Memoir

Summary: Sequel to "Forgotten." "Time really does change everything, doesn't it? Hard to believe I'm the same person." Hiei/OC

Author's notes: Yeah, this time the update was delayed because I'm just lazy. My apologies. Really. Hmm… I really don't have much of anything to say. Unless you need to hear the warning that, if you are caught doing the Electric Slide while making a nutella sandwich, you will never hear the end of it (I wish my kitchen had a door…). On that note, thanks to all of my wonderful wonderful reviewers, there are EIGHTY-FOUR reviews now!

The Shadows Hide All: Don't they, though? I wouldn't wish a migraine on my worst enemy. Is Hiei the master? Hmm… You'll just have to wait and see, I think. Thanks for reading; I hope you like the rest of the fic.

TriggerHappy666: Yes, yes, it was about time that Hiei showed up. Have fun singing the doom song… it takes six months…. The length of my chapters isn't predetermined. I just write as much as it takes to get across whatever I need to. I'm working on writing longer chapters, though. This is the first time I've ever been asked about my username. Well, I was in a Christmas play at my church when I was like four years old, and I played one of the sheep. I started fighting with the preacher's kid for the microphone, and now the members of that church remember me as "the Sheep girl." And that's really all there is to it. Thanks for the curiosity.

-X-1fallen angel1-X-: Why, thank you. Glad you liked the chapter. When you say interesting… in a good way, or a bad way? Ah, Yusuke… conceited would be an understatement. But I still luv him (not so much as Hiei, though). Thanks for the review.

Sakura Jazmine: Lol. Everyone seems to be quite happy with the fact that Hiei is now officially back in the fic. Thanks for the review. I'm glad you like the story.

ParadisenDarkness: Huge cliffy:rereads chapter: Oh… I guess so. Sorry. But really, would you read the fic if it never left you hanging? Thanks for liking the fic; it lets me know that I still have a reason to write. I'll try to get the updates faster... Keep on reading and reviewing!

MikoHatome: Yes, Hiei's back. Isn't it grand? Thanks for reviewing the fic. I hope you like what's next.

ToCOrNot: Glad you liked the chapter. Sorry it was short. I really am working on that. Maybe I should go back and rework the outline…. Anyway, thanks for the response. Keep reading the fic.

ImParanoid: :winces at "high pitched girl scream": Wow, excited, are we? Well, I'm glad that you like the fic so much. I hope that the rest of the fic is just as good.

sillylittlenothing: Ah, so you caught that? Great! So you think he'll send her home? Hmm. Well, as always, thank you for sharing your thoughts from the chapter. Like I said, that helps me decide whether or not things are progressing the way they need to. Always helpful to hear from you. Thanks for the review; I hope you keep on reading and reviewing!

Yoru Inu: Great. Glad you liked the last two chapters. Can't wait to hear what you think of this chapter. Keep reading and reviewing!

Kurayamihikari: You're a bit excited too, aren't you? Well, I'm glad you're loving the updates. I'll try to keep them coming. Thanks for reviewing.

Bec: Thanks for the compliments! I hope I don't disappoint you!

EvilTwinKae: Don't hyperventilate. :grabs paper bag and hands it to Kae: I hope that the fic doesn't disappoint you. Keep reading and reviewing!

BlueWater26: Yeah, I debated on whether or not Kuwabara should agree with her. I'm glad you thought it was the right choice. Ah, another migraine sufferer… they are hell, aren't they. I've been lucky this week, though. Hooray for Aspirin. Thanks for reviewing!

AnonymousHieiFan101: Thanks! I hope you like the update!

brezzybrez: I'm glad you think I'm doing a good job. What author doesn't love to hear that? Thanks for reviewing; I hope you like the rest.

Jingenji: Yes, Hiei does have questionable tastes as far as company goes…. But I suppose since he's BACK, we can forgive him that. Thanks for reviewing! I can't wait to hear what you think of this chapter.

Thanks to all of you guys! YOU ROCK!

Part Ten: Harshness of the Light

Hiei led the other four into the fortress that the guards had been protecting. He didn't say anything to the others as they walked. He seemed a bit distracted.

He wasn't the only one.

Kurama kept giving Akiko sidelong glances, trying to see how she was taking seeing Hiei for the first time in three years. For her part, Akiko stared straight ahead, not looking to Kurama or saying anything about the situation.

The fortress itself was an enormous stone building, obviously quite old and a bit worse for wear, but still possessing an oddly alluring grandeur. Clearly, this would be where the "master" the guards had spoken of lived.

It wasn't until the group was inside the fortress that Hiei spoke.

