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 Hi, folks! Genki? Sorry about the sadistic signature of last chapter.
That was just by accident. I didn't mean to put that there. Gomen ne... ^_^
Anyway, here's something for all you drama-lovers out there: Chapter 12 of BHS.
Oh by the way...

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        Yukina gave another scream; the longest ordeal Hiei had ever had. It
was the last cry Yukina uttered before her head fell limply on her bosom.
The kitchen boomed with Raigo's laughter. "Your soul is mine!" He examined
Yukina's soul, then put it in the pendant he wore around his neck. Yukina's
lifeless body fell to the floor, along with a pearl-like jewel that fell
from her eye. Hiei stopped all movement. It was like his heart stopped as
well. Yukina... NO!!!

                                *    *    *

        The girl gave Yaten a sweet smile. "I don't need autographs from
homosexuals." Yaten looked stunned. She continued, "I just wanted to tell
you that your musical arrangement sucks! And don't ever bother touching a
camera. I've got it covered. I won first place at the photography contest,
and you didn't even make it to the runners-up."

        "No... That can't be..." An anguished Yaten said, as he fell to his
knees. "No..." A sharp pain stabbed his heart. He put his hand to his pained
chest, and felt a warm substance. His blood. Yaten stared at his smeared
hand in shock. Goho had stabbed him. Yaten's eyes rolled up into his head,
and his body fell to the ground. 

                                *    *    *

        Taiki turned his paper over, a conceited smile glued to his face.
His score was... Taiki gasped. No! It wasn't possible! He had received an F
for 11 points! Only 11?? But...

        The so-called Ami glanced at his paper, and laughed. "What a low
grade, Taiki-kun! Too bad. You know, even Usagi-chan could get a much higher
score!"  She tsk-tsk'ed, and walked out of the imaginary classroom. 

        Taiki was stunned. He couldn't believe this was really happening.
This was a lie! Nothing was real here! He was going to fight to prove it! He
stood up, knocking his chair over. He never made it outside. His limp body
lay sprawled on the floor as blood flowed from the wound on his left chest.
In the background, Goho laughed cruelly.

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Chapter 12
                           "Fire and Ice"

=========================================================================

        What a classy place this was. Yusuke had never seen such an elegant
coffee shop. He looked around in awe. Such beautiful framed paintings and
tapestries.

        "Are you done stalling, or do I have to repeat what I asked?" 

        Yusuke stopped looking about, and fixed his eyes on the girl in
front of him. Keiko. She put down her coffee cup, and closed her eyes to
ward off the irritation she was feeling. 

        She took a deep breath. "Well?"

        "A..." Yusuke faltered. "Ano... What did you ask anyway?"

        Keiko rose, and so did her temper. She slammed her hands on the
table so hard, that Yusuke almost jumped out of his seat. "Weren't you
listening?? I asked you..." Her tone softened, "What happened at the park
this morning?"

        Yusuke looked up at her; at those big brown eyes of hers. They were
looking at him, not with anger or spite, but with concern and... love.
Yusuke felt a lump in his throat. He knew he was being unfair to her, as he
neglected to regard her feelings.

        "I..." 

        "Rei-chan says to meet her at the Hikawa Shrine by three," Meiou
Setsuna interrupted, walking towards their table. She had entrusted Yusuke,
Keiko, and Botan with the senshi's identities. Behind her, Tomoe Hotaru,
along with Botan, followed, looking curiously at the couple.

        Keiko sat back, and dropped the topic by exhaling sharply. She knew
it was pointless to try to pursue the topic; to corner Yusuke. She looked
down at her coffee, both her hands wrapped around the cup. Her hands shook
with every breath she took, making the dark brown liquid ripple. 

        Yusuke's hands covered hers, making Keiko look up at him. His mouth
formed a smile. A sincere smile worth more than all the money in the world.
"Keiko, I'll explain everything when this is over. I'll make it up to you, I
promise." Keiko just smiled back in reply. There weren't any other words to
say. She trusted him, and understood him completely.

        Botan glanced at her watch. "Well then, it's quarter to three. We
must get going." Everyone nodded in reply. Just as they were about to head
for the door, someone kicked it abruptly, startling everyone. Kuwabara
stepped inside, carrying the lifeless body of Hinageshi.

        Botan's eyes widened. "Hinageshi!!!" She ran to her body, tears
forming in her eyes. "What happened?" She asked Kuwabara, her voice like a
whisper. 

        "The Meikai bastards got her," Kuwabara replied, his expression
unreadable. Kuwabara explained everything that had happened. He also told
them what Hinageshi had told him. Yusuke felt his heart drop. He knew that
that must have been hard for Kuwabara to see Hinageshi die before his very eyes.

