Chapter 36

Hiei looked out at his friends as they went about their routine. It was near evening and they were getting ready to eat, the girls skinning the meat Yusuke and Kuwabara had brought back as Kurama grew the herbs they needed for seasoning and vegetables. The two boys had been sent for water and firewood. Hiei of course stood guard.

It had been only a few months since they left the Makai Sea and Kanna. Hiei missed his adopted sister. It was the same as missing Yukina and it had been near six years since he had seen his twin. The only piece of news given to him by Kurama all those years ago had given him some hope. His premonitions had been getting stronger, becoming more frequent, and he started getting snatches during the day.

Since leaving the Makai Sea, Hiei had been more interactions with the group. Through he still held his distance everyone was happy at the change in the fire Koorime. Kuwabara had tried to wrestle with Hiei but only got a face full of dirt and a boot in the rear for his troubles. But despite that everyone laughed and Hiei had a small smirk on his face.

"Hiei," called Keiko. "We need help to start the fire."

Hiei didn't say a word as he jumped from the tree and went to the camp fire. Shizuru was cutting the meat into smaller pieces and Keiko put a spoonful of fat in a frying pan. It didn't take long for Hiei to start the fire and get it hot enough to fry the meat.

"How about some friend onions and peppers?" asked Kurama walking back to the fire, a leaf basket full of vegetables.

"Sounds great," said Keiko, "as long as you have some bayleaf and rosemary."

"Don't forget oregano," said Yusuke walking up with Kuwabara, both holding bags full of water and an armload of firewood.

"Since when could you cook," asked Keiko.

"I had to learn," said Yusuke, "to be going out with you. You hate to cook."

"And I'm the one who's doing most of it."

Everyone laughed and started working on their supper. Hiei and Shizuru cut the meat and vegetables as Kurama shredded and mixed the seasoning. Yusuke and Kuwabara pressed juice from the fruit Kurama grew for their drink. Keiko fried the meat and vegetables as the water boiled.

It was during dinner that they started talking about their families.

"My parents own a restaurant near the mountain range," said Keiko. "I learned to cook from them. They weren't pleased to hear that I wanted to have some adventure. I never thought I meant as a thief."

"Best adventure there is," said Shizuru. "Better then what Kazu and I had when we were growing up. We were both orphans. Got dumped from home to home in our village till I was old enough to take care of us. We left."

"I don't need anybody taking care of me," said Kuwabara proudly.

"Sure, otouto," said Shizuru, throwing a pebble at him. It hit Kuwabara right on the forehead. Taken by surprise, Kuwabara jerked back, lost his balance and fell flat on his back. Everyone laughed as Kuwabara grumbled and pulled himself up.

"I'm half demon myself," said Yusuke. "Never knew my dad but my mom was a real drunk. I couldn't leave her, she's a good mother. She finally found a guy who straightened her out and I left at eighteen. I visit her every time I find a portal."

"Do you want to meet your father," asked Keiko.

"Yeah, so I can beat him to a bloody pulp! Ma loved him and he left before I was born. He doesn't deserve to be forgiven."

"Well, you all pretty much know about me," said Kurama crossing his arms. "Prince of the Kitsune and a thief to boot. Good beginning for the history books." Everyone laughed before turning to Hiei.

"I have no family," he said. "At least none that I know are nearby. My mother died protecting my sister and me, and I haven't found my sister since that day. I haven't seen her in years."

"You have a sister," asked Keiko. Hiei nodded.

"Yes, born on the same day, alike yet opposites in so many ways. Of my father, I never knew him, like Urameshi." And he was silent. The rest knew not to push the issue and started talking about hilarious events that happened in their childhood.

Hiei felt a tingling behind his Jagan and pressed a hand to his temple, closing his eyes against the odd feeling.

When he opened his eyes he wasn't with his friends around the campfire but in a room that had to be part of a mansion. It had a single bed against the wall, a table with a tray of food on it, gourmet from what he remembered at Yomi's, a door that possibly lead to a bathroom, and a chair set in front of the only window in the room. The window had wards all around it, sutras of imprisonment. Seat on the chair was a familiar teal haired, red eye Ice Maiden.

"Yukina," he said and ran over to her. On her lap eating from her hand were two blue birds. "Are you all right?"

"I envy you," said Yukina. She wasn't looking at Hiei but at the birds on her lap. "You are free, while I…." She reached up and touched the window. A discharge sparked where she touched it, putting a shock through her arm. "I am a prisoner behind very sophisticated wards. I cannot leave, no matter how much I wish it." Tears come to her eyes. "I miss my sister. I am not like her, no matter how I try to be."

"I am here, Yukina," said Hiei. "I will get you out. I promise." He laid a hand on her arm, through she couldn't feel it, and looked out the window. There were trees all around and in the distance he could see a snow capped mountain. It wasn't one recognized.

"Where are you, Yukina," he asked, looking at his sister. "Where have you gone that I can't find?"

Then the answer came to him. The reason why he couldn't find her in Makai, why he couldn't feel her in any village he visited.

"Ningenkai," he said snapping out of the vision.

