"It's nothing short of a miracle that you're alive!" Aysuna, Reuel's wife, exclaimed as she examined Hiei's wounds. "You were definitely dead when I last left you."
"I wish I could explain it myself..." Hiei muttered, as he felt the area on his forehead where the Jagan used to be. Now there was nothing but a large intent. "What happened after I blacked out?" Hiei directed the question to Yusuke, Kuwabara and Kurama, who were all seated in the hospital room. Yukina had been sent off to run some errands with Reuel, while Aysuna tended to Hiei's injuries.
"Well, as soon as that wild explosion of energy stopped, we all rushed over to you guys. Yukina immediately started using her healing powers on you, but you didn't seem to be getting any better." Yusuke explained. "So Archelaus created a portal, and we brought you and Koray here to get treatment. Though, you were proclaimed dead."
Hiei paused to think things over. At first he wondered how Archelaus and Koray were able to find them, but he concluded that it had to do with the fact that Koray was a member of the Black Knights. That said, it would probably be better not to bring it up.
"Say... How is he?" Hiei asked.
"Who?" The fire demon's friend's wondered.
"If you're talking about Koray," Aysuna chimed in. "He's alive, but hasn't woken up since he was brought here."
**********
"Thank you for coming with me, Mr. Reuel." Yukina smiled at the General, as the two of them entered the hospital.
"Anytime." He replied. "You sure are in a good mood today."
"Well, of course. Hiei's alive, how could I be anything but overjoyed." Yukina said. Reuel smiled. Just looking at her brought up his spirits. "By the way, Mr. Reuel, back then... What were you and Mr. Cleitenes doing?"
"Oh... We were keeping the Black Knights at bay. You guys were at a small base of theirs on the Island of Fire, so naturally they had guards set up. Cleitenes and I held them off, while Archelaus and your father went to help you guys."
"I see." Yukina replied. "Mr. Reuel, there's someone I would like to visit. Do you mind if I head off?"
"Sure, just don't get lost." Reuel said, giving the girl a wave as she ran off.
Yukina walked down a few hallways then came across the room with the person she was looking for. She entered the room, then pulled up a chair and sat beside him.
"I wish you would wake up... father." She said as she gazed upon Koray's unconscious face. As she observed his scars, she could only imagine the pain he had been put through. But even more than that, she realized that those scars were the proof of his love for his family. She gently reached out and pushed his long, black bangs out of his face. "I wonder what kind of dream you're having..."
**********
It was cold... Colder than anything he had experienced before. He opened his eyes, hoping to find out why it was so cold, but all he saw was white. He reached out and picked up some of this white stuff. He had never seen it before, and it turned to water in his warm hands. How strange... He thought to himself. Suddenly he felt very tired. It was obviously because of the cold... He was a fire demon, after all, and as such it was bad for him to be exposed to extremely cold temperatures for too long. He tried to stand up, but his body was too weak and he fell back onto the ground.
He then noticed a figure standing not too far away from him. It appeared to be a woman in a kimono. "Hello...?" He called out. The woman did nothing. "Please... Can you take me someplace sheltered...? I can't be out here too long..."
The woman then slowly approached him. As she got closer, he could finally make out her appearance. She was a tall, slim woman with a perfectly shaped face that accented her dark blue eyes. He was taken away by her beauty. Without a word, she helped him to his feet, and led him off into the distance. Before long, they came across a village, but the woman didn't lead him into it. They went around, behind some of the houses, and then entered one through the back door. She sat him down on a couch, and then lit a fire in the fireplace.
"Thank you." He said to her. She looked up at him curiously, but then went back to tending the fire. "Won't you tell me your name?" He asked as politely as he could.
She paused, and then looked up at him with those curious eyes. "You're a man?" She asked simply.
He was taken aback by the unusual question. "Yes." He replied.
"I see." She muttered softly. "What is your name?"
Although he thought it was rude of her to ask for his name when she had neglected to tell him her own, he decided to answer. "My name is Koray."
"Koray..." She repeated to herself. "How unusual."
That annoyed him a little. "You know, where I come from its customary to give your own name after receiving someone else's."
"Ah! Forgive me, my name is Hina." She said, giving him a slight bow. "I'm sorry... It's just that I'm not used to having company such as yourself..." He gave her a confused look. "You see, men are forbidden here."
"Oh...?" Koray said, now thoroughly confused. "Why's that?"
"Because men are evil." Hina replied. Koray sweatdropped. "At least... That's what the elders say."
"Right..." Koray muttered. "Then why did you help me?"
"I guess... I wanted to find out if what they say is true." Hina answered.
"Interesting." Koray smirked. "So, what do you think so far?"
Hina paused to look at him closely. Her eyes seemed to be trying to look inside him. Then she answered, "I don't think you're evil. You don't seem be anything like what the elders described to us. But... I still get a strange feeling when I look at you. I can't explain it, really... Nor can I tell if it's good or bad."
