One Life to Live:

Chapter Two: Midnight meetings

Hiei's foot gently touched down on the slender telephone pole, which silently overlooked the large city. The wind blew slightly, rustling the black cape he always wore. His eyes narrowed as ebony strands blew across his face, causing the strands to get caught in his eyes. He always hated nights like this, where the air was cool and the wind blew, sending shivers down your spine.

"Hn." Was the only sound picked up by the night's ears as Hiei continued to survey his surroundings.

He was here on orders from his boss, Aku, who insisted on the death of this boy, Minamino Shuichi. Really how important could one boy be? 'And where the hell was he?' Hiei thought to himself as he had been here for an hour and still no sign of this irritancy.

As he was about to drift away again, the clouds overhead shifted, letting the light from the moon flood over the ground below. And what Hiei saw nearly made fall from his perch. It wasn't fear that plagued at him, for almost nothing ever frightened the small fire demon, but beauty. Sitting amongst the rose bushes was a being that could only be heaven sent.

The creatures scarlet hair shown with splendor, framing his almost feminine oval face. The locks of silken hair were almost the middle of the boys back, creating a silent grace about him. His hair also seemed to add the pale beauty of the boy's skin, which seem to glow in the moonlight showering down upon him. Slowly, the boy moved his head upwards in the direction from which Hiei had been watching.

'Kuso' Hiei darted out of sight, hoping that those large emerald orbs had not seen him. As he disappeared through the darkness he backtracked slightly, noticing something he had seemed to have missed the first time. From under the boys hand was a long vine like plant that seemed to dance for the boy before it. Was it possible that this human could actually be somebody like himself? The possibilities swept Hiei's mind as he raced back to the hideout, confirming that this assignment was going to be harder than he first expected.

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Kurama kept his guard as he surveyed the land around him. He could have sworn he had heard something, but another glance around the garden told him that there was no one there except for him and the plants. Still, he couldn't shake the feeling that someone had been watching him. Maybe it had been his father, that bastard liked to keep tabs on him no matter the hour. It was like some sick game of control to him, and the man loved to play. He didn't want to think of that now, that's why he had come out to the gardens in the first place, they always made him relax and installed a sense of calm Kurama should have never hoped to have. In a couple of hours all of this will fade, returning to the chaos of life. If there was one thing Kurama wished for it was a normal life, but that was pushing his luck.

Kurama stood from his perch next to the rosebushes. It was getting late and as much as he despised it, he would have to get up in three hours time to go to school.

'What a nuisance' he thought to himself as he quietly climbed the wooden stairs outside his house. With one last longing glance down to the gardens, Kurama turned, pushing the back door open. Quickly, with only the grace and agility he could display, he went to the alarm, hurriedly disarming it before it could alert the whole house to his presence.

"Shuichi-san." Came the feminine whisper from his right.

"Hanaka-san" came Kurama's startled response, not really expecting anyone to be up at this hour. "What are you doing up?"

"That is beyond the subject, Shuichi-san." She spoke politely, "You know your father doesn't approve of your 'late night walks' as you call them."

"I know Hanaka-san. But you won't tell him, will you?" he asked, his eyes silently pleading with her.

"Of course not." She finally responded after a long silence, "But if he ever catches you, don't tell me I didn't warn you. Now go upstairs and get into bed. You have school in a couple of hours." She lightly scolded.

"Hai." Kurama responded, as he silently bounced up the stairs, happy that another night had passed without his fathers knowing.

Almost every night goes just as this one. And as always he is able to talk Hanaka-san out of telling his father.

'Such a nice lady' Kurama thought to himself as he got ready for bed, ' I don't know how someone like that could work from something as wicked as my father'

With that last thought Kurama pulled himself into his bed and closed his eyes, waiting for his few hours of peace to come.

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"Shuichi-san, breakfast is ready." Came the gentle tapping from outside his bedroom door. "Hurry before it gets cold."

Kurama groaned, turning over in his bed. He really felt no erg to leave his dream like paradise that had enveloped him. Rolling over to the edge the bed, he sat up, his feet making contact with the floor below him. He shivered as the temperature of the room surrounded him, ridding his body of the warmth it had achieved under the covers.

Slowly and groggily Kurama slipped his feet into a pair of dark green slippers at the foot of his bed and rose, making his way to his bedroom door. As he descended the staircase the smells of the foods downstairs affronted his senses, causing his stomach to growl in hunger.

He entered the kitchen as the usual scene played out before him. His father sat at the table, sipping occasionally at the coffee in front of him, while reading the morning's paper. Bustling around was his mother, who Kurama could only guess was under some sort of spell, seeing as she never remembered anything and certainly never spoke of the imprisonment that he knew she faced. It was as if her presence was meant to a type of silent torture.

'Really' Kurama thought to himself, 'I'll never understand how men like him think.'

"Ohaiyou Oka-san." "Ohaiyou Otou-san." He greeted, the tone of his voice calm.

"Ohaiyou Shuichi" his mother spoke as she placed a plate on the table in front of him. His father remained silent, reading his newspaper as he had been before Kurama had walked into the room. The silence stayed and the only noise in the kitchen that morning was when Shuichi stood from his seat and retreated to his room to get ready for school.

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"Hiei, the boss is waiting for you." Spoke one of the workers, firmly securing the door behind him.

'As always.' Hiei thought to himself as he quietly walked down the dark hallway leading him to the idiot whom was responsible for all of this. Hesitantly, Hiei gripped the sturdy handle as a feeling of guilt washed over him. Gripping the handle harder he tried to shake himself of the feeling.

'Why would I feel guilty?' He asked himself, unaware of these unfamiliar emotions creeping up o him. 'There is nothing I have to feel guilty for!' Then without his permission his mind flashed back to the scene he had seen earlier this morning. Those innocent emerald orbs dug into him, causing him to falter in his thoughts.

'No.' Hiei commanded himself as he shook his head clear. Finally, he pulled the door open revealing the reason as to why he was there.

"Ah, Hiei, you have returned. For a moment there I thought you would not come back to me." Aku joked his eyes burning into Hiei's.

This made him wonder. Had Aku known about his moment of uncertainty just outside his door? Or was the fool merely playing with him? Hiei couldn't be sure and in response stiffened his guard, ready for whatever was dished out to him.

"I assume you were able to locate your target?" he asked pulling Hiei's attention forward.

"Yes." Hiei replied.

"And?" the man asked, intrigued at the boy's vagueness.

"It shouldn't prove to be difficult, my Lord" He responded.

Good, Good just what I wanted to hear. But to make sure I want you to watch him. Report to me in you notice anything eccentric about the boy. Minamino isn't the kind to leave the boy unguarded."

"Yes, my Lord." Hiei repeated, ready to leave the room.

"One more thing Hiei." Aku commanded, as the boy was about to go. "You will accompany some of my men to a formal gathering of sorts shortly."

"Oh, and may I ask what the honor is?" He asked almost slyly.

"It's part of the TAC flare, if you will. They invite all of the participants and several other, choice, groups to attend. I want you to use it as a chance to keep an eye on Shuichi, maybe get to know something about him?"

"As you wish." Hiei said bowing and leaving the room.

It really sickened him how this man worked. He hated playing suck up to this arrogant human fool. The first chance he got was going to be used to bring him to his knees begging for mercy.

Somehow, though all of it, Hiei smiled.

'I think I've found it' he praised himself. 'In the form of a red-haired-green eyed beauty'

With that Hiei made his way to his room where he was sure to find more information on this banquet.