If you choose the lesser of two evils,

you are still choosing evil.

Ralph Nader

The Proper Choice

"Sir."

Mustang fought the urge to look away, gaze fixed on the mutilated corpse. A middle-aged man lay in the alley, abdomen ripped open, displaying the mysteries of the human body. Rib cage broken in places, bones candied with blood gleamed in the moonlight, deep reds and purples melding into nameless shades. Much of the meat had been stripped from the upper body, random clumps clinging to the clavicle and humerus. Oddly enough, the muscle along his spine remained in-tact, as did his waist and legs; one hand still gripped a half- empty bottle of spirits.

Still, that left the vacant trunk, the hollowed throat. He stared at those wide eyes, the mouth still open in a scream. Gruesome as it was, the Colonel forced himself to look, to meet the dead man's gaze. If he didn't, if he had to look at the body a second time–

He would be sick in front of his men.

"Could be wild dogs, heard there were some in the area." Havoc took a drag from his cigarette to hide a scowl, pity filling his eyes. "Poor guy never stood a chance."

The second lieutenant had been the one to find the victim; in fact, in his rush to catch up with Mustang, he'd almost missed him. Of course, he'd sent a subordinate after the Colonel and the rest; gathering everyone took less than ten minutes.

However, no one knew quite what to do.

"The forensics team will be here soon." A cloud of smoke filled the night air and Havoc sighed, crushing the cigarette against the brick wall. "Gotta say boss, a lot of weird things have been happening since the other night. I'm just glad your luck tends to be good!"

The boys from before came to mind, the blood at his feet melding into the lines of the transmutation circle. Of course, they had nothing to do with each other.

Still, "It wasn't dogs."

Hawkeye stilled at his side and Havoc glanced over, brows raised. "What makes you say that?"

With a steadiness that came from years of training, Mustang pointed to the man's neck, forcing himself to study the plain again. "Look at his neck."

Havoc grimaced but did as he was told, stooping to stare at flayed flesh. True, most of the neck was gone, muscle and veins torn away to reveal rounded bones. Just below the ears, however, a peculiar sight awaited him.

A cut.

Sure, most of the cut had been ripped away with the throat but it remained at the corners of the jaw, beaded in red and perfectly symmetrical. Precise, something teeth couldn't manage, no matter how sharp. A thin cut–

A blade's cut.

"This man wasn't killed by an animal." Mustang continued as realization dawned, brow furrowing. "He was murdered by a person."

"But sir, how do you explain the state of the body?" Havoc stood, gesturing to the corpse. "Surely a human couldn't have done all that!"

"They could, given enough time." Stomach fluttering, he humored his subordinate by playing devil's advocate, keeping all hints of queasiness locked up tight. "We won't know specifics until the forensic's examination, but there are other clues besides the cut."

Stepping closer, Mustang took a breath even as his nose wrinkled. The corpse had begun to smell, despite the cold weather. "Don't you notice anything missing?"

The blonde man scowled, pressing a cigarette to his lips yet refusing to light it. "Over half the body is missing, boss. You gotta be a bit more specific."

"When dogs are hungry, they devour everything in sight. Bones, entrails; as long as it looks like food, they'll eat without question." The two nodded, following his logic. "That's not what happened here. The killer was selective, chose what to leave and take."

Hawkeye inched closer to the corpse, mouth set, face impassive. He'd forgotten she was better at this game. "What's missing?"

"Organs." Mustang crouched, finger tracing the air as he spoke. "The heart, lungs, liver, even the tongue is gone." True enough, the ribs surrounding the first two were gone, scattered here and there in the narrow space. Only a pitiful, hollow hole remained of the chest cavity. The open mouth proved the absence of a tongue, ripped right out of his head. Neither cared to search out the liver. "Kidneys, stomach, intestines, the brain, they're all there."

"What, you think just because a few pieces are gone, that makes the killer human?"

"No, the job is simply too calculated for an animal."

Why were they debating over this at four o'clock in the morning? Thankfully, he'd had the foresight to send Fuery after Falman and Breta – something this gruesome was the last thing the kid needed to see.

Full Metal's grin flashed and Mustang shut his eyes, thankful for once he'd followed orders. Then again, Edward's role in this investigation ended the first day. The boy confirmed the intruders weren't the product of human transmutation – there was no reason to involve him further. Sure, he'd asked Havoc about the search but the Elrics were so engrossed in Tucker's library that even that was a formality. Mustang introduced them to his coworker as a reward for their work in Lior–

He never dreamed that meeting would keep them from seeing something like this.

