Memoir

Summary: Sequel to "Forgotten." "Time really does change everything, doesn't it? Hard to believe I'm the same person." Hiei/OC

Author's Notes: So, technically, I'm supposed to be hosting a bridal tea right now. I've escaped temporarily, so we'll see how far I get before I'm caught.

Please God don't let them find me.

Just kidding. I love my family. :twitch:

And now, about the fic. All I can say is thank God I'm nearly done with school because it's totally ruining my writing schedule. I took a good long look at my outline, and I decided that I hated it. So I rewrote the entire outline. And I think the fic will be better for it. Now, this chapter is short. Can't help that—there's some stuff that I need to get across, and I can't fit it with any other chapter. Sorry. But you have to believe that the fic will be better off for the changes that have been made. Anyway, thanks for the patience. Lots of love to you guys!

Part Sixteen: Shed Some Light

Yusuke was supposed to be keeping watch that evening. By midnight, he'd begun to doze off.

He was deep asleep by the time Hiei returned to the camp.

"Baka," he muttered, stepping past the detective.

"Where the hell have you been?" Yusuke asked, sitting up ad yawning.

"That doesn't concern you," the yokai said.

Yusuke shrugged. "Whatever. You mind taking watch the rest of the night? I'm having trouble staying awake."

Hiei sat on the ground, leaning against a tree.

A few moments passed in silence.

"Since I know you're not gonna ask," Yusuke said, "I'll go ahead and tell you that Akiko's fine. She was hurt when she got back, but Kurama patched her up. He said she'll be okay. He was pretty surprised that she got away."

"She shouldn't have been able to," Hiei said quietly.

Yusuke nodded. "She said Itaka helped her get away. I gotta say, that's one busy dead kid."

They sat in silence again.

Hiei broke the quiet this time. "Her getting away from him won't stop him coming for her again."

"No, it won't," Yusuke said, stretching as he stood up. "What I can't figure out is what's got this Sangre guy so interested in Akiko. You know him—what do you think it is?"

Yusuke noticed the slightest tightening of Hiei's fist before the yokai answered.

"I don't know. Something to do with that boy, obviously."

"Yeah, I guess." Yusuke paused.

"Why is it so important to you?"

"…What?"

Hiei turned away from Yusuke. "I don't know what you're talking about. I'm helping you because I hate Sangre. That's the only reason."

"Whatever you say," Yusuke smirked. "I'm going to sleep."

He paused halfway to the mat.

"Not that you care what I have to say," the human said softly, "but you really need to be careful."

Hiei glanced at the detective.

"I know you don't want to hurt her, but if you don't start being a little more careful, that's what you'll do. G'night, Hiei."

And Yusuke ambled to his mat, leaving Hiei alone under the tree.

Hiei heaved a sigh, closing his eyes and leaning his head against the trunk of the tree; his left had rested on his stomach.

It was covered with blood.

He opened his eyes and viewed his stained hand with disgust. Clenching his fist, the yokai closed his eyes once more.

"Damn it," he hissed. "I won't end up this way."

The yokai wiped the blood on his cloak, recalling the corpse from which he had drawn it.

"This won't happen," he said as the last visible traces of blood had been cleared away.

"I'll be damned before I go the same way as you, Sangre. This won't beat me."

A slight ways off, Akiko sighed in her sleep.

Hiei's eyes traveled over to Akiko's sleeping form.

The yokai sighed.

"Three years." He leaned against the tree once more.

"Time changes things."

Author's notes: Hmm. Yeah, short. Apologies for that. Anywho… pretty cool. Here we are at chapter sixteen of twenty-one and the plot is still thickening. Judging by my (new) outline, the chapters should be getting longer. Can't make any promises, though, so keep that in mind. Yeah. Well, that's really about it… read and review please.