Zone

Tajimehino screamed, his fingers digging into the feather-covered bed. The skies outside were dark, and it was going to snow, one way or another, he knew, cause of the season.

Autumn had passed by very fast. He had met Shimeto in the woods, the beautiful red leaves illustrating the romantic moment, and they had talked. Soon they ended up on the ground, kissing. In autumn they had did lots of things together, like the normal romantic of sitting in the trees and playing music, and singing along until he finally fell out of the tree and broke a rib. They continued doing that, anyway, who cared.

Now, autumn had ended and she was gone. Just like that, poof. One day, he met her on the streets, and he had called her. She said nothing, but gave him a glance such that he knew he was hated. He never did get to sort things out between themselves.

Since then, he started cutting himself with blades, and he knew he would be on the verge of dying, somehow. Love could never be explained, and he wondered what the heck he said to make her hate him. Or did. It never mattered now, not now. He had been a self-hater since he was bon, god knows for what.

The clouds gathered over Tokyo and he could just send her his thoughts of love through the wind blowing them over. He did, but he doubted she received it. After all, he was the only one possessing all the love they used to share. Used to, the least he liked to believe.

The TV rambled on about some stupid school girl, that girl who looked as if she was trying to be innocent and failing miserably, was going to die and the dog was bringing the blood which she needed.

He screamed, again, this time mentally, and cursed the pain in his heart, which the physical pain never did get to drive away.

***

Kurama was wondering what to do. He and Hiei just had a great big problem and Hiei was not the sort to come and say sorry. Well, it was Hiei's fault, anyway. He HAD to start the fight.

Kurama looked at his wound at his abdomen, large and open, and wondered what to do with it. He could never believe Hiei actually did that. He was more angry than hurt, upon the fact that Hiei never even stayed back and did what he should have.

Kurama looked around, for some bandages, but found none. His stepfather had taken everyone but him and everything for the vacation. Then first aid box was gone, and he decided to buy some, since he was draining too much youki to summon any plants at the moment.

Groaning, he got out and started to walk towards the drug store somewhere near his house.

***

Tajimehino offed the TV set and decided to go to the nearest seven eleven. He had met her there, and it only seemed right to go there now. Besides, the blades looked so old with rust that he could throw them away and not cut himself for a week.

He started off, covering his wrist so that someone else would not send him immediately to the hospital. Like they would care, anyway.

He fumbled for his keys and finally found them under a pile of chip packets.

***

Kurama cursed under his breath. The drug store was closed, and there was nothing much around his neighborhood. He remembered the seven eleven round the other street and began to walk there.

The streets were rather deserted. He saw no one else except a person who was staggering over to the store he was crossing to. He wanted to run over to see what was happening, but he was in no shape to run much less care.

Finally, he found himself in the seven eleven store, half dead. He looked around a bit, before taking the bandage and medicine. He walked over to the cashier and gave her the bandages, when he felt a ki behind him. A wavering ki, as if the person was about to die. He swung around, and saw a rather frail looking youth behind him.

"Omigosh!" She exclaimed when she put the badages into the plastic bag and saw Kurama's wound. "Sister, are you okay?"

Kurama nodded. "Thank you," He decided to wait outside the store for that kid. In fact, normally he would be pissed off at being mistaken for a lady, but now he was in no position to bother much.

The youth managed to catch the woman's attention as well, and she was yakking about committing suicide. If suicide was the case, Kurama decided, he really should not bother, since it would be of no threat to the society. But he thought about himself, and Shiori, his fellow fighters, and Hiei, he decided to interfere, since anyway he was a demon and would not be so easily killed.

The youth came out of the shop. "Shimeto?" He said, as he looked up at Kurama.

"Minamino. And you're going to see a doctor."

"Shimeto…?" He said, and collapsed.

***

Kurama was really in no shape after piggybacking this youth home, and he almost cursed Hiei for not appearing and help him. But why should Hiei come? He was no relative of Hiei's, and now their friendship was broken, what next?

He watched as the youth slept lightly on the mattress. He was muttering something inaudible, and Kurama closed his eyes, wishing he could sleep, but this youth would most probably go and kill himself right upon awakening. Besides, he was worried about one thing, that he would never open his eyes again after the sleep, one way or the other.

This is a beautiful youth, he decided. If only he was not so self hated he would look simply great. He watched the youth twist away, and he realised that he was actually blushing. He shook his head, and turned away.

There was a loud choking and followed by a series of coughing. Blood came out of the youth's mouth and a few drops went onto the mattress. Kurama jerked and placed a hand onto his chest. He channeled some youki into the youth to heal him of his sickness. He had learnt how to do it when he was a healer before becoming a thief. Bronchitis. Either this was a smoker or a passive smoker.

The youth stopped coughing and Kurama suddenly felt himself falling. He had given too much ki, he realised, being so engrossed. He fell on top of the youth.

***

Tajimehino woke up, and the first thing he saw was red hair. "Shimeto…" He whispered, realising that he was either dreaming or just went back into the past. He took the red hair and fingered it. She was lying on his chest, facing the other side. He smiled, when he realised that he was not dreaming. It felt so real, how could he have been dreaming? Maybe she just realised that she needed him and came back.

Suddenly, the redhead stirred A pair of green eyes were looking at him, and Tajimehino was so enchanted but knew that it was not Shimeto.

"Sorry," The redhead muttered, alarmed.

Tajimehino looked away and pushed back. The redhead fell back, banging into the wall. She shook her head, as if trying to clear stars.

"What the fuck are you doing?!" A feminine voice shot at him, yet the voice was kind of deep.

"What the fuck are you doing," He retorted.

"Well, I saved your life," The redhead replied.

"I'm not thanking you, you're not doing me a big favour or anything," He said sarcastically.

"I don't need you to thank me now," The redhead scowled.

"Well, sister, if I want to die, let me be."

Her eyes narrowed. "I'm not a sister."

"Sister."

She pulled him up by the collar, and for once he saw that the redhead was taller by half a head. "I'm a man, a real man, if you want to know, and I'm Syuichi Minamino."

"That sissy?" Tajimehino scoffed. "No big wonder. Just go back and be your mama's boy, a good student, fine? Leave me alone!"

"If you say so," Syuichi let go and he found his knees giving way.

"You're in no good position to argue. Listen, kid. Your life is as important as anything, and there are people who do care, so let's not be a asshole and break other's heart, okay?" Syuichi was fed up.

Tajimehino tried to get up, but failed miserably. "Well, So what? How can you proof? You're everyone's pet, how can you understand? You know nothing, you philosopher!"

"Well, think about it, kid."

"And I'm not a kid." He said. "You're only sixteen, and I am already seventeen."

"I'm a few thousands years old, my dear," He said, turning around. "I'm exhausted carrying you back here and healing your bronchitis, so let me rest, then when you have a decent meal you can die, fine?"

Tajimehino gasped, realising that this redhead was no normal person.

"By the way, what's your name?"

"Tajimehino," He replied. "Let me sleep, too."

"You'll have to share the mattress, I'm not using the floor."

Fine," He yawned.

***

It was already fish belly's white sky when Kurama woke up. He had felt Hiei's ki somewhere and it left. He went over to the window, but saw no one. Disappointed, he went back into the kitchen, to realise that yesterday's happenings were true.

"Here's some mee, if you want," Tajimehino held out a bowl of noodles, and Kurama realised that this kid had some practise.

"Looks good," He said, picking up the chop sticks and chowing down.

"Thanks," Tajimehino replied. "I'll be going after this,"

"To hell? Dare you," Kurama replied.

"No, Syuichi, I'm going back home."

"You'd like to die there?"

"No, just somehow I don't feel like dying anymore, can't I go home and sleep?"

"Fine, but I think you still need some looking after," Kurama replied. "By the way, who's Shimeto?"

Tajimehino put his chopsticks down.

"Okay, you have the right not to answer."

"She's gone," He replied, picking up his chopsticks. "Maybe I'll tell you some other time."

Kurama nodded. "You know, maybe you can stay here for a while."

"No… I've brought you so much trouble."

"Well, my family are on vacation and they aren't bringing me cause I have to stay here and study," He replied, still not sure whether he should tell Tajimehino that he had just lost a best friend and was feeling kind of lonely.

"I'm ineducated," Tajimehino said, eyes switching to look at his noodles. "Formerly my parents sent me to school, but now they're dead, and I was a homeless until I was trained under a karate teacher and I fought with the others for a living."

"Really, Then I believe I can teach you lots of things," He replied, "I never study, and you should meet some friends of mine who love fighting."

"You fight?" Tajimehino raised one eyebrow. "I saw a youth at the Dark Tournament with red hair, is that you?"

"Yes. You are well informed, aren't you?"

"You aren't human," Tajimehino scanned Kurama's eyes. "Then why are you here?"

Kurama sighed. "It's a long story," And he told him what happened.

"Oh," Tajimehino replied, returning to his noodles. "I know losing it, now my parents are dead. They used to pamper me a lot, and besides Shimeto they were the only ones whom I love and care about before."

"You are the third person who know's about my story," Kurama told him.

"You do guard this secret well, ne?"

"Yes," Kurama replied. "I told them only when I trust the person."

"Thank you," Tajimehino smiled a genuine smile, one that made Kurama want to lock him up somewhere and keep him there forever. Kurama wondered if he was losing it.

***

"He cooks well," Yusuke wolfed the food down.

"Natch," Kuwabara did likewise.

"Well, you both might want to teach him some things about fighting," Kurama said. "You both know reiki better than I do, and besides he does so need fattening up, you both will do a good job."

"With his skills he could be a cook, he can fatten himself up," Yusuke continued to wolf down the food. "Seriously, why hasn't Hiei known about him?"

Kurama told him of the big fight, and showed them the wound, half healed. Everyone, especially Tajimehino and Kuwabara, looked as if they were ready to slaughter Hiei and chop him in the electric chopper.

"Kurama, Hiei did that?" Yusuke was serious now, and not touching the food at all.

Kurama nodded sadly. "I doubt he will ever come back."

"That bastard, I'll kill him" Kuwabara was steaming out of his ears.

Tajimehino kept silent.

"Well, maybe we can go picnicking somewhere in the woods and then teach Tajimehino some skills." Kurama smiled, and everyone but Tajimehino was reassured that Kurama could at least smile. Tajimehino knew a fake smile when he saw the true smiles from Kurama.

***

The sun was shining through the white snow, and everyone was not outdoors. They all had thermal clothes, coutesy to Kuwabara. The blizzard yesterday had faded, and everything seemed so peaceful.

Kurama set the tents down. Instead of picnicking Kuwabara decided to camp instead, which was rather a stupid thing since it was freezing cold, but everyone was enjoying themselves setting the things up.

Finally, Tajimehino had the food prepared and they settled down to eat.

They were chatting happily when a cool breeze came by, and suddenly Kurama stood up and ran away. Kuwabara was compelled to chased him, but Tajimehino held him back. Kuwabara looked ready to bash Tajimehino up when Yusuke gave Kuwabara a knowing 'let him be' look.

***

"Hiei… Hiei…!" Kurama called out aloud for his best friend. The ki was not gone yet, though compressed, but he knew it well enough. "Hiei!"

Kurama tripped and fell, and something gnashed his forehead. He lay unmoving for a while, and some one darted from above to help him up.

He shook his head to clear his vision, and saw a figure, a short figure proping him up. "Hiei… He caught hold of him before the figure decided to flit away and disappear again.

"Why?"

Hiei shook his head. "I don't know, Kurama, just that… Besides, you have that youth, don't you?"

"What talking you, Hiei!" Kurama demanded. "We need you to join everything, we miss you so much!"

"Everyone else but you, Kurama, and I think saying goodbye would be more appropriate." He shook Kurama's grip loose, and diappeared.

"Hiei…" Kurama fell onto his knees, and for once realised that the loneliness was so vast and the hurt so deep.

***

Finally, Kurama returned, to find the food going cold and everyone looking at each other.

"How was it?" Yusuke asked.

Kurama shook his head.

Tajimehino sighed.

"Let's eat," Kuwabara said, trying to feign enthusiasm.

Kurama smiled another fake smile and dug down.

***

Tajimehino wondered how on earth Yusuke and Kuwabara could go away and leave Kurama there. He watched as the redhead demonstrated some kicking and punching. In any case, they were really fast and would have been fatal, something he could never create.

Somehow, he remembered Shimeto, and how she laughingly punched him in the shoulder, and it was powerful. Maybe she had been in a school, too, and the one which he beat was her master, so now she hated hm. Most likely. He remembered her face, smiling, and suddenly he placed Kurama's face with the smile. He smiled back at the image.

Kurama stopped, and pulled Tajimehino out of his daydreams. "Go on, you might even be able to kill a youkai, you know."

"Sure," Tajimehino woke up, and show Kurama how best he remembered.

"Hmm, not bad, you know."

Tajimehino smiled shyly. Kurama felt his cheeks burn, and tried to hide it by turning away and saying, "I suppose you might want to practise with me, but I won't kill you."

Tajimehino braced himself and Kurama attacked, throwing a few punches, and Tajimehino dodged the first few, but not then last. He staggered back, and Kurama sent him flying into a tree.

"Ow," Tajimehino said after a while, when his stars cleared a bit.

Kurama laughed at the gong-ness of it, and Tajimehino laughed, too. Finally, he got up and said, "You know, I wish I can send energy bolts like Yusuke did in the Dark Tournament."

"You can, but you will have to build up your reiki," Kurama explained how it worked, and said, "I think you might be able to do it, but it will be better if you learn how to channel reiki to your fists first." And he taught Tajimehino how to do it.

