TheHeartsPath: Here's another chapter for you loyal readers out there! I'll be trying to update at least every two weeks, but I can't promise anything for sure. My dad leaves in a week so things will be rather hectic for a while. Please read and review! Hope you like the chapter! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho or any of its' characters. They are owned by Yoshihiro Togashi. I own only Ayla, her family, and any other characters that do not show up in the series.

"Talking" Thoughts ~Telepathy or mind-reading~

Chapter 11: Acceptance at Last

Hiei's POV

(Thoughts of the past week)

I had been listening to the conversation that Kurama, Ayla, and the fool Kuwabara were having as they worked on math. Her anger towards the fox when she found out that he had told me, Yusuke, and the oaf that her grandmother was Genkai was understandable. The way she spoke about trusting a telepath I knew that she had her own bad experiences with people trusting her and vis versa. I had been amazed that the fool had picked up on that so easily.

She seemed to withdraw into herself for a few minutes after that. I had tried to find out what was going through her mind, but she had withdrawn far enough that I couldn't reach even that strange shield of hers'. Once she came back from wherever her mind had gone those few moments she seemed...distant. Not physically distant but emotionally and mentally distant. Seeing her like that was strangely disturbing. After a few minutes she became less distant until she was back to the way she had been before withdrawing into herself.

I was very surprised when she said that she trusted me wholeheartedly. Hearing her say that pleased me greatly for some reason. When she smacked the fool upside the head I found it amusing. And the way she avoided giving Kurama an answer to his question was entertaining. Her exasperation at the fool's stupidity was quite evident in the way she kept hitting her head on the table.

Her surprised reaction to the fox's mother speaking was ridiculous. I had thought she had better awareness of her surroundings than that. After trying to stand up and falling back down I started to wonder just how hard she had hit her head. She didn't like the way the oaf had picked her up and held her in the air like she was an object instead of a person. I half expected her to hit him, but she didn't.

Kurama filled me in on our newest mission when he came outside his house after helping the onna and the oaf with their math. Finding out that we had to protect and train the onna annoyed me. It was interesting to find out that she did have other abilities besides telepathy and empathy. But what psychic abilities she had exactly wasn't specified.

When the fox mentioned that Koenma was having her bloodline checked for any demon ancestors I had tensed up. If she did have a demon ancestor the chances of that bastard King Yama ordering her death were very high.

It was no surprise that she had no clue at all about the Makai and Reikai. I had gathered as much just from the way she spoke about the difference in mine and Kurama's energies from others that she has known with abilities. That foolish, old woman, Genkai should have told her about them when she was younger. So as to prepare her for what she would have to face when she was older.

The fox was not pleased with me having upset Ayla and wanted to know what I had done. I'd told him that it was none of his business and left before he could say anything more.

I've been avoiding the onna this past week, but have still been keeping an eye on her. There was an increase in the number of demons that were running around lately. But so far only one demon has tried to go after her. It was the same day that her spirit energy got out of control and she shattered all those windows.

The demon was a weak D class that tried to get her when she was alone in the hall tending to her injuries. I cornered him before he could even enter the building and questioned him. He said that he'd sensed a human with spirit energy and wanted to eat her so that his power level would increase. Hearing him say that angered me and I killed him, burning his remains with the darkness flame to quickly get rid of them.

No one was going to harm the onna while I was around.

That night after I was certain that Ayla and her sister were asleep I entered her room to check her injuries myself. It had bothered me greatly seeing her hurt and bleeding. Gently I touched her face turning her head enough so that I could see the cuts clearly. There was no strange jolt going through my being when I touched her this time. Seeing her laying there without her glasses she seemed more...delicate. Without meaning to I spoke to her, "You should be more careful and take better care of yourself Ayla."

As if responding to what I had said, she nuzzled her face into my hand. I could feel myself blushing at her unconscious gesture. "Hiei..." she whispered my name. For a second I thought she had woken up, but she had merely talked in her sleep.

Standing there, with my hand still touching her face, I watched her sleep for a few minutes more. Almost reluctantly, I left the room to sit in the tree outside her window and keep watch. As I was watching for anymore demons that might try to come after her I thought about what had happened. For some reason as I had stood by her bed watching her sleep I felt something that I hadn't expected.

