Authoress's Notes: Okay, I noticed the italics in chapter two didn't work so well. If they don't appear, be smart. (Jingle crew: Be smart, be safe, don't use drugs!) *sweatdrops* Aaaannnyhow, it may be a bit hard to read because of that, but it's still legible.

I looked around the YYH section some more, recently... I assumed that I'm one of the fast updaters, but evidently, people around here update much faster than the people in the YGO section ^_^;;; So I'm slow?

Oh yeah, and for the reviewer who asked, they're not really hallucinations, they're just Hiei passing out without realizing it. And then the ghosts appear in his dream and all.... And for that other reviewer... (sorry 'bout the anonymous referrals, I'm too lazy to look you guys up and I have a short memory out of school and anime,) Didn't you say you didn't read 'long' stories? *sweatdrops and anime crashes* this is eventually going to be more than three times longer than your 'long' rating!

*~*~* is a scene change. Just for your info, since I haven't used it yet.

Also, I don't have much info on Karasu, and I've never read/seen the battle between Youko Kurama and him. So he might be slightly OOC and his abilities might be a tad off. I just went along with what little I picked up from fanfics. Anyhoo, ficcie!

Warnings: lots less blood, shounen-ai, mentions of rape. (Nothing graphic, really, they're just barely hinting! And that's only if you're a pervet!) Later, genocide, suicide, body mutilation, and generally, things Hiei would do without a second thought. (Quote Botan: Hiei is powerful, and completely ruthless!) Eh, that wasn't pointing toward the suicide thing, but whatever.

NOTE: (9/13/03) Things surrounded by ~ are inner thoughts that Hiei isn't quite sure are his. But they are.

*~*~*Confused*~*~*

"You can't pretend forever," the voice drawls. I need to fight, my Jagan is still pierced, and although that beach dream re-energized my body slightly, I'm still tired. Sure, I can't pretend forever, but it's good while it lasts. I think in this situation, it'd be better to die without seeing my opponent; because, in case he were a low-class demon, I wouldn't be so humiliated if I couldn't tell. Wait... his energy is skyrocketing! ...And why hasn't he killed me already?

This is so confusing. I can't think.

Time to face reality. I open my eyes slowly. This demon is currently in human form, long sleek, black hair and a silver mask over his mouth. Who this guy is, I have no clue. I think he doesn't know who I am, either. If he did, he would've dragged me to Koenma for that huge reward he promised. Then he's uninformed, I concluded. Either that, or he's a criminal. Criminal?! I cursed. He must want to take over what I dominated!

"What do you want?" I snapped, rising quickly, one hand on my katana, noticing absent-mindedly that I'm soaking wet on that ghost ship I spotted earlier. He doesn't do anything except follow my hand with his eyes. "Answer me!" I swing my katana at him, but he casually steps aside... if you'd call blurring behind me 'stepping aside.'

"Don't try to play tough. I know plenty well that you're greatly weakened," he says in that same tone of voice. I want to kill him so badly just because of that smoothness in his voice! It's so seductive, it's unreal! I get a foreign feeling of unease around him, too. The sea looks pleasing now, nothing like that licking, annoying water, but a vast area of freedom.

Making up my mind, I tense my legs and lean forward. Suddenly, I'm frozen by cool fingers gracing over my neck, trailing on my shoulders. My whole body tenses. "Do you really think I'm just going to let a pretty Koorime like you just run off into the horizon?"

I flinch at his voice. "Get... your fingers... off of me!" But something inside told me this was nice. Yet my nerves were screaming in horror. He tightens his fingers some more, and I squeeze my eyes shut, refusing to let tears fall. He already hinted that he knew I was a Koorime... I'm not letting this greedy slut take everything I have!

"You like it."

I growl in irritation as my muscles relax, although my mind was hollering at them to let me whiz off. "Not my mind."

"And your heart?"

"It's stone cold and untouchable."

"Liar." His fingers continue down my back, making those stupid muscles squeal in delight again. I fidget slightly, only to find that I can't move. This is certainly new... in all 300[1] years of my life, I've never felt this battle style. I hate it, but I crave it. This is truly hell. Paradoxes arise in my mind. Voices inside me all shout, confusing me even more—

~"Delight... this is paradise."~

~"My heart is for no one...."~

~"Don't let the tears fall... no one shall unlock those emotions sealed so many years ago...."~

I'm trying to ignore them all... but the most confusing of all the voices manages to get the last say before I lock them away.

~"A fiery Youkai thief... sealed behind human morals."~

"I see," he says softly. I'm completely frozen now, black gems littering the floor, more clattering down to join them. My Youki has flared to unstable levels, and both the headband on my Jagan and the bandages on my right arm have disintegrated. At this point, he walks in front of me. My eyes are frozen, I can't look away from his face. I'm intimidated, I admit it. I'm trapped with a truly powerful Youkai, my Jagan still injured, and I can't move. His mask hides his expression, but I'm sure he has a sadistic grin. "You truly have no interest. But you will." What's that supposed to mean?! He starts to walk away. I start to defrost, once again in control of my body. I fall to the floor with a cross between a whimper and a growl.

~So confused....~

*~*~*

I lay on the floor, facing the open sky. I can feel the jabbing sensation of my gems stabbing at my back. Gems formed of grief and impurity... black and dark as depression that plagues the soul, and as evil as the devilish art of seduction.

