Boom baby! I'm back after a long vacation, due mostly to writer's block...and school. Anyways, the important thing is I'm BACK! WHOOT!

Hiei: ...I thought you stopped drinking coffee...

I thought so too...Okay, thanks to all of you who reviewed, I got the most reviews for that short chapter...hm...

LightmaidenAya08: Don't you even think about it! (holds gun to my back) Write, dammit, WRITE!

Well now you all see how I 'amazingly' got over my writer's block, heh heh. Anywho, I hope that you'll all review this much for this chapter as well! Pllleeeaaasssee? (puppy dog eyes)

Oh and this chapter was inspired by the book Hawksong. It's an awesome book and, although I haven't read it in forever, couldn't get it out of my mind. So, if you've read the book and think it sounds utterly familiar, then in a sense you are correct. In Hawksong there are two warring family type things going on and, in order to stop it, the two new leaders betroth one another. This is where the idea for this chappie came from. And yes, the name Zane did indeed come from that book. After reading it I fell in love with the name! So I hope that clears up any confusion in later dates…

Oh well, ooon with the chappie!

Chapter XVI

"NO!" Yumi yelled, reaching out her hand in an attempt to grasp something – anything – that would pull her back to Aya, earth, Shiva…

Hiei.

She knew something was wrong amidst the redness that swallowed her. Yumi could feel the tug on her body slipping away; she could feel herself lighten once again, though this time it seemed different. Earlier she was able to feel her body, know that she was still alive, but now…she couldn't. It was as if her body was merely a fleeting memory of her former self.

No! I won't... I can't... I WILL NOT DIE! She screamed, unable to hold back tears. The last thing that flashed through her mind was Hiei before she fell into the darkness…

"W...where am I?" Aya asked as she opened her eyes. The last thing she remembered was being in a strange place - some sort of limbo or something - with her sister. Let's see, she wondered, Yumi and I were trapped in that strange place…then we contacted Genkai, and then she started to chant. And then…and then I was pulled back to my body and Yumi…

WAIT, YUMI!

Without an explanation, Aya sat straight up and off the side of her bed. Looking around, she finally managed to spot her sister mere inches away from herself. Ignoring Kurama, Kyo, and Genkai she threw herself from her bed and right to Yumi's side in an amazing burst of energy, separating the short gap within seconds. After suffering a little from muscle spasms that protested her moving so quickly, Aya reached out and…

Slapped Yumi across the face.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Hiei yelled, jumping from his place sitting beside the door. Ever since the ritual he and the others had been waiting patiently for the two girls to wake up.

Of course that was about eight hours ago…

"Yumi! Yumi!" she yelled, tears stinging the corners of her eyes. "Wake up, wake up! We did it!" By now she was frantically shaking her sister in attempts to wake her from her slumber.

It didn't work.

"Aya! What the hell do think you'll accomplish! Give her some room, women!" Hiei yelled, once again, fearing for the safety of his mate. In one swift movement he was behind Aya, picked her up, and placed her aside like furniture. That done he tended to Yumi, brushing her hair from her face and gently laying her head back on the pillow.

"He's right Aya – this will accomplish nothing." Kurama said as he pulled her to him. Lifting her chin up, he wiped away her tears - of happiness or sadness he couldn't tell. Grateful for the much needed comfort, Aya buried her head in his chest as he hugged her and murmured things reassuring.

"Kurama, Hiei. Why don't you take her down for some tea or a bowl of soup? We've been cramped up for some time now and I'm sure that you're all hungry and in desperate need of some fresh air, especially Aya since she just woke up." Genkai said as she walked across the room to Yumi. "I'll take care of Yumi and watch until she wakes."

"No." Hiei stated, lifting his chin defiantly. He was NOT going to leave his mate there unprotected. Of course Genkai would be there with her, but he didn't want to take his eyes off of Yumi – he couldn't entrust anyone else to care for her properly. Neither could he simply leave her when another attack could come at any moment from Jase or she could wake up.

"Oh? You know, I could ensure that you at least get some sleep, as I'm sure you're well aware of." She threatened with a smirk.