        Yusuke felt this sudden urge to punch the wall. Damn those Meikai
scum!! Damn them all!!! He turned to Setsuna. "Setsuna, do you know where
the Meikai passageway is located? I'm gonna make those assholes pay for what
they've done!!" He cracked his knuckles.

        "You don't intend to stop the cause by going IN the passageway, do
you?" Setsuna said skeptically. "You know that that is out of the question."
Yusuke mumbled something in reply, and put his hands in his pockets.

        "Kuwabara-san?" Hotaru said, stepping forward. "I shall be in charge
of Hinageshi-chan's body. I may not be able to bring her back to life, but I
shall be able to heal her body just in case we get her soul back." Kuwabara
nodded, and put Hinageshi's body down on one of the cushioned seats of the
coffee shop.

        "Well then," Botan said, as she wiped the tears from her eyes. "We'd
better go now. We mustn't waste time."

        Tears. Yukina. Kuwabara remembered. My God, he hoped and prayed
Yukina was alright. Please, let her be alright...

========================================================================

        Time stood suspended. Hiei closed his eyes. This can't be real. No,
it can't be. He slowly opened his eyes, and saw Yukina's limp body by the
kitchen sink. No... Yukina! Hiei bowed his head, both fists clenched. His
Jagan had lost its glow. 

        Raigo continued to laugh. "Why is this girl so important to you,
Hiei? Are you getting soft? You've been with the humans too long!"

        Hiei kept his head lowered. "Urusai..." He said softly, his voice
shaking with emotion. Yukina was gone, and it was all his fault.

        "Because of this girl, Hiei," Raigo continued. "You became weak!"

        "Urusai!" Hiei said much louder, but still kept his head lowered.

        "She had very strong feelings anyway, Hiei," Raigo added. "Such a
gentle creature. Cooking for her loved ones, and... the search for her
brother. She was your sister, Hiei?"

        Hiei's eyes shimmered. Unshed tears. Sadness engulfed him, as he
clenched his fists tighter; much tighter, till they were sore and bleeding.
Yukina... Hiei couldn't restrain himself any longer. "URUSAAAAIII!!!!" He
finally raised his head, and charged for Raigo. 

        Raising his fists, Hiei tried as much as possible to punch and hit
the cold-blooded murderer called Raigo, but to no avail. Raigo floated like
a breeze out of Hiei's reach whenever Hiei would lunge at him. Raigo
chuckled. Such an emotional fool!

        With his energy spent, and his heart broken into several thousands
of pieces, Hiei collapsed on his knees. He gazed blankly at the messed up
kitchen floor; the only remainder of Yukina. Sweet Yukina. His sister. He
didn't even get the chance to tell her... Hiei took out a blue pendant from
his pocket. It was the only thing that kept the memory of his past alive. He
eyed the icy-blue color of the rounded talisman for awhile, then placed the
necklace over his head, and wore it on his neck. 

        Hiei turned to Raigo. "Kisama!! I'll never forgive you for what
you've done," He meant it as a threat, but he said it in such a soft, low,
and somewhat calm manner, that Raigo took a step back. "You're such a
low-life scum!" Hiei added. He lifted his hand again, and this time, a
bigger flame of dark fire appeared in his palm.

        Hiei's Jagan glowed furiously now. Vengeance blazed in his eyes.
"Now you're going to pay! JAOU ENSATSU KEN!!!" He attacked Raigo with his
black fire sword. Raigo took a quick step back, but Hiei was quicker, and
hit his chest. The powerful rei ki sword had burned Raigo, and at the same
time, cut the pendant he wore around his neck. It fell to the floor, and
cracked, freeing Yukina's soul from captivity.

        Raigo eyed Hiei with spiteful rage. "Kisama!!!"

        "Now feel the deadly power of the Black Dragon!" Hiei said. "You
should never underestimate me!! JAOU ENSATSU KOKURIYUUHAAAAAaaa!!!!"

        "Hiei, dame!!!" Makuro's voice sounded again. "You'll kill
youself!!! Hiei, DON'T!!!" It was too late. Raigo was much too powerful.
Raigo absorbed Hiei's Black Dragon with his evil eye. Hiei collapsed on the
floor for the second time. His enegry spent, and he was exhausted. He
couldn't keep his eyes open. 

        Raigo laughed. "Pathetic simpleton! I thank you for making me
stronger! Now you die!!!" He grabbed Hiei by the neck, and lifted him off
the ground. Hiei was too exhausted to move, and too exhausted to know what
was going on. Raigo gripped his neck tighter.

        Yukina slowly opened her eyes. The pain had gone, but she still felt
whoozy. She looked up, and saw Raigo squeezing the life out of the boy who
had saved her. No! Stop it!! Yukina couldn't stand it. A cry escaped his
lips, "YUKINAAAaaa...". The tears flowed from her eyes now, as the boy's
body fell from Raigo's grip. Raigo disappeared, followed by his evil laughter.

