A lot of people said the last chapter wasn't a filler, so I won't say that this one is too (though I kinda think it is). I want to thank all of you who review and support this story. Your words mean so much to me. It's so nice of you all to put up with my twisted, angsty sense of writing. I torture Hiei and Kurama, yes, but they can't just be happy, that would be boring. :P Anyway, I hope you all continue to enjoy this story as much as I do. ON WITH THE FIC!
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The night was warm for early October. The air was crisp, though not enough to cause a chill, and perfumed with the scents of autumn. A figure bundled in a blanket, at his mate's request, huddled on the terrace, neck craned to admire the stars.
The stars had always been Ningenkai's best quality, at least in his opinion. Unlike the empty, multicolored skies of Makai that held only the occasional moon (or moons depending on what region you were in), the sky of the human realm was filled to bursting with these tiny pinpricks of light. Reaching out a hand, a person could almost imagine they could grasp these points of cold fire. Only when they pulled back an empty fist was it apparent how far out of reach these celestial beauties really were.
Stars were also one of the few things humans truly appreciated about their world. So much of their culture revolved around these small dots of light. There were many different constellations and a story for every one, fortunes told depending on what star a person was born under or how they lined up in the night sky, songs that every child knew, even "wishing" on a star.
He suddenly wondered if his child would know the songs or wish on a star someday. More and more often he found his mind drifting to thoughts of his son or daughter. He agreed with Kurama's choice not to discover the child's gender until its birth, but that wasn't to say he wasn't tempted to look anyway. He wanted to know everything about the life he carried and gender was always a good place to start. It annoyed him to no end when the fox talked of "if it's a boy…" this and "if it's a girl…" that when Hiei had the power to find out as they spoke.
He sighed, searching for a particular constellation in the sky. His thoughts wondered aimlessly again, drifting eventually to Mukuro. He had sent her a message some time ago explaining where he was and what had happened since his leave had expired. He tried his best to make her understand that he couldn't leave and go back to the Makai. That was two and half weeks ago and still there was no answer from his employer. He couldn't understand it, couldn't fathom why she was ignoring his message. The only explanation he was able to come up with was that she was unable to answer him. That made him nervous.
Abandoning the troubled thoughts, he closed his eyes and leaned back against the glass door. He drew the blanket tighter around himself, not really because he was cold but just for the comfort of being surrounded by warmth. One arm curled protectively around his stomach which had almost doubled in size. Granted, double the size of what had been a barely noticeable bulge wasn't much, it was still enough to be appreciated by the half-Koorime and his mate.
He had come to believe, perhaps naively, that the apartment was, for lack of a better word, "safe" and so had no second thoughts of letting his guard drop. Completely relaxed now, as he had never been in his life before Kurama, his breathes grew longer and softer as sleep threatened to claim him.
He lurched forward as a loud crack split the air next to him. Heart racing, arm instinctively curling tighter to his midriff, ruby orbs flew opened and focused on the small demon that had just appeared in a puff of smoke.
It was a small, impish thing, not even of D class power and barely three feet tall. Its skin was a tan brown and it wore a dirty loincloth about its boney hips and nothing else. Long pointed ears towered over a small head and a long thin nose extended nearly two inches from its face, if not more. Bowing, its nose nearly touching the ground, it held a Makai communication orb out to Hiei.
"From Mistress Mukuro," it said simply. Hiei accepted the orb, wondering, once he had taken it, how the creature's boney arms had been strong enough to hold it. Never rising from its bowed position the messenger took three steps back and disappeared with another crack in a cloud of smoke.
Hiei eyed the orb almost wearily, wondering if he should call the fox. After a moment's contemplation he decided against it. Mukuro was his employer and therefore his problem, no need to drag the fox into it. He looked down at himself, wondering what Mukuro would think. He was dressed in borrowed ningen clothing, sitting on a terrace of a ningen building, wrapped in a fluffy overstuffed ningen quilt. But, he was comfortable, and whether it was a hormone induced decision or not he decided comfortable was better than presentable. A feeling of impending dread stole over him as he pressed the button on the side of the orb to activate it.
A swirl of light shot from the top, a mini tornado of color spinning around until it began to calm and take shape. Slowly the form became more recognizable until finally a hologram of a miniature Mukuro looked up at him from where she stood on the top of the orb.
"Hiei," she greeted him coldly. He nodded in return. She studied him for a moment, an obvious look of surprise and disbelief crossing her features. He continued to stare emotionlessly, determined to retain some dignity.
"I suppose you're wondering what's happened while you've been gone?" It was barely a question and held an icy foreboding to it. Hiei offered no reply, fully aware that she would continue no matter what his reaction.
"Civil war has broken out," she stated matter-of-factly, no emotion in her voice or face. "Those who would go against me have been launching continuous attacks over the last few months that those imbeciles I call an army can't seem to handle. It makes it rather difficult to send and receive messages." The last statement was spoken with deadly conviction and Hiei had to fight the urge not to break his composure and bite his lip.
"So, what have you been doing all this time?" she asked, as though she didn't already know.
"I've explained that already," Hiei spoke for the first time, trying to keep his voice as cold as hers.
