A/N: I'm managing to stick to this schedule and it feels good man. Between these chapters and Captivity I've started to work on the sequel to Survivor's Guilt. I want to have a good set of chapters prewritten before I begin posting so that in the event of another dip in my brain chemistry I'll still be able to post regularly. Hope you guys enjoy this!

Also, for this chapter and in the playlist I just wanted to tell you that the song BASMF by 3OH!3 really captures the essence of Hiei's character in my opinion. I just love the song and it amused me endlessly.

The morning was hot by nine, the air already thick with humidity. The moisture turned Hiei's hair into an unmanaged mess, part of the reason he now kept it only a handful of inches long now. Out here in the yard of Caroline, another auntie he'd begun doing work for, he enjoyed the sunlight on his sunscreen slathered skin. He knew he'd still get tan lines from his black muscle shirt but he didn't particularly care. He'd eventually have to strip the shirt off anyway as he couldn't stand to be clothed too long in this oppressive heat which meant something to him. He'd literally walked through fire, had it coil around his arms. His natural body temperature was high enough to make ice ineffective as a weapon against him. Yet this place routinely bested his tolerance.

He did like this riding mower though. Victoria needed to buy one for him. It cut his work significantly and Caroline paid him the same. He parked the riding mower behind the house, covered it, and turned around to discover Auntie Caroline standing extreme close behind him. Hiei regarded her, taking a half step back. These women would make excellent assassins. She had bottle-dyed red hair cut into what Victoria called 'a bob'. Her makeup was decidedly not subtle, particularly her bright red lips and thick dark lashes which had not been nearly as prominent or long when he'd arrived. She looked him in the eye not out of assertiveness but because they were the exact same height.

"Drink, honey?" She smiled with a flirtatious bat of her lashes.

Hiei noted she had changed clothes while he'd been working, from a simple loose dress into form fitting jeans and a sleeveless white blouse. The absence of her bra struck him despite his effort not to notice. He shook his head and held up a hand to decline her drink. Last time he'd accepted one from her it had been laden with gin and he'd been a pink-cheeked sloppy mess when he'd gotten to the lake house, lipstick on his cheeks from where she'd affectionately kissed him before dropping him off. That was not a mistake he would be making again. These middle-aged women were the hungriest creatures he'd ever faced and that was saying something. Though they did make him feel at home. Having to keep sharp and stay a step of head of their tactics reminded him of Demon World.

The Aunties were a collective of some of the most dangerously conniving beings he had ever met. They stopped at nothing in their pursuit. Victoria described them all as 'thirsty bitches'. He had to agree, once Kurama explained that thirsty was a euphemism. His saving grace with most of the women was that they were actually married and had children and therefore couldn't act on their desires. The two exceptions of that pattern, and therefore his two most daunting foes, were Caroline and Susan.

One time they'd both been there when he'd arrived as Auntie Susan's home and he barely escaped their clutches. It had taken all of his tactical prowess, speed, and evasive charm. Somehow, he'd still ended up shirtless receiving a shoulder massage.

"You sure?" Caroline wiggled a bit, one arm going under her bosom to push it up.

Hiei glanced down then back up. Her shirt was incredibly sheer and the humidity wasn't helping. Part of him considered just indulging her, but he quickly reconsidered. These women were ravenous animals and he feared succumbing to them would result in them tearing him apart. He offered her a nod and watched her shrug, sipping the innocuous looking lemonade.

"Suit yourself handsome. You should come in out of the heat, you look like you're simmering standing there." She licked her lips and turned toward the back door of the house.

A trap was a trap no matter what world Hiei was in but his shoulders were starting to burn so he followed her lead. It would be better to wait inside for Auntie Susan to pick up. He would just need to keep alert.

