Disclaimer: I do not own Hiei, Kurama, Yukina, Genkai, Yusuke, Kuwabara, Keiko or the arsonist. I also do not own anything else from Yu Yu Hakusho.

A/N: I'm considering changing the title, since several people have made the comment that the current title turned them off. So, I'll be considering that. In response to Psycho64, there probably will be a teensy little hint of KxH. It won't be overt, because this story isn't focused on them, but it will in all likelihood be there because I do like the pairing. (I'm glad to see you don't hold yaoi/shounen-ai against the authors who write it, though.)

Anyway, this chapter, Yukina-chan makes plans to search for her brother and Hiei sulkily makes plans of his own.

Saving Private Yukina

Chapter Five: Plans

Hiei woke as soon as Yukina entered the next morning, though she was artfully silent in her movements. She smiled and motioned for him to stay put, disappearing into the kitchen. At least she wasn't angry with him for refusing to help her. Hiei stood cautiously and padded to the door of the kitchen, careful not to wake Kurama. He was surprised at the lingering blurriness of his vision and the weakness in his body - he was more tired than he had expected to be.

Yukina was standing at the sink, carefully grinding the leaves and stalks of Genkai's favourite tea. She half-turned to retrieve some kitchen implement from her left and then turned to him with a mortar tucked in the crook of her arm. "Good morning, Hiei-san. Did you sleep well?" She swirled the pestle around the inside of the stone bowl as she spoke. Hiei tried not to wince at the hollow grating sound.

"Fine." He replied shortly. She turned back to her task, inclining her head with a frown of effort as she strove to make the finest powder of the plants in the bowl. Hiei watched her for a few minutes, red eyes unreadable.

"Hiei-san..."

Her voice was not quite hesitant. He paused, listening, and then realised she was waiting for him to respond. "Yes."

Yukina continued. "If you wouldn't mind... I'd like both you and Kurama to stay here for a few days. Until I'm sure you have fully recovered." Hiei snorted.

"Daijoubu."

Yukina carefully swept the ground tea into a small bowl and added just the right amount of water with a small, satisfied smile. "I know you recover quickly, Hiei-san, but your eyes aren't going to be back to normal until tomorrow at least. And..."

Hiei scowled at this new piece of information. "And?"

"And I'm worried about Kurama. He will mourn for his trees, and mourning doesn't make for a fast recovery." She retrieved an impressively shaped bamboo whisk from the bench top and began to froth the thick green tea Genkai enjoyed so much. (Though truthfully, she wasn't sure if the human woman enjoyed the tea itself or the expression on Yusuke's face when she made him drink it.) "I don't think he'll stay if you go."

Hiei raised an eyebrow at this but remained silent. He had saddened her enough last night - he could stay with the fox, if she wanted him to. If his eyes were going to be annoying and fuzzy until tomorrow... "I'll stay." He murmured. Yukina made a small sound of satisfaction.

"There's nothing more I can do for you with what I have, here. I'll need to buy some things." She said, in so off-hand a tone that Hiei immediately became suspicious. "So, I'll go into town today and pick them up."

"I thought you wanted to keep an eye on us." Hiei said.

Yukina set aside her whisk and gave the fire demon an almost mischievous smile. "All I can do is make sure neither of you overexert yourselves, and change Kurama-san's bandages this morning and this evening." Holding the tea bowl in both hands, she bowed slightly to Hiei. "I'll just take this to Genkai..." Excused, she hurried out the other side of the kitchen, leaving Hiei sitting on the bench.

The fire demon scowled. He didn't like to think it, but his sister was up to something, and he'd bet his Jagan he knew precisely what it was...

- - - - - - - - - -

Yukina, having delivered the tea bowl to Genkai in a room at the rear of the dojo, returned to the kitchen several minutes later. She could hear soft voices from the main hall - Kurama was awake. She wondered if that had been a natural awakening, or if Hiei had come into the equation. Kurama didn't sound annoyed... but then, he rarely did. Certainly not with Hiei, or with her... only occasionally with Genkai.

Yukina hoped that neither of them would be annoyed with her. She would go into the town to pick up the things she needed to make Hiei some eye drops (human chemicals played havoc with demon skin, she had discovered, and she was loath to use them on the fire demon's eyes) and Kurama some more salve... but she had other things to buy as well, which she hoped Genkai would lend her money for.

Yukina felt bad, asking for help from the old woman. She knew Genkai didn't earn any money. With all the trouble Genkai had gone to, putting Yukina up and making sure that there were wards to protect her during her stay in Ningenkai, the Koorime didn't want to cause any more trouble to her benefactor.

But...

Her brother was out there. Somewhere. If he was any higher than B-Class, he couldn't go back to Makai without Genkai noticing a rift. If he was watching her...

She shook her head briskly and filled a large pot with water. No time for this. She had to start breakfast.

- - - - - - - - - -

Hiei had indeed come into the equation. Kurama was still rubbing the shoulder Hiei had 'nudged' and staring at his friend in wordless displeasure, but noticing Hiei's discomfort he chose not to rail too loudly against the harsh treatment. It wasn't particularly harsh for Hiei, anyway.

"She's going out."

Kurama cocked his head at the words. "Yukina?"

"She's going out looking for him. Me."

"I did tell you so, Hiei-san..."

"But she won't even tell me so..."

Kurama sighed. "She probably doesn't want you to worry about her. Hiei, you can't expect her not to lie to you when you lie so often to her."

It was true, but Hiei didn't want to hear it. He glared at the fox and stomped toward the door.

"Hiei..."

The fire demon ground his teeth and stopped abruptly, a silent exclamation of WHAT? evident in the tension across his shoulders. Kurama got wearily to his feet and walked the few steps before he could drape his arms lightly about Hiei's shoulders. The fire demon made to pull away but Kurama bent enough that he could whisper into his ear without fear of being overheard by anyone.

"I will come with you, if you would like to go after her today. I know you will. Please don't go on your own. I got you into this, and for that I apologise. I'll help you however I can."

Hiei remained tense and irritated for a few brief moments before the rage cooled to a simmering discontent. "Fine. Don't think I'll slow down for you."

Kurama smiled slightly and released the fire demon. "Let's not forget who's half blind, here."

Hiei turned around and socked Kurama lightly in the arm, presumably to demonstrate who was most certainly not half blind, and found Yukina watching them with a smile from the door at the back of the dojo. He stared at her and then glared at Kurama, whose bright smile was full of amusement. With a sound of disgust, he stomped back into the dojo. What else could he expect of a youko?

- - - - - - - - - -

A/N: I'm sorry these chapters are so short. They seem to be coming out this way. At least this means that the story is written in manageable chunks, though. I can sit down and write a chapter of 'Saving Private Yukina' even in the busiest of weeks at school. The same can't be said for a lot of my other fanfiction. I'm having fun writing this – please review and let me know what you think of it.