Kai: Random, whyare you killigm of Mariko? She 's our friend...

Random: Because I am EVIL LIKE THAT!!!! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Punkie: Right..................

Last Time:

"I've always wanted to die..so this is what it is like..."she gasped. After another fit of uncontrollable spasm, seh lay still. Leaning over her in horror, Kurama watched as Mariko's short, abrupt breathing came to a dead stop.

Chap. 5

"Mariko, don't quit now. Hold on," Kurama begged, shaking her still body, " If not for you own sake, do it for Hiei. He needs you. Hold on just a little longer."

Hiei and Kuwabara returned. Tucking Yusuke's jacket under Mariko's head, Kurama told Kuwabara to leave immediately. Hiei turned to go after setting down the stone bowl of water, but Kurama beckoned for him to stay. Trying not to wince with pain, Hiei sat next to Kurama as he prepared a potion. He quickly crushed the flower and mixed it in with the water. Muttering softly, he caused three other plants to sprout up next to him. As he pulled off the petals and thorns, Hiei shifted uncomfortably. He did not like being seen when he was in a weak, injured state of body or heart.

Kurama finished in five minutes, then tried to get Mariko to drink the strange concoction. He frowned in frustration as she sputtered it out of her mouth and tried in vain to push him away.

"Hiei, you're gonna have to convince her to drink it," he said telepathically.

"Not in front of them. They are already seeing me in a weak state!"

"You are so stubborn."

"Hn."

" Okay," said Kurama out loud as the others entered, " Yusuke, Kuwabara, and Keiko, you will be on guard duty. Botan, you should go and try to find … um… orange berries wit magenta leaves and yellow thorns."

" Orange berries with magenta leaves and yellow thorns?" he asked telepathically while raising an eyebrow.

" There is no such thing!" snickered Kurama.

Hiei maneuvered himself closer to Mariko and sat down with his bad arm still hanging uselessly next to him. H looked at Kurama and jerked his thumb toward the door. Looking hurt, Kurama made a swift exit. Hiei took a hold of Mariko's hand to indicate to her that he was there. Her eyes fluttered softly, still rolling not focusing well.

"Mariko," he started, making his voice as kind as he possibly could, "Mariko, you need to drink this… this… what ever it is. It will heal you."

" Baka. I won't drink it. It tastes nasty and scalds my throat. You cannot make me drink it, " she said with as much defiance she could muster.

Hiei stood, about to tell her that he could make her drink it by force if he had to. Then he calmed himself and stared down at her saying, " One of the swords that sliced you was a poison blade. Drink it now!"

"Hn. No."

"Hn?" thought Hiei, " She is more like me than I first believed."

" Hiei?" said Mariko, squinting in the darkness, trying to find him. She moved her hand around, trying to find him. Hiei sat and took her hand in his. She squeezed it out of fear and pain. He returned the squeeze, trying not to wonder why he was so affected by foolish ningen emotions.

"Alright," she grumbled after some persuading, "I'll drink it. Help me up."

He did and kept one arm on her back to steady her while she drank. Taking the bowl. Mariko made a face at it. She placed it at her lips, and then pulled away. Hiei looked at her sternly. She sighed, then threw her head back and downed all of the drink. Her eyes opened wide in startled pain and then she slumped on to Hiei, unconscious. He panicked, calling Kurama as he laid her down quickly. Kurama came rushing in, looking scared and concerned. He glanced at them, taking in the situation.

"It is all right, Hiei. She is just in a slumber state. The medicine made her sleep, so the healing will be less painful for her. Now you need to be healed. No buts."

" Fine, but don't you think that we should bandage that up?" he asked, too tired to argue with Kurama and pointing at Mariko's leg, which was still bleeding freely.

"Probably, but I have nothing to wrap it with," frowned Kurama.

Hiei stopped and pulled off the white shirt he wore under his cloak and handed it to Kurama silently. He briskly threw his cloak back around him. Kurama raised an eyebrow, and then quickly shredded the shirt. He bent down over Mariko and tied up her knee as quickly as he could. Everyone else entered the cave.

" We couldn't find…" Botan started, but Kurama cut her off briskly with an aggravated wave of his hand.

" It is fine. It is no longer needed. But you do need to be silent. And Yukina, you will need to heal your brother, though I daresay he will be stubborn and insist that he is fine."

Everyone nodded and settled down to sleep. It was about ten in the evening. Yukina went to talk to Hiei and, in the end, convinced him to let her heal him.

Everyone nodded and settled down to sleep. It was about ten in the evening. Yukina went to talk to Hiei and, in the end, convinced him to let her heal him. As soon as Yukina healed him, he settled down next to the wall, watching Mariko sleep. He watched over her until one in the morning, where he drifted off into a dreamless sleep.

He awoke around 5 o'clock in the morning to see that Mariko was no longer lying down in front of him. He jumped up in a panic, then relaxed, seeing her leaning on the sidewall of the caves entrance. She was tense, but relaxed at the same time. Her katana was sheathed at her side. Hiei walked over to stand next to her.

" So this is my home. I have been here a day and nearly died," she said, laughing bitterly.

" Baka youkai…" mumbled Hiei, then trailing off into silence.

Mariko turned her gaze from Hiei back to the forest. She frowned, and then smiled to herself. Hiei really was a hottie. (A/N: sorry I couldn't help it! )

"Um, Hiei," she began tentatively, " Thank you for making me drink that medicine, I mean. It was nasty, but he helped."

She blushed furiously, looking at the ground, at a loss for words. Hiei studied her in silence for a few seconds. Then he turned away. She looked very sexy when she was embarrassed, but there was no way that he would admit that to himself or to her.

" Hiei," Mariko started after a few moments of horrid, awkward silence, " I think that I love you. You have saved me twice now, but I don't believe that to be the reason."

"Hn," he mumbled as he turned away and walked back into the darkness of the cave. Mariko stared at the ground; unshed tears burning at her eyes. She turned and ran back into the cave to curl up on Yusuke's jacket and cry herself to sleep.

Back in the deep confines of the Makai forest, a dark demon watches the entire scene. His cruel smile curled and he laughed softly to himself.

" Oh, no Mariko, my dear girl. You belong to me and only to me!"