A/N: Yep. Another chapter for your enjoyment. No more excuses. Apologies for the lack update, but I'm going to leave it at that. Thank you so much to all of you who've stayed to see this story through. The one thing I refuse to do is quit.

Dedicated to: LilRoseAngel, Princess Krystal 01, hyperaquafairy, loves-winged-dark-angel, and FortySeventhLight. Thankies!

Chapter 6: One Chance

Hiei stood breathlessly afraid to make a move. His sister's arms were around him and it had the demon petrified. Despite her frail outer appearance, her grip was tight and portrayed an image of desperation.

He wanted to hold her in return. He wanted to tell her it was alright. That he would protect her, like a brother should. That he would not let anything of harm come to her. That he would no longer be a terrible sibling and take on some family responsibility.

But he couldn't.

Such a deed would prove fatal. The fire demon did not want to tell Yukina that her brother was a thief, a blood thirsty convict of immense proportions. It would not make the girl happy or at ease, but instead make matters worse and more complicated.

However, he could not move, remaining frozen in her arms. He wanted to be a good brother. He should put his arms around her. That is what a brother would do, right?

…right?

Her sobbing soon became audible and she choked out, "I was so scared."

The fire demon opened his mouth to respond but found no words to do so. He did not know what to say. Standing rigidly, he suddenly realized the true extent of his coldness and cruelty. His sister, an ice maiden, was trapped in the mists of an unstoppable fire, and when he finally appeared to save her, he could not even return a gesture of brotherly love. It was not that he did not want to hurt her in such a way, but that he did not know how to be kind. What could he say possibly say?

Noticing his pause of indecision, Yukina gazed up into his crimson eyes and smiled, "Thank you."

"Mm." He blushed, looking away. How could she thank him when he failed so miserably? "Let's get out of here."

Slowly, Yukina released her grip upon him. "Right," she nodded. The birds surrounding her expressed signs of relief of her safety and rested on her shoulders.

To be honest, Hiei felt a brief sensation of regret and sadness. He should have put his arms around her, and now the chance to embrace her was gone forever. Hiei would and could never muster up the courage to express such kindness in a future situation.

He extended his arm towards the green inferno and shot a quick blast of fire at it. It dissipated for a second or so, but quickly returned. The demon faced his exhausted sister, "You're going to have to run through that blaze immediately after I hit it. You'll only have a moment to get through, so timing is everything."

"What about you?"

"It won't harm me. Ready?" Again, the fire demon extended his arm. It had been a long time since he used this attack, since it was after all, very weak. Something Phennix had taught him in her spare time. He had never used it. "Now." Another flash, and the green wall was down. Yukina ran through it with the birds beside her.

He paused nervously to see the wall flare up quickly. "…Yukina?"

"I-I'm alright," she replied almost at a whisper from across the fire. Hiei smiled in relief and sauntered through it. The same sensation of a cool breeze engulfed him. A moment later he was clean on the other side.

"We should get out of here quickly. This way," he pointed and ran softly in said direction. Yukina could barely follow in her exhausted condition.

"Hiei, wait." She panted. Immediately, he returned to her side. "I can't go on."

"What do you need me to do?"

"Carry me?" She blushed, focusing on the floor. "I'm sorry. I would but I ca—" Before she could complete her sentence, Hiei picked her up.

"It'll go much faster this way, anyway." He held her loosely, as though his sister possessed cooties or some other girlish disease. Never in his life was the demon so unbelievably frightened. His heart throbbed in anxiety, and he was unable to look her in the eyes. Throughout the whole endeavor to escape the forest with his ignorant sister in his arms, Hiei continuously thought, "I am so bloody pathetic." It was a stream of perpetual guilt.

He couldn't hold her. He couldn't show her how much he cared. He couldn't tell her the truth. He was living a lie and only he put himself there. This was all his fault. Somehow in a twisted way, he wanted to be back in midst of the fire in her arms. He wanted another chance.

His mind suddenly broke away from its endless banter. He wanted another chance. Was that what he really wanted?

The two of them were quickly out of the forest, and Hiei released his sister instantly. "You're safe now."

"Yes, um, thank you."

"Mm," he panted, rubbing his forehead.

A sign of concern was on her face, "Are you alright?"

"Yes, of course," he insisted, though failed to convince Yukina. Truth to tell, the pain from his Jagan was returning. He should have listened to Phennix's advice. Opening his eye earlier was ignorant and downright stupid.

"You sure?"

"Yes!" He yelled with force, scaring his sister briefly. "You must be tired. Come on." The fire demon began grudgingly walking away from the entrance of the forest.

"Where are we going?"

"A place to rest. And then…"

He trailed off as Yukina grasped his hand. Without turning his head, he looked at his hand at the corner of his eye. She was holding it. "And then?"

"Koenma assigned me this mission and it's imperative that I solve it." Before his sister could respond, "Don't ask why."

"Well, um… I'm glad that you got my message." She whispered.

"Message?" He asked. A red bird flew onto his shoulders.

"I asked Aka-chan to get your help. I am so glad he was able to reach you." Yukina paused and then quickly added, "Aka-chan is the bird on your shoulders, so you know."

"Oh. You wanted my help?"

"Of course! And thank you so much."

"I-uh… it was no, um, trouble." He murmured, barely audible. She wanted his assistance over Kuwabara, or Yusuke, or Kurama? The fire demon smile briefly with indescribable warmth.

After a quarter of an hour of walking (though if the siblings weren't so exhausted, then it would have been a few minutes), they approached a lone tree on top of a series of boulders.

"No fire could reach that tree if it's surrounded by unburnable material," Hiei said proudly. The two of them reached the tree quickly as Yukina's birds flew into its branches for rest. The ice maiden released her grip of Hiei's hand and sat up against the tree. After smiling up at her savior, she whispered a quick 'good night' and instantly fell asleep.

The fire demon weakly smiled in return but did not follow suit. Despite his exhaustion and rising pain in his forehead, Hiei was determined to watch over his sister. When she woke up, he'd figure out this fire issue, destroy who was responsible, and then be free.

He walked to the edge of a boulder and plopped down onto it. This place seemed familiar and distant somehow. However, before he could determine why, Hiei fell into a deep sleep and dream….

A/N: How was that guys? Sorry it was short, but this is a very good stopping point, I think. Anyway, more to come soon.