Hiei knew what that meant. "Fine…" he growled as he turned to go, but not before he gave Genkai one of his death glares.

"Don't worry," Kurama reassured both as he followed. "I'm sure she'll be fine."

Images.

Thousands of images raced through her mind as fast as a video tape set on 'fast forward'. Even though they flashed before her at an amazing rate, she could clearly see and identify all of them. These flashes were about 400 years worth of life starting from what she last remembered, all the way back to when she was but a kitten.

Before Yumi knew it she was awake again and in complete control of what she saw, but not in a dark void like expected. She wasn't even in heaven or hell. No, what she was in wasn't like anything she expected: Her surroundings were purple; a brilliant, radiant purple. It looked as if she stood in some sort of garden adjacent to a towering castle upon a cliff. This castle glistened like the iridescent inside of an oyster shell and was the only thing around her that was not purple. The landscape was simply majestic, complete with a waterfall and all.

"Where…am I?" Yumi asked aloud.

"You're with me, safe, inside my final resting place," a voice from behind said. Spinning around, Yumi tried to identify the source of the eerily familiar voice.

"Looking for me?" With a flash of golden light, there stood a man – or demon to be exact if the blue and silver tipped fox ears were any indication.

He was a Kitsune with long, flowing hair that started as a light blue hue then faded to silver, and eyes as clear and pale as the purest blue opal. He wore the garbs of someone who was obviously a ruler of some sort, or at least very wealthy. His shirt was crimson and of fine silk with golden embroidery beneath an equally fine robe of purple, making his hair and eyes stand out. His slacks were baggy and of black suede with leather boots finishing his appearance. However, one more thing that caught her eye more than anything was his Demon-edge sword strapped to his side.

"F…father?" she squeaked, baking up a little in disbelief. He nodded and smiled warmly.

"Yes, Yumi it's me."

"Well babe, I'm glad yer back and in one piece!" Kyo slurred. He had promptly followed everyone down the hall and into the kitchen, escorted by Shiva. There, he made sure to break open the wine bottles and have a toast to his master's safe return – where he got the wine, nobody knew. Needless to say, he was the only one drinking and as a result drunk, very drunk.

"Stupid ottsel," Shiva growled as she snapped at his tail. "This is no time to celebrate! Yumi is still not awake!"

"Hn, agreed." Hiei commented from his dark corner across the room. It was already an hour since Aya had awakened and Yumi still wasn't up.

"What if she doesn't wake up…ever…?" Aya said quietly from her position on Kurama's lap. She fingered the material of her new outfit that Genkai had generously given her, though it was a priestess's outfit given.

Growling, Hiei stood up from his corner, stalked all the way to where she and Kurama were and slammed his hand down on the table in front of them nearly splitting it in two. "I don't want to hear you say anything like that ever again." Without fear, Aya held his intense gaze that revealed the torment raging inside him.

"Hiei, why don't you go sit in your corner and simmer down," Kurama said quietly, glaring at him. Breaking off the intense gaze between himself and Kurama's girlfriend, Hiei started to make his way to the room Genkai and his mate were in. Kurama noticed this and – fearing that he might provoke the wrath of Genkai – slipped Aya into a nearby chair and rushed in front of him.

"Don't Hiei," he warned. "Not in the mood you're in. Just go and take a walk with Shiva or something, you both obviously need to simmer down a little. I'll go and see what's up with Yumi."

Secretly furious inside, Hiei was about ready to break Kurama's nose and then strangle the old hag until he got some answers, but Shiva came to the rescue.

Hiei, he's right. How could we even think of greeting Yumi with a civil war raging between us and the rest of the fighters here? It's simply barbaric and we couldn't do that to her, she'd want to wake up to everyone happy and safe.

Ugh! I know that! It's just…just so infuriating to not be able to do anything! AT ALL! I am her mate and I should be able to protect her!

And you have! Or have you forgotten how you saved her from that fever? Or from Jase when he was about to completely drain her of her energy and power?

