Title: Stellar
Disclaimer: I don't own YYH , and the title is from a song by Incubus.
Summary: Mukuro is, among many things, a ruthless killer who has used skills and strategy to become king. She has always prided herself on her discernment, but one apparition eludes her understanding. A series of drabbles on her conflicting relationship with the Jaganshi. MukuroxHiei, Hurt/Comfort
1
She first saw him fifty years ago, when he was barely a man. The first, by chance, and the next instances by her choice. She would come to realize, years later, that this is their pattern. She always came first, and she always will.
In his early youth, he was already impetuous. Wandering the desert edges of her domain, he was picked up by her patrolmen. She sends 15 low-level demons for every 300 square meters from the border, and those from the southwestern side were the ones who saw him.
"Why are there less than half of you here?" she asked one of her men when they came to her one day. Kirin, her right-hand man, was discussing military strategy with her in one of the sitting rooms when her southwest demons knocked. They shuffled in, dragging Hiei into the room. She barely took notice of the young demon in a black cloak.
"This one, my lord. H-he killed the others," one of her soldiers said, pointing at Hiei. Mukuro turned to look at Hiei, who was staring malevolently at her, his eyes a burning crimson. Her gaze fell to the boy's neck, where a teardrop-shaped pearl hung.
"What is your name, child?" she asked. He stared at her for the longest time, and she felt a little amused. He was assessing her, crudely, seeing how strong she was and if he could take her on. Finally, he spoke. "I am Hiei," he said. There was no unease in his voice, and behind her bandages, Mukuro smiled, her first in years.
"Hiei. What are you doing in my territory?"
"Just passing through."
"Do you wish to stay or will you leave? I can make arrangements for you either way,"
Hiei, child that he is, was surprised. "Won't you kill me for butchering your soldiers?" he asked. Mukuro took one long, hard look at him. She knew he couldn't see beyond the beehive dome of her bandages, or the glass eye. Yet she felt that his stare was poking the layers of cloth on her face, trying to uncover, to see.
"Do you know who I am, young Hiei?" he shook his head. "I am called Mukuro. Remember my name, and learn how to ask better questions of your host. I bid you well."
When the demons led Hiei out of the room, Mukuro looked at the door thoughtfully. Kirin watched her furtively, not sure what to say. Finally, he spoke.
"That boy has a promising amount of spirit energy. My lord, if I may be brash—why allow such potential strength to live? My lord or I could have gotten rid of him in an instant,"
"It will be interesting to have him around," Mukuro said. "He might be a good fight later."