Suddenly, Kurama felt a youki coming towards them, with Hiei on the pursue.

"Kurama! Watch out!" Hiei's voice came ringing through the woods.

Kurama dodged an energy bolt. Tajimehino managed to get away from an explosion

A female voice laughed, and faded away.

"Disappeared," Hiei came down. Kurama noticed the strain in his voice and saw some deep wounds, enough to render Hiei's limbs helpless. Kurama gasped, and forgot about all anger and hurt. He rushed forward just before Hiei collasped.

"Wait," Tajimehino said. "Why do you still care about him after what he did to you?"

Kurama smiled a wan smile. "I can't just let him die here, Taji-chan."

Tajimehino resumed frowning, and watched as the much too soft-hearted Kurama tie up the wounds and channeled some youki to Hiei to help the wounds heal faster.

***

"YUSUKE!!" Botan swooped down in front of the latter.

"Wha…" Yusuke almost fell down.

"This is getting serious." She said, and shoved them a laptop, with a DVD.

"Koenma is getting more advanced." Kuwabara remarked.

"Not Koenma sama, you idiot!" Botan batted Kuwabara on the head.

"Look," Yusuke said, ignoring them and shoving the DVD into the laptop. Koenma's face appeared on the screen.

"Greetings," Koenma said. "Recently an A-class has killed many to increase its power. Since the removal of the barrier, many A-classed came along to Ningenkai, but this is the most serious ever. You must stop her, for she will become S-classed soon and you will have a hard time killing her."

Yusuke remained silent, and the others managed to get silent.

"If you're not careful she will come and kill one of you, simply by absorbing your youki. You might want to slay her first before anything, you know. Her name, according to our source of information, is Ranako. Well, I have to return to my paperwork now, you know. Bye." Static replaced Koenma's face and Botan switched it off.

"Well, must she strike when I'm camping?"

"Baka, Yusuke, she is evil. Can't you let go of your vacation for a while?"

Yusuke shrugged. "Let's go, then."

***

Kurama was looking at Hiei's sleeping features, and Tajimehino was sitting in a corner, trying to tell himself he was not jealous. Yusuke came bustling in, rambling about Koenma's quest.

Finally, when they put both sides of stories together, the answer was clear: the demon had managed to get to Hiei. Yusuke decided that there was one thing they should do: get Tajimehino away from them, as danger might descend upon them anytime. But Tajimehino insisted, and so they agreed reluctantly. Hiei only kept quiet in a corner.

Kurama decided to train Tajimehino. "Have you played Final Story before?"

"Never won it. Why?" Yusuke eyed Kurama suspiciously.

"Well, in Final Story there was this main character who should never die, so the best way to stop him from dying would be to strengthen him, though more steps would have to be taken. There are also other warriors, and training them to protect the main characters would be good." Kurama gave them a knowing look. "So I suggest I stay and train Tajimehino while Hiei stay home and rest, while you Kuwabara track her down and Yusuke staying and protecting Hiei, in case she comes back and kills Hiei. Kuwabara, take no action and send us one of your psychic telepathy thing to Hiei, and Hiei can inform us. By the way, I suppose Hiei can use his Jyagan to recover his youki, right?"

Hiei nodded unwillingly.

"It does seem like a good idea, but… We're taking defence as first line."

"She will come for us, I'm sure. She knows the danger of letting us live, I bet you."

***

So it was carried out. Tajimehino got stronger by the second, and so was Kurama. Hiei was recuperating and Yusuke was getting impatient.

Suddenly, a warning came flashing towards Hiei's Jyagan, and he bolted up from his sitting position. "She's coming here, Yusuke!"

Yusuke got onto his feet and into his fighting position.

Hiei dodged an energy bolt and a beautiful woman, with platinum gold curls and orange eyes, with blood red lips. She gathered her energy into a crimson ball and fired at Hiei. Hiei quickly dodged, and soon he was by Yusuke's side.

"I can't defeat her alone, Yusuke." He whispered, a little ashamed.

Yusuke nodded. Hiei's loss of youki wasn't exactly little. Kurama came rushing in, hearing the explosion, followed by Tajimehino.

Ranako lowered her eyelids and smiled. "Why are you coming to risk your life for this little shrimp here?" She said to Kurama, in her soothing tone. "Is he worth it? He has never done anything but hurt you before, is that not right?"

Kurama said nothing, but he found his anger coming back. Tajimehino held Kurama's hand tightly and Kurama felt his anger resolve to nothingness. Hiei twitched at that, but said nothing.

"You are jealous, face it, Forbidden Child.You don't want to lose Kurama yet you can't stop losing him, can you? You have been rejected all your life, and you have been rejected again."

"SHUT UP!" Hiei threw forth a series of fire attacks, and she dodged them easily.

"You will be rejected by Yukina, too, should you tell her you're her sister." A loud crash could be heard coming from outside, and Hiei realised that it was Kuwabara. Ranako ignored it and continued, "You are useless, Hiei. You never told her because you were afraid of rejection, not because of her safety."

"NO, It was for her safety," Hiei was more than a bit hesitant now. "She will be far safer without knowing me…"

"No, you have killed many, Hiei. You will contaminate her life with that perturbing truth and she will never believe you."

"Shut up!" Kurama realised Ranako was using their own suspicions against each other. "Hiei…!"

"Hiei!" Yusuke grabbed Hiei's elbow.

A flabbergasted Kuwabara came stumbling in right then.

"ENSATSU…"

"Hiei!"

"KOKURYUHA!"

Kurama pulled Tajimehino away and they ended up in a pile, out of the way. Kuwabara was pushed away by Yusuke, who dodged.

Finally, when Hiei had no more youki for the black dragon, Yusuke realised that Ranako was not quite dead, so he fired a reigan at her wound near her heart, and Kuwabara stabbed a rei sword through the heart.

Ranako finally fell, and Tajimehino peeked from under Kurama. Something was going through Kurama's wound, Tajimehino realised, and saw a tent pin just missing him by inches. "Kurama!"

Yusuke had caught hold of Hiei, and Kuwabara realised that Kurama was actually bleeding as well. "Kurama!"

"Kurama…" Tajimehino whispered as Kuwabara lifted Kurama up from the protruding tent pin, which was laid upside down.

"Who the FUCK let that thing lay down like that!" Yusuke screamed, and everyone looked worried.

***

For a moment Tajimehino saw Kurama's big expressive eyes sliding closed forever, and he imagined Kurama's hands going limp. He shook his head to clear the images. Kurama's face was still pale, and he felt cold. The breathing was shallow, and there was no good doctor around. Hiei was asleep, Yusuke was out looking for some suitable trees for the fire and Kuwabara was going back to the city to bring a healer back.

Kurama got hurt trying to save me from the dragon, he thought, guiltily. He wondered what he could do, but he was no doctor, though he was good at bandaging and medicines, but there was nothing there for him but some pieces of blanket which were used. Suddenly, he remembered how Kurama channeled ki into Hiei. He could try that, but how? He was not going to hurt Kurama doing anything.

He remembered what Yusuke told him, "The best way for a begginer would be through the mouth, but you never fight with your mouth, right? You must try to pretend that you are one with your fist, and not see it as a separate organ. You must concentrate you mind focus on your fist, and ki will go there. If you want to fire it, just think of letting go."

He pressed his lips onto Kurama's in an desperate attempt. He never succeeded through his hands, and he thought of Kurama's wounds. He felt himself getting weaker, and felt his eyes slide close.

***

Hiei woke up to find Yusuke coming in. He looked around a bit, and saw Tajimehino's lips against Kurama's. For a moment he was ready to take off that kid's head, but Yusuke said, "No, Hiei."

Yusuke parted them, and said, "He's channeling ki into Kurama, and even subconciously he's doing that." His hand glowed with yellow light, he set Tajimehino aside. "Simmer down, Hiei. I have some things to say to you."

Hiei humphed and nodded.

"Do you… love Kurama?"

"What are you talking about, Yusuke!" Hiei looked ready to kill.

Yusuke gave him a go ahead look. "You seemed so jealous."

"No, I…"

"Well, Hiei, I'm not forcing it out of you, but please don't hurt Kurama again. You could be driving away your other half, you know. And one more thing…" Yusuke ignored Hiei's embarrassed yet murderous glare, "Never deny yourself, Hiei. Never lie to yourself either."

"Hn, that's none of your business."

"Maybe," Yusuke put Tajimehino besides Kurama, much to Hiei's discomfort.

Kuwabara came bustling in with Yukina, and she said to Hiei, "Hi, brother."

Hiei turned red.

Yukina went to work immediately, and said, "Actually, he's half healed."

"The guy beside him just gave him the ki," Yusuke explained.

Yukina finished with Kurama. "There's some wounds on his arms," She noted.

"Especially his wrists." Yusuke said. Hiei kept silent.

Yukina healed Tajimehino in a while and said, "Could you all please excuse me and Hiei? I need to talk with him."

Kuwabara shrugged and dragged Yusuke out, leaving the slumbering Kurama and Tajimehino inside.

"Brother…" she said. "It's really you, Hiei."

"You knew all along?" Hiei shifted uneasily.

"I sort of felt it, you know. You seemed so familiar."

Hiei said nothing.

"I'm glad." Yukina said, smiling.

Hiei melted and looked like he swallowed a dinosaur bone. Kurama stirred and Yukina looked over. "Kurama, are you alright?"

Kurama nodded, and smiled a smile that melted Hiei further, but Hiei said nothing.

"Thank you, my wound feels as if it's not there at all."

"This person here gave you some ki before I came," Yukina pointed to Tajimehino. "You should thank him."

Kurama shook his head. "Later."

Hiei got up and walked out, leaving Yukina to stare at the entrance of the tent.

Kurama explained how the fight occurred and what Ranako said to Hiei. Yukina nodded, and they discussed on how Hiei was fragile.

***

Tajimehino watched as Kurama lay out the extra mattress which was borrowed from Kuwabara for him. "Which blanket do you want?" Kurama asked.

"Any will do." Tajimehino returned hin the smile.

Kurama snuggled into a blanket and closed his eyes. Tajimehino got into his bed and wondered about many things.

***

He felt himself falling, and saw a koorime's face, and she looked sad. Everyone was shouting, "Cursed child! Cursed child!"

He tried to reach out for the sad face, but he no longer saw her and hit icy water with a splash.

Then, he saw Jyana, who betrayed him. He saw many S-classed youkais, torturing him and then he saw Kurama, saying, "You will never be the most important in my heart, Hiei" And shove him away. He saw Yukina and shouted out, "Help me, Yukina…!" She smiled coldly. "now Kazuma knows that I'm your sister, and he treats me like dirt, and it's all your fault. Why should I help you?" He felt himself falling away, into the chasms of darkness and he felt himself breathing fresh air again. He saw a city, a shining city up ahead, and reached up for it, but it disappeared, leaving him with no one, and he saw Tajimehino jeering at him, and Kurama reappearing again. "I'll never need you, Hiei. You are but a child with no one to love you, Hiei, why should I want you?" And going into Tajimehino's arms, and turning those beautiful clear eyes at him instead and gave only him the true smile.

He cried out, and suddenly jolted up and out of the tree. He hit the ground with a thump and felt his head hurt.

"Hiei?!" Yukina came out of the house. "Are you okay?"

Hiei looked up at her, unable to hide the hurt in his eyes. "I'm.. fine, Yuikna."

"Come in." She said. "I'm sure the Kuwabaras will not mind."

Hiei followed; he could never refuse her.

"Hi, Hiei," Kuwabara said easily.

Yukina smiled sweetly at him and annouced to everyone, including Shizuru and their father, "This is my brother, Hiei."

Shizuru almost dropped her cigeratte and Mr Kuwabara nodded. "Welcome, any brother of Yukina is a brother of mine."

"We're one big family," Shizuru nodded.

Hiei felt his glare soften somehow.

***

Kurama was twisting and turning in his sleep, with images of this Tajimehino's lips all over him, and images of this youth's eyes, beautiful blue eyes half opened in pleasure and so saturated with love.

Suddenly, he woke when he felt someone roll against him and thrust an arm across in a bear hug. "Wha…" He turned his head to see Tajimehino's sleeping features mutter something.

"Shimeto…"

Kurama sighed, and almost yelped when Tajimehino squeezed him harder. He felt himself turn red, and somehow the white moonlight made the darkness seem so serene.

***

"Sorry!" Tajimehino threw himself back against the wall, shocked that he actually hugged Kurama all night through.

"It's okay," Kurama replied, smiling. "Next time I'll just place your mattress farther away at the other side of the room so you will have to roll very far," He joked.

Tajimehino laughed at that, Kurama obviously never blamed him. For that reason he was relieved, he wondered why. Last night he was dreaming of Shimeto again, but it never opened many wound.

(Flashback)

Tajimehino saw himself back into the woods, and he was thinking about Shimeto. Suddenly, she appeared in front of him, laughing and talking as usual, with another him, a younger him who looked more innocent and happier. A voice came from beside him, and he realised that it was Kurama. He reached forward, and touched the surface. He realised that it was a mirror. Kurama smiled, and cracked the mirror, but he did not felt pain as he did when it was Shimeto who did bash it last time. They talked, and suddenly Tajimehino saw themselves in the woods, where he and Shimeto usually visited. Then Kurama suddenly went into the ground, which turned into liquid for Kurama but became a glass wall for him. He tried to break the glass wall, but failed. Kurama was in the water, and someone was pulling him back, and drowning. He wanted Kurama back with him, and that was that. Finally, Kurama pressed his lips on the glass and Tajimehino responded, and the glass broke before Kurama went back down. He put his hand into the water, to reach out for Kurama and finally got him after a long struggle underwater with the person who held on. The person let go at long last, and Tajimehino managed to bring both of them back before they ran out of breath. He got Kurama in a bear hug and Kurama snuggled into his chest. The woods came back again and they managed to come to a plain. It became morning and the sunrise was beautiful, coming up little by little before drowning everything in its bizzare red.

