Authoress' note - I know I KNOW! I have waited too long to update… as usual, I apologize – life has been hectic… too hectic for my liking but what can you do?? Please review – make my day, I wanna hear from you guys!

-Chapter 6-

Hiei stared out into space as the slow soft sound of Rosa's snoring could be heard throughout the forest.

'Is she always this loud?' He thought to himself as he felt the tree shift - Rosa turned to her side, Hiei sighed and stared out into nothingness as he waited for the fox demon to get up, it couldn't be much longer, she had been out for at least 8 hours.

A grumble could be heard as Rosa stirred; she rubbed her eyes tiredly and looked down to see crimson eyes meeting her gaze.

"Up so soon?" Hiei asked as he watched the sleep fox demon awaken.

"Is that sarcastic?" she asked tiredly.

"Maybe" Hiei stated plainly, Rosa only grumbled as she dropped to the ground upon her feet, she moved to the stream to wake herself up.

Obviously this kitsune was NOT a morning person.

Rosa looked back at her reflection as she wiped her face dry; she still looked like hell, but not as bad as before.

She turned to see Hiei staring at her plainly

"Oh don't get too excited" Rosa stated in a huffy tone rolling her eyes in the process.

"Are you ready to fight or not?" He asked plainly, Rosa yawned and nodded casually.

"Yes I suppose, why not?" and with that the two faced each other in defense.

"Whenever you're ready" Rosa stated plainly as she grabbed the handle of her katana.

Hiei abruptly disappeared out of site, and hit the kitsune in the side, thankfully she blocked it.

He would hit, she would block… and so on.

Never did Rosa even get a chance to hit the little fire kroomie, she had underestimated her opponent… as usual.

Hiei stopped once he felt the Kitsune's energy wavering.

"Don't' tell me you're ready to give up already, you assured me this was going to be a good fight" the fire demon stated, Rosa growled.

"And it will be-" and with that she did it, a swift move to the right and BAM! Right in the smacker.

Hiei stumbled back grabbing his shoulder in obvious pain; she had hit him – what was wrong with this picture.

Rosa smiled as she waited for the fire demon to recover; a growl emitted the air as Hiei grabbed a hold of his katana once again.

"For a mutt you're not half bad" Rosa felt her ears sag… a mutt, was that all she was to him… was that all she was to everyone, just a pedigree?

Rosa promptly sheathed her sword, and grabbed her belongings; Hiei stared at her in confusion.

"Where are you going, we're not finished fighting…" Rosa looked behind her and stiffened her form.

"Obviously if all I am is a mutt to you… I haven't succeeded anything on my journey yet – goodbye Hiei" and with that she began to walk the worn dirt road away from the scene.

'What the…. A mutt? Did she really take offense to a stupid comment like-…. Maybe her cause isn't as pathetic as I thought it was…'

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Rosa stared at the fire she had created a few hours ago. She was alone again on the road and deep in thought about what the hell she was actually doing there in the first place.

' I'm here to prove myself… come on fox ya gotta keep reminding yourself you are BETTER than they are… you can do this – you can make it through – besides who would want you anyways' Rosa picked at the embers as she laid her tired head in her hands.

A tree snapped.

Rosa turned and stared out into the darkness for what caused the interruption – Hiei came in view.

'Great just what I need some more 'positive' influence' Rosa groaned inwardly as the newly bandaged fire demon sat at the fire silently.

"Why are you here?" Rosa asked plainly, avoiding eye contact with the other demon.

"Hn, you're camp was on the way to the area I am traveling to, what? Did you think I purposely came here?" The red eyed demon asked, Rosa rolled her eyes at his arrogance and threw a look that would make Satan eat his words.

"Ok then, if you must camp here then stay over there away from me and keep your damn opinions to yourself" she commanded, Hiei raised a brow.

"Who the hell are you ordering around?" he asked a bit irritated by her chastised tone towards him.

"You baka, now leave me along, I was enjoying myself before you came around" Hiei stared at her as she picked at the embers in the fire.

"By yourself?" he asked questioning the kitsune's happiness, the 12 year old glared at him and threw the stick into the fire.

"Fine I'll leave-" and with that she turned around and jumped into an adjacent tree away from the fire demon.

