Belong

            The shadowed figure bounded from one snow covered tree to another, each time appearing as nothing more than a sudden black blur. Suddenly, the shadow stopped and looked down almost in disgust on Tokyo. He sighed and leapt to a lower branch of the tree he was currently perched on and peered into the window of the nearby house. Inside, a group of teens were gathered around a table in the center of the room.

            "So, what game will it be today?" Botan asked as she shuffled the deck of cards, seeming almost as if she was showing off. She flipped her light blue hair and set the cards on the table.

            The boy with black hair suddenly sprang into an upright position, "How about Poker!" Yusuke suggested excitedly.

            Upon hearing the word Poker, the snoring mass next to Yusuke also sprang up, "Yeah, I love Poker!" Kuwabara cheered in agreement.

            A moment later, a short girl with aqua colored hair entered the room carrying drinks for everyone, "Here you go everyone," she offered quietly, setting the tray of refreshments on the table that sat in the center of the room and sat down quietly next to the other girls.

            "Hi Yukina," Botan nodded at the new girl, "Hey, how would you like to play? Instead of Poker, let's play a board game or something so Yukina can join us," she suggested.

            Yusuke seemed a bit upset, but Kuwabara seemed to be in a trance, "Yeah, I'd give up anything for Yukina!" he shouted stupidly. Everyone in the room stared at him and sighed, except Yukina, who hugged Kuwabara happily.

            "Alright, sounds fine to me," Kurama spoke for the first time all night as he brushed some of his long red hair out of his face. For a moment, Kurama disappeared into another room, but quickly came back holding a box that read "Sorry" on the lid, "How about this?" he smiled.

            The shadowy form outside the window looked away from the group, "Only a human creation could be so stupid," the figure began coldly to no one in particular, "A competition entitled, 'Sorry', these humans make me sick," the figure turned to leave, but something stopped him. He turned back and watched silently as the group began their game.

            Yukina sighed as she rolled the dice. She silently moved her piece along the game board and looked up. Kuwabara stared at Yukina, as usual, but something seemed off, she seemed a bit troubled.

            "What's wrong, my little Yukina?" Kuwabara asked the shy little girl in a very childish voice.

            "It's, its' just," Yukina began with a slight stutter, obviously due to her shy attitude, "It's Hiei, I…" she trailed off.

            Kuwabara sighed in relief, "Oh, you mean shorty. I thought something was actually wrong, what about him?"

            Yukina smiled forcefully, "I just wish he would join us, at least every now and then."

             The brown haired girl next to Yusuke smiled at Yukina, "That's awfully nice of you to think of him, but you know he isn't much of the social type, besides, he seems to hate the company of humans."

            "Yes, I know, and you're right, but, still…" Yukina once again trailed off as she looked back at Keiko.

            The cloaked figure sat down on the branch in which he stood and sighed, "I'm sorry Yukina," he said in a pained tone, again to nobody at all, "I wish I could, I just can't stand to be in the same room as that human Kuwabara when he is in the company of you." Hiei continued to observe the group as the sun set behind him.

            The twentieth round of "Sorry" finally ended and Yusuke looked at his watch, "Okay guys," he yawned, "I've got to get home or my mom will kill me!" He stood up and stretched as the rest of the group, save Kurama, followed suit as Kurama began to clean the room. Each person left the house, thanking Kuram on the way out, except Yukina, who for no reason at all, began to aid Kurama in cleaning the room.

            "Oh, thank you Yukina," Kurama smiled at his guest graciously, "Your home is quite far a way, if you wish to stay the night here, you are more than welcome to do so."

            Yukina smiled warmly at the night's host, "Why thank you Kurama," She stood up and walked to the guest room that Kurama had so kindly provided her.

            Hiei looked up and saw Yukina entering the small room. He silently, which was how he did most things, leapt to another branch, so as to keep an eye on her. Yukina tiredly climbed into the bed and quickly fell asleep.

            Hiei watched on from his tree of seclusion in which he hid. He thought of how peaceful she was, peace of mind he could never have. As he looked on, he himself grew tired. He soon succumbed to his own mind. Slipping into his own world, it brought him no comfort from the equally harsh reality.

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            A young demon ran through the forest as fast as he could, his pursuers not far behind. The young demon was wearing black pants, which matched what was left of his black boots. The only hint  of a shirt was the tattered remains of a cloak, hanging down his back like a cape, just barely attached to the white scarf around his neck. His flaming red eyes stayed fixed dead ahead, except for the occasional glance backward. The youkai's hair was black and spiky, covering a tattered white headband on his forehead. He panted and seemed to slow with every step. Within a few moments, he stopped and turned.

