===
"Hiei-san! I've been looking everywhere for you!"
A brightly smiling Kurama jogged up to the Hi-youkai's side, and snagged one of his arms. He was amazed when the small demon greeted him with a small smile and shining eyes. The forbidden siblings had only been at the palace for a week, but already their lives were beginning again for the better.
Hiei's bounty had been paid off, thanks to the combined efforts of Raizen, Mukuro and Yomi. The three lords had taken a great liking to the small demon, and he to them. Yukina, much to her amazement, began receiving lessons on how to better hone her healing powers, and her abilities with ice. Little Ryuu, his vocabulary getting larger with each day that passed and his strength growing at an almost alarming rate, was also receiving lessons to train his Hi-youkai abilities. And all three of them had been gifted with beautiful clothing so that they would have more than just one outfit each. But Hiei was definitely the happiest of the three, for he was once again with his mate - and Yusuke's memories, though slow to return, were doing just that.
There was, however, one problem. With each memory recovered, a slight change went through the Toushin prince. He looked upon everyone around him with suspicion. He treated everyone like they were lower than him. He began to slowly cut off Hiei from his new friends.
##"It would seem that protecting my mate would be my first priority."##
The results from this were almost frightening. Hiei was spending more and more of his time alone, or in the nursery with Ryuu. He let precious few hold the baby now, and only those he screened personally could train his baby when Hiei wasn't present. Yukina was also closed off to a degree, she was at her lessons so often that the only times she and Hiei saw each other was at meal times - times when Yusuke was present and Hiei was quiet.
"I was wondering if you would like to spar with me," Kurama smiled, letting go of Hiei's arm and grinning down at his small friend.
Hiei smiled again and nodded. "Alright. I have a little time before I'm supposed to meet with Yuki." The Hi-youkai slipped into a battle stance, silently thinking of the new outfit he was wearing, and how he didn't want it ruined.
Kurama stepped into a similar stance and their battle began.
Both were skilled fighters, but it was obvious that Hiei dominated the fight. He flickered around Kurama with his untraceable speed, until the human became quiet confused. A few punches landed, though none were meant to hurt the prince permanently. Hiei's speed was cut, however, when Kurama finally willed the grass around them to grow long and wild and sharp.
First blood.
Hiei drew his katana, not the one he had stolen so many years ago, but a new one that had been fashioned just for him. He slashed at the grass to clear a path to Kurama, cutting said prince with the blade.
Second blood.
Hiei's legs were bleeding from the shallow cuts the grass had created. Kurama had an equally shallow cut across his chest which bled in a similar way. The two smiled at each other before really getting into the fight. Hiei attacked with his katana while Kurama dodged in his typically graceful manner. The red head finally drew his weapon, a beautiful red rose which quickly lengthened into a thorny whip.
Third blood. Fourth blood.
Kurama now had a cut on his right arm, disabling the use of the whip. Hiei was sporting a gouge in his side, causing him to fall to his knees.
"I would say this is a stalemate." Kurama said, returning his whip to its original flower state. He was breathing hard but smiling widely. "Has anyone ever told you that you dance when you fight?"
"Yes," Hiei admitted. "Yusuke told me that... the night we mated."
Kurama's eyes suddenly seemed to lose some of their shine.
Arms suddenly slipped around Hiei's waist as a familiar body pressed itself up against Hiei's back. Soft lips pressed against Hiei's neck, and the small demon turned himself around in that embrace to smile up at his mate. "Yuu-chan... I thought you had negotiations with Yomi-sama all day."
Yusuke grunted an affirmative. "We're on a break." The Toushin bent to engage his mates lips in a battle very different from the one Hiei had just been in.
Kurama shuffled his feet self-consciously, positive that Yusuke had just sent him a warning glance. A glance that seemed to scream: "Stay away from him."
"You're bleeding," Yusuke said softly after the two had broken apart. "Let's take you inside to be healed." The Toushin nodded politely at Kurama and quickly escorted his little mate away.
"Ja ne, Kurama-sama!" Hiei called. "Thanks for the fight!"
Kurama smiled and waved back. "We'll fight again, Hiei-san. Just tell me when."
===
Later that night, Lady Mukuro stopped by Hiei's chambers to find said demon sitting on the floor playing with his baby.
"Hiei-san?" The bionic woman called, knocking on the open door as to not startle him too much. "May I speak with you for a moment?"
"Obaa-chan!" Ryuu sang, toddling towards the woman who had been helping train him. "Play time?"
Mukuro laughed and scooped up the child, walking into the room to sit down next to Hiei. "Ryuu-chan is such a wonderful child, Hiei-san." The woman said, smiling down at the baby.