"What was that," asked Keiko. He looked over to find everyone looking at him.

"What's going one," he asked.

"You were out of it for a minute, and then yelled 'Ningenkai'," said Yusuke. "What's in Ningenkai?"

"Nothing," said Hiei. He paused for a moment to then. "Yusuke, do you know of a place with a forest and a mountain?"

"In Ningenkai?" Hiei nodded. "Sounds like Bone Ulcer Village. Why do you ask?"

"No reason," said Hiei and with that he stood up and walked out of the cave.

"What was that about," asked Kuwabara.

"I don't know," said Shizuru. Kurama didn't say anything as he watched Hiei walk away.

Hiei walked until he reached the creek that ran down the hill a quarter mile away from the cave. He sat by the creek and looked out onto the water. Bone Ulcer Village. It was a very remote place in Ningenkai Japan. He hated to just leaving his friends, especially Kurama, but he had to save Yukina. She had saved him when they were running from the Glacier Island. He owed it to her.

Hiei sat there for hours, thinking, and remembering. He didn't hear Kurama walking up behind him. He reacted when he felt a hand on his shoulder, drawing his sword and attempted to slice off the intruder's head, but Kurama caught the blade between his fingers, looking calmly at Hiei.

"That's some hello," he said.

"Sorry," said Hiei sheathing his sword. He turned back to the creek. He didn't object when Kurama sat down next to him.

"Have you found her," asked Kurama. Hiei didn't say anything. "Well, have you?"

"I think so," said Hiei. There was a long silence.

"You're leaving aren't you," asked Kurama. Hiei remained silent. "We'll come with you. We'll help you."

"No," said Hiei. "This is my problem. I'll deal with it."

Kurama crossed his arms and leaned back slightly, expertly balancing himself on a slight rise, his tail curled around his side and his ears twitched slightly.

"Let me remind you, your problems became my problems when I bought you."

Hiei smirked. "Last I remember, I bought myself, you just did the bidding." He looked at Kurama with a mischievous look.

Kurama smiled back. The looked Hiei gave him was irresistible. Kurama reached over and gently brushed Hiei's cheek. Hiei's eyes widened at the contact but he didn't pull away. Instead he leaned into the touch, keeping eye contact with Kurama.

"I would do anything for you, Hiei," said Kurama. "When you were captured, I wanted to tear the Makai apart to find you."

"I know," said Hiei. "I saw it in your eyes when you fought Yomi. You were about to kill him for what he did to me."

"Hiei, I don't know how to tell you…."Hiei placed a hand on Kurama's mouth, silencing him.

"Then don't," he said, and leaned forwarded and kissed Kurama gently. Kurama had to smile. Hiei's kiss was a bit clumsy and unexplored, like every first kiss. But instinct took over and the kiss became more intense.

"Are you sure about this," asked Kurama. Hiei punched him in the arm.

"I'm not a fragile little thing that will break apart," said Hiei. Then his face softened, not much, but enough for Kurama to notice. "I need to take the bad with the good. Or else I will never be able to forget. Please, help me forget, Kurama."

Kurama caressed Hiei's face again. He knew that it would be a while before Hiei let anyone touch him tenderly in his female form, but Kurama was willing to wait. Kurama leaned down and kissed him. Hiei relaxed against the fox demon, letting Kurama lead. Kurama just kissed Hiei for a while until the fire Koorime was comfortable with it. When Hiei moaned Kurama took it as a sign to go further. He kissed down Hiei's jaw as he massaged the soft spiky hair. Hiei hissed, but not in pain, and Kurama smiled. So his hair was a pleasure spot. He put the information away for later and kissed Hiei again, gently laying him down on the soft moss Kurama grew.

"Tell me when to stop," said Kurama.

Hiei shook his head. "I don't want you to stop."

Kurama smiled and gently laid his head on Hiei's forehead, just over the Jagan. Clothes left their bodies as their temperatures heated. Sometime during their encounter Kurama's moans turned into purring.

"I trust you," said Hiei as their heated bodies came to and exploding conclusion.

Kurama rested next to Hiei before spooning the fire demon, his head set on Hiei's shoulder. The fire Koorime sighed at the movement and curled up next to the fox.

"Please come back," said Kurama gently caressing Hiei's face. "But before you go, stay here with me."

"I promise" said Hiei and they fell asleep on the warm moss.

XXXXXXXXXXX

Hiei woke just before dawn. His clothes were still folded on the ground, but he was still warm despite the chill in the air. He felt a warm body against his back and looked over to see Kurama still asleep, his arm draped around Hiei's waist and the fox's tail wrapped around Hiei's hips. Gently Hiei dislodged himself from Kurama and got dressed. Sheathing his sword he picked up his cloak and scarf and looked at Kurama one last time. The kitsune was still sleeping peacefully, a slight smile on his face and his silver hair in disarray. With a smile he reached over and lifted a lock off Kurama's face softly caressing his cheek.

"I love you, kitsune," he said gently kissing Kurama's cheek. Kurama shifted slightly but stayed asleep. Wrapping his cloak around him Hiei left.

TBC

Full the full version go to on my pen name Forbidden_Child_Kori.