Well, it looks like I'll be typing this twice. Since the computer must REALLY hate me, and it shut itself off. Before I got a chance to save what I had. *sigh* Anyway...after this, there is ONE more chapter of Hiruiseki. This was actually fun to write. I always enjoy writing comedic chaos...and this was DEFINITELY chaotic comedy. *blinks* Wait...did I just...backwards? Ah, well, never mind. When we last left off, Kuronue was freed from a living nightmare with a bit of assistance from his Koorime charge. And then Zenkai threw Kuronue and Yukina into a wall...resulting in a VERY pissed Hiei and Kaeru. And after the whole place blew up, and Kaeru received a lecture on bravery, we now have three unconscious Koorime, and a tired chimera and rescue crew, headed back to Suzuki's. Not to worry, Kia's driving. ^^;;

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"I hate you, I hate you, I hate you," Kia said over and over again as Chitsuko sat her down in a kitchen chair, wrapping bandages around her head and over the bloody gash on her forehead. "I hate you, I hate you, I-"

"Hold her down, will you, love?" Chuu asked the kitsune nervously, eyeing the angered Mirror Holder. "I'm afraid the gal is gonna try to kill me."

"Try to kill you?" Kia echoed, grinning dangerously. "TRY to kill you? Oh, no, Chuu-I AM going to kill you!!"

"ONCE I'm done wrapping you up," Chitsuko told her firmly.

"If I were you, Chuu, I'd run," Kelsey advised, leaning over Chitsuko's shoulder to survey the damage. "Kia doesn't get mad easily, but once you piss her off..."

"Chitsuko's rather like that, too," Kurama added, before turning to Kuronue, who was carrying the limp Kaeru in his arms. "Suzuki has a spare bedroom you can put her in for now, until we head back to my house."

Yukina and Hiei were already asleep in the room, tucked into small beds, with Z tending to their burns. Kuwabara had screamed so loudly that Kelsey had finally gagged him with one of her handkerchiefs and shoved him into the coat closet along with Suzaku, who had been threatening Kuronue with bodily harm for not protecting Kaeru. The chimera already felt bad enough without that pompous Saint Beast yelling at him.

"Ummm...why, exactly, is Kia gonna kill Chuu?" Rei asked. "Did he get her drunk?"

Rinku explained. It turned out that while Kia was driving, Chuu had been playing bounce-the-rum-bottle-off-of-Suzaku's-head. The youkai had finally snapped at the drunkard, and Chuu had flung the bottle away, hitting Kia in the head and making her head collide with the steering wheel. Needless to say, after she had regained consciousness and Kelsey had apologized to all the drivers near the truck, Kia was ready to shed some intoxicated blood. It was all Chitsuko and Kurama could do to hold her back.

"Can I kill him now?" Kia asked patiently. When Chitsuko nodded, she leapt off the chair, racing after Chuu. The youkai was quick to flee.

Shaking his head, Kuronue carried Kaeru into the spare bedroom, settling her in the third bed and sitting down on the edge, violet eyes trained on the Koorime's pale face.

"She'll be fine," Kurama told him, having followed his friend. "She's just tired."

"Can you blame her?" Chitsuko asked, leaning against Kurama. "She's been through a lot. Yukina too."

Kuronue nodded silently. He knew-but that didn't stop him from being worried.

***

As it were, the three Koorime slept for a day, and then woke up one by one. Yukina was first, and Kuwabara broke through the closet door (much to Suzuki's displeasure) to get to her-only to end up sprawled on the floor, thanks to Shizuru's well-placed foot. Hiei woke up thirty minutes later, and was greeted by Z, Kurama, and the Mirror Holders. And once Hiei and Yukina had been relocated to the living room to relate their harrowing ordeal, Kaeru woke up.

