Light in the Shadow

by Miss Scary Mary

Bleeding and bruised Hiei is taken in by a young woman he meets in the forest. Will he find the light that will melt his icy heart or will he hide in shadow until the day he finds peaceful redemption in the arms of death? HieiOC [Chap. 9 is up!] Plz R&R!

6. In a Place of Dark and Light

Light in the Shadow

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Disclaimer: I do not own Hiei, Yu Yu Hakusho or other related themes.

Warning: May have some disturbing images, adult language, and some [as in a little bit not like heavy] sexual content [sorta kinda like kissy kissy stuff] in later chapters. =D

Author: ‡ Mercury Mechanics ‡

Authors Note: Thank you to ALL of my reviewers!!

- Miyako14

- Kat1132

- HieiFan666

- CrimsonButterfly

- Maria

- Hiei's1girl

- Dew-Drop Viper

- Suzikins glomps

- Rokosho-13

I love you all so muches!! ...and so does Hiei. XD

Anyway, I hope you all like this chapter. It ish sorta kinda not really a gory/sad one but never the less I hope it is still in good taste to all of you. ::nods:: Oh and I might have to up the story to R if I decide to go through with some things in later chapters. XD

::hears random shout from the crowd::

!!!GET ON WITH IT!!!

::gonk:: Okkk, jeeeeze here's the chapter...!! ::blinks:: oO;;

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Chapter 6 "In a Place of Dark and Light"

Swiftly dispatching of the demon he clashed blades with, Hiei preformed a deadly spin kick and knocked the other unconscious with a powerful blow to the side of its head. Looking up he lithely jumped out of the path of powerful jaws that came crashing down into the ground below his feet. Landing on the back of the furious Hellhound he grasped a fist full of its bristly coat and held firmly as it began to buck and roar thunderously.

As he swirled his sword around in the palm of his hand he drove the blade down between the shoulder blades of the beast all the way down to its hilt. With a deafening shriek of pain it fell forwards, crashing into the dirt as it lost the use of its limbs to the shattering pain that gripped it body. Leaping off the defeated monster Hiei slung the blood off his blade with a snap of his wrist and turned his attention back to what was important.

As he drew in the fatality of the situation before him Hiei froze and his grasp tightened around the leather handle of his katana. There, crouching behind the trembling Kohana were two Hellhounds, crouched and ready to spring onto their prey. As a the sudden tremor of terror tore at his heart He couldn't find it in himself to ignore the intense emotion and sprang forwards at such a speed that he was nothing but a blur to the naked eye. Gathering Kohana into his arms he diverted the razor sharp claws of the two hungry demons just enough to flee onto the roof of the awning.

As the angry howls of the beastly demons shook the wooden structure, Hiei looked down and watched as it began to crack beneath his feet. Jumping upwards as the heads of the hellhounds crashed through it Hiei sprang out of the way of blade like teeth that bit at the air in an attempt to grab him. Swiftly Hiei did a flip and landed briefly on a thick branch of a nearby tree to watch. Cringing as he felt his own blood start to run down his torso and drip down his forearms, He concluded that he wasn't in any shape to finish off the two remaining beasts.

Turning towards the dark forest Hiei disappeared into the shadows as he resorted to the lowest and most dishonorable thing he could think of, hiding. Yet he reckoned with himself with the thought that there comes a time in everyone's life that they come a point that may lead them over a line that they said that they'd never cross.

Staying in the shadows and near the tops of the monstrously large demonic trees Hiei fled away from the beasts that accosted him and into the sheltering dark of the forest. As he sought out a place to rest he wound his way around the thick clusters of emerald hued leaves and the heavy set of vines and overgrowth that gathered on the branches of the trees. Coming to a small cluster of ancient Black Leaf trees Hiei noticed that the middle one there was a burred out hole that had been left from a nest of a large demon bird in the gray stem of the dead tree.

