Chapter Seventeen: Broken

The two figures barged into the inner chamber of the sanctuary. "Old man, tell me what really happened between the humans and the demons?" He demanded.

Tressei frowned. "Are you sure you want to know the answer to that?" He asked.

Hiei fumed at the old man's words. "Of course!" He exclaimed. "The man we attack said that the humans are no less guilty then the demons, what did he mean?"

"The answer to that is an old one, traced back to almost a thousand years ago." Tressei cleared his throat. "Once there was a golden age of peace, humans lived happily amongst demons." He paused. "But over the years, as the humans continued to thrive, some dark thought found its way into the world, and the humans gave into their darker selves."

The old man eyed them keenly. "Mutual respect gradually was superceded by resentment and malice. In the end, the humans overwhelmed the demons and reduced them to slaves."

"I should have guessed- humans more cruel then demons!" He spoke with a sardonic laugh. "Then this would mean that the humans helped create this world?" The fire demon asked.

"Those humans existed almost a thousand years ago." The old man answered sternly. "What you see now are humans who have no concept of the past, they suffer for the sins of a world that no longer exists." He added. "Besides, the guilty met their final judgment when Darkon appeared."

Tressei seemed to be growing weak from the conversation, but he continued. "Darkon burned away most of the world." Tressei then looked straight at Hiei. "Do you know what it's like when an atom bomb goes off?" Eight billion people vanished in a single moment, that if the reality of this world." Tressei finished.

Kuwabara saw, what looked like, a small drop of blood hit the floor, but before he could say anything, the demon rapidly left.

.o.o.o.

Kuwabara walked out into the open area, the smog clouds further weakened the fading light of the setting sun.

He then spotted the figure of Garland, off in the distance; he looked to be sitting on the porch of his house, where he was living with his brother- Rain.

Garland looked up at the tall youth and just began speaking. "When I my brother and I were born, my mother gave us names that she felt would reflect the future our lives would have." He explained. "She called me Garland, kinds of wreath that is used as way of bestowing honor." He added.

"What about your brother's name?" Kuwabara asked, sitting down beside him.

"She said that he knew he would help heal the wounds of this world, like a cleansing rain." He finished. After a brief moment, he looked up the other young man. "What does your name mean?"

Kuwabara exhaled and looked at the sky for a moment as a gently breeze wined softly in a distant field. "Kuwabara means 'mulberry', but my first name- Kazuma- means 'honesty'." He finished.

"It's a good name." Garland replied. He then stood up and looked down at Kuwabara with a smile. "I'd better go check on my brother."

.o.o.o.

Hiei stumbled into one of the rooms on the 2nd level of the house; the rooms were not visible at first, because the tall roof covered them in the front. The windows all looked out onto what could pass for a backyard.

The fire demon observed the bed in the room. It was larger, and he wondered why these chambers weren't used. He fell onto the bed and removed his cloak and coat. He then looked down at his undershirt and saw that the entire lower half was stained a dark red color, the source being his own blood.

He peeled the stained shirt off and looked down at his scared midsection; the wounds on his body were marred by the metal that was still imbedded in his tanned flesh. He started to try and remove them, but it burned his fingertips. He swore and pulled his hand away.

Hiei heard the door creak open and saw Shera appear. "I was worried when you ran up here, are you okay?" She asked; only to see his wounds. "Oh no," She exclaimed. "What happened?"

"I don't want your help." Hiei blurted out curtly.

"Don't be difficult." She replied, walked over to where he was- sitting with his back against the headboard. Hiei muttered something, but then became silent.

"Now, tell me what happened?" She said firmly.

"Someone shot me?" He answered dully. He was mildly irritated by the way that she was looking at him; he also didn't like her touching him.

Shera leaned over him to inspect the wounds. "Can't you get them out?" She asked, looked him in the eyes.

"No, they burned me." He admitted.

