Hiei didn't stop running for a very, very long time. When he did, he was stumbling from exhaustion, and seemed to have a hard time breathing.

"You…are never…going back there…again," He gasped.

"Agreed," I replied, thinking of finding water for him. "At least we know that 'Dr' Otome has something to do with it."

"Unfortunately…If he's smart…at all…he'll be long gone…if we go back…to investigate." Hiei said. I noticed that the way he said 'if' strongly implied that we most likely weren't going to go back. Somehow we'd have to find a way of figuring out what Dr Otome was up to without getting anywhere near Kyoto. That reminded me…

"Where exactly have you taken us, sir?" I asked Hiei nonchalantly. He gave me a blank look.

"I don't know."

I smacked the palm of my hand to my face in exasperation. "Fan-frickin'-tastic."

**************

We wandered around for hours before we found a town. After asking around, we finally figured out that we had landed in Hiroshima, which was almost the same distance to Kyoto as Tokyo. It had taken a few days to get to Kyoto from Tokyo, and yet Hiei had managed to run practically the same distance (carrying me, as well) in only a few hours. I was seriously impressed.

But I also worried about his health. He had just finished healing from his skirmish with the demons trying to kidnap me. His body didn't need this kind of stress. I made sure to watch over him carefully. Hiei being at less than full health was the last thing I needed, or wanted.

I insisted on a hotel for the night. Hiei grudgingly agreed, but only if we paid in cash, and kept the blinds closed. Also, a room with two beds.

I gratefully laid down on my bed, enjoying the feeling of the spring mattress and feather pillows. It was the first real bed I'd been on in days. Hiei didn't seem to be enjoying his as much. He sat on the edge tensely, scowling at the floor. Before I could ask what he was thinking about, he opened his mouth to speak.

"I think you should call Kurama." He said gruffly.

My jaw dropped open. That was exactly what I really did not want to do. Kurama would be furious with me! Not to mention, I didn't know if I could say anything that would stop him from rushing right up here to Hiroshima. I stared at Hiei, my eyes begging him not to make me do this. But he was unyielding.

Sighing heavily, I pushed myself off the bed and walked to the phone, as if I was walking to my death. With trembling fingers, I picked up the phone and dialed my home number.

One ring, two rings…I almost allowed myself to hope that Kurama wasn't home. But on the third ring, he picked up.

"Minamino residence." It was so good to hear his voice again! How I had missed it…But that wouldn't stop him from getting incredibly angry at me.

"Kurama?" I said meekly.

A moment's silence, then. "AYA!" Kurama yelled. "Where are you?! Are you okay?! What's going on?!"

"Calm down, calm down! I'm fine. Hiei's with me. We're in Hiroshima right now, but we were inspecting Shi-Odori Hospital. It's definitely shady." I was trying to distract Kurama from the fact that I had run away. I should have known it wasn't going to work.

"But why, Aya?" His voice was so full of pain that I felt my heart clench. "Why did you leave, and not even tell me?"

"Because," I sighed, "these demons nearly killed Hiei because they were after me. If they'd hurt you, I…" I shook my head, even though Kurama couldn't see. "Anyways, that's not important. I'm so sorry, Kurama, but I had to…Please, just try and understand."

Kurama sighed into the phone. "I understand."

I blinked. "Wait, you do?"

"Well, yes. If I was in your position, and you were in mine, I would have done the same." His tone suddenly became stern. "But don't think that didn't stop me from worrying about you."

"I love you, you know." I said. How lucky was I that I got to have a great husband like this.

"Don't you try and talk your way out of a lecture." Kurama replied, laughing a little.

"Wouldn't dream of it." I said casually. "But, look. We found a bit of a new lead, and I kind of left my laptop at home…"

"So, let me guess. You either want to come home and get it, or you want me to research this lead for you?"

I glanced over at Hiei to ask him about the decision. To my surprise, he was no longer in the hotel room. I turned my attention back to the phone. "Umm…Hold that thought. I have to go find Hiei."

Kurama chuckled in amusement. "Alright. Call me back. And be careful."

"Aye-aye." I hung the phone up.

I made one check around the room to make sure Hiei had blended into the shadows and I had overlooked him. Nope. No ornery fire demon in sight. I put a light jacket on, and walked out of the hotel room. I wandered down the hall to the lobby. Considering it was getting late at night, there weren't many people there. It would have been easy to spot Hiei's black spikey hair, but…He wasn't here, either.

I didn't want to wander around too much in my condition. I walked to the front desk, smiling at the pretty young girl behind it.

"Have you, per chance, seen a man, about my height with black hair and black clothes anytime recently?" I asked.

The girl thought for a minute, then shook her head. "No, I haven't. Not since you two checked in. I'm sorry." She seemed sincerely sorry that she hadn't seen him.

I shrugged, trying to act like I wasn't too worried. "No problem. He'll turn up in a few minutes. If you do see him, can you tell him Aya was looking for him?"

"Sure thing."

Dispirited, I walked back to our room. I slid the key card through the electronic lock, and pushed the door open.

"Hiei!" I said in surprise when I saw him standing almost directly in front of me.

"Where did you go? I was worried." He asked.

"Hey, that's my line." I replied, disgruntled.

Hiei shrugged. "I was checking to make sure there's not demons of any threat nearby. And, this place passed the test."

"Good to know. Next time you leave, tell me, okay?" I snapped.

Hiei blinked at me innocently. "You were busy. I didn't want to bother you when you were talking to Kurama."

I frowned. "Why should you care? It's never bothered you before."

He seemed truly intrigued by that question. "I wonder why…" He said, more to himself then me. Given Hiei's present distraction, I decided I would call to say good night to Kurama. I'd ask Hiei about our next plan of action tomorrow.

You may interpret Hiei's feelings for your own. Anyways, yay for another chapter! I'm almost done writing it (not submitting the chapters) and after that, I have another one planned...We'll see how it goes.