Kenopsia | Chapter 2

Hiei found himself in a wooded area far from the stench of the Makai. The portal which carried him to Human World was just small enough that he was able to get through. Lucky for him, the strain of the Jagan implant had lowered his power to that of a D class demon and allowed him to creep passed the Kekai Barrier. His legs wobbled under him and he fell forward onto the clean green grass. The smell filled his nose. Human World smelled sweet and free of that putrid malodor he was so used to. This perfumed air was perfect for Yukina. For a moment, he felt that he could be happy knowing she had wandered into such a place. He just needed confirmation that she was safe before he moved on.

The travel had taken a lot out of him and he was still recovering from his surgery. Shigure had warned him of the side effects and had allowed him to stay long enough to recover a fraction of his strength. Shigure urged him to stay longer but Hiei had finally located the flying island he had been searching for. If he didn't act now, he might lose his chance. He had never been the patient type. When he saw his goal on the horizon, he never hesitated to rush towards it recklessly.

"Hello, Master." the imp appeared on a nearby branch of the tree Hiei had made a perch in, "I return with some news."

"Then speak. I've waited long enough." Hiei yawned

"Yatsude has amassed many followers. One of them is named Hedoki."

"Is he powerful?" he asked

"Not very. He takes control of weak humans and possesses them. He'll then lure other humans to Yatsude's lair for food. If you find Hedoki, you will find Yatsude." the imp seemed proud of the information he had gathered

"And what of the location of Youko?"

"Youko is rumored to have laid claim to this territory and the humans that inhabit it. He is no doubt angered by the disappearance of his human possessions and is also seeking to destroy Yatsude."

"Is that so?" Hiei chuckled, "If he is alive like you say then he should stay out of my way. I would hate for him to be eaten and make Yatsude a bigger threat."

"He could make a powerful ally!" The imp spoke nervously

"I need no allies. Is there no other information you can offer me on the Koorime?" Hiei's face was like stone

"None." the imp's fear was not well hidden, "I searched everywhere but have heard nothing! The only news is of her rumored appearance and the likely possibility that she was taken by Yatsude."

"Very well." Hiei climbed to the top of the tree to get a better view of his surroundings.

"Then... you will not kill me?" The imp inquired

"No. You have proven useful." he admitted

"Thank you, Master!" the imp exclaimed

"Return when you hear any other rumors."

"Yes, Master!" the imp dashed away

After scouting his surroundings, Hiei climbed up a large radio tower that overlooked the human city. It was dark. The lights from the houses, businesses, and vehicles lit up the ground like thousands of small campfires. Hiei removed the wrappings from his Jagan to seek out the demon the imp had spoken of. Hiei closed his eyes and allowed the Jagan to lure him to his prey. He was able to find a general location but couldn't place its exactness. It would take him some time to master the Jagan which frustrated Hiei to no end.

Without much hesitation, Hiei ran towards where he saw Hedoki hiding. He was able to pinpoint a large mass of flesh that was pooled in a corner next to some human buildings and stone walkway. As Hiei approached, he could hear it laughing. The smell, when compared to the sweetness of the human vegetation, nearly made him wretch.

"Hehehe. You would make a wonderful snack for my Master." A face formed in the fleshy mass on the ground. It's voice gurgled.

"I'd like to see you try." Hiei pulled out his sword and lunged towards the demon. He managed to get one decent blow in before Hedoki sank his fangs into Hiei's abdomen. Hiei grabbed at the demon and pulled him away along with a chunk of his own flesh. Hiei gasped out in pain as his coat became saturated in blood. Before he realized it, Hedoki had already vanished and would no doubt be returning with a human vessel.

"Shit." Hiei applied pressure to his wound. He only wished he could do the same for his wounded pride. He had been so slow to react and too weak to deflect such an insignificant attack. Now he was left bleeding and with no idea where the demon had fled.

Hiei could hear voices and the sound of footsteps. He attempted to cloak himself in some nearby shrubbery. Two humans were walking along the path. One possessed an obviously Demon aura. What a weak fool, Hiei thought, for allowing himself to get possessed. Hiei would end the human's suffering in a single blow. He came in for his strike but the boy, who he assumed was possessed by Hedoki, evaded.

