When I came back to the house, I quickly cleaned up and, this may surprise you, but I did my homework. After I finished, I glanced at the clock, and sighed. Too early to go to bed, too late to go for a walk. Damn. My ears perked up as I heard almost completely silent footsteps. My hands slid towards my kunai knives... But stopped when I saw it was Hiei. I raised an eyebrow. He was completely covered in soot and was panting heavily.

"You okay?" I asked, standing. I barely caught him as he fell.

He laughed, even if it was somewhat shakily. "Yeah..."

"You don't look it." I glared at him.

He smirked and winced as he sat up. "C'mon... I've... Got something to show you..." I shrugged.

"Fine. But you can barely walk." I stood up. "Here." I draped his arm over my shoulders so he was leaning on me. "If you let go, and try to be nonchalant and macho, as you usually are, I will kick your ass."

He smirked slightly, "Fine."

As I half-carried and half-dragged Hiei outside, he instructed me to go to the old shed on the edge of the property. I rolled my eyes. Only Hiei would, in his condition, insist on walking two miles. I sighed.

"I'm carrying you, we'll get there much quicker." Before he could argue, I shifted his position so he was on my back, piggyback style. "Hold on." I ran. As fast as I possibly could. We were there in two minutes, max. Seeing the grimace on his face, I rolled my eyes. Boys and their masochism... But I let him slide down. Leaning heavily on the wall, he entered the building. I somewhat hesitantly followed. It was hot in there. I glanced around; he had turned it into a forge. My eyes widened. He managed to do this in a few hours...?

"Here." Hiei winced as he knelt and lifted something and handed it to me. It was a good four feet long. I set the polished wood on the table and opened it. I stared.

It was a sword. I hesitantly pulled the blade from the black onyx sheath. The silver braided into the black cloth on the handle was cool against my hand. I pulled it half way out. The blade itself was tempered steel, but... Something about it was... unearthly. Possibly from the demon plane...? Then the design running along the blade caught my eye. I remembered it from the Tournament.

"The Dragon of the Darkness Flame...?" I glanced at him. The aura surrounding the blade was the same as the one that surrounded Hiei, now that he was the dragon.

He nodded and winced. Then it hit me. He infused his own aura into the metal, almost literally making it a part of himself. I pulled it out completely. As I did so, black flames spiraled out of the blade, licking the edges. The amount of energy for this kind of infusion was incredible... I glared at him.

"You... idiot... I'm surprised you're even standing, let along conscious." I sheathed the blade.

He smirked. "It was worth it."

I blinked.

He elaborated, flinching from pain before he did so. "I... I cannot be with you all the time... And that sword will protect you... When I cannot."

I let my fingers slide down the cool stone. But my eyes were on him, I had never... Seen him this vulnerable before.

He looked at the ground. "I failed once... I swore I would protect you, no matter what, but I could not..." His voice was thick, his shoulders shaking. "But... While you were fighting Toguro... I could not do a thing!" I took a step towards him, the blade in one hand.

"Hiei." He refused to meet my eyes. "Look. At. Me." He hesitantly lifted his gaze so he was looking directly at me. His eyes shone with unshed tears. "I'm still alive, aren't I?" I smiled slightly. "I can take care of myself, for the most part." I slowly tightened the embrace. To my surprise, he returned it.

"I know... But I cannot afford to lose you..." Then he was back to myself. He blinked, all uncertainty in his eyes were gone. His normal arrogance replaced it. "And if you do die, I am coming after you to kill you myself."

I smirked as I rolled my eyes. "Whatever."

The next morning, I grudgingly got up for school. I really hoped Kurama would come before school, though I doubted it. Stumbling to the shower, I turned the water on, full blast cold. Now awake, I quickly got ready for school and was on my way in less than five minutes. I arrived just before the tardy bell rang. Taking my seat, I began to erase some of my answers. I had a reputation to think of.

"I see you think fit enough to grace us with your presence." I glanced up at Iwamoto's voice.

I tensed. He was about to frame me for something... "And you don't even wear a proper uniform...Tsk." I rolled my eyes. He's as bad as Keiko. I was knocked out of my thoughts, literally, when his fist made contact with my cheek. I was knocked out of my seat. Rolling, I was on my feet, ready for a fight. He took a step forward, his fist raised to strike again. I looked at him coolly, ready to block it.

"YUSUKE!" For the first time during school, I was glad to see Keiko.

"Morning." I yawned as Keiko stomped over towards me. Before I could move, which is saying something, she grabbed me by the ear and dragged me out of the classroom and down to the principle's office. I smirked inwardly. Perfect timing. That would piss Iwamoto off. Though I inwardly frowned. When did Iwamoto hit his students? Have to mention that to the principle... Speaking of whom... What would his reaction be when he saw me in a guy's uniform? I hated the girl's uniforms. How was I supposed to fight in a skirt? He should just be thankful I am wearing a school uniform, albeit a green one, and a boy's, but a uniform, nonetheless.

Half way through his rant, after he kept cutting me off when I was about to bring up Iwamoto, I walked out. I did not need this crap. "Where do you think you're going!" He shouted.

I glared at him, my eyes flashing red. "Home."

He froze. And I casually turned on my MP3 player as I began the walk to well, I guess home, because it was more so than that condo Ma rented out. A lot cleaner to. And she wouldn't miss me; she was on one of her drinking binges.

When I got home, Hiei was no where to be found. Shrugging it off, I went to my room to take a shower. After wards, I quickly dried off, got dressed and went to the kitchen. Grabbing a carton of ice cream (cookies and cream) and a spoon, I turned on the television and began eating the ice cream. Flipping through the channels until I came to the news, I half-listened as I ate.

"In other news, Sarayashiki Jr. High has been infiltrated by-" I dropped the carton and leaned forward, watching the scenes on the screen, my eyes narrowing dangerously. Someone was out to get Yurei'ha out, seeing how all the signs pointed towards the hitokiri, though it might be an imposture... Though I doubted it. Shoving the half-eaten carton back in the fridge, I went to the garage after pausing to grab a coat. Slipping on my belt, I, after a second glance, grabbed the sword Hiei gave me, then I came to my engineering masterpiece: Shadow. I ran a hand fondly down the sleek black sides. Almost completely silent and could go two hundred miles per hour, thanks to my work. Though I dreaded to think what would happen if I did go that fast...

Pulling on my helmet, I tightened the green trench coat-like garment closer. Seeing how it once had been Toguro's, it was a few sizes too large on me, but... whatever. Taking off, I leaned forward to be aerodynamic. Speeding along, I gritted my teeth. Those bastards would pay if they had harmed any one of the students or teachers... Except for Iwamoto and Akashi. They would have the thanks of all the students and half the teachers if they disposed of those two. Hell, I'd probably congratulate them myself.

In a matter of minutes, I was at the school gate. Parking my motorcycle far enough that it would be unnoticed but close enough for a getaway, I easily leapt over the wall and entered the courtyard. Blending in with the shadows, I slipped into the building unnoticed for there were no guards outside. Flitting through the hallways, I thought quickly. Where would they keep the students? The only place big enough for everyone: the gym.

I sighed silently. Crap. They have had a few hours, probably to set up traps and the like, but... I smirked as I slid a senbon out of its holder. Let's see how good these hitokiri are.

Kunai: knives used by ninja's and assassins.

Hitokiri: assassin

Senbon: acupuncture needle, but if it hits a vital point, it is fatal.

Votes:

Hiei: 9

Jin: 5

Kurama: 1

Hiei and Kurama: 12