Winds of Thyme

By Sakura Takanouchi

~*~ Winds of Thyme Chapter twenty-four: An emotion called love ~*~

Disclaimer: I own nothing, yes I do, I own nothing, how 'bout you! Get in the spirit, everyone! …Not much for my last disclaimer, huh? *Does a happy dance on a coffee table* *falls off* Read on, everyone!

"Well well, look what we have here," one of them said. "A midget and a girl. Useful."

Kirameki opened her mouth as if to scream, but no sound came out. But her face was clearly displaying her fear. "Who are these bastards?" Hiei asked her.

"They're the Black Beat Gang, and they're really tough. They rob stores and start fights everywhere. They probably want a fight right now," Kirameki answered.

"That's right, lady," One of the shadows said. "And if we win, then we'll take you back to our hideout. We've been needing a new toy to keep us occupied between fights."

Hiei leaned in close to Kirameki. She thought he was going to kiss her. "I won't let them hurt you," he told her. Then, he stepped in front of her and assumed a fighting stance. "If anyone touches her, I'll break their arm off," he threatened.

One of the shadows laughed, and stepped forward, revealing a slightly handsome guy clad in a black shirt, pants, and a long coat. "I'm sorry, but we don't take orders from you," he said. "Let's play with him, boys."

Several of them went for Hiei. Their skill was above normal, for a ningen gang, and they kept Hiei busy for a while. Especially because Hiei didn't dare use his katana or his spirit power.

He didn't know where the others were until he heard screams.

"Let me go!" Kirameki yelled as she fought from their grip. But it was useless.

"Kirameki!" Hiei yelled as he punched one of the gang members fighting him. He had one left, and then he could rescue Kirameki. He easily knocked the guy out, and then ran in the direction of Kiramei's screams.

"Maybe your boyfriend isn't as tough as he thinks he is," The leader of the gang (the one dressed in black) said. He studied her for a second. "He sure knows how to pick them."

Kirameki tried to break free of their grip yet again. " What are you going to do with me?" She asked with anger and fear in her voice.

"Oh, nothing. We're just going to take you back to our hideout and have some fun," he answered. "I hope you don't mind being around a bunch of drunken losers, though. They make up the rest of my gang."

"She's not going anywhere," Hiei said as he finally found them.

"HIEI!!" Kirameki said happily.

"You're not getting her back," He said, as he turned towards the other gang members. "Pull out your blades and keep him away from the girl. I'll fight him myself."

Hiei watched the gang pull out switchblades with intense calm. "I can play at that game," he said, and unsheathed his katana. He used it to knock the switchblades from everyone's hands, and he then picked them up and threw them into the nearest tree, where they stuck there.

He then sheathed his katana, and at record speed, gave their leader several punches that made him fly backwards until he hit a fence. He fell to the ground and didn't get up.

Hiei then glared at the gang members holding Kirameki. "Let go of her now or I'll take you out too," he said. They instantly dropped their arms and ran away like the cowards they were.

Kirameki looked stunned. She had never been captured by a gang or been rescued by anyone before. She also had never known that Hiei could fight like that.

Hiei just looked around to make sure there were no more gang members, and then his gaze rested on Kirameki. "Are you alright?" He asked her.

One tear fell slowly down her cheek. She suddenly rushed forward and threw her arms around a very surprised Hiei. "Thank you," She said, with more tears falling. "No one's ever done anything like that for me before."

Hiei's antisocial instincts were telling him to push her away and run for the nearest tree, but something inside him was telling him to stay. He put one of his arms around Kirameki's shoulder, and used the other to wipe away her tears.

"It's alright, Kirameki. I'll always protect you, no matter what happens," Hiei said. Kirameki slowly stopped crying. 'Why am I even doing this?' he thought. 'And what is this feeling? It's something I've never felt before.'

(A/N – Wahhoo!!! I'm at 100 pages!)

Kirameki pulled away from the embrace, no longer crying. "Let's go home," she said, starting to walk towards her house. Hiei followed, and he caught her hand as they walked. Kirameki didn't object.

'Wow… I can't believe it. I..I think I'm in love…' Kirameki thought as they walked.

'Kurama has told me all about this emotion, the one called love,' Hiei continued to think. 'But he told me I'd never experience it until I truly learned to open my eyes, discard my pride and truly care for someone. Well… I've discarded my pride, I think I truly care for Kirameki, and my eyes are obviously open right now. Damn you, Kurama.'

Hiei turned to Kirameki, who smiled at him as they walked. Against all impulse, he smiled back. 'This emotion is making me weak, all for a ningen girl.' They continued to walk, as the last snowflake fell above them.

~*~ Sakura's House ~*~

Sakura had invited Kurama to stay at her house for awhile, or at least until it had stopped snowing. She had made two glasses of antioxidant green tea (my favorite!) and now she and Kurama were sitting on the couch in her living room, with the fireplace burning and the TV on.

"I wonder how Kirameki and Hiei are doing right now," Kurama said as they drank their tea.

"I think this is the start of a wonderful relationship between them," Sakura commented. Kurama rested his arm around Sakura as they watched the news and wondered what Kirameki and Hiei were up to.

~*~ At Kirameki's House ~*~

"Hiei, would you like to come inside?" Kirameki asked. "My parents aren't home right now and there's food if you're hungry."

Hiei accepted her invitation, and they went inside. Kirameki brought some tea from the kitchen and they sat on the couch, drinking it. Hiei was feeling quite un-disgruntled. "Um, Hiei?" She asked.

"Hn?"

"I…um… Hiei, I think… I think that I'm in love with you," She stammered.

Hiei looked surprised, and then confused, and then relaxed. "Um, Kirameki?" he asked.

"Hn?"

"I think the feeling is mutual," he replied as he leaned in close to her. Their lips touched, and his arms slowly wrapped around her as the snow started to fall again.

~*~ Sakura's House Again ~*~

"Oh, wouldn't that be the happiest ending for them?" Sakura said as she told Kurama what she thought was happening between their friends.

"It was apparent to both of us that they clearly had feelings for each other," Kurama added. He then turned to the window. "Mother Nature is being very convenient in her weather patterns tonight," he observed.

Just then, he noticed something on Sakura's right wrist. "You're wearing the bracelet I gave you," he said.

"The one you gave me after we went to Nihon Ryoriya. I wear it often," she answered.

Kurama smiled as he drank the last of his green tea. "Are there ever enough times that I can tell you I love you?" He asked as he gently kissed her cheek.

Sakura set her glass down on the table beside the couch. "There'll never be enough," She said as their lips connected.

And this kiss lasted even longer.

~*~ Winds of Thyme- - - Owari ~*~

~A/N~

So sweet! *cries* I just love the ending I made for this! Now, I'll finally be able to concentrate on the title, my other main YYH fan fiction. Cheers to all, and reviewers will be greatly appreciated!

Sayonara! *wavies*

The great and powerful rabid fangirl Sakura Takanouchi

I would also like to thank all of my current reviewers, I love you!!! *huggles* I'll list them all in the epilouge, methinks. It'll have a nice big juicy long author's note.