Otherworld, Present Time
“Not again!” Princess Aara cried. She would not lose Kurama again! The years spent trying to find her beloved kitsune after his spirit fled to the Human World was agony for her. She would not take a chance. She would be at his side this time. She ordered the servants to ready her traveling clothes and saddle horses.
“No! You cannot go!” Bankotsu protested, wrapping his arms around her, “It is too dangerous! It is more than two days’ journey to the portal and we cannot risk you. Not with Naraku on the loose. That Demon would love to get his hands on you!”
She gave up. Deep in her heart, she knew they were right. Naraku was too dangerous to risk being captured by that monster.
She sent Bankotsu to the portal to be the next guardian. Her third male was on his way to the portal also, two days away. She was alone with Hiei. But the thought of Kurama so badly wounded, almost getting killed again, was agony for her. Once again, she was not there for him when he needed her the most. She paced the room alternately angry because she could not go to him and filled with sorrow because he was hurt once more. Her emotions flared throughout the castle’s walls.
Hiei, who had been standing next to her, suddenly cried out in pain and flung himself into a corner, curling into a tight ball. Her emotions, magnified hundredfold by her power, assaulted him. He tried to shut them out to no avail. He was being bombarded by surging emotion, wave upon wave: first anger, then sorrow. He moaned in agony.
“Hiei, Hiei,” she murmured softly, “I’m sorry. Forgive me.”
He opened his eyes to look up at her, his arms going around her waist to hold her, relieved that it was finally over. “It’s alright.”
“No, it isn’t! I hurt you!” she kissed his cheek gently, “I am so sorry.” She let flow the emotion of comfort and could feel him begin to relax and begin to drift to sleep now that her power was not assaulting him, but helping him. He was exhausted! Three days of looking for Kurama, following by an all night watch, the long trip here and then to be pummeled by his Princess! “My Sweetness.”
Hiei was falling in the quiet oblivion of sleep when he heard the appellation she always used for him: “Her Sweetness.” A small smile tugged at his lips.
Otherworld, 50 Years Ago
It was Youko Kurama who found Hiei. He was traveling through Demon World on his way to see his old friend, Yomi. Yomi was now one of the four rulers of Demon World, ruler of the Southern Lands. The other three were Mukuro in the East, Raizen in the North, and Inutaishou in the West. Otherworld had alliances with the North and the West, and Youko Kurama was going to try to make an alliance for Otherworld with his former partner-in-crime. But to get there, he had to go deep into Demon World. He went through the Western Lands without mishap because of the alliance with Inutaishou, but now he was approaching the Southern Lands of Yomi. There was no alliance yet and he was on the alert.
Suddenly, he sensed a Demon and barely moved in time to avoid a slashing sword. He looked around for the Demon and saw no one. His power flared out, searching for him. Ah! there he was, in the tree. Youko Kurama looked up and saw a child standing on a slender branch of a tall tree. What?!?
“If you want to fight me, I’ll be glad to oblige,” said the fox. He reached under his long silver hair to the nape of his neck and pulled out a seed which he had braided there. His power flared and the seed became a red rose.
The small Demon almost fell from his perch. “You are going to fight me with a rose?” he sneered. And leapt down to confront this silly fox Demon face-to-face.
Youko Kurama looked at the short Demon and realized he was not a child, but he was very young – or at least he looked young. He was very short, just a little over 5’ – nearly a foot and a half shorter than the very tall fox Demon. He had large blood-red eyes and a turned-up nose which made him seem even more childlike. He was dressed in rags with a torn blanket thrown over him as a cloak. But his demeanor was anything but childlike.
The little Demon looked at the fox angrily. The stupid fox had tramped through trees just as he was about to pounce on a rabbit – his dinner – and had scared it off. And he was hungry! There was not much food here in the harsh lands of Demon World. He brandished his sword. A rose! Feh!
Youko Kurama smiled.
Another one who had underestimated him.
He poured more power into the single red rose he held and the petals
fell in a red shower as the rose turned into a thorny whip.
A whip that could cut through steel!
His pride gave him no choice but to attack. He had started this whole mess and now he was going to finish it. His speed was incredible but it barely kept the whip from tearing his flesh. He could not get near the Fox Demon – that whip seemed to be everywhere. He was a blur, desperately trying to get close enough to use his sword. But he was already tired from hunting all day and weak from his long fast. Suddenly, the whip found him and wrapped him tight, head to toe, and although the thorns pressed against him, they did not pierce his body. He was brought to the fox, suspended in mid-air.
“Well, little Demon.” the fox chortled, “Looks like I caught a little mouse.”
The captive growled, “I am not a mouse!!! I am a Fire Demon!”
“Fire? What fire? I see no fire,” Youko Kurama teased.
