CHAPTER 24

Author Note - Gomen!!!!!!! I'm soooo sorry for not updating as I normally would do. ^.^: *sweat drop* It's just that I've been sooooo busy now that school is starting soon, and I hardly have no time. ^.^: *sweat drop again* and once again, this darn writer's block won't go away!!!!! *sob* Lol! Anyways, Arigatou for waiting patiently!!! Hope you like this chapter and will REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Disclaimer - Don't own, and yet I still wish...

Silence hung in the air and no one dared to speak a word, let alone move.

The words Kurama spoke were still ringing in both Yukina's and Hiei's ears. Till they heard a low growl from Hiei.

"You dam kitsune! I'll make sure you're death will be very painful."

Keiko tried stifling a laugh at the look of both Yukina's and Kurama's face.

Kurama blinked twice and then turned his now confused green eyes toward Keiko.

"Why does he look like he's ready to kill?" he asked, gesturing toward Hiei.

"I'll tell you. I'll tell you after I kill you!" Hiei cried and unsheathed his kantana.

"Hiei! Stop it!" Keiko cried, her eyes suddenly starting to grow wide with fear. He was really going to kill Kurama!

"Please! DON'T!" Yukina yelled, putting a hand on Hiei's shoulder.

Hiei glared at her and then shifted his focus back on Kurama. His crimson eyes glinted against the bright light of the sun.

"Why didn't you just tell me?" Yukina asked, not taking her eyes of her older brother.

Hiei was about to say something, till they heard a loud laugh from Botan.

Speaking in between fake giggles, Botan said, "Oh Yukina! You're so gullible! Kurama was just having some fun and was just joking around!" She reached for Yukina and started laughing some more, "A- hehhehhehheh.. He was only just joking. You know a kitsune might want to joke around sometime. But then again, his joke got a little out of hand."

And then she went to Kurama and elbowed him in the ribs, "Didn't it Kurama?" she said in a clenched voice.

"What joke did I say?" Kurama asked, clutching his ribs that were in pain.

Botan raised an eyebrow and looked quickly at Yukina. "You know, the joke about Hiei being Yukina's brother."

Realization dawned on Kurama and he started laughing in a fake way. "Of course. That joke. What was I thinking? I guess now I know that I'll never make it in comedy."

Botan looked relived, but then Yukina said quietly, "Botan. I know the truth now. Please. No more lies."

*Hiei and everyone besides Yukina sweat drops*

Keiko smiled and nodded, "I guess we shouldn't hide the truth anymore."

Hiei continued to glare at Kurama, then he put back his kantana and climbed out the window, jumping from tree to tree. A black blur moving into the horizon.

Soon he was just a black dot faraway.

Keiko continued to smile and looked at Yukina, "Don't worry, he'll calm down eventually." 'I hope anyway' Keiko added to herself.

Yukina nodded and sat slowly down on the couch.

Keiko looked at her and asked, "What's the matter Yukina?"

She nodded and spoke quietly, "It's just that. it's just that, all this time, I've been searching for him and he was right here. Always with us. And yet, he didn't tell me. Is he ashamed about having me for a sister? Does he not want me to be his family?"

Yusuke shook his head and smiled, "You got it all wrong Yukina. It's not you that he's ashamed of. It's him that's he's ashamed of."

Yusuke shook his head and remembered back to the time Yukina returned back to her home in the world of ice.

* They had just rescued Yukina from the evil hands of Tarukane. When they returned Yukina to the ice world, Hiei and Yusuke with Kuwabara watched her off.

The snow and wind blew harshly against their faces, and yet it didn't affect Hiei. They saw her walk away, Kuwabara in front, asking for her to stay.

Hiei saw her figure grow smaller and smaller, her shadow trailing behind her.

"There goes your last chance, Hiei." Yusuke said, watching as well. "You really gonna let her just walk off like this without her knowing the truth?"

"It's not important. She and I have different mother's. Were only half-siblings. There's really no point in telling her.

Yusuke turned and looked at him, "Yeah but weren't you looking for her?"

"I am a rogue and a convicted criminal. Even you had to come and capture me. Do you think she'd be happy to know that her long-lost brother is a felon?"

Yusuke continued to look at Hiei, as he spoke in a bitter voice, "It's best to watch her from a distance."

Eyes closed and he let out a soft sigh. His white bandanna glowed red and an out line of an eye appeared and then faded away.

"So is that why you got that fake eye put in? To see her?" Yusuke asked, still staring.

Hiei turned around and walked away, "Nonsense." *

"Believe me." Yusuke said again grinning a little.

Yukina nodded and smiled a little, "I don't know why though."

Keiko sat down next to Yukina and said slowly, "He'll tell you when he's ready."

Keiko looked out the window and smiled to herself. 'Did you hear that Hiei? She isn't ashamed of you.' Keiko communicated to Hiei.

He was perched on a tree near the hotel and was seething under anger. When he heard Keiko speak in his mind, he wondered. He wondered if he should have told Yukina before. 'Nonsense' he said quickly.

Author Note - Gomen! I'm sorry that this chapter is short. And again, gomen that this was not one of my best works. I had writers block and something possessed me again in writing this. ^.^ Hope you like it and PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S. Also, what I typed above about when Yusuke thinks back to the time they see Yukina leave. I wrote what Yusuke and Hiei really said in the tv show. Just to point that out! ^.~

Ja for now!!!!