This is where the story starts to unfold, I hope you like surprises unless you've already figured it out, though I don't see myself how anyone could have figured it out by now. Anyway please enjoy.
An hour later Kurama had left Hiei in the library and went find the girls playing the game station and the boys were drawing pictures.
"What are you two doing?" Kurama asked walking towards them.
"Urameshi said he could draw better than me and I'm going to prove him wrong." Kuwabara said concentrating on the drawing.
"Oh no!" somebody said from behind Kurama, "is that really the time… Ohmygod, I have to get home." It was Keiko, she ran around the room and grabbed her things and went to thank Aria who was watching the game from the couch.
"No problem, come back any time and visit." Aria said as Keiko walked out the door.
"Hey Kazuma you better get ready to leave because I will not wait for you, its nine and I'm getting tired." Shizuru said, yawning and stretching, then going back to her game.
"Yea, okay, sis." Kuwabara replied without really comprehending what she had said.
Kurama went and sat next to Aria then he stretched out on the couch and laid himself across Aria's lap, she gave no protest. She even began to run her finger through his hair, which slowly made him drowsy.
"Ha see, Urameshi, I win at this game!" Kuwabara said holding up his picture for all to see.
"Kuwabara, it's a stick figure, yea that's real great." Yusuke said sarcastically.
"Well let's see yours!" Kuwabara said angrily.
Yusuke gave him an angry look and held up his notebook and on the notebook was a very cruelly drawn stick figure, a drawing even worse then Kuwabara's.
Kuwabara looked like he was going to explode with laughter. "Wow, Urameshi you really beat me." Kuwabara countered sarcastically, he even began to cry, he was laughing so hard.
"C'mon, Kazuma, I'm tired, let's go." Shizuru said, getting up leaving Boton to finish alone.
"Okay, sis." Kuwabara said laughing at Yusuke all the way out the door.
"Oh man, I got to get going, what would Koenma do without me I still wonder?" Boton asked the group. She then made her wooden canoe appear, the paddle-like thing that took her between the worlds. She stepped out side closed the door and was gone.
"I should go to or my mom might start thinking that I'm drinking and doing things I shouldn't do at the age of seventeen," he said then picked up his car keys on the table at the door and was gone. The little blue blob that was Puu flew over and landed on Yusuke's head as he left.
Kurama waved good-bye as each of them left Aria nodded them all a thank you and turned the channel on the TV.
Hiei walked out of the library and looked around at the empty house, he saw Aria's fox ears twitch as he entered, he knew that she heard him enter but she didn't do anything.
"Well Hiei what do you wanna do?" Aria asked, she was still running her fingers through Kurama's hair though he had fallen asleep.
"I guess I could stay if you don't care." Hiei said walking around to the front of the couch and sitting down next to her.
"You really mellow out when Yusuke's not around don't you?" Aria asked turning the channel again. "You only seem to be at peace around youkai."
Hiei gave a hint of a smile and then it faded when he felt Aria's gaze.
"You truly don't have to hide it, Hiei, I know you like being here and you don't have to leave if you don't want to." Aria said, Kurama's silent breathing quickened then returned to normal. Aria looked down at the only person she could ever love, she reached over and caressed the gentle face then turned her attention towards Hiei once again. "Well, do you like being here or do you only come here to get away from your memories in Koorime, and what they did to you."
"I guess it's a little bit of both, I enjoy being around you and Kurama because you two can relate to my situation and I don't like to be in Makai because I really don't like the memories." Hiei said; his attention went back to the book that he had brought from the library… he was already half way done reading.
Hiei didn't know what else he could do in Ningen but read, he was ignorant to the human's ways and he often found calming in the books. They told of many things and held far more knowledge then most humans even cared to know, mostly because many humans didn't wish to know about their evil past, or that's what Hiei thought.
Aria yawned and looked at the clock, "Well. I need to go to bed or I will not wake up for work in the morning." She began to stand up and Kurama woke up looking around.
"What?" Kurama asked groggily and then getting up he dazedly followed Aria. "Good night, Hiei." He waved at his friend who was now sitting alone on the couch.
The two walked into the room and got into pajamas or what was close enough to some, Aria crawled into the large bed and pulled the covers over her person.
Kurama crawled in after her and laid a kiss on her cheek and wrapping his arms around her he was the first to fall asleep.
Hiei read the book until he himself was beginning to fall asleep he closed the book and remembered the page number. He got up and started to walk to the guest room that Aria said he could use.
He walked in and inspected the room.
It was a really simple room, the bed sheets and the bedspread matched; the same green flower pattern, there was a TV and a nightstand and a light. A window was in the room as well but the curtains were closed so the dark night couldn't penetrate into the room.
