Chapter 13: Lamenting Beauty

Ranumi's POV

It's been about a week since the mission in maze castle and with the whole town being controlled by the Makai insects, so far things have been pretty quiet.

It was a Friday morning and homeroom was about to start as all of us sat in our seats as our adviser arrived.

"Good morning class." Our teacher greeted us as we greeted back. "Alright everyone, since we'll be having our annual school anniversary, the principal told me and every other teacher in their class that the students are going to perform a class dance for the event." Our adviser said as everyone in the class started to get excited about whom will they be partnered with, or anything related to the dance. "Of course, which means you will need to have a partner for the dance you will be performing. Go ahead and use this time in practicing for the dance."

All of us got up from our seats as well all carried our desks to the side to practice for the dance. Chiharu came to me with a big smile on her face.

"Oh my god, Umi. I'm so excited for the dance next week." She said, having her arm around my shoulder.

"Yeah, it will be great and I'm sure we'll have some fun during the event." I replied,

"So do you have someone in mind whom you wanna go with?" She asked, making me blush a little bit obvious,

"No, and I don't mind of who asked me or not." I said faking a smile as she looks at me mischievously,

"Oh? ~ Are you sure that you don't wanna ask a certain redhead to dance with you? ~" Chiharu teased, making my blush very obvious. "Ha! You should go ask him, girl. I mean you two are practically perfect for each other."

"Chiharu. I'm sure there are a lot of girls that wanted to have Shuichi as their date and I want him to choose any girl that he would like to go with, not put him under a lot of pressure." I explained, "Besides, me and Shuichi are close friends. That's good enough for me if he wants someone else to be his date." I told her, suddenly feeling a slight pain when I said the last part.

"Well, speaking of Shuichi, do you know where he is, Umi?" Chiharu asked seeing that Kurama isn't present in class.

"Not really sure." I lied, knowing that Kurama is in spirit world right now, and told me before he left. "But you know boys, they have their secrets, and we girls have ours."

"That's for sure." She said as we started helping in the choreography of the dance for the remainder of the time.

Hayami's POV

I'm currently in the grocery store buying some food that we need. Father was supposed to accompany me in doing this, but he was told that he was needed at his workplace for an emergency. Hiei was needed in spirit world for something but didn't say anything else about it.

I walked around an aisle I reached out for the last item needed until someone grabbed it before me. I looked at the person, only to see Hiei was beside me, holding out the grocery item. He was wearing the casual clothes that father picked out for him.

"What are you doing here, Hiei? I thought you were in spirit world." I asked and he handed me the item as I put it in my basket.

"I was, just didn't know I would deliver a tape to the detective." Hiei said,

"Koenma made you come all the way to spirit world just to make you deliver a tape to Yusuke? Isn't that Botan's job or something?" I said as we both started walking towards the checkout lane.

"Hn. That's what Yusuke said." Hiei said putting his hands in his pocket,

"Probably his next case. Might as well know what's in that tape later." I said as Hiei helped me check out the grocery items I bought.

Hiei held half of the groceries while I carried the other half as we walked back to the house. I then started flashes of the ones who killed my mother. I tried shaking those images away but what could it mean?

"You alright, Onna?" Hiei asked as he looked at me in a slight concern,

"Yeah just..." I trailed off placing a hand on my face as I try to shake the thought away. "...just having flashes of my dark past. That's all, nothing serious or anything." I said,

Hiei just nodded as we continued to walk back to the house. Though I know Hiei is looking through my mind right now, mostly because I could feel him in there. Not saying it's annoying, but I eventually got used to it.

We arrived at the house as we put the bags in the kitchen, while I went up to my room to have my mind rest. I was about to open the door when I heard the doorbell ring, and I rushed down towards the front door. I opened the door to see Yusuke, Kuwabara, Botan, and Ranumi, while Yusuke was holding the tape Hiei gave earlier today.

"I'm guessing I'm needed in your next case." I said nonchalantly,

"That's right." Botan said until she noticed something. "Hayami are you alright? It's like you have not gotten any sleep."

