The Best Thief

by Sagi-chan

AU. Who is the real thief? The Youko, or the fire demon that stole his heart? [YusukeXHiei : KuramaXHiei] [re-edited]

1. The Best Thief

Disclaimer: Yuu Yuu Hakusho is not my creation, nor do I own it. I'm just borrowing the characters for a little bit of torture.

Here are the disclaimers that Kuroi-chan so very kindly (along with everything else she has done) wrote for me since I'm not sure what else I'm supposed to disclaim: 1. The part about the earrings was borrowed from the author "-Natural Chaos-" who exists on MMorg, as far as I know. It's not my creation, and I know it. 2. When I wrote about how Yuusuke and Hiei got together in the past, I thought it was an original idea. According to Kuroi, it's not. So, I figured (actually, she forced me -since she's writing this disclaimer) it'd be best to disclaim it also. Aside from Yuusuke being the mate-to-be instead of Kurama, the scene was apparently borrowed from "Aqua's" fanfic. 'Reaching Your Limits: The Continual Cycle', and according to Kuroi, it's a wonderful fanfic. I haven't read it myself, and really need to. 3. Kuroi also claims that this fic was an imitation of her writing style, and has been strangely possessive recently. 4. Yuusuke's death scene was originally written in a very OOC manner, and sounded sappy, choppy, and overall, pretty bad. Instead, she rewrote that scene for me, and I changed a line or so (that she can't find) to make it sound more like me. It sounded too... KUROI at first.

AN Please note that this isn't a rewrite, but rather a re-edited version. Kind of like the Star Wars Movies, except not quite as hi-tech. Anyway, I realized that I've been editing this over and over ever since I first posted it and then I started adding bits and pieces... and I figured it wasn't fair to keep it to myself. So, here you go. Lots of added stuff, because that bit with Yukina at the end was really bugging me. Hope you enjoy.

Dedication: To Kuroi-chan, because not only did she beta it, but she nagged me about writing it, helped me with my fangirl-ish Japanese, and made many suggestions that made this fic a lot better.

===

The Best Thief

In a hallway that nearly sang with wealth, a door slammed, and the tranquil silence was shattered by the heavy sobs of a young girl. The girl, her long dark hair disheveled and her clothes askew, lay crumpled on the floor like a used whore. This, in a sense, is what she currently was. Her previously unblemished body was scratched and bruised and then she had been tossed away like week old trash. Almost immediately, servants and maidens swarmed to the girl. She was swiftly escorted away, comforting words being whispered to her as she was moved.

"Another one." A soft voice sighed, the words echoing down the renewed tranquility of the hallway.

"Prince Kurama has been going through maidens like a Koorime in heat." Another voice returned.

"A right shame that is."

The chorus of voices, escorting the still crying girl, continued down the hall until they seemed to fade out of existence entirely and the hallway returned to its previous silence. A minute or two later the same door slammed open once more and a tall white-clad figure stepped into the empty hall. This figure was the renowned Prince Kurama, the only son of the great King Yomi, and heir to about a third of the Makai. Though, Kurama and Yomi weren't related through genetics and ancestry; they were related through blood and spells.

Kurama had been found, abandoned by his clan, at a very young age because he was a Kitsune thief, something quite unheard of. And Yomi, having no children of his own, but trusting no women to carry them, took him in and declared him his son and heir. After a countless number of spells, their blood was mixed and their relationship became legal. Arrogance overtook the new prince as he became more and more spoiled, and as he grew into one of the most powerful and beautiful creatures in the land, he became even more arrogant.

Not one person who crossed his path could resist staring at the silver sheen of hair that cascaded down his shoulders with grace and beauty equal to that of a waterfall. None could help but feel the urge to stroke the fur covering the triangular fox ears that adorned the top his head, not dissimilar to the way a crown does. His golden eyes sucked in the gaze of any being near him, his lips were full, and his skin was flawless. Tall and ethereal, no matter whom he stood up against, and he had the charm of an undeniable bad boy that any girl would want to turn good. Kurama's second form, his fox aspect, was just as equal in grace and beauty. Soft waves of silver fur, six swaying tails, and a playful streak that couldn't be broken. Nobody stood a chance against his charms. And the few that tried to resist were easily broken and tossed aside for his next conquest.

Kurama, already bored after breaking another one of his father's servant girls, sighed and began walking down the hall. His current thought was maybe he would get something to eat. That idea was quickly shot down as he neared the kitchens. For just inside the doors to the main hall stood his father who was greeting their latest guest.

Her name was Mukuro and she was Gandara's strongest ally. She was actually quite pretty, besides the fact that half of her body had been replaced by metal and she dressed in more layers of clothing, to hide her replaced anatomy, than Kurama thought necessary.

The two lords turned, obviously having sensed his energy.

"Prince Kurama!" Mukuro beamed, looking up and spotting said Kitsune on his way down the stairway. "I was hoping to see you before the festivities tonight. Yomi-sama was just telling me that he might be retiring the throne soon... Oh, and 'Happy Birthday' as well..."

She trailed off, watching as the silver figure continued his leisurely pace towards his two lords. If there was one thing that Mukuro didn't have to worry about, it was Kurama trying to break her like he did with all the other women that passed through his and his father's palace. The fox-spirit had known this woman since the first day he had been named Prince of Grandara. She had practically raised him, and she held a lot of the blame for the spoiling he received early in his life.

"Mukuro Oba-sama," Kurama finally greeted her, sweeping the woman into an impersonal hug. "It's nice to see you again." He released her.

King Yomi beamed at the two, though he couldn't see them. Because of an assassination attempt long before he had met Kurama, the King of Grandara was blind. This disability didn't stop him from ruling with a firm fist, though. His power managed to grow and he became even stronger than he had been previously. Seeing wasn't a problem, because he could "see", he could pick out energy specks anywhere in his territory and focus in on them. As a result, crime rates were very low, much lower than in the rest of the Makai.

If the Lord of Alaric, Mukuro despised the title, "Queen", noticed that Kurama was acting colder to her than usual, she hid it well.

"What are your plans today?" Yomi asked his son, breaking the silence that seemed to hang wherever Kurama visited that day.

"I was thinking of going hunting with Kuwabara, father." Kurama replied, the idea actually managing to sound quite appealing. "And then return for the celebrations tonight."

Kuwabara Kazuma was Kurama's most trusted servant. The boy wasn't much to look at physically, but he was strong, loyal and quite a good friend, after you managed to break past his pride and ideals. Kurama had only recently met his newest bodyguard, and it had taken quite a bit of time before they stopped squabbling and became something akin to friends. Kuwabara was probably the only person able to see through Kurama's walls - having heightened spirit awareness most likely also attributed to his ability.

"That sounds like fun." Mukuro said, obviously thinking it wasn't. The woman had never understood why hunting was so appealing. Kurama claimed that it was his Youko side that kept his love for hunting alive. Kuwabara just liked the chance to be out of the city limits.

Kurama bowed, his silver hair falling forward slightly to cover up his face. "Ja ne, Otou-sama, Oba-sama."

He received two polite nods and turned to go find Kuwabara. Said boy was in the training hall, exactly where the silver haired thief had left him.

With a very hard jab, the carrot-topped boy toppled over.

"Off guard." Kurama frowned.

"I was sleeping!"

The Youko didn't say anything, his silence speaking volumes in itself.

"I'm not some thief in the wilds," Kuwabara continued to protest, "my guard doesn't need to be up twenty-four seven. Especially when I'm in your personal training hall. And especially not when you purposely knock me out with your plants, Kurama-sama."

Well, he had a point there.

"Come on, we're going hunting." Kurama frowned, staring around his personal training hall in annoyance. "If I have to stay inside these halls for another minute, I'm going to kill something."

Poor Kuwabara, realizing that his master was in a bad mood, simply got to his feet and began following the Kitsune silently out of the palace and through the streets of Gandara. Merchants, shop keepers, and everyone else on the streets stopped and stared as their prince passed by them.

"Isn't that Prince Kurama?" One man whispered, staring after the Prince with obvious lust.

"Hai." Somebody whispered back, "but I've heard he breaks every heart given to him. A thief of jewels before he became royalty, a thief of hearts afterwards. It isn't safe to care for him in a romantic sense."

Conversations like that circulated between everybody on the streets. Even people who didn't live in Gandara but in little villages on the outskirts of Yomi's territory knew of his reputation. Even people who didn't live in the King's land knew of his son's tendency to break hearts.

It was a feat that Kurama was proud of, to be known, feared, and respected by almost all of the Makai.

