Chapter 3

"Wait a minute," Kazuma said slowly. "Are you saying... are you saying the shrimp is Yukina's brother?" His voice rose several pitches on the last word.

"I'm not saying anything," Kurama said mildly. "I'm allowing you to figure something out for yourself."

"Does Yukina know?"

"No, she doesn't. And you must not tell her," Kurama added firmly.

"Why the hell not?"

"Hiei doesn't want her to know."

"What the hell is the matter with that kid?" Kazuma's voice was still pitched high.

"Listen to me," Kurama said sternly. "Hiei doesn't want to be a part of Yukina's life, but it's not because he doesn't love her. Quite the opposite." Kurama sounded like the words he was saying hurt him, almost as much as they hurt Yukina listening. "It's because he wants her to keep an image in her head of someone perfect, someone that's everything she would want him to be. He would rather she kept that dream than be faced with a brother who... who has done the things that Hiei has done."

"That's... kinda stupid." Kazuma paused. "I mean, a criminal for a brother is better than not knowing where your brother is or anything."

"I agree. But those are only the reasons Hiei will admit to. He loves her, you see." Kurama sounded even sadder than before. "He loves her so much; he won't admit it, but nearly everything he's done in his life has been for her. Either to find her, when she was kidnapped, or to be strong enough to protect her. That's why he acquired his Jagan eye. I doubt he has admitted it to himself, but the real reason he won't tell Yukina who he is is that he couldn't bear to be rejected by her. It would be the ultimate confirmation of everything he believes about himself; that he's worthless. Forbidden."

"But Yukina would never reject anybody! She's an angel!"

"Hiei won't take the risk."

There was silence for a moment. Yukina crouched in the shadows, trying to control her breathing so it wouldn't run wild and in sobs like it wanted to and let the boys know she was there. Two hiruseki stones were on her lap.

"Hiei really thinks all that about himself?" Kazuma said softly, wonderingly.

"I believe so. It's not like he talks about his feelings without being under pain of death."

"Then how do you know?"

"It's not too hard to figure out, if you know him well." A bit of Kurama's normal good humor crept back into his voice. "Also, he talks in his sleep."

Kazuma snorted. "I didn't know that."

"Well, only when he's truly exhausted."

"Wait a minute." Yukina felt herself tense; Kazuma sounded suddenly horrified. "Wait a minute. I just realized -- does this mean -- when Yukina and I get married, Hiei and I will be related!"

"If you and Yukina were to get married, Hiei would be your brother-in-law," Kurama replied, sounding like he was trying very hard not to laugh.

"Whadda you mean, if we get married! Yukina and I have been destined for each other from the moment I first saw her!"

A familiar confusion swept over Yukina, for a moment overpowering the emotions coming with the revelation of Hiei's identity. Sometimes she just didn't understand Kazuma, and no one would explain to her. What was this married he wanted to get with her?

Yukina's train of thought broke when she realized Kurama hadn't answered. The clearing was silent.

"Kurama? Hey, don't turn your face away from me like that! What are you not telling me?"

"Kuwabara, please. We've already had one difficult discussion today, let's not have another one. I don't want to talk about this."

"Well I'm sorry pal, but I'm a little freaked out now! And I'm still not convinced that you don't really want Yukina for yourself, especially when you get all weird when I say I'm going to marry her! I know you said you're looking after her for Hiei but you're putting an awful lot of effort into it; too much for a favor to a friend. Hey -- I bet Hiei wants you to marry her, doesn't he! That'd be cool for him, to have his best friend married to his sister! But it's not going to happen, because Kuwabara was here first! So if you have any other reason that you get all weird about me and Yukina, you better tell me now!"

Yukina held her breath, waiting for Kurama's answer. When it came, his voice was sad again. "All right, Kuwabara. I'll tell you what I'm thinking. Perhaps I am the person to talk to you about this, after all." He took a deep breath. "I've already told you one secret today. I'm going to tell you two more things; one isn't a secret, really, it's just something I know that you don't. But the other... I'm only telling you so you will understand that I have no reason to lie to you about the first. And you must promise me that you will never repeat what you hear to another living soul."