Well I'm back, I'm going to try to update this thing regularly, so that's good news for you.

Disclaimer: As everyone knows…I do not own the show nor the characters or any of the rights pertaining to Yu Yu Hakusho.

Breakfast continued with much chatter and laughter, the stress from the night before almost completely forgotten as hope for the future began to shine just a little brighter. The group was fully engrossed in talking about whatever some such thing that currently occupied their thoughts, when Botan gave a quiet giggle that caused the noise to fade and eventually pause.

Pointing her finger at one end of the table the grim reaper whispered "I think Hiei is tired,"

The three teen boys blinked before looking down and seeing their youngest member trying valiantly to finish his bowl of rice but ruby eyes drooped dangerously and the boy's head drifted closer and closer to the table top. Yusuke smirked, a soft laugh coming out as a swift exhale and he extended his arms to wrap around the small Jaganshi and pull him against his broad chest.

Hiei released a jaw cracking yawn before snuggling into Yusuke, and popped his thumb into his mouth before sleepy red eyes drifted shut and tiny snores resonated within the equally tiny nose "I just can't wrap my head around it," Yusuke murmured as one tender thumb traced a chubby cheek "how can someone so prickly and antisocial have been so adorable as a kid?"

Genkai smirked while Botan giggled "That is something I would certainly like to know," the grim reaper chirped "but for now I'm enjoying seeing his much cuter side."

Kurama graced them with his own gentle smile as he ran slender fingers through Hiei's hair "I must admit, I feel a small ounce of regret that he will return to his former state by the end of the month."

"No kidding," Kuwabara chuckled his own features brightened by a warm grin "he's a cute kid, that's for sure. I mean, I like Hiei the way he is, but I wouldn't mind if he stayed like this."

"Yeah, less mouthy," Yusuke teased making Kuwabara snort in laughter.

"Speaking of mouthy," the carrot topped teen laughed "can I tease him about sucking his thumb?"

Kurama and Yusuke gave Kuwabara twin playful glares "No, you may not Kuwabara," the fox replied with a twitching mouth threatening to smile "unless you want to throw away all the progress we've made in befriending Hiei."

Kuwabara deflated with a small pout before perking up "Fine, I won't tease the shrimp about sucking his thumb, but I'm still taking pictures!"

The fox and the detective exchanged sly looks that they quickly exchanged for innocence "Why pictures should be fine," Yusuke snickered "I mean, everyone knows that Botan is trigger happy with the camera anyway, who would care about a few pictures?"

"Indeed," Kurama smirked "and whether we keep them for future use as…research is a moot point in the end."

The three boys enjoyed a chuckle over the idea, making the small bundle in Yusuke's arms whine and a miniature fist scrubbed at tired eyes before once again settling down back into the folds of sleep. Botan crept over, an item in her hands and a coy smile lighting her features as she knelt down next to the spirit detective. Opening her hands, she revealed the object to be a fluffy brown teddy bear with a red ribbon around its neck, and smooth as glass she slipped the toy into Hiei's arms, unconsciously giving a coo when the small arms tightened around its soft form clutching it to his chest.

"There now," the grim reaper said proudly looking much like the cat that swallowed the canary "now the image is complete."

"No, now all that's left that he needs is a blankie," Yusuke grinned mischievously.

"I think you're filling that spot currently," Kurama pointed out with a slim finger.

"But still, the kid needs a blanket, you know in case he gets cold or somethin'," Kuwabara murmured thoughtfully.

"You know, I think I may have an extra one at my house that might do the job-" Yusuke stated before Genkai interrupted him.

"If you dimwits are done playing doting nursemaid," the old woman grated with a smirk "I actually need to go do some grocery shopping and you three are coming with me to aid in carrying what we buy. We'll need toys, clothes and various other necessities required in caring for a child."

Yusuke gave an unhappy pout, as he had been thoroughly enjoying being an older brother to the normally antisocial fire demon, before shrugging "Fine, but who's going to stay and watch him?"

"I can," Botan volunteered "don't worry I don't mind."

"Are you sure?" Kurama asked gently "The exorcist is still out there."

"Genkai has the shrine completely encased in protective runes," Botan replied firmly "not to mention the fact that if we stay inside we should be perfectly safe."

The three boys exchanged with the grim reaper thoughtful looks before each giving reluctant nods "Fine," Yusuke sighed "we'll trust you with Hiei."

Standing up, the spirit detective shuffled over to the blue haired girl, pausing with slight hesitation before switching his bundle to her waiting arms. Botan couldn't hold back the delighted croon that cooed past her lips at the adorable sight of the child snuggled firmly in her arms, and unconsciously she dropped a kiss on his temple.

"Oh I just can't help but want to spoil him rotten," she whined softly cuddling the boy tightly.

"I know right?" Kuwabara chuckled "makes me wonder what happened to him that made him such a sour puss."

