Sayomi and Hiei cut through a handful of demons together. As they fought, Sayomi found herself lost in thought. How am I supposed to control my emotions after learning about Yasuhiro? Am I supposed to just ignore his feelings and stay with Hiei? Is there really nothing I can do to help him?

Hiei burned a demon to ash before looking at Sayomi. "You need to focus. If you keep getting distracted, you'll die."

Sayomi scowled and cut down another demon. "I know, but..."

An apparition attacked her from behind, but Hiei stabbed through its head. He glared at her and flicked the blood from his blade. "Stop making excuses. The sooner you gain complete control, the better."

Sayomi sighed and glared down at the floor. She tightened her grip on her weapon and groaned, "I know that. It's just hard to focus when I'm fighting."

"Then let me handle them," Hiei said. "You focus on your Shade and I'll kill anyone who gets too close."

"But we just started!" She argued. Then she noticed two demons sneaking up on them. She swung her sickle to cut them down. "Who knows how many there are?"

Hiei removed his headband, exposing his Evil Eye. "I can handle it. Do what you need to do so you can gain your freedom. Isn't that why you're doing this?"

"It's more complicated than that..." She did her best to stay calm, but she couldn't shake her brother from her thoughts. I can't return his feelings, but he's the only family I have left. I can't hate him.

She bit her lip and stared down at her feet. Her knuckles strained as her grip tightened around the sickle and chain. If he can't accept me with Hiei, will he lose it? If he does...

Hiei dashed around, cutting down demons with his sword. He kept a careful watch on Sayomi as he fought. When he saw her body go limp, he was instantly by her side to catch her and lay her down safely. "About time."

"The girly fainted."

"Heh heh heh. If we take out the runt, then we can have some fun with her before we kill her."

Hiei's eyes were smoldering as he glared at the demons closing in on them. He got into his sword stance and said, "You won't get close enough to try."

Meanwhile, Sayomi found herself surrounded by the Void. She hugged her knees close to her chest with her chin tucked in. Her eyes stared out into the darkness as she muttered her thoughts to herself.

"What am I supposed to do? How do I save my brother from himself? Am I even strong enough?" She hugged her knees tighter. "What if he can't be saved?"

"You don't see it, do you? Your brother loves you, as more than a sister. He's infatuated with you."

Mukuro's words seemed to echo around her, reminding her of Yasuhiro. From the day she ran from him to the day he came back.

"You had time to build your social skills and form bonds with others. He was not so fortunate."

Sayomi curled in tighter, digging her black nails into her arms. She tried to recall every meeting with him up until her last. "I could tell something was off, but..."

"Then he saw you and Hiei together. His final breaking point was when you told him you were mates."

In the training room, Hiei was fighting off three demons that ganged up on him. He kept a safe distance from Sayomi's body, but he was close enough to reach her in seconds if necessary.

"How long can you keep this up, short-stuff?" The first demon taunted him, parrying Hiei's attacks with his own sword. "You getting tired, yet?"

Hiei dashed just before the second demon could pierce him with his spear. He ran up behind the third demon who was trying to aim his arrow. He quickly cut down the archer and returned to attack the first demon again. The second demon used that moment to shoot lightning from the tip of his spear.

Hiei jumped out of the way. Then he caught movement in his peripheral and turned to see the first demon closing in on Sayomi. He ground his teeth and threw his sword through the demon's throat.

"You fool! Now you're weaponless!" The lightning demon dashed towards Hiei with his spear aimed for his head.

"You think so?" Hiei smirked and ignited his fist with flames. He caught the spear before it could scratch him. Then he incinerated the weapon instantly. "You can't even recover your weapon."

"Graarrgh! Damn you!" The demon covered his fist in lightning and closed in.

Hiei dodged. He quickly retrieved his sword and ran back to decapitate the demon. He didn't have time to rest before he felt bloodlust closing in from behind. He blocked the attack with his sword and turned. His eyes narrowed when he saw Sayomi smirking at him with black eyes.