(End of flashback)

Kurama tidied the room up, and Tajimehino helped.

"You know, you kept me warm last night," Kurama joked. Not to mention burning hot intensity to hug you back, he laughed to himself.

"Sure, but I think I'll lose too much heat if I do it too much."

"Good to have you in winter."

Tajimehino laughed. "Let's go to the ski resort."

"Sure!" Kurama replied enthusiastically. "But I will have to make arrangements for my tuition."

***

Tajimehino was far from happy when he knew Hiei was coming, but Kurama seemed happy at the idea. They sat in Kuwabara's jeep, and Yukina seemed to like him as well, or so to Kurama, as a friend. Well, Kuwabara and Yusuke like him, and Koenma, too. The girls crowded around him, as he was new, Kurama supposed. Tajimehino sure made friends fast. Except for Hiei, who seemed to hate him. Kurama had tried to talk to Hiei, and Hiei said nothing, and except to Tajimehino and him he spoke to everyone else, which was almost unusual for him.

Kurama sighed, and Tajimehino noticed the lack of comfort in Kurama's eyes, and placed his hand on Kurama's lap, patted it, and withdrew it. Kurama smiled, and patted Tajimehino on the back.

Hiei was uncomfortable at the display of open affection which Kurama used to reserve for him alone. He felt pain, and nothing but raw pain. He only wished he could tell Kurama about how he felt but he knew that he will be rejected. Kuwabara was willing to accept him for Yukina's sake, and Yukina could almost accept anyone. But Kurama… no, he will not, not that way, for the heart was only enough for one person. He hated Tajimehino right into the bone, but what could he do? He could not just kill him, he knew. Not unless he wanted to see Kurama's face twisted in grief.

And he loved Kurama too nuch to bear seeing pain in the wide expressive green eyes.

Finally, as Hiei's thoughts went from gray to black, Kuwabara drove them to the desired place. Everyone bustled to check in and brought everything into the chalet.

Then, finally, when everyone finished arguing with everyone, and all their roomates were sorted out, they went over to the ski lift. Somehow, Kurama ended up sitting with Hiei and Tajimehino with Botan, who stuck to him like elephant super glue. Yusuke was sitting with Keiko and Kuwabara was sitting with Yukina. Koenma was sitting by himself. Everyone, save for Kurama, Tajimehino, and Hiei were happy with the ride.

Kurama tried to talk to Hiei, but he just did not know what to say and said nothing. Hiei, on the other hand, wished that Kurama would say nothing.

Poor Tajimehino had sat through Botan's yakking about everything under Ningenkai.

Finally, they reached the desired destination. Koenma took pity on Tajimehino and got rid of Botan by making her help with an "urgent" message to Reikai. So, Tajimehino disappeared with Kurama to ski down somewhere near the mountains, and Koenma tagged along, because Kurama dragged him along in case Botan came back unexpectedly within the day. Yusuke and Keiko went to the ski jump and Kuwabara went to teach Yukina, who especially delighted at the snow and Hiei, who was unespecially delighted at the cold.

***

That night, as everyone sat around the fireplace, Kurama huddled with Tajimehino, much to Hiei's annoyance, and Yukina was in Kuwabara's arms, Yusuke was at the back with Keiko making hot cocoa. Koenma was trying to distract Botan from nagging Tajimehino again. Somehow, someway, everyone decided on playing poker and Hiei did not join in. Yusuke came in with Keiko a few moments later and they drank the hot cocoa. Everyone was happy, save for Hiei, who was uncomfortable at the idea that Kurama had forgotten about his presence when everyone else remembered.

Suddenly, a beep was called on Koenma's watch. Static appeared on the surface of Koenma's watch and Kurama realised that it was a portable transmitter. "Ko…Koenma-sama… Reikai… Ergh!" George's voice went from the static, and soon nothing but static was heard.

***

They burst into Koenma's office and saw blood stains everywhere, and lying in dried blood was George.

"George!" Koenma rushed to the still figure and cried out, "George!"

George did not move, and Kurama spoke, "He's dead, Koenma."

Koenma shook and said nothing. "Let me check the ki left around," Said Yusuke. They moved out and left Yusuke in the room, and Koenma said nothing. Everyone felt bad for Koenma.

Finally, Yusuke came out. "It's done by an S-class, definitely. I felt the ki patterns, there were two youkai, but it was none that I know of, but on this I found the pattern strange."

He held out a pendent, a tear gem like Hiei's. Yukina gasped, and Hiei was very uncomfortable. Everyone waited for Yusuke to say something.

"Well, on it I felt Ranako's ki pattern and two of the culprits. Maybe this is a koorime who gave Ranako that and took it back, or Ranako was a half koorime."

Yukina stood. "I might be able to identify if it's a Koorime," she said.

Yusuke gave her the tear gem reluctantly and Yukina took the gem. White light burned with its intensity to engulf the room and faded. Yukina nodded sadly. "It's our mother, Hiei."

Hiei almost fell over in shock. "This gem belongs to our mother, Hiei, and I feel three other ki, but none of them are koorime."

Yusuke almost fell over in shock. "Let me touch it again." He fingered it for awhile. "No, I feel only two ki other than Ranako's, both of fire, but… Wait! I feel another one now! Faint, but… also ice. Is that your mother's?"

Yukina nodded. "She was banned to leave long ago, so the ki can't be that strong. I think one of them belongs to maybe another ice maiden or something, and one must have belonged to Hiei's father." She looked at Hiei meaningfully.

Hiei looked frozen right on the spot. "My… Father?"

Kurama and Tajimehino looked at each other meaningfully. Things were getting interest stimulating.

***

Hiei looked at the gem, and said nothing. Kuwabara was getting worried, and Yusuke had decided that they would go to Kurama's place and decide what next to do.

"I think someone is after Koenma," Kurama said. "Because Reikai is an important world which affects both Makai and Ningenkai."

Koenma nodded, still looking stressed.

"So, what the fuck are we supposed to do? We can't just sit here and do nothing, right?" Kuwabara stood up and banged on the table.

"I think…" Tajimehino said, "We can split up. Somehow I know that the person, whoever it is, is not after Koenma, or they will not go, when Koenma is not there and give themselves so much trouble."

"Right," Kurama nodded. "I see it now. The youkai must be afraid of Koenma and just went to his office to check something, or they would not rummage through it for nothing. Koenma has the ability to recover the barrier using the youkai and his own reiki, with that pacifer, so…"

Yusuke nodded. "Maybe they came to look for Hiei."

"No," Hiei said. "I never knew of my father. How could he know who I was?"

"He must have sent someone to look after you, or you would never have survived through your life, Hiei." Kurama said quietly. "Everytime your life was endangered things would take a twist, or at least during the first few years of your childhood."

"NO!" Hiei glared at Kurama. "You have NO right to judge my life, you… you… betrayer!"

"Somehow, that's not really important that Kurama's judging your life." Kuwabara spoke up. "Ningenkai might jolly well be in danger for all we know. We must locate them as quickly as we can and get the reason why they came along."

Yusuke nodded. "That's true. What do you suggest we do now, Kurama?"

"I think Hiei is the main problem here. Whoever's here should be after Hiei, if I'm not wrong, though now youkais could be seen all over Ningenkai."

"S-Class youkais never come to Ningenkai for nothing," Koenma piped up suddenly. "Only the D-classes and C-classes would come."

"Then why are we here," Muttered Hiei.

"Because you have bondages to Ningenkai," Kurama said, eyeing the koorime sternly. "I think Kuwabara can go with Yusuke and I with Hiei. Tajimehino, I really don't want you to get involved, you are but a mere human and what we're talking about are S-clased youkais here, though you do have the potential to reach A-class soon."

"I can stay and strengthen you, Tajimehino," Koenma offered.

He nodded reluctantly.

***

So they set off, and Hiei was scanning the area with his Jyagan.

"Well?" Kurama asked for the tenth time.

"Shut up, you kitsune." Hiei said. "I can't concentrate with you talking."

"Fine," Kurama was getting impatient.

Finally, Hiei covered his Jyagan again and said, "Something seems to be blocking me," and suddenly, he seemed to be alarmed.

"What's the matter,. Hiei?" Kurama asked.

"Are you getting old?" Hiei flitted to the other side of the rooftop and looked down. "Kitsune, and badly hurt, too. That ki…" He jumped off the building.

"Wait, Hiei!" Kurama landed with a thump on his feet, and sprinted to the direction which Hiei blurred to. They ran and ran, and Hiei caught a kitsune by her wrist.

She gave a blood curdling screech, and luanched a kick at Hiei's stomach. Hiei dodged, and Hiei twisted her wrist so that she could not move. "Who are you?" He asked.

She screeched again, and Kurama finally reached them. "Hiei…!"

Suddenly, the kitsune stopped moving, and casted a look at her captor. "Hi… Hiei?"

Hiei cast a glance at her which told her to shut up, but she said, "Oniisan…" And passed out.

Kurama took hold of her, and carried her back.

***

"Hiei, is she your sister?"

Hiei looked pissed off. "Well, I don't know, and that's the tenth time you asked that."

"I just want to know," Kurama replied. "She feels so familiar."

"Maybe that's because she's a kitsune."

"No, but I've fought with her as a companion before, but there is something just like you, though you're a koorime and she's a kitsune, and you're fire and she's both water and ice."

"Hn, so maybe she's my father's daughter, you dumb kitsune," Hiei scoffed at Kurama.

"Hey, that's probably it," Kurama replied.

"Shut up. If she's my sis I'd have ears like that."

"She's half kitsune," Kurama implied.

"And I'm none kitsune," Hiei turned his eyes at Kurama.

"Half sister."

"Fine." Hiei gave up.

They waited, and the kitsune woke up. "Brother…" She said, and tried to get up She was the most beautiful kitsune Hiei had ever saw, and it included Kurama. Her eyes were blood red, like Hiei's, and the edges were tilted, and her eyes had a cat-like appearance to them. Just near her jaw was a scar, a red scar which complimented her eyes. Her hair fell in straight golden showers, and it was up to her back, and her cheek bones were high, her chin pointed, as if to show off her pointed eyes. Hiei gaped for awhile. If she was his sister, the only trait they shared were the elfish face shape and the redness of the eyes. Her hair was nothing like his, and it make him concious of his spikes.

"Hidoko?" Kurama asked, and she jumped.

"Who are you!" She got onto all fours an crouched like a cat, ready to attack.

"Don't you remember Youko Kurama?"

"He's dead," She kept her eyes on him, untrusting, as if they were arch enemies, or as if they have fought before.

"He's reicarnated as Minamino Syuichi."

"KURAMAAA!!!" She pounced onto him, and Kurama yelped. She started licking him all over, much to Hiei's discomfort and Kurama's embarassment. Finally, Hiei got her by the scruff of her neck and threw her to the other side of the room.

"Yaaah!" She turned in a sommersault. "Stupid Hiei!"

Hiei unsheathed his sword and demanded, "Who the FUCK are you!"

She launched a kick and Hiei dodged. Deciding that they had to fight to get this kitsune listen, Hiei slashed at the youko, who was very agile. Kurama shouted, but it was of no use. Before they used their youki and destroyed too many pillows, Kurama called forth some vines to entangle both of them up.

Feathers were flying and everyone realised that there was two other people in the room. Tajimehino and Koenma were inside.

"Hidoko?" Koenam asked.

"Koenma!" She shrieked, and Koenma rushed forward with his pacifer.

"STOP!" Kurama stood between and Koenma crashed into Kurama. "I have to ask Hidoko some things here."

***

Everyone formed a semi circle and Hidoko sat leaning against Kurama's table. Kurama finally opened his golden mouth and said, "Stop fiddling through my tuition homework, Hidoko."

She giggled and replied, "Tee Hee, Kurama. Did you write this for homework? Ahem, 'My Most Important Person'.
He has blood red eyes which pierce through the night
And hair which makes the darkest night jealous
His name exactly describes his self--
Flying Shadow, and he darts about--"

"Shut UP!"

Hidoko promptly ignored him.
"The world of dependent souls
He is solitary by nature
But he stays by me
I see his eyes harden, soften, then smile
Those beautiful rubies of his soul
And nothing would I want to trade for him
My soulmate."

Kurama looked ready to kill, and thought he saw a slight blush across Hiei's face.

"Oh, look, here's one recent one, and it's 'The Person Whom I like Most'! Your teacher's doing a checkup on you guys or what?" She began to read.
"Wide indigo windows of soul he possesses
Which turns my heart to liquid gold
His hair, short golden showers of waterfall
Rivals with the Flying Shadow
In both beauty and elegance of the darkness
He has --"

Kurama was red enough to match his hair now, Hiei was swallowing a live giant piranha, and Tajimehino blushed red enough to compete with Kurama. Koenma was catching flies with his mouth.

Hidoko looked at Tajimehino. "No wonder. He is a beautiful youth, too bad he's human."

Hiei managed to look disgusted. "What the fuck…!"

"And look what Kurama's teacher wrote! 'Syuichi, see me, I have to take you for counselling.'"

Kurama scratched his head, and Koenma giggled. Tajimehino coughed, and Hiei looked away. Finally, Kurama managed to ask, "Well, so, what are you here for?"