Hiei smiled back at her and reached out for his baby. In one hand he was holding a small fox plushie, a gift from Kurama. Ryuu loved the plushie. "Somehow, Mukuro-sama," Hiei said quietly, his hand making the plushie dance across Ryuu's chest. "I don't think you came here to talk about Ryuu."
Said baby curled up in his mothers arms, looking quite adorable with the plushie cuddled in his arms and content enough to sleep. A little yawn tumbled through his small body, and red eyes drifted closed.
"You're right, Hiei-san." Mukuro told him in a serious voice. "There was something else I wanted to speak to you about. I saw your fight today with Prince Kurama - it was very impressive."
Hiei nodded, and stood up to put his baby inside the crib. Mukuro followed him, helping to rearrange the mountain of toys and dolls that slept with the Hi-youkai's son.
"I'd like you to be my heir, Hiei-san." The Lord of Alaric stated suddenly, her tone speaking clearly about how serious she was.
Hiei started.
"I've been looking around for centuries but there have been no candidates that fit my expectations like you do. You grew up in a harsh environment. You're completely dedicated to your family. You aren't afraid to kill when it's necessary. You don't underestimate people just because their class is lower." She paused. "Those and so many other reasons, Hiei-san. You would make the perfect heir for me."
Hiei weakly sat down on the bed, not sure of what he should be feeling. So much had happened to him in the past week. So many pulls at his heart. So many wonderful gifts had been given to him. A future for himself, his sister and his son. A second chance with his mate. Freedom from his past. Acceptance. Friendship. And now - he had a chance to be somebody important. A prince.
It was almost too much.
"I'll have to think about it." He finally said, looking deep into Mukuro's eyes. "It is a very important decision - it affects a lot of people."
"Don't take too long thinking about it, Hiei-san. I have to leave for Alaric in about a week. I'd love for you to come with me."
"Hai. I'll tell you in a week."
Mukuro nodded, bowed, and left.
Yusuke entered the room not ten minutes later to be greeted with the sight of his mate deep in thought. "Hey," the Toushin greeted him, settling down next to the Hi-youkai and tracing the bite mark on the small demons shoulder.
"Hey." Hiei replied distantly, shivering slightly at the light touch.
The room was quiet for a few more moments.
"I saw you fighting with Kurama," Yusuke said idly, breaking the silence and Hiei's train of thought.
Hiei smiled. "He's a good sparring partner. He doesn't hold back like some of the others that I've fought. I liked fighting against him."
"I don't want you to fight anymore." Yusuke suddenly blurted out, his tone very firm. "It's too dangerous."
Hiei just sort of blinked. "...What?"
"I don't want you to fight, or spar, or risk hurting yourself." Yusuke repeated himself. "I don't like seeing you hurt or in danger." The Toushin moved very suddenly to engulf Hiei in a hug. "I want you safe and happy."
The small Hi-youkai frowned, pulling out his mate's embrace. "I've spent my entire life fighting - it's part of who I am. I'm not going to stop just because-"
His words were cut off with a kiss.
"Why was Mukuro-sama here?"
"She wanted to ask me something."
"What did she ask?" A pause. "Come on, tell me. I'd like to know."
"It was nothing important."
"Of course it's important if it involves you." A kiss. "Please, Hiei?"
Ryuu's sudden wails cut into Yusuke's pleading demands, and Hiei gladly darted across the room to comfort the child.
"It's alright, Chibi. Kaa-chan's here. It was just a bad dream." He bounced the baby comfortingly, and continued to murmur soothing words into his baby's ear. Eventually the Hi-youkai left the nursery with his child - hoping that the fresh chill of night air would help cease the crying.
It took a while, but Ryuu finally calmed to a half-asleep state. The child crushed his fox-plushie in one arm, while the fingers of his right hand were stuck in his mouth.
"Why were you crying, Chibi?" Hiei cooed, settling down on the grass near where he had first met Kurama. "Was it a bad dream? Did something scare you?"
"Kaa-chan don't go way." Ryuu murmured, his eyes already slipping closed, as sleep over took him once more. "Kaa-chan..."
Hiei remained silent in his spot in the grass. His baby remained asleep, cradled in his arms. And he remained undisturbed for the rest of the night.
===
There was another in the castle that night who couldn't sleep. Kurama sat in his window seat, staring up into the night sky. There was a three-quarters moon that night. And all the stars were shining brightly. The land was peaceful and perfect.
Something that Kurama, for once, felt he was opposite of.
And as an added insult to injury - Youko actually felt the same.
"I'm too late to have his heart." Kurama murmured to himself. "That's typical."
I thought you just wanted his friendship - his trust. Youko said, needling him in a jeering way. He was just a puzzle that you wanted to solve.