"We meet again, thief." Her smirk grew into a toothy grin. "Tell me, how is big brother doing?"

Hiei shoved her back and swung his sword. She jumped out of range and started swinging her sickle in circles. He closed in to attack again. Sayomi let the shadows cover her body and his sword swiped through her like smoke.

"You realize if you kill me, you'll kill the Host. Isn't she your mate?" Though the voice was Sayomi's, it was tainted with malice.

Hiei glared and said, "If you've taken over, then that means she's in her subconscious. If she doesn't return, then I can only assume that she's failed and faded away."

"Oh," The Shade's sadistic voice echoed around the room. "The Host is still here, thief. She's in turmoil over the news."

The demons in the chamber tried to lock onto the girl's aura, but they only heard her voice.

"Should we gang up on him?"

"No, let them tire themselves out."

"If we're lucky, they'll just kill each other and save us the trouble."

Hiei scowled and kept his guard up. He scanned the room, trying to pinpoint her location. "What news?"

"Heh heh heh," the Shade laughed. "She didn't tell you?" She appeared to Hiei's left and said, "She's agonizing over the revelation that big brother wants her for himself. He's infatuated with her and she can't bring herself to hate her only family."

Hiei's eyes narrowed. He turned to swing his sword, but she was already gone. Then a pair of dark aura crescents struck him in the back. He grunted and dashed before she could hit him again.

"She's a mess of emotions right now. It's driving her into a downward spiral. She might fade... Or she might just wallow in darkness alone. Either way, it's not a pleasant existence."

"Then why haven't you faded?" Hiei asked.

"Because I'm not weak." The Shade's tone went from taunting to angry. She summoned black chains to bind Hiei's legs in place. "I'm not afraid of my power. I thrive on it. When she sealed me away, I disposed of that weakness. It had nowhere else to go but to the Host."

Hiei didn't bother struggling. His right hand squeezed the hilt of his sword as he felt the dragon beneath the bandages. "You didn't dispose of it. You're afraid of disappearing. That's why you're taking over her body."

"Grrr..." The Shade appeared in front of Hiei and glared at him. "She's spent enough time in the light. Now it's my turn." She swung her sickle, slicing across his legs.

Hiei grunted and smirked. "Heh heh... That's not going to happen." He ignited his whole body with flames to banish the chains. "She's the host because she's the original Sayomi. You're just a coping mechanism that's gotten out of hand."

"Shut up, thief!" The Shade vanished in the shadows. She threw the chain of her weapon, wrapping it around Hiei's neck. The moment he felt the first cold chain-link against his skin, he raised his sword to keep it from choking him completely. The Shade pulled on the chain, tightening it as much as she could.

"So long as she's trapped in the Void and I'm out here, that makes me the original." The Shade smiled as she watched him struggle. "All I have to do is kill you, and that will be enough to break her." She tugged the chain again, slowly stepping closer. "Once she's out of commission, I'll kill the rest of her friends. She'll fall deeper into despair until she's as numb as death. Then she won't have to feel anything at all."

A predatorial growl rumbled through his bared teeth. "She won't go down that easily. She's a fighter."

"She's a coward," the Shade snapped. "You understand what it takes to get power. Why are you willing to degrade yourself to mating with such a weak-minded child?"

Hiei narrowed his eyes. "If anyone is the weak one, it's you. She's not afraid of direct confrontation."

The Shade stood in front of Hiei. Her black eyes reflected his angry expression. She covered her body with shadow. "Speaking of being afraid..." She reached out to touch him just above his Evil Eye. "What are you afraid of?"

Sayomi sat alone in the Void. Her eyes were empty as she stared into the abyss. Though her voice was just a whisper, it sounded loud in the silence. "What should I do? Should I try to reason with Yasuhiro or will I have to fight him? What if I can't beat him?"

She had mistaken his obsessiveness for being over-protective. She had told him several times that she would go with him when the time was right. "If I had noticed it sooner, could we have avoided this or...?"

