I do not own the characters that I choose to use in this fan fiction…

It had been two days after the incident with the S class demon, and Genkai Shrine was still under repairs. Since that time Genkai had returned, and had of course cussed them all out for their blatant irresponsibility. But after a lengthy explanation, their elderly teacher found herself rushing to Hiei's side in an attempt to see this mysterious new energy. After that, she had set everyone to work rebuilding the temple. Yusuke currently sat on top of the roof, along with Kuwabara, fixing broken beams, and replacing shingles. Well, Yusuke was fixing the roof, but the psychic was currently pouting.

"I don't get it" Kuwabara grumbled "Why does the runt get out of helping clean up?"

"You know exactly why!" Yusuke snapped "Or were you not there when he lost it, turned into a blond super soldier, and then puked all of his demon energy up leaving only the weird gold stuff behind?"

Kuwabara opened his mouth to answer, but found he couldn't think of a suitable retort. In truth, Hiei was going through worse treatment than all of them put together. The elderly shrine guardian had been working him hard for the past two days, scarcely letting him rest as she examined his newfound energy. They still had no clue as to what it was yet, and it was causing problems for Hiei. Every time he tried to use it, it practically tore his body apart. Kuwabara couldn't help but be surprised that the guy who had mastered the darkness flame technique was having issues learning to control some strange looking ki energy. But then again, the process alone of taming said energy, looked pretty painful. For now, the psychic decided to just keep his mouth shut, and get back to work.

Just twenty or so feet away, the fire demon in question was on all fours, gasping for air. His face and torso were covered in sweat, and his limbs trembled from the extreme work out Genkai had run him through. In slow pained movements, he clambered to his feet, exhaustion evident to those watching him. The small apparition gulped back the bile rising in his throat, and once again tried to gain access into this new power, and focus it into the palm of his hand. Genkai watched nearby, knowing that he was literally standing on his last legs of strength, but knew that to try to stop him before he collapsed from fatigue or felt satisfaction from today's workout, would be pointless.

Focusing on his fist, Hiei couldn't understand why it was swaying back and forth. Looking up to his teacher, he noticed that she too was swaying, but her body seemed to stretch up to the side as well. Shaking his head, he cast determined eyes back onto his fist, focusing on the task at hand. Reaching down inside himself, he felt that strange golden ki, and attempted to pull it out into the open. Unfortunately, that brought an undesired, but not entirely unexpected result. Once again his world tilted, his vision went black, and his insides began to burn in agony as the energy flared.

Crumpling to the ground, the fire demon scarcely registered the panicked shouts of his friends, and the strong arms that caught him as he drifted into darkness. His stomach began to convulse, and the arms currently holding him, turned him onto his side as he began to retch in jerking painful spasms. His ruby eyes fluttered open as he stared at the world around him with an unfocused gaze. Feeling warmth trickling down his lip, Hiei reached up only to see his hand covered in blood from a massive nosebleed. Darkness began to claim him, and as his body trembled from over exhaustion, the jaganshi gave himself up to it.

Kurama wrapped his arms around his small friend, holding him still as he stood and carried the fire demon into the shrine. Yusuke ran after the kitsune, his face a mask of anxiety for their friend's health. After entering the room where the Hiei had been staying, Yusuke knelt down on the floor, his eyes intent on his friend.

"Anything I can do?" the former detective rasped.

Kurama sighed, rubbing his face with both hands before answering "Hiei's body is going into shock, thus why he is shaking so bad. We need to calm him down. Go get a couple extra blankets, and ask one of the girls to prepare some hot tea."

Nodding his head, Yusuke leapt to his feet, and darted out the door. Kurama proceeded to clean up the blood and sick off his friend, changing the small jaganshi into a freshly laundered shirt. Then reaching into his hair, he pulled out a small seed. Focusing his energy, the seed sprouted and bloomed. The kitsune pulled some leaves off the plant, and then reverted it back to its original state. As he waited for Yusuke to return, he began crushing the leaves in between his palms and fingertips, preparing it to be dropped into the tea as soon as it arrived. So intent was he on this chore, he practically jumped when a weak voice called to him from the floor.

"Kurama…"

"Hiei" Kurama exclaimed, a relieved smile lighting his features "I'm glad you're awake, how do you feel?"

Hiei tried to sit up, but groaned as a splitting headache began to throb behind his eyeballs. "Like I got run over by a freight train." He answered, lying back down on the pallet.

"Heh" Kurama gave a halfhearted laugh "You look like it too."

"And that just makes me feel so-o much better." Hiei whined.

Suddenly Yusuke came back into the room, blankets and tea in hand. With a smile of thanks, Kurama grasped the cup, and then dumped the crunched up leaves into the hot liquid. Swishing it around, the kitsune finally seemed satisfied enough to hand over to the jaganshi. Hiei gave his friend an incredulous look, and then wrinkled his nose. He had been around the fox long enough to know that any herbal beverage made by the plant master more often than not tasted like mud and leaves boiled with stinky socks. Kurama was unmoved by the face, and once again shoved the mixture under his friend's nose. As the aroma wafted over to him, Hiei felt the urge to puke all over again, and quickly cast pleading eyes over to the mazoku.

