Valery woke up in an unknown room that was poorly lit. In the distance she could make out the horrible sounds of battle. She circled the room with her eyes, but since there were no windows she couldn't tell if it was night or day. She heard footsteps approaching and a key turn to open the door. She quickly got on her feet ready to attack. The person on the opposite side of the door stood surprised seeing her in a fighting stance. However instead of attacking she gazed at the man before her. His red orbs flashed as he took a few steps towards her and grabbed her by the arm forcefully dragging her out of the room.
She just stared at the man in disbelief. His arms and face carried scars from the battles fought and his gaze was not of the man she knew. He took her to a room where she saw Koenma, looking all worn out and tired. He was studying a map laid out before him. The former ruler raised his eyes and nodded to Hiei who pushed Valery before him. Yusuke also came in sight. He looked like he aged considerably as he wore a very tired expression. Koenma spoke.
"We will be blunt with you. You have been brought here to this time line to kill someone. We have put in your travel most of our energy and resources. You were not easy to find so you must consider our effort." She stared at him not saying a word. She knew of the existence of different time lines due to her being banished. She just never knew of alternate times with them in it.
"Are you sure this frail creature is the strongest?" Hiei asked coldly.
"I am sure. She is the only one who survived her heart failing, twice." Valery looked at Hiei and she could read the hate in his eyes. She cupped her hands to her chest trying to calm herself.
"What happened here?" she finally asked and Yusuke scoffed. Koenma cleared his throat.
"We all need to remember this Valery is different." Hiei caught her by the hair and yanked her backwards. "How can she be different?" she watched him with unsettling eyes and his gaze went to her mark.
"You're marked." She punched his sides and escaped his grasp backing away in a corner revealing her fangs. Hiei's sister came in the room and gave her brother a meaningful look.
"She has done nothing to you brother."
"But I still loath this creature before me." Valery's eyes widened in shock "Why do you hate me so much?" Yukina spoke again.
"Forgive him. His hate is not really directed to the you present, but to the Valery from this time line."
"Why?" she barely asked.
"After banishing you so many times you grew stronger and unstoppable. You came back set on vengeance for what I did to you." The former ruler of Spirit World said "When your heart stopped you began absorbing stronger creatures in order to live, feasting on their flood and dark energy. You manage to lose yourself in just a few months. Kuwabara was the first to die when you came for us, then Botan, Yusuke's wife Keiko, Shizuru. You created armies to benefit you and we are down to our last defenses. This is why we need you to kill the Valery here." Tears were streaming down her pale cheeks.
"No, that is not how it was supposed to go. That is not me."
"It is." Hiei said violently. "No, I came back and I came to tell you I'm alive. I renounced my Phoenix powers and wanted to end myself the second time my heart stopped. You saved me."
"No, I would never save the like of you. You burned realms and cities. You killed thousands for your personal pleasure. Why would I want to save you?"
"Because you love me." She screamed at him. He lashed out grabbing her by the neck and raised her above the ground. "I never loved you."
"Hiei let her go." His sister pleaded. Valery concentrated her dark powers in her hand and she grabbed the hand trying to kill her. Hiei felt like his arms was boiling and he finally let her fall to the ground. She panted hard but her eyes never left his.
"You can lash out all you want at me. But from where I came you are not the coward I see before me now. You had the guts to open your heart to me and fight and I have loved you for everything you did and said. I get you're mad, but if you ever lay your hand on someone else's mate again, then you won't have hands to ever touch anyone again."
"Who is your mate?" Yukina asked making her way between them in order to prevent Hiei from attacking her again. Valery got back on her feet her eyes still locked with his.
"Hiei is my mate." His eyes widened in stock then in a fit of anger left the room just as Kurama came in from scouting. "My ears might be deceiving me, but my eyes are not. There is a time line where he actually succeeded in being with you." He said smiling. Valery held onto her head feeling the pressure of the entire situation.
"He must be worried sick. I'll help you out, but I need to return."
"Well that will be hard. It will require a lot of energy and resources to open a portal again. And with the state of the worlds now, it will be nearly impossible."
"What? You brought me here asking for my help and now you are telling me you can't get me back?"
"Calm down. We will eventually find a way after peace is restored." She growled and existed the room they were all in. Slamming doors she swore out loud, mad at the entire situation. She stumbled inside a room and her eyes landed on Hiei. She quickly figured she entered his room and turned to open the door. He swiftly turned her around and pushed her against the hard door, his lips forcefully crashing onto hers. She bit his lip hard struggling against his weight. He swore and hit her across the face, sending her to the ground. She spit the blood from her mouth and looked at him.
"It pains me to see how low you can stoop, that in you there is no trace of the man I came to know. You are despicable and foul." He came closer and extended a hand to her. "Don't touch me!" she yelled powering up. "Stop it, you'll draw attention."
"Get away from me!" he backed away a few steps allowing her to calm down. He sat in a crouched position and looked at her. "I hate you more because you remind me of who she was and who she might have been." Her eyes started watering again and it took every power inside of him to not get up and hug her.
"I'm sorry you had to go thought this." She could feel the words getting caught in her throat. She inhaled sharply trying to calm herself. "I'm so sorry I hurt you Hiei." He groaned and sat up walking to her. She backed away scared but he gently took her hand and wiped away a tear.
"This is not on you. We are asking and putting a lot on your shoulders. You don't have to cry for the sins of this world." He caressed her cheek tenderly but she just looked away and slowly removed her hand away from his. "I don't need your pity."
Hiei opened his eyes rapidly feeling the burn on his mark. Valery looked his way.
"Did you have a nightmare?"
"She's hurt."
"I see, your mark, you can feel her." He nodded his head and soon felt a tremendous headache creeping up on him.
"You still need to rest for your next trip." She sat near him and presented the amulet "It opens. If you have something of hers you can put it in this small slot. Then the jewel can locate her and not be confused by all the energy in the worlds."
"How did you discover this?"
"I asked my keeper to contact some demons he knows that are in contact with the Spirit World. They have archives of information on old artifacts."
"Who are those demons?"
"He will not tell me their names, but at least it got you the desired information." Hiei's eyes widened and got out of the temple. He looked around and darted in a direction not far from the temple. He stood face to face with himself.
"What magic is this?"
"No magic, I am real. I just came to give you some advice. Stop watching her from afar, she won't wait on you forever and move on. Go to her and let her know you."
"Why would I do that?"
"Because you will be miserable without her. Trust me, I know. Stop hiding and go to her. That night in the forest meant a lot to both of you."
"How do you know all of this?"
"Because I've been there, lived it and what you are feeling now will not go away." They heard footsteps and turned. Valery gasped looking at the two men. They were similar, but she could tell them apart.
"Nice to see you again" Hiei watched his other self stumble upon himself trying to find some words to say "Are you one of the demons that helped my keeper with information?" he just nodded "Thank you. Would you mind coming inside? I'll fix you a cup of tea as a thank you."
"I don't drink tea."
"Coffee then?" she asked sweetly "It's fine." Hiei rolled his eyes "He's accepting your invitation. Now I need to be on my way. She's hurt and needs me."
"I still think you are in no shape to travel. It will use a lot of energy."
"I can help." Hiei said agreeing to give him some of his energy. Looking at them from the outside make him wonder if he was just as awkward around her and unknowingly. He left them both in order to get to his last destination, the one with his Valery.
