Chapter 3: "No, I mean it."

I made it home and quickly and quietly got into my room. I discarded my soot-covered clothes and switched into my normal outfit instead of the ningen clothes I was wearing. I had finished putting the last belt on when I heard Kuronue say something behind me. I turned around and smirked.

"Not bad, kid." This was the one person in all four realms that I allowed to call me 'kid'. "You might have gotten away with your little game of hero except for the fact that it's all over the TV."

"What!" I walked into Naoko's room and turned the TV on. The headlines read 'Teen saves girl from fire' and it was showing everything from early, including my face.

I just barely managed not to blow the TV up right there as Kuronue started laughing hysterically.

"Damn it…! Shut up before Naoko comes…"

"Hiei-sama, I'm home," Naoko called, announcing her presence.

I winced and shut the TV off and unplugged it for safe measures.

"Yo," I called, walking out. I smiled at her. Naoko Youko was part fox demon and part earth demon. A half-breed like myself and almost as strong. She had apple green hair cut about by her chin and little parts that were longer. She looked at me with beautiful cinnamon colored eyes and she smiled back.

"Hi Hiei-sama."

"Hey." I smiled and noticed Kuronue disappeared. Paranoia made itself known in the back of my mind as I wondered if he was plotting something. I walked over and wrapped my arms around her, pulling her tight against my chest. "Where were you all day?"

"Kurama wanted to have a brother-sister day."

Kurama was Naoko's half-brother. I could often see the resemblance.

"Really? All day?"

"For the most part," she replied. "I visited Silrowen while I was out."

I smiled as I thought of the overly hyperactive bat-demon that was my stepdaughter. "And how's she doing?"

"Annoying as always."

I laughed. My crimson eyes glanced over to the television set. I was praying that Kuronue wasn't going to pull something. Naoko noticed my nervousness.

"What's wrong?" she asked, her beautiful cinnamon eyes looking slightly worried.

"Nothing," I said. I felt panic rise up because I said it way too fast.

"No," Naoko narrowed her eyes at me. "What happened while I was gone?" she asked suspiciously.

"Nothing," I tried again. I glanced at the TV as I saw Kuronue appear, swinging the plug like he did with his scythe.

I glared at him and shook my head. He just snickered and plugged it in, turned it on and disappeared.

I should have changed the channel before I shut it off… I felt like an idiot as Naoko stared at the television set.

"What on earth did I miss today!" She looked at me. "Are you feeling alright?"

I covered my face with my hand as they showed me and Keith shake hands… somehow the TV made it look like I wasn't being as reluctant like I had actually been.

Those damn paparazzi bastards…

"What the hell is going on here?"

I leaned against the wall, imagining all the evil things I planned to do to Kuronue. "I was curious on how ningens handled fires and… found a little girl trapped inside…"

"Wow… that's almost… nice. Are you sure you're feeling okay?"

I scowled. "I'm fine." I was suddenly very annoyed.

"That's just not—That's just very unlike you."

"I know it is." Trust me I knew it was. That's why I tried to hide the evidence.

"You know… You think you'd know better then to hide stuff from me 'cause I'll always find it."

I held a smirk back at all the things I've hid from her… like my collection of gems. Naoko was obsessed with gems and out of pure instincts I hid mine. Part of me wouldn't put it past her that she would take them when my back was turned "Yeah," I replied.

"So you going to tell me what's going on today because you're just acting weird."

"Are you going to sit down first?"

She sighed. "I suppose at this rate I might as well," she replied, taking a seat.

I sat next to her and told her what had happened.

"Okay, have you lost it completely?" she asked when I had finished.

I gave her a look. "I thought you would have known by now the stupid soft spot I have for small children."

"Oh right, silly me. How foolish of me," she stated sarcastically.

I shot a glare at her. "Hn."

"Typical response, right?"

"Again, Hn."

"You better hope no one else sees this."

I twitched. "Damn it…!"

"Yeah I can only imagine if Kaname saw this."

I swore vividly and stood up.

Naoko started laughing.

I glared at her.

