Push for it.

His fingers were numb, swollen and sore. Blood wept openly from under his fingernails, and sweat drenched his trembling arms and legs.

Reach for it.

The wind whipped at his back, blowing his cloak about his knees and ankles in a fierce gale. He was higher now than any imposing structure besides the Cliff of Insanity, and now with no trees or hills to take away from the tempest it blew hot and hard.

Don't look down.

The heights to which he'd climbed through the night were dizzying, and Hiei knew that if he looked down now he'd surely fall from shock. Every muscle, every bone, every fiber of his being was now strained to the breaking point. And yet-

This was what separated the boys from the men.

This was what divided the winners and the losers.

He would win.

He would climb.

Hiei paused in his ascent, sweat trickling from his forehead to his mouth. He tasted the salt that lay there with his dry tongue, longing desperately for water and rest. His legs quaked beneath him, but he held stoically on. Letting his head touch the rock, he closed his eyes and panted as he desperately tried to regain his nerve.

Push for it... reach for it... climb.

A dark form above him, wreathed in blue moonlight. Long hair, like the fronds of a willow tree, touching his tubby tummy as he wriggled in slight distress. His pudgy hands were balled into tight fists, strong for their infantile age.

Long fingers, dainty and yet strong.

She touched his face, tapping the tip of his nose and smiling down at him.

Hiei looked up into the face of his mother, his little chest rising and falling haggardly as he attempted to reach her and touch her back.

"GYAA!"

Hiei gasped awake from his hallucination to find that his hold on the rock wall had slackened! He fell away, and scrambled desperately for another hold so that he barely hung on by one strained and withered hand!

Gasping, eyes wide with horror of what could have almost been, Hiei looked up to the top of the summit which was only a few yards away.

He had almost sacrificed everything for a fucking hallucination that was probably nothing more than a myth. He could kick himself.

Determined and angered, Hiei swung up his other hand and managed to stabilize his hold on the rock wall. He pushed forward once more, urging himself onward and upward, one straining hand after the other! His teeth gritted into an iron lock, his brow furrowed into a dark strain, Hiei hissed out each breath as he pushed and pushed, desperate to reach the final top if only to end his suffering and anguish-!

A boulders angular edge met his grasp, and Hiei's eyes widened once more in blatant shock.

He'd done it.

Looking up again, Hiei's eyes only met bright red sky as the sun topped the valley and day broke forth. His strength almost gone, he gave one final burst to swing his weary leg up over the ledge!

He rolled, he fell flat onto his back-... and sank immediately into a black sea of unconsciousness.

They rose at the same time, which was rather profound since none of them had planned it. Yusuke stretched, punching and kicking at the air to loosen up his limbs as Yukina fetched nearby plants and made breakfast for them all. On a feast of greens and torn meat from Yusuke's ramen shop, everyone attempted to wake them selves. The kale was bitter, but its nutrients were filling, and Mukuro spat out green cud as she heaved herself up onto Pu's mighty back. The others were slower to act, but finally after long hesitation as Kuwabara stretched his legs and Kurama stowed a few new seeds into his wild mane of silver hair, all five journeyers mounted their steed.

"Alright, Pu!" Yusuke sat at the head of the group, with Mukuro right behind him. Kurama was behind her, with Yukina sitting comfortably between Kuwabara's large thighs. "Let's get the hell out of this place!"

Pu ruffled his feathers, stretched his wings, and with a jolt that shook the ground he rose up into the sky!

Mukuro gasped in spite of herself, grabbing tight onto the beasts feathers and praying she would not slip as air flew past her in a tirade of light and power. Pu climbed into the fiery sky, red light making his blue feathers look slightly purple. The Cliff of Insanity was dead ahead, and as they rose up even higher to the point of atmospheric change Mukuro swore she felt an electrical charge pass through her arm. It nearly shorted, and she cursed as one of her wires popped.

"Down!" Mukuro snarled. "Take the beast down, my arm will smoke if we go through the atmosphere!"

"Down, Pu!" Yusuke commanded at once, and Pu lowered himself only slightly. Mukuro breathed out a sigh of relief. They soared through the sky, headed for the cliff, and Mukuro squinted her gaze desperately trying to spot Hiei through the massive wall of gray. Nothing gave way to his presence, not even a hint, and Mukuro flushed at the thought of him in peril.

They had to reach the summit, and soon.

"Take this beast as fast as it can go! Hiei might be in danger!" Mukuro commanded. Yusuke kicked Pu's sides and the bird sped forward like a bullet through the clouds.

