A woman's laughter was heard through the darkness of the cave, rumbling on the walls.

"So, you are the forbidden child, ne?" she greeted the koorime boy with a dark expression on her face. "You don't know how long we've searched for you and now it's time to cleanse our race. It's time to terminate you."

Hiei glared at the woman...and sighed. Maybe this was pathetic. Maybe he was pathetic. They had been trying to kill him since birth yet somehow, he always managed to survive. Maybe it was time to give up. Maybe they were all right. The world would just go on without him. But then, deep inside...

"You're going to kill me."

"Smart." the koorime woman said with a smirk. "But not good enough. The fact is that you're a mistake. You don't deserve to live. You are a blemish to our pure race. And now, you must die. Koji, bring him to the cliff. We have already given the payment. Now, it's time for the results."

The black youko and the blond-haired youkai watched the 'ceremony' at the back. Interesting how a whole race could hate a child just because he was different. It was so odd.

The woman laughed again. "You know, they should have crushed you to death the moment you were born. That was their mistake so now, they've sent me out here to do the dirty job. Finally. Finally, our race can be clean and pure once again. It's time to die, little one. You know that don't you?"

Hiei didn't answer. Words couldn't hurt him anymore. Not even physical pain could harm him no longer. He just stared at the blackness of the cave, hearing the soft splashes of water below the cliff, in the deep lake.

"Your name was Hiei, ne? It doesn't matter. You'll be forgotten in no time. No one would bother with a forbidden child. But anyway, let me introduce myself. I am Kokoro...meaning heart. I guess I have to sorry to you though, odd as it may sound, as I can never have a heart for someone like you. You just don't deserve it."

Hiei snorted. "Just do it and stop blabbing."

"Ch!" the woman grunted, not amused. "Anyway, this is your end. Finally the koorime race will be at rest. We have long waited for this and now it's time to be satisfied."

Off the ledge, he was pushed by the koorime's boot, unceremoneously, as he fell in poetic silence, just like old times to his grave in the lake - the grave that had always been his', the grave that should have been his' since the very beggining.

Airborne, he accepted his fate. He didn't feel like fighting anymore. Maybe he was too tired.

The water was cold, numbing his lungs as he was beggining to fade and all he could do was swallow. This should be over soon. Seconds. He descended to the floor of the lake that was soon to be his tomb not bothering to struggle anymore.

Lower and lower he went and finally, he closed his eyes. A flurry of memories danced at the darkness - each one flickering in speed, giving him pain, slight joy and even contentment. That was his life. That was what defined him.

He couldn't breathe.
 

Mist rose.

The youkais panicked as a mist suddenly rose but then collapsed. Something within the mist had pulled them to sleep.

The three tanteis rushed to the door of their cell to see what was happening. Were they going to be rescued? Who had come?

Silently, Kurama thanked the gods. Maybe someone had heard his plea. Maybe someone had come to rescue them.

A tall black-haired woman with a pair of black wings looked at them curiously. "Humans?"

Kurama gasped, looking at the other youkai. His jaw dropped as a shocked whisper escaped his lips. "Kuronue."

The raven-haired man with the worn cap just looked at him with an indistinguishable expression. "You called?"
 

They had escaped quickly and had headed outside the cave, a safe distance away. The two youkais had insisted that they be the ones who go back and rescue Hiei for them. They had refused of course but the look on their new allies' faces had told them not to protest. Perhaps the two were right as they were already too weak, their ki weakened by the wards and their injuries thrumming with pain.

Kurama had stared at the youkai he believed to be Kuronue but the man had just looked back at him as if not having any idea about that name. They had left as quickly as they arrived at this place.

"Maybe we should go back." Yusuke suggested, staring at the flitting forms of the two youkais as they headed back to the cave.

"That youkai." Kurama whispered. "Kuronue."

"The one who was impersonated when we battled Yakumo?" Kuwabara questioned. "Kurama, could you trust him? Could you trust him with Hiei's life?"

Kurama stared at the ground as an internal debate rushed within his veins. Could he? Could he trust Kuronue with his bestfriend?

"Completely."