Chapter 27 Third Eye Blind
Hiei nervously walked through the chilly, depressing, and twisted paths in the fortress dungeons. He avoided cells that actually held prisoners, very few at most and he was rarely informed of them mostly because the offenses were minor they weren't held for long. He didn't show that he was nervous, he rarely did, but his worries couldn't help but increase as he began to hear the dull boom of a base. The music grew louder as he took each step until he was standing outside his destination.
The paper in his hand was crumpled and slightly ripped from his clenched hands, tight in fists. This was going to hurt her. With his free hand, he laid his palm over the gems underneath his cloak. This letter would hurt her, but he would help her through it. He would help her smile brightly again. Hiei took a deep breath and opened the door.
Hiei didn't come down to his wife's laboratory often. With all her experimentation, it was a wonder that she hadn't caught some awful ailment or been burned badly by an explosion. Once, the ends of her hair had burned and she literally sobbed about how awful it was for days, even after she had come and gone from the human world to get it touched up. That was definitely a week Hiei wished he had never married.
Aside from who knows what dangerous things she concocted in the dungeons, he avoided it mostly because it was her personal space. This was the place where she cleared her head after being, most of the time, unreasonably angry, she always seemed to find a reason so justify her unmerited anger. Regardless, this was her sanctuary and Hiei had no reason to violate it. Except for when he had to further damage her pride. That was always fun.
"I want your horror, I want your design, 'Cause you're a criminal As long as your mine. I want your love Love-love-love I want your love."
She was wearing faded jeans, a grey tank top, what was originally a white apron and her hair was pulled back into a braid and was safely resting on her back. She was standing over her cauldron, pouring a large vial of a milky blue liquid into the contents of the black pot. He could hear the sizzling and popping of the two mixtures meeting.
She ignored him and turned to set the empty vial down and began to search for something in one of the cubbords, her hips jutting from side to side in time with the music. She sang along as she found what she was looking for, her melodic voice almost husky as she sang the lower tones.
"I want your psycho, Your vertical stick. Want you in my rear window, baby, you're sick. I want your love, Love-love-love I want your love!"
She dropped whatever was in her hand in the cauldron and looked up at him. Her eyes were glinting with a touch of madness that could only accompany possible someone who was in the midst of discovery. Kuwabara had mentioned it was as though she was an evil scientist, trying to figure out a way to conquer the world.
"You know that I want you, And you know that I need you. I want a bad, your bad romance." She sang, eyeing him with her bewitching gaze and he was sure that as she was bent over just slightly enough so he could see what was hiding behind her apron. Normally her inviting spell caused him to immediately push all the contents off whatever table was in the room and have his way with her then and there, he could settle for the floor as long as there was carpet, but he held himself back. She was only staring at him like that because she was egged on by the song and he knew it.
"Mîra," he said clearly, his voice firm. But she winked at him and spun around back to her work bench, her voice singing loudly with the music.
"I want your loving And I want your revenge, You and me could write a bad romance. I want your loving, All your love is revenge, You and me could write a bad romance!"
Hiei frowned and spotted the music player. He immediately went over to it and pressed STOP. Her voice cut mid "o" and the silence settled around her, as though reality was coming seeping its way back inside her body. His mate did not turn to look at him.
"What do you require?" Her voice was quiet, her tone polite. That was how he knew she really didn't want to see him. He wanted to respond with 'you' but he wasn't going to beg.
"You have not read any new books lately or planted anything new in the gardens."
She waved her hand dismissively at him. "Is that all?" she asked airily.
Hiei frowned at her. Who did she think he was, that she could wave him off like that? "Look at me when I talk to you," he commanded.
"I don't have to look or do anything with you if I chose," she snapped. She turned and began to rummage on one of her shelves.
Scowling, he grabbed her wrist and brought her to his eyes level. He wanted to her to look at him, he needed her to. How else would he really know what she was thinking? Her eyes stared at him contemptuously and he felt that they were in the beginning of their relationship again, trying unsuccessfully to avoid cracking the eggshells they were walking on.
He released her and she rubbed her wrist before returning to her work. "You've missed dinner the past few nights."
"I've been busy."
"You never miss dinner. You claim it's our time to catch up on the day."
"Where I do all the talking. Do you know how tiring it is to talk to a wall?"
"I am not a wall," Hiei scowled.
"Oh please, don't pretend you're the most engaging person to talk to."