Kuwabara, on the other hand, wasn't proud of his master's accomplishments. But, the boy was so protective of his friend, that anybody who so much as whispered about the Prince was returned a scathing glare. Such loyal bodyguards were hard to find, especially for such a vicious Prince.

The two stepped into a lush forest, on the east side of town and began their hunt. Kurama loped forwards, his tall form easily moving through the trees, and before he got too far into the forest, he changed into his fox aspect, pausing, only for a moment, to gather his bearing and adjust to running on four paws, rather than two. Kuwabara waited where he was, knowing that something would soon come his way.

Sure enough, a rather vicious looking spider demon dropped down next to him, and the dance began. However, no matter how well Kuwabara fought with his opponents, he could never be as skilled or as graceful as Kurama. The silver fox was now trotting silently through the woods, pausing every now and then to roll through the long wild grass, or to sniff at the wild flowers. As a Youko, he was well tuned with nature and spent as much time possible in such environments. His Youki was very well adapted to plant life, for even weeds could turn into a deadly weapon for Kurama.

Three hours and two victories later, Kurama returned to Kuwabara's side, dragging his game along behind him.

"Shall we head back to the palace now, Kurama-sama?" Kuwabara asked, standing up as his prince returned. "The festivities for your birthday will begin at sundown. You need to be cleaned and readied."

Kurama nodded, tossing his prey back into the forest to rot. "Yes, we'll head back now."

Little more was said as the two began the journey back.

===

For Kurama's birthday, King Yomi let no expense stop his son from having whatever he wanted. The richest, most sought-after foods, the grandest music, and the best performers that money could buy. This particular year, Yomi had hired a young Gypsy for his son's birthday, as well as countless other performers. But it would be the girl who would leave the biggest impact on the prince.

Gypsies by themselves were rare enough, but those who allowed themselves to be hired for entertainment were even more so. This girl, a blue haired beauty from the far south, was well received by all who hired her. It was said that she danced like no other girl before her, and that she sang so well that the birds were put to shame. Some said that she could fly, even vanish into thin air.

That she told fortunes.

And placed curses on those who were not in her favor.

From the moment that Kurama and this Gypsy girl met, they were not in favor of each other. But as she was hired entertainment, and he was the Prince, and neither bothered to continue with more than a twenty second spat.

The girl, Botan, arrived during the festivities in a way that sent the crowd into cries of delight. She flew into the room on what looked to be an oar. Zooming around the room, laughing and singing with such grace and ease that many fell in love with her.

Prince Kurama fell into lust, his eyes narrowing into mere slits as the girl landed just in front of him.

"Your majesties," Botan laughed, bowing low before King Yomi and Lady Mukuro. She flashed a dazzling smile at each before twirling off without so much as acknowledging the Prince seated between them.

The musicians, taking their cue from the Gypsy began playing a quick paced dance, to which Botan twirled and danced in a way that left little of her body unseen. Her clothing, a very thin gauzy material, swirled and flared as her body moved. Bracelets and jewelry that adorned her body clinked together pleasantly, creating sparks that glowed even brighter in the candle light. The dance went on for what seemed to be hours, and nobody spoke, not wanting to break whatever spell was being woven.

The music finally stopped and Botan gracefully ended her dance in a bow, once again standing in front of Kurama.

"My Prince," she whispered in a low, breathy voice. "Let me tell your fortune?"

Kurama arched one silver brow at her, his eyes once again taking in the sight of her beautiful body. He didn't fail to notice her eyes narrowing in anger and disgust.

"Come, Kurama." Yomi said, loud enough for all present to hear. "This is your celebration after all." There was a definite teasing tone in the Kings voice.

After a pregnant silence, in which none present dared to so much as breath lest the Prince refuse, Kurama stood from his seat. "Very well." He agreed.

Botan led the Prince to the center of the room and conjured a pillow for each of them to sit on. A crystal ball was produced a moment later and the two settled down.

"Place your hands on the ball and close your eyes, My Lord," Botan instructed him. "Clear your mind of all thoughts."

After a moments decision, Kurama did so. But visions of the girl in front of him would not leave his mind. Visions of what he would like to do with her stayed in his head so that when she probed his mind to feel his essence that is what she saw. She didn't bother looking for his fortune after reading his aura.

"You are Youko." Botan finally managed to say in her sweet and breathy voice. She spoke so lowly that none other than Kurama could hear. Not even Yomi heard the words being exchanged. "The stealer of hearts. But you shall not understand the power of this name until your own heart has been stolen from you - and broken into more pieces than you can count."

Kurama felt malice emanating from the crystal ball. He tried to pull away his hands, but they were stuck to the ball as though they had been glued there by the fates themselves.

"Your Kitsune life ends tonight when the moon falls from the sky," Botan continued softly, ignoring the hitch in his breathing. "And you shall be reborn as a Human."

Botan lifted her face towards the ceiling, her hands still resting on the crystal ball. Her eyes remained tightly shut as she concentrated to carry out her curse. Power glowed around her form like the flame on a candle.

"Shuuichi!" She cried out, and all the lights in the large hall flickered.

Kurama shot backwards with the speed of a cannonball.

Kuwabara rushed forward immediately, checking over his prince to make sure that he was all right. Sensing nothing wrong besides slightly drained energy and the loss of consciousness, he turned to Botan, who seemed to be glowing in the darkness of the room.

"Tonight when the moon falls," She repeated, this time loud enough for everybody present to hear, "the Youko no Ouji shall be no more."

With a crack of light, she vanished, leaving the royal court in an uproar.

===

No less than ten guards stood outside the Prince's chambers that night. Kuwabara, Mukuro, and Yomi himself were inside Kurama's rooms, watching discreetly through the window as the moon slowly began its decent from the night sky.

Kurama, who had yet to wake up from Botan's spell, remained in his bed, completely defenseless. At different intervals in time, Kuwabara would place one hand against his friend and Prince's heart, reporting that his heartbeat was still strong and steady. However, as the moon sank, lower and lower in the sky, first Yomi, and then Mukuro, began to notice something.

Kurama's energy was fading. His energy signature was changing subtly. His youki was slipping from his body as though it were being stolen. Or locked up inside of him. And nobody with eyes could miss how his physical features began shifting. It started with his hair. The long, gorgeous silver hair started bleeding into red. Thick, bright red locks slowly replaced the previous beauty. Then his bone structure began to shift, becoming softer, rounder. His previously seven foot tall form shrank nearly a foot in height. The two ears on the top of his head began losing their fur, shifting downwards until they were simply two normal, human-like ears.

By the time that the moon had set, little more than a few rays of light left in the sky to even say that it had been there, Youko Kurama, Yomi's powerful and seductive heir, no longer lay before them. Instead, it was a young, beautiful human boy with only a fraction of the power he had once possessed. He bore no resemblance to his previous self.

Kuwabara was the first and only of the three in the room to shriek. His frantic yells were enough to wake Kurama. Those yells would have brought in the guards standing outside the Prince's rooms if not for the fact that Yomi had reinforced them that night with his own youki. Nothing could get in, and nothing could get out.

"Where am I?" The boy on the bed asked, revealing that his deep sultry voice had been replaced by a soothing alto. His eyes blinked open in surprise, revealing beautiful green eyes.

The body jerked forwards, red hair tumbling into his vision like his silver hair never had. He was smaller, weaker... different.

Kuwabara and Mukuro stared, their eyes wide and mouths partly open, still shocked. Yomi was silent, not having seen any changes beyond those power-wise.

"Father?" Kurama asked finally, turning his head towards Yomi. The red haired boy crawled slowly across the bed until he reached the edge, looking up at the figure, who was suddenly much taller than before, in front of him. Green eyes dulled, losing the question they had previously held. Those eyes turned instead to Kuwabara, but his bodyguard seemed to be speechless and was still staring at him with his jaw unhinged.

"Kuwabara," The Prince finally managed to say, gathering his wits back to himself. "Bring me a mirror."

The looking glass was brought to him, and Kurama wished it hadn't been.

He didn't like what he saw. True, his looks were still exotic and beautiful. But he was smaller, frailer. His body wasn't that of a Youko anymore, but a human. He was little better then Kuwabara, who was a human.

Kurama immediately despised his red hair. Red, like a common fox, not silver, like a fox that was beautiful and rare. Green eyes, they were plain and flat looking, nothing like the previous gold that sparkled no matter in the light or the dark. His skin was too pale, his muscles too small, and his face too round. No matter where he looked he saw something to criticize, to hate.

"That bitch!" Kurama finally screamed, hating his melodious voice, even as it poured from his mouth. "She stole my identity! She stole my power! My life! She cursed me with this frail human body!"

