Chapter 3

Body Crumbles

Hiei groaned as he slowly woke up. He reached up and rubbed his eyes then looked around the cold cell. He sighed when he remembered what happened yesterday. He had almost given up. If it wasn't for Yukina. He smiled as he looked down at her. He held her closer and rested his head on top of hers. Hiei winced when he heard the jail door squeak.

"Awww...I wish I had a camera." Yoto said stretching. The elders were already awake and huddled together next to Ruri. Hiei growled softly hoping not to wake Yukina. "Calm down now. I'm just here to give you your food." Yoto said smirking. He walked into the cell with the trays and set them down. "Come here my pretty ice maidens." He said advancing towards the elders. Hiei quickly placed Yukina next to Ruri, waking her, and grabbed Yoto's hand that was reaching for them.

"Don't touch them." Yoto smirked and pulled his hand back.

"Hmm...my pretty little ice whore. You want to start something with me?" Hiei let go of his arm and glared at him. Yoto grabbed Hiei's face and pulled it up to his. "Why do you care so much? They threw you away?" Hiei tried to looked away but Yoto wouldn't let him. He softly mumbled something. "What was that?"

"I forgave them and moved on." Hiei said louder. Yoto chuckled.

"Forgave them? You got to be kidding me. Forgave them for trying to kill you?" Hiei's eyes angled and he spat in Yoto's face. Yoto growled and threw Hiei against the wall. The fire demon winced as he sat up. Yoto advanced him and raised his hand.

Slap!

"No! You bastard!" Hiei shouted as Yukina tumbled to the ground. Hiei half limped half ran over to her and helped her sit up. "Yukina? Are you ok? Say something." Hiei asked worried. Yukina smiled.

"I'm fine." Hiei gently rubbed the forming bruise on Yukina's face.

"Why did you do that?" He helped her sit up.

"I want to help you at least once." Hiei looked at her sadly and held her close. A muffled scream was heard. Yoto lifted one of the elders and held her close. Hiei set Yukina behind him and glared at him.

"Let her go now!" Hiei shouted. Yoto smirked.

"Down!" Hiei looked confused. "Get down on your knees and beg." Hiei looked shocked and unsure what to do but another scream sent him to his knees. "Say I'm the best. That you are nothing but a whore. Beg for me to release her or I'll kill her." Yoto smiled at this new entertainment.

"You are the best-"

"Call me your master."

"You are the best master." Hiei said straining the word 'master'.

"And?"

"I'm nothing but a lowly whore. Please I beg of you." Hiei almost bit his deceiving tongue. "Let her go." Hiei looked up slightly.

"Hmm...I don't know if that was good enough." Hiei winced.

"Please don't hurt her. I'll...I'll do anything." Hiei knew that would work.

"That's more like it."

Yoto threw her to the ground. Yoto advanced the bowing Hiei and lifted him by the collar.

"These are the terms. They will come with us to our next little game. If you pass out or say other wise I'll start to torture one of them." Yoto said with a evil glint in his eyes. Hiei nodded. "What do you say?"

"Yes master." Yoto smirked and pet Hiei's head.

"Good boy. Now eat." He said as he left the room. Hiei got up and walked over to Yukina. He helped her up and they walked over to the food. Slop. Hiei sighed. There also was something unexpected an healthy apple sat in the middle of the slop. Hiei picked it up and cut it into the amount for the girls.

"Hiei what about you?" Hiei smiled and took a bite of the scraps.

"I'm fine. I'm used to eating dirt this isn't half bad." Hiei said taking another bite.

The elders looked stunned as Hiei swallowed another bite. He was very confusing. Why had he forgiven them? He was merely a child but acted way years older. This child had the eyes of a wise man. They do not belong on a mere child. They watched as he helped his sister and saved them. They were in his debt. Whither they like it or not. The Forbidden Child was no more he was just 'Hiei'. They could tell he took no pride to the name Forbidden Child.

"Are you ready my precious gem." Yoto said coming into the room and unlocking their cell. "All of you up."

Hiei followed behind Yoto and the rest followed behind Hiei. "Hmm...what to do." Hiei just stood there watching Yoto's every movement. "Come on now don't be so up tight. Now get up there." Hiei complied as the girls stood where they were. "I'm going to let you ladies join in on the fun." They all looked worried at each other. "Come here lovely." He said to one of the elders.

'What is he planning?' Hiei thought as he watched her hesitantly come towards him.