        Yukina struggled to get up, and ran to the boy's body. Please, don't
be dead. She prayed for this to be a dream; a nightmare. One by one, her
tears dropped to the floor with a clatter. This can't be real! Please...
Yukina lowered her head to the boy's chest, and sobbed. 

^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^   

        "Good morning, my friends! How are you today?"

        They chirped in reply. Their songs brought happiness to the little
snow maiden Yukina. She smiled at them, and they fluttered to her shoulder.
Her friends, the birds. They were the only ones who understood her. She
petted one with her finger, and very gently, kissed it on its little head.

        "There's a snow storm coming later," Yukina told them. "I want you
to stay in a safe place until the weather is alright, ok?"

        Instead of chirping a reply, they flew away. Something scared them.
Yukina looked up at a thick branched tree. A boy. He stared at her,
surprised, and was about to leave, when Yukina stopped him.

        "Please don't go," Yukina pleaded. "I don't have any friends here.
Just the birds. It would be nice to have a real friend to talk to." She
smiled up at him.

        The boy still looked surprised. "You wouldn't want to have me for a
friend." He looked away, but sat down on the stable branch instead of leaving.

        "Why not? Have you been watching over me all this time?"

        The boy looked thoughtful, rolling his eyes a bit. "I..." His
sentence was cut off by the unfamiliar sounds of humans. They were on youkai
territory, the idiots! They were trespassing, and that was more or less a
mortal sin to the boy. There were five of them. Four of them were armed.
"Yukina," The boy said. "Get away from here!"

        `How did he know my name?` Yukina thought. She felt extremely puzzled. 

        Yukina didn't know what happened next. She didn't know how it
happened. The last thing she knew, she had passed out. She had smelled a
strong aroma before doing so. Such a strange scent. She awoke with a piece
of cloth on her nose and mouth. Her mind was fogged, but she heard the boy
utter a cry. "YUKINAAAaaa..." After that, she had passed out again. It was
only until she woke up again did she find out she had been kidnapped.

v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v* 

        `I was young then, but,` Yukina thought, as she lifted her head from
the boy's chest. `It was you in the tree, wasn't it? You always watched over
me, and whenever I'd be in trouble, you'd always be there for me... like you
were my...` She stopped. Her lips formed the word. It came out barely more
than a whisper. "...brother..." She moved her hands to her mouth, a small
gasp emerging. 

^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^^**^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

        The burn on her left arm hadn't healed yet. The way they held her
was unbearable. Yukina winced. They held her arms tighter, as they watched
Toguro fight with the young man named Kuwabara Kazuma, from above. Yukina
didn't know the name of the other two; the other boy, and the blue-haired
girl. They intended to save her from the hideous man named Tarukane Gonzou,
who made a fortune from the tears she produced.

        After the long battle, Kuwabara Kazuma had won, however Tarukane
intended to escape along with Yukina. The door to the exit opened. There
stood a boy clothed in black. Tarukane's men pulled out their weapons. Human
weapons. But the boy was extremely fast, and took them all with his
deadly-looking sword.
They crumpled to the ground in a heap. The last thing Yukina knew, she was
free from Tarukane's painful grasp, and was now behind the boy.

        "I've finally found you, Tarukane," The boy said. "You're going to
pay for all the pain you've caused!"

        Tarukane took a step back. Fear. "No! Have mercy! We can work things
out, right?" Sweat poured down his panic-stricken face. "I know what you
want!" He pointed a finger at Yukina. "She's the one you want! Her tears are
worth millions. You'd like that, wouldn't you?"

        The boy lost his temper. It snapped like a wire, and cracked like a
whip. Yukina stared in horror, as the boy gave Tarukane a slug in the jaw,
then another, and another, until Tarukane's face was bruised and bleeding.

        The boy looked at Tarukane with digust, his face grimacing at the
ugly sight before him. He took Tarukane by his shirtfront, and said, "You
think it's THAT easy to forgive?? THINK AGAIN!" He raised his fist for a
deadly blow. His fist was now inches away from Tarukane's ugly face. 

        "Don't!" Yukina cried, and hugged the boy's fist to her breast.
"That's enough, please..."

        The boy, surprised, turned abruptly to look at Yukina. "You can't be
serious! This human is the one responsible for making your life miserable,
isn't that right, Yukina??"

        Yukina continued to hug his arm. "But... I don't want any more
violence, any more hardships. I have seen and felt so much of those. I don't
want to be a part of it anymore! Please, have mercy on him, please..." As
she said this, her jewel tears fell from her eyes, and landed on the floor
like marbles.