I'd felt at peace. It was then I realized that even though I always felt confused whenever I was near her, I felt at peace as well. Feeling at peace was not something I was used to. Why I felt like this was a mystery to me.

But I planned to find out.

(Present Day)

It was now the day that the onna would be coming to Genkai's temple. I had been at the temple for a couple of hours before Kurama arrived. The detective and the fool showed up an hour later. As usual the oaf started flirting with Yukina as soon as he saw her. Because I couldn't kill the idiot without going to Reikai prison I settled for glaring daggers at him instead.

"When will Ayla be arriving Genkai?" Kurama asked.

"She and Kira should be here soon." Genkai replied.

"Kira? I thought that only Ayla was supposed to be coming."

Genkai explained, "That was before it was discovered that Kira is an empath. Ayla is bringing her here so that I can find out the extent of her empathic powers and start training her."

"Hang on a second you old hag. One, who the hell is Kira? And two, is she just an empath or is she just like Ayla?" Yusuke asked.

"Kira is my youngest grandchild. She told her mother and Ayla that she is only an empath when they asked her." Genkai responded, glaring at the detective.

With a smirk on his face Yusuke asked, "So Hiei...Kurama says you and Ayla talked a lot when the two of you met. Why is that? You got the hots for her or something?"

Glaring at him I said, "It is none of your business detective. And I am not, nor will I ever, be attracted to a human female like the onna."

"Geez shrimp, she does have a name you know." Kuwabara said. I turned my glare to him.

"Kazuma, Hiei please don't fight." Yukina requested.

"As you wish my love!" the fool answered.

"Hn." After a moment I said, "Three days ago a demon tried to go after the onna."

"WHAT?" Yusuke and the oaf yelled.

Kurama looked thoughtful, "Three days ago was Wednesday. That's when all the windows of the classroom she and Kokoda were in shattered."

I nodded my head, "She lost control over her spirit energy and sent out a small wave of it. Which is what caused the windows to shatter. It also drew the attention of a nearby demon."

"What class was the demon?" Yusuke asked.

"A mere D class. I stopped him from trying to enter the school and questioned him. Apparently after sensing her the bastard got it into his head to eat her so that his power level would increase. I killed him and disposed of the remains." I answered. Just thinking about that D class scum wanting to eat the onna made me angry.

"I'll contact Koenma and let him know that there has already been one demon after Ayla." Kurama said, leaving the room.

Kuwabara spoke up, "Hey guys I sense Ayla's energy. I think she's at the bottom of the stairs."

Yusuke nodded, "I sense her energy too Kuwabara. But is it just me or does her energy seem even stranger than it did when I first met her?"

"Her energy has changed because she has a new power inside her that is truly awakening." Genkai answered. Both the fool and detective looked at each other confused.

"What do you mean 'truly awakening' Genkai?" Yukina asked.

"Like with her telepathic and empathic powers Ayla was born with them. Meaning those powers were already awake inside her. But it was only once she reached a certain age that either of them truly awakened. So whatever new ability is about to awake is one that she probably already has. It just isn't strong enough yet for her to really use." Genkai replied.

"I still don't get it." Yusuke said.

Kurama had come back into the room from speaking with Koenma while Genkai was talking. He began explaining what she meant. "What Genkai means is that Ayla's powers were only at a certain level of power to begin with, but once she turned a certain age the power level of her abilities raised to their truest level."

"So it's like she got an upgrade or something?" the fool asked.

Blinking, Kurama nodded, "That's one way of putting it I guess."

"Only an idiot like you would think of it that way." I sneered.

"That does it! I'm gonna pummel you shorty!" Kuwabara yelled.

"Hmph. I'd like to see you try."

"Both of you knock it off! They're here. Now, I suggest the two of you behave. You too dimwit." Genkai said, the last part directed at Yusuke.

"I didn't do anything." Yusuke replied.

"Yet."

"HEY!" he yelled after Genkai as she left the room.

"Well I think we should follow and greet Ayla and Kira ourselves." Kurama said and proceeded to follow Genkai. I followed Kurama, Yukina, Yusuke, and Kuwabara out of the room.

We were almost to the open door when we heard a young female's voice yell, "Grandma Genkai!" As we came outside we saw the onna's little sister running to Genkai and hugging her. The onna was standing near the stairs with a smile on her face watching her sister and grandmother embrace.