"Hn. You dodged." Hiei scoffed

A thorned tendril crept out from around the human's wrist and the young redhead wielded it with utmost precision. It wasn't anything like the power described to him by the imp. Perhaps his messenger had been wrong or he had found the wrong target. Or, perhaps this was...

"Run!", The boy called out to the nearby human, "Now!"

The redhead fled the area with Hiei in pursuit. They exchanged blow after blow. Hiei's attacks were relentless but the boy responded to each of them in kind. Hiei knew that if the fight continued much longer, he would collapse. He would need to stall and extract information on Yatsude's whereabouts.

"Not bad." his breathing was shallow "What's a guy like you doing with Yatsude?"

"Yatsude?" The boy stopped midway through a lunge, "He's here?"

"You mean you're not with him?" Hiei asked, stunned by his mistake

"I see..." his plant weapon slithered up his sleeve, "You've mistaken me for someone else. I just live here."

"Heh. It seems I jumped to conclusions when I sensed your energy..." Blood pooled from the wound. His coat was finally soaked through and the blood was dripping to the ground. The edges of Hiei's vision began to blur and the new found colors from his Jagan implant became obscured by an overwhelming greyness. Emerald colored eyes were the last thing Hiei saw before he collapsed.

He arrived at the summit and watched as the floating island descended. The wind rushed passed him, carrying with it a scent he could never forget. It was a cold yet refreshing burst of air. It brought with it memories of a traumatic past that was both painful and meaningful. It reminded him of his mother. He had remarkable awareness, even as a newborn. He could recall her face and each of her delicately carved features. Her skin like marble and her eyes like honey. This scent aided him in remembering each detail that had slipped his mind as he grew up. The way her sea colored hair clung to her cheeks, the smell of salty tears and blood...

This marked a new beginning for him. No more falsities. He would rescue his family from their frozen prison and would finally know happiness. This was his goal. The only thing that mattered now was achieving this one goal. No matter how reckless it made him.

He leapt from the summit and landed on a rock that jutted out just far enough for him to climb up the side of the floating rock. It took him a moment to climb the rest of the way. He cursed under his breath at how weak he was in his current state. He could barely make it up the sheer cliff side of the island. It was fitting really. That he should have his power reduced to that of an infant just in time to find himself climbing back up the cliff he was thrown from. This twist of fate fueled his fire and willed him up the rock.

As he neared the snow covered ground above, he could hear voices. One was much older. Both sounded familiar. Hiei peered out from behind a rock and watched as the older woman made her way down a frozen path. He had heard of the elders traveling to make trade arrangements with other groups of ice apparitions. Only the elders were allowed to leave the island, however. Their reasoning had always been that they were the only ones wise enough to shield their minds and hearts from the Outside. However, often times young Koorime girls would wander off the island in search of the farthest thing away from the bleakness of their home on the floating island.

Once, when Hiei was still very young, he was scouting out the area for his Bandit Father. It was rumored that there was a great treasure to be found just on the far side of the woods. Hiei, using his great speed, had no problems running ahead of the rest of the bandits. He had wanted to get the treasure for himself in hopes of impressing his Bandit Father. Unknown to him, this treasure was a young Koorime who had wandered from the Glacial Village. It had been Yukina. Hiei had recognized her the moment he came upon her. He could recall how still everything had seemed. All he could do was take in the moment with all of his senses. However, it was cut short by the distant stink of bandits on the prowl.

Hiei finally pulled himself up onto the snow-covered ground. The perpetual blizzard shielded the rest of the island from immediate sight. Hiei decided to walk forward and eventually came upon small houses and an icy path. The timid creatures that lurked there all ran towards their homes. They had already barred the doors and windows by the time be had passed them. The thought had crossed his mind to burn each and every one of the heartless witches down where they stood. But they were already cold and hollow inside. There was no use in burning corpses... The image of the small charred form of the demon child from the bandit village crossed his mind. The image haunted him like a ghost before willing himself to walk further into the village.

Hiei found a familiar face in the snow. Rui- the woman who tore him away from his mother and had thrown him from the Glacial Village. His sudden appearance startled her.

"Don't be afraid. I won't hurt you." He assured her, "I am looking for a woman I used to know named Hina."

