False Pretenses - Part 39

Keshiki, Kurai, Fuyu & Minora are mine.

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 Shizuru eyed the blue-eyed youkai thoroughly, smoking another stub of cigarette.  Keshiki eyed her back curiously.

"So, what are you really?"

Keshiki's eyes glinted.

"I'm a youkai, same as Hiei."

Shizuru laughed a little.

"You're not answering me correctly."

"NANI?"  Keshiki asked in confusion.  This ningen woman was really strange!  "What do you mean?"  Keshiki asked slowly as Shizuru stopped laughing.

"Hmm? I'll tell you when I'm in the mood."  The young woman said and stood up, leaving a completely puzzled Keshiki behind.

"What did she mean by that?"  He wondered aloud.

"Hey, Keshiki!  Come on over and join us for a stroll!"  Yusuke called out to him.  Keshiki waved back at the young man.  He knew that was Yusuke's signal to mean that they were going to have a "meeting."  The youkai made his way into the room where Hiei was recuperating and stopped in mid-stride when he heard the fire demon talking with the healer.  Keshiki frowned.  He was sure that there was something special going on between Hiei and the ice maiden, Yukina, but Yusuke and the others were not telling.  He could feel the palpable fear and concern of the ice maiden for the fire demon.  Recalling the faces of the two, Keshiki had to smile a little.  They had the same eyes and the same look of determination.

"Hey, are you coming or not?"  An exasperated Yusuke called again.

"Coming!"

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 Hiei was sitting up, patiently awaiting Yukina's verdict.  The dainty ice maiden was doing a thorough check on the fire demon's newly healed wounds.

"There!  You're perfectly fine now, Hiei-san.  You're as good as new!"  Yukina said and handed over Hiei's black cloak.

The fire demon nervously took it from her.  Until now, he wasn't completely comfortable being near his secret sister.
"Thank you."  The fire youkai said quietly.

Yukina smiled sweetly at him.

"No, please, don't thank me.  It wasn't really I who healed you.  You have to thank Kurama-san for that."  She said cheerfully, bending over to start putting away her medical supplies, unaware that the fire demon's ruby eyes had widened, tall body tensed.

"Ku-Kurama...."  Hiei whispered softly.

"Umm, yes...."  Yukina continued.  "You might not have made it, if Kurama-san hadn't infuse his healing ki on you."  She said, her face becoming unconsciously grim.  Deep inside her heart, she felt a connection with this moody fire demon.  She couldn't explain it, but something inside of her recognized Hiei as a part of her own being.  She sighed, turning slightly away from the youkai.  She had wished to stop searching for her brother.  She had hoped to find Hiei to be her brother.  But nothing, he had never hinted or gave her hope that he was her brother indeed.  On the contrary, the fire demon was wary of her and yet he was always  there for her and  her troubles.

"I-I have to go now."  Hiei spoke, startling the ice maiden.

Yukina forced a smile on her face.  Hiei was fidgeting, wanting to get away as fast he could, but why?  Didn't he know that his actions had aroused her suspicions that he was her estranged brother?

Hiei eyed Yukina guardedly.  She seemed to be occupied with something and now she was smiling up at him, though her eyes were sad.  Hiei dismissed the thought swiftly and nodded brusquely.

"Yes, please be careful."  The ice maiden murmured as Hiei stopped and stared back at her.

"Thank you again."  Hiei said and with a very rare smile to the ice maiden, he flitted off.

"Come back again, oniisan."  She whispered, smiling at her own silly thoughts.  She went back to her task.  They had to clean up and bring everything back to the Kazuma residence.  That meant leaving the temple spick and span.  She turned to exit the room, when a hand clamped on her mouth.

Shizuru suddenly came to the doorway and screamed.

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To be continued ...

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