Hidoko quietened down. "Actually, I don't remember much. Really. All I remember is this person, this shadowy figure who always appears and gives me nightmares. I remember dreaming about Hiei, and how my father talked about Hiei, the famous thief in Makai, who is my brother. But the reason why I came here is not known," Hidoko said. "Most probably to look for Hiei, but… I just don't think I would come all the way to Ningenkai for that."

Kurama nodded. "Shadowy figure? Maybe it's Hiei."

Hiei shot a look, and Hidoko said, giggling, "No, he's much taller than this shrimp here."

"BAKA, I'm no SHRIMP."

Hidoko made a face, and Kurama shook his head. "Well, so, why were you so seriously hurt? It was a miracle you never tore a stitch when you kicked Hiei, there were so many across your body."

Hidoko shrugged. "I was lucky." Her face darkened considerably when she thought about her attacker. "I remember a red hair person, like you, Kurama, eyes the same shade, and he was as beautiful as you. "

Kurama shook. "Syuichi?" He asked himself. "But… Isn't his soul merged with mine?"

Hiei looked at him, and Koenma nodded. "Actually, I would say… But the books tell of the fact which I should not be telling you."

Everyone looked at Koenma intently.

"Well…" Koenma hesitated. "Actually, When Kurama went into this body, half of Syuichi's soul merged with Kurama's, because Kurama needed it to stay in this body. He did not want to forget his memories, besides, two souls merging might not guarantee his mind not boggling, so…"

"You mean…" Tajimehino looked up uncertainly. "Kurama had to devour half of Syuichi's soul, and the other half had been driven away."

Koenma nodded. Kurama just looked at the floor in shock. He could not believe he did that. No…Hidoko placed a red nailed hand on Kurama's shoulder, and Hiei was not ready to believe it. Tajimehino shuddered; Kurama was a cold-blooded muderer? No, he didn't believe, he chose not to believe. Kind, gentle Kurama could never be cold blooded.

"Yes, he was." Hidoko cast a blood red glance at Tajimehino. "His youko soul was heartless, but his merging with Syuichi had changed his character before he was born. And he learnt a lot about love during this short sixteen years. Why else do you think youkais come here for? Humans love more intimately than demons, demons seldom love."

Tajimehino looked at the blanket on the floor, and pinched it. "No, this can't be, I mean…" He bit his lips. "Does it mean Kurama will return to his normal heartless self when he dies?"

"No, Taji-chan." Kurama said, and everyone were shocked at hearing Kurama call him that. "I will not. Syuichi and I are one, and even if we return I will still be the Kurama whom you see now."

"Kurama has grown soft over the years." Hidoko smiled.

Hiei snorted, and Koenma clapped him on the back. "So, do you think we should call Yusuke and Kuwabara here?"

Kurama shook his head. "But I think we should inform them of Hidoko here, and they will rest assured."

Koenma cast Hiei a glance, who nodded and opened his Jyagan. Hidoko's forehead glowed, too, and everyone glanced at Hiei, then Hidoko.

"Hidoko?"

"Hiei's Jyagan is sustained by mine, just as his is sustaining mine. You see, though our father is a Jyaganist, Hiei can't have one because koorime blood doesn't allow Jyagan. I have because youko's blood doesn't oppose Jyagans, you know. Shingure performed the surgery to join him to my Jyagan, and I see what he sees."

Kurama nodded, he had heard about it somewhere, but dismissed it as bias. Now he knew it was true, just as humans are more extreme than youkais. "But does he see what you see?"

"No," She replied.

"So," Tajimehino asked, "Why don't you inform Yusuke and Kuwabara instead? I'm sure your Jyagan is more powerful."

"True," She smiled, "But I've never seen Yusuke and Kuwabara before, much less know their ki."

"Can you see Hiei's memories?" Tajimehino asked. "Maybe you can learn about them, besides, I presume you will have to work with them if you are working with us."

Hidoko considered it. "Fine," She said.

***

Everyone sat in a circle, and Yusuke said, "Tell me! Are you with Ranako?"

"But…! I don't remember who's Ranako! I don't know who she is!"

"I think someone many have caused her to forget, somehow." Kurama said quietly.

"And my Jyagan tells me she's not lying." Hiei supplied.

Kuwabara sighed. "Let's just trust her for once."

"Are you crazy? Our lives may be at stake here!"

"Well, surely an S-class like you can't be killed so easily." Kuwabara said. "Besides, she's the only clue we have here."

"Oi, I'm not a piece of evidence for you Sherlocks!" She threw Kuwabara Kurama's tuition homework, and Kuwabara caught it with his head.

"YEOW! What did you do that for!"

Hidoko made a face at Kuwabara, and Hiei wondered how old exactly Hidoko was.

***

It had taken Kurama hours to tell Yusuke that he had known Hidoko since his youko times, when he was a teenager in Makai years, and yes, Hidoko could be trusted, no, Hidoko would never trick them, and yes, Kurama had known her well enough to guarantee that.

Kurama sighed. Yusuke obviously did not have a lot of trust for people, but he knew Hidoko well enough to know. Besides, Hidoko was simple-minded for her age. Nicely stated, innocent. Cruelly stated, immature. These few centuries had not caused her to be very much grown, but she did have a figure nice enough. Ah, they used to screw each other during the times of youko, and all inside were friends. Until he knew what he felt for her and what she felt for him, but by then, Kurama had to be chased by Reikai detectives, and be in Syuichi's body.

Which was cruel, he reflected. He had devoured half of Syuichi's soul, which was as terrible as a devil feasting a soul and leaving some leftovers to be a mutant ten years later. He had no right to this body but he forced his way in. And that Syuichi would never feel this Shiori's motherly love. But, despite that fact, he would have taken it anyway, knowing what would happen to both Syuichi and his youko self. After all, he knew love, reunited with Hiei, met his team mates, and met Tajimehino in this short sixteen years. He would not trade it back for Syuichi's right, though he was in the wrong.

He scanned the area and saw no one. Hidoko sighed, obviously bored, but said nothing.

Kurama sat down, and Tajimehino sat glumly at the side, channelling some ki to Hidoko. Kurama wondered why Koenma never let him do it, but this mere human. Koenma only laughed and told him that this human had the reiki of a S-classed, but it seemed ridiculous as Kurama felt as if the reiki weren't there at all. Koenma had said that it was the extremes, but since Tajimehino did not know how to use it correctly, he might as well make good use of it.

Hidoko broke away from Tajimehino, and touched his face as if trying to seduce him. Tajimehino blushed immediately. "Hey, your Taji-chan is so cute. Lend him to me for a while, please?"

Kurama took her by wrapping an arm around Hidoko and whispered, "Not a chance. I never touched him yet, don't you dare."

She laughed and threw Kurama head over heels. "Well, I'll try to get him."

"Don't you dare. Why don't you go for Yusuke, Kuwabara, or even Koenma? Leave us alone."

Hidoko made a face. "Yusuke is too rough for my liking, so is Kuwabara… Koenma is so formal, and besides he looks so ugly when he isn't in human form… Ah, you are okay, but I have been having you for centuries. Only this Taji-chan is smooth, but not well-polished. That's why I like him. Simple and pure."

"Uh huh. What makes you think he's pure?"

"In heart, baka!"

"Oh," Kurama threw his hands over his head and lay down. Tell you what. I'll screw you if you screw him."

"Does it matter? You screwed me over the last few centuries."

"And then let Yusuke and others screw you."

"Wow, uh uh, no way."

Kurama laughed. "Really," He pulled her closer, "I miss you."

She snuggled into him. "I missed you too. But tell me, do you like him more than you like me? You once said, remember?"

"Yeah, but… I only like when I'm in that state, you know. I guess my human side likes him, but my youko side likes you and perhaps Hiei. I don’t know…"

"Well, I'm going to pay you a visit tonight."

"I'm looking forward to it." Kurama propped himself with both elbows and lay down, watching the clouds. Tajimehino had wisely sat aside, and not face them, and not listened at all. He knew that this pair of youko have not met each other for a long time, and had a lot of things to say to each other. But whatever they said sure took a lot of whispering.

He sighed and Hidoko came back. Again he saw the golden shimmering showers, and he wished he could feel it. She sat down beside him and he asked, "Should I continue my work, or what?"

"You know what you sound like? Like…" She whispered something into his ear and he went very red. She was amused, and said, "I like you, you know."

"Do kitsune go about liking everyone?" Tajimehino suddenly asked.

"Depends," She said, and went away, her shimmering showers flowing behind her like a river.

***

They still have not found the Hiei's father, and it turned out, from Yukina's keen observation, that the female ki on the tear gem was Hidoko.

Yusuke went going after her and she only screamed and attacked Yusuke, which did nothing to nurture their relationship. Kuwabara went soothing Yusuke and Hidoko and the latter chatted for a long time, laughing and giggling. If Yukina was there, what would she say, Kurama mused.

Hiei's attention had not seemed to be on him lately, and he wished they could talk. He wanted to see how much his youko side felt like screwing him, while how much agreed with the human side that Hiei is his best friend. But Hiei avoided him like a fly avoiding a batting hand.

He managed to save Tajimehino a cruel scene by going away with Hidoko that night, and leaving behind both a bolster and a note telling him that he would be gone for only a while. Tajimehino was amused, but otherwise not very happy. He reckoned it was for nothing much good, but… He could do nothing. Besides, he was a guy, which made a very great difference.

He sighed, and flipped and flopped in bed but never fell asleep that night.

***

Kurama was not feeling very hot when Tajimehino seemed to give him the cold shoulder treatment. Hiei had given him enough for his taste.

He was pondering about what to do when Hidoko came in, dragging Tajimehino after her. Kurama normally would have laughed at the scene, but he was in no mood that day, so he simply nodded. Hidoko threw Tajimehino at Kurama, and Tajimehino landed in a heap on top of Kurama. Hidoko laughed, and Kurama helped Tajimehino, who was annoyed, up, and scowled at Kurama.

"I really wonder if you are an imposter of Hiei's sister," Kurama said. "Somehow, Hiei's solemness does not run in your blood."

"Then what about Yukina?"

Kurama said nothing, and Tajimehino shook a fist at her, before walking out. But Hidoko caught him by the collar in a flash and said, "Well, if you want to get strong, don't follow Koenma, come with me."

"Baka, I would rather follow Koenma than come with you."

"Well, I'm a far better mentor than Koenma is."

"I doubt so," Tajimehino replied. Kurama suppressed a smile and added, "Well, actually she was a good mentor. She taught me how to bring out my youki."

"I suppose you have low expectations then," Tajimehino replied.

Kurama shrugged. "Who's talking here."

Tajimehino gave him a brick face and Hidoko said, "Well?"

Koenma came in just then. "Hidoko, quit interfering…"

"I'm just trying to get him to be my student!" Hidoko replied, none too softly. "I am a far better mentor than you are, Koenma!"

"Is that a challenge?"

Hidoko nodded. "Treat it that way if you must, I'm not stopping you."

"Okay, I can make him an A-classed by the end of this fortnight."

"Hn, I can make him an S-classed by this week."

"I don't believe you," Koenma replied.

"So don't I," Kurama piped up suddenly.

"Hn, I said I can."

"Well, just don't perform those rituals on him to open up his reiki, and you'll be welcome to strengthening him," Kurama murmured.

"Waitaminnit, I'm not a thing which you just use to gamble, you know!"

"Fine, then you shall go back to Makai and leave all of us in peace if you lose, okay?"

"I will not lose."

***

Tajimehino was not very happy. Hidoko had made him do all sorts of silly things yesterday, and one day was enough. But it was true, his reiki seemed to be more than abundant now. He sat on the matted floor, and finally Hidoko came out of the room, with a really big looking guy.

"All country champion," Hidoko told him. "Specialising in judo."

Tajimehino looked at the guy, who glared back at him. He was wearing green ninja clothes, which was pretty revolting for such a ugly guy like him.

"Actually, if you can't defeat him, you're really lousy."

The big guy glared at Hidoko. "Well, what big words, lady. If he loses you're dead meat as well."

"Oh, don't be so fierce," Hidoko gave him the big eyes look. "I think you'd better start now."

Tajimehino got into fighting position. The big guy roared, and charged. In a moment Tajimehino leapt over the guy and gave him a elbow charge. The guy immediately doubled over, and fell down. Tajimehino then punched him a series of times and the guy conked out in gore.

Hidoko was staring wide eyed at the guy, then at Tajimehino, who was looking at his own hands in awe. "I can't believe you defeated him just like that, Tajimehino."

"I can't too." He replied, coming out of shock.

Hidoko smiled and patted him on the back. "Now you have to fight me. I'm a full fledged A-class here, with capability of becoming an S-classed within a month of fighting. But I think you'll lose."

Tajimehino crouched, and Hidoko laughed. "That will have to be till four days later or so, by your standards."

They got outside into the car, a full blizzard was now storming. Kurama waited at the driver's seat, and drove away into town.

***

"Come out, you youkais!" Hidoko shouted, when they reached a deserted alley. Laughter, laughter that was full of evil, was heard. And a few youkai came out.

Tajimehino almost puked. They looked grosteque, and he wondered how strong they were.

"Well," Hidoko smiled coldly at them. "If you can win him, you get to eat his flesh. That's what you want, don't you? To devour human's flesh."

Tajimehino almost fell down right then. "Hidoko…"

"Don't worry, you will surely win them. If not, Kurama and I will help."

Tajimehino glanced at Kurama nervously, and he nodded. So he crouched into position, and they charged at him. He luanched a series of fire attacks, much to his own surprise that he could actually do that, and many burn in agony. Two was left, and they bore much humanoid shapes than the rest.