He threw the mirror across the room and it shattered into a million pieces. Hundreds of millions of pieces. Too many pieces to count.

It shattered like crystal tears.

Like Kurama's tears. Because for the first time in his life, the proud Kitsune allowed himself to cry. He pounded his anger into his bed, ripped open his pillows and sent feathers everywhere. Anger seized the boy. Anger and despair. He wanted his old body back. He wanted his tail, he wanted his ears, and he wanted his grace. This body didn't have that, it couldn't have that. This body was nothing, a worthless, needless lump of flesh, muscle, and soul.

His anger, so typical of a Youko that had just lost everything, was quick to fade, just as the final light from the moon faded. His anger was replaced by eerie calm, as the spell finally began to take a firm hold of the Youko's mind. His Youko personality was locked up in his mind, only a whisper that could not escape its new prison. A new personality emerged in the calm.

"I'm sorry about that." The boy on the bed said softly, looking sadly at the mess he had made. "I did not mean to get so upset." The red haired boy looked up into the still shocked faces of the three people closest to him. "My name is Shuuichi, who are you?"

Silence.

"Prince Kurama?" Kuwabara asked, taking a step forwards and placing one hand on his friends shoulder. "Have you forgotten who you are? Is this a part of that witch's spell?"

"My name is not Kurama," the boy said with a faint smile. "And I am certainly no prince. I am Shuuichi."

"Kurama-sama! Snap out of it!" Kuwabara cried in desperation, now shaking his humanized prince. "Wake up!"

The boy calling himself Shuuichi blinked. "Is Kurama a nickname?" He asked, watching the carrot top with a curious expression.

Kuwabara sent his King a desperate expression, clearly asking if the blind lord could do anything. Yomi stepped forwards and placed his hands against his son's head. With a burst of concentration and youki, Kurama was left screaming in agony as his past life once again filled his mind. But the effort didn't have the desired effect. The boy was still convinced that his name was Shuuichi, but at least now he knew who he had been.

Shuuichi didn't like who he had been. It hurt him to think of all the things that he had done to others.

His father could do nothing about his son's position now. He had already ordered every possible hand in his lands to search and capture the Gypsy girl that had cursed his son. Mukuro had sent word to her homeland as well. Botan wasn't to be killed; she was to be brought in alive. Word had been sent to Raizen, the ruler of the land to the west. If a blue haired Gypsy was found in his lands, she was a prisoner of Yomi, and was to be sent back. Raizen was a good ally; he would do what he could do to help them. Now they just had to wait for Botan to be brought to them so that she would undo the curse, or reveal how to break it.

Shuuichi, or Kurama as he agreed to be called, would remain as his new self, soft spoken and human.

===

In a forest, a long ways away from any sort of civilization, a young girl was hunting for her dinner in the safety of the early morning. She was by no means the strongest hunter or the most skilled. Her brother had taken that title from the moment he had made his first kill. But her brother was still recovering from hours of stress and pain, and trying to gain back his strength. This girl and her less than perfect hunting skills were, at the moment, all that kept the two alive.

The girl was actually quite beautiful under the dirt and blood and grime that covered her body and clothing. Her hair fell in soft teal waves down her back, held back by a simple red ribbon that accented her eyes. Her eyes, a burning crimson red were the highlight of her pale face. She was quite small, and moved with the grace and silence that came with her heritage. Her clothing, though currently stained and ripped, was the most beautiful garment she could ask for. For, her brother had worked for the money to buy it, rather than steal it like he had probably planed to do originally. Her brother, her only family, spent every moment of his life making sure that she was happy, safe, and well fed.

He was her only family.

Well, that wasn't quite honest anymore, the girl, Yukina, thought fondly. Her twin brother had taken a mate not too long ago, and had given birth just the night before to a beautiful Hi-youkai son. But her brother, Hiei, had lost his mate soon after they had first gotten together. His mate, a powerful demon Toushin had stolen his heart, to leave him with only shattered fragments of emotions, broken dreams and a splintered reality.

But to the Forbidden children's amazement, the Toushin, Yusuke, had left something behind. A child - his child.

Of course, in an ideal world, the two siblings would still be living with their clan - the Koorime. But there had been complications behind their birth that led to the idea that Yukina and Hiei were tainted. Their mother, Hina, had had a sexual relation with a Hi-youkai. An Ice Maiden and a Fire Demon, it was something that was almost unheard of. The result had been the first male Koorime in the history of the Koorime. The result had been the first twins in the history of the Koorime, the proof of a tainted birth. The result had been the murder of Hina, and the week-long trials of what to do with the children. They had been tossed from their home not a week after their births, clinging together and somehow miraculously surviving the mile high drop.

But it wasn't just the fact that Yukina shared a womb with Hiei that caused her to be dropped with him. There was a second reason that she shared the fall. It was the fact that she, like her brother, carried some of the genes of their Hi-youkai father. Her flesh could not be burned. It wasn't much, but it was enough.

Yukina stiffened, crouching low in the bushes and not daring to move lest her prey spot her and give chase. A few moments later, she sent her energy as quickly as she could to freeze the three small rabbits in their tracks. That part of the job finished, she strode forwards and snapped their necks with cold and calm precision.

The maiden then began walking back towards her and her brother's current hovel with their next meal. She returned to the hollow cave with no trouble, not having ventured far enough away to attract attention. Yukina paused just outside the entrance of the cave, cautiously feeling for her brother's energy signature, and was rewarded by a weak chuckle, and a baby's whimper.

"Yuki..." A deep gravelly voice echoed out to meet her. "Hurry up, I'm tired."

Yukina smiled and entered the cave, passing through the ward placed there as though it wasn't activated. The ward was controlled by Hiei, who would only let it drop when Yukina was entering or leaving. No other could get through the barrier, even with Hiei in his weakened state.

"Hiei, if you're tired you should sleep." Yukina scolded her brother, setting down the measly dinner she had managed to catch before kneeling next to her brother. In the boy's arms lay a small bundle wrapped in the scrap of cloth that Hiei used for a makeshift scarf. The child made quiet, nonsensical sounds, playing with a tiny reddish gem that was attached to a necklace with his tiny fingers. She smiled fondly at the child. "Have you named him, yet?"

Hiei was silent for a moment. "Ryuu." He said finally. "His name is Ryuu."

His twin reached out with one hand to carefully pet the child's fluffy hair. "You need to regain your strength, Onii-sama. I'll care for Ryuu while you rest."

Hiei began to murmur a protest, but at the motherly gleam in his sister's eyes, he changed his mind. Instead, the boy continued lying against the cave wall, watching as his sister cooed at the child resting against his warm body. He didn't have much energy left to do anything else.

Although Hiei and Yukina were twins, they hardly looked anything alike. While Yukina looked sweet and kind, Hiei was cold and tough. His skin temperature was well above his sisters, a result of his father's powers in his blood. His hair, rather than hang down his back, fluffed up in black spikes. Only a white starburst at the front and blue tints at the tips showed he wasn't entirely a Hi-youkai. He had the same red eyes as his sister though, and the same slight build. And there were two final differences. Hiei, though neither quite knew how, was able to carry a child within his own body, while Yukina was not. And Yukina smelled like a child of fire, while Hiei smelt of the Koorime. Those few differences alone proved that they were both exact copies, and complete opposites of each other.

Yukina finally reached out and removed the wrapped bundle from her brother's arms. The bundle squirmed, not liking the fact that he had been removed from his parent's warm body. The reddish gem fell from his fingers, to rest against his chest as little whimpers were released. The child looked almost identical to his "mother." Black hair with a white starburst at the front. Pale skin and red eyes. Tiny body. The only difference was the small blue tribal marks which were a trait passed on by Ryuu's sire.

Weak cries filled the cave.

Yukina focused on soothing the child, not noticing that Hiei was using what was left of his energy to skin and cook the three rabbits sitting next to him. In fact, she only noticed when Ryuu quieted and the smell of cooking meat filled the cave, overpowering the stench of birthing fluids.

"Onii-sama!" Yukina scolded, glaring at her brother. "I said rest!"

"Ah, gomen, Imouto-chan." Hiei said, looking quite guilty. "But Ryuu-chan is hungry..."

"So feed him!"

Hiei looked confused. "Feed him?" The boy repeated, not understanding what his sister wanted him to do. He glanced at the cooked meat and then at his son, not realizing that newborn children didn't typically have teeth.

Yukina sighed and handed her brother's child back to him. While Hiei was occupied in cuddling his son, his sister reached over and pulled open his top to reveal that his chest had changed quite a bit from the last time he had seen it. Hiei looked dumbfounded, and slightly annoyed that he had missed something like that. Yukina guided the baby to one of the milk filled mammary glands that, the last Hiei knew, hadn't existed. The child began sucking away happily.

