A/N: Yes, yes I know. I'm going to have to solely dedicate this chapter to lilroseangel because she insisted (and at one point in the conversation, nagged) me to update. I really needed it. Heh, thanks.

Chapter 5: Inferno

Hiei almost glided through the black forest. Its smoke rose steady, suffocating all in its path. The ash smothered the earth now tread on by Hiei's boots. He smiled weakly at the feeling of destruction pulsing throughout the forest. It was familiar and comforting for a malicious demon such as himself.

However, the fire demon had to remain focused. This was a research mission. If he wanted to understand his target, then information and a description of the fire would be needed.

It was too dark to see anything anyway.

Shoving his hands into the depths of his coat pockets, Hiei closed his eyes.

"Just show me where the demon is and I'll tear him to pieces."

"It's not quite that simple," Botan sighed. Dealing with Hiei's cold and straight-forward attitude was definitely not on the top of her want-to-do list. She led him down the hallway and after several awkward silences, ended up at Koenma's doorway.

The sensation of home was overwhelming and it took a couple seconds for Hiei to realize that he reached his destination. In fact, Botan had already entered the room, leaving him out in the hallway to be left in trance. Without much care for this mission, the demon strolled forward as nonchalantly as possible.

Koenma sat at his desk, in child form, slowly twirling his chair back and forth. The concern and anxiety on his countenance was apparent despite the bauble in his mouth and the absurd hat. Hiei never did like the adolescent appearance.

"Well?" The fire demon raised an eyebrow.

"I should probably give you the 411 of the situation," Koenma began, as his blue haired assistant walked behind him. "Over the centuries in spirit world, there have been quite a good number of incidences with fires. As you probably know there are all types of fires. Spawned from spirit energy, mystical spells, good old fashion physical fire and so on. These fires however died out, doing little to no damage. After all, fires across the land are the least of our agencies' problems."

"So? Many demons use fire as basis of attacks."

"Yes, but recently a series of incidences have occurred across spirit world. There were no battles between demons, no rivalry, no important villages or temples… no anything. Just forest. I admit that at first glance it appeared to be nothing more than coincidence, especially since there seemed to be no serious damage," he paused, setting aside some papers resting in front of him. "But the fires wouldn't stop. Even after the forest was burned to the ground. It continued growing and growing, smoldering into a white aura. Soon the separate fires connected to each other and acted as a giant blanket sweeping across spirit world. At that point I had to send some people to stop this. Ice, water, wind, incantations, spells… nothing. None of it worked in the slightest. The fire just refused to die and continued spreading, soon exponentially."

"… and what do you expect me to do?" The demon sighed. This was not his problem and to be frank, he did not care.

"We need someone to stop it… and find out who'd do this. Only certain demons can withstand such heat, while all the others would perish. Spirit world would be a world for fire demons and no one else."

"Heh, doesn't seem like much of a problem for me."

"Well, it is for Yukina," Botan nervously added. Even Koenma showed signs of disgust towards Hiei's selfishness. He would think Hiei could deduct such reasoning. However, the original distaste evaporated as he saw the look upon the demon's face. It reflected severe thought and concern.

"Not all fire demons could survive. Not even you for too long, Hiei."

The fire demon's eyes were emblazoned red as he approached the desk. Despite feeling disheartened and helpless, Hiei was certain not to reveal such weakness. "Of course I could."

Taken somewhat off guard, Koenma stared back. "Not at this intensity." Noticing no change in this stubborn attitude, he decided to change the subject. "I researched and came up with a list of all the possible demons who could survive such disasters…"

Hiei eyed the boy carefully. Beneath a large amount of papers was a yellow folder, now handed to the fire demon. Uninterested, Hiei opened it, flipping several pages. To his surprise there were only a handful of such creatures, only one or two having individual pictures. The others must have been too elusive for a portrait.

"So?"

"These are merely some suspects for who caused this. What I really need you to do is stop the fire. Then find and stop who did it. I just figured if you knew about the fires' origin then perhaps finding a method to its destruction would be simpler."

"Hmph," the demon nodded emotionlessly. "Whatever."

Hiei reopened his eyes, in midst of the forest ash and flame. Nothing of interest here, let alone clues to assist in this idiotic investigation. He dragged his feet forward, uncovering more dust and embers.

