Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Dream Weaver ❯ Ri’ ta nuquernas lle ( Chapter 4 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Disclaimer: Oh how I wish I DID own YYH… Can you even IMAGINE all the pretty little situations I'd put those poor guys in? Not to mention all the money I'd end up spending on Polaroid film!? *purr*

SM: Yayness! I have returned! Though I gotta warn you guys… I'm not feeling too pleasant…

TheBoy: When do you ever feel anything other than spiteful and bitter?

SM: ………….. Shut up.

Anyways… This chapter took quite a while to formulate in my brain… I can't even recall how much typing, deleting, typing, editing, deleting, etc - went into this!

TheBoy: Do you people know the frequency of headaches that came from this crap?

SM: Oh be quiet… it wasn't that bad.

But ya, enjoy the chapter!

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Kurama sat at his kitchen table, Yuuske and Kuwabara on either side of him, as he relayed the events of last night, and this morning. He told them of the Dream Weaver's language that Hiei had spoken as though he were fluent, and of the strange sleep he had been cast in to. Though, he conveniently skittered around actually telling them what he had dreamed. He had enough indignities in his life right now; the last thing he needed was to listen to their incessant prodding and teasing if they ever found out about his often recurring wet dream being used again him.

"Couldn't you just wake up? I mean, if it's a dream, shouldn't you have some kind of control over it?"

"I tried that, Yuuske. It seems that while the Dream Weaver is within your subconscious, she has complete reign over your body and mind, with the exception of personal ideation."

"I don't get it." Kuwabara scratched at his head, eyes almost crossing as he attempted deep thought. (A/N: *smirk*… Sorry…)

"I mean that while she is controlling your dream, you are free to speak with her, think whatever you wish. Though, as she has already proven, you are not safe within your own mind. She can hear clearly whatever it is you think while in your dreams."

"So it's kind of like a mind tap?"

Kurama blinked slowly, silently cursing himself. Yuuske had a very, very good point. The similarities between a simple mind tapping, and her magic were eerily close; he couldn't believe he hadn't made the connection himself.

"Yes… I suppose it is."

"So she knows exactly what goes on in you and Hiei's heads?"

Kurama winced at the carrot top's butchering of proper grammar. (A/N: Heh.. He'd kill me most likely… *smirk*)

"Yes, she does. And she will most likely use that against us every chance she gets."

The group gave a collective sigh, still unsure where they should proceed from here. Silence filled the room as they each where lost within their own thoughts, eyes staring blankly ahead.

"Well… When you're stuck in a dream scape with her, can't you just… kinda… reverse the mind tap?"

Yuuske and Kurama stared at Kuwabara, both wondering if they had heard correctly. Did he just give an intelligent suggestion? Kurama sighed, shaking his head.

"Only in my second form can I do a mind tap, which I'm certain she knows. With her control over my body and mind during dreams, I wouldn't be able to change in the first place. And on the off chance I did manage to do so before going under, she would be able to sense it, and relent."

Kuwabara frowned, tapping his fingertips on the table top.

"Well, what about Hiei? He can do that kinda stuff with his Jagan, can't he?"

Jaws slack in shock, Yuuske and Kurama sat, completely stunned. If it wasn't for keeping up appearances, and the risk of getting a fist straight in the face, both could have kissed Kuwabara at that moment. Why hadn't they thought of it before?!

"Alright! That's the answer! All we gotta do is get Hiei to take control of her mind while in the dream scape and we got her!"

Kurama frowned again, relaxing back in his chair.

"That is, if we can find him."

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Those voices… everywhere… nowhere… all around him. Was he dreaming again? If so, why did everything feel so much more real? He could tell a dream from reality, couldn't he? So loud… Small hands fisted in his hair, pulling his forehead down to his knees as Hiei pressed himself harder against the tree he sat in. So many voices… so many… His lithe form was shaking, trembling… It hurts… why does it hurt so much?

Aishiteru, Hiei.

No… No more…

The sound of the Fox's weeping before him… behind him as he fled…

Hiei…

Please stop… please, make it stop!

Hiei threw his head back, not caring when he cracked his skull against the tree, a roar of violent pain echoing through the branches and into the air. Nothing that he could ever recall in his long life had tormented him so. He hated the way the bitch had invaded his mind, made him acknowledge someone else's pain, made him feel every last ounce of burning anguish boil through his blood and skin. With a tight whimper, Hiei opened his eyes to peer up at the graying sky above. A gentle wind reached him, moist and heavy with the promise of summer rain. He could almost taste the ozone, and was very thankful for the sudden, if not temporary, reprieve of his torture. He soaked up the peace for all it was worth, knowing deep within himself that it would not last long.