            "There he is! Yeah, that's him, that's Hiei!" the first demon yelled toward Hiei. Hiei calmly threw down the sack that he had been carrying.

            "Right, just give us what we're looking for," the second demon smirked, gripping the handle of the axe it wielded.

            Hiei smiled calmly as he unsheathed his katana and prepared to fight. His breathing was still heavy, but he simply focused on his targets. He slowly sidestepped to get a better vantage point.

            "Look, the runt's actually going to try and fight us!" the snake like demon half laughed, half hissed. The creature raised its claws as the tiger like beast beside him raised an axe.

            Hiei stood his ground as the two demons charged at him. The snake beast slashed at him as the other swung its massive axe. Knowing that he could not dodge both attacks in his injured state, Hiei jumped away from the axe attack, receiving the full force of the slash. The claws of the snake ripped through Hiei's flesh, causing blood to run down the front of his body. Had his pants been any other color than black, the blood would have been as obvious there as it was on his bare chest.

            Hiei screamed in agony and fell to one knee. As he got back to his feet, the tiger axe again lunged at him in an attempt to behead him. Hiei quickly reacted the only way he could, he raised his sword to block, but to no avail. The axe snapped the sword, forcing Hiei to take evasive action once more. Hiei nearly escaped the attack, but the tip of the axe caught Hiei's left arm, leaving a deep gash in its wake.  Hiei got up and began to run once more, leaving behind his stolen goods. He could soon hear the footsteps of the other two demons behind him. His footsteps began to slow once more as blood gushed out of the many wounds covering his body. As he trudged on, his vision began to blur. Hiei could sense the presence of his hunters. He tried to run, but merely collapsed.

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            Hiei quickly sat up, breathing heavily. His face was damp with a cold sweat. He began to catch his breath and wiped his face on the sleeve of his jet black cloak. Then, he pulled up the left sleeve, revealing a faint scar on his forearm. He pushed the sleeve back down and looked into the window he had been watching so diligently the night before.

            As he peered into the quiet home, he saw his sweet sister gently remaking her temporary bed. She hummed softly to herself as she did so. When she had finished, she stopped and smiled to nobody at all. She then fixed her hair and left the room.

            "Yukina," Hiei said softly to himself as she left. He shook his head and jumped quietly off the branch, landing softly on the ground. As he did, Yusuke and Keiko walked by.

            "Oh, hi Hiei," Yusuke seemed to perk up. He had obviously taken Keiko shopping, for he was carrying a huge stack of boxes and bags. Yusuke set the mound of clothes, shoes, and what not on the ground and walked up to Hiei, "Hey, you don't look so good, you feeling okay?" Yusuke asked, suddenly looking very concerned for the cold hearted fire demon. Hiei looked up, but appeared as if he were staring straight through Yusuke. He seemed very distant, and responded to Yusuke's question with a simple nod.

            Yusuke sighed, picked up the boxes and bags, and followed after Keiko. "Oh, Hiei. If you feel like it, we're having another party like thing at Kurama's, so think about it!" Yusuke called back.

            Hiei began to say something, but found himself short of breath. He decided to take a look around town, thinking perhaps he could find something worthwhile to do in this pathetic plane of human existence. As he moved along, he kept his eyes fixed on the ground, but he could sense the gaze of fearful human eyes upon him. 'I can't look as unwell as these pathetic humans think' he thought to himself. Walking on with no location in mind, Hiei again felt short of breath, but this time, he was also feeling tired. As this feeling began to settle in, Kurama happened to be walking in Hiei's direction and noticed the uneasy movement of his ally.

            "Hiei!" Kurama called, getting no response, "Hiei, are you feeling okay?" Kurama finally caught up to the cloaked demon. Hiei simply looked up at his friend. Kurama looked carefully at him.

            "Come on," Kurama set his hands on Hiei's shoulders to help keep him balanced, "Let's get you to my house so you can get some rest."

            Hiei suddenly snapped back into reality and threw Kurama's hands off of his shoulders. Kurama backed off and looked at Hiei. Hiei's eyes were flaring, "Keep your human hands off of me, Kurama!" he snapped. Everybody around looked on as the two 'friends' stared down one another. Kurama turned to leave, but spun around and pinned Hiei to a wall by his cloak.

