Ride Like the Wind
Chapter 12

The heat beat down on Mexico early that morning. It was summer at the time and was coming in fast the way it did every year. Despite the tiring heat, there was still a liveliness in the air what with people running around to get chores done before it got any hotter and children playing outside. The breeze came in but it didn't cool anyone off; it only swept the dust back onto neatly swept porches.

John sighed as he watched the people pass by the window peacefully and turned back to his friend's son. He sighed again and brushed his sandy hair from his ocean blue eyes. He eyed the bruises on the seven year old. No matter how hard Hiei tried to hide the fact that he was beaten, John always found out.

"And you let them do this to you?" he asked.

Hiei, who was staring at the older man, lowered his eyes. "...They hate me 'cause I'm a demon. They do this ever' day... I can't fight back. If I go to demons, it won't be better, will it? They ain't like Touya are 'ey?"

Sharp kid. I know I can't leave him with demons if he can't take the beatings from humans. I know that demons are violent... But... Humans have a real heart. I know what they're doing now is worse than what a demon can do... Damn... John thought. Kid's eyes look cold. They used to be empty but... Guess I should've known...

Hiei stared out the window and made a slight whimper at his own reflection. He looked at John to make the fox think it was out of pain and not out of fear of his own face. It was true. His eyes had gone cold to show hatred for the world. It was that change that frightened Hiei the most. It wasn't the bruises on his face. It wasn't the gash across his forehead. It wasn't a split lip. It was his eyes.

"Anything new today?" John asked only to break the silence.

"I killed an animal today. I think it was supposed to be a coyote. I didn't look. But it was fun." He did his best to stray away from the topic of his beating though the word "killed" reminded him of it. Am I really the spawn of the devil? Am I really that evil?

"You what?"

"I... Killed an animal." He was afraid he would get hit, a foolish thought considering that John never raised a hand at him.

"Why? Was it for food or...?"

"I just wanted something to do... And I wanted... I killed it. I thought it would be fun and I've just always wanted to kill someone I dunno why!" And he remembered a woman's voice in the back of his mind that screamed to another (He believed it was his mother.) "He'll kill us all! These kinds of children would only lust for blood!"

John stared. He heard it once from one of the women Hiei's father had "courted". She said something about having a child with a man would mean she would have a male child that would grow up to be violent. Back then it sounded really stupid, but now it made a little sense, but not much.

"Are you mad...?" There was fear in his voice.

"N... No..." John hugged Hiei. "It's nothing. Just don't do it again, even if it's for self defense... Hold on a little longer... I'm sorry... I can't..."

---

Hiei sat up. Goddamn dream... John... "Damn my arm stings... Oh shit..." He stared at his right arm to see it was black. "I just remembered the Dragon of the Darkness Flame. Should've known this was gonna happen. Ain't gonna feel better tomorrow." He walked out of the room he was in and into the entry room.

Then the door was slammed open and someone hopped in cheering, "Buenos dias!"

Hiei jumped in surprise and turned to see who the owner of the voice was. Koenma and Botan..?

"Hello! Didn't expect to see you here!" Botan greeted Hiei with the biggest smile she could manage. (Damn, she has so much energy in the morning, but later in the afternoon she becomes such a bitch! Hiei once noted her smile.)

"What're you doing here? And is this why you always disappear for long periods of time?" Hiei managed to growl after overcoming the surprise.

"We're delivering something for Genkai!" Koenma answered, also a odd morning person. "As for the second one, I'm not telling; it's a secret."

"Whatever!"

Yusuke came staggering in, rubbing his eyes as if it would wake him up any faster, and he yawned, "Hwas... ith... eh... ellin?"

"Ah, Yusuke! There you are! I was looking for you at your home and your mother told me you left! Why'd you leave? What if I had to tell you something important like New York was gonna get blown up by gunpowder demons or something!" Koenma growled at the teen, still sounding slightly pleasant.

"I doubt that... You never have anything important for me to do. I just wanted to get out there and see more stuff so I went with Kurama and Hiei."

"Ugh..." He turned back to Hiei. "So it's been a while, mi'jo." (Hiei could sometimes swear this man had a bad cause of hormones after witnessing his many mood swings.)

"Don't call me that." Hiei turned his back to the priest.

"Okay. How's it going?" He patted Hiei's shoulder.

Hiei winced. "Damn you."

Koenma rose an eyebrow and examined the small demon's burnt arm. "Hey..."

"What?" Irritation.

"Have you been cooking again?"

"Oh, damn you! If I can live for ten damn years without burning my freakin' arm off, then you should know damn well it wasn't from cooking you dumb ass bastard!"

"Can't you take a joke? And another thing- Don't cuss dammit!"

Kuwabara stumbled in next, still half asleep, as he rubbed his eyes. "Hey... What're ya'll..." He noticed Koenma and his eyes widened like a fanboy that was going to get an autograph from his favorite singer. "Hey! Yer Koenma! You're my idol!"

Botan's eyes widened with surprise, but she then muttered under her breath so only Kuwabara could hear, "That's what they all say until they find out about..."

