A small, dark silhouette stood overlooking the vast and mighty chasms that lay open at his feet. Perhaps he was only looking, or perhaps he was listening, or perhaps he was doing none of these things, but instead contemplating. The depths of the mind were like the depths of these rifts that opened and spanned, beginning at his feet and snaking ever onward, further than even a demon eye could see. His mind, however, was not so far outstretched this night. Whatever action his mind, body, or senses partook of, he certainly did not look disturbed, not even by any of the cataclysmic weather conditions that had swept up and around him. Even the rain that had been beating mercilessly upon his body for the past hour since he had stationed himself upon the cliff side did not hinder him. His lonely silhouette remained, outlined now and then by the illuminating flashes of lightening, echoed by the vociferous roll of thunder that seemed to be singing for the sake of the oncoming darkness that awaited the worlds. Still, the silhouette was undaunted. He stood, a stark contrast to the world around him, were it not for the glowing red embers that were undoubtedly his eyes.

Eyes that could not focus.

Eyes that could not see.

It was a lonely, dark way to live…lost in blindness…seeing only the images that can be seen, the ones formulated within the mind…to be locked within the confines of such a small place…forever…was hell. These corridors of shadow…flashes of light that were only in his imagination…and the ceaseless pains that clambered throughout his head…was there no peace to be found in it?

Sighing, Hiei looked to the sky, or at least, pretended to…for the sake of his newfound company. The rain still fell in torrents, but had lessened for that moment. A moment when Hiei found himself no longer lost in the darkness of his head.

"Is there a reason for you to be here now?" asked the fire demon sharply. His tongue, sharper than ever, might have sliced through the heart of the person who had trudged all this way to join him, were it not for the fact that he was wise enough to expect this kind of harshness already.

"Mukuro told me that I could find you here." The gentle voice was still easy to hear over the din of the rains. It was surprising, but perhaps not so much now. "I thought it might be nice to say hello to an old friend."

"Hn."

A smile. Hiei could not see it, but he sensed it there. That irreplaceable and unfounded warmth. It certainly did not come from the sun.

Was it a smile? Or perhaps the presence of someone familiar and welcome? Hiei wasn't sure. He wasn't sure of anything anymore. Only that he was lost now. And alone.

"You haven't changed, I see."

Footsteps. Kurama was approaching him. As he got closer, Hiei's nose caught the scent of sickness. It made him swoon on his feet, and greatly caught him off guard. So the rumor was true. Kurama really was…

"How did you get here?"

Silence.

Kurama contemplated his answers, as he always did. Carefully weighing, wondering what would be the best choice of words. Weighing, standing there…and wreaking of death.

"Koenma allowed me to pass through the barrier."

Hiei's sightless eyes darted over in his friend's direction.

"For what purpose?"

Another smile? Hiei wasn't certain.

Damn him.

"You're not happy to see me, I take it?"

Hiei did not bother to respond. What a ridiculous thing to say. Him? Happy to see anyone? The fact that he couldn't actually see aside…

Kurama's cheery cynicism was often enough to start his teeth grinding and his nerves twitching in anger…but it took mere seconds for Hiei to brush it off. It wasn't worth bringing up. Neither of them seemed to have the energy anyhow.

"Why else are you here? I find it hard to believe that you just felt the need to say hello."

There was a long pause. Kurama was no doubt weighing his words again.

"I'm looking for something."

Hiei's eyes darted back toward Kurama, then out into the gloom once more. He pretended to scan his surroundings. If he could fool Kurama…then he needn't worry about anyone else.

He was adjusting at least, to being unable to see anything. His other senses, as predicted, were beginning to take over. Soon he would be able to roam the lands freely again. And then, he would unleash hell upon those who had attempted to take his life.

"The Naosu Vine?"

Kurama smiled. A light chuckle developed in his chest, but was drowned out by the sound of thunder.

"So, you heard?"

"I can smell it on you."

"Ah. I should have known."

Hiei turned around and faced Kurama. His eyes raised to the height he remembered his friend to be, and by using his ears and nose determined just where at his side Kurama was standing. "How long have you been like this, Kurama?"

A pause.

"It did not become this serious until a few days ago. By then I knew that if I did not find what I needed soon, well…"

"You will die."

Kurama nodded.

Hiei grit his teeth.

"You are a fool."

Another smile. A chuckle. A laugh, and the shuffle of long, brilliant red hair. Was he shaking his head? Damn it, Hiei couldn't tell.

"It would seem as though you are right, this time."

Each stared out into the dark and somber silence for some time. As they did so, the storm overhead moved on, and now only a slight sprinkle could be felt. After a while, Hiei sighed and turned away from the chasms. He began to walk away from both the cliff side and Kurama, when his old friend's voice reverberated back toward him. He stopped, and the sound of footsteps soon followed the words. Together they began walking in utter silence. Hiei carefully weight his steps and footfalls, remembering the count from here to the palace, and which turns to take.

For many minutes, neither demon spoke a word. They walked calmly in each other's presence and the silence. Perhaps no words were needed, or perhaps one could not think of something appropriate enough to say. Perhaps there was nothing left to say, after all, what could be said? Kurama was dying, and Hiei…well, there was nothing that he could do to assist his ailing friend. An apology would not only be out of character, but unfounded.

Kurama seemed at ease enough, and perhaps it was because having lived so long, and seen so much, that the prospect of death did not frighten him. It did not frighten Hiei either, but the fact that Kurama was not making an immediate effort to find what it was that he needed…was rather confusing. It was obvious that he had other objectives than to be searching for the Naosu Vine, but what were they?