"Well are you going to come over here and greet me or just stand there smiling like a twit all day?" Genkai asked.

I was slightly surprised when Ayla's smile grew in response. "You know I was just waiting for Kira to hug you first. I know better than to get between her and whoever she wants to hug. Getting trampled on isn't on my list of things-to-do-today." she answered as she walked forward and embraced Genkai.

After they ended their embrace Genkai spoke, "I see you have a new kimono Kira. You look lovely."

Giggling Kira answered, "Thank you Grandma Genkai! Ayla bought it for me when we were on our way to the bus station. But you should see the kimono that she got herself. It's really beautiful!"

"Really?" Genkai asked looking at Ayla who was blushing.

The onna got herself a kimono? Interesting. I wonder how she'll look in it. I mentally slapped myself for wondering that.

"You got yourself a kimono Natura?" Yusuke asked, loud enough for Ayla to hear him.

Hearing him speak, Ayla looked past Genkai at us. She looked all of us over before her attention settled on Yukina. It was obvious that she was memorizing how Yukina looked. The look on her face as she studied Yukina was one of slight surprise. What about Yukina surprises her?

"Hey are you listening to me?" Yusuke asked with annoyance in his voice.

Ayla looked at him, then smirked saying, "I'm sorry. Did you say something? I wasn't listening." It was rather amusing that she was purposely trying to annoy the detective.

"Why you little..." he said starting towards her.

I was about to tell Yusuke to stay where he was if he wanted to stay in one piece, but he stopped when Kurama put a hand on his shoulder. "Yusuke, calm down." said the fox, "Ayla, please try to not antagonize Yusuke."

With a sigh Genkai said, "Asking her not to antagonize people is pointless."

"How come?" asked the fool.

Instead of Genkai answering it was Ayla. "Because there are things about a person you can only find out about them if you either annoy them or make them mad."

"And what the hell is that supposed to mean?!" yelled Yusuke.

Raising an eyebrow she answered, "If you don't know what it means then you have to figure it out on your own."

"Sissy, I know Shuichi, but who are the others?" the onna's sister asked.

The onna said, "Well, the one with the slicked black hair is Yusuke Urameshi. The one with the carrot-top red hair is Kazuma Kuwabara. And the guy with the hair in the shape of a black flame with a white star burst is Hiei. As to who the girl is, I'm just as clueless as you are."

Black flame? I could tell I wasn't the only one of us that was surprised at Ayla using the words 'black flame' in correlation with me.

Yukina walked up to them and bowed. "My name is Yukina. It's very nice to meet the both of you."

Smiling the onna bowed in return, "I'm Ayla. It's very nice to meet you too Yukina."

"I'm Kira! Can I hug you Yukina?"

For a second Yukina didn't say anything. She was probably a bit surprised at Kira's question. She then said, "I'd like that."

"Kira loves giving hugs." Ayla told her.

"You need to change into your kimono Ayla." Kira said.

Blinking in confusion Ayla said, "Huh?"

"You promised to change into your new kimono once we got to Grandma Genkai's remember?" responded Kira.

"But that was before I knew any of the male species would be here." the onna replied with a glance at me and the others.

Chuckling Genkai asked her, "You're still going to change into it though aren't you?"

"Well of course. After all I did promise Kira and I'll be damned if I ever break a promise." was the onna's response. From her tone of voice it was obvious that she believed in keeping your word once it was given, no matter what.

"Then let's all go inside. I need to talk to the two of you after you get changed Ayla." With that Genkai turned around and headed towards us to head inside. Yukina, Ayla, and her sister followed.

As they were walking towards us Ayla glanced up and noticed that I was watching her. She blushed and turned to Yukina, "Um Yukina? Would you mind helping me with my kimono? I'm not very good when it comes to tying the obi."

"Of course Ayla." Yukina replied smiling.

"Thanks." Ayla smiled back.

When everyone was inside Ayla looked around, a thoughtful look on her face. "After you've changed Ayla come to the living room. There is much that we need to talk about." Genkai said.

"The living room, got it. And I agree, there is much we need to talk about." Ayla replied.

Kira grabbed her hand and started dragging her down the hall. "Come on sissy! You need to change!"