"Careful, Taji! They're stronger than the rest."

He nodded, and dodged as they attacked. He kicked, and one flew back, while the other dodged and gave a charge of lightning. Tajimehino leapt from it, and made a ring of fire around the youkai, who leapt from it. Immediately he fired a firebolt, and the youkai fell back into the fire walls, which had spread. Suddenly, a youkai hit him from behind, and he felt himself falling back into the flames. The heat was getting closer and more intense…

He landed in someone's arms. A green whip of thorns slashed out and the youkai was in halves. He saw, as the person set him down, that it was Kurama. He had wielded the whip with his hair, as he had done in the tournament.

"Are you okay?" Kurama asked, his green eyes spelling worry and concern.

Tajimehino looked into Kurama's eyes, and felt his heart melt. "I'm fine…" He felt his eyelids lower, and both their faces got nearer. Just then, a voice was heard, and both of then looked up to see a man in purple scowl at them.

"Were you the ones who killed my disciples?" A liquid voice asked.

"Who are you?!" Kurama took a rose in his hand.

"You have no need to know my name!" He charged at them, and both of them dodged. Tajimehino threw forth a few fire bolts, and Kurama summoned his whip. Hidoko stood in her corner, watching. The man got away from the first few fire bolts, but not the last two. The youkai staggered back, and Kurama slashed his whip and cut the youkai into many pieces.

"Bravo~~!" Hidoko clapped her hands. "You know, you fight with him better than you did with Hiei or me."

"What are you talking about, Hidoko!" Kurama turned red.

"If that youkai hadn't appeared, what would you have done?" She laughed, and they both blushed.

***

"You went on an expedition just for that?" Yusuke was not exactly pleased. "We are investigating about Hiei's father, and you go around just to prove Koenma lousier than Hidoko? Well, we need--"

"It's not like we would not meet up with them, and besides, travelling about is better than staying in one place for a few hours a day." Hidoko glared at Yusuke, who did likewise.

"Cool it, guys." Kurama said. "Purposefully looking for the target most probably will make the youkai more concious, since Hiei's Dad has Jyagan. Most probably he wants to come to Hiei when he is alone, and you can't lay an ambush since Jyagans can find out. But leaving Hiei alone here will be too dangerous."

"Baka, it's not as if I can't defend myself."

"But, Hiei, he is definitely strong, or he would not have lived this long. I would have said that this is far stronger than you might ever think, Hiei." Kurama looked at him into his eyes, wishing that he wiould just shut up and listen.

"Do you think he will attack me?" Hidoko asked, suddenly. "What if I stay with Hiei?"

"You've lived with him for your lifetime, haven't you?" Koenma asked suddenly. "You've known him all your life, haven't you?"

"I think so, I have a vague memory, but I don't clearly remember everything." Hidoko replied.

"Do you still remember his face?"

"Yes."

"Okay, it's settled. After two weeks, if he still hasn't appeared yet, we will use them as bait. Fine?"

Everyone nodded silently.

***

Tajimehino had killed many A-classed youkais by the end of the week, and Hidoko was not very satisfied, since he was only a few steps from S-classed. Kurama had grown tired to be their chaffuer, buit he had not protested very much since he loved both the youko and the human, and if anything, love is patient, no matter how wilful the latters are.

So he sat there, in the driver's seat, while Tajimehino had another hard battle with another A-classd youkai. He wanted dearly to go and help, but Hidoko had locked him in, and he did not want to break his father's spare car. Tajimehino was having a bad time, but he struggled on, to Kurama's grief that this mere human was fighting with such a strong youkai, and Tajimehino was bleeding, not very much to say the least, but his heart broke for him. But he knew, no matter how heart breaking, Tajimehino needed to fight and grow, and that was no matter how painful his wounds. Since Tajimehino was a human, he was not a fast healing person, and Kurama would help to heal him, and it would please him when he saw Tajimehino smile at him and tell him that he was alright.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Author's notes…

Kurama's being very Christ-like here…

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

He watched, as Tajimehino won another battle against the youkai, to find himself against another one. "Be vigilant," He wanted to say to him, because one after another would the youkai come after him. "Please don't let them defeat you, to your own destruction…"

Tajimehino seemed to understand what he was trying to tell him, and he was happy enough to see Tajimehino's eyes light up with desire to fight on and win the battle, to conquer the obstacles which came against him and his victory.

And Tajimehino won, with more ease, before another sprung out before him, and fought stronger than before, and Kurama's eyes almost slid shut in pain when he saw Tajimehino get hit. Tajimehino won, as before, with his fire and strength, the fire and strength that glowed through him as something stronger lead him to fight. Was it his life force, or was it stronger than the life force? Kurama didn't know, and he was not about to question it much. What he did not know was that Tajimehino fought so hard because he loved Kurama and did not want to see Kurama in grief. Kurama would grief at his wounds, and he knew that Kurama would grief more for him should he fail in his conquest. Thus, it was love for Kurama that gave him strength, because Kurama loved him, he loved Kurama more and more. It could be said that Kurama was the force behind his success.

***

"Tajimehino!" a familiar voice rang out and Tajimehino turned his head, and saw a girl with flaming red hair like Shimeto's and Kurama's running towards him.

"Who are you?" Tajimehino asked, ready to fight should it be a necessity.

"I'm Shimeto's sister, and I want you to know…"

"Leave me alone," He turned his back upon her and pain for Shimeto sounded in his heart again.

"I'm sorry," She said, and placed a hand on his shoulder, but he shook it away. "She's on her death bed now, and she wants to see you."

"Go away."

"Please, come with me, I beg…" She began to weep.

Kurama looked at the lady, barely twenty, with lines on her face from weeping. "I think you'd better go, Taji…"

"No…" Tajimehino shook, and Kurama realised how deep had his hurt been from his encountance with Shimeto. "She hates me, gods, and now you want me to go now so that she can tell me how much she hates me?"

"No, she doesn't hate you, Tajimehino. She said that you were the only one whom she'd ever loved and needed."

"Liar!"

"I think you both have a lot to say to each other, Taji…" Kurama said, and Tajimehino turned to look at him.

"Would you mind?"

"I may be jealous at times, but I understand that you need to see her now."

"I…"

"Here, I'll take you to the hospital." Shimeto's sister took him by the hand and lead him away.

"Are you sure you don't mind, Kurama?" Hidoko finally spoke up.

"I… I mind, but he needs to see her."

"Really, Kurama, you're full of compassion."

"Huh. I'm just a selfish idiot who's learnt not to be anymore."

Hidoko smiled. "Let's drive back to your home, Kurama."

***

There they sat, around Shimeto's death bed, and she had not awakened from her sleep yet. Finally, she stirred, and Tajimehino looked down sadly. In his mind was confusion, and the unsettlement.

She opened her eyes, her light blue eyes, and looked at Tajimehino.

"Taji, forgive me… I never knew how much it meant to say 'I love you', and now I've finally understood I have to go…" Her body shook with agony, and Tajimehino realised how much it pained him to see her unwell. "I… Love you, Taj…"

In addition, her hand, her hand, which had been reaching his face, fell, and her eyes slid closed forever. He grabbed her hand, and put it against his face, telling himself that it was not real, see, she was there, but her hand remained cold no matter how he tried to convince himself.

Shimeto's sister was crying aloud, and he felt a tear rolling down his own cheek. He said nothing, and left the room.

***

Kurama knew not what to say, so he said nothing. Hidoko stalked about the room, and said nothing, too. The tension was almost overwhelming.

Finally, Kurama opened his golden mouth and asked, "What's your name?"

Shimeto's sister smiled wanly. "Shimegirou."

"Nice name," Hidoko smiled. "This is Kurama and I am Hidoko."

"I'm Shimeto's elder sister."

Kurama wanted to ask how old Shimeto was, but again he resolved not to ask. Tajimehino covered his mouth with his hand, and said nothing.

"If only Shimeto hadn't met Tajimehino, then everything would not have ended up like this." Shimegirou said, her dark teal eyes sparkling with pain.

Tajimehino could tell that Shimeto meant a lot to her, and again he said nothing. He was sad that Shimeto had gone, but he never did get to ask why had she looked at him that way she did when they met for the second last time. He never did get to ask her many things, but then now was too late.

"I'm sorry, if only I hadn't asked her to go to the woods and left her there. If only… If only she hadn't met you, she would not have caused you so much pain."

"But it was not your fault,. And it was nobody's. I would go through it again, for it brought me so much happiness, and I met Kurama had it not been for her."
"But…"

"The sadness, the pain she had given me was worth it, Shimegirou." He closed his eyes. "Besides, she taught me love."

***

It was Syuichi. The red hair, one which half of the youko has, and the green eyes, which he possessed one of which. The green eyes were filled with anger, pain, sadness, torment… If only everything could rush out, it would have been able to destroy the whole world. The hair, flaming, leaping like flames in the wind, could have sent anyone into a trance…

Would he have given everything just to save this selfish youko? This youko, who robbed him of his righteous place, who robbed him of the love which he should have gotten… If only he could tear this youko down, like he wished to before cutting him to a thousasnd pieces and burning him into ashes. And if that was not enough, he would… There was no end to it, no end to his torture. If he had been born, he would have known what it felt like to receive mother's love, to have a happy family… If he had been born, he would have met Tajimehino.

Now he was just a phantom, and no one would acknowledge his presence; he was a spirit, but he was not even whole. Oh, what torment had the youko given him!

Tears fell down, as he saw how Tajimehino hugged the body which he should have gotten, which would have been his should he have been born… It was not the first time he had cried. The other time was when Shiori put her Syuichi to bed, and sung to him the song… That was when her Syuichi was having a high fever of forty degrees and couldn't do anything but lie in bed, and she had been with him the whole day long. And he watched, the whole day long, feeling such loneliness that he felt then. Such grief, such deprivation.

"I swear I'd kill you, youko, and regain my righteous place…"

***

Kurama woke up to a headache, he climbed up unsteadily. The whole room filled with underwater float, and he could not see very well. But once he knew what he wanted to do, he got up, made the beds, brushed his teeth, and got out, expecting to see Hidoko and Tajimehino waiting at the breakfast table, laughing and chatting.

But he saw Shiori, the whole family, including him, at the table. He called out, but nobody answered him.

"I seem to hear someone call me," Shiori said.

"Nonsense, you must be dreaming," Kazuya laughed heartily, and they ate.

"Why?" Kurama felt his eyes begin to well up with tears. "What has happened?"

But they continued to eat, unaware of his presence. Finally, Shiori took everything into the sink to wash, and Syuichi went to help. Kurama could only watch; though he tried to touch them, he could not even feel them.

"Mum!" He called out. "Please, listen to me…"

Suddenly, bitter laughter was heard. "You have deprived me of my righteous place, what should have been mine you have taken away. How could you? Not only you threw me out, you devoured half of my soul so that I could not reincarnate. You made me nothing! You wicked youko!"

Understanding dawned upon him, and he whispered, "Syuichi?"

"Who else, you bastard!" The bitter voice rang out with hatred so thick that it made him motionless. "You deprived me of everything! You took away my mother's love, and now you must take away my beloved, one whom I have loved in the last life!"

"But…!"

"No buts! That was what you did, don't you deny it." And Syuichi called forth intense fire, intense fire which devoured everything.

Including Kurama.

Kurama howled in pain, and Syuichi laughed. "That's just a little payback, you damn youko!"

Kurama felt his flesh protest, and got ready to slip away when the fire disappeared. In fact, Syuichi was thinning away. "No, how could this be? NOOO~~~~~~~~~~~~~~!"

Then Kurama saw a faded glowing ball. Understanding dawned upon him as he knew what had happened. After all, one and a half soul was stronger than half. He reached out, and felt warmth.

***

"Kurama, it's already ten, you pig!" Hidoko stormed into his room and made a huge racket. It was the racket which Kurama woke up to, and he wished he was deaf.

"I know!" Kurama yelled. "Now SHUT UP and may God bless you!"

"THANK YOU!"

"Okay, you two." Tajimehino, who was by the side, shook his head at the quarrelsome duo. He was trying very hard not to laugh at them, but if he didn't he would have burst. Yet if he did, they would murder him. "Quit it."

Kurama cooled down and Hidoko stuck her tongue out at him.

"Yo, Tajimehino, what have you prepared for breakfast?" Kurama brightened up.

"Eggs, ham, cereal, beef bacon…" He rambled on about the list, and Kurama decided that he was going to lose some weight before Shiori came back or she would never recognise him.

They went to the dining hall, and they sat down. Kurama remembered his dream… Was it a dream? Or was it true? Somehow, he knew it was true. And he had some memories, flashes in his mind. Of Tajimehino, and himself. He could see Tajimehino doing the things he had so desired in his wildest dreams, and simple things such as smiling and reaching out to touch his face. He shook; obviously something came between him and his memory. It was no dream, he realised, he felt so much fuller now. He knew that his human side was complete as well as his youko side… And his love for Tajimehino seemed so much stronger now.

"What are you thinking about, Kurama? What's bothering you?"

"Nothing…" Kurama looked up to see a worried Tajimehino looking across the table at him. "Really, I am fine."

"If there is something he can't cope with, he will come to us automatically. Don't worry, Taji."

Tajimehino glanced at him uncertainly and resumed eating.

***

Hiei was not very happy when he realised that they were going to use him as bait. But he knew that if he never sacrificed, his father might never appear. So he allowed himself to be relented to everyone's begging, and he was soon left alone on top of a building, with his idiot sister.

Hidoko was very excited to think of her father, but she could not remember who was he. She almost bounced off the ceiling bouncing about, and Hiei wondered how on earth could she be his sister. Maybe it was all a horrible mistake.

