Our favorite fire demon let his eyes wander across the wide plain of the demon world from his perch in an old oak tree while the rest of the four rested at its base. Yomi was throwing a celebratory banquet for the engagement of Shura. The four had decided (not so much on Hiei's part) to arrive as they always had- as a team. Yusuke and Kuwabara continued their ridiculous banter while the red-headed fox chuckled softly at their antics. Hiei continued scanning the countryside, catching a glimpse of the fortress in the distance. However, another form caught his eye- causing him to slip from the tree branch. He caught himself in a rough landing, calming himself after getting shook up.

Kuwabara glanced up in time to see the jaganshi's rough landing and laughed. "The trees rejecting you again, Shrimp?"

Hiei scowled, remembering the incident with the mystic whistle, and glanced away- his eyes wandering upward against his will.

Yusuke and the oaf followed his gaze, seeing a misty island hanging in the air above a vast lake, in which the river they were by ran from. Kurama caught the hurt look in the fire yokai's eyes and sighed softly, knowing that Hiei's past was one wound the fox's energy couldn't heal.

"Whoa! I don't remember that!" Yusuke grinned up at the island.

"What do you mean, Urameshi? Don't you live here?"

"Aw, Shuddup. I'm busy when I'm here."

"It's Koorime…" Hiei's voice was soft and withdrawn, as if recalling a distant nightmare.

"That's where my Yukina is from!" Kuwabara gushed, holding the complete opposite reaction as Hiei- per usual. "Do you think we have time to go visit?"

"I doubt you could make it up there."

Kuwabara frowned. "Like you could either, Midget."

"Hn."

Yusuke bit back a response, trying to fathom about how the fire demon could be feeling- forced with the beginning point of his personal nightmare. Kurama glanced over at the ex-Detective, meeting his brown eyes with the same level of concern. Kuwabara ran over towards the side of the river, rambling on about how he had always wanted to see where his beloved came from. Suddenly, he faltered, glancing down at the riverside.

"Wha-?"

The three joined him by the bank, fueled by pure curiosity. What Hiei saw, sent him into a quiet shaking fit. A small area of the riverbank was soaked with blood, accented by bits of cloth and spell papers. Hiei backed up slowly, the ordeal of discovering the remains of what he could have- no should have- been take a toll on him. Kurama leaned down cautiously and removed a single tear gem necklace from the debris. Hiei fell to his knees, his arms shaking and eye filled with horror. Kuwabara turned back towards the jaganshi, surprised by his reaction. Flashes from the cold swirling water that almost ended his life those many years ago flickered through his head.

"Hey, Shrimp, what's wrong?"

"… could have been me…"

Kurama helped the fire yokai to his feet, just as his emotions leaked from his eyes- the event truly shattering all protective barriers he had set up over the years. Yusuke pulled the questioning carrot-top away from the pair as he explained slowly. Hiei would kill him, but it was the best the ex-Detective could do.

After the explanation, Kuwabara was confused and hurt and entirely pissed off at Hiei. Yet when the wielder-of-the-spirit-sword glanced back over at the still shaking fire demon (yet not as severely) he could only help feeling sorry for the guy. He had been shunned all his life and wanted it to stop. Kuwabara glanced back up at the frozen island and decided he probably didn't want to visit the home of his love Yukina any longer.