Okay, that was it. She was obviously in a foul mood for whatever reason but Hiei was not about to let her insult him without cause and let it go. She wanted to go there? He was ready.
"It's difficult to discuss anything with a woman who selfishly thinks of nothing but her own desires," he said coldly.
Her eyes flared at him. "Of course, you're going to bring up the fact that I am not ready for children at this moment which automatically makes me selfish. Because bringing an unwanted child into this world is a great idea!"
"No, what makes you selfish is that you won't even consider." His voice rose to match the elevated volume in hers.
"I have considered it, Hiei! I say no and I will continue to say no until I feel willing!"
"I don't see what the issue is!"
"I've told you a thousand times! I am not ready to have a child with you! I want to wait until our relationship has matured more!"
"That is a bullshit excuse, just admit that you don't want to bear my children. At least then I will be closer to the truth!" Hiei snarled.
She stared at him shocked, her eyes wide before shaking her head at him. Quietly she said, "It's always going to come back to you isn't it?" Her tone changed as she mocked, "Poor little Hiei and his self-esteem issues from having the most fucked up childhood in the world. How can Princess Mîrvana compare? Of course he should get anything his little heart now desires, it doesn't matter who he steps on to get there, as long as he gets it who cares that my life as I know it will end?"
Hiei stared at her blankly, masking his visage, a cold silence between them. Hiei slammed the letter onto the table. "You are being summoned."
"I don't get summoned," she said quietly, her eyes darkening.
"Oh no, Princess Mîrvana, life as you know it has come to an end once again," he said snidely. "You are being summoned by the new king and I will accompany you."
"Accompany me as my jailer?" She snarled, her tone hushed and her eyes raging with a darkness that he had not seen in her before. It was disquieting to see the twisted look in her eyes but he was more distracted by her words. He knew that he had said hurtful things and that she had said hurtful things and they would both come to regret those words, but nothing hurt more than calling him her jailer.
"I intended to accompany you as your mate, your husband. But if you would rather me be your jailer, so be it. You are going to answer the summons."
The elf's expression did not soften at his words, instead they grew harder. "I do not get summoned! I do the summoning! The only person, the only man," her eyes flashed dangerously, "I will be summoned by is my father!" her voice thundered.
Hiei swiftly reached his hand out, grabbed the front of her apron, and jerked her to his eye level. "Your father isn't here. We are leaving tomorrow morning and I will drag you in chains if I have to." Her visage fell and her eyes struggled to stay stony as he roughly pushed her back, causing her to slam into the side of the table. He immediately turned his heel and stormed out of the room. The music blared back on again and he couldn't get away from it fast enough as the lyrics pounded into his head.
"Oh, Caught in a bad romance! Oh, Caught in a bad romance!"
Hiei rode out the day like he usually did when they got into a fight; he unleashed his sword and then Koku on trees. Wreaking havoc usually soothed him but today he was worried. He was accustomed to throwing insults back and forth when they were angry, it was a common defense mechanism between them. This time however… he did NOT have self-esteem issues!
He moved blindly until Koku whined long enough that to make the dragon quit the obnoxious noise, he resigned himself back to the fortress. By the time he got back, the stars were sparkling in the dark sky. He grabbed some food from the kitchens, ate quickly, showered, and got under the covers to his cold and empty bed. He wasn't surprised to find the room empty. He made sure to leave one candle lit for her, and stared up at the ceiling.
Things had been going well before he brought up children. Before he lost the tournament… was he being selfish? He didn't think so, it was very much within his right to ask for children. Ordinarily, a demoness would not object to her mate… but Mîra was not a demoness. If she was, Kami help them all because she would most definitely not rest until she had become Queen of the entire realm.
Hiei chuckled to himself at the thought, he could see his mate sitting on the throne in their relatively un-used throne room, her legs crossed under an elaborate dress, a spotless gold crown on her head, and her eyes terribly terrifying and yet stunningly magnificent. He also knew that she would not be as cruel as she appeared. She enjoyed traveling to different clans and villages, looking at their specialty crafts and always stopping at the tavern to taste the local ale. But when times called for an iron fist, hers would be as solid as it could get. He would be content supporting her, ruling alongside her but not directly in charge of anything. All the perks and no mundane work.
They would be happy like that, ruling together with her ego and pride sated, and they wouldn't be fighting about children because she would already have everything she desired; the crown, the people, and him. They would have twins for sure, one girl and one boy…
With a start, Hiei's eyes snapped open. He could feel his wife slipping into the bed, the mattress depressing with her added weight. He must have fallen asleep…
"Herven?" she asked softly. She was ready to make peace. Hiei childishly turned his back to her, rolling over on his side. He wanted things to work out but her words were harsh. Then again, his were too.