"Sayomi... Tell me he's lying. You're not mates. Not my sister. Not with a traitor like you."

Sayomi could hear the betrayal in her brother's voice. She felt responsible and ashamed for her brother's condition. "If I hadn't run away, would I have accepted him in that way? Would he have ended up just as obsessed or would he have been happy?"

Her eyes darkened as depression and doubt started to weigh on her mind. "Would we have been better off isolated with just each other for company? Could we have been happy? I can just barely imagine..."

The last time she recalled her brother being happy was when their mother was still with them. "I just barely remember her, but I can still see Yasuhiro's smile..."

While their mother left them alone in hiding to get food and supplies, Yasuhiro protected her and made her feel safe. He was always there to make her feel better. After their mother's death, he became even more protective. She couldn't remember when her admiration for her brother turned to fear. She only remembered making the choice to run as far away as she could.

Then she remembered her time living with the monks in Tourin. She recalled the hateful looks they gave her every day. If anything bad happened, they were quick to blame and punish her for cursing them. Only Hokushin, Seitei, and the Old Man believed her when she denied it. Even so, they didn't do anything to stop it. She didn't experience real happiness until she went to the Human World.

She felt a small wave of calm wash over her and she relaxed just a bit. She felt grateful to Master Genkai for taking her in and training her when she first arrived. She remembered her first encounter with Yusuke and Kuwabara, who accepted her despite knowing what she was. Kurama's words of wisdom were more helpful than she could ever express to the fox. Though she didn't always feel comfortable, the girls were always there to listen and support her. When a certain fire demon crossed her mind, her vision came back into focus. "Hiei..."

Images started to flash before her like an old movie. The experience was different from her own immersive memories. It was unfamiliar and she could only observe.

The first thing she saw was a young boy with wild black hair and feral red eyes. He was running from a horde of demons who were hell-bent on killing him. A voice echoed around her and she recognized it as her Shade.

"Hiei, the 'Flying Shadow.' You were born a cursed child in the Glacial Country and bandits gave you your name. You enjoyed killing. The sound of their screams made you smile. It makes sense why the ice maidens feared you and cast you away."

Sayomi stared with wide eyes as the young boy unsheathed a hidden sword from his tattered cloak and killed all of his pursuers. The look in his eyes showed indifference despite the fact he was killing so many.

"Once you realized your jewel memento was valuable, you flaunted it. So you never wanted for the things that pleased you. Being so occupied, you no longer had any interest in finding the Glacial Country. It became only a vague memory stirred by the jewel, nothing more."

The scenery changed again. Hiei wandered the forest, yet the demons stayed hidden and out of his way. Even though he stared at his jewel out in the open, he was left alone.

"You eventually tired of killing, and the local bandits learned to avoid you... so you spent more time gazing at the jewel. One day you realized that doing so made you feel at peace. Your battle-hardened expression would soften, and you began to wonder about the person who gave you life and this strange gift. Your interest in the Glacial Country rekindled, but shed a different light."

Sayomi felt her body relax at the sight of the jewel. Her curiosity got the better of her and she leaned forward to see more. The scene changed again and Hiei was fighting another demon with his back to the edge of a cliff.

"You traveled to new places, met new enemies, some quite formidable. Then... the worst happened."

Sayomi gasped when the demon cut the jewel from Hiei's neck. She and Hiei watched the stone fall over the cliff into the river below.

"Now you had two goals in front of you. You needed better eyes."

Time skipped forward and Hiei stared out at the horizon with fresh bandages around his forehead. Blood stained his face from the fresh surgery.

"Extreme pain and the loss of hard-earned power was part of the price you had to pay to get the Evil Eye. But that didn't bother you a bit. It was the least you felt you deserved for your carelessness."

Sayomi could feel the tears building in her eyes but she did her best to blink them back. The scene changed and she saw tall young women who looked similar to Yukina. They stared at him fearfully, but one of them led him to a pillar of ice with a name carved into it. She couldn't hold them in anymore.

