Catse: Here's the next chapter! Things are beginning to role into the end, and I have it all planned! I'll do my best to update soon, so please hang in there and be patient. Thanks. This here is my favorite chapter so far, but I have one planned that I think will be the best. It'll take a while to write though, but I'll tell you which one. Oh yes! And Anime Hearts has been created! The first three chapters are up if you want to read them. Just go into the search and put the the author's name 'holyhellwhatarewedoing', are the name of the story itself. Thankyou for reading, and here's is chapter twelve!

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

Disclaimer: I do not own YYH, but you already know all that. Let's get to the chapter!

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

Hiei's first thought, was to stop by at her home, and take a look.

Although the bedroom that her grandfather had died in was well cleaned, and the sheets disposed of, Hiei could still smell the slight scent of blood on the air.

It had been almost two weeks, and yet it was still there...still rather strong...

Of course he had demon senses so he could smell blood even after years had passed over the death ground, so this was nothing shocking.

It was just catching the scent...now that he had met Suta and come to know her...

Now the scent seemed terrible to him...disgusting...

He felt human yet he knew he was demon, and it seemed strange that way.

Like he was getting a glimpse at both sides of life.

He felt hanyou.

Hiei scoured the house from top to bottom for anything that would help him to find out who the demon was and what he had to do with Suta, and how they all tied in with the thinning of the barrier between worlds.

The human world was a precious thing, and to let demons devour it would be disgusting.

Not only that, he didn't like having to think about dealing with all of the lower classes weaker than he, and listening to how they vowed to kill him and then die on his sword minutes later.

It was pitiful and he preferred the human world to that way of life any day.

Hiei finished up with most of the house, now frustrated with the fact that it was as good as clean.

'Stupid house...you're hiding a secret and I want to know what it is!'

In rage he punched the wall, letting his anger at his helplessness seep into the wooden remains of the abandoned house.

This was all stupid!

Suta was sick of something he couldn't fight against...!

He couldn't protect her...!

Didn't know how to take care of the thing...!

Plus he couldn't even find the guy that did it to her in the first place!!!

Hiei turned around and sagged against the wall, glaring at the glossy wooden floor beneath his feet.

She was dying...and he couldn't do anything!

Nothing at all!

Hiei closed his eyes in a feeling of defeat he so hated to feel...

It was one of the reasons he never apologized, nor did he allow himself to care about anyone else.

This was what happened!

They died and left him behind and it was all because he was a forbidden child abandoned by a family that should have cared more for him!

Hiei let his fist fly into the floor, and left a good solid hole in the wood.

His eyes fought back the tears, lest he cry the dark red crystals of pain and sorrow.

'Wait...There is...is that...yes...! The smell of blood! It's older...than the grandfather's...Someone was killed here long time ago!'

Hiei stood up and sniffed the air.

The smell was coming from the wall, and he could tell the blood was human.

Quickly, as if fearing what he smelled would disappear if he didn't move fast enough, he snapped his hand into the wall and produced a letter...smudged with blood at one corner.

Upon the front was Suta's full name, Sutamina Nohara, and it was written in an eligant handwriting.

Although Hiei knew he should have waited to hand the letter to Suta for her to read, he could not hold back the curiosity of what it entailed.

So he ripped open the top and pulled out the slip of paper within.

Suta,

My child and the only surviving. I cannot tell you much, this letter is hurried. I only hope your senses improve in time for you to find it. I am sorry I was never there for you much, so please forgive me. He comes in jealousy my child. You must watch him closely, for he will kill all you find dear to you if you let him. You were born my child and so you must suffer because of it. I truly apologize for this too. But you will soon learn you're heritage. By now I believe Koenma has found the letter left for him and has come to warn you of he that follows you. Listen to the warning, and accept any protection he gives. Please, my child. There is more to you than you realize, and I expect you will know all when you have completed the fate set before you. I have little time left. Dear Suta, please be well. You are our last hope. Know that we love you and always have. Take care of yourself.

Love You With Everything We Have,

Your Mother and Father

P.S. I left a small gift for you. You will find it with in the old chest under our old bed.

There were smears of ink on the paper, where tears had fallen during the writing of it.

The blood on the corner, Hiei suspected to be the mother's, and so got to wondering if they had really died in a car accident as their daughter believed.

But many things of the letter confused him.

Senses...?

What senses?

What was she to learn?

And what did she have to suffer?

And to who?

Who was it that was to hunt her in jealousy?

Hiei didn't like the briefness of the letter, and shoved it back in the envelope and in his pocket, so as to give to Suta later.

Then he decided to search for this gift her mother and father left behind for her.

He found the old bedroom easily, having searched the house already, and found the trunk under the old bed just as the letter said.

It was a rather large old mahogany cedar chest, quite heavy from whatever luggage it carried.

After pulling it out, he noticed the lock on it, to keep trespassers out.

Of course...Hiei wasn't the usual trespasser.

Out came the sword...off went the lock.

He slowly opened the chest, finding only one item within.

It was wrapped in cloth, and upon pulling it out and unraveling it, Hiei eyes snapped open in shock.

It was one of the finest blades he had ever seen.

The handle was pure gold, with the detailed carving of two dragons swirling up around to the very end, where their mouths seemed to bite down on one pure white crystal, cut in several spots to show various colors through it when struck with light.

The eyes had jewels, in which the first had white ones, and the second had red ones. The tails of the dragons came out to make the part that combined hilt with blade, and then the blade itself was exquisite.

