked. You never SAID that there were conditions to his death. You should have specified THAT before you agreed to my terms."

"The terms were," the main demon spoke up, voice even and expression impassive, "that YOU kill the demon. If the demon dies by another's hand, then he didn't die by yours, which means that it was YOU, not us, to not keep up their side of the bargain.

Taking several deep breaths to keep from lashing up with snide names of his own, he looked up at the platform of thieves. "Very well," he agreed, mouth and throat tight. "I shall except the fact that you refuse to give me a large break in, but could you at least choose a new assignment that better suits my taste. Not another," he raised his lips in contempt as he spat, "assassination," like a bitter, sour word.

The leader looked at him for a moment, clearly in thought, as both the fire demon and the rest of the council watched him for his answer. "Very well," he finally agreed, and Hiei let a breath escape that he didn't know he was holding. "I agree. But, unfortunately I do not have a case in mind at the moment. Stay around for a week or so, and we'll have an assignment by then. Visit Kilna in five moons for the new task you will be given."

And as Hiei turned to leave the gathering of the council of thieves, the leader spoke up again. "And Hiei," he said, as the fire demon turned around to meet the main spokesperson's dark, black eyes. "We expect you to finish the assignment in a quick, orderly fashion. We shall not tolerate mess ups like the last."

And with a quick bow, Hiei let the heavy, wooden carved door bang shut behind him, sounding throughout the council room like a gunshot.

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It was on that day that the council told him, that Hiei went through the twisting and turning off the halls at his usual quick walking pace. When he at last reached two large, and obviously expensive glass doors, he pushed them open with little effort and entered a small room, much like that of an office, with large wooden shelves, a desk, and a lamp next to one large easy chair. To the right was a doorway leading to a small hallway with only three, small closets.

The fire demon entered, and cast his sharp, blazing red eyes around the room, looking for the person he was sent here to see. "Hello, Hiei love!" a voice called from the small back hallway. "Stay right there, I'll be out in a second!"

There was the sound of moving papers as Hiei sat down in the green, easy chair, soon fallowed by a thud, a high pitched squeak of a woman. Finally, out staggered a black haired, cat demon, buried in the piles of papers she was caring. She staggered across the room, unable to see anything in her path, and after a second of watching her with amusement, Hiei stood up. Sighing deeply, he walked over to the cat girl, taking half of her huge stack of papers, "Idiot, Kilna," he mumbled, taking them from her. "If you crashed something, then you'd have an even bigger mess then you do now."

Kilna set her pile of papers down with a toothy grin. "Aw, Hiei," she babied jokingly. "I didn't know you cared! Should we have the wedding this winter, or wait till spring?"

Hiei shook his head in contempt, doing a very adept job at hiding the blush that was spreading inward. Kilna laughed in joy, as the fire demon muttered some very rude phrases to the female, something about it being no surprise cats were solitary creatures.

"Anyhow," she grinned at him as her laughing finally settled down. "The council sent you about your new mission, right?"

"Hn," Hiei answered, knowing the female cat would not mistake it for anything other then agreement.

"Well, this is no laughing matter," she told him with a sideward glance, as she walked gracefully over to one of the brown shelves, flipping through several cream colored folders before she finally found the one she wanted.

"Here you go," she handed the packet to him, as he carefully took it. "Won't be easy. I guess they want you to steal something from Enma's own vault."

"What?!" Hiei glanced up sharply from the folder he had yet to open, his eyes wide and face temporarily whipped of the impassive look he usually held.

"Yup," Kilna shrugged. "I don't know much about it myself. After all, it's not like I go rooting through peoples files or anything."

Hiei sniffed loudly, a gesture that obviously thought otherwise. Kilna grinned at him. "Okay," she admitted. "MOST of the time."

The fire demon sighed deeply as he starred down at the still unopen packet. The cat, obviously sensing his emotions, said kindly to him, "go sit down over there where you can read about it in peace," she motioned to the chair. "Take your time. You're going to have to know this job good in order to succeed."

Mindlessly obeying her instructions, he ambled over to the chair, slipping into it with ease, still staring down at the folder. Finally, with a last big sigh, he opened it up slowly.

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Hello everyone!

I know it's been a very long time since I've written in this story, but now that Ashes is done, I can focus more on Fire Thief and Fox Child. Another story should probably be starting too, so keep your eyes peeled!

Not much to say, but thank you everyone for all the reviews! Feel free to email me about anything at all! I absolutely love email!!!!

Dream Fox