A week after the bone marrow transplant surgery from Yukina to Hiei, Hiei was out in Genkai's yard. He leveled his sword and cut down a tree with ease. About damn time, he thought, still no fire but at least now I can move around without becoming exhausted.

Genkai asked, "You really don't think she'll figure it out, do you?"

"What are you talking about?" Hiei asked, turning around.

"You're related to Yukina, aren't you?" she asked, "You're the long lost brother she's been searching for. You know she doesn't shut up about you when you're not here."

"Hn," he said, "I don't know or care what you're talking about." He turned away.

She asked, "Hiei, why don't you say something?"

He glared at her and demanded, "Why should I?"

"She's not the innocent little girl you take her for," she added, "she's pretty sure who you are, just tell her already so you can stop torchering everyone." She started to walk away. Hiei cut down another tree and Genkai shouted, "Would you stop cutting down my trees!"

That night Hiei was sitting outside on the porch like usual when Yukina walked up to him. "How did you recover so fast, Hiei?" she asked as she sat beside him.

"My demon energy is returning," he replied, "I can feel it. It's not as cold out here as it has been."

She looked at the light snowfall glistening in the moonlight then over to Hiei. She said sadly, "The day is coming." She looked down, hoping he would ask her to elaborate.

He said, "I thought only Kurama could be so vague."

"My birthday's coming up," she confessed, "November 21st. My brother shares the same birthdate and I was hoping by now I'd find him. It's another reason I don't like winter, or snow."

"It's best you don't get your hopes up," he replied, "he's probably long since dead by now."

She asked, "When were you born, Hiei?"

"I don't know," he lied. He knew he was born on November 21st as well and remembering that day made his stomach twist up inside of him even with the effects of the poison wearing off.

"For some reason," she said slowly, "I feel like you're lying. When's your birthday?"

"Why do you care?" he asked.

"Because I know the truth, Hiei," she confessed, "I've read about black blood poisioning before, a long time ago. In order to cure it you need someone in your family to put their energy into you. It doesn't matter if it's healing energy or not. Sometimes a bone marrow transplant is nessessary, but not always." She looked at him, desperately waiting for a response.

Hiei demanded, "What's your point?"

Yukina said, "Hiei you're my brother!"

"Believe whatever you want," he said defensively.

"What's the matter?" she asked calmly, "You don't want me as a sister?"

He froze in place. "Don't be rediculous," he said after a moment, "I don't have a family." There's no backing out of this, is there, he thought desperately, Genkai was right, she really does know the truth.

"It's them isn't it," she said nervously, "it's because I'm an ice maiden like Rui and the others that abandoned you. They shouldn't have done that, Hiei. Sometimes I wish I didn't look like them, I don't want to be associated with such a cruel race."

"Hn," he said quietly, "don't sell yourself short, you're nothing like them. They're all cold and dead inside. I know, I went back to visit them years ago." He remembered how they all ran away in fear and cowared in their houses as he walked by.

Yukina looked at him and said, "It is true then. You're really him, why didn't you say anything?"

"You deserve better than someone like me as your brother," he replied coldly, "don't think so fondly of me, I'm not worth it. I couldn't even kill the race that left me for dead. I hate November." He remembered his mother's cries as he fell off the cliff that fateful day.

Yukina said, "We should come up with a new birthday then. How about one in summer? It's not like it really matters anyway."

"Hn," Hiei said, "do whatever you want. I don't care." A new birthday, he thought, how childish. He smiled to himself.

She asked, "Are you feeling any better? I mean, are you still feeling sick?"

"You shouldn't worry about me," he replied.

"Do you ever worry about me?" she asked. He stayed silent. "Hiei?"

"I never realized you liked talking so much," he replied, avoiding the question.

"Alright, then," she said, looking into the forest, "don't answer."

"Oh hello!" Botan said, "How's our favorite fire demon doing? Where is Hiei anyway?"

"He's been gone for hours," Yukina replied, "his energy has finally started to return after 2 months of recovery."

Hiei showed up behind Botan and asked, "Why are you here?"

"Oh Hiei!" she said nervously, "I was just passing through."

"I'm going back to demon world," he announced.

"Already?" Yukina asked sadly.

Genkai said, "It'll still be another month or two until you get you're back in shape, you must realize that by now."

"I'll survive," Hiei replied, "I'm sick of staying here." He started to turn away.

Yukina walked forward and hugged him out of nowhere. He froze, completely shocked. "I'll miss you," she whispered. They stayed like that for several moments before Yukina released him. "Be careful, okay?"

"I don't need to be told what to do," he replied coldly, turning away.

Botan asked Genkai, "Am I the only one that saw that?" Genkai shook her head as Hiei left for demon world.

The End!