It took them just short of an hour to reach the Cliff of Insanity, and as the waterfall finally came into view the hiss of the falls reached their ears. Up close, it was deafening, but from high in the sky it was a mere trickle of force that attempted to shape the earth. There was no sign of Hiei ascending the cliff, and Mukuro felt her heart beat faster as Pu slowly ascended higher and higher, heading for the very top.

"Holy shit this thing is high!" Kuwabara cried out, "You mean to tell me Hiei climbed it?!"

"He had to, to reach the top!" Kurama agreed. "If he's not there, he's either gone on ahead or is still near the bottom. Yet I swear I can feel his energy nearby!"

For a moment, there was only mist and steam from the river clouding their view, and Mukuro feared the worst momentarily as they slowly came to see the ground. Yet, even as she felt bile rise in her throat, she spotted a fallen form on the edge of the cliff, wrapped in a black cloak.

"HIEI!" Mukuro screamed, and before Yusuke could halt her she slid right off the beast's back! Plummeting to earth, she braced herself for impact and slammed into the ground feet first. The earth cracked beneath her, but she'd caught herself well, and with a burst of energy rose up to run straight to Hiei's side.

She crashed there, her pants instantly soaking with mud from the banks of the raging waterfall.

"Hiei!" Mukuro grabbed him by the shoulders, shaking his hard. His head lolled on his neck, but he remained otherwise motionless.

Mukuro took a shuddering breath.

Pu soared to earth, dropping down and letting his wings rest as the rest of his passengers quickly dismounted. Mukuro was heedless of them, with eyes only for Hiei as she reached out and gently touched his face... his pale and sweaty face. His fingers looked mutilated from the struggle of the ascent, and she could see his muscles twitching from the stress. Ghosting over his skin, she felt powerless as she ran her hands over his strained arms.

"...Fucking shit." Mukuro cursed, pinching her eyes closed as she took deep breathes. "I hate you. I hate you so much."

"Mukuro, is that him?!"

The others had come, she could feel them approach under foot.

"Is he okay?" Kuwabara sounded very nervous indeed.

"Hiei!" Yukina dropped to her knees next to Mukuro, reaching out to touch his swollen and bloody fingers.

"Stop it." Mukuro snapped quietly, brushing the girl away. Yukina caught Mukuro's eyes, confused and slightly hurt.

"He's hurt." Yukina said reproachfully, "I need to heal my brother."

"Go set up camp." Mukuro brushed her away for a second time, "And leave me alone with him."

"But-"

"I said leave!" Mukuro screamed, her one good eye popping maddeningly as she felt her restraint break.

Yukina quailed at once, the blood draining from her face in fright.

Slowly, silently, she rose back up to her feet and retreated.

They all retreated.

Mukuro closed her eyes again, her head falling as she felt her breath come harder and faster. Her emotions were out of control, full of hate and fear for the future and the past- she let out a small noise like a strangled animal.

"... It was so easy for me." Mukuro's voice was a strained whisper. "It was so easy... to take out Chiko, and bring him back to me as a plant. Why... why couldn't it be easy for you?"

Hiei did not answer.

"I want it to be easy." Mukuro felt her face crumple. To hide the weakness, she hid her face behind her robotic hand. "... I want it to be over. I want to us to go home. Why can't we go home, Hiei."

Mukuro opened her bleary eye, feeling the wetness that lingered there at the corner.

Nothing would come of her being emotional and unproductive.

Hiei needed to be healed, and she would have to do it promptly.

There would be time for strife later. For now, she would bury her pain in her attempts to rouse Hiei back to the land of the living.

And when he awoke, god help him. She'd ream his ass.

Soft bedding unhand... and the smell of booze. Hiei felt warm and heavy, at ease with the world for the first time in what felt like years. As he opened his eyes with lazy comfort, he saw that he was back in centipede. He was home, and he was in Mukuro's bed. Curious, he looked to his right and was pleased to find that she laid next to him.

"...I've lost my fucking mind." Hiei greeted her with his usual air, "...Haven't I."

"Climbing the cliff was necessary." Mukuro disagreed, her violet eye shining even in the dark, "I'm proud of you. You did a wonderful job. I took Pu all the way up. I could never have managed such a feat. Are you tired?"

"A bit." Hiei admitted, reaching out to touch her warm and supple skin. It was laced with scars and made him feel even more at ease than before. "How did you find me."