"I have heard rumors that you are not feeling well either."

Hiei stopped in his tracks. He was a few paces ahead of Kurama, but enough to know that his friend could not see the expression on his face. Did the Spirit World know now as well? If so, who had told them?

"I am fine."

A long pause. Finally, Kurama spoke. Suspicion was laden on is words, but even he knew not to press Hiei when there were questions that he didn't want to answer.

"Of course."

Nothing else was said. The duo continued on their way back, Hiei lost in silent contemplation, and Kurama simply lost in silence.

"Thank you for getting him," said Mukuro. She inclined her head politely toward Kurama. "I worry when he leaves these days."

"It seems that he has suffered some serious injuries recently," Kurama observed. Hiei was not in the room with them, he had retired upstairs for the night, though both suspected that he would be back down later to inquire as to why they were still talking.

Mukuro nodded her head, a sad sigh escaped from her lips as she tossed a red strand of hair from her face.

"Yes," she confirmed. "A few months ago he was out training. There was a B class demon nearby. He attacked Hiei and nearly tore him limb from limb."

Kurama could not help but allow his surprise to show. Hiei? Beaten down by a lesser demon?

"Where's the demon now?"

"We don't know. Hiei is determined to find the creature, but…I worry that if he does, he may not come back at all this time."

"You said it was a B class demon?"

Mukuro nodded her head.

Both were sitting across from each other in a lounge area. There was some distance between them, but it was still easy to see emotion on the other's faces. Right now, Kurama saw worry on Mukuro's.

"I know what you're thinking. Hiei bested by a B class demon, and you're right. It made me wonder as well, but then I realized something."

Kurama raised his head. "What?"

For a long time Mukuro said nothing. Her face was sullen and dark. It was the first time Kurama had never seen anyone like this over Hiei before. How serious could it have been?

"Have you noticed how he looks at you?"

He blinked, now somewhat confused. "I'm sorry?"

"His eyes. How they appear when they observe their surroundings?"

Kurama lowered his gaze and gave it some thought. Come to think of it, Hiei only met his gaze once during their conversation. Had there been something about his eyes that was so very strange?

"Are you telling me that Hiei is going blind?"

Mukuro shook her head.

"No. I'm telling you he already is blind."

It would have been a lie for Kurama to have said he was not surprised by this. Hiei losing his eyesight? It didn't seem feasible…and yet, he knew that in some instances….

"Is this because of the Jagan?"

"We can only suspect as much."

"Can anything be done to help him?"

She sighed, her gaze falling low. "No. There is no way to reverse the effects. Even removing the Jagan would do nothing at this point. All Hiei can do now is to adjust to his handicap and learn to make up for it with his other senses."

Kurama nodded his head. As much as he hated to admit it, she was right. There was no way to reverse the effects of the blindness disease that ailed those who had had the Jagan planted in their bodies unnaturally.

A chasm of silent contemplation spanned between the two of them for some time. No one spoke except for the winds outside, and a slight trickle of rain that had not yet passed from the storm earlier that day.

"So, what will you do, Kurama?"

He raised his head. "About what?"

"Yourself. You're looking for the Naosu Vine, yes?"

"Oh, that. Yes, I am attempting to search for it, though I know my efforts will most likely prove to be in vain."

Mukuro nodded her head. Her gaze was now digging into Kurama's eyes…eyes she noted that were so lacking the light of life.

"You should not give up so easily. If anyone can find it, I'm certain it will be you."

Kurama could not help but smile at the steadfast encouragement this woman gave him.

"Perhaps." He stood to leave. "Thank you, Mukuro. I think, if it's all right, I'll be going to bed now."

The woman nodded, a smile on her face. As Kurama exited the room and went up the stairs, he found a small silhouette leaning against the opposite wall of the stairwell.

"Can't sleep, Hiei?"

"I came to show you to your room."

"Oh, I see."

Hiei started walking. Kurama followed.

Although it wasn't necessary, Kurama appreciated the assistance. The palace was rather large. It would be complicated to navigate, especially since Kurama was quite sure that certain areas were booby trapped to avoid blood thirsty raiders from getting too far in.

After giving this a little thought, Kurama then turned his attention to his friend. He watched Hiei walk, trying to note anything that might seem peculiar. Truthfully, there was not much that Kurama could identify. Perhaps it was because his own ailment had dulled his senses as well, or perhaps Hiei had learned to hide his disability better than he had learned how to use it. Still, Kurama sensed nothing. It was curious, to say the least. Why had Koenma sent him to Spirit World to seek Hiei's help if Hiei was not even able to help himself?

Did Spirit World even know that Hiei was in the current condition that he was in?

He sighed.

"Something the matter?"

Kurama looked up, startled slightly by Hiei's voice shattering through his thought process.

"No. Nothing."

They continued walking. Hiei's eyes were cast straight ahead, or so Kurama could tell. He was once again a few paces ahead, so Kurama really could not get a good look at his eyes at all. There really was nothing to give any clues that Hiei was any different than he had been since the day they parted. "Can I ask you a question, Hiei?"

"Ask."

"Is it true that you've lost your ability to see?"

Whether it was because he had not suspected the question, or because he was angry that Kurama had found out, Hiei stopped walking.

Yes, it ends there.

Naosu is actually a Japanese verb. It means "To Restore to Health", so I figured that that was an appropriate title for the plant that will be needed to heal Kurama.

Reviews are appreciated!