Author's Note: Omg you guys so this is officially my longest chapter, 14 pages on this bad boy so I won't feel bad if it takes yall forever to read it. Anyways please please please review I'd greatly appreciate it. I haven't been getting much feedback lately and it kinda worries me. I'd also like to make a small thank you to the Wolvesrain and TooBishieForYou for sticken around another quick thanks a to bearaveo, someone who doesn't have an account but was kind enough to review anyway thanks so much you guys I appreciate the love. As I've said before I'm always open to ideas for this story I'm actually requesting them and feedback is always welcome. I've said this many times before, I write this story for you guys, the fans, and I want to make this as enjoyable for you guys as possible so if something is off or there is something you want to see more of just let me know. Oh one more thing, forum I got one, check that out, and poll on my profile take a peak thanks.

I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho or any of its characters

Children Will be Children

Yusuke's face was contorted in his very famous "pissed off" stare. If there was one thing he hated was being kept waiting and that's what was happening. He stood with Kurama and Hiei in front of the large red and gold doors that led into Koenma's office but they were denied entry because a certain carrot topped human was missing and the child-like ruler wanted to tell everyone this news at the same time. The boy had been taking his tern in watching Terryal and, upon the demoness's request, went to Genkai's to visit Yukina which was obviously fine with Kuwabara since he had been itching to see the ice maiden as well.

It had been a week since Terryal had started living with Kuwabara and in that time she had relaxed a lot more. However, no matter how relaxed she was, it didn't seem to compare to the bond she had created with Yukina and because of this she practically begged to see her similar heighted companion daily. Because of this detour to Genkai's Kuwabara had a much longer distance to travel to get to the portal Koenma had opened; the toddler had tried to just open one that would be in an advantageous spot to all the boys and obviously his plan hadn't worked. Regardless of the extra time spent waiting on the boy it did make things convenient because now Terryal was under the watchful eyes of Genkai.

"Dammit! How much longer are we going to have to wait?" Yusuke snarled.

"Not to much longer I presume," Kurama's perpetually calm voice cleared the air just in time for their fourth man, Kuwabara, to come stumbling into the room.

"Yo," was Kuwabara's only response as he gave the crew a two-fingered wave, clearly attempting to be cool and failing miserably at it.

"What took you so long?" Yusuke's tone may have calmed down a lot since the last time he spoke but the words were still heavy with his annoyance.

"Hey it wasn't my fault Urameshi, when I got the call from Koenma I was still on the train going to Genkai's. I couldn't leave Terry unprotected, she wouldn't even know which stop to get off to get to the old lady's so I had to stick around." Kuwabara's voice was filled with his moral prowess bringing Yusuke's mind back to the simpler times in middle school. Some things never really changed.

"Ah, glad to see you're all here" Koenma greeted as the boys walked through the door, he mumbled a nearly inaudible "finally" as the group paraded to the side of Koenma's desk so that both him and his tv-like screen were visible.

"What's the news?" Yusuke's voice was sharp, as though he was going to cut the information out of the Reikai ruler with just his tone.

"Right, good news is: it seems we've got a small heading. By going through the list of all the enemies Miss Terryal and her family had we were able to whittle down the suspects significantly. See we were looking for someone who was strong enough or would have connections to someone strong enough to bring that barrier down but we couldn't find anyone like that. That is until-"

"Until what!" Yusuke's impatience was becoming abundantly clear but Koenma chose to ignore his outburst.

"Until we realized that the only people who could possibly understand how to get that barrier down would be the people who created it in the first place." Koenma raised his tiny finger as though trying to entice an epiphany amongst the boys.

"You think it was an inside job," Kurama's voice did not question, it was more of a statement as he spoke the words Koenma was clearly looking for.

"Or at least by someone who lived with the clan before, a "defect" as Terryal would say." added the toddler, his face was completely unreadable.

"Stop beating around the bush Koenma, we need a name." Hiei voice sounded from the end of the line of boys, it was the first time he spoke since they arrived which showed that, like Yusuke, his patience had worn out.

"We don't have one person pegged yet. Like I said, we whittled down the list but there's still these ones," Koenma clicked his remote which sprung his TV to life.

