The air was thick with heat and pressure, the kind that made breathing feel like a chore rather than a reflex, as the clash dragged on longer than any of them had expected; even Yusuke Urameshi was slowing, his attacks losing their usual bite, while Kazuma Kuwabara struggled to keep his footing and Kurama calculated in silence, searching for an opening that refused to appear, and at the center of it all stood Hiei—breathing steady but shallow, eyes sharp despite the strain, his movements still precise but undeniably slower than before; the enemy wasn’t just strong, they were relentless, dragging the fight out, forcing exhaustion to settle into their bones, and Hiei clicked his tongue in irritation as his blade met resistance again, his body already calculating the cost of continuing like this—it was inefficient, and worse, it was becoming dangerous;

“You’re dragging,” he muttered, not bothering to look at Yusuke, though the insult lacked its usual edge, because the truth was, they all were, and if this continued, the outcome would shift in a direction he refused to accept—not like this, not in such a wasteful way.

And then, a sharp sound cut through the chaos. Tires. Fast. Sudden. Out of place.

Hiei’s eyes flicked toward the source instantly, instincts snapping into focus as a car swerved into the battlefield with reckless precision, skidding just enough to stop near them without losing control, the engine still running, the driver’s side window already down. "Get in if you don’t want to die out here!"

You called, voice urgent, cutting clean through the noise of battle without hesitation or fear. Kuwabara blinked. “What the—?!” Yusuke lit up hearing the familiar voice. Kurama’s gaze narrowed, already suspicious—but Hiei said nothing. He was watching you. Not your face—your energy. Faint. Controlled. Familiar in a way that immediately put him on edge.

You weren’t panicking. You weren’t hesitating. Whoever you were, you understood the situation far too well for a normal human, and yet, your presence had gone unnoticed until now. “…Tch.” That was enough.

“Tch,” Hiei grumbled, already sheathing his sword as he stepped toward the car without waiting for further discussion. “You’ll collapse before you win.” Said Yusuke as he got into the passenger seat without hesitation. “Hey—!” Kuwabara started, but even he knew Yusuke wasn’t wrong. Another attack from the enemy tore through where they had been standing seconds ago. Decision made. One by one, they moved—fast, rough, barely holding themselves together as they piled into the car, the door slamming shut just as you hit the accelerator again, tires screeching as you pulled them away from the fight and into the safety of distance.

Silence didn’t last long. Botan was healing Kuwabara, Genkai was tending Yusuke, and Hiei was watching the back of the car while glancing at you through the mirror occasionally. “Alright,” Kuwabara said, still catching his breath, eyes locked on you through the rearview mirror. “Start talking. Who are you, and why the hell are you helping us?!”

Botan nodded quickly. “Yeah! That was insane driving, by the way, but still—who are you?!” Kurama remained quiet, watching. But Hiei— Hiei’s gaze never left you. Sharp. Measuring. Unsettling. “…You hid it well,” he said suddenly, voice low, cutting through the questions.

A pause. “…but not enough.” His eyes narrowed slightly, something dangerous flickering behind them as he leaned back just enough to keep you fully in view. “You’re not just some passerby.” Not fear. Not accusation. Just certainty. "Guys! Cut it out! She's a relative!" Yusuke exclaimed.