Yusuke responded by putting both hands in the air, as if in surrender "Dude" he laughed nervously "You fainted, your nose was gushing blood, and you were puking everywhere. I can't help you here. I think it's safe to say that you need whatever that junk is that Kurama made you."

A look of absolute betrayal crossed the small jaganshi's features. Then once again resuming his usual cold mask, plus a pout that was noticeable only to those who knew him best, Hiei took the cup in an unsteady hand. With a muttered "Traitor", he took a sip, and promptly his face twisted into disgust as he fought the urge to gag. Holding his hand up, he tried to hand the cup off to Kurama, but the red haired teen merely shook his head gently before pushing the tea cup back towards the fire demon.

"All of it, Hiei."

Hiei's ruby gaze hardened into a deathly cold stare of pure venom. "You just do this to torture me don't you? I doubt that this even is supposed to help."

Kurama smiled "Don't be ridiculous, now," with a pale hand, the fox grabbed the cup, covering Hiei's fingers with his own, and forced it up to his mouth pouring all the foul liquid inside "why don't you finish that tea like a good boy, and then take a nice rest, ok?"

Coughing and sputtering, the jaganshi glared at his friends as they began to represent evil incarnate to him "I will KILL YOU!" he snarled.

"Maybe if you still had your flame powers…" Yusuke muttered absently.

Hiei turned his hate filled eyes onto the detective, and Yusuke's own gaze began to grow wider as he realized just what he had said out loud in front of Hiei. A look of terrified amusement passed between the two healthy teens as they jumped up and simultaneously ran from the room. The fire demon tried to follow, but found that today's training had taken more of a toll than he had first supposed, and promptly fell back down on his butt; which only left the jaganshi one option. With an angry flop, he lay back down in bed, and began to sulk.

…..

"How's the brat?"

Kurama smiled at Genkai's seemingly gruff question, noting the undertone of concern. Sitting down beside the old woman, he poured himself some tea "He should be sound asleep by now. I gave him some tea that was mixed with a special herb that heals the body while also making you sleep."

Genkai let out a barely noticeable sigh of relief. These boys had wormed their way into her heart, much to the point that she looked on them as her own sons, Hiei was no exception. He was the baby brother of the team to be sure, a complete brat most of the time, but fiercely loyal to his three 'older brothers'. For all his antisocial attitude and cold exterior, the old woman couldn't help but see him for what he was; a young boy who wanted to be loved and involved in something bigger than just his own little world. It certainly didn't help to dispel that image when the fire demon only looked about ten years old to begin with. Once again facing the kitsune, Genkai refilled her tea, a small smile on her lips.

"Good" she replied.

"Genkai" Kurama murmured softly, his eyes focused on the cup in his hand "Do you have any idea what this energy may be, and why it hurts Hiei so just to try to use it?"

The woman gave another sigh, then pursed her lips as she searched for the best answer "When we were in the Dark Tournament, I gave Yusuke one last test before the Finals. I gave him my Spirit Orb containing all the power I had built up over the years. Before he could accept it though, he first had to absorb it into his own body. The process was painful, and almost ripped him apart from the inside out."

"So" the kitsune said, voice almost a whisper "You think that that is what's happening to Hiei?"

"Quite possibly" Genkai nodded "This energy is unlike anything I have ever felt before. It is not demon ki, it certainly isn't human spirit, but it isn't even the sacred energy that Sensui had during your last fight. But regardless of its origins, what it is is powerful! So much so that Hiei's body is having trouble absorbing it. It is painful to watch, but this is something that only time can fix. Eventually his body will harmonize with it, and then we can begin training and learn just what it can do."

"I wish you had been there to see it" Kurama laughed humorlessly "One minute he was as we know him, next minute, his hair had turned a shocking shade of bleach blonde and he had ten times more power than even I have ever had. In that state, he very easily could have taken on all three demon kings at once, and come out victorious."

"So I hear" Genkai grumbled.

Just hearing that statement from the most intelligent member of the team made the woman feel anxious for the future. What if this energy had an unpleasant side effect on the small demon? She hoped not. If it did, then it would mean that Yusuke and the others would have to fight and bring Hiei down. And if this new energy was as powerful as they say, it could very well end up being a fight to the death. They needed answers, and soon.

Little did Genkai know that the answer to her mental plea was well on its way, and was due to arrive within the next few moments.

….

"Why couldn't we have used instant transmission?" Vegeta grumbled.

"Because I didn't know where the energy was" Goku explained "I had to track it down by feeling it out, and because of the weird fluctuations, it's been hard to pin down."