Several faces flashed across the screen just long enough for one to take in the major facial features before flashing away to allow the next face to appear. All of them had dark skin, black hair, numerous tattoos and, like Terryal, they all appeared much younger then they probably were.

"You boys are actually in luck; the list of defected clan members was longer until we went through our records to see how many had died, once we cross checked that information with our list of names it cut the amount of people down by way more then half. Then minus that from the amount we already found and questioned that just leaves us with the scarce few that we couldn't find. Forty names to be exact." Koenma was clearly pleased with the information

"That's still forty guys we gotta deal with. vThat's not good news!" Yusuke ranted

"Yeah, besides Koenma if you can't find 'em how do you expect us to? Not to mention you still got us on guard duty, remember?" Kuwabara leapt into the conversation.

He didn't have much experience with speaking to Koenma; usually Yusuke was the one that had to hear from the ruler while he played the supportive friend and just tagged along for the ride. Now he was beginning to see why his long time friend was always so annoyed with the toddler.

"I'm not asking you to do that. I'm asking you to take this list of names to Terryal, see if she knows anything about any of them. If we can get even the smallest clue as to who could be responsible then that would be a huge leap compared to what we have so far." The prince handed a manila envelope to Kurama, who was only half paying attention to what he was getting as he was still heavily studying the faces on the screen. One in particular had caught his eye.

"And you're sure our culprit is in that folder?" Hiei's tone was threatening, as though daring Koenma to give them misleading information. "What other proof do you have besides the barrier? I will not waist time on a wild goose chase."

"Well that does bring us to the bad news. Earlier today we discovered that an important document was missing from the vault. A book that can translate the images on Terryal's body plus those on the Scroll of Fortune, it looks as though the book has been missing for a few days but no one has noticed it until now and no one has seen anything. I highly doubt that's the work of pure stealth and only a very well trained psychic can fool or change the memories of the guards protecting that vault. This is clearly the sign of a very powerful demon psychic; if this isn't proof enough for you then I don't know what is." Koenma turned to address Yusuke personally.

"Listen Yusuke, with the scroll missing and that book out as well we can be looking at some serious trouble. People aren't meant to know what's going to happen to them, so I'm asking you to find out as much as you can as fast as you can." Koenma's face was stern and his usually closed eyes were peaked open just enough that the detective could see the toddlers brown orbs.

Yusuke nodded, his face had shifted from annoyed to serious as though seeing the Koenma's eyes had sparked a new attitude in him. After swearing to the Reikai Prince to work as quickly as possible the boys said their goodbyes and left the ruler's office and exited in a park not to far from the train station. The sky was a dark grey and clouds were now covering the sun, the air was thick with the smell of rain signifying the arrival of spring. Kuwabara's and Yusuke's senior year in high school was slowly coming to an end causing much excitement to buzz through the minds of the young boys. After a moment of admiring the signs of spring and its implications on their future Kuwabara made it clear that since he was still on guard duty and needed to get back to Genkai's as soon as possible. Yusuke explained that he had to say goodbye to the rest of the team because he had promised to meet Keiko earlier that day. Kurama decided he would enjoy visiting Genkai as well and with the idea of his company and Yukina's, Hiei decided he would join the pair at their familiar temple hang out as well.

By the time the trio arrived at Genkai's thunder was rumbling in the distance and a light drizzle had already started. Yukina waved at the boys from the overhang that extended over the porch, her arms beckoned them in and out of the rain. Kuwabara, seeing her gesture as a wonderful welcome for him and him alone, rushed across to the lawn to meet her with Kurama tailing him at a light jogging pace. Hiei had almost magically appeared next to Yukina. He had charged towards the house with all his inhuman speed as soon as he felt the drizzle turn into full blown rain. He hated the rain.

While Kurama and Kuwabara said hello to the ice apparition Terryal, who was in a back room barely aware that her guardians had arrived, stared out a window-like opening in the traditional wooden house at the rain. She watched as the thunder roared and the lightning cracked across the sky and found she could restrain her urge no longer. Terryal stood, adjusted her calf-length lavender skirt and rushed out of the house into the backyard and out into the rain.

"Where's Terryal?" Kurama's voice rang from the entryway,

"Oh she's in the back room, we were having tea in there earlier, I'll show you." Yukina chimed kindly as she led the way for Kuwabara and Kurama.