"Are you always so insecure?" Hiei asked shortly after her departure, knowing she could hear him…. It wasn't like the little fire demon to ask so many questions, but this girl had caught his interest.

"You're one to talk… I haven't heard one positive word out of your pathetic mouth since we met" Rosa yelled from the tree, hidden by the dark foliage.

"You're right I don't flaunt my happiness" Hiei stated, Rosa laughed bitterly.

"Oh please you're not happy and you know it, how could any creature be happy living in the wilderness like this 24/7 without anyone at all?" Rosa asked harshly, Hiei blinked.

"Well then miss pessimist, why are you out here in the wilderness by yourself?" no answer followed.

Then

"I have my reasons" she muttered lowly as her eyes pierced the darkness, Hiei smirked, he was finally getting to his girl – it brought him great amusement for some reason to see this girl's true form come out.

"Hn" and with that the fire demon jumped into a tree not too far away from the kitsune cradled in an oak near by.

"Whatever" is all Rosa could mutter as the darkness became the only sound of the night.

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Hiei growled as he listened to the darkness, the kitsune's snoring piercing the stolid air.

He needed ear plugs

He began to think about what she had said earlier… was her really as unhappy as she said he was.

He scratched at the jagan that he had gotten implanted and groaned when he couldn't seem to find his sister's ki… she must be sleeping like normal demons

Then the snoring stopped

Hiei looked up to see why the kitsune had stopped her incessant snoring, and then he heard it.

The sound of voices

A figure jumped from the tree, Rosa had been cradled in and then swiftly landed into the tree where Hiei sat. Rosa's eyes changed from their usual lavender tone to a darker hue as she realized the voices were coming closer.

"Hn what are you doing, I'm sure its just bandits" Hiei stated only to receive the sound of shushing in return.

"It's my brother" she stated quietly as the sound of Youko's voice became clearer.

"He's been searching for me for months and he can smell my scent I just KNOW it" Rosa stated as she jumped onto the same branch as the fire demon.

Hiei sniffed the hair, she did smell very unusual.

The sweet smell of ashes and summer rain, hen a thought crossed his mind.

"Alright if I helped you would you consider making a deal" Hiei stated getting a confused from the Kitsune.

"What do you mean help? What kind of deal?" Hiei groaned in response.

"You help me with a robbery, I help mask your scent," Rosa heard her mind say no but her face nodded instead.

What was she getting herself into?

Hiei smirked; this was going to be fun

The fire demon grabbed a hold of Rosa's arm and pulled her close to his body, grabbing his cloak he tossed it around her and allowed his own scent to overcome her own.

Youko came into view

He stopped, sniffing the air he found himself being lead to a tree.

Rosa could only find her mind blank as she watched the sight in front of her; Hiei leaned in closer resting his chin upon her forehead as he watched the demon below.

Youko waited for a minute, and then groaned in obvious defeat.

"Let's go this way" he stated pointed to the road leading away from Rosa's secret hiding place.

Rosa let out the breath she had been holding once her brother went out of view

That was close, Hiei let out his trademark hn and released the fox demon from his warm embrace.

She turned

"That was… pretty cleaver" she stated only getting a Hn from the fire demon.

"Remember our deal, you have to help me with a raid" he stated getting a groan and a nod from the Rosa.

"Yah Yah I know baka, I always keep my word," and with that she jumped from the tree back to her own.

The sound of snoring soon followed

For tomorrow the chaos begins

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Tigerhw114- Yes I know…heh don't think I haven't had some angry readers lately hehe opps

LivingImpaired- YAH I UPDATED!

Soulless eys- oppossum huh?? Hehe '

Inu.-sess.fan- You and that tail… hmm maybe some tail therapy will help you with this… anger it seems you have towards your appendage

Ice-queen6054- yah!!! YOU REVIEWED!!

Me/nambe- hehe ICE CREAM!!! ::steals it back:: MUAHAHAHHAHAHA!

AnonymousHieiFan101- K! well I updated for you!!

Animefreak102- do you have any idea how TIRED I am!!! Man writing can be so… tedious hehe

Sapphire66- hehe well ya got your fight… hope you weren't disappointed

Pen Against Sword- Thankie I think so too! LONG LIVE ROSA!!!

Psycho Dragon Lover- NO HOMEWORK FOR ME!!! At least not till tomorrow hehe