"I'm fine, really." I reassured her, "Anyways, what's the next case, Yusuke?" I asked,

"Well-" Yusuke was about to tell me until Kuwabara cut him off,

"We gotta save the most beautiful girl on the planet!" Kuwabara said, making me and Ranumi sweat drop at his antics. "She's in danger by really greedy humans and we gotta go save her!"

"Mind telling me who's this 'girl' we need to save first?" I asked leaning myself to the door.

"Her name is Yukina." Yusuke said, almost making me slide my body off the doorway.

I swear Hiei is now listening from the kitchen. Just the feeling of his eyes on this conversation right now gives me chills down my spine.

"Y-Yukina is her name?" I asked, pretending like I don't know who she is but in truth I do.

Before I could speak again, Kuwabara just fled and said that he will be taking a bus.

"Do you think he knows the direction to the bus station and that he's going the wrong way?" I asked dumbfounded as I stared in the direction the idiot went as Ranumi and Botan sweat dropped,

"He'll get here in a few hours maybe." Yusuke said,

"Anyways, I'm sure Kuwabara doesn't know that Yukina is-" Ranumi was about to finish until I cut her off.

"Yukina is Hiei's twin sister. Pretty sure he wanted to go straight to her before finishing the tape you watched." I said,

"Wait Hayami you knew?" Botan asked,

"Hiei told us a few months ago that he has a sister." Ranumi said, "He's been looking for her for years."

'Hayami, I'm going to follow. Those humans will pay for kidnapping her.'

'Hiei, you have been given strict orders to not kill humans, or else you'll be punished severely.'

'The fool's right. Yukina is in danger and who knows how long she will break in the hands of those filthy humans.'

'I understand Hiei. Just...promise me one thing once we've found her.'

'What is it, Onna?'

'Tell her that you are her brother.'

'Hayami, I'm not telling her anything about me.'

'It may be your decision to not tell her, but Yukina is your sister. She deserves to know that you're alive and have been looking for her for years.'

'Hayami!'

I could tell he was angry at this point, but it's better than a family is honest with each other, even if the situation will be difficult as time goes by. 'Either you tell her or forget about choosing me as your mate because I'm not thinking twice about giving the ring back to you Hiei.' I ended our conversation with that and I knew he was shocked to hear that coming from me.

I wasn't in the mood to argue but now I'm mentally exhausted.

"Well, shall we get going, or do you need to change first?" Yusuke asked me as Ranumi said that she'll be staying in the house.

"Just give me five minutes." I said as I head towards my room, slamming the door as I placed my head on it and just put up my mental barrier as I cried silently, sitting on the floor.

I hated the feeling that I'm really arguing with the one person that I've always wanted to be with. I just hate the ache that I'm feeling in my chest. I took out the ring he gave me as I stared at it, despite my tears running down my face.

Hiei wanted me. He wanted me that bad, but I can't bring myself to tell him that I wanted him as much as he does. Ever since the mission in maze castle, I knew from there that Hiei never wanted me to suffer or get hurt from anything or from anyone. And I loved him for that. Hiei's an honorable man for sure.

I wiped away my tears as I picked up my gem tears and placed them on my table along with the ring. I don't want to bring it with me, but I can't lose it either. I went to my closet to get changed.

After changing, I grabbed my sword and went downstairs telling Ranumi to tell father until he comes back. I noticed that Hiei's presence wasn't in the house anymore and I knew he went to look for Yukina. I couldn't blame him. He's overprotective about her and I'm overprotective of Ranumi.

I gave her a hug before me, Yusuke and Botan left to go and find Kuwabara and head to the bus station. We arrived two hours later at our destination.

"Wow, now this is a big waste of space." Yusuke said sarcastically,

"You know Yusuke, some people do love the wilderness." Botan said,

"Agreed. Give you a sense of adventure and a sense of peace." I said when we saw the forest in front of us.

"Yeah, like old hermits who don't know how to talk to girls." Yusuke said as Kuwabara started walking towards the forest. "Hey, where are you going?" He asked, but Kuwabara didn't reply as we just followed him while I took out my water mirror to have a clue to where we needed to go in order to find Yukina.