As he leaped across a small clearing onto the rough dry bark of its neighbor he ducked under a branch that was decorated in black, curled leaves. Jumping upwards he landed on the branch that lead out from the burrow and looked inside to inspect it. Only dead leaves and small twigs were left from what looked to be a nest. Deciding it to be the best place for them to take refuge Hiei set Kohana down on the edge of the hollow.

"Kohana, crawl inside," He spoke softly in a calm yet hurried voice.

Watching as the trembling demon nodded and did as she was told Hiei turned his gaze downwards to the forest floor to monitor for their pursuers. As the piercing sound of the Hellhounds blood curtailing howl met his ears, Hiei swiftly followed after Kohana and slipped away out of sight into the abandoned grotto. Scooting himself towards the wall of the cavern, Hiei rested his soar back against it as he allowed his pounding head to fall forwards. Slowly bringing a blood stained hand to his head, Hiei set his forehead in his sweating palm and closed his eyes briefly.

'Well this has been quite the adventurous little picnic,' Hiei though as he sighed and looked downwards to his torso.

The black hue of the cloth was several shades darker because of the scarlet liquid that had been absorbed into it. Slowly pulling up the heavy cloth of his coat he grimaced as he drew in a labored breath. Coughing to clear the liquid from seeping down the back of his throat, he bit his lip. He had managed to rip some of the stitches and widen the ones he had already received from this little brush in with the Hellhounds and bat demons. As he clenched his fists he set his jaw and frowned deeply. This was not looking too good.

As a small whimper caught his ear Hiei turned his head upward and looked towards Kohana. She was on her hands and knees crawling towards him, or at least in the direction she thought he sat. With trembling hands she reached out to him as she spoke in a small voice,

"Hiei, where are you?"

As he locked eyes with Kohana's lost stare he felt a sudden cold sweep over him. She had once looked secure and aware of herself but now she was reduced to a shaking bundle in blood stained white. Hiei watched as she ran her hands over the coarse twigs and dead leaves that lined the floor of the small hollow. In the dim light of the shadowy room, he could see liquid dripping down her flushed cheeks. It looked as though her tears had been stained with black poison.

"Hiei..." Kohana whispered.

"I'm right here Kohana," Hiei spoke in a soft voice as he slid his hand over the dry floor of the hollow to Kohana's.

"Hiei?" Kohana smiled weakly as she used her other hand to feel up his arm.

As Kohana moved closer to him Hiei could see just how bad a shape she herself was in. Her gaze was vacant and even though her mind would not allow her to accept it her body shook so terribly that it looked as though she were in shock. Blood was smeared across her face and matted her hair, tainting the pure silver hue. Her lips were blue and her skin was a sickly pale color and even still those things changed her appearance the one thing that hadn't changed was her smile.

Staring at her through weary scarlet eyes Hiei watched Kohana's quivering hands hover gently over his chest and move slowly downwards to the bottom of his coat. As he looked up at Kohana he watched as her face twisted with concern and her fingers curled around the ends of his coat.

"Hiei, let me feel your stitches," Kohana said in a worried tone as her hands slipped under the black fabric. "I can smell your blood; you must have ripped some of them..."

"No," Hiei spoke bluntly as he brushed her hands away. "Let me see your eyes."

"But Hiei!" Kohana protested with apprehension as she sat up. "You're hurt worse than I am!"

"That doesn't matter, my body is numb anyhow," Hiei murmured carelessly as he cupped Kohana's face in his palms and pulled her close.

Staring curiously at the contaminated red and black hue of Kohana's eyes, Hiei lifted up a part of his cloak that wasn't soaked with his blood and carefully wiped away the black liquid from the smooth flesh of her face.

"Hiei," Kohana spoke quietly. "W-why can't I see you?"

"Hmm...I figured as much," he hummed as he looked down to see Kohana's hands clumsily reaching out to grasp his coat. "Both of your eyes are covered in a black and red haze and the skin around them has swelled. It looks as though you have been poisoned."

