A/N: ...

"Speech"

-thoughts.-

Chapter II

Bringer of Bad News

-Yukina still hasn't returned.-

"What is taking that girl so long? I thought I made it clear to her not to dilly dally around." Genkai reminded herself in a curt manner.

Genkai refused to show any pity on the girl, but her human heart retaliated. She reluctantly set her tea down and proceeded to walk outside to look for Yukina. She didn't see any trace of the young girl's figure following the trail back. She gave a sigh of annoyance and traced Yukina's tracks. She followed the winding path until she arrived at the garden. Everything so far was normal and expected. That is until, Genkai seen a pair small footprints stray off into the wilderness.

-Just as I thought. What could have gotten into her head? Doesn't she know what's out there?-

She followed deeper into the woods; investigating like a detective finding clues. There was a odd change in Yukina's footsteps. They were spread father apart.

-It's as I feared. A demon caught wind of her. She had no choice but to run.-

She prolonged her examination to the rest of tracks. As she grew closer to the end, all the nearby trees were frozen solid. This was a strange occurrence.

-Yukina used powers to defend herself.-

Intrigued, Genkai carried on. The footsteps ended with a very large and unknown imprint just above them. A frown crossed Gekai's wrinkled face and she couldn't help the worry.

-What could have happened here? Even worse, what is happing to her now?-

Something dazzling caught Gekai's eye. There crushed in the snow, a peach flower lay dying. She bent down to brush the shriveled flower off. She placed it into her hand and read its qualities very carefully.

-Ah, I see now. This is what you were after.-

Genkai was happy to know that Yukina wasn't as stupid as she predicted, but it didn't compare to how much Genkai was torn apart. As much as she knew Yukina needed help, Genkai was not in any condition to go on some rescue mission.

Genkai was dying. She kept her sickness a secret, the only one who knew about it was Yukina. The young, perceiving healer had noticed it from the start. Yet, Yukina silently kept it to herself, like she knew how vital it was to keep it locked away.

-Better call for reinforcements.-

Regretfully, she turned on her heel, taking what was left of the broken flower with her. She wouldn't let Yukina's generous discovery go in vain. She would nurse this flower back to heath. The walk back to the temple was a difficult one. Her mind overflowed with harsh criticism. All the people who cared for Yukina would be pointing fingers and blaming her. Oh, yes she was going to get and earful about Yukina being hijacked.

-Hiei's going to especially furious with me. He'll probably try to kill me. Not to mention that loud and obnoxious moron yelling scornfully at me with his oversized mouth.-

She closed her eyes and tilted her head up to the sky, letting out a pained shout. The temporary release of anger served her well.

-This oughtta be fun.- She thought sarcastically.

Genkai had already taken the liberty to assemble the team for an emergency meeting. She and Yusuke were the only ones at the time that were present.

"So Genkai, what's this meeting about?" Yusuke pried.

She took another sip of her tea. "You need to wait until the others arrive. I am not explaining the situation a thousand times."

"Che'" Yusuke snapped and crossed his arms in irritation. "Shouldn't at least Kurama be here by now?"

"Yes, but I gave you an earlier time to arrive."

"What! Why'd you go and do that for!" He retorted with a fist in her face.

"Because you're always late and unreliable!" She yelled. "They better get here soon before I end up beating you to a pulp again."

Yusuke shot to his feet and assumed a battle pose. "All right that's it you old hag! Let's go!"

She didn't pay any attention to him and Yusuke felt like he was talking to a wall.

"Go? Go where?" Kurama asked completely clueless. He just had arrived and only heard the last part of Yusuke's challenge.

"Ah, Kurama, nice of you to come. Don't mind Yusuke. He's being a brainless idiot again."

"I am sure Yusuke at least has been promoted to a clumsy fool." Hiei added teasingly with a smirk.

"Damn you all!" Yusuke growled through clenched teeth. He slammed his fist into the floor in attempt to quell the raging fury boiling inside. The whole temple shook from the powerful blow and Yusuke sat down and angrily kept to himself.

"Hiei, good you're here too." Genkai greeted.

Immediately Hiei found himself schizophrenic. He hadn't sensed his sister's aura anywhere and it bothered him. He was starting to think his assumptions of his sister's absence was true.

"Yo, how's it going Urameshi?" Kuwabara said casually, walking in after Hiei and Kurama.

"Oh, hey Kuwabara." Yusuke said nonchalantly.

"What's eatin you all of a sudden?"

Yusuke wanted to avoid the subject all together so, he just blew Kuwabara completely off. "Don't worry about it."

"Fine, whatever."

Kuwabara scrutinized the temple obviously looking for something. When he couldn't find Yukina's aura he scratched his head in confusion.

"Is something wrong Kuwabara?" Genkai asked tentatively.

"Yeah, Master Genkia where's Yukina? Kuwabara asked incredulously.

He always looked forward to see the charming ice maiden.

Her cheerful smile.

Those darks eyes and her small fragile appearance.

The most enchanting woman he had ever seen.

She did not answer.

Hiei recognized this insolence and grew petulant.

"What's this all about old woman?" Hiei commanded.

"Something terrible happened today." She stated flatly.

"Get on with it!" Being short-tempered, Hiei grabbed the old woman's tunic and stared daggers at her.

"Yukina has been taken." Her black eyes stared blankly into his fiery ruby irises.

Kuwabara paled and Yusuke eyes widened.

Genkai seen Hiie's lurid face falter as well; a window had opened to show inside his soul. The stoic fire demon was worried. It was quickly hidden again and he viciously tossed out questions with maddened resentment.

