Chapter One
Reaching Out For Heartbreak
-Senka-
I just watched him go, disappear into the darkness. I suppose I should be happy he left. I made my way into the tree house and yawned softly as I closed the door. Slowly I stripped out of the dirty clothes and examined myself for any other visible injuries. Only a few bruises. I thought to myself as I headed to the bathroom for a nice warm bath, glad that my magic had been strong enough to make this place livable for this form.
I allowed myself to sink into the water and closed my eyes to relax. I didn't realize today would be so stressful. I mused while reaching to fill the tub with oils and herbs I had obtained. I glanced to the window. I could see the sun making its descent. The moon would be up soon and its rays would illuminate the whole of my tree. I smiled softly and closed my eyes again, taking in a deep breath as I let myself sink more into the warmth. Surely the oils and herbs will help with the bruises...I really hated how slowly my body healed in this world, but it was certainly better for me here than on the Makai.
My mind wandered as I let the scents of the water wash away the tenseness in my limbs.
When I opened my eyes again, the wind had carried his scent back to me. I shuddered in place and shook my head as I turned my attention back to the window. Sitting up more, I saw him, sitting in a tree not far from my own. He certainly wasn't bad to look at. I thought to myself. What am I thinking!I yelled mentally as I sunk back down to hide, hoping he had not seen me so exposed. I ran a wet hand across my face before crouching down lowly in hope of avoiding the window and being seen. I grabbed a towel as I navigated back to my room, clutching it to my chest with my good hand. The fates were not smiling on me this day.
-Hiei-
I look at the tree one more time. I hope I can see her again soon. I find a tree close to where hers is and I sit and watch the sun set slowly letting my eyes close thinking of Senka. Those eyes...I can't get them out of my mind. Maybe this may be the one and only time Kurama could be right about the need to mate. As of right now I won't tell him, I'll dream of the beautiful girl with the amazing eyes. I fall asleep with a small smile on my face.
By morning I still couldn't get the dark haired beauty out of my mind. I went to see Kurama before he went to school. Fox, you're right, I need to mate, I told him through mind link. I watched him smirk and look up at me before entering the school gates. Cocky fox...
Glad you finally admitted it Hiei, he said passing through the gates.
I went to find some breakfast and went back to the tree where I had stayed the night before. I hoped I could see Senka this morning, soon I hope to mate with her...her scent was driving me mad.
-Senka-
As I woke that morning, the scent of the fire demon caught me again. Does he... have some sort of death wish? I grumbled and stood to close all the windows. The less openings for the scent the better. I quickly moved to the center of my tree house where there was a large metal pit. I stoked the flame and threw in a smudge stick into it, hopefully the new smell with block out his. I watch the smoke fill the room and instantly regretted my decision to close the windows. I ran to open one in a panic and fanned the smoke out. Flame, small closed quarters, not a good idea Senka. I chastised myself. At least the scent is gone. I bristled in delight as the smell of sage and lavender filled the room. Funny how much I enjoyed that scent, considering sage was a demon repellent. I laughed a bit to myself, unaware of how my human voice carried. Maybe he'll run away. I mused as I leaned back against the window.
I was ripped from my thoughts when my stomach growled at me for nourishment. I sighed and went off to the pantry to see if I had been smart enough to stock it before this whole thing happened. I was delighted to see the dried aged meats and fruits, but frowned when I noticed some of the fruit had gone bad. With a sigh I made note to chuck what I could not salvage. I stuck a metal rod through the meat and checked the mango I found. Satisfied that it was still good I cut it into pieces and stuck them between the pieces of meat, making sure to rub any juices into it in hopes of further flavoring. I grinned before bringing the rod to rest over the metal pit to cook.
Senka, I would like to see you again. I heard his voice in my head.
I frowned when he made contact, nearly burning myself on the fire metal pit. I reached to rub at my eyes and questioned my life then. I have lived peacefully all this time since that incident on the Makai, why now all of a sudden? I was going to ignore him, but my mischievous nature won out.
Why? Desperate for attention shorty? There was amusement in my tone as I asked him this, one that had not been seen in my voice in a long, long time, not since my youth. I almost wondered how long it would take before he'd end up giving up.
No, you fool, I can't get you out of my mind and your needing to mate is driving me as insane as my needing to mate! I could practically hear him smirking. I rolled my eyes.
I couldn't help my own laughter at the sound of his desperation. I may have the urge to mate, but that doesn't mean I'll lay with just anyone short stuff. I told him through our newly formed link. Of course I wouldn't, in the past I let my feelings and needs get in the way, and it ended in hurting me more than helping. I wasn't about to get myself into that situation again. Why don't you just find some prostitute, that'll help stave off the need. I bit back at him, a man so willing to call a prospective mate a fool was a fool himself.
I will not lower myself to those standards...I don't know what you've been through, but I'm not them...can you just come out and we'll talk, I won't touch you. He promised.
You have standards? Could have fooled me.I taunted as I contemplated ignoring his request, but curiosity had gotten the better of me. Fine, since you're outside any way. I rolled my eyes as I checked the condition of the warming meat. The mango was starting to get nice and mushy, just how I liked it. I grinned as I pulled it away from the heat
With a sigh I allowed him entrance into my tree house, but not before taking a bite of the oh so delicious meat I had heated up over the pit. I licked my lips of the mango juice as I watched him carefully, my eyes trained on him. He may have helped me out yesterday, but that didn't mean he wouldn't be like everyone else I had encountered in the past. I felt my eyes glaze over at the memory before shaking it off. "You said you wanted to talk... so talk." I flicked my hand in the direction of a chair made from nesting materials I had collected, it was covered in a soft fabric I had managed to steal from what humans call a craft store. Why anyone would throw away perfectly good material was beyond me. I recalled the packaging said clearance, was that the human's way of marking perfectly good items as garbage? I shook my head. I doubt I'd ever understand humans. I flopped down in a similar chair and took a bite, my eyes returning to him, trained on him for any wrong movements.