Ayla chuckled, "Ok, ok, slow down Pixie. We don't need to run like a fox with a hound on its trail." Yet another interesting choice of words. "You coming Yukina?" she asked, looking over her shoulder.

Yukina nodded and followed after them. "Do you know where you're going exactly?" she asked.

From the way the onna stopped I was guessing that she was trying to not crash into her sister. "Oops. I forgot where our old rooms were." Kira answered.

"That's alright. Genkai showed me where they were so I could show you to them if you had forgotten. Please follow me."

As the three of them disappeared around the corner Kurama spoke, "I get the feeling that wearing a kimono isn't one of Ayla's favorite things to do."

Genkai snorted, "That's because it's not. Ayla doesn't like to spend money on clothes for herself like most girls. She'd rather spend money on books, art supplies, or food. Basically on things that are more practical."

"Then why did she buy a kimono for herself?" Kuwabara asked.

"Kira."

Raising an eyebrow at that answer Yusuke asked, "What does Kira have to do with it?"

"The only one that can ever get Ayla to buy clothes, especially girls clothes, for herself is Kira. As to why that is I haven't a damn clue and neither does Ayla." Genkai answered with a shrug.

"I wonder how Ayla will look." said Kuwabara.

Yusuke smirked, "Same here. I'm wondering how hot she'll look."

"Kuwabara, Yusuke, I wouldn't go there if I were you." Kurama warned.

"What are you talking about fox boy?" asked Yusuke.

"He's talking about the fact that if either of you even think about doing anything perverted to the onna, I will kill you." I answered, glaring at them.

"You said you weren't attracted to her Hiei. So why should it bother you if we do anything?" Yusuke said with a smirk. His smirk disappeared a moment later when my sword was pointed at his throat.

"Whoa, easy there shrimp! You don't have to go crazy and pull your sword! It's not like we were actually going to do anything!" the fool yelped.

"Make sure that you don't. Or I will kill you." I growled. Taking my sword away from the detective's throat I walked down the hall in the opposite direction that the girls had gone. I entered the living room, putting my sword away as I walked to the window where I normally sit. Once I sat down I stared out the window thinking. Genkai and the others came into the room a few moments later.

Damn it. I knew that they were only being their usual idiotic selves but I ended up getting angry anyways. Why the hell did I get so angry? They better not talk about Ayla like that again. I won't stand for them or anyone else talking like that about my onna.

My reflection in the window showed my eyes widen in shock. Since when did I think of the onna as 'mine'? I should have felt disgusted for even thinking of her as mine. But I didn't. Instead I felt pleased by the thought. What the hell is wrong with me?

The onna's sister came into the room alone. "Grandma Genkai?" she asked.

"What is it Kira?"

"What's making you angry?"

Genkai smirked, "You can tell I'm angry by my Heart's Song just like Ayla can?"

Kira nodded, "But I can't tell what kind of angry like she does. So why are you angry Grandma Genkai?"

Sighing Genkai answered, "Her colored contacts. I understand why your parents want her wearing them. But I think that it's a bit late in the game."

"Wait, Ayla wears colored contacts?" Yusuke asked.

Genkai nodded, "To hide the real color of her eyes."

"Why?" asked Kurama.

"When you see her eyes real color you'll understand." Genkai cryptically responded.

"Sissy looks a lot prettier without them. But she won't take them off unless she's at home." Sadness was in Kira's voice as she spoke.

Genkai stood up, walked past her, and into the hall. "Then I'll have to tell her to do otherwise. Stay here with the boys Kira, while I go and talk to Ayla real quick."

"Okay." Kira chirped.

"How have you been Kira?" Kurama asked.

"Good I guess. How about you Shuichi?" she asked as she sat down beside him.

"I'm doing well."

Yusuke leaned on the table towards Kira. "So you're Ayla's baby sister. Just how many of you guys are there?" he asked.

"What do you mean?" Kira asked tilting her head to the right.

"I mean how many Natura kids are there."

"Oh. There's Gwen, Sinclair, Ayla, Haku, and me." she answered with a smile.

"Five of you guys? Damn."

"Urameshi! Don't curse in front of the kid!" Kuwabara exclaimed.