"Go to the fourth room on the left. I'll be there in a few minutes," He said plainly.

And he turned and left Yusuke, Kurama, Kuwabara and Akiko by themselves in the hallway.

"Well, that's high on my list of weirdest things ever," Yusuke said, watching Hiei as he left. Yusuke turned to Kurama. "Should we just do what he says?"

The kitsune shrugged. "I don't think it could hurt."

The four of them trekked to the room Hiei had told them to wait in.

The room wasn't lavishly furnished by any stretch of the imagination: the chairs and carpets were worn and threadbare. But it had a comfortable feel to it. Sort of.

True to his word, after the four of them had been in the room for around five minutes, Hiei joined them, pulling the door shut behind him.

"I don't know what you're doing here," Hiei said after a tense moment had passed, "but, in case you couldn't tell, this isn't exactly a safe place for humans to be."

"We wouldn't have come if we didn't have to," Yusuke said. "We're here on a mission."

The fire yokai raised an eyebrow. "I thought you weren't spirit detective anymore."

"Well, I'm not," Yusuke said. "But… well… Kurama, you wanna take it from here?"

The kitsune sighed. "Akiko has been seeing the ghost of a human that was murdered by a yokai hundreds of years ago." He turned to Akiko to see if she would help him with the explanation. When he saw that she was determinedly avoiding his eyes, he knew he was all alone on this one. "From what Koenma told us, the boy's death is one of Reikai's only cold cases. No one knows what yokai killed him. But Akiko had… I guess you'd call it a vision. The boy showed her the face of the yokai that killed him."

"So you came here to find the killer," Hiei finished for him. "Not the best idea you've ever had. You should all just go back home."

Yusuke, Kurama, Kuwabara and Akiko sat in silent shock for a moment before Hiei continued.

"But, since I know that's not going to happen, you can stay here for the night."

Kuwabara piped up. "Won't those guys' boss be upset that you're letting us stay here?"

The smallest of smirks crossed Hiei's face. "No, I don't imagine he will. Especially seeing as I'm their boss. Anyway, about this yokai, what did he look like?"

"He was bald," Akiko said. "There were lots of scars and tattoos on his face, and his eyes were completely black. Oh, and his skin was red."

Hiei nodded. "I know him. His name is Sangre."

Kurama frowned. "Doesn't that mean—"

"Blood. Yes." Hiei crossed his arms. "I think I'll help you find him."

"Why?" Yusuke asked.

"I have something to settle with Sangre."

"Hiei, a personal vendetta against this guy might not be the best of reasons to help us," Kurama said calmly.

"Whatever," Hiei said, ambling to the door. "Your rooms will be down the hall. Just pick one, no one else stays in here." He opened the door to the room.

A bit hesitant, Kurama, Kuwabara and Yusuke rose from their seats and headed out the door and down the hall to the rooms.

The three men were halfway down the hallway before Hiei spoke to Akiko who had, until this point, remained in her seat.

"Do you need something?" the yokai questioned coldly.

"Just an explanation," Akiko said, crossing her arms.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Why did you leave the human world?"

"I told you when I left."

"Well, refresh my memory, why don't you?"

Hiei sighed. "For one thing, I don't belong in Ningenkai—"

"That's the biggest load of crap I've ever heard."

"I had to leave. Just leave it at that."

Akiko made a noise of exasperation. "That's your answer? You 'had to leave'? What the hell kind of answer is that?"

"The only one you're getting."

"Well, it's still a crappy answer."

Hiei shrugged. "That's your problem." Akiko turned away from him angrily.

"Look," he sighed. "I'm in charge of this place. All of it. Whatever you may thin—however it may look— this place requires my attention. I couldn't let it be destroyed—which is what would have happened if I hadn't come back. And now that I've been here for three years…. Well, I just can't leave it. Not now. My presence is important here."

Akiko stormed past the yokai to the door of the room; his eyes followed her there.

He thought she was going to storm out of the room, slamming the door behind her, but when she made it to the doorway, she looked back at him. For a moment, he was surprised by the intensity of her eyes. A lesser man would have quaked under that stare, but Hiei remained stoic as ever as the girl spoke again.

"You know, Hiei," she said quietly, "you might not have thought about this when you came here, but… you being around was important to me, too."

And then, she did exactly what he had been expecting of her. Akiko rushed from the room, slamming the door shut behind her and leaving the yokai alone in the room.

Author's notes: Hey, exciting news! I'm going to be an aunt! Just got a call from my big sister. Fun. Anyway, what did you all think of the chapter? Hmm? Well, I can't wait to hear what you guys think of all this. As always, read and review!