Author's Notes: Hey! Special thanks to Kitty!-- But I can't take all the credit for writing the only thunder bros fic-- there are at least three others out there, but mine is the only multi chaptered. J But yes, this may turn into a romance ^__O a bit further into the story-- though it may not be what you expect! I don't like predictable plots at all-- though I do like to tease people with the possibilities!!!

Hiten had remembered the sensations as he had lain there drifting in and out of consciousness, hazed by the pain. A hand pressed a cool cloth to his aching face-- Maten, his brother? Come to take care of him? ...No, not Maten, he realized. Maten... dead? He struggled to free himself of his pain-induced stupor. Then he remembered-- dead; Maten was dead. Hiten groaned as images flooded his mind; then the cool hands were there again, soothing him and he allowed himself to drift again.... I wasn't strong enough.

Muscles burned and ached, a familiar pain; he saw strange flashes in his half conscious mind; it was what mortals would refer to as 'dreaming.' But youkai didn't 'dream'; no, Hiten would not put that pleasant association to those horror-filled scenes that filled his sleeping world. Even there the knowledge chased him, that his one and only brother, twin of his soul, was gone-- and all because of *his* weakness. At least in his dreams, he was free to grieve his loss-- cry, even. I failed him-- I failed Maten

Blackness washed over him and gave him peace for a time, as his body healed itself. So he knew nothing and remembered nothing.

But when Hiten had awakened... I ache as though I was the one who received Maten's fatal wound... Why? Youkai didn't have emotions-- they didn't cry or laugh, smile and grin; it was human, beneath powerful youkai like himself. It was a sign of weakness-- human weakness. And yet... and yet his heart bled and his eyes watered.

As a one pain healed and faded, another began to grow inside Hiten. His muscles, renewed by his sleep, became supple and relaxed even as his soul felt old and battered within.

Sensation slowly crept back into his body, and with it, awareness. His hair stirred in a slight breeze, fluttering around his face... he felt rocks digging into his back-- he realized he was laying as he had fallen... only he felt lighter, armor- and shirt-less. And those hands? The air reeked... Hiten tried to recall that smell, then stiffened: human. The air stank of it-- his body, too. A human has been here?!

Hiten's eyes snapped open, partially obscured by something across his vision, to see his torso covered in blood incrusted bandages. The youkai's eyes quickly surveyed his surroundings; no one there... but not far away. He bolted upright, muscles protesting slightly at the sudden movement, and tore the offending things from himself; underneath the skin was smooth and devoid of blemish-- not even a bruise remained of wounds that would have been fatal to a mortal.

Nostrils flaring slightly, he scented the human-- only one-- not far away. The youkai felt a growl rumbling in his chest as he looked blackley at the pack lying near him. Meddling mortal whelps! Does this cursed creature want me to grant them a wish or some idiot thing?! He rose to his feet, yellow eyes smoldering. I'll grant this one a wish! A *death* wish

The human was returning, he could smell it. The youkai melted into the lengthening shadows, ears sensing the faint whisper of clothing and shoes crunching through grass. A growl rumbled in his throat as he pictured the human's look of stupid surprise when he appeared So simple; how pathetic. They are blind and deaf to the world with those stubs of flesh they call ears and nose! Prey animals, not even worth the effort!

Hiten's eyes caught sight of a shape moving in the dusk, carrying-- by the smell- firewood in its arms. A small form... a pup? A flicker of doubt flashed in his mind But the insolence! He does not deserve to have the pleasure of breathing-- why should I show weakness? Is the great lord Hiten, the god of thunder, afraid? The whisper in his mind stoked the coals of his pride and fury. With burning eyes reflecting the fire within, he watched as the creature crouched by the pack, dropping the sticks; he glared hotly at back turned to him. Idiot beast! Does he not realize his 'patient' is gone?

Then the human glanced over to the spot where the youkai had lain and finally comprehended his peril; Hiten let loose a low rumble as instinct took over; he was predator, the human his frightened prey. The human must have realized it too; he was still frozen like a startled rabbit. As Hiten stalked his quarry, he saw a hand reach out for the heavy walking stick lying by the pack; he sprung, muscles moving with inhuman grace as he neared the doomed human.

The idiot's hand came into contact with the stick, but Hiten was faster; he reached down and grabbed the pup by the scruff and yanked him around, hearing the strangled whimper, all the better to relish the fear in his face...