Hiei still didn't look like he understood quite what was happening, but he didn't complain. It seemed that motherly instincts were affecting him more than he knew. He wanted neither to move and disturb his child, or have said child go hungry if it didn't have to.

Yukina giggled and began preparing the now cooked rabbit meat for a stew. Hiei sighed, glancing back and forth between Ryuu and Yukina. "I don't know what I'd do without you, Yuki." He finally said in a soft voice, very different from his usual deep purr. He sat up a little straighter, shifting his son slightly as his arms began to grow numb.

"Not rest, probably." Yukina snorted, stirring the stew slowly. Its aromic steam drifted almost lazily out of the crude pot and Hiei's stomach grumbled in anticipation. A few minutes later, Yukina removed the crude makeshift pot from the fire and handed her brother a spoon.

The two siblings didn't have enough money and traveled too often to own proper utensils like plates or glasses. If anything they were lucky to own decent spoons. Clean clothing was often a luxury as well. But to tell the truth, they weren't quite as poor as they first appeared, or liked to admit. As Koorime children they were cursed with an ancient magic that transformed their tears into priceless gems. And as their being the Forbidden Children; their tears were even more rare and precious. For, instead of clear or white colored stones, Yukina cried crystals of a beautiful blue, and Hiei shed them of a dark red. If one of them was to suddenly appear with those jewels - they would be questioned, possibly tortured for the location of more.

Hiei couldn't go into public as it was, for he was a wanted criminal. With a sister to protect and the upbringing that they had had, crime was his only option. Nobody wanted to anger the Koorime that had tossed him out by hiring a forbidden child.

"I still say that you're the best cook in all of the Makai." Hiei said, eating the stew and silencing his stomach at the same time. "Your meals are probably better than those served to royalty." He flashed a smile at his little sister, and the girl blushed, hiding it behind her spoon.

"Hiei," she started, searching desperately for a way to change the subject. "...you can close your shirt now."

It was Hiei's turn to blush, and he closed his garment quickly. Ryuu was already asleep, sucking determinedly on two of the fingers on his right hand. Both Yukina and Hiei fell silent after that and continued eating the stew until it was gone. Neither of them spoke, enjoying the comfortable silence that fell around them.

"Rest, Onii-sama." Yukina said firmly once she had forcibly fed the last few spoonfuls to her brother. "Rest and recover your strength. We cannot stay in this cave for very long. Somebody is bound to notice us."

Hiei grunted, already falling asleep now that he and his baby were well fed.

Yukina smiled and curled up next to them. They slept in a pile of warmth, much like animal spirits. Not only did it bring them comfort but it also ensured warmth and a good night's sleep.

===

Not five minutes after the sun set later that day, Hiei and Yukina crept out of their cave and began traveling once more. They always traveled at night, as they were less likely to be seen - and thus, less likely to be caught. There was one difference in their traveling now, though. Ryuu. The baby, just like all those with Koorime blood, needed to be fed quiet often because of the quick pace of growth. Hiei, of course, was willing to feed his child but the precious darkness of night was always quick to fade.

The Hi-youkai had completely recovered the energy expended to give birth. And thanks to Yukina, who was an aspiring healer, he didn't feel any pain while walking or running.

And run he did. He had been named Hiei for a reason after all. It meant "Flying Shadow", and that's what he appeared to be when he ran.

After two hours of running through the grassy landscape with his sister clinging to his back and his child nestled to his chest; Hiei began looking for a place to rest. The night's journey wasn't over at all, but Ryuu was beginning to whine in hunger. The child had been asleep for most of the run so far, to which Hiei was relieved. He knew that some babies were very fussy about traveling.

He was just thankful that Ryuu didn't seem to be one of those babies.

Finally spotting a small cove of trees, Hiei began moving towards that, beginning to murmur comforting sounds to his child. A blink of an eye later, the twins and infant reached the cove and set up a barrier to keep them safe while Hiei fed Ryuu. While she waited, Yukina took out a bit of thread and the rabbit furs saved from her hunt earlier that morning. By focusing her energy she was able to create a needle out of ice and began stitching some small clothes for the child so that Hiei might have his scarf back.

A few small animals watched curiously, but none came close to them. No demons or bounty-hunters approached them either. The small cove was silent.

"Dai suki da yo." Yukina blurted out suddenly, putting away her project and embracing her precious brother from behind.

Hiei was quiet for a moment, contemplating the correct reply to that. "Nobody can replace you in my heart, Imouto-chan." He finally told her.

##"Silence, Hina!" A woman's voice barked, over the howl of the biting wind. "You broke the tribal laws and now you must repent!"

The woman in question, a beautiful Koorime maiden, just over two hundred years of age, lay crouched on the frozen ground of her homeland. In her arms lay two children. One was almost an identical copy of herself, the other bearing no resemblance beside the glowing red eyes. That child, the boy, was her gift, and her damnation. Her first born had been born in flames. The second, her daughter, bore no burns as a result - unlike her mother. The woman was heaving dry sobs, no tears running down her cheeks for, she had already cried herself dry.

"You had forbidden relations with a man - a Fire Demon." The woman, Umeko, barked, not wanting to dirty her hands by touching the tainted woman. That was the only reason that Hina was allowed to stay on the ground as she was - nobody wanted to touch her.

"You cannot take them from me." Hina whispered, finally crawling to her feet, still clutching her children to her breasts. "No mother should have to give up their children."

The Koorime elder tightened her lips in anger, not wanting to be reminded that she was unable to mother a child. Both her body and her position in the council didn't allow it. It was something the woman was very bitter about. Added to the fact that Hina had bore twins, even if they were forbidden, brought forth her anger like little else could.

Her eyes narrowed.

"You have disgraced yourself and your people." Umeko snapped. "The fate of your children is already decided. Your trail begins at sundown. I advise you not be late." With one final scowl, she turned on her heal and stalked away.

Hina fell back to her knees, hugging her twin children even tighter. She didn't want to admit the truth. She didn't want to watch them drop off of the glacier, knowing that it was her own fault. What was more, she didn't want to admit that even keeping them was painful. Holding them hurt her both physically and emotionally. Physically, because the two infants in her arms had body temperatures that were much higher than her own. Hiei, with his Hi-youkai heritage showing through as strongly as it did, was burning her cold flesh with the smallest of touches. Even Yukina, who showed the promise of being a strong Koorime, had a body temperature that burned her mothers flesh. Keeping them close to her hurt her emotionally, because it brought back memories of the night of passion she had shared with Haru - the fire demon that had sired these two children. It hurt because she knew she wouldn't be allowed to keep them.

It took the whimpers of her son to bring Hina back to the glacier she was resting on. The sounds that signified he was hungry. With a warm and loving smile directed at her babies, Hina rose to her feet and began the short trek to her hut so that she might feed the children in peace.

"Make sure that you always protect your loved ones, Hiei." She whispered to the boy, trying not to wince as her sensitive nipple was burned again. "Take care of your sister for me."

At sundown she would report to the Elder's cottage. She would receive her punishment, and soon, too soon, she would be forced to watch as her children were stolen from her, and dropped to their deaths. But for right now - they were hers. And she loved them.

Hina's trial went on for a week. Arguments were tossed back and forth between the Koorime and the elders about what to do with Hina, and Hina was repeatedly asked about her encounter with the Hi-youkai. Questions were asked to each other about new security issues.

At long last the deciding factor was Hina's burns.

The burns she had hidden from everybody. The burns that had been given to her by her own son and daughter.

Hiei and Yukina were tossed from the floating island.

Hina was killed not ten minutes later.##

The soft rustling of fabric was the only indication that Ryuu had filled his stomach with as much milk as he could handle. Hiei tumbled out of his memories and thoughts just as swiftly as he had fallen from the cliff that day just over two hundred years ago.

"Let's keep going," The new parent said in a soft voice, so as not to wake his now sleeping child. "I don't think we're far enough away from that cave yet."

He shifted slightly, already becoming an expert at closing his shirt with one hand, while not disturbing Ryuu.

Yukina nodded, looking up from where she was just finishing one tiny shoe. She would work on the second shoe at their next stop. With silence and grace, Yukina put the furs, thread, and finished shoe into her Personal Space, a pocket dimension that only she had access too. She was resting against her brother's back not a minute later, traveling across the fields of the southern lands like blurs.

"Bring me to the horizon." She whispered the same words she always started a journey with into her brother's ear. "I want to see the sunrise."

