Disclaimer: All characters found in this fanfiction with the exception of Hinata, Mizu, and Hidesuke, are the property of the creative mind that is Yoshihiro Togashi.

Warning: Story contains OC romances concerning Hiei and Kurama

Continuation: I will only update the story when I have received at least five reviews per chapter. Flaming does not count as a review.

Prologue

Rain pounded against the roof of the dingy hovel that was once inhabited by the most feared and accomplished thief in the demon realm.

No longer were the walls filled with laughter and praises of a heist well done, now only a somber indifference met the outside world. Ever since he left, ever since the makeshift family dissipated without warning, one little demon was left with only memories of happier times and a young one to look after.

Strawberry blond bangs cascaded over heavily lidded doe brown eyes which watched intently for any kind of movement other than than the monotonous rain drops. Fox ears atop her head drooped sideways as she finally succumbed to a persistent yawn.

A defeated sigh forced through slightly parted lips as she cast a final glance through the sole window before rising and retreating to the blanket filled corner closest to the barren fire place where an earth elemental snoozed quietly. Any hope of a warm night was dashed with the sudden onslaught of torrential rain.

A tear ran the length of the earth elemental's face. Only in his sleep did Hidesuke let the anguish of his life overtake him, allowing liquid sorrow to flow from his molten emerald eyes.

'Must be dreaming of the mother he never knew,' the fox reasoned, as she lightly brushed the remaining tears from his face before they had time to stain his tan skin. Following this action, she took in her imposed wards appearance: choppy brown bangs clung to his dampened, emaciated cheeks as his tiny chest rose and fell with each uneven breath.

Lightning flashed outside, illuminating the small room for the briefest of instants. That burst of light was enough to silhouette a figure peering into the one room dwelling before sliding from view in a single fluid movement.

Ears at attention and curiosity prickling at her senses, the fox cast a glance at her companion before rising and walking toward the door. Her heart pounded in her ears and her hands shook as they reached for the knob. Wrenching open the door she took in the sight of the mysterious figure before her.

The bright blue orbs of the rain soaked visitor peered down in a half glare at the fox demon. Rain drops glistened off her abnormally pale skin. Long strands of white hair, escaped from an elaborate braid, whipped around in the storm induced wind. Hands clutched a wound on her side in an attempt to ebb the flow of blood.

"Hin... Hinata?" the woman asked, wincing with every spoken syllable.

A small nod from the fox demon confirmed that the assumption was indeed correct. Her tail thrashed behind her as a familiar scent, albeit diluted from the rain, wafted in through the door. 'Brother? How can that be? What happened to you?'

"He's not coming back," the woman said, seeming to answer Hinata's thoughts. "Your brother has..." her knees buckled and she sank to the decomposing wooden floor with a grunt, clutching her injured side more forcefully.

Intrigued by the mention of her brother's whereabouts, Hinata wrapped one of the mysterious stranger's arms around her neck and hoisted her up. She helped her over to the corner closest to the fire place, careful to not disturb the only other inhabitant.

"Who are you? How do you know my brother?" Hinata demanded in a voice hoarse from years of disuse, after depositing her surprise visitor on a blanket that had somehow managed to retain some of its original cushion.

The visitor seemed to hesitate, as if wondering how much to disclose. "My name is Mizu." She sighed when she locked eyes with the expectant Hinata and realized that she would not be permitted to ignore the latter question. "I do not pretend to know your brother, but I know his patterns only because I was hired to destroy him."

'Hired to destroy him? What has he done this time?' Hinata wondered, furrowing her brow in concentration.

Seeming to have regained some of her strength, Mizu sat up with her back against the cold stone of the wall, quickly regretting the sudden movement as her wound opened further. "He escaped before the final blow could be dealt. My old colleagues believe he retreated to the human world." she said through gritted teeth.

Forcing Mizu back into her original horizontal position, Hinata cut away at the cloth obstructing her view of Mizu's injury, pushing her back down when she tried to once again rise into a seated position.

"Why are you wasting your time with someone that just told you they had every intention of killing your twin brother?" Mizu asked bewildered.

Hinata smiled and shook her head as if the answer were obvious. "But you didn't. This is not a wound sustained from battle with my brother but rather from your colleagues," she said with a sad smile, watching as her ward began to stir. "You let him escape and that's why you have such a terrible wound."

"You're... you're wrong," Mizu tried to reason, once again struggling to sit up and shoo Hinata's hands away.

With a bit more force and a squeeze to a pressure point just above Mizu's collarbone, Hinata gave a hollow chuckle as Mizu seemed to accept the fact that she was not getting up anytime soon. "So what about him seduced you?" she asked, motioning for the now conscience earth elemental to gather bandages from the solitary cabinet.

A minute blush graced Mizu's checks, bringing much needed color to her face. "It wasn't like that I can assure you. I despised his constant womanizing ways, his swaggering arrogance..." she trailed off, a tint of lust lacing her tone.

Hinata smirked to herself, deciding it best to leave the matter be for now.

Without much consideration, a sense of kinship developed between the two women that dark, miserable night. Little did they know of the journey of love and loss they would soon be embarking upon.

Authors notes: There you have the prologue of what is to come. As stated above, I will not even think about posting the following chapters if I don't get at least five reviews per chapter.