And was shocked. What?! A woman!

Then the startled second was shattered as she began to struggle, trying to wriggle like a worm from his grip, fighting him for air with another cry. She deserves death, the stupid wench! Daring to rebel against a great youkai lord? It will not happen again!

"Stop fighting me, whelp!" Almost half-heartedly, he cuffed her across the face, hearing it connect with a sharp slap; she fell quiet, stunned for a moment.

And then, something pulled at Hiten. The woman, small and trembling before him as she should, gazed up at him through a sheen of tears. Suddenly, he remembered Maten; she reminded him of Maten. ...Maten. She looks nothing like him! Bitter voices goaded him to hurt her again... The eyes... Maten's eyes.

The youkai loosed his grip on her with a snarl of annoyance at his own sentimentality. The human female held herself rigidly, eyes white as they locked on his face.

The youkai stepped forward, lip twitching as he looked down on the girl. Then his sneer turned to a look of fury as the stupid creature bolted like a scared animal. All sentiment vanished from Hiten's mind as the role of predator/prey was again resumed.

She had had a good half-second start when she surprised him, but human physicality was no match for his youkai strength. Within a few body lengths Hiten was on her heels The chase! I pursue!

They went down in a tangle of limbs as the youkai lord grabbed her and slammed her down with his weight to the rocky ground. The female's head struck a rock as she fell; Hiten felt the human go limp from a moment at the sudden pain and confusion. Straddling her back, pinning her, Hiten grabbed a handful of the thick black hair that crowned her head, he hauled her head upwards even as she fought back. He yanked her failing arm up and behind, feeling something pop as he forgot his strength and dislocated the shoulder. Not yet, she must last a little while longer! But soon..

"Yield, damn you!" His voice sounded raspy even to his own ears as he growled at the frightened girl.

Voice just as ragged, she screamed "No!-- I won't submit!" Her breath came in ragged pants. "Let me go!"

Hiten could not hold back his mirth at the insolent creature's bold orders. What does she think she is? A youkai? I must teach this thing its manners!

"Let you go? I, the great lord Hiten, simply let you go?" He threw his head back and laughed again. With a yank, he hauled her to her knees.

"I think not."

His grip tightened as he smelled the fear radiating from her. Finally she finds the proper way to address her lord. Perhaps she should be taught just how much she should fear me? Anger poured out of him as he tortured her injured limb, twisting and raking it with his claws, relishing the noises of suffering that he wrenched from her. Ah... the noises she makes... so stirring to my blood. He was playing her fear like an instrument. Hiten wanted to hear more of her sweet suffering.

His fingers probed the wounds, trying to elicit more cries; nothing. With a slight frown, he gripped her arm and rotated his wrist in a quick and precise movement. The bone made a satisfying wet noise as it broke like a dry twig under his powerful hands.

Hiten buried his face in her hair, mouth next to her ear; more-- he wanted a scream.

"Scream-- go ahead, wench! Don't hold it back; cry for me."

Blood lust mounted as he listened to her strangled whimpers-- his fist found the fracture; in morbid delight he ground his fist into the bruising skin. His other hand stroked her arm; his claw snagging on her flesh.

And then there was wetness covering his hands; he looked down in surprise.

Red...blood. She bleeds as red as, as-- Images flashed through his head; Maten laying mutilated and still before him; Hiten's hands before his face, covered with Maten's blood--

A sick feeling washed over him; his lips moved, but his ears heard nothing as the images kept filling his mind.

The girl moved beneath his hands... his hands.

With a strangled noise, Hiten let go of the girl.

Tears came to his eyes and a wild sob escaped his lips.

Maten... Maten!

The human slipped quietly to the ground and lay still.

So much like Maten... I can't kill her Shaking hands covered his face, heedless of the sticky redness coating them.

A heart Hiten didn't know he had throbbed as he grieved his brother's death...

He's gone... My brother... He's gone

And so would the girl, he finally remembered as he looked up. She lay in a pool of her own life, slowly draining from her veins into the earth beneath her.

... And, Hiten realized, he was not willing to let the human go.

Author's Note: I wanted to explain here that Hiten is a *youkai* here, not a superpowered human! He IS cruel, morbid, sick and basically evil. But that doesn't mean he is limited by the youkai identity-- he is also a man and has a soul (I know that sounds confusing!!!)

Tune in again next time for the continuing adventures!