Intertwined

By: Christine Lennoire

Part Two: Of Fire and Ice

Hiei could be many different things, like a shape-shifter, but within the confines of his mind. For instances in time, he could be cute in a sense. But most of his life was spent tipping the scales… the temperature scales of course. In one second, he could be icy cold and separated by the freezing barriers of his non-social style of living, and in the next second, he would burn everyone and everything with his fiery passion. Whoever said that passion was a good thing, never met a demon of his caliber. Unusual he was, in a sense, but in that same sense, Hiei was the polar opposite of his singular friend and companion, Kurama.

And if you're thinking opposites attract, he'll probably come to smite you now…

Not Kurama though. He was calm and calculating. Everything he did, he did with love and care. But look back a little bit, and it doesn't appear to be care anymore, as much as it looks like caution. From the exterior, you would never guess that Kurama had two dueling personalities. There was that of his former demon self and that of his human self: Suuichi Minamoto. Although he cast Youko Kurama aside, that didn't mean that he would peacefully leave just because the fiery redhead asked him too. In that way, Youko and Hiei had a lot in common, while Suuichi was the opposite.

Fire and ice are opposing elements, and yet, both share equal value within Hiei. The result of his lack of upbringing led to the development of his frozen temperance. In the beginning, his body, mind, soul, and all screamed 'scorching heat'. He had to be wrapped up in a magical blanket to be kept at bay. It was like a candle, burning bright for hours – always wary, always flickering, but never dying out. As he grew older, the flame grew larger. It was no longer the candle that you could use to light your way. Hatred and anger poisoned it.

The flame turned black and flickered blue in the moonlight, calling out in an enchanted way. It became stronger and stronger, until he would have died without some counter existence to lean on. This was Hiei's ice. It started out as one single frozen tear streaming down his mother's face and became a pendant that he would later treasure. But it didn't stop there, as the tears pooled up within him. Hiei had no outlet, so he turned to improving himself so that he would be, in no sense of the word, weak. The mirror he gazed into, frosted over with ice from his soul, blurring and distorting the images.

His life became intertwined between two aspects: the raging fire and the momentous frozen lake. Were he to turn either way, he would be swallowed either by fire or frozen lake. There was no other way but to wrap himself within both of them – staying equally intertwined between the strands of ice and fire that surrounded his soul. Kurama noticed these things – and unlike the others that witnessed Hiei's manifestations or heard the simpler, but still gruesome and heart-wrenching stories, he was captivated in a positive light. A need to surround himself by these things developed.

Kurama was neither ice, nor fire. He was like the lone plant remaining on the plain of grass before Hiei. Either ice or fire could kill it with a simple like. But Kurama loved the danger. It was an intoxicating way to face fear. As long as Hiei remained in balance, neither would touch him. At first, it was just fascination. However, slowly Kurama turned from pity and curiosity to companionship. Youko hadn't much for friendship, though he hadn't been alone in life. But in his human form, he longed for loving relationships.

Family. Friends. Teachers. Lovers. All these things were valuable treasures. Yet, they had no value – no equal worth. There was nothing that he would trade any of these for anymore. Youko had been a traitor and a scoundrel. That wasn't Kurama anymore. He cast the idea aside when he began his new life. To him, Hiei was his closest and most dearest of all friends. And at the same time, Hiei was more damaged than even Youko… and Youko was a dead being. All his life he dealt with abandonment, torment, loneliness, and no certain amount of other horrible things.

Slowly, Kurama began to add memories. If he could intertwine the good with the bad, maybe Hiei could find some peace within himself. With all the love Kurama could muster, he promised to help Hiei in any way he could. Why did he care for Hiei so much? He asked himself that question many times. And in looking at the fire and ice within his two-sided friend, he was able to study and come up with a logical answer that made some semblance of sense.

Many times, Kurama said intelligent and deeply emotional things. It was his style. He could describe things with an innate talent, and make most things ugly shine with at least some sort of good qualities. But this emotion could not be described with flowery words or formulas. This wasn't the stuff of textbooks or of romance novels. This was the stuff you find in young adult's diaries, hidden under their pillow or hugged tightly to their chests, as they wish on a star for a chance in hell to receive their greatest wish.