I think back into the last few admirers who tried the same thing. I killed them all. I would kill this one too... but I can't. This infuriates me more than many other things that have happened in the past few days. I want to destroy him... give him pain, but not the usual ecstasy that went along with it. I want to make his blood stream out until he was dry and devoid of life. Until I am in control; until I rule over him and make him shiver in fright... but until I'm strong enough, all I can do is dream.

And it seems these days I can't even do that very often.

Dreams are innocent and pure as the mortal who has them. My wishes are dark and devoid of light, like the gems I shed in sorrow and pain. My dreams and nights are nothing but a reflection of darkness.

~A child's dreams are wistful and true. But not the Forbidden Child's.~

And I'm haunted by the aspect of another dark night.

~*~

Koenma looks pleased. He sucks on that ridiculous-looking pacifier of his and gathers his papers upon his desk. The Spirit Detectives[2]-- or at least their ghosts-- are on either side of him, Botan and Yusuke on his left, Kurama and Kuwabara on his left. "So, Hiei, you have finally faced what you have wreaked upon others?"

"I see no relationship between my doings and the black-haired Youkai's," I state simply. I refuse to get riled at a spoiled brat who can control Reikai with a wave of his finger but can't even defeat me with dozens of powerful minions. And it infuriates me more that he had been watching the humiliating 'confrontation' between the Youkai and I!

Koenma leans back in his chair with a critical look. "You mean you managed to defeat all my Spirit Detectives without even knowing some of the most powerful Youkais' names and abilities?" I blink at this. My attention is caught on a file hanging off Koenma's desk.

On it was the demon. Karasu. And he is a higher-class demon than I... by far.[3] "WANTED!"  screams the red stamp across the file front. And it seems he's done quite a lot... I suspected he was an outlaw, but he has 'accomplished' possibly enough to compete with my deeds. And he definitely has the potential... to take my all.

Koenma seems to have noticed my stare and sighs, eyes downcast in deep thought. "If you are willing to defeat and capture him... we will gladly lower your sentence, as long as you agree to return control of the Ningenkai to Enma-san...."

Fury and defiance run in my veins. The Detectives seem to notice and get ready to battle. Right now I'd do almost anything to rid myself of Karasu. Anger pulses at the fact that he was able to make me shed Koorime gems. But if I turn him in to suffer for eternity... I will also suffer unless I forfeit the world I dominated. If I remain with him, I will be nothing more than a puppet. A tool, and I will also have to give up the land I conquered, by being tortured, or... killed. It's a lose-lose situation. Either way, I will lose the world I have sacrificed so much to conquer- my power, my freedom, my sanity... and now it was to be all thrown away. One way or another. My mind is once again frozen in a state of confusion, midway into decision, midway into defeat.

"I...

*~*~*TBC

[1] There are so many different claims of Hiei's age, I just decided to go along with a random one.

[2] I was going over whether to use Reikai Tenkai, but I decided to use the English name, since I used it already in the first chapter.

[3] You can really tell I have little info on Karasu. I don't know if he's really a higher class than Hiei, but if it's not, I'll just say he's stronger here because... oh for heaven's sake, I'll just let the AU part take over!

*~*~*

Endnote: I think this chapter has returned to its usual darkness and suspenseful air, like Chapter One. ^_^ So Tat, I hope you feel the 'ASTOUNDING' feeling you had for the first chapter. I think I should only write when pissed, the second chapter was written out of boredom. Anyhow, any info on Hiei that is not entirely obvious is welcome!

For the second scene up there, (about admirers and dreams,) it was all written in one mood... a very strange one. I was feeling philosophical. Strange, since I don't like philosophy very much. But it turned out nice, surprisingly. So don't rush me. I'm writing Chapter Four already anyhow. Oh, and it'd help me if someone told me what Koenma's pacifier does... I heard somewhere that it had a purpose, but I don't know what. Also, will someone do me a favor and give me a link to a web site that thoroughly describes Hiei's past or Karasu's abilities? I know the basics, but all those facts are getting jumbled in my mind. *cries* This is my first fic and I barely know anything!

Kurama: Hiei, would you do us all a favor and restore her ego?

Hiei: *paying no attention* SWEET SNOW!!!!!

R Amythest: HEY, GET AWAY FROM THAT FREEZER, YOU!!!!

Yusuke: ...why in the world did you do a fic in his point of view when the only thing you have in common is... that?

Kuwabara: yeah, why the shrimp, I'm much better-lookin'!

R Amythest: ... *whacks Kuwabara with the Authoress Mallet* *chases after Hiei with said mallet* MY ICE CREAM! MINE!

Botan: *sweatdrops and sighs* well ya'all, review!

Random Quotes That I Have No Clue Why I am Putting In: (all were made by me)

'Friends? What friends? People? What people? All I see are demons, all clawing at my faith, trust, and naiveté....' (I was planning for Hiei to say this eventually, but then the 'people' wouldn't make sense. Neither would the 'naiveté.')

'Sunsets are not the end, for there is always the upcoming dawn... and the opening dawn is not the beginning.' (My 'Scrolling Marquee Screensaver' quote! Hehe, it completes my 'Sunset Angel' theme. ^^)