"Your new sight had no problem finding the Glacial Country. The ice maidens all seemed dejected, scarcely worth even a passing thought of revenge. You saw your mother's grave behind the castle... but felt no anger, only a sense that she was content in her final rest."

The scene faded and Hiei was walking away from the floating island. Sayomi felt guilty for watching Hiei's memories without his direct consent. Though, she wasn't certain if it was or wasn't. The moment his name crossed her lips, she was unable to look at anything else.

"You also discovered you had a sister named Yukina, who disappeared a few years before. Having accomplished one goal, you'd gained another. Afterward you drifted, finally ending up in the Human World... where things took a strange turn."

An image of Hiei and a young red-head with a literal blade of grass flashed before her eyes for a brief moment. They were teaming up against an eight-handed demon. She recalled Kurama's story of their first encounter with each other. Then the scenery flashed to Yusuke. Then his fight against Seiryu.

"You battled a peculiar human, and saw things anew. You also found your sister, but she didn't know you. You felt, more than anything, relieved. All you had left to do was find your tear of ice. You were growing tired of fighting in the Human World. Then..."

Sayomi immediately recognized the scene that faded into view. It was when the hunters were opening the portal for them to go to the Demon Plane. She also remembered the dream he showed her of his birth and this very moment. It was when Yukina gave him her tear.

"You knew this wasn't your jewel. Yet at that moment you felt you no longer had a purpose. Combat was all that was left to you. You started to think of ways to die. What you didn't count on, was finding someone to banish those desires from your mind."

Sayomi felt her mouth hang open as she saw images of herself from a distance. He watched her when she trained and when she meditated. Though he kept his distance during the case with Sensui, he would still check on her with his Evil Eye. Her eyes widened when she saw herself fight to near death against Sensui himself. The last memory was when he claimed her as his.

She felt her cheeks burn from the memory, but she didn't care. She only wanted to go back to him. And there was only one way to do it. "I can't stay here..."

In the training dungeon, the Shade stared at Hiei with wide eyes and her hold on him became slack. Hiei flitted out of the chain and pinned her to the nearest pillar. He glared down at her and lowered his head to whisper in her ear. "I'm not afraid of death. If I die, then so be it. If she's really gone, then you're just wasting my time."

The Shade tried to comprehend Hiei's thoughts about power and how little he cared for his own life. She was baffled when the Host managed to attract the swordsman's attention, let alone his pursuit of her. Power seemed to only be a bonus to his lifestyle. He had no trouble regaining what he lost in just a few years. "Why does she matter to you when she's so weak?"

Hiei leaned in closer, gently biting her earlobe. The Shade gasped and tried to push him away, but he pinned her arms above her head and pressed his body against hers. He growled before moving down to her neck. When she shivered against him, he smirked and said, "The only one holding her back is herself. The sooner she realizes this, the better off she'll be."

He pulled back enough to lock eyes with her. He raised his sword and rested the blade gently against her throat. "Now, submit control to Sayomi or I'll kill you."

In the Void, Sayomi sat in the lotus position with her eyes closed. She took in slow, deep breaths in beats of four. She focused her aura around her cape and did her best to visualize her Shade. It took longer than the first time, but it eventually manifested in front of her. She let out a small sigh of relief and said, "I need my body back."

The Shade stared at her for a moment without speaking. Then it averted its gaze to the space between them. "I assume it's because of the thief, right?"

Sayomi was about to deny it, but immediately banished the thought. "He's part of it. I also can't keep avoiding the truth of who I really am. There is a part of me that enjoys the fights and I did feel a sense of pride when I killed my first opponent. But I also know that it doesn't have to be bloody to be fun. And if we can put our differences aside and become one, then neither of us will need to worry about fading."

The Shade scowled at her skeptically. "I wouldn't exist anymore. I would still fade."

