Miss? Miss him? Yeah, right. Hiei didn't believe any of the things that Honshu claimed.

Tokiya looked at both of the small boys with curiousity. He knew about family. Why was Hiei refusing to see his own father? That was something that he probably would never do but then, he really didn't know Hiei that well and he knew Honshu isn't a person one could trust.

"I'll go..." Hiei said finally, causing Mikagami to look up. "Only if Mikagami comes along."

Honshu rolled his eyes. That would destroy his plans. "Scared, Hiei?"

"Bakayaro!" Hiei spat. "It's just that-"

"Just tell me if you're scared." Honshu interrupted with a naughty smirk.
 

The two small beings walked down the hallway in silence. The corridor was dark. The only light came from the small torches that were on the wall which were about fifteen feet apart.

Hiei's eyes were on Honshu, wary of what the other might do. All that he was thinking however had nothing to do with Honshu or what danger the other might possess. He was thinking of him - his so-called father. Why was he bothering to go to him? Had his father really missed him? But then, why would he? Why hadn't he even seen him before?

Honshu smirked as he walked ahead of Hiei, leading them both to the prison of the castle. Things were going according to plan.
 

"He's here." one of the prisoners whispered to himself. He could feel him. It was very strong now. He has arrived and now, he could even feel the presence of...of his bestfriend.

'Hikaru.' It was a mind touch. It was Yurei. He was in the other cell.

'Yurei?'

Yurei could feel his bestfriend. He could feel Yurei's son as well. It was making him strong. It was giving him hope. 'He's making us strong. He's here. Now, I could talk to you. Now, I could channel my powers and maybe I could even break the wards. He's our link...our link to freedom.'

'Can you break your wards? Maybe we could escape.'

Hikaru suddenly gasped in shock as the thick metal door to his cell suddenly opened. Had they felt his use of mind touch communication? He hoped not.

Honshu came in with a wide smile on his face. Behind him, Hiei followed.

The little fire demon's head was bowed as he entered the room. No, he couldn't face it. He couldn't face him. He should be happy or angry but why was he suddenly in fear? In fear of rejection? In fear of being hurt again? No! He should be able to face this. His father was a bastard. He didn't deserve those kinds of emotions from him.

Hikaru glared at Honshu and at the other being with him. What was he up to now? He knew Honshu could never hurt him physically but what was he going to do now? And who was that boy with him?

"Hikaru." Honshu said as he strutted his way towards him. "I've brought someone to see you."

Hiei finally looked up. He saw a fire demon sitting on a bed with long black hair, crimson eyes and a white starburst above his forehead - his creator; the youkai that had caused him to exist. Hn. Just as he expected. He looked at the man's expression. A wave of hurt came over him as he saw the youkai glaring at him. This was a mistake. He shouldn't be here. He wanted to leave; to die, anything but be here.

Hikaru gasped as he saw an almost exact carbon-copy of himself. The small youkai with Honshu was smaller and younger but he remembered that he looked that way when he was young. Who was it? Why had Honshu brought him here? He narrowed his eyes at the boy and turned to Honshu. "Bastard! What are you trying to do now? Mock me? Where did you get him from? Is this another of your ways to break my mind? You know it will never work."

Honshu raised an eyebrow. "He's your son, Hikaru. Don't you remember him?"

"Son? What son? My son is dead! Whoever this is - he's not my son! Stop mocking me, Honshu!"

Hiei's eyes widened as the rejection hit him. He knew that that man was his father. Their ki signature were almost identical plus their physical features were almost the same. He felt his heart breaking to a million pieces. He thought that his father would at least acknowledge him; would at least treat him well. But then, he'd hoped hadn't he? That's why he's hurt now. That's why it seemed like nothing can ever heal his new wounds. His expression hardened immediately. He wanted to get away. He wanted to kill everyone in this damned dimension. He wanted to...he wanted to...

Hikaru's brows knotted as he saw the open flash of hurt on the young fire demon's face and for a moment, he almost believed that that boy was really his son. And then the expressions turned from pain to anger. Had the small demon believed that he was actually his father? Had Honshu lead him to this? "Honshu! Bastard!"

"Ah? What?" Honshu stated in confusion. He had hoped that this would be a happy reunion for the two fire demons but it wasn't. Well, that didn't matter. His plans could still push through. "Guards!"
 

Tokiya locked the door of the room just as soon as Hiei and Honshu left. He hoped that Hiei would be safe; that Honshu wouldn't threaten him in any way. He also hoped that he was safe in this room; that no one would be able to break the lock and get in.

He sat on one of the beds and looked around. The room was elegant. It was as if this castle's insides was actually owned by a king; so different from the exterior of the building. He then lay down. Finally, he was going home. Finally, he was going to get away from this wretched place.
 