            Kurama tightly gripped the collar of Hiei's cloak. He began to push even harder into the wall, "What is your problem, huh?" Kurama demanded.

            The fuming fire demon answered the question with a cold, dark glare. He quickly tripped Kurama, slipped out of the cloak, and leapt onto the building he was once pinned to. He bounded from one building to another, until there were no more buildings to leap off to. He jumped off of the final building and into a snow covered clearing. The red eyed demon ran on, just like before, with no destination, just as long as he was alone.

            Hiei continued running until even he couldn't stand it any longer. He slowed to a stop and fell to his knees and began to sob uncontrollably. Each tear solidified into a rare black diamond. Hiei glared at the jewels lying in the snow.

            "I can't take this anymore," he snarled, "I just can't take it anymore! My past is catching up to me, and the present is no help. My existence is not even accepted in the world I see when I close my eyes. Only pain awaits me."

            Hiei picked up the tear gems and held them in the palm of his hand. He looked at them and forced back more tears of anger. "Why?!" he screamed, his hands suddenly ablaze as the jewels melted.

            Just as he collapsed onto his and his knees, again sobbing at his misery, he heard footsteps in the snow. He rose to his feet and crushed the remaining tear gems with his heel. Hiei looked up and saw Yukina approaching. She stopped at the entrance to the clearing and looked at Hiei.

            "There you are!" Yukina smiled, rushing up to Hiei, "Where have you been lately? You have missed a lot of fun parties." Yukina went to put her hand on Hiei's shoulder, but he jerked away.

            "Yes, I would have great fun with all of you, wouldn't I?" Hiei snapped coldly, "If you haven't noticed, I don't fit in with those humans at all." Hiei glared and turned away. Yukina looked at him and began to cry.

            "I don't know why I am drawn to you, Hiei," she began, "But you're right, you don't fit in, but I think it's because of your choices,  not you. But maybe Kuwabara was right, maybe you are just an insensitive little jerk," Yukina turned away and stormed off.

            "Maybe she's right. Maybe I did bring this on myself," Hiei said as he began to look sick again, "But I did not bring this horrible past of mine on myself. Maybe this is what they call destiny. Maybe…" he trailed off. He stood in the snowy clearing for a moment and silently began to head home, wherever that would be tonight.

            As he headed past Kurama's house, Hiei could again hear the voices of his former teammates. He leapt onto the balcony, to find the cloak he had slipped out of to escape Kurama waiting for him. Quietly slipping it on, he watched his three former allies as they played a round of Poker. After about half an hour of silent spying, he made his way to the front door.

            "Hey everybody," Botan yelled, leading Hiei into the living room, "Look who decided to join us," Hiei followed Botan and took a seat somewhat separate from the group. Soon, Yukina came out of the kitchen with drinks, and immediately spotted Hiei. Upon seeing him, she went right back into the kitchen, and he followed after her.

            "Why are you here?" she asked impatiently, "I thought you didn't fit in," Yukina tried to sound as angry as possible. Hiei looked at her sadly, he had never seen her angry; she looked like a completely different person, but she finally resembled her older brother. That wasn't what he wanted from her; he didn't want her to be like him.

            "Look Yukina," Hiei began in the emotionless tone he usually saved for Kuwabara and Yusuke, "I apologize for earlier, not like that will mean anything to you. I only came to tell you that I'm going back to the Makai. Maybe I belong there," Hiei looked down painfully, and quickly left the room.

            "Hiei, wait," Yukina pleaded. The only response she got was the sound of Kurama's front door slamming.

            "What was that about?" Yusuke asked as Yukina fell to her knees in tears. Kurama sighed and ran out the front door after Hiei. Hiei obviously didn't sense him coming, so he was able to catch up.

            "What happened in there?" Kurama asked quietly, "Why is she crying, and better yet, why are you leaving?" Hiei stopped and turned around.

            "She made it clear to me today," Hiei began, looking back at the house, "It is my fault that I don't fit in, and I'm not willing to change, so I'm leaving." Hiei explained, and he disappeared from sight.

*******************

            Yukina was again staying at Kurama's house after another group gathering. She was silently preparing for bed when a shadow she did not see appeared outside her window. As she got into the bed, the figure stood silently outside.

            "She's beautiful," Hiei said to himself. He sat down on an empty branch and kept a close watch over his sister, "This," he said, "This is where I belong."

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Kurushimi: I hope you liked it. Reviews would be greatly appreciated, and yeah. In my opinion, this one is not my best work ever, but it's decent.

Random person: Review!