He hated her. Hated her more than anyone he had ever known. She was using him, controlling his mind, making him think and feel things he was certain he would never feel under normal circumstances. Hell, Hiei wasn't even sure he could feel. What use did he have for emotions, other than anger? His rage had served him well through the years, so why in the name of all things Holy did this evil bitch female decide to introduce him to all these new sentiments? They did him no good. He didn't want them; didn't need them. He was perfectly alright on his own, with his anger and spite.

So why?

"Why…" he croaked out, trying to take in an unsteady breath.

"Hiei?"

He shot upright, ready to bolt, when he recognized the gentle eyes of Botan as she floated easily before him on her oar. He almost snarled when he read the look of concern on her face.

"What."

"We've been looking for you. Seems Yuuske and the others have come up with a plan to catch the Dream Weaver."

This time he did snarl, not only at the mention of the bitch's race, but to drown out the sudden swell of screaming bouncing around in his skull. The voices had kicked up in volume, as though they were trying to drown out whatever it was Botan was saying. What is she saying…?

"… said it should be rather easy. Hiei? Hiei, are you even listening to me?"

Louder.. Much louder now… shrieking.. Shrill and sharp in its intensity… Shut up… Just shut up!

"Oh my God, Hiei, are you alright?"

The look on Botan's face was urgent, and he was certain so were her words, if only he could hear it above the din…

You're killing him Hiei.

Why have you left me, Hiei?

See what you do to him, Rauko?

Shut up!

It hurts… hurts so badly…

No…

Aishiteru, Hiei…

Stop…

"Hiei? Hiei, open your eyes… Look at me!"

I gotta get outta here…

"Hey wait!"

Botan shielded her eyes from the last rays of sunlight peaking through the heavy, gray clouds as Hiei flittered off and completely out of site. Rain drops began their light decent, leaving darkened drops on her pink dress.

"Well great… Now what?"

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"What do you mean you let him get away!"

"It wasn't like I could really stop him, Yuuske! He's faster than he looks!"

"I know that! Why didn't you stop him!?"

The screaming between Yuuske and the Fairy Girl continued for quite some time. Kurama rubbed his temples to try and ease the tension headache he was getting, thinking about what they could do now. Without Hiei's cooperation, they were basically up shit creek without a paddle. When the Fire Demon didn't want to be found, it was damn near impossible to do so. Especially since none of the team knew where any of his many sanctuaries where. Worst of all, it was nearly dark, and that meant Hiei would be going to sleep. Sleep meant one more step into insanity. If things were as bad as Botan had reported, then that meant he had little to no time left. This next REM cycle could be his last.

"Why don't we ask Koenma where Hiei is? I mean, he's on probation isn't he? So that little toddler should know where he is all the time, right?"

Kurama looked up and smiled at Kuwabara.

"Perhaps we should mark this day on the calendar. You seem to be expressing genius none of us ever knew you had."

Yuuske held the raging Kuwabara back as Kurama and Botan laughed. With decision made, said Fairy Girl went to go speak with the Godling, promising to report back as soon as she found out Hiei's location.

"Kurama… are you sure this plan will work?" Yuuske asked nervously, his hands fidgeting in his lap. The Fox sighed and cast his eyes down.

"I do not know. It's very dangerous, for both Hiei and myself. If he is as bad as Botan said, then we'll have to force it upon him. That alone could do enough damage to his psyche that we may lose him forever…"

"Forever…" Yuuske repeated the softly spoken word, as if he didn't believe it. Lose Hiei? Hell no. The pissy little demon was too strong for that. Wasn't he? He narrowed his eyes, making a silent vow that if the Dream Weaver hurt his teammate in any way, he would personally rip her limb from limb. It would be the least he could do…

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You're tired, aren't you?

Hiei blinked slowly, staring at his distorted reflection in the murky pond water. The rain was coming down in sheets now, ripping up the once glassy surface. He half smiled as he thought how similar this simple act of nature was to what his life had become. Once calm and somewhat peaceful, now disrupted and chaotic.

"No. I'm not tired."

Rauko, you cannot lie to me. I know better.

Hiei sighed, sinking to his knees at the end of the pond, the icy water soaking into his coat and pants. He didn't care. He was already drenched in the first place; what's a little pond scum? Besides, the chill seeping into his bones gave him a sense of balance, of reality. Everything seemed less hazy that way.

"Why are you doing this to me?"

If I have to explain it to you, then you wouldn't understand.