American cars were larger than they needed to be. Cars in Japan were considerate of the limited space on the planet and acted reasonably in response to that. Susan's Suburban? It was practically a bus. Hiei especially didn't understand why she needed that much room when it was just her driving around. Even given he was in the passenger seat, it made no sense. Had her husband been the size of four people and required the entire back of the car? The thought triggered Victoria's voice in his head.

If you even think about Carl, she will go nuts and cut her own hair again.

Did that mean Auntie Susan was telepathic? He hoped not, because if that was the case she would have definitely heard his sometimes rude and abrasive thoughts about her. That would cut into his pay, he suspected. Glancing to the side he confirmed she wasn't listening to his inner monologue. She was too busy complaining about how Caroline wasn't wearing a bra, was trying too hard and how she needed to dedicate to a new neck firming cream because she was showing her age.

"She's older than me by three years, did you know that? I'm sure you thought it was more than that. She really hasn't taken care of herself." Auntie Susan released her breath, slowing down her inane chattering finally. This woman spoke constantly and it made Hiei feel completely vindicated in hiding the fact he could speak English. If this were a two-sided conversation he would be expected to play favorites which was something he stood staunchly against because when the women all thought they were his favorite they paid better. And then they tipped him.

He realized he forgot to strip off his shirt at Caroline's and berated himself. No wonder she had only given him twenty extra. He had shorted himself. Dammit.

"So, I know that normally you just do the lawn but I was wondering if you wouldn't mind helping me set up some lawn furniture. I'm hosting a shindig tonight and I'd like the place to look amazing. I want my tinder-date to be blown away so maybe he'll blow me away." Auntie Susan laughed, hitting Hiei's arm lightly as she pulled into her driveway. "I'm so bad. I'm sorry."

He chuckled at that. If that was bad she wouldn't be able to stand some of the talk he'd heard amongst the soldiers who had worked under him, or even Yusuke's crass humor. That sudden memory took the momentary humor away. He'd been gone for so long now. How much time had passed back in reality? Had Mukuro looked for him? Did she think he'd deserted? When they managed to make it back-if they managed to make it back-he'd have to answer for his absence. He wasn't sure how to explain to that he'd been transported to another dimension in which he'd been rendered entirely powerless, taken hostage by an irate purple-haired monster who had held him at gunpoint, then forced him to sleep in the same room as Kurama for six months while he did manual labor for money since he was considered an illegal occupant of the country he'd been thrown into and had no documents to argue against that truth and therefore couldn't get a real job even if he wanted one.

Yeah. There was no way she was going to believe him.

Then he remembered Ashland and almost laughed at himself. Maybe he should lead his explanation with the fact he was a part-time 'manny' as Bethany called him (affectionately always, she adored him and she told him that constantly) for a five year old girl who fished with him and made him dance and he didn't hate that she called him uncle. Mukuro would surely think he'd gone insane. Sure, he'd be removed from any form of responsibility or command but the look on her face would be priceless.

The thought of being an uncle made him think as he moved on autopilot toward the tool shed, pulling out the mower to gas it up and attach the bag to the back. The work was automatic to him now. He thought about Yukina and wondered if she was safe, if she was happy. He disliked that he had no way to check on her. She would like it here. She'd be enthralled with the landscape, the heat, the people and their accents. He could see her sitting on the porch swing with sweet tea chatting with Grams about her life. He could also see her loving Ashland, enjoying the lake, learning to cook the food.

He realized, releasing the lever of the push mower so that it sputtered itself to death, that he missed his sister.

Swallowing, he shook himself, pushed the emotion deep down and restarted the mower. Auntie Susan's yard took him nearly an hour to mow completely and that was before he had to use the weed-whacker to edge the property. After, he'd have to dump the grass into yard bags, pull those to the curb then stow the equipment back in the shed. Generally, this was a two hour job for him. But the mower died halfway through and he had to disassemble parts of it. It took him half an hour just to get the wretched thing working again. He ended up sitting shirtless in a pile of cut grass with his knees and basketball shorts stained green like his grass-cutting shoes as he tried not to notice the fact he was itchy.