…

You know I'm right. You can not hide it from my mind.

…fine. I will go.

Without explanation, Hiei abruptly turned and, with Shiva, disappeared into the forest. Sighing with relief, Kurama looked to Aya with another reassuring smile.

"I suppose I may as well go and fulfill my promise."

"Wait. I'll go with you," Aya said as she slipped from her seat and walked to him.

"No," he said firmly. "You are just as emotional as Hiei. Before you do anything you should take a walk around the temple – just don't go out of the temple's boundaries. There is a seal that is protecting you two for the time being and outside it you would be vulnerable."

"No I wouldn't…" she protested. Kurama gazed upon her with sad eyes.

"I understand that you want to be near her – as does Hiei – but you need fresh air and you must stretch out a little. You've been in a comatose state for days."

Aya hung her head in defeat and stared at her feet. "I know," was her feeble reply. Giving her one last hug and kiss, he turned and walked to his destination leaving Aya behind.

"Father…what are you doing here? Where is here? What's going on?" Still smiling, her father first bent down to hug her before saying anything, leaving Yumi utterly confused.

"First, I have to say how nice it is to see my first born child grown, and into a beautiful women none the less! You look just like your mother – you have her eyes."

"Umm, thanks…"

Suddenly the cheerful smile was replaced with a somewhat troubled expression as he sighed. "Yumi, I know that you're probably wondering what in the world is going on, and trust me, I will answer any questions you have. I am not an illusion."

"Okay, then where exactly am I? And why are you here?" she asked, getting annoyed.

Evidently her father caught this. "Don't take that tone with me young lady."

"I'm hardly young."

"Compared to me you are."

"Hn."

"Hn."

At this petty argument they had just shared, they both laughed. "Come now; let's not fight here, not now. There is too much to be revealed, too many secrets to be answered. Now, to answer your first question, we are inside my resting place as I'm sure I told you not to long ago." Yumi tried to speak, but he held up his hand to silence her. "This 'tomb' is a sort of realm inside your pendant and also part of your sister's."

"But then how are you standing before me? And why can I touch you? Aren't you supposed to be some sort of ghost or something?"

"Not really. I am dead, but I stored some of myself in this place as I was creating it so that, if needed, I could pull one of you in here with me for a time being."

Yumi's eyebrow arched. "And why, pre tell, would you ever need to do that?"

"Hm, tell me. What do you know of your childhoods?"

"What? Hey! I'm the one who's supposed to be asking questions here!"

"And I've let you ask some, but you still didn't answer me: what do you remember?"

Yumi didn't know why he was asking her this. Of course she didn't know anything at all! Her childhood was erased – or at least parts of it – by the man standing before her now! "Of course I don't remember anything because you erased them in order to protect Aya and I after you died, Zane!"

After she said a few other selective words – at which he wondered if she'd been sailing all her life – she ended her rant, ice starting to fringe his clothes from her rage.

"Are you finished?" he asked, smiling. When all she did was huff his smile grew wider. "I see that you're not only like your mother, but me as well. I've never heard anything like that since one of my soldiers slept on duty – and let me tell you, he got an earful from me as well as a good beating. Anyways, let me get to the point: if I erased your memories – and I did – you wouldn't have been able to know my name or that it was I who erased your memories."

Yumi's mouth dropped. It was true. She did recall that a little while before, she never even knew who her father, Zane, was except for the occasional glimpse here and there in which she didn't even recognize him.

This place…the images! When I came here it brought back my memories!

"Ah, I see you've figured it out. Smart girl, of course you get that from me as well." He laughed arrogantly.

Yumi grinned. "If mother ever heard you say that, you'd be dead."

"Ha! She would put up one hell of a fight!"

"So why exactly do I need to remember everything if you made it such a big deal about erasing my memories? I mean, you used the last of your life to do it and send us somewhere safe as I recall."

Zane sighed. "Yumi, I know about what is happening to you and your sister: it's exactly what I've been trying to protect you from by erasing your knowledge of my world. I see how well that turned out though...

