I do not own any of the characters that I choose to use in this fanfiction…

"Hiei!" Kuwabara stumbled through the forest, his feet catching on every root and stump imaginable as he tried to find his missing friend. "Hiei!"

Running through the underbrush, the tall psychic cast out his senses searching for the small apparition, heart beating wildly as his worries began to stack up like blocks in a Tetris game. Pulling his foot out of yet another hole, he crashed through bushes and bracken in his search. Finally, his senses caught the familiar feeling of the strange new energy Hiei had been channeling, and without any hesitation, Kazuma sprinted towards it, but what he found had him standing in silent shock.

It was a small pond, with clumps of rock around the edge of it, and in the moonlight it looked very peaceful the way it was hidden by the trees. But on a solitary boulder, a small dark figure sat, body shaking with barely restrained emotion. Walking closer, the redhead saw his friend sitting with his head tucked between his knees, hands gripping his hair as he drew in shuddering gasps of air. With lumbering strides, the psychic approached the boulder, and then clumsily climbed up onto it. Crawling up beside the demon, Kuwabara reached out to touch him, but then stopped, at a loss for what he should do to comfort him. Finally, the teen settled with just talking to him, hoping that his presence wouldn't scare the demon off.

"Hey," Kuwabara said in what he hoped was a comforting tone. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," came the mumbled reply.

"No you're not," the psychic responded, his eyes taking in the trembling frame, and the way his breath hitched with every inhale. "You know you don't have to pretend. If you want to explode and just cry, you can."

"I'm not crying!" Hiei snarled turning an angry gaze on his friend, knowing that even as he said that, the psychic could see the moisture gathering in the corners of his eyes. "Warriors do not cry."

Kuwabara opened his mouth to prove the demon wrong, but decided against it. "Fine," the human sighed. "You're not crying. But if you want to talk about it, I'm here."

"Why should you care?" the fire demon said softly, his grieving ruby eyes falling back to the grey stone beneath him. "You hate me anyway."

The silence stretched on until Hiei almost wanted to run away to avoid getting hurt again, but was stopped by the human's question.

"Where did you get that idea?"

Hiei opened his mouth to answer, but a large sob was strangling him from the inside. Swallowing it down, he choked out. "That's the way it's always been. My mother's people didn't want me; my father couldn't be bothered enough to care; and now I ruined any chance I had with my sister. Everything I touch is poisoned because I am the forbidden child, I don't deserve happiness, at least," the small demon paused, and then buried his face into his knees, "that's what I thought."

"What made you change your mind?" Kuwabara gently prodded.

"Everyone," Hiei didn't know why he was answering the oaf's questions; he just knew that for once someone was looking at him like a person, wanting to know how he felt, instead of just assuming that he was cold and heartless the way they always did. "Yusuke, Kurama, even you. I thought- I thought that I could have a family, a real one. But now, I don't know, I just don't know anymore."

Kuwabara pursed his lips, feeling out of his depth from the amount of weakness that Hiei was exhibiting in front of him, then turned around bracing his back against the demon's. "Do you want to go?" he asked softly.

"I think so," the demon answered slowly. "I'm not sure. I do, but that would mean leaving. But if I go, what if… what if they reject me the way all my other family has? What if I'm meant to be alone for the rest of my life?"

"Yukina hasn't rejected you."

Hiei scoffed. "Not yet."

"Not ever!" the psychic replied forcefully. "She is shocked at the way the beans got spilled, yeah, but she would never just up and reject you."

"How do you know?" Hiei almost yelled, turning to stand on his knees, his face barely a foot from the psychic's. "Your parents loved you! They lived caring for you, and they died loving you! You have had friends loyal to you your entire life, and have never had to lie to your sister because it's been pounded into your head your whole life that your existence is so disgusting, it would only taint something as pure as her!"

Kuwabara's mind careened backwards as his sixth sense connected with the fire demon's soul, causing him to feel all the pain and bitterness pouring from his heart. Chest heaving as grief enveloped him, the demon could only let the river of sorrow continue to pour out, as his eyes begged the psychic, pleading with him to understand why he was the way he was.

"My mother's people threw me off a cliff when I was born!" he spat, voice cracking with the sobs suppressed within his chest. "When I was raised by bandits, for years I hoped someone would claim me. That someone would care enough to say that they wanted me. When I needed him most, I didn't have a father to step forward and say I was his, and I didn't have a family to fight for me. I was alone! But right when I thought the bandits were my family, they abandoned me, leaving without even a reason for why they left. So I buried my grief inside, and refused to let myself care about anyone or anything, because I was so tired of being forgotten. That's why I can't accept this! It's too good to be true, and there is never going to be a family waiting for me, ever!"

Feeling the sobs that he had been suppressing coming dangerously close to reaching the surface, Hiei quickly turned around, facing the forest instead of his friend. Taking deep breaths, he tried to control the tears that threatened to fall, and forced himself to adopt the cold mask that had been his shield from so much heartache for years. Kuwabara sat, listening to the harsh labored breathing of the small demon as he regained his composure. Closing his eyes, the psychic internally grieved for his friend as he finally understood just why the boy put on such a cold exterior to everyone else. He knew that this hurt was too deep for him to tackle in one night, so for now he would just be a pillar of strength for the demon in his hour of need. Placing a hand on the suffering apparition's shoulder, the human spoke in a soft, neutral tone knowing that anymore emotion would push him over the edge.