Hiei felt her slide up behind him, her hand running down his arm slightly. He could feel the silky texture of the ribbons and the covered wire against his back and he didn't have to see her to know she was wearing the black lingerie corset with the matching lacy panties to match. His favorite. He couldn't help himself with the way his signature color contrasted so greatly with her pale skin that was the color of the glowing moon. Her arm snaked around his torso and he felt her wet lips gently press on his shoulder. He knew the imprint on his shoulder was there, though he wasn't sure exactly why she bothered to put on the fresh lipstick.
The first time she had worn it, he had complained that it would get all over his mouth and he didn't want the foul taste. She then smoothly, oh so smoothly, replied that she would have to dampen it then before kissing his lips, which meant kissing him everywhere else first. Not that he objected, but in a strange way he always thought it was her way of marking him for her own.
"Herven, I'll go tomorrow with you," she whispered into his ear. He felt her cool lips lightly kiss the spot underneath his ear and he closed his eyes. He could feel her breasts pushing against his back, her slender legs intertwining with his, and the way her fingers teasingly ran down his bare chest. He would be lying if he said he didn't want to flip over and take his wife right then, but he didn't feel like it.
"Let's just forget about today. Forget what I said, forget what you said."
Forget. The problem with forgetting was that it was a nice prospect. Just imagine that she didn't call him her jailer, that she hadn't brought up his past against him. Except that she did. The problem with forgetting now was that the next time he would forget too. And the time after that and the time after that. Forgetting was a wolf in sheeps clothing: The problem with forgetting was that eventually, all the things that were forgotten will turn up again and shatter everything in its wake.
Hiei let her gently push him on his back so he was staring up at her tender eyes. "You are right," she said softly. "I haven't been myself lately and you have suffered for it. Let me make it up to you."
Hiei stared at her and cupped her cheek with his hand. "I don't want to be your jailer," he said quietly.
She stared down at him and let out a soft sigh. "I know," she whispered. She turned her face into his hand and kissed it. He closed his eyes as he felt her kisses trail up his arm to his neck. He let out a guttural noise of relief and pleasure at her slow, methodical, and now burning touch.
The problem with forgetting was that when he was in the heat of the moment and at his wits end, forgetting was very easy to do.
0~*~0
Hiei sat by the campfire, the music and dancing moving around him was inconsequential. His attention was locked on his wife, watching her throw her head back in laughter and the ale in the tankard she was holding spilled over slightly. Her profile was dimly lit but he knew her cheeks were rosy with merriment and Yoshi's famous ale. She was chatting with a few of the older demoness's, no doubt getting caught up on the village's latest gossip. Hiei could have settled for a quiet night and a good night's rest before arriving at Mitage's stronghold but their arrival at the village coincided with their spring festival.
The clan of earth demons were intriguing to Hiei, the way they peacefully lived together and avoided partaking in the common bloodlust of the Makai. He supposed they were all descendants of higher class demons and had some semblance of intelligence but they didn't desire power or wealth. They desired prosperity for their families and simple long lives.
Hiei tore his eyes off his mate for a moment and looked around the square. Everyone was happy, laughing, drinking, and frolicking about. These were the demons that Hiei had fought for, that he had struggled for and would have died for. He smiled to himself, in the end everything had been worth it. His eyes locked back onto his wife's figure as she traveled over to a much older demoness, Yoshi's mate Reika walking with her.
There were many sacrifices made but in the end, he had taken the greatest burden of all. After the first year of their marriage, things seemed to be going uphill. He thought things would get better and stay better. Sure, she was an elf but that didn't mean anything now.
"It always warms me to see your mate interacting well with the village," a voice behind him said chuckling. Hiei glanced to his left as Yoshi sat down next to him. Yoshi was, like most earth demons, tall, broad, and muscular with dark reddish-tan tones in his skin. His hair was a chocolate brown that hug to his shoulders and his eyes were a lighter shade of his hair. The demon was decent man and had organized and provided supplies during the war and because of it, Hiei regarded him highly.
"I remember when she first came into my tavern, I was terrified. Even more so when she asked for my best ale. I felt as though my life rested in her reaction to my brew. I can remember it exactly as she took a gulp and stared at the tankard. I thought my life was over as she raised her eyes and hands to the ceiling as said, 'Finally! Thank the Ancestors someone here knows how to brew a decent ale!'"
