Mikagami looked on in disbelief as the black-haired being, 'Yurei', healed Hiei. It had been done very well and very effectively. The healing reminded him of Yanagi.

The four of them were in front of a warm bonfire but their senses were alertly sensing for possible dangers. They were deep in the forest, taken there by their mingled fear and dread for the castle and its occupants.

Hikaru looked at Yurei healing the small demon as well. Hiei was glaring at him, anger set deep within those eyes. He didn't know what to do. He could tell him that he was actually his father but that would be lying. That
would be something worse because then, it would involve honor.

After healing his patient, Yurei sighed. There had been too many injuries but thankfully, he was powerful enough to fix each one.

Hiei stood and moved to flit away from them but then stopped as a wave of dizziness hit him. The world was spinning.

Yurei pulled him down instantly and scolded him. "Don't move yet. Along with the exhaustion and loss of youki, I had applied some salve that would help you even more but will also make you a little dizzy at first."

Hiei just stood there defiantly but when another round of dizziness threatened him, he sat back down on the ground, looking away.

"Your name was Hiei?" Yurei asked gently.

Hiei glared at the youkai. Dealing with others right now just wasn't what he needed. He didn't answer but when Yurei still looked at him, waiting for his answer, he finally nodded.

"That wasn't so bad now, was it?" Yurei teased.

Hiei rolled his eyes and moved to face elsewhere.

"Little one, who's your mother?" Hikaru asked, staring at the half-koorime.

"Why?" Hiei snarled, glaring at the bastard. "You screwed too many women?"

Hikaru gritted his teeth and quickly moved his hand to slap Hiei but then stopped. Hiei didn't move a muscle. He had just stared at him, unblinking, ready, accepting and willing to receive whatever he would dish out. But
what he saw in his eyes made him blink. His eyes looked betrayed and abandonned but that was quickly hidden.

Hiei glared defiantly at Hikaru. "If you're going to hurt me, do it now, while I still can't defend myself properly. That's what you want anyway, don't you?"

Hikaru looked away. What should he say?

Yurei glanced at Mikagami and made up an excuse to get out of this one. "Mikagami, come, let's get some food near the lake."

Mikagami stood up quickly and followed the fire demon. He didn't want to barge in Hiei or Hikaru's business.

After the ningen and his bestfriend left, Hikaru turned to Hiei once more. "I asked you a question."

"It wouldn't matter if I gave you an answer."

"Tell me who she is." Hikaru insisted. The small youkai was definitely stubborn.

"Hina."

Hikaru's eyes widened. Hina? But he had been with her only once. Hiei was his son? His' and Hina's?

"Why?" Hiei asked, furious. "Don't remeber the bitch?"

"Don't call her bitch." Hikaru commanded. "She is a good woman."

"She was a bitch. Dumb because she chose to procreate with you." Hiei told him flatly.

"Was?"

"Dead." Hiei stated through gritted teeth. "Because of my existense."

Hikaru didn't say anything. He was again guilty. Hina - another victim of his existense.

"Tell me why." Hiei demanded. "Why you did it?"

"Did what?" Hikaru asked in confusion.

"Why you got together with her." Hiei said. "Boredom? Fun?"

"How dare you?" Hikaru questioned. "You don't even know me."

"I know you. You're in my memories. I inherited Hina's memories. I also know that you only were with her once."

"So you are my son."

There was a brief silence.

"You know," Hiei said, staring at the orange flames. "for years, I blamed myself for all the bad things that had happened. But now..."

"My fault." Hikaru continued. "I know."

"Hn."

"How was your life?" Hikaru asked his newfound son.

"Hell."

"What else?" Hikaru insisted.

Hiei glared at Hikaru. Should he tell him? Maybe he should. To torment him even more. To let his guilt overflow. "My name is Hiei, the forbidden child, born in the koorime glacier, condemned to death at birth. Raised by
thieves. Grew up as a killer. Anything else you want to know?"

Hikaru sighed deeply. A very bad life indeed.

"Why? Couldn't take it?" Hiei taunted. "There are a lot more. Do you want me to be more graphic?"

"Stop." Hikaru stated. "So I have another child."

"Two." Hiei said. He was going to tell him about Yukina but would make sure that he never sees her. "I have a twin...sister. Another victim of yours."

Twin children? So he had three children now? Two children of fire and ice. "Could you wield both fire and ice?"

"Does it matter?"

"Could you?"

"No."

"You should."

"You have no right to know anything about me anyway. Bastard!"

Hikaru ignored him. "You do."

Hiei looked away. "Hn. Did you even love her?"

Hikaru looked away as well. Hina? Did he love Hina? He had only been with her once. She was nice and very beautiful but then... "Maybe I would have if-"

"So you didn't." Hiei concluded. "I was right. Love does not exist."
 

Yurei and Mikagami walked down by the lake to pick up some fruits. There were many and it, together with the food they had gotten from the castle's supplies room, could give them their needed strength.

