I sit up slowly, trying to disentangle myself from the arms of my lover. I feel the cool whisper of the grass against my skin. I stare up into the stars. Even in Makai, they are the same as in Ningenkai.

Whistling...I can hear whistling.

From where?

I stand, quickly collect my clothes and put them on. Where is it coming from?

...It doesn't matter...

I sit down immediately. What is it in that whistling that makes me obey?

My lover sighs in his sleep and shifts. One arm falls on my lap. I smile and gently stroke his silver hair. Long and glinting against the moonlight...

I look up as the whistling becomes louder.

Where does it come from?

From my head?

I sigh. Like the voice said...it doesn't matter. Nothing matters when I am with him.

I close my eyes and lie down once more. I still remember my past. My dark, distant past. They flood my brain, threaten to fill me until I scream out in pain.

It still hurts. To think about them.

"Mmph..."

I quickly turn to him and rub my hand on his arm. He smiles in his sleep and slowly begin to drift off into deep sleep once more.

I continue my rubbing, almost thoughtfully.

On my forehead, the Jagan glows. I instinctively put a hand against it, feeling its heat against the stretched band and growl. Immediately, it stopped. I continue on rubbing his arm.

Sometimes, I hear the whistling. When I am alone and when I reminisce. It haunts me. I try to run, try to hide from it. But it always comes back. I strain to find out where it comes from. And I always come back empty-handed.

"Why do you keep torturing me?" I scream in silence.

It comes back...always comes back...

Now, it comes back once more. I sit up and move my lover's arm from my lap slowly, as so not to wake him. Then, the whistling grows louder.

I try to stop myself from groaning. I mustn't be like this...I must be strong.

I heave a strong breath and pull my knees into my chest and bury my face in my arms. "Shit," I curse. Tears fill my eyes, and I fervently hope that they do not fall. I immediately blink, but they do not disappear. Not entirely.

My lover once told me in his soft voice, "Wherever you go, whoever you are, someone will care for you."

Sometimes, I do not believe him.

Sometimes I wonder if what he tells me are lies.

After all, he has been one of the great actors I have known. He lied his way through life...both in Makai and Ningenkai.

Can he be lying to me now?

The whistling continues.

"STOP IT!" I command in a fierce whisper. "Stop it now..."

It does not obey.

It changes, so suddenly. And becomes a whisper.

...Hiei...

A whisper?

Of what?

It flows past my ear, and I strain to catch it. What is it? What is it saying? Is it important?

...Hiei...

Dammit, talk LOUDER!

I lift my head and turn to him. He is still asleep. A wonder. Catching food must've tired him more than I thought.

Many times I have not slept...thinking that rest is only for weak people who cannot control their powers. And now, watching him...I see power even in his sleep...

He is beautiful...

There are two now, I hear. Whispers and whistling. Both torturing me.

I reach out a hand and touch his long silver hair.

So beautiful...

We are both alike...similar in so many ways. I love him with so much passion that sometimes, it hurts. I hold him, cling to him like I can't get enough of him.

I love this youko.

The whistling continues.

"Why are you here?" I whisper, closing my eyes. "WHY?!"

"Hiei?"

My eyes snap open and I see Kurama, my lover, watching me with his gold unblinking eyes. They are full of questions and puzzlement.

"Go back to sleep," I reply, reaching out and catching his silver hair.

He yawns and leans closer. "Iie...I think I'll just be with you."

Why hasn't the whistling stopped? It grows louder still...

"Hiei, what's wrong?" Kurama inquires softly.

I shake my head furiously. "Nothing," I snap.

He is silent for a while, then gives me a kiss on the lips. "What is it...?" he persisted, rubbing a hand on my chest.

The whistling is louder now. I feel tears in my eyes, feeling them dangerously close to falling as the memories flood inside me once more.

"Nothing," I snarl, trying to push him away.

He doesn't respond, instead, pulls me closer to him. "Come on."

Then, to my horror, I feel something roll down my cheeks and drop into his palms

A tear-gem.

"Hiei..." His voice is low and compassionate.

I do not want his pity.

"Go away," I mumble.

"Oh, Hiei." He gathers me in his arms and drops soothing kisses on my face before he lingers on my lips. Then, he hugs me. "I didn't know..."

"Now you do," I mutter, trying desperately to push him away.

He shifts so that I am leaning on his chest. We both look up into the stars. "Hiei, you know I love you."

"I know, Kurama." My voice is a whisper. "I know."

"I won't leave you, Hiei. I love you too much for that. I'll—I'll never leave you to be alone." He buries his face on my shoulders, his silver hair entangling themselves into my black spiked hair.

"Hai...I know..." This scene is making me uncomfortable.

I feel him smile, as if he knows what I am thinking. I do not doubt it one minute. "I'll never leave you, Hiei. I love you..."

I close my eyes, still seeing the stars wink at me, still hearing the whistle...inside my head...surrounding us...not anymore torturing...only soothing. "I love you, too, Kurama," I mumble.

We fall asleep that way.

And I continue listening.

Listening to the whistle.

Listening to our hearts.