"Oh." Kohana mumbled as she nodded calmly. Running her trembling hands up his chest lightly she wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him lightly as tears welled in her soar eyes. "I'm sorry that all this happened Hiei..." she whispered as she rested her head on his shoulder lightly. "It's my fault."

"It wasn't your fault," Hiei replied reluctantly in a low tone as his head fell forwards and he sighed. Looking sideward at the small woman huddling near him, Hiei felt as though there was nothing he could do to comfort her yet he was wrong.

"We'll stay here until I feel it's safe for us to venture out," Hiei mumbled into her hair. "So it's best if you try to get some sleep."

Kohana nodded as she pulled away from Hiei and sat back on her heels. Moving to sit beside him she leaned against him and set her head on his shoulder as she patted around for his hand. As she weaved her fingers with his she pulled her knees to her chest and closed her eyes.

It didn't take long for Kohana to slip out of consciousness and drift into the blissful realm of sleep. Yet her compatriot forced himself to stay awake through the night and keep watch just incase they were found out. It was a full moon that night and even though the light did little to pierce the thick greenery it somehow brought a hauntingly warming presence. The night was still and Hiei heard nothing but muffled angry howls that were a good many miles away. For now, they were safe in the cold shadows of a hollow in a dead tree...

The next morning Hiei looked to Kohana, who in her sleep, had switched sleeping positions. She lay on her side with her head on Hiei's thigh and her knees curled to her chest and hidden under the folds of her dress was her hand that still clung to Hiei's. As he gazed downwards to his sleeping opposite he watched as she yawned sleepily and lazily opened the sapphire orbs that were her eyes.

"Good morning Hiei," she whispered as she sat up wearily and supported herself by pressing into her palm.

"Hmm," Hiei hummed as he looked away from her vacant stare and out into the still dim morning light. "Did you sleep well?"

Kohana nodded and tried her best to put on a smile but couldn't. She frowned sadly and sighed as she looked away from Hiei as she squeezed his hand. "What are we going to do, Hiei? Where are we going to go?" she asked in a weary voice.

"You'll know when we get there," Hiei replied as he stood up from the ground and tugged on her hand as a sign for her to stand.

As Kohana stood her week knees wobbled causing her to clasp onto Hiei's arm for support while her legs regained their strength. She mumbled a quite "Sorry" as she stared down at her feet. Hiei shook his head as he realized what he had to do. He was going to have to carry her. There wasn't anyway she'd make it through the forest running behind him blindly while merely holding his hand. She needed him to be her eyes.

"Kohana," Hiei spoke as he bent over to pick her up into his arms. "I'm going to carry you."

"No, Hiei, You'll strain your stitches," Kohana protested as she took a step away from him.

Standing up strait again he yanked her hand and pulled her back to him as he replied, "Stop worrying about me."

"I can't help it!" Kohana snapped back as she stared sternly in the direction she believed Hiei to be. "You won't do it yourself, so I do!"

Hiei blushed lightly as his right eye began to twitch. "I'm carrying you and that's that," Hiei growled as he gathered the pouting demon into his arms.

Stepping out onto the branch of the tree Hiei looked about. The forest was still and nothing but the early morning birds were out and flittering about. Jumping off onto the moist blanket of green grass that coated the forest floor, he began to wander deeper into the dark wood. After an hour of meandering aimlessly through the humid forest with blood dripping down his back Hiei found that he only became more and more lost with every step. Because of the intensely tick weave of branches and clouds of leaves the light of the sun was blocked out so therefore he could not distinguish which way was north.

Slowly his pace decreased and Kohana demanded that he let her walk. Hiei wasn't going to argue so he set her down and they continued on their way, Kohana at Hiei's heels. Hours drifted by like the slow current of a lazy stream. Only a couple soft words were exchanged between the two but even though Kohana would have liked to speak more with Hiei the relationship that had formed between them did not require words but only the very presences of the other.

