AN: 'Allo everyone! And welcome to chapter 13! I'm glad that you've stuck with the story so far, and I apologize for the extremely long wait. Okay, that's an understatement...But nonetheless, please enjoy!

Disclaimer: As you know, I don't own YuYu Hakusho. So don't get any ideas...

Chasing Dreams

Hiei's Pov

I awoke long before the sun rose, my mind racing as I recalled the dream and my encounter with Shiri the night before. A horrible feeling swept over me, like pondering an unanswerable question. As soon as I thought I had figured everything out, the answers slipped through my grasp. Who was that boy? And who's memory, if that's what it was, was it?

I slid my legs over the edge of the bed, my feet resting just above the ground. "Maybe if tried to recall all my memories. Then I might find a clue. In that dream…they were young, not necessarily a child, but younger. When I was about 10 I lived on the mountainside. At about 11 I left the thieves and soon lost my hiruseki..." I reached for chest, remembering that the precious stone had been absent for some time. I shook my head. I must concentrate on this right now. "After that, I had been traveling through a thick wood and--"

It hit me then. I remembered walking and then meeting Shigure. Yet something was wrong. It almost seemed like there was something missing between those two times. "But why can't I remember?"

"Remember what?"

I turned sharply to see Yusuke standing in the doorway. I returned his grin with a stern glare. "How long have you been standing there?" I said fiercely.

"All I heard was 'But why can't I remember?' Don't freak out..." We both were silent. " Anyway, Hiei, you better hurry and get up. Kurama wanted to get started explaining how things went last night."

Kurama....

"Hello? Earth to Hiei?"

I suddenly snapped back to attention. "Will you shut up? I'm coming." I slid off of the bed and walked out the door. I followed Yusuke back down the hall to the meeting room where everyone was already waiting.

"It's about time you showed up punk." I glared at Kuwabara and sat down in the chair closest to Kurama. He stood, poised, ready to begin discussing the night's events. I listened intently, as did the others.

"We found supporters of our side last night. A man by the name of Dominique has organized a group of demons who are resisting Yameou's forces. We also had the opportunity to engage in combat with some of his men." Yusuke broke in.

"Wait, you fought? But then that means--"

"Yes. It is likely that they are more than aware of our plans. I think they have been for some time. When we were attacked outside of town was the first sign." Kurama paused. "I...cannot completely gauge their strength as of now, though. I..." Kurama's voice faltered and he stopped, trying to find the words. The emotions he felt that night blinded him...I had to say something.

"He killed them easily enough. But we should still be cautious." Kurama looked at me with a "thank you" in his eyes.

Kuwabara scratched his head and spoke, "So what are we gonna do?"

We all sat in silence. No one had any idea how to go about this. We had several options. A flat out assault, or we could send forces in and ready our positions here. I glanced over to see Kurama lost in deep thought, not really paying attention to the meeting. It was not something characteristic of him.

"I will think things over and we shall meet back here in one hour. I need to discuss a few things with the military. Will you all be alright with this?" All of us nodded at the boy, glad to have some time to think by ourselves.

Kurama took the opportunity to leave quickly. I got up from my seat to chase after him. He glanced back, acknowledging me. For once I would talk first. "Kurama...what's wrong with you?" I said, not trying to sound offensive.

"I was thinking, Hiei, about last night."

"Kurama, it was his decision, there's nothing you could have--"

"It's not that Hiei. The hatred I saw in those soldier's eyes...the fear I saw in the people...it felt evil...wrong..."Kurama crossed his arms tightly.

"Perhaps they mistook you for Seria..." I said, glancing at the black robes.

"No...it seemed like something more than that Hiei." He shook his head. "I don't know what it is...but there's something...something that's troubling me...I don't know what exactly, but it's there..."

Perhaps this place held memories for him too. Perhaps...perhaps it was fate that brought us back to this place. The dream...Kurama's feelings...like pieces of a puzzle, just now starting to fit together. But what was the picture?

"It feels familiar, but you can't quite say why, can you?" He turned swiftly.

"It does." He looked deep into my eyes. "And it does to you too, doesn't it?"

I slowly nodded. "It's as if...I have some fond memories here..." I glanced around. "As if I spent some time here, happy for once in my life. I had a dream...about this all." Kurama had a pained look on his face.

"How contrasting. Mine was a nightmare..."

Shiri's Pov

After hours of searching I found the streets to be dead and my supposed military to have vanished. Something had spooked the town, obviously, and there was no way to find out what. I knocked on doors, yelled to let me in, and still no response. I walked up to yet another house, banging violently.

"This is your Lord, open you doors!" I banged again. " I SAID OPEN THE DOOR!" I waited. Nothing. "Great." I hung my head and walked away, muttering. They wouldn't even let their own ruler into their house. "I make a note to include a twenty percent tax on everything..."I growled.