Hiei chose to seek his own slice of peace and wandered through the temple and onto the back porch to think as he watched the rain. However, he realized as soon as he left the building that he would not get much thinking or alone time. A lone figure stood in the now downpour that rushed its way out of the sky and slammed harshly into the ground. Her face was pointed proudly skyward, eyes shut and mouth curved upwards into the most serene of smiles that Hiei had ever witnessed. Terryal's long ear twitched and her face turned quickly to look at the boy who had found her, she looked like a deer who had just realized they were being stalked by a predator. However, the psychic's fear subsided and her yellow eyes turned upwards with her smile as she gazed at Hiei from under her thick and usually messy black hair that was now tamed and plastered against her face. Hiei noticed her ears twitch once more as she turned to look behind him at Kurama, Kuwabara and Yukina who had all rushed into the backyard clearly frantic to find their once missing psychic.

"Sister!" Terryal called Yukina's new nickname through the rain, completely oblivious of the fear she had caused, "Is this not lovely? The Creator is sending us his blessing of life and nourishment!" She threw her hands up towards the sky in her enthusiasm.

"I see that, but you need to come inside Terryal before you catch a cold!" Yukina called back from between her cupped hands.

The ice maiden wouldn't be worried if she was the one in the rain as she was incapable of getting cold but she was unsure of how the biology of Terryal's people worked so she felt much more inclined to warn the girl of the danger. Terryal, however, would have none of it. She ran across the lawn and up the steps to meet the other demoness, clasped the girl's cool pale hand firmly in her tan ones and pulled the apparition out of the safe overhang and into the wetness.

"I will hear none of that from you. The Creator would not be so cruel as to deny us the ability to frolic in the earthly wonders he has made. Come dance with me dear friend." Her tone was just as stern as it was playful as she began to circle her rain-dance partner who couldn't help but chuckle at Terryal's display.

After a few moments of pulling, begging and convincing Yukina was in full motion with her much tanner companion and Terryal had not kidding when she asked the ice maiden to dance with her. The psychic did not understand the concept of inhibitions when it came to dancing and that was being made abundantly clear now if it wasn't already. Dancing was something that was a large part of her culture and no matter how embarrassed or strange this group made her feel, she vowed she would not give up this portion of her heritage.

"Great, it's pouring so hard I can barely see her even from this distance." Kuwabara moaned as he watched what he could see of the two girls.

"Then stop trying to watch them." Hiei grumbled from his position against the doorframe.

"Shut it shrimp, someone's gotta watch her and it's my turn to do it." Kuwabara, as usual, had no patience for the fire demon's back sass.

"You're too incompetent to even see them let alone protect them. You go inside and do something productive, I can babysit until the woman stops being a child." Hiei's tone made him sound almost as though he was offering a helping hand.

Kuwabara growled at the boy's retort but knew that in some part he was right. If Terryal did get attacked in this downpour his inability to see would put him at a disadvantage, while Hiei had the Jagan so his chances of seeing anyone despite the weather were much higher. He grumbled something rude under his breath before stomping his way back inside.

"Hiei, were you offering to help Kuwabara?" Kurama inquired, as his mouth curved into a sly and foxy grin.

"Anything to get me some peace and quiet," was all the fiery little demon said as his red eye shot up towards Kurama as though saying, "you can leave if you're going to talk too."

Kurama's smirk stayed in place as he chortled an "I'll leave you alone," before calling to Kuwabara as he entered the temple once more, leaving Hiei mostly alone.

"Hiei!" called a warm and womanly voice from the rain.

The demon sighed and allowed his eyes to travel from the wooded patio, up the lavender skirt, a pale grey wrap-like blouse and onto the bronze face of a certain psychic.

"I would be most delighted if you would dance with me and Sister."

"Hn, I don't dance and I hate the rain." Hiei's response was stiff and simple, he wasn't sure he liked the other demon girl claiming his sister as her own.

"Do you wish to know a secret about myself Hiei?"

The boy was silent.

