CHAPTER 16

The first thing Hie saw when he opened his eyes a few days later was a bedroom wall. "What the?" he said sitting up in surprise. "How did I get here?"

"We brought you here," said a voice behind him.

The fire/ice demon turned slightly. He saw Kurama standing in the bedroom doorway. "How..how did you find us?"

"A light."

"A light...?"

"A light led us to the shrine where we found you and Minoly," the fox demon replied.

"Minoly!" Hiei exclaimed suddenly remembering something. "Is Minoly all right?"

Kurama's green eyes held surprise. He'd never seen Hiei so worried about anyone, save for his sister. "She's fine," he answered.

"Where is she?"

"Probably at her house or the school."

Hiei started to get out of bed. "I have to go see her-ouch!" he grabbed his left side which was covered in bandages.

"Hey, easy," Kurama said helping his friend sit back down. "You shouldn't be up you know. Genkai said you would have to stay in bed for at least a week."

"I don't have a week," Hiei protested pushing his friend away. "Besides Genkai doesn't know what she's talking about." the demon opened a drawer and began pulling some clothes out of it. "What I have to do is more important than my injuries right now."

"Same old Hiei," Kurama mumbled. "What is so important?"

"I have to see her."

"Why?" the fox demon asked surprised at the answer.

"I just do," Hiei said pulling out a white T-shirt with a picture of a red fire dragon on the front. "You wouldn't understand."

"All right," Kurama said stepping back. "But take it easy."

"I feel fine!" Hiei insisted pulling on the shirt and dashing out of the room. "Why don't you worry about something else? Like your dinner?"

"What do you-" Kurama smelled something burning just then. "The meat loaf!"

Hiei found Minoly at the school. She was standing at the bottom of the school bleachers watching a practice baseball game. Hiei stopped when he saw her. She's alive, he thought smiling slightly. That's good.

He started for her again but hesitated. Why are you stopping? he asked himself. She's not mad at you. You have nothing to fear from a fifteen year old girl. Just pretend she's Kuwabara or some other idiot.

Taking a deep breath he began walking once more.

Minoly stood leaning against the side of the bleachers, her arms folded and her head turned toward the playing field.

School is still the same as always, she thought. She sighed. I haven't seen Hiei in three days. I wonder if he's all right? I hope so. I hope he's not mad at me or something... Her eyes closed halfway as she stared at the piece of material she held. I wonder if I'll ever see him again...

"Minoly."

Her eyes came wide open at the sound of her name. Is that who I think it is? It couldn't be!

"Minoly."

The girl turned her head. It is!

Hiei.

"Hiei," the girl said looking away. "I thought you..."

"Thought I what?" he asked.

She looked back up. "Didn't want to..."

He gave her a look. "There you go again."

"What?"

"You stopped halfway in your sentence. When will you learn to complete one?"

She blushed. "I.. uh..."

"Stop it!" he said walking up to her. "That's real annoying!"

"I'm sorry," she said.

He smiled. "I forgive you. So," he said putting his hand on the bleacher right next to her head. "How have you been doing?"

"Um.. fine," she said shrinking a little. "How about you?"

"For the most part... exceptable."

"So umm... why did you come here?" she wanted to know. "I thought you'd never want to see me again after what had happened..."

"Who said that?" he demanded.

"Well I haven't seen you in three days and I thought-" she began.

"That is not why I didn't come to see you!" he interupted knowing what she was going to say. "I was just healing that is all!"

"Oh," she said slowly. "That's good." then she asked. "Um.. why did you come here?"

"I needed to tell you something."

"What?"

First he wanted to know something. "Do you hate me?"

"No!" she replied surprised at the question. "I don't hate you. Why would I? Do you hate me?"

"No." C'mon, Hiei, just tell her! "Um... Minoly..."

"Yes?"

"I'd better say this before I realize how stupid it is."

"What?"

His eyes locked with her's. "I love you," he said in a rush.

She blinked. "You what?"

He looked away. "I love you." This topic is getting stupid.

"You do?"

He turned away realizing how stupid he felt now. "Maybe I shouldn't have told you. You probably think I'm nuts being so forward like that... I'll go now..."

He started to walk away.

"Don't!" Minoly shouted wrapping her arms around him from behind.

He turned his head to look at her face. Her purple eyes bled tears. "Don't go!' she pleaded. "I.. I'm glad you love me." she closed her eyes and rested her head on the back of his neck. "You don't realize how much I've beeen wanting to hear you say that to me..."

"Minoly..." he said.

She let him go and stood back a few paces. "Without you I would be dead right now," she said. "You saved my life, Hiei. You're a good person."

She's said that before. He turned to face her. Good person... good person...

She opened her eyes and smiled softly though she was still crying. "You proved that," she said her teary eyes sparkling. "The thing is.. I ... I love you too..."

"Minoly?"

"So," she went on. "Don't go away. Please... don't leave me again..."

Hiei said nothing. He stared at her a minute.

She stared back. She waited. It all depended on what he did.

Suddenly the fire/ice demon walked up to her. He grabbed her face in his hands. He brought it in close and kissed her lips.

The girl stood there in shock. She hadn't expected that. But... she'd wanted it to happen this way as well... slowly she wrapped her arms around his neck and closed her eyes.

When he let her go a minute later he said. "I'm not going anywhere."

She blushed and smiled. "R...really?"

He nodded.

"Oh, Hiei," she said looking downward.

"Yes?"

She lifted up the things she held. "These are yours."

He stared at it. "My shirt...," he said taking it. Something fell out and clattered onto the ground. "...and my sword?"

She nodded. "I've had the shirt," she replied. "That woman Genkai gave me the sword to sharpen for you..."

He stared at the items a moment. "Thank you."

Her eyes sparkled. "You're welcome, Hiei-san."

"By the way," he said. "I think this belongs to you." he handed her a rectangular object.

When she took it she knew exactly what it was. "My book!" she exclaimed looking up at him. "I thought I had lost it for good! I went back to the forest and couldn't find it."

"I had it," he said. "I'm sorry I couldn't give it back to you sooner." he tapped the cover and admited something he'd never tell anyone. "I read it on the way here. It's nice."

She smiled as she hugged the book to herself. "Yes. Yes, it is." her glowing eyes locked on him. "Yes, it is."

She leaned forward and kissed him. "Now, we're even," she said moving away.

Hiei smiled as he took her hand. "Maybe."

They started walking out of the school yard. As they did the wind blew up and showered them in dandelion petals.

A/N

He he he! This isn't over yet! I still have one more thing to go! Anyway. I know Hiei is OOC but I have no idea how he acts in a romance way. I've never seen it. (I've never seen the end of the series either) Heheh. Well I hope you like the chapter aside from the OOC ness. I tried my best to make him in character but I don't think I did a very good job. I am sorry for that.