"Oh glare at me all you want, that was funny."

"Hn. Maybe for you… and Kuronue, don't think I won't get you back for that." I called, sensing the bat demon nearby.

"It'd be funny if everyone we knew saw this."

I sat back down. "Damn… and with my luck they will…"

"Well yeah, that's your luck, isn't it?"

"Your luck's the exact same as mine."

"This is true," she replied.

I got quiet for a moment.

"What'cha thinking about?"

"…What would you think if I got a job…?" I asked hesitantly.

She started laughing. "Heh, that's funny. You're joking right?"

I scowled. "No, I mean it, Naoko."

"Why the hell would you need a job? I'm a writer, remember?" She smirked.

"Then why is it that you tend to go to karaoke for 'extra money'?"

"Shut up, I thought it would be fun."

"Yeah, yeah."

Kuronue chose that moment to appear. "Sounds like a good idea."

Naoko sighed. "You guys are both idiots. Why am I not use to this by now?"

Kuronue smirked, his pointed ears twitched. I closed my eyes and smirked as well.

"I mean really, why is almost everyone I know a complete idiot and why am I not use to it by now?"

"Because idiots attract idiots, Naoko," Kuronue and me replied at the same time.

"Yeah, that's real nice. Thanks for that."

"You're welcome," we said at the same time again.

"Okay that's starting to get a little creepy. Knock it off."

I remained silent and stared at Kuronue as Kuronue laughed.

"Figures. I'm stuck here living with identical twin idiots."

"Hn," I replied.

Kuronue grinned. "At least it's not the Protozoan."

"This is a good point," Naoko replied.

I yawned as Kuronue grinned and watched the television. "'A boy of nineteen, black spiky hair, brown-red eyes, a white starburst shape in his hair, about five foot five'," Kuronue quoted the newscaster. "'Named Hiei.'"

The little girl I rescued came on the screen. "He gave me his scarf and told me not to scream no matter what and to keep it over my nose. Thank you, Mister for saving me!"

She grinned. I couldn't help but smile.

"I'll never understand that soft spot for kids and that completely lying just so you know," Naoko said.

I smirked until the girl's mother came on the screen. "I want to thank you… you saved my little girl… there should be more heroes like you." I winced again.

"Oh, she doesn't know the half of it does she?"

"Obviously not," Kuronue said, snickering.

The little girl came back on as the reporters asked what it was like in the burning house. "It was scary and hot. I couldn't breath but the nice man carried me out." She grinned. "I won't tell! I promised!" She said tapping her forehead where my Jagan would be. I winced and looked away.

"So much for subtly."

"Oh," Kuronue said. "That's the one thing you forgot about while hiding your ruined clothes. You're bandana. You don't have one on right now."

"Why did I not notice that!" Naoko asked.

"Because you're an oblivious moron?" I asked.

"Okay I'm a lot of things. Oblivious is one of them but moron is not on the list," Naoko replied.

"Alright, if you say so," I replied.

"What is that? Giving in? You don't give in, in an argument."

"Are you sure he's alright Naoko?"

"At this point I'm not sure."

I folded my arms. "Damn it! I'm fine. I've said it a thousand times!"

Then Urameshi showed up on the screen with a big stupid grin on his face. "Yup! That's our Hiei. Always so selfless and kind! He a big—little softy." Behind him Kuwabara held his hand up to where I would stand to him.

"They're gonna die now, aren't they?"

I said nothing but I was sure I had an evil smirk on my face.

Kuronue glanced at me. "I'm sure they are."

"Yeah I don't doubt that for one second," Naoko said.

"You have no idea on what I'm going to do to them," I said.

"I don't know. I can imagine quiet a bit," Naoko replied.

"I'm sure you can," I said.

"And what's that suppose to mean?"

"Nothing."

"Sure…" Naoko said.

I walked away into my room to see if I could fix the clothes I hid earlier. It was one of a few outfits I owned.

"I wonder what he's planning now," Naoko said.

"I'm sure you could find out, kid," Kuronue replied and disappeared.

"Oh boy. This can't end well."