Mukuro saw herself in the mirror, but not as she was. She saw a younger version; the Mukuro from before she had poured the acid on herself. She had porcelain skin, and two perfect eyes. She had very little arm or leg strength, but it was suiting. The young girl had long orange hair that went down to her lower back, and a black lace dress. She wasn't happy, but it was hidden by her defensive barrier of hate and offensive scowl. Maybe she should have just stayed that way. Maybe if she remained in that place, and waited to get older, she would have been let free anyway. If she was sold to someone else, she could have escaped. They would not have kept the same chains. Maybe she would have become more than just a slave, and just been docile.
Then she would not have become a fighter. She would not be feared by every low-class demon that had the unfortunate luck of coming within her gaze. She would not be known as a ruthless killer; a murderer; a brute. Why do these words bother her now? Why was there such a difference between what she was and what she wanted? Recently, all Mukuro wanted was to hear someone say, "You're just beautiful," and for him to mean it; not just be saying it because she was pinned down and at his mercy. She cannot just tell herself "Oh, I'm beautiful." That would be ridiculous and stupid. She is not beautiful and she would never be pretty. She is a deformed demon who has no place in her life to be simply loved. She should just fade away and die. No one wants her here anyway.
But then Mukuro heard a series of deep breaths from the slumbering fire demon in her bed. She looked over to see him sound asleep on his back, barely moving. Initially, Hiei came to her as a means to find death. Within months of having her underlings "train" him, she could tell that he could fight better, even though he had already passed her expectations. As he continued on, becoming stronger and stronger, she began to understand what had happened during his life. She realized that they were not so different; she had just taken the next step in the opposite direction.
Mukuro's mind drifted off to when the two were ready to face off during the first Demon World Tournament. She remembered finding herself lacking a lot of her strength; a lot of motivation and hatred. If Hiei became the dragon during the fight, she would have surely been defeated. But he did not use it. Instead he used his second most powerful attack to break her free from her past. From the start, the battle was not just a means to discover who was stronger; it was a discovery of themselves and each other. So that was twist that fate had in store for the both of them: if Mukuro hadn't strove to become stronger, if she had just given up and left herself in the "beautiful" state; if she had decided to take her life then, she wouldn't have met him. She would have never actually loved someone. He probably would have ended his own life too.
He was too good for that. He had the biggest heart, even though he continuously hid it from the peering eye. He was meant to save them both. She had to be freed by someone who felt a similar pain to her, and would spend the rest of his life with her. It was fitting that she should stay alive. She slowly got back into bed, and rested her head on Hiei's chest.
Yes, it was perfect this way.