The man's deep voice laughed loudly and Hiei reminded himself that he needed to take a sip of the ale currently in his hands. He had only accepted it out of courtesy, although Mîra shoving it into his hands also had something to do with it.
Hiei took a small swig and didn't comment on Yoshi's nostalgia but the man continued to ramble anyway.
"I'm sure you don't want to be talking to me, my Lord," Yoshi's voice was quiet now, "But I want you to know, for what it's worth, you are the only king I will listen to."
Hiei glanced over at him and saw Yoshi staring at the fire somberly. "You care about us, look out for us and Shana is a joy to work with. I hear things from other territories, slavery and gangs running amok, villages being extorted out of their savings… under you we live a good and fortunate life." The man turned to him, "I don't know much about Mitage or his territory but if need be, I will be ready for your call."
Hiei initially wanted to tell the man that his words were foolish, if Mitage came down and threatened him to swear fealty, he had better do it. But Yoshi was a proud man who was well respected and honest. He would remain loyal no matter what happened. That comforted Hiei and made him proud, knowing that he had been a good King. Tch, then he had to go and screw it up. No that wasn't right, there was always someone stronger, someone better. The question was whether or not he really cared enough anymore to surpass him.
"You have no need to be concerned. Things are fine and they will stay that way. I will ensure it," Hiei said quietly.
"Thank you," the demon responded.
There was a silence between them and Hiei took a long swig of the drink. He supposed it was tasty but Mîra said it compared to Dwarven ale which apparently meant it was top notch. He honestly didn't care.
Suddenly Yoshi stood and Hiei frowned, standing as well. His gaze found his wife who was in a heated argument with the older demoness. Yoshi began to make his way over and Hiei followed him. Seeing Hiei, the old woman stood and said, "I don't care who your mate is, I refuse! I curse you, you heathen wrench, that you never succeed!" the crone spat.
"Bachi!" Reika said exclaimed.
"What is going on here?" Yoshi demanded.
"It's fine. I understand and I apologize for wasting your time," Mîra said smoothly.
"Humph, don't lie to me wrench," the old woman snarled.
"Careful, woman," Hiei said, stepping forward. The crone gave him a disgusted look before walking away.
"What was that all about?" Yoshi asked.
"Oh well Mîra-sama wanted information on-"
"Nothing," Mîra interrupted Reika abruptly. "I am doing research and she didn't want to help."
"This is ridiculous, of course she will help. You are our Lords mate. I will go speak to her immediately," Yoshi said and began to move but Mîra grabbed his arm.
"She did not want to help me because her son died at the hands of an elf. Yoshi, I am telling you that it is fine, her reaction is understandable. Again, I am only collecting research," She said quietly.
"Spitting out a curse is still unacceptable. Even if she does not apologize to you, I will still have words with her. You command her respect," Yoshi said frowning.
There was a silence. "Well, I think this is a good of time as ever to turn in. Herven?" Mîra asked looking at Hiei.
"Whatever you wish," he said and she nodded. Yoshi and Reika profusely apologized again as they walked them to the inn but Hiei silenced them. Hiei and his mate got dressed for bed quietly, only speaking to ask for items they needed; a washcloth, a hairbrush.
When Hiei was finished, his wife was sitting on the bed in her canary yellow night gown, the one Maria and Claudia had given her for her most recent birthday, with her hands overlapping atop her abdomen. Her eyes were lost in thought.
Hiei walked over to the bed and took the hairbrush from in front of his mate. He gently began to run the brush through her hair, his other hand gently propping up the brushed portion of her hair.
"I already brushed my hair," she said, partially annoyed.
He ignored her. He wasn't concerned about knots or tangles, the motion was therapeutic to her. Normally when he asked serious questions, the answers were guarded. When she was lulled by the motion of the brush and the warmth of his hands however getting information out of her was easier, if he said it right.
"Did you enjoy yourself?"
"Oh very!" She sighed happily. "I love festivals like this. We used to have them at home too… humans here just seem to get drunk or have parades, though I do enjoy the parades."
"You also enjoy getting drunk," he grunted.
"Yes, but at a festival it's different. It's not about one's personal merriment, it is in celebration of whatever the festival is honoring. In autumn it is in celebration of the harvest and in spring of new love and marriage."
