Author: I know it has been a long time since I have updated this story and for that I am deeply sorry. I have so many stories on here that I find myself switching up which one I am working on.

Hilu: That and you are so scatterbrained that you forget which one you just worked on so you will do more than one chapter for each at a time like you plan.

Author: Well you're not much help, so…… it's not entirely my fault.

Hilu: Okay.

Author: 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 30

Kirana did not know what to do. She was scared and she did not want the Reikai Tantei to get hurt because she was not paying enough attention to what was going on and got herself kidnapped. Then it hit her. She knew how to make sure they Reikai Tantei would win. She would sing when the battle came. She knew for a fact that Yusuke Kuwabara and… her brother could fight her song, and they would be careful if Hiei still could not. Plus her kidnappers would not be aware of her ability… unless they knew more about her than she thought they did. She hoped they would know as little about her as the demons in Makai were supposed to know. But then again no one was supposed to know she existed. Not even as Hiei's mate. She was supposed to just appear in battle and no one was supposed to know the relationships she had with the individual members of the Reikai Tantei. She was so deep in thought that she did not realize right away that someone else was in her brain.

"Who are you and what do you want with me?"

There was no answer the invader just left without a word. Now she was really scared. She hoped they had not heard what she had thought about Hiei and the others. And she really did not want them to know she was part Siren. That would not help her at all. Then she realized she had used her Jagan. Quickly she tried again, but it was like it wasn't there. Sighing she gave up for the moment. The time would come that her captors would make her contact the Reikai Tantei. She was not looking forward to that moment.

---------With the Reikai Tantei---------

"How long have we been walking?" Yusuke complained.

"Obviously not long enough we haven't found Kirana," Hiei said testily.

"Onii-san?" Yukina said quietly walking up to Hiei.

"Yes Onee-chan?" he replied.

"We will find her won't we?" she asked worried.

Abruptly Hiei stopped walking and turned to look at Yukina, "Yes, Yukina we will find her because I will keep looking until I die or find her, whichever happens first."

"Onii-san!" Yukina cried throwing herself into her brothers arm's crying, "I want my Onee-san back. I will help you find her I will do everything I can to help you find her!"

"Hush Onee-chan. We will find her. I will find her. I will find my mate," Hiei said quietly to Yukina.

"Perhaps we should make camp for the night here. It seems peaceful enough and the humans will not be able to go on like we could Hiei," Kurama suggested.

"Perhaps you are right. I will gather firewood you stay and set up camp. Do not let anything happen to them while I am gone," Hiei said.

Kurama nodded and Hiei left to get the firewood. Kurama Yusuke and Kuwabara got camp set up and the girls did what they could to help. Soon they had everything ready for when Hiei returned with the firewood.

Hiei returned a few moments later with an arm full of firewood. He quickly started a fire and then was gone again to get food. This time Kurama went with him and they left specific orders that if anything happened they were to contact Hiei on his Jagan.

"Hiei… Youko wants to speak with you. He will not come out until you say ok, but he wants me to tell you he wants to talk to you. It is up to you neither one of us will fault you for not wanting to speak with him," Kurama said once they were out of ear range of the others.

"Hn, very well, but the minute he says something stupid he will regret it," Hiei said.

"Thank you Hiei," Kurama said and then changed to Youko.

"Hiei… thank you for being willing to talk to me. I know what I said was beyond wrong and cruel. But now I realize that Botan and Shuichi were right. I was afraid. And I am even more afraid now. I didn't want the girls to come, but Shuichi thought it would be a good idea. He thought it would help Kirana. I know now that I had no reason to be afraid that you would take my place in Kirana's life… since I knew no one could take your place in Yukina's life, but I was still afraid to lose her. She was my life for a long time. What I did was stupid… I betrayed her… I will have to live with that for the rest of my life, but I need to know that I have a chance at being forgiven. If not by Kirana, then by you, my best friend. Because in a way I feel like I have betrayed you as well. Do I have even the slightest chance at being forgiven?" Youko said quietly.

"Youko, you know I can't speak for Kirana, but as for me… if Kirana gets better… even slightly… then yes you will have a chance at being forgiven. In fact it is possible that I am forgiving you now after that speech. Mainly because that is how I felt about Yukina… what you did was beyond stupid, but then again you have been human for a while now… what else could I expect," Hiei said just as quietly.

The rest of the search for food was a silent one. They returned with enough food for everyone to have plenty. Everyone ate in silence casting glances at Hiei and Youko sitting close together talking.