Vegeta growled impatiently, but did not argue. True he was irritated that his fight with Kakarot had been postponed indefinitely, but someone they did not know accessing the Super Saiyan transformation was something they couldn't brush aside. It was imperative that they find this person, and make sure that they do not pose a threat. And so they were flying towards over Japan, heading towards a large mountain, and if his eyes were correct, they would land at a shrine sitting by itself in the middle of the forest. Looking at the figure flying ahead of him, Vegeta put on an extra burst of speed, hoping that his rival would get the hint of going faster towards their destination.

Within moments, they had arrived at the temple gate, and with the stride possessed only by a prince, Vegeta marched into the compound his keen eyes searching for the Saiyan who had brought them here. As he and Kakarot began to approach the building, three young men ran out of the main entrance, their faces hard and untrusting.

"Who are you and what are you doing here?"

Goku gave a wide grin at the black haired teen who had spoken and waved his hands, answering his question with a small laugh. "We aren't here to start any trouble; we're just looking for something, that's all."

"And what would be in my temple that would interest you?" A small old woman walked out from behind the boys.

Vegeta examined her, noting how they relaxed from their battle ready positions with just one wave of her hand. Stepping forward, Vegeta growled at the woman. "We're searching for someone who just gained access to a large and rare power two days ago."

Their eyes widened as the young men glanced at each other in an unspoken agreement. Folding their arms, they blocked the entrance, and the boy with the slicked back hair spoke once again. "And if he's here, what are you going to do?"

"Make sure he isn't a threat to the planet for one thing" Goku chipped in "and if he isn't, then we will train him on how to use the power so he doesn't hurt himself or anyone else."

The young man with long red hair strode forward, his green eyes cool, calculating, and dangerous. "If we allow you to examine our friend, understand that the moment you seem suspicious, or try anything that we deem inappropriate, will be the same moment that you leave this world… permanently."

Vegeta couldn't help an impressed chuckle to slip from between his lips. These boys were something else. A person could tell just by looking at them that despite their young age, they had seen terrors, and survived battles that would have killed lesser men. If this was where the Saiyan had been trained, then the prince was much more inclined to meet him. Sending a grin towards his rival, Vegeta gave a boisterous laugh.

"I like this place Kakarot!" he exclaimed "It's the kind of place that raises warriors, not the pathetic wimps this planet has the gall to call military."

"I can't help but agree Vegeta" Goku replied his own face decorated with an expectant smile "If who we're looking for is half as powerful as these kids, then training him will be fun!"

The black haired teen raised a suspicious eyebrow, but couldn't help but feel a kinship with these strange newcomers. They were martial artists, no question, and he could practically see the battles that they had been through. With a shrug, he gave a cocky grin.

"I'm Yusuke Urameshi, the leader" he said, pointing at himself proudly, then jerked his thumbs at his two comrades "This is Kurama and Kuwabara; they are just a part of my team the last member is inside asleep. I don't know why, but I feel like I can trust you, but remember" Yusuke stopped and sent a bloodthirsty grin down at their visitors "if you betray my trust, then I will let Kurama do what he promised."

With that, the teen walked inside the temple, followed by his men. Goku laughed as he felt excitement build in his chest. He couldn't wait to get to know these new warriors. After the old woman also went inside, the two Saiyans followed them, and soon found themselves standing in the middle of a large living area. Turning around, they saw Yusuke standing on one end of the room, gesturing for them to follow him into the hallway. Walking after him, they were swiftly led into a dark room, occupied only by a small figure asleep on a pallet.

Vegeta nodded at Yusuke when the boy placed a finger to his lips signaling them to be quiet, and then knelt down next to the bed. Reaching up, he gently tugged the blankets down to reveal a sleeping child. Spiky black hair with a white starburst sat atop a gentle, unguarded face, while soft even breaths moved his chest up and dawn. A small shiver shook the boy at the sudden change in temperature, and with an incoherent murmur, the child snuggled down into the blankets seeking warmth. A warm feeling burst inside the saiyan's chest as he was struck by the thought that this child was actually kind of…cute. But he shook that thought away as quickly as it had come.

"Wow…" Goku whispered, a tender smile on his face "He is Saiyan alright, and if I didn't know better I would say he was related to you Vegeta."

The Saiyan prince cocked an incredulous eyebrow at his longtime rival, and then once again examined the sleeping boy. True he did hold a little resemblance of his family, but that meant nothing. Most Saiyans looked similar to each other, it was an accepted fact, but Vegeta couldn't shake the feeling that Kakarot may be right. Leaning down he ran his hand through the boy's hair, smiling at how soft it was despite its blatant disregard for gravity. The child stilled at the touch, then gave a contented sigh. Slowly opening his eyes, a bleary ruby gaze took in the hazy figure of the well built Saiyan prince. Hiei wasn't sure why he did, but in his drugged stupor he said the only thing that came to his mind in that moment.

"Father?"