"Who knows," Yusuke replied with a shrug "at any rate, let's go help Grandma get the stuff we need and head back as soon as possible."

"Agreed," the fox affirmed with a short nod "I would rather that we spend as little time away from the shrine as possible."

Their goodbyes were swift, and in no time at all the boys plus the elderly shrine maiden were gone, and Botan was alone with only Yukina and Hiei for company. Actually only Yukina to be accurate, as Hiei was deeply asleep in an early afternoon nap, and the two young women were chatty as they shared a cup of tea.

"Do you think everything will be ok?" Yukina asked quietly as she refilled Botan's cup "Exorcist's are dangerous to begin with, but I can't help but feel like something is…wrong."

Botan paused, her cup halfway to her lips as lavender eyes widened "How do you mean?"

Yukina pursed thoughtful lips as she hesitated before giving her softly spoken answer "There is something about this exorcist that doesn't make sense."

The grim reaper cocked her head in confusion, silently asking the young woman to continue "It's just," Yukina bit her bottom lip apprehensively before an encouraging nod from the other woman loosened her tongue "most exorcists work in packs, like wolves, and those who do work alone are very dedicated to their craft, not stopping until they are sure that their prey is dead."

"So how does this feel different?" Botan asked in genuine curiosity.

"He didn't chase them down!" Yukina suddenly burst in uncharacteristic volume "By all rights all of the boys should be dead, but instead the exorcist let them run back to the shrine and has even given them time to heal and regroup."

"So this…is a bad thing?" Botan queried as a terrible sense of unease settled in her stomach like a ten ton weight.

"I think so," Yukina whispered before heaving a sigh "based on what I've heard and the common knowledge all demon kind know concerning exorcists, nothing this hunter is doing makes sense. It almost feels like he's playing with us, like he's after something else."

"Like what?"

Yukina shook her head "I don't know, and that's what scares me."

Suddenly the compact in Botan's sleeve began to ring shrilly making the blue haired shinigami give a sharp wince as she dug around for the device before finally pulling it out and popping it open "Yes?"

The harried face of one of the younger reapers flickered on screen, tears threatening to spill down flushed cheeks as she screamed through the mirror "Botan! It's an emergency!"

"What kind of emergency?!" Botan replied her face paling as her imagination began to run wild.

"An explosion!"

"WHAT?!"

Jumping to her feet, the reaper ran to find her shoes, hopping on one foot as she struggled to pull them on and summon her oar all at the same time "Yukina I need to go!"

The ice maiden's jaw dropped as she looked back and forth helplessly between Botan and the sleeping form of Hiei "But-But-But…!"

"I'm sorry Yukina, but I have to go, you heard them, there was an explosion!"

"But don't you need to tell Yusuke and the others?!" The young girl stammered.

"I'll tell them if I need to," Botan cried in a clipped tone as her oar appeared in front of her "but right now I need to get there and assess the damage!"

"But what about-!" Yukina's voice faded away as she watched the shinigami disappear among the clouds, heaving a sigh the ice maiden glanced back over her shoulder at the child behind her "What about Hiei?" she finished in a quiet defeated murmur.

Walking back into the room where they had been enjoying their tea, Yukina busied herself with clearing up the dishes and quickly wandered into the kitchen.

Though she had spoken to no one concerning her knowledge, Yukina knew Hiei was her brother, she wasn't an idiot she was merely waiting until he himself felt comfortable enough admitting the secret to her. The ice apparition knew deep in her gut that the main reason he hadn't told her yet was because he didn't feel confident in his own skin. The girl felt a weight of pity throb in her chest over the cruelty of her people towards him, which was clearly the driving force behind why he held such deep self-loathing, and a tear welled in the corner of her eye threatening to tumble down her cheek.

So despite wanting to scream to the heavens the fact that she knew, specifically in front of a certain fire demon, she had resigned herself to patiently waiting until Hiei knew what he wanted and had cast aside his insecurities to embrace the family that so loved him.

Turning back towards the living area where she had been visiting with Botan the ice maiden felt her red eyes go wide at the sight that greeted her.

Hiei was thrashing on the floor, the blanket tangled through and around his kicking legs, while his arms flailed around. Tears were caught in the folds of his eyelids, and grunts of fear accompanied by small whines sounded from the writhing bundle. Running to his side, the maiden knelt on the floor, and struggled to pull the little boy onto her lap, holding his head against her chest and rocking back and forth while cooing what she hoped was soothing noises to comfort the child out of his nightmare.

His breath came in machine gun sobs, shuddering through his small body Hiei's ruby eyes fluttered open to gaze on the face of Yukina. Tears immediately began to roll down his cheeks as his gaze widened in stark terror, and as Yukina scrambled to try and reassure Hiei of his safety the boy released a blood curdling shriek.

"YUSUKE!"

Wow you guys, you got another update…and so quickly too!

Enjoy, and tell me what you think!