I headed back towards the underground. My ears picked up a noise. I turned, expecting to see someone. Nothing. "H-hello?" There was no response. "Hello?" I said, more confident this time. Still nothing. "And here I thought I might have found someone..." I said, sighing. I turned back around. "What!?"

Kurama's Pov

I couldn't even begin to describe the nightmare. Flashes of images, blood...it was hard to make sense of it...I had to start somewhere, thought I didn't know how much I could explain.

"HELPmrf!" Hiei and I both turned our heads in the direction of the muffled cry.

"Shiri!"

We both raced up the stairs, trying to find the origins of the scream. We came into sunlight. The town was seemingly empty. I listened intently, tuning my ears for any noise I could. "Hm." I could detect a shuffling sound far off in the distance. "That way." I said, pointing down the street. Hiei wasted no time.

I caught a glimpse of something as we ran down the street. "Shiri!" What I had saw was Shiri and someone disappearing around a corner.

"I can catch up with him." Hiei said. But just as he finished I heard a voice.

"Sorry. Road's closed." I watched as the figure went flying out of the alley. We both stopped dead in our tracks. A tall dark figure emerged with it's arm around Shiri's shoulder. "Some friend you had there you're highness."

I took a closer look. The demon was a tall, dark, and slender fox. His hair was jet-back, as were his ears and tail, but his skin was fair. He looked up at Hiei and I with his dark blue eyes. Now I remembered.

"Fumio, I'm glad to see you." Hiei gave me a questioning glance, but the demon grinned widely.

"Hey there Kurama. I'm flattered you remember me. We didn't even get a formal introduction back at the bar." He said as he let go of Shiri and leaned against the wall.

"Indeed. But why are you here?"

"The bar was burned down. Happened right after you left."

"Was anyone hurt? Were their any casualties?" I asked in a panic. I should have controlled my anger...now I was responsible for this...

"Calm down, everyone's fine. But we had to change grounds. Word's out about war and we didn't feel like being in the midst of the chaos. So we're crashin' on your side now."

"I'm sorry," I said, bowing my head in disgrace, "this is my fault. I should have had more sense than to fight them..."

He shook his head. "We were going to move anyway. It's nothing to worry about. What we do need to worry about," looked behind him, "is if more of those idiots try and pull something like that again."

"Then we should head back to the underground." Hiei said, looking at Shiri. The young ruler nodded.

I was surprised to see Dominique waiting at the bottom of the stairs. Yusuke and Kuwabara had just seem to notice him and were running, ready to fight. "It's okay. He's an ally, not an enemy." The two stopped. Fumio leaped down the last eight steps, landing gracefully next to Dominique.

"What happened? Where were you guys?" Yusuke asked.

"Someone tried to kidnap me. Hiei and Kurama came to rescue me, but Fumio beat them to it." At this, Fumio flashed Yusuke and Kuwabara another of his grins.

"Great, so now we've got Yameou's goons coming over here?" I nodded.

"The faction has had to relocate to our territory. It seems our initial plan is no longer of any use." Yusuke let out and exasperated sigh.

"Not only that," Shiri began, "but I was unable to contact anyone in the military. This place has practically turned into a ghost town. No one will answer their doors, no one's on the streets, nothing!" He crossed his arms, obviously frustrated.

"Then it seems it will be up to us." Dominique spoke with an air of confidence.

"And who the hell put you in charge?" Yusuke said hotly. I knew it was only a matter of time until tempers flared...

The two began to argue. Dominique spoke smoothly and Yusuke yelled out. Kuwabara soon joined in on it and Fumio broke in with a few smart remarks. Shiri did his best to try to break them up and only ending up adding to the fire. That's when I noticed that Hiei must have slipped out of the room. I cautiously left to find him. I didn't have to go far.

He sat on the bed of his new room, gazing at the wall where the window had been in the upstairs room. I gently closed the door behind me and he appeared not to notice. I walked slowly closer to the bed. Still he did not turn around. A peaceful, yet sad air hung in the room. I breathed in deeply, taking in the bitter sweet feelings, and slowly I climbed onto the bed. Still he sat. I moved, carefully, purposely closer. I gently wrapped my arms around him, not knowing why, and held him tightly, the folds of the black robe engulfing us both. And so we sat, lost in silence.

'Blood. My hands dripped, the walls marked. My debt had been paid. He got what he wanted. The screams...I paid them no mind either. Quickly...I must sift through the treasures. There may still be something of value. Wipe my hands off, then search, and take it. Then I will leave. Child or not, I don't need to stay. Hm...useless.'

A flash of silver, a black robe falls to the ground, a child cries and a young man runs.