Hiei's POV
In the morning I awake to someone tapping me on my shoulder. I sit up and reach for my katana.
"What are you doing?" I demanded.
"Calm down Hiei, I was just waking you up. We both passed out last night," the ningen said.
He is shaking his head at me as he speaks as though in disbelief.
"What? We? What are you talking about? I don't know who you are. Get your hands off of
me," I said. I looked around. What the hell am I doing in a park? I can hear birds chirping,
people walk by staring at us curiously. I scowled at them. The human spoke again.
"Oh my God, you were more wasted than I thought. You don't remember me at all?"
I stared at him, he is around my height. I have a feeling that I should know who he is but I don't. Shit,
I should know a lot of things but I don't. Where am I? Why am I in the Ningenkai? Why am
I not in the Makai? I rubbed my forehead where my jagan is, which is throbbing painfully. I
know a little about myself. I am Hiei. I am from the Makai. I am half Koorime, half fire
demon. I have a jagan... And what else? Why can't I remember?
I fold my arms across my chest and frown. What the hell?
"Dude this isn't funny are you playing around?" the ningen demanded. What the hell am I
doing associating with... ningens?
"Get away from me. Leave me alone," I replied.
"Oh shit, you're serious. I feel offended," he commented running a hand through his colored
hair.
"Don't be...I can't remember much of anything," I said reluctantly.
The ningen came closerand told me his name was R.J. He claimed to have met me last night, he told me of how we
got intoxicated together. I find that hard to believe but I am looking straight into his clear blue
eyes and know he has no reason to lie. I stood and hesitantly followed him to his home. It
isn't as if he can hurt me. I don't know where else to go... and he's not that annoying.
7 Months Later
Kurama's POV
For the tenth time in the past two minutes I pushed Yusuke off me.
"Would you please maintain your distance?" I asked.
"Come on it's been weeks since we've done anything," he complained.
"It's been five days and we are doing something right now," I said.
He scoffed and grumbled under his breath but he didn't attempt to jump me. We haven't
seen sight of Hiei in 7 months. We started searching 3 months ago but we weren't really
worried. Now we are at least I am. I cannot figure out where he went. And I have to wonder
if I took some part in his disappearance. When Hiei discovered Yusuke and I together he
seemed surprised.
I had flirted and dropped hints but my logic took over. Why should I be with someone
who can't or rather won't return my love? It never bothered him if I told him of my love
affairs with the humans from my school because he didn't think I was serious about them. He
was right. But he caught me with Yusuke and I told him what I felt to be true at the time. I
told him I loved Yusuke and he loved me. I told him that our relationship could go
somewhere. He had shrugged and promptly informed that he didn't care who I fucked. He
did care though. If he truly didn't he would only have snorted, called me a hentai and left us.
Besides, I could see it in his eyes and I wondered if I had made a mistake. What did he
expect me to do? I flirted with him openly but he never responded to me so I moved on.
Now I'm beginning to regret that because I miss his presence, I miss his attitude. Yusuke
is immature. I doubt he really loves me and I now know I don't love him. He was simply a
way to relieve my sexual frustrations. Even though I did bed humans, I wanted someone
powerful and someone masculine. I wanted someone I truly knew, a friend and I found
Yusuke. I'm starting to believe he simply wants nothing but sex, which that isn't a problem.
However a full time relationship with him is. I'm ready to ask him if he just wants to be
friends with benefits. That would eventually lead to complications and we would probably be
back together after a few weeks. I shake my head of that thought quickly, I should save that
decision for another time. It's four in the morning, my stomach is rumbling. I want nothing
more than to curl up in a warm bed. I turned on the ignition and backed off the street, driving
away from the park.
I remember that I met Hiei in that park before. After searching around and waiting we still
can't find him. I sense him- he is alive but his ki is hard to pinpoint. I sighed and asked
Yusuke if he wanted to go to a nearby diner. He agreed exuberantly, suddenly rejuvenated.
The place is empty as expected. It's also on the dim side, but it is cozy and they have great
food. The aroma of onions, coffee, steaks, and baked desserts filled my nostrils the moment I
enter the door. Yusuke hurried over to a booth. We both order massive amounts of food that
arrives quickly. Just as we dig in a group walks in speaking loudly and laughing about a
concert. I don't turn towards them I simply eat my food. I didn't know I was this hungry!