"How did I find you." Mukuro repeated his question with a small sneer, "How do I always find you." She touched his own face in return, and he closed his eyes to turn his mouth into the palm of her hand. He kissed its fleshy mound, seeking the warmth that it held.

"I'm dreaming." Hiei realized it as he spoke, opening his eyes to look again at Mukuro. "Aren't I."

"Yes." Mukuro nodded. "But I'm here, and you're here. Quit fucking with the logic and let it happen."

"I need to wake up and go onward." Hiei grumbled. "Though I wish I could stay here with you."

Mukuro said nothing for a moment, simply letting her hand roam about his face. It was mapped into her memory; every sharp curve, every sting of stubble. The covers were warm, the lights were dim... anything was possible when she was near.

"I never could have taken Chiko on my own." Mukuro said, "Because Chiko held a place of emotional pain inside of my heart. You can't take Shikei on your own. Don't try."

"Don't tell me what to do."

"I've always told you what to do and you've always done it. Get the fuck used to it."

Hiei fell quiet, pondering.

Would he freeze up when they finally met? Or would his strike fall true, and slay the bitch once and for all.

"You cannot take her on your own." Mukuro warned again. "Don't try, Hiei. You'll be the one to feel the sword if you do."

"I do not fear a sword, nor death." Hiei snapped. "As you well know."

"Yes." Mukuro's voice turned slightly bitter as she spoke, her hand still upon his cheek. She stroked his jaw, turning his head so that he would have no choice but to look at her, "And every stroke runs me through like a spear. How could it not, when you're in my very soul?"

They stared at one another, and Hiei felt ashamed.

This woman, vile and impudent though she might be, was the closest thing he'd ever had to a lover and friend. A best friend, even. To her and her alone, he could share what was truly on his mind without feeling foolish or prideful...

That violet eye stared into his heart, and did not flinch.

"Would it have been better if we'd never met?" Hiei said, the words burning in his throat, "That we wouldn't have to feel this pain every time we pursue our path?"

"Oh no..." Mukuro smiled, "the pain of never knowing you was far worse than the pain of loving you."

Hiei smiled.

Something was warming his entire left side.

His legs felt like lead, heavy against the soft earth. He could smell the strange scent of cooking meat and rice steam; the sound of muffled talking filled drifted through his ears with lazy contentment. His head was in someone's lap, and fingers were stroking his stiff hair.

Metal fingers.

He could smell blood, and that hard tang of iron.

Mukuro.

He opened his eyes... and there she was.

From below, deep shadows were plunged onto the curve of her neck and ear as firelight from somewhere to his left cast a warm glow onto her sharp cheek and nose. She was looking down at him, her violet eye shimmering with an odd lilac glow in the light. She momentarily paused in stroking his hair, realizing that he had awoken under her ministrations. Beautiful and undeniably dangerous, he could stare at her forever in this moment. He did not know how she had found him, or where they might be. He did not know how much time had passed since he'd passed out on the ledge, or who was in their party. Yet he knew that she had found him, that time had passed, and that there was a party.

He was content for the moment.

"Fucking moron." Her first words were quiet and cold. "Who were you trying to impress."

"I don't think Hiei likes impressing people. He'd probably rather be left alone." Came the deep and clumsy voice of Kuwabara from afar. "I mean, he figured he had to climb. So he climbed."

"Shit, better than I could do." Was the dark and snide response of Yusuke Urameshi. So the two nitwits were here indeed... Hiei's keen senses at the start of the climb had not been false. "Did you see how high up he had to go? Looked like one of grandma's training courses. Cept, he didn't have her punching him in the gut while he did it." Yusuke added, clearly still sore from the incident though it had transpired long ago. "Damn am I glad that I don't have to do those runs anymore."

"It made you into a tougher fighter." Kurama's voice was next, yet it was deeper and full of brass tones. Hiei knew instantaneously that Kurama had shifted from his human form of Shuichi Minamino to the demonic form of Yoko Kurama. He was glad for his companion, believing that Kurama's true demonic form was the form that he ought to inhabit. Living in human world almost constantly had nearly divided Kurama from his demon heritage, which Hiei felt was a damn crime considering that Kurama was one of the greatest demon's he'd known in his life. "Her hard edge enabled you to beat Toguro and hold your ground with Sensui."

"Yeah that's true." Yusuke admitted.

"Man, when's he gonna wake up?" Yusuke asked, sounding very bored indeed "It's friggin midnight! We've been stuck here all day. Why can't we go on ahead and just let Kuwabara carry him?"

