Curse

The others have been taking turns to look after Eri, when it was time for Hiei he wasn't going to be enjoying it so well. What the heck does he do around with a child? She's like every other demon in the demon world only much stronger, not capable of controlling her spirit energy.

"What do I have to do with a child?" Hiei asked the demon fox who was getting Eri's bag ready to go for Hiei to carry around if she needed anything.

"Just spend time with her. You can try communicating, playing, or try to take her mind off of somethings while you're looking after her." Kurama suggested.

Hiei knitted his eyebrows together, "Where do I take her?"

"Places where other children like such as the playground," Kurama replied.

'That damn fox sure knows what to throw at me.' Hiei thought.

He didn't want to do this.

He didn't want to be involved in this.

He especially hated this.

Hiei took Eri to the park wearing a long sleeves sweater, black pants, and a pair of black shoes to go along with him. He's emo and black seems to suit him. The demon watched Eri move towards the swings set looking so down as usual not a smile or giggle on her face. He thought that's what a child would like to do if they go to places like this. He began to think of something else as he took the bag and set it down to take a seat on the swing set sitting next to Eri.

"So," He starts off trying to think of something to get her talking. "Eri is it? What do you plan on doing today?"

Eri didn't look up at him and responded with a shrug.

'Okay. That came out wrong.' Hiei thought. 'What now?'

He decided to keep asking her questions.

"What's your favorite color?" He asked.

"Red," Eri replied softly.

'That's one question.' He thought.

"Do you like any animals?" He asked.

"I like cats. I always wanted one." She replied, still not glancing up at him.

"Do you have anyone in the demon world that's looking for you?" He asked.

Her expression went from blank to fear as she shook her head.

'Someone is looking for her. Yet, she's scared to tell me.'He thought.

"Why are you always angry?" Eri asked Hiei to gimped up as she slowly swung her legs back and forth clutched the chains that were attached to the swing.

"I'm not always angry. This is how I normally look." Hiei replied.

Eri gazes at him with a straight face, "If that's how you normally look. Why do you get upset if anyone makes fun of you or tries to start a fight? I know I'm asking too much but...are you really happy?"

The fire demon knitted his eyebrows at the young child asking a question like that. He never actually pays attention to his emotions, and this girl is asking if he is happy to be a part of everyone.

"That's none of your business." Hiei sharply replied. "I keep my feelings to myself, and I don't show it nor care about anyone else's."

"Oh, I'm sorry." Eri whispered she looked away before saying, "I don't know what it means to be happy either."

"Hn." Hiei snorted.

The girl stiffens as she clutches the chains, "D-Does getting hurt to require to kill anyone if necessary?"

'What is she talking about?' Hiei thought.

"I mean-if you're bound to hurt someone, at least think before taking the advantage of your opponent," Hiei replied nonchalantly.

As Eri sat there in the swing set in silence before saying, "I-I hurt people and...I can't control it."

"Controlling your spirit energy takes a long time to manifest your abilities." Hiei explained as she shook her head listening to him, "

"No..." She croaked. Hiei stares at the girl in silence as she continued, "I-I hurt people because of my power. I can't stop it. It hurts when I say it like this but...I-I am just a person being used to kill anyone. I'm a curse."

This was unexpected for Hiei to hear from Eri as she called herself a "Curse" since he is indeed one himself.

"Not possible." He protested.

"I am a curse." She whispered. "You might not think so, but I do. I can't control my powers and if they grow stronger everyone will blame me for killing them."

She was serious about her spirit energy that was a curse and yet none of them know what her power could be which made it a mystery to them. He recalled back to her power that is incredibly strong that she kept apologizing if she hurt anyone, however, she didn't do anything wrong. She was afraid of her power that she used that might kill anyone. Could it be possible? Has she killed anyone with that power?

"Who would call you such a horrible name like that?" Hiei inquired.

"S-Someone." She stuttered.

'She heard someone calling her a curse and I could tell that she knows who that person is. She's not going to tell me or the others. I can find out who it is.' Hiei thought as he shifted back and forth in the swingset.

"Would it be a coincidence that I, too, am a curse," Hiei said as he lowered his head a shame.

"You're a curse too? Why?" Eri asked.

Hiei nodded.

Hiei P.O.V.

After I told her my origin she looked shocked and sad about it. Her eyes were showing the pain that I didn't dare to look away from them that she felt hurt.

"Why would they do that?" Eri asked.

"Because I'm a monster," I replied monotonously.

"You're not a monster. If you were...you would've harmed everyone around you. A monster is scary, but they don't know what is scarier in front of them or around them." She said in a bold tone.

'Scarier than them? What does she mean?' I thought.

"Y-You don't think I'm a monster?" I pointed at myself with wide eyes at her response.

She shook her head.

"You're not a monster that I see." She said in a soft tone. "Even if you were...you would've hurt me already and the others too. Monsters are creatures that don't understand what makes them scary; they just want to be scary."

I couldn't believe my ears after hearing this from a 6-year-old who just took the words right out my mouth. She defined a monster as someone who is scary yet they are not if they don't know what makes them scary.

"...Hiei..." She called me out of my trance as I faced her as she reached her hand out to me shakingly as I held it too. "Can you make a promise?"

"A promise?" I knitted my eyebrows together.

"I-If you listen to what I'm telling you...would you listen?" She asked with a light blush on her cheeks as I returned the grip responding as a "Yes". "Promise me that you won't call yourself a monster? I know you think that your sister might be scared...you are only holding back. Happiness is important if I know what it means to be happy. I want you to be happy and so does your sister if you tell her who you are. Don't hide away...you'll make it even more painful for her if you don't realize what you're doing to hurt them even more."

My eyes bulged as she requested this and I could see that Eri wanted me to be happy. But why make me feel happy in this wretched world? What does she know?

"D-Do you promise?" She squeaked.

'If I lie she would be upset. If I say yes, she would...' I paused at thought.

"Hiei, just try to spend time with Eri like the rest of us. You'll never know if she picks up anything and wants to turn things around." Yusuke said in a sharp tone patting Eri on the head gently. "We need to make her happy."

"...I promise," I said softly, returning a handgrip and I knew that this is important if I want to make Eri happy...I have to make Yukina happy too.

'I can't hide it forever and she's right. A monster isn't something that gets them to be scary-it's what makes them scary.' I thought.

'Eri...I promise to make you happy...' I thought

"Come. Let's go take a walk." I softly smile taking her out of the swing to take her hand in mine gently feeling her bandages on my fingertips.

I'm going to find out what Toguru did and if he didn't do this to you...then who did?