Kurama sighed, not sure what exactly he felt for the little half-Koorime, half-Hi-youkai that had suddenly taken up so many of his thoughts. He was still shocked that one person could cause so many scars on his heart. "I wonder how they met." Kurama said suddenly. "If it was chance, or fate, or something else entirely. I wonder if our meeting was fated, too."
Of course it was. Youko scolded him. Kurama was sure that if it was possible, the silver haired Kitsune in his mind would have just smacked him upside the head. Everything is left up to fate until you know what you want and reach out to take it.
"I want Hiei to love me." Kurama finally said, closing his eyes as he finally realized how impossible his wants were. But even though his knowledge, hope still lingered.
Because with all hidden love, there was both fear of rejection and hope of acceptance. Kurama held both of those emotions in his heart.
And Youko felt them both too. He felt that hope, that fear. He wanted Hiei to love him back, even though the heart of the Hi-youkai was already taken.
I want him to return my heart.
===
The sun rose that morning; hidden behind a wall of thick black rain clouds. Very little light was able to escape down to the earth and brighten it. And Hiei, still deep in thought, didn't notice. This could have been something symbolic, it could have meant something important - something life changing - was about to happen.
But at that moment, Hiei was simply treasuring that peaceful moment. In the silence of that world; hidden in the shadows, only he and his sleeping child existed. Only Ryuu was needed just then, for Hiei to be happy.
"Onii-sama?"
Yukina's gentle voice broke the silence in the best way possible, quietly and sweetly. The Flying Shadow looked up with a mask of serenity applied to his features. "Ohayou, Yukina-chan. Did you sleep well?"
The girl frowned slightly at the use of her name. She moved closer, sitting down next to her brother and leaning against his shoulder. "Hiei, what's wrong? You're been out here all night." She paused. "Your skin is cold, Onii-sama. Are you ill?"
Her brother didn't change his expression. "Ryuu was crying." A pause. "He had a bad dream."
Yukina remained silent for a moment before posing her next question. "Are you happy with Yusuke now? He seems so much different from what I remember."
"He's my mate, Yukina-chan."
The Koorime sighed, knowing she wasn't going to get anything out of her brother on that subject. So, she moved onto another topic that would, hopefully, jerk Hiei out of his trance.
"Touya-san told me that he and the others are leaving Gandara soon. He asked if I wanted to travel with them."
Sure enough, Hiei's mask shattered. He gulped, suddenly unable to look his little sister directly in the eyes. "Ar-are you going?" He asked in a very small and frail voice.
To that reply, Yukina's eyes narrowed and her lips tightened. Two years ago, heck - two weeks ago - Hiei's reply would have been the exact opposite. Something had definitely happened to her stubborn, protective, and spirited brother. Something, or somebody, had broken that person. Hiei was supposed to be her steady rock, the one person she could rely on to be strong. Now, that role had somehow switched. Yukina was becoming the strong one. While Hiei had become dependant on her strength.
"I'd like for you to come with us, Onii-sama."
Hiei winced. Yukina had already decided to go with the Gypsies. His gaze drifted back down to examine Ryuu's still sleeping face. Yukina did the same and the Forbidden Twins sat in silence until the sun finished rising. The fiery orb was still hidden behind the dark clouds.
"Hiei!" A deeply irritated voice broke through the silence. "Get out here, Hiei! You said that fighting is a part of your life? I want you to fight me!"
"Yusuke-sama," the gentler voice of Kurama called, as though the Kitsune was chasing after his friend. "Yusuke! Why are you doing this? He's your mate! MATTE!"
Stiffening, Hiei and Yukina looked up, identical expressions of fear shimmering in their twin red eyes.
"Get away from me, Ningen!" Yusuke screamed, his voice coming ever closer.
"Yusuke!"
"He sounds very angry." Yukina whispered.
Hiei slowly stood up and carefully deposited his baby into Yukina's arms. "Take care of him, Yukina-chan." He said softly. He lifted his ruby gaze to the canopy of clouds that still blocked out the sun. The Hi-youkai bent to place a chaste kiss on first Ryuu's forehead and then Yukina's cheek. Then he turned to meet Yusuke.
To fight Yusuke.
"Damn it, Hiei! Where are you hiding?"
"Onii-sama!" Yukina cried, scrambling to her feet and taking a few steps in his wake. "Dai suki da yo, Onii-sama! Don't leave us like this!"
Hiei paused in his steps, half turned and then flashed a fanged smile. It was a smile of the old Hiei. The stubborn, head-strong, protective brother that had dedicated his life to protecting her. "Nobody can replace you in my heart, Yukina-chan." He told her before vanishing.
The sun finally broke through the clouds to bathe the world in light.
===
It was something like an old western classic, the way that Yusuke and Hiei stood facing each other. The wind blew gently, sweeping their hair back, and flipping their clothing about in its current. The two stood; Hiei looking infuriatingly calm - Yusuke looking infuriated.
