I only own Moriko and her currently drugged-up children (Haha, nice work, Kurama). Oh, and just so you guys know, there is another cliff-hanger at the end because I like cliff-hangers (reading and writing them!, I'm weird like that) Thnx. R&R.
When Yusuke, Kurama, and Moriko woke up the next morning, the girl was still curled up beside her brother, like the cat she was. She stood up and stretched, yawning. When Kurama stood up, he looked worried. "Hiei hasn't come back yet."
Yusuke seemed unconcerned. "He'll be back eventually."
"But when?"
Yusuke opened his mouth to answer, but instead they all heard, "KURAMA!!!" from outside on the front lawn.
Yusuke chuckled, "There's your answer, Kurama. Although, he sounds pretty angry—I wouldn't particularly want to talk to him right now."
"Let's hope he's mad because of the plants I set to entangle him should he try to sneak back here without my knowing it." Kurama muttered.
And that was indeed what had happened. Several vines had wrapped themselves around Hiei's legs and arms, the ones around his arms rendering it impossible to reach around, grab his katana, and kill them. He was glaring daggers at Kurama. Then, because Moriko and Yusuke were still inside, he asked, "Why did you bring her here?"
"The girl, you mean? It's just that she is so cynical and everything, I thought you two might get along great. I haven't seen her in years." He added the last part as an afterthought.
"You mean you already knew her?" Hiei's anger was barely under control. The air in front of him was starting to shimmer.
"Of course. I've known her for her entire life."
"Then why didn't you ever mention her?"
"It never came up. Besides, why would I? I didn't really want anyone to know about the weakness that was my sister. And why are you so interested in it, anyway?" Kurama said it almost casually, only with just enough emphasis on the word sister to imply that he didn't really want to tell Hiei how he knew Moriko.
"I'm interested because—wait. What did you say? Did you say she is your fricking sister?! How the hell could you not tell me you had a sister? Especially when it's Moriko! Why, Kurama? Why? Everything wrong with my life is your fault. Your fault. And I thought you were the only real friend I had." He ended with that, but when he turned to leave he fell on his face due to the vines still wrapped around his ankles.
He rolled over, and looked up at Kurama. "Release me." He commanded tersely.
"Not until you listen to me. And answer some of my questions. I brought her back because I thought you two might get along. Obviously not. How was I to know that you two had already met? I love the girl like nothing else, but we never really talked. I didn't allow her to tell me the names of people she hung out with, in case they were an enemy of mine. I didn't want to hurt her. But how do you know each other?"
"That isn't any of your business."
"Well, then I guess you are just stuck where you are."
"Fine. We were friends. Long ago, back when it was the late eighteen hundreds here."
"That's all? What happened?"
"She decided she didn't lov—like me anymore. That she someone else had replaced me in her affections."
"And how is that my fault?"
"Her brother—you—brought the guy hope, it was your business partner."
"Hiei, I am so sorry. I never imagined bringing Ikano home would cause anyone so much pain. I didn't know she loved anyone. Or that that person loved her back. And I especially didn't know that the person I was hurting would one day be my closest friend. Will you at least talk to her? Please. I honestly didn't know. I never meant to hurt you. Or Moriko."
"Why should I? She left me for some bastard who probably left her shortly thereafter."
"Yes… she did. His name was Ikano. And he left when she discovered she was pregnant."
Hiei was quiet for a few moments before saying, "I would have stayed. I mean, if they had been my children, I wouldn't have particularly cared about them, but I know she would have. And I would have stayed for her."
"Then why don't you talk to her? I think it would help. It would help both of you."
Hiei swallowed, as if unsure if he really wanted to talk to Moriko or not. Then, "Fine. One conversation." Kurama then released control of the vines, which fell off Hiei's extremities like shackles that had just been unlocked. He got up and walked slowly through the door of Kurama's house, into the room where Moriko was sitting.
She looked up. Her eyes were red; she had been crying again, and Yusuke had lacked the skills needed to comfort her. Unfortunately, with her hypersensitive hearing, she had heard every word said outside, which only encouraged the extreme guilt she was already feeling because of what she had done to Hiei.
She looked at Hiei for a moment before whispering, "I'm so very sorry, Hiei. Right now, I just want to die. I never meant to hurt anyone. Especially not you. I'm so, so, so sorry." It was said so quietly, nobody except Moriko actually heard what she said. But Hiei and the other two read her lips.
The fiery rage and intense pain in Hiei's eyes softened slightly, almost imperceptiby. Then he opened his mouth to speak.