Sometimes I forget about the fragility of my human body.
"No..." Yusuke said under his breath .
I stared at him puzzled; he is turned all the way around in his seat looking at the group of
people. I stare in the direction, he is looking. I see...Hiei... I'm puzzled. He left for seven
months to hang around with a group of gothic humans? I stared at Hiei, his hair is spiky as
always, he still wears a headband around his jagan and his arms are still warded. But instead
of the usual long black coat he has on baggy black pants with chains and hooks on them. The
black boots and still there but there are spiked collars around his wrists and neck. He has on
a black muscle shirt with a large tribal S with the word Slipknot going through it. Wait... I
need to process this again. He left for seven months to hang around a group of ningens and to
turn into a goth. This is another one of life's mysteries that I can not solve. Hiei looked
directly at me and gave me the rock on symbol which earned a few laughs from his seven
friends. There are both males and females, four are dressed similarly to Hiei except for three
who are simply dressed in jeans and a band t shirt.
"That concert rocked," one said and they all agreed. The eight of them sat in two booths but
they often stood up and rotated seats to talk to someone else in their group.
"What's he doing Kurama?" Yusuke asked after he picked himself up off the floor.
"I don't know, I'll go ask him," I said after wiping my hands on a napkin. I approached them
and all those who saw me turned to stare at me skeptically.
"Hiei," I said softly placing a hand on his shoulder. I forgot how hot his skin is.
"Why are you touching me?" he demanded snatching his shoulder away from me, not
bothering to look at me, his tone is one of mild disgust.
"Hiei... may I speak with you?" I asked.
"I don't know you. What would I have to speak to you about?" he asked turning around to
stare up at me. He frowned up at me, something flickering in his eyes.
"Why does that sound familiar?" one asked with a loud laugh.
"Shut up R.J. Now do you know me?" Hiei asked seriously.
"You don't remember me?" I asked and he nodded impatiently. I informed him that I would
be back and I told Yusuke of the situation.
"WHAT?!" he yelled which caused stares and laughs.
After I assured Yusuke in a quiet manner that it was no joke, I returned to Hiei who is
conversing in low tomes with the one he called R.J. by the men's bathroom. Upon noticing
me they both became quiet and R.J. returned to his seat. Hiei stared at me so I walked over
to stand in front of him.
"What's your name? Why do I get the sense you're not human and how do I know you?" he
demanded without tactic.
"I'm Kurama...and both of those other questions require long answers," I replied.
"Well at the moment I'm in no mood to hear a story so contact me at this number and we will
arrange a time where we can speak," he said quickly pulling a piece of paper out of his
pocket.
He then walked past me and returned to his friends. That's Hiei...blunt and efficient in
getting what he wants. I don't bother to speak to Hiei again; even though he is a little different
there are still certain characteristics that are undeniably Hiei.I return to my seat and share a
silent meal with Yusuke. The meal doesn't taste as good as it did earlier.
"That was weird," Yusuke commented after we returned to my apartment.
When I turned eighteen I moved out and though I attend college I prefer this to a dorm.
Yusuke and I crawled into bed tiredly. My mind is on Hiei. What could have made him
forget about his life? Yusuke placed hungry kisses on my neck but I pushed him away. He
grumbled to himself then left to sit on sleep on the couch, only to return ten minutes later
grumbling about being uncomfortable. A few minutes later he placed kisses on my neck and I
gave in to his advances. I don't want to think about hiei anymore.
Hiei's POV
After we finished eating at the diner I returned to my apartment. I prefer not to share with
anyone, I believe living with someone would annoy me to no end. R.J. lives next door and we
see each other very often but we aren't around each other 24/7. I have my own job as a bar
tender and R.J. works at the same place only he's a waiter. The ningen helped me a lot, he
showed me how to function in this world when I could function nowhere because I knew
nothing of myself. He offered me companionship and pointed out my flaws quickly. I had told
him I didn't need the help of a weak human. Once he knew I was a demon he told me all my
prejudices were nonsense. Then it made sense. Why should I hate a whole race because a
few of them are unbelievably stupid? He informed that I would be just as stupid as the
ningens who persecute each other for sexual orientation, race, and religion. He told me if I
wanted to hate someone and kill someone that it should be for a real reason.
