CHAPTER 17 Confessing Their Feelings

Hiei stood frozen in surprise. He hadn't expected her to react like that. In fact; he hadn't expected her to react at all. Especially with a kiss. About that time Raven realized what she was doing and quickly moved her face away, blushing darkly.

"I'm sorry," she apoligized, moving away from him.

Hiei said nothing. He remembered something Slade had said to her. "Slade was right, you know," he said.

She looked up at him curiously.

"You shouldn't have come alone."

Her face filled with shock. Hiei? "But I wanted to-" she began.

"That's no excuse," he scolded her. "That was a mistake. He almost killed you! Even though your friends don't like me you should have brought them anyway."

He noticed them she didn't seem to be listening. She was too focused on her hand. "What's wrong?" he demanded.

She looked up at him, with her tongue sticking out, as if she'd been caught doing something she shouldn't. "I think I hurt my hand," she replied. "It's bleeding."

Hiei had nothing to say to that. Instead he reached out and grabbed the offending hand. "Here, let me," he said pulling it toward him.

Before she could refuse he brought the bleeding hand up to his mouth and started sucking on it. (ahh vampire Hiei!) She stared at him in surprise. What was he doing?

"Hiei.. What are-" she stopped when he moved his mouth away, let go of her hand, and started to walk behind her. "Your blood tastes like mine," he said as he went.

What does he mean by that?

"Raven," he said standing right beside her, startleing her out of her thoughts.

"Eh?" she gasped blushing.

"We'd better head back to the tower," he adviced as he put his coat/cloak back on. "I'm sure your friends are worried about you."

"Aren't you coming back with me?" she questioned.

He shook his head, his eyes showing an inner sadness. "No," he replied as he put on his scarf. "You're friends kicked me out, remember?"

She wasn't about to lose him again. "Well I'm not going back unless you do," she informed him. "When I couldn't find you and my friends wouldn't tell me where you went I got worried."

He looked at her. She was? he couldn't believe that. "You were worried about me/" he questioned. "Why?"

"Because you're my friend and that's how friends are," was the answer. "I couldn't just forget about you. Besides I care a great deal about you. I..." her voice trailed off.

Hiei didn't say anything for a long moment. He let her words sink in. She was his friend and she cared about him. Maybe the same way he realized he cared about her. Finally he leaned his face forward as if to kiss her. She blushed at that thought but he stopped just centimeters from her mouth. "If you really feel that way about me, Raven, I'll go back on one condition," he said.

She stepped back feeling his body heat, that's how close he was, and wrapped her cape tightly around her body. "What condition?" she asked. "What do you want?"

For a moment he just stood there, his eyes half closed, with a strange look of longing on his face. For a moment she thought he really was going to kiss her but he seemed to get ahold of himself and shook his head, as if ridding his mind of an enchantment. He took her hand and began leading her out of the building. "Teach me how to say "I'm sorry'," was the answer he gave her.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

About an hour later the two made it back to the tower. As they entered the building and took an elevator to the top floor Raven said. "I can't help you choose the right words to say to them, you'll have to figure that out yourself. I can tell you this though; You should at least let them know that you really mean it."

He smiled that cocky smile of his. "That should be easy enough," he said.

She gave him a Look. "Just don't say you're sorry when you're acting like that," she adviced. "You say it that way and they won't forgive you."

"Oh." the smiled left his face as he looked away from her. "I'm sorry."

"See," she said smiling at his words. "Just like that. It's that easy."

Hiei said nothing, he didn't even go "Hn!" The door opened and they stepped out. Raven suddenly didn't want him to see them yet. They could wait. She wanted to speak with him first. She wanted to tell him something before her emotions took over. She put her hand on his arm. "Wait," she said.

He gave her a curious look.

She didn't tell him why she'd stopped him. She tugged on his arm and led him outside onto the roof. One they were outside Hiei stared at the sky at the stars. They're the same too, he thought.

The sound of sniffling made him turn his attention away from they lights and focus on Raven again. He saw tears glistening in her blue eyes. Raven? "Why are you crying?" he asked.

