There was a moment of silence and Alastor spoke up.<span style="font-style: italic">"Now you're supposed to say something."</span><span style="font-style: italic">Oh, really?</span>Hiei thought.<span style="font-style: italic">Really not much of a one-sided conversation then huh?</span><br/><br/>"Well, you're right; I don't understand," Hiei stated evenly. He really had no experiences to fall back on that might help him understand what Anaka was saying. Hiei had always been alone, he'd even put up a wall trying to keep people out. He didn't know anything about connections like what she was talking about. Vaguely, Hiei could remember having a family, but he'd never opened up to them either.<br/><br/>Near the end of what Anaka was saying, she talked about facing Vaan. Hiei thought she was probably talking about something more passive, like sitting and talking, but it was just easier for him to think of it in terms of battle. He wondered how strong a person could be after separating from their demon. Usually, they didn't even survive, from what he knew at least...<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"Earth to Hiei,"</span>Alastor jumped in.<span style="font-style: italic">"If she asks you a question, you're supposed to <span style="text-decoration: underline">answer</span> it."</span><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Oh. Right.</span><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Jeez,</span>Alastor thought to himself. What was he? A nanny?<br/><br/>"Well..." Hiei said, giving the best answer<span style="font-style: italic">he</span>knew, "if you don't think anyone else can do it, you'll just have to do it yourself." Typical Hiei: rely on no one and do everything yourself. Alastor thought it would have sounded much more impressive if he'd said something about how she could always rely on her friends and that he would be there for her... But the demon knew that just wasn't going to happen. The demon hoped Anaka wasn't taking this advice too seriously. It wasn't very smart to take advice on relationships from a recluse.<br/><br/>"... I may not be able to understand any of this, but I've heard it sometimes helps people to "vent"."<span style="font-style: italic">Wow,</span>Alastor thought.<span style="font-style: italic">Three sentences. Possibly a new record.</span>