Kira shrugged, "It's okay. Sin and Ayla curse so I'm used to it. Although Ayla doesn't curse as much as Sin does. Gwennie gets mad when Haku uses curse words. But I don't repeat any of it."

"With the way you are Kira, I doubt you'll ever really curse." Genkai said as she and Yukina came into the room.

The oaf asked, "Where's Ayla?"

"She'll be along in a minute."

"I'll be right back with the tea." Yukina said heading to the kitchen.

"Can I help Yukina?" asked Kira. Yukina nodded and Kira followed her into the kitchen.

"Cute squirt." chuckled Yusuke.

"Yeah. For some reason she makes me think of a kitten." Kuwabara said.

Yusuke rolled his eyes, "Why am I not surprised?"

"He's not the first one that Kira has made think of a kitten. And he probably won't be the last either." Genkai chuckled.

The detective looked at the fool and asked, "What about Ayla? She make you think of a kitten too?"

Shaking his head the fool answered, "Nope. She makes me think more of a big cat."

"What do you mean a big cat? You mean like a tiger or something?"

Kuwabara nodded, "Yeah, a big cat like that. Though for some reason she makes me think of a panther more than a tiger. Maybe a jaguar."

"Oh I get it. You're afraid of her Kuwabara." Yusuke joked.

"No! But if she's anything like Shizuru then I wouldn't want to get on her bad side."

"Who's Shizuru?" Kira asked as she and Yukina came back with the tea.

"She's Kazuma's older sister." Yukina told her.

Yukina was passing the tea out when the door to the hallway opened. Ayla was standing there in her kimono with her head bowed enough that I couldn't see the upper part of her face. But what I could see was slightly red. She was blushing with embarrassment about being seen dressed as she was. Those colors suit her. Why isn't she looking at us? Stepping into the room she closed the door. She clasped her hands in front of her, but I still saw the slight tremble that she was trying to hide.

"Damn Natura. You don't look too bad in a kimono." Yusuke admitted.

"Urameshi's right, you look nice." agreed Kuwabara.

"I agree. You look lovely Ayla." said Kurama.

Ayla shook her head, "Don't say that."

"Why not?" asked the fox.

"Because..." she trailed off.

"Ayla," Genkai said, "it's alright. Let them see your real eye color."

She lifted her head slightly before she lowered it again.

"They're not like all those mean people back in America sissy. They're nicer." Kira told her.

The way she wouldn't look at anyone was starting to bother me. I stood up and walked over to her, stopping in front of her. She was so tense with the readiness to run if she needed to that her entire body was shaking. She's afraid of what our reactions will be. That's the only reason I can think of for the way she's acting. "Look at me onna." I told her.

"Leave her alone Hiei." Kuwabara said.

I ignored him and gently grabbed her chin. Lightly, I lifted her chin up so that her face was no longer looking at the floor. She had her eyes shut. "Onna, look at me." I told her again, "Open your eyes." I don't know why my voice was gentler this time when I spoke, but it was. And I knew that she noticed it too.

At first I didn't think she would do as I said, but then her eyelids fluttered. Slowly the tension in her eased away and she opened her eyes. For a moment I forgot how to breathe. Her eyes are beautiful! Never had I seen eyes like hers before in my life.

A medium sage green on the outer part of the iris and a bright amber brown on the inner part. Her eyes made me think of a forest. Now I knew why she was so hesitant about any of us seeing her true eye color. The color of her eyes wasn't what any human and few demons would consider to be natural. She had most likely been shunned for the color of her eyes growing up.

From behind me Yusuke spoke, "Hey Hiei, we can't see what her eyes look like with you standing in front of her."

"Yeah shrimp. Move so we can see her eyes too." said Kuwabara.

They were walking across the room and were now only a few feet away. Ayla's eyes widened and all the tension that had left her a few moments ago returned. I stepped to the side so that I was to Ayla's right. But still looking at her, allowing the others to see the true color of her eyes. And allowing myself to see their reactions from the corner of my eye.

"Holy shit!" the detective yelped.

The fool gasped, "What the?"

The fox came to see why they had reacted to the onna's eye color as they did. When he saw her eyes his own widened and he blinked several times. As if to make sure he wasn't imagining what he was seeing. "Well, this is unexpected." was all he said.

Yukina could see her eyes from where she was, but didn't say anything. She stayed seated at the table along with Genkai and Kira.