That was the only word he could think up for it at the moment...exquisite.

The blade was of a metal he couldn't name, shaped and pounded into the perfect thinness, where it was strong enough to keep firm during battle yet thin enough to keep speed when thrust.

It was jagged as well, and wider than the usual sword, making it a perfect sword for Sword Dancing.

Inscribed in the side, in kanji, were the words 'Protector of the Protector'.

"Protector of the Protector?"

How did that work?

Hiei's eye twitched as he placed the sword back in it's cloth.

'Why didn't anything come explained?'

It had no sheath, and so the cloth was it's only protective barrier.

He sighed.

It was almost dawn and he had been in this house for almost an entire night.

It was time to leave.

Of course, when he did, and got back to Suta's room, he found that she was still asleep, and so, heavy hearted, he slipped into the room and placed the sword and the letter on the table.

She didn't wake as he did so, and so, he slipped onto the tree branch near the window, to watch her sleep.

'Suta...I will do all I can to save you...That is a promise...'

Hiei felt torn...

There were too mnay places to go at once, he couldn't think of where to head to first!

He would first check in on Suta, to see how she was doing, and then jump over to the front of Kurama's school, waiting anxiously for the fox to come out and tell him how it was.

He couldn't get Kurama alone to talk though, for it seemed the entire school kept him busy.

Then Hiei would slip into Koenma's office to listen up on what ever news he received on the barrier and the demon called Shadow.

There didn't seem anything new, so then he would return to Suta's tree to see her.

He did this several times in the same order, and did everything between that to get the time to move on by, so he wouldn't be bored or allow his thoughts to wonder to miserable things.

Finally, about the time Kurama was getting out of school, Hiei came to the window and found Suta sitting up, reading the letter that Hiei had found.

She had tears in her eyes, and coughed and hiccupped in her sobbing.

Of course, Hiei slipped into the room to see how she was feeling, and she immediately nabbed his shoulder and sobbed into it, mumbling incoherent things here and then about her mother and father and about how she missed them and gramps and how she felt sort of deprived of them...

Then, once she had dried up her tears, Hiei fetched her the blade and handed it to her.

When she unwrapped it, the tears again welled in her eyes and, once more, the shoulder was snatched.

"Why are you crying? It's just a sword." Hiei replied, staring at Suta, and then the blade, and then back to the sobbing girl hanging onto his shoulder.

"It's not just any sword. You know how I told you my mother practiced with the art of Flame Sword Dancing?"

Hiei nodded.

"This was the sword she used during the dances. It's a rare sword, because of the metal. The metal is hard to find, and then it has to be welded exactly to ensure that it can hold the oil when it is on fire. This was her sword...and now it's mine."

A few tears dripped from her eyes onto the cool surface of the blade, and then drained down onto her lap from the slick surface.

Hiei remained quiet, comforting her the best he could, asking her how she felt and if she was in any pain.

Her skin felt cold and clammy, and seemed paler than it had before, and her voice was cracked from the crying.

"Thank you Hiei. Thank you."

Hiei became confused.

"For what?"

He received a giggle from that, that made him want to smile.

Want to...but he didn't.

"For being my friend Hiei. You and your friends have been the best thing that has happened to me since I first learned how to hold the sword under my mother's teachings. I've actually experienced joy here...because of everyone here."

A few more tears dripped from her cheeks, and Hiei reached up to wipe them away with his thumb.

She smiled, and took his hand in her own, holding it to her cheek so she could feel the warmth of it.

She seemed to relax under that warmth, her eyes closed for a moment, and Hiei reached over and hugged her close to him, hoping that maybe he could make the sickness disappear if he hugged her tight enough.

But her skin remained cold and pale, and her body weak.

Finally, about the time Hiei sensed Kurama walk into Koenma's office, Suta broke away and stared into Hiei's eyes a moment, as if looking for something.

For what though, he didn't know.

Then, as if satisfied with what she saw there, she shoved the sword into Hiei's hands and wrapped his fingers around the hilt.

"What...What are you doing?"

"I want you to have it Hiei. You're my dearest friend, and my best student. I want you to have the sword."

Hiei shook his head and tried to hand it back.

Of course this was too good a deal to pass down.

A weapon that finely crafted didn't slip into his fingers like this every day!

But it was gifted to her...not him...and it didn't feel right.

"Please Hiei. Take it. It would make me happy to know you have it with you."

Suta coughed and her eyes clenched so tight they nearly brought more tears about.

"You should get more rest." Hiei replied, picking up the blanket.

Suta smiled and laid back onto the bed, curling up comfortably as Hiei tucked her in and kissed her forehead.

He turned to leave, but Suta had one last request.

"Hiei?"

"Yes."

"Please. No matter what...don't forget me. I know I'll never forget you."

Hiei's eyes snapped wide for a moment in surprise, before they relaxed and he smiled.

"I could never forget you."

And he jumped out of the window and disappeared, the sword that her mother wielded in his grasp, and clenched tight, as if it was Suta's life in his grasp and to let it go would let her die.

'I could never forget you Suta...Never!'

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

Catse: Doesn't this whole thing make you want to cry. I know it does for me sniff. I nearly cried writing it! Oh well, next chapter is soon to come, as soon as I can finish it. You'll finally find out a little more about what's going next chapter, I promise! But mind, it won't be everything. If I gave you everything in one chapter, I'd ruin the rest of the story. Sorry to leave you on cliffies all the time, but it keeps you reading right? Well, Ja Ne 'til next time!