The air was hot and thick, the stench of blood the only noticable scent in the breeze-less air. Hiei focused on the mass of energies they were quickly approaching. Since they were not attacking Mukuro or her lands directly, and he was technically upholding his oath of defending the borders by clearing out the Delphyrs and sealing the tear, all he did was tell Mukuro telepathically that they were entering her lands to take care of the tear. There had been no response, but he didn't care much. He was more focused on the battle ahead of them.

He wasn't entirely sure how barely doubling their numbers would result in anything different than last time. He was aware the wolf-demons were known for their feral combat, but he doubted it would change anything, save for how long they held before having to retreat again.

Yukina, Genkai and Jettalynn had remained at camp for safety. A shiver went through him as a bad feeling rose up and nestled itself firmly in his chest. He ignored it, as he usually did and focused on the task ahead. The group was growing restless as they neared the tear.

As it came into sight, each person readied themselves before charging head-long into the swarm again. The wolf-demons used little-to-no weapons, as they met each Delphyr with a snarl and beared teeth. Their fighting style was incredibly animalistic, tearing their foes apart with lengthened claws and often even their teeth. Vaislen had metal contraptions that covered his hands and fingers with intricate spikes and blades, which was the closest thing Hiei saw to a weapon any of them held aside from the royal daggers Jenista and Salvatore had and occasionally used.

It was strange seeing them so unrestricted. Animal-based demons had instincts more powerful than the common demon, and yet more often than not, the wolf-demons appeared less affected by instincts than even the common demon. He assumed the battlefield was where they let their instincts take control, enjoying the blood bath.

Hiei's eyes narrowed as he continued to cut through the swarm. The size of the Delphyr swarm seemed to actually be shrinking; In even less time than it had taken to be over-whelmed and forced to retreat prior. Something wasn't right, but he ignored it as he focused on the battle at hand. The sooner he ended it, the sooner he could figure out what the real deal was.

Without warning, a peircing, pain-filled howl shot through the air. Cutting through the swarm, he made his way toward the sound to find Jenista on the ground, her body writhing with pain as she snarled, ordering the other wolves to stay back and informing them about the electricity the Delphyrs were weilding.

Another snarl ripped from Jen's lips as her body began to rapidly change from her normal appearance to a large wolf and back. She seemed unable to control it as animalistic growls and cries of agony came from her. A delphyr approached Jen, stuck helplessly in her shuttering forms. Hiei jumped forward to stand over her shifting body, sword angled to defend her.

Despite Jen's orders, Avidan let out a howl of fury, charging at more of the Delphyrs near-by. Attempting to steer clear of what looked like electrified rods some of the Delphyr held, the rest of the pack began to engage as well, more carefully this time. Hiei saw Yusuke, Kurama and Kuwabara closing in on the Delphyr as well. One final push and the remaining Delphyrs finally pulled back, retreating deeper into Mukuro's lands. The wolves howled with victory, chasing them a little ways to ensure they really were retreating and not just regrouping near by.

Kurama was knelt beside Jen, a painful look in his eyes as he watched his old friend's agony. Hiei glanced over at the tear and saw Yusuke and Kuwabara begin to seal the tear with their energy. "How long does it last," Hiei asked, anxious to get back to camp to ensure his bad feeling had nothing to do with danger befalling his sister.

"For as long as Jen holds conciousness. Eventually she will pass out, being too drained to handle the toll shifting takes on her body. The electrical waves will be able to leave her body then," Kurama said, still looking down at Jen.

"Hn."

Hiei knelt down with his sword in hand and swiftly struck Jen on the side of her head with the butt of his sword. Her body stilled, finally resting in her original form. Pain still contorted her face, but the shuttering had stopped.

He stood back up and looked to Yusuke and Kuwabara approaching. "We need to head back to camp," Yusuke said as the wolves came to a stop at the group as well.

Salvatore silently picked up his unconcious sister and nodded, making their way back to the camp silently.

The trip through the night remained silent, despite the victory. Hiei figured he wasn't the only one who found the battle to be surprisingly easy, but he assumed the silence from the wolves was due to the state of their alpha. Kurama had told him they didn't know how long Jen would be unconcious. If enough damage had been done by the electric shock and shuttering, she may not even wake up the same person. She wouldn't die from it, but memories, habits and basic mental things could be lost.

They reached the camp just after dawn, Hiei relieved to find his sister unharmed. From what Genkai said, a small band of demons had stumbled on their camp but Jettalynn and Genkai handled it easily. Exhausted from the battle and trip back and unwilling to tolerate the group, Hiei jumped up into the closest tree, finding a firm branch to rest on.

From below he heard Yukina offering her healing abilities to the wolves after healing Yusuke and Kuwabara. Himself and Kurama had sustained very few injuries, so it wasn't necessary. The wolves seemed hesistant, but after Jettalynn insisted, assuring her mate that Yukina had pure intentions. Salvatore, though tense at first, allowed Yukina to heal him, followed by Avidan and Terrance. Makya and Vaislen had refused.

Hiei watched curiously as Yukina knelt beside Jen with a small bowl of water and a cloth. The other wolves had been able to clean themselves off, but Jen, still unconcious, was still caked with blood and dirt. Yukina washed Jen carefully, healing wounds as she found them under the mess. She moved to washing her hair, seeming to be taken by the texture of the fur-like hair. Avidan had sat near her, watching her closely, but not suspisiously. Yukina was easy to learn to trust as her innocence and pure heart showed in everything she did.

