It was a cool autumn evening. The leaves beneath the boy's feet crunched as he walked through the park. A stray leaf floated down and landed gently on his arm. He gazed down at the piece of brown that lay on the cuff of his jacket. It was crisp and cold as his bare fingers grazed the surface. It moved with the slightest touch and floated down to the ground in front of him. He shrugged his shoulders and continued on, crushing the leaf under his foot.

From above, a small fire demon watched the boy bury his hands deep in the pockets of his thin jacket. He knew the boy had money for a warmer one. In fact, he knew the boy had a warmer jacket. Why he wasn't wearing it, the demon was thoroughly confused. The cold did not bother him. After all, he was the son of an ice maiden.

The demon jumped off his perch and landed soundlessly on the hard ground below. He surveyed his surroundings. There was not another soul in sight. The only sounds that could be heard were the wind blowing gently through the dry leaves, and the boy's footsteps ahead of him. Why was he out here alone? It was a cold night, and almost dark. The fire demon followed the boy, picking his way around the dry leaves scattered on the ground.

The boy took his hands out of his pockets and held them in fists at his side. Hiei could see the paleness of his skin. He continued to follow him until they reached the forest that marked the boundary of the park. But he did not stop. He continued into the trees. By now, the demon found following the fox easier if he stayed in the trees. He was confused. Where was he going? As far as he knew, there was nothing in here but more trees. Though still he followed him. Ten minutes later, Hiei found himself in a clearing. There was a small, yet very clear and beautiful lake settled in the ground.

The boy stopped, then sat down on the ground and gazed out at the surface of the lake.

Finally Hiei made his presence known. "Kurama...?" He started quietly, something he rarely did. Yet something about his friend's actions told him to be careful.

If the fox heard him he didn't show it. He folded his knees up to his chest and hugged them close. Hiei crept towards the boy, until he was just a few feet from his back.

"Kurama? What are you doing here?" he asked quietly. Again, no answer. There were several minutes of silence, and finally the boy spoke.

"Hiei..." he started. The demon could barely hear him, but his sensitive demon ears picked up the words. "If there was someone you knew... who was very dear to you... very close to you in your heart..." he paused, as if he didn't know what to say next, but he soon continued. "...and you trusted this person very mcuh... but you had a horrible secret that you swore never to tell..." Kurama lifted his head and twisted around to face Hiei. "...would you tell them?"

Hiei was taken aback by this strange question. Kurama's eyes were filled with confusion, anger, hurt... and something he couldn't quite pick out. By the sight of the boy in front of him, he knew he had no need to answer the question. Instead he stepped forward until his thigh was against the fox's shoulder. Kurama looked up at him.

"What happaned?" Hiei asked carefully.

The boy didn't answer. Instead, he just stared deep into Hiei's eyes. He wanted to tear himself away from that emerald gaze, but found it almost impossible.

"My mother... found a book lying on my bed... the one Koenma let me borrow. It explains the history of fox demons and spirits. The famous ones, the rich ones, the wars that went on between clans in Makai. It was all written there, laying out for her to read. There were pictures." Kurama's voice now seemed louder, more full, more like his regular voice that Hiei heard every day. More confident, more angry. "There were pictures and bios in the back of famous... bandits... and thieves. She was reading that part when I found her. The page was open to the first listed. It went by most wanted. It was the picture of Yoko Kurama... and she was reading his history... she was reading my history!" Kurama now seemed mad, as if all of the anger that had been stored inside of him for the past few hours was being released.

"She didn't know it was you," Hiei started, trying to calm the angry fox.

"That does not matter. I heard her talking before I entered the room. She was taking it seriously. As if believing in everything she read. Humans like her shouldn't believe in that kind of stuff!" The color was quickly returning to his skin, and his eyes seemed to burn fire. "She said, 'That man is a horrible criminal. When they catch him he should be sentenced to death!' She told herself, 'Why do people do such horrible things... why?' Why Hiei? Why do people do such horrible things!" Kurama's voice was frantic. He jumped up so fast Hiei didn't see him move. He grabbed the smaller boy's shoulders and shook him once. "Why Hiei?Why do they do such horrible things?"

Hiei was startled by the other boy's sudden movements and actions. "Why? WHY!"

He didn't answer. He couldn't answer. "Why Hiei, why... why?" Kurama was calming down. Tears began to stream down his face. They fell off his chin and dropped onto the toe of Hiei's right boot.

"Why...?" Kurama asked again, now his voice just a whisper. His head was bent down. His hands slipped on Hiei's shoulders and ran down each side of his body until they reached his ankles, as Kurama's own body slipped back down to the cold ground.

Hiei stooped down to catch the falling boy. He was much lighter then Hiei remembered. He gently shifted the larger boy into a more comfortable position. Hiei himself sat cross-legged on the ground and rested the boy's head in his lap. The fox was now unconcious. His cheeks were flushed, and the tears were becoming cold from the night wind. Hiei took the corner of his cloak and wiped them away, as to not freeze his face. Kurama began to shiver and he rolled up in a tight ball, though still asleep. Carefully, Hiei removed his own cloak and draped it over the fox's cold, shivering, and miserable form.