Disclaimer: I don't own, you don't sue.
Thanks to all my reviewers (Without whom, this chapter may never have came to be)
moonlit-snow- You're correct, I was just thinking through all of the people Hiei fought and forgot about that.
AznxLoneWolf- Yeah, I'm not that good with fight scenes. Oh well. Hope you enjoy the last chapter.
Jao Ensatsu Kokuryuha- I'm sorry I took so long.
Red Kitsune Flames- Okay, thank you
Pure Shikon- I'm glad you liked it
demon spirit- I'm happy to hear that
Mine and Mine Alone- Hehe, I'm really glad you liked it
hiei-sister- Yeah, Sorry, it just had to happen. But I think you'll like the ending
BluesDaughter- Yep, I guess his luck last chapter wasn't that great
And now, after the long wait, here is the last chapter.
Hiei's eyes widened. 'She knows'
Botan groaned. She awoke from her sleep. "What's wrong?" she asked drowsily. However, neither Hiei nor Yukina seemed to hear her.
Yukina kept starring into her brother's face. She reached up and touched the corners of his eyes and tip of his nose… very simple and small features really, but she paid closer attention now than she ever had before. "Yes, I see it now…" she whispered softly before she hurriedly threw her arms around him as though he was about to disappear, tear gems were flowing from her eyes and clicking against the ground as these emotions overwhelmed her.
Hiei didn't say anything at all, but silently snaked his arms underneath Yukina and wordlessly picked her up as she clung to him. He cast a glance towards Botan and Touya, who were both watching the siblings with wide eyes. He didn't need to speak for them to understand what he was planning they both knew that this subtle glance meant 'let's go'
-
The kitchen was quiet Touya and Hiei were sitting at the table at Yukina's house, the girls were both in Yukina's room. The two of them were both thinking hard when the ice master broke the silence.
"What harm will come from Yukina knowing the truth?" he asked.
Hiei only glared. "This concerns me, not you." He said coldly. "And I believe that having Botan erase previous events from her memory is the best solution."
"What about Yukina, she should have a say…"
Before Touya could continue, Hiei gave a stare so icy beyond compare of anything the ice master could conjure.
"Yukina has calmed down." Botan reported as she entered the kitchen. She looked at Hiei, then down at the ground. "Are you sure you want me to…"
Hiei nodded, "Yes, quickly." He said, giving Touya one last glare before fallowing Botan to Yukina's room.
They both slipped through the door and saw Yukina sitting on the edge of her bed. Her expression was a little sad. "Am I really going to forget that you're my brother?" she asked Hiei.
The fire demon nodded.
"Then, can I tell you something"
He nodded again.
"I glad that it's you… I'm proud that you're my brother." Tears slid down her face and landed silently on the bed as pearls.
Hiei couldn't speak, but a solitary tear slid down his cheek. His sister watched as the tear became the most beautiful ruby she'd ever seen. She hopped off the bed and picked up the small tear gem. "I remember reading that you have never cried your entire life…" she said, hiccupping a little from crying so much.
Hiei gave a sad smile. "It was true, this is the first time." He pulled her close in a hug as if to say goodbye. Hiei then picked her up and set her back on the bed, kissing her forehead. "I'm proud of you too… little sister." He backed away and nodded to Botan, as if a signal to start.
Botan nodded sadly and touched her finger to Yukina's head, concentrating extremely hard.
Hiei watched the ritual as Yukina's eyes went blank, and hung his head when her eyes closed and she fell back onto her bed.
"Uhhh…" The ice maiden groaned as she opened her eyes. She looked around the room, very confused. "Hiei…? Botan…? What's happening?" She asked.
A knock came from the door. "Come on in Touya." Botan called. Touya slunk into the room carefully.
Botan turned back to the confused ice maiden. "It seems that you passed out when you were out with Touya, so he called us for help." She said, giving a big smile. "As long as you take it easy for a while, you should be all right.