Right in front of Kurama was the chance most people would never have. Hiei was hurt from many years of neglect. Though he put up the wall, the results of the pain were still the same. Wrapping the flames up in light, not heat, Kurama set soothing words through Hiei's soul. It's true. I love you. And this is what he told the burning fire and the intense icy void.

I love you for this – that is certain. Your flame burns brighter than any other I have known. You are demanding and strong in times of need. You can protect anyone with your strength, which is completely unwavering. This fire within you lights up the darkest places and makes you more pure than those fools that cast you out as a 'forbidden child.' With only ice in their spirits, their hearts are filled with darkness without a warm light to guide them to where they are going.

I love you for this, as well – I know that too. Your icy countenance is cautious and cools your fiery spirit. You can learn to love in a gentle touch of that which you have shown me. You can be calm and cool in the worst of situations. Planning and strategizing come easily to you. Unlike most demons, whose' hearts are filled with only fire; you have ice, too, for you have seen more pain and suffering then they. Although they have the light from the fire, they have nothing within them to cool the fire so as not to burn themselves in the process with their pride and hurt themselves.

Yet, I love you for neither. I love you for both.

Hiei watched the emotions pass over Kurama's face. He could hear everything loud and clear. At the same time, he wanted to laugh at him or call him stupid for having such pointless emotions. But he couldn't, for some reason. It almost felt like a weight had been released. Wrapping around his heart, he could feel the pain he felt for so long, intertwine with something else. This was a feeling he didn't recognize, though he heard the word many times. It was the first time that he could say that he felt loved.

There were a lot of things he would have liked to say. But it wasn't his style to have such emotions. He could hardly contain the strange feeling of simply coming in contact with such strong emotions. How could he convey them if he wasn't sure how? Kurama rested his head on Hiei's shoulder and laughed quietly, reveling in the small scowl he received from his confused companion.

Just because you are loved doesn't mean you have to change. I love you just the way you are. And because I do, I can sense things so well. You don't need to tell me these sorts of things. Because I already know. Don't ask me why. I don't understand myself. But I can just feel it, so… I'm not going to ask you to say anything. To be honest – it would be weird to hear you speak such things, only because it's not the you that I am used to.

Though I am telling you not to change, I know you will. It is already happening – very slowly, but surely. You have endured much from many different people, and now it's time for you to just realize the good things all around you.

Kurama got up and looked out the window. It was way too late to stay up. Yawning, he closed the window and blew out the candle on his dresser that had been lighting the room throughout the entire time Hiei was there. Involuntarily, Hiei shivered at the loss. Quickly, Kurama closed the distance and held him close. Fire is passion, and I think soon you will see the fire slowly change from a passionate hatred – to a passionate love. Kissing Hiei's forehead, he laid down on the bed, holding the demon close to his beating heart.

Intertwining fate and coincidence, he wondered which he should thank for Kurama's presence with him right now. Love mingled with hate, and Hiei felt lighter and more alive than he had been since birth.

Hiei didn't have to choose like most people did. Kurama loved him for everything that he was, and that was a wide variety of things. Most people would just see a scrawny demon-eyed brat who was a terrible sinner. But Kurama saw all four parts: the scared, lonely child, the powerful demon, the heartfelt human, and the damaged half-breed. No one knew Hiei like Kurama did. No one ever cared to ask before. In the end, though, Hiei was lucky, no matter how you put it or how you saw it played out.

Like a book strewn out on the table, you can only see the pages before you. But as the wind stirs, the pages turn – and a new day dawns. Wrapped up in the feeling, Hiei got up and turned the page himself, deciding that from this day on, a new chapter would need to begin. His story twisted and turned and intertwined with others, but he didn't care to disentangle them. He liked the feeling of getting caught up in the knot.

It made him feel connected somehow…

There you go! Proof that this is more than a one-shot. Hope you enjoyed it. Please review and tell your friends to read this! Much love, my readers.

Christine Lennoire