Past Mukuro's head, Hiei could now see blackest crimson skies and realized that he'd been asleep for far too long. How much precious time had been lost to his weakness? Damn him! Hiei groaned at himself, attempting to move his arms though they felt as heavy as an iron beam. The noise alerted the group, and suddenly the chittering conversation ran dry.

"He is awake." Mukuro snapped. "As weak as a bug to be squashed. I ought to kill him now and do the world a favor."

"Shuttup, bitch." Hiei managed to get out, his mouth dry and cracked without saliva, "Your voice... is heinous."

There was a sound of scrambling, and suddenly someone else clouded Hiei's muggy vision. A beautiful girl with sea foam hair- Yukina. She looked pale and fretful, her skin unnaturally clammy as she reached out to touch Hiei's bruised and bloody hands. The sound of energy hitting the air became a high hum, and Hiei felt the throbbing pain in his stiff joints begin to ease.

"Leave it." Hiei tried to say, "It's not worth-"

"Be quiet Hiei." Yukina snapped, "I'm angry at you."

Hiei blanched, an expression of shock wiping the look of pain right off his face. It must have been a sight to see, for even Mukuro was taken aback by the blank stare that Hiei gave his twin.

"Can't say you don't deserve it." Mukuro added, "Running off like a chicken shit without even saying goodbye."

Hiei just continued to stare at Yukina, flabbergasted.

Yukina finished one hand, reaching out to take the other, but Hiei pulled away and slowly attempted to sit up. It was an extraordinary effort, and he wheezed in pain as his feet and right hand throbbed. His left hand was fine, and Hiei snatched up his right hand with it so as to heal his wounds himself.

Yukina just sat and watched, her face still taut with irritation.

"... You should not have left without me." Yukina spoke up quietly, clearly upset. "You should have told me where you were going."

"You should not have come." Hiei retorted, flushing with embarrassed heat, "You are a commodity I cannot risk against Shikei, she will attempt to keep you in the Hyouga if she can. You are in the most danger, here."

"Shikei could not keep me if she had all the strength in the land." Yukina said, flustered as she tried to take Hiei's right hand. Hiei snatched it away, and a strange tug of war commenced as the siblings bickered over who would heal the wounded limb.

They did not know it, but they were the subject of much staring as the entire camp watched their rare squabble.

Hiei gasped as one of his fingers twitched violently, and Yukina used the opportunity to clasp the bloodied digit in her own. She commenced healing at once, and Hiei looked away with a huff.

"... Shikei could never keep me." Yukina repeated more quietly, "Give me a little more credit, Hiei. I am not entirely useless."

"I never called you useless." Hiei gruffed. "Do not put words in my mouth."

"Do you so fear me stumbling that you would rather me never walk?" The hypothetical question stung a little, and Hiei flinched as Yukina squeezed his newly healed hand with slight pressure. Pulling his hand away, Hiei let out an exasperated groan as he bent over to rub his tender and swollen feet. He hissed with pain, wondering how walking would feel come morning. No doubt like hellfire- though he deserved as much for climbing the Cliff of Insanity.

"I can heal those too." Yukina began at once, reaching out with the intent to remove his boots. Hiei pulled his feet back at once with a groan of pain, angry at himself as he tried to get away from his sister. He toppled over as Yukina thrust herself upon him, grabbing his boot and tugging hard so that he yowled like an angry mountain cat!

"Oh god, man, that stench!" Yusuke moaned, covering his nose with disgust, "Dude are those your shoes?!"

"It's like the boys locker room! Except worse!" Kuwabara added, making a face of disgust and sticking out his tongue.

Hiei flushed, but Yukina didn't seem to care as she gently deciphered each of his toes with her healing hands.

"You need new boots. When we get back to the ningenkai we'll buy you a pair." Yukina cut across Yusuke's and Kuwabara's jibes as Kurama and Mukuro looked on with small interest.

"I fear you'll find him inhospitable to the idea." Yoko Kurama chuckled, raising one silvery eyebrow, "I've found in past that attempting to dress him can be practically impossible."

"Because you dress like a fucking freak!" Hiei snarled, "Sashes and sweaters, your entire closet looks like a drag queen's fantasy!"

"I'm surprised you know what a drag queen is, Hiei. Care to add to that explanation?" Kurama smirked, so that Hiei let out another scowl.

Yusuke howled with laughter, slapping his knee. Behind him, Pu trilled with slight delight. "He's got a point, Kurama!" Yusuke laughed, "You can dress like a dork sometimes!"