We walked up a hill to see where we are in our surroundings, and I will admit that I loved the view. Kuwabara then came down rushing towards the bottom of the hill, saying that he was coming to rescue Yukina.

"Wait for me Yukina! Your true love is coming!" Kuwabara said as he rushed off without us.

I sweat dropped at this as I let my mind barrier down. No doubt in my mind that Hiei would want to know where I am at this point. Yes, I'm annoyed by his reason to not tell Yukina, but she's his damn sister. And no doubt that she will ask who he is to her. Other than that, I can't help but feel worried for him as well.

"I guess he's done being in love with you and Ranumi, Botan." Yusuke said to Botan,

"Darn." Botan said,

"WHAT ARE YOU GUYS WAITING FOR?! WE'VE GOT A GIRL TO RESCUE!" Kuwabara yelled at us.

"Shouldn't we tell him about the rest of the video?" Botan asked sweat dropping at him,

"I'd hate to ruin his fun." Yusuke said,

"I think it's better if he doesn't find out about Yukina being Hiei's sister for a while." I suggested, "At least this keeps him motivated and focused. Not to mention determined."

"I guess you're right." Yusuke said putting his hands in his pockets,

"Anyways, I'll scout ahead for anything of what's to come." I said, "I'll give you and Kuwabara a heads up." I gave him a small blue tear that I cried earlier. "Once this gem glows it means I spotted something coming in your direction."

"Thanks. We'll meet up later." He said,

I nodded as I jumped from tree to tree as I used my water mirror to see where Yukina might be imprisoned, but so far nothing is showing up on the mirror. I sense a demon coming towards the path Yusuke and the others are headed and I immediately warned them about it.

Watching through my water mirror I see Kuwabara slicing the green octopus-like demon and Yusuke shooting his spirit gun at it.

'What weak demons they are.' I thought until I sensed more coming their way.

"Yes, what pathetic guards these filthy humans have." A deep silky voice was heard from behind me, and I immediately knew who it is.

"If you're gonna try and talk to me about what I said earlier, thanks but no thanks, Hiei." I said turning around to face him, "As much as I want to rescue your sister, I'm very tempted to tell her that you're her brother. And I'm not taking back what I said."

Hiei then suddenly smirked and backed me up against the tree with his hands against it, trapping me. My eyes widen at his actions as he leans closer to me.

"It sounds to me Hayami that if I tell Yukina that I'm her brother, you would be accepting me as your mate and if I don't, you wouldn't." Hiei smirked as he leans closer to my face, making me blush at the closeness he was giving. "Is that what you're saying Onna? That you've accepted to be mine." He teased,

He does have a point. Dammit.

"Well...when you put it like that..." I trailed off knowing what I said before just made me get more flustered as I closed my eyes in embarrassment.

It that moment, I was somewhat saying that I had accepted Hiei to be my mate if he did tell Yukina that he was her sibling. Dammit, me and my stupid thoughts blurting it out without thinking!

I then felt something pressed against my lips. It was soft and gentle. I slowly opened my eyes to see Hiei kissing me. I swear my whole face was red at this point. I slowly closed my eyes, returning his kiss as I felt him gently tilt my head with his hand, deepening the kiss.

We broke apart for air as we looked into each other's eyes. I noticed Hiei was also blushing but not as much as I.

"I love you, Onna." He said before disappearing in front of me.

I leaned against the tree and touched my lips. I couldn't believe that Hiei was that bold to actually do something completely out of his character. He really showed this side of him to me and not to anyone else. Not only that, but he was also my first kiss.

I felt like a high school girl getting giddy and squealing inside about a kiss. I could feel my heart beating fast at the sudden emotions that I couldn't explain. Hiei really makes my heart go crazy for him.

I quickly shook it off and focused on the task at hand as I continued to scout ahead, but I couldn't shake the blush and that small smile I still have on my face. Not that I'm annoyed, but I was happy about it.

Little did I know, Hiei was also feeling the same things as he continued to follow to save his sister.