Sudddenly, a man came out. A man with blood red eyes and hair standing as Hiei's did, yet with the pony tail at the bottom back of his head. Instead of a white thatch, his was silver and it gleamed in the sunlight. He was wearing a great cape over ringed mail, and it made his form seem greater.

"Hiei… My child…" He stepped forward. "I have been looking after you since the day you were born do you know that?"

Hiei unsheathed his sword. "Then why, why had you not acknowledged me and let me be abused by my step-father?" There was deep bitterness in his voice.

"No, Hiei… I could not. I had an oath with your mother that I could not meet you, not until you have grown up. She thought that she could escape from Koorime land, but they killed her. She did not want the Koorime to kill me, and I agreed." His father looked sad. Hidoko looked from aside, for once keeping silent.

"You cared more for an oath than your child?!" Hiei lost his cool and prepared to leap away, when his father grabbed his wrist.

"I loved her, Hiei, and I never say something I never meant." He patted Hiei's hair, and Hiei squirmed. Hidoko laughed at Hiei's discomfort.

Hiei threw a dagger look at Hidoko and proceeded to shake him away. He let go, and Hiei fled away from his past.

Her father cast a helpless glance at her. "Hidoko…"

"Father?"

"Have you forgotten about me? You've never called me 'father'."

"Well, I've gotten amnesia."

"Hopefully you will get healed someday." He placed a hand on Hidoko's Jyagan and Hidoko felt warmth radiate from his hand. Suddenly she remembered her encounters with her father, how she ran away from home to be with Kurama, how her father never deserted her. Her father was faithful, even when she was not, and he always helped her whenever she was in trouble. Still, she had turned her back upon him, as Hiei had did. Hidoko was tear-stricken when she remembered the things she had done to hurt her father.

"I will never do that again, Father…" Hidoko cried, and he placed a hand on her shoulder.

"It's never too late to come back, Hidoko. I was waiting for you all along." Her father held out a hand.

"But Father," Hidoko withdrew her hand, "Please, come with us. Kurama-san's a good person, and he has changed. We have many good friends here. Please, Father, come."

"No… I can never be with others like that." He turned away. "But remember, I will always be here for you."

***

Hiei refused to look at anyone of them. Hidoko was still crying in Kurama's arms, and Tajimehino sat by a side and looked at the ground.

"So, Hiei, what has happened?"

Hiei kept silent, and Hidoko resumed crying.

"Hidoko," Tajimehino placed a hand on her shoulder. "Perhaps you could tell us what happened?"

Hidoko looked up from Kurama's chest and began to relate, between sobs.

"What a good father," Kurama said with envy, upon remembering his own step father. Tajimehino said nothing, and Yusuke and Kuwabara went silent.

"If he was that good, why did he leave me to be…" Hiei shouted, and, in great confusion, fled.

"Hiei…!" Yusuke shouted, and Kurama stared blankly at the window.

***

Shimegirou looked at Tajimehino, and sighed. "It's Shimeto's birthday. Would you like to go to her tomb to wish her 'happy birthday'?"

Tajimehino hesitated a moment before nodding.

"Let me come with you, Taji." Kurama stood up and they drove over to a graveyard somewhere in the south of Japan and Shimejirou knelt in front of a tomb inscribed "Shimeto". As Tajimehino knelt down, he remembered one thing. Shimeto had said that her birthday was in Autumn!

"Shimegirou! Why did you lie to me?" Tajimehino leapt up, but suddenly someone grabbed him from behind.

"You looked exactly like your mother, my beautiful child…" A smooth voice said, and Tajimehino could see nothing as darkness descended upon him.

Kurama prepared his rose whip, and suddenly he saw himself in a timeless void where there were rocks. A dark figure appeared, and rocks went flying at him. He dodged, and suddenly lost his foothold. He fell…

***

Hiei sprang up of his seat. Something was definitely wrong, yet he could not place a finger on what. He tried to figure out, but something was almost screaming at him. So loud that he could almost hear the 'help' imprinted in his soul. So loud…

He could not bear anymore. He ran away, to what he saw in his Jyagan's sight. To a grave yard.

***

Hidoko could see a graveyard, and Shimegirou. She could see Kurama being attacked mentally, and she shouted, "Yusuke! Kuwabara! Something's up!"

***

He arrived at the graveyard, and saw nothing. There was no youki left there, nothing. He stood there wondering what to do when suddenly, in his Jyagan's sight, he saw a familiar place. A place he had entered as a thief before and barely came out alive.

The Golden Palace.

He rushed towards the barrier, towards Makai. Frantically he sent a mental thought over to Hidoko, Yusuke, and Kuwabara to go to the Golden Palace of Shojiku in Makai. "Look for Mukuro, and ask her for directions if you need to. Hurry!"

***

They had ran, when suddenly they heard Hiei's mental cry.

"Mukuro…" Hidoko shrieked in horror. "No way!"

***

Kurama woke up to see bars. He was in a prison somewhere he had been to before, somewhere he had tried to enter and got locked in as a thief to be prosecuted. If not for someone who looked exactly like Hiei, he would have been dead long ago. He scanned the area a bit, and remembered how he had been helped.

(flashback)

The Golden Palace was famous for its golden pillars, its golden walls, even golden ceiling. Inside was a diamond sword, the ledgendary diamond sword which could cut through even the hardest Makai substance, as if it were doufu. Kurama had heard of it before, and had very much wanted to steal it, figuring that he and Hidoko might be able to migrate to Ningenkai after selling it. If they migrated to Ningenkai… How would they live! But it would depend on whether Hidoko would want to go with him or not.

He planned by himself. Hidoko was being a spy for Reizen to spy on Mukuro, and he was very free these years. He managed to buy the plan of the building from some society, and it was very reliable. It showed all the secret passages there were, and he decided to go through one of the secret doors.

He had been hiding his youki all along and somehow managed to lower it again when reaching the second passage way. After reaching the hallway containing the diamond sword, he glanced around. Nobody was there, and he quickly slipped into a small room. There was not a soul around, and he easily got into the room containing the diamond sword. The diamond sword was easily put into a glass case, and Kurama smashed it easily, but nets shot out from somewhere around the room and he was trapped like a butterfly in a spider web.

When he woke up, he was in a damp cold room. It smelt of blood, and there were dry blood everywhere.

"Try to steal, my diamond sword, huh? You've got it on yourself, youko," A deep voice sounded, and powerful youki was felt. Very, VERY powerful youki…

Kurama felt every cell of his body freeze as Lasle, the owner of the Golden Palace stepped in, a hand holding a sword… A sword which radiated light and glamour and almost swallowed him with a strong sense of peril. A sword with a white metal blade and a diamond embedded into the hilt of the sword.

The diamond sword. Lasle took it, fondling it like a lover.

"I shall not kill you with it," He said. "You're unworthy of its wounds." With a move of his hand a secret door opened and two youkai came out, two youkai one holding a flail and another holding a cleaver. Both weapons set to kill and both youkai set to demoralise.

***

Kurama was not in much shape already. His body was burnt badly, his face held bruises, his ear was broken but that was not really all. His bottom was hurting and so was his front. The torn tissues of his anus had not stopped bleeding from the abuse and he had gotten held up so much that he thought his organ was about to explode after being masturbated and not freed from its release. So much pain and no release. He never thought living would hurt until they came into his life.

For the first time he regretted having come, having heard about the diamond sword and even having decided to be a thief in the first place.

He had even begged to be killed, but they would not let him die. They thought he was more than contrite but they did not know that he was waiting to be freed. So, when they were finally done and ready to leave him to die, Murahana was sent in to execute him and feed on his soul.

Kurama had heard of Murahana before and was not very pleased when he knew that he was going to have an encounter with that Jyaganist. Not in this way, anyway. He had heard that the soul of the youkai would burn into energy for Murahana to make fire attacks and he did not fancy much being turned into something to cook food.

When he first saw Murahana, he was surprised at the youkai's look. Somehow, he had looked familiar, but that was okay. He almost mistook that man for the Forbidden Child; he had seen him before in a ice-crystal which he stole many years ago. Rumours had it that the Forbidden Child was small but this man was huge. Murahana had a white star thatch like the koorime's and the Jyagan was staring deep into the depths of one's soul, as if ready to probe deep inside and search inside. Those blood red eyes spoke of wisdom and knowledge beyond his ages and there was something special about his aura.

Kurama only watched as the Jyaganist walked up to him and placed his Jyagan to his bruised forehead. Opening his eyes to find out that he was not gone as he had expected, Kurama wondered what this man was up to this time.

"You have to live," Murahana told the battered youko. "You're going to have a special encounters with special people, just so to complete both your lives. It's not fate's will for you to die yet. I can still see your future beyond this prison."

Kurama wondered what this Jyaganist was talking about.

"I'll help you out. Don't you dare come back," Murahana's Jyagan glowed with immnse light and Kurama felt himself dematerialising.

"Wait! What…" Kurama shouted, in a desperate attempt to ask about Murahana, but in vain.

(End of flashback)

It was the same prison where he had met Murahana, he realised. Exact same spot, even the splashes of blood were the same.

Perhaps he had gone back in time to that place, he realised. But no… He could still see red bangs getting into his eyes. Not his youko form. Suddenly, he remembered Tajimehino. He gasped as he realised tht the human might already be dead. Frantically he tugged at the chains which held him to place immoblie, to no avail as there were wards. And he was going to be tortured all over again, he thought.

The secret door opeened and Kurama got ready to be tortured. But instead of the previous two youkai coming in, he saw Murahana. "Mura-sama, will you tell me what happened?" Kurama asked.

He nodded. "The Fairy King wanted to get back his son from Ningenkai."

"What?" Kurama's eyes were wide. "Taji-chan…?!"

"Yeah." Murahana replied. "I helped him because he's strong."

"Why?"

"Because the Fairy King's strong," Murahana repeated. "I like strong people."

"But…" Kurama sputtered. "Why must he capture me? Why must he ask Shimegirou to con us? Why can't he just appear and tell Tajimehino that he's his father?"

"Would you have let him gone like that? Would any human believe that they're the offsprings of fairies?"

Kurama swallowed hard, as those questions tumbled in his head. "I suppose not."

"I'll have to kill you," Murahana told him, "As it's orders. In front of Tajimehino. Though Hiei and Hidoko will be sad…"

Kurama felt a lump in his throat. He was going to die? In front of Tajimehino? "No… Tajimehino will stop that fairy."

"It will depend," Murahana said gravely. "I'm not the one to make decisions."

Kurama went limp, yet he was wondering about how Tajimehino was. "How's Tajimehino now?"

"I'll show you," Murahana placed a large hand on Kurama's forehead. "Take part of my Jyagan… But you will not be able to escape, so don't waste it."

***

"Hidoko?" Yusuke demanded, as Hidoko fell to the snow on the ground, her brain bombarded with images of her past. Bombarded with images of Mukuro torturing her, after she was found out to be Raizen's spy. That horrible deformed creature, onto her, tearing her…No, she was not going to Mukuro. No…!

"If you're not going to ask her, we're going to." Kuwabara said grimly. "Our friends' lives are at stakes here. Surely Kurama means a lot to you, and don't tell me you've never thought of Tajimehino as friend?"

Hidoko bore a fang but said nothing.

"Very well," Yusuke said. "We'll leave you here."

And they left, as Hidoko sat on the snow, reliving her horrid past.

***

"Hn, I could have sworn that this was the way…" Hiei muttered. The city was just too big, he thought. If only he could reduce them all but the stupid Golden Palace into ashes… He'd better not. The Golden Palace would just melt under the heat unless there was a barrier.

Barrier… That's it! There might have been a kekkai around him, giving him illusions… Damn!

***

Tajimehino woke up to see a different ceiling. He decided to go back to sleep, after all, maybe he was just dreaming that he woke up. Nowhere on earth could have a different ceiling, and he was not wasting his brain cells' rest just to see some fake gold which would never be when he woke up.

"You're awake, my dear," A smooth silky voice was heard echoing through the metalic walls.

"Kurama…" he murmered. Suddenly, jolting up, he realised that it could not be Kurama's voice. Kurama's was less sexy than that, much softer and warmer. "Who are you?"

He saw a beautiful man, a man with pointed ears and butterfly wings. Long turquoise hair flowed their way down to his lower legs, seductive blue-gray eyes with long lashes looked their way at him. Those pale rose-pink lips were full, smiling with a somewhat sinister pleasure. His skin was pale, so pale that they could have been snow-white. He was wearing a silkish white blouse which was unbuttoned, tied by a knot at the upper stomach, leaving to show his abdomen muscles. His pants was silkish white, too, a bit baggy, but in a sense, sexy as well. He was bare footed, and Tajimehino noticed, that his nails and toenails were painted pale turquoise.

Tajimehino held his breath, feeling his heart beats race faster and his face flush.

"Hi, Taji-koishii." The man said, his seductive face drawing nearer to Tajimehino. Tajimehino felt his breath almost stop then, and his heart told him that it would not stand any more. "I am your only blood-related person left in the world, Taji-koishii. I am your only father."

Tajimehino's heartbeat stopped right then, as the man leaned forward, and their lips met. Tajimehino felt his father's soft lips all over his, pressed against, sucking, tongue darting out once in a while to tease his upper lip. Tajimehino felt his eyes slide shut, as his body pressed forward, back arched, hands pressed against his father's back, feeling the soft material of the cloth, the knot at the front freeing itself.

