I DO NOT OWN YYH, I DO OWN YUKI. HER FULL NAME MEANS SNOW-FLAKE. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR REVIEWS. I WILL CHANGE HIEI'S AND YUKINA'S EYE COLORS FROM NOW ON…ARIGATO!

When Fire and Ice Collide

Ch. 2 To be Free…

Yuki woke up in the middle of the night to the crackling of thunder. She looked out the window and saw a gray mist of fog and clouds had covered the picture perfect starlit sky. She sighed, 'Rain can be beautiful as well…' she was interrupted as her thoughts were cut off by a shadow appearing in her window. It was…him!

"Oh my!" she exclaimed and then her hands shot to her mouth, "I'm sorry, that was rude." she bowed politely.

He knew the fear in her eyes. He's seen it many times in others. He knew what others thought of him as. He knew they were afraid of him. He knew everything…but why does she want to know about something that he tried to forget?

She looked up and a strike of lightning lit up the window behind him as he was standing there, looking at her. She could see the light illuminate his features and his RED eyes peering down at her. She fidgeted under his watchful eyes. She didn't know how to respond, so she stuck her chin up defiantly and smiled some, "Have you decided to stay in for the night?" she asked in a low voice.

He would've fallen over had he not been holding on to the windowsill. That's not the response he was waiting for. He was used to the 'Get out's and 'What are you doin' here!'s. He nodded a bit and she nodded back with a smile.

He went to the corner and sat down, his head resting on the wall. She watched him and he opened his eyes to see her eyes glow. As if there were real ice gems in the pupils, they were brighter than he'd ever seen them before. Knowing her only a short time, he didn't pay attention to what she looked like. In his eyes, he knew that he could defeat an ice apparition and he'd have allies to help him if it got a little rough…but he'd never admit it.

He had come to trust his allies, even though he despised Kazuma Kuwabara, he could rely on him to keep his word. Kuwabara was not the type to go against his word and Hiei respected him for this. Yusuke Urameshi had shown his true power and ability to protect and defend what he believed in. Hiei saw this as a true cause, no matter how much he denied it. Kurama…yes, his old friend who had aided him in battle many times. His form of Yohko, who so many feared, had brought him into the clan of thieves and given him a place. Given him a family…

"Hiei?" she asked, a bit worried and he snapped back into reality, "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, go to bed ice princess!" he sneered.

"I'm not an ice princess!" she yelled and then covered her mouth again, mumbling an apology. He closed his eyes, cursing to himself and then she laid down. He heard her whisper, "Aren't you afraid?"

"Of what?" he growled.

"Of anything…" she said, opening her eyes to see his shadowed figure. His eyes weren't open but she knew he could see her…somehow… "Everyone is afraid of something, are they not?" she asked.

His eyes glared bullets at her and she regretted her words…but just for a short time. "No. I'm not afraid. To be afraid would show I am weak." he closed his eyes again and shifted a bit, knowing her gaze was intent on him.

"No…" she whispered and closed her eyes right before he opened his. He heard something drop to the floor and saw her take a ragged breath. She whispered before dozing off, "To be afraid…is only to show you are strong…"

He was sure of it now, the item that had dropped…he got up quietly as to not wake her up. He knelt down beside her and picked up the gem, his gaze shifting from it to her face. Her face was etched as though she was in some danger. Or had been…Hiei shrugged, it wasn't his concern but he was a tad bit curious still of why she wanted to know what he hid from himself over the years of his life.

He shook his head, pulled a blanket over her petite body, trying not to notice the curves that Curious had and went back to his corner, resting.

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Morning

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Yuki woke up, the storm was gone. She smiled as she looked out the window and saw the damp grass with the flowers and trees. She put on her tiny shoes and walked out to the garden where she met with Kurama again. She bowed slightly, "Thank you for bringing me here, sir." she said politely and saw him nod.

"You may call me Kurama." he said calmly.

"Yes, thank you, Kurama. If you wish, you may call me Yuki." she smiled a bit and he nodded curtly.

"I will, thank you." he looked at the roses again that he had been looking at when she came up to him.

"Kurama?"

"Yes?" he looked at her and she sighed.

"What do you know of Hiei?" Kurama looked surprised at her words.

