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Chapter Four: Golden Rose of Truth

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Everything out here is so silent and peaceful. I kind of wish we could stay forever like this, together. I lay still, not wanting him to stop his gentle caress. His hands are combing through my long hair as I stare up at the clear blue sky. There are only small clouds hanging lazily in the sky, looking like little balls of cotton. My vision is obscured though when Hiei leans over me so that he is directly above my face.

I raise an eyebrow at him, but don't move. I wonder what he's up to now. His face is moving closer, his lips capturing mine and his tongue sliding into my mouth. My eyes widen. Is he kissing me?!

I don't know how to respond to this. I don't understand. I freeze, unable to move. Everything is going way too fast for me as he breaks the kiss and stares down at me. I don't know what to say to him. The way he's looking so intensely into my eyes in unnerving. How am I supposed to respond?!

"Oi, Hiei! Where are you?" We hear a loud voice call from a distance. In an instant Hiei is standing once again.

"Oh, there you are. Where's Kurama? I came to see how he was—"the voice stops as I stand up to see who is approaching us. He's a moderately tall boy, with slicked back black hair and a goofy grin on his face. I feel discomforted in his presence, especially after this little 'incident' that has happened.

"Kurama...how are you? You feeling alright?" He says as though he's known me forever and he slaps me lightly on the back.

I grimace and shift away from his touch slightly. Hiei scowls. "You fool." He says viciously.

The boy looks at me with confusion riddled in his face.

"You dimwit, Yusuke, I told you not to bother them." says Genkai as she approaches from behind.

I turn my eyes to 'Yusuke'. I sigh and massage my forehead in slight exasperation. Another person I was supposed to remember. Hiei stands protectively in front of me as though he's worried that Yusuke will do something stupid.

Yusuke raises an eyebrow at him and grins. "Hey, I just came here to see how Kurama is doing...especially after what happened with his—"he doesn't get the chance to finish because Genkai whacks him hard across the face.

He turns to her, with a big red splotch on his face. "What was that for you old hag?!"

Genkai doesn't reply, but turns to me. "Don't mind my idiot apprentice (reminds me of Kenshin...). He's just a fool."

My mouth twitches into a frown. Yusuke was about to say something, something I didn't know. Maybe I should talk to this boy sometime alone. I could see though, that Hiei was going to have known of that.

"Come Kurama." He says turning away from Yusuke and walking back down the path deeper into the woods. I gaze at Yusuke for one second longer, wanting to stay and get some information out of him, but I comply with Hiei's order and follow him. I don't want to risk losing him. He's my only strength in this crazy world.

"Who was that?" I ask Hiei, once we have walked deeper into the silent forest.

He shakes his head. "That fool doesn't matter right now. There's something I need to show you first." He says, grabbing onto my hand and pulling me along to make me walk faster.

I look at him, wondering, remembering the soft kiss that he had given to me. I don't think I understand him as well as I thought. He keeps on doing things that surprise me. I think he's that kind of person though. He always seems to do what you least expect. It will take a while for me to get used to.

I have to admit I'm enjoying the feel of his roughened skin against my palm. He's so warm against my hand that it makes me tingle slightly inside. I want to stare into his eyes and learn if he's feeling the same thing, but he's moving along too fast for me to know.

He leads me into a small enclosed clearing surrounded by a wall of thick, sharp thorns. I brush my way easily through them, but I notice one catch on Hiei's cheek and cut a thin line through his pale skin. A tiny drop of red blood falls onto the earth, but he doesn't seem to notice.

Inside this small clearing is a stone pedestal that seems to be carved delicately in the shape of twisting vines. I peer closer and see that they actually seem to be thorns like the wall that is surrounding us. That's not the most amazing part of what Hiei has brought me to see though.

Set delicately in the clutches of the hideous thorns is the most beautiful entrancing rose that I have ever seen. It's a shimmering golden amber that almost resonates across my skin as I reach out to touch one of its vibrant velvet petals. It's so soft and surprisingly warm to my touch.

Carefully I stroke its smooth surface, reveling in the heat that is radiating from its center. My eyes then notice a small blotch of crimson that has spread across its center. It's like blood has been spattered across this image of perfection. Its purity and innocence have been lost in the pain of suffering. My hearts clenches and I turn to Hiei questions burning in my eyes.

"What is this?" I ask, fire burning within me again.

Hiei's face shows no expression like usual as he begins to speak his red eyes shining with pain.

"When I found you...you were clenching that rose to your chest."

"When you found me? After what happened?" I questioned, insisting that I got a response. Will I finally find out what happened to me?

"I can't tell you...You have to remember it on your own...you'd never be able to bear it." He says coldly, turning away from me.

"I think I can decide that for myself! You can't just leave me with that! You have to answer. I HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW!" I begin to scream, shattering the still mood of the forest into scattered shards.

Hiei's eyes are flashing deeper. "Calm down. You'll know soon enough. That's why I brought you here."

"What do you mean?" A dim hope is growing with in me. Anticipation is overtaking me as I begin to breathe quicker.

"Pick up the rose and see what I mean." He says as though he wants nothing more than for me not to do it. I don't know what he's up to.

I pause for one more moment and from somewhere in my murky memories of this morning I can the words Genkai spoke clearer. 'The rose....it's the rose.....' Just before my mind was fully conscious I had heard those words, though I had not realized it at the time.

Does this rose have something to do with my memories and the past that I have all the sudden forgotten? Could it be that this is the link that I've been so desperately searching for, the link that will finally led me to the truth?

My hand reaches out and grabs onto its fragile stem, gently pulling it away from the pedestal. I'm surprised and disappointed to see that nothing happens. I twirl it lightly in my fingers once and bring it up to my nose, drinking in its sweet scent.

Then my eyes widen and I start to remember. The memories are flooding within me, rushing over me in a wave that is too overwhelming for me. I can remember it all. Everything. My mind is going over all this information at amazing speed as my life flashing in front of me. Life before and after I was born in the human world. My mind pauses on one memory, the memory I've be longing so much for, but now that I've found it...I'm not sure I want it anymore.

It's burning within me, the pain. It's consuming as I begin to remember just what has happened......It's my mother......she.....she.......

[Ok, I'll just leave it hanging there for a while although it's pretty obvious...*ahem*....anyway.... Thank you reviewers!!!!]