"That's bullshit!"

Is it really? You have yet to understand it all right now, what makes you think my trying to justify my actions would clear anything up for you?

Hiei doubled over, fists banging against his ears as that damnable voice rang clear in his head. The storm raged stronger, as though reacting to the torment of the small Demon caught in its wake.

"Are you sure you aren't tired?" came that voice, softer now, barely audible over the winds and rain, as an equally soft hand reached out to caress Hiei's burning cheek. He looked up, blinking through the rain. She was there, leaning over him, looking every bit as lovely as she had the first night they had met. In fact, it dawned on him, that this was where they had met. Why didn't he even think about that before?

"If.. If I sleep, you'll continue this torture."

She smiled now, squatting down so she was eye to eye with him.

"Yes I will, Rauko. But you are the one who makes it torture, not I." She reached out a second time, fingertips gently brushing against his cheek a second time, "Kaimel, Rauko."

Hiei's eyes closed soundly, and his breathing started to slow, but he jerked back, falling on his bottom as he started to scoot away.

"No! Stay away from me!"

The Dream Weaver sighed, shaking her head.

"You are a difficult one, aren't you?" She stood, toeing her way across the water's surface, then stepping quickly over to Hiei's retreating form. He had backed himself up against a tree, his eyes wild and panicked. Silently, she thanked the natural instincts of every creature to go into such a state when control is lost. She fell to her knees with a sound thud in the soaked grass, gripping at Hiei's jaw as her eyes flared.

"Kaimel sii', Rauko. Ri' ta nuquernas lle."

Hiei made a loud, pained noise in his chest, before his body went lax and his eyes closed. The Dream Weaver took a deep, steadying breath before proceeding into the dreamer's realm.

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The rain made it very difficult for any of the three teammates to see into the park, let alone the fact that the grass had overgrown so much it masked anything that could possibly be laying down, or in Hiei's case standing anywhere.

"Are you sure he's here!?" Yuuske yelled over the crashing thunder and howling wind, his eyes squinted against the driving rain.

"Koenma wouldn't lie to me! Especially when it's something important!" Botan yelled back, stifling a chill as she rubbed her hands up and down her upper arms.

"Look! Over there!" Kuwabara shouted, pointing to the far end of the park. The others peered through the dim, noticing immediately the small flare of light. They ran towards it, often times half tripping over the stones hidden in the tall grass, sometimes slipping on the wet moss. It was slow going, and their hearts raced faster with each second they lost. If the Dream Weaver was here with Hiei, then they knew there would be trouble.

But when they reached the now slumbering Fire Demon, she was no where to be seen.

"Hiei!" Yuuske knelt to shake his friend, but Kurama held him back.

"Don't touch him!"

"But-"

"Stand guard, and be ready with the wards!"

Yuuske nodded and took a step back, allowing Kurama to proceed with their plan. He said a silent prayer, for both his friends.

Kurama closed his eyes, a soft silver light surrounding his entire body. Very slowly, he began to shrink, the light intensifying with each descending inch. The silver bled through his hair, his skin, until he was completely engulfed in his own natural light. His body fell to all fours, fingers retracting to small paws and toes. His clothes fell from his body, and a slender silver fox wriggled free of them. He shook himself a few times, all four tails whipping along with him. Kurama quickly leapt upon Hiei's lap, mouthing at his bandanna, freeing the Jagan. Placing his forehead against that of the Fire Demon, he prepared to do his mind tap.

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Hiei fell to his knees in the darkness, his head pounding and swimming, those voices never ceasing, heart racing, body shaking.

"You really should stop resisting, Rauko."

He whimpered through clenched teeth, trying with all his might to ignore the sounds, the sensations that this dream had brought. He felt those familiar hands touching him, petting him. Soft lips teasing his ears and cheeks. He pulled away violently, intent on running, though in his mind he knew it would get him no where.

"You cannot escape the torments of your own mind, Hiei, no matter how hard you try; how fast you run."

Hiei?

"Leave me alone!" He began scratching at his own body, drawing blood to the surface, spilling crimson down his pale skin. Desperate to dispel the ghostly touches all over him.

"Now, now. There is no need for that."

Hiei! Listen to me!

"He isn't here! Stop making it sound like he is!"

There was stillness… silence. No voices, no screaming, no pain. Hiei stopped short of his mutilation, perking his ears up. This couldn't be good.

Hiei. You have to reverse it!

Was that Kurama's voice?

"No. It's another trick."

Still the silence. She did not answer, but he had the strangest feeling of dread…

It's like a mind tap, Hiei! I have released your Jagan back in reality! She cannot control that part of you! Use it!