"I agree." Hawkeye knelt at his side, staring at the open mouth, the wide eyes. "Though the tongue is missing, the rest of the head is intact. A creature would have worried the head, crushing the skull."

"Okay, so our guy's human." Havoc rolled the cigarette across his lips, not willing to look at the body again. "What could the motive be?"

"Who knows? That's not our problem." The truth sounded callous in his own ears. They had their hands full not only searching for the four suspects but also keeping the rebellion in-check. For the most part, the mass public didn't appear aware of what was happening though rumors were spreading, inciting riots in the countryside. The rebels grew bolder every day, their pride bolstered by some new-found strength:

They had to hurry.

"Sir."

He followed Hawkeye's gaze even though every instinct dictated otherwise, stomach roiling as the body came once more into view. For a moment, he couldn't tell what she wanted him to see, why she stared at one shoulder so intently. Yet when he finally did see, the image flooded his eyes, searing into his brain with such force he nearly lost his dinner.

Bite marks, the unmistakable imprint of teeth–

Human teeth.

A quick study proved his hypothesis. The prints were everywhere, around the tattered flags of flesh, the otherwise untouched left hand, even scraped into the bones. Bloodied fingertips, dark hair clinging to the nails. Each pointed toward one possibility.

This man had been eaten alive.

"Where's Hiei?"

Kurama stilled amid his nest of books, gaze rising from curling topography map. The psychic's rest hadn't lasted long – an hour at most – though he appeared refreshed, stretching stiff arms upward.

"I wouldn't worry about him; you know how Hiei is." Yusuke spoke with his mouth full, fingers buried in another container of canned food. The repugnant odor of what should have been meat curled Kurama's nose yet his friend seemed unperturbed, eating freely of his rations. "He can take care of himself."

"I know! I know that, but–" A hand dove into messy curls, carefully-styled pompadour long gone. "You didn't see those guys, not like we did."

A snort. "They were human, right?"

"Of course they were! But that one, the one with gray hair . . ." He shuddered, shaking away the memory. "He wasn't normal."

Yusuke paused, appetite stoppered. "Like he guy with the gloves?"

"No, not like that."

"Then there's nothing to worry about." Dumping the last morsel into his mouth, the raven haired man dropped the can, abused tin rolling to join the rest at his feet. "Hiei can take on regular humans any day."

"But he's weak right now! You saw how much confronting the soldiers that night wore him out – he slept for hours!" He allowed his hand to fall, staring at the weathered palm. "He still hasn't eaten, either." Gritting his teeth, he glanced at Kurama, fingers curling. "That's not good even for a demon, right?"

But Kurama remained silent, eyes fixed on the book in his hands.

"Like I said, he can take care of himself. Hiei's not stupid enough to die in a place like this." Stoking the fire, Yusuke rose slowly, weight shifting from his heels to toes and back again. "If you're that worried, why not go look for him?"

"That would not be wise."

The statement came softly, breezing over running water and empty space to flood their ears. Still, Kurama refused to look at his companions. Mouth set, he felt his eyes grow distant, cold–

A necessary precaution.

"What do you mean?" Yusuke crossed both arms over his chest, brow arching. "You know something we don't, fox boy?"

Fox boy. A nickname denoting loyalty, trust. The weight sank like lead in his gut though there was no helping it, not with so much on the line.

Tucking his chin, he stared at the book a moment longer before raising his gaze, watching them beneath drawn lashes. "I need to tell you both something, something you will find unpleasant."

"What, you gotta take a dump?" Yusuke's nose wrinkled but still he batted the words away, nonplussed. "Look, that's not a big deal. Like I said last time, I'll help you find a spot, but I'm not waiting around while you–"

"Can you be serious for five minutes?" Kuwabara snapped, inching closer to the red head. "What's wrong? Are you still in pain?"

Indeed, though such was nothing he couldn't handle. "I'm fine, really." A lie he would fabricate until they believed it true. Still, the psychic didn't budge and, once more, Kurama marveled at his sensitivity. "This is about Hiei."

The humor fled Yusuke's eyes and he frowned. "What about Hiei?"

