Chapter 13

I woke up the next morning to realize that I was lying down instead of leaning against Hiei's shoulder. My eyes met a soft black fabric and I felt an arm draped across my waist. I had fallen onto Hiei's lap as I slept. I enjoyed the feeling of being this close to him and closed my eyes again. Then I felt a hand brushing the hair from my face, the fingers lingering. He was awake, and didn't want to move either. I remembered my thoughts from the night before; about how much he had changed, and was even more comforted.

"'Morning," I whispered.

"Good morning, Onna."

"Are you ever going to stop calling me that?"

"No."

"Hn. Figures." Realizing I had just used his word, I added, "Looks like you're rubbing off on me."

I could tell he was smirking. I sat up (reluctantly) and saw that Kurama was lying beside Natalie, fast asleep. I smiled softly as I looked at them, happy that Natalie had finally found her perfect match. Apparently, Natalie's change in identity hadn't even altered Kurama's thoughts or feelings toward her. They certainly hadn't changed mine or anyone else's in the group. I knew I had always liked the red-headed kitsune.

Natalie was looking much better; her face had regained most of its color now, and she was breathing normally. Her injuries were fully healed and she was cuddled in a ball inside Kurama's embrace, facing his chest.

"Come on," I said to Hiei. "We should start meditating." He nodded and followed me out of the temple and to our spot by the stream. Once we were there, however, I couldn't concentrate. One thought kept repeating itself in my head…

"Everything's gonna change now," I voiced.

"Hn." Hiei humphed in agreement.

"What do you think's gonna happen to us?"

"Who knows? It's the Makai. Even for a person like me, who's lived there most of my life, things are pretty unpredictable, especially when in the company of a wanted person."

"That's good to know, but…I was talking about us us." I could definitely feel myself blushing.

"Hn. Nothing's going to change between us, Onna."

"Not even for the better?"

"…I don't know."

This shocked me. I had never really heard Hiei voice his uncertainty before.

"That much could change?" I asked. Hiei didn't respond, but acted like he was meditating now. I let him off the hook…for now…and started to meditate, too. But there was just too much to think about. I let my thoughts wander to what I had dreamt about last night. In it, an evilly beautiful woman had been speaking to me. I had no doubt that she was my mother. She said that my love would soon be tested, and that to find her was to find the lost one. Then my dreams had melted into what I usually dreamt of nowadays, with me and Hiei together…um, yeah. Anyway...back to the other dream.

"YUUUUUKIIIINNNNAAAAAA!" That annoying idiotic voice could only come from one person.

At the sound of her name, Hiei's eyes snapped open and he only waited long enough for me to climb onto his back before flitting off toward the temple. When we got there, we found Genkai, Yusuke, Chuu, Rinku, Jin, Suzuka, and Kurama trying to comfort a distressed Kuwabara, who was on his knees clutching a clump of dust in each hand.

"WHAT HAPPENED HERE?" I demanded.

Kuwabara was having trouble making distinct noises through his snuffling and choking.

"KUWABARA!"

"I'm s-s-s-sorry…(sob)…sh-sh-sh-she was looking s-s-s-sick, s-s-so I c-c-carried her downstairs, b-b-but sh-she melted into dust!(SOB)!"

I found this HIGHLY unlikely, and apparently so did everyone else, as they were sweat-dropping and looking nervously at Hiei. (Did Yusuke tell Chuu, Rinku, and Jin about the twins, too?) "Kuwabara, you fool," scolded Hiei. "Those ashes smell nothing like Yukina. I assure you, those aren't her."

Kuwabara stopped sniveling at once and stared at Hiei in astonishment. "Really?"

Everyone anime-fell.

"YES, REALLY!" (everyone)

I noticed something in the dust-pile. "Hey, look at this," I said, pulling a small wooden toy from the pile (if you've seen Inuyasha, it's kind of like those little things Naraku uses).

"What is it?" asked Yusuke.

"I've seen this before," I said, thinking of Inuyasha exactly. "It's used to create a likeness of a single person, and give them one goal and one goal only. Kuwabara, did she say anything before she…incinerated?"

"Yeah, she was saying some weird stuff like 'I'm lost, come find me.' That's why I thought she was sick."

"The lost one," I whispered, remembering my dream.

"What?"

"I had a dream last night. I saw my mom…my real mom…and she said that to find her was to find the lost one. She must have taken Yukina." Hiei snarled and clenched his teeth and balled his fists.

"We have to leave now," he said.

"Natalie hasn't woken up yet, and we haven't been able to build up the girls' strength," reasoned Kurama.

"Don't give me that, Fox. I'll go myself."