"Wow. That's nice to hear. Not many exorcists tell me that anymore..." Koenma smiled, but then made a dramatic voice. "I thought I would have to stay with demon slayers!"

"You know this guy?" Yusuke asked the exorcist.

"Yeah! He's only the greatest exorcist and traveling priest that ever lived in forever! (Koenma laughed like that was supposed to be a joke. "I wouldn't say that...") In fact, he can outdo any demon slayer! (Yusuke frowned. "Okay now. Demon slayers risk their asses and the exorcists get all the credit...") He's way better than that dirty punk that helped Hiei out of jail! You should tell them off!" Kuwabara ranted, the last sentence directed at the sweat dropping Koenma.

"I might... But... Uh... The thing is..." Koenma stuttered.

Hiei sighed. "He is that exorcist."

It was Kuwabara's turn for his eyes to widen, not with surprise, but with shock . Then he realized what Koenma and Botan meant when they commented on Kuwabara's enthusiasm.

"Why'd he help you?' Yusuke asked. "Is he your dad or something?"

"Hell no! I'd kill myself if this 'tard was my old man! He only did it because he can't stop getting into everybody's business! It's not from the goodness of the heart, it's from a spoiled curiosity."

"Don't say that..." Koenma whimpered.

"I'm gonna check on Shuichi," Hiei growled and stomped out of the room. A tense silence followed.

"Hey, Botan. Remember when you were kids and you used to chase Hiei around to give him a kiss because you thought he was so cute?" Koenma asked.

"Yeah..." Botan clearly didn't get the point of what the priest was asking.

"Do you still do that?"

"No! He's become a nasty little man! I bet he gets the manure from the fields on his face! Who would want to kiss that!"

"Not fun. It was hilarious to watch."

---

Shuichi woke up to a pounding headache and a burning pain in his left side. He noticed that his left arm was in a sling. That was when he remembered the day before... He heard the door swung open. Hiei.

"How're you feeling?" Hiei asked, irritation in his voice.

"My injuries aren't as bad as I thought. See I just remembered that my left arm got broken and I guess I have a bad gash in my side. It hurts a lot but that only means that it's a minor injury. Might scar though... Nothing I won't heal!" Shuichi smiled to make his point. "Good thing I'm right handed or I wouldn't be able to write to Mom."

Damn... I'm right-handed. Maybe I should've reconsidered the Dragon of the Darkness Flame... Hiei thought as he eyed his burnt arm.

"What happened to you? Was it from..."

"Nothing."

"That's a painful looking nothing."

"Look you! Quit asking! What do you care anyway?"

"Well, I gotta look out for my friends, right? But... I guess I'll quit asking then." Shuichi stared at the wall thinking of something to say. He saw from the corner of his eye that Hiei was staring at him as if in deep thought. "Hey, you know it's rude to stare."

Hiei shook his head and sat cross-legged on the floor. "Hey..."

"It's been a month, hasn't it?"

"Actually, it has hasn't it? As of today..." Yeah... A month for Hiei. Three weeks since Yusuke. Two weeks for Kuwabara. Seems longer... I still remember crossing the border... The look on Mom's face when she heard I was accused or killing Sensui. She must be worried sick...

Hiei's voice broke into Shuichi's thought. "Hey, kid. Why do you travel with me anyway?"

"That's the second time you asked. You know the answer."

"Yeah, but this time I want a honest answer. I think last time you lied so I can think you need me but you don't. So why?"

But I really don't have anyone to turn to! Oh, who am I kidding? I could've stayed with Jin and hung out with Rinku and take care of Hiei's crops... "I dunno. Maybe I'm getting attached to you or something. The real question should be why you're letting me travel with you. I mean, you hate Americans right? I'm an American once you get down to it. I want an honest answer from you."

Hiei stared at the red head as if trying to take this in. Then he looked into Shuichi's emerald eyes as if the answer was in there. He leaned forward as if he were trying to get a better look into the red head's eyes. He stropped when his face was a few inches away from Shuichi's.

"It's too soon to say for sure..." Hiei was about to bite Shuichi's neck; the red head could feel the older man's fangs touching his neck...

Shuichi pushed him away. "Are you crazy! You can kill someone like that!"

Hiei's eyes looked disappointed. "Heh. Maybe I am. But I know it won't hurt a bit. You're not human." He walked out.

Shuichi felt his face burning up in a dark blush. Man, my heart's pounding... I think... I think maybe I was just freaked out. That's all... Man, that was scary. What'd all that mean anyway?

He shrugged it off and went into the room next door to see what all the commotion was about...

End chapter 12

Notes:
1. Buenos dias!- Good morning!
2. Mi'jo- A Spanish contraction that translates to "my son".

I haven't been getting much sleep lately. Not good. I apologize for the long update and this chapter's shortness.

Okay, if all my readers are still here, I'm going to let out the killer spoiler that I mentioned in chapter one. This is to become a shonen ai. If you don't like it, the door's in the back, or you could leave this on story alert and wait for me the finish this story and flame me about it or you could just skip the scene. (I only put it as a sentence like He kissed him. Nothing graphic.) Well, 'til next time, my loyal readers...

Review! (By the way, anyone look for my warning? I told you where to look if you're interest was piqued.)