In my unstable state it made sense to me and it still does.
If I hadn't take his help I would probably be dirty, huddled in a tree hungry and trying to figure out what the hell I was doing
there in the first place. I still do that sometimes but I'm never hungry and I'm not as miserable
as I could be. I take a hot shower finding it hard to come down from the adrenaline induced
state the concert put me in. I'm still giddy and I still feel like head banging to a few more
songs. But I need to get to get a little sleep before I go to work tomorrow, well later. Just as
I settle into bed nude as it is my prefernce, the phone rings and I reluctantly answer. It better
not be that red head all ready. I know he had to get some home he looked exhausted.
It didn't take away from his good looks but it was obvious that he needed a nap.
"Hello?" I asked.
"Hey sexy how was the concert," a familiar voice said.
"I told you not to call here Cory," I said flatly. He is one of those people I should kill for
being stupid. We had sex a few times, it went no further than that but obviously he feels
different. I had sex with him because he is half demon and pretty strong for one but I know
now he has some issues.
"How was the concert?" he asked.
"I'm hanging up now," I said then turned the ringer. I rolled over and went to bed. When I awake I check the answering machine. All the messages are drunken calls from Cory.
I should start stalking him and see how he feels about it. I made myself a cup of coffee and
omelet then turned on the television just so the silence won't bother me. The phone rings
once more and I sigh before I pick it up. Surprise, surprise, it's Cory.
"Why don't you return my calls?" he demanded. I hang up on him and then it rings again.
"IT WAS JUST A STUPID FUCK! LEAVE ME THE HELL ALONE AND DON'T
CALL HERE ANYMORE! IF I TELL YOU ONE MORE TIME I WILL HUNT YOU
DOWN AND CUT YOUR BALLS OFF!" I yelled without waiting for the person to speak.
"Are you all right Hiei?" a gentle voice asked and my temper flared down.
"Yeah...I thought you were someone else," I said quietly.
"Well if you're not busy I'd like to talk to you later on tonight at around eight," he said.
"I'll be at Dahlia's can you be there?" I asked.
"No I don't have a problem with that," he said.
"OK bye," I said then unplugged the phone. R.J. came in my home with his key a few
moments later laughing loudly.
"Don't tell me. Cory," he laughed and I rolled my eyes.
He helped himself to some food and plopped down on my couch. I enjoy his company, he doesn't feel the need to talk non
stop. I don't consider my lifestyle to be boring. I have fun mixing drinks and I always sneak a
few drinks so that's always good. R.J. lives next door and I find him amusing. I train in an
abandoned park on the weekends and if I have enough time the week days. I don't know
how my old life was but for some reason I take comfort in a schedule which leads me to
believe my old life was the complete opposite. I do enjoy the outdoors and I do have many
spontaneous moments but the schedule is comforting. I feel I have a place here and I do not
like to delve into my memories.
I'm sure some of my recurring dreams aren't really dreams but repressed memories. The
dream begins with me dream falling down, I hear a woman's cry, then a baby's then my own.
Then I get images of forests and a group of demons that I seem to be traveling with. Then the
image shifts to one of me huddled against a tree trunk on one of the highest branches, I feel
alone, hungry, violated, and bitter. Anger burns slow and strongly in my heart constantly.
Then I am going under a knife and a man is telling me that I will probably die. After that I see
the tattoo on my arms smoking and a dragon hurtling towards an enemy. I remember being in
a tournament of sorts and people booing my team but I can not see any of their faces. None
of it is clear. But if that is what my life was like I don't want to remember much more than
that.
In my dreams I can always feel hate, anger, and bitterness slowly pulsing, snubbing all my
other emotions, numbing me. The majority of the time I felt, numb but something would
always trigger the hate, the anger, and an unbearable pain that made my heart hurt. I
remember a dream in which I stared at my expressionless reflection and those emotions came
back as I stare at what I had become. Now I still get angry but I don't feel that pain. I do
however get frustrated when I need to remember something about myself and I can't. For
example when I met Kurama, I felt like I should remember him. He seemed vaguely familiar
but I couldn't recall ever seeing him. I never even saw his face in my dreams. He seemed to
know me so I assume he can tell me some things about myself...even though at this point I'm
not sure I want to know.
The day quickly passes R.J. and I play cards the whole time and occasionally throw things at
each other or comment on our lives.
