Chapter 3

Chapter 3 – The fire demon

Hiei stared into Kurama's room seeing the half youko wake up suddenly from a nightmare. Hiei masked his ki so that Kurama wouldn't know that he was here. "What are you going to do when you know the truth Kurama?" Hiei muttered. He flitted off the tree branch and headed off to find Mukuro. He was at the entrance to the makai when Mukuro came out.

" Looking for me?"

"Don't you dare tell Kurama what happened!" Hiei snarled.

"Don't you want him to remember Hiei?" Hiei just glared a deadly glare at her.

Mukuro started to leave. "Besides…he has to if you guys expect to win Kirma. Don't you just want to know how that is going to affect how the way things are between you two?" Mukuro started laughing and disappeared.

"K'so" Hiei snarled under his breath and went to Koenma, trying to be one step ahead of them. He arrived in Koena's office fast; speed was not a worry to him. "What did you find out about Kirma?"

"Ah…Hiei, prepared to help now aren't ya?"

Hiei turned around to see Kuwabara's idiotic face. "What are you doing here?" he half snarled.

"Trying to find some information on Kirma Hiei-san." Hiei's face softened when he saw Yukina.

'Didja find anything yet?"

"YEA! He's mad strong…" shouted Kuwabara.

"Nothing." Yukina shook her head and left with Kuwabara.

Koenma began, "Now Hiei why…Hiei?" Hiei was apparently gone.

"Mukuro…"

Kurama walked past the well taken care of path toward Mukuro.

"Kitsune…" Mukuro peered around. "Only you? No one else? I would've expected at least Hiei to be with you."

Kurama shook his head, his red tresses covering and then revealing his face. "What did you mean when you told me to remember my past?"

Mukuro grinned. "Trying to find out more about Kirma, aren't you?"

Kurama shook his head once more. "All you need to know is in your past Kurama. Yours and perhaps a little fire demon's…"

"Hiei? Nani? What are you talking about?"

"Patience Kurama. It'll be better when Hiei tells you himself." Mukuro prepared to leave, but she gave Kurama some information.

"You're Shuuichi and Youko Kurama; 2 forms. How do you think you became like that?

Mukuro left leaving a thoughtful Kurama. "Remember my words Kurama… question the right people about their past."

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Kurama replayed the conversation over and over in his head. He knew what he had to do. He had to ask Hiei about Kirma. Somehow, he knew Hiei knew who Kirma was and he wasn't telling anyone. The perfect opportunity came when Kurama noticed Hiei's familiar chi. He turned around just to see Hiei land on the windowsill.

'What are you doing Kurama?"

"Nothing. Hiei…"

Hiei looked at Kurama, a questionable expression on his face. They were silent for some time and then…

"K-

"Who's Kirma?"

They both said it at the same time and Hiei stiffened hearing its name.

"The kitsune we saw the other day." Said Hiei keeping his expression emotionless.

"No, Hiei…who was he in your life?" Hiei turned and stared out of the window. 'Damn Mukuro! Damn her for telling Kurama.'

" I know you know him Hiei." Kurama pressed on. "Hiei, who is he?" Kurama got out of the bed and took hold of his arm. " I need to know who he is! I need to…"

Hiei looked into Kurama's pleading eyes. He had to get out of there before he revealed what happened in his past, before what he knows hurt more people, before he ruined this relationship.

Hiei shook Kurama's arm off of him. " I don't know who he is. Whatever Mukuro told you, it's a lie." He darted off.

Hiei shuffled around in the tree branch trying to find a comfortable position. 'Why the hell did Kirma have to return now?' "Why?"" 'I thought he was out of my life for good…' Hiei trembled remembering when he first met Kirma, when he just got his jaganashi…

-flashback

"Uh…" Hiei leaned on the tree for support, walking and stumbling on the way. His forehead hurt and he knew the jaganashi was implanted. Hiei fell when something kicked him, and then he noticed very dark ki.

Hiei spun around prepared to attack the best that he could. He laid his hand on his katana, pulling it out, when it was kicked out of his hand. He looked up into the eyes of a red kitsune.

"Well, well, well, the best swordsman in the makai within my grasp..." The kitsune kicked Hiei hard in the ribs turning him over. "People feared you…" Another blow. "With so much speed…" He pulled Hiei up by his hair. "The only one that learned the black dragon wave attack…"The kitsune traced Hiei's cheek, sending shivers up and down his spine. The red haired kitsune continued his rampage of insults and attacks.

" I will be made legendary when they know I killed the renowned forbidden child…"

Hiei stared up seeing the kitsune raise his hand in the air. Red smoke circled around his outstretched arm. A golden fox appeared. ' That's my attack! Well, close…' More smoke surrounded them and Hiei closed his eyes knowing the worse. His eyes were shut wondering why he didn't feel pain yet. He looked up to see the kitsune pull away the cloth that hid his jaganashi. "A third eye…" He stroked it. "You certainly aren't what you appear to be you weakling." He punched Hiei and he staggered. "I'm not going to kill you…no…" The kitsune tied back his cloth. " You can be of some use to me…"

'First encounters and I know his attack.' "I can never forget that" he muttered. Still shifting around, he found a comfortable position and made a decision of what to do about Kirma no matter what the consequences.

Notes- Well, what do you think?