Chiyo was at Genkai's, waiting for Yoko. There was some sort of detective meeting. To ward off boredom, she decided to go a few rounds with the sparring dummy. She went through her usual workout, exercising every part of her body. She didn't realize she was being watched. Yusuke stood in the doorway, watching the kitsune girl practice. Yoko was across the room. Hiei suddenly sat down on the windowsill beside him.

" Fox." The Youkai gestured toward the door, where Yusuke stood. Kurama looked. He knew what his young leader was looking at. He scowled darkly.

" He shouldn't be looking at her that way." The kitsune told his mate through gritted teeth.

" I look at you the same way when you're training." Hiei told him, chuckling.

" I know. And I know what's going through your head when you look at me like that. He shouldn't be thinking about my Chiyo-chan that way." He growled.

" Fox, if you have a problem, go and say something." The Youkai told the irritated demon.

Kurama growled and headed toward the oblivious ningen. He tapped Yusuke's shoulder. When Yusuke turned, he met raging golden eyes. Suddenly he was knocked down the steps. He looked up to see Yoko Kurama towering over him. He gulped. The kitsune growled menacingly.

Chiyo looked up to see her brother standing over Yusuke, looking extremely pissed. She knew what Yoko was like when he was angry. She started running towards them.

Yusuke was scared. He knew he couldn't take on Yoko Kurama. He watched as the demon bared his claws and he ducked. Suddenly the kitsune was knocked backwards by a whirl of silver hair. Chiyo pinned her brother to the ground as he clawed wildly, trying to escape.

" Yoko. Yoko! Stop!" She slapped him. He stopped. He closed his eyes, calming. After a moment, she had Shuichi pinned quietly under her. Calm green eyes stared up at her. She sighed, relieved, but didn't get up yet. Still watching her brother she informed the leader.

" Yusuke, I don't know what you did, but you should probably go before I get up."

Yusuke nodded and left. He knew what had made Kurama angry. How could he be so stupid? He walked home, muttering to himself.

Chiyo waited a few minutes, then looked down at her brother.

" You okay now, Yoko?" She asked, concerned.

" Ah, Yes. Momentary lapse of sanity, that's all." He assured her. She slid off him and he sat up.

" I hope so, Yoko, cuz that was kinda scary. Since when do you go after Yusuke?" She asked curiously.

" I don't. Usually. He was just doing something that irritated me." He answered.

" Really? What was he doing?" Her twin blushed. Hiei stood next to them, offering them each a hand up. They stood. Chiyo decided to let it go. For now. Instead she turned and headed for the door. Her twin called after her.

" Chiyo, where are you going?"

" I'm going to make sure Yusuke's alright." She called over her shoulder as she left. Kurama sighed and Hiei patted his arm. Chiyo ran down the road after him. When she caught sight of him, she called his name and he turned. As he stood there, silhouetted against the blazing sunset, her heart leapt into her throat and she felt a little dizzy. She caught up to him.

" Uh, Hey, Chiyo." He wondered if Kurama had told her what he'd been doing that pissed him off. " What's up?"

" Um, I was just wondering if you were, um okay." She stared at her shuffling feet. She looked so shy and cute. Yusuke smiled.

" Oh, I'm fine. Not the first time I've been knocked down a flight of stairs and probably won't be the last." She looked up to see him grinning. She smiled brightly at him, making his heart jump into his throat.

Kami! I am so terribly, hopelessly in love. Awww, Damnit! Keiko is gonna kill me. Kurama is gonna kill me. I'm going to lose my mind.

She realized that he was bleeding from his temple and reached out to toward him.

" Yusuke, You're bleeding . . ." Her hand touched his face, making him go warm all over. His skin tingled and he couldn't think. He had to think. He pushed her hand away.

" Don't. Don't touch me." He told her, more sharply than he meant to. Her hand dropped to her side and her face fell.

" Alright, Yusuke. I guess I'll see you around, then." She turned and walked away. Yusuke swore.