"At one time, I too, held no enjoyment for the rain however as I matured I learned much more then I would have dreamed. Rain is water and water is life, we are made up of mostly water, and water is an utmost necessity to our survival. Both plants and animals require the life brought from water. It is a blessing that gives and asks nothing in return." She raised her head skyward once more before continuing, "It gives and never takes. It cools, warms, quenches, cleans and comforts. I feel that the rain cleanses us, replenishing us like it does for the grass and flowers." She turned her yellow gaze back down to Hiei's red eyes, her smile still in place. "Rain does not judge you for your sins or transgressions; it cleans you regardless of what you have done or came to be."

As she stared at the Hiei, taking his crimson gaze head on, something seemed to flash briefly in her eyes causing her to look like she was going to continue but Yukina's distant voice called from the yard turning Terryal's head and sending a small spray of water onto Hiei and the porch. Terryal glanced, almost longingly, back at Hiei before running out to tackle her surrogate sister without another word to the boy watching her. As Hiei watched the girls twirl and skip in the rain, using only the thunder as their music and the lightning as their strobe light, he pondered the words Terryal had spoken to him.

He watched the girls while he reluctantly moved his arm from its resting place across his knee and extended the hand, palm upwards, out from the porch overhang and into the rain to allow a few drops to pound onto his pale skin. After a few moments the fire apparition retracted his hand and watched as the remaining pools and droplets of water leapt off his hand as he rotated it this way and that.

"I still don't like the rain." Hiei thought as he expertly flicked his hand to clear it of the water. Even though his thoughts were close-minded a small smirk graced his face for a moment before vanishing as quickly as it appeared.

Sometime later Yukina and Terryal stood soaking wet in the back room of the temple and they both shared strong resemblances to drowned rats. Terryal, though shivering looked proud of herself and showed no sign of remorse for her actions. Genkai tsk'ed at the two while she shook her head, the old woman almost looked disappointed.

"Y'know I expected this kind of behavior from the kid but not from you, Yukina." Her raspy voice flowed around her pipe as she spoke, "Terryal, borrow some of Yukina's clothes and meet the boys in the den." She ordered simply while wondering how the hell such a childish demon had come to exist in the world.

When Terryal arrived in the den she was clothed in Yukina's pale pink calf-length nightgowns. Her face was back to its usual stoic look, the boys were used to it by this point because it was quickly discovered that Yukina was the only one that could make her smile constantly. Hiei watched her float into the room and take a seat on the floor next to Kurama; his eyes scanned the girl from her bare toes all the way to her soaking wet hair that was still stuck stubbornly to her face. He briefly noticed the dark circles under her eyes, they had been there when they met her but it occurred to him now that they were much darker now then they were before. Had she been sleeping regularly? The demon quickly banished the question from his head while remembering to tell himself that if she hadn't been sleeping then it wasn't any of his concern.

"We have some more questions to ask you Terryal," Kurama gestured to the envelope on the table as he spoke.

The girl looked around the room at the boys, her face was skeptical as she reached for the folder her short fingers lightly grazed the texture of the paper before actually grasping it. Terryal gasped and quickly clasped her hands over her mouth; tears began to form and she snapped her eyes shut willing them to go away but it only moved the water to her thick eyelashes, caking them together to match her hair. In the corner of the room Hiei felt a pain in his chest but he clenched his fists and ignored the feeling altogether. Kuwabara stood from his seat across the table and went to move closer to the crying demon but Kurama held up his hand to stop the concerned boy. The carrot-top sat uneasily back into his seat, clenching his once outstretched hand, he didn't like seeing a girl cry and he liked being unable to help even less.

"You know who this woman is?" Kurama asked gently.

Terryal chocked back her tears and forced her hands down by her side willing her body to ignore the feelings brought up by this person.

"What is your purpose in showing me these things?" despite her trembling voice she still sounded dignified and somewhat insulted.

"I understand that this is hard for you, but it pertains to your case and any information you can give us about any of these people will help. It's in your best interest to help us, whoever harmed your family needs to be caught so you can live the rest of your life without fear of being hunted down."

"You do not ask my help because it will benefit me. You ask it only because Koenma has requested so, you wish nothing more then to find those responsible and murder them and I will not have part in that!" this was the first time anyone had heard her outright shout.