Hiei nodded, a faint smirk gracing his features. It was clear that his mind was wandering again. Whether he was thinking about their mother, or Yusuke - or anything that had happened during their two hundred years of life - Yukina didn't know. All she could do was offer her silent support and love.

===

The twins stopped three more times that night. Each time it was the same, they would sit quietly in their barrier, unbothered by the world around them. Hiei would return to his normal, quiet self, and Yukina would stitch more clothing for Ryuu. She soon had both shoes finished, as well as a warm covering, which successfully replaced Hiei's scarf.

Just before the sun rose, the sky tinted with pink and red, Hiei found them a new cave halfway up a mountain side. The Hi-youkai deposited his sister and son safely inside it, and left to hunt them enough food to last the entire day.

True to his title as the best hunter, he returned not long after, carrying a few more rabbits and a small deer.

"They don't have much meat." Hiei explained, placing the small carcasses on the stone floor. "But if I skin these right, I thought you might be able to make a blanket for Ryuu. He needs more than just a flimsy wrap to keep him warm."

Self loathing glittered in Hiei's eyes. There was no doubt that he blamed himself for the lack of being able to give his child a decent upbringing. Hiei had a tendency to blame things he couldn't control on himself. Yusuke's disappearance had been because of Hiei's carelessness. Yukina being dropped had been because of Hiei's love for his sister. Self-hatred was one of Hiei's weakest points. Make him believe that something was his fault and his will to live slipped.

Yukina smiled calmly. "It's a good idea, Onii-sama." She said. "You're right. I'll start dinner while you're skinning them. And after dinner, I'll start on some more clothes for Ryuu."

Hiei frowned. "You need to sleep, Yuki."

His sister smiled, taking Ryuu from his mother's arms and holding the larger than before child in her own lap. "Wake us when you're done skinning." She told him. "You can sleep while I cook."

Hiei sighed, but didn't protest against the idea. He just silently got to work, noticing that his sister had already fallen into a light slumber.

He skinned the animals and removed the small amount of meat from the bones as best he could.

===

Some time around mid-day, while Hiei was still deeply asleep, Yukina slipped out of the barrier and made her way to the nearest town. The town, a small one mainly of humans, though some respectable demons resided there as well, wasn't too far away - which was surprising. Hiei never willingly settled down next to a town, no matter how small it might be. Even still, their newest location was beneficial because the young girl was hoping to sell a tear gem, even though she knew it was dangerous and a risk to her safety.

She was banking on her Hi-youkai scent to keep her out of trouble.

So, with the grace and ease that came from her Koorime mother, Yukina made her way to the blacksmith's shop which was likely to be the wealthiest in this war-torn era. She let herself inside, making her presence obvious as a sign that she wasn't in town to cause trouble.

The shop was smoky and dirty, an old man was tending the fire to heat his metal-work. He turned when he noticed Yukina's energy. "Aye, hello. What can I do for you, missy?"

He obviously mistook her for a young human girl, not the two hundred year old Koorime that she was.

Yukina feigned fear and innocence. "I found something out in the grass lands," she started in a soft voice, reaching into her kimono for the jewel she had decided to sell. "I thought that it might be valuable."

She held up the tear gem, concealing her satisfaction as the old black-smith gaped.

"A Hiruiseki?" He asked wonderingly. "That's quite a find."

"So, it's valuable?"

"A little." The man took the jewel and inspected it. "Are you willing to sell this? I'll give you the best price in town for it. One thousand in cash."

Yukina bit her lip, hesitating about selling the jewel now that the time to let go of it came. She knew that her tear was worth much more than one thousand, it was worth more than several tens of thousands - but as a simple human girl she couldn't know that. Plus, she and Hiei could use the money, and a thousand was quite a bit. And Ryuu did need more than just animal skin clothes - especially since he was growing quickly.

"Alright." She finally agreed, firming her resolve. "One thousand in cash."

Not too long after she sold her tear, Yukina returned to the cave housing her brother with more money and cloth than she knew what to do with. She originally figured that she would make Ryuu some clothes, but then she remembered that Hiei's pants and shirt were getting old and tattered, to the point where patches didn't help. And her own clothing could be replaced as well. As a result, her personal space was packed with the warmest lightweight fabrics that she could find.

Sending her energy into the cave first, as she always did, Yukina waited for Hiei to take down the barrier. Seconds later, she was settling down next to her brother and his child.

"Where did you go?" Hiei finally asked in a gruff voice, uncurling his body and sitting up. Ryuu, who had been surrounded by his mother's warmth, was revealed to have found a new game. He was playing with the tiny shoes that Yukina had made for him, tossing them a few inches, and crawling awkwardly after them.

"To town." Yukina told him. "There are some interesting rumors floating around lately." She smiled impishly, successful in changing the subject.

"Hn." Hiei snorted, pulling the food left over from their dinner closer to him, and picking at it. "Ningens and their gossip."

He shoved what was left into his mouth, chewing and swallowing before turning his attention to Ryuu, who had decided the shoes weren't fun, and was slowly making his way back to his mother.

Hiei's show of disinterest didn't stop Yukina from telling him what she had heard. She knew he would listen, even if only to mock humans about their gossip.

"They're saying that the Youko Prince of Gandara was cursed by a powerful demon. It's believed that he's been transported into another realm, and that King Yomi was so angry his heir let himself be cursed, that he found a new heir." The Koorime maiden pulled out the black fabric she had purchased that day, and began the process of making Hiei a new pair of pants.

"Hn." Hiei scoffed, scooping up his son and bouncing him slightly. His tough exterior melted when Ryuu looked up at him with a tiny, toothless smile. The fire demon pressed a kiss to his child's cheek and smiled back, resulting in a tiny giggle.

Yukina kept quiet for a moment, knowing that the second rumor she had heard would interest Hiei much more.

"The people in town are also saying..." she began hesitantly, not looking up from where she was using a sharp shard of ice to cut her fabric, "that Raizen has found a new heir as well."

Hiei was silent, seemingly intent on opening his shirt to feed Ryuu.

"But nobody has seen him and nobody knows what he looks like." The girl continued, now creating another ice needle and pulling out some black thread. She expertly "threaded" the needle - freezing the end of the thread in the "eye" of the needle, before starting to stitch. "All that's known is that he's an S class demon, and was found not too far from a river, almost dead. I heard something about an earring too, but that could have been something completely different."

It was strange that Yukina didn't want to look up and meet Hiei's gaze. The cave was silent except for the sucking sounds that came from the young child in Hiei's arms. And even when the child had taken his fill, Hiei didn't automatically close his shirt. Instead, he reached up with one hand to touch a very faint mark on the junction of his neck and shoulder.

The scar that proclaimed to the world that he was taken.

##"You're quite a challenge to catch alone." A voice behind Hiei said calmly. "I can see why they call you Flying Shadow."

Hiei tensed slightly, recognizing the strong aura of the demon that had been hunting him for the past week.

The demon's name was Yusuke; at least that's what he had told him. Yusuke was a very powerful demon, much older than Hiei himself. He didn't look very old, the only evidence of his age was the wisdom hidden in his warm chocolaty gaze. Yusuke's brown eyes held everything that was key about himself. It was the eyes that kept captivating Hiei. His eyes and his hair. Yusuke wore his hair long, much longer than anybody Hiei had ever seen. Long brown hair that reached almost down to his ankles. Blue tribal markings across his lightly tanned flesh helped to draw in Hiei's gaze, and the long hair was almost a beacon. But it was Yusuke's eyes that held him firm.

He didn't have time to deal with Yusuke today; he had more important things to do. Like hunt, his sister was hungry and he had left her alone in the forest.

But somehow this hunter seemed different from all the others that went after him. Just the few words they had exchanged in previous encounters didn't emanate the hatred and greed for the bounty on Hiei's head. They spoke of excitement for a good fight. They spoke of something to which Hiei didn't understand.

"Go find some other fool to fight you." Hiei snarled, not turning around. "I don't have time to get arrested."

He flitted off, catching a few rabbits as he went. Not twenty minutes later, he and Yukina were running away from the forest towards a newer and safer location. They would have a few days at the most before the hunter would find them again.

Two days later, Yusuke didn't even bother to announce his presence before attacking. Hiei had barely the time to dodge the blast of power heading for him. Seconds later, the small demon was ready to fight, his stolen katana drawn.

Yusuke smirked and moved a little closer. "Nice dodge. Now, will you fight me?"

Fire burst to life in Hiei's eyes. How did Yusuke keep finding him? Why was he so determined? "Fool! Do you even know who I am?"

