::Thinking:: Sorry folks, but today I just cant think of a clever little notey thing to put at the top of this chapter!

Yusuke: COW PIE!

Me: Yea…..Well, time to do the damn disclaimer! sigh

Yusuke: She doesn't own the Yu Yu Hakusho characters, but she does own the plot, Natalie, and the new saint beasts!

Melting A Heart Of Ice

Chapter 8

Flashback/Dream

'Natalie! Look out behind you!' a voice warned. A young blonde haired demon flitted to the left dodging the deadly attack from her opponent. The snake demon hissed at her, preparing his assault once more. His thin yellow eyes gleamed dangerously and his red tongue flicked out in warning. Greasy black hair fell around his scaly face, and a long green and yellow tail whipped the air behind him menacingly.

Natalie almost tripped as she ran to her partner, but he caught and steadied her. You could see in the chimera's eyes that he was concerned for her. She had a scratch across her face, and was breathing heavily, struggling to hold up the large sword she possessed. He gently brushed a strand of blond hair behind her ear, and stared into her fear stricken eyes.

'Rokumo….I don't think I can do this…..He's too strong!' she panted. Rokumo grinned and squeezed her hand in reassurance. 'Don't worry Natalie, hold out a little longer, kay? I can take it from here." The 20A/n: 1 year old nodded, and Rokumo stepped in front of her. With a mighty gust of wind he stretched out his long bat like wings, and took to the air, his spear poised for attack.

His violet eyes seemed to glow with excitement, and he bared his fangs. Taking careful aim, he let his weapon go, and it soared strait towards the enemy demon. The spear struck right below the snake's right shoulder, piercing his heart. With a blood curdling scream, he fell to the ground, his black blood soaking the earth around him.

Rokumo grinned, and gently landed on the ground. He sauntered towards his fallen enemy and retrieved his spear. He turned around just to be met with Natalie's smiling face. She looked so innocent staring there, but so grown up at the same time. She was merely 20 years old, so young for a demon assassin , not even five feet tall, yet she was already a skilled fighter, and harnessed a deadly weapon. He walked over to her, and used his right thumb to gently rub away a smear of blood on her small face.

It was getting dark fast in the Makai, so the two demon children continued on their way home. Rokumo was surprised when he felt Natalie's hand smoothly slip into his. He grinned, a slight blush coloring his pale cheeks. And together, they disappeared into the danger filled forest surrounding them

End Flashback/dream

Natalie groaned, and tried to push her self up from her resting spot. She was stopped by a gentle hand, and urged to lie back down. "Shh, lay back down and rest Natalie, you don't have to get up," Yukina said gently. Natalie pushed the hand aside and sat up anyway. Pain immediately surged through her head and she winced. "Natalie you're injured, you need to-"

"No I don't! Get off of me, I'm fine!" she grunted, pushing away all offers of help. She sighed and ran her fingers through her golden with red streaks hair. Her tired blue eyes looked up and gazed around the room. Yusuke and Kuwabara had bandages on their arms, and a few bruises here and there, Kurama looked fine, except a large rip in the white Chinese outfit he was wearing. There was no sign of Hiei.

Yukina, Keiko and Botan were also there, each with a worried look on their faces. The room was silent. No one wanted to ask Natalie about Rokumo, and how then knew each other. And they had good reason too; she looked liked she would spit fire at any one who even looked at her.

"Natalie….." Yusuke began hesitantly. "Don't even ask Yusuke. It's none of your business about my past, so don't start hording me to spill my guts out to you!"

"Alright. We understand. But then you have to tell us about your association with that chimera, Rokumo," Kurama said mildly.

"Rokumo is part of my past…." She murmured, looking down at her lap. "Please Natalie, tell us what you know. We need to find out more about this guy, and more about Suzaku. Is he still alive? Where is he now?" Botan asked.

Natalie sighed. She might as well tell them. This lot was nice, but they were stubborn. They wouldn't leave her be until they knew everything. Damn them.

"Rokumo…is….was my friend. Many years ago, the demon Suzaku found me alone in the forests of Makai. I was just a baby, worthless, weak, of no use to him, but he took me in. He was like a father to me I guess…..he taught me much of what I know now. He gave me a home, food, and a sword, and taught me how to wield it. From the time I was 3 years old, my training as a fighter began. A few years later, when I was still young, I was introduced to another demon taken in by Suzaku. An orphan chimera named Rokumo. He became my only friend in that castle, and we spent all of our time together. We not only spared and trained together with Suzaku, we also talked. About…everything. We wondered who are parents were, and how we came to be in this world so full of hate and death. But we didn't really care about that. But we didn't need the love of a family to keep us going, we had each other." She stopped for a moment, and a rare smile graced her pretty face.

"I knew he cared about me. He was such a stubborn bat, and he would never admit it, but I was important to him. He was always there to protect me, and he was always there to listen me when I needed some one. We fought and won many battles together, under the command of our master Suzaku, of course. He was an amazing fighter…..he surpassed my skills by far, probably because he was older than me. We became well known assasians, and we struck fear in the hearts of thousands. We were inseperable partners, best friends.

"But before……when we saw him today…….that wasn't him. The Rokumo I know would never hurt me. And I know he would never attack innocent people, or children. When we saw him before, did you see his eyes? They were the same shade of violet red that I have always known, but they seemed clouded over. Like some one was controlling him. It must have been Suzaku…I just know it! Unless…..unless Rokumo really has changed…..that I am not sure of, but I am sure that the man who just attacked me, was not what I remember. The man I did know…..I loved him."

She had whispered those last 3 words, but a ceartin red eyed demon had heard them clear as day. Hearing her say that sent a jolt of pain right to his heart, but he didn't know why. He heard the others gasp inside the room, surprised as he was. Hiei peered inside one of the temples windows, and a faint salty smell met his nose. Natalie's head hung, and a single tear fell from her sapphire orbs and landed on her hand. His scarlet eyes widened. So it was true how she felt.

The Jaganshi felt his mouth go dry, and he clenched his fist shut. With powerful legs he leapt into the air, and flitted away, leaving no evidence that he had been there at all.

TBC