CHAPTER 14 LOOKING

Raven woke from a dream thinking about Hiei. She decided to just go ahead and tell him about having the device that could send him home. She realized it was the right thing to do even if she didn't really want to. She left her room and went to Terra's where Hiei was staying. She did not know that Robin had kicked the demon out yet so when she found an empty room she was a bit surprised and a little confused.

"Have any of you seen Hiei?" she asked, coming into the main room.

Starfire, who was in the kitchen area making a snack for her and her pet Silky, looked up and replied. "He's gone."

Raven stared at her friend. "Gone?" she asked. "Where has he gone and why?"

"Robin kicked him out," Beastboy answered from the sofa.

"Kicked him out?" the pale girl questioned. "Why did he do that? Doesn't he realize Hiei doesn't live on this planet? He might be lost in the city. He might have run into Slade!"

Beastboy shrugged, never taking his eyes off the TV screen. "Not my problem," he said.

Raven couldn't believe it. She looked over at Starfire who gave her a helpless look. "I think we should at least look for him to make sure he's okay," she suggested.

Nobody even attempted to move. She should have figured. They didn't care or understand.

"Fine," she said annoyed at their apathy. "I'll go look for him myself!" Then she stalked out of the room without a look back.

Beastboy and Starfire watched her go but didn't attmept to call her back with information. Both knew very little anyway. Robin had kicked Hiei out plain and simple.

"Raven didn't take the news very well did she?" Robin asked coming into the livingroom just then.

His two other friends shook their heads. Both knew she wouldn't have. She had been the only one who had gotten close to the demon and had been the only one he'd opened up to. She had been his only friend.

"It's best if she doesn't know why," Robin went on, walking over to the kitchen area and opening the fridge. "She might question why I did what I did."

"She already has," Satfire told him, as she watched their leader pull out a soda. "She told us she was going to look for him. She mentioned not wanting him to run into Slade." She hoped mentioning the villain would make Robin change his mind.

It didn't work. "He can talk care of himself," Robin informed her. "If he fights Slade like he fought us he'll be fine."

"Hey!" Cyborg shouted, coming into the livingroom looking upset. "You should see what that guy did to our obstical course!"

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Raven stayed in the shadows of the hall listening to her friends conversations, hoping to find out where the demon had gone. When she heard Robin say Hiei would be fine she shook her head. She knew better. The pale girl headed down the hall and walked outside to the roof of the building. For a moment she just stood there staring at the stars. Hiei... Then she rose into the air and started for the city. My friends might not care what happens to you but I do!

She thought about the fire demon, his slightly tanned face holding the last expression she'd seen on it. Longing. No matter where you are I'll find you... she thought replaying that image over and over. I just hope Slade hasn't found you first...

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"If you think I'm going to help you with anything that will make those kids suffer for your own sick pleasure I will not be involved!" Hiei shouted at Slade.

"Why do you care about their fate?" Slade wanted to know. "They don't even trust you. They kicked you out of the Tower, remember?"

Hiei stared at Slade in shock. How does he know that?

Slade read the question on the fire demon's face. "I know more than you think," he informed him. "I know how the Titans treated you. I know they don't accept you."

Hiei said nothing. How did Slade know that? Did he have a way of seeing things in their Tower or... Does he still have a link in my mind? the demon wondered. Impossible! Nobody comes into my mind unless I allow them in!

"They never said they didn't accept me!" Hiei growled angrily. "and I don't care if they don't!"

"You say that but do you mean it?"

What a stupid question! the demon thought. Of course he ment it!

Or did he?

Slade seemed to be enjoying making the fire demon feel uncomfortable about his own insistants. "You would rather be accept by them," the man insisted. "Especially Raven. I'm sure just the sight of her makes you fell let's say... different."

Hiei had a feeling he knew what the man was insinuating and he didn't like it. "I'm not like that!" he informed the human, straining against his bonds. "and I don't appreciate you thinking that way about me!"

Electricity shot through the fire demon at the strain and he held in screams as he let himself relax slightly as he shut his eyes and ground his teeth at the pain.

"I only tell the truth," Slade said as if nothing had happened.

For a moment the demon said nothing. He didn't want to look at Slade so he kept his eyes closed.

"Or would you rather kill her? I'm sure you would enjoy that wouldn't you?"

What's he saying? I'm not that kind of person anymore!

Suddenly a familiar voice filled his mind, as if someone was speeking into his ear. "Don't listen to him!" Raven's voice shouted into his mind. "He's lying!"

Hiei's eyes came open in shock. Raven! No Raven. Just Slade. The fire demon glared at him. "You're lying!" he shouted. "Raven knows more about me than you do! She understands me!"

Slade didn't seem to care. "You think you know her better than I do?" he asked. "She's not the kind of person to take advice from." He leaned in close again. "I've been around her much longer than you have," he informed him. "I've seen what happens when she lets her emotions control her. Her own insecurity makes her dangerous. She thinks she has her powers under control but she doesn't. She can't help you and she can't help herself."

"Are you trying to make me hate her?" Hiei demanded, sick of this man. "I'm not going to hold her emtional problems against her. Nobody can completely control them."

"Not even you."

"I NEVER SAID I DID!"

"Because you know if you do you'll be better than her."

"Shut your mouth! You might be able to get other people to do what you want with that kind of talk but it won't work with me!"

"I'm not so sure about that."

He's trying to get to me, the demon realized. He's trying to draw out my evil nature. Tha's why he keeps saying those things.

"Nobody can manipulate you unless you let them," he remembered Raven telling him back at the Tower.

He knew she was right. I won't let him do that! I'm stronger than that! He closed his eyes, shutting out Slade's image. If Raven can get into my mind I know I can get into hers. Maybe I can tell her where I am. The area covered by the bandage glowed slightly as he concentrated. It's worth a try...

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Raven was flying over the city searching for Hiei when she suddenly heard a voice speaking into her mind. Raven. If you get this please come find me. I need you...

Raven froze in place above the city. She knew that voice. "Hiei?" she said shocked.

A/N

Yes he's a telepath. lol. Hope they're in character. I tried my best. I hate Slade.