"Oh…" Yukina said. "Well, I'm sorry to bother all of you, thank you very much for your help…"
"Oh, it was no trouble at all." Botan exclaimed. "Just be careful from now on."
"Okay."
"Then Hiei and I will let ourselves out." She said, reaching out for Hiei's hand and guiding him to the door.
When they were outside, Hiei was looking down at the ground. "Thanks." He said.
Botan nodded still holding his hand and leading him away from the house. "No problem." She said quietly.
They walked in silence for a long time until reaching the park, where this mess started. The odd couple sat on the bench and didn't talk for a long time.
-
Meanwhile, Touya spoke to Yukina. "Are you really alright?" he asked
Yukina began to nod, but gasped suddenly. She clenched her teeth as if she was in pain. But as quick as the pain came… it left.
"Yukina…?"
She put her finger to her lips and ran to the door. She opened it and looked down the hall. She then closed the door and ran to the window, checking if she could still see Botan and Hiei. She couldn't.
"What's wrong Yukina?" Touya asked.
Yukina smiled and, in her excitement, rushed to Touya and hugged him. "I remember! Botan was right!" she exclaimed.
"Huh?" the ice master was confused.
Yukina let go of her boyfriend and began to explain.
-
While Hiei and Touya were arguing in the kitchen
"He wants me to forget that he's my brother?" Yukina cried, sobbing.
Botan nodded.
"But, I have been looking for him so long! I don't want to forget!" She was hysterical.
Botan sighed. "I can… help." She said.
Yukina sniffled a little, but looked up. "How?" she asked.
Botan reached into her pocked and pulled out a little vial.
"What is it?"
"This…" Botan started, "Is a potion that will reverse any spell put on you." She explained. "If you take it now, your memory will be recovered a few minutes after I have fooled Hiei into thinking that you can't remember." She said. "As long as you're convincing and don't let him know that you will remember, you won't have to forget about him."
Yukina stared, and then took the vial. "Thank you. Thank you so much!" She exclaimed, drinking the contents as Botan left to retrieve Hiei.
-
Touya blinked. "Won't it be hard to pretend he's not your brother?"
Yukina smiled. "I can manage it…" she opened her hand to see that she was still holding the perfect ruby tear gem and blushed. "Besides, if he can do it, then so can I."
-
Botan broke the silence between Hiei and herself. "Are you sure you're fine?" she asked.
"Hn." Hiei said. "I'm fine."
Botan looked down. "You're really strong…" she said. "I admire that about you."
Hiei looked away, seeming uninterested. And, though she didn't mention it, she thought she could see the faintest of blushes on his cheeks. She just smiled and slid her hand next to his.
-thirteen years later-
"Mommy!" A young child called as he ran into his mother's room. He was nine and had black hair and blue eyes.
Yukina turned around. "Yes, Shi-chan?" she asked, closing the drawer she was looking through to face her son.
Shi looked confused. "What's in that drawer?" he wondered aloud.
Yukina smiled and put her finger to her lips. "It's a secret, only I can look in this drawer." She said. "Now, what did you want to ask me?"
"Oh!" Shi said. "Can Rioko-chan and I play outside?"
A small seven-year-old girl stood in the doorway. She had an odd mixture of black hair and pink eyes. "Please Oba-san?" she said shyly.
Yukina smiled and nodded. "Only if you don't stray too far." She told them. The two children smiled and darted off, each full of energy.
The ice maiden opened her drawer again and looked at the contents inside fondly. The scroll, the gold fountain pen, and a small jewelry box, which she opened to reveal a stunning ruby tear gem that was as radiant as ever. "Oh Nii-san…" she said. "Your beautiful daughter looks so much like you…" she drawled. "And to me… you still are a brother that I can be proud of."
Wow, it's over… I took waaaaaaaay too long with this chapter that I wonder if anyone remembers this story… I'm sorry for taking so long!
Now that I'm finally done with this story, I will begin writing the next chapters for A Penny for Your Thoughts, keep on the lookout.
And, remember, please review! I would love to know if anyone enjoyed the story now that it's over.