A/N: Late for the update. Yeah, I know but I've got a lot on my hands lately and I'm trying to balance my studies and writing. I want to do well so I could get into university but it's hard for me. Not to mention I want to major in Psychology, Biology and English Lit. So I have to start working real hard. That said, I hope you will forgive my slowness in updating. Now to thank the reviewers.

XxAnimeLover14xX – Thanks for your review! Yup! Kurama's always there for Mizuko-chan! : )

Izanami-fire – Don't worry, they're out of hot water now. Thanks for the review! : )

Coodle – O.o Oh yeah, now that you mentioned it, Hiei did last shorter than Mizuko. But that was in the plot and anyways, I believe every time he used the Gokuryuha he uses a lot of energy, resulting in the urge to sleep. Let's just say, he was protecting Mizuko a lot so she didn't have to attack so much. That's why Mizuko lasted longer; she used less energy compared to Hiei. Poor Mizuko-chan, Hiei is pretty heavy for a petite girl like her. Thank for the review! : )

Crimson Alessa – Well, it's not such a bad cliffie now? I'm glad you enjoyed the previous chapter and thanks so much for your review.

Princess Shadowcat – Yeah, I know Tai's absolutely horrid but that's the point exactly. As for Kou, as I have said before, more about him shall be revealed in the coming chapters. It's really complex to fit in a description suddenly. I initially didn't plan to as I had no idea you guys would like the OC so much. Thanks for your review!

Princess Shadowcat mentioned in her review something about 'Love at first sight.' True, that happens but I guess it depends on how you perceive it. For me, love at first sight causes you to feel somewhat attracted to the person when you first meet them. You won't know immediately that you love them. I humbly admit that although my couples don't form immediately, I make them get this 'feel' when they meet the future spouse. From there, the relationship may bloom or deteriorate, depending on how the plot goes. Thanks to Princess Shadowcat for bringing this up, it kicked up my rusting brain to think it through. I hope you'll enjoy this chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own YYH.

"…" talk

[…] thoughts

{…} telepathy

Italics dream

= = = = = = changes in scene/time

Chapter 14: Ano Kokoro Ga Akiraka ni Suru: Reveal That Heart

"Kou, nigete!" "Mia!!" "Aaaaahhhhh!!!"

Kou's eyes snapped open. The barely visible ceiling of his dark room came into his vision. His breathing was a little laboured. Slowly, he pushed himself into a sitting position. He didn't know why he had that dream again; long years have passed since then. [Mia…] Suddenly, his senses pricked up and his katana was out in a flash. A small slave demon trembled at its sight. Kou relaxed, but just a little. He glanced coldly at it, demanding the reason for its intrusion. "T-Tai-sama s-summons you, Kou-sama." The little creature stuttered. Kou stood up wordlessly and banished the demon with a wave of his hand. Kou sheathed his katana and set out to Tai's chamber.

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In Genkai's temple

Eyelids lifted to reveal red orbs. The owner of those eyes blinked slowly as he took in the scene around him. Hiei saw a blurred image, no, two. He squeezed his eyes tightly and opened them again to clear his vision. Kurama and Yusuke's heads lingered above his. "You're awake." Kurama stated simply. Yusuke just grinned. Hiei sat up slowly, noticing the bandages wrapped around his body. "You're out for quite long, man." Hiei chose to keep quiet. He suddenly remembered something. "Where's she?" Yusuke looked at him strangely but Kurama calmly replied, "In her room." Hiei got out of bed and slipped on his cloak. Then, he headed to Mizuko's room.

= = = = = =

Yukina was watching the sleeping Mizuko intently. Since Kurama brought them back from Makai, she had been unconscious. She whipped her head around as the door creaked open. Hiei looked surprised to find her there. "Hiei-san?" Hiei walked up to the bed and took a glimpse at the violet-haired girl. "She's been unconscious for a long time now. Her injuries were terrible. I'm so glad we managed to heal her. Thank Kami-sama Kurama-san managed to find you in time." Hiei said nothing. His gaze rested on Mizuko. [Baka onna, why did you risk your life like that?] Hiei may look unaffected, but inside he was worried. And confused. He had questions to ask the ningen, questions that only she could answer.