Rui, after giving herself a moment to compose herself, suddenly looked grim. She lowered her eyes to the ground, "Come. I will take you to her."

They passed the remainder of the houses. No one had come out of hiding since he had arrived. He continued to scan the surrounding area with his Jagan in hopes of catching a glimpse of Yukina. He could not sense her just like he could not sense his mother. Perhaps they were together somewhere and he just simply couldn't pinpoint them. Shigure had told him that this new ability would come naturally and be refined with practice and as his power slowly returned.

Hiei's blood congealed. In front of him was a tomb. It was a lonesome rock with Hina's name carefully carved on its surface. He and the Koorime stood in silence as he read the words on the monument over and over again.

"Hina had always been so cheerful and optimistic." Rui broke the silence, "Her presence had always been so inviting. But all of that changed after one of her children was exiled. She killed herself shortly after. I'm sorry."

He couldn't pull his eyes away from the monument- This cold reminder of abandonment. She hadn't waited. She hadn't fought hard enough to keep him and she couldn't even wait for his return. Bile coated his throat.

"And what of her daughter?" Hiei's voice was almost as cold as her's, "Did she also perish?"

"No one knows what happened to Yukina. She left many years ago, vowing never to return. We have not seen her since."

Hiei 's heart sank. It was unsurprising that Yukina had left the Glacial Village. He was sure she had wandered off on more than just the one occasion. And, if she had been anything like their mother, it was likely that she had been trying to escape her frigid confines.

He recalled how timid and weak the other Koorime were and the thought scared him. Yukina was no fighter. She would find danger at every turn. Hiei needed to find her. He needed to protect her. He walked back toward the direction he came without even a word towards Rui.

"Wait!" Rui called out, "You're him. Hina... she was your mother, wasn't she? " She slipped in the snow.

Hiei glanced back at her. She was frail. Frost clung to her lashes and hair. All color seemed to be drained from her. The snow cast everything in monochrome. It suited the numbness of their hearts.

"I am so sorry for what I have done to you." She pleaded. It sounded forced. Almost as if she were imitating emotion. The only emotion Hiei could decipher from her was fear. She was feeble and easily frightened, just like the rest of them. She was nothing but kindling.

Hiei's eyes fluttered open. He was indoors on a bed that was much too soft for his liking. The room smelled of many things- fragrant flowers, moss, some sort of waxy substance that coated all of the wood in the room...

"You heal rather quickly. You've only been asleep for a few hours." Hiei turned to see the young redhead seated on the floor by an open window. No doubt he was keeping an eye out for other enemies that may have followed them, "Your wounds were deep. I took the liberty of healing them for you."

"That was stupid." Hiei sat up on the bed

"Well, I can't easily explain a dead body to my mother." the redhead chuckled. Hiei responded with silence, "Your Jagan implant is recent."

"Your point?" Hiei examined the wound on his abdomen. It would leave a light scar. Though he hoped it wouldn't. He would rather not be reminded of his blunder.

"You must have had good reason to risk it." the redhead spoke

"Hmph." Hiei replied. He pulled himself out of the soft bed and grabbed his sword. It was peculiar. Why had this boy carried him home?

"Tell me, what is her connection with Yatsude?" The redhead inquired. Hiei stared blankly, "Yukina? You spoke of her in your sleep."

Hiei's throat tightened, "You talk too much." His response came out like a growl, "I should have killed you."

"But you didn't." the boy smiled

"Tch. Your naivete will get you killed someday." He put on his freshly laundered jacket and walked towards the window

"It is too soon for you to try and fight Yatsude." the boy's tone was more serious

"If I don't kill him now, he'll only get stronger." Hiei knew the boy was right. He was still too weak and Yatsude would be a much more powerful opponent. He had no choice but to face him now.

"You never told me your name."

Hiei stared into the emerald eyes of the not-so-human boy. In them, he found something oddly comforting. This boy had fought with him, took him home, and then healed him. He even offered him his bed and then kept an eye out for possible enemies that might attack him in his weakened state. Something in him told him he could trust this boy. He knew it would just end in abandonment. Though the concept of a temporary alliance didn't revolt him like he thought it would. He sighed, "...Hiei."