Chapter 4

Protect What You Hold Dear

Hiei laid there pale and covered in cold sweat. Yukina's tear gems were spiraled every where near her brother. The room was getting colder. One elder moved closer to the boy.

"Yukina let me hold him. Then we can all gather around and try to keep him warmer. The floor is too cold for him." Yukina nodded and sat up but didn't release her grip on his shirt. They huddled around him and held him close.

"He can't give up. He just can't." Yukina whimpered sobbing. The elders thought the same but were also wondering if it would be better for him to escape from here now. He shouldn't have to suffer any more here. He shouldn't have to protect them. He was a mere child fighting for the only thing that mattered to him.

The limp Hiei heaved another one of his slowing breaths. The elder, holding him, whiped a stray bang from his forehead. This wasn't happening. It was all a dream and they would wake up and Hiei would be him normal stubborn healthy self and the elders were up in the sky loathing him. They were not trapped in here barely hanging on to what little hope had to offer.

"Hiei? Brother? Please open your eyes. Please. Don't...die..." Yukina's body trembled with sobs. "...y...you...I...I...lo...love you..." Yukina said holding him closer. "It'll kill me to see you die. Just like that...all my fault..."

Hiei could hear her sobs. His heart ripped at her broken voice. He wanted to respond but he was too tired. Too weak. Her agonizing cries will haunt him. He couldn't give up. She needed him. They needed him.

'I won't give up.' Hiei thought struggling to stay conscious. 'I just can't.' That night was one of the hardest for everyone. The elders stayed awake all night watching and constantly checking his pulse. His breathing grew shallow but his pulse struggled to stay strong. They could tell he was fighting as hard as he could.

"I...n't...gi...up..." Hiei breathed out. The elders held him closer and started to rub his shoulders. Hoping friction would help them keep him warm. Yukina had fallen asleep on her brother's chest, her hand still clasped in his shirt. She was afraid to let go. If she did she might lose him. He might fade away and she would lose what she had just found and loved so much.

Hiei opened his eyes slightly. His glazed over ruby eyes scanned the room. He was in one of the elder's arms. She looked down at him and smiled. He felt a weight on his chest and looked down. Yukina was sleeping, hands grasping his shirt. He made an attempt to smile. His head pounded slightly and his ears still rang. He sighed and closed his eyes again.

He heard low mumbling. Moaning he felt some one hold him closer. More mumbling and he felt himself being lifted.

"No! I won't let you take him!" The elder screamed standing and taking a couple steps back. Yoto smirked.

"Then I'll take one of you." A elder stood up and walked over to Yoto.

"I'll go." She said. Determination shining in her eyes. Yoto looked a little surprised.

"I think not. I want to play with my favorite ice gem." Yoto said shoving her aside.

"No!" Yoto advanced. Hiei moaned as he felt himself falling to the ground with the elder. He opened his eyes slightly. He saw a blurred figure of a huge demon. His eyes widened when he realized it was Yoto.

"...n...no..." Hiei whispered struggling to stand. He swayed slightly, his breath coming out in deep ragged intakes. His vision blurred and Yoto's figure split in two. He shook his head and attempted to glare at Yoto. Yoto smirked and walked towards Hiei. The elder behind him gasped and wrapped her arms around Hiei's waist and pulled him down. She held Hiei close and turned her back slightly to protect him. At first Hiei had no idea what happened until he felt the erratic breath of the elder. "No...must help..." Hiei whispered in between breaths. The elder pulled Hiei even closer. The boy still wanted to protect them. Yoto pulled out his whip and lashed it out at the elder. The elder whimpered slightly and curled more into a protective ball around the boy. The other elders got up and helped out. Yoto grew tired of beating the elder and smirked.

"Fine. But I'll be back." The elder whimpered as she uncurled. She checked over the now wide awake boy. He looked up at the elder. She smiled back. Hiei watched as the other elder's helped her up. Ruri pulled up the elder's shirt. Hiei stared in shock. There were a few deep welts in her back but most just left a red burn. He watched them patched the other elder up. A tear fell down Hiei's face. Yukina looked up when she heard the clink.

"Hiei?" She said gently and stood up. "Are you ok?" Hiei weakly raised his head and looked into his sister's eyes.

"...why?..." He breathed out. Yukina sat down next to Hiei and wrapped her arm around him.

"Because we care." Another tear fell. Hiei watched them finish patching her up.

"N...no!" Hiei shouted. He stood up with help from the wall. "Why! You h...hate me! I'm worthless! I'm the damn Forbidden Child!" The elder's looked shocked. Ruri smiled gently and walked over.

"Shh...Hiei. Everything is ok. We don't hate you." Hiei shook his head and backed up.

"You're lying!" Hiei shouted hysterical. He collapsed to his knees. Face covered with rolling and dried tears. "Mom." Hiei whimpered out. The elder's felt their heart wrench. Gods what had they done to this child?

"Shh...Hiei no. You're just tired. You lost a lot of blood. You shouldn't be up." Ruri said helping Hiei over to the other elders. Hiei continued to cry and whimper. Ruri held Hiei close. "It's ok. We're so sorry what we did. We are so very sorry." The elder's huddled around, as did Yukina. Ruri felt a tear fall at the memory of Hina. Loving and caring Hina and her broken child in her arms.

After Hiei had stopped he just laid his head against Ruri's chest and allowed himself to be rocked. He deeply inhaled and slowly let it out. Hiei sniffled slightly and the other's smiled. They were glad Hiei had cried. They knew it would help Hiei over come some things if he started to talk about it. Ruri whiped Hiei's face off with her thumb.

"Thank you." Hiei whispered. His checks flushed, despite the blood loss. He was embarrassed. Ruri smiled and held him closer.

"No thank you Hiei. Your mother would be so proud of you and your sister." Hiei smiled slightly and hugged Yukina, who was at his side, closer.

"Hiei?" Yukina asked quietly.

"Hm?"

"Do you think Yusuke and the others know where we are?" Hiei blinked. 'Yusuke, Kurama, Kuwabara...he had forgotten about them. Maybe there was a way of letting them know they were in trouble.' Hiei thought.

"..."

"Hiei?"

"...urm...I think I know a way to get out of here."

I'm so sorry it's so short. Yeah well this story has me confused. If you have any ideas for this story I'd be greatly appreciated! PLEZ R&R THANXX!