We all know our favorite fire demon well. Hiei, the master of the Jagan. Hiei, the quiet one with the unthinkable destructive power. Hiei, the protective brother. Hiei, the one who can't stand humans and their stupidity. His tear-wrenching past made him who he is today. If it wasn't for the Ice Maidens fearing his raw energy and banishing him from their floating oasis, what would have become of this fire demon? If the bandits hadn't raised him, how would have Hiei became the master swordsman he had become? Read on, dear reader. Dive into the depths of a parallel universe where Hiei isn't the Hiei we know him as.
"I heard Hina gave birth to twins, and one of them is a boy!"
"She has broken the laws of our culture, and now she must pay for her mistake."
The wind swirled ice and snow around two women, one of them carrying two small children. Rui bade farewell to her friend, knowing that the death of Hina's children were scheduled for the next morning. If her children were to survive, this may be their only hope. However, the plains of the Makai might have the same outcome.
"Thank you, Rui. I will see you again. You have always been my best friend."
The young Ice Maiden held back tears and softly waved her hand, watching the other walk away in order to begin her new life.
"Mommy, Mommy! Look at what Hiei's doing!" Yukina dashed up to her mother, the bottom of her aqua kimono soaked with water from the small pond by their small home.
Hina looked up from her sewing and frowned, watching her young son slashing as the water with the sword he found while wandering around one time. The dark-haired fire demon was soaked by the time his mother noticed his frolicking.
"Hiei, stop playing the water! You'll catch a cold!" Hina frowned as her son simply waved and continued what he was doing, ever the defiant one.
Yukina tugged softly and her mother's kimono, her small five-year-old face begging for attention. "Mommy, can I go inside and play with my doll?"
"Of course, sweetheart." Hina ruffled her daughter's hair and started to head over to Hiei, still giggling foolishly while slicing unknown water foes.
"Momma, the fish keep moving."
Hina sighed softly. Oh, so that's what he's doing… "Hiei, honey, I don't think a sword is the best way to catch a fish…"
Hiei's face fell and let his sword hang loosely at his side. "Oh."
Hina watched her son head back to the house, a thoughtful expression on his face and leaving a trail of water behind him. She made a mental note to tell him to make a fishing pole. Hina sighed and made her way back to the porch.
Hiei plopped down on the floor in his room, it being cluttered with various trinkets that had been dug up from around the lake. He struggled with his black shirt and pants, feeling uncomfortable in the wet clothing. Yukina poked her head in and giggled, finding amusement in her brother being soaked. Hiei flushed and chucked his shoe at her, smirking as she dodged with a squeal.
Yukina grinned her sweet little girl smile and wandered into her brother's room, earning an uneasy glance from Hiei. He had already lost one shoe to his sister, leaving him with very little ammunition. The little Ice Maiden leaned over and gave the fire yokai a peck on his cheek, causing him to yelp with surprise and tip backwards a bit.
"Yukina!"
The dark-haired boy scrambled to his feet, leaving his left shoe and shirt on the floor. Yukina ran down the hallway to her room, pulling the door shut and locking her brother out. Hiei let a small pout appear on his face, crossing his small arms with frustration.
The fire yokai headed back to his room to continue changing, grabbing his black tennis shoe from against the wall. His mind flickered from thing to thing from his short life as he slipped on his other pair of black pants and blue top. The white starburst on his hair appeared a bright glowing white from the afternoon light shining in from the window above his dark blue bed.
In the next room, Yukina laid out in her light blue bed, clutching her rag doll in the crook of one arm. The afternoon sun beat down on her young face, highlighting the aqua locks that created a frame around her face. A red ribbon held the strands back from her neck, allowing the black string holding her mother's tear necklace to be visible.
Hina sighed softly as she cleaned up the small puddles on the floor of their small kitchen. Her memories flickered back to the day she left her best friend and her culture behind, all for her children. She often wondered what had happened to those from Koorime, but Hiei and Yukina kept her busy. She was thankful for their happiness, but sometimes she couldn't help but wonder what would have happened if she stayed in the Ice Maiden village.
They were safe enough from any trouble, away from Koorime, out on the plains of the Makai where most demons can be seen from miles away. Hiei's intense demonic energy also warded off many who would attempt to cause the trio any trouble. Their lives were calm and carefree, filled with simple joys. Hina knew they would have to leave her one day, but she desperately hoped that day wouldn't come anytime soon.