The darkness began to shake with such ferocity, such rage it was almost blinding. He could feel it, feel the power cracking all around him, surrounding him. It burned his skin, stabbed needles deep enough to strike his bones. And suddenly, there was screaming once again. But this was different; far too different.

It was real.

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"We have to stop this!"

"No don't, Yuuske! Don't you pay attention!? Kurama said if you pull him away physically, it could kill both him and Hiei!" Botan held Yuuske back, wincing at the ear shattering screams the fox form was emitting. It's body was convulsing in such obvious pain, but the physical connection between himself and Hiei was never broken.

"But they're both gonna die!"

"You have to trust him, Yuuske! Give him time!"

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It was Kurama screaming… he could actually hear it! This wasn't the soul screaming he had heard in his mind, but a true scream from reality!

Hiei stood, looking around frantically for his friend's presence. He fleetingly thought that he would definitely have to pound the Fox into the ground for invading his mind in such a way; once this was all over of course.

"Kurama!"

The rage was building, he could barely stand on his own two feet anymore as the structure of his subconscious shook. He needed to find Kurama. He needed to stop the Dream Weaver before she shook his entire mind to pieces, killing himself and Kurama in the process.

"You will release him, Dream Weaver!" Hiei roared into the darkness, finding his control once more. Yes.. There it was. His Jagan. His control; his answer to the insanity.

The darkness stilled, the screaming stopped, and the tension thickened considerably. And then, there she was.

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"Kurama!"

The fox form flew back about 5 feet from Hiei's prone form, immediately shifting back into his Ningen form. Kurama took a few quick, gasping breathes as he regained his bearings as best he could. Kuwabara handed him his sopping clothing, and he thanked him quietly as he slipped on his pants.

"Did he get the message?"

"Yes he did. Now all we can do is wait, and hope. Are the wards ready?"

Yuuske nodded, eyes trained on Hiei's still form.

"Good."

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They stared at each other, assessing the other in a primal way. Hiei's eyes were narrowed, his glare unmistakable in its message. The Dream Weaver, however, appeared sad, almost regretful.

"Rauko -"

"Shut up!"

She took a startled step backwards, her hand going to her breast in a very feminine manner.

"You have used me, Dream Weaver. You have invaded my mind, making me feel things I never wished to feel, nor would I ever have felt."

"Hiei, you are wrong."

"I'm not listening to your lies any longer!"

His power surged, surrounding himself and the mystic before him, swirling in its intensity. The Dream Weaver fell to her knees, covering her ears and whipping her body around. Hiei took in her pained howls, soaking up the satisfaction he found in her wailing, in his revenge. She was fighting him, but he knew that it would get her no where. She had left herself open to his mind tapping. It was always a two way street when it came to mind magic. As she had controlled him, he would control her. He would be free of her.

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Hiei's body arched high, a heavy gasp for air parting his lips. A strange, white light had surrounded his small form, making him glow. Lighting crashed in the distance, and his body jerked hard as the light was ripped from his body. And then, there she was, writhing in the air, twisting in horrific pain as she held her head in her hands. She was screaming; screaming so terribly loud.

"The wards!" Kurama yelled above cacophony. (A/N: that's such a cool word I tell you!) Yuuske nodded quickly, both he and Kuwabara slapping the plant wards on her arms. The smell of burning flesh met their noses, failing to be drowned out by the rain, and the screaming increased its volume; mental pain now linked with physical. She fell to her knees, scratching at the wards in desperation, her eyes wild and ardent in her panic. She broke the skin with her fingernails, thick blood pouring down her placid flesh in a sickening contrast.

Yuuske placed a third ward to her forehead. The trio complete, the screaming stopped, and the Dream Weaver fell backwards, her head laying in the pond's shore, her limbs twitching slightly as she stared up at nothing, not bothering to blink away the rain. Yuuske placed his hands on his knees, breathing heavily as he tried to calm his nerves. They had done it. They had caught her, and freed Hiei. He looked over to his friend, finding those eyes of scarlet red half lidded and drained.

"She is bound?" came the almost whispered question.

"Yea, she is."

Hiei smiled, closing his eyes, before breathing his reply: "Excellent."

His body slumped back into relaxation, his chest rising and falling easily as he got the first few seconds of the best sleep he had had in a while.

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The others had told him that the Dream Weaver had been secured in her cell, surrounded by wards in the containment center in Koenma's palace. They told him that he need not worry about her escape; that his checking on her wasn't needed. It was over, and he didn't have to think about it any longer. But he never told them why he really went to see her. The excuse of making sure she was still there was just a convenient lie to hide his true purpose.