The sound was strange coming from her tiny body; it was as unnatural as her slightly too-deep voice or her ancient eyes. Something she would have to grow into. Even though the sound was awkward, there was a sort of power behind it, Kuwabara's neck hairs were alert and on end and he felt the tingle of the powerful psychic flowing her abilities into the room. Kurama wasn't sure if the girl was no longer able to control herself or if she was simply spewing her energy on purpose as a show of dominance, a strong and animalistic urge to dominate the situation, to stay on top, fearless and most importantly…away from sadness.

"It's not anything like that," Kuwabara entered the conversation carefully, his voice was even and calm as though attempting to tame a wild animal.

His arms were up; palms forward in a submissive surrender gesture, the action seemed to relax Terryal for he felt her energy slowly recede back into her tiny form.

"Yeah this is a job from Koenma, but your part of the group now so this is personal for us too. I can't imagine how difficult it must be to look at these people but please…we really need your help and if it'll ease your mind, I promise you that when we catch this guy I won't allow anyone to kill him." Hiei scoffed from his spot in the corner as he listened to the teenagers words, despite his skepticism and surprisingly enough Kuwabara's voice did ease Terryal's mind.

She had heard the stories of Kuwabara's moral code, and his strong will to keep it. His word was not something to be taken lightly and she could see that, just by the look in his eyes. He truly thought of her and what would bring her comfort. Terryal realized in this moment how cruel she really was to doubt this boy's integrity and took this moment to vow never to do so again.

"You believe the culprit to be among my own family?" her tone was cool as she spoke, businesslike and with a hint of anger at their assumptions; Hiei was unsure if he had ever met a woman more proud of her heritage then she.

"Possibly, we think that anyone with the knowledge to take down the barrier was probably someone who had been around it. It's likely that one of people who used to live in your village had at least some part in the attack. If we can find out whom and where they are, we can find the offender." Kurama explained as though he hadn't noticed the rage peaking in her voice.

"It was forbidden to speak of Defects after they had officially passed though the Great Divide…"

"So you've got nothin'" Kuwabara sighed

"That is a fallacy. I said we were forbidden to speak of them however this does not mean that many did not take part in bending the laws of our village. We are but mortals and prone to create lies, sins, and hypocrisies. I will tell you what I have heard." Terryal's tone had an eerie hint to it as if she were telling scary campfire stories.

"This is Nagina," Terryal began, averting her gaze to the woman in the photo with aqua eyes and half-shaved head. "She was one who was close friends with my father; I owe my life to her. My father had snuck to the edge of the barrier on the evening of the New Life Festival and because of this he was not present to meet his lover. I am told that Nagina later showed him to my mother…if not for her I would not be present here today. I have heard many tales of her but I have, with much sorrow, never had the pleasure of meeting her myself…she defected shortly after my parent's union."

"Was there any history of violence that you remember? Did she disagree with any customs or anything?" even though Kurama was prying his voice remained calm and calculating.

"Never, father described her as being free spirited but overall compliant, she was a model citizen as were most. That and I knew her to be more of a physical being then mental; her efforts to destroy the barrier would have been pitiful at best. She was not what one would consider competent with her psychic abilities the Creator had a cruel since of humor when he sculpted her."

And that's how the afternoon went; one photo after another was flipped through and turned down. The possible suspects had been moved into a separate pile but even out of them it was difficult to know for sure. Some of the more rebellious ones weren't necessarily known for their strength, and the ones that were strong had model personalities. But Kurama could tell their culprit was amongst these pictures, and he knew of one in particular that he couldn't wait to hear about.

Terryal had just wrapped up a story about her distant Uncle Taksheel when she moved on to the picture that Kurama had purposely placed at the bottom of the stack.

"This is…" Terryal had stopped immediately as if frozen by some unknown force.

There was a slam that brought Hiei's attention out of his own thoughts causing him to open his crimson eyes to stare at the psychic who had caused the ruckus. Terryal had slammed both her hands onto the photo of the next person, needing both tiny round appendages to cover the face from view.

"Please Creator…oh please say it is false…do not twist my heart more I cannot bear another moment …." She thought desperately.

"Terryal-" Kurama was cut of quickly by the single female in the room.

"I will speak no more! I have given you more information then I should have and my heart aches from it! I have broken one law after another for you, my life may be lost but my pride will not let these traditions go and I am fed up with you asking me to do so!" Her eyes were the widest anyone had seen them.