"Yeah remember that yellow sweater and boy shorts he put Hiei in one time?" Kuwabara added, "He looked like a little kid!" He burst into peels of laughter, and Hiei flushed even darker at the horrendous memory.

"You wore a yellow sweater?" Mukuro broke in, grinning from ear to mechanical ear.

"Shuttup!" Hiei spat, keen not to have Mukuro let in on such a ridiculous and pathetic notion. "I did nothing of the sort!"

"Keep still!" Yukina cut across, still attempting to heal Hiei's feet even as he struggled with the rest of their crew. Hiei nearly threw her a dirty look, but remembered his love for her and instead put his head in his hands. He let out an exhausted sigh, wishing he could fall back asleep. After a while the laughter died down and silence overtook the group once more.

Crickets serenaded, and a few small animals scuttled through the brush. The delight of being so high up was that there were no more thieves or bandits to plot their murder. At ease, they were able to relax without the wary suspicion of being watched. The top of the mountain was bare and rough, but also calm and above the wind. The view to the heavens was superb, and as the night passed on the group watched comets sail across the starry fields from time to time. Hiei nearly fell asleep as Yukina slowly eased away the pain of his throbbing feet. As soon as she was done, Yukina rose up to fetch water from the river.

"Better?" Mukuro spoke up.

"Yes." Hiei admitted begrudgingly, his voice muffled by his arms. Sitting up, he wiped moisture away from his face to look around at his feet. They appeared normal at first glance, yet as he flexed his tools he felt slight stiffness in his joints. It seemed that Yukina could only do so much. No matter... a good walk would return them to normal, and at least they were no longer throbbing. Yusuke and Kuwabara had drifted off into peaceful slumber, with Pu at their backs for warmth. Kurama was still awake, staring into the fire with a far away look in his eyes. Hiei wondered what his friend was thinking about.

Yukina returned with Hiei's boots in tow, and set them by the fire. Hiei wrinkled his nose at the soggy black leather as she sat back down with a weary sigh.

"Did you... wash my shoes?" Hiei asked, confused.

"Nicer than me, I'd have set the damn things on fire." Mukuro snorted softly. Yukina gently prodded the boots closer to the flame and fanned it a little to help the blaze.

"Water will help the leather age better." Yukina explained. "If it's stiffer, it will have a better sole for walking."

"... Thank you." Hiei mumbled, watching his sister for signs of a reply. In the firelight, looking forlorn, Yukina was as much of an angel as ever. Few could fully comprehend the bond shared between one; one not only of sibling compassion but of twin connection. She was the dialectic response to his existence... the only way that the universe could work itself out. Yukina let out a silent yawn, stifling her mouth with a petite hand.

"... Go to sleep." Hiei murmured. "You're tired."

"I am." Yukina agreed. "And I ought to. But I find I can't... My mind is... full."

Hiei knew exactly how she felt.

"Often the mind can become a complex maze of emotion and fact... paranoia and hope..." Kurama spoke up, throwing a few dry twigs onto the fire as he spoke, "There are few cures for the ailment every man suffers. We must find menial pleasure in simply being. Some have hobbies, some have loves... some have sleep. If we cannot have one, we can have another."

Yukina smiled.

"Kurama, why is it that you know the answer to everything?" Yukina asked, a playful grin upon her rosy lips. Kurama smirked, though there was no pleasure in his face.

"I have seen much. Too much. Perhaps I am... trying to spare you from having to see what I have had to see." Kurama threw a final twig on the fire, and relaxed against the withered stump of a tree. Yukina's smile slipped away.

"I've seen... mothers torn from their children. Husbands from their wives. I've watched entire villages go up in smoke. I watched the life drain from someone's innocent eyes. I've seen children be born... only to die minutes later because they were too weak..." Kurama paused, "I've endured pain beyond imagining, pain that made me long for death though death would never come. I've faced obstacles that turned me into a fool only to later find that the answer was right in front of my face. I've read a million books and by the time I die I'll have read a million more. I've seen a lot of things. So I know a lot of things." Kurama paused. "It's my punishment."

"No man is without his scars." Hiei spoke up after a moment of hesitant silence, "And if he was he would be a shallow soul."

Kurama smiled.

"I remember you saying that to me a long time ago." Kurama chuckled. "Is that the only wise phrase you know."

"Here's another one." Hiei grumbled, "Shut the fuck up and go to sleep before I make you shut the fuck up and go to sleep."