The work made it easy to forget he was stranded in a reality not his own. It even made him forget that he didn't actually mind being here, in this strange world with it's deliciously fattening food, it's stupid easily worn through shoes, and it's utterly insane women.

He drank the sweat tea Auntie Susan brought him before getting back to work, thankful for the ice in the glass because the afternoon had turned to sweltering. He signed for water and she rushed off to get him a glass. While he waited Hiei looked up at the blue sky, counting the random spotting of clouds. He supposed, out of all the possible realities he could have been forcibly dragged into, this one wasn't so bad. He wasn't being actively tortured at least.

Auntie Susan reappeared with his glass of ice water and Hiei took a small sip before just dumping the entire thing over his head.

When he wiped his eyes clear, he saw that the woman before him had started fanning herself with her hand, her bottom lip caught between her teeth. Hiei grinned at her. She swooned slightly.

He was going to get so fucking paid today.

Maybe he could convince Auntie Susan to take him to the mall before he had to babysit Ashland for the evening. She had told him she had time between this and her party. She might as well spend it on him.

Auntie Susan often relayed to him how much free time they would have after he finished his work, and always with a look of wanton lust on her face. If he felt like telling her anything he would tell her that firstly, he didn't care and secondly, if he wanted to take her to bed it would definitely require more than forty-five minutes. He might not be in his demon body but he still had stamina in spades. But he didn't say anything, especially not the second part because he felt like that might actually encourage her and that was the opposite of his intent. Instead, once he was done setting up the fold out tables and chairs, hanging strands of lantern lights that stretched across the yard from gutters to trees and back, staking tiki torches into the ground around the tables, he walked into the house with his shirt slung around the back of his neck his hands holding each end. Using the simple signs that he knew she understood, he asked for his favor.

Unsurprisingly Auntie Susan jumped at the chance to take him shopping. She loved buying him things. Victoria had dubbed her his sugar-free momma, which apparently meant she enjoyed doting on him even though he wasn't sleeping with her.

"It's so nice to treat someone who actually appreciates it." She told him as they paced through the racks of the department store. "I bet Caroline never takes you shopping? She's so selfish. All she thinks about is herself."

Hiei studied a pair of dark wash jeans with interest, barely acknowledging Susan's statements. He didn't own jeans. In fact, he didn't own any pants, only shorts. Well, that wasn't true. He owned the pants he'd arrived here in but they had been thoroughly soiled by living in that rotten house for a week before Victoria had found him. He only kept them so that when he eventually made it home he wouldn't show up to Mukuro in swim shorts and flip flops.

Though the shock factor might be worth it.

"You should try them on if you like them. Though, no offense honey, you might need to make sure the length will fit you." She held out the same pair in a different size a look on her face that counteracted her declaration that she hadn't meant him any insult. It was definitely a bless your heart expression.

Still, he accepted her offering and sauntered toward the changing rooms. Certain clothes he didn't even need to try on, he could pick them right off the rack but items like these he definitely had to check. As he went he paused, plucking a pair of pants that were softer to the touch free from their rack. A white stripe ran down the leg, the ankles were elastic and narrow, white drawstring tie around the waist. Perfect. He brought them in with him.

When he examined himself in the mirror he had to grin. Pants in this era didn't rise up on the waist as high as they had when he'd first met Yusuke. That look had started to fade the last time he'd been in Human World anyway. He liked the way these jeans fit him. He wasn't big on the material though. There was no give. If he was forced to run or jump he wasn't sure he'd be able to do it efficiently. With a heady dose of vanity he admitted that aside from their uselessness in combat situations, the jeans did look damn good on him. Switching the denim for the sweat pants he immediately felt more comfortable. In fact, there was no restriction when he leapt into the air or when spun around in a kick.

The jeans were a luxury. The sweats were a necessity.