The smirk on Yusuke's face didn't waver. "Of course I do. You're Hiei, the Forbidden Fire Child of the Koorime. You have a little sister named Yukina. You're a thief and an assassin. You've killed every Bounty Hunter that has fought you, including two of the best in the business." The demon paused. "Need I go on?"

The fire demon snorted, not letting this small talk take his guard down. "I'm impressed that you've learned so much. Most Bounty Hunters are merely idiots looking for a prize and the chance to kill."

"I may be a Bounty Hunter, but I'm not here for your bounty." Yusuke laughed a real laugh, not a mocking laugh or a forced one, but a laugh that echoed loudly through the trees. "You stole something from my territory and I either want it back or payment for it."

Hiei frowned, not sure if he was being mocked or not.

"I stole nothing from you. This is stupid." He finally muttered, sheathing his katana. He flitted away, leaving Yusuke staring after him with mirth still shining in his eyes.

"You can't run forever, Hiei. I'll catch you eventually. I'll get my payment."

The very next day, Hiei was tackled and trapped by Yusuke, and brown eyes stared into his own. "This is getting wearisome." Hiei growled, wiggling free and standing up.

"Let me ask you something." Yusuke grinned, sitting up and watching the small demon in front of him. "What do you think of love?"

Hiei was actually speechless for a moment. "Hn. It's a worthless Ningen emotion. It holds no meaning to me."

"What about your sister?"

Hiei stared as Yusuke stood up and walked off whistling. "Think about it Hiei. You can ask me a question, next time we meet."

For the first time, the Forbidden Child had been contradicted. He darted after Yusuke and knocked him down from behind. "Who cares about love?! Why do you wear you hair so long?" He asked bluntly.

Yusuke grinned, not bothering to get up again. "I haven't cut my hair from the day I made my first kill. It serves as a reminder to me."

"...oh."

Hiei had figured that the boy was just vain. Or too lazy to sheer off his hair. Suddenly, he realized that he was once again staring into Yusuke's eyes as though they held the answer to life. He snorted and turned away, trying to cover up his mistake. "Hn. Vain Toushin."

And then he ran.

Two weeks later Hiei was crouched in a bush, watching as a small yet vicious beast drank from the river. The weak spot is between the hind legs, he reminded himself, readying his katana. His lunge forward was halted when two arms slid around his chest, and a strong body was pushed against his back.

The beast walked off.

"Damnit! That was my dinner!"

Yusuke didn't let go, and Hiei could feel the curve of his lips against his neck.

"You know," the Toushin said softly into Hiei's neck. "If I had done this a month ago, my head would be floating downstream right now."

Hiei growled and raised his body temperature to something that was completely unbearable for someone whose element wasn't fire. "Bastard! Let me go!"

Yusuke sighed, his warm breath ghosting over Hiei's heated body, causing pink to paint itself across the fire demons cheeks. The Toushin withdrew his body and moved back a few steps. "You smell like the Ice World." He commented softly.

"Hn. A trait from my mother." Hiei snorted, turning and walking towards the river.

He looked around for his lost prey, spotting it a little ways upstream. In less than five seconds he had struck the beasts' weak spot and was simply waiting for it to die. After it had bled to death, Hiei used his katana to remove the tough exterior skin and cut loose the thick meat.

Yusuke, who had followed him, watched with amusement shining in his eyes. "You waste so little time taking down your prey - it makes me wonder why you have not yet killed me."

"You've given him no reason to," a soft female voice said from behind him. Yusuke turned around, startled that somebody had managed to sneak up behind him.

"Yuki..." Hiei began, his cold demeanor melting. "I thought you were going to stay in the cave and wait for me."

The girl looked down. "I can't help but worry about you, Onii-sama." She whispered. "Especially with that Toushin following you around everywhere."

The Koorime stepped past Yusuke and approached her brother.

"You talk about me?" Yusuke asked with a smile.

"Hn. Insult you, more like."

Yukina blinked, looking between the two males with confused eyes. "This is him, Onii-sama?" She asked finally. "I thought you said he was an arrogant, ignorant fool with no self respect and without a decent-"

Hiei's hand clamped over his sisters mouth as he desperately tried to fight back a blush.

Yusuke grinned.

"Name's Yusuke," he said, bowing lowly to Yukina. "It's nice to finally meet Hiei's little sister."

He turned and began walking back downstream. "Ja ne, Hiei-san. I'll get my compensation tomorrow."

The Koorime twins were left staring after his retreating figure.

"Compensation?" Yukina finally asked, sitting down next to Hiei's most recent kill, not bothered by the pungent smell it was giving off.

"He claims that I stole something from his territory - some sort of trinket or something and he wants me to pay him back for whatever it was. I thought he was a Bounty Hunter at first... but he doesn't act like one at all." Hiei finally admitted.

"What does he want in payment?"

Hiei flushed, unable to look his sister in the eye. He didn't answer. Yukina wasn't so innocent that she couldn't figure out what her brother's sudden reluctance to answer her question meant. She blushed in return.

"Oh."

It took another month of Yusuke traveling with the Koorime twins before he finally managed to worm his way into Hiei's heart. And almost two months after that before Hiei, at long last, allowed the Toushin to mark him as his mate.

That was the night that their son was conceived, though neither of them knew at the time.

Yusuke ended up trading his life for Hiei's when a top notch Bounty Hunter came to kill Hiei, not two days later.##

Cool fingers brushed against the mark on Hiei's neck. "They say that demon mating don't break until one of the mates is dead." The girl whispered. "I'm sure that your scar would have faded if Yusuke were truly gone."

Hiei nodded and closed his eyes to hold in his emotions.

Though Yukina's words were comforting, Hiei still took his time removing his hand from the mark and closing his shirt again. "Thanks, Yuki." He said, standing up and stretching. "You always seem to know what to say."

Ryuu laughed and wiggled as he was lifted high into the air. Hiei made a silly face at his baby and the child laughed louder.

"Do you think you can walk tonight, Imouto-chan? Just for a few hours?"

His sister smiled, and put away her sewing project. "Hai." She agreed, and rose to her feet, brushing off her patchy clothes, before taking hold of Ryuu. "I'll carry Ryuu-chan for you, Onii-sama."

The twins smiled at each other before moving to the mouth of the cave. It had grown much darker, both inside and outside the hovel, as the sun had retreated from the sky and the moon replaced it. After quickly checking to make sure that nobody was outside the cave, Hiei took down the barrier and led his sister into the night.

They had just crossed a slow moving, clear water stream when it happened. A group of men from the village surrounded them. Many of their faces Yukina recognized as people who had sold her fabrics, or had told her the rumors floating around about the outside world. The Koorime girl clutched Ryuu a little closer to her body.

"Oi there, Missy..." A voice from the back of the group called. The speaker moved forward a bit and revealed himself to be the blacksmith Yukina had sold her tear to. "Just where did you say you found that jewel?"

Hiei stiffened. Yukina had sold one of her tear gems again? Which one?

"I-in the grassy lands to the east." Yukina answered, taking a few steps closer to her brother. This action was a mistake because it brought the attention of the group of Hiei.

"Blimey - isn't that..." one man managed to begin, taking a few steps backwards.

"Koorime-"

Two of the men turned and fled, not wanting to suffer the fate of death that fell upon everybody who went after Hiei. Hiei's reputation was quite impressive if the mere sight of him sent proud men running for the hills.

"The reward for his capture is worth more than the Hiruiseki he's rumored to create." One man, the blacksmith, whispered. His eyes widened as his gaze switched back to Yukina. "Which makes you..."

Greedy smiles lit the human's faces. They started throwing out taunts and warnings, saying that they were powerful enough to take down a couple of Koorime. Hiei was drawing his katana, ready to spill the blood of these humans. At least, he was ready until one - either extremely brave or extremely stupid - lunged forward and gripped Yukina around the neck. In the humans free hand was a talisman card, the only thing that could burn her skin.

"Ah!" Yukina gasped, beginning to struggle. The talisman card brushed her bare arm, and she cried out and stilled.

Ryuu started wailing, as he was now almost crushed in Yukina's grip.

"Now, come quietly or else your precious sister will experience more pain than you will." The man holding Yukina smirked evilly, bringing the card to brush against Yukina's arm again.

Hiei's eyes narrowed in anger, but he remained still. He would not risk the lives of his child and sister so rashly. Yukina squirmed again, trying to get free.

Ryuu's cries began to get louder.

It was at that moment when the man holding Yukina exploded into a thousand pieces and Hiei's form seemed to fade away. He reappeared behind his sister and all the hunters voiced their fear and surprise by shouting.