= = = = = =

When Mizuko finally awoke, her head felt heavy and her body ached all over. [Well, at least I'm not broken and bleeding.] She tried to sit up but flinched instead. "Itai!" A pair of hands pushed her down gently, as Yukina's voice interrupted any further movement. "Please don't try to move, your body is still repairing." Mizuko moved her head to her right and saw that it was dark. "How long was I out?" "Almost half a day now." "Sou ka?" said the girl as she rested her hand on her forehead. A moment of silence passed before Yukina said, "Hiei-san came in this after afternoon." Mizuko's heart jumped. "How is he?" "He seemed quite fine." "Sou…ka?" Flashbacks of what had happened made her shiver slightly. "You were here all day?" "Hai."

Yukina studied the face of her close friend. Mizuko was troubled and she could tell. "Is…is something wrong, Mizuko-chan?" Mizuko bit her lip. She desperately wanted an outlet to the pressure she was feeling. [It's okay, you can trust Yukina.] Mizuko sat up with Yukina's help. For a while she did nothing but stare into the koorime's red eyes. Eyes that reminded her deeply of a certain fire demon. "Have you ever felt that there are times when you really want something but you can't have it?" Mizuko didn't wait for Yukina's reply. "I just realize that I'm in love with one of the most untouchable people in the world. Why does have to be him?" Yukina watched silently as her friend began to vent. "He's so far from my reach. My heart hurts every time he's near. I just want so much hold him, to touch him but I can't. I love him all right, but he doesn't." "Does he know?" "Of course not!" "Then, how can you say he will not return your feelings?" "I just know it! He doesn't like human beings, he thinks they're weak!" "You haven't told him yet, have you?" Mizuko gripped her blanket tightly, "I-I can't… I can't do it." Anxious, fearful golden orbs tilted up to meet ruby eyes. "I'm scared…" whispered the young girl.

"I don't know much about this love thing." Yukina said. "But you can't assume that he doesn't love you too." Mizuko shook her head, "If he was ordinary like any other guy, I'd think so. But, he's just so…so distant, so uncaring." Yukina's eyes were shadowed as she smiled softly. "Aniki is always like that." "Yeah, th-wait! What did you say?" One look into the koorime's eyes told her, "You-you know…" "Hai. I know that Hiei is my elder brother." "But-but how?" spluttered Mizuko. "There were so many signs. But I got the most concrete proof was when I accidentally saw the hiruiseki around his neck. My hiruiseki." "Does Hiei know?" Yukina shook her head. "He doesn't want me to know, so I won't ruin it for him either." Mizuko nodded, understanding what she said. "So, do you plan to tell him?" "No, not now anyway." "Alright, I just hope you'll tell him soon. There's always a chance that he might love you in return." Mizuko didn't respond.

= = = = = =

Mizuko's POV

For almost one week, I wasn't allowed out of bed. Kami-sama, I swear I could've died of boredom! Thankfully, Yuki-chan, Botan-chan and Kurama-nisan kept me company whenever they could. But I still would've liked to get out of bed once in a while. Well, at least I didn't need to see Hiei. I couldn't really handle any emotional uptake right now. According to Kurama-nisan, he came just in time to get the monster off me. He was so worried that he transformed into Youko. A few days after that, I was finally allowed to move around. Finally! Being bed-ridden for so long, my joints will start rusting soon. It was so good to be out and moving.   

= = = = = =

In Makai, Kou's POV

I knew I won't be disturbed here. But I was. Disturbed by the latest order Tai had to give. To capture Sairen Mizuko, but this time, I was not allowed to fail. I am no coward. But Tai was capable of making anyone sorry, capable of inflicting pain worse than death. And although I am strong, I too have to admit that I have a limit. And a weakness. Right now, conflicting thoughts clashed in my mind. I know that I had to obey and bring the onna back, but knowing Tai, he wouldn't have any good experience to offer her. A part of me wanted to save her, by deliberately turning against Tai. It wasn't something I've never thought of, but fear had kept me back. Another part of me wanted to see her. At last, relenting to the latter thought, I transported myself to Ningenkai.

