A/N: Thanks for all the reviews everyone! I guess because it's summer, more and more people have time on their hands to see and read my widdle story. Oh, and yeah cliffies are evil, but I usually get writer's block and am not sure what to do until a little bit later (though I'm pretty certain no one wants to know that simply because I'm just giving excuses). I have so much more to say (and to comment on everyone's responses, but I'll refrain since everyone wants to read the story, not the author's little rants. Hee hee hee).

This chapter is dedicated to the following: Jessica, Ryukotsusei, Shiorifoxiesmom, ForbiddenSoul562, Yoshimi Minamono, Amazing, FortySeventhLight, Jax9, DarkMage6, Princess Krystal01, trunksgirl85, Lil Rose Angel, CEED, Serena-Demon Goddess, and Kurayami no Sayokyoku. Thanks oh-so-much!

Well, without further adieu, we have the next chapter (but not the final one, despite its title) of Rhyme vs. Reason. Enjoy.

Chapter 10: Rhyme or Reason

He was at a complete loss for words. For emotion, for a course of action. What could he say? What could he do? The thoughts raced through him, frightening the demon like nothing he ever feared before. He knew Yukina's face rested inches from hers but failed to truly acknowledge her presence, for he was too panicked from her words.

Desperate, Hiei tried to focus, retracing his steps.

The demon had minded his own business, confused by Kurama's certainty that Phennix was involved in the fires, which he was sent to defeat (if one could "defeat" fire, that is). Footsteps echoed behind him, and immediately he recognized them to belong to Yukina. He turned, finding fear and hesitation in her eyes. Upon asking his beloved sister her troubles, the demon soon realized (or thought he realized) her concern.

She knew! She knew they were siblings and was thinking of a way to confront him. Certainly, Yukina felt anger towards him. For lying. For toying with her. For… confusing and in essence tormenting her. He knew she was in search of her brother but had refused to tell the truth. And now she wanted to chastise him, to torment him as he had her. For revenge.

Nervous and breathless, he listened to her words carefully despite his heart throbbing in his ears, and the panic raging within his chest. The demon tried to steady himself, waiting for her to announce her revelation, but to his surprise, she did not. Instead, she revealed a more problematic situation: her love for him, but not of brotherly love, one more elusive and dangerous. A passionate affection that only lovers shared.

And she felt this way towards him?

At first, he was relieved. His secret remained hidden. However, fate was not kind to him, for as soon as his panic retreated, it returned with exponential intensity. This was all wrong; Yukina should have remained innocent, unaware of Hiei's whereabouts and antics, but to the contrary, she took notice of the demon with great curiosity. His plans failed, backfiring on him in a way Hiei never imagined possible.

He was her brother, not her lover. It was wrong. It was disgusting. The thought revolted him, as he stood utterly motionless. But more importantly, how could he have done this to Yukina? Without recognizing it, the demon had played a cruel game with her. In protecting her as a duty, she analyzed it to be passionate affection. Toying with her emotions like a sick puppet. Hiei was suddenly unaware of which appalled him more: Yukina's naïve love for her brother, or Hiei's deceit and unwitting heartlessness.

Irony if he ever saw it. By trying to avoid her through his mysteriousness, he attracted her.

He certainly could not reveal this to Yukina. To stop this game, not only would he have to reveal his identity, but also the compilation of lies he fed to her. And what if he did that? She would despise him; curse his name, run away in despair.

As the possibility crossed his mind he suddenly felt weak and overwhelmed. And while his body grew fragile with self-hatred and doubt, Yukina embraced him. After envisioning her fury towards him, Yukina's kindness shocked him beyond expression. Tears, however, did not fall down his cheeks, no matter how exposed the demon felt. She supported him without understanding his crimes.

How could this be?

"I'm sorry." The voice slapped him with surprise and confusion. At first he thought the words reluctantly escaped his mouth, but as reality slowly awakened, his endless banter of self-disgust faded, and he realized this came from Yukina.

He frowned, what was she apologizing for? It was he who lied, who knew master thievery, who accidentally tricked her into loving him when in reality she should hate him. His sister made no sense, but perhaps she understood something he did not.

"No, I should be saying that."

"Why? I don't-"

"Understand?" he interrupted her, not wanting her to continue, possibly taunting her to admit further affection. He had no true options. The demon was cornered with all his ideas ending in her despising him. After all these years, he never thought of this possible outcome and certainly not how to handle it. What could he do or say, really? Nothing; he could not say anything to console her. "I… can't."

"Can't what?"

Can't tell you the truth, he thought bitterly. But he could. The demon easily could and should have. He only wanted her to remain innocent so she would be unaware that her brother was a thief. She would be disgraced and hate him. He refused to tell her because… because he was selfish.

He was selfish.

He wanted to yell, to cry, to do anything to avoid his revelation, but failed to do so. Its seed had already planted itself, slowly sprouting and growing. He told himself his lies were for Yukina's well being, but it was for his. How could she possibly love him for that?

She loved him in a way Hiei could not possibly return, and failing to make her happy for her sake and not his made him feel dirty. Remorseful for all he had done, the demon returned her embrace. She did not deserve him, but worst of all, he could not reveal why.

"Don't cry over me," he whispered, but actually meant to say, don't forgive me. I can't blame you.

"But Hiei…don't you care about me? You saved me all those times, and-and I thought that you…that I… um, well…"

Why was she pushing him? Did she want to feel pain? What was wrong with him for tricking her this way? And yet, perhaps Yukina was simply unaware and wanted him to love her the way she obviously had grown to love him.

Sighing inaudibly, he considered another option not yet thought of. What if he did not tell her the truth and instead agreed to share her affections? She would be happy, and he would suffer knowing the truth. That they were siblings, not meant to be lovers. The disgust of such knowledge would surely torment him, such as Hiei deserved…

"Hiei?"

And yet…

"I… I…"

Her happiness would be built upon a stack of lies and deceit. If she were to know this, then he only prolonged and worsened his own fears. What was he to do? With all his strength, the demon sought guidance. Either path chose his own destruction. And both eventually led to Yukina's. Reasoning directed him to the truth: the connections between them. While Rhyme, melody, harmony steered him to Yukina's happiness.

Even if for a moment, it was worth it…right? Or was his mind playing tricks on him again? Was he being selfish?

He looked deeply into his sister's eyes to find sadness and concern. "I'm sorry," he said, hoping words would favor and come to his aide. "I… don't know, uh, what to say. There are just, well, so many things to tell…" Hiei paused to see Yukina hanging on to his every word. "It's not that simple; I uh, well… care… about you, and that's-the-truth-but um, it's a-a lot more complicated than that. And I just… I can't explain it right now."

"But I need to know," she pleaded. "Please…"

This was it. The path of Rhyme or the path of Reason. What was it going to be? He could not decide, or refused to, whichever one it was, the whole notion seemed trivial. What was he afraid of? However, the demon frowned knowing the rhetorical question revealed how truly nervous and weak he was.

"I l-lo-ove you and all bu---"

"You do!" she squealed, her concern vanishing completely. The ice maiden hugged him tighter, refusing to let go. "I'm so…so relieved."

He frowned. After all that, he aimed to tell her the truth only to accidentally follow his path of Rhyme. Just his luck, the exact opposite of what he intended and now she would hate him with more fury than the fire demon could imagine (and he could envision a surprising amount of hatred).

"But I need to stop these fires first," he said, finishing his previous sentence in a way the demon never expected to. Today was just full of unwanted surprises.