She didn't give an answer. Instead she threw herself forward and hugged him. Hiei! She thought then looked up at him. "I'm so sorry! This is all my fault!"

Silence stretched between them for a moment as Hiei let her cry into his chest. After a minute the fire demon commanded. "Stop crying!" he pried her loose and held her at arm's length so he could look her in the eye. "You're the last person I'd expect this from," he closed his eyes and looked away. "It's foolish of you to be acting this way but-" not he pulled her into an embrase. "Thank you."

Raven didn't bother trying to break free. She hadn't expected this from him. After a moment he let her go and stepped back so he could look her in the eye. He looked like he wanted to say more, to give her an explaintion for hugging her. "After all I said and did to you and your friends," he began. "You didn't even hesitate to help me. You came to save me..." he lifted his hand and reached under his scarf as he kept talking. "You didn't give up on me."

Why are you sayng that? she wondered, looking at him. I already told you...

Hiei kept talking. "You say you can't show your emotions and feelings, yet you felt for me and didn't want to see me get hurt." He pulled his hand out from under his scarf something was in it now. He reached out his hand and put something around her neck. "For that I would like you to have this."

Raven lifted a trembling hand and felt something like a necklase hanging from her neck. She knew what it was. He'd told her about it and even shown it to her. Hiei! "Your mother's tear gem?" she said, blushing even though she didn't want to. "But I can't!"

He put a hand on her shoulder. "You deserve it," he told her. "I allowed you in my mind and you saved me. You saved me from myself. For that I am greatful."

What does he mean by that? she wondered as the necklase and her cape blew gently in the night breeze.

Hiei didn't explain what he ment. What he did next she wasn't expecting at all. He grabbed her head in his hands and brought it toward him. Before the pale girl could ask him what he was doing her mouth met his.

He was kissing her!

Hiei? she figured out what he was doing right away. Is he kissing me? For real? He can't yet he is... she raised her hand and rested it on his shoulder. Will he allow me to do the same thing? Will this last long enough for me to let him know how I feel too? Should I even do this? she closed her eyes and threw the questions to the wind. She couldn't lose this chance. I don't care. This is mine... and I'll take it!

After what seemed like hours Hiei finally let her go and thier mouths parted company. "Are you ready to go in now?" he asked her.

She couldn't speak. All she could do was nod yes.

He started for the door but she hesitated a big longer "Hiei," she called to him. "Wait."

He looked back at her. "Yeah?"

She wanted to know. "How do you feel?"

He stared at her. What does she mean? "About what?" he questioned.

"Why did you kiss me?" she asked, not meeting his eyes. "What was the reason?'

"Isn't it obvious?" he asked, facing her again but not walking back to where she stood. I care about you...

She had to ask just to be sure. "Do you care about me?"

No answer.

Raven waited a moment then blurted out, feeling foolish as she did so. "Welll I care about you."

His face showed surprise.

She knew this would probably her only chance to tell him. She admitted. "I like- love you."

"Is that why you came looking for me?" he asked. "Because of this feeling called 'love'?"

"That's part of the reason," she admitted. "But you're also my friend. You're the first person I ever really connected to." she told him as she walked toward him. "You're the only person I ever totally opened up to. I care for you deeply." she put a hand on his face. "Even if you don't feel the same way."

He wanted to say something to correct her. '"Raven-"

She cut him off by returning the kiss he'd given to her. As she held him she started to feel as if he didn't share the same feelings. She wanted to let him know how she felt even if he didn't feel the same way.

When he finally pried her loose they were both breathing heavily. The fire demon held her at arms length and stared into her sad blue eyes. "You care for me that much?" he asked in a breathy voice.

She nodded.

He smiled.

She blushed when she realized how nice his smile was.

"If you really feel that way about me, Raven, then I tihnk I'd better admit something myself, seeing my kiss didn't tell you already." he was silent a monent then burst out. "I love you too."

A/N

Never been very good at romantic stuff though that's mostly what I write. I hope it was okay. This chapter sure seems complicated for some reason. I thought it through many times yet it doesn't seem that great. Hope you liked it. One more chappy to go.