Shera crossed her arms and seemed to consider the dilemma for a moment. She uncrossed her arms and looked back at him. "They must be blessed, but then you'd have to be a—"

"Yes," Hiei interrupted. "I'm a demon, sorry to disappoint you." He added, bitterly, somewhat hoping that this new revelation would drive her away. Instead, she smiled at him.

"It doesn't change anything," she explained softly. "As far as I'm concerned, you're still the exact same person I first met." She finished, smiling at him. "I'll go get some tool, I be back shortly."

Hiei watched her vanish from the room, leaving him alone. He just wanted to drive her away, but her compassionate nature kept her from simply leaving. In the end, he decided that he was not willing to resort to forcing her out. He was too tired for it, and now it seemed that his thoughts were getting hazy- probably from physical exhaustion.

Then, she reentered the room, holding a small satchel under one of her arms. She proceeded to set the satchel down and removed a few items from them. The next thing she did was to retrieve a small basin from one of the corners of the room. "I'm afraid this may hurt." She told, sounding almost apologetic.

Hiei mindlessly complied and shifted into another position, so that his upper body was straiter. She held up what looked to be a small blade. The blade entered his flesh- only going in a few centimeters, but the sudden pane elicited a hiss from him.

Shera stopped and glanced up at him for just a moment. The fire demon nodded and then went on. Using some kind of tweezers, she pulled out the metal shard. Hiei grunted slightly, holding back the minor stabbing feeling he felt. Shera then wiped away the blood with a wet cloth.

"Why are you doing this?" Hiei asked. "Why are you helping me when you know what I really am?" He asked in a dark tone.

"I don't care if you're a demon, I still care for you." She replied, removing another piece of shrapnel.

Hiei was keenly aware of how odd he was now acting, but a strange presence lingered in his thoughts. "You're lying, you couldn't really care a bout a demon- its just pity!" He spat. "I don't need your pity!" He flinched as he said the last word- most likely as another piece of metal came out of him.

Shera stopped at looked at him, an odd look on face. "Why can't you just accept that someone might actually want to help just for the sake of doing it?" She asked, removing another shard. "We are capable of looking out for others."

He grunted loudly. "Look at me." He said.

Shera looked up in time to see him undo his headband. Her eyes widened for a moment.

His Jagaan glared at the girl in unison with his normal eyes. "Now tell me if you still feel the same way."

She flared up slightly. "Hiei," she implored. "It doesn't make a difference. I look at you and still, all I see is you." She finished, removing another piece of shrapnel.

"Me?" He replied. "You don't know me; you don't know the things I've done." He told her darkly.

"What I know is what you've done her and now, the past doesn't matter- and you need to accept that." With that, she removed the last piece and cleaned the wounds.

Hiei sit there, silent, as she wrapped a bandage around his midsection. He then clamped a hand on her shoulder.

"Hiei?" she gasped.

"Tell me the truth, why are you here?" He asked, his eyes taking on a dull glint.

"I told you." She snapped back.

"I don't believe you, tell me the real truth?" He felt detached as he spoke. He pulled her closed to his face. "Its pity, isn't it- pity for the pore injured demon?"

She looked away. "Why can't you see," She started, looking back at him. "It's because of you- Hiei, I lo—"

He cut her off by capturing her lips in his own. The girl gasped in surprise, but the heat her gave off, and intensity of the action calmed her some. He released her lips, traveled down toward the crook of her neck, where he grazed his teeth softly over her smooth pale skin. She gasped, half out of fear and half out of a confusing mixture of emotions she felt.

The collar of her dress slipped open slightly as Hiei left a trail of feverish kissed. The fire demon was no longer working on logic, but a strange uncontrollable hunger within him. Logic and self-restraint had abandoned him now, only his urges and insecurities remained.

Then, the two fell forward, with him above her. He ran a hand along her hips and continued to kiss her. She trembled at the touch of his hand through the soft fabric of her dress. It was then, that she knew that she could accept him.

