Author: Work work work… it seems like that is all I do… if I am not going to work I am doing homework…

Hilu: Well maybe if you would do your work in class…

Author: Shut up! I do what I can in class… that is why it is called HOMEwork… duh! Well I hope you all enjoy the 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---------

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Chapter 28

When Botan and Yusuke got back to Ningenkai they were bombarded with questions about Kirana. Everyone was asking if she is okay, and if they can go see her next time.

"She is doing better, but I think it would be best if it was just me and Yusuke for now. She is still unsure, and really worked up. She will be fine in time, but we have to be able to give her time…" Botan said smiling slightly.

Finally everyone was satisfied with the fact that the demoness was doing better, and they dispersed. Keiko however was not going to let things go at that. She knew there was something Yusuke and Botan had not told everyone.

"Yusuke… how did it go… really?" she asked.

"It's not good Keiko. I have never seen anyone's eyes so… so dead. She cried most of the time. She just sat there in Hiei's arms and tried not to be scared of me and Botan. Keiko… she asked us to come again tomorrow… I'm not sure how many times I can see her like that. It is heartbreaking. It is painful to watch her cry like that. I think Hiei is about to lose it too. I don't know how he does it. It seems like that is all she does is cry. They sell her tear gems when she cries; I think Hiei is a regular at the black market right now. That is the only place you can sell a tear gem. I'm worried. I think she needs to talk to Youko, but I know she is nowhere near ready for that. I think if Youko showed up at that door she might kill him. Hiei seemed so happy to have someone else there… I think he knows she needs to forgive Youko, but I think he also knows she is not emotionally ready. I'm not sure what happened. She just seemed so… distant. Like part of the time she wasn't even there. I swear part of the time we were there Kirana wasn't. Part of the time it was just me and Botan and Hiei. I'm worried Keiko," Yusuke told her.

Keiko wrapped her arms around Yusuke. She knew what Kirana meant to him. After all both she and Yusuke had risked almost certain death to get her and Hiei together. They had known that Youko was unsure about the match, but they had seen what Youko would not let himself see. His baby sister was in love with the infamous Hiei Jaganshi. Kirana hadn't even been with the team two weeks and already she was deeply ingrained into all of their lives.

A few weeks passed much the same as that day had. Botan would go with Yusuke and Kirana would let them in about half the time. She was not getting much better. In fact it seemed to Yusuke that she was getting worse. She cried all the time, and according to Hiei he was having a hard time getting her to eat. She kept getting smaller, losing weight she could not afford to lose. But Yusuke and Botan decided to keep everyone's spirits up and told only the good parts of the day, which seemed to get fewer and fewer. They were hoping that no one would notice this, but Yusuke knew better.

"What are you not telling me Yusuke? What is going on when you go to Reikai? You never come back completely positive, and the smiles you give us all are getting more and more fake. Botan's are too. Tell me what is going on or I will go to Reikai myself and figure it out," Keiko demanded one day.

"She seems even deader than she was the first time Keiko. Sometimes she won't let us in, and when she does let us in it seems like all she does is cry. Hiei said she hasn't been eating well, and I do not have a hard time believing it. She is getting smaller and smaller every time I see her. She is losing weight she can't afford to lose. Keiko… I don't know what it will do to us if we lose her. Kuwabara will get over it eventually, but I'm not so sure about Youko and Hiei. I think they both might lose the will to live if she dies, and you know what that will do to Botan and Yukina. Not to mention what losing her will do to me… she is like my baby sister… I'm supposed to be able to protect her. What will happen if she dies? I don't want to know what Youko will do… let alone Hiei… I think if Kirana dies Hiei will too, and that would devastate Yukina, which would slowly eat away at her. I'm not sure if she will be able to handle losing her brother, and I know if something happens to her Kuwabara will never be the same. And I would hate to think of losing him… not to mention if Kirana dies what that will do to Botan and Youko… and their relationship. It has been pretty rocky since that day… Botan has forgiven him, but since he can't forgive himself he keeps pushing her away. I just don't know what to do Keiko," Yusuke said laying his head down on Keiko's shoulder, crying softly for his friends and his little sister.

That day had been a bad one for Kirana. She had not only not let them in she had thrown things at the door screaming at them to leave. She had almost kicked Hiei out as well. Keiko was just as worried as Yusuke was, but she knew that right now she had to be strong for him. She knew that right now he needed comfort more than she did.

--------- In Reikai ---------

"You have to eat something Koi. Please for me eat something?" Hiei pleaded with his mate.

Kirana just stared out the window. Hiei wasn't even sure if she heard him. Somehow her Jagan was stronger than it had been. It was blocking him from entering her mind. He knew she needed to eat. She hadn't eaten earlier that day, and he was beginning to worry. Finally he decided he needed to talk to Koenma.

"Koi, I am going to go for a walk. Will you let the barrier down so I can go and then come back?" he asked.

For a response the barrier lifted. He knew she would leave it down while he was gone. He also knew that if she sensed anyone but him coming she would bring it back up. He truly hoped that Koenma would not insist on coming to see her now, because Hiei knew he could not risk Kirana being completely alone, and he would have to race here so that he could get in before Kirana could sense the prince of Reikai.

Karein knew that Hiei had left to go for a walk. She knew he needed to get out of the room sometimes. Then she dazed out. The voices in her head started mocking her again. They kept telling her she was a dumb mutt and that no one wanted her. She tried to argue with them that Hiei wanted her and Botan and Yusuke wanted her, but they just laughed harder. She gripped her head and began to cry again. Why wouldn't they just go away and leave her alone? Then something hit the back of her head and the world went black.

--------- With Hiei ----------

He finally made it to Koenma's office. He knew the toddler was there, but no one was answering him. Finally he broke down the door and went in. Something was wrong with his mate and he was going to get some answers.

"Baka kodomo! Come out here and answer my questions!" Hiei said in a rage.

Koenma jumped up from behind his desk. He hadn't known Hiei was out there. And now the Jaganshi was mad. He wondered how long he had been waiting to see him; he did have a lot of work to do after all.

"What is it Hiei?" Koenma asked.

"She won't eat. How do I make her eat? I can't use the Jagan, because she blocks it! She won't eat she can't sleep, and all she does is cry and stare out the window! How am I supposed to protect her if she can't respond to anything?" Hiei asked trying, and failing to remain emotionless.

"Try talking to her. Make her listen. Just put some soup on a spoon and feed her. She will eat eventually… I have a feeling she will be ok in the end," Koenma said knowing the pain Hiei was going through.

Hiei gave his trademark reply and left the office. He began to make his way back to the room he shared with Kirana, when he sensed something not right. He used his demonic speed to rush to the room and found the barrier still down. Quickly he entered the room and began to search for his mate. She was gone. Then he smelled another demon, she wasn't gone she had been taken. She had been kidnapped. Quickly he made his way back to the baka kodomo, someone would pay for this if it was the last thing he did.