Kurama stood off to the side, worried and uncharacteristically nervous. Yukina was just behind the Kitsune, holding a now wide-awake Ryuu in her arms.
"You said you wanted to fight me, Yusuke." Hiei finally said in a monotone voice. "And yet you said you didn't want me to fight. Why did you contradict yourself?"
Yusuke grit his teeth, but didn't answer.
It seemed, however that Hiei's words had broken whatever hesitation that the Toushin was still harboring, because he suddenly lunged forward - moving into Hiei's face before the Hi-youkai had a chance to blink. Yusuke struck out with his fist, nailing the smaller in the face.
Hiei was sent flying.
"You've gotten faster." He said softly, landing on his feet with perfect balance.
In an instant, Yusuke was back in his face, a sly smirk alight on his features.
Hiei dodged the incoming flurry of attacks with ease, noting that while his opponent had gotten faster, his attacks were still clumsy. Still off balance. He was still less of a fighter than Hiei was.
It was obvious that Hiei would dominate this fight.
"Rei-gan!"
Hiei's eyes widened in surprise at that signature move. Baka! He scolded himself, how could you have forgotten about one of his trademark attacks?! To be hit with his Spirit Gun directly would be fatal.
His dodge wasn't as fast as before. He was so surprised that Yusuke had used that attack on him, and so angry that he had forgotten that Yusuke even had the ability to use it. He was nicked by that blow and blood began dripping down his left arm. That arm would be useless now.
"Your blood always did flow faster than anybody else's." Yusuke purred; lowering his hand and leering as Hiei tried to swallow his pain.
"Your attacks are still clumsy." Hiei retorted.
Yusuke growled and clenched his fists in renewed anger before he attacked again. He would strike, Hiei would dodge. They moved in a timeless blur. They moved in a vicious dance of blood - and of death.
Yusuke finally landed a second hit, sending the Hi-youkai back several feet, though no real damage seemed to be done.
"Fight me for real, you bastard!" Yusuke snarled, raising his fists again. "Don't hold yourself back!"
"You're my mate." Hiei said softly. "Fighting you for blood is wrong - no matter what the circumstances are."
The Toushin snorted, reaching up with one to touch the earring hanging from his left ear. "So then, if I were to remove this - you'd fight me for real?"
Hiei gasped, his eyes widening.
##"If I bear you mark... will you bear mine?"##
"To me, Hiei," Yusuke taunted. "You and your sister are just some little kids not good enough for their own clan. You're nobodies from my past. You're still nobody - it's just that now, you're in my present world." He laughed cruelly before ripping out the earring.
He might as well have ripped out Hiei's heart.
"I break this bond." The jewel shattered. "I remove my blood from your son. And I'll remove the three of you from this world! You, your sister, and your son. Starting with you!"
Hiei gulped, taking a few steps back. His neck felt strange, his whole body felt too light. Yusuke's magic was leaving him. The bond was breaking. The scar was fading. There was nothing left. Nothing more to hope for.
Hiei had just lost everything.
Then, something truly frightening began to happen. Hiei could only stare as Yusuke's hair, the beautiful brown hair, began to lose its color. With each strand that turned white, the Toushin's power began to rise. But at this moment, something snapped within Hiei. His eyes began glowing red, his aura darkened from purple to black.
Rage was taking over the fighters.
"I'm glad you're not my mate." Hiei said in his soft, monotone voice. "Why I fell for a pig-headed ass like you, I'll never know."
"Young and stupid, Hiei. That's all you'll ever be."
Hiei grit his teeth. "Is that your choice then, Toushin?" He snarled, unsheathing his katana. "I don't take betrayals lightly - as you should know."
"Oh, don't worry." Yusuke smirked right back at him. "You're still mine. It's just that - I'm no longer yours."
Hiei snarled, his eyes flashing, and he lunged forward with the intent to plunge his sword through Yusuke's heart and twist it as painfully as Yusuke had just twisted his own. His rage enhanced his speed, but his strikes became clumsy.
Yusuke dodged him easily, laughing with each side-step.
"Onii-sama!" Yukina cried.
"Yusuke! I order you to stop!"
"Onegai! I don't want you to die, Onii-sama!"
"Kaa-chan!"
"Stay out of this Yukina, I don't want to hurt you!"
"But, Onii-sama, I-"
Hiei blocked them all out his mind, still making strike after strike. He missed each time, his attacks becoming more and more wild. Finally, the katana made contact, but not with its intended target. Hiei sliced off that hair. The white hair that wasn't his Yusuke's.
The two S-class demons paused, glaring at each other and gasping for breath. Then Hiei dove forward again, struck Yusuke while he wasn't ready.
The katana sunk into the soft skin of Yusuke's stomach. A quick death would be too kind for that bastard. He would be sure to make it slow and painful.