But something clicked in the recesses of his hazed over mind, he could feel her trembling. He looked down at her, seeing the mix of pear and lust- a lust he had imposed on her. "n-no," He thought in his mind. "I'm just like those soldiers, I forced her into this, how could I be so horrible." He thought bitterly. Shame now attacked his heart and mind.

Shera's thoughts were suddenly filled with confusion as she watched him retreat back from her. He slid out of bid and fumbled about, trying to grab his coat.

She sat up, her hair mussed slightly and a dark flush across her pale cheeks, stray looks of reddish-brown hung over face. "Hiei?" she spoke timidly. Her heart seemed to break in two. "Why are you doing this?" She exclaimed in a shaky voice. She wrapped her arms around herself. "I can't blame you; I'm just a skinny little runt anyway." She cried out, tears streaming down her face.

Hiei stopped, looking at her crying form. "No, Shera, don't cry." He pleaded, making uneven steps towards her and falling into her- sending them both up against the headboard. He looked at her, right into her eyes, while all the emotions within him battled for control. He cupped her cheek with his hand.

"I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have imposed myself on you, forgive me." He spoke, his words reaching the girl amidst the emotional chaos. "Don't say that; don't let yourself be control by your own self loathing." He spoke erratically through sobs.

He licked the tears away from her cheeks and jaw. He trembled slightly as he pulled her form into his arms. She then felt warm droplets hit her shoulder. She lifted herself back up to be eye to eye with. He closed his eyes for a moment, and then looked back her. "You're perfect." He said.

"Hiei," she began as she wrapped an arm around his neck. "You held it all in for long, all the hurt and the pain." She continued. "I know what it's like, to ware a mask for the rest of the world, let me ease it." She finished speaking- tears streaming down her cheeks as she ran her hands through his dark black plumes of hair.

She kissed his forehead, just above the Jagaan, and ran her free hand down his back.

"I'm so tired." Hiei finally spoke. His whole body felt like iron. "Please just stay here with me." She pleaded with her.

"Of course." She replied, watching him slip out of their embrace and rest his head in her lap. She snaked her fingers into sleek black hair and rubbed his scalp softly.

Hiei could tell his was rapidly slipping into darkness. "Shera," He began. "Please just stay here with me, let me live in this moment, with you."

She smiled sweetly, watching him fall asleep, in her lap.

.o.o.o.

Lin stepped out of her house and saw Kuwabara sitting off to the side, alone and looking off into the distant horizon. She approached him and placed a hand on his shoulder. He looked up at her, a small smile on his face. "Can I join you?" She asked.

He nodded and the girl sat down beside him. "What are you thinking about?" She asked, leaning against him.

"Stars." He replied wistfully.

"I've never seen them." Lin replied. "What are they like?" She then asked.

Kuwabara smiled. "Like distant points of lights, and they twinkle." He replied. "The can be different colors- like red or blue." He added.

Lin put an arm around his as her pointed up at the sky with the other. "And the sky is a dark blue color that goes on forever." He finished, becoming aware of their contact.

"And in the daytime, you can see the sun- it's like a huge ball of fire." He finished.

"It sounds wonderful." Lin replied. "Will this world ever see the sun and stars again?" He asked with a distant tone to no one.

Kuwabara stood up. "It's late, you should get some sleep." He remarked, watching her rise and look him in the eyes. "I don't know when, but somehow, you'll see the sun rise before this is all over."

Lin smiled. "Thank you, so much." She turned and left for the house.

End of Chapter Seventeen

This chapter ended up being pretty long, but it was important to properly get everything across in a certain way. The long delay of this chapter is due to the destruction of the original version. After several redrafts, I finally produced what you have just finished reading.

Please leave some reviews to tell me if you like it or if you have any suggestions.

-Bojack727

I'm dedicating this to Zinic, KuwabaraLover, and "Alter-Of-Wishes".