Disclaimer: Yu Yu Hakusho and all its characters don't belong to me.

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Chapter Three: Shattered Reflection

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I slowly awake. I can hear soft voices in the background. I keep my eyes closed, trying to listen. They are saying something...important I think.

"Kurama......are you sure?....but...you said......so he'll start remembering..." It's Hiei's voice. He sound's as cold as ever, but I can feel his ki grow somewhat excited.

I hear Genkai's voice answer. "Now don't jump to conclusions. He should start to remember, but he might not be able to gain it all back. The trauma he went through was extreme. It really should have killed him in my opinion. It's a blessing that he lost his memories at this point. If he would remember what happened in his condition. I don't think he would be able to bear it."

I keep my eyes closed, hoping that they will say something else. To my disappointment, I hear footsteps and I know Genkai has left once again. Reluctantly my eyelids open, searching for Hiei at my side. I can still feel his ki, but it seems to have weakened somehow.

He sees that I am awake and he comes over to my side. "Are you strong enough to stand?" he asks me. I nod. I feel a lot better now that I have rested some more.

Hiei doesn't say anything as he goes over to a closet and pulls out a white robe thing. I call it a white robe 'thing' because I really don't know what else to call it. He helps me into the garment, helping me get my arms into the long sleeves and wrap the cloth in the front and tie it in the back. It's very warm and comfortable. I'm glad to finally have something on my skin.

"We're going on a walk." He doesn't ask, he 'says'. I don't even care anymore. Maybe he might tell me something on this 'walk'.

It's funny how short he is when we walk side by side. I guess I didn't notice before. He leads me out of the door and out into a long hallway, one hand hovering near my waist in case I might need support. To my surprise I don't. I feel quite fine actually.

We go down the long empty hallway. Everything is quiet. I wonder where we are. I see many doors lining the wall, but Hiei doesn't even pause by any of them. Where is he taking me? I voice my question, my voice cracking some. "Where...are we going?"

Hiei raises one eyebrow and he seems to be ordering me to silence. I close my mouth, a little smile on my lips. He's so forceful sometimes, but I bet he doesn't realize how sweet he is inside.

Finally we seem to reach our destination. He stops in front of a big wooden door and pushes on it lightly. As it opens light leaks through and a woods is revealed to my sight. He's leading me outdoors it seems. I stumble out the door after him.

Everything is so bright out here. Maybe I've just been inside too long though. It's late spring, I think. The trees are almost totally full up with green vibrant leaves, and I can smell flowers blooming nearby. This seems to relax me and I just want to lie down in the soft green grass.

Hiei leads me out a little ways into the forest and into a clearing where there is a little pond. The water is like silver, reflecting the afternoon light that cascades down upon it. I smile softly and turn to look at Hiei who, as always, is watching me silently. I walk up to the shore of the lake and see a figure in its depths.

I'm staring into my reflection in the crystal water. It seems so strange to look at myself, for I do not at all feel like how I look. I'm gazing into my own deep emerald eyes, framed by long tresses of fire-red hair. My face seems so alien, so separate from what I feel inside that it's almost painful. I frown and something comes to my mind.

I can hear a voice in my head, as though I'm recalling it from a distant memory. It's a women's voice. She's calling a name, a name that seems strangely familiar.

My lips echo her words and I softly whisper out that name. "Shuichi..."

I shiver when I hear that name. I don't know where these memories have suddenly come from. I want them desperately, but it's starting to hurt within me, when I remember. I frantically race to remember more, but nothing else comes besides that women's voice and that name.

I reach out one finger to touch my reflection, only to find that it shatters as the ripples flow out across the waters. I stand up and turn to look at Hiei, biting my lip.

"It hurts." I say softly, reaching out my hand to him. Lightly he takes it and rubs it against his cheek before placing a gentle kiss on it. I'm surprised by his tenderness that he suddenly decides to show.

"I know, but soon...you'll have to remember..." he replies to me, as he turns away and starts walking back over the soft grass.

I follow after him, hoping that he's not just going to led me back to the 'place' where I was inside before. I much prefer it outside. To my pleasure he leads me out to one of the large meadows and plops down in the grass.

Carefully, I sit down next to him. My hand brushes against his thigh and I blush slightly before turning away. He doesn't seem to notice.

"I know you like it out here. That's why I brought you." he says matter-of- factly.

I snort. I find it ironic that he knows more about me than even I do. That leads me to another question. "Were we close?" I ask hesitantly.

Hiei turns to me, with an odd twist in his frown. It's like he's smiling, but trying his hardest not to. "Hn..." he replies, noncommittally.

I sigh and lean back, folding my arms behind my head and staring up at the blue sky. Much to my surprise...and delight...I feel small hands entwine themselves in my hair that cascades onto the ground.

Warmth spreads across my body, and I know Hiei's true answer. I'm starting to understand Hiei a little better now. It doesn't matter so much what he says. What truly matters is what he does in those small moments of intimacy, when there's no cold barrier to separate his heart from yours.

~ Aww. I don't know about you, but that gave me the warm fuzzies. And if you're smart (unlike me!) you'll have noticed the clue I left for you that has something to do with the reason that Kurama lost his memories!~