It was kind of embarrassing to be stared at when Hiei carried me through town, toward my apartment. I closed my eyes and leaned my head against Hiei's chest, feigning sleep. His body was very warm, far warmer than any humans'. Sometimes I forgot that he wasn't human. I felt a little shock each time when I remembered.
Hiei, Yusuke and Kurama escorted me to my apartment, while Kuwabara went off to do his own thing. Kurama just stared at my apartment with raised eyebrows while Hiei made a noise of disgust. Yusuke did nothing, as if he was accustomed to seeing theses kinds of living situations.
"This is where you live?" Hiei snorted. I couldn't imagine him living in some hoity-toity mansion, so I felt a bit insulted.
"What's wrong with it?" I asked innocently.
Kurama shrugged. "Nothing. I think we just expected a family of demon hunters to live in a more extravagant place…"
I sighed sadly. "Well, I would, but after my brother died, we had no more source of income and I was kicked out.
The three boys were silent for a moment, taking in this new information. "I'm sorry," Hiei said gruffly, surprising me.
"Do you want to live with me?" Yusuke asked suddenly.
"Yusuke!" I gasped in shock at the inappropriateness of the question.
"Yusuke!" Hiei growled in anger.
"Do anything, and I'll tell Keiko…" Kurama teased. Yusuke's eyes widened.
"No, that's not what I meant! Besides, I still live with my mother!"
I relaxed a little when I heard this. It certainly would be nice to live with someone else. And I was sure Yusuke could probably protect me from the demons if I gave him warning. "Alright…"
"Is that okay with you, Hiei?" I had no idea why Kurama was asking Hiei's permission. Hiei set me down on my feet.
"It's fine," He snapped. A moment later, he had vanished from my sight and senses. I felt like I had done something wrong again.
**************
It didn't take long to move my stuff. Well, longer than it should have considering how little belongings I had. Kurama and Yusuke did all the work, and I directed. I was eager to ask Yusuke's mother's permission, but she wasn't home. According to Yusuke, she was quite the partier, and was out with a new boyfriend. I didn't mind, I suppose, except that I didn't want Yusuke getting in trouble with this 'Keiko' girl.
The boys set my things up in a small bedroom. I collapsed on the bare bed that was there, exhausted. Which didn't make sense, considering I hadn't done any work. But we had been walking a lot, and it would take a while for me to fully recover from all the blood loss. Yusuke peeked in at me from around the doorway.
"How ya doing, Tera?" He asked. I shrugged listlessly.
"Tired…But I'll get over it. Thank you so much for your help today." I heaved myself off the bed, wanting to thank Kurama as well. As soon as I walked past him, Yusuke seemed to know who I was looking for.
"He went home already." Yusuke called back to me. "Said he didn't want to disturb you."
I felt sad, and once again like I had done something wrong.
**************
I slept hard, and jolted awake out of a nightmare I didn't even remember. I panted, looking wildly around the room for a danger, but there was none. The sun was shining, but it still must only be early morning. I considered falling back on my pillows and sleeping a few more hours before a movement in the shadows caught my eye.
My breath froze in my lungs as I sensed the demonic aura. I almost began to panic, before my mind caught up with my senses and told me that I recognized this aura.
"Hiei?" I whispered hesitantly. He emerged from the shadows.
"Come on," he said, holding a hand out to me. "I've come to take you to Yukina."
I threw the blankets off of me, reaching out for his hand in relief. This probably meant he wasn't mad at me.
**************
Hiei didn't carry me to the temple; instead we walked. There wasn't much chatter, as he didn't seem the type for small talk, but I enjoyed his company nonetheless. It had a claming effect on me, which is strange considering it was Hiei. I hadn't known him very long, but I already did know him well enough to know that that was not the effect he usually had on people.
I did feel sorry for Hiei. The walk was long, and because of my wound, I had to rest often. Hiei would wait patiently, but I was still worried I was bothering him. But he didn't act like he did. He was a tough one to figure out.
We finally arrived at the temple, and Hiei sulked outside while Yukina greeted me. From the looks of it, Hiei was going to hang around to take me back, but he wasn't going to socialize. But I was sure he was still in earshot…
"Yukina," I said quietly, trying not to startle her, "Yusuke told me you have a brother."
Yukina glanced up at me and smiled. "Yes, I do. I don't know much about him, though."
I watched her hands begin to glow as she started to heal me. "Tell me what you do know."
She sighed. "He likes the martial arts, and he's in the human world somewhere. I think Mr. Hiei knows where he is, but he won't tell me…"
Oh, that was ironic. I knew it wasn't my secret to tell, but maybe I could indirectly convince Hiei to tell Yukina himself. "Why do you want to find him?"
The question was blunt, and slightly rude. But I wanted Hiei to hear her answer.
Yukina frowned, thinking. "I don't know. I never met him." Oops. That wasn't really what I had wanted Hiei to hear her say. "But…Somehow, he's the most important person in my life. I love him more than anything."
There we go. I tried not to smile. "What…What if he's a monster? A killer, or something? Maybe an alien with two heads and three legs."
"It doesn't matter," Yukina replied softly, "I will love him no matter what."
Yukina had finally finished re-bandaging my arm, so I threw my arms around her, unable to help myself. "You're amazing, Yukina."
Yukina laughed sweetly, but just a tad bit embarrassed. "Thank you, I guess."
I stood up, flexing my arm slightly. I was able to move it a lot easier now. "I guess I should be going. Yusuke will not be worrying if I don't get back soon."
Yukina also stood, and smiled. "Alright. Please visit again soon."
"Sure thing."