"Yeah, we heard of her. They call her 'Kimina' around here."
In the rocky hideout of his childhood, Hiei had asked the bandits if they'd seen the woman he sought. According to Wokou, their leader and Hiei's once surrogate father, she lived further up the mountain. But he was definitely headed in the right direction.
In exchange for their information however, Hiei was forced to tell them his reason for returning to his homeland.
"You're not really gonna die, are ya, Hiei?" Garuda was the demon who'd found Hiei originally. And he'd cared for Hiei long after he was grown and gone.
"What did Shigure say?" Wokou asked, his voice strong despite Garuda's apparent distress.
"He said the best advice he could give me now was to give up and pray that it ends quickly," Hiei chuckled.
"Bastard," Wokou shook his head, "This is his fault."
"If you die, Hiei, your blood's on his head," Garuda vowed, "And we'll make sure he knows it."
It was then that Hiei realized just how much he still meant to these bandits. He was like their own child. These men had taught him how to lie, and steal. How to live. They were the basis for his code. There really was honor among thieves.
"You'll stay here." Wokou said with finality. Garuda nodded in agreement.
"I can't do that," Hiei stood, deciding his time here was through despite the headache creeping up his temples.
"But Hiei…" Garuda looked crestfallen. "You're one of us…"
"I've got friends waiting for me back home," Hiei explained.
"'Home'?" Wokou picked up on the word and threw it back hatefully.
Hiei could not meet his eyes. He turned to leave.
"Hiei!" Wokou thundered in a voice that had once made the small demon tremble with fear. Now he simply stopped walking and waited for the rest.
"You would rather spend what little time you may have left with those filthy humans?!" Wokou demanded.
Hiei was appalled by how quickly the family reunion had turned into a shouting match. But he turned to face his former parental unit when he answered.
"Those 'filthy humans' are my friends," Hiei snarled at Wokou. Then his expression softened, "And yes. I would."
Wokou made no response, and Hiei turned away again. He only took one step before –
"Hiei…"
When he met Wokou's eyes, it was like a father was gazing back at his son. Years had passed, and the little boy he knew was a man.
"Good luck." the large demon grinned.
"Thanks," Hiei smirked. But whatever he said next, he really would need it.
For two days he watched her, silently. She lived as far as she possibly could from any other demon, and she rarely ventured outside. What few glimpses he caught of her were through dusty windows and the tangled rows of vegetables she grew behind her shack of a house.
When the pain became unbearable, he'd slip away to the higher crags. He didn't want to give away his position just yet. And though he wouldn't have done it if he weren't utterly alone, he'd taken to crying out during the more painful bouts with the Jagan.
One night, when the pain was so excruciating he thought it must be the final battle before his and the Jagan's destruction, that he'd either die like Shigure had prophesized or kill himself, the only thing that kept him from going under completely was the memory of his parting with Wokou and Garuda. They'd led him up the mountain…
"You're sure this is as far as you want us to go?" Garuda asked, "We can come along if you want."
"It's better that you don't," Hiei said, "I need to face her myself."
"If you come out of this, Hiei…" Wokou started, but seemed lost for words. "Just…don't forget about us."
"Never." Hiei smiled genuinely at the request, and left them to find Kimina's home.
Hiei would face her. If only to have that memory one more night.
Kimina sat in the darkened room. She stared out the only window, her long silver hair wavering in the shack's slight draft. Her decrepit hands shook in her lap. Her back was to the door. So she did not hear him until he was in the house.
His footsteps came softly but deliberately down the hall. He stopped just a few feet behind her, and even her ancient ears could discern the sound of his sword being drawn.
"Some 'empress'," Hiei scoffed, "You didn't even hear me, did you?"
"I needn't have heard you, Hiei no Imiko," her voice was like a flute, but one that had played no music in years, "I've been waiting for you…"
She turned to face Hiei.
And all three of her eyes stared at him.