When he freed himself from the changing room, he approached the same rack he'd nabbed the sweats from and grabbed a matching sweatshirt with a big leaf like design over six letters. Holding it up he could see that it would be just a touch too short for his torso but he didn't really care. He was shirtless most of the time anyway, who cared if his stomach showed under the hem of his sweatshirt?

His next stop, shopping bag in hand, was the shoe store. This time he didn't allow Auntie Susan to buy him anything. These he would get for himself as he knew the cost would tip him over into owing her something in return. With a trained eye he glanced over the offerings until he found a new pair of running shoes. Plain black of course. Trolling the walkways of the busy mall he picked his way into the sunglass mecca. All the employees regarded him with guarded familiarity. He ignored them, browsing.

The mall still caused him anxiety, but it was nothing like it had been the first time. Now he knew which stores to duck into if he needed to breathe. The people bumbling around like aimless bees were easy enough to dodge. He'd been in tighter situations.

"I'm going to get back so I can finish setting up. Want me to call someone for you?" Auntie Susan placed her hand on his back to gain his attention.

Hiei watched lifted his eyes from a pair of particularly tempting frames then shook his head no. Quickly he thanked her, because if he didn't Victoria would find out and do something to retaliate, before getting back to his inspection of the store's wares. Seriously. Even with five employees this place was practically begging for things to be stolen. The temptation licked at him, his palms itched but he forced the urge away. If Victoria was serious about thieving getting them banned he'd be out of luck. He needed access to this place so he behaved himself, pointed at the pair he wanted without a smile and stared down an employee until they got them for him. He watched them, diligent in making sure they didn't scratch his lenses like last time. These people were morons who took no pride in their work but they still peddled what he sought so he was forced to comply with their existence.

Glasses in hand Hiei reached into the pocket of his basketball shorts and pulled his phone from the depths.

This was another secret he kept from Kurama. So far the fox hadn't questioned Hiei's lack of interest in this world's technology and he wanted to keep it that way. If Kurama found out he had his own phone they'd have to exchange numbers (he'd already stolen Kurama's number while the redhead slept. Victoria's too.) and he'd have to download those stupid applications that Kurama loved. No way. He did not want to send snapchats or tweets. He wove expertly through the meandering masses as he thumbed through his messages to find Bethany's number. It was listed under Ashland's Mother. She was one of his three contacts. Just as he began punching in a text message to let her know to pick him up, he found himself in front of a salon.

Eyes glancing over the posters lining the hair cuttery's windows, Hiei exited his messaging app. He ran his fingers through his hair. He'd had a thought but for a few weeks he had dismissed it. There was a hairstyle he'd seen on a man and it had captured his interest but he had chosen not to commit to the change right away. He'd talked himself out of it in case Victoria miraculously solved the mystery of how to get them home. Now it seemed that wasn't going happen anytime soon so he figured, like all the other aspects of this existence he'd accepted, he could allow himself to try something new. So he walked into the salon and looked around. Spying the books of hairstyles laid out he flipped it open.

"Can I help you sir?" A woman approached him with one of those fake-helpful smiles that all human workers seemed to don.

He hoped they understood that showing their teeth that often was more of a threat than a comfort. Then again, from the fact that most of them looked dead behind the eyes maybe that's what they were actually going for.

He signed to her that he wanted a haircut. She stared back dully, then she frowned. "I'm sorry, I don't speak sign sir. Uh. Hold on."

Hiei rolled his eyes as she went to fetch a notepad. Instead of waiting for her he followed behind and set the book on the counter beside her register. With a single finger he tapped the picture of the style he wanted. She glanced from him to the picture then back up.

"Are you sure?"

He nodded once, eyes narrowing just slightly. She swallowed. Then she smiled at him brightly. "Right this way, sir. We'll be able to do that no problem."

"You changed your hair." Bethany shifted her attention to Hiei from the corner of her eye before going back to studying the road. "It's definitely different. You won't get lost in the crowd, that's for sure."

