Dreams of Fire, Dreams of Ice

Chapter One

It was cold, very cold. The boy struggled through the falling snow, searching…but he could feel, deep down, that it was probably hopeless. The Demon Plane was enormous. How could he ever find her…? He fell to his knees and cried, his tears gleaming as they hit the ground.

A coarse chuckle caused him to jump.

"Well, well, what have we here?" A rough hand grabbed his wrist. The child winced, crying out, struggling to free his delicate hand from the demon's grip. A shock ran through him as he saw his own hand. It was a girl's hand. Then reality melted around him…

Hiei woke up sweating. 'What…what was that dream?'

"Are you all right, Hiei?"

He looked down from his perch, but couldn't see the source of the voice. Then he looked up to see Kurama sitting on the branch in front of him.

"Don't do that," Hiei hissed. He didn't like being surprised.

"Are you all right?" Kurama pressed, concern in his leaf-green eyes.

Hiei turned away. "I'm fine."

"You were talking about Yukina again."

"Just leave me alone." He continued to stare at the bark in front of him as if it were the most fascinating thing in the world until he could no longer sense the fox demon.

'So…was it Yukina, then, that I was dreaming about?' he wondered. 'But why?'

--

There was fire everywhere, and she felt more rage than she had ever felt in her whole life, more rage than she thought she could contain. Then the flames faded from her vision, and she felt a small thrill of fear trickle down her spine before it vanished. She felt a terrible strength growing inside of her…

'I will not die here,' she thought with a ferocity that frightened her. 'I have not come this far to be defeated by a second-rate demon!'

Yukina was shaking as her eyes flew open. Her short, sharp gasps of fear soon woke Genkai.

"What's wrong, Yukina?" she asked.

"N-nothing. It was…just a nightmare."

Still shivering, Yukina walked outside to look at the stars. Perhaps the sight would calm her down, and she couldn't go back to sleep.

"What are you doing awake at this hour?"

She looked up to see Hiei sitting on a branch gazing at the constellations. He glanced sideways at her before turning his eyes upwards again. He seemed pained, somehow. She put on her shoes and walked over to stand underneath him.

"I just had a nightmare, that's all," she said softly.

"Hn."

She tilted her head up to look at him. "Why are you here? I thought you were assigned to the border patrol."

He shifted position uneasily. "Well…I was…But I have some business in Human World." After he had had his dream, Hiei had secured permission to leave the border patrol for a few weeks. He had wanted to see Yukina, and perhaps discover the reason for his strange vision.

They stayed there for a while, watching the heavens wheel slowly by.

"Hiei," Yukina said hesitantly, "I was wondering. Did you happen to…find my brother?"

"No," he replied, a little too quickly. "In fact, I should return this to you." Yukina's hirui stone fell at her feet. "If he was alive, I'm sure he would have shown up at the Demon World Tournament. I found no one with that stone."

Yukina bent down and picked up her necklace. "I see. Thank you, Mr. Hiei, for trying to find him."

"Don't thank me. I told you from the start it was hopeless."

"How about your family?"

This question surprised him. "What are you talking about?" he asked, staring down at her.

"Did you see your family at the tournament?"

He snorted. "I have no family. And even if I did, I have no desire to see them."

"Oh." She looked at the ground. "I see. In that way, I guess, we're somewhat alike."

Hiei's mouth tightened. "We are not alike." He jumped down to stand next to her. "So, I suppose you've given up searching for your brother, then?"

She shook her head. "No. Not yet. But it seems that if I haven't heard from him or about him for so long, then he doesn't want to be found. I will keep searching…" Her shoulders slumped. "It just seems so hopeless sometimes," she whispered. "He could be anywhere, now that the barrier is down."

"Just give it up," he said coldly. Then he vanished in a rustle of leaves.

--

'Why did I say that?' Hiei slipped away to the beach, hearing Yukina's quiet sobs fading behind him, and sat, watching the waves lapping the sand.

Kurama sat down next to him. "You seem to be hurting Yukina more than if you simply told her you were her brother, Hiei."

Hiei tucked his arms around his knees, still gazing at the water. "I should have just stayed away."

"Why? Are you afraid you'll tell her by accident?"

The fox earned a glare for this. "No. Nothing could ever prompt me to tell her. But every time I talk to her…I just hurt her." He sighed. "There was another dream last night. I—she—was dreaming about finding her brother. She's always searching. Looking for him."

Kurama looked thoughtful. "Last night she had a nightmare. I overheard her telling Genkai. She said…that she was strapped down to a table. There was a bright light shining in her eyes, and from that light came a claw. It ripped her forehead, and then she woke up screaming."

Hiei shuddered at the description. Then it hit him. "My Jagan implant! That was…my memory!" He reached up to touch his headband. "But how?"

"I'm not sure. It seems that the dreams are two-way. You are accessing each other's memories. Perhaps…" His eyes narrowed. "I have heard it said that twins have a psychic connection. They can see what the other sees. It's not too common, but—"

"That's only with identical twins, Kurama, and you know it."

"But the two of you did share the same womb. And it may be that the Jagan has enhanced that connection. If it continues, she could gain access to the information you have tried so hard to hide from her."

Hiei's spine grew very stiff. "She'll find out that I'm her brother." He turned to his friend, a look of desperation crossing his normally angry face. "I have to stop this. Now."

--

Well, there's the first chapter of my newest story. Please leave reviews, I know it's short, but this is what my chapters are normally. I hope that I'm keeping these guys in character.

I did see Eizou Hakusho where Hiei actually does try giving her the pendant back (for those of you who did see it) and I realize it's inaccurate. However, fanfic writers are allowed some creative license and I believe this is what he would have done in this situation.

Remember, leave reviews!