Tajimehino felt himself fall backwards, as his father gently lay him down. The bigger man began to undo his robe, and Tajimehino realised that his father had changed his clothes for him while he was sleeping. His hand took hold of a bundle of liquid turquoise hair, fingering it for a moment. The man tugged his robe over his shoulders, showing his slender yet beautiful body, which no one had ever ventured before.

"Taji, my beautiful child…" His father's smooth hands took hold of the back of his neck and head, as his father, continued to kiss him, and he felt heat begin to flush his face. The fairy kissed his nose, his cheeks, his forehead, his temples, his ears, licking, sucking, seemingly all at once, leaving wet traces on his soft skin.

Tracing his jawline to his neck after having tasted his earlobes, he moved to kiss his neck, and the young boy threw his head back, moans escaping his lips.

He moved his way down to his plate, kissing the naked skin covering the bone, drawing his teeth lightly over those curves, kissing down again, tracing the bumps and crevasses of his muscular chest, down, to his right nipple, and Tajimehino moaned as his father teased his nipple, wetting it, drawing, nipping it gently, causing it to be erect. Tajimehino could feel flames, searing hot flames travel up his body and from his chest, his hand gripping the turquoise hair tighter, his other hand grabbing at the sheets.

The fairy laughed to himself, as he did likewise to the other nipple and Tajimehino squirmed against the sheets, his back arching as if trying to escape the sheets' reality. This boy is much better than his mother. His hands moved from the bed to pull away Tajimehino's robe completely, then, traced his spine, making the boy shiver in delight. His hands moved down, and he watched Tajimehino's beautiful face, sweat trickling off his brows, which were raised in ecstatic passion.

He moved his fingers down to the upper of Tajimehino's butt, tracing the begginning of his curve, feeling his tender skin under his hands. A hand moved to cup a round of his bottom, the other hand supporting his back. He traced his name on the other, giggling softly as Tajimehino, his child, squirmed against his nail. Chanovy. Satisfied, he moved his fingers down to the side, carressing and tickling his sides, as the boy moaned in reply, his sweat-slicked skin gettting wetter.

His hands found the front of his theighs, and half-carressing, he parted his legs, hearing stifled moans from the former, as he parted it more and more, revealing softer flesh. His hands held Tajimehino's theighs in place as he licked at his inner theigh, making the youth's face flush redder as his heart beats went faster and faster and his breaths came in short gasps. He continued to lick his way back, turning the young man around gently, licking at the ring of muscles, extracting a soft cry from the young man, and licked his way back, stopping only for a few moments to turn the young man back.

He took pleasure in tasting the skin of his son, licking at the places around his length.

This boy is mine. Taji-koishii will be mine, both in body and soul…

***

Kurama felt a warm glow to his forehead, as Murahana's ki flowed in to form a warm shape of a almond Jyagan on his forehead. The instant Murahana's hand left his forehead, he felt extreme power, as if he would suddenly be able to kill everyone simply by letting off a kokuryuha. But his green eyes opened a little and Murahana shook his head. Kurama trusted this man, though he was not going to be freed this time.

He concentrated on Tajimehino, and suddenly he could see, as if from a corner of the room. The first thing that registered in his mind was turquoise hair. Turquoise waterfall spilling all over the bed, onto the floor. Then, he saw something among those hair. White cloth. White cloth over the bed and white pants forming the figure of someone. Skin. Pale skin on top of a familiar shade. He willed his sight to move closer, and it did, till it seemed as if he was watching from above. He saw a familiar face written with pleasure. A familiar body writhing with pleasure, sweat-slicked with heat. A familiar hand grasping the turquoise hair, another familiar hand clutching the sheets. An unfamiliar figure over him, licking at his theighs, moving, licking, hands holding his theighs, arms pressed against his legs.

He shut it off, feeling his heart being ripped into pieces. Feeling his inner self die, as the emptiness returned to engulf him as it had tried to before.

***

Amidst the blankets of passion he could hear someone's cry. His eyes opened with a jerk. "Kurama…?"

Chanovy looked up from his licks. "What is it, Taji-koishii?" his soft voice seductive, ready to lure his son back into his embrace.

"Kurama~"

"He's not here," Chanovy purred, his deep sexy voice reassuring. "Don't think about him." With that, he leaned forward to kiss his son, to try to get him back, but Tajimehino suddenly let go of his hair and the sheets and shoved the turquoise haired fairy away.

"No," He breathed. "I can't." With that, the boy crawled his way out of the large bed, searching for his clothes.

"Do you really care about Kurama that much?" His father asked, his voice with less magnet and more authority.

Tajimehino faced his father, eyes accusing and sharp, realising that he was the one who held both of them captive. "What have you done to him?!"

"Nothing much," The fairy replied, tying his blouse back in place. "But left him with the soul feeder. Maybe half of his soul will be gone, who knows, and he will just be a zombie. Or maybe he'll be just a dead corpse ready to rot."

Tajimehino glared at him with such hate and venom that he almost killed his heart. "I hate you."

"Well, you'd better have a good rest for the great ball later. Not to worry, your Kurama will be fine. He will show up at the ball for a ceremony. Hah… and maybe you will give him up. I promise, by then…" He closed the door, and a lock sounded, followed by some muttering.

Wards! Damn.

***

Hiei found out that he had been walking for hours, but he was still in the same place. There really was a kekkai! He would have to deal with it himself. All kekkais have weak points, he knew, and he was going to break this kekkai no matter what. He opened his Jyagan and searched, getting so damn desperate. Who knew, Kurama was dead. Damn! He could not spot any.

Then, suddenly he heard a voice. "Hi, Hiei."

"Hidoko!" Hiei exclaimed, surprised.

"I followed your Jyagan. Here, let me find."

Hiei stood by a side whilst Hidoko's Jyagan opened, creating a whirlpool of youki around her. Hiei felt his eyes widen as he felt the force of her youki hit him, like their father's yet in a sense was not. Fire swirled their way around them, burning, and somehow the kekkai caught fire with Hidoko's flames, burning, till it disintegrated into golden dust.

And, in front of them, stood a dazzling sight-- a gold mansion-- The Golden Palace.

***

Tajimehino looked as Chanovy entered, holding a large elaborate chest.

"Here… Taji-koishii…" Chanovy smiled seductively. "Your clothes for the ball."

Tajimehino glanced at him, still in his robe, his hair a mess, his eyes filled with despair and hatred.

"Let's go and bathe," Chanovy ushered him into a built in bath room. "Come, my child."

Tajimehino walked up wordlessly and went into the bathroom, with Chanovy ushering him. Without a word Chanovy closed the bathroom door, and for once Tajimehino realised that the bathroom was just as big as the room outside. It had a large golden Jacuzzi and a space for shower, with two stools at a side. But the size was not really the matter. The whole room was filled with big, beautiful bubbles, rising up with the steam. Everything was shining and seemed like a dream. It was so beautifful, it almost took his breath away. But he remembered Kurama's smile, and told himself that nothing could outshine the redhead's beauty, and he meant it.

A tear rolled down as he sat in the Jacuzzi with Chanovy, barely noticing his father's wings sliding away into nothingness and his father's sexy body. All he knew was that Kurama would die, and he would not live without Kurama. He could not live without Kurama…

The fairy suddenly held Tajimehino tightly, pressed him close to his body. A hand roamed to sift through his short golden hair which looked as if on fire. Chanovy began kissing his neck, kissing the wet skin, feeling the feel of his soft skin with his lips.

"Father…" Tajimehino suddenly said. "If I renounce my love for Kurama, will you let him go?" His indigo eyes staring into nothingness even as they met Chanovy's.

"If you so wish, my child… You know how much I love you… Just as I loved your mother, Taji-koishii." His lips resumed to kiss his shoulder blade, moving, moving…

"Thank you…" He closed his eyes and let himself go limp against the Jacuzzi. Nothing mattered anymore, so long as Kurama was alright… Kurama…

***

"New orders, Kurama." Murahana told Kurama. "Chanovy-sama wants me to kill you now."

Kurama closed his green eyes sadly. Tajimehino must have given in to that turquoise-haired man. After all, that man was quite beautiful… Maybe Tajimehino had found his keep, after all. "Go on."

***

Hidoko led the way, going, going, till they reached the dungeons. "Here's Kurama. I'm going up to find Tajimehino."

"You're not going anywhere," A female voice was heard. They turned, to see Shimegirou.

"Why are you doing this?" Hidoko demanded. "Your sister loved Tajimehino!"

"No, Shimeto was just an illusion from Chano-sama. All the while Tajimehino was just in his mind, throughout summer."

"What…?" Hidoko gasped.

"You bastards!" Hiei shouted, charging at Shimegirou. "ENSATSU~~~~~~~ KOKURYUHA!!"

Hidoko's Jyagan opened in ceremony with Hiei's and together, they summoned a dragon. A blazing dragon with golden and black flames, melting everything in its way. Shimegirou was no weakling; she put on a huge fight. The Kokuryuha won, burning her away into ashes and nothing else.

"I hate people who toy with other's feelings," Hiei said. Hidoko gave him a smile and a thumbs-up before running up the stairs.

***

Yusuke and Kuwabara was still waiting by Mukuro's castle. The bitch was supposed to be back in ten days' period. "Now what?"

Yusuke shrugged, pacing worriedly up and down. "Let's ask Yomi."

"But it's in Mukuro's territory," Kuwabara protested. Suddenly, golden fire could be seen in a distance and it disappeared.

"Let's go!" Yusuke shouted, dashing over to the direction of the golden fire. "I think I know where they are!"

***

"Can I sing a song?" Kurama asked, and Murahana nodded.

"Sure."

"Please… Give this piece of memory to Tajimehino, Hidoko and Hiei for me. I want them to know… They had brought so much joy to my life." Kurama could almost hear the pain in his chest thudding, screaming, tearing him apart.

Murahana nodded again, Jyagan wide open.

Kurama began to sing, and it was then Murahana thought he saw wings unfolding from Kurama's back, as the melody flowed out to carress every single thing in that damp depressing dungeon, as his beautiful heart began to pour its tears out.
"Love,
My true love,
Stay by my side always
Love
Only care
Only burden in my heart
Love
Where you've gone
May your light always shine through
Love,
Though you'll laugh
Know that my heart's here for you
Love,
The bird's flight
Depends on Love's wings
Love
Now you've gone
The bird has lost its wings
Love
A bird's wings
A bird singing just for you
But Love
Wet feathers
Can never take flight
Love
I've let go
Strife on just by yourself
Love
Find your keep
And live freely
But love
You may know
That each tear's shed for you
Love
Best beauty
Beauty that I've longed for
Love,
A bird's dream
A bird locked in a cage
Love,
A bird's wish
A bird's key to outside
Love
Call of love
Calling from me to you
Love
Understand
The truest meaning
But Love
Say goodbye
For now you've found your keep
And Love
I will fly
Away from my lifeless keep
Love
The true Love
Melody sings on always
But Love
I'll be gone
Let this song stay by Love~"

Kurama closed his eyes, and felt the Jyagan which Murahana had given him burn. He called out, to Tajimehino, his love, his true love… With that Jyagan and saw Tajimehino's sad eyes, felt Tajimehino's heart, felt his true love returning in an echo, felt Tajimehino's heart singing own song, and in that flash, Kurama had called forth a fairy, a fairy who had always waited for him in that land, that promised land, where angels sing, where loneliness would never be-- He called for the call of death. He felt his wings, as he began to fly away.

"Kurama~~~" Hiei stood by the dungeon door, trying to bash it apart. "Kurama~~~" With his fire attacks he melted the bars, and stepped in, seeing Kurama's eyelids flutter down, seeing two imaginary wings unfolding themselves. Murahana stood by a side, Jyagan wide, glowing, echoing Kurama's song.

"No…" Hiei breathed. Kurama was dying… Dying… He rushed forward, holding Kurama's body, calling out for the bird which wanted freedom so much yet was locked by love. That bird who knew the beauty of love. Flying away with the wings of love, the flight of love, yet had been bounded by love before.

He pressed his Jyagan close, against Kurama's forehead, against Murahana's fading Jyagan, trying to call the bird back. Trying to let him know that Tajimehino would die without him. Trying to let him know that many people would die without him.

How lonely had the bird been then? How lonely, to hear the melody of his own heart? Outside, the snow was storming. Inside, the feathers of love were left floating. Those feathers which would never have been able to enjoy love's flight.

Please, Tajimehino… He tried to reach the empty void of Tajimehino's heart. Answer… With your love for Kurama…

He fell, as his Jyagan imprinted its mark on Kurama's soul, on the birds wings, the love which everyone of those who loved Kurama. The will of the love bounded their mark.

Kurama was held back by their love, by his love for him. With a hesitant move he turned his Jyagan to Tajimehino's mind.

Tajimehino's lips opened and began to sing, from his heart, from his soul, echoing with his mind, forgetting Chanovy's meaningless embrace, only remembering the innocent moments he shared with Kurama.

The power of love was so strong that it overwhelmed every soul there was. The will of love for Kurama to stay…

…And his wings folded, his tears streaming, running down his cheeks, as he broke through the barrier of his body to remember the things which had happened in his last incarnation. Hiei had used up all his Jyagan's strength, and there was Murahana in the room, his Jyagan still wide open.

"The bird is flightless again, but no longer lonely." Murahana said, his expression filled with happiness and sadness mingled together.

Hiei's eyes widened, as Murahana unlocked Kurama, and helped him up.

"Come, my son. Let's look for your love's love."

"The bird's love."

Kurama smiled.

***

Hidoko lay immobile on the steps. Someone had drained her strength as well, from her Jyagan, and she knew very well who it was. Damn, Hiei… Yet it was beautiful, what she felt then as if her love for Kurama had its wings and took flight.

