THIS IS " POISON BLOOD, FROZEN HEARTS' 'S ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY! YAY! LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL! Here's to a full year of Hiei's antisocial-ness, Lani's shape-shifting, and Kuwabaka's stupidity! Cheers everybody!

A/N and Disclaimer: I do not own... I... I don't... I don't own... I don't own... OKAY, FINE! I DON'T OWN YU YU HAKUSHO! SO THERE! BITE ME!

Note: I am trying something new with this chapter. I am not going to write in script format! Someone plz tell me if this is better! If it is, I am going to go back to my previous chapters and change them into regular format also. Let me know!

Okay, I deeply apologize with all my heart and soul for my lack of updates. Every cell in my entire being grieves along with you as you plead for more recent updates. But, never fear! Here I am! After two long months of agonizing brainstorming and constant revisals, here is your chapter! I hope that this appeases the gods and goddesses of reviews, so that I receive many. (hint hint)

Now, to thank those who have tried and succeeded in forcing me into writing again.

rinskigoddess- I am very glad that you like my gradual storyline. I like it too. Love at first sight is just so improbable in my mind. Thank you!

HieiFan666- My ever loyal HieiFan666... Thank you once again for the very nice review! I am ever so glad that it had a good amount of fluff for you. Glad you approve!

kuraiciarahunoo- ... lovely name. I also say "Hi" back to ciara. I'm glad you thought it was amusing and I will try to add more fluffiness.

Kristina- Thank you for being my perfect beta reader, and for the lovely review.

DarkGoddess29- Pink? Alrighty, you go ahead and roast all the pink you can find! Thank you for your pledge to read it all the way through. It is very nice of you.

Dolphingirl32173- Force me to type, will you? Well, here I am, a little (two months) late, but typing none-the-less. Glad you thing my story is "damn good"! I laughed when I read that, so thank you.

Deacku- I am sooo terribly sorry that I have not updated before now. I deeply apologize (read paragraph above plz).

ON WITH THE STORY! (one year anniversary!)

Chapter 21

A shirtless Hiei woke with a start, confused by his unfamiliar surroundings. The dark blue room was nice, but he was still a bit groggy. The light sound of coughing snapped him back to reality.

"Lani," he whispered.

He got up from the chair that he had been sleeping in and left the dark room. It was still rather early, around sunrise. Another coughing fit caught his attention as he turned towards Lani's burgundy room. The door was closed so he knocked quietly. The coughing abruptly stopped, and Hiei could hear strained breathing from the inside of the room. The door cracked open as one crimson eye stared out at the person on the other side of her door.

"Yes?" she whispered in a strained voice.

"Are..." Hiei paused, "Are you feeling okay?"

Lani opened the door wider, showing a thin trail of pearly blood trickling down from the corner of her mouth. Her eyes had dark circles under them, and a bright red flush covered her cheeks. Her hair was half-heartedly pulled back into a loose ponytail. Many strands of the pure white hair had fallen out of the ponytail and were framing her thin face. A few of them were stained red by Lani's blood. Her right hand was covered in tiny rivulets of blood trickling down from her palm to the tips of her pointed fingernails. She was dressed in a black tank top and loose, dark purple shorts. The left strap of the top was sliding down her arm as she slouched a bit.

"What do I look like, Hiei?" she croaked.

He smirked a bit, tipping his spiky head to one side. "Like shit."

"Well, that's exactly how I feel." Lani stated. "And thanks for being so blatantly honest." She began to close the door in his face. He darted his hand into the opening and stopped it. He gave Lani a firm, penetrating, concentrated look and she let out a tiny, exasperated sigh, backing away from the door.

Hiei pushed it open and entered Lani's room. Glancing quickly out the window, Hiei saw that the sun was beginning to come out. His head snapped around quickly when he heard Lani start to cough again. Her left hand was pressed palm down on her mahogany vanity, trying to support the rest of her. Her right hand covered her mouth, blood beginning to drip down again onto her carpet. Her eyes were closed tight, twisting her pretty face into a look of agony. She was quaking with each cough, which were quickly becoming worse.

Hiei dashed over to the shaking girl and stood behind her, wrapping his strong arms around her narrow shoulders. He could easily feel that Lani had a high fever. He tucked his head into the crook of her neck and used his ice powers to cool his skin and breath, without forming ice. His arms held her still until her fit calmed, and his breath and bare skin cooled her down.

Hiei slowly pulled her over to her elaborate bed, sitting down and lowering her down also. She laid in his arms, his left hand supporting her head and neck, while his right arm was tucked under the back of her knees. The fire koorime pulled the pale girl closer to his chest, cradling the sick girl. Her breathing was still heavy and her eyes were closed shut, so Hiei began rocking her back and forth like an infant.

