There is a house in Demon City

They call the Rising Sun

And it's been the ruin of many a poor boy

And God,

I know,

I'm one.

Chapter 50: House of the Rising Sun

Part 1: Fathers and Sons

Mîra stared at the holo image of the Rising Sun compound with a stern expression, her arm propped on her knee as she sat on the ground. Ryuji also stared at the layout verifying the markers he placed, while Hiei tried going over the plan in his head again. Hiei, for what felt like the millionth time that evening, shot Mîra a quick glance. He needed to get control of himself, and he needed to focus on Minoru.

"One more time," Hiei stated.

Mîra sighed, annoyed, but before she could chide him, Ryuji launched into the explanation for the third time that evening.

"This is a dense concrete fortress with a lot of guards and four watch towers on each corner of the building that have turrets. Inside, there are probably other defense mechanisms in place too. I don't know who built this place but it's like a bomb shelter. The basic plan is for Ba-chan to distract the guards inside by drawing them out of the compound."

As he spoke, he operated the holograph so the image zoomed in on a helicopter pad. "From our position, we are about an hour from the helicopter pad. Ba-chan will head to the pad, and destroy the helicopters noisily. Then she will lead the guards into the woods to chase her where she will shake them off. Meanwhile, Gramps and I will circle around the side of the complex and sneak our way in. With the commotion outside, Minoru will probably fall back to the bunker underground so we'll start our search there. Ba-chan will go up and around through the forest to the entrance we broke into and follow our footsteps down to the bunker."

Ryuji zoomed in on the layout of the stairs leading down to the bunker. "Hopefully we find him there. If not, we'll just have to improvise."

Hiei nodded, pretending he was keenly paying attention. It wasn't for lack of trying, but focusing on Minoru somehow always led him back to Mîra crying, "What else is love if not need?" The knot in his stomach tightened. The more he thought back to that night at the graveyard, the more distorted the memory became. He still did not know how he started in Mîra's comforting arms to ending with her back turned on him in finality.

He had a chance to say something, to do something and prove that her assumptions were wrong. He needed to tell her how he felt but… the more he thought back to that long moment as he stared up at her determinedly, the more he believed that not saying anything was the right decision. His inability to speak certainly hurt Mîra more, but even if he did tell her how he felt, he doubted it would have done any good. At that point she was too guarded and she may have interpreted his words incorrectly again.

So, he spent the entire journey from Genkai's temple to the compound thinking about what he could do or say to salvage the situation. He knew he still had a chance to turn things around with Mîra, to make her see and realize the truth, but one more chance was likely all he had. He needed to make his attempt count.

At least throughout the journey Mîra was distant, but not rude, cold, or off-putting. Ryuji likely noticed that there was a rift between them, but only because the three of them were in close proximity for the past several days. He wisely didn't say anything to either of them, and made conversation with Mîra, asking her to tell him stories about Alyatavar or the dragons that used to inhabit her lands. Hiei didn't mind listening, and he enjoyed her stories, but he always felt guilty knowing that the loss of her lands and kingdom weighed on her heavily.

"Do you get it now?" Mîra snapped impatiently to him. He stared up at her quietly, her voice ringing in his ears again. He scowled, frustrated at his divided attentions. He could not focus on Minoru and on Mîra at the same time. He needed to deal with Minoru first and then he could focus on his relationship with Mîra.

"I got it," he replied.

"Well, it's about time," Mîra snorted, "Considering we are moving into action soon." As she turned her attention back to the hologram, she frowned. "The more I look at this layout, the more I believe we need to take out these guard towers." She pointed to two guard towers on the map closest to their position. "I can dispose of the guards in the towers closest to us quietly and place an illusion over the tower. It won't be a strong illusion, that's not my forte, but with the cover of darkness I can conjure something that will give you enough time to get in undetected."

Drawing her hand back, her frown deepened. "I may also be able to dispose of the third tower as well, before retreating into the woods. That leaves the last tower on the side of the building you're entering from. It's unlikely he will leave his post, since the goal of my distraction is to make it seem like there are more than three of us here."

