This is the last chapter for the story, and for those who are patient enough to make it to the end, I thank you very much. I know that this story doesn't really have a plot. I just wanted to show some of my own opinions about freedom (though not sure if I did a good job. Maybe you will think of it as boring). If you have time, just give me some reviews. Thank you.

Freedom and Imprisonment Part 4

Landing

Hiei's POV

I hadn't set foot in Ningenkai for about a month now ever since I had left Kurama. I tried to not think about anything, sometimes just running all day long, trying to feel the freedom which had once been so familiar to me. But it never came. All I felt was an overwhelming sense of emptiness and aimlessness. It couldn't be helped, I guess. I had changed.

What had I changed into? Was it good or bad? I didn't know, but wanted to find out. And there was only one solution. Since freedom could not longer satisfy me, I could only try the feeling of being "tied down", and only he could do that to me.

That was why I was now in Kurama's room, waiting for him to come back form what he called "school".

Finally, the door opened. It was obvious that he had run back at his top speed, perhaps having sensed my presence. His eyes shone with excitement, which turned into something softer very quickly.

"You're back, Hiei," he said, rather breathless, and smiled warmly, so warm that it sent an odd, but not unpleasant sensation through me. I had no idea what it was, but it was better than running aimlessly through Makai.

"I told you before that I would be back."

"But I didn't expect you to be so soon. Have you finished your flight, or is this just another rest?" he asked and came to sit beside me, with a few feet of space between us. A surge of emotions rose to my chest, mainly happiness, nervousness, disappointment, gratitude and many others which I couldn't name very well. To think that such a simple action sparked so many things in my heart. Interesting . . .

Yet as much as I looked, there was no fear of getting in that huge mixture of feelings. Perhaps it was because of what he said last time. Perhaps it was because he was still here, waiting for me. I knew it was a selfish thought, but how often did I really get that feeling? When you owned nothing, you cared for nothing, and you won't be selfish.

"I don't really know," I replied, " So I want to try, to know how it feels like to be totally tied down, not the half-hearted way before. I tried to totally free myself, but I couldn't do it anymore."

"Then why have you come to me? I cannot tie you down, and also will not do that, because only you yourself can do that. No one can force you do something, no even you yourself, so don't force your heart to follow the path you have laid out against your will, or as an experiment. Life is too short for that. Just let things go and do what you want, even if someone gets hurt in the process. You can never fulfill everything at once. So I don't want you to be back to just 'try'. Come back when you are totally sure that this is what you want." He said in a stern expression.

"It sounds as if you don't want me to be back."

Kurama gave a small laugh, unable to cover the hint of wistfulness in his eyes. "I want you here, but I want you here when you know that you came with no regrets. Even if I am to wait longer this way, I am willing. I have already waited for so long, so what's the hurry? Anyway I have a whole lifetime to spare."

That warm feeling returned. No, it never left me since I got here. It had only frown stronger.

'Kurama, what made you give up all the glories in Makai and content with staying here? What tied you down?"

"I thought that you already know the answer. It is my mother. She loves me without wanting anything in return, and when she smiles at me, it makes me feel warm. So I chose to stay here and protect her. If you ask what ties me down, then it would be everything about her, every little gesture she makes that leaves me feeling warm and content inside. Nothing compares to that, not even ruling over Makai."

"Then what do you think will be enough to make me stay here?"

"I cannot decide for you, because nobody knows your heart except yourself, besides, everyone's goal in their life is different. If someone feels that having power is the most important thing in his life, then no matter how much warmth he receives, he would never give up on his search for power. Then what that ties him down would be his own want for power. Actually, there really is no freedom in this world. As long as you have something that is most important to you, then you would be tied won by it. But if you don't have, then you won't be living anymore. Your heart would be dead."

"I don't want you to be dead. I just hope that you will identify what is most important to you, and perhaps on the day that you've decided to land, you will come to inform me about it. No matter if it is me who makes you land, but I just want to see you finally having a goal to work towards. Maybe you already have it, just that I don't understand you well enough to notice. Either way, I hope that you trust me enough to tell me what it is. I don't want to worry excessively, not that I can help it."

He laughed again, and it sounded like bells jingling merrily. I close me eyes, contemplating what he just said while his laughter vibrated through my mind. What was most important to me . . .? Fighting? I fought so that I would know where I needed improving. Power? I had no interest in ruling Makai. Then why did I want to be strong? To protect? But whom? Yukina, Mukuro, Yusuke, Kuwabara, my tear gem necklace, the peace between Makia, Ningenkai and Reikai . . . but most of all . . . Kurama.

His eyes, hair, laughter, smile, calmness, determination, the way he battled, his youko form, . . . everything.

I opened my eyes and studied Kurama, who had a rather thoughtful expression on his face.

"Kurama, I've decided to stay here, in Ningenkai with you."

"Are you sure? I know how much you want to fly, I will wait for you."

"If you can be so determined, then why can't I?" He smiled, eyes brimming with tears.

"Thank you, Hiei, I've waited so long for you to say that. Without it, part of me would still be gone, drifting off somewhere, as much as it seems that I'm already tied down. Thank you, for bringing part of me back, for making me whole."

Finally, after so much time spent on waiting, watching and flying, both of us had accomplished it..

Landing.

End