The onna decided to try and leave the room then. She only got to turn around and place her hand on the door when I grabbed her left arm. "Let go of me Hiei." she said.

"You're staying here onna." I told her.

"No I'm not! Now let go of me dammit!" she yelled turning to me. There were tears in her eyes threatening to run down her face. I yanked her away from the door, making her lose her balance, and pulled her into my arms. "What are you doing?" Ayla asked startled.

"Making sure you don't leave." I knew that everyone was watching, seeing me act differently than normal. But I simply ignored them. Right now all I wanted to do was get rid of the tears and sadness in Ayla's eyes. "You are not leaving. If anyone has to leave they do, but not you." I told her.

Kuwabara spoke up, "We aren't leaving Hiei."

Turning to him, Yusuke, and Kurama I glared at them. "Then I suggest you all stop gaping at her, starting now."

They looked like they were each about to say something when Ayla spoke. It was only one word but it held so much within it.

"Why?"

She made to pull away and I let her put about six inches between us before I stopped her from going any farther. It was enough space so that she was still in my arms, but could look me in the face. Her confusion at my reaction to her eyes was clear in her voice and face. But it was most obvious in her eyes. "Why aren't you gaping at me? Why aren't you looking at me like I'm a freak? A monster? An..." she stopped.

"A what?" I asked gently. Shaking her head she looked away.

Ayla's POV

Why was Hiei acting like this? First he was his usual self, then he was gentle. Now he seems to be trying to protect me from the others.

"Why?"

I tried to pull away from him and surprisingly he let me. Although he only allowed me to put about half a foot between us. Making it so that I was still in his arms, but could look at his face. He saw my confusion with ease, I wasn't even trying to hide it. "Why aren't you gaping at me? Why aren't you looking at me like I'm a freak? A monster? An..."

An abomination? I silently finished.

Even after having been called that for years I couldn't repeat it out loud. There was a part of me that was afraid that if I said it out loud it would be like admitting that what they said was true. I could easily say that I was considered a freak or a monster. Because children say that type of stuff all the time to anyone who is different in any way. So I didn't think of either one as being true.

But being called an abomination was different. That word is so much stronger, so much more cruel, so much more painful.

"A what?" he asked me gently. Shaking my head I looked away from him, away from everyone. I couldn't say it. I just couldn't. "Onna."

~Onna tell me.~ Surprised I looked back at Hiei. ~A what?~ He cupped my face with both his hands, keeping me from turning my head when I tried to look away again. ~Look at me. Tell me.~

I looked him in the eyes and let down the part of my mental shield that protected my memories. Every single memory I had of people shunning me, beating me, calling me different things, rose to the surface of my mind and crashed into Hiei's. I could see every single one of those memories clearly. Yet at the same time I never lost sight of Hiei's eyes staring into mine. As he saw my memories I heard his Heart's Song react to what he was seeing. When he saw the memories of me being called an abomination the intensity of his anger scared me.

The memories stopped after what seemed like forever but I knew it hadn't even been a minute. I just stood there, looking at him, afraid to move. I hadn't known that I was crying until he brushed his thumbs across my cheeks, wiping away my tears.

"What those people said isn't true onna. You have never been that. You never will." He didn't say abomination, he said 'that'. He was comforting me without telling the other what he was comforting me about.

My tears were in earnest now. Moving his hands from my face, he laid them lightly on my shoulders. Making no move to try and keep me from leaving the room like earlier. He was giving me the choice to move away from him if I still wanted to.

But I don't want to leave now. I want to stay here, near him. Where I feel safe.

Safe. That was something I hadn't felt in a long time. Being near Hiei I felt safer than I ever had before.

Without another thought I went into Hiei's arms and held onto him. He wrapped his arms around me, telling me without words that he accepted me, all of me. And that with him I was safe, truly safe. I tucked my face into the area between his neck and shoulder, and let myself truly cry for the first time in years.

Tears of relief from no longer hiding the pain of being called an abomination. Tears of joy from finally finding someone who not only completely accepted me, but also made me feel safe in the truest sense of the word.

~Thank you Hiei. Thank you.~

~Hn. You're welcome.~

I couldn't help the chuckle that escaped me at hearing him say that strange sounding word of his.