Author's Note: Hello everybody! I am so sorry that it's taken me this long to update. Gomen nasai! I want to thank all those who reviewed, but I especially want to thank KyoHana. Your reviews are absolutely wonderful! Arigato, everyone! Ok, on with the story!

I was warm. That one thought seeped through my blurry consciousness. Who cared if I was warm? It didn't mean anything.

Wait…I was warm!

The revelation startled me. I forced my eyes open, trying to focus on my hazy surroundings. After a moment I realized I was lying on my back, thickly covered with blankets, beside a roaring fire. The ground beneath me was even and hard, not rocky like you would expect from dirt. I looked straight up, which was not difficult from my position. There was a sloping roof above my head, supported by sturdy wooden beams.

'So, you're awake.'

I turned my head towards the voice, trying to sit up. I fell back almost instantly, however. A slender figure appeared by my side.

'You shouldn't move yet. You just woke up!'

Blearily, I focused on the speaker's face. She looked to be about my age, with long, metallic gold hair shot with bright silver and vibrant blue eyes. She could have passed as a human, except that her ears narrowed into an elegant point. She smiled down at my confused look.

'What a place to wake up, huh?' she said. Despite myself, I nodded, causing her to laugh, a melodic, sparkling sound. I found that I liked it when she laughed.

'Wh-who are you,' I asked, my voice raspy and hoarse. It hurt to talk.

'My name is Shigiri,' she answered. 'I found you about a mile away from here and brought you back. I thought you were dead.'

'Were there any campfires by the place I was laying?' I asked. Shigiri thought for a moment, and then shook her head.

'Sorry,' she said. 'You were alone out there on the plains.'

I nodded, expecting as much. In my state, I had hallucinated my friends' campfire. I sighed, disappointed.

I tried sitting up again, this time succeeding. 'My name is Kurama,' I greeted, my voice growing stronger with each word. 'Thank you for taking care of me, Shigiri.'

She waved me off, smiling. 'No problem,' she said cheerily. She stood up, smoothing down her skirt. 'Do you want something to eat? You looked starved.'

I nodded, watching as Shigiri made food. My thoughts strayed to my friends, and to Hiei. A thrill of fear slipped down my spine.

'Shigiri,' I said, stopping the girl. She turned to me curiously, blue eyes shining. 'How long have I been asleep?'

'Not that long,' she said hurriedly, seeing my look of panic. 'Just about a day.'

'That's all?' I asked. She nodded, smiling at my confusion.

'I healed you,' she continued matter-of-factly. When I continued to look bewildered, she sighed, feigning exasperation. It would have worked, but she kept smiling.

'I have healing powers,' she explained. 'Look.' Picking up the knife she was using to cut up a fish, she sliced herself across the palm. I started, surprised. Holding her cut hand palm up, she touched the wound with her left hand's fingertips. The cut glowed for a moment before vanishing.

'See?' Shigiri asked, holding out her palm. 'I can heal things. I healed you, too. You could say I have portable life support.' She laughed again, returning to her cooking.

I quickly calculated my time away from my friends and family. By my figuring, I had left my mother two days ago. Dr. Hirigoshi had said my mother had three days, so I still had time. Hiei had started to show symptoms the day before. He still had time, too. But how much? Hiei had been unusually susceptible to this disease. Did he have a shorter time than everyone else?

My train of thought was broken as Shigiri set down some food before me. It smelled delicious, and it was hot. Despite my sore throat, I ate every last bit, Shigiri sitting beside me, drinking some tea.

'So, Shigiri,' I asked, motioning toward her ears. 'Forgive me for asking, but what are you, exactly?'

A flash of old grief welled in Shigiri's beautiful eyes. I was about to apologize when she started talking.

'I know it sounds impossible,' she said, a sad smile on her face, 'but I'm human.'

'You are?' I asked, but not rudely. Shigiri nodded, staring off into space.

'Yes,' she continued, 'I am. I'm sixteen, about your age, I would guess?' When I nodded, she smiled. 'I thought so. Well, I used to live in Tokyo. The far outskirts of it, actually. I lived with my mother and father. When I was thirteen, my best friend and I were walking home from school. We decided to take a short cut through this small wood behind my home. As we were jumping a creek, she tripped and fell.' Shigiri grimaced subconsciously. 'She landed on a branch. It pierced her through the stomach.

'I panicked. She was lying there, dying, and I couldn't do anything about it. I kneeled beside her and put my hands over the wound to stop the bleeding. That's when I found out. That moment of terror brought my powers to the surface. As I watched, the wound glowed, and it healed. I had healed my friend! Well, she promised not to tell anyone, and I was glad for that.

'What I didn't know is that the neighborhood punks had seen me healing her. They ganged up on me one night as I was walking home.' Shigiri paused, as if unable to go on. I thought she wasn't going to continue, but she did, and I admired her strength.

'The guys caught me in an alley. They called me a demon and beat me up.' Shigiri grimaced again. 'One of them pulled a pocket knife. He cut my ears like this.' She motioned to her pointed ears. 'They said it was fitting for a demon. When they left, I managed to heal the wounds so there were no scars, but they'll always be like this.' She smiled again. 'Sad story, huh?'

I was speechless. Humans could be so cruel. 'I'm so sorry,' I said. She nodded, grateful, but waved me off.

'No big deal,' she shrugged.

'How did you come to live in the Makai?' I asked.

'Koenma,' she stated. She laughed when she saw my face. 'You know him?' I nodded mutely. 'Well, after that little incident, I couldn't stay there. My parents were in danger because of me. That was when I met Botan. I can see spirits, you know? Well, she got me a meeting with Koenma, and he let me have shelter here. When I told my parents, they understood. I can visit them whenever, but I live here permanently.'

'Wow,' I said. 'You've been through so much.' Once again, she smiled.

'What brings you here?' she asked me. 'I can tell you're not human, but you look it.'

It was strange. At that moment, I felt like I could tell Shigiri anything, like I could trust her. So I did. I told her everything, about being Yoko, becoming human, and why I was at the ice plains. When I finished, she sat silent for a moment. Suddenly, she stood up, grabbing a pack from the wall.

Filling it with supplies, she said, 'Well, let's go.'

'What?' I asked, though I had a vague idea where she was heading with this.

'Your friend Hiei is sick,' she explained. 'I am a healer. I know you have that herb water, but what if it isn't enough? I can come and help that fire demon and your mother. I can also lend you some energy, so it's easier to travel. Is that all right?'

I smiled, standing up. For some reason, I was very glad Shigiri was accompanying me.

And it wasn't just because she was a healer.

To be continued…

Author's Note: Well, there you have it? Do I sense a little romance here? laugh Ok, please, please review! Thanks. See ya next time!