The Fire Demon squirmed violently, waves of hot anger radiating off him. Youko Kurama suddenly felt sorry for him, he was so angry yet so helpless. Just a tiny thing. “Ah, Princess!,” he thought, “You have made me soft. Now I am feeling pity for this creature!”
He lower the Fire Demon to the ground, but kept the whip wrapped tightly around him. “Let’s call a truce. Accompany me to the Southern Hall where Yomi lives. I have a meeting with him and then I will return to Otherworld. Perhaps I can find you some employment in Otherworld so you won’t starve in this inhospitable land.”
“Why should I want to do that?” he asked, furious at being caught so easily. Damn fox!!!
“Well, I have food. Plenty of food, right here in my pack,” point to the pack hanging over his shoulder. The little Demon salivated, his hunger taking over. Oh, he was so hungry!
Youko Kurama looked around. “Ah, there is a little clearing. And it is late afternoon, good time to set up camp.” he walked to the clearing, with the thorny whip that was still holding the Demon following like a faithful dog.
He built a fire and then rummaged through his pack. Ummm, fresh meat would be better. Now, where did that rabbit go? Leaving the fire Demon still suspended by his whip, he changed into his full Demon fox form and bounded away.
In a very short time he was back, carrying a plump rabbit in his jaws. He returned to his human form and began to prepare a stew in the small cooking pot that he carried in his pack. Reaching into a hidden pocket in his clothing, he pulled out a little pouch filled with seeds. He selected several seeds: potato, carrot, celery, thyme, and other seasonings, and pushed them into the ground, then touched the ground with his hand. Instantly the plants grew to ripe vegetables. He picked them, used his sharp claws to cut them up, and threw them into the stew. The aroma was wonderful.
“Last chance.” Youko Kurama said to the bound Demon. “What do you say? Partners?”
The little Demon gave up – he was so hungry and maybe this miserable fox was not so bad after all. And he had heard wonderful things about Otherworld. He nodded and the whip released him and disappeared. The fox was spooning stew into two wooden bowls and handed one to the little Demon. “Got a name?” he asked.
“Hiei” he said between mouthfuls. The fox gave him another serving and he hungrily devoured every bit.
Youko Kurama rummaged through his pack and came up with a tiny object wrapped in a silvery paper. He handed it to Hiei. “What is this?” he asked as he carefully examined the item.
“It a piece of chocolate. It comes from the Human World. They call it a “kiss” there. Unwrap the foil and try it.”
Hiei carefully unwrapped the silver paper and found a little piece of brown – well, he had no word for it. He had never seen anything like this. He sniffed it cautiously and finally touched it lightly with his tongue. It was wonderful!!! He shoved it in his mouth. He had never tasted anything like it.
“I thought you might like it.” the fox said, “Now, let’s get some sleep. I will put out some sentry plants and if anyone approaches, the plants will warn us.”
“You trust me?” Hiei asked surprised.
“You gave me your word, didn’t you?”
Hiei nodded. He was not used to being trusted. Actually it was rare when anyone even talked to him. He watched as the fox made himself a bed of soft plants and then settled down to sleep. Hiei would not sleep on the ground in the open like that – so he leapt into a nearby tree, with his back against the trunk and his legs stretched out on the wide branch. His eyes began to close with sleep. For the first time in his life he felt content. His stomach was full and he had met someone who might even become a friend.
Youko Kurama and Hiei did indeed become friends during their trip to see Yomi and back to Otherworld. He told Hiei about the Princess and how she was in charge of protecting Otherworld and he was helping her with that. Hiei listened intently, but offered no information about himself in return. And Youko Kurama respected the Fire Demon and did not pry. He wanted Hiei help him with the protection of the Castle and maybe go with him on some of his journeys through Otherworld and into Demon World. It would be nice to have a traveling companion. The Princess had several other Demons to help protect the land, but Youko Kurama was the only one she had bound to her.
There were two mages, one who worked in magic and the other a healer, who offered their help but asked not to be bound. They were afraid that if the Princess bound them, she might also bind part of their power. So they offered their word instead of their bodies and the Princess accepted their offer. Now, they lived in the towers of the castle, seldom seen, quietly working their powerful magic. There was also Kouga, the leader of the Wolf Demons. His wolves and men roamed all over Otherworld, guarding its people from lower class Demons. He hoped that the Princess would allow him to make Hiei a Protector like them.
As the towers of the Castle appeared over the hills, Youko Kurama could sense that Hiei was getting nervous. Although he had never said anything, Youko Kurama sensed that he had lived alone most, if not all, of his life. And now he was being thrust into a castle full of people. He was afraid that the little Demon would bolt and never been seen again. He began to fill the empty space with happy chatter, trying to keep the Demon’s mind off of his fears and worries.