Hiei could see something sinister swimming beneath the sea of yellow begging to get out, the sight intrigued him. Her hair had partially dried at this point so now it was twice as messy as it usually was but it gave her a sort of feral beauty that matched her anger perfectly.

"I wouldn't ask if it wasn't necessary Terryal. Please….this is the last one." The fox coaxed

"No!" Terryal stood, "He is of my blood, of my kin. That is my brother you place before my eyes and I will NOT lead him death, you have insulted me with this accusation and I will not stand for it!"

"Stop acting like a child. Sit down and give us the damn information." Hiei grumbled from his corner.

Terryal's eyes moved from Kurama's to his, capturing his red gaze in hers and he was stunned. Pure rage had consumed her and he noticed the psychic's stance was awkward; shoulders squared and stiff, fists and jaw clenched not like she was tense, but like she was holding something in. Holding it back, barely keeping it in its cage, a monster that the girl had not come to terms with, this knowledge swam in Hiei's mind. He wanted to know, wanted to see what was stalking behind her yellow eyes, why she worked so hard to hide it. Was the real reason she was so against violence because she was violent herself?

Hiei's stoic words invoked Terryal's anger like gasoline to a fire, as she stared at his calm face she wanted to scream. How could one man pull so much emotion from her? She didn't care anymore though, she had never truly been angry and now she was on a wave determined to ride it out to the end.

"You have no right to speak to me in such a manner. You call me a child as if I am naïve and unaware when you are just as much so as I. I can think of one explanation as to why no one would tell you such an obvious truth, and that is because they fear your violence but unlike them I do not! I am not weak and do not cling to the desire for life the same as they so I will speak to the great skies above that you, Hiei, are no more then a child! Closing off all ideals but your own, hiding from those around you, clinging to your precious strength as though it will do you any good. You will die as alone as any mammal and I will weep neither for you nor your ignorance!"

"I am no child, woman!" Hiei spat the word "woman" at her like it was something filthy.

He was standing now too leaving Kurama and Kuwabara to watch on the floor as the two rode their wave of anger. Kuwabara was just thankful that none of it was directed at him while the fox was somewhat impressed at the way the two seemed to feed off each other.

"Only a child would be possessed by such arrogance!" she held her ground firm even when his hand inched towards his sword.

"Do you wish to die woman?"

"I do not believe you to even possess the ability to reach me let alone steal the life from me."

The other two boys were now standing as well ready to make a grab for the two should fists start flying…or swords. It was a good call because in one swift motion Hiei drew his sword and went for Terryal and unfortunately what the two onlookers hadn't thought of was Hiei's determination when provoked. He zoomed past both of them with ease and made his way towards his target.

"HIEI NO!"

"TERRY!"

Silence….

…

…

"You…bitch…" Hiei grunted.

Terryal had to admit that Hiei's mind was difficult to force herself into and it had been a very close call. The fire demon stood with his sword not even an inch from her neck, his whole body frozen mid-step as though his mind had just shut off.

"One stroke of your mind boy and I misconstrue every signal, your body is not but a marionette and I have the ability to move your strings." she whispered.

Her tone was downright diabolical, and Hiei was reminded of when he was young, his incessant thirst for blood and gore was now being mirrored back at him in the body of a small childlike girl. Except…she wasn't a girl anymore. As the frozen fire apparition glared at his opponent he realized what this anger had done to her. It had made her into a woman, though not physically. It was the first time Hiei had seen the psychic as more then a child, she had grown right before his eyes and he had not noticed. The grace and speed in which she handled her techniques, the tone in which she spoke her words, and the animalistic thirst that was far beyond what any human could ever know or experience….

It was almost…beautiful…

Thoughts aside, Hiei would not loose to this girl. He was the master of the Jagan and the Dragon of the Darkness Flame: a technique he could devour like a cheap meal at a chain restaurant should he see fit. Knowing this…he would not lose. The third eye placed on his forehead pried itself open and burnt through the white bandana that dared to hide its target.

Terryal's eyes jumped from Hiei's red ones to the single purple one staring down at her. She screamed as the thing forced its way into her mind and severed every tie to every seed she had sown in its master's mind. The Jagan was unforgiving as it forced her out, the strength of this gesture thrust the psych's weary body backwards and she fell on her side eyes wide but distant and dull and breath ragged. Genkai threw open the doors and blasted the crimson-eyed boy across the room and through the sliding paper door on the other side.

