This chapter is mostly about Hiei...
Regret
Hiei was bored when Boton found him training in the forest. The trip to the Makia had been uneventful and a waste of his time. He actually found himself preferring the human world and all it's annoyances to the stupidity inherent to the majority of demon kind, found in the other world.
He sensed Boton coming before she locked onto his location and considered whether or not he wanted to be found. He covered his jagon and waited, his decision made with the same quickness with which he moved.
"Hiei!" The bubbly girl shouted.
"What?"
Boton stopped beside him, floating on her oar. "We have a problem. Do you know where Koenma is?"
"With Yusuke."
"I know that! But where? I have to find him!"
Hiei glowered and focused his energies into seeking out the child ruler. "He's in the city...surrounded by many humans...you won't find him in that mass."
"But you can."
"Hn."
"Hiei, this is important! There are three demons in the human world! We have to-"
"Then I'll take care of it."
"Wha-" Boton rubbed her ears, sure she had heard wrong. "You'll...?"
Hiei glared at her. "I have nothing else to do and I feel like killing something anyway. How did three demons get through at the same time?"
"Uh," Boton shifted and touched her feet to the ground. "They didn't. It's three separate cases."
"Hn." He jumped into the nearest tree and retrieved his over shirt. "They must not be very strong. I can hardly sense any other demonic energy then the ones that are supposed to be here."
"Well, they are just lower class demons...are you sure-" Boton started to say.
"Hn." Was all he said.
Boton watched Hiei for all of the two seconds it took him to be out of sight. I guess that problem is taken care of...should I tell George or look for Koenma? She stared in the distance, watching the trees sway gracefully in the wind. I'm sure Hiei can handle it. Koenma can enjoy his day out.
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"That was too damn easy!" Hiei snarled and wiped the blood off his blade. He sat down abruptly where he stood and propped his chin in his hand. He glared at the three bodies with such intensity, they started to smoulder. He stared, as if waiting for them to spring back up and fight him again, perhaps this time offering a challenge. They, unfortunately, remained dead.
Hiei placed his sword in his lap and leaned forward until his forehead rested on one knee. I didn't even enjoy killing them. What's wrong with me? I almost...pitied them.
He shuddered and tried to recall the feelings he had been experiencing while he took care of the cases. First, he was consumed with the usual anticipation of a fight, but upon seeing his opponents, he became...disappointed. This isn't normal...I would usually just be...bored. Or indifferent. Disappointment implied that he cared in one way or another. It meant he had expectations. If I begin to expect things from this world and the people in it, then others will begin to expect certain things from me! Hiei found this unacceptable. He wanted no part in the tangled relationships of others. If he remained aloof and distant, he would be untouchable from the pains and wounds inflicted on a caring heart. He had no intentions to allow others to become close enough to be hurt by his actions, both past and future. Hiei did not believe he could change.
But...he was beginning to feel he was missing out and that the half life he was living was worse then any death he could imagine. I...regret.
Hiei could not feel that he had any part of the decisions of others. He could not influence the people of his past and childhood. But when he had become old enough to change how his life was lived, he hadn't. Was that his regret? Was it that he had the power to really share with others and didn't? Or was it because he had never considered that he might want to..until now.
Hiei admitted this to himself and wondered why this affliction was plaguing him now, after three years of being part of the spirit detective team. Or was that it? That is the root of my thoughts...I never was a part of anything for so long as this...the team is my regret. No, that's not right. That I have learned how to not be lonely, through the team...that I know what it is I am not part of...that I see the interactions of others and am still determined to remain outside of it all. Even when it's all I ever wanted. That is my regret. I know what I do not have.
Hiei remembered Kurama's words then, to Touya, during their match in the Dark Tournament. The fox had said "That is what this light does." It makes you regret.
Hiei snarled at himself and the gore covered bodies began to smoke. The smell of the dead youkai and the congealed blood turned his stomach. With a thought, the bodies were reduced to cinders and Hiei found that to be the only action that had satisfied him all day long. He sniffed in disdain for his own stupid thoughts and decided to forget this inner revelation. He was a demon. And not a very nice one at that. Regret? No way in hell...
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Koenma sucked on his pacifier, taking comfort in the spirit energy stored in it. He had returned from one of the best outings he had ever had to this!
The room contained enough files that a few of the stacks threatened to burst from the room by knocking down a wall or two. George, was somewhere in there, stamping away. Koenma could hear the muffled "thunk" of the stamp and was both annoyed and relieved at the conditions. The excessive amount of work was a bother, but nothing major seemed to have gone wrong in his absence. If, I'm quiet, perhaps I can still sneak out and leave George to-
"Koenma sir!"
He jumped about three feet off the floor and felt his knees give out under him. "Boton! If you ever do that to me again I'll be sure-"
He never got to finish the threat. "Koenma, sir!" George echoed in pure relief. "You came back!"
"Of course I came back you nit-wit. I was only gone for a day."
"Ahhwhahawhwhwaaw!" the ogre sobbed.
"What is wrong with you? It's just a stamp pad, ogre."
"Awwhahwahawa...wha..ahh..ha..sniffle"
"Oh, for-George stop that blubbering and tell me what the problem is." Koenma said crossly.
"Boton?" Koenma switched his attention to the ferry girl of souls.
"Well, sir, there was a few little incidents." Boton nervously inched toward the door. She took a deep breath, knowing what question was coming next. Might as well get this over with...
"Such as?"
"ThreedemonsescapedintothehumanworldandHieivolunteeredtotakecareofitsoyoudidnothavetoworry."
George nodded and wiped his eyes with the back of one fist.
"Three Demons- wait, did you say Hiei Volunteered?!"
"Yeah."
"oh..." He blinked at her and then sighed. It's about time. I was starting to wonder if he really was redeemable...time to get back to work..."Okay, explain."
"It's this way, Koenma-sir. We don't know how they got out or why they got out. They just did."
"Three demons do not just get together and decide to take a stroll across the barrier, ogre." Koenma felt a headache starting.
"Um, as to that, they weren't together. It was three separate crossings, though they met up after they got out."
"Impossible!" Koenma's eyes widened.
"I'm afraid not, sir."
"A fluke, perhaps?" Boton suggested.
God, I hope so. I can't think of any other explanation. Koenma grimaced and thought about what his father would have to say about this one. Unconsciously, his hand moved to cover his backside. Maybe he won't find out...
A long silence filled the room.
Yeah right.
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