Hiei walked over to the bed and touched the soft fabric; it was so soft it felt like a cloud. He decided that he would sleep in the bed instead of the floor. He pulled off his cape and folded it up and laid it in the a chair nearby, he pulled off his boots and climbed into the bed, felt the pillow and laid his head on it. Within only a few minutes he was sleeping and once again dreaming.
It was the same dream as before but this time he knew what was going on. Everything happened as it had before the child died when he fell over the cliff and he died at the hands of the monster demon.
"Father, come find me, please find me." The childish voice said this time.
"I can't find you, you're lost to me, where do I find you?" Hiei asked
"You will find me father I know you will, I hope to see you soon." The voice said then it faded away.
This time when Hiei awoke it was dawn and the sun was rising over the mountains to greet the morning. Hiei pulled his boots and his cape on went outside to see the sky like he was used to, the morning dew cling to every plant in the yard.
He heard something to his left and looked to see three horses behind a fence staring intently at him. They asked with only their eyes to be petted, Hiei walked over and stared at the creatures. They were a magnificent example of the beauty of the human world.
He reached up and touched the soft muzzle of the first one closest to him and then the others nudged their way through to be petted. He eventually had to use both hands to keep them from starting a fight.
"You like them?" Somebody said from behind.
Hiei turned to see Aria looking at him she was dressed nice and looked ready to go to her work. She was wearing a blue bandana on her head to hold her ears down so they weren't noticed.
"They seem to like me more then I like them." Hiei said, trying to keep the animals happy by petting them. Aria walked forward and began to stroke one and let some pressure off Hiei.
"They're always here when I come out in the morning and even when I don't have to work I have to come out and pet them or they feel lonely." Aria said, she then turned to leave and walked down the path to her car. She entered and waved at Hiei, who simply watched.
"Hiei, you coming back in for food?" Kurama called.
Hiei turned away from the horses, which also walked away; they had had their love for the morning.
Hiei walked into the house and smelled something he thought smelled bad, his nose cringed at the smell.
"Sorry, Hiei, I'm not much of a cook but I try. At least I eat what I cook." Kurama said waving the burnt smell from his face.
"So that's what burnt human food smells like, I usually don't eat human food so I truly don't know many of the smells." Hiei said covering his nose with his sleeve.
"Hiei you're going to be here alone for awhile, can you handle yourself?" Kurama asked him then gave a plate of some yellow looking mush to Hiei.
"Where are you going?" Hiei asked, his tone almost demanded 'don't leave me here!'
"I have to go to school in three hours when Aria gets off her morning shift." Kurama said without turning to look at his friend.
"Well what am I supposed to do while you're gone?" Hiei asked a little aggravated.
"What ever you what just don't get yourself in trouble, please." Kurama walked from the kitchen and went somewhere down the hall.
Hiei once again looked at the plate of yellow mush. When Kurama ate it he watched him squirt some red stuff on it, then eat it without complaint. Hiei picked up the plate and walked it to the sink, and dumped the contents of the plate into it then set the plate in and walked away.
Kurama walked through the door as Hiei was doing this, "Do you not like eggs?" Kurama asked he wasn't at all hurt that Hiei didn't eat the food.
"I didn't know what it was, and I am truly not very hungry anyway." Hiei said walking past as Kurama tried to do something on his wardrobe.
Hiei went and found the book he was reading last night and once again began to read.
Kurama left three hours later but Hiei didn't even notice he was gone; the book was all too interesting.
He finished the book and then found that he was hungry, but he had never even touched human food before last night and he didn't know how you would go about preparing anything edible.
He looked at the fridge, he walked over and cautiously opened the jaws of the monster, or so that's what Hiei thought. Yet inside he found food that was left over from last night, he looked around and found the purple jiggly stuff that he had tried last night, and if could remember correctly Aria had called it Cranberry sauce. He picked it up and inspected it some more then he slowly began to eat the purple sauce, without a second thought he finished it off and found he was no longer hungry and went find another book in the library.
He had found one similar to the first and again began to read of the human's evil past. The time when there was war and mad men, and people like Adolph Hitler who killed for the sake of killing. He seemed very interested in these specific books because Kurama had told him stories of the human world but had never mentioned this in any of them.
Hiei had barely finished the second book and Aria and Kurama walked in the door.
"Hi Hiei, did you have fun by your self?" Kurama asked plopping himself down on the couch next to Hiei who seemed to pay him no mind at all. Hiei was watching the news.
"Well I guess you wouldn't know how to cook, so did you eat anything today?" Aria asked leaning against the back of the couch.
"Yes I did, I ate the rest of that stuff you called Cranberry sauce." Hiei said without any emotion.
"Oh…o-kay, I guess that works." Aria said surprised. "Well I'm going to make something for me and Kurama then, do you want something?" Aria asked.
Hiei thought a moment then involuntarily nodded. Aria shrugged and walked into the kitchen and began to cook something simple.
Kurama went and turned on the game station then picking up both controllers he handed one to Hiei. Then sat down next to him.
