Matte, Koibito!

I spent the night in the Makai. I slept in the one place I never wanted to see again because it brought back the memory of death - I slept in the same cave where Kurama and I lived with Kuronue. It wasn't a pleasant night, though it wasn't as terrible as I expected.

I awoke in the morning to the strange aura of yoki I knew all too well. Sitting up, I saw him standing at the entrance of the cave, looking out at the sunrise.

"This is quite a hard place to find. But, then again, it was about time I sought you out for a change," Hiei turned to me.

"So you really do want me around, don't you?" I teased.

"No, I'd just rather be the stalker than being the one who is stalked," he answered bluntly.

"Stalker? Hiei, I wasn't stalking you. The only time I was near you was when we were talking," I insisted.

"Regardless, it's time for a change of pace. Last time I told you about my past. Now you tell me about yours," Hiei came over and sat down beside me.

"Alright. What do you want to hear about?"

"You could start with this cave. It's so well-hidden that I'm certain you must have been here before if you were able to find it."

"Very well then," I sighed. "I used to live here, along with Kurama and his old partner Kuronue. They were the best of friends and I loved the two of them like crazy. I never had real parents, so Kurama and Kuronue were the closest thing I had to a mother and father, though it was more like father and big brother."

"So, I know what happened to Kurama. Now, what happened to Kuronue?" Hiei asked.

"Kuronue-san... was very attached to this one little treasure he had once looted from a palace. It was a necklace - a blood red pendant on a silver chain. One day, we botched things up on a mission and we were pursued. Kuronue-san's pendant broke and he refused to let it go. He ran back to get it and was slain."

"How old were you then?"

"I was only five, I believe - possibly four. Why do you ask?"

"Did you see it happen?"

"Yes. I refused to leave because I wanted to rescue him but Kurama wouldn't let me go back. So I stood there helplessly, watching the blood drain from his wounds and the life leave his body. It was only after I was sure he was dead that I finally consented to leaving."

"Isn't it an old human saying that childhood trauma builds character?"

"Was that a complement, Hiei?"

"Take it as you like," he said. "So, this man Kuronue, you were really close with him, were you?"

"Indeed. Kurama's always taken more of a big brother's role in my life but Kuronue... I think he actually saw me as his own daughter. I think that's why he let me have the sister pendant."

"Sister pendant?" Hiei queried.

"This," I reached into my pocket and pulled out the icy blue pendant on the silver chain, "is the sister pendant to that fiery gem I mentioned Kuronue was so attached to. When we looted that castle, Kuronue refused to give up either of the pendants to Kurama. He practically gave away his entire share in the rest of the loot in order to keep those two pendants. Then, when Kurama went to bed, Kuronue gave me the blue pendant and told me to keep it with me no matter what. He always insisted that one day the pendant would bring me good luck. After his caused his death, I wasn't so sure anymore. I even considered throwing it away... but I didn't."

"Why did you keep it?"

"Because... if Kuronue said it will bring good luck one day, then, God damn it all, it's gonna bring me that good luck one day," I laughed a bit. "It's the kind of man Kuronue was - even if he has to make some shady deal with someone in the after life in order to make it happen, he'll make sure I get that good luck."

"You seem upset. I think I've asked too many questions here today," Hiei stood up. "Go back to the human world, you understand?"

"Why?" I asked.

"Because I can't stand the feeling that you could be watching me every minute," he said bitterly.

"I understand. I'll go back. Kurama's probably worried by now anyway," I got up and gathered together the few things I had with me.

"Alicia?"

"Yes, Hiei?"

"I know this is a stupid question, but... can I hug you?"

"Of course," I smiled.

Hiei rather awkwardly wrapped his arms around me and hugged me. Then he let go and began to head for the cave entrance.

"You know what this means, don't you?" I teased. "Everything that's happened today - it all points to one thing - you're starting to have feelings for me too."

"Who says I didn't already?" Hiei paused in the entryway.

I blushed. For a moment, I was speechless but then I grinned and said, "You better come visit me more often now! At least twice a week, you hear?"

Hiei disappeared and I set out for the human world again. Little did I know, Kurama was anxiously awaiting my return just on the other side of that portal.