Hiei grinned, then let the expression fall. His eyes swept down her, picking out all the little details she was trying to cover. Tension in her shoulders, her grip on the steering wheel so tight her knuckles bleed to white. When they hit a stoplight and she turned to speak to him again, he didn't bother hiding his pulled down brows as he focused on her. She looked away quickly.

"Thank you for being able to watch Ashland. She really likes you and it means a lot to me that we're able to go these weekly appointments. Honestly, I think you might one of the only people I trust with my daughter. That seems so weird to me. I don't actually know that much about you." She began to ramble, her point lost as she continued to speak. After a few minutes they pulled into her driveway and she shut the minivan off but she didn't move to exit the vehicle immediately. So neither did Hiei. He sat and waited in silence.

"I like it by the way. Your new look." She told him unbuckling her seatbelt. "The hair is a little wild but it seems to suit you."

She gestured to his new clothes as well, which he'd changed into in the men's room at the mall. The dark denim and a white tee he'd hidden inside the sweatshirt Susan had bought him. He knew the sunglasses would be noticed but the store had so many shirts he figured the risk was minimal. Hiei glanced at the side mirror to admire his new cut. It wasn't as wild as she thought. He'd seen a few others with it. And the sides weren't shaved completely bald, there was still just enough hair to remind him he had some. The middle strip stuck straight up, styled to perfection by the suave hands of the woman who had washed, dried and cut his hair. The white burst from his bangs highlighted the mowhawk. They'd asked if he wanted to cover the shock of light hair but he'd adamantly declined.

It was only then he realized that Victoria had styled her hair the same way only a few short days prior.

He really hoped she didn't take this as a sign that he liked her. She was the sort of person who would grow insufferable with even the slightest hint of approval thrown her way. He could hear her taunting him now.

"Oooo Hiei likes me. He wants to be like me. That's so cute."

As Bethany finally chose to leave the van, Hiei moved slowly to follow. The truth was that he didn't dislike Victoria. She had grown on him. It was hard to deny that she did her best to provide him and Kurama with a safe, comfortable place to live despite her constant bitching and teasing. And now that he'd seen her in action he was glad she was on his side. That compulsion trick of hers could prove problematic, especially without his usual defenses to call on. Still, she never used it against him.

Not even after he'd cut her when they'd first met. He wondered about that actually, because it would have been the perfect moment for her to utilize that power. She'd chosen, instead, to rely on her human instincts and tactics, her weapon. She'd spoken to them angry but in control.

Victoria was a formidable woman capable of great damage if necessary. Those were things he enjoyed in his allies.

But he would die before ever admitting as much to her.

He wondered about her and Kurama though. The fox liked her, despite being a little unnerved by her brazen attitudes from time to time. He felt she was doing her best. Hiei knew he was right but it was the way Kurama had said the phrase that irked him. It was like he was giving Victoria leniency in some way, but Hiei didn't know for what or why. She had those stupid nicknames for the redhead too and Kurama just accepted them.

Hiei questioned, only to himself and never out loud, if Kurama would want to go back when the time came. He looked mighty comfortable in this world where everyone knew he was a man. He could thrive here.

Ashland ran into the room and threw her arms around Hiei's legs, breaking his train of thought. She squealed in delight when he gently peeled her off him and pushed her back, jumping at him again with a giggle. She was getting stronger. Hiei liked to think that was his doing. If he could leave nothing else behind him when he went back, he would be satisfied knowing he left Ashland stronger and capable of defending herself.

The thought of it birthed and unwarranted ache in his guts. One he tried to ignore. The idea of actually missing the little girl bothered him on multiple levels. He had thought about this before. He knew that even if Ashland came to his world she would never actually be safe. This happy, strong-willed child would be broken by the tumultuous nature of Demon World. She wasn't made for it and he would never dream of allowing her to suffer like he had. Plus, he wasn't sure he was cut out to be a solo-caretaker for indefinite periods of time so kidnapping the child was out of the question. Where would he even put her? He doubted Mukuro would allow him to keep her in the barracks. He'd have to find a tiny bed for her, and stuffed animals, and sparkly dresses with matching plastic shoes. No. It wasn't meant to be.