"Yeah, he's been acting weird since we got here." Raking curls from his eyes, Kuwabara met his gaze with characteristic intensity. "Do you know why?"

A lengthy breath, the final chance to back out.

If only that were an option. "Have either of you heard where demons get sustenance?"

"Wait, I know this one!" Yusuke bowed his head as if deep in thought, marking source with a raised finger. "Some get it through food, others from sapping energy; there's even some who eat other demons and humans."

Kuwabara's skin took on a sickly hue. "I thought that was a joke, something to trick kids into being good."

"Nope. Hokushin told me. He and his guys in Tourrin eat humans and nothing else."

"And that–" He swallowed, grimacing. "That doesn't bother you?"

"Why should it? Everyone's gotta eat something."

"As Yusuke said," Kurama broke in, unperturbed by the human's outburst. "There are many food sources for our kind. Some can eat anything while others are restricted to certain items, depending on their genetic makeup."

Kuwabara shuddered, visibly tamping down his disgust. "Okay, but why tell us that now? What does that have to do with us?"

A moment's hesitation, searching for words to soften the truth but none came. Finally, he took a breath, looking them both in the eye. "Hiei is hunting."

"What, our food isn't good enough?" Yusuke thumbed his nose, glancing at the pack still half-full of rations. "If he's hogging all the good stuff for himself–"

"Let me be frank: of the demons you described, Hiei falls into the latter part, the small percentage who can derive nourishment only from humans."

A small sound and Kuwabara blanched, eyes growing incredibly round. "Y-you mean he's–"

"Yes, he is acquiring prey as we speak."

"Stop talking like that!" He seethed, rising to his knees.

Kurama paused, stoic mask unflinching. "Like what?"

"Like it doesn't matter! Like this is the most natural thing in the world!"

"It is, for one who has no other food source." He rose to his full height though in their current position Kuwabara remained taller.

"Seriously man, you're overreacting."

"Oh shut it, Urameshi!" Kuwabara sprang to his feet, wheeling on the former lord of Tourrin. "Doesn't this bother you at all?"

Yusuke raised both brows. "No, why should it?" He dug in one ear, spying the contents before flicking at his finger. "I hate cauliflower but you don't see me screaming at vegetarians for eating it."

"That's not even close to the same thing and you know it!"

"Regardless, this will not be an isolated incident." Kurama rose with preternatural grace, all traces of weariness gone. "Given our current situation and his diminished power, Hiei will need to feed regularly – he cannot deny himself any longer."

Before he could respond, crunching gravel sounded, drawing their attention to the tunnel's mouth. Hiei materialized from the gloom, gaze fixed on nothing in-particular as he mounted the platform. No roundness marked his gut though his hair was noticeably disheveled, a pink, lively hue dying his skin. Still, they saw the angry scratches marking his face, the glassiness of his eyes:

The blood splattered across his scarf.

"Wait–!"

But it was too late. Before either could move Kuwabara set upon Hiei, driving him into the wall, hand clasped around his neck. For his part, the fire apparition didn't fight or even attempt to defend himself, watching with red-lined eyes.

"What did you do?" Kuwabara demanded, pressing until the stones dug into his shoulders, until only the toes of his boots remained on the ground. "What did you do?!"

The human knew perfectly well but couldn't utter the deed, jaw grinding, conscious of his grip on the bared throat, the lack of a pulse beneath his palm. Hiei's gaze remained apathetic at best, empty. If he'd shown regret, anger, anything, Kuwabara could have taken it in stride, known what to do. However, that stare, crushed carnations coloring his eyes–

He couldn't.

"Kuwabara!"

Arm retracting on its own, he allowed himself to lose control, gave in without a fight. Honestly, it felt good: adrenaline pumping, body falling into the punch he knew by heart, the one perfected with the men in this room. Only, as his fist neared Hiei's face did he doubt himself, gears whirling. This was his friend, the guy he'd fought beside in numerous battles. Heck, Hiei helped save his life once!

Would a real man hit his friend?

All these thoughts occurred in less than a second but proved ample motivation, fist stopping just before striking his nose. Still, Hiei didn't blink, made no effort to free himself from his grip. Still, Kuwabara couldn't ignore the blood coating his clothes, his newfound vitality–

The monstrous increase in energy from one meal.

"You're not worth it."

