Aw! That was really sad and definitely a very logical approach to the effects of Tarukane's abuse. I love how you really got into both Hiei AND Yukina's heads! Thank you so much for publishing! : D

ZOMG Yukina love. Onwards!

“Do you love him?”
- …There’s a place to start. Like whoa. And she just… keeps hanging laundry… and all hail Genkai, too.

Zwoof, it’s Hiei? Oh BOY. Yeah, I just gave up and read at that. But now I’m going back over.

“She smiled welcomingly despite her surprise, because it really was sweet of him to look after her, and she enjoyed his company. And, perhaps, for once he might admit that he truly did have news of her brother.”
- Understatement of month award, and also… she’s so sweet. Which you have reconciled with other things and so I can sit back and want to hug her for being adorable.

“The demon mentally weighed the pros and cons, prepared to flee with what remained of his dignity, before forging ahead.”
- Oh, darling Hiei. One’s dignity above all else, and there’s a reason he’s so fast… plenty of practice…

“Kazuma-san?”
- Oh, just… the sort of accidental taunting, buying time thing… awkward, accidental cruelty.

“You neither encourage his affections nor stop him from pursuing you. I know you aren’t cold enough to be toying with his emotions just because you like to watch the fool make an idiot of himself. So which is it?”
- Because for some reason I can HEAR Hiei saying this. No idea what about it, but it fits his voice.

“Kazuma-san says he loves me.”
- Because “says.” Not ‘does.’ Which is so perfect a catapult for going in, and so lovely just in and of itself, and… it places the crux of the thing on whether or not it’s true, whether or no she’s going to return his feelings, which makes it kind of a choice and much more compelling than ‘oh noez I can’t choose who I love and I shall love him/her forever no matter what’. Which has its place as well, but this way is just more interesting in this context.

“Hiei did not deign to grace the understatement with anything more than a snort.”
- Because hell yes. Understatement of the YEAR award.

“But Kazuma-san… doesn’t show it in his actions, that he loves me.”
- And I have no idea how to react to that, but, love.

“Hiei’s foot dangled slackly, brushing against the grass.”
- Something about that detail right before his reaction, it’s so perfect. Also I have to giggle because it’s a damn low seat if his feet can touch the grass.

“Are koorime hearts so icy that they are incapable of love?”
- And WHOA. That he’d say that to her… gut-punch.

“Steady hands pinched the clothespins around the fabric; harsh taunts had no effect on her composure, as Tarukane had quickly learned.”
- The hands forecast, and… ugh creepy. Turokane-Hiei comparison thinger. Your ability to make my skin crawl and tummy turn knows no bounds.

“Kazuma-san loves me, I know he does. And he says he does. But he doesn’t show it in his actions. It’s very strange and confusing, and I… I don’t know what to do, Hiei-san.”
- Because… Kuwabara… I mean he saves her, and shows off for her, and stuff. And yet, and yet… if someone isn’t getting it, who’s to say whose fault it is…

The hand thing. The touch and the slap and that… I can see it in my head, the moment repeated right over like something in “Dead Things.” That is so horribly disorienting and yes, I love you for it.

“If Yukina no longer registered the sensation of pain, then it was impossible for her to recognize the gentleness and love in the fool’s touches.”
- Oh god that’s beautiful. And awful. And wonderful. I am going to just… stop now. Mnah.

No, I’m gonna keep going after all because that concept is love. Perfect. You are a genius and I only hate you a little bit right now but I want Yukina/Kuwabara fluff to make up for it and I have a feeling “Scar” Chapter 1 isn’t going to be much by way of comfort…

Wow. Pensive. Demons have strong survival instincts and therefore can adapt to most situations. To adapt to pain in such a way...Hm...

Cya 'round.

There.

Been trying to figure out how to write something similar to this. Yukina basically is the girl who nither hates nor loves someone. She more or less cares for them all equally. So this makes complete sense.

Being whom she was back with the other Koorime, she was probably outcast there because she was born differently than the others and shielded herself mentally from it. When Tarukane came into the picture, she then shielded herself physically as well.

She doesn't like to see anyone get hurt because she knows how much it hurts herself. Thus why she stopped Hiei from killing him.

It also makes it hard for her to emotionally get close to anyone because her life has already been hard on her. But since she is relatively kind to all, no one really realizes the overall effect it has had on her. People aren't going to realize it because she never says anything or realizes it herself.

Sad how much I can understand the girl. Probably because I can see the similarities between our lives. I give major props on your job upon this.

First off, love the interaction in this, I can't put my finger on it but it's just right for them. Second, I don't know who I feel worse for--Yukina, for her numbness, or Hiei for the burden of knowledge and his inability to express affection, or Kuwabara for *his* inability to express affection no matter how hard he tries.

And it makes such perfect sense for Hiei to be jealous of Kuwabara not because Yukina likes him but because Hiei is unable to express his affection openly.

You balanced this out so perfectly...equal parts making me want to cry, and making me laugh. It's love. :)

And...I now officially adore you even more. Even Yukina participates, (though with much more of a conscience,) in tormenting poor Hiei...he never gets a break. That's what he gets for being so adorably anti-social.

The way you did this was really perfect...using Hiei's little experiment instead of just telling us first. It worked quite well...and gave me lots of chances to go "...?" at first when he first started.

Review isn't expressing all I wanted to say about this...because it's absolutely great. :) I just woke up though, so eloquence is a bit low. But, it's an awesome fic!

And...I think I need to go reread it again. It was a fantastic start to the day. :)

TTFN

Katia-chan

Nice. I never thought about it that way but really nice reflection over Yukina. Another good oneshot