He'd enjoy their time together while they had it and then he'd leave with the comforting thought that she would grow up in a world that she could shine in.

"Uncle Hiei you have a mowhawk! I want a mowhawk too!"

Ashland's father laughed.

"Sorry honey but no mowhawk." Bethany negated the idea while cutting through the air with her hand.

Ashland turned to her curls bouncing as she pouted. "But, but, but-"

"You can have a mowhawk when you're older. Maybe for your birthday." Her father knelt and pulled his daughter in for a hug.

Bethany audible heaved an annoyed sigh.

Hiei briefly, in a fleeting fit of anger, considered clocking the man in the jaw. Not for dissuading Ashland from changing her hair, he didn't rightly care about that at all, but because he was still angry that the man had ever raised his voice to the child. What pissed Hiei off about it was that he would have never guessed. On the surface the family seemed perfectly functional, far more so than the other families Hiei had been privy to, but it seemed that was a lie. The fact it had flown passed Hiei angered him. Victoria had said it was under control, and he would believe her for now but so help him if that man did anything to hurt that little girl he was ready to take him out. A kappa would make for a great disposal system for a shitty dad. Instead of acting on his momentary rage, he bent down and scooped the small blonde into his arms, allowing her to toy with his new hair. He held her in one arm as though her weight meant nothing to him. In all honestly it wasn't a burden but if he stayed like this too long his elbow would strain.

Human bodies were useless meat sacks and he couldn't wait to be a demon again.

When he spied the dragon mark she'd drawn on her arm he used one hand to sign to her It's getting better.

She beamed at him hugging his neck.

"Okay you two, don't have too much fun." Bethany smiled at them both, kissing Ashland on the head. "She's already had lunch but she might want a snack. And she's used up her screen time for the day so no TV. Try to stay inside if you can, it's hot out."

Hiei nodded along like he always did. He knew the drill by now. He was an Ashland expert.

"Thank you for doing this Hiei." Bethany's husband patted his shoulder. Then he tickled Ashland while Hiei held her, grinning as she squirmed and squealed. Hiei fought the urge to shove him back. The random need to bite the man hit him and that too he repressed. "Miss you munchkin! We'll be home soon!"

It was supposed to be a secret, and the parents acted like this was their date night but Hiei knew what was really happening. Bethany was forcing her husband to attend some form of couple's counseling. Between travel time, the session and the dinner they always had after the whole event took about three hours. Hiei knew this because he watched Ashland every week for this appointment as she had run off her last three babysitters and only wanted him to be there. For anyone else she was an unholy terror of screaming fits, throwing things, running around. Hiei didn't believe it at all. It was hard to imagine the little creature being any form of menacing as they sat in the living room surrounded by her stuffed animals as she painted his nails with her tiny bottles of nail polish.

He had no been receptive the first time she'd tried to doll him up but then she'd cried and the sound got under his skin to the point that he'd given up. If he could record her doing that awful wailing he might be able to turn it into a form of sonic weaponry. Plenty of demons had sensitive hearing and if that screeching disabled him even with his senses dulled he could only imagine it's power if he supercharged it. For a second he reconsidered bringing her back with him again then quickly dismissed the idea once more. Still wouldn't work. He pulled his hand away as Ashland released him, allowing him to study the dark purple lacquer with it's embedded glitter.

Ashland did not have a steady hand. She'd gotten pain on his fingers around his nails but he didn't care. He could scratch that off once the paint dried.

"Do I look tough?" He asked, holding the hand up next to his face.

"Sparkly tough!" She beamed at him. "Your hair is spiky."

"Thank you." He smirked, pleased.