"You wouldn't," Sayomi argued. "You're part of me. I can't discard a part of myself just because others don't like or accept it. I'm sorry it took me this long, but I'd like you to be one with me. I don't want you to fade."

The Shade stared at Sayomi in shock. It lowered its gaze again and muttered quietly. "It's really okay?"

Sayomi nodded and smiled. "Yeah. I know you're not all bad. You're just scared. I'm scared. But there's nothing wrong with that."

"What made you change your mind?"

Sayomi closed her eyes and did her best to keep the tears from filling her eyes. She composed herself and said, "When I saw Hiei's memories... You spoke as if you sympathized with him. That made me realize that you couldn't be all bad."

The Shade avoided eye contact with Sayomi. Instead, it stared down at its lap and said, "He just caught me off guard. I expected him to be a ruthless killer who only cared for strength and power. I didn't expect him to willingly give up his power for the sake of his sister. Then when he thought of you, his fear of loneliness melted away."

Sayomi felt her cheeks heat up at the memory, but she kept her eyes on the Shade. "If you merge with me, he'll accept you too."

There was a moment of silence before the Shade looked up at her and asked, "What about big brother?"

Sayomi frowned. She had forgotten about Yasuhiro the moment she focused on Hiei. She clenched and unclenched her fists before taking in a deep breath. "I can't return his feelings. If he can't accept my feelings for Hiei, then there might not be a choice but to kill him. I was ready to live on without Yasuhiro before, but I don't think I can handle living without Hiei."

"You'd kill your own brother?"

Sayomi stared at her Shade with serious eyes and nodded. "I'll regret it if he ends up killing someone close to me out of jealousy. I can't let something like that happen. Besides..." She let a soft smile grace her lips. "I can't leave Hiei alone. I love him too much."

The Shade smirked and approached Sayomi. "If you're certain, then I'm willing to submit. Anything is better than being stuck in this Hell."

When the Shade melted into a cloud of shadow, it wisped over Sayomi and seeped into her body. Sayomi closed her eyes and relaxed as she let it in. She felt a new sense of completeness and sighed with relief.

Sayomi opened her eyes and blushed when she realized Hiei was pinning her with his body. His sword was against her throat and he was leaning in close. His glare shifted to a smirk when he recognized her. "Welcome back."

She carefully nodded. "Sorry it took me so long."

"Heh..." He lowered his sword and leaned down to kiss her. "Don't apologize." He let her go and turned to glare at the horde of demons advancing on them. "We can save explanations for later."

Sayomi's blush faded when she noticed how many demons were still left in the chamber. I suppose it can't be helped. It seems he had to restrain me, so I'm kinda surprised they kept their distance this long.

Without taking his eyes off the demons, Hiei said, "I'll handle the half on the right. You take the left. Whoever kills the most will owe the other a prize."

"Again with the prizes?" Sayomi smiled. "Is there something you're trying to get?"

As the demons charged, Hiei smirked. "Guess we'll find out."

Just before the demons reached them, Hiei and Sayomi dashed and cut down every demon in their paths. Hiei relied on his sword and flames while Sayomi used her sickle and shadows.

Sayomi grinned as she let the adrenaline fuel her body and pushed herself to keep fighting. For the first time in what felt like years, she felt like she was having fun. She felt confident using her aura to strengthen her attacks and enhance her natural abilities. She only hoped she could hold out until the end of the battle.

Every now and then, she caught Hiei in her line of sight and forced herself to fight harder. She didn't want to lose to him and owe him something again. As the fight dragged on, Sayomi felt the strain of her muscles, but she fought through the fatigue. Eventually, she lost track of how many demons she killed and only focused on survival.

By the time she killed her last opponent, she was out of breath and her body was shaking. Blood soaked through her clothes and stained her weapon, but she was alive. Before she could collapse, she leaned against the back wall and sat down.

Hiei sat down next to her, his Evil Eye hidden beneath his headband again. He raised his knees and let his sword rest against his shoulder. He kept his eyes trained ahead and said, "I won."

