Thinking of you during times I shouldn't.
…..Hiei…..
Mukuro didn't stop her enraged bantering for an hour. I tuned out after the first ten minutes about how I'm her heir and have certain responsibilities, how I should carry myself inside and outside the walls of her castle, I should be more adept to my honor, she could easily replace me if she wanted to, what was I doing in the human world for so long without contacting anyone?
This is where my mind went elsewhere. Mukuro kept her ranting. I was trying not to fall asleep.
"Is that clear?" She finally finished.
I looked her in the eye bored. "Hn." I turned and started to walk out of her office.
"And, Hiei."
I looked back when I had just opened the door to step out.
"Do you remember the uprising in the north?" I nodded once. "We have someone that might be able to give us some information on these rebellions. I'd like you to talk to him. We also have some guests to entertain. They'll be in the chambers with the informant. Get going." She stated the last part with intended harshness.
I scowled as I walked out of her office. I knew she only wanted me to do it because it'll be a form of punishment. Fine. She can be that way. She's just pissy about the uprisings that are coming from the north and continuously sweeping towards the south. There were demons, unknown to anyone in Makai, that have come to her territory and started preaching nonsense about a prophecy from ten thousand years ago. These demons were the color of ice and their skin shimmered like the newly fallen snow, and their hair ranged from a metalic pearl to a cobalt black. The tinge of blue on their cheeks and lips and fingers gave them an ethereal aura. Even though these demons were immediately silenced, they have done the intended damage. Now hundreds of thousands of low class demons and even middle class demons have started to rebel against any higher authority. Mukuro and her army, Taion, our new ruler, and now their spreading like a disease. Sweeping their beliefs to the rest of Demon World. Yomi has so far gotten a taste of it from his northern borders. We have yet to disband these fools. Mukuro is just taking her frustrations out on me.
As I walked down the halls of the castle, I could hear the rain from outside. A heavy downpour of nothing but water. The image of the girl on the window seat crossed my mind. The lightning flashing occasionally in a harsh glow that seemed to make her radiant. Her tiny frame sitting so still as the water soaked through her white sleeping garments, hiding nothing underneath. The fabric clinging to her like a second skin, showing she wore no undergarments on her chest. Her blue eyed gaze towards the sky, and occasionally her tiny, pink tongue would flick in and out to taste the rain.
I shook my head of those thoughts. She's just a memory. An insignificant human soon to taste the cold grip of death. Once she's gone, there will be nothing for me to want to remember.
I continued my walk to the chambers where the informant would be. I hope my time won't be wasted for nothing. Whatever he has to say, it had better be good. I'm not in the mood to listen to insignificant banter about nonsense. Same goes for these "guests". If none hold my interest, I might just leave.
I came to the chamber doors and walked inside without knocking. When I saw who sat there I wanted to bash Mukuro's head in for making me do this.
"Hiei, your back!" Yusuke swung himself over the couch to come and greet me.
"We were wondering what happened to you Hiei. We haven't seen you in a week. Everyone's been worried about you." Kurama came over to me as well yet in a more dignified manner.
Yusuke had the audacity to put me in a choke hold and start rubbing his fist into my head. "You little devil you. Making us worry to death when you're right here safe and sound." Yusuke had that annoying grin on his face. I quickly took care of that after I uppercut him with my fist, the idiot. "OW FUCK!" he stated.
"Please, join us, Hiei. There is much to discuss." Kurama led me over to the sofas. We left the detective to fend for himself. "Hiei, we would like you to meet Memoru." He introduced me to a small girl sitting on the couch looking no older than 12. Her hair was a mousy brown, her eyes a dark chocolate, and her frame puny. Shrimp seems to be the order of the day. She wore human clothing consisting of a green skirt, a white shirt with a rose on it, a brown cashmere jacket, and eyeglasses making her look like a… what's the word Yusuke uses?
Nerd?
"Memoru, this is Hiei." Kurama finished.
The girl stood and bowed in respect. "It is very nice to meet you, Hiei. I was to meet you a few days ago, but sadly, you were absent at the time. I am very glad to see you are alright." Her voice sounded like chimes in the wind, but she spoke as if she were an intellectual adult instead of a carefree child.
"What is this about, Kurama?" My patience was wearing thin. Whatever they had to say, they better do it quickly.
"Please sit." Kurama took one side of the couch, the girl, Memoru, took the loveseat, Yusuke, after finally picking himself up, sat on the couch next to Kurama, and I stood, signifying that I was not going to be there long. "As you know, there is an uprising going on in Makai."
"Yes, yes. I've heard this already from Mukuro." I interrupted. It's the same song and dance. I'm just about ready to leave these fools and go to sleep.
"Do you know the reason for it, Hiei?"
