A/N: I guess this is kind of important. I decided to have this story set in Hiei's P.O.V and have it like he's talking to Kurama or telling it to Kurama, whichever one makes more sense because I thought it might have more of an effect on the story. The only reason I say this is because later on it'll change up and I'll explain why in those chapters.

Disclaimer: I do not own YYH or any other thing I may use that's already owned and I didn't realize I'm using.

Chapter 3: Burning Tears

(If you haven't read the author's note please do!)

Hiei's P.O.V

It was not later in the afternoon, I had been traveling around the city in a dazed state for the hours. But now I was in the park and fighting the old memories of you and I coming here and talking.

My eyes come back into focus ahead of me as I suddenly pick up a familiar ki. It's Yusuke. He's still carrying his school bag, so more than likely he's heading home.

The look in his brown eyes is blank, he never moves them and looks past me as if I wasn't even there. We walked right past each other in the same manor, but he stopped after and I was quick to follow.

I was guilty of allowing my curiosity to get the better of me, after nearly two months of near silence I was anxious to hear what the spirit detective had to say.

"How are you Hiei?" I was caught off guard by his even daring to care.

I shrugged though knew he couldn't see it. "I'm still here." But just barely.

"It's been awhile."

"Hn, I'm sure you could've made it longer." This would be the part, kitsune, where you would say, 'Hiei' in a soft but scolding manor, I say 'hn,' and look away as you begin to engage Yusuke in a conversation.

But now, that wasn't going to happen so I had to do it myself.

"How are you doing?" He asked again

"Baka, haven't we already been over this?" I could feel Yusuke growing even more agitated. "You know what I mean Hiei." I smirk but decided to not add in another smart comment. "Fine."

"Of course you are, you wouldn't hold any guilt or sorrow about this, y-."

"If you want to keep your tongue, detective, I suggest you learn to hold it."

Yusuke was silent for a moment. "You know Shiori still isn't okay." He stated, why was he telling me? Though I did want to ask him how Yukina was, how she had dealt with this, and if she had accepted it and moved on.

"Why are you telling me this?"

Yusuke shrugged and exhaled his breath. "I figured you'd want to know how you've affected everyone else, even now."

I squeezed my eyes shut. This is the part where you would either quietly, or telepathically speak to me and tell me to calm down. I never did this part very well.

"Shut up!" I growled, suddenly turning to him, he did the same, still he held a blank stare. "You killed him Hiei, of all people I would have never guessed… your own best friend."

I didn't! I know I didn't, I just didn't get there in time. "I think you owe Shiori at least one visit." Yusuke turned and began away.

I was unable to move for a long moment, my heart, filled with my emotions was lodged in my throat. I moved suddenly, faster than ningen eyes could follow, all the way back to where I resided every night; your grave.

After you were buried I decided that I needed to stay here and protect this spot with my life seeing as I hadn't done enough when you were alive.

I collapsed to my knees and let three tears fall from my eyes, "please Kurama you can't blame me for this do you?" I hope to the gods not.

I stare down at the three black gems, I took them into my hand and suddenly transmitted heat into them until they grew bright orange and suddenly disappeared with a small explosion that had happened to fast to be seen.

I sighed, trying to control myself, I had grown tired of burning my tears a long time ago.

I sat there staring at my empty hand for a long time, there's no way I could ever heal from this Kurama, but there's no way I can live with this forever either.

"So now what?" I suddenly shouted at the white stone.

It has your name engraved into it, your human and your demon one and underneath it, it says, 'it is never too late to change the way you live, no matter how many scars you hold.' The scars part was mine, the rest were your words, kitsune, just reworded.

I guess when we were having your tombstone made, the group decided that they would let me have that little part added on, why though I never figured out.

"Tell me!" I shouted, a light breeze blew through the cemetery, nothing else. "What do I do?" I closed my eyes and let my head fall.

I suppose I do owe it to both of you to go see Shiori, I haven't seen her since the funeral and even then I barely spoke to her, I hardly spoke to anyone now that I think about it.