As the day aged Hiei came upon a wall of large stones and was quite puzzled by this. With caution he lifted Kohan into his arms and leaped atop them to look about and as he did so the site that greeted him was the first pleasant thing he had seen in a long while. A natural pool of cool, crystal clear water was set only a couple yards away from where he stood. Smooth rocky stones and towering trees littered about the pool making it the perfect place for them to rest and clean themselves up.

"Hiei?" Kohana asked in a curious tone. "What is it?"

"Hn..." Hiei hummed as small smile turned up the corner of his lips. "I've found the perfect place."

"Hmm?" Kohana inquired.

"Indeed." Hiei replied as he jumped off the rocks and began to walk right into the water.

Kohana yelped as the cool of the water soaked into the blood stained cloth of her dress and closed her eyes as the mineral rich nutrients soothed the heat that plagued her skin.

Hiei couldn't help but allow his eyes to fall closed as the water soothed the stinging of his wounds. Slowly as he reopened his eyes he released Kohana as he spoke, "We will rest here and tend to our wounds."

Kohana just nodded and clung to the hand she had firmly in her grasp. As she felt hands at her waist her hands moved to her hips and before she knew it Hiei had lifted her up out of the water and set her down onto a smooth rock. Looking up as she felt cold hands cup her face she closed her eyes as the smooth cloth of a rag began to wipe away the blood that was dried into her skin along with the liquid that had come from her eyes due to the poison. She blushed lightly as she spoke,

"Hiei, you don't have to do this, I can do it myself."

"You're blind. You wouldn't be able to see were to get it off," Hiei stated plainly as he continued to gently scrub the foreign subsistence's off her face.

Observing the flitter of her eyelashes Hiei watched as Kohana leaned her head into his hand as she spoke softly, "Well It looks like the tables have turned...your taking care of me now..."

Hiei blushed lightly and looked away as he wiped the last bit of blood off her temple near her eyebrow as he replied promptly, "Well, don't get emotional about it...I'm just doing it so that we're even..."

Looking back to Kohana as she began to rub her thumb over the flesh of his hand Hiei listened as she asked softly, "Hiei...?"

"Yes Kohana?" Hiei replied as he looked down at his hand.

Staring intently into the nothingness of the dark sea of black shadow that plagued her vision Kohana mumbled, "Y-you...you won't leave me will you?"

As Hiei looked up at Kohana he blushed deeply and looked away as she looked up at him. He shook his head and said, "No. Now stop worrying so much."

Smiling softly Kohana withheld her giggle. She could tell in Hiei's tone that he was flustered. As she looked back down to her lap she felt his hand slip from hers and the rustling sound of wet clothing. Turning her head upwards Kohana's blind eyes looked about before her as the sound of someone wading through water met her ears. Blushing as she felt someone begin to tug on her obi she reached around her and grasped their hand.

"Hiei, what are you doing?" Kohana asked in a timid tone.

"I'm taking off your Kimono," Hiei stated bluntly.

Kohana's cheeks burnt a bright shade of apple red. "H-hiei!" Kohan whined loudly as she turned around to look at him though she could not see him.

"It's not like that, woman," Hiei spoke quickly as he himself flushed and his right eye began to twitch. "I'm taking off your kimono so that we can use the fabric as bandages and such. My coat is nothing more than rags now so it's of no more use."

"Oh ok..." Kohana murmured as she released his wrist and turned back around.

"You do have an under robe, don't you?" Hiei asked as he arched his brow.

"Yes," Kohana said as she nodded.

Hiei nodded and continued to untie her blue belt. Though with Hiei's lack of knowledge of how to untie a woman's obi he got it stuck in a knot. As he unsheathed the knife from his boot he brought it next to the obi and was about to slice it when he heard Kohana speak,

"Hiei, are you having a bit of trouble back there?"

He frowned and replied, "No, I've almost about got it." Sheathing his knife he stared with a burning hatred towards the blue sash. Looking up as it began to shift he watched as Kohana turned it around to her front so that she could untie it.