"I'll handle it while Ryuji breaks into the compound," Hiei said. Mîra nodded, her eyes focused and Hiei could see the gears turning in her mind.

Finally, she said, "Okay. I think that handles the infiltration. Like Ryuji said, we won't know what to expect inside so we will have to improvise. Between all of our unique skills, this should not be an issue." Mîra stood and straightened her black blouse before picking up her bow and quiver full of arrows. "I need to go find stones for the illusions inscriptions, and I suppose I'll find us dinner as well. I'll return before dark."

With that, she turned and left their small camp. Hiei kept his gaze on her figure until she vanished behind the trees.

"Um, I don't mean to, ya know, stick my nose in where it doesn't belong, but what's going on between you and Ba-chan? One minute you're lovey dovey," Hiei glared at Ryuji but he ignored it and continued, "and the next it's almost as if she's just tolerating being around you." Hiei's glare turned into a frown and Ryuji looked away nervously. "It's just, ever since Ba-chan showed up, I've spent a lot of time with her and I don't know everything she went through but-" he cut off and let out a long sigh. He ran his hand through his black hair and Hiei waited patiently for Ryuji to ask his question.

"What was she like, back then?" He finally asked.

The question surprised Hiei, he wasn't expecting Ryuji to ask this in particular. He expected him to ask about their fight at the temple, or how he felt about her now. But what Mîra was like, who she used to be? Mîra was still just as prideful and haughty as he remembered, and if anything, she was more prideful after attaining her birthright as Queen of Alyatavar and earning the title of Queen of the Demon Realm. She was still just as ferocious with her sword and magic as she honed her skills throughout the years. Part of him wanted to say it didn't matter, but he knew it did to a degree. What was she like? Why did Hiei fall for her to begin with? The more he thought about it, the more Mîra reminded him of how Mukuro used to be. Her core was still the same, as he recognized, but she seemed burdened by her past.

Hiei broke Mukuro's chains once, but that was different. Hiei and Mukuro's pains were the same and they were able to understand each other in a way no one else could. But what Mîra experienced, though painful, was completely different from Hiei's pain. Could he even break her chains? Would she let him? Hiei wasn't sure on either question. He wasn't sure if it was something he should do. There came a point where Hiei learned that he needed to live for himself, that he alone had the power to make himself content with the world around him. Mukuro also came to the same realization, and they stood together as they figured out their new place in the world. But Mîra?

"Sorry, I shouldn't have asked. I know it's really personal," Ryuji said after the long silence.

"It's fine," Hiei said, pulled out of his thoughts. "I-" He stopped and turned, facing the darkness of the forest where he felt Mîra's magical presence approaching. Sure enough, she soon appeared holding two dead rabbits.

Ryuji arched an eyebrow at the game in her hands. "Okay, I brought food with me so… I'm just going to eat that." He began rummaging in his pack.

Mîra smiled humorously at him as she shook her head and sat down. As she skinned the rabbits she asked, "What did you expect?"

Hiei began to assist her by skewering the meat and placing it over the fire. He coaxed the fire a bit as Ryuji answered smartly, "Not that."

Mîra, to Hiei's surprise, threw her head back and laughed. Then, Hiei knew the exact answer to Ryuji's question.

He turned to the Boy, who was now adding water to whatever he was eating and stated firmly. "Radiant."

Ryuji looked up at him, surprised at first, but then a slow smile formed on his face. "Yeah, I can see that."

"What are you two talking about?" Mîra asked, looking up from the second rabbit. Hiei hastily took it and began prepping the meat for the fire.

"Girls," Ryuji said causally. Hiei glared at Ryuji furiously. Traitor!

"Girls?" Mîra echoed, confused.

"Yup," Ryuji grinned, eating the mush he made.