"What if I'm making a mistake fox?" I asked in a quiet voice. "What if Yusuke, or any of them told Shiori that I was the one who killed you?" I suddenly sat back and chuckled lightly with my eyes closed.

"Look at me now fox, have you ever seen a more pathetic sight, look at what you've don't to me. I never was a 'what if' person until you left."

I gave a small smile, left… it was such an easy word to say, died was much harder, it confirmed that you're really gone; and I can't accept that yet.

In my mind I still think you're going to walk up behind me, and ask what I'm doing, and I'd look at you blankly for a long moment before admitting that I don't know.

But you haven't done that yet, so I guess I have to go see Shiori.

-

A while later I stood at your home's front door thinking about all the times you acted like it annoyed you when I came to your window in the late evening, but I know you would've had it no other way.

I knocked lightly at the door and waited, the last thoughts of why I shouldn't be doing this ran through my head but I ignored them.

Finally the door opened and Shiori looked at me, confused.

Fox, I can honestly say I didn't think a ningen could get as skinny as her. The bones in her face were more prominent than ever with no color to show any life in her at all.

"Hello." That sounded too formal, but what can I say kitsune, I'm nervous, and I've never been as good at composing my words as you were. "I… was a friend of Suichi's." I stated.

Shiori's confusion left and was replaced with sorrow, "Suichi…" Her eyes were unfocused for a moment. "Were you at the funeral? I'm sorry but I don't remember." I nodded and was thankful that she didn't remember me, she let me into your home.

Everything was the same as ever, I think Shiori just doesn't want to let any memory of you go.

"Why are you here, now?" She asked, leaning against the wall with downcast eyes.

"I never gave you my condolences at the funeral." I lied.

She cracked a small smile, "I'm sorry I didn't catch your name."

"The because I didn't give it." I could see you now just glaring hard at me. "It's not important." If the group dared to tell Shiori that I was the one who killed her son, I wouldn't want her to be able to put a name with a face.

"Can I see his room?" I asked and she nodded. I led the way to your room, Shiori stopped outside while I went inside and was suddenly engulfed in that musty smell.

I looked around, everything was the same as the last time I had been here. I stood in the middle of your room for what felt like a lifetime.

The memories of us spending countless nights in here, talking and sometimes just sitting in silence passed before my eyes again and sent shivers of a sorrowed emotion I couldn't explain down my spine.

"It was so sudden." Came Shiori's voice from the doorway. "Suichi's passing." I looked back at her, then spotted something on the desk.

The rose you always used for your attacks!

It was sitting in a dusty vase with a little water. I remembered how the group had forgotten to put it with you in your coffin, maybe they had left it just for Shiori. But even still it did not deserve to be here in this house with her, it deserved to be with him.

I made a note to steal it when I left, I doubt Shiori would notice it's disappearance of all things.

"But his group of friends seem to be moving on now." She went on to explain. "They used to come and visit quite frequently, but now its slowly starting becoming less and less. Every once and awhile someone comes and visits."

Her smile said that that was probably the time that made her the happiest, in the least it was the time she looked forward to the most.

"Maybe you should move on as well." She shook her head and touched the white walls gently.

"I don't think it's possible to move on from the passing of a child. It just seems like he's still here with us even now."

I nodded, "I know," all too well.

After that I left, if I stayed in your house any longer, fox, I would've lost control of my emotions.

When I returned to your grave that evening there were flowers, red roses, in the flower holders attached to your tombstone. I sat back and leaned against the stone, twirling your rose in my fingers and looking at the ones brought.

"Who came by Kurama?" I asked, "who would care enough? Shiori says everyone is moving on, so who would come and bring roses for you?"

I sighed, after placing your rose on the ground beside me I fell asleep with that last question in mind, I was consumed in a more tormenting dream than my usual nightmares that night.

A/N: That was a good chapter! I really don't know what more to say about it.

PREVIEW: We get a look into this strange, tormenting dream that might just be more than anything Hiei could have ever… well… dreamed.

Please review!

-Forbiddensoul562