        His anger diminished. He took a deep breath, and looked at Yukina
with gentle eyes. "Now I understand. You don't have to be sad for this
person, Yukina." The boy let Tarukane go, putting him against the steel wall.

        Yukina let go of the boy's arm. "Thank you so much."

        The boy looked through the glass window, and down at the three
people who helped save Yukina. Yukina eyed him intently. "Who are you?
What's your name?" She blinked at him curiously.

        Startled, the boy looked back at her, his eyes wide. She asked
again. He looked thoughtful, rolling his eyes a bit. Then he answered, as he
looked back at the three people below, "I'm with them."

*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*

        "Hiei-oniisan," Yukina said softly, like a feather to her lips. "Is
it you?" She put her hand on his cheek, tracing his fine features. She wiped
her eyes, and snifled. "I could heal your body until the others rescue your
soul. I just wish I could do more."

        Yukina took a deep breath, and placed her hands on his chest,
summoning all her strength to heal the body of her dear departed brother.
She concentrated all her power onto her hands, and a moment later she passed
out, her head falling on Hiei's chest.

=========================================================================

        He didn't want to leave her alone, but he knew he had to check on
his family. Yusuke and the gang could take care of themselves, he knew.
Kurama ran, barely feeling the snow-covered cement walkway beneath him.
Makoto would be alright if she stayed in the apartment. She'd be safe
there... for now.

        "Kurama," A voice in his head called. "The girl is in trouble."

        Kurama stopped running. "Who are you??"

        "It is I, Kurama. Yomi."

        "Yomi! What are you doing in my mind?"

        "If we join souls, Kurama, we shall become invincible, and shall be
able to defeat Meikai."

        "The girl, Yomi," Kurama said. "How is she in trouble?" A wave of
uneasiness swept over Kurama. 

        "Maja--" 

        Kurama didn't even wait for Yomi to finish his sentence. He took
off, running towards Makoto's apartment. He didn't even bother to knock when
he got there. He checked the rooms, the bathroom, the kitchen... she wasn't
there. Dammit! Stubborn girl! He told her to stay put! He stepped outside,
and looked around. Where was she?? It was probably his sixth sense, but
Kurama had a sneaking suspicion that she went east, to the direction of the
mall. He rushed to the direction of the bridge, and stopped short when he
saw the evil Meikai warrior Maja, and Sailorjupiter. To Kurama's horror,
Sailorjupiter made a feeble attack with her leg, and gave Maja the
opportunity to kick her off the bridge! Sailorjupiter screamed, and plunged
into the icy water!

        "MAKO!!!" 

        Maja turned around to face Kurama. Maja looked as pleased as
Sunday's punch. A moment later, he laughed. "The girl's soul is mine now!
Tough luck, buddy!" He put Makoto's soul in one of his bracelets.

        `The bracelet! If I could just get the bracelet...` Kurama thought.
He glared at Maja, clenching his fists until the knuckles cracked. `Got to
get near him...` Kurama suddenly ran towards Maja. Startled, Maja wasn't
able to react right away. Kurama took out a thorned rose from his long red
hair, and turned it into a whip. "ROSE WHIP!!!" The deadly whip cut through
Maja's defenses, slashing his  arms, the bracelets breaking off his wrists.
They fell to the ground, and broke into tiny pieces.

        "Yaro~! You're going to regret that!!" Maja spat out, and disappeared.

        "Mako!!!" Kurama cried. He had to save her body, or else what was
the use of saving her soul if there wasn't a body to go with it? There
wasn't much time to think. Makoto would drown if he wasted more time! He
dove into the icy water, bearing the cold that numbed him.

        After a few minutes, Kurama dragged Makoto out of the frozen lake.
She was no longer Sailorjupiter. Kurama layed her on the snowy bank, trying
to catch his breath. It was cold, so cold. He looked at Makoto. Her lips
were a bluish color. No! She wasn't breathing! She couldn't die! He had to
do something! He produced a plant to keep her warm for awhile, then he
tilted Makoto's head back, and placed his mouth over hers, while pinching
her nose. He breathed into her mouth; twelve breaths a minute. Nothing.
Breathe! Breathe, dammit! He moved to her chest, and pushed downwards with
his hands. Still nothing. He placed his mouth over hers again, and breathed
the same twelve breaths a minute. "C'mon, Bright-Eyes, fight!" 

        A sound escaped her lips, then a cough. Her body shook violently
from the cold. Kurama gave a sigh of relief. "Bright-Eyes..." He whispered,
a smile forming on his face. He had never felt so relieved in his life. Now
that that was over, he had to get her to a hospital fast before she got
hypothermia. The plant he produced wasn't going to keep her warm for long.

==========================================================================
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