"Ever the eloquent speaker."

"I will kill you."

The blissful blackness of sleep could cure many ails. Kurama was right to suggest as much. Yet there was one small glitch to sleeping like the dead, and that involved being woken rather rudely like shouting friends.

"-Dude, come on! You're worse that Urameshi!"

Hiei was being shaken as if his attacker was searching for loose gold in his pockets. Jiggled mercilessly out of his doze, Hiei made noises like a scattered animal and blinked awake with a gasp. Reacting instinctivly to the blinding light and assaulting force, Hiei punched Kuwabara hard in the jaw. Kuwabara instantly recoiled as Hiei stared at his comrade in a daze, amazed to find it morning if not mid noon. The others were long gone, their fire was kicked out, and even Pu was out of sight. Hiei scrambled to his feet, instantly wanting to find the others, and glared at Kuwabara as his taller friend rubbed his jaw with a wince.

"What the hell is going on?!" Hiei snarled. "Where are the others?! Where is Yukina?!"

"Damn man, you throw a mean punch." Kuwabara grumbled, getting back up to his feet and dusting dirt off the backside of his jeans, "You always wake up in a bad mood?"

"I do when people shake me out!" Hiei spat, running his fingers through his hair and pursing his lips. "Where is everyone anyway?!"

"You're such a crab. I oughta start callin' you that instead of shrimp!" Kuwabara added with jest, "The others are up ahead, we all woke up before you and let you sleep cause you climbed that crazy cliff yesterday. Here I was thinkin' you'd thank me for it." Kuwabara grumbled, looking none too pleased. "Hell it took me long enough to wake you! I've been shakin' you for about five minutes. You wouldn't wake up! Heck I thought you'd gone and died in your sleep; killed by a fart or something. A bad wind looked like it would wipe you out last night."

Hiei scoffed, not in the mood for the human's antics.

"Ah forget it." Kuwabara threw a hand in the air, "Dude, the reason I woke you up so hard was because I found something bad. I had to come get you! You're not gonna believe what I found. The others haven't seen it yet. We can't let Yukina see it for sure!"

"What do you mean?" Hiei demanded, stepping closer so as to avoid shouting. "Where are the others and what did you see."

"They're up around the bend washing in the river. Mukuro's been killin' squirrels and stuff for us to eat later. I think Yukina's trying to load up cause she says there's hardly any food in the Hyouga. I went for a jog and... well..." Kuwabara bowed his head. "I heard this noise... and I investigated." His voice grew quieter still.

"What noise." Hiei's asked.

"... Flies." Kuwabara stated. His voice was blank.

For a moment, Hiei merely stared with wary alarm at Kuwabara's void expression. There was an odd look in his eye, as if he'd seen something frightening. Given all that Kuwabara had already seen in his life, Hiei was certain that something to bring such a fear in his heart was no laughing matter.

"Lead me." Hiei ordered, and Kuwabara started off at once.

They strode side by side, two men of many differences. The morning air was crisp and dry at such elevations. An abundance of small creatures plagued the ground, and Hiei heard far off shouts as Mukuro bagged yet another animal for her kill. Yet as they followed the stream north the animals began to decline in numbers. Hiei paused, smelling something foul.

"You smell it?" Kuwabara asked. Hiei stared at his taller friend quizzically.

"... Yes." Hiei finally agreed. "But what exactly am I smelling."

Kuwabara did not answer, merely taking him by the shoulder and steering him along the northern bend in the river. The flow of the stream came around a great curve that had eroded into a steep decline over time so that the two men had to climb over smooth rocks as they pursued the stream. Hiei began to hear a strange noise, like thousands of flies, and paused as he listened for other sounds.

"Yeah, I heard it to." Kuwabara explained, looking out over the river's course. They had one more curve to go. "... I wanted to see what it was. So I... kept walking.. and..."

Kuwabara did not go on.

Hiei moved forward and Kuwabara followed, now taking the following role so that Hiei was in front as they marched up river. The strong odor was becoming offensive, and Hiei put a hand over his small nose as he nearly tripped over a protruding rock from the river. The noise was getting louder, and Hiei was almost certain now that it was flies as he finally reached the second river bend. Before he could turn, Kuwabara grabbed him hard by the arm so that he came to a sudden halt. Looking around quizzically, Hiei was surprised to find the fear upon Kuwabara's face.

"...I... You and Yukina are... twins so you both... came from the Hyouga." Kuwabara swallowed as if nervous, "So maybe you knew some folks up there?"