"Who was the girly guy you were talking to yesterday?" he asked with a sneer.
"Kurama is obviously a boy," I said in a cold tone which ended further discussion on that
matter but it didn't stop him from asking other questions.
"So...do you like him?" he asked.
"I just met him," I said rolling my eyes and placing a card down on the wooden table.
"I hate when you pretend you don't know what I mean. You're too smart for that," he
commented.
"I hate when you ask stupid questions like the one you asked earlier when you know how I
will respond," I replied. He sighed loudly and leaned back in the wooden chair.
"Ill," he said suddenly. I raised an eyebrow at him waiting for him to continue.
"I just remembered you said you did it with Cory on this table," he said.
"I washed it and I seem to remember you coming in here for food and you seeing us I don't
recall telling you anything, you walked in," I said. He shrugged and wrinkled up his nose and
I rolled my eyes at him once more. If he's as disgusted as he claims to be he would have
moved away and suggested going to play in the kitchen where I have a large counter with bar
stools.
I looked at the clock it's about 5:00; we should start getting ready for work now. I dig
around my closet for a pair of black slacks and try to find the crisp white button down shirt. I
really only need a collared t-shirt but I don't like the way that looks so I prefer the long
sleeves. I also have to keep my arms covered at work. My tattoos are already warded but
my boss prefers and so do I if I keep the bandages covered. I often get teased by R.J.
because he says I look too formal. After dressing we both take the bus to work and I station
myself behind the bar while he went to start taking orders. It's not very surprising when Cory
walks in a few minutes later with a gift box under his arms.
He's not that bad of a guy, he's not an alcoholic, he goes to school, and has a job but he
has stalker tendencies. At first I tried to be nice but half human, half ice demons are stubborn.
He tucked a strand of wavy shoulder length black hair behind his ear and strode over to the
bar in nothing but a muscle shirt and a pair of jeans. His arms are heavily muscled, his whole
body is sculpted. I rolled my eyes when the blue eyed half demon walked over to me. I
served the drunk old man in front of me his tenth shot and wiped the bar down after
accepting the bill. The old man stumbled past Cory and out the door. It's not really that busy
this time of the day but this is also where there are sodas and milkshakes made so I have
plenty to do.
I ignored him and set about pouring sodas and handing them off to waitresses or the
customers who got impatient and reordered their own drinks. He sat at the bar stubbornly
and ordered from the other bartender settling near the stool in the corner. I ignore him but I
can feel his eyes on me the whole time. R.J. snickered and spoke to him every time he
walked by with a tray. The restaurant is dimly lit and near the bar the lights are covered so
they glow blue. This is how I met him. He came in almost everyday and sat in the corner
ordering from the other bartender sneaking glances at me until I came over to take his order.
I told him to stop coming here and he refused, his stubborn nature enticed me. He wants
what he wants and he'll get it no matter how long he has to wait or what he has to do. It was
alluring then...but disturbing now. How many times do I have to reject him?
I sighed again I should have never dated him. I look back and know that it wasn't just a
fuck I felt something for him because I was with him for three months. Then whatever that
something was went away and I wanted him out my life as a lover but he could still be a
friend. A friend I'd rarely call or see but a friend. I told him several times it was just sex but
he doesn't believe that... I don't either, there was something about him that's just not there
anymore. I think I just had a crush and it went away. But he feels deeply about it. He makes
that known by calling me at all hours of the day and coming to my job. I refuse to change my
number or schedule. I'll deal with him one way or another. I glanced at the clock, it's about
7:45 and the red head is already here looking at me intently. I take my break and walk over
to him.
"What do you need to tell me?" I asked in place of hello.
"Are you off?" he asked instead.
"Actually no, you asked me if I could meet you at around eight and well I am here as asked.
You can tell me what you need to at the bar or on my break. Or we could arrange to meet
somewhere some other time," I said.
"No, I don't mind telling you hear it's just that it will be busy soon and I don't think you'll
have much time to talk to me. That and people might over hear," he said in that soft voice of
his. He does seem familiar...I just can't remember him...damn it!
"Well...I'm off very late we can talk then...you can come over to my apartment," I said
"No, I don't mind coming to your apartment but I'm rather hungry so I suppose I'll stay
around this area," he said then pulled a small book bag from the floor.