As she rubbed her fingers over the fabric of the knot she laughed when she realized what had happened. Shaking her head she began to attempt to untie the knot that Hiei had created but found that she wasn't strong enough to pull the pieces of the knot apart so that it could be loosened.

"Hiei I need your help," Kohana said as she turned her head over her shoulder to look at him.

Hiei merely nodded as he kneeled behind her and slipped his arms under hers as he looked over her shoulder so that he could see the confounded knot of blue material.

"Pull this, here," Kohana said as she pointed to one of the strings of fabric.

Giving the fabric a hard tug Hiei loosened the knot and continued to loosen it with Kohana's help. As soon as it was off, Kohana slid off her kimono and slipped into the cool water wearing only her breast wraps and under robe.

Hiei felt butterflies fill his stomach as he looked away and he pulled out his knife so that he could begin to make bandages from the material of her kimono. As he did so Kohana washed the blood from her hair and combed it through with her fingers. Though he paid little attention to her, Kohana was listening to his every movement as she tried to imagine what he was doing in her mind and what he looked like. She wanted to be able to see his wounds and tend to them as she had done when they first met. Yet she could not; she could barely tend to herself.

"Hiei, while we're resting here you need to clean your stitches," Kohana said as she held up the small wooden box of antibacterial cream she had swiped before they were attached by the demons.

Looking up Hiei watched as Kohana began to walk over to him and set down the small box on the rock he sat on. He picked up the carton and observed it as he twirled it around in his fingers. Glancing at the blind woman who was standing next to him he noticed the small cuts on her face and the bite mark on her lip. As he sat down on the edge of the rock he pulled her between his knees and opened the box with one hand. Dipping two of his fingers into its contents he spread the cream over her cuts and on the bone above and below her eyes. Picking up the obi that he had sliced down to size he began to wrap it around her now closed eyes so that they could heal properly.

As Hiei sat back to admire his handy work he brushed a tress of wet hair out of Kohana's face and stared at her. The more he looked at her the more he seemed to recognize her face. She seemed so familiar though he could not place where it was that he remembered her from. The way she looked with her face wrapped in bandages only seemed to intensify the odd tingling that festered in the bottom of his stomach.

"Hiei?" Kohana spoke softly as she reached out to touch his bare stomach.

"Yes Kohana?" Hiei asked as he felt her warm hands press against his chest.

"I can feel your blood," Kohana replied quietly. "You're hurt...you're hurt badly aren't you?"

"No," Hiei replied as he began to cut away the ripped stitches and toss them over his shoulder. "I'll be fine."

Kohana frowned sadly and hovered her fingers over a new wound on Hiei's back. It was really starting to bother her that she couldn't help. She felt as though she were a burden to him and an inconvenience of his time. As she took a couple of steps away from the rock she dipped down into the water and began to swim away into the deeper part of the pool. Feeling for rocks and other debris in front of her Kohana lingered underwater for as long as her lungs would allow until she resurfaced and gasped for air.

After finishing wrapping his wounds with the fabric of Kohana's kimono, Hiei looked down to inspect his attire which now included a pair of black pants, boots and a handmade, skin tight bandage shirt that had a blue dragon on the chest. Smiling slyly he turned his gaze to the crystal clear water and dived off the rock into the pool. Slowly rising to the surface for air Hiei drew in a long breath through his nose and exhaled from his lips. As the sound of water swishing caught his attention he looked to his side to see Kohana pull herself out onto a rock and lie down on its smooth surface.

Leaning his head slightly to the side he watched with a curious gaze as she rolled onto her side and began to whisper a quite song to herself. With a curious hum Hiei swam towards her and stopped when he came to her side. Watching as her lips moved and the foreign words rolled off her tongue Hiei began to feel drowsy and leaned his weight against the rock.

"Kohana?" Hiei asked softly.

She turned her head upwards to him and replied, "Yes, Hiei? Are you alright? Did something happen?"