For the Forbidden Fire Child was truly angry. His eyes glowed red in the dark, his hair shifted into two spikes, and his entire body was close to smoking. Yukina dropped to her knees, trying her best to stay calm and ignore her burns. She focused her attention on the infant still in her arms, trying to comfort him as best she could. She also did her best to block the human screams as Hiei readied his katana and rushed forwards to slaughter all those who had dared to threaten his family. She knew better then to try and stop him, his rage wouldn't end until his bloodlust had been satisfied. All she could do was stay out of the way.

##"I don't want you to kill anymore, Hiei. It will only bring more pain - more nightmares..."

"Yuu-chan, I-"

"No! I will take this fight. I'll show you that you can win without death."##

The last man to die was the blacksmith, the jewel he had gotten from Yukina that very day slipped from his fingertips.

Hiei's anger exhausted itself and the Hi-youkai slumped over, having used more of his energy than he wanted to admit. It seemed that he wasn't as recovered from Ryuu's birth as he thought. With trembling fingers, he reached forward and picked the jewel up from the ground. It was the same tear that Yukina always sold.

"The Jewel of Misfortune." Hiei whispered, before blackness enveloped him.

===

Red haired and beautiful, Kurama walked down the palace hallway with an expression close to awe. Everything he had seen in Gandara was amazingly gorgeous. He couldn't believe that he hadn't appreciated it when he was Youko. The humanized prince frowned slightly. Botan, the girl who had cursed him had been found and brought back earlier that morning.

The Gypsy had refused to reverse the curse on the prince, and said that only Kurama could break it.

The problem was, Kurama didn't remember ever being told how to do such a thing. The Youko inside of him was unaware as well, and the human he was now had no clue.

"Shuuichi-sama!" A young voice called from behind him. "Excuse me for interrupting, Shuuichi-sama!"

Kurama paused and turned around, watching quietly as a pretty serving girl rushed up to him and bowed lowly.

"Your rooms are ready now, Shuuichi-sama." The girl said, pink dancing across her cheeks. "If you'll follow me, I'll take you to them."

Kurama smiled and nodded. "Arigato, Maria-san." He said kindly.

The girl bowed low again, and rushed back the way she had came, her face coming close to the color of a tomato. The human prince followed at a slightly slower pace.

Take her. a voice suddenly demanded in his head. I want her heart to break. I want to see her cry.

Kurama stopped in his tracks, not understanding. =Why would I do something like that?= He questioned himself.

There was something about a broken heart in that curse. the voice returned. Youko's voice returned. Break her heart.

Pain seared through the human boy's head and he cried out, clutching his red hair. "No!" He whispered firmly through his pain. "I can't hurt her just for your pleasure. She trusts me!"

Break her trust! Youko demanded.

"Kurama-sama?" A familiar voice said from behind the Kitsune-human. "Is something wrong?"

"Kuwabara!" The red head gasped, leaning heavily against the wall. "Make him stop!"

Break it!

"Make who stop, Kurama-sama?" His bodyguard asked, taking a step closer.

"Youko! He's in my head, he won't leave me alone!" Kurama cried out again, falling to his knees, with his head still cradled in his hands.

He heard another, "Kurama-sama?!" Before he surrendered himself to the deep soothing darkness.

===

"Nuhhh..."

"Your bounty just went up." A cheery accented voice broke into Hiei's quiet world. "Good thing that money doesn't mean that much to us or else you'd be dead right now."

Hiei squinted, blinking a few times to bring his vision back into focus. He immediately noticed that his surroundings had changed once again, though he was unsure if it was for the better or not. He was on a semi-comfortable bed, something he was very unused to. And the bed seemed to be rocking slightly, as though he were in a house with wheels. And the presences of two unfamiliar but powerful demons were in the room with him. He also noticed that Yukina was there, as well as Ryuu.

"Yukina..." he murmured, his vision still fuzzy. "Ryuu-chan..."

He attempted to sit up, but the world tipped most unpleasantly and he settled for lying back on the bed instead.

"Onii-sama!" Yukina cried out, her energy moving much closer. "I didn't know what to do! These travelers just appeared out of nowhere and offered to take us with them-" he voice broke off as she curled up next to her older brother, shaking with relief and fear. "What's going to happen to us?"

"You're free to go when ever you wish." That same annoyingly accented voice said, now sounding amused. "We just thought it would be better to get the boy off the road."

"We thought that, Jin. And you only agreed because you never could resist a pretty girl."

"Aww! Touya you ruin all my fun! Why don't you go freeze a lake or something?"

"...Jin! What are you doing to that baby!?"

Hiei shot up, nearly falling off the jerking bed. "Ryuu!"

He finally saw the two demons in the dark room with them. A red haired tall demon with wind-blown hair and a small horn on the front of his skull. He was wearing Gypsy's clothing; lightweight and good for dancing in. The other was smaller and smelled very similar to Hiei himself. The smell of the Ice World. But he looked nothing like Hiei, the demon had blue hair and blue eyes - he also wore the clothing of a Gypsy, though he seemed to wear more of it than his red haired companion.

Jin, the red-haired one holding Ryuu, was tracing one of the tribal markings on the childish arm.

"Give the child back to his Okaa-san!" Touya, the blue haired one, demanded. "You're probably frightening him with your stupid face!"

Jin made a face at Ryuu, to which the small demon didn't respond, before handing the child over to Yukina. The girl swiftly passed him over to Hiei, who hugged and cuddled him closely. The baby cried out in delight, recognizing the warmth of his mother.

"Kaa-chan," the baby burbled, reaching up to poke the still present mammary glands on Hiei's chest. A clear sign that he was hungry.

Jin and Touya sweatdropped.

Hiei melted. "You... called me "mommy"." He whispered, too shocked to open his shirt and feed his child. Or to care that Jin and Touya were still gaping at him.

"Wait a minute!" Jin demanded, recovering from his shock. "You mothered this child?! I thought she did!" He pointed at Yukina, who flushed and looked down at her lap.

Ryuu started pouting, poking more determinedly at the bulge hidden by Hiei's shirt. "Kaa-chan!" He whined.

Finally getting the point, Hiei reached up to pull open his shirt. After a moment of hesitation he looked at Jin and Touya, embarrassment clear on his face.

"Eh... excuse us..." Jin grinned, flashing them a peace sign and hauling Touya out of the room. "We'll go inform the others that you're awake."

Now alone, Hiei proceeded to feed his child, watching fondly. "He really spoke." The awed parent whispered.

"Not surprising," Yukina smiled, relaxing and pulling out her sewing projects. It seemed that she had finished sewing both a new pair of pants and a new shirt for her brother, and was already almost finished with a matching outfit for Ryuu. "Those two have been arguing about mothers ever since they saw Ryuu."

"But he's only a week old!" Hiei protested, which was probably the sole reason for his reaction. Most children didn't speak so soon after birth, right?

"Ryuu is a combination of Hi-youkai, Koorime and Toushin." Yukina reminded him patiently. "All three races develop very quickly after birth - you know that."

"What do they want for taking care of us?" Hiei asked cautiously, changing the subject and using one hand to hold his son, while the other held up his new clothing for inspection.

"They wanted nothing." Yukina said, still shocked that the travelers had stopped for them herself. "They said that, if we wished, we could travel with them to their next destination, and watch them perform. I think they're some sort of martial arts performers. I saw them practicing a little while ago."

"Where are they going?"

"Eto... Gandara, I think."

Hiei winced, a new thought forming in his mind. "How long was I unconscious?"

Yukina smirked, an old playfulness alighting in her eyes. "Two days. I told you that you need to rest more, Onii-sama." She added two more stitches to the tiny black outfit and held it up for inspection. "Perfect!" She proclaimed, tying off the threads and setting it down. She reached once again into her personal space. This time, she pulled out some white fabric, presumably for herself.

Ryuu, suddenly losing interest in lunch, crawled forward and flung himself onto the new clothes.

"Come on, Ryuu-chan." Hiei smiled, picking up his baby and his baby's new clothes. "Let's get you dressed in some real clothes."

Said baby immediately began struggling; somehow knowing that this would be a long and redundant process. Finally, after twenty minutes the child was in his clothing and sulking on the bed while his mother changed his clothes as well. Hiei frowned, immediately noticing that his chest was showing in his new shirt.

"Imouto-chan!" He whined, shocking his sister. "This shirt is embarrassing! Look at me; I look like some... some girl from a pub!" He flung off the garment, ready to torch it.

Yukina sighed. "You'll just have to wear that cloak I made for your birthday gift. It should hide your body well enough." The girl once again reached into her personal space and pulled out a long black cloak. It was very beautiful; the girl had obviously spent a lot of time working on it, probably while Hiei was asleep. She sighed. "It was supposed to be a surprise..."