Kuronue peered into the room, seeing the Ice Maiden quietly talking to Mizu and Chitsuko, propped up with several pillows. He fidgeted, wondering if he should come back later when Kaeru wasn't surrounded by friends, but Chitsuko looked up and spotted him. She smiled and nudged Mizu. The kitsune grinned, and both rose, bidding good-bye to their Koorime friend, and left.

"Go get 'er," Mizu whispered, punching the chimera's shoulder lightly. Deciding to ignore that comment, Kuronue walked into the room, stopping when Kaeru looked up.

"...Kuronue-san!" Her eyes lit up.

"Hey, Kaeru..." Kuronue forced his legs to move, and slowly walked over to her bed, sitting down on the edge. "How're you feeling?"

She looked at her bandaged hands ruefully. "I'm fine, Kuronue-san. And yourself?"

"I...uh...fine." Great, Kuronue. What a wit. The chimera looked uneasily over at her hands, feeling guilty. He needed to apologize. "Kaeru, I-"

"I'm sorry."

Well, THAT totally threw him for a loop. "WHAT??"

"I'm sorry," Kaeru repeated. "I put you in danger...I made your job hard for you...and you got hurt..."

Kuronue was baffled. SHE was apologizing to HIM? The lump in his throat grew tighter. If she hadn't helped free him from that nightmare...if he hadn't yelled at her...the fire...and now, here she was, sitting in front of him with an apologetic expression on her face. She was alive, and that was all that mattered.

"Kuronue-san...?" Kaeru tilted her head. "Are...you...daijoubu?"

"I'm fine," he snapped, a bit more harshly than he'd meant it to sound. "You idiot, don't scare me like that ever again! Facing off against Zenkai like that! You could've DIED!"

The Ice Maiden stared down at her wrapped hands. "Gomen nasai..."

That did it. Suddenly, the chimera lunged forward, catching the bewildered Koorime in his arms and hugging her tightly.

"...Kuronue-san...?" Poor Kaeru couldn't breathe. "Kuro-"

Kuronue drew back with a shuddery sigh. "I...I almost lost you..."

Kaeru looked at him closely and thought she could see something glimmering in those dark eyes of his. "Are you crying?"

"No, damn it!" Kuronue hugged her again, and this time the Koorime could feel moisture dampen her neck. He WAS crying.

"You're crying."

"No I'm not."

"Kuronue-san."

"My eyes are watering!" He insisted.

"You're crying." She wrestled one arm free, reaching up to catch the salty wetness on her fingers. And then she felt his mouth on hers.

Surprised, Kaeru instinctively reacted. She froze him.

"...Whoa, that was...whoa." Kelsey almost dropped the instant camera she was clutching.

"It'd be nice if WE could do that, huh Kelsey?" Kia commented.

"Hell yeah." Her friend grinned. "A Shishi ice sculpture."

Kaeru blinked, looking over at them. "You mean...they do this?"

Kia blinked as well. "Umm...yes. When they like you, they kiss you. Or try to, in your case."

"Nice freezing, by the way," Kelsey commented with a grin.

"Ohhh..." Kaeru buried her face in her hands. What had she done? She'd been kissed before, sure...but not like THAT!

"Not to worry!" The blonde assured her. "We'll defrost Mr. Bat and he'll be good as new in no time!"

"Maybe even better," Kia added. And, just like that, the two Mirror Holders dragged the frozen Kuronue off into the kitchen to melt him.

***

Kaeru was soon out of bed, but being treated carefully. She and Kuronue were back at Kurama's house, and the Koorime was swathed in blankets, resting in a worn armchair, while she watched the other three play Go Fish. She hadn't completely recovered her stamina yet, and she was strangely weak. Hiei and Yukina had made full recoveries, but Kaeru hadn't. Her friends puzzled over this until Hiei had grudgingly explained.

"She doesn't have a Jagan eye. She had to tap her own life energy in order to summon the dragon. It'll take some time to get it back."

Now, Kuronue glanced up at Kaeru as he handed Kurama three fives. She was still wan and tired, but he sensed she'd be fine soon. And now he felt EXTREMELY guilty. Why had he tried to kiss a Koorime? She'd never had contact with males before-small wonder that she froze him.