Baka! Now I've hurt her feelings. She was only being nice. And I yelled at her. Kami, I'm stupid. Now what do I do?

He walked the rest of the home, lost in thought. Chiyo walked back to her brother's house, lost in her own thoughts.

What did I do? He didn't react that way the other night. He probably thinks I'm so stupid. And I am. I should have known Yusuke would never see me as anything but Yoko's sister.

She went in and sat down at the table. She buried her head in her arms. A few minutes later, she felt strong arms close around her. She looked up at her brother, smiling sadly, and leaned back against him. She sighed.

" Yoko, I am the stupidest kitsune in Ningenkai. I actually thought he might be interested in me."

" Chiyo, Yusuke is a complicated guy. He has a lot to sort through before he can show interest in you. At least, make it known that he's interested in you. Because I know he is." He smiled at his twin, emerald eyes twinkling.

" Then why did he yell at me? Tell me not to touch him? Why would he do that?" She asked, upset.

" His body probably reacts to your touch in a way that stops his thinking processes. And he needs to think right now. I suggest you give him the space he needs." The older twin advised.

" I'll give him all the space he wants. As a matter of fact, I'll just stay away from him." Chiyo got up and went to her room to lie down. A little while later there was a knock on the door and Kurama answered it. Standing there in the doorway was Yusuke. Kurama couldn't help but be a little annoyed, especially since his leader had treated his sister so badly. He didn't invite him in.

" Urameshi, You've got a helluva lotta nerve showing up here after yelling at my sister." Kurama told him coldly.

Yusuke nodded, staring at his feet.

" I know, Kurama. But that's why I'm here. I wanted to talk to her - -"

" No." Kurama stated coldly. " I don't know what your intentions are regarding her, but you've been cruel enough to her today. You will not see her."

" Alright. Will you just tell her that I'm sorry?" Yusuke pleaded. Kurama nodded and the boy turned and started to walk away. Kurama watched him for a moment, then,

" Yusuke." He called after the retreating fighter. Yusuke turned and looked up at the tall fox demon.

" I am curious. What exactly are your intentions with Chiyo?" Yusuke studied him for a moment, weighing the best possible answers in his mind. Finally he sighed and opted for the truth.

" Kurama, I am so completely in love with her that I can't think. I can't close my eyes without seeing her face and her name is always on my lips. And its tearing me apart that I hurt her. It really is." Yusuke sat down on the step, burying his head in his hands.

" So there. I said it. You can kill me now. In fact, it's probably best that you do. At least you'll just stab me and get it over with. Keiko is going to rip me apart when I tell her."

" You're serious, aren't you? You really are in love with her." Kurama stated, a little surprised. Yusuke nodded.

" So what do you plan to do about it?" The kitsune questioned. Yusuke leaned back against the steps.

" First I plan to talk to Keiko." The kitsune winced in sympathy. " And if I survive that, well, Kami, I don't even know how to talk to Chiyo. The very thought terrifies me. Even more than talking to Keiko." He sighed. Kurama smiled.

" Yusuke, my advice is to just be honest with her. Tell her how you feel."

" Easy for you to say. She'll probably just laugh at me."

" I doubt she'd do that. She's not cruel."

" No. She's a goddess. And there's no reason for her to give a damn about me. And that's why I'm so damn scared."

" Give her a chance, Yusuke. She's just a normal person, you know."

" Kurama, She will never be a normal person, because she's Chiyo. And that makes her everything." Yusuke could hardly believe he was saying these things. He'd never felt this way about anyone. He was scared. Finally he stood.

" Better talk to Keiko and get it over with. Then the only thing I'll have to worry about is talking to Chiyo."

Kurama put a hand on his shoulder.

" I'm afraid I misjudged you, Yusuke. I assumed, well, I'm just overprotective. What I'm trying to say is, you have my full support."

" That means a lot to me, Kurama. Thanks."

Kurama nodded and went back inside as Yusuke left.

Several hours later, Yusuke was sitting on the school roof with Keiko, trying to find the right words. Finally he sighed.