I know that Jase and Adrian first courted you and gained your trust then betrayed you by putting those blasted curses upon you. "

"So." She countered sharply.

Ugh! She's too much like me! He thought to himself. Out of annoyance, he glared.

"So they were working for the person I was trying to protect you from!" he countered.

Realizing how stubborn and bratty she had been she cast her eyes downward in shame. Sighing, her father walked over to Yumi and took her hand, leading her to the steps of the castle. There he sat and motioned for her to do so as well. When seated, he started speaking again. "I'm sure you've heard those two bakas say it more than once: you two are needed."

"Needed? For what?"

"Your territory and your palace." At her questioning gaze he decided it'd be best to start from the beginning. After all, she didn't know anything about what he was going to tell her. She was far too young to be considering such things as politics and talking charge of some land, so until he was sure she would be ready to take over, he had kept it from her. He sighed.

"Let's start from the beginning…"

"Genkai?" Kurama called as he slid the door open.

"Yes, yes, come in." Stepping inside, Kurama carefully closed the door behind him. The first thing he noticed was that Yumi's clothes had been changed to an outfit that Genkai was always seen in. He guessed that the outfit really was Genkai's since they seemed to be nearly the same size.

"How is she doing?" he asked as he stared down at the comatose body lying before him. He couldn't help but be worried. It had already been far too long since Aya had returned, surely Yumi would've – should've – been back by now…

His fears were confirmed when he shifted his gaze to the old psychic standing across him. He had never seen her this troubled before - whatever was wrong was serious. "I'm afraid that…I'm afraid that it didn't work." She said slowly, carefully forming the words.

"So she's…" Genkai nodded gravely.

"We should tell the others now. There is nothing I can do for her. "

"No, she can't be dead! Perhaps you missed something? Doesn't she have a faint pulse? Anything?"

Genkai shook her head. "No Kurama. Her skin is as cool as ice, she's not breathing, and she had no pulse. The only strange thing is, is that her body is not stiff as dead bodies are wont to do, but then again I've never had any chance to care for a demon body so maybe it's different."

Kurama was at a loss for words, so instead, he ran to Yumi's side and checked for a pulse, heartbeat, anything, anything at all. He could not simply stand there and do nothing. She was his best friend's love interest, his girlfriend's sister, and more importantly a good friend.

Try as he might, he couldn't find any living notion in her body. She didn't even react to any of the plants he hurriedly conjured. Genkai was right: she was gone. Now if only he could figure out a way to tell Aya…

and especially Hiei.

Yumi sat there on the radiant stone steps as she waited patiently for her father to speak and tell his story. Far too long had she been denied the answers to her questions.

"Our territory had always been a ground for war." He began slowly. "The Kitsune's palace –my palace – ruled over most of the land, but there was another part of land – an island to be exact - that was ruled by the ice queen.

She was old and very powerful, one of the first generation that started the war. Her palace flourished with sorcerers and sorceresses, all of whom were in some way threatening. As for my palace, it was ruled by Kitsunes, as I'm sure you could've deducted from the 'imaginative' name.

"What a minute," Yumi interrupted, "Why was our land grounds for war? Who did you fight?"

Unfazed, he replied. "The sorcerers. They wanted our lands I suppose, and thus conquer the territory. However, no one knows for sure why the war started in the first place. You see, the war had been going on for generations. Each side hated the other with such malice it was frightening. We had always been taught to hate the others since birth and were prepared for the battlefield as soon as one could walk. My ancestors would fight on the battle field with their people and as a result, many kings and queens died at a young age.

In the Kitsunes' palace there was always a royal family to rule in which the first born – male or female – would rule. I'm not too sure about how it was done exactly in the other palace since Zeal, the ice queen, ruled for such a long time, but I know that her heir and eventual replacement was a female, named Celestia, who wasn't allowed on the battlefield."

"Why would you do that if it meant endangering the blood line – have royalty fight I mean. If the other side didn't risk such things why would you?" Yumi questioned.

"Because, it showed that we cared for our people. How else would you gain their trust? Sit on a throne and get fat while everyone else risked their lives? No, we loved our lands and were willing to die for it."