Mîra straightened and then cast a suspicious glance at Ryuji, then Hiei. Her lavender eyes caught his and held them for a moment before she suddenly turned away, her cheeks flushed. Hiei decided the fire was very interesting and he was going to cook these rabbits to perfection, and once they were done he would figure out a way to skewer Ryuji for his betrayal. But Ryuji hummed a tune as he ate, as if nothing was wrong, and Mîra began to work on etching the illusion magic into two fist-sized stones. By the time she was done, the rabbits finished cooking and she and Hiei ate.

Ryuji made some small talk but after night fell, the three of them fell silent. The hours passed quickly, and soon the moon was high in the sky. Finally, Mîra put away the holo image of the compound and stood. Hiei watched her attach her sword to her hip, set her quiver across her chest, and pick up her bow.

"It's time," Mîra said firmly.

"Wait!" Ryuji scrambled to his feet and stared up at her determinedly. "I've been thinking a lot about Minoru and I get it, you know?" He looked down at his hands. "Genkai-basama always talked about time, and how every human is racing against death's clock. But that makes us special, unique. But Minoru, Isao, and I… well…" He sucked in a breath and stared back up at Mîra resolutely. "I could have been Minoru. Easily."

Hiei wasn't sure what to make of that sentiment. He never hesitated at allowing the Boy to come live with him in the demon realm; Ryuji was smart enough to know what he wanted by that point in his life. But Hiei didn't think that he felt reservations about his unexpected demonic longevity.

Mîra smiled down at him gently, reminding Hiei of Yukina speaking to Sakura about a difficult question with an easy answer. "Yes, you could be like Minoru, but you're not. You found your own path that openly confronts your duality, and you are stronger for it." Mîra leaned down and kissed his forehead lightly. "Stay safe and keep your hot-headed uncle in line. We can't have him losing his temper and ruining the operation."

Ryuji grinned up at her. "Well you know him, but I'll do my best."

Hiei stood, glaring at both of them but Mîra then turned, her lavender eyes fixed on him. She stared at him as though she was about to say something but she merely nodded at him and turned towards the forest. Hiei's gut lurched. He didn't want her to walk away from him like this.

"Mîra!" He called sharply, without realizing what he was doing. She stopped and turned, staring at him expectantly. For a moment, Hiei wasn't sure what to say, if there was anything he could say that would matter. Then, it came to him. His eyes narrowed and he smirked at her.

"Try not to have too much fun."

Mîra's eyes went wide, but they quickly narrowed with the familiar haughty glint as her pink lips curled into a smirk that mirrored his own. "Come now, Hiei, you know how much I love to make an entrance."

Yes, he did.

Then, Mîra turned and disappeared into the forest. Hiei turned to Ryuji. "Let's go."

*~0~*

Hiei waited patiently for the guard in the watch tower to respond to the radio, stating that all was clear on his side and that he would keep an eye out for additional explosions or intruders, before knocking the guard unconscious. Hm, this guard was human but as he and Ryuji made their way closer to the compound, Hiei sensed the youki of other demons. Minoru always employed a mix of humans and demons, and it seemed the compound was made up of the same.

From the watch tower, Hiei could see the blaze of fire rising into the sky. He could feel Mîra's magic whirling like a storm, striking down anything and everything in its path. He knew she was going to make an entrance, but this was more. The turret from the tower on the other side rattled off more ammunition and Hiei's hands curled into fists. He had no reason to worry about Mîra but he couldn't help himself. Should he send Koku down to help her?

Just then, he watched as a bright light shot through the sky. No, not a light- an arrow! An arrow encased in fire and lighting and it was headed for the final tower! He stared, amazed as the arrow landed true and the tower exploded into a ball of magical fire. She was fine. Mîra executed her end of the plan, and now it was time for theirs.

Hiei quickly rejoined Ryuji who just finished hacking open the door. Slipping the control pad and the device attached to the door pad back into his pockets, he nodded at Hiei. "Sounds like Ba-chan is doing a good job. After you, Hiei-ji." Hiei opened his Jagan and they swiftly entered. He quickly scanned the interior and exterior and found that Mîra was at the tree line. She readied another arrow, aimed at the helicopters and launched her final attack. Guards were running after her and she waved at them, smiling before turning into the woods. Hiei was relieved that she wasn't using the power of her dragon yet. What if she needed Hiei to pull her out of her Song again?

