Chapter 5
Hiei sat on a branch and happily ate the bread she managed to steal from a vendor before he looked. Hiei wasn't used to stealing but she had gotten used to it after a year living in the Makai and it wasn't like she imagined. She figured out that the Koorime was right. The Makai was a bad place to be, always watching your back and making sure no one snuck up on you to take you somewhere where you didn't want to be. Sadly she fingered the tear gem around her neck as she remembered how she came to the Makai.
"Sister," whispered Yukina tugging on Hiei's sleeve. "Let's go!" And they ran from the festival. Running through the streets they dodged in the back alleys and hid in the shadows as guards searched for them. Finally they made it to their home.
"Yukina, Hiei, what's going on?" asked their mother.
"Mother," said Yukina, "We have a problem." And Hiei was just silent.
"What sort of problem," asked Hina.
"Hiei got angry," said Yukina, "really angry. And she used her fire."
"She did WHAT?" Hina looked at her eldest daughter who was currently in a corner and looking at the floor.
"She asked for it," said Hiei. "She called you and Yukina a bitch."
"Who did," asked Hina looking at Yukina since she knew Hiei wasn't going to say anymore.
"Yume," said Yukina. "Hiei and I were just walking around the festival grounds and Yume started alienating us. Finally she set Hiei off and they fought. When Yume sent a snowstorm at Hiei she defended herself with her inner fire."
"Girl had it coming," said Hina. "Well, let's go. It won't be long before the guards are here and after you, Hiei. So let's get started."
"On what," asked Hiei looking at her mother.
"You're leaving. You have to get out of here before they kill you. I lost your father and I don't want to lose you as well. You look so much like him."
Hiei blushed and followed her mother to her room. They started stuffing as much clothes as they could into a small traveling bag, Hiei grabbing the sword that belonged to her father that her mother grabbed before he died, and hurried Hiei to the edge of the island.
"Ain't you coming," asked Hiei looking at her mother. Hina shook her head.
"Not now," she said. "When things cool down I'll join you."
"But, mother," said Hiei hugging her mother close, both of them crying into their kimonos, a black tear gem fell into Hina's bosom. "You know what will happen."
"Yes, and I have to accept my punishment. Now you two go!"
Hiei grabbed her sister's hand and ran, their kimonos hiked up to let them run faster. Hiei heard shouting and saw Runners after them.
"Oneechan!" yelled Yukina knowing who was after them.
"Keep running!" yelled Hiei and looked ahead. She skidded on some ice and lost her grip of Yukina's hand and fell into blackness as she rolled down a hill.
"Oneechan!"
Hours later Hiei woke to find herself completely alone. She had her supplies with her and her kimono was torn a little but she was otherwise fine. Feeling something bumping in her chest she fished out a blue-white tear gem that she knew was her mother's. Clutching it close to her chest she cried.
Hiei sighed and sang a song that her mother used to sing to her.
I can hear a whistling farther than yesterday
I collect the scattered pieces
I hold them tightly in my right hand, and softly close my eyes
Knife-like moonlight rains down
On a night that freezes even the horizon
Alone in that wilderness, hugging my knee
I strain to hear the song of the wind
Those who do not know a sleepless night
Cannot become strong; that is the rule
I can hear whistling farther than the stars and the skies
It's the words of someone's prayer
I hold them tightly in my right hand, and softly close my eyes
A thing that's even sadder than loneliness
Is not realizing that loneliness
No matter how freezing the night, under the earth
Warmth is hidden
Rather than being a bird that is trapped in a cage
I would become a nameless stone
I can hear a whistling farther than yesterday
I collect the scattered pieces
And holding them tight in my right hand, I softly close my eyes
I can hear whistling from a distant yesterday
It's the words of someone's prayer
And holding them tight in my right hand, I softly close my eyes
Holding them tight in my right hand, I softly close my eyes
Hiei sighed again and continued to eat her bread.
TBC
A/N: The song is Kuchibue ga Kikoeru (I Hear A Whistle) sung by Megumi Ogata.