Although he didn't voice it, Koray felt the same way. There was something about her that was alluring. It might have been because of her beauty, or perhaps because she came from a world different from his. But then, she was the first person to ever say that he wasn't evil. He felt a strong desire to be with her that he couldn't ignore, no matter how much his common sense told him that it was wrong.
"Um... Koray?" Hina stuttered.
"Yeah?" He looked at her.
"Could you please tell me what it's like in the outside world?" He asked with a hopeful expression.
Koray sighed. "Sorry. Where I come from we're forbidden from interacting with the outside world as well. Even though I'd like to answer, I have nothing to tell you."
"I see..." She said, clearly disappointed. "Then why don't you tell me about where you come from?"
"Tch! You don't want to know about that place. It's full of rotten bastards who treat me no better than shit." Koray said hatefully.
"Is that why you left?" Hina asked.
"Sure." Koray muttered simply. The truth was that he was sent away by an accident that occurred while people were fooling around with black magic, but it's not like it mattered.
"I envy your courage." Hina said with a sad smile. Koray stared at her with wide eyes. "I wish I could leave this place... No matter what the elders say, I don't think its right to force people to live such a lonely, empty life. But... If I did leave I wouldn't know what to do with myself. I don't know anything about the outside world."
Koray stared curiously as a small tear fell from the woman's eye. Just before it hit the floor, it solidified, turning into a jewel. He could tell she was suffering here. It reminded him of how he felt all his life... Trapped... Imprisoned...
He moved off the couch and sat beside her on the floor, and then placed one hand on her cheek and kissed her. For several minutes the two stayed locked together. Even though they barely knew each other, there was a strong passion coming from both of them. Neither had ever experienced something of the like. It gave them a pleasure that seemed almost sinful. While they longed for it to go on forever, their lips eventually parted.
Hina paused, still taken away by the moment, and then asked, "What do you call that?"
"A kiss." Koray replied with a smile.
"I see." Hina said, with a slight blush forming on her cheeks. "Could we... do it again?"
Again Koray smiled as he leaned in and kissed her once more. His hand stoked her smooth cheek, and although her skin was unusually cold, he truly enjoyed it. Koray then moved his hands to her back and began undoing her obi. As he removed it, Hina was unsure of what he was doing, but she began to understand once he opened her kimono and started stroking her bare skin. Hina hesitated, as this was the one thing she was told, above all, to never do. Especially during this special time that only comes once every one hundred years. Koray then paused for a moment to remove his shirt. Hina stared curiously, as she had never seen a man's body before, and then reached out and put her hands on his chest. It was strong, and solid, but above all it was warm. She wrapped her arms around him, and her head rested on his chest as she let the warmth, and the rhythmic beating of his heart consume her. She then decided, despite what she had been told all her life, to go through with this. As Koray placed his hand on her chin and lifted her face into another kiss, she knew that this must have been what they call "love". Koray then removed his pants, and Hina let her kimono fall off her body as Koray gently pushed her onto her back. As Koray's warm body met Hina's the two felt an overwhelming pleasure. Their hearts quickened, and their breathing became heavy. The experience was indescribable, and almost felt like a trance. As their lips and tongues continued to interact, and their bodies rubbed together, the two of them wished that it could last forever. But, of course, all good things must come to an end.
Koray woke up the next day to two voices arguing in the next room over. One he recognized as Hina, while the other was an unfamiliar female voice. He got dressed, and then listened to what they were saying.
"Hina, I can't believe you did that!" The unfamiliar girl exclaimed in disbelief.
"Rui, I'm sorry." Hina said. "But you know, I don't regret it in the slightest."
Rui slapped her. "You fool... Do you even realize what might happen to you?!"
Hina hesitated as she held her hand to her cheek. "Please don't tell anyone, Rui."
"Hina..." She paused to think, but then noticed Koray looking in from the doorway. Her eyes widened as she stared at Koray and backed away slowly.
"Rui, it's okay." Hina tried to reassure her friend.
"No... No it's not!" Rui shouted as she ran out of Hina's house.
"What was that about?" Koray asked.
Hina smiled. "Well, of course she's bothered by your presence here, but..." Koray stared curiously. "She's angry because... I'm pregnant."
Koray's eyes widened. "With my child?" Hina nodded. "But... How can you know so soon?"
"Every one hundred years, we Ice Maidens go through a period where we give birth to a single female child by ourselves. However, it's also the one time we can get pregnant with a boy if a man is involved." Hina explained.
"I see..." Koray muttered. "And you're going through that cycle now?" Hina nodded. Koray paused to think. Even if he was able to stay there hidden, his presence would be revealed once Hina gave birth to a boy instead of a girl. And considering that men are forbidden here, he didn't want to think about what the people here might do to Hina and their child for breaking the law. "What do you want to do from here?" He asked her.