" Keiko, you know you're my best friend, right? And you always will be?" He wasn't looking at her and she was confused.

" Of course I know that, Yusuke. What's the matter?" He ignored the question.

" And even if our relationship changed, that would always be the same, right?"

" Change? Yusuke, you're not making any sense."

He looked up, into her eyes.

" Keiko, I'm in love. And its not with you. I'm sorry."

She stared at him for a moment. Then her eyes flashed.

" Yusuke, you don't mean that. You and I are meant to be together." She informed him angrily.

" I do mean it, Keiko." He looked her directly in the eyes. " I always thought we'd be together, too. But things change."

" Not this. Not us." Keiko stood, staring at him.

" Yes, Keiko. Us. I'm sorry, but, its over." He told her, figuring it was best to just say it.

" Who is it? Who took you away from me?" Her voice was softer now, and sad.

" Chiyo."

" I see. Well, goodbye, Yusuke. Excuse me. I have some things to take care of." She left. Yusuke sighed.

That was hard. But at least she didn't yell at me. Why does that make it worse?

Chiyo was sitting alone in the park, thinking about Yusuke and trying not to think about Yusuke. Obviously, she wasn't succeeding at the latter. Suddenly, she was shoved into the gravel. She looked up to see Keiko standing over her.

" Keiko, what?"

" Stupid bitch!" Keiko hissed. " How dare you?"

" Keiko!" Chiyo rolled out of the way as the bigger girl's foot came crashing down where she had been a moment before. Keiko growled and swung a fist at the kitsune girl, knocking her back. Chiyo rubbed her cheek and pulled herself to her feet. Keiko knocked her down again. Keiko continued to beat her mercilessly, but Chiyo would not fight back. She could not hit a ningen woman. She took shot after shot until she could no longer move. Keiko kicked her a few times and then left.

She slowly pulled herself to her knees. Everything hurt. She slowly stood and walked as far as she could, finally coming to a stop outside Hiei's apartment building. She stared up at it, then pulled out her cell phone.

" What?" An irritated voice answered the phone.

" Hiei?" The voice was ragged and barely there.

" Chiyo?" He asked, concerned.

" C-can you come and get me?"

" Where are you?"

" Outside your building."

" Just come up."

" I-I can't move anymore, Hiei. Help." The phone was hung up and a minute later Hiei stood beside her. He took in her bruised and battered body.

" Holy hell, Chiyo!" She just smiled wearily up at him. He picked her up and carried her inside, ignoring the looks of his neighbors. He settled her on his bed and let her sleep.

When she woke several hours later, Hiei was sitting on the bed beside her. She saw relief in his eyes.

" Chiyo-chan, what happened to you?" The youkai asked, worried in spite of himself. She closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them.

" This, I suppose, is what happens when you get involved with ningens." She answered bitterly. Hiei sighed.

" Who beat you up, Chiyo?"

Chiyo sat up, ignoring his question. She put on one of Kurama's spare suits that he kept at his lovers place and turned to Hiei.

" Thank you so much for coming, Hiei." She hugged the irascible youkai. " Tell my brother I love him."

" What? Why? Where are you going?" Hiei demanded.

" I'm leaving, Hiei. It's better that way. All I've done here is bring trouble."

" That's not true!" Hiei argued.

" Yes, it is. First you, and now Keiko. I keep causing problems."

" It'll kill Kurama if you leave, Chiyo." She smiled sadly at him.

" Take care of him for me please, Hiei. Yoko's very sensitive."

Hiei nodded and let her go. He waited until Kurama called and told him what had happened. He panicked, as Hiei had predicted.

" Stop it, Fox. You're not to blame." Hiei admonished the kitsune. Kurama stared at him, tears in his bright green eyes.

" It's Urameshi's fault. His girlfriend did it. What I don't get is, Chiyo is a demon. She could have taken her easily. Why didn't she?"

" Keiko is a ningen woman. Chiyo has too much honor to hit a ningen woman."

" You kitsune are too soft." Hiei chuckled, putting his arms around his fox.