"Something about a ten thousand year old prophecy. The bastards killed themselves before we could extract any other information from them." It was true. Every time we captured one, he would mysteriously vanish before our eyes leaving nothing but a puddle of water, or they use some means of suicide. We have yet to keep one alive.
"You see, Hiei," Memoru spoke this time. "This prophecy is dating back to the Great War. Have you heard of it?"
"No." My knowledge of my own world is limited to third hand stories and rumors. I never cared much about the past anyway. Whatever was done is done. We can only live in the now.
"You see, ten thousand years ago, the ice dragon, Arare, waged war upon all three worlds. Millions died, humans, demons, and grim reapers alike. King Enma could only contain the fighting to stay in the demonic realm. There was not much he or anyone could do until she wore herself out, which would take centuries or even a few millennia. So there were the elemental mages who sealed her away inside an Aoitsuki. " She paused to take in a deep breath before continuing. "So that's where the prophecy comes into play. It is said that when the hundredth generation of the Aoitsuki is born, Arare shall take over the body on the two hundredth birthday, and try to conquer the three worlds again."
"What do you want us to do? Find him and kill him?" I asked. I had to sit through such a wonderful history lesson. Hurrah.
"Actually, Hiei. We can't do that." Kurama stated, a serious expression on his face. "It would of course be so much easier to merely rid the cause of the problem, but there would be a catch. The Aoitsuki control half of the elements in all three worlds. Killing them could mean complete destruction." He looked to me, calculating his next words. "You probably know the technical term for the Aoitsuki. The Blue Moon Maidens."
My eyebrows rose, my full attention gained. I've heard of these women through countless of tales from when I was still living with the band of thieves from my childhood. They're said to be the most beautiful creatures to have graced the three worlds. They are the most powerful beings ever to set foot in Makai. They are half of the balance of all three worlds. However, I've never met one to ever confirm it. "I thought they died out a hundred years ago." But if they didn't, and the legends of them are true, it would explain why we all still exist.
"Yes. It ended with Ametari the Healer. At least, that's what we thought."
"What do you mean?"
Memoru was the one to answer. "During my research of the rebellion, I have come across many who say that Ametari had given birth to a child long before her death. At first I thought they meant her son, Onni Sawa, heir to throne of the Northern Islands, but they speak of a daughter. However, there are no records of Ametari ever getting pregnant a second time in any of the Reikai files, let alone actually giving birth to another Aoitsuki. We believe she might have hidden her pregnancy and then the child after its birth. Where is the question."
"We highly suspect her to be in the human realm. It would be the safest place for the child to grow up undetected. Then again, we checked every demon signature on the planet twice. We know of nearly every demon that cross the borders from Makai into the Ningenkai. Every single demonic energy has been found and identified. None are the missing child." Kurama's eyes became sullen. I can tell this is an unsettling setback for him.
"So what do we do next?"
"We call in my sisters for help. The missing child could be cloaked. We're not sure how though, but I'm certain my sisters and I can help find her. We'll just need a decent clue."
"Question." Yusuke raised his hand. After all the conversation, I had forgotten he was even here. "Why am I here?" I was wondering that myself.
"We'll be needing a couple of your best trackers. That's also why we came to you, Hiei. We were hoping you and Mukuro could spare us a few of yours."
I stood up, ready to leave. "I don't care. You'll have to speak with her about that. I'm going to bed. I'll see you later." I walked out, ignoring their goodnights and walked to my room.
When I got there, I closed and locked the door behind me. The servants knew well enough not to disturb me, but alas, old habits die hard.
As I undressed, I saw that I hadn't removed the bandages yet. Another image of the girl came to mind. She was changing the bandages on my left arm as she complimented the dragon "tattoo" on my right. She said such words as "cool" and "awesome". Human terms that I believe mean good or great. I frowned when she called it cute. When she saw my expression, she must have thought I looked amusing since she covered her mouth to cease the fits of giggles. It made me frown harder, which in turn, made her laugh harder.
I took a knife from one of the drawers and cut the bandages. I then tossed them into the garbage. I didn't need reminders of her; it would just complicate trying forgetting her.
I pulled the covers from the bed and laid myself under them. I closed my eyes trying to will myself to relax and get some sleep. Her face crept into my mind. I opened my eyes.
I can't stand this. I see her everywhere.
It's sickening, such a deplorable state of weakness. I curse myself for falling into it. If these images start to distract me, I won't be able to survive for long in battle. I need to put her at the back of my mind. Forgetting her would be best, and I'm sure she's doing the same.
I went to grab my mother's tear-gem from around my neck. It usually gave me comfort when I was distressed.
It wasn't there.
I bolted straight up in bed. I looked around for it, felt under the covers, around my body, but came up with nothing. Then I remembered. It's still sitting on top of that girl's dresser. She took it off while she was bandaging me, and I never put it back on.
Damn it. Just damn it.
TBC…