After a few moment, Lani slowly opened her softened crimson eyes that were riddled with pain. She saw Hiei staring down at her with obvious concern and she smiled. "Thanks... Hiei."

The two of them just sat there for several minutes, each comforted by the other's presence. Then, the small digital clock by Lani's bed started beeping. Loudly. It caused both of them to jump, and for Lani to let out a few tiny coughs. Hiei glanced at her and turned the alarm off. Lani then started to shift a bit in Hiei's arms.

"Hiei, you need to put me down. It's time for Shuu to get ready for school." she whispered calmly. Hiei helped her to her feet and supported her in walking to Shuurin's room. When the couple reached the door, Lani shook him off. She stood tall and with the pride only a princess could have. She walked in quietly and strode over to Shuurin's bed. She shook the bundle awake, and a sleepy little girl looked up.

"Time for school, sleepy-head. Come on, time to get up. Kurama's coming to get you in a little while, and you need to be ready."

"Uncle Kurama?" Shuurin shot up. "Kurama's taking me? YAY! Do I get to ride in the car again?"

"Yes," Lani laughed. "You get to ride in his car. And, you are also going to the school that Kurama went to when he was little."

Shuurin threw off her covers and ran into her closet to pick out her favorite yellow dress. She then dashed downstairs and wolfed down a bowl of sugar covered cereal. She had just finished when there was a knock on the door. She ran to the door and yanked the poor thing open, revealing a fairly well dressed Kurama.

"Ready to go, Shuurin?" he said with a smile.

"Yeah!"

"Bye Shuu! Have a good day. Promise me that you'll try to make friends?"

"I promise, Onee-tan. Bye bye, Onee-tan! Onii-tan!"

Both Hiei and Lanecia gave the grinning girl a small wave as she rushed out the door. Both of them heard Kurama's car start up and drive away. The moment it was gone, Lani nearly collapsed. Hiei caught her and carried her to the sofa. He laid her on it gently and sat by her side, stroking her silky hair as she drifted off to sleep again.

Tokai Elementary

(Shuu's new School)

Kurama dropped Shuurin off at the playground while he took care of the final paperwork and talked to a few of his old teachers. She wanted tentatively around the playground, eyeing the other happy children warily.

"Hey!" Shuurin spun around, frightened of attacking human children. "Hey! Over here!" A small girl, who looked to be in Shuurin's grade, waved over to her.

Shuurin walked slowly over to the girl. The girl was quite petite, with long, dark brown hair and bright blue eyes. She was wearing a light blue shirt, jean shorts and white tennis shoes. She was sitting in a sandbox, shoveling sand onto a rather large mound. She was accompanied by two other girls, one of which was slightly taller than the other two and with long, light brown hair that was held back by a green headband. She was wearing a modest green dress, and had black shoes. The other girl was short, again, with somewhat frizzy black hair that was pulled back into a little ponytail. She was wearing a red t-shirt and blue jeans. The blue eyed girl gestured to the other girls, the one in green, and then the one in red.

"This is Heather, and this is Heather too. I'm Amanda. Wanna help?" she said, as if it was the simplest concept in the world.

"What are you doing?" Shuurin asked.

"We're building our castle! We're gonna take over the world, and all boys are gonna go away! " Amanda stated

"Why?" Shuurin asked again.

"Because they're mean, dirty, and have cooties." Heather (in the red) spoke up.

"What're cooties?" Shuurin inquired.

"They're nasty little bugs that crawl in your hair and make you like boys. They're really gross." Amanda said.

"Oh..."

"But grown-ups don't have 'em." Red Heather said. "People like big brothers, uncles, and daddies don't have cooties, so they're okay."

"Um... Some boys are okay..." Green Heather finally spoke. "Some boys are quiet and don't pull your hair or put worms in your food."

"Not many." Amanda said, "But those really nice boys can stay around, I guess."

"So," Red Heather spoke again, "What's your name?"

"Me? I'm Shuurin, but everybody calls me Shuu."

"Shuurin? I like Shuu better. We'll call you that." Amanda decided.

"Okay!"

"Hey! Who's this? New kid?"

All four girls whirled about to see the intruder to their circle. The intruder was a small boy who was sneering down at the girls and their castle. Amanda, Heather, and Heather all stood up quickly and guarded their fortress. The boy had a very short haircut and was dressed in a sleeveless white shirt with camouflage shorts and hiking boots. He was followed by several other boys.

Green Heather crouched down to Shuurin, not taking her wary eyes off of the camo boy. "That's Chris." she whispered. "He's really mean. He's the one that Amanda really wants get rid of. She wants to throw him in an ocean and let sharks eat him. He's always messing with us girls..."

