They watched in silence as the teargem clattered at the feet of the young girl, her inhumanity now proven.  In silence they observed the fire demon flicker from his branch down to the ground before a shocked Kireina and a solemn-faced Yui.  In silence they trailed his movements as he snatched the offending pearl in disbelieving hands and stared at it, agony in his red eyes.

"So," she murmured at last, hanging her head beneath the weight of a non-physical burden.  "You were right."

He didn't answer.  He didn't need to.

"She cries the tears I can no longer shed."  She felt the intensity of his unwavering gaze as he redirected it upon her.

"Why do you say that?"

"Because it's true."

"Not necessarily."

In the world beyond the two observers, life moved irrevocably onwards.  Yui reached out with one curious hand to touch the white forelock of the jaganshi - and laughed, her sorrow lost instantly.

"Star man!" she crowed in delight, ruffling the starburst earnestly as the jaganshi stared at her in amazement.

"She's just like you were."  His voice was soft, but his words cut at her heart.

"No," she replied.  "More like she was before - "  She couldn't finish.

Under their watchful eyes, Kireina moved to disentangle her young charge from the fire demon, but was waved away.  Cautiously, as though she was made of the most fragile glass, he lifted Yui into his arms, wondering eyes taking in the sight of her as a dehydrated man might drink from a cool, fresh stream.

She blinked up at him, emerald eyes totally innocent, completely trusting in him; and she smiled.

"Hiei?" Kireina called his name uncertainly.  "Hiei-papa?"

"She's not - "  He broke off, his voice wavering.  "She -  they - "  He raised his eyes to meet hers, blood red orbs caught and held by her calm blue gaze.  She shook her head, flaming red hair streaked through with grey dancing a little in the soft breeze.  Only when Yui whimpered in pain did he tear his eyes away, loosening his grip on the little girl, with wordless apology given by comforting hands.

She smiled up at him, sliding her arms around his neck and pressing her pale blue-green head against his shoulder.

The female observer sighed in a mixture of joy and sorrow, for future hopes and past troubles.

"Will you stay?" her companion inquired.  "Will you tell him?"

"Will you?" she countered as their gazes locked in a conflict of heartache.

After several moments, he nodded silently.

"Will you tell him everything?"

"Would you have the past repeat itself?" he returned.  "She could become like you - "

"No!"

"She is yourself reborn, in a way - "

"I said no!"

They fell into silence once more, observing Hiei's trembling hand reaching out for the one he had once called his daughter.

"Kireina," he croaked, his voice roughed with emotions long repressed.  "Forgive me?"

"Only if you can forgive me," she replied, catching his fingers in her own, and letting him pull her towards him.  Caught between them with wide eyes, Yui laughed and wriggled until she was embracing them both with her small arms.

"I just wish," Hiei whispered hoarsely, "I just wish that they could."

Kireina hugged Hiei harder in response.  "I'm sure they do.  Wherever they are, I'm sure they do..."

"Do we, Yukina?"

She shuddered, bowing her head.  "There is nothing I haven't forgiven him for long ago."

"He doesn't know that.  He won't believe it until you tell him yourself - and perhaps not even then."

She clenched her fists, then unclenched them slowly as he waited for his response.

"I just need some time, Kurama" she faltered, almost pleading with him.

"I have all the time in the three worlds," he spread his hands, open-palmed, then closed them as he gestured to the trio who remained ignorant of their presence.  "They do not.  She does not."

She gazed at the three in silence, knowing she was under his watchful eyes.  Eventually she pulled her hood back over her head, hiding her identity from the world in the folds of her cloak.

"Soon," she promised as she turned her back on them all, flitting off into the warm afternoon, leaving just a wisp of a breeze to mark her passing.

The spirit smiled slightly as he turned his gaze back to the small group who had found some comfort in each other's arms.

"Soon," he echoed, as he continued his endless watch over those he loved.