Something flickered across Hiei's face but he didn't want to see it, pushing away and turning. Yusuke watched on, expression stuck somewhere between shock and frustration; Kurama kept his eyes on the other demon. Hiei hesitated, water sloshing as he shifted, taking a single step:

And then he was gone, fleeing back the way he'd come.

"Hiei!" Yusuke yelled but Kurama threw out an arm, shaking his head.

"Leave him be."

He thrust the limb down without hesitation. "We can't just let him leave like that!"

"If you go now, you'll only make matters worse. Give him time."

Kuwabara fought the urge to flinch when he met the fox's gaze. Lips tight, a frigidity had seeped into Kurama's eyes, something he'd only seen a handful of times. "Do you have any idea what you've done?"

He fought the urge to flinch, to shrink beneath his gaze. Danger dwelt in that soft tone, the substance of nightmares. "He killed someone! He murdered 'em for his own selfish–"

"I am the one who persuaded Hiei to feed." Kurama dipped his chin, something darker than anger dying his eyes. "If you have issue with that decision, take it up with me."

"You did?" Kuwabara blinked, surprise overriding his fear.

"Yes."

Yusuke's brow furrowed, head tipping to the side. "But why? Normally you don't have to make anyone eat."

"You do if they had not eaten in five years."

All the air fled from Kuwabara's lungs and Yusuke whistled. "How," The psychic shook his head, disbelief tainting his tongue. "How is that even possible?"

"It's possible, think about old man Raizen." Yusuke shook his head, hands finding homes in his pockets. "What I don't get is why he waited this long!"

"Abstaining from humans was not Hiei's choice, at least not at first. You must remember, we were on probation with Spirit World for two years after meeting you, Yusuke."

"Oh yeah. Forgot you were under Binkie's thumb for a while."

"Then we were called to Demon World to train, participated in the tournament there. Since the barrier fell, Hiei has been an active member of the border patrol as well."

"Yeah, it'd be hard to grab a snack if your job is keeping humans out of trouble." He rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet, mouth twisting. "Mukuro would've let him eat though. She runs a tight ship but he's no good to her dead."

The hint of a smile. "True, but Hiei never mentioned it to her."

"That's stupid." Yusuke snorted, stopping mid-rise. "Why not?"

"I cannot say, though if pressed, I would say to avoid what just transpired." He glanced at Kuwabara, who'd yet to utter a word. "If Lord Mukuro knew, chances are the news would eventually reach you, Yusuke. Perhaps he feared judgment."

"Pfft, like his diet would change anything!"

When Kurama didn't respond, Yusuke followed his gaze. Kuwabara swallowed, pale and noticeably trembling. Wetting his lips, he dared to look the red head in the eye. "You mean, he did all this for–"

Jaw clamping shut, he grit his teeth but didn't look away. The last bit lingered on his lips, heavy and unspoken, weighing his essence, his glaring humanity. Me; he did all this for me. Only he didn't say it, couldn't say it.

But Kurama understood and nodded.

Shame and guilt crashed against his chest like a tidal wave and he dragged in a breath, shaking his head. "I–I've gotta find him! I need to–"

"As I said, give him time. Hiei will return when he's ready."

Kurama returned to his books and Yusuke the fire, though Kuwabara could do little but pace and berate himself silently. Hiei would come back; if Kurama wasn't worried, there was no reason for him to. Still, the soldiers from before rushed in, the Jagan's sealed socket–

The look on his face when he didn't hit him.

You're not worth it.

Bile rose but he tamped it down, taking up the post by the tunnel mouth. When Hiei returned, he had to be ready. Ready for more blood, ready for that look–

Ready to say 'I'm sorry'.

A/N: Hello and welcome back! Thank you all for the follows, favorites and reviews, hope everyone is healthy and well!

Yes, in Divergence, Hiei eats humans. While this isn't canon, Togashi left a nice slot for it when Yusuke asked Hokushin if he ate humans in the final season and, when he said yes, Yusuke noted he'd smelled a similar scent – which comes from eating humans – on someone before. (Thank you so much WhatWouldValeryDo for reminding me of that!) While this may not settle well with some readers, the idea of Hiei eating people came almost immediately after I began planning this story a year ago. I'm not planning on describing this in much detail from here on out, though.

So, Mustang's team unwittingly find Hiei's leftovers and Kuwabara royally screws up. Will the squad realize this was done by those they're after? What's the YYH boys' next move? Find out next time! Please leave a review!