"Here hold this." She gasped as she held Hiei's own sword in her hands. "Hold it over the fire. It's over here." Hiei bit the inside of his mouth knowing what was happening. Yoto smirked and locked Hiei's hands and feet down. "Are you comfortable?" Hiei glared at him. "Good." He walked over to the elder and looked at the sword. She had no idea what was going on. All she could think of was this guy was going to kill her. "Now bring it over here to the Forbidden Child." She didn't move. A whip snapped from behind his back and hit Hiei in the chest. Hiei hissed and arched his back.

"Hiei!" Ruri restrained Yukina.

"Now do what I say or I'll whip him again." She stood still but when he raised the whip she walked over. "Good." He walked down to Hiei's leg that he had burned earlier and rolled up his pant leg.

"Now cut him over the old wound." Hiei looked away and braced himself. The elder looked stunned. She didn't want to hurt him. No she couldn't.

"No." She whispered. Hiei looked at her shocked. Snap! The whip hit Hiei in the face this time. Hiei hissed and groaned as the burn across his face stung, from the whip.

"Listen do it or I'll whip him 'till you do." She whimpered. She couldn't hurt him. He did not deserve this. "Come on kill him like you wanted to when he was born." He said smirking. Her heart wrenched at that. He is not bad. He never was. He was just infant and we just cold-heartedly threw him off to his death...but he survived. No strived.

He deserved to be happy and live with his mother and sister but they had taken it all away from him. It wasn't even his fault that it had happened and he was wrongfully punished. In a way it was their fault this was happening. Hiei being born could not be prevented but him being sent to his death could have. If he had lived with them none of this would have happened. He would be happy and never have to go through the pain he went through and is going through. They could have trained him to protect them from the demons that wanted their gems. He could have been their hero...their little savior.

Hiei nodded to her and braced himself. A tear fell as she lowered the cooling sword to his wounded leg. Hiei hissed in agony when it made contact. Yoto smirked and started to laugh.

"Now this is entertaining." Yukina sobbed in the corner with the other elders. The elder looked at the boy sorrowful and apologetically. Hiei smiled slightly understanding. They didn't have a choice. He knew it. "Come here Hiei's precious sister." He said smirking. "Guess what you get to do my love?" Yukina looked at him nervously.

"Please. Don't hurt him any more." Yoto continued to smirk and grabbed a scalpel.

"Have you ever wondered how long it take for the blood to drain out of a fire demon's body." Yukina visibly paled. The elder listened in horror. Hiei's ears were still ringing from the first round of assaults. He placed the knife in Yukina's delicate hand and guided it over to Hiei's arm. "Such a vital vein. One wrong move and he will slowly die. What a terrifying way to die." Yukina was scared. All she wanted was to sit in front of the temple and watch the sun rise with her brother. "Now. You get to do this." Yoto said slamming the thin knife into Hiei's wrist. Yukina screamed in horror. Hiei gasped and groaned in pain. "Are you still awake boy?" Hiei nodded slightly. He started to get a little sluggish from blood loss. "We'll that sucks...but I'm bored." Yoto undid Hiei's restraints and smirked as Hiei attempted to rise. The sobbing Yukina was right by his side. The elders also walked over. The strongest of the elders lifted Hiei and they followed Yoto back to the cell.

"How is he?" One elder asked as Ruri tightly wrapped his wrist and leg.

"Not good. He's lost a lot of blood." She whispered. "I don't know if he'll survive the night." They gasped.

"Nooo! Please save him. I'm so sorry big brother!" Yukina yelled hugging him close. Hiei smiled slightly as he struggled to keep his eyes open.

The elders gathered around him. They wanted to keep his still form warm over the night. It might strengthen his chance of survival. The elders were faced with guilt as they did all they could do to save the boy. They were the adults. They are supposed to protect the children. Instead they hid while this young man took the blows. They had to change that. Hiei heaved another ragged breath. Yukina was next to Hiei and rubbed his hand. Her tear stained face rested on Hiei's chest. 'Please be ok. I don't want to lose you. You're all I have left. You're my only family. I love you my brother.' She thought as she held him close.

They weren't going to lose him. They just couldn't give up when Hiei refused to so many times.

They had to be strong for him and Yukina. They had to act like adults and take responsibility. They had to do something they never dreamed of doing. Save Hiei.

The elders watched as Hiei heaved another breath. They huddled closer together when he shivered. Looking sadly at each other they kept their eyes on the boy. They weren't going to let him slip away. They just couldn't. He deserves to be free and they were going to make sure it would happen. Whither or not they make it.

How do you like it? PLEZ R&R! Thanx!

Mine and mine alone
I'm actually not sure who will save them. I'll just go with the flow I guess. Thanx 4 reviewing!