Disclaimer: I do not own any characters used in this story.
Hanmokushisshi
Prologue:
Whispered Heartbreak
A lazy breeze pushed through the dense network of trees, rustling the golden leaves above the heads of students who were eagerly leaving the campus. The steady chorus of their excited chatter accompanied the final reverberation of the school bell signaling the beginning of fall break.
Hiei's crimson eyes studied the faces of each person carefully from his high position atop the trees. He noted with annoyance how disgustingly similar each person dressed, making his task all the more difficult. It would be easier to try to find the kitsune at his house anyways, but just as he was about to leave he caught a glimpse of something unbefitting a college campus. His eyes darted across the sea of humans until it found that anomaly he had seen just moments earlier, and with the slightest amount of amusement, he realized that it was that irritating blue-haired deity. What in the world was she doing at Kurama's campus?
By now, the school ground was almost completely empty and the sun was dipping behind the horizon, allowing darkness the seep into the evening's last light. Botan had her small briefcase clasped in her hands, but her back was turned to Hiei and hid any hint of her motive for being in Ningenkai. Perhaps Koenma had a new assignment for the group, something that would shake them out of their peaceful existence. Then again, it could be nothing, and the latter was more probable since the three worlds had long since fallen into a quiet state.
Hiei now lived in Makai, serving only under Mukuro until her demise. Not that he wished her dead but he despised being a subordinate to anyone. Besides, she was a good person underneath her unfortunate appearance. If there was a person who could truly understand him, other than Kurama, it was her. Due to his need in Makai, he had not returned to Ningenkai in nearly two years.
He felt a smirk tug at the corner of his mouth. Two years is nothing for a demon, but he was sure much had changed here in the living world. What had the former spirit detective group become since their final battle together?
Hiei's legs were growing tired and he shifted to lean against the trunk of the tree. Botan made an inaudible noise, one which even Hiei's keen sense of hearing was unable to catch completely. He followed her line of vision, finally seeing Kurama. Surprisingly, he hadn't changed as much as Hiei expected. His fiery red hair was still the same, maybe just a little shorter but, more true to his character; Kurama was wearing a nicely kept school uniform. From his vantage point, he could see that Kurama knew Botan was waiting for him, but there wasn't the smallest suggestion that the old kitsune was surprised.
She made a quick dash towards Kurama and stopped just in front of him. Her head dropped in a way that showed that she was trying to avoid his eyes. Hiei watched Kurama lift her chin up and offer a smile before she leapt into Kurama's arms. Kurama's footing nearly failed him as he stumbled back a few steps then finally wrapped his arms around her. They stood like that for a good amount of time with Kurama's chin resting on the top of the blue-haired girls head.
Her words were muffled into Kurama's shoulder and prevented Hiei from hearing anything. He was tempted to interrupt the bizarre scene, but it was hardly his concern what went on between anyone.
There was something off beyond the fact that Kurama and that irritating girl were embracing. Hiei found that he was unable to move and a terrible sadness settled within his body like nothing he had ever felt before.
The words from her mouth drifted through the air, almost purposely in Hiei's direction.
"Mukuro is dead."
As you can imagine, this will be a heavy story. My chapters are rarely ever this short, and the rest will most likely by much, much longer than this.