Biting her lip indecisively, Yukina placed her hands on Jen's forehead, the soft glow of her healing powers illuminating Jen's face, which was still set in a deep frown of pain. Hiei continued to watch as she pushed her healing abilities further. It wasn't until her energy snapped back at her, startling Yukina that she finally stopped. With a defeated sigh, Yukina pulled back and watched Jen silently.

Jen remained unconscious for the entire day and most of the following night. When Hiei came awake, he looked down. Panic shot through him as he found Yukina and Jen missing from their previous spot. Scanning the camp, he saw no sign of them before reaching out telepathically and locating them near by. He dashed to investigate and found them at a body of water not far from camp, talking quietly. He watched silently from a tree.

"Thank you again for saving me from that group at Aerisia. I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't come when you did," Yukina said, her sweet lilting voice floating up to his ears.

Jen nodded slightly in response. "I doubt I would have even remembered that, had you not healed me to the extent you did. Thank you for that."

"What is it like being a princess," Yukina asked after a moment of silence, curiousity seeming to get the best of her.

Jen looked up to the sky thinking for a moment. Hiei could tell she didn't want to tell Yukina about the more negative and haunting parts of being royalty. After a long moment she answered. "It is like having everything you could ever want at your fingertips, but being held to a standard that forbade you from actually having them. Nearly everything is expected of you but you are also expected already know it for yourself. No one really takes the time to tell you. You listen to the problems of others and hide your own. A constant mask of formality," she finished.

Her tone had been thoughtful, giving an honest answer but her distaste didn't show through. Yukina stared up thoughtfully. "I expect that's a great deal of stress to handle."

Jen shrugged, scanning the lake with her eyes. "You get used to it. You find little things to take pleasure in. I always find myself calmed by the night sky. The twinkling stars seem to offer silent companionship. My father once told me it was because our ancestors reside there, watching over the world from afar and offering guidance to those who seek it."

Yukina's eyes stared up into the sky in wonder as she smiled. "That is a lovely way to think of it," she said quietly before yawning slightly. "I think I should head to bed. Is there anything I can do for you before I go?"

Jen shook her head in response before looking up at Yukina as the ice maiden stood up. "Thank you for your company, Yukina."

Yukina nodded slightly with a smile and departed back to the camp. Hiei listened to her movements to ensure she made it safely back to camp and had settled comfortably in for sleep. He remained in the tree as he stared down at Jen with slight curiousity.

Jen tilted her head to the side, angling her ear towards the fire demon in the tree behind her. He had been there for some time but made no motion to make it known. "I am curious why you haven't told Yukina that you are her brother. She told me of how she longs to meet him," she said quietly and it was only then that he jumped down from the tree and walked forward.

Remaining standing as he came to a stop behind Jen, he answered her after a long pause. Part of her expected him not to answer her. Hiei had remained quiet and withdrawn the night before for the most part, only observing everything. It surprised her when she actually heard him answer. "She doesn't need to know her brother is a thief and cold-blooded killer."

Jen continued to stare up at the stars as she spoke. "She would understand the necessity to survive."

Hiei's response was quiet but short. "It is easier this way."

Jen nodded, accepting that and allowing the silence to fall between them. She figured it was because to tell Yukina would be to make it common knowledge. Since his sister seemed to be one of few things he cared for, Jen assumed it was to keep Yukina safe from anyone who might want to hurt him.

It was calming to stare up into the sky with Hiei near by. She felt him staring up at the sky as well, his aura of warmth that exuded from him touched her back and right arm, even though he was still a good foot or two away from her. "Do you think all ancestors up there," he asked, surprising Jen that he had even said anything, much less the quiet curiousity that hitched in his voice.

Jen nodded slightly. "The stars are countless. I can't imagine wolf-demons would be the only ones who ascend after their passing. I believe all our ancestors are up there, guiding us when we need it most."

A peacefulness seemed to wash over them, a soft 'hn' from Hiei as they remained there for a long time, silently keeping each other company as they studied the stars.

Hiei wasn't sure why he even asked, or why he found a slight comfort that his mother might actually be up there. Honestly, he wasn't even sure why he was there to begin with. Yukina was safe and left a while ago. He figured it was mostly the relaxation from sleeping for as long as he did and the slight curiousity in what Jen had said about the ancestors. Jen intrigiued him slightly. Only slightly, but her acceptance of silence helped his tolerance of her a great deal. He couldn't stand how people almost always needed to try to make conversation. They are just foolish stories people make up in order to be okay with death, he thought to himself finally, banishing the thoughts of ancestors.

He didn't want his mother to see what he had become anyway. Jen speaking pulled him out of his thoughts. "There seems to be a stronger presence in the sky tonight," she said, her voice holding a tone of uneasiness, but she seemed to dismiss it as quickly as it came. "Perhaps it is because we are outside of the pseudo-atmosphere of Aerisia," she finished.

Hiei felt like something was off too, but didn't say anything about it. The bad feeling had remained heavy in his chest, dancing at the edge of his thoughts, but until he figured out why he had it, there was no use in worrying over it. As he found many times, by the time he realized why he had a bad feeling, it was already too late.

So long as his sister remained unharmed, it really didn't matter to him what happened anyway.

A/N~ So this one ended up being mostly in Hiei's PoV which was kind of surprising. I usually don't write as much in his PoV but this chapter it seemed best through the eyes of Hiei. That and Jen was unconscious for a lot of it, I don't think she had a very interesting view point :P

Any way, next chapter is going to be an important one, so I may take a little more time on it. More Hiei/Jen interactions away from everyone too. :)