"Do I look tough?" She asked him, putting on her best mean face.

"Not at all." Hiei shook his head, watching her pout. He leaned forward. "But that's makes you dangerous. They'll never suspect you. Use that to your advantage. You just have to be stealthy."

She nodded earnestly.

"You remember the rule?"

"If I'm going to do it, don't get caught." She bobbed her head.

"That's right." Hiei held his other hand out to her. "Don't do a partial job. Finish what you start."

She started painting his blank nails. "Why don't you talk?"

"Don't want to." He told her.

"But why?" She pressed, the high pitched lilt of her question birthing a sigh from his chest.

"Just don't." He shrugged and the action made her hand slip so purple streaked over his finger. He rolled his eyes but said nothing. "Mind ya business, little girl. Focus on your work."

After his nails dried Hiei hunted for snacks for both of them. Ashton colored at the kitchen table, sitting on her knees to gain enough height to be comfortable. Hiei glanced at her. "Where are the secret snacks?"

Ashland slid from her chair and walked over to him, pulling herself onto the counter. She strutted over to the refrigerator and crawled onto that as well. Hiei watched her, impressed at her fearlessness. She carefully pulled open the cabinets that would otherwise be unreachable sitting above the appliance and pulled from their depths the expensive cookies her mother kept moving. With surprising grace she dismounted the fridge to land on the counter with quiet feet and then hopped to the floor with a big grin.

Hiei nodded, impressed. "See? Who needs to look tough when you can be stealthy?"

She extended her hand to him with a demanding look. "You gotta share. I did the work."

If he was the sort of man who cried, he would have shed a tear he was so proud of her.

Nearly three hours after arriving, Hiei sat on the living floor once again, listening as Ashland introduced her new toys to him. The completely inaccurate bright blue stuffed elephant. The miniature baby doll with plastic limbs and a soft body that she had dubbed Dennis. And finally she approached him with her hands behind her back. Hiei raised his eyebrows, arms crossed over his chest. He honestly couldn't care less about these toys. He didn't both feigning interest or a smile. He just sat there listening to her which Ashland didn't seem to notice. Or at least she never acted like she was bothered by his unresponsive attitude.

"I call this one Cookie. I love him the most." She produced a stuffed dragon toy, black and purple with shiny purple spiral horns that matched it's underbelly and claws. This one caused Hiei to blink. "Do you like it?"

Hiei offered a noncommittal grunt in response.

"I got it because you're my bestest friend and you like dragons so now I do too." She grinned at him, obviously delighted with herself.

Bestest friends?

Hiei stared at her, mouth opening to ask her what the hell that was about when the door opened and her parents came in. They carried a to-go bag of food from the restaurant they always visited on counseling days. Ashland changed gears like the wind shifted directions and screamed in excitement, running to throw herself in her dad's arms as he crouched to greet her.

"Hello monkey, did you have fun with Uncle Hiei?" He asked her.

"Lots of fun!" She threw her hands in the air. "Can Uncle Hiei spend the night?"

Hiei balked, making a face as he leaned away from the child out of discomfort. He shook his head in answer to her question not wanting to wait to see if he'd get permission or not. It had been a day of constant socialization and now he was ready to go home and recharge. That thought stopped him for a second, as he realized he was comfortable enough to call the lake house home. This place was making him soft. He needed to do something to counteract the attachment he was developing. Maybe he'd sleep on the boat so he could get annoyed by the sound of insects and the constant attacks of mosquitoes. Whatever it took to remind himself this world was a hellhole he was trapped in and not a place he should grow to enjoy.

"Hiei has to go home honey." Bethany explained to Ashland when ASHLANDS DAD didn't respond to her question.

"But I want him to." Ashland's bottom lip poked out, her arms crossing over her chest. She slowly shifted into a scowl and Hiei glimped the demon underneath for the first time. "You're mean mommy!"