"So, Kaji- er Mikagami, what's your life like now?" Yurei asked with a smile. He was curious. Kajiko was very dear to him. He was kind of like a son to him.

"None of your business!" Mikagami snarled.

There was silence for a while and Mikagami almost regretted that he said those words harshly. Why? Why did he feel that way and... "Why do you call me Kajiko?"

Because you are...because you were. "No reason."

"Hn." Mikagami said as he stopped near one of the trees, looking up at a fruit. "How's this one?"

"Yeah, yeah." Yurei said, not bothering to look at it as he saw one of his favorites in another tree.

Mikagami reached up for one and sniffed it. It smelled sweet and delicious. He tasted it. Sweet and delicious.

"Mikagami, no!" It was the fruit of...past life. Temporary fruit of past life but it would bring back his memories. The way he died and would even bring out his true form for a while.

Mikagami swallowed. "What?" he asked, turning to Yurei. His voice...was different. Then suddenly, memories flashed back. He was Kajiko, son of Hikaru and Makoto. Adopted nephew of Yurei. Existed for fifty three years.
Then died at the hands of one of his father's enemy after witnessing his mother's death. Reincarnated as Tokiya Mikagami. He felt dizzy.

"Ka- er, Mikagami? Kajiko?" Yurei asked as he came near the form of Kajiko. Mikagami had suddenly morphed into Kajiko.

Kajiko looked at Yurei and smiled. He was kind of surprised that he did but he had always been happy as Kajiko and he was Kajiko now so there was no use being Mikagami at the moment. "Hai, Uncle Yurei."

Yurei smiled widely as he rushed to Kajiko and hugged him. He had missed his nephew.

Kajiko tensed a little because his human side wasn't used to being hugged but then relaxed. He had existed for more than half a century now but his years of pain had been for only seven years. But then those years were the
recent years of his life. He gently pulled away.

Yurei's eyes were sparkling with joy as he stared at Kajiko once again. This was so nice.

They then picked fruits, making sure they were safe, and finally headed back.

"Can you morph back to your human form again?"

"I don't know how."

Yurei just smiled. Hikaru would get the surprise of his life!

When they arrived, Hikaru tensed at the sight of his son. Kajiko was here? Alive? How? "Kajiko?"

"Hai, Tousan." Kajiko said with a smile. His life as Mikagami was almost not visible.

"How?"

"Aren't you happy to see me?"

"Of course!" Hikaru said, rushing to his son. He hugged him tightly, not wanting to let go. Kajiko was here in his arms, safe and sound.

Hiei glared at them. There was something he was feeling deep inside himself. Was he jealous or something? No, he wasn't!!! But then, why did it hurt to see that scene, knowing that that would never happen between Hikaru
and himself? He turned away quickly.

Yurei eyed Hiei curiously. Hiei had turned his head quickly away from the scene of Hikaru and Kajiko. "Hiei, are you alright?"

"Wouldn't matter if I'm not anyway." Hiei answered.

Hikaru looked at Hiei and gently pulled away from his older son. "Kaji, that is Hiei." he said, gesturing at Hiei, "your younger brother."

Hiei rolled his eyes.

Kajiko then went near Hiei and kneeled in front of him. "Hiei? My name is Kajiko, also known to you as-"

"Get away from me!" Hiei snarled darkly.

Kajiko rolled his eyes, a bit of Mikagami back into his system again. "Mikagami."

Hiei's eyes widened. The ningen? Mikagami? Mikagami was Kajiko? Mikagami was his brother? "Che!"

"Little brat." Kajiko complained. He huffed and looked at Yurei and Hikaru again. Then he turned back at Hiei, stood up and sat at another place.

They ate after that, Hikaru, Yurei and Kajiko all telling old stories with Hiei looking at them as if they looked stupid.

Yurei then noticed that Hiei wasn't in on the conversation. Well of course he wasn't. He wasn't even born then! How would he know what the heck they were talking about? He looked at him and smiled. Then he stole a glimpse at his soul. Hiei's soul was young. He was new but he also saw that nothing else existed in his heart but pain. But then, deep inside, he could feel it...innocence...and love. Love? He also saw a link...to a girl his age. Girl? He smirked. A sister...a twin sister. He figured it out now. "Hiei."

Hiei looked at Yurei and raised an eyebrow. Why was he talking to him?

"You have a twin sister?"

Hiei then glared at Hikaru. "None of your business."

"Hiei, you're Hikaru's son, Kajiko's brother and now, my adopted nephew. You can tell me."

"I'm nobody!" Hiei shouted. Why were they like this? It was confusing him. He was never good with emotions and this involved emotions. He wanted to get away.

Kajiko noticed this and told Yurei with his eyes to stop.

Finally, Hiei relaxed as they continued talking with each other, not minding him again. Soon after, he fell asleep.