Disclaimer: Who says that I own something? Who?! Me and I'm hung by the fans of YYH. Bwahahaha…..

A/N: Okay. Flame accepted. I have lost count how long I don't update. Any grudge will be accepted. Don't be too harsh please? I wonder if everyone has forgotten about the presence of this fic. Hehehe……Even me. By the way, there are reasons. Well, you can think that I just make an excuse. perhaps. But at least read the reason please?

Final Exam!!!! My computer crashed. My entire half plan deleted as if it was nothing! Great! And I screw up myself. I play games too much. hit myself Piles of homework burn my own school Too much surfing at internet. no flame! Everyone just loves to do it! Author block. Got me just in time. But review please? pleading eyes Actually I don't know what to write.

Special thanks for:

Kikira-san: Yup! I'm happy to know that you like this chap. I wonder if I have to split them again in the mission. Eheh….evil grins I'm the cruel author.

Kurosaisei : Glad that you can wait longer since I really update longer than before. 6 You can scold me for that. Bwahaha…..But I will update this story sooner after the test completely over. Because there will be no longer homework and I have too much free time to enjoy myself. I will spend my time to write all of my fic to catch up the lost time before.

Beautiful  Dreamer1: Is it just me or I rarely see you update your fic lately? Hope you don't become like me. Sweat dropped. Though I don't review your story

sorry, I really don't have much time lately. I'll check on my holiday, that will soon coming. Hurray! I'm waiting for your fic! Please write more. Nope, don't be ashamed to update more than 4 months because I'm even worse. Bwahahaha….

Katyfoxdemon2: Sorry for not reading your fics lately. I will catch up on my holiday. Will be lots of things to do…..sigh….I'm sorry I couldn't update soon.

ChildofMidnight: Uhhh…..I'm sorry that I play too much. I'm really soooooooooorrrrrryyyyy. Bows…..bows…..I'll update the next chapter sooner. Maybe within 3 weeks. Sorry, I couldn't check your fic " Darkened Essence" I promise I'll read it on holiday. Pinky promise

thunderfox25: Huweee…..cool nickname! By the way, thanks for your idea. I'll try to think it of. No matter how cruel I am I couldn't torture Kurama-san too much…haaa…..because I love him! Hahahaha! Maybe that is called love is similar like hatred. . I think you can make a good story. If you post fic, tell me and I'll read, ne?

By Irisgem

The glinting astral sky was somehow invisible from this world. I averted my golden shining eyes through the window. The hollow of the darkness with no illuminating light could be distressing once you used to light. Sometimes the frightening flash lightning thundered upon the emerald forest. I could smell blood in the air.

 Makai was a hard world where you had to trust yourself but no one to survive. My platinum silky hair swayed gently as the gust of wind blew hardly through hole of the tower. I believed we were in such a height since the wind got harder.

Sometimes pair ruby pools stared at me silently. I pretended not knowing it though. The black shadow hid his presence beyond silhouette, waiting for me for a second. I was rememorizing the latest Makai's view but soon a growl echoed in the isolated tower, the wings of primeval empire. He raised his hand and firmly grabbed my slim wrist. He pulled hardly when I dazed out through the dark view.

" Do you want to spend your rest life here? "

" Uhhh….I'm sorry. It's just……it has been a long time since I see and smell the Makai. "

I smiled simply. He snorted and closed his lids. His frown showed me that he didn't please with my flimsy excuse. Hiei curtly turned his head and walked up the endless torsion stairs. I hurriedly caught up the black child. But soon my golden eyes averted to the strong rough hand that held my hand.

A furious flush crept on my cheek quietly. What an odd feeling love was. No matter how long and much I had experienced that feeling as Youko, I still felt differences of this kind of love toward him. A voice of warning that was audibly in my piercing furry ears crept into my mind.

" Come on. They must be at the crest of this place."

" Hai. "

Forcing a sigh, I straightened my head and followed my guide. I could only stare at his back. I pondered a little, thinking how high and how long we had to run for longer. This worry couldn't leave if I hadn't guaranteed my human mother's safety. I didn't notice that I almost ended up hitting Hiei's flat back when Hiei stopped abruptly at his track. His firm arm spread in front of my chest, keeping me not to run further.

The stair was finally end and there was a doorway with illuminating transcendent light. Hiei hid behind the cold gray wall with his arm held back me who was at his behind. A frown emerged on his face, making me raised my brows.

" What's the mat……? "

As quick as the wind, a hand plastered on my lips. I urged a gasp before I went silent. Crimson eyes fixed at the golden ones with a sharp look. He locked his deep bloody eyes on mine with a dangerous glare. He placed his forefinger on his lips and stepped further slowly, leaving me alone in the darkness. I raised my hand and was just going to ask what had happened, the shadow showed himself amidst the light. With a blink, the spot where he stood before was no one but a blur.

