Hiei stood in front of a building.
The building was half-way torn down, gutted. Around it trash, debrie, machines, fences and moonlight.
Hiei turned towards that moon.
He had come to a decision. He would not wait for the fox. He would do this alone.
In the palms of his two hands, blood-red cresents ached from when he had balled his fists so hard.
It didn't matter.
Why had he thought to ask the fox's help at all?
What could the fox do?Why would he help him?
"Damned Kurama...." Hiei growled between clenched teeth.
The moment he had realized that Yukina was safe, truly safe, he had decided to do this. In the moment he had realized that he had failed her, his jagan had failed him, he had chosen to do this.
A simple spell.
An effective spell.
A powerful spell.
A dangerous spell.
That was why he had asked Kurama to accompany him. He laughed at his cowardice. He didn't need the fox.
He would do this alone.
He raised his left hand towards the moon and tried to clear his mind. It didn't quite work.
"Damn you, Kurama..." Hiei whispered in a too-soft voice as warm power began to gather around him.
But why...?
Why did the fox's face appear before him over and over again?
Why did his mind return like a perpetual thing to that moment when Kurama had touched the human and said the boy's name in such a voice?Why?
Hiei told himself he didn't care.
It didn't matter.
The spell sparked around him and Hiei gasped. This was it, if he could only contain it.
No more weakness. He would never fail Yukina again.
He would be strong.
Nothing else mattered.
He felt power hum in his blood, catch up to the frequency of the humming of his rapidly beating heart.
Somewhere between the moon and the earth, as power erupted a black fire, Hiei screamed.
...to be continued...