~I sit and wait
Does an angel contemplate my fate~

With his bowed head, Hiei sat down on the ground, seemingly smaller than usual, more vulnerable. Yet, he wasn't a display of peace. Rather, he looked liked he was in a war...

Yes, he was in a war. Internal and external.

Inside, he was in a debate with himself. Should he continue on? He was so tired. Maybe...maybe this could be his final battle.

But that was wrong, right? But...

He was confused. No. His decision was final. He had already made this decision as a young child. This was his dream...why the hesitation?

Remembering his past once again, he shut his eyes tightly, wanting to forget. Who could possibly be thinking of him now? No one. Perhaps no one would even remember him after he's gone....

He had no one. No one...

He was alone.

Perhaps he didn't even have a guardian angel like all the others have. He was evil after all...

~And do they know
The places where we go
When we're gray and old~

Footsteps.

Raising his head, he saw the masked lord of Makai once again and...Shigure...

It was time to end it once and for all...

The two made their stances, eyeing the other with a glare. What better way than to end it now? Than to finish it here...

They rushed towards each other, blades clashing, seconds turning to the most intense moments in their lives.

...Hiei's arm was cut off...his stomach was deeply wounded...

A lightning fast slash!

Part of Shigure's head was sliced off.

They both collapsed.

~'Cos I've been told
That salvation lets their wings unfold~

Hiei almost smiled as he could see the black spots beginning to swallow him. This is salvation.

Now, he was free...free from pain...from the bondage of life.

~So when I'm lying in my bed
Thoughts running in my head
And I feel that love is dead
I'm loving angels instead~

The half-koorime's eyes fluttered open suddenly. He looked up. Unfamiliar ceiling...not the usual familiar branches where he knew he was safe. Where was he? Wasn't he supposed to be...dead?

NO! He was alive. Hiei couldn't do anything as dark emotions conquered him once again. Why? Who was the fool who saved him? Damn it! Why?

He was supposed to be dead!

...But then, they didn't understand...no one did.

Another chance at life? As far as he knew, he was already dead...and his companions were the angels of death.

No one else...

~And through it all she offers me protection
A lot of love and affection
Whether I'm right or wrong~

"Hiei."

The young demon sat up quickly, staring at...

It was the masked one again. Mukuro.

Mukuro nodded...then slowly took off the strips of cloth that covered the face of the mystery behind it. The cloth fell to the floor in dramatic silence...

Hiei looked...and wasn't surprised. So, Mukuro was a woman? It didn't matter. It didn't even affect his hate for her. Nothing mattered to him anymore.

"Why did you save me?" the small youkai demanded, absolutely infuriated, his fists clenched.

The powerful woman just looked at her new heir.

Hiei...

His eyes looked dead. The forbidden child had already given up.

"Child, why have you already given up when the battle hasn't even begun yet?"

"Battle? I've already had my battle...my final battle. How dare you interfere with my life!"

Mukuro just shook her head. "No, boy. The real battle...is facing life."

Silence.

"Do you understand?"

Hiei looked at her with openness for once and Mukuro couldn't help but move closer to the young demon. It was like looking at a mirror. They were the same...

Children borne of pain.

Hiei tensed as the woman embraced him. He wanted to push her away but somehow, couldn't. Why was she doing this? No one had ever touched him like this before...not even his own mother. The only times he was touched was if beings were either going to hurt him or kill him.

Slowly, he returned the embrace.

~And down the waterfall
Wherever it may take me
I know that life won't break me~

Months later...

It was the Makai Bujutsukai.

Mukuro versus Hiei.

The black dragon raged on as all the beings stared in wonder at its superiority. The legendary creature was getting set to devour Mukuro.

Mukuro boldly faced the legendary creature, standing up against it with her own power as it threatened to turn her to nothing but ashes. Mustering all her might, she tore it into two and defeated it.

Hiei grew weak as he willed the dragon back. With each passing second, he could feel fatigue pulling him down, defeating him. Slowly, he took slow steps towards his friend and collapsed in her arms.

Mukuro supported him, embracing the damaged soul once again. They were the same...people who didn't know what love was and who didn't know how to love. The only consolation they had was that they were still alive. The pain was still there but at least, they now have each other.

~When I come to call she won't forsake me
I'm loving angels instead~

Hiei woke up suddenly, sitting up in a flash. It was still the Makai tournament...and...

As always, Mukuro was there to greet him in his wake.

She was always there...

He could feel shards of ice beginning to break.

She was an angel.

~When I'm feeling weak
And my pain walks down a one way street~

Shigure looked up as he noticed the slightly tall and lean figure of Hiei walking in the garden. The demon was a young man now; a strong and powerful youkai who had reached his full potentials just like he had always expected.

There was something bothering the half-koorime today though. This was obvious as Shigure looked intently at the half-koorime's graceful body. Hiei had been like this for weeks and Shigure didn't have to guess what was wrong. It was Mukuro...

Hiei was set to be crowned as the new lord of this Makai territory very soon.

Mukuro was dying...

Hiei looked up at the sky, searching for the answers there. Why did she have to leave this soon? He had grown to depend on her...to trust...to care for her as she did for him. Why were the gods taking her away from him now? It had only been a few short years - not even a decade.

A soft breeze blew against his silky long hair. He closed his eyes and tried to believe that this was just another nightmare from childhood.

Sadly though, it wasn't.

~And I know I'll always be blessed with love
And as the feeling grows
She breathes flesh to my bones~

"Hiei..." a soft and weak voice whispered. It was Mukuro at her death bed, Hiei by her side, holding her hand, unwilling to let her go. How much Hiei had changed. He was no longer the bitter little child who had come to her kingdom, searching for the perfect opponent to end his torment...his life. He was now a handsome young man, capable of leading, of managing her kingdom or maybe even more. He was now a powerful youkai - matured, intelligent and very responsible.

She smiled softly. "Be strong, my heir."

Hiei couldn't say anything. He didn't want her to go...not yet. No, she couldn't go yet.

"Promise me, Hiei. Be strong and live."

Hiei pressed her hands to his cheek. Her palms were still soft and gentle despite everything. She had taught him how to live...what it meant to live. And now...

"Mukuro, thank you."

The dying woman smiled one last time and finally, her eyes closed as she breathed her last.

Hiei closed his eyes tightly. She was dead. Dead...

He buried his face on his hands and wept softly, teargems clinking on the floor.

She was gone...

~And when love is dead
I'm loving angels instead~

Hiei walked in the garden of his castle. It had been a few weeks since her death. They had buried her here in the garden, in her most favorite spot and he visited her whenever he could.

She had taught him a lot.

"Ohayo Hiei-sama." a guard greeted him.

He smiled warmly and continued on. He definitely had changed. No way could the old Hiei act like he was acting now.

Mukuro had taught him. They had taught each other. Maybe they were beings who knew about love after all. They've learned it through each other.

And maybe, he did have a guardian angel just like everybody else...

There she was, sitting on the garden, smiling kindly at him...

An angel.
 

~owari~