"I will tell you what I have never really told anyone else," he paused before I noticed him glance briefly at my arm, "how's the arm?"
I raised a brow at him. "Livable..." I eyed him, "but that doesn't sound like what you wanted to tell me." I took another bite, I could feel my patience wearing thin as I leaned back in the chair, folding my legs under me in the process. My eyes never left him. Despite his... shortcomings... he wasn't bad to look at.
"As you can see I'm a fire demon obviously...but I have a twin sister as well, an ice demon, Yukina. She's been looking for me for a long time. I won't let her know my secret, not yet...I hope you won't either. She loves all animals especially birds, they are her friends. When she's happy or sad she cries tear gems," He said as he pulled out the tear gems from under his shirt to show me. "I am to this point...I don't express feelings but this feeling of needing to mate and finding that one mate...is frustrating me so much to the point of wanting to cry these gems," his voice came out softly as he looked at me. "I just hope we can be mates for life, if you are willingly to budge, I'll budge."
I watched him for some time. He seemed sincere in his words, but the past still haunted me. I sighed. "I'm sorry that you've become attracted to my scent this badly." I finally tore my gaze away. "But I honestly don't think I'd ever be emotionally ready for a mate, despite what my body needs from me." I stood and went to the door. "Perhaps it's best you left..."
"Let me help you Senka...let me show you I'm different...let me show you the love and compassion you deserve..." He said as he walked to the door, his voice coming out softly. "You know where to find me if you change your mind," He left the tree house and I closed the door, letting out a long sigh.
-Hiei-
I sighed and stood in the tree, watching everything going on in and outside of the woods. I'm going to try a mind link with her. Senka, I would like to see you again, I said softly. I still can't get the dark haired beauty out of my mind. What's a ousted fire demon to do?
Why? Desperate for attention shorty? There was amusement in her voice as she asked me this.
I smirked.No, you fool, I can't get you out of my mind and your needing to mate is driving me as insane as my needing to mate! I told her through mind link. Baka josan! Here I'm on the verge of letting my tear gems fall and I never do that, I'm not Yukina who cries when she's happy or sad... I never had the urge to mate before and now after all this time it's driving me mad. I need to train and fight, but would get killed in my current state. Kuwabara would even have an easy time laying into me. Damn this urge!
I may have the urge to mate, but that doesn't mean I'll lay with just anyone short stuff. There was a brief pause, as if she had been thinking on something. Why don't you just find some prostitute, that'll help stave off the need
I growled. I will not lower myself to those standards...I don't know what you've been through, but I'm not them...can you just come out and we'll talk, I won't touch you,I told her. I felt bad, but I'm not about to apologize for calling anyone a fool, it's not me.
You have standards? Could have fooled me. She taunted me.Fine, since you're outside any way. I could practically feel her roll her eyes.
I smiled and waited for her. I wonder what I should tell her... should I let her talk first or should I? I sigh again. How do demons compete with this time of year? It's absolutely insane. I feel as dumb as Kuwabara. The way he swoons over Yukina is sickening, but then again I'm doing the same with Senka. I do know one thing though, I do not want to hurt her or have her not trust me in any way...
She finally opened the door and let me in. The smell of the food she was heating in the air, mixed with the scents of lavender and sage. "You said you wanted to talk... so talk." She waved her hand in the direction of a chair, obviously homemade with stuff she probably collected. She flopped down in a chair beside mine.
I sat hesitantly. I knew she was watching me. "I will tell you what I have never really told anyone else," I told her slowly, not making any sudden movements. I don't want to run the risk of being thrown out when I had just gotten access to the house. I assess the house quickly and turn my attention back to her. "How's the arm?" I ask before gathering up the courage I needed to tell her about Yukina.
"Liveable..." She said as she eyed me, an eye brow raised. "But that doesn't sound like what you wanted to tell me." She took a bite of meat as she pulled her legs under her. She wasn't even looking at me.
I looked at her. "As you can see I'm a fire demon obviously...but I have a twin sister as well, an ice demon, Yukina. She's been looking for me for a long time. I won't let her know my secret, not yet...I hope you won't either. She loves all animals especially birds, they are her friends. When she's happy or sad she cries tear gems," I told her, getting out the tear gems from under my shirt to show her. "I am to this point...I don't express feelings but this feeling of needing to mate and finding that one mate...is frustrating me so much to the point of wanting to cry these gems," I told her softly. "I just hope we can be mates for life, if you are willingly to budge, I'll budge."
She was looking at me for some time in silence. "I'm sorry that you've become attracted to my scent this badly." She looked away. "But I honestly don't think I'd ever be emotionally ready for a mate, despite what my body needs from me." She stood and went to the door, opening it. "Perhaps it's best you left..."
I wasn't sure but I think I just felt my heart break. I closed my eyes before getting up without knowing it a few tear gems fell to the ground. "Let me help you Senka...let me show you I'm different...let me show you the love and compassion you deserve..." I said softly walking to the door. I could see she wasn't going to budge. "You know where to find me if you change your mind," I left it at that and left.