"Hello? Am I interrupting anything?"

The chimera flinched. That voice! He knew that voice. It was HIM.

"What the hell is it now, Koenma?" he demanded irritably.

The child ruler appeared on the couch beside Chitsuko. She looked slightly startled. "Watch your mouth, Bat. There are ladies present."

"When has THAT ever stopped him?" Kurama asked amusedly.

Chitsuko gave him a mock-glare. "Be nice." She turned to the toddler. "So, Koenma, what can we do for you?"

"Well, you see," Koenma looked over at Kaeru uncomfortably. "Kuronue, I think I can release you from your duty now."

There was a long silence.

"WHAT?" Kuronue said at last.

Koenma coughed into one of his small hands. "I hate to say this, but Zenkai isn't gone."

Kuronue's reaction was definitely louder. "WHAAAAAAAT?!"

"Exactly." The ruler of Reikai sighed. "Kaeru's still in danger. And it's a lot worse now. If she were to remain here, you three would also be at risk. And I think that's unfair. But, there is a solution."

"Which is...?" Kurama said quietly.

"I can relocate Kaeru to Lord Yomi's palace in Makai. His guards should be suitable enough to protect her, and Yomi is more than capable of defending her if need be."

"Are you saying I can't defend her?" Kuronue growled angrily.

"And how does KAERU feel about this?" Chitsuko interrupted.

Four heads swiveled towards the Koorime. She met their stares with a calm façade. "Me? Koenma-sama has a point. I don't want to put you all in danger."

"You...you don't...want..." Kuronue sputtered, totally flustered.

"I'd prefer to keep you safe." Kaeru rose slowly, wrapping the blankets around herself. "Koenma-sama, I'm ready..."

Koenma nodded. "Don't worry, Kuronue, you can keep your life. I understand."

The chimera shook his head, frustrated. No he didn't. How could he possibly understand what Kaeru meant to him? He'd originally taken this job to see Kurama again and maybe bum some free tear-gems from an Ice Maiden. But now...Kaeru wasn't like the other Koorime. Her innocence and liveliness and interest in normal things never failed to amuse him. Like when she'd discovered Kurama's toaster. Or learned about chicken-fights. And he realized...he didn't want her to go.

Kaeru had almost reached Koenma. Kuronue snapped.

"Wait!"

Surprised, Ice Maiden and Reikai Ruler turned to face the chimera.

"I..." Kuronue balled his hands into tight fists. "I don't want to give this up. My job isn't done until Kaeru's safe. And..." he hesitated.

"And?" Koenma prompted.

Kuronue stared at him defiantly. "And I don't want to give HER up." He sauntered over, ruffling Kaeru's sea-green hair. "She's grown on me."

"But...the danger..." the Koorime began.

"We'll be fine," Kurama assured her. "Kuronue's not alone in this. He has two Youkos, the Mirror Holders, and a few other powerful youkai to assist him."

"You're loved, Kaeru," Chitsuko said with a smile.

"So there." Kuronue picked up Kaeru, setting her on his right shoulder. "She stays. Because she's loved."

Koenma hid a smile with his hand. "I see...well, then, I wish you all the best of luck." And, just like that, he was gone. And Kaeru was still here. Kuronue vowed that he'd protect her-no matter what. After all...he DID have a promise to keep.

*OOC*

One more chapter! *dances* Wheee...my goodness, Kaeru froze Kuronue...who expected THAT? *sweatdrops at all the hands raised* Ah, well. Now then! NEXT Chapter!

* The Koorime go to school...and Hiei blows up a classroom...and Kaeru freezes the school bully. Heh...you KNEW that'd happen, didn't you?

* Somehow, Hiei gets stuck in a locker! O.o;; HUH??

* It's the Mirror Holders and Chitsuko to the rescue when Hiei REALLY loses his temper at school...