Just like his own would be.
He twisted the weapon harshly and yanked it back out, creating a waterfall of blood. He dimly heard Yukina's voice crying out in shock and fear.
"I see the way you look at Kurama." Yusuke gasped, refusing to acknowledge the wound. "His eyes follow you with love and hope. You see him watch you. You watch him back!" Yusuke coughed, finally wrapping his arms around his belly.
Hiei snorted and tossed away the sword. "You see lies."
Yusuke clenched his fist for a punch. "You love him!" the Toushin cried, moving at incredible speeds, despite his wound.
"Hah! You're blinded by your jealousy." Hiei snarled, dodging out of the way. He threw out some punches of his own. They all landed strongly.
Yusuke began coughing up blood.
"They all stare at you with lust. Their eyes follow you wherever you go! You're mine - and I'll take you from this world so that they can't have you!"
Hiei struck out with his fire-ki, finally falling his opponent. His mate.
"They may look at me," he said glaring harshly. "But I only ever saw you."
"Kura-" Yusuke coughed, bringing up more blood.
His life began to fade.
"Kurama has the same hair as the Bounty Hunter that took you away from me. It gives me little more than bad memories and a good fight."
Yusuke's hair - what was left of it - slowly began to return to its normal brown color. His eyes turned glassy, as though he were remembering something. "I was a Bounty Hunter too," he finally whispered, doing his best to stay alive. "I remember now. It was a pretty crummy way to live."
He chuckled weakly.
"Hn." Hiei grunted, obviously not believing him. The Hi-youkai took a few steps to retrieve his katana and flick the blood off of it.
"I remember your face - with that angry scowl. I remember making love in the rain, and hunting with you. I remember playing your mind games, and teasing you for running away from me for so long. Following you for four months - trying to win your heart."
Whatever barrier that had formed in Hiei's heart during that fight cracked slightly, as the full force of what he just had done hit him. Yusuke was dying, for real this time. And yet, he didn't move, he just froze as his mind caught up and began to process all that had happened.
Slowly, Hiei's battle aura began to fade from sight and the emotional barrier around his heart began to collapse. Yusuke was dying, really dying, and he would never come back. There would be no second chance this time around. A crystalline tear slipped from his eye, and slid down his face, shining as it transformed into yet another Hiruiseki.
Another tear fell, and another, until the drops of liquid streamed down his cheeks, and the ground was littered with the priceless proof of his inner agony. The barrier fell, and with it, Hiei. The Hi-youkai fell to his knees before his mate, and he wiped furiously, uselessly, at the tears that continued to fall. In the back of his mind, he could hear Yukina continuing to scream, Kurama still shouting. Without realizing it, his indestructible barrier went up to protect himself and his mate from all potential threats.
"Yusuke... Yusuke..." Reaching forward, Hiei grasped at Yusuke's shoulders, pulling the dying youkai into his arms. "No... Yusuke! How am I going to raise Ryuu without his sire? How am I going to protect Yukina if I'm all alone?" Hiei fell back to furious questioning as his mind began to shut down. It was too much to take; it was too much pain for one creature to handle. "I can't do this alone anymore! I'm so tired of being alone! I'm so tired! I just want it all to end!" He snapped his mouth shut, cutting off his words abruptly and turned his head, before glaring down at the fading life held in his arms. "Yuu-chan, if you leave me again - I'm going with you."
"Hiei-san!"
"Onii-sama!"
"...Kaa-chan..."
Hiei's barrier was then put to the test as Yukina attempted to break in. All instinct recognized her aura, wanted to let her in, but there was nothing in his mind at that moment that would allow anybody near his dying mate. Yukina continued pounding uselessly at the barrier, before eventually turning to Kurama and began sobbing into his arms.
Yusuke chuckled weakly, reaching up with some unknown strength to stroke Hiei's cheek. "Don't be stupid." He whispered. "You have to live for Yukina, for Ryuu."
"Don't try to change my mind!"
The Toushin's smile slipped away and Yusuke's arm dropped back down onto his wound. He winced, coughing in pain. "Don't be so selfish, Baby. That's not you at all. I didn't fall in love with somebody who was so willing to give his life away - but somebody who would see it through to his inevitable end no matter what."
"Yuu-chan... I don't want to lose you again!"
"You can't lose me, baka! Don't you have your memories? Don't you have Ryuu?" Yusuke's words began to come out slower. He crept closer to Hiei, seeking the Hi-youkai's warmth. "Don't give up. Don't leave them..."
His eyes slid shut.
His final breath was exhaled in a soft sigh.
Hiei's tears began flooding down his cheeks again. His mind completely shut down as shock overtook him. His barrier fell, which would end up being the one thing that saved him.
