Every Heart

Love's Bittersweet

"Chiyo, leave it alone, before you get bitten."

Leaning against the shrine wall, I watched Chiyo mess with a squirrel. She was a kitten toying with her mouse until the mouse decided to take a chunk out of her nose. Her cry of surprise rang through the shrine as she came over whimpering, pawing at the injured apendage.

Picking her up, I sighed "I told you so." I cradled her like a child and began to croon like Naruto showed me until her cries stopped. When I looked down again she was calm enough to be considered sleep. Converting a little chakra to the tip of my index finger I gently touched the tip of her nose until it was no longer red.

A slight shiver coursed through my body as I stopped.

Peeking from under my lids I found Kurama and Hiei shouting about how I wasn't their 'mate'. Yukina was looking taken aback at their denial while Genkai just stood, her arms crossed and eyebrow raised. Yusuke, the only one who was reading my mind, asked "Wait, Yukina, who's this Kori Ryu?"

Everyone else stopped as if they just remembered a question that had been on their minds and looked to Yukina.

The red-eyed girl glanced at everyone in the room but when it became evedent that no one was going to divert their gazes she averted her eyes before saying "Kori Ryu, the ice guardian of the ice maidens. Since I was a child I was told a female dragon watched over ice country protecting maidens from danger. Occasionally she showed interest in a strong koorime but never before has she choosen a human."

The room was quiet as all eyes fell on me however I barely noticed. Thousand of questions crossed my mind at but only one stood out. 'Was I like Naruto now, a jinchuuriki?'

Dame dragon.

That was three days ago and the thought still plagued my mind.

I was flexing the fingers of the freezing hand when Kurama's silky voice snapped me out of my hand glaring. "That was most certainly impressive."

My attention turned to the red head coming my way.

"Which part?"

"How you put her to sleep. Average humans normally can't soothe a pup or kit the way its mother can."

"Yeah, well, a dear friend taught me. Anyways, Kurama, what're you doing out here?"

"We thought you might want to talk. After all, we owe you that much at least."

"We?"

He looked behind him and stared at the empty space with a sweatdrop. Rubbing the back of his neck, he held up an index finger for"One moment"

I blinked as he disappeared around the corner then reappeared dragging a grumbling Yusuke. Genkai and Yukina walked behind them, the older woman's hands behind her back and the girl's clasped at her front.

"Yes, we. You haven't talked since the attack and we wanted to make sure everything was alright."

"Kurama" I sighed a small smile flirting with my lips. It was the first time since I left Kohana that I had allowed myself to smile. The first time since… "Okay, but I'd rather talk inside, it's freezing out here"

OooooooooO

"Let's start with what are you? From what I've gathered you believe you're demons…"

Kurama smiled warmly at my observation "You would be half right. Hiei, Yukina, Yusuke and I are demon's, however Genkai is not."

"That explains your high chakra levels but why do you look human?"

"Some demons are able to change their shape from demon form to a more human one. We however were born in this form much like your fox friend was born in her animal form"

"That's another thing stop saying that Chiyo's demon! I'm pretty sure I'd know if I was living with a "fire fox" as you call her"

The red head shook his head "I'm sure she'll tell you when you're ready"

"For Kami's sake she can't even talk!"

"Next question?" Genkai pushed onward.

A sigh escaped my lips "Okay where is this Tokyo located?"

"In a place called Japan" responded Yukina.

"What is a Japan?"

"An island in the middle of the ocean" grumbled Yusuke.

"So it's like a large village?"

"Something like that" said Kurama.

"Okay, next question. What's a miko?"

Everyone turned to the emerald eyed boy who sweatdropped in turn. Then his features turned serious "Mikos. The world consists of beings both pure and impure. These individuals are sometimes demon other times they are human. Miko blood lines often run in the family of a select few. Even so there only certain females that obtain powers. Very few exist nowadays and it's rare to find one in any part of Japan… Why do you ask?"

One glance at Yusuke and he shrugged "Who knew?"

