Title: Directions: Apply Pressure and Hold
Author: Waxie
Rating: PG13; may go up in accordance to my whim
Pairing: eventual Hiei x Kurama
Spoilers: none
Warnings: angst, AU (alternate universe), character death (don't like, don't read), YAOI (don't like, don't read)
Disclaimer: Yu Yu Hakusho is not mine; I'm merely borrowing the characters for awhile. I'm planning to return them eventually.
Summary: AU Dr. Jaganshi is a small town doctor living with his sister Yukina. Shiori Minamino, one of Hiei's patients, is a very sick woman on the brink of death. Her death will cause more destruction than one may think; Hiei is ready to give up his profession and Shuuichi is ready to pick it up, eager to save lives. Can the two find meaning in their chosen professions, accept the good with the bad, and at the same time learn to accept life and cherish it for all it has to offer? Eventual HxK
Status: 2?
Author's Notes: Wow. Has it really been a year since I last updated? Almost seems a little silly to update now, but what the hell. Apologies to anyone who's waited patiently; they say patience is a virtue and I think you've all waited enough to allow a full process of canonization.

02020202

Yukina sat by the couch keeping sentinel over Shuuichi's precarious state. He'd finally fallen asleep with the help of Yukina's gentle coaxing, but his sleep was anything but sound. The boy ceased to shiver despite the numerous blankets wrapped around his frail frame and the furnace blasting away on full power.

Her brother had been gone now for several hours, and while that was not enough time to worry for his sake, it was more than enough time to worry for Shuuichi's mother. Shiori Minamino had always been a sickly woman and despite Hiei's greatest efforts, he was unable to pinpoint what it was that ailed her and what it was that she needed to heal her. The fact remained that Shiori was dying and there was no preventing it. Tonight, she lamented, was to be that night. There was, of course, no way for Yukina to know this for sure, but if the inescapable foreboding feeling settling in her gut was to be any indication, Shuuichi would be an orphan long before the snowstorm was through.

To say Yukina pitied Shuuichi would be an insult. She did not pity him; rather, she empathized with him. After all, she and her brother had been orphans, too and had gone through the same hardships and pains Shuuichi was now going to have to experience. She looked at him helplessly and could almost see Shuuichi standing on the darkest precipice of his life, about to unwillingly take the plunge. She brushed a stray lock of hair away from his face and decided in that moment that although there was no changing his fate, she could at least soften the blow.

Hiei and I had each other and you'll have us to help you.

It was a silent promise and Yukina sealed it with a maternal kiss to Shuuichi's forehead. When Shuuichi let out a small, pained moan, she sat back, fixed her shawl that had been slipping off her shoulders and waited for his eyelids to flutter open.

"It's c-cold." Yukina watched Shuuichi struggle to sit up and finally manage to stay upright by leaning his back on the headboard.

"You'll be lucky you don't catch pneumonia, Shuuichi. You should know better." Yukina chastised him, but at the same time stood up and quickly retrieved a mug of hot cocoa. "Here, drink this. It was for my brother, but something tells me you need it more."

Shuuichi accepted the mug and loved the tingling sensation he felt as the heat warmed up his freezing fingers. He ventured two small sips and asked, while he still had the courage to ask, "Do you know if my mother…?" He looked away from the contents of his mug to look at Yukina who, until that moment, had been staring at him.

She averted her gaze.

02020202

(A week later)

"I went to go see Shuuichi yesterday." The kitchen was a mess of bowls and dishes, but Yukina managed to maneuver through it with ease.

Hiei had cleared a small spot on the counter and he now sat slouched with an elbow on the table and his chin resting on his palm. "Oh?"

"Yes, I figured he needed some company," Yukina stood on tip toe and opened a few cabinets, "especially after the funeral. Have you seen the salt?" Hiei pointed to the corner of the counter and Yukina snatched it up, continuing as if Hiei had expressed a genuine concern for the boy. "He's a mess. He's working himself to the ground – not that that's any different from usual – and he's so thin and pale, I wouldn't be surprised if he was anemic!" Yukina gesticulated loudly with a large spoon, then stopped and pointed at Hiei with it. "Did, did you know he's moving? He couldn't afford to pay for his mother's funeral and the house. He'll be out on the streets by week's end!" She took a deep breath and paused (for dramatic effect or to gauge a response, Hiei would never know).

"Where's he going?"

Yukina's shoulders slumped. "He doesn't know." She turned back to stirring the pot. "You know, when mom died," Hiei winced, "we were miserable, but at least we had the comfort that we were never alone. We had each other. Shuuichi… he doesn't have anyone." Yukina bit her lip. She knew that now was the time to introduce the idea that had been forming in her mind, but she was afraid that Hiei would not allow it. He'd always detested anything that could interfere with their peaceful home life. Family was important to Hiei and there was neither room nor time for strangers. "Hiei, what if we took him in? He could live in our house, he could work, and then, when he's ready, he could move on." Yukina left the pot and turned to look at her brother, making sure her look was as beseeching as possible.

This seemed to get Hiei's attention. He straightened his posture and seemed to think it over, though the frown on his countenance worried Yukina. After a few moments of silence, Hiei spoke slowly as if he was still trying to sort everything in his mind. "We're not running an orphanage; make sure you tell Shuuichi that. He's going to have to work and pull his own weight."

"Oh, big brother!" Yukina squealed and despite Hiei's protests, she pulled him into a hug.

"Actually, it works out pretty well. He can stay in my room and I know I'd feel much better knowing you wouldn't be alone after I leave." Yukina's hands gripped Hiei's shoulders and he was suddenly jerked back.

"What? After you leave? Where are you going? And why?" Yukina demanded. She was generally a sweet and meek girl, but Hiei knew she had an undercurrent streak of assertiveness in her.

Hiei struggled to explain his reasons. Shiori Minamino had been one of his long term patients and although he'd tried to help her, he had ultimately failed her. He was a doctor, but it seemed he was incapable of doing what he had sworn to do. Heal.

"No matter what I do, I can't save people. My patients keep dying. And if I'm not healing them," Hiei licked his chapped lips, "then I must be killing them."

Doctor, Doctor… please… make it stop… make it stop!

"Hiei… you're not God! You can't save everyone! You do what you can, which is more than most people in this town are capable of! Their deaths are not your fault, you hear me?"

Ms. Minamino, just hold on! I will save you. I'll heal you, I'll heal you!

"I'm a doctor! If I'm not supposed to heal, what am I good for?"

Hiei… if you want to heal me, let me go. Let me die… Shuuichi will understand…

"Big brother, please stop this. Life is temporary, you know that. You gave Ms. Minamino more years than she would have had if you hadn't done anything at all." Yukina wiped her eyes before any tears had a chance to fall. "Where would you go anyway?"

"The city. Maybe work for the law."

"A law enforcer? But they don't heal, they're notorious for—"

"Killing. I know. I figure that if I'm going to be killing people, I might as well be killing the right ones."

"That's a horrible thing to say." Yukina croaked.

"Only because it's the truth."

02020202

Author's Note: To be continued! Hope this chapter was worth the wait. If not, I'll try harder next time. (Which I hope will be soon. Worse come to worst, see you next year?)