"By who! When! Why didn't you go after her!"

Hiei slammed Genkai into the nearby wall, hoping to persuade her to tell him what happened.

"I want answers now!"

Genkai continued to look him right in the eye and said, "There was nothing I could do to stop it."

"Why the hell not!"

"Master Genkai is this true?" Yusuke said increduously.

"Yes, the foolish girl ran off into the wilderness."

Kuwabara didn't believe Yukina would just wander off like that. She definatley knew better. He felt righteous fury coarse through him. He, Kuwabara Kazuma would rescue his ice princess.

"Didn't you warn her about the demons!" He shouted.

"Of course I warned her!" She retaliated/defended.

Confused, Kuwabara asked, "Then why would she—"

"I know why." Genkai interrupted.

"Then say it!" Hiei pressed more of his weight onto the woman, making it hard for her to breathe.

"I will as soon as you let go!" Genkai yelled. She grabbed his wrist as a sign to back off.

Hiei gritted his teeth and tossed her to the floor. He wanted to kill something now.

"Do you see that flower hanging on the far wall?" She raised her hand to point.

"Yes." Everyone said in unision.

"What, don't tell me she went into the wilderness for one stupid flower!" Yusuke asked astonished.

"Yusuke that is no ordinary flower." Kurama informed. "In my lifetime I only laid eyes on it twice, this being the second time. It has an unimaginable amount of healing power, perhaps combined with other remedies could bring back the dead. It's strange seeing one again. I remember the Spirit World issuing an order to confiscate them all so no one could be brought back to life without their order."

Everyone stared at the flower, seemingly intrigued by the whole situation.

Genkai added a distasteful grunt. "My guess is that she thought of all of you, bruised and beaten, so she decided to risk going into demon territority. Maybe if you all didn't nearly die after every fight she wouldn't' had done it! Don't blame me blame yourselves for not being strong enough!" The whole scornfully prepared speech left everyone silent.

Everyone was staring at the ground, almost in shame.

At one time they risked their lives to save Yukina. Now, Yukina must have felt it was time that she would save them.

Those words hit Hiei hard. He was always the one going off alone to train everyday. He was the one trying to control the raging fires of hell in one day. He was the one pushing himself until it almost killed him to stand up. He was the one who always spoke of getting stronger. And now to hear the old hag say 'Yukina was gone because he wasn't strong enough' struck a cord.

Yusuke felt terrible with grief and anger. Yukina had already proven herself as a valuable friend and asset to all of them. She didn't need to save their asses from certain destruction again!

Kurama nervously glanced at Hiei. He gasped at how much emotion Hiei was wearing on the outside.

Panic

Fear

Regret

Worry

Sadness

Anger

All of it was there, displayed for everyone to see.

"Hiei?" Kurama asked hesitantly.

Hiei's body jerked, like he just had cold water tossed in his face. Hiei instantly returned to normal, only letting only rage, anger, and irritation penetrate his emotional shield.

Kurama seen the change. "Hiei are you alright?"

No answer.

Kuwabara felt so unhappy and worried. He may not get a chance to see her bright, shinning face ever again.

-Why is Kurama bother asking Hiei if he was O.K.? Why wouldn't the little runt be O.K.-

Kuwabara grunted through clenched teeth, he couldn't hold his tongue anymore.

"Why would Hiei even care? All he cares about is himself! If it doesn't concern him he gives you the cold shoulder and walks away! It's not like he would even consider helping to bring her back, even though she helped save his life!"

-Bad timing Kuwabara- Everyone thought to themselves. He opened his mouth at the wrong time once again.-

Hiei did care. He just couldn't show it. He couldn't put his sister in danger. If everyone knew that that was the sister of the 'abomination' every demon would flock to her, probably seeking revenge on Hiei and kill her. Or they would kill her just to receive the title of 'Hiei's sister's Murderer.'

Upon hearing no answer, Kuwabara shouted in his own frustration.

"Genkai we have to save her!"

"Yes. Let's not waste anymore time."

The fabric of Gekai's tunic slipped through Hiei's clenched fists and her feet hit hardwood floor.

"Follow me."

They silently formed a single file line behind Genkai, as the old woman started make her way outside. Hiei stayed in place, staring distantly at the floor. Kurama looked back and seen how 'out-of-mind' he was acting.

"Hiei aren't you coming?"

Hiei shook his head in approval and shoved his hands in his pockets. He tilted his head in a scowl and walked up to Kurama.

"Move Kurama." His voice was cracked and weak as though he was holding back sobs.

Hiei felt weight around his shoulders and looked up in shock. His face was shoved into sweet scented hair and his body was pressed firmly against Kuarama's. The fox was hugging him. He remembered seeing the gesture performed by other humans. It was an act of solace.

"We'll find her."

Kurama's reassuraning voice hissed in his ear. Hiei couldn't provent the shiver that crawled up his spine. He wanted to settle into the fox' security, believe those soothing words, but he just couldn't.

-I don't need his pity or his comfort! Now matter how warm it feels! Wait, warm?! What am I thinking? I am a fire demon! Kurama must be clouding my mind again.-

"Get off me fox." Hiei ordered but didn't wait for Kurama to comply. He brutally shoved the taller man away and stormed out of the room after the group.

-Please Hiei I understand. Let me help you.-

Kurama eyes filled with dissatisfaction, but he set the emotion aside. He took in a deep breath and released it. His mind steadily cleared and he ran to catch up with his partners.

Whoa that was a long chapter. Anyway thanks for reading and please review.