She paused and turned her head slightly, casting a quiet glance at him before straightening her head. "But since my vows were never a choice, only negotiation, I never participated with the young, unmarried girls prancing about in all sorts of vivid colors and flirting shamelessly with all the boys, making fools out of them."
His hands did not stop moving but he narrowed his eyes at her back. "Don't lie to yourself. You would do everything the same again, if you had a chance."
She barked out a laugh. "That is true, Hiei. But there are one or two things I would probably have done differently. Gotten rid of Thalion faster, for one," she snorted. He watched her back rise and fall as she took a deep breath. "I'm too vain and proud to be anything else. I would rather die than be anything other than who I am, what I am."
Who she was and what she was. Even that was up for debate now though, wasn't it? She was a Princess and a General who had become a prisoner and a Queen. What she was now, Hiei couldn't answer. He felt the familiar twist of guilt that usually arose with the subject and pushed it aside. The who hadn't changed, it never would. After all, who she was is why he had fallen for her.
"We can go to the festivals more often," he said, bringing the conversation back where he needed it to be.
"I would like that. Hopefully they will have much merrier and drunken endings than todays." She let out a pretty, musical laugh. This was Hiei's favorite laugh of hers, it was the only one that was completely genuine.
"That hag was a bitch," he said.
Mîra's body turned towards him and she eyed knowingly, her lips turned upward into a small smirk.
"You cheeky little barbarian. I thought you were being more talkative than usual." Before he could respond she took the brush out of his hands and set it on the nightstand next to the bed. She then turned to him fully and crossed her arms.
"Quit beating around the bush."
His wife's haughty smirk grew, her eyes glittering as she watched the inevitable scowl form on his face.
"What's going on?" he asked.
"Nothing, like I said, I was doing research."
"That woman is the village midwife."
"Who also knows a great deal about herbs and plants. Like I said, research," Mîra responded without missing a beat. Damn, he had been hoping to make her slip up. He still didn't believe her, the old woman's curse and the image of her sitting on the bed with her hand over her abdomen.
"For what?"
She sighed and rolled her eyes at him. "Since when do you care about my projects?" He didn't respond but narrowed his eyes at her. "Fine," she sighed and he moved off the bed as she began to get under the covers.
When she was settled, she looked up at him mischievously. "You have to promise not to tell anyone."
"I swear," he said slowly. What did she have up his sleeve?
"I am currently working on two major projects, one of them is almost complete. I am working on perfecting," she leaned forward slightly, her eyes sparkling dangerously, "an invisibility potion."
Invisibility? Hiei frowned. Not even demons could manage that very well.
"I have it to where I can make in animate objects seemingly vanish for up to an hour and plants for a half hour. I have begun testing on small animals but motion can be sensed, if not seen. The idea is to be able to move seamlessly and if you are completely quiet, then not detected at all."
Kami, did she realize the implications of this potion? If it fell into the wrong hands… wait that was the wrong question. The real concern was what his dearly devious wife was going to do with it.
She smiled at him, sat up and pulled him closer to her, placing a kiss on his jawline. "You worry too much, Herven. What I will do with it is none of your concern because in all honesty I am just trying to do what no one has done before. You can't fault me for that. Now turn out that light."
Hiei frowned at her. "Mîra…" he said warningly.
"You wanted to know why I was talking to the old woman and now you know. Now, I'm no longer tipsy but still quite merry so turn out the light and come to me before your talk spoils my mood."
"You don't seem tired," he scoffed. He wasn't satisfied with her answer. She had evaded him.
A sly smile crept on her lips and her smoldering lavender eyes locked onto his. "Who said anything about sleeping? You know me better than that, Hiei."
Oh, he did. Hiei knew which remarks would earn her laughter, glare, or playful smirk. He knew where to kiss her and how to touch her smooth skin to elicit her frustrated, unstated, demand for more. He knew when she was attempting to pull to wool over his eyes, when she was trying to distract him from bringing up something he had already noted.
Ignoring the uneasy feeling inside of him, he accepted his mate's lusty and passionate embrace. Hiei didn't know what was going to happen in Mitage's castle, for all he knew he and his mate would be thrown in chains upon their arrival. So if he took a moment to ignore the voice in the back of his head telling him that after tomorrow things were not going to be the same, could anyone blame him?
I hope everyone is enjoying the story and the direction I'm going in. Let me know what you think! A special thanks to D-101 for all the reviews, I really appreciate it!
Song: Bad Romance by Lady GaGa