"What is it? Is Ba-chan okay?" Ryuji hissed, trying to keep his voice down.

Hiei reluctantly shifted his Jagan's gaze back inside. Thinking of the layout from earlier, he followed the path until he caught the bunker doors closing. The thick metal doors locked and Hiei saw automated turrets in the corners begin scanning the corridor.

"Mîra is drawing most of the guards outside and just entered the woods. Someone went into the bunker, but I didn't see who. There are automated defenses, but we can easily get past them," he reported to Ryuji.

"Or we can find the control center and take over those turrets," Ryuji suggested. He pulled out the holo from his back pocket and brought up the image. "If Ba-chan is outside now drawing the guards away, we have a good chance at getting into the control center successfully. We're here and judging by the layout we aren't far from the main security center. I can hack in and gain control of the automated defenses."

"Those doors don't stand a chance against Koku or my demon flames," Hiei snapped, a bit insulted that Ryuji was insinuating that he didn't have the strength to blow down a pair of metal doors.

Ryuji rolled his eyes. "Now I see where Shana gets it from; seriously, you can't just arm-fist your way through this kind of stuff. First, blasting the door down with Koku will make a ton of noise, which we're trying to avoid. Second, hacking into the system here will let us control their defenses and use them against the bad guys, so we get another advantage. Third, we can find out information about what the gang's been up to—transactions, procurements, meeting dates, times, and maybe even recordings." Ryuji sighed exasperated. "What if Minoru isn't here? What do we do then? This could help."

Hiei gave Ryuji an appraising look. "What does 'where Shana gets it from' mean, exactly?"

Ryuji groaned. "Come on, both of you are so one-track minded. If Shana didn't have me covering for her ass while she perused museums and official buildings looking for things to steal, she'd be fried, electrocuted, and full of laser holes by now." Even though he was complaining about Shana, there was a look in his eye that made Hiei think Ryuji didn't mind covering for Shana as much as he was letting on.

Hiei opened his Jagan and focused on the path to the control center. "The way is clear. Let's go." They ran into a few traps and security cameras, but Hiei merely cut them down. Hiei burst open the door and before the two guards watching the monitors could call for backup, he knocked them out.

Ryuji immediately got to work, pulling several devices out of his backpack and attaching them to the consoles and plugs. Hiei didn't know anything about this so he kept watch while Ryuji's fingers flew on the keyboard. After a moment, Ryuji swiveled around in the chair.

"Alright, I just need to let this program run for a few minutes and we should be golden."

Hiei took advantage of downtime and refocused his Jagan on Mîra, except… no, this couldn't be.

"Gramps? Everything okay?" Ryuji asked lightly, but his round brown eyes stared at him nervously.

He tried again, sending his gaze into the forest, but all he saw was a white haze blocking his vision. "I can't find Mîra. My vision is blocked," he growled and his hands closed into fists.

"Blocked? That's… not good," Ryuji said frowning. "But, I mean, this is Ba-chan we're talking about. I'm sure she's fine."

Hiei didn't say anything. There were few times his Jagan's vision was blocked, and it was usually because of a strong reiki barrier. If he couldn't see her, how would Hiei know she was safe? What if she was in a berserk mode, unable to control herself and lost in her Song? Who would pull her out? And who put a reiki barrier around the entire damn forest? What the hell was going on here? The knot in Hiei's stomach tightened.

"Hey," Ryuji called out to him. Hiei turned and what he saw was the mirror image of Yusuke's triumphant smile. "Don't worry about Ba-chan. She'll kick anyone's ass who stands in her way, without a doubt."

Hiei was still worried, but he was grateful for Ryuji's attempts at relieving his concerns. Mîra always seemed to be on his thoughts, despite the dire situation with his nephew. It couldn't be helped, he supposed, after what happened at the temple.

Taking a chance, Hiei tentatively said, "I fucked things up, with Mîra. I-" Ryuji's attentive gaze made Hiei pause, but he had to keep going now. "I knew what I needed to say, but I didn't want it to seem dishonest."