"One." Hiei grumbled. "Why."

"... I'm sorry." Kuwabara mumbled, looking deeply ashamed.

Hiei stared, agog.

"Why are you sorry?" Hiei asked warily.

Kuwabara didn't answer, and even turned his face away as if he could not bear to look Hiei in the eye.

Hiei was becoming more paranoid by the minute. Unable to stand it any longer, he pulled his arm out of Kuwabara's grip and stormed around the river bend.

He shuddered to a halt, his shoes full of water and his mouth open in horror.

His chest fell short of breath, a sudden cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

What met his eyes was a sight that he could hardly believe and yet could not deny. Rage, disgust, disbelief, and even fear flew through his mind as he looked away.

He could not hold his stomach, and vomited into the dry bush with a heaving gasp.

"I'm so sorry." Kuwabara blurted out, "I didn't know how to say it, I didn't even know what I was lookin' at! I just- I just realized they all looked like Yukina so they had to be koorime! I don't know how this happened man, I don't know who to blame! I don't want Yukina to see, she knew these people."

"I know, I know." Hiei gasped, throwing a hand to silence Kuwabara, "Quit blabbering, I'm fine."

"Are you sure?" Kuwabara asked at once. "I mean- I'm freaking out and I've never even seen another koorime."

"I said I'm fine." Hiei snarled, straightening up. Kuwabara was cowed into silence, waiting for Hiei to speak again. Yet Hiei had no words, and instead swished saliva around in his mouth to spit out more bile in the bush. His heart was still pounding, and Hiei rubbed his chest as he turned back around to look at the sight which had so disgusted him.

It disgusted him still. It always would.

"... Fucking fools." Hiei cursed.

A mound ten feet high stood before them both, swarming with flies and decaying into grotesque mold underneath the glaring sun. It was composed entirely out of bodies. All women. All koorime.

They had fallen to their deaths, clearly in mass numbers, and now rotted together in a terrible heap.

The ages were spread. Some were children, a few were infants, but most were adults. Their kimonos were bleached from the weather, their skin was tinged blue, green, and black from decay. Their lifeless expressions were ones of horror, detailing their last minutes to be ones of panic and fear.

Whether they had been pushed over, or whether they had simply jumped to their deaths in a suicidal spree, Hiei would never know. Yet it was clear the entire village-

The entire village...?

"Shit!" Hiei gasped, sprinting forward and mounting the pile of dead bodies.

"Woah, woah, dude you can't just- Hiei for the sake of all that's decent and holy come back down! You can't climb them like a tree, they're people!"

"Help me!" Hiei snarled, "Look for a woman with dark blue- oh for fucks sake." Hiei groaned atop the pile, putting an arm over his eyes. "You wouldn't know Rui from any other of these women."

"Who?"

"Don't question me!" Hiei snapped, his humor gone as his heart pounded again. "Get the fuck back to the group. Tell them- tell them we're taking the forest trail. Tell them we're not following the stream! Do not let Yukina see this! Do you understand me!?"

"Yeah, but-!"

"Then go!" Hiei hissed, "Go before she comes looking!"

"Ah damn!" Kuwabara cursed, throwing his hands up in the air. He took off at once, peeling back around the corner and slipping in the stream so that he was covered with slime and small rocks. Cursing again, Kuwabara scrambled back to his feet and disappeared from sight. Hiei wasted no more time, digging through the bodies in a fever as he desperately tried to find Rui. He prayed she would not be there, suddenly realizing just how fond he was of the woman even though she'd been the one toss him. Frankly, Rui was the last living connection that Hiei had to his mother.

And in a way... she reminded him of his mother.

"-No, no, no! It's nothing like that! Please, Yukina-san!"

"I can see the fear in your eyes, Kazuma! If you won't tell me the truth then I'll find it out for myself!"

Hiei practically gagged on his tongue, jumping to spare time and crashing in a heap at the bottom of the body pile right on top of one koorime who was so degraded and decayed that she no longer had discernible features. Smelling like a corpse, Hiei fled to the river to attempt to wash the smell from himself- but it was no use! Yukina would know, Yukina would smell... Yukina would see!

Desperate to stop her, Hiei charged up the river, only to run head first into Yukina herself just as she came around the bend!

"What- Hiei!" Yukina cried in alarm, "I thought you were sleeping, what are you doing? Why do you smell like a corpse?" She paused, as if confused. "... What is that I hear?"