"I want to leave..." Hina said simply. "Koray, would you come with me to the outside world?"
"Of course." He smiled. "You're pregnant with my child. I can't just abandon you."
Hina smiled widely as tears formed in her eyes. "Thank you... so much."
Koray smiled. Even if it was unexpected, he was going to be a father. Then and there he promised himself that he would raise his little boy with all the love and affection that he'd never received from his family. He would only look back on his previous home in order to appreciate the new life he was going to start with Hina.
Hina spent the rest of the day gathering any belongings she might need, though there wasn't much beyond food and a few sets of clothes. Hina lent Koray a thick coat, since the cold weather bothered him, and they set off. After a while of walking, they came to what seemed to be the edge of a cliff. Koray looked down, only to realize that they were up in the air.
"What the hell is this place...?" He muttered, as he could barely make out a large forest through the clouds beneath them.
"A floating island. It's constantly moving, and added to the fact that it's so far up, it makes it difficult for outsiders to get here." Hina explained.
Suddenly, not too far away from them, a swirl of black magic appeared that took the form of an opening that could fit an average sized man. Out of it came about six men that Koray instantly recognized as soldiers from his homeland, the Island of Fire. Following them came a man who wore nicer clothing, and glared at Koray harshly as he acknowledged his presence.
"Kyo..." Koray muttered spitefully as he placed himself protectively in front of Hina. "What the hell are you doing here?!"
"I came here to get you. Despite that you're a pain in the ass; you are one of our own kin, after all." Kyo said, looking him in the eye.
"That's bullshit! You've never once treated me like one of your own, so don't lie!" Koray shouted. "And just to let you know, I'm not going back with you."
"Oh...?" Kyo narrowed his eyes as he stared at Koray. Then he noticed Hina behind Koray, who seemed to be defending her. The fire Lord smirked. "Please... Don't tell me you've fallen in love." Koray said nothing, but gritted his teeth. Kyo's smirk disappeared. "You dare go against the law? You filth... You're no better than she was! Men, seize them!"
The six soldiers charged at Koray and Hina, ready to attack. Koray pushed Hina away, and then started fighting the men. He had no weapons so he had to fight hand-to-hand. He dodged several punches and kicks, and then retaliated, punching one of them hard in the ribs, kicking another in the face, and then going back to dodging. He wasn't making much progress, since all these guys were top-notch fighters and wouldn't be taken out easily. But they were impatient and didn't want the fight to drag out, so two of them left and targeted Hina.
"Dammit!" Koray shouted as he tried to get away from the rest of them. But as he ran over to Hina, who was now being held by the two soldiers, Koray received a hard punch to the face, which sent him flying off to the side. He could feel his cheek swelling, but before he could pick himself up, two of the men lifted him up by his arms, while a third punched him hard, breaking several of his ribs. Koray groaned in pain, and coughed up blood while the soldiers laughed at him.
"Koray..." Hina muttered as she stared in horror at what they were doing to him.
"Enough." Kyo said as he stared at Koray with angry eyes. "Kill the girl, and we'll leave."
Koray's eyes widened as the men started walking over to Hina. "Stop! Kyo, don't do this!" He shouted in desperation.
The fire Lord punched him. "Why not?! Why the hell should this whore receive my mercy?!"
"I'll do anything! I swear... Just please leave her be!" Koray begged.
"Anything you say?" Kyo muttered in disbelief. "What if I asked for your life? Would you willingly die for her?"
"I would." Koray stated firmly. Kyo's eye widened as he realized that Koray was serious.
"My Lord?" One of the soldiers questioned, asking what they were going to do.
Kyo hesitated as he stared at Koray intensely. "Let's go. Bring him."
"And the woman?" They asked.
"Leave her. She's no threat to us." Kyo muttered as he walked into the portal.
The men who had Hina secured released her, almost throwing her to the ground. Hina stared as Koray was dragged away. He looked at her with eyes begging to be forgiven. Hina held out her hand and called out to him. She called for him to return to her, but he couldn't answer her plea. The image of her despairing face getting further and further away as he was taken into the portal would be the last time he ever saw her. And it would remain engraved into his memory for the rest of his life.
**********
"HINA!" Koray called out as he returned to consciousness.
"Ah... You're awake!" Yukina stated with a relieved smile.
Koray looked at her, and then his eyes widened. "Hina... It's you..." He reached out and placed a hand on Yukina's face. She stared, unsure of what to say, as he stroked her cheek. Koray suddenly sat up and embraced her tightly. "Hina... I'm so sorry... I'm sorry for everything!" Tears stared streaming down his face. He cried with all his might as he held onto Yukina and remembered everything that happened between him and Hina. "I... I love you, Hina... I didn't mean for things to turn out this way... Please... Forgive me..."
A tear fell down Yukina's cheek, and crystallized into a jewel as she embraced her father. "It's okay... You've been forgiven."