= = = = = =

3rd Person's POV

Mizuko quietly headed to her room. She was pretty tired, though it wasn't on her face. [Guess I shouldn't have tried to train so soon.] She thought as she massaged her arm lightly. Mizuko looked out of the window; the sun was already setting. She hadn't seen Hiei all day. She turned away from the window. [It's none of my business.] "Onna." Mizuko froze. She didn't need to turn around to know that it was Hiei; his voice was unmistakable. "What is it, Hiei?" asked the girl without facing him. Hiei, standing on the window sill, was quick and straightforward. "Why did you do that?" Confused, Mizuko wheeled around to face the fire demon. "Did what?" "Kurama told me, you were defending me while I was unconscious. But from what else I've learned, you almost got killed because of that." Mizuko walked to her cupboard, trying to seem nonchalant. "It's really nothing you'll need to know." "Answer me, onna." Hiei said impatiently. Mizuko's eyes flashed. "Didn't I tell you to stop calling me onna?" "Fine! Mizuko, you still haven't answered my question!" spat the Jaganshi. Mizuko was feeling really trapped by now. "Like I said, it's nothing you need to know."

Suddenly, Mizuko found herself trapped between the wall and Hiei's arms. He had both hands on the wall, on her either side. He looked angry. "Don't avoid my question Mizuko! Why, when you knew your life was in danger, still protected me? Did you know that you could've died baka onna?" Confusion whirled in his mind as the fire demon tried to make sense of the turbulent feelings inside him. He went on, "You were injured seriously, yet you still looked out for me. I just don't understand you, Mizuko. Zen zen ni wakaranai. Naze da? Why do you care for me?" The last bit was said in a low voice uncharacteristic of Hiei. Mizuko avoided his eyes, "To-Tomodachi dakara…dakara…" she stammered in a small voice. "Don't lie to me, Mizuko," hissed Hiei. "I can detect that very easily." As he said that, his Jagan began to glow underneath that headband. Mizuko whipped her head around, her golden eyes staring defiantly at him. "Why don't I turn the question back to you? Why do you care, huh?" The glow faded as it was now Hiei's turn to be stumped.

Mizuko never removed her fierce gaze as she continued, "Why are you so concerned about why I care? It isn't really any business of yours. It's not like you've got any feelings for me, or you're my mom or something." Mizuko lowered her eyes, almost whispering, "I really don't understand you, Hiei. Why you'd care is be-" Her words were cut off as Hiei crushed his lips against her. Her eyes widened with shock. She was too stunned to protest or even move, but every shred of her being was very aware of his lips upon hers. Soon, in fact, too soon for her, Hiei pulled away. "That is why I care, Mizuko." he barely whispered before turning to make a quick retreat. However, he was stopped by a tugging on his cloak. Instinctively, he turned around. He staggered backwards a few steps as Mizuko threw her arms around him, lips locked together. He was surprised, but soon forgot that. Winding an arm around her narrow waist, he pulled her closer. With his other hand, he grasped strands of violet hair, deepening the kiss. Hiei wasn't sure what to do next, but he obeyed the voice in the back of his head. He licked her bottom lip slowly. Mizuko gasped, and Hiei took this opportunity to slip his tongue into her mouth, exploring every inch of it. The need to breathe ended the kiss, far too quickly for the two. Both were breathing hard, and Mizuko's lips were shining wet.

They stared into each other's eyes, Hiei searching for an answer. {Why…} {Because, Hiei, I love you.} The Jaganshi looked into those golden orbs. It shone with love and honesty, but also revealed fear. Mizuko felt her fear of rejection return. Which was absolutely unnecessary as Hiei's reply was a smile, a true smile she had never seen him with. {I guess I feel the same.} Immediately, a great heavy feeling was lifted off her chest and Mizuko hugged Hiei tightly, Yukina's word ringing in her ears. "There's always a chance he might love you in return." [You're right, Yuki-chan…]

Outside, the couple failed to notice a pair of grey eyes watching them, hidden in the shadows. The owner was burning in silent rage, and the eyes held a dangerously malicious glint in them. Kou cursed silently, and disappeared into the darkness.

Nigete-Run [away]

Itai-Ouch

Aniki-Elder brother

Zen zen ni wakaranai-I don't understand at all

Tomodachi dakara-Because we're friends

A/N: Finally, the chapter we've all been waiting for! (Or I thought you guys were waiting for) I hope that you've definitely enjoyed this chapter. That was my first kiss scene, I mean, REAL kiss scene. I sure hoped I fared well. As the fires of jealousy burn within Kou, what will he do? That's up to you to find out in the next chapter! Please remember to review, minna. Domo arigatou gozaimasu!