"I'm sorry. I didn't know…"

He waved a hand, dismissing the thought. "No, you couldn't have known. You were raised without memory of your early years, but I can see why you'd think that. Of course with all the bloodshed our line should've been extinct centuries ago, but in order to counter this outcome, we would choose our mates at a young age. That way by the time the rulers died, they'd have children ready to take the position and rule.

And that was how I came to power. I ended up having to rule at a very early age – 50 years to be exact. My brother had died in battle right next to me and there was nothing I could do about it…" he trailed off with a hollow look in his eye as he relived the tragic event that he clearly would never get over.

Yumi tried to say something, but the words escaped her. How would she feel if she lost Aya, and right before her very eyes! That would be terrible. So instead, she placed her hand upon his back and rubbed it comfortingly. It was the least she could do. Zane noticed this and slowly put his hand over hers.

"Thank you Yumi."

"No problem. I would've gone mad if I had lost Aya like that."

He finally lifted his head and looked at her with sad eyes. "You saw her tortured, Yumi. That's much worse and I'm glad you protected her all these years: you are a good sister and the best daughter I could've asked for – well, besides Aya. She's the best as well." He grinned. "And yes, I did go mad. After I saw him die I went berserk killing every last one of the sorcerers around me.

Afterwards, however, it finally dawned on me what he dieing meant – I would have to pick up and rule. I was the only child left - my mother was still alive but unable to rule due to a physical handicap attained during battle. Of course I would do it, but I didn't have a mate yet which meant that if I died, that would be the last of the royal bloodline who were also the most powerful warriors as well.

Sick of the weight now upon my shoulders, and with the grief of loosing five brothers to war, I made the decision that night that I'd end the war then. So I snuck from the palace's walls and stealthily made my way past my enemies' defenses and into their castle. My intent was to kill their heir, which I learned was to take the throne the very next day, in her sleep. A very dirty trick, but as I said before, I was enraged.

But when I finally got to her room, she was awake and very surprised to see me, a Kitsune, leap through her open window. She," He laughed, "was not what I expected. I ended up standing there like an idiot before her!"

"Why?"

"Because she was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. Her beauty was so exotic to me: she had long dark, brown hair and beautiful violet eyes. Her skin was pale and unmarred, so…perfect against the silk of her nightgown. She was short and slender and obviously a panther demon if the black tail attached to her was any indication."

Why does that description sound familiar? Yumi wondered to herself. When her father continued she shook the thought away and paid attention once again.

"I had never seen anyone like her before since most of the Kitsunes were tan, fair haired and tall. I even think that it was that very night that I fell in love with her, Yumi, your mother."

Yumi's jaw dropped. That's why she seemed so familiar! According to her father's descriptions, she WAS the spinning image of her mother. Her father didn't seem to notice her reaction – he was too caught up in the past. The dreamy expression on his face as he talked about her made Yumi smile. Now I know where Aya got the whole 'Love at first site' gene.

Meanwhile, Zane continued his story.

"She soon got over the surprise of seeing me there and then became mad, very mad. A spell, an ice spell, more powerful than any I had ever come across before had me pinned to the wall within seconds. It was then that I realized that not only was she beautiful, but deadly as well.

Before I knew it she had a knife to my throat, drawing a little bit of blood. After that I remembered my training and quickly escaped her spell and drew a knife of my own, placing it beneath her chin as she had done with me.

Staring down at her I could see that she was afraid and at that moment, all thoughts of killing her left me. So, I drew back my knife and dropped it to the floor trying to show that I would not harm her. After confirming with me that I was no threat, she did the same. Then, as uncomfortable the situation was, I explained that I was there to negotiate, to bring about some other means to end the bloodshed.

To my surprise she didn't laugh at me, but told me that she felt the same way I did about all the killing and that it needed to be stopped as well. So, I gave her a necklace that I and my family always wore so that she could come to my palace to negotiate after she was made queen. Before she could answer yes or no, however, I had left her room.