"I don't think so, Bajito," I said, grabbing his arm before he could speed off. "She's my mom and I'm going, too. Besides, that's probably why she kidnapped her in the first place."

"Now hold on a sec," said Chuu. "How do we even know the Sheila's been stolen?"

"Because her scent is gone, you fool," growled Hiei.

"What's going on?" said a weak voice. We all turned to see Natalie rubbing her eyes groggily and staring at Kuwabara (who was still clutching the ashes). "I heard someone screaming."

"There, she's awake. We have to go now."

"Hiei, stop," said Kurama.

"No," I interrupted. "Hiei's right. I can tell that she's not exactly the patient type, and she's very likely to torture Yukina for every day we're late. We need to pack and plan immediately. We definitely don't want her to get any more scars (referring to Tarukane). Natalie, how are you feeling?"

"(Yawn) A little tired."

"We should probably explain what's been going on…" I started.

"Don't bother. I overheard everything."

Eyes blinked.

"It was weird. It was like I was hovering right over you guys even though I was unconscious in a different room. Like I was…detached or something. Anyway, I'm fine, just a little tired…and a little confused about the whole Black Angel thing. I remember Kurama telling me about Sensui and all that, and I understand about what the Black Angel is, but…what…exactly…is my…role…as the Black Angel?"

"We don't know much more than you do, Natalie," replied Kurama. "We'll just have to play it by ear."

"So…what are we doing?" I asked, "Packing and leaving? Training? Eating, packing, and leaving?"

"The first one," answered Yusuke. "Make sure to pack everything you would take on a camping trip."

"I've never been camping in my life," I said sardonically.

"I have," said Natalie. "I'll help you pack."

"By the way," interrupted Kurama, "try these on." He held up two folded…umm…

"What are they?"

"They're fighting clothes," the redhead explained, handing them to us, "like we wear. You'll be much more agile in them."

"Sweet/Cool," were the responses he got as we accepted the clothes and raced upstairs. I wasn't all that surprised when Natalie ran into Kurama's room. She had moved her stuff into that room a couple weeks ago. I went into mine/Chuu's/Jin's/Rinku's/ (sheesh, how many people use this room anyway?) and shut the door without bothering to lock it. I changed quickly, but I couldn't figure out how all the ties and straps worked. After many grunts and failed attempts, I heard a snicker at the door and turned to see a smirking Hiei leaning against the doorway.

"Need some help, Onna?" he asked, still smirking.

Blushing, I nodded. He worked through it easily, and each time his hands brushed against my waist or back (which was quite often considering he wasn't exactly trying not to) a shot of electricity shot through me. When he finished, he stood back, allowing me to practice a few moves in it, making sure it fit me right and allowed me to move freely in any direction. It was perfect. When I was done, I scratched the back of my head modestly and said-

"You're gonna have to teach me how to work those things."

"Hn. You're pathetic, Onna." (Is he ever gonna stop smirking? SHEESH!)

"(Sigh) I know, I know. So, are you packing anything?"

"Don't need anything." I wondered why he was so calm now…considering the sister he was so overly-protective of had just been kidnapped…

"If she was being hurt, I would know."

"Huh?" I turned to look at him.

"Your mind is open. And if Yukina was being hurt, I would know. And this woman doesn't seem like the kind to torture needlessly…"

"Oh…"

About an hour later, we had packed up and Genkai was summoning a portal with Botan's help. Koenma had arrived to escort us through the portal and make sure the energy radiating from it didn't attract anyone's attention ("anyone" being his father and the Grimm Reapers). Everyone went through (including Jin and the others, Suzuka carrying Shishi) until it was just me and Genkai left. Now or never, I guess.

"Umm…Genkai?" I squeaked, getting the old master's attention. "There's…something I've been meaning to ask you about."

"What is it, child?"

"I meant to ask you before this, but…it's kind of an awkward question…"

"Spit it out, we haven't got all day."

"Umm…well…it's been two months since I got here and…well…I haven't had…'my time' yet. I was wondering if it had something to do with…"

"Well, if you and Hiei have been-"

"Nononononononono!" I practically squealed, waving my hands. "I swear we haven't."

"Well, then it's probably got something to do with the White Phoenix."

"But what?"

"How should I know? You're the one with the millennia-old being inside of you."

(sigh)

"Well…thanks anyway. I'll see you later."

"If you survive."

"Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence." Still, I couldn't help but give Genkai a big smile and "thank you" before I leapt through the portal. This portal was much worse than the others. Halfway through, I could feel myself begin to get woozy from the fumes now reaching my lungs, and my eyes were burning and watering mercilessly. Finally, I fell through. Although, I guess I shouldn't say "Finally" since the fumes were even worse here. I blacked out.