As this epic story draws to a close, so much is going through my mind right now. But one thing is for certain, this story will not be the end. The last three years have been a hell of a ride for me, and hopefully for you as well. I look forward to many more years of adventure and enjoyment.

Thank you all so much, this has meant so much to me. I can't tell you all enough how much you've done for me. Knowing that this work has succeeded in bringing enjoyment to others is a wonderful feeling.

Thank you,

Bojack727

.o.o.o.

HIEI & KUWABARA: SAGA OF THE DARK WORLD

Chapter Twenty-Three: Of Roses and Revelations

.o.o.o.

Hiei looked up impassively at the taller demon seated before him. He was brown-skinned with a large mane of red hair that ran down his back. Hiei silently noted his tired, sad look.

The demon looked over at him and began to speak, still sitting down. "I am Thorn of the Rose Clan, and the 2nd General to Lord Darkon." He announced mechanically in a labored tone. "I imagine you must be here to kill me?" He asked emotionlessly.

Hiei was taken back by the bluntness. "If that's the way you see it, then yes- I have come to kill you."

Thorn stood up. "Well then, you'd better go on and get it over with." He remarked and walked over to where Hiei stood. He looked down at the shorted demon. "Go on and kill me then." He added.

Hiei stepped back and drew his sword and pointed it at him. "Fool, do you have a death wish!"

"No." Thorn replied.

"Then fight me!" Hiei yelled out.

Thorn shook his head. "No, I refuse to fight you, so you can go on and kill me now."

Hiei became silent and stepped back. "Coward, you refuse to fight me, why won't you face me, have you no honor?" He demanded.

Thorn smiled at him. "I do not fear death, I just long for it now."

"You bastard!" Hiei exclaimed. "How dare you do this to me, how dare you insult me by refusing my challenge."

"How have I insulted you?" Thorn asked.

Hiei growled. "I seek revenge for something that was done to me- I seek a payment for being wronged!"

Thorn shook his head. "I can't give you that, killing me won't bring her back," Thorn answered. "But I am deeply sorry for your loss." He added and turned to go sit back down in his seat.

Hiei lowered his sword. "Then this is pointless, killing a defenseless enemy has no honor." He spoke gravely.

Thorn nodded. "I think that we are even- the girl was taken from you, but I have lost two friends because of you."

"Why are you even saying this?" Hiei asked. "You're a demon, you know the way it goes." He added. "All of die one day, but at least your friends died in battle- mine was taken from me, torn from this life with no crimes but—"

"But Being innocent." Thorn finished. "The gentle and pure will always be trampled under the wheels of tyranny of war- that is the way of this life." Thorn went on.

"But it's wrong!" Hiei snapped.

Thorn frowned. "Every single part of this life of ours is wrong from the day we are born- all living things are destined to suffer and make others suffer!"

"And you believe this?" Hiei asked.

"I want to believe in something better then this, that there is more to life then endless war and suffering- that we can do more then hate one another." Thorn replied. "I want to believe in a perfect world."

Hiei shook his head. "My world is not much better then this one."

"I used the stone to see the other worlds, to find one where everything was perfect and we all loved one another; where no one ever wanted for anything or ever had to feel sadness or grief."

Hiei sheathed his sword. "And did you find such a place?" He asked as a wave of unease passed through him.

Thorn shook his head. "No, that world only exists in our hearts and minds."

Hiei looked at the other demon, waves of unfamiliar emotions crashing against the shores of his inner self. "I'm sorry for you then."

Thorn smiled weekly. "I sympathize with you, loosing a loved one is hard." He paused. "But you must go on."

He nodded. "You can do something; you can stop fighting and start over." He explained, sympathy replacing the jaded hate in him.

Thorn smiled. "I see you have become close with that human." He remarked. "I'm glad that you're different."

"Different then what?" Hiei asked suddenly.

Thorn leaned forward. "Different from this world's version of you."

.o.o.o.

Kuwabara gasped for air as head stopped spinning. The stand off had been intense, but in the end it was like the power between them blew a- well a fuse for a lack of a better word. The power between them gave out, and luckily, Marth got the lot of it.

"All that power," He gasped. "It all surged into him; it must have literally burned him out." He added, managing to get back up and catch his breath.

But then, something snaked around his neck and locked onto him. "You!" He gasped as the Demon put him in a death grip.

Kuwabara crained his neck up and looked up at the demon. His eyes and mouth were bleeding a strange seeping black blood as he looked down at him.

"If I can't kill you with my hands, then I'll kill you with my mind and my will!" He screamed. He then pressed the palm of his other hand against Kuwabara's head and the human felt his own mind being invaded.

.o.o.o.

"What do you mean this world's version?" Hiei asked in amazement. Ironically, he'd never considered that there might have been another version of him, even though he had met the alternates for Kurama and Yusuke.

"The Hiei of this world died some time ago, a few hundred years ago if I recall." Thorn informed him. "But he was different, he makes you seem gentle."

