Disclaimer- Seeing as Kurama's in my closet, and Hiei's on the shelf, I'd say it's mine. … … … (collapses in tears)

AN- Thank you for all the reviews… I reached double digits just a tiny while ago… yay… To Pickles, yeah, more would be great, but I shall console myself with the thought that genius is often overlooked (ha, shadowchan made a funny…haha…). But it's true! Often beautiful fics are deprived of the recognition they should get, whereas some fics lacking in originality, plot and grammar are showered with reviews. Take Kooriya Yui's Balance, for example. Brilliant, but mediocre review numbers. I mean, what's this world coming to?

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oshiete tsuyosa no teigi

jibun tsuranuku koto ka na?

soretomo jibun sae sutete made

mamorubeki mono mamoru koto desu ka?

tell me what it means to be strong

is it making it alone?

or is it protecting the things you have to protect

even if it means giving yourself up?

(hemisphere (RahXephon))

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Shuuichi ran.

He ran like one possessed, because maybe that's what he was. He knew the consequences if he didn't make it in time. The first few seconds found him with a plan involving the tearing down of a door and the removal of heads of certain people, but a few minutes of extreme sprinting cleared his head enough that he realized the inherent danger in such a clever plan.

He cursed under his breath, a violent exclamation that seemed to contradict his usual demeanor.

Every second that he delayed could cost Hiei his life, but every impulsive action could cost both of them their lives. He had to make correct decisions, and somehow he didn't feel that he was up to the task. How was a high school student supposed to handle it? His "perfection" was useless…

Quite suddenly, he was standing before the painfully familiar door, hearing the muffled yells of a man who just has too much anger to hold in, but a slightly enhanced turn of common sense which prevents him from screaming outright. He could almost hear what he imagined was Hiei's heartbeat, a terrified rhythm that echoed through the confined space.

But then… what could he do?

What could he possibly do to change what was happening?

He was an excellent debater, but what difference would that make to a crazed maniac intent on murder? So he was brilliant. Wonderful. For the first time, he felt totally, completely useless. But Hiei…

For all his worry about impulse, he flung the door open.

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People do the strangest things for what they perceive as love. Sometimes it's endearing, and sometimes it's absolutely frustrating. How many times has someone who seemed so unmovable done something stupid for someone else? But love and hate are two faces of the same thing, and when someone you love turns against you, that one person who brought you so much joy is the person who can hurt you the most. And it is hatred born from love that is most to be feared.

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"Shuu… ichi?!"

"Who the hell are you?" Kizato turned his head long enough to take in the pretty redhead standing, so innocent, in the doorway, looking almost revolted at what he saw. He judged, for all intents and purposes correctly, that this angel-faced child had never seen anything like what was happening before him. "What're you doing here?"

Shuuichi swallowed hard. Though the man's attention was now focused on him, he could see that the raw, red marks on Hiei's neck were nowhere close to fading. "Get away from him... What did he do to you?" Even to him, it sounded lame.

But it seemed Kizato was ready to rant. "What did he do to me?! You think I wanted some useless kid? Huh?"

Mutely, Shuuichi shook his head.

"Of course I didn't want one. But I still tried to provide for him, pathetic as he was. And you know what I got back? God awful grades, fighting in school… And he wouldn't talk to me!"

Shuuichi made a few sarcastic comments mentally. Kizato's frustration was obviously real, but it was sickening that those were his complaints, when the child in question was being strangled.

"You wanted me to talk to you?" Hiei sat up, rubbing the side of his neck. "Some lot of father-son bonding that would've been. I can see the beautiful scene already."

"Hiei…"

"You brat!" (AN- I have to say, that has a lot more bite in Japanese. "kono kusogaki!")

There was an uncomfortable moment of silent tension, in which Shuuichi tried to think quickly. It was his forte, wasn't it? Finding a solution to a seemingly unsolvable problem faster than anyone else on the face of the planet.

And the solution presented itself, as it often does, in the most beautifully simple and elegant form imaginable.

A lamp.

Specifically, the floor lamp standing forlornly in a corner.

Shuuichi inched backwards toward it. Years of grime had distorted the metallic luster, but he had a premonition that it was very heavy, and very painful upon contact with someone's head.

Ever the observant fighter, Hiei noted both Shuuichi's movement and his destination. Involuntarily, though, his eyes widened in visible surprise, duly seen by his father, who, while drunk, was hardly stupid. He spun around to see his unwanted houseguest lifting the lamp experimentally.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"It's very pretty," Shuuichi said wildly, the stress of the situation destroying his control over his actions.

Hiei gave him a look that passed for exasperated affection. "Shuuichi…"

"Shut up!" Kizato turned back to his son, anger twisting his features. He then turned back, promptly meeting the frantically swung lamp face on. He collapsed, his shocked expression mirroring that of Shuuichi.

"I just assaulted your dad, Hiei…" Shuuichi trailed off blankly.

"Yeah…"

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine."

Shuuichi didn't take his emerald eyes off of the comatose body on the ground. "You know, I can't believe I did that. I cannot believe I just hit somebody in the face with a monster weapon."

"It's okay. Nobody ever used that lamp anyways." Hiei followed Shuuichi's gaze to his father. "I guess he really was screwed up, wasn't he? But it was true… he did try when I was about five. I'd forgotten… He worked pretty long hours and everything. Heh… 'mazing how people change, isn't it? I used to like the guy."

"Did you now?"

He looked a little embarrassed. "Well, he was my dad. Everyone likes their parents, right? I mean, all that stuff you keep spewing about how all parents love their kids, or what not, I used to believe that. But then he started hitting me, and it was like… like he betrayed me or something." It seemed Hiei had been carefully considering this topic for a while. "But I suppose it's all over now… I'm homeless, thanks to you."

"You're welcome," Shuuichi muttered, a little put out.

"Kidding, kidding." Hiei grinned. "Say, is that your phone in your bag?"

He jumped at the suddenly incessant ringing. "Darnit, that must be my mom… I'm only like two hours late getting home…" He took out the phone and turned it on resignedly. "Kaasan? Yeah, if the police come over, tell them it was self-defense. No, really. I'm mostly not kidding. I'm coming home as soon as I can; I'll tell you what happened later. Is it okay if I bring Hieisan? … No, I'm not sure. Bye."

"Did she try to take your head off?"

"No… she figured I was still at school doing a project or something, so she wasn't too panicky. She's always had a lot of faith…" He shook his head ruefully. "Not that I've ever let her down. Look, I'll call the police, and after they turn up, we can go home, okay?"

"Okay!"

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(bows) So there I was, checking my review alerts after the last chapter came out, and it was absolutely stunning. I love you all. And then… I got writer's block. And I say that in the past tense, but it's still there. I kinda forced this chapter out since it's been so long since the last one. Maaaaaan… I really don't like how it turned out…

But about this I must speak. I had no idea how Shuuchan was going to get Hiei out of there. I mean, in the fic I based this sort of on, the Shuuichi equivalent used her awesome powers to take over. But Shuuichi has no awesome powers. So I asked one of my friends and fellow writers for inspiration. Big mistake. She suggested both the lamp idea, and that Sesshoumaru randomly comes in to steal back something Youko stole from him in the past, kills Hiei's dad, then wanders back out. So between those two… I asked people if they thought floor lamp or table lamp was better, and this chapter appeared. So unlike the lightsaber, this is not my idea. Ha.

Thank you for all the reviews… oh my god… so many… I've let all of you down… (mumblemumble). In any case, this could be construed as the end of the first "arc", in which Hiei is tormented. The second arc is Hiei and Shuuichi being tormented (I think). So… yeah. Otanoshimi ni!