"Tch," Sayomi smirked, despite herself. "Whatever." Her eyes scanned the room of bodies. Corpses and blood were scattered across the floor and hung from the branches above. The only thing that seemed untouched by the carnage was a single statue in the middle of the room. She stared at it for a moment before she muttered, "I'm sorry, Hiei."

Hiei glanced at her and asked, "What for?"

"I..." She took in a deep breath and tried to find the best way to explain. "I saw your memories." Without giving him a chance to speak, she continued. "Once I was in the Void, I felt helpless. I didn't know what to do and Yasuhiro..." She bit her lip, but pressed forward. "I felt lost, until I saw your memories. I don't know how it happened, but I'm sorry."

"After you passed out..." Hiei stared ahead as he explained. "It took over and told me about your brother. Then it tried to kill me so you could stay trapped. It looked into my past, but I let it happen."

"But why?" Sayomi asked.

"Because I was hoping they'd reach you." Hiei glanced sideways at her and smirked. "Good to know they got through."

Sayomi felt her cheeks heat up but she did her best to ignore it. Then Hiei leaned against her and closed his eyes. Before she could object, he was already asleep. She stared at him and smiled. Then she closed her eyes and drifted off.

They woke up to the sound of the door creaking open. A single set of footsteps echoed in the room. "Hey... you two awake?"

Mukuro approached them, stepping over the bodies as if it was normal. Sayomi narrowed her eyes at the tyrant. Once he was in front of them, he stared down and said, "I see Class-A demons stand no chance against you." His eye slid over to Hiei. "You may soon be ready to fight one of my lieutenants. You've both made amazing progress in the past six months. I'm quite pleased."

Hiei glared up at Mukuro and said, "The stronger I get, the less certain I am of you, you monster. What kind of demon are you? What do those wrappings conceal?"

"Nothing to turn your world upside down, I assure you. But I suppose I'll let you have a look before long. All right..." Mukuro's tone became serious as he got to the point. "Let's proceed. This time you get a real opponent. Defeat him, and you'll gain his title of warrior. I'll also reveal myself in the bargain. Along with the junior ranks, I maintain a cadre of 77 carefully selected warriors. The number's not significant. I just like it. I'll call one over now. You're probably about equal in strength."

"Screw the title and all the rest," Hiei said. "Let's just do this."

"Titles can be useful, my friend. Most demons are very cooperative with those who have attained a place among my warriors." Mukuro's eye seemed to see through Hiei as he said, "It helps with, say, finding lost items..." Hiei's eyes widened and Sayomi's narrowed in confusion. Ignoring their silent questions, Mukuro turned to leave. "I'll be right back."

Hiei glared after the king. Sayomi watched Hiei. She noticed his tense muscles and she remembered the stone he lost. Does Mukuro know?

"Guess he's trying to creep me out... playing the mind reader like that." Hiei instantly got to his feet and dashed. He drew his sword and cut through the statue that had Sayomi's attention earlier. When it collapsed to the floor, he sheathed his sword and looked down at his sister's stone. "My jewel should blaze with my aura... Yet my Evil Eye can't see it. Perhaps it's hidden in someone's gut..."

Sayomi stood up and approached Hiei. She wanted to say something, but nothing helpful came to mind. Before she could say anything, the door opened again.

"Sorry to keep you waiting," Mukuro said, announcing his return. A second demon walked in beside him, his steps accompanied by the soft jingle of a bell.

Hiei's eyes widened with recognition. "You..."

"Huh?" Sayomi arched her brow curiously. Does he know this guy?

The tall demon wore blue robes and pants. His long dark hair was pulled back in a high ponytail and his face was covered in scars and stitches. A ring stuck out from the side of his head with the bell and more rings looped through his mouth and chin. A large metal piece hung down to his chest from his ears and Sayomi wondered how he could deal with it all. What caught her attention was the large ring-like blade he carried across his body with one hand.

