(Standard disclaimer: I don't own YYH or its characters; they are the sole property of Yoshihiro Togashi, Shonen Jump Comics Weekly, Studio Pierrot and Fuji Television)
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"My fault," the small figure murmured, turning away from the woman at his side. "All my fault."
Blood-red eyes stared out at the night sky, seeking solace from the stars that glittered like so many diamonds upon the indigo blanket of the heavens.
"If only I hadn't come back," he continued, the deep baritone soft, musing and filled with so much pain it broke Shiori's heart. "Stupid fox….." (so much affection in the endearing nickname) "…..if only I hadn't listened to you…. hadn't let you talk me into coming back… but no, it isn't your fault…. I wanted to come…. wanted…. needed to see you again…. if only I hadn't been so selfish, you'd still be alive."
Hiei turned back to the woman at his side, his eyes meeting hers once more, seeing the unshed tears that misted the dark eyes before him. "It's my fault your son is dead," he reiterated, "you should hate me for that. Why don't you hate me?"
Shiori smiled as she blinked back the tears from her eyes. Reaching out, she delicately ran her hand down the small cheek in a gentle caress. Hiei caught the hand in his, calloused fingers wrapping around it, holding it tightly within his own.
Again, Shiori smiled. "I could never hate you, Imp," she said, "but Hiei, you couldn't be more wrong about that night. It wasn't your fault he died." Gently she squeezed the hand holding hers. "Kurama," she went on, using that name deliberately, "died protecting the one life he loved more than his own. He made that choice, Hiei, and I couldn't love him more for having done so."