Hiei looked at the controller then questioningly at Kurama who was paying no mind to Hiei's questioning looks.
"What am I supposed to be doing?" Hiei asked.
"Just do as I tell you. " Kurama said smiling. He started up the game, and set it up for the two to play.
Hiei did exactly as he was told and eventually got the hang of pressing the different buttons, even though Kurama continuously beat his character to living pulp.
At one point Hiei had found a special move and beat up Kurama's character in that one round.
Aria came out of the kitchen, to find Hiei actually playing the game. His character didn't live through the match very long but Hiei didn't seem to care. To both boys the game had to do with violence and gore which made the game all the more interesting.
She walked over and set the food in front of their faces, they both flinched they were too engulfed in the game to see that she had come back out.
"Hiei are you having fun?" Aria said with a smile.
Hiei dropped the controller, almost as if he had just noticed he was playing a game. "I don't know anything about games," Hiei murmured.
"What?" Aria asked amused.
"I know about as much about games as I do hugs and puppies." Hiei responded louder, he then grabbed his plate of food and left the room.
Aria laughed silently.
Kurama looked on in surprise, "He seems so different lately like he's got something on his mind." Kurama said watching Hiei walk down the hall.
"You know your right." Aria said catching on, "so your asking him play was just to see, if your theory was right?"
Kurama nodded, "I think I was right he seems to be becoming softer." Kurama said without really registering it.
"Sly fox." Aria muttered amused.
Kurama gave her a cheeky grin.
Aria threw the washcloth back in the sink.
"Done," she sighed.
She walked down the hall and slowed to a stop, a feeling like something was going to happen hung loosely in the air. Aria waved the feeling away, she was tired to care.
She snuck into the bedroom and attempted to be quiet enough not to wake the sleeping Kurama.
Kurama stirred in the bed and woke up to see Aria; "So, you're finally coming to bed?" he asked groggily, "Good I was getting cold."
"Yea, I had to clean first…" Aria paused and looked about the room, then finished, "Does the air seem odd to you?" Aria crawled into the bed and scooted in close to Kurama.
"No," Kurama said looking around, "but then again I'm to tired to care." Kurama wrapped his arms around Aria and fell back asleep.
Aria was awake a few more minutes wary of the odd feeling.
Sometime during the night Aria awoke, and looked around. The air was thick the odd sensation that she had felt slightly earlier. It felt like someone was in some kind of trouble.
"Kurama!?" Aria said loudly.
Kurama woke almost instantly, "What's…wrong…?" he asked his voice slowed as his senses picked up the sensation. "Is this what you meant?"
"Yea, and it's really strong now." Aria said getting out of the bed.
"What could be causing it?" he questioned following.
Aria shrugged and pulled a t-shirt from the drawer and tossed it at Kurama, she then changed into some jeans and a shirt.
She suddenly stopped, a thought occurring to her, "Who are the only people in this house?" she asked.
"Me, you and, Hiei." He answered simply.
"No other person?" Aria assured.
"No, not that I can sense." He said walking towards the door.
"So, if we're not in any danger than that leaves…" she paused and looked at Kurama.
"Hiei!" they both said in unison, Aria dashed out the door Kurama only a second behind.
Aria opened the door ready for anything.
Hiei was on the floor clutching his stomach.
"Something's wrong with me." Hiei gasped, and then was silenced by pain.
Kurama pushed his way past Aria into the room he was down at Hiei's side; he inspected his friend but couldn't find the source of his pain.
Hiei sat on the floor trying to keep his composure, but only meet failure and more pain.
"I'll go ask Koenma if he knows what's wrong." Kurama suggested he was about to get up and leave, when he felt Hiei grab hold of his arm.
"Don't leave me!" Hiei pleaded, "Not alone."
"You won't be alone, Aria is here with you, and she's probably better at this kind of situation then me." Kurama said continuing out the door.
Aria watched Kurama leave then turned towards Hiei she bent down in front of him and placed her hand on his shoulder. Closing her eyes she transferred some of her energy into his body, helping to calm some of his pain.
Hiei began to breath normally for the moment.
A few minutes later Kurama wandered back in confused. "Koenma wants to talk to you Aria he wouldn't talk to me, but if he yells at you than I guess I was lucky." Kurama noticed Hiei and looked at Aria.
Aria shook her head no and proceeded to the doorway, while Kurama helped Hiei to the bed.
"I might have an idea anyway." Aria said as she walked out the door.
"An idea of what?" Hiei asked.
"Of what's wrong with you and why it's happening." Aria said going out of sight. "And Hiei be aware that my power transfer won't last very long."
She went into the living room and pulled open the briefcase that had a TV and receiver for communication, she pressed a button and it turned on.
"Okay can you tell me why you have awoken me in such an early hour?" Koenma asked, he was in pajamas and was holding a teddy bear.