"Shigure, the osteopath," Hiei introduced. "When did you enter Mukuro's employ?"

Shigure narrowed his eyes and smirked. "After I transplanted the Evil Eye into thee."

"You know him?" Mukuro asked.

"Only as a doctor knows a patient," Shigure answered. "I also taught him a smattering of swordplay. He's obviously come a long way since then..."

Hiei shifted his footing, placing himself between Sayomi and the doctor.

"Aren't thou indeed the one I operated on?" Shigure asked. "Transplantation equates to ability transformation, a veritable 'rebirth,' with the patient's aura reverting to the infant level. Thou were no exception. Thy power declined from that of a Class-A demon to nearly nothing. I am amazed at how far thou hast come in a few short years."

"Well..." Hiei smirked and tossed his headband back to Sayomi. "I'll allow that you did contribute... in a very small way."

Shigure glanced down and noticed the jewel around Hiei's neck. "Thou hast found thy tear of ice, I see."

Hiei tucked the jewel under his shirt and said, "It's not mine."

"So... the sister's, then. Thou hast found one thing thou sought."

"Hmm..." Mukuro mused. "Tell me more."

Shigure's expression darkened as he recalled the details. "The Evil Eye was to be his way to find the Glacial Country, where his sister resides, and the tear of ice, his mother's memento. This interested me, and I only operate on patients who pique my interest. In such cases, my fee is a part of the patient's life existence..." He raised his weapon over his head. "Which, in Hiei's case, involves never revealing himself to his sister."

"Really..." Mukuro said with wonder.

Sayomi stared at Shigure with wide eyes. Then her gaze drifted to Hiei's back. That's why he won't tell her?

"Defeat me, and I shall waive that fee," Shigure bargained.

Hiei dropped into his stance, ready to draw his sword. "I told you before the surgery... I will never reveal myself to her."

Shigure smirked. "Minds can change."

"Okay, enough reminiscing," Mukuro ordered. "This will be a fight to the death."

Sayomi swallowed the lump of nerves in her throat. She kept her distance, but she couldn't help the anxiety that urged her to get closer.

"There's nothing more fascinating than an earnest duel." Sayomi looked at Mukuro, her brow arched curiously. Without turning away from the fighters, Mukuro said, "In the decisive moment, the opposing forces collide and explode like fireworks."

Sayomi returned her attention to the fighters in front of her. Please don't die, Hiei...

"Begin," Mukuro ordered.

Shigure dropped into his own fighting stance and shifted his footing. Hiei drew his sword and tossed the scabbard away.

Sayomi kept her eyes on the two swordsmen as they gauged each other. Shigure's blade is almost as large as his body. Hiei's gonna have trouble getting close. If he used his flames, he might stand a better chance, but it looks like he's just sticking with his sword.

The standoff lasted but an instant. The battle, as well...

Sayomi's eyes widened as she followed their movements. So fast!

As Hiei closed in, Shigure lifted his weapon to attack. Hiei blocked with the side of his blade. Sayomi gasped when Hiei's sword cut into his own left arm. He used the moment of surprise to step on Shigure's blade, angling it down to the floor, and severed his arm completely. Shigure raised his arm to block, but Hiei cut through it like butter.

Shigure locked eyes with Hiei and lifted his ring, knocking Hiei off balance. At the last second, Hiei swung his sword to block Shigure's attack. Hiei's blade snapped in half and Shigure closed in.

Oh no! Sayomi felt her blood drain when she saw his mistake. It was too shallow!

Shigure's ring cut through Hiei's stomach and the surgeon grinned triumphantly. Blood spilled from Hiei's mouth. Then he smirked and swung his sword, slicing Shigure's head in half.

The top of the doctor's head fell to the floor with a low thud. Blood spilled down the rest of his head and body as he spoke his final words. "Well done." Then his body collapsed in a growing pool of blood.

Hiei smirked, despite his bleeding wounds, and fell to his side in his own blood.