Botan walked over to the two demons and sat down next to her mate. She was beginning to get curious as to what was going on. They were talking about Kirana, and how they planned on saving her and keeping the girls safe.

"I can help," Botan said suddenly.

"No, onna you will only distract Youko, which we do not need," Hiei said firmly.

"But, I can help. I can use my oar and bat, and knock a few of them out," She replied.

"Youko, tell her she has to stay back with Keiko and Yukina," Hiei said.

"Botan, I can't afford to be distracted. Please, stay back and protect the other girls," Youko said.

Botan looked at him, "But Youko, you know I can help—"

"Protect the other girls. Yes, that would be a fine place for you Botan," Youko interrupted. "Don't argue with me on this Botan. I would feel so much better and be able to fight better if you are not in it too. Please, Botan, for once don't argue and just do as I ask."

Botan sighed, "Okay, but only so you will be able to concentrate. I don't want to be the reason you get hurt."

"Thank you Botan," Youko said.

"Do you really think we will be able to save her?" Botan asked.

"Yes! I will not lose my mate!" Hiei suddenly yelled and then walked off into the forest.

"What…?" Botan asked confused.

"He is finally beginning to doubt what he can do to save her. We know nothing about the demons that have her. Even I am unsure of how well we will do and how much saving needs to be done," Youko answered his mate and looked worriedly at the place his friend had disappeared from.

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

Hiei was a determined demon. He knew he would not lose his mate. He had finally learned how to love, and he would not have his heart ripped from him.

Do you really think you can save her from herself once you get her back to Reikai?

"You are not helpful. I will save her in everyway possible. I will not lose her even to her own mind."

What if you can't save her? What will you do then?

"Die."

You would die for her?

"I would do anything for her… even die…"

What if you would have to sacrifice Yukina?

"It will not come to that."

You don't know what it will come to. What if you are given a choice…? Yukina or Kirana… what would you do? Would you sacrifice your own sister?

"It will not come to that. That is a decision I will never have to make. And I don't care what you say I will not make that decision. I won't."

As Hiei was arguing with himself he sensed Youko coming closer. He sighed. He did not want to confront the new feelings he was feeling. He knew it was fear, but he did not want to think about it, let alone talk about it like the fox would want.

Youko slowly approached the temperamental fire demon. He knew Hiei was afraid, and he knew that fear was new to the Hi-Koorime. He also knew that he was not the right persona to be speaking to him so as he approached he allowed Shuichi to take control of the situation and the body.

Hiei smiled as the sent changed. He had a feeling Youko would not be the one to do the talking this time. He knew that fear was just as new to the fox as it was to him and that the human persona would be the one to do the talking this time.

Kurama approached his friend, "Hiei?"

"Hn."

"Hiei, you know it will help if you talk about it," Kurama said.

"Says who?" Hiei replied.

"Hiei… trust me on this one. It will help if you will talk to me. You know I won't tell anyone what we speak about," Kurama said trying to convince his friend.

"I'm not afraid. That is not an emotion I have," Hiei said.

"I never said you were," Kurama said.

"You were thinking it," Hiei said.

"You don't know that unless you read my mind. Did you read my mind Hiei?"

"No, I didn't have to… it is written in the way you walked over here. In how it was originally Youko, and then right before he could say anything you were back in control. I know what you two were thinking. I am not afraid, because I will not lose her," Hiei said quietly.

"It's not a bad thing to be afraid to lose her. I'm afraid. So is Youko, even though he also has a hard time admitting it. Hiei, I promise if you will just admit it you will feel better. Are you afraid?"

"Hn… I won't lose her Kurama. I can't lose her. Why do I feel like this?" Hiei whispered to no one in particular.

Kurama sighed, "Hiei, when someone you love as much as you love Kirana is threatened well… you feel helpless, and terrified. You wonder what you would do, and then question what you think you might do. Like nothing is good enough and yet everything is terrible. Nothing you do is what you should be doing, but you don't know what that something that you should be doing is. You are terrified and you keep replaying the last few moments you spent with them wishing you had done something different. Then you think of all the things that could be happening right now and that only makes you feel worse, but there is nothing better for you to do."

"How do I make it stop?" Hiei asked.

"You can't," Kurama whispered, and then walked back to the camp to leave Hiei alone with his thoughts and emotions.

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

Author: Well there it is… Chapter Thirty… If you want to know what will happen you will review for me… Please?

Hilu: Yeah… it's kinda depressing for her to have thirty chapters and not many more reviews.

Author: Be nice!

Hilu: I'm trying to make them review!

Author: They will… I have faith in my readers. Have a great day everyone. Ja ne!