"Um… nice bear." Aria laughed.
"Just answer the question!" Koenma demanded hiding the teddy bear under the desk.
"Well…" Aria paused and thought a moment; "I want you to get me every book on Syronocus Demons." Aria said.
"Syronocus demons…you know what they are right…" Koenma shuddered.
"I know but I think that's what's happening to Hiei." Aria said shaking her head.
"Well I'll see what I can find." Koenma said turning off the receiver.
Aria nodded at him before he left and closed the briefcase then walked into the back room.
As she entered, Kurama was falling asleep, and Hiei was asleep from exhaustion.
'The power transfer will wear off any time now.' Aria thought to herself looking over Hiei's sleeping form.
Just as Kurama had fully fallen asleep the doorbell rang, Aria jumped up to get it.
Boton was standing in her door with three books in her hands yawning.
"Here," she said grumpily "I'm going now I don't why Koenma expects me to do every thing for him." She got on her canoe and was about to leave when Aria yelled after her:
"Thanks Boton!"
Boton waved and then was gone from sight off to the spirit world for more sleep.
Aria wandered back to the room and sat in one of the chairs opposite the bed. She opened a book and began to read what was interesting to her cause.
Kurama was awake and watching with mock interest.
"What are you doing?" Kurama asked from the silence.
Aria jumped, but calmed quickly.
"Reading. " She answered, her heart still pounding.
"What about?" Kurama questioned.
"What might be wrong with Hiei." She answered simply.
"So what's wrong with me?" Hiei piped in. Aria once again jumped, she thought Hiei was asleep.
"Well…I think that…" Aria stuttered trying to think of a way that she could explain it that Hiei would under stand, "Have either of you ever heard of a Syronocus demon?"
"No." they both answered simply.
"Figures," Aria mumbled, "They're a very rare type of demon now-a-days, but their bodies are designed…differently…then most demons and humans for that matter. The male's body is designed like a females body, like mine, but only on the inside. "She stopped at page in the book and was silent for a moment then continued through the book.
"I don't get it." Hiei said, his voice straining to not let his pain appear.
"Well…most females are designed for bearing children, while a male Syronocus is designed for bearing children. The female doesn't give birth to the baby in a sense…the males do." Aria cautioned the last words.
"What?!!!!" Hiei exclaimed bolting up right, forgetting about his rising pain.
Kurama was just as shocked as Hiei he sat motionless staring into space.
"Well that's my theory anyway, I could be wrong. The male's body never changes during the child's growth and when growth is over and the baby wants out, the male experiences strenuous pain. The female when noticing this sets to work on retrieving the baby, by cutting open the male's body and then usually leaves the male to die on his own. You've seemed so different now a days that I had my suspicions, but I always told myself I was wrong." Aria said as she read the book.
"What gave you that theory?" Kurama had to ask.
"I'm a female…demon…we can sense these things, but didn't really become a huge feeling until before I went to bed. Also I studied a lot of these things, I was really interested when we were thieves…remember." Aria explained. "But also I could wrong…and you could be infected with something, or have some disease."
"That's real encouraging." Kurama muttered, looking to his friend.
Hiei said nothing he was in shock and didn't even notice that Aria's power transfer was wearing thin.
"That's what's wrong with me?" he asked oddly calm.
"I think so." Aria said closing the first book and opening the second.
After going through the second book rather quickly, she closed the book looked at the third then at Hiei, whose body was once again wreathing in pain.
"Well Hiei, what do you wanna do?" Aria asked putting her elbows on her knees and leaning on her hands.
"Help me!" Hiei demanded.
"Kay, lets do it then." Aria said walking out of the room and then returning with a bunch of white towels.
"Why white they'll be stained like no tomorrow." Kurama said getting up from the chair.
"Because I can bleach white." Aria countered.
"So tell me, what's causing this?" Hiei asked, unenthusiastically.
"There might a child inside you… a baby, if you will. I don't how or why this could happen but it has. I don't even know how your body is holding together after this strain, it's not designed for this kind of thing." Aria said, "Where have you been the last two years that's my big question for the day."
"I don't remember anything." Hiei said falling into an unconscious sleep.
She ushered Kurama out of the room.
"Wait! I can't stay!!" Kurama demanded.
"Nope." Was her simple answer then she proceeded with what she was going to do.
When she finished prepping herself and the room, Hiei had fallen unconscious.
"This is good." She murmured.
She thought a moment before she went to work though thinking about the breed of demon Hiei was anyway. A Koorime, maybe like his female counterparts he was supposed to reproduce on his own.
o.O . I really hope that was a big enough surprise for all you readers but if you don't like it then I don't mind if you criticize because at least I know you read it he he O.o Please R&R I really want to know what you think and if it's good enough to continue with, though I probably will anyway whether you tell me to or not he he.