"What about the dragon inside me does it make me a Jinchuuriki now?"

It was everyone else turn to be perplexed "A Junchuu-what?"

"A Jinchuuriki… A person who has had a demon sealed within them for the protection of the village. They become twenty times stronger than a normal person with a high chakra concentration however in exchange for all this power these people become loners, torment souls under the disdain of their home. Where I'm from it's common for one person to suffer for the good of the village…"

There was a silence on the other end of the table as they waited for me to continue. When I didn't Kurama said quietly. "You've been friends with one of these Jinchuuriki before. That's why you know so much about them"

Memories of Naruto came flooding back at his words. It was then water began to sting my eyes. I had to blink back tears I that were a sign that I missed my home in Kohana, that I missed my friend who probably could have cared less about my disappearance, I missed… my teammate.

As I squeezed Chiyo tight to my breast, my vision became blurry. I didn't know why I cared so much about someone who couldn't give a rat rectum about me. Maybe I should just give up I thought as warm arms pulled me into an even warmer embrace. Perhaps… there was a reason I was brought to these demons.

Kurama stroked the strands of my pink hair murmuring comforting words into it until my sobs subsided.

Any other guy I would have punched out out of embarrassment yet with Kurama it just felt right.

"That's because you're falling for him" whispered a feminine voice.

"Who's there?" I said mentally.

"No one special just your friendly neighborhood Kori Ryu" the grin in dragon's voice was evident.

"Don't be silly" I replied to Kori Ryuu. "He's just a really nice guy. That's all"

The white scaled dragon rolled her eyes "If you say so"

As if to prove it I pushed at his chest to distance myself "I little feel better. Thanks Kurama"

However it did little good because his hand was now at the small of my back, holding me there. It was then that he cupped my chin bringing emerald to meet emerald. Heat sprung to my cheeks as he slanted his mouth towards mine.

Oh hell! Was he seriously going to kiss me!

A quick glance to the others for help only to find them gone. Looking up at the red head before me I whispered "Kurama don't"

A flash of honeyed gold ran through his eyes signaling this wasn't the same boy. His next words confirmed it "Call me Youko" he whispered huskily.

He then proceeded to go after my lips as if I had said nothing. After a moment, when I opened my eyes, I realized I was in another's arms. Hiei's.

"What do you think you're doing fox?" growled the ruby eyed demon.

Kurama or should I say Youko smirked and rested his hands behind his head. "If I really have to explain that to you Hiei then the thieves did a poor job in raising you"

Hiei seemed to ignore the comment to snarl "I don't care what you do while you're out, fox, but you will stay away from her!"

"Why? Because you're in love with her?"

The gravity deprived boy said nothing but I could see a light redish tint rise to his cheeks.

Youko's own golden eyes narrowed yet he too said nothing.

It was as if they were having a mental arguement with me in the middle!

Then all of a sudden the boy who tried to kiss me laughed dryly "Or what" Youko challenged.

In a flash I was alone. Youko on the other hand had the company of Hiei's sword at his throat. "Or this"

I stared between the two. Neither one willing to move, one glaring at the other. This had happened many time between Ino and me when we fought over... well you know who. We usually wouldn't stop until the object of affection left..."Okaaay, while you guy sort this out I'm going to bed" I said scooting around the two.

"But it's only twelve" came Yukina's innocent voice around the corner.

Two others shushed her.

I sighed deeply. It looked like this was going to take some getting use to.

A huge thanks to everyone who reads Every Heart. And an even bigger thanks to those of you leaving reviews and messaging me for voting. I love hearing the opinions of the readers and while we're on the topic: we're coming down to the wire on voting chapter ten is approaching soon and I know everyone's anxious to see if their pairing makes it. So if you really want yours to come through then you know what to do! Either message me or review and I'll get to counting the votes for the next chapter. Till next time, oyasumi-nasai, mina-san!

Sakura/ Hiei- 17

Sakura/ Kurama- 14

Kurama/ Sakura/ Hiei – 9