With a surprise look, I also chased Hiei and appeared myself from the behind of the wall. But within a second, I could only see the pool of red. A body tottered slowly toward the spot where I stood briefly. I shoved away and shunned it with a simple gesture. My gaze locked at the bloody scene.

Hiei stood solemnly on the crimson lake with twenty corpses around him. His hand was red, stained with the crimson liquid of the lifeless enemies that mixed along with his. My golden eyes went softer like a silky layer of aurora. I approached for him and bent a little at his eyes level.

The red eyes gleamed with confusion. With a comforting smile, I took his bloody hand carefully and licked the wound. He jerked a little and tried to pull his hand from my grasp. But I didn't allow him to do so. He kept trying to free from my hand.

 I ripped my white cloth a little and tended the wound with it. Soon the cloth was also stained by the fresh blood. Hiei just glanced a little at his wound and lifted his eyes on me. I replied his gaze with a soft smile.

" Keep your attention. You don't notice of youkais before, right? We risk our life, okay? "

I replied his half sarcasm with an absent-mindedly nod. I lived as human too long I believed. We didn't have to keep alert restless along our life span. Perhaps human didn't have to struggle to keep living as hard as in Makai, but still the same thing was human and demon secretly could stab each other from one's back. Trust was something that was rarely existed in Makai.

He averted his eyes from me to the long path. I followed his gaze. I could feel youki scattered around this floor. I believed he could also feel it. His hand strayed to his wrist where his katana sheathed around. I gazed assuring at him before he nodded and turned his face to deal with the next fight. We didn't have a lot of time to play. I gave a hidden smile as he believed me to protect his back. With that, he ran forward without doubt with me trailing him.

It had been almost an hour. I lost the track of time though since I entered Makai, the demon's world. There was no time limit as the demon had a very long life span. But it didn't go the same with human. Makai was waned with war and bloody fighting for lives, pride and freedom. At the same time, human lived mostly protecting their short lives, trying to keep peace though sometime some foolish war was held. Because their lives…….were short.

My mind wandered to Shiori when I kept alert of harm. I wondered how she was right now. All I wished was her happiness but I also knew that I might not be able to live her anymore. She would deny me being her son. Having a son of demon should be a big shame to deal with. I couldn't accuse her for doing it either. But then how should I do with this human feeling that kept bugging me……

Suddenly I heard a clink of metal sound. I glanced up and waved my hair. A hidden rose came into my possession and with a quick sharp movement; it shifted into a thorn whip. I ran straight as from the opposing sides enemies had prepared their weapons. As I whipped it, five low youkais fell at their spot with spattering blood over the wall. When I looked back through my shoulder, I could see his composure figure composed around the sea of corpses. The graveyard for demons……

He glanced at me and walked further. I didn't have time to reply his glance as he moved quite a velocity. I was walking at his side when suddenly he froze at his spot. His eyes widen but lowered to the floor. I turned worriedly at him. He didn't flinch nor listen to me. He seemed distracted to something in his thought.

" Step back. "

" Why? "

" Just do it. "

I waited for a minute. Though my pride almost got me, I moved backward and waited for his reaction. He got in front of me without speaking a single word. He lifted his eyes with his cold glare toward the utter darkness behind us. I was sure that I saw icy glint inside his fiery eyes. I didn't comment how it could occur. He whispered that I could hear evidently. I could feel a strong torrent of youki from Hiei's gaze direction.

" Yokie. "

" Yokie? "

He didn't stir nor answered my query. After a short waiting, a figure emerged from the black path. His silver hair was shoulder-length hung freely at sides of his delicate face. His height was about three centimeters taller than Hiei. His turquoise cold eyes were almost like an ice. His face remained calm but shone with malice attention.

A cotton gray finery shirt furnished him quite nice with a black belt around his slim waist. A white cloak kept protecting him from cold or heats the unstable temperature of Makai, blanketed completely his creamy skin. A cross earring swayed gently, shone a glinting light secretly behind his dark opal hair.

I didn't leave my eyes from him. He was beautiful, of course, but I couldn't feel comfort around the atmosphere that surrounded him. But Hiei didn't seem care. He kept walking forward, toward the beautiful demon. I tried to stop him, but he would ignore my warning definitely. At the end, I just watched for him from behind. When they were separated about three meters, Hiei stopped walking. They remained there, stared to each other. I tilted my head a little with crossed arms.

" Hiei. Why do you do it? "

" ……….."