Someone carried her, moving, moving… She hoped it was not the enemy; she had no strength to even open her eyes.

***

"Here, my child, what would you like to wear?" Chanovy asked Tajimehino, whose eyes were still wet, filled with sadness that he had renounced his love for Kurama. But if Kurama lived on… the melody of love played itself again, in his heart. He had not been able to fathom what was the urge from under his conciousness, nor had he been able to understand why he sang the verses, the cries of his heart, as Chanovy had taken away his first time.

He looked at the dresses. Obviously Chanovy had a weird sense of dressing. "They look like a bride's wardrobe," He remarked, half-joking, hoping that he would never have to wear that at all.

"You are a bride."

Chanovy's words chilled him to the bone. But I thought I was his son? Why…? "But…"

"I want you to be mine, Taji-koishii. Mine, in heart, in body, and in soul. Go on, try them."

Tajimehino gasped. Without looking he grabbed one. "Here, let it be this one."

***

Tajimehino sighed. He was getting wed to his father! He would never have believed it, had he not pinched himself and realised that there was actually pain. It was no use. After all, he chose this way. Better Kurama freed and alive than tortured and dead.

He closed his eyes as his father put on his make up for him, as if he was a doll to be played with. His hair had two pleats falling at the front, the rest of his fringe was combed up, held in place by the flower-pins, which also held the shawl up, which would later be concealing his face.

Finally, his father was done, he realised that the person whom he saw in the mirror was not himself. With his eyelashes curled, his lips blood red, his cheeks the color of rose… No, it was not him, not the fighter of himself. She stared back at him, eyes innocent and big, lips like rose petals ready to be kissed, the golden plaits hanging down by her brows, like two curtains letting those light of the eyes shine… God, if he was a girl he would have dated himself instead of Shimeto.

He blushed when he thought of Kurama, and wondered what Kurama would have thought or said. His embarrassment turned to sadness when he knew that he would never be able to see Kurama again.

"Here you go," Chanovy said, holding his bare shoulders. "Now it's time for you to wait." In a blink of an eye he shimmered, and suddenly he was wearing a white tuxedo with a long cape. His long spilling hair was tied in a braid at his back and he looked wonderful. His wings showed themselves behind the cape, translucent, shimmering.

"Let's go to the hall… We have a huge number of guests for our marriadge."

***

Hand in hand they walked up the altar, Tajimehino's eyes still glazed in grief, regretting that he had never been able to tell Kurama what he felt for him, regretted that his first time had been taken by this fairy and not Kurama, regretted that he was not holding hands with Kurama and walking up the hall with Kurama. Yet regret was of no use, he never had the chance anyway.

The number of guests was indeed huge, as Chanovy had said; there were many, many people. Youkai, to be exact. They sat, at their tables, wine in glasses in hands. Among them he saw a familiar figure-- Hidoko! And by his father's right-hand man's side he saw Hiei! He turned his head sadly when he realised that he did not see Kurama.

They walked up the altar, to the Murahana, their "priest".

"Now, as a presentation to you guests before they say their oaths, we shall have a duet for the couple." Murahana said, his Jyagan opening wide. The guests clapped their hands, but Tajimehino and Chanovy did not know that they were about to sing. "Presenting-- 'Love'."

Suddenly Tajimehino knew what to sing. That song he had sung while he was in the Jacuzzi being ravaged by Chanovy, that song he had sung when he remembered Kurama and felt his loneliness. Yes, that melody…

He opened his mouth.
"Love~
The true love
Like feathers in the wind~
Love~
Crying out
With all of my heart…"

Each guest in the hall dropped their drinks and jaws as they heard the beautiful song of love through Tajimehino's lips. Enchanted, by the beauty of both the singer and the song, as the notes swiftly, like the wind, carressed their hearts, as the singer's every moves were fillled with grace and passion of love.

"Love~
Come to me
Sweetly singing all your heart~
That love~
Long lost love
I find in you again…"

Everyone turned as a different voice echoed somewhere in the hall, from behind, as the spotlight of the hall skipped from the couple to a lone figure by the other end. A lone figure in white tuxedo, flaming red hair tied in a braided pony tail behind, the front sidelocks in two braids. A lone figure with wings. Wings of a dove's, wings of the bird of love. A murmer rose from the crowd as everyone turned to admire the bird.

"Nani?!" Chanovy's brows furrowed as he realised that he had been tricked. "Murahana, you traitor…! You ganged up with the enemy against me!"

"Nope… I didn't gang up with the enemy," he smiled. "I ganged up with my children and their friend." A kekkai rose around them, as energy swirled in the air, melting weaker youkai in the hall, unnerving every youkai in the room. Reiki and youki merged, and Chanovy stepped back with a surprised snarl. His reiki of illusion had been turned into nothing by the kekkai!

"No…" He cried, as a golden youko and a black koorime emerged from the crowd and shouted, "ENSATSU~ KOKURYUH…"

Their cries died out when Tajimehino stood between them. "Please, let him go. He's my father."

"Taji…!" Hidoko protested. "He's just a loonatic!

"You're going to die if you don't go away!" Hiei shouted at the stubborn fairy.

"Blood is thicker than water," Tajimehino said. "Spare him."

Chanovy gasped when he saw Tajimehino stand between him and the enemy. "Why?"

Tajimehino took his hand and said, "No why, Father. You're my father even after all you've done."

Kurama stepped forward, shouting, "Taji-chan! He's tried to kill me… Even after you plead for my freedom!"

Tajimehino looked at the two, torn between both men, trying to find understanding in both. Kurama looked at the helplessness in his eyes and nodded symphetically. Murahana sighed and let down his kekkai.

"You're just so soft-hearted, Tajimehino."

The youkai sat still in their seats, too scared to move.

"Now we declare this wedding to be that of Kurama's and Tajimehino's!" Murahana shouted, laughing as Chanovy patted him on the head. "And mine and Chanovy's!"

Hidoko looked at Hiei and made a face.

"Hey, I'm your brother!" Hiei shouted, ready to let out his kokuryuha.

Just as flowers were thrown on the stage, two tired forms burst in. "Look out! We're here to save Tajime…" Their eyes turned big as they saw the stage and the people cheering. "Nani?"

"Hey, Yusuke and Kuwa-san! Join in our wedding parties, too!" Hidoko yelled.

The two flabbergasted figures staggered in.

"And now, for the duet of Tajimehino-chan and Kurama-san!" Murahana shouted into the mike, Chanovy by his side.

The couple looked to find that everyone had hid themselves backstage, with the spot light on them. Blushing, Kurama looked into Tajimehino's eyes and sang.
"Love~
My beauty
When had you took my heart…"

Tajimehino looked back, feeling his face flush.
"Love~
My beloved
You carved it in my soul…"

Their voices blended into one, as if they were one in body and soul, and truly they were one in soul, bonded by the bond of love, together sharing, breathing the white breath of their song.
"Love~
The true love
Blossom of the winter nights…
Love~
The true love
White breath of the winter days~~
Love~
Our song
Singing sweetly in one breath~
Love~
Our bond
Binding the dove and fairy…
Love~
Forever
Sweetly singing in our hearts~~…"

With that, the couple kissed, exchanging their heart's longing, exchanging that breath of love in that kiss, learning to breathe as one, the snow of the winter still falling outside the palace, yet not affecting the white hot breaths they took as one…

***

Murahana sat by the balcony, as Chanovy slept soundly in the room, away from the snow, away from the cold. He had been hiding his feelings for Chanovy for so long… That was why he had abandoned his old master to follow the fairy. Loyalty had never been a low peak point of him. Yet he ganged up against Chanovy as he knew Chanovy was a crazed freak who believed that children were replicas of their mothers, to take the places of their mothers. That was why when he saaw the longing of Chanovy for him in his eyes, Chanovy would turn away. He never agreed with Chanovy about that point, and besides, he wanted to teach Chanovy something. Anyway, Hiei was his son and Hidoko was his daughter.

He had never told anyone of his faithful helper, Ranako. Ranako had was the only one who had seen the gift which his first love gave him. Ranako had helped him to work in his place in the dungeon when he had looked after his first son, who was the forbidden child. Who very much needed his care.

(Flashback)

Ranako rested her head on the wall, the blood stained wall. She was used to it, already, he could tell. "That son of yours… How is he?"

"Not very well… Help me to take care of Chanovy, will you? Ever since he's replaced the old master…"

"I know. You've fallen for him." She laughed, fiddling with her platinum gold curls. "Remember that once I've left you I am no longer in contact with you, for my dream had always been to ravage Ningenkai. We'll be enemies then."

"I have to look for my son." Murahana siad. "He's in Ningenkai recently."

"Maybe I will meet your son," She laughed. "Why are you always so protective of him?"

"This…" He held out a tear gem, the tear gem which she gave him that night.

"Wow, that's beautiful!" Ranako gushed, understanding.

"Here," Murahana held it out, letting Murahana inspect it in her hands.

"Thanks," She returned it to him. "I will help you to take care of Chanovy, don't worry."

(End of flashback)

He went back into the room, and Chanovy stirred, his blue-gray eyes opening to look at Murahana. "Why… Had you chosen to marry me?"

Murahana lay down beside him, his naked form under the bathrobe. His hands travelled over to hug Chanovy's naked form. "I love you."

"Why…?" Chanovy asked, his hands undoing Murahana's belt. "Why do you all…"

"There's no why."

"Thank you, Murahana…" Chanovy drew him closer, ready to embrace him in a kiss. "You were always there whenever I felt lonely, whenever I needed someone…"

They kissed, a breath they shared, together, to tell each other their feelings deep down, to share with each other the passion…

***

"I can't believe Tajimehino actually married Kurama," Yusuke shook his head, trying to clear the cloudiness in his head which had emerged from all the drinking.

"Actually, I can." Kuwabara hiccuped. "From the way both of them had been acting you should have known, too."

"I know," Yusuke snuggled against the blanket. "Just that I never thought they would have a proper wedding like this."

"True," Kuwabara buried himself under the pillow. "I thought it would be something more personal…"

Yusuke dozed off, and so did Kuwabara, after leaving a series of hiccups in the air, and after saying his last dialogue-- "Hey, Ura, what do you think will Hiei do? Ura… Chey, asleep… ZZZ…"

***

Hidoko snuggled closer to the smaller form of her brother, trying to get more warmth.

"Quit that," Her brother's sleepy protest came quaking against her delicate ears.

"Dunno what's wrong with the wine we drank… " Hidoko mumbled, snuggling closer despite the little koorime's protests. "Makes me feel so cold."

"Hn. I'm kinda warm here."

"Like a brother should, share the warmth with me," She cooed, and with a grunt Hiei scooped her close like a bolster.

"Don't tell Dad that I never looked after you," Hiei said, a little more sober.

"Won't." Hidoko cuddled happily against Hiei's warm chest. "What's the matter?"

"Nothing…"

"Kurama… You liked him, ne?"

Hiei said nothing, but patted her back. "He sure meant something to me."

"He did too," Hidoko said, some sadness entering her voice. "But I knew that I would have to let him go some day the day I saw his happiness simply by being with Taji-chan."

"Hah… Welcome to the 'Dumped Club'."

"Huh… I suppose you'd better get some sleep, brer Hiei."

"Need you to tell me," He said, with sarcasm.

***

Tajimehino sat by the side of the bed, rid of his cosmetics, yet still unmoving, refusing to meet Kurama's gaze, his face red with embarrasment. Kurama, on the other hand, sat beside him, daring to say nothing either.

Finally, Kurama opened his golden mouth. "Taji-chan…"

Tajimehino nodded slightly, and Kurama took the chance to gather more courage. "I… Erm.."

Tajimehino sighed, turning so that he was facing Kurama. "So many things happened…"

Kurama nodded, finally plucking up the courage to talk to Tajimehino. After all, they were newly wed, and it meant that they were supposed to be closer, by all means. "I never expected you to be a fairy, too…"

"…Do you mind?" Tajimehino asked, fear creeping to his voice. "I…"

"No wonder your reiki was so strong." Kurama muttered. "No… I love you just as I do, just as you are." His face was redder than his hair now.

Tajimehino nodded again, his face redder than before. "I have never made a poem of you before, Kurama."

Kurama giggled, two hands fiddling with his plaits. "Natch."

"I would like to, now." The fairy said, gathering all his strength. "I need you to know what I think of you."

"I want to know, too." Kurama finally put an arm around Tajimehino's shoulders. "Tell me."

"Okay… Here goes… The title of this is, Blossom of Winter.
Hair, red as summer's, took away my pain
To the cold blizzards of winter
The warmth of snow in the soil
As love plants its seeds into the hibernating Earth
A red rose grew, among the dead
Into the world of winter,
Ready to fend
Love's courage taking all us in
In the coldness, grows the warmth
In the death, blooms a Rose."
Tajimehino blushed for a moment. "I suppose it's not that good, but perhaps you would like to praise me or something, you know. It's last minute work."

Kurama laughed, and kissed the young fairy, all fenses gone, only love remaining. "Really, thank you…"

Tajimehino nodded, and rested his head on Kurama's shoulders.

"I thought you were gone then." Kurama whispered. "I felt so lonely that I could not live on. I willed myself dead. Had it not been for Hiei's call and everyone's love… And your song… Our song…"

He trailed off, feeling so scared. Scared that the past would catch up again…

"Love~"
Tajimehino sang, pushing Kurama gently down onto their wedding bed at last.
"I need you~
I can’t live without you…"

Kurama laughed, happily. Even if the past was to catch up, they would ward it off with love… The white breath of their song of love.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

X_no_zone@hotmail.com

My Page