"So, what's this?" Chris asked. "A mountain? A pile of sand? Doesn't look like anythin' else."

"It's a castle, Chris." Amanda spat. "Go away. We don't wanna play with you."

"Who's the new girl, 'Manda?" He asked again. "She looks funny. That dress is really ugly. Looks like a crybaby."

"Be quiet, Chris-to-pher." Amanda said slowly, stressing the boy's name. His eyes narrowed to little slits and he shoved Amanda into the sand. He then marched straight past her and stomped on the girls' castle. Amanda stood up and fumed, marching right back towards him.

"Hey! Chrissy! Leave Mandy alone!" Chris spun around and Amanda stopped in her march, and both looked at the speaker.

Another little girl with blonde pigtails and a blue blouse and a purple skirt stood behind Chris's kindergarten gang. She had band-aids on her knees and elbows and was carrying a large, brown teddy bear that was missing an eye. Behind her lurked another girl with bright red hair and a pink dress, and three boys.

Two boys seemed to be twins, only one had longer hair than the other. Both had brown hair and were taller than both of the girls. The one with short hair wore a red shirt, and the longer haired one wore a blue shirt. The other boy was short, with orange shoes, curly blonde hair, and a green jacket. The latter boy was playing a Nintendo SP.

Chris whirled on her. "Wha'd you call me?"

"Shuddup, Chrissy. You ain't worth it. Leave 'Mandy alone." the girl said firmly. Chris stalked up to her and kicked her in the shin. She kicked him right back. Chris stepped back, and then shook his finger in her face, saying "Your next, Claire. Watch it."

Pigtails girl, or Claire, as the boy called her, waved her finger right back in his face. "Watch what, your dumb finger or your fat mouth?" The twins behind her burst out laughing, saying something along the lines of "She said dumb" or "Chris has a fat mouth". Curly haired boy kept playing his SP. The red-head girl had walked over to join Amanda, Heather, Heather, and Shuurin in the sandbox.

Chris glared one more time and then stalked off with the rest of his kindergarten gang. Amanda walked over to Claire and began to force her furious emotions into words. "He pushed me! I coulda taken him! I shoulda hit him! I'm gonna hit him! Whatta meanie!"

Claire obviously took the opportunity to butt in and inquire about Shuurin. "Who's the new kid?" She jerked her little thumb in Shuurin's direction.

"Wha? Oh, this's Shuurin. She's new!" Amanda turned to Shuurin, who had looked over when her name had been mentioned. "Shuu? This here's Claire."

"Hey," Claire waved over, her tiny pigtails bouncing up and down. "Let me show you who's who here. That one, " she motioned to the red-haired girl in the pink dress who was now constructing a tower for the castle, "is Kristina. She's nice, and she'll show ya around. These two," She pointed towards the twins, who were both waving madly, "are Keith and Kevin. Keith's the one with really short hair, and Kevin's got the longer hair. Red, blue. Kevin's the really crazy one. Never let him have candy. It's an unwritten law. Don't worry though, they're pretty harmless. And curly head over there," she nodded her head towards the last boy, "is Tommy. He's a video game player. Kinda like my bro, just lots nicer. My big bro's got cooties and he's never gonna get rid of 'em."

Then a little bell chimed in the distance, and Kurama walked out of the building and towards Shuurin.

"Shuu! Time for class! Let's get going. I'll walk you in." He said, casting an odd glance towards her newfound "friends", especially landing on Claire's bandaged knees. He took Shuu's hand and began to lead her to class, the rest of the sandbox gang following. Soon enough, they reached the kindergarten room.

Claire took the time before entering to tug on Kurama's magenta sleeve, and ask a very simple question. "'Scuse me, but are you a boy or a girl? Cuz you look like a girl."

Kurama flushed and tugged his sleeve out of her grasp, murmured "I am a boy, thank you very much", and then took his leave from the school, driving far far away.

CHAPTER END! END OF CHAPTER!

Well, this was chapter 21 for you! Just to address this now, Amanda, Heather, Heather, Kristina, Claire, Keith, Kevin, Chris, and Tommy all go to my school and are all acquaintances of mine. They are deeply honored to be in this story (or so I think). Well, maybe not Chris, but who cares what he thinks. Yes, this is taking place in Japan, and I know that my friends have very English names. Imagine that their parents are very odd Japanese people, or moved to Japan from America or something.

Yes, they are all this weird. No, they are not all kindergartners.

CHAPTER END! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, PBFH!

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Signing off,

Yuffie Kisaragi, materiathief06