Together they walked through the gates and into the Castle. Servants took his pack and Youko Kurama asked them to prepare a room for Hiei. A few minutes later, he walked Hiei to his new room and told him to rest until dinner. He was going to find the Princess. It had been weeks since he had last seen his Princess and he missed her terribly.
All his life he had been abandoned, thrown away as a child after his forbidden birth to an Ice Maiden. Only a few days old and wrapped tight in warding cloths to contain his fire energy, his ki, which the Ice World feared, he was hurled from the Ice World that floated high in the sky to the ground far below.
But he survived, discovered by a group of thieves, who allowed him to stay with them, but showed him no affection. And as he grew more proficient with his sword, they began to fear him and finally shut him out completely. He had been alone ever since.
No one had ever been nice to him except for that silly fox. His only friend. But the Princess… when she saw him, she would order him out of the Castle and berate the fox for bringing such a thing into her home. And Youko Kurama, being bound to her, would do nothing.
“Ah, well, such is life,” he sighed and went back to the soft, wonderful bed. He was lying there, enjoying the feel of the silk sheets and velvet covers, when a small knock sounded at his door. He opened it and a servant stood there.
He padded back into the bedroom and checked out the clothes. He dressed in clean soft black trousers and a simple tunic. Among the clothes was a black cloak and he put that on too. Black boots completed the outfit. He had never had such nice clothes before. Using a brush that he found, he tried to tame his unruly hair that always insisted on sticking straight up in peaks. He finally tied a white sash around his forehead in a effort to at least keep it out of his eyes. A knock sounded at his door, and this time the servant told him dinner was served. Hiei followed her to the dining hall.
In the large hall, there was a long table filled with delicious food and drink and lots of people, a mix of humans and Demons. Youko Kurama was sitting at one end and Hiei was ushered to a place at his side. Hiei looked around. Everyone was talking and laughing, obviously friends. Kurama began to quietly point out the people at the table, but Hiei quickly lost track of their names. Besides, why did he need to know their names? He would not be here very long.
His eyes roamed the table, finally coming to the other end. A young woman was seated there. She was so beautiful it took his breath away. The Princess. She was more like fire than he was, with flame-colored hair and golden eyes. He had never seen anyone so beautiful in his life. She did not seem haughty or proud like he had imagined, rather she laughed and talked just like everyone else. Hiei strained to hear her voice, but there was too much noise between them. He ate in silence but never took his eyes off the Princess.
Youko Kurama noticed Hiei watching the Princess and was surprised. It had never occurred to him that the little Fire Demon would show any interest in the Princess. Perhaps there was a chance that he would stay and become one of the Protectors after all.
After dinner, Youko Kurama took Hiei to meet the Princess. Hiei was very nervous. He had wanted to stay away from her at least a few more days so he could enjoy his room and the wonderful food for a little more time. But now it would all end. He sighed unhappily. Youko Kurama heard the sigh and wondered what his new friend was thinking about, but as usual, Hiei showed no emotion on his face.
“Kurama has told me a little about you. And how excellent you are with the sword. He would like you to be one of the Protectors of Otherworld. Would you like that?”
Hiei stood there, silent, trying to grasp the meaning of her words. She wasn’t telling him to leave? He could stay? She watched the little Demon, who was unable to keep the surprise off his face. Curious as to why he was surprised, she reached out to touch him.
And was instantly flooded with all the emotions that Hiei never allowed to show: pain, distrust, and unbelievable loneliness. It was overwhelming and she pulled him toward her, wrapping her arms around him. He stood there stiffly, not understanding why she was suddenly holding him.
“Oh, My Sweetness,” she murmured, “I promise that you will never be alone again.”
And then she brought forth her power, filling the space around her with love, comfort and belonging. And Hiei felt what he had never known in his life before: someone who wanted him. His arms went around her waist and he buried his head in her shoulder, and for the first time in his life, tears ran down his cheeks.
“My Sweet Love,” she said softly, caressing his hair. He buried himself even deeper into her arms. She looked at Youko Kurama silently standing there and she smiled. “Umm, it looks like I will have a brother,” he thought as he quietly left the room.
The Princess held the small man for a long time, letting the loneliness pour out of his heart and replacing it with love. She began to gently kiss his forehead and the tracks of his tears, all the time murmuring “My Sweetness” to him. He lifted his face to her and she gently kissed his lips. Very slowly, she began to undress him, kissing his shoulders, his throat, his chest as she did. She did not use her power for desire or lust. Only love and comfort. And he began to respond to her caresses. She slid to the floor and took him with her, not wanting to break the spell by going to his rooms.
Gently, the quiet punctuated only by his moans, she took her second male: Hiei, the little Fire Demon that no one wanted.