The next day she surprised me yet again by actually coming, alone. I ended up holding a dinner in the dining chamber, so that we could discuss things privately. It was strange; I couldn't get her out of my head at all the entire time. What I mean is, is that I kept on longing for her which led me to think of the strangest thing ever: I thought about taking her as my mate.

With great difficulty I eventually told her my idea. It would bring about peace between our two lands easily – or so I thought. She was at first disturbed and repelled by such an idea then shocked and then thoughtful until she finally accepted it. Of course I told her that she didn't have to love me or anything, that it could be strictly business, which was what, eventually, led her to agree.

So, not long after, we announced to both palaces that we chose each other as mates. At first everyone was enraged by such an idea, but after we acted like we truly loved each other wholeheartedly – I didn't have to act but your mother did – they accepted it thus, ending the war and joining the two kingdoms together. Her mother hated it though and refused to leave her island as did some others of her kind.

Eventually, the two sides became used to one another and were happy. Your mother even ended up falling in love with me as deeply as I was already in love with her, and so you were born. This brought great happiness to our new kingdom, but enraged her mother further. Evidently, Zeal had formed her own little group of assassins which tried to kill me and your mother after that, but we always eluded them or our guards sacrificed their lives for us.

Then one day tragedy struck. Your mother and I were performing the ritual dance that the Kitsunes had always done before their people, when another assassination attempt was made. The arrow, skillfully poisoned, was aimed for me, but your mother noticed it before I did and, since no guards were around to protect us, ended up saving me by pushing me away at the last minute. She was struck by the arrow instead of me…

And later that night she died."

Tears welled up in her father's eyes and before she knew what was going on, she realized she was crying as well. She had never known her mother since she was too young to remember, but she still cried. Her mother had given her life for the man she loved. Yumi only hoped that she could die so noble too.

Even though she had just heard of her own mother's death, Yumi couldn't help but smile as she remembered what she had just learned: her father was a love sick puppy when he first saw her mom! It was even funnier – in a strange way - that her mother had to wait and fall in love with him.

"So, what happened after…she died…?" Yumi asked after some time had passed.

"Well, this may be another long story I'm afraid, that ends in tragedy." He warned. Yumi gave him a look as if to say 'I'm not a child' so he shrugged his shoulders and prepared to indulge into another 'history lesson'…

"Hiei, Aya. I need you guys to come with me for a minute," Genkai said as she strode into the kitchen. Aya, Hiei, and Shiva had just gotten back from their stroll and were waiting, again, for Yumi to wake. Kurama was still in the room with Yumi.

As soon as the words reached his ears, Hiei was off with Aya and Shiva mere inches behind him. Bringing up the rear, Genkai walked back the way the others had run, slowly. She didn't want to have to tell them the bad news, especially since they looked so hopeful, but she had to do what she had to do.

As soon as Genkai had finally entered the room and shut the door, Hiei spoke.

"Tell me old women, why isn't Yumi awake yet?" he demanded. Since Genkai called them in he thought that Yumi had finally woken up, but seeing that she was still unmoving, he feared the worse.

Genkai didn't even respond with the usual glare and snappy comeback which didn't help the sinking feeling in his stomach. Kurama wasn't even his usual optimistic self; he stood by the window with a solemn look in his eye, though he obviously tried to hide it.

"I'm sorry everyone," Genkai said slowly, "but the ritual was unsuccessful for Yumi."

"W…what do you mean!" Aya demanded, voicing the question that had sprung in Hiei's mind as well.

"I mean –"

"She means that Yumi is not coming back." Kurama said.

"What! NO! You can do the ritual again! This time it'll work – I'm here!" Aya yelled.

"No, that wouldn't work."

"WHY!"

"BECAUSE SHE'D HAVE TO BE ALIVE IN ORDER FOR IT TO WORK!" Hiei suddenly bellowed, out-voicing Aya.