At just that moment, Touya opened the door. His usually emotionless face turned bright red at the sight of Hiei, with the chest of a woman, naked to his eyes. The door slammed shut a minute later. Hiei threw on his clothes, regardless of how he looked in them and flung himself back onto the bed, trying to forget that he even existed. Yukina didn't seem able to hold in her laughter, because the soft sound rang out until tears threatened to run down her cheeks and turn into jewels.

On the other side of the door, Jin and two others crowded around the hard-breathing Touya. Their caravans continued moving along without them, but the four didn't mind - they could catch up with them quickly enough.

"What's wrong?" The one with spiky blond hair and a serious expression demanded.

"What did he do?" Jin asked, hoping up and down, so that he might do the same to get a similar reaction from his friend.

"Come on, tell us!" The third, a small boy with three stars tattooed on his cheek, urged him.

Touya shook his head. "Well..." he finally managed, looking back at his and Jin's blue painted caravan, "there is no doubt that Hiei is, in fact, Ryuu's mother..."

The other three looked confused. But Touya refused to answer any more questions and they decided to instead chase after the swiftly fading blue house on wheels. They could hear the faint sound of Yukina laughing when they finally reached it.

"Matte!" Touya suddenly cried, stopping once again in the middle of the road. "He's on my bed!"

===

It took almost a week of traveling until the two caravans containing four Gypsies, two Forbidden Children and a baby, reached Lord Yomi's territory. A few days later, they reached the city of Gandara. During the time spent on the road, Hiei and Touya avoided each other as much they could; both of them were still embarrassed over the incident on the first day.

All in all, each day that Hiei and Yukina spent with the caravan's, the more comfortable they became among the rag-tag group of Gypsies. The days were spent quietly, but the nights were the real life of the traveler's lives. Each night, the two caravans stopped in a different town and the Gypsies performed for whoever was willing to pay and watch them.

The performances, however, weren't what one would normally expect, such as dances and fortune telling and silly tricks. The group of four male demons sparred fantastically against each other. The fights were so well choreographed, that they looked almost like dances. They did, of course, dance, sing, and tell stories like any Gypsy, but all those things were a part of the fights.

Touya, who was an ice demon, would send frozen chips of ice towards Jin, a self-proclaimed wind master, who would leap into the air and stay hovering for long minutes. The other two, Rinku, the small boy with star tattoos, and Suzuka, the tall blond, fought similarly, but more for show, than anything else.

Between the fights at night, and the traveling during the day, it was amazing that Hiei wasn't recognized for who he was. But this probably had something to do with Suzuka, who was very talented in changing one's energy signature. And the fact that Hiei chose to stay inside the caravan rather than walk behind or along side it to help pass the time.

The only problem came when the small group of travelers came to the palace gates - where they were supposed to check in.

"Please state your race and class." A guard demanded, after the six travelers had arrived and stepped out of the caravans. He pointed at Suzuka. "You first."

The blond told the guard what he wanted to know with a bored but polite smile.

Hiei began panicking immediately. He couldn't say that he was a Hi-youkai, because he smelled like a Koorime. And he couldn't say he was a Koorime, because he was male. He watched nervously as the guard continued moving down the line, writing down what each of the travelers told him.

"Koorime." Yukina told the guard softly. She was clutching her brother's arm tightly, as though he could help her nervousness. At least, that is what it appeared she was doing. In actuality, she was staying close to him so that their smells couldn't be distinguished. The guard couldn't tell to whom the smell of Koorime belonged and to whom the smell of Hi-youkai belonged. "B class."

The demon grunted, looking her over before moving on to Hiei.

"Hi-youkai." Hiei said softly. "S class."

"And the baby?"

"Hi-youkai. He's not old enough to have a class yet." Hiei added.

"Hi-youkai?" The guard asked, surprised. He stepped closer and took a closer look at the child nestled in Hiei's arms. His eyes regarded the tribal marks with suspicion. "He looks more like a Toushin, how do I know you're not lying?"

Hiei's mind raced.

"Because he fathered him." Jin spoke up from his spot in line next to Hiei. "Can't you tell?"

The guard sighed, but let the subject drop. He wrote down Hiei and Ryuu's information, and moved down the line to question Jin.

An hour later, they were inside the palace walls and setting up camp.

"We're performing for the King tomorrow night." Touya told Yukina, settling down next to the girl on the grassy ground. "As special guests. I think it's some sort of celebration. A Gandara tradition that falls on every other full moon."

Yukina smiled. "I wonder what it's like to have a constant home." She said softly.

Touya remained quiet.

For some reason, the two ice demons were very comfortable in each others presence. They often would walk behind the caravan's together while Hiei slept, and they found that they had a lot in common. They each had a hidden sense of humor and quirky personalities.

"Yuki, I'm going for a walk." Hiei's deep purr interrupted their silence. For once, the Hi-youkai looked directly at Touya without embarrassment. His red eyes were smoldering with suspicion and danger. He seemed to be portraying the message: "You hurt her and I'll kill you."

Touya gulped, suddenly remembering that Hiei was a wanted criminal. His heart began speeding its pace due to fear as Hiei stalked closer to the two ice apparitions. A sigh of relief was heard as the fire demon simply pressed a kiss to his sister's cheek.

Yukina giggled. "Be careful, Onii-sama." She said, waving as Hiei turned and walked slowly away, Ryuu tucked under one of his arms. The Hi-youkai kept glancing back at them, as though expecting Touya to violate his sister while his back was turned. Eventually he vanished over the crest of a hill.

"Kaa-chan." Ryuu whined, squirming uncomfortably in his spot under Hiei's arm. "Nah!"

Hiei's tough shell cracked and he sat down with his baby in his lap. "Do you think it's good for Yuki to fall in love too?" He asked the baby, watching as said child looked up at him with soft eyes.

"I don't want her to be hurt like I was," Hiei confided softly to his child. "I don't want her to suffer a broken heart like I did."

His eyes clouded with emotion. A poke to his chest brought him back to the real world.

"Mik." Ryuu demanded, poking his mother again. "Mik, Kaa-chan!"

Hiei laughed lowly, removed his cloak and shifted so that he could open his new shirt. "You certainly do learn quickly." He said, watching as Ryuu latched onto the now accessible source of nourishment. "Demanding brat, that's what his genetics have done to you."

"You can't blame the child for being hungry." A soft, melodious voice said from behind the Hi-youkai and his child.

Hiei tensed automatically, the only reason he didn't bolt being the child still sucking on his chest. "Who are you? What do you want?"

The owner of the voice laughed and moved closer. "I was simply curious." It said, "By your voice, you are male - but you nourish the child as though you are female."

A body sat down next to the already seated demon and Hiei finally got his first look at the new comer.

Red hair, that's what Hiei noticed first. It wasn't orange-red and short, like Jin's, but the red of the final rays of light in the sun set. And it was long, cascading almost halfway down this person's back. Hiei immediately hated that hair - it was too similar to the last Bounty Hunter that had approached him. The second thing that the Hi-youkai noticed was this person's eyes. They were green, but almost hauntingly familiar.

Yusuke's eyes, Hiei realized. They have the same ancient look of kindness that Yusuke's eyes had had.

"So, which are you?" The person asked. "Male or female?"

"Hn. I could ask the same of you. And you still haven't answered my question." Hiei retorted, tearing his gaze away, and refocusing on his son. He brought his free hand up to touch the mark on his shoulder, a silent reminder to himself.

The red head laughed softly. "Oh, excuse me. My name is Shuuichi, but my official name is Prince Kurama, I am King Yomi's heir. And I hope that clears up the question of my gender." Green eyes twinkled with good humor. "Who are you, and why are you in my personal garden?"

Hiei looked surprised. This mere human was a prince? But then the small demon looked closer. Underneath that human smell was another smell - an earthy smell he had only caught once before. The smell of a Youko. A very powerful and very old Youko. And his eyes, no human could have such an ancient look. The grace that he had moved with just moments before, that was nothing that a mere human could possess. Well, at least the rumor about the prince being cursed was true - maybe that meant that the other rumor...

"Well..?" Prince Kurama asked, his smiling fading a little.

"Hiei." Pink suddenly painted itself across his cheeks as he looked back at the man next to him. "I'm male." He turned his head away. "And I didn't know this was your garden."

The red head smiled. "It's alright. I personally think that it's too lonely in this spot, it's nice to have a new face."

Hiei frowned, and returned his gaze back to Ryuu. "Hn."

===