"You're all a bunch of idiots! I swear, I leave you alone for a few hours and what do I get? I fight? In MY temple? I may be old but don't think I still won't kick your ass for this!" Her voice filled the room making the remaining two boys flinch slightly.

Hiei stood up and dusted himself off as though it was nothing, he was not pained by Genkai's words but what did bother him was the sight of Yukina standing behind her. The young maiden had eyes for no one but Terryal who was being gently rolled onto her back by Kuwabara. As soon as the ice apportion saw her companion's vacant expression and heaving chest she broke down, tears falling and solidifying leaving quite the fortune on the floor.

"Hiei you bastard! You coulda killed her!" Kuwabara said through clenched teeth as he tentatively checked the pulse of their young psychic, which was a useless deed considering demon hearts beat much differently then those of humans.

"Hiei I've got this under control but I think it'd be best for you to leave for a few hours until everyone calms down." Kurama spoke to his friend, his tone was sympathetic and kind showing that he truly knew the fire apparitions deepest concerns.

Crimson red eyes passed a message to Kurama's green ones…a message that one would only know or see from years of knowing the owner of those cool red orbs. The fox said nothing, only allowing a quick nod before turning to tend to the wheezing psychic allowing Hiei to disappear into the woods surrounding the estate.

A sudden gasp escaped the plump pink lips of the girl on the floor, her body convulsed and leapt forward as though waking from the dead. Terryal coughed loudly, and her eyes watered from not blinking for the few minutes she was out.

"Never have I detested my abilities more…" she choked between coughs

"Terryal!" Yukina tiny voice was lit with joy as she pulled her surrogate sister into her arms.

"There is no need to be alarmed, it was one of my gifts…all is well…" Terryal pulled away from the apparition's arms and gently ran her thumb across the green haired girl's cheek, banishing the evil tears from the maiden's gentile face. "You need not cry over me, I shall be fine. It is a gift I was taught at home to protect my mind from breaking under extreme circumstances, I believe one could refer to it as a failsafe. Though looking at the situation now it was probably not needed as I had expected the man's attack to be stronger then it turned out to be. There was no malice in his technique and he did not seek to kill me…" She spoke the last two sentences more to herself then anyone else as though she was pondering on the fire demon's actions.

"Remarkable…" Kurama muttered while standing over the group of people crowding around the psychic.

Genkai shoved her way through the teens and proceeded to examine Terryal despite the sun kissed girl's protests. The old woman was more worried then the psychic had ever expected her to be but she appreciated the gesture none the less and eventually let the old woman do as she pleased. Once it was made clear that she was indeed healthy Genkai ordered Kuwabara to return to his dwelling with her explaining that she needed rest to recuperate from the stress the technique had caused. Shutting down one's mind temporarily before a Jagan can get to it is difficult to do and quite strenuous on the body. The ability could have easily caused a lot more then just shock as the girl had essentially killed herself for a few moments. After apologizing extensively for the scare and proceeding to ensure that Yukina had enough hugs to last a lifetime Terryal reluctantly said her goodbyes and left with the teenage boy.

Kurama was quite thankful that it was the weekend and that he was not scheduled to work tomorrow, so with this knowledge of his future free time he volunteered to stay at the temple and help Genkai repair the door Hiei had flown through. Genkai watched the fox's hands work while she chewed on her pipe stem and after some moments of silence Kurama apologized for the outburst that had occurred.

"It's fine. It's not the first time I've had my temple broken and it probably won't be the last." Her voice rasped from around the pipe.

"Still, if I hadn't pushed the situation the fight probably never would have happened." Kurama confessed.

"Maybe not but they would've fought eventually on their own, those two feed off each other's anger causing the situation to escalate faster then normal." Genkai was ever wise and on top of things. Though she had not been in the room for the fight she still noticed the strange way the two vertically challenged demons interacted between each other.

"I noticed that too…I'm actually somewhat shocked at the way the whole situation went." The fox demon wasn't really speaking to Genkai anymore; he was more so pondering the events that had previously transpired.

Genkai smirked at the boy's musings letting only four words fall from her mouth as she thought of the fire demon and psychic.

"Children will be children,"