"What are you getting at?" Hiei demanded.

"The Ruthless Fire Lord Hiei began a blood feud with a human clan that led to his destruction." Thorn began. "When the war was in full tilt, there were still neutral realms for both humans and demons, and Hiei sought to take their land to expand his empire."

Hiei stood in silence as he listened to the words unfold before him.

"This was however, not the only reason for beginning the conflict." Thorn explained. "This world's Hiei was twisted and vicious, and he was appalled when he learned that these humans and demons had even begun to live together. The most powerful of the humans took a young demon as his wife and they were happily raising a family when he attacked."

"What happened?" Hiei asked uneasily.

While the human leader was away visiting with a neighboring clan, he attacked and killed the entire family- his demon wife, their Halfling children, and the only familial relation to the Human- his sister." Thorn paused. "Then this man, named Kuwabara, returned and found his family and children dead and—"

"Wait!" Hiei screamed. "Did you just say that his name was Kuwabara!"

Thorn nodded. "Yes, and his wife was a small female demon with from the ice tribe...named Yukina"

Hiei wanted to vomit at this piece of information. "Oh my god, he- I- killed her, I killed Yukina?" He gasped. "And who killed 'me'?" He finally asked at length.

"Kuwabara narrowly destroyed you by destroying himself and you in the process."

"AHHH!" Hiei screamed. "How can this happen, he is a reflection of me- could I be capable of this as well!" He exclaimed. He slumped down onto his knees. "I killed them, Yukina, Shizuro, the Kuurime children." He thought. "Is this part of me as well, how different from him am I.

"That Hiei never knew he had a sister, he lacked something that makes you the person you are." Thorn reasoned. "This world's Hiei wore Yukina's Tear Gems around his neck after it was over."

Thorn walked over the far side of the wall and pulled a lever. "Kuwabara killed him in one of the most barbaric, bloody battles I've ever seen- I've never scene anything like ever- he just kept on fighting his way through hundreds of soldiers, like a machine." He paused. "Till he found Hiei and killed him through self-destruction."

Hiei stood up. "No, this can't be who I am; I have the power to make my own future!" He clenched his fist. "Free will is not an illusion- I have a choice!"

Thorn walked over to him. "And what choice is this?" He asked seriously.

Hiei looked up at him and smiled. "To end this once and for all, to stop all this chaos!"

Thorn waved his hand. "Then go, you'll need the help of the human if you hope to stand a chance in this at all."

Hiei turned as a panel opened in the stone wall; he turned to look at Thorn. "Why?"

"Just go." Thorn replied and watched the Demon rush out of the room. He then sat back down in his chair. "Well, all I can do now is wait and hope."

.o.o.o.

Marth's mental assault on Kuwabara was too much for the human. He could feel himself weakening. But somehow, it was worse because it wasn't just he that was losing, but everything that he ever believed in. Now all of his enemies could look upon him and rejoice. Images began to flood his mind.

Musashi: 'I shall overcome you!'

Byakko: 'Come to your death, puny human!'

Giro: 'They say a human will sell his soul to the devil for power, then why not a demon!'

Torukane: 'You can't hurt me, I'm too valuable!'

Toguro: 'Pathetic!'

Reisho: 'Such pretty words, but in the end, all it will win you is a tombstone!'

Elder Toguro: 'Nothing more than a pathetic human who died begging for mercy!'

Seaman: 'I'll show you how useless your code really is!'

Sensui: 'Humans are wicked, it's in their nature to bring suffering and death into the world.'

Kuwabara gasped for air as he felt himself fading, it was too much for him, but then something happened. He saw something different, images of his friends and family.

Yusuke: 'Even you can't give up now, buddy.'

Botan: 'Please, you must be brave.'

Kurama: 'Surrender is out of the question, I didn't train you for nothing.'

Hiei: 'You can't die now, too many of your enemies would rejoice in your death.'

Shizuro: 'Don't be stupid baby bro; you know it's not your time.'

Yukina: 'Oh Kazuma, I can't wait to see the cherry blossoms bloom in the spring, I'll be waiting for you.'

Kuwabara looked up at Marth. "No, damnit, I won't die like this!" He exclaimed and grabbed onto Marth's head. "It's time for you to die!" He exclaimed as he sent the energy back into the demon- causing him to literally explode from his own energy!

Kuwabara fell forward and looked up. "Don't worry Yukina; I'll be back in time to see the flowers with you."

.o.o.o.

Hiei walked down the hall, but stopped he saw Kuwabara sitting at the far end, leaned up against the wall.

"Kuwabara!" He yelled out from across the distance and ran over to him. "Are you even alive?" He asked.

The human looked up at him. "Yeah, let's get going, we have a god to kill."

Hiei smiled at him. "Yeah."

(- End of Chapter 23 -)

.o.o.o.

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, as there are only a few more to go. See you guys later!

Bojack