"Look, we are your family if you want us to be, and going to go live with your uncle and his family won't change that even a little bit. When my parents died, I was pressured by a lot of family to go live with them because apparently my sister wasn't good enough to be my guardian and I had to make the decision for myself where I wanted to go. No one will get mad at you, or judge you for your decision, but you need to decide what's best for you."

"But what if-"

"No 'ifs,'" Kuwabara said firmly. "You don't know that they will reject you. Yeah, your dad is a jerk for leaving your mom and never coming to take care of you when you needed him, and your mom's people are monsters for what they did to you; but with Vegeta, you would have cousins, and an aunt and uncle who want you there. For all you know it could be the perfect place for you. It would be an injustice to you if you just assumed things you don't know. So, what do you want to do?"

Taking a long shuddering breath, the demon finally was able to regain his composure, and answer the question with confidence. "I think," he said softly, "that I want to try."

….

Later that night Kuwabara walked into the temple, only to see Vegeta sitting by himself on the porch a picture in his hand. As he approached the Saiyan, he noticed the picture was of a beautiful woman with blue hair, and on either side of her were two young people. One was a young man with purple hair, and the other was a young girl who strongly resembled the woman. The man stared at the picture, his eyes faraway, while one thumb gently traced the woman's face.

"Who's that?" the psychic asked.

Vegeta jolted from his reverie, hurriedly stuffing the picture into his pocket. "No one important," he replied gruffly.

"Yeah right," Kuwabara scoffed. "You seemed pretty interested in looking at someone who isn't very important."

The Saiyan rolled his eyes and sighed. "Well if you must know, she is my wife, and the two beside her are my children."

"Do you miss them?"

Vegeta jerked as if he had been slapped, then quickly stood up, shoving his hands into his pockets. "It doesn't matter if I do or not."

Kuwabara felt his temper get riled as he stepped in front of the space warrior. "It matters to me!" he said, jabbing his thumb into his own chest.

"Look," the Saiyan warrior said brusquely, "whether I miss my family is none of your concern, and I don't see why you should care!"

"I care because of Hiei!" the psychic shouted. "I care because you asked him to come live with you, and if he does and all you do is ignore him because you can't be bothered enough to look after him and take care of him the way a family member should, then it is my business!"

Vegeta opened his mouth to try and defend himself, but was quickly cut off as the redhead continued his rant. Walking right up to the warrior, Kuwabara shoved a finger into the man's chest, knowing full well that he could easily be destroyed for doing so.

"I need you to promise me," the human growled in his most menacing voice, "that if Hiei comes and lives with you, you won't forget about him, or neglect him because he isn't 'your concern.' I need to know that when he's in one of his antisocial moods, you'll be there to pull him out of it and encourage him to make friends when he's surrounded by people he doesn't know! Hiei might not look like it, but the guy is extremely shy, and he doesn't know how to act around people, so it's going to be up to you to make him comfortable and not feel left out."

"Why is it," Vegeta snarled, his face a deathly glare, "that every time I try to do something in the boy's best interest one of you always end up biting my head off?"

"I'm not trying to bite your head off," Kuwabara snarled back, sticking his face mere inches away from the Saiyan's, "but I am making sure that my friend won't be miserable if he decides to live with you. He's been let down too many times, and you can bet that I will do everything in my power to make sure that no one hurts him like that ever again. Hiei needs a real family who will love him, so I'm asking you one more time; can you be that family for him?"

Taking a deep breath, Vegeta let out a long sigh. "I promise that if it is in my power to be so, I will do everything I can to be the kind of person Hiei can rely on and trust. If he wants to be a part of my family, there is a place for him there."

Leaning back from where he had been, Kuwabara stuck out his hand. "Shake on it," he growled. "Real men shake when they make a promise they will never break."

Without another word, Vegeta wrapped his fingers around Kuwabara's open hand and gave it a firm jerk. Satisfied, the redhead walked up the steps, and towards the temple, but stopped right in front of the door. Turning around, the moonlight played on his serious face as he pointed at the man whom he had garnered the all important promise from.

"Remember," the human said gravely, "you shook on that promise with me. That means that if you break it, I'll know through my sixth sense, and you will have three warriors coming to take their pound of flesh for breaking your word."

Then turning back toward the main entrance, Kazuma kicked off his shoes and entered the temple. Vegeta sighed, and fell back onto the porch, rubbing his temples. Sensing a presence nearby, the prince gave a soft growl, and then looked out towards the forest.

"You can come out," he said gently. "I won't bite."

With only the rustle of leaves to indicate he had heard, the fire demon flash-stepped over to where the Saiyan sat, and accompanied him, fingering the hilt of his blade awkwardly. A long silence stretched out until, with a gulp of apprehension, Hiei finally spoke.

