Kuwabara could sense in the words Hiei's seriousness. But he also heard what he thought was fear or even compassion. Maybe he wouldn't do it. But Kuwabara wouldn't take the chance.
When the other boys were out of earshot, he said, "Urameshi's been lookin' everywhere for you."
"I know." Hiei said quietly.
"Kurama's seen you."
"He told you?"
"No," Kuwabara said, "I could tell by how he's been acting."
"Any luck?" Yusuke asked.
"No," the fox had said, "Nothing."
"Hiei, what's goin' on?" Kuwabara asked.
"I can't tell you that." Hiei whispered.
"Because you don't want our help?" Kuwabara guessed.
"Because I know you can't help."
"And you don't want me to tell Urameshi I saw you," he ventured.
"No," Hiei said, "I don't give a damn what you tell him."
Kuwabara was surprised. But then Hiei delivered the catch.
"But you can't let him follow me." Hiei instructed gravely.
"I can't stop him, Hiei," Kuwabara shook his head.
"You have to," Hiei said.
"I can't do that." Kuwabara repeated.
"Kuwabara, listen to me. I need you to promise me," Hiei said, "I know you don't like me, and I'm not that fond of you either, but I will never ask you for anything else as long as I live if you can make me this promise."
Kuwabara hesitated. "I'll do what I can." he finally said.
He felt Hiei draw the sword away, and turn to leave.
"Wait a minute!" the little demon faced Kuwabara at his request, "Can I just..?"
Hiei eyed the human's outstretched hand. He remembered Kuwabara's power of awareness, and knew what the boy sought in making contact with him. He just didn't know if he should give it to him.
Finally, he took a step toward the boy. Kuwabara reached out and lay his fingers over Hiei's forehead. Instantly, Hiei's pain flooded into Kuwabara's body. He ground his teeth against the feeling. It was like someone had pierced his skull with a dagger and was carving out his brain.
He pulled his fingers away. Hiei looked up at him without emotion.
"Is that what it feels like now?" Kuwabara asked worriedly.
"No," Hiei said, and Kuwabara was relieved.
"That's what it feels like on a good day." Hiei added, and the human boy's heart sank.
Again, Hiei turned to leave and he was already perched on the windowsill before Kuwabara stopped him again, saying, "Hiei, we…we're gonna see you again, right?"
For the first time in his memory, Kuwabara saw sadness in Hiei's eyes. And heard it when he spoke, "Don't get your hopes up…"
"So where's this survivor broad live, anyway?" Hiei asked.
"North, that's all I could tell you," Shigure answered. "Haven't seen her since she came complaining of the headaches."
"Then how do you know she's still alive?"
"Trust me. She is."
Hiei didn't like trusting people, but since Shigure's past patient was all he had, he'd make an exception. The demon surgeon hadn't exactly been helpful, but having a direction was better than having nothing. So Hiei headed north.
The Makai itself was mostly a jumbled jigsaw of rocky valleys and mountain ranges. But go far enough north and it was like nothing went downhill anymore. Behemoths of creation these mountains were. Few ventured into them. Hiei had the bad luck to stumble upon the few who did.
A wrong turn had brought him to a dead end canyon, and now he wasn't alone. Just as he turned to go back the way he'd come, several bigger demons materialized from the crags.
"Looky, looky!" the smallest one jabbered, shaking with excitement, "Hiei no Imiko has returned!'
Was he that far north? That they still called him by that name?
"Where's that bastard human friend of yours?" a monster of a demon asked in a voice like gravel. The dark creatures closed in on him. They knew of the team of Spirit Detectives, and they knew Hiei's part in it.
Hiei didn't answer. He was trying to get to his sword without them seeing. In one quick movement he'd drawn it and slashed the neck of the annoying demon who'd called him cursed before.
The rest of the horde rushed him, but Hiei was faster than these rugged hill dwellers. Half of them fell before the pain blinded him.
"No!" Hiei growled, but the Jagan was already glowing, small shafts of blue light emitting into the darkness periodically. "Not now!"
The damned of the mountains drew nearer, ready to take advantage of his weakened state. But Hiei fought the pain hard. He killed two more before dropping the sword and falling to his knees. The pain was worse now than ever.
"Damn it! You are so doing this on purpose," Hiei accused his third eye as the demons crowded even closer.
The gravel-voiced leader raised a wide sword over Hiei's head, ready to sever his neck, when an arrow shot from the night and buried itself in his neck.
"What?" Hiei watched through the agony as more arrows and throwing knives rained down on the mountain demons. But they all fell short of him.
As quickly as it had come, the searing pain faded away again. By now, all the demons who had attacked him were dead. And those that saved him showed themselves.
"Well, well, the prodigal son returns," the huge bandit grinned.
Hiei couldn't believe his eyes.
"I never thought I'd be glad to see you guys again," Hiei smiled back.
The canyon was filled with the booming laughter of the demon thieves who had raised him.
