Author: Konichiwa! Sorry it has been so long since I have updated. Homework and regular work… lots of stuff to keep me occupied.

Hilu: Speaking of stuff to keep you occupied have you taken those quizzes online yet for your social psych class?

Author: Heh heh, not yet… but I am going to do it right after I get this chapter done.

Hilu: You better.

Author: I will, well you all enjoy this chapter!

"Kirana's telepathy"

"Hiei's telepathy"

Hiei's thoughts

"Hiei's Jagan"

Kurama's thoughts

Youko's thoughts

(Author's note)

---------Time and/or location change---------

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

Chapter 26

The next day found Botan at the door to Kirana's room again. She truly hoped that the girl would let her in today. She was not really counting on it just hoping. She knew it was probably not a good thing to do, but she knew she would lose all her self-control if she didn't hope. After taking a deep steadying breath she lifted up her hand and knocked on the door.

Kirana looked up at the door. She did not know what to do. Beginning to panic she looked over to her mate. Hiei smiled and walked over to her and asked who was there.

"It's me Botan. I just wanted to see Kirana. May I come in?" she asked quickly sending up a silent prayer.

Hiei looked at Kirana. She seemed ok, much better than yesterday. She seemed like she wanted to see the ferry girl, and Hiei began to hope.

"Well, Koibito? It is up to you. Do you want to see Botan? Should we let her in? I think it would be good for you to have another woman in here for at least a little while. What do you say Koi?"

"I… I don't know Hiei… I'm scared. I… I don't want Botan to call me a… a…"

Kirana began to cry yet again. Hiei had truly hoped that she would let the other woman in after she had finished crying. He really wanted her to get better. She was not herself she was sad all the time and all he could think to do was to hold her and try to make it better, but how to make it better had eluded him.

"Koibito, are we going to let Botan in?"

"Do… do we have to?"

"No, Koibito we don't have to."

"I'm so scared Hiei. I want to see her, but then again I don't. I'm so confused. I don't know what to think or what to feel anymore."

As she began to cry yet again Hiei wrapped his arms around and steeled himself to send the worried ferry girl away. He knew that the others from the Reikai Tantei would be wondering how Kirana was, and they were relying on Botan to get that information since he himself would never leave her.

"I'm so sorry Botan. Not today. She is just not ready yet. She is doing better. I hope that you will come back, and maybe bring someone else too. Just not Youko or Shuichi. She is most defiantly not ready for that. Perhaps Yukina or Yusuke or Kieko. Well, goodbye Botan."

As Botan walked away, a wave of sadness enveloped the young demoness in the room. She did not like being afraid, but she did not want to see the look of revulsion on Botan's face when she saw her and Hiei together. She knew deep in her heart that Botan would be thrilled, but the rejection in Youko's eyes kept coming back to her. She began to cry again.

"Why, Hiei? Why does it still hurt so bad?"

"Because Koibito, he had promised not to say that. You trusted him, and you loved him. You still love him, even if you don't really want to right now. No matter what happens he is still your brother, Koibito, and you must try to find it in your heart to forgive him someday. He was scared, I can see that now. He had no right to say what he did, but he was scared, Koibito."

"Scared of what? Why would he be scared? He is the great Youko Kurama, he is never scared of anything, and I would know he has told me countless times."

"Koi, even demons get scared. Especially when we think we may be losing something we know we can never replace. Like a sister. Kirana, I think he was afraid to lose you. I think that he thought that by mating with me he would lose you to me. While we both know that would never have happened, he was terrified. Or so I believe."

"If he was so scared to lose me why did he say it?"

"Like most demons, I believe he covered his fear with anger that he did not feel. And you seem to be the only person who can make him completely lose his temper and forget who and what he is and say things he would not normally say. I have never heard him even yell until he yelled at you. It's strange that he never even got angered at a demon we were fighting, although he has gotten pretty upset at Botan. I believe it is because he loves you both so much."

"I… I still don't understand. Why would he get so mad because I love you? A person can love more than one person. I love you, I love Kurama, I love Koenma, and I love King Enma. How could he feel like he is going to get replaced? No it is not possible. He is not afraid of anything. He never has been and he never will be."

Kirana threw herself onto the bed and cried again. She knew that Hiei was telling the truth, but she could not find the strength in her heart to forgive Youko at that moment. Hiei walked over to the bed and sat down next to her gently rubbing her back in small circles trying to calm her down. He hoped that the next day she would let Botan in.

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

Author: Again… so sad. And I am sorry that I have not updated before now, but school and work have kept me pretty occupied. I hope you will all forgive me!

Hilu: They will. If they don't they will not get any more chapters.

Author: Hey you are right. Well review. Ja ne!