"I apologize for shouting at you, and for running out," he said softly, his eyes staring at the ground in shame. "It was pathetic, and weak; I acted like a child."

The prince gave a snort of laughter, as he looked at the young boy seated next to him. "Have you ever considered that maybe you still are a child?"

Hiei shot his eyes up at his teacher's face, mouth ready to begin shouting about how he was most definitely not a child, but stopped when he noticed the smirk on Vegeta's face.

"Hmph!" he scoffed. "Says the man who acts the most immature when he's supposed to be teaching!"

"I haven't done a single immature thing!" Vegeta defended himself, relieved to see that the boy had gotten his spark back.

"Oh yes," the fire demon said rolling his eyes. "Kicking me off the cliff was very mature."

"Ha!" the Saiyan barked a laugh. "It would have taken too long to wait for you to jump, considering you were shaking in your shoes with fear."

"I wasn't afraid!"

"'The only thing that I will be propelling through is the air as I fall to my death,'" Vegeta mocked, his face stretched by a wicked grin. "I believe were your exact words."

"That was a statement of fact, not fear," Hiei muttered, his face contorting into a pout of supreme displeasure.

"Call it what you will," the Saiyan waved away, and then settling back, he gave another sigh. "I need to apologize as well. I should have told you about your being my nephew a long time ago, and saying it tonight in front of everyone was asking for trouble."

"It doesn't matter." The fire demon shrugged reaching for his tail and stroking it nervously. "Um…"

Vegeta raised an eyebrow at the boy's uncharacteristic behavior. "You have something you want to say?"

"I've been thinking," Hiei said quietly, staring at the furry appendage currently in his hands, "and I think I want to come live with you, if the offer is still open."

"It is," the Saiyan nodded, "and we would be happy to have you."

Letting out a breath he hadn't realized he had been holding, the fire demon cast a small half smile up at his uncle. "Good, then I guess I will see you tomorrow for training."

"Goodnight, Hiei."

…..

Walking back to his room, Vegeta found himself craving his mattress more than he ever had before, and soon sank into it his body practically screaming from fatigue. He felt tired, emotionally, physically and mentally beaten. What he wanted was nothing more than to be left alone for the remainder of the night and allowed to revel in the feeling of being wrapped in his pillows and blankets. But just as it seemed that his dream would come true, the inevitable happened. His communicator began to beep shrilly, making the Saiyan groan in frustration. Picking up the device, he considered chucking it out the window, but decided against it. A decision he would be thankful for making later on.

"Hey Vegeta!"

The prince frowned at the overly energetic face of his friend and longtime rival. "What do you want, Kakarot; because I assure you, if it isn't important, I will come there myself and inflict pain on you unlike anything you have ever experienced."

Goku's image merely laughed. "Very funny Vegeta, but seriously, I have some news you'll want to hear."

"Is it something that can wait till morning?" the warrior groaned, lying down on the mattress, no longer caring if he sat and talked on the communicator like an emotionally distraught teenager.

"No, it's about Frieza."

Vegeta shot back up to a sitting position, suddenly very much awake. "What do you mean 'it's about Frieza?' He's dead, we killed him ourselves!"

"I know," Goku sighed, his breath causing static on the speakers, "but we just received word that some time ago, at least three months, he had escaped using the secret passageway that I had used to escape Hell. But the strange thing is he didn't come out in the desk of Great King Yema. We can only guess that he found another passageway within the stairway that led up to the check in area."

"So he's on Earth?" Vegeta spoke, voice quavering with barely suppressed rage. "And we couldn't sense him why?"

"We haven't figured that one out yet," Goku answered calmly, "but we have reports from some of the ogres that work in the spirit world that there is a chance he may have teamed up with someone who is hiding him. We also think that that is why your nephew was being targeted by that demon three months ago on the beach."

"Of course, that makes sense!" Vegeta exclaimed, revelation dawning on his features as he realized that his presence would inevitably bring his long time arch nemesis right to the temple. "Kakarot, I'm heading back home in the morning, expect me to be arriving sometime tomorrow."

"Okay," the Saiyan on the screen replied with a nod. "Are you bringing the kid?"

Vegeta paused, then answered his friend, voice soft with regret. "No, I cannot afford to let him be caught in the crossfire of our fight. The boy is strong to be sure, but he's barely learned to fly, and is not prepared to use his energy for battle. He needs to stay here until it's safe, and I come back for him."

"If that's what you think is best, then I won't argue with you," Goku said, his image showing an understanding smile. "See you tomorrow then."

With a sigh, Vegeta turned off his communicator. By leaving tomorrow, there was a good chance that Hiei might not forgive him after he had extended the offer to let him come home with him. But if Frieza was back, and the chance that he may have gained a new partner who was powerful was true, then he couldn't chance the boy getting hurt. The risk was too great, and Vegeta didn't feel like gambling with fate. Lying down for bed, the Saiyan prince fell into a troubled sleep, haunted by visions of a seemingly long dead monster taking the life of his nephew.