"Yukina!" Hiei grabbed his sister just as she made to move forward, holding her back with both hands before she could see the pile. Yukina spluttered, a little angry, looking up into his eyes. She panted in his arms.

"... There is fear in your eyes as well." Yukina murmured. "What are you afraid for me to see, brother?"

Hiei looked down, ashamed for his sisters worry, and saw that southward bound the other three of their company had come running after Yukina. Yusuke and Kurama both had their pants legs rolled up to the knees, clearly having been in the process of catching fish. Mukuro was beside them, concerned and fretful with a rucksack full of game over her shoulder.

Kuwabara was just behind Yukina, panting with his hands on his knees. He'd frightened her, and she'd come calling. He should have known better.

He looked back down at Yukina.

The fear in his eyes had transfered to her, and now she was afraid too.

"...Will you not tell me the truth?" Yukina asked. "Will you not tell you twin the truth?"

Hiei bowed his head, his nose accidentally brushing Yukina's.

"... Something has happened in the Hyouga. The community jumped. Or fell. Or was pushed." Hiei muttered, "There's a massive pile of... rotting bodies around the corner. About nearly ten feet high. It's got to be the entire village, or close to it."

Yukina gasped, covering her open mouth with a hand.

"I can't find Rui." Hiei admitted. "But I'm looking for her."

"They... jumped?" Yukina whispered. "You mean, they all jumped from the ledge?"

Hiei shrugged, unsure of what to say to his sister in such a horrific moment.

She looked away, clutching her heart and looking exhausted by the new burden she had to bear.

"You can't find Rui, you say." Yukina murmured softly, "Maybe Rui is still alive?"

"I doubt she'd jump." Hiei muttered, rubbing Yukina's neck in a comforting way. "She's not a fool like the others."

"... I don't want to see." Yukina shuddered, breaking away from Hiei and stumbling across the rock, "Wash off, you smell horrible. I'm... going to... sit down for a while."

She trudge through the river, her lower kimono soaking in the frigid water. She clutched at her open sleeves, her hair blowing in the wind as she toiled away. It was as if her personality had fled, chased away like a frightened bird by the terrible news that she'd been forced to hear. Yukina had survived endless agony at the hands of greedy men; had endured nights of unending sorrow filled with painful heartbeats and cold beds... Perhaps this would in time simply become another rock in her satchel- another gem to drip down her cheek.

Home had been ravaged, and the hyouga no longer fit the term.

If Yukina and Hiei were honest with each other, it never had to begin with.

Hiei watched her walk away, hung his head in defeat. He had failed to protect her once again.

Mukuro surged forward through the water, making her way up onto the bank for easier traveling as she greeted Hiei and sniffed the air. She grimaced.

"Shit, the girl was right it does stink." Mukuro muttered. She peered around the bend in the river, catching sight of the massive body pile, "Oh hey! Look at that! Not every day you see a genocide on that scale..." Mukuro drew away, looking upon Hiei with soft compassion. "Troubled by it?"

"...No." Hiei admitted. "They were all a bunch of dumb fools. I'm just thinking about Rui."

"Your mother's friend? The one that had to toss you?" Mukuro asked. Hiei nodded, and Mukuro tied a secure knot in the neck of her ruck sack before setting it down on the ground and venturing around the bend once more. "Then lets go find her... or not."

"You're not seriously digging through that pile?!" Kuwabara gagged at the thought. Mukuro rolled her eyes, finding the delicate nature of human beings rather irritating in moments of hard work to be done.

"Why don't you go talk to your girlfriend." Mukuro grumbled. "Hiei and I can handle this. This isn't our first body pile and it won't be our last."

"Jesus you people are all crazy! Wait!" Kuwabara cried out, for Yusuke and Kurama had pushed past him as they waded through the river, "Wait, not you guys too? You can't go digging through that crap! You'll get diseases! You'll get a plague or something! Or like... Lyme disease! Or Meningitis or something!"

Kurama chuckled at this, as if finding Kuwabara's fear rather funny.

"Lyme disease is a bacterial infection spread through the bite of a black legged tick, Kuwabara. It is a human insect. As for Meningitis, I doubt we'll come across it."

"I-You- you guys are all insane!" Kuwabara threw his hands up into the air, left alone as all four demons trekked across the river banks towards the macabre pile.

They did answer, intent on searching the mass for Rui's body. Kuwabara let out a sagging sigh, turning away to follow Yukina's footsteps down river.

They might be fucking nuts, but he had his priorities straight thank you very much.