"So...how old are you?' I asked.
"Well this human body is eighteen years old but in my demon form I am a little over a
thousand years old, I'm afraid I've lost track of the exact number" he said with a wistful
smile.
"Well if it helps you like good for your age," I said. He seemed surprised by this.
"What?" I asked and he laughed a moment later.
"I didn't know you had it in you...to joke around I mean. I almost don't want to tell you anything. You seem...you seem content," he said.
His legs are crossed in the way that men cross their legs, he is wearing jeans and button
down shirt. His well groomed hair falls straight and gracefully over his shoulders and his eyes
seem to glow in the darkness in the dimness in this section of the restaurant. He doesn't seem
to mind though. Everything is neat and in place around him, he isn't rugged or messy like
Cory who's long hair never stays in place and is never completely straight. I guess that's
what happens when you've lived for as long as he has.
Damn it I'm so young compared to him. He's more than thirty times my age! A female
coworker named Stephanie came over and took his order sending me questioning glances.
"What?" I asked after I got annoyed, she gestured frantically and I walked over to her after
excusing myself. If she wasn't the owner's daughter I would light her sleeve on fire then try to
douse it with a bottle of vodka.
"He's not gay right? Because for some reason all the cute guys are gay and they want you
and R.J.," she said.
"I'm not gay, I'm bi and all those guys you are talking about were bi too, there is a
difference," I said.
"Yeah whatever you say but is he?" she asked.
"I don't know. You ask and tell me," I said.
"Oh no no no!" she exclaimed and I turn to stare in that direction. Cory is talking to Kurama
so I rush over and tap Cory on the shoulder."Don't you have somewhere to be?" I asked.
"No baby. Here I brought you something," he said. I sweat dropped and bashed him on the
head with his box. He fell over and eye twitching I return to my place behind the counter.
Cory yelled at me for a few moments before picking up his box and leaving. After about an
hour or so Kurama came over to the bar.
"Was that your boyfriend?" he asked curiously.
"He wishes," I grumbled filling a glass with scotch for an old man.
Just as I started to calm down from that Cory returned with two boxes which he shoved in
front of me. I see my supervisor so I accept them through gritted teeth and asked if he
wanted anything. Soon enough the painful evening is over and I am inviting Kurama back to
my apartment. Cory had left moments ago because of a family emergency so I don't have to
worry about him going into a jealous rage. While Kurama used the bathroom I opened up the
box while sitting on my window seat. I might as well keep them. I deserve it for putting
up with him. Even though I'm going to have to have a serious anger free talk with
him.
I opened the box and I let out a sigh. It's those pants I wanted but couldn't afford. Cory's
a rich bastard, his mother is rich his father is somewhere in the Makai probably dead. I know
his father left him a fortune in Makai jewels which translated to a fortune in human money and
his mother was born rich. I opened the other box-the first box he brought, there are
autographed CDs and shirts in there. I sighed again it's a good thing I didn't damage them.
Well he does know something about me...I just wish he'd take a hint and leave me alone.
Kurama returned and commented on how much I changed and how much I had stayed the
same. I rolled my eyes and carefully packed the things back into the box.
My curiosity got the best of me and I gestured for him to sit down. He did as I asked and sat
down on the couch.
"I don't know where to start. I don't know that much about you. I can tell you what I
thought was going on in your head but it wouldn't be accurate. Even though I was your
closest friend we rarely talked about your life. We mostly shared fighting stories and enjoyed each other's company," he said then stared past me at his own reflection.
"Don't reminisce on time lost," I said with a frown.
"You don't remember anything do you?" he asked.
"Only what I've been told and what I've been told only fills up one night of twenty one
years," I replied.
"True...I can tell you more than that. But would you like to see pictures of your old
friends...other friends?" I asked.
"Ill! Who's this?" I demanded when I see the first picture of a rather homely looking ningen
with carrot colored hair.
"That's Kuwabara You two didn't get along too well but you respected each other...mildly,"
he replied. I shuddered and moved on to the next image. A girl with blue hair and red eyes
stared back at me.
"I have...a sister?" I asked.
"Yes... but she doesn't know that. It's a complicated matter. Put those down and I'll tell
you," he said.
"Well you know you're part fire demon and Koorime?" he asked and at my nod he
continued.