"Hiei!" Sayomi ran to his side and ignored the warm liquid that stained her feet and clothes. She grimaced when she saw the severity of his wounds and lifted his head onto her lap. "Don't die..." She immediately pressed her hands to his stomach and focused her aura to stop the bleeding.

"Hiei..."

Hiei forced his eyes open to look up at Mukuro. Sayomi glared up at him, but returned her attention to healing Hiei's wounds.

"A performance like that deserves a reward. This is your tear of ice." Mukuro tugged on his bandages, pulling them loose to expose the king's mouth. When he opened it, a familiar blue jewel rested on his tongue. "The other item you've sought all your life. To me, it's a bauble, tribute from one of my domains."

"Ugh..." Hiei grunted. "It was... in your stomach? Ick... Keep it..."

When he passed out, Sayomi bit her lip and tried to heal him faster. Don't die on me, Hiei...

"If you can carry him, then do so. Don't forget his arm."

"Huh?" Sayomi looked up at Mukuro with a raised brow.

"He won't die, but we can't waste time here." Mukuro turned to leave, not bothering to wait.

Sayomi clenched her teeth and made her decision. She swiped up Hiei's jewel and slipped it over his neck. Then she grabbed his severed arm and hefted his body onto her back. She followed Mukuro down a series of corridors until they reached a room filled with large tanks of green fluids. Several tanks were filled with bodies connected to wires and Sayomi felt a strong sense of unease.

Sayomi nearly bumped into Mukuro when he stopped in front of an empty tank. The ruler glanced down at her, then over at a subordinate. "Hook him up and drop him in for recuperation."

"Yes, my lord!"

Sayomi turned to the demon and reluctantly let him take Hiei. She watched him carefully until they started to strip him bare. Her cheeks burned until Mukuro distracted her.

"You needn't worry. He'll be good as new soon enough." Mukuro watched as they hooked him up to the chords. "Now, I'd also like to inform you that you're free to come and go as you please."

"Really?" Sayomi stared at Mukuro with mild surprise.

Mukuro looked down at her and his lips tilted into a smile. The look caught Sayomi off guard. "I had my doubts about your chances of success because of how your brother handled it. You nearly lost yourself to the Void in your quest for power, but you found something more important. In the end, that's what really saved you. I'm glad you proved me wrong."

Sayomi tried to decipher the look, but then a loud splash drew her attention to Hiei's body in the tank. Wires wrapped around his torso and left arm and a breathing mask covered his mouth and nose. Though his eyes were closed, his Evil Eye barely stayed open.

Sayomi's attention returned to Mukuro when she heard the soft rustling of fabric. Mukuro unwrapped the rest of the bandages and undressed until there was nothing left. Sayomi was speechless when she realized what Mukuro really was.

Standing naked before her was a tall woman with short orange hair and deep blue eyes. The right half of her body was burned and scarred. Metal parts replaced her right arm and her right leg was kept together with more machinery. Despite the damage, Sayomi could only describe her as beautiful.

Mukuro smiled and stared up at Hiei. "I've never encountered a consciousness as relaxed as his. It's this mysterious jewel, I think. It seems to suck away all hatred. I lied when I said I saw it as no more than a bauble."

Sayomi bit her lip and looked away from the lord of Alaric. Instead, she found herself staring up at Hiei and the two jewels hanging around his neck. The jewel saved Mukuro from becoming mad with power, but for me...

"My fate from birth was to be a slave. The price of my freedom was half of my body," Mukuro said calmly. "By cursing the world, I grew stronger. For a time I killed relentlessly, indiscriminately. I would've pursued an empty existence as an embodiment of hatred, with combat my only release. Acquiring your jewel, however, changed that." She smiled. "Now I'm proud of my lost half. I have no desire to heal it. Let me show you all that I am, all that I have become. Feel my consciousness now. Live, Hiei." Her warm gaze drifted down to Sayomi, who stared up at Hiei with worry. "Live, so you may one day die as you truly wish."