Ryuji considered his words for a moment before speaking. "Okay, so just go with me for a second here. If I'm at bar, trying to pick up a girl-" Hiei gave him a hard glare and Ryuji waved his hands defensively in front of him, "I said just go with me I promise this has a point! Okay so, at a bar, picking up girls, and I see a woman like Ba-chan. She's gorgeous, makes all the heads in the room turn, yadda, yadda, perfect 10, right? Normally I'd be all over that—don't look at me like that come on, let me finish!

"Anyway, with a girl like Ba-chan, forget it. I would never try to pick her up. I've seen it before, women like Ba-chan, they just have this-" Ryuji paused, his face scrunched thinking, "-this air of baggage. Sure, she laughs at my jokes and flirts a little—NOT that I flirt with Ba-chan specifically, because I definitely don't—but you know, she seems normal. Like a girl at a bar wanting to meet a guy at a bar so she has someone to keep her warm that night."

"Does this have a point?" Hiei snapped angrily. Hiei did not open up to his nephew only for him to discuss the issue in such a crass manner.

"Yes, just listen!" Ryuji ran his hand through his hair. "Except, with women like Ba-chan, that's not what they really want. They just have so much hanging over them, they don't know how to handle it and they do what they can to forget about it. I remember distinctly once while you were out on investigation Ba-chan asked me, 'Do you think Hiei is happy that I'm here?' And this after you broke up with Simran, when you were talking and getting along again. I told her of course!"

Ryuji leaned in and stared at Hiei intently. "I'll never forget the way she frowned after I said that. She didn't believe me, Yukina-chan, Shana, Kurama, no one. Whatever happened to her, it burned her so bad that she's not going to believe anyone but you. Whatever it was you wanted to tell her, you just need to do it straight up. No games, no nonsense."

Hiei didn't say anything for a long moment. He thought about her unhealthy on-again/off-again relationship with Thalion, the way her marriage to Sigmundr ended, and… even Hiei hurt her, Mîra's words haunting him 'Why did you abandon me…'. Of course, that's why she couldn't accept the present. Hiei knew she was different, time changes people, but she was still his Vesse. He didn't think all of the issues of their past would be wiped away, but he was ready to move forward together with her.

Hiei needed Mîra, and he thought she could see it and understand him, like she used to. But Mîra was too guarded, too afraid to even try.

After a long moment, Hiei spoke. "I've wounded her too much to just say it now. I need to prove myself to her again." As an afterthought he added, "I'm not good with words." Ryuji burst into a bright laugh that eased some of the tension knotted in Hiei's chest.

"Yeah, no kidding, Gramps!" Ryuji laughed. He turned back to the console as the program finished. "Look, I still think just telling her straight up how you feel is the best solution, but if you want to plan some big romantic gesture I can help with that too."

Hiei walked up next to him to see the console screens better. "I don't need help planning anything." Mîra used to say that he was a romantic, surely he could think up of something on his own. But he did appreciate the offer.

Hiei cast a glance down at the Boy and decided to give him a lesson of his own. "What about you?" he asked.

"What about me?" Ryuji asked distractedly, focused on the screens.

"With Shana," Hiei stated frankly.

Ryuji froze for a moment before resuming his typing. "Are you kidding, Gramps? My first analogy on how to explain Ba-chan was picking up girls at a bar. What does that say about me?" He snapped bitterly.

Having no patience for Ryuji's self-pity, Hiei grabbed the chair and swung it around to face him. The movement was so sudden, Ryuji seemed disoriented before looking up at Hiei and going white. Hiei leaned in close and growled, "It says that you're hiding and afraid, just like Mîra. But you don't fool me, and you don't fool Shana." He drew back and Ryuji stared up at him wide eyed and terrified. "Don't be like me. Don't be like Mîra. Don't be like Kurama or even your father." Hiei pressed his palm against his chest, feeling the crystal and hiruseki underneath. "Tell Shana, no games and no nonsense."