He had thought that the pain of losing his mate once had been bad enough. But losing his mate because he himself had killed him was a million times worse. His hand crept closer to his katana, seeking the relief that only death could bring him.
But at that crucial moment, where the line between his relief and his suffering would be severed - the blade was knocked away and he was hit. Hard.
He opened his eyes to see Yukina, readying her hand for another slap. "Didn't you hear his final wish, you jerk?!" The Koorime cried, tears dropping from her cheeks like stones. "He wants you to live! So you're going to live if I have to make you do it myself!"
Hiei's sister crumpled down next to him, pinning his arms against his body in a hug.
"Yuki...na..." Hiei whispered. "But, he's dead..."
The girl didn't answer him; instead she drew back and pushed Ryuu into his mother's arms. "Do you see this? This is why you must live! You see this baby? This is your baby! Yours and Yusuke's. He needs you to be alive and there for him, or else he'll be just like you growing up. Do you want to make him a Forbidden Child?"
"But Yusuke..."
"You have to think about Ryuu right now! He's the one who needs you." Yukina's eyes finally gentled, and she stood up; reaching down with one hand to help her brother back to his feet. "Ne, Onii-sama, let's get some sleep, you haven't slept in days, I can tell."
The first step back to the castle was hard, and in no way did it get easier to leave Yusuke behind on the grass. A new scar formed in Hiei's heart as he fought himself not to turn around and see the body of his mate lying in death. He lost that battle and finally turned, just before the large doors of the palace closed behind him.
They were so far away from Yusuke's body now, that Hiei couldn't see it.
A tear slipped down his cheek as he changed his gaze to look down at his son. Ryuu was staring up at his mother with sadness emanating from his gaze.
"It's just us again, Chibi." Hiei whispered. He hugged his baby, turning back to Yukina and following her up to the nursery.
Neither twin noticed that Kurama was nowhere to be found.
===
##"Kurama has the same hair as the Bounty Hunter that took you away from me."##
His fascination with my hair, Kurama growled, flying through his kata's in his training room. It was all an illusion! He didn't like my hair - he hated it! BAKA!
##"He gives me little more than bad memories, and a good fight."##
"That's all I was to him!" The Kitsune screamed, smashing everything he could with his whip. "A good fight and a bad memory! I'm such a fool!"
The whip fell from his madly shaking hands, reverting back to the beautiful rose that it truly was. One single tear dripped from his eye, and landed on that flower.
The Kitsune's eyes landed on the rose, hating it for its perfection, loving it for its beauty.
"Ne, Hiei-san." He whispered finally, dropping down to his knees and reaching for the flower. "You are a rose. Beautiful with thorns. That's what I used to be, but I lost my thorns, you ripped them off. You gave me hope for love and ripped away my heart. They called me the Thief of Hearts, the Best Thief - but I think that title fits you more." He chuckled softly, in biter irony. "The last puzzle piece falls into place. My heart."
With those words spoken, his heart broke. It shattered into more pieces than he could count.
Botan was right. He wouldn't understand his title until somebody stole his heart and broke it. He knew that pain now.
He turned Youko again. And though the red haired Shuuichi didn't cease to exist except, he pushed himself deep into Youko Kurama's soul, far enough down that he couldn't feel the hurt of Hiei's rejection anymore. He would sleep until the wall around himself crumbled and he was forced back into dominance. To everyone but Youko, Shuuichi was only a memory and distant mannerisms.
===
"I'm so glad you agreed to be my heir, Hiei-san." Mukuro said, beaming at the small Hi-youkai standing in front of her. "I trust you have enough time to gather all of your things together? Do you need luggage at all?"
Hiei bowed his head. "Iie, Yomi-sama was kind enough to give me a few trunks for traveling. He told me that they were thank-you gifts, for returning Kurama-sama to his natural form."
"And what of Ryuu?" Mukuro asked, tossing a quick glance at the child nestled against his mother's chest. "Is he going to take Yusuke's spot as Raizen's heir?"
"Iie," Hiei said softly. "Raizen-sama said he didn't want to train a child to be an heir, he said that he would look into finding an already trained demon."
In all honesty, Raizen had denied Ryuu as an heir, because he hadn't wanted to rip away the only thing keeping Hiei alive. And Hiei - wasn't about to force his son away from him, as Ryuu really was the only thing keeping him alive at that moment.
Mukuro was silent for a moment, regarding the very quiet demon in front of her. Her new heir - everything she had hoped he would be - though something was definitely missing. "Your heart will heal, Hiei-san. Just give it a little bit of time." She patted his shoulder, smiled and bowed before hurrying away to inform her servants that there would be two more joining their caravan back to Alaric.
Ryuu gurgled, playing quietly with his fox plushie. "Kaa-chan?" The baby asked, looking up. "We going way?"