Yurei felt Honshu and a fire demon come to his bestfriend's room. What the hell would they do to him? He hoped that nothing bad will happen. He knew his friend could handle the mental abuse like he could but it was painful. Pain was still pain. Silently, he wished that he was there with him - to comfort him and to be by his side like they always have before they were locked in this damn place...and before he was claimed by another. Pain struck him as he remembered again.

[flashback]

"Yurei!" Hikaru yelled as he glomped his friend. He was so excited, his breathing rapid because of exhaution.

Yurei smiled at his friend. What could get Hikaru so worked up? They had grown up together in the peacefulness of the flame lands. Their parents were close friends as well. Hikaru was almost like a brother...or even more. What could make Hikaru so excited now?

"Yurei, I...she..." Hikaru said between deep breaths. How was he going to say this? He was too happy that he couldn't even form a coherent statement.

"What, Hikaru?"

"I found a girl that I'm going to marry. Her name is Makoto. She's so damn beautiful and so good. My parents picked her for me. Yurei, I'm so happy!" Hikaru said with a big wide smile. Then he chuckled. "Yurei, I hope you find a girl soon so that maybe our weddings could be on the same date. Wouldn't that be great?"

Yurei's face fell at that. Hikaru had met...will marry...will leave him. Great? What was so great about that? He had wished that it would be them who would be partners. But it would never happen.

Hikaru stopped as he saw the expression on Yurei's face. "Yurei? Daijobu?"

Yurei quickly masked it with a smile - a bitter smile. "I'm okay."

"No, you're not. Remember, I know you. You're hiding something. Why aren't you happy for me?"

Yurei sighed. Know him? He wished that he would know him forever. "It's not that I'm not happy for you. It's just that..." He thought for a while. "You said your parents picked her for you? Wouldn't you want to pick one for yourself instead; one you know you really love?"

"What kind of logic is that?" Hikaru demanded. "I love her! I don't know what's wrong with you." He then stormed out of Yurei's house, furious at his friend. He thought that Yurei would be happy for him; for his fortune and his happiness. Yurei was such a jerk!

Yurei watched the back of his friend and winced as the door was slammed harshly. He had done it. Now, he was not only losing his potential lover but also his bestfriend.
 

Hours later, Yurei couldn't take it anymore. He flitted away and headed to Hikaru's place.

Hikaru was under one of the trees near his house. It was night time now. He was happy yet was also feeling bad. Why had Yurei acted that way? It was as if he didn't care for him. He felt his friend's youki as the other suddenly appeared in front of him. "What the hell do you want?"

It had been uttered harshly. Hikaru was mad at him. He couldn't take it. "Sorry. It's just that..."

"That?" Hikaru asked harshly, lifting an eyebrow.

He had to tell him something. "It's just that when you marry her, it's like I'm going to lose you." It was true. He would lose him.

Hikaru watched as his friend bowed his head. That was it? His features immediately softened. "Yurei." he said, putting an arm on his friend's shoulder. "You'd never lose me. We'd be friends forever, remember? We'd go through everything together."

Yurei lifted his head and smiled. At least Hikaru wasn't mad at him now but then that didn't make the pain vanish. It still hurt to be this close yet so far. And now, there was no chance any more.

Hikaru smiled as Yurei's face brightened up a little. He then proceeded to hug his friend. "Friends forever." he whispered.

Yurei closed his eyes. Friends forever...and maybe even more if only...

[end of flashback]

It still pained him to think of that. After Hikaru's wife and son died, his chance had brightened. But Hikaru had been too pained to notice him then. All his thoughts were of his family. Not him. Never him. And then that chance dimmed again. He had waited but it never came. And then they were locked in here for something they had commited long ago...and separated as well.

But then, he had learned to love Makoto and Kajiko as well. They were like family as well so he had understood. He hadn't become selfish. He sacrificed his pain for his friend's happiness. At least Hikaru had been happy then even if it had tortured him.

Kajiko. He could feel him. He was here...but how? Had Honshu or Ryu manipulated him to be ressurected? They had the power.

Kajiko. He was really here. Yurei channeled his powers and concentrated. Maybe if he tried hard enough, he could break his wards and escape.

He tried it. It hurt. He felt his skin burn as he manipulated his ki to break his bonds. Could it work? Maybe it could. He tried harder. The pain was increasing to a point where it was almost making him sceam in agony. The pain was too much!

The wards burned in orange flames. Yurei had done it! Now, he could escape. Now, he could rescue Hikaru and get out of this damned place. He moved towards the steel door and tried opening it with his ki. He had to be careful so as not to let them know his escape.

He succeded!
 

Mikagami's eyes felt heavy as it was getting darker. Why hadn't Hiei come back yet? Had anything gone wrong? He hoped not.

As his eyes were about to close and he was about to succumb to sleep, he heard a click. Someone had opened the door. He sat up immediately. The door opened. A black-haired being stepped inside.