"No," Hiei said as he shook his head at her relentless worry. "You worry too much, Kohana. I swear you're going to kill yourself."

"Sorry," Kohana murmured as she sat up and blushed lightly while looking away.

Hiei shook his head as he pulled himself up out of the water and sat down on the edge of the rock. With a tired sigh he lied down sideways and stared out into the wide secluded pool while allowing his soar feet to soak in the mineral rich water. Branches of the large weeping willows dipped into the water near its edge providing a wall of green vines that pooled lightly on the water top. Tall oak trees dotted here and there and wore an attire made of large white lilies and dark green vines. As an eerie wind blew Hiei watched as rays of sunlight broke through the canopy of emerald leaves and shone down onto the water of the pool causing it to sparkle. Gently as the breeze blew over him Hiei felt the warmth from a beam of sunlight shower his body in a spray of tepid light.

As a small whimper caught his attention he sat up and pulled his feet out of the water while looking sideward to Kohana who sat beside him. She sat leaning her weight back on her palms and her head dropped back between her shoulders, her pale pink lips ajar. The light of the sun danced on the pale alabaster of her skin and caused the locks of her silver hued hair to glow. The scene she created was bathed in mystery and would ensnare the gaze of whoever passed by her. She was definitely not from an ordinary demon clan.

Tearing his gaze away from her Hiei lied down on the rock with his back to Kohana as he closed his eyes to concentrate on gathering his strength. He had gotten them both to safety, tended to both of their wounds, and now was taking a much deserved rest. Slowly closing his eyes Hiei watched as a mental image slowly took shape behind his eyes.

It was Kohana. She was sitting with her knees pulled to her chest and her face hidden behind her hands except for one mysterious sapphire hued eye that to his horror were clouded with tears. He watched as a single tear dripped from her black lashes and disappeared on the flushed flesh of her face.

Hiei snapped open his eyes and inwardly groaned. Great, now she was stuck in his head. Looking over his shoulder he saw that she was lying down on her left side now with her face tilted towards her knees that were tucked into her stomach. He watched as she slowly turned her head up and spoke.

"Hmmm...the sunlight," Kohana murmured as she lied down on the rock. "Doesn't it feel nice, Hiei?"

Hiei rolled over onto his right side and observed Kohana's bandage wrapped face. "Hmmn," He hummed in his usual tone.

Kohana smiled and scooted closer to him as she reached out with her hand to feel for his. "Hiei...?" she whispered softly.

"Yes Kohana?" Hiei replied quietly as he looked to her hand and gingerly reached out to grasp it with his own yet stalled in uncertainty.

As she turned her hand up she curled her finger around his hand as she spoke in a sleepy tone, "Thank you..."

Hiei felt the heat rise in his cheeks lightly as he listened while her breathing became slow and even indicating that she had fallen asleep. It had been one interesting happening after another with this strange new acquaintance of his. Though Hiei wouldn't admit it openly to anyone quite yet, he wasn't displeased with meeting Kohana...He was rather glad that he'd met her...

Laying his head down Hiei looked away from Kohana and slowly closed his eyes as his body unconsciously shifted closer to hers in an attempt to find a comfortable sleeping position. With a deep breath Hiei exhaled slowly and drifted off into the realm of sleep with Kohana by his side, the sun upon him and the trees sheltering him from all who might seek to harm them...

Though he was not as sheltered and safe as he believed himself to be...

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Well that's it for chapter 6. Hmmm, my brain feels all mushy...

WELP I'm really terrible at cliff hangers, I want to take my time to explain and put everything in...Maybe that's why it take so damn long for me to finish one damned chapter...

Alter Ego Named Mary: Thank you for stating the painfully evident, Captain Obvious.

Greer: ::hits self in the face::

Hiei: oO;; I will never understand you two.

Greer: T-T ::cries::

Mary: XP

Hiei: -.-; ::sighs::

‡ Mercury Mechanics ‡