Wingless Bird

Writers' Notes: The skaboss and WyndiWingfall are co-writing this. We switch turns after every chapter; this probably means I'll be (WyndiWingfall) writing the odd-numbered chapters and the skaboss will be writing the even.

Reviews are appreciated; so is criticism. I can't say the same for flames, however.

Disclaimer: We don't own Yu Yu Hakusho.

Chapter One: Downward Spiral

Chilly wind danced through the green leaves of nearby trees, rustling and spinning songs of fairies in the evening. The sky, a pale gray, seeped into everyone's hearts and warned them of the approach of fall and the harvest. The air was quiet and still, save for the animals' cries.

Birds screeched and chirped as they wheeled through the sky, battling the fierce winds that threatened to wipe them out. Their songs rang with despair as they struggled against the elements which never tired; one by one, droplets of crimson blood and soft, downy feathers spiraled and drifted off to the earth.

Help us! the animals seemed to cry as they plunged into night. But the humans who separated themselves from such beauty and peace of nature were oblivious to their plight.

And so they fell, despair consuming them.

-:-

The quiet but joyful laughter of a certain ice maiden echoed softly through the temple's courtyard. The tranquil silence of another dawn accompanied her beautiful voice calling out to the creatures of flight that she now fed; with a light movement, birdseed was scattered into the air as birds pecked away at it.

Yukina smiled; feeding the animals that came to her was one of the joys in her life. With another whoosh, seed dropped from between her fingers, nourishment for the little feathery birds. The Koorime's scarlet, gentle eyes shone with undiluted happiness.

Strands of her mint-green hair wove themselves into the sunrise's winds. The melodies of early morning rang in the air like golden music of the gods themselves. Yukina laughed again as the birds chorused simple tunes, wanting more food.

In the topmost sturdy limb of a nearby tree, her brother watched, his small black form but a blur in the dawn's piercing rays. The emotionless bloodred eyes, the unique shape of his spiky hairdo, and the movements of a black cloak were the only signs that anyone was there.

The fire apparition watched as Yukina hummed a sweet tune and continued to feed the birds that were now chirping noisily and cheerfully. Hiei noticed the subtle smile; the warm, welcoming glitter in the once-solemn ruby eyes.

From within the temple, the psychic Genkai stepped out. The pink-haired master smiled at the ice maiden's innocence—it was very rare to find a demon that was—or at least, seemed—untainted by the blood of murders.

Genkai looked up at the trees, her observing brown eyes staring straight at the Jaganshi that was hidden there. "You can come down now, Hiei; there's nothing to hide from. And Yukina will want to see you."

With a slight scowl twisting his features, the fire demon leapt down gracefully. The light swish of the cloak as he landed alerted his sister of his arrival.

"Hello, Hiei," the Koorime greeted; Hiei nodded in response.

Little songbirds clustered mainly around the girl, but a few found the male's hair a pleasant resting spot. There was no doubt that the fire apparition would've burned the creatures to a crisp—yum, bird flambé—had Yukina not been watching.

Instead of turning himself into an oven, Hiei merely stood still while Yukina laughed as the birds flew into her cupped, outstretched hands.

"Hn."

The "conversation" was interrupted by a certain perky, blue-haired ferry girl and her oar. At her arrival, Genkai entered her temple; cheerfulness usually didn't help headaches much, last time she checked— which was basically never.

"Hiei! Yukina!" Botan jumped off her oar, trying to suppress a yawn. "Have you seen the others? I can't find them anywhere and I've been searching all of Tokyo for an hour now."

Yukina shook her head, a worried frown appearing on her face. "Aren't they at home? After all, it's still quite early."

"No, they weren't in bed or anything. Not even Yusuke, and he sleeps in a lot." Botan sighed wearily, using her oar as a support as she stood. "This doesn't help things much…although Koenma said something about them on another case." She looked towards the Jaganshi curiously and murmured, "But he would've sent you along, right?"

"Hn, I don't know. Koenma and I aren't the best of friends," retorted Hiei, pronouncing the last word with utmost scorn.

He was cut off from further, "less discreet" insults by Botan suddenly looking towards the sky and Yukina's "What's the matter, Botan?"

For Botan's eyes had widened alarmingly, and now she looked so shocked that it almost seemed comical— not to mention cheesily dramatic. Her gaze still skyward, she gripped her oar fiercely as if she was about to collapse. "Oh, no….Please don't tell me that that happened…" the ferry girl pleaded quietly to herself, finally looking down at her hands with tears filling her violet eyes. "Please…."

Not knowing what to do, the siblings watched on, Yukina offering what comfort she could provide when the two apparitions were oblivious to the source of Botan's distress.

But their questions were soon answered.

Hiei's and Yukina's blood went ice-cold as they sensed three auras disappearing forever from the earth. And they weren't just any three random auras, to be sure.