This situation was not as simple as he previously thought. This would require research, and despite the expectations of Koenma, Hiei was not well versed in fire spells or any information relating to fire. Sure, he was a fire demon and used fire-based attacks but that was all. The one person he knew who was truly knowledgeable in such a category was-

… was Phennix. The demon was a phoenix after all.

Odd, he thought. She seemed to be haunting him till the grave. The demon was not much of a crime partner anyway. Especially after that one time…

The fire demon sighed. Who really cared? Such memories were not important, especially now. She disappeared a long time ago and most certainly had nothing to do with these fires. It was not important, only assisting Yukina was. All that was left now was finding her, along with the meaningless fact-finding mission.

Of course, there were no clues. Just ash, smoke, and fire.

Turning around in defeat, Hiei suddenly heard a scream. It was soft and muffled, but still recognizable nonetheless. Anxiously, the demon sped in its direction with the air-born ash burning his eyes.

It was not long before he came across a wall of fire. Its inferno licked the sky far above his head, emblazoned in an eerie orange with green sparks. Hm, green sparks?

"Copper…" He thought carefully. Only copper would burn a flame of that shade of green. Suddenly the fire demon was taken a little back, since when did he know that?

Coming to his senses, Hiei gazed at his feet, a layer of white ash upon them. He could have sworn the scream came from here, but it was not, only some peculiar fire. Sighing, the demon closed his eyes for a moment, the cinders still burning within. Upon opening them, he noticed a leaf resting on his dirty boot.

Kneeling down to pick up the frail object, Hiei grew suspicious for the reason this leaf still retained its color. A shockingly beautiful crimson red. Such a paper thin object could not survive in this blaze. Gingerly holding hit, Hiei slowly rose to his feet and to his surprise, saw the red sparrow bird from before.

In its other claw was an orange leaf of the same origin. The bird flew upon Hiei's tense shoulders and gently chirped.

"What mockery is this?"

However, the bird, being a bird, did and could not say anything in return. It chirped, and chirped, soon to fly and snatch the leaf from Hiei's palm. Leaf in beak, the bird flapped its crimson wings.

Another scream came from across the fire. Soon the bird began to act nervous and erratic. It flew past, around, and almost into Hiei's face.

A sickening feeling grew within the demon's stomach. The butterflies within it were growing more numerous. Something was wrong.

He could not take it anymore.

The demon opened his Jagan eye, and desperately searched for the scream's source. The bandage encasing it burned off, revealing its powerful secret. Hiei could see past the flame barrier, a couple feet past, to see Yukina.

Suddenly an agonizing pain overcame Hiei. It scorched at his forehead, growing and expanding. His whole body pulsed, muscles weak and feeble. He could see a horrible fire in front of him, smothering him, invading all around him. Clutching his forehead, Hiei stumbled forward, closer and closer to the wall of fire impeding his path.

Yukina…

Before the fire demon knew it, he was standing in its mists. Dead center of the encircling fire. To his surprise, the green wisps were not hot let alone warm. They were cool on his skin, by comparison to the burning in his forehead. He closed his Jagan painfully and its vision disappeared. Only a throbbing soreness remained. His heart pumped hard and painfully. There still remained a faint silhouette in his mind's eye, flashing red, blue, and black.

Waiting for the fading image to disappear, the fire demon paused awkwardly observing the cool flame engulfing him. How odd…

The bird revealed itself again, reflecting a strange brown-purple with its red feathers and green background.

Yukina!

The demon ran through the inches of thick blaze to escape clean on the other side. In front of him sat Yukina and an array of different birds.

At first the girl gawked at the demon glowing with green aura. Her dirty face displayed mixed signs of fear and surprised.

"Yukina?" Her brother gasped breathlessly. The crimson bird flew towards the girl, now smiling earnestly. She rose to her feet, tripping forwards only to be caught by Hiei.

The ice maiden appeared withered, exhausted. The amount of panting revealed all. She must have been running constantly through this ashen forest. The birds flew around her with great concern.

Pearl tears were streaming down her cheeks, and the girl hugged Hiei tight. She refused to utter a sound.

Hiei meanwhile stood like a statue. She was hugging him?

A/N: Well, PrincessKrystal01 was right. I guess I was lying. My sincerest, deepest apologies. I am honestly sorry. I really hate excuses, but things have just been so hectic and downright crazy… and sorry.

I'm not even going to make a promise for the next chapter… this is getting pathetic. Any punishment you like. Tar and feathers…draw and quartering… burning alive… your pick. Though I suppose if you kill me now then this story would never finish.