At this sudden realization that she'd refused to accept before, Aya starting to cry – or at least tried to. The sobs that demanded to escape from her body refused to leave her throat causing her to shake and take in quick, raspy breaths. Kurama hurriedly ran over to her and hugged her tightly letting Aya cling to him with all her strength – and that hurt. The pain got so unbearable that he had to transform in order to not cry out in pain.

"Shut up." Hiei demanded quietly, balling his fists together in order to restrain himself. He couldn't stand to hear Aya whine so loudly – now that she finally managed to get past the quiet, held in crying, she was now unbearably loud – and if she didn't quit soon he'd go insane. Still, Aya didn't even hear him or pretended not to. Instead, she wailed even louder.

"I said be quiet…" His eyes started to grow hot with held back tears. Louder and louder she wailed.

"SHUT THE F-censored-K UP! YOU CRYING WILL DO NOTHING EXCEPT PISS ME OFF! NOW WHY DON'T YOU GET UP OFF YOUR ASS AND ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING FOR ONCE IN YOUR MISERABLE EXISTANCE!" Silence followed, but it still didn't satisfy him. Then, pushing Kurama away, Aya transformed with a look of intense hate and anger upon her face.

"What did you say to me?" she asked, slightly bending down so that her face was in his.

"I said shut… up, and get up off your ass and do something once in awhile."

"And what gives you the right to say something like that to me?"

"If you" he said pointing his finger angrily at her, "didn't get tricked, this would've never happened. YUMI WOULD STILL BE ALIVE!"

Anger flared in her eyes as she drew back her hand and punched him in the face. This resulted in him punching her back, each hit making the receiver take a step back. Then, recovering quicker, Aya charged up to Hiei, wrapped one hand around his neck, and threw him against the wall. Her face even closer to his than before, Aya growled.

"You have no right to say anything like that – ever. You've no right to JUDGE ME! I AM MORE POWERFUL THAN YOU AND COULD KILL YOU WITH A FLICK OF MY WRIST!" Try as he might, Hiei couldn't free himself of her grasp and he was starting to loose breath. Aya noticed this and slightly backed off just enough to let him breathe…barely. Each knew what they were doing and both thought it was idiotic. They knew that they were acting out and taking out their anger on the other, even if Hiei DID start it first. However, they each were insulted and beyond angry.

"Let go of me!" Hiei managed to say. When Aya made it clear that she wouldn't by sharpening her claws on the wall beside his head, he got even madder.

"Hiei, Aya! Stop this at once!" Yoko Kurama snarled. He tried to reach out and hold back Aya, but a force field pushed him back.

"I SAID TO LET ME GO!" Hiei bellowed as his power flared with immense anger and, also, grief. Aya was blown back by the force and thrown through the wall, into the forest surrounding the temple, knocking down trees. Without a word, Hiei rubbed his sore neck and walked over to Yumi. Now he could feel his eyes moisten even more as he looked upon her.

Now everything has truly been taken away from me…he thought as he bent over and gently kissed her on the lips before picking her up. In a flash, he was gone along with Shiva who was quietly watching the scene unfold before her.

Kurama was about ready to take off after Aya when a dull click! click! sound reached his sensitive ears. Bending down, Kurama picked up a black pearl that had fallen and rolled to where he was standing. Hiei… Kurama thought sadly as he shook his head and slipped it into his pocket. Soon after he raced through the hole in the wall and to Aya's unconscious body…

Aww, Hiei. You were crying...

Hiei: shut up, you wrote the script.

And you did a wonderful job!

Hiei: Hn, are you going to finish playing the game or what?

Oh! Yeah, I don't know...I've never played this game before...

Hiei: (grins wolfishly) Come on, It's just a 'harmless game of strip poker', remember?

Yes, yes. I did say that. Okay, let's start then...

2 hours later...

Take it off! Take it off! lol

Hiei: Fine...(curses unfriendly-like things beneath his breath and takes off his pants) I thought you said you've never played before...

(fully clothed and grinning) I haven't...I've played regular poker!

Hiei: (grumbles and now is standing only in his boxers. Hears fangirl screams from outside the house.) I'm going to die...

Ack! Hiei! You wear...

continued in chapter 17...