Hey everyone here's the next chapter. I was actually surprised by the reviews people gave me… but enough of that! Anyway one person asked me what would cause my dad to be away for long. The answer is that he was in Iraq and he just got back so… yeah.

Disclaimer: I don't own YYH, I don't own Edgar Allan Poe or ANY of his writing and uh… I don't own anything except the plot and I barely own that to!

Anyways NEXT CHAPTER!

Chapter 14: Nervous.

'True! -nervous- very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why will you say that I am mad? The disease had sharpened my senses –not destroyed- not dulled them. Above all was the sense of hearing acute. I heard all things in the heaven and in the earth. I heard many things in the hell. How, then, am I mad?'
-Edgar Allan Poe

(I found that quote today and I instantly thought of this story so I HAD to put it in!)

The tension in the silent air was deadly between the two fire demons. Ash's eyes stayed locked on Hiei's crimson ones as if playing the game of who would look away first.

Ash's arm suddenly flung the blade away from her giving a clank as it hit the ground. Her body fell to her knees and her arms blindly found their way around Hiei's body.

Hiei's P.O.V

I could feel her hands gripping my back as it for dear life. "Hiei." Her voice was weak, "take me home." She pleaded of me. I moved my arms around her in acceptance.

"Ash." I understood that this was her decision, but it was the wrong one. "No." I said leaning my head down into her soft black hair.

"Don't do this." I said allowing some of the concern that rampaged inside me to show in my voice.

Normal P.O.V

"Hiei please don't d-."

"No." Hiei's voice was firm with her. "No I won't allow it." He pulled her back and forced her to meet his gaze. "This thing will soon kill you like you said and there's no difference if you come back." He explained.

"You need to stay here, I won't allow you to die when I could have done something about it."

She clung harder to him, "no, if I can't be with you I'll die in time. I'd rather be with you and die that way." Tears threatened to fall from her face. It pained Hiei to have to tear her away from him like this… but it was for her better and he was not about to let her die, not any time soon at least.

"Ash y-."

"Hiei no this is my choice and I won't let you sway me from it." Determination filled her body as she sat there. He looked upon her face blankly, it seemed as though this would be a very important decision in his life, and he wasn't about to make a wrong decision.

"Fine." Suddenly the sense of another being approaching consumed him and his eyes snapped over to where it was coming from.

Ryu appeared in the middle of the hallway, steadily walking towards them. Ash pulled away from Hiei and stood up, as he drew closer the sight of Shinku became clear also.

"Well." He said seeing both pair's of eyes on him. He walked ever closer to Ash and set a hand gently cheek. Hiei would have gotten up and attacked the psychic but he found he was being restrained by Ryu's power.

"Yes I am restraining you Jaganshi." Hiei glared at him. "Ash I knew from the start that you would never choose to stay here from the beginning, I can see it in you." He said looking straight into Ash's gray eyes.

"Like I said before I respect what you choose and I even have something to ask of you." He said a smirk appearing on his pale face.

She looked at him oddly the feeling of curiosity filling her, "okay."

Ryu looked from Ash to Shinku then back at Ash, "I want you to take Shinku."

Her eyes widened "What?" She almost stuttered out. "Yes, I can not offer her much here, despite her power ability she is very young and deserves to have a good home, I would like you to take her and keep her as your own." He explained resting a hand upon Shinku's white head.

Her cream eyes looked directly at Ash like she was trying to mentally process everything Ryu had just instructed of Ash.

"Alright, we'll take her, can you release the hold on Hiei now please?" She asked a pleading look crossing her face. Suddenly Hiei was on his feet in a second standing next to Ash looking deadly at the psychic.

"You spoil all my fun Ash." Ryu commented a smirk on his face.

She smiled. "I know… what are you planning to do after we leave?" She asked. He was silent the thought passing in his mind as he thought quickly about it. "I'm not sure really, the Spirit realm is after me I presume which ups my fun, so I might travel around a bit." He explained.

"Well then… good luck with that." She said suddenly feeling as though she had never had any anger ever passed towards Ryu and it was just like saying 'goodbye' to a good friend.

They turned slightly but Ryu's voice stopped her. "Ash." She met his eyes. "Remember your love might be the thing that saves you someday." He smirked and turned, as Shinku turned to he stopped.

"Shinku you need to go with them." He explained, she looked lost like she was being separated from her only family. "Ash is going to be your mother now."

"Yes Shinku come with us." Ash said as the young girl's eyes turned to see Ash standing beside her a reassuring smile on her face. Shinku turned towards her and allowed herself to be followed down the hall.

She looked back and spotted Ryu standing in the middle of the hall a smile on his face as his hands went into his pockets and he slowly faded into the blackness of the shadow. (Oh I feel like I'm going to cry from that!)

-

Once out into the fresh air Ash instantly in took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Ash." She looked over at Hiei. "You didn't seem that happy to be leaving Ryu, why?"

She smiled, "some things came about there that I don't think I will be able to explain to you. At least not right now, although… it seems we mistook him for a bad guy when in reality he wasn't." She explained leaving him with a confused look.

Not long later Kurama came up to them carrying a passed out Kianna in his arms. "What happened to her?" Ash asked observing the water demon. "I'm not sure b-."

"A… pain device was implanted onto her." Shinku said quietly. "Well I think it will be best if we get back to the temple, and then we can deal with everything there." Kurama suggested, Ash nodded and they started for the temple.

Ash stopped and took one last final look at the black castle that seemed to stand so forsaken by itself, she sighed and turned following the others.

A/N: Yeah I'm going to cry now because I had to put a end on Ryu! I mean all good things must come to a end but still! Oh well next chapter… there.