"Is all that true?" she asked. She was once again emotionless, no glaring or blaming, completely stoic. "Everything you said: the fox, the Koorime…the child?"
"Yes," Hiei replied curtly. She was silent for a moment, her eye traveling downwards on Hiei's form only to discover that the blanket covered his stomach.
"How far along are you?" It was amazing to him that she could ask this with a straight face.
"About four months now," he answered, again amazed he had said it and kept his composure. Mukuro suddenly sighed, dropping her stoic look she gazed at Hiei with an expression he couldn't quite read.
"I can't say I blame you for your choice to stay in the Ningenkai," she admitted. A smile crossed her face, "and believe me, I'm happy for you."
"But…?" he asked suspiciously. She sighed again.
"But we need you here, Hiei. I can't fight these rebel forces alone. If I at least had you by my side…" she trailed off sighing. "As I said, I understand your choice, but you're still strong enough to fight, to unleash the dragon. You don't have to stay, just a day or two, one battle. That's all I ask."
Hiei shook his head firmly. "No Mukuro. I won't do that again. I took the risk before and regretted it. I won't make the same mistake twice." Anger darkened Mukuro's features.
"So it's a mistake to come to the aid of a friend, is it?" she growled.
"No—" Hiei tried to defend himself but Mukuro cut him off.
"I've always left it up to you. I told you when you were pulling border patrol that I'd reassign you in Ningenkai; all you had to do was ask. I've never forced you to do anything. Hiei, under normal circumstances I'd be more than willing to respect your wishes to remain in Ningenkai and leave you be. I'm only asking for your help now because I need it. If that feeble blood-traitor is so paranoid he can come as well." Now Hiei growled, jumping to his feet.
"Don't you EVER call Kurama feeble or a traitor EVER AGAIN! Do you hear me?" he growled, baring his fangs menacingly. "Furthermore, I shouldn't have to explain myself twice. I've given you the reasons why I can't go back to Makai and I refuse to bend that resolution for anything or anyone, including you." Mukuro narrowed her good eye.
"Very well Hiei," she said icily, "consider this your 'two week's notice'. You and your youko mate are no longer welcome in my territory. Do you hear me? Furthermore, I pity that naïve fox for putting his trust in you because you'll never change. You worry about yourself and no once else and that, Hiei, is why you will never be anything but the despicable Forbidden Child."
With that the hologram flickered and when out. Outraged, Hiei growled and shouted a string of Makain curses into the night, hurling the communication orb off the terrace and into the darkness. He heard it shatter against the concrete below. Breathing hard he clenched and unclenched his fists spasmodically. He didn't turn as he heard the glass door slide opened behind him.
"Hiei, is everything alright?" Kurama asked gently, stepping out onto the terrace and noticing his mate's emotional state. Hiei was about to answer when he suddenly felt very dizzy. Spots swam before his eyes and he fell into a semiconscious half-swoon and collapsed.
"Hiei!" Kurama cried in surprised, trying and only half succeeding to catch his falling mate. Steadying Hiei in a hug on his knees, the redhead crouched beside him. He brushed his fingers through raven bangs and cooed his mate's name in his ear until Hiei seemed to steady himself again.
Anger gone and a mood swing gripping him hard, Hiei leaned his forehead on the fox's shoulder, fighting back tears. How could this have happened? Mukuro, the closest thing he had ever had to a real mother, had just disowned him. She had turned her back like everyone else. She had her reasons, they always did, but he had thought she would be different, and here she had turned out like all the rest. Kurama saw the moisture in his mate's eyes and kissed his forehead gently.
"What is it, Quickfire? What's wrong?" He nuzzled the fire demon's head, trying to coax him to talk. Slowly, hesitantly, the tale came from the half-Koorime's lips, picking up speed as it progressed until Kurama had to gently ask his mate to slow down. Eventually all was told and the two sat in silence. Kurama could see that Hiei was still fighting the tears.
"It's alright to cry, if you want to," Kurama whispered. Hiei shook his head.
"I don't want to cry," Hiei muttered, though the statement was weak and the voice tearful. Kurama sighed and gathered the half-Koorime into his lap. Hiei struggled but Kurama held him firmly. He retrieved the blanket that lay forgotten by the door and wrapped the fire demon in it.
"Crying can help," Kurama tried to reassure him, slowly showering his small, child-like face with kisses. "You'll feel better once you let it all out."
"N-no," Hiei tried to protest again, clenching his fists. Kurama tightened his hold, resting his forehead against his mate's.
"It's alright," he said again. Hiei was silent for a moment before looking up to meet understanding emeralds. The water finally began to overflow.
"How could she do that?" Hiei cried, burying his face in the redhead's chest and wrapping his arms around his mate. "She wasn't supposed to be like the others! It wasn't supposed to be like this with her!" He continued to cry out curses, slowly becoming more and more unintelligible. Kurama shushed his distressed mate, rocking them back and forth. Teargems bounced and rolled all around them. Kurama continued to coo soothing words to his mate, resting his head in raven spikes. He cast his eyes upwards, searching the night sky, hoping with all his heart that if the stars really could grant wishes that they would hear his plea and give this poor, lost Forbidden Child some peace.