"Not much, as everyone else…why do you ask?" he said, standing up and towering over her.

"Well…I wanted to know why he was thrown off Koorime and why he choses not to talk about it…why was he considered the forbidden one? Why…"

"I cannot answer those questions. I wouldn't even if I had the answers." he said truthfully. After seeing her pained face, he went on, trying to explain, "It is not in my right place to do so."

"I understand." she bowed and headed towards a stream and sat down on a rock and sighed.

"Why are you so interested in my life? Don't you have one of your own!" she jumped at the boom of Hiei's voice. She looked up. If she wasn't interested in his life, by Golly, she would be interested now!

He had this way of enticing her to drive on to know more of him. To speak to him. To help him with anything he needed. To be there for him like she could've all those years. To encourage him to not give up. To do these things and so much more.

"I just wanted to know. It has been bugging me since I can remember." she paused at his shocked face.

"Why me? Why not Yukina or-" he was cut short by her shaking her head.

"No…Yukina was there for a short time…but you were gone before I knew your name…it had always irritated me how the people…never mind, that doesn't matter."

"I know what they say. It does not concern me." he shocked her but didn't know it.

"Why won't you talk about your life?"

"WHY SHOULD I!?!" he growled and had made her jump.

"I just wanted to know." she said, slightly irritated.

"You don't need to know." he growled and stormed off.

"You'll protect her forever, won't you?" Hiei stopped and turned to see her sincere face. "You love her very much, I can see it in your eyes." she said in a voice so low, he almost didn't hear it. "She's lucky to have you, Hiei." she bowed and started walking off.

In a flash, he was at her side. She let out a small squeak and placed her hand over her chest. "Please don't do that." she bowed and moved around him. He stopped her with his hand over her wrist.

"I do love her…but I am very lucky to have her…" he said and as fast as he got to her, he disappeared just as quickly.

She shook her head and walked into the temple to find Yukina and Kuwabara sitting down and talking. She smiled and bowed.

"Yuki…this is Kazuma." Yukina smiled sweetly and pointed to the tall, orange/red haired boy with a big happy grin on his face.

"Pleased to meet you." Yuki smiled at him and he grinned.

"Any friend of Yukina's is a friend of mine! But I just don't like that short guy!"

"What short guy?" Yuki asked, questionably.

"That shrimp, Hiei! Maybe you haven't met him yet but he's a pipsqueak! I'll squash him one of these-"

"Kazuma, please…don't talk so ill of Hiei…" Yukina said sadly, "He's very nice, really he is…"

Yuki smiled. Just like Yuki, Yukina always saw the good side and wouldn't believe anyone's theory if it was not her own as well. She was not easily driven into traps or anything without thinking it through. They both may have been a bit naïve at times, but they knew what was right in their hearts and stood by their friends no matter how great the circumstances may be.

"If you say so Yukina." Kazuma smiled a big grin and Yuki almost couldn't contain the giggle. He loved her and it was clear to probably everyone else but Yukina.

"Thank you Kazuma." Yukina smiled and looked up to Yuki.

"Are you alright?" Yukina asked Yuki with a worried look.

"I'm fine." Yuki said softly and pointed to the floor, "Do you think I can join your conversation for a little while?"

"Of course," Yukina smiled, "We would love the company."

"Yeah!" Kazuma grinned.

Yukina asked, "Yuki….how is Koorime? Is it the same as when I left?"

"Yes…still hypocrites and others that don't know where they stand. They others hold their tongues. It's all a matter of time before another ice-storm arises." Yuki rolled her eyes.

This year was the worst she had seen of ice storms on Koorime. The winds blew so heavily that she remembered it blowing her off the cliff. The winds and snow and ice and sleet had all ganged up that year. She had no idea that Koorime could be so fierce. And yet here, it seemed as though it was spring. She wondered about that.

"What month is it here?" Yuki asked, since she had been studying the human world bits and pieces at a time, she knew the months and what the temperature would be like. She had no idea that it would be cool.

"It is March." Yukina smiled and Yuki nodded. That's why it was in bloom but yet a bit of chill still loomed in the air from the winter months.

"Ah, a beautiful month…as so I've heard." Yuki looked at Kazuma and Yukina and they both smiled.

