Do you know what a soul mate is? Now, this doesn't happen always, but it's not rare. When a soul is created, often a small piece is ripped off. *ouch, that sounds painful* Indeed. As I was saying. When a soul is created, a small piece is ripped off. That piece grows, and changes. Eventually, it becomes a soul of it's own and is able to be placed into a waiting body. As those two souls grow, they are inexplicably drawn to each other. A red string of fate, I believe humans call it. *Wait! Is that like how I found Yukina?* Precisely, Kuwabara. *But, I'm not a demon. Shouldn't we both be the same, if that's how it is* No. Your soul is able to find the perfect body, though we don't exactly know how it decides. And, as far as soul mates are concerned, human or demon or otherwise, none of it matters.

Shadow demons are… different. Even in Demon world. Every single one of them has a soul mate. And every single one of them is created from the other's soul. They also have a one hundred percent finding rate. Within the first year after they're born, they will always find their future mates. *So, Hiei and Manea knew they were mates from the beginning?* Yes. More likely than not, they haven't been apart for more than a year since she found him.

They differ from other demons in other ways, as well. For one, it's nearly impossible to gauge their true strength. They usually mimic their mate's energy. If they have a weaker mate, they will seem weaker as well. With a stronger mate, their power levels may read higher than they truly are. *But, I thought Hiei didn't want a mate? He's always going on about how stupid and irritating women are.* Have you ever heard him say that about Manea, though? *Well, no. Actually, he nearly cut the head off a demon for insulting her.* Exactly my point. He is her mate, even if they aren't able to make it official yet. *Why can't they make it official?* Hiei hasn't reached maturity yet. As for Manea, that's another way Shadow demons are different. They reach Maturity at the same time as their mate. Unless that mate was already mature before they were born, in which case they mature much faster than is normal. But that doesn't matter. For demons to officially become mates, they both have to have reached Maturity. *Oh! Kinda like how to get married, you both have to be adults?* You're catching on quicker than usual today. *HEY!* No offense. But, yes. It is like the custom humans have of marriage. Except, there is no going back. Once a pair of demons is actually mated, their lives are bonded. One can no longer live without the other. Now, as I was saying previously, Hiei has known most of his life that Manea is his soulmate. From what he's told me, he never really questioned it. To him, she is as necessary as breathing. Don't tell him I told you this, as I'm sure he would probably kill me, but he once told me that, as corny as it sounds, for him, it was love at first sight. He had woken one day to a strange, tiny creature clinging to him. He has never even considered another. And why would he? She was literally created just for him.


Alright, second part of the HieixManea story. Hope you all like this, I feel this answers some questions I didn't get answered in the last part... Meh. Oh well. Review, please! Love, Bunny