"Hai, Chibi. We're going with Obaa-chan. She's going to let us stay with her."
"Be happy?" Ryuu asked, holding up the plushie.
The mother attempted a smile, pushing the toy back into his baby's arms. "I'm happy I have you, Chibi. Don't worry, I'm not going away."
He began walking down the hallway towards his rooms. He still had many things to pack. He had been given so many gifts during his short stay in Gandara. Clothes, mostly, but also amulets, silly trinkets and even some art. His katana. All sorts of things that decorated his nursery-bedroom. And Ryuu had many things now as well. Toys, clothes, tiny play-weapons. He was lucky that Yomi-sama liked him so much, no way would any single personal space be large enough to hold all of his things.
"Ne, Ryuu-chan." Hiei said, placing the baby on the floor. "Why don't you pick out three toys to bring with you in the carriage and put all the others in that box over there."
The baby nodded, toddling clumsily away to make the most difficult selection. The fox plushie was his obvious first choice. The second was his play-sword, a gift from Mukuro. His final choice was very small; an amulet that Yusuke had given him.
"Keep this with you and it will bring you good luck." The Toushin had said. "I met your kaa-chan the day I found this."
Yukina had strung the amulet onto a necklace, so that it would hang next to Ryuu's birth gem. So, the amulet wasn't a toy, per se, but Ryuu loved the way it reflected the light and could spend hours just looking at the pretty trinket.
There was a knock on the door. Ryuu looked up from his toys with a startled expression, before he registered the energy signature. "Shuu-shuu!" He cried happily, toddling towards the door and reaching up in a useless attempt to open the door. "Open, open!"
The door opened to reveal the silver haired Youko.
Ryuu attached himself to Kurama's leg with a contented purr.
"I just heard the news," Kurama said, standing in the doorway, refusing to meet Hiei's eyes. "About you being Mukuro-sama's heir. Congratulations, Hiei-san."
"Ari-arigato." Hiei whispered, folding another of his beautiful shirts and placing it in one of his multiple trunks. He refused to look at the Kitsune as well. "Ryuu-chan, would you go get Kaa-chan his boots please? I think they're in the other room."
"HAI!" The baby hurried to comply to his mothers wish and the two were left alone.
"What did you want to know, Fox?" Hiei asked softly, finally turning around and locking eyes with the golden gaze of Gandara's prince.
Kurama sighed and fully entered the room, closing the door behind him. "Your trust, Hiei-san... do I have it?"
There was a silence as Hiei carefully regarded the Kitsune. "Yes, Fox. You have my trust."
Kurama let out a sigh of relief, his shoulders sagging slightly. "And your heart," he asked finally, much softer than his first question. "Is there a chance of winning it?"
Hiei laughed slightly, turning back to his packing. "I don't give away things like that easily." He replied. "But as it is, my heart is currently being mended." He looked over his shoulder with a small smile. "Ask me in a few hundred years."
The Kitsune laughed as well, flicking his tail slightly. "Well, I guess I can live with that." He said, walking forward. "Let me help you finish packing."
Hiei smiled and nodded, glad for some company capable of multi-sylable words and decent conversation. The two demons spent a few minutes loading Hiei's clothing into the many trunks laid out on the small bed before Kurama worked his nerve back up so speak.
"If it's alright," he said softly, his back turned towards Hiei to save himself from unnecessary embarrassment. "I think that I shall continue to court you. I've said before that you're everything that one could want in a mate, so I'm not about to let you get away that easily." It seemed that he was attempting to convince himself.
The room was silent for a moment.
"I'm glad." Hiei finally said, moving to stand in front of the fox.
Kurama smiled and bent down slightly in order to press a kiss against Hiei's slightly smiling lips. But, seconds before the connection could be made, they were startled away from each other.
"Kaa-chan! Found them!" Ryuu came running into the room, dragging behind him Hiei's boots.
===
"I'm glad you're coming with us, Yukina-chan." Touya told the Koorime with a smile. "I'm sure things around our camps will change with you here."
Yukina laughed, helping the Gypsy clean up the camp made on the palace grounds.
"Jin said that he'd move in with Rinku and Suzuka, so that you won't have to sleep on the floor." Touya continued.
"I hope I'm not putting anybody out," the girl said quietly, helping carry a few pots and pans back into Touya's caravan. Her's and Touya's caravan.
"Don't fret, Snowflake." Jin called from where he was laying out a new futon in the second caravan. "We'll be fine in here."
Yukina didn't look too sure but if there was one thing she had learned it was to not try to talk a Gypsy out of something after they had made up their minds. She smiled.
"I need to go find Hiei-san," she told Touya. "He's supposed to leave with Mukuro tomorrow morning."
The ice master nodded and finished up cleaning.
Yukina hurried off on her own. She found her brother with ease. He was standing in the entrance hall, speaking with Kurama.