"I thought of it in the same way." Yukina nodded and they sat and talked about odd things. Yukina told Yuki how she went to find her brother, but had no luck. She also told of how Kazuma was to help her in her travels to find him.

Yuki told Yukina that she had met a guy in Koorime. The male was sweet and kind but she knew better. He was not so nice when he wanted his way. Yuki told them how he had hit her and she ran to the cliff, thinking about the little boy, Yukina's brother, Hiei, but she didn't tell the name. Yukina would be devastated if he was so close and never told her.

Then Kazuma told them of his fights and his loyalty to his friends. He told them of when he had not fought back for one week and even scored a 53 on his Biology test. The two ice maidens giggled and smiled as they knew he exaggerated the story by 10. But both knew, that he was a very trustworthy soul and loved to have company.

Yuki asked Yukina if she ever thought of going back to Koorime. Yukina said she had, but never really got around to it. She wanted to find her brother, to bring him back with her and prove that he was just as kind-hearted as the others. No matter how many ice apparitions told them that he would have never amounted to anything, they kept their hearts alive. They shared laughs, tears and the in-betweens for Hiei. Yukina didn't know his name and nor did Yuki at the time, but they were friends…and somehow, someway, all 3 of them were connected at heart.

They giggled as Kazuma's hopes died of Yukina and him together. Yuki smiled and said, "We can make room for you too in our heart, Kazuma. Two cannot take up the heart." she smiled and then Kazuma looked at Yukina who nodded, agreeing with her fellow ice maiden. He was once again overjoyed and they joined hands and hearts and smiled.

But Yuki's heart was not in the hands or her smile…it wasn't even in her heart. She missed Hiei…she didn't know why. He was just…different from anyone she had ever met. He was rough on the edges and a skilled swordsman is what she heard as well as a speedy runner.

She grinned at the thought of the ice apparitions' faces if they could see him now. They would be horrified that he survived. She smiled as she thought about how he really was.

Sure, he was cruel and irritating and stubborn, but he had a good heart. She didn't need to know him to know that. All she knew is that, deep in her heart, he fit perfectly.

She thought and gasped, smiled and nodded to Yukina and Kazuma, "I will be back…thank you…" Yuki ran out the door and towards the stream again. She looked around and saw a shadow on a branch of the tree. She grinned.

She walked up and threw a shoe at the resting shadow. His hand instinctively reached out to catch it as he looked at her, annoyance written all over his face.

"What now!?" he growled and dropped the show at her feet. She picked it up and put it back on and looked up at him.

"You should come join us, Hiei!" she smiled sweetly and he lifted a brow.

"To do what?" he wasn't at all convinced.

"We are talking and having fun-" she didn't get to answer her question, he was racing into the forest at a little faster than a humans speed, but this smart little maiden knew he could top that…

She ran after him and came up just a bit of distance behind him and he stopped abruptly. She didn't have the agility to move, nor did she had the strength to stop. She crashed right into him, making them both tumble to the ground.

When he opened his eyes, he saw the unusual position they were in, he gulped as he saw his hands under her head, protecting it from the fall. his body propped up on his elbows and one leg resting between hers.

She began to sweat. 'this is not happening…all I wanted was him to have a little fun…' she thought her heart would pound out of it's chest.

"Hn." Hiei growled and got off her, letting her head hit the ground with a thud.

She winced and sat up, "Sorry…"

"What am I? Your servant!" he growled and she jumped back a bit. "I am not coming to a happy thing so you can ask me about my life! You will not hear my life, ever! Drop it girl unless you want to lose your life!"

She gasped and turned, running deeper into the forest. She didn't know where to go, what dangers awaited her there, she just knew, she had to get away from him. She didn't care anymore about his past.

She didn't want anything to do with it, nor his future. She knew it was all a lie she had been living. The thought of them even together as friends was impossible. He was cruel and she was kind, he was evil and she was pure bliss, alas…she figured it out, that was when the fire and ice collide…

It was in her destiny. She didn't want to believe it. She had heard that they would get along far better. She would tame the heat with her coolness. She would be his savior but…then she chose to go against her destiny.

That's when she figured out…she wasn't alone. There was someone watching her. She turned around and it wasn't Hiei…

She screamed his name…

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