Hiei turned back to the screens. "Do you have control?"

It took Ryuji a second to respond. "Y-yeah," he said shakily, turning back to the console. He cleared his throat and ran his fingers through his hair. "Okay so, I've got control of the security cameras and defenses. Let's check the cams first." As he talked, the images appeared on the screen.

"Seems like a lot of the guards are still outside," Ryuji said thoughtfully.

"But not in the forest," Hiei observed.

"Yeah. Ordinarily wouldn't they try and chase someone down? Even in the dark?" Ryuji asked, thinking out loud. "Okay first thing, let's lock them out." With a few strokes on the keyboard, the compound went into lock down.

"How is Mîra supposed to get in?" Hiei asked concerned.

Ryuji frowned. After thinking for a moment, he said, "I can stay here to monitor the cameras. When she comes out of the woods I can reopen the doors." He swiveled around and walked towards the knocked-out guards. Hiei watched him as he removed the ear pieces both of them were wearing. Sitting back down, he took another device out of his backpack and fiddled with the objects. Finally, he turned to Hiei.

"Okay, so I reset the frequency channel for these communication pieces. You take one and I'll take the other. We can keep in contact that way. Normally I'd use the console to talk to you but I want to make sure we stay off the other frequency channel the other goons are on."

Hiei frowned at Ryuji. "Are you sure you want to stay?"

"Yeah," Ryuji said resolutely. Running his hand through his hair again he added, "I'll be able to keep tabs on everything going on. As soon as I see Ba-chan, I'll let you know her status. Once she's inside, I'll leave this room to join up with both of you."

Hiei didn't like leaving the Boy behind. "I'll leave Koku with you," Hiei stated firmly. Before Ryuji could protest, Koku slid off Hiei's arm in her small form and jumped onto Ryuji's shoulders, nuzzling him affectionately. Ryuji ignored the greeting and his brown eyes glared sharply at him.

"I know I'm not my Dad, but I know how to handle myself. I don't need a babysitter," Ryuji snapped.

Hiei regarded him as he slipped the electronic device into his ear. "I'm not leaving Koku with you for your peace of mind." Hiei let his words soak before he continued, "Yusuke knows you're capable of doing things he cannot."

"Like what?" Ryuji asked, surprised. Hiei thought back to his conversation with Yusuke and Kurama after Mîra's meeting in Gandara, how Yusuke wanted Ryuji to work with Hokushin on managing parts of Raizen's old territory.

"Ask him yourself," Hiei replied. He turned to leave but as he got to the door, he heard Ryuji mutter,

"Jeeze, still treats me like I'm a kid."

Just for good measure, Hiei darted back to the console and before Ryuji could turn, Hiei ruffled the hair on his head, like he used to do before Ryuji grew taller than him.

"Hey!" Ryuji yelped. He swatted at Hiei, irritated, and Hiei laughed to himself. A child indeed. Ryuji glowered at him as he ran his hand through his hair continuously. "Man, what was that for?"

Hiei didn't answer but instead asked, "You'll tell me as soon as you see Mîra?"

"Yeah, yeah, I told you I would. Get a move on already, Gramps," Ryuji said, rolling his eyes and returning his focus to the console.

With an amused smirk, Hiei left the security room and headed to the bunker.

I hope you all liked this chapter! I'm glad to finally get things kicked off with the Minoru operation. Good news is I wrote Part 2 simultaneously to Part 1, so there won't be a long delay in posting the second part. Thanks for all my follows, favorites, and reviews! I love hearing what you think, so definitely leave a review!

Some SoW trivia: When naming Minoru's gang, I called it Rising Sun based on Japan being the "land of the rising sun." It didn't really have anything to do with the song, but after hearing the song on the radio, I felt that it coincidentally fit.

Another bit of SoW trivia, is that I absolutely adore Ryuji. I wish i could spend more time writing him, but I'm happy with what I've done with him too. I wrote another Extra starring him, but we'll see if I can fit it in this story. It may have to wait until the Extras standalone fic.

Song: The House of the Rising Sun, by The Animals