Bethany's shoulders sagged, her eyes moving to her husband. Her eyes clearly implored him to say something but he didn't. Hiei watched the exchange and decided if this sorry waste of space wasn't going to do something to aid his wife, then he'd have to. So he walked over pointed at Ashland's nose with his own scowl.

Be nice or I won't come back. He signed to her. Your mom is right.

Ashland watched his hands move studiously, her little mouth forming around the words he signed pointedly. As she pieced together his meaning her pout grew more pronounced.

"But I-"

Apologize. He demanded, pointing at Bethany.

Bethany watched the interaction with soft surprise shaping her expression. She waited for a moment as Ashland huffed and sighed then finally the little girl looked at her mother.

"Sorry mommy. You're not mean." Ashland looked down to the side.

Bethany turned to Hiei in awe of him for a moment. Her eyes wide, her mouth hanging open slightly. Then she shook herself. "Thank you baby. I have to take Uncle Hiei home now. Say goodbye."

"Bye Uncle Hiei." Ashland spoke sadly.

Hiei tucked a knuckle under her chin and raised her face. Then he offered her a quick grin, mussed her curls and turned to leave.

On the ride back, he spent most of the time in his own head. Ashland had grown so attached to him. Was that alright? Should he stop going over? Eventually he'd leave. He knew, better than most, what it felt like to be abandoned by someone you considered family. Was he setting her up for that upset? Would she understand that when he left it wasn't because of her but because he had to go? Could he relay that this wasn't her fault? He didn't want her going through the same rejection he'd felt when the bandits had turned him away.

"Thank you."

Bethany's voice cut through their silent ride and it took a minute for Hiei to register she'd spoken as lost as he was in his thoughts. He turned to her, brow raised.

"For talking to Ashland. It gets hard being the bad guy all the time. I don't get a lot of support in that. ASHLANDS DAD loves her, I know he does, but he wants to be the favorite all the time so he never tells her no. So, it means a lot to me that even though Ashland adores you and you adore her, you were willing to tell her no." Bethany inhaled unsteadily, then sniffled, her eyes misting.

Hiei glanced at the ground as they drove wondering if he could tuck and roll out of the vehicle to avoid this conversation.

She wiped at her unshed tears, took in a deep breath, and then let it out as she calmed herself. That was it. She was done with the outburst and Hiei tipped his head as he studied her. Not in the same way as Mukuro, Bethany had a strength about her. Even though she was under the pressure of being the dominant parent and it was obvious it didn't sit well with her all the time, she still soldiered on. She accepted the burden, she shouldered it and even when it was too much, she handled it. That was admirable. He understood where Ashland got her obstinate will.

Instead of refusing to respond, Hiei chose to recognize her. He nodded when she looked at him. They pulled into the gravel driveway of the lake house and Bethany parked the van with the engine still running.

"Oh! Wait. I learned some ASL." Bethany held up a finger to him and shook out her hands. Then she told him in slow motions she absolutely had to think about as she went Thank you for what you do.

Hiei begrudgingly admitted to himself that despite his constant misgivings about this strange soft world, he actually enjoyed a lot of it. Victoria would never know lest she get any ideas about not sending them back. He also refused to tell Kurama because if the fox discovered he'd grown a soft spot for the lake house he would never let it go. The food here was good, flavorful and he liked the various spices. There were so many options. The entertainment was pretty good too, HBO knew how to catch his attention. And then there were the people. The annoying, overly friendly, touchy people. He hated most of them but he supposed if he was being forced to reveal a secret or die he would say that there were a handful of them he actually liked.

So he snorted, smirking and answered Bethany's stilted attempt to communicate with him. No problem.

A/N2: HA. Surprise author's note at the bottom. Just wanted to mention that technically Hiei's hair cut is a faux hawk, and someone will eventually point that out. Just saying. I didn't want someone coming into the comments to be like "uh, not a mowhawk sweetie" because I'm aware. Thanks babes! See you on the 15th!