"Youko-sama!" Yukina called, hurried towards the two. "Onii-sama!"
"Imouto-chan." Hiei called back, waving with his free hand - the other holding onto the hand of a fidgeting Ryuu.
"We're about to leave," Yukina smiled at her brother, embracing him tightly. She was very reluctant to let go, but eventually loosened her grip in favor of embracing her nephew. And reluctantly let him to go embrace the tall Kitsune as well.
"I'll try to get them to visit as often as possible." The Koorime told them both with a smile and tears in her eyes.
"Mukuro-sama said that I could have use of her messengers," Hiei said, gathering his sister back in for a hug. "I'll send you messages each week." His hug turned very firm. "Don't stay away from me too long, Imouto-chan."
Yukina escaped from her brother embrace a few minutes later with a laugh. "Mou, Hiei-san. If you hug me too long, they'll leave without me!"
"Bye-bye, Kina." Ryuu said softly, latching onto his aunt's leg.
"No 'bye-bye.'" The girl smiled, picking up the child. "Ja ne." She hugged him once more before returning him to his mother's arms.
"Ja ne, minna-san."
The small Koorime ran off towards her future, leaving behind her Hi-youkai brother and son, and also the Kitsune courting her brother - though she didn't know that tidbit. Ryuu sniffled a little bit, not liking that his aunt was leaving him. The little boy then remembered that he and his kaa-chan were also leaving behind his "Shuu-Shuu", whom he had come to love very much. His sniffles turned into wails.
Hiei simply hugged his child tightly while Kurama looked uncomfortable. Ryuu's cries did eventually quieten as the baby grew more and more exhausted, and eventually silenced all together as the child fell asleep. Unthinkingly, both Hiei and Kurama let out sighs at exactly the same moment. Kurama smiled and leaned down to steal a kiss from Hiei.
"I won't be able to see you off this afternoon," he said softly. "So I'll say my good-bye right now. I'll send you messengers as well, once a week. And I'll keep courting you, Hiei-san, regardless of how annoyed you get with me. I'll try to visit as often as I can." He leaned down for another kiss, this one slightly longer, before smiling and hurrying away.
===
"These are your sleeping quarters here." Mukuro said, opening a door and leading the half asleep Hi-youkai inside. "Ryuu-chan's rooms are through that door there." She smiled at her new heir. "I'll leave you two to settle in."
Hiei bowed slightly as she left before collapsing onto the bed. "Ne, Ryuu-chan. What do you think?"
"Big."
"Yes, it's very big. Do you think I'll be a good heir?"
"Hai! Kaa-chan's the best!"
Hiei chuckled and ruffled his baby's hair. "Let's get to bed, we have a very long day ahead of us tomorrow." He tapped the baby's nose and turned to look at his already unpacked trunks. "I suppose your things are in your room, then."
He looked around one final time. His final start at life. He had gone from being a Forbidden Child to a Prince in less than a month. This was his final start at life, his final chance to prove his worth. The week after his mate's death, and the two week long journey to Alaric, had begun to mend his heart. Yusuke was right. He still had his memories. He still had his baby and his sister.
And now, he had somebody waiting for his heart to mend.
"Kurama," he said softly to himself. "How long are you willing to wait for me?"
"Kaa-chan! Look, look!!"
But for now, his thoughts continued, even as he hurried into his son's rooms to see what had excited his baby. For now, I'll let my heart mend. I'll gather up the pieces and set them together again.
Owari.
===
Final Notes: Yes, I am a truly horrible person because there will not be a sequel, so don't ask. I'm also a horrible person because I totally blew off three other fics to write this. And I blew off writing this so that I could watch anime, talk to friends and write yet another fanfic one-shot. Not only that, but I blew off re-editing this for other stuff. Yes, I'm lame.
Now, for the truly important things that you probably don't care about but I'm going to say anyway. Kuroi-chan, this fic is yours – it's yet another gift fic written for you by me. What's that, about five now? Naturally, this fic started out as Kurama centric, but ended up as Hiei centric with a little Kurama thrown into the back ground. I have no idea where the title came from. Yuusuke wasn't supposed to come back. There wasn't supposed to be a baby, Hiei was supposed to be pregnant. And a lot of other things that changed as I kept writing.
Because this little tidbit is bothering me – I first wrote this with Yukina too shocked to go and help Yusuke, but I later changed it to Hiei unconsciously trying to protect Yusuke with his barrier. I thought it made more sense, and in a way, it did work a little better. For those who didn't realize it, Ryuu's main power is fire, but he has something akin to premonitions in his dreams, hence the "Kaa-chan, don't go." No, that wasn't supposed to be obvious.
I'm drugged up with pain-killers and such right now, so please excuse any weird thing that you have just read.
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