A/N: I apologize to any and all who are waiting for an update on my LOTR stories, this plot bunny is all consuming. I hope to be getting back to them shortly. Thank you again for the reviews.

Chapter 7

"You... accidentally eavesdropped?"

Yukina had the grace to look embarrassed. "I know it sounds awkward. I followed two friends of mine into the woods because I was afraid they were going to fight each other. When I was just catching up with them I heard one of them say something that surprised me so much I stopped moving; and by the time I recovered enough to realize I shouldn't be listening, it was too late. I knew they would hear me if I tried to back away."

"So what?" Hiei didn't understand.

"I didn't want them to know what I'd heard," Yukina said softly.

"So instead you listened more."

Yukina hung her head, and Hiei instantly cursed himself. He knew Yukina's motives were always pure; why was he heckling her like this? Was he determined to bring yet more sorrow into her life?

"I know it was wrong," Yukina said softly. "I... wasn't thinking clearly at the time."

There was a brief pause in which Hiei was extremely uncomfortable, not knowing if he was supposed to say something. "May I tell you my dilemma?" Yukina finally asked.

"Sure."

"The conversation I heard was extremely important. I learned things that have changed how I think and feel; but I was not supposed to learn them. Do I act with my new knowledge? Or do I act as if I never heard?"

For Hiei the answer would have been easy; he would have his knowledge secret, to give him an advantage. But that wasn't Yukina's way. And, he realized, she said it was friends she overheard talking, so an advantage may not be necessary. But Yukina tended to view everyone as friends. "Who exactly was it you heard talking?"

"I can't tell you," Yukina said apologetically. "Until I decide on a course of action secrecy seems my best option."

Hiei couldn't argue. "Then I suppose the question is, are you really capable of acting like you haven't heard?"

Yukina was quiet for a moment; Hiei could tell his question had caught her off guard. "No," she said after a moment, "I could never. I can't forget what I heard. I can't pretend it isn't real."

Hiei shrugged. "Then there's your answer."

"But that's only the first part of it," Yukina said earnestly. "Do I tell them what I heard? Should I tell someone else that it affects?"

Hiei was bewildered. "Why don't you talk to Genkai about- -"

"Please, Hiei." Yukina suddenly stopped walking, turning to face Hiei. He hadn't been able to look into her eyes like this for so long... he couldn't look away, though he was frightened of the turn the conversation was taking. "I need to talk to you." He was surprised how firm Yukina's voice had become. "I need to know what you would do in my situation. If you knew something you were not meant to know, but you believed by sharing it everyone's lives would become better. What would you do?"

Hiei thought for a moment. His honor code and curiosity were doing fast and furious battle; his curiosity won by pointing out that Yukina hadn't actually been asked to keep this secret. It was a genuine accident that she had learned and now the repercussions would have to be dealt with. And even though the concept didn't interest him much, if Yukina felt it would make life better...

"I wouldn't hide what I knew. You say these are friends of yours. Keeping secrets dulls friendships." One of the reasons Hiei had so few. "And if it's all going to work out for the best anyway, there's no point in hiding."

Yukina smiled, a smile so sweet and sincere it sent a pang through Hiei's heart. I wish I could still smile like that. Have I ever smiled like that at all? "I was hoping you'd say that."

Hiei shrugged again. "Why did you want to talk to me?"

"Because what I heard concerns you."

Hiei froze. She knows. She must know. And you, fool, just gave her permission to speak of it. Your famous last words.

"Would you like me to tell you what I heard?"

Hiei remained frozen. Yukina took a deep breath before speaking. "I heard Kazuma and Kurama arguing with each other. Kazuma was angry because he thought Kurama loved me, in a way more than friendship. But Kurama doesn't love me - he loves you, Hiei. He told Kazuma that."

Hiei felt as though he'd been slammed up against a brick wall. The breath was literally knocked out of him, both by the shock of what Yukina had said and what she hadn't. She must have misunderstood.

She was still speaking, Hiei realized. "He loves you," Yukina said, "but he spends time with me, he holds my hand and protects me and cares for me because you won't let him do those things to you, and I am the closest he can get to you. He comes to me because he wants to be with your sister. Your sister."

There. That's what she was supposed to say. Not the other thing.

It was the only time in his life Hiei had remained frozen in one spot for so long. It would have gotten him killed in the past. He didn't know what to do, though running away or possibly fainting from the sudden onset of nausea and dizziness both seemed good options.

"Hiei?"

Yukina's voice was small, quavering...unhappy. Hiei forced his own voice to rasp out words. "Yukina, I - I'm sorry..."

And suddenly she was in his arms. Not just nearby, not in his peripheral vision but pressed against him. Hiei slowly realized it was a hug, not an attempt to beat or strangle him - though her arms were wound so tightly around his neck he couldn't entirely discount the latter. A hug tighter than he would have thought the young woman capable of, and she was crying against his neck.

Passing out was looking better all the time.