" Why you betray us? Why do you hit me? "

" I have my own reason. "

" Is it because the one that is behind you? "

Yokie moved his forefinger and pointed to me. I kept wearing expressionless mask. Deep inside I felt nothing but worried for my human mother. If we kept staying here, we didn't know what worst thing fell upon them. And after all, why did he want with Haru anyway? Secretly I tried to bury my jealousy in the deepest heart.

I crossed my arms in front of my chest to show my impatience for Yokie. I didn't want him to get in our way to save our beloved ones. Hiei gazed at me for a while with understanding. He had to feel the same since he also worried for his sibling sister, the only remained family of his. He turned his ruby eyes on the opal head. I leaned to the wall, waiting for the unfinished business to be taken care of.

" No. "

Simply answer. As usual……He really did never change. Even when he had an identity as Haru, he never spoke longer than three sentences. I felt slight of hurt. His word was almost heard like rejection but it wasn't a perfect time to think something like that.

 I closed my eyes for a while and thought what to do to save my mother and her future might be. I could feel quite a dark feeling toward me. It was Yokie. Was it anger or…….jealousy? I didn't put attention too much on it. Their relationship was surely nothing I could butt in. So I kept calm and waited patiently.

" You're my partner, Hiei. Why you turn your back against us? "

" …… "

" Why don't you say something? "

" Don't make me lose my patience. "

" Hiei. I couldn't let you go. If you want to pass this path, you have to step over my dead body. "

" Gladly. "

A sudden youki rose madly. Yokie was surely didn't play with his words. The anger that was built became his power. But none of us gave a concern more than needed. Hiei unsheathed his katana from its black shield. The shining sharp weapon looked thirsty for blood already.

I made some proximity from them to let them fight freely. Maybe it was the perfect time to see clearly how he fought by himself, the techniques he had gained, and the will of his to save his beloved sister.

Yokie released his artful saber. It could be told that it was well made. The hilt was furnished simply with a red jewel with golden sculpture of dragon. Hiei didn't make a move yet when Yokie did the same. A first movement would lead the victory either.

Finally the silver head rushed with his saber in his grasp. I could only get a glimpse of their fight. Both of them had abilities for their velocity. Nothing more than shadow I could witness. But with Youko's fighting skill for centuries, I could acknowledge who was the fastest. Maybe it was the reason for him to be called the 'Flying Shadow'. Yokie was more strategically type. He predicted the movement, the direction of assault, and the weakness spot of Hiei. Both of them shared the same level of strength as they lived in the hardship childhood and same background it seemed.

After the intense fight, they were finally separated to their spot before. I watched in hatred when I saw streaming blood from Hiei's arm. At the same time, Yokie licked his damaged wrist. Their powers were equal. Suddenly I felt a sudden urge to move. But it was too late. I could feel my feet frozen to the ground. Slowly ice crept from the ground and absorbed my power little by little.

" What?! "

Hiei turned his head abruptly with a shock expression. I figured that he also didn't know this skill either. My eyes glared wildly to the turquoise ones. He sniggered slyly and didn't speak anything yet. The demon that possessed ice power could be count by finger especially with the extinction of Koorime tribe. The latest news was also heard that ice demons went to extinct. Could he be the only survivor?

The ruby eyes reverted back to Yokie's eyes, seeking for explanation. Somehow Hiei didn't seem pleased about this. I lowered my head to my frozen feet. Probably it wasn't a mere ice. It absorbed energy like a parasite. I didn't know whether I could break this ice spell or not but at least a try didn't hurt.

I summoned a little amount of power to bloom a fire flower. It flickered beautifully like a truly red destructive flame with its warmth. The flame flower grew closer to the ice. I stared blankly for the incoming result.

Suddenly the ice went wild and froze the flower also. My golden eyes widen with the unexpected result but soon glinted with excitement. My youko nature always interested with challenge. It didn't bother though for this condition.

" It's ice flower. "

" What? "

Hiei's reply was almost like a statement than a question. I abruptly lifted my head.

" You know Hiei why I am interested in you? "

" I sense nothing. "

He replied dryly but his sulking expression had confessed his true emotion. I kept quiet, alerted for important information. His eyes lifted and stared intensely to the crimson eyes. I felt a slight of dislike with his gaze. His attention seemed turned into revengeful one.

" Because deep inside, my blood flow with ice curse. "

Hiei lifted an eye brow. My face soon changed into frown. Ice curse? Was there something like that exist?

He placed his slender hand on top of his chest. His smile grew wider with unknown meaning. He brushed his hair back over his shoulder. Somehow time moved very slowly that irritated me enough. Finally he confessed the truth after a while.

" Because I'm an ice demon and you're a Forbidden Child. "

Confused? Me either…..No comments. I don't have any idea what I have written. Bwahahaha! frustrated