Quick note: I don't own YYH, nor will I ever....*Sobs*

Chapter 5

"Why is this so hard?" He sat a few feet away from the portal, eager eyes locked upon it. "I shouldn't go back, or...should I?" So many questions racing through his mind.

His body became quite tense as the wind blew subliminal messages in his ears. His muscles tightened as he slowly slid the raven cape off his slender shoulders. He then slowly eased up, resting his back up against a blackened tree.

"This shouldn't be as hard as it is..." Again, his mind challenged his words. Why did he want to go back? He knew the reason, but, his stubborn heart wouldn't part its lips to let the words slide out.

"It's that ningen, isn't it?" A familiar voice pierced his finely tuned youkai ears.

"You again?"

"Just answer my question."
"Listen, I don't even know who the hell you are..." The youkai shrugged, annoyed by this persistent voice.

"I'll explain myself soon enough, Hiei, now answer my question."

As irritating as he was sometimes, Hiei grinned. "What was the question again?" He couldn't help but snicker a bit.

"Smart ass...." The voice scowled, its' tone becoming more harsh as the conversation went on. The voice's patience grew thin.

"The reason why you want to go back is because of that damned ningen, isn't it?!" The voice snapped with such anger. In a furious rage, Hiei snarled and uprooted the tree he had used to rest under, throwing it clear across the blackened sky.

"Listen, that is not YOUR business to know, nor will it ever be anyone else's business but my own!"

"Ahhh, so it must be true. That ningen has clouded your pure, demon eyes with visions of love and happiness."

"You speak such ludicrous words. No love had ever entered my heart."

In a demonically evil tone, the voice proceeded to provoke the fire youkai. "How about your sister? Another demon who has been enchanted by a human. And, of course, we can't forget your foolish mother."

Fire raged in Hiei's eyes, as anger built up in the furious fists which shook with aggression. "Don't you ever, and I mean EVER bring my family into this!!" The Jagan Eye glowed under the 'carefully' placed headband.

"You need not shield your demon prize under that cloth in this world, Hiei"

His angry hands reached towards the headband, ripping it off, allowing the Jagan Eye to burn with hate filled passion.

"Your demon roots show clearly now. Such a temper you have, my child. Uncontrollable anger, that's just about as merciless as that dragon on your arm."

"How do you....?" He traced a finger over the bandage that covered the mischievous black dragon on his right arm. Only a select few knew about that dragon, so how did he know?

"Who the hell are you? No more games! Who are you?!"

"Patience....I am...your father....."

Shock hit Hiei as a bolt of lighting hit the azure sky. "M-my father?"

"Yes, Hiei, your father. I am that dragon on your arm." Hiei's arm began to burn with such intensity, as a red outline traced over the dragon, as its' spirit escaped from his arm, cowering over him. "Foolish boy!"

He backed up, trying to escape the murderous shadow the dragon produced. Was it fear that peered through his blood red eyes?

"Fear me, Hiei, for I am your creator. This dragon is my undying shadow the will be with you until the day you die! I will not let you be with that ningen!"

"What do you have against Kurama?!" Hiei snapped, only doing what he thought was right, defending his koibito.

"He is a disgrace to the demon world! At one time, he was the prize. Everyone loved him, but not now, no. He's become nothing more then a sad, disgrace of a ningen."

Hiei need not to hear the insults directed at the one he cared so deeply for. "SILENCE!" A few stray tears ran down Hiei's stern cheeks. With no hesitation, Hiei leapt through the portal, the shadow of the dragon returning to his arm with a sinister grin.

"I will be with him. Kurama, I'm coming!"