He needed answers.

He stood outside her cell, watching her through the thick bars, surrounded in the magic wards. She was sitting against the far wall, her arms bound with warding chains, preventing her from walking forward no more than three feet. Her knees were pulled up, her forehead resting against them. He knew that she recognized his presence, and found himself slightly offended when she made no move to acknowledge him.

"Why?"

Her shoulders heaved in a heavy sigh before she lifted her head. She looked so tired… so lost.

"Because you needed to know the truth. Believe me, it would never have progressed to such a painful state if you had simply accepted my gift to you."

"What gift? You nearly drove me insane!"

"No. We do not possess the power to drive the mind to dementia. When a person's subconscious denies our power, the mere struggle breaks them down. You drove yourself to it."

Hiei took a deep breath, forcing himself to remain calm.

"Why. And tell me the truth this time."

She smiled at him, visibly relaxing as she let her legs slide down, crossing one ankle over the other.

"When I was still very young, before we were cast into purgatory, I found myself in love with a Ningen woman. We had yet to discover the ability to travel into reality, so I never truly knew what she looked like. But her mind was so beautiful. So full of peace and love. I never knew one being could be so pure, so perfect… I visited her often, not caring that it was against our code and honor to love a human. When my comrades discovered my crimes, they gave me a choice. Be cast out for all eternity, remaining within my beloved's subconscious, damning her to eternal slumber, or stay with them and never see her again." Her voice had drifted off slightly, sounding airy and trance-like.

"You chose family over love."

"From one perspective, I suppose that is correct. But I saw it as choosing love, Rauko. If I had made the choice to stay with her, she would have died; never free to do what she wished. This way, she lived a very full life."

"What does this have to do with me?"

She smiled again at him, shaking her head slightly.

"You still do not understand. You told me before that you did not want the feelings you experienced, or those that I showed you. That I made you feel things that were not your own. Tell me, little one, now that I am gone from your mind, do you feel any different?"

Hiei was silent, staring at her wish a passive expression.

"That's a 'no'. You see, when I was within my beloved's mind, I could never be sure that what she felt for me was what her heart truly showed, or if it was my wishful thinking and magic. But what I saw in your mind was unmistakable."

"You are suggesting I love Kurama."

"No. I'm suggesting you have the choice to love him. Even after showing you what your heart truly knew, and what you're beautiful Ronyo already felt, then leaving you, nothing has changed. You haven't changed; he hasn't changed."

"How do you know this?" his voice was hoarse, but he didn't pay it any mind.

"The same way you do. Look inside yourself, little one, and you will know the truth."

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Hiei sat silently on the steps leading up to Genkai's temple, watching as the first stars of night began to peek through the veil of darkened blue above him. He supposed that he should feel angry, or at least confused, after his counsel with the Dream Weaver. She had been evasive in her words, as was usual, but for some odd reason it was as though he understood her perfectly. Though he didn't completely know what it was she meant by "looking within himself", he wasn't vexed in the least. If she was honest with what she had suggested about Kurama then that left him…. It meant… it…

He didn't know.

He supposed that perhaps he should go talk to Kurama, but what could he say? What did they have to say to each other in the first place? She had told him that she knew how Kurama felt about him, so that suggested she had touched his mind as well. If she were telling the truth, then Kurama really did hold some sort of feelings towards him, but why hadn't the Fox come forward and tell him himself? What was stopping him?

Hiei snorted. That was a stupid question.

Kurama was a sensitive being, though he hated to admit it, and would not risk rejection. He did not wear his heart on his sleeve as most did. He protected his emotions just as much as Hiei did, though he replaced them with a calm, passive front. Hiei on the other hand replaced his with anger and spite, pushing away all and any who dared get too close. Kurama had not admitted his feelings because he knew how Hiei would react; how he reacted to everyone.

And now, now that he knew how the Fox felt, Hiei had no idea where to go from here.

Should he go see Kurama? Did he dare risk his own heart? Sure, the Fox loved him, but would he take him in as though their past meant nothing? Hiei sighed, mind drifting back to their many encounters and time spent with one another; and he mentally smacked himself for being so stupid.

If he thought the Fox hadn't been obvious about it all, he was dead wrong. Now that he really thought about it, Kurama had done everything possible with the exception of just jumping him. Softly spoken words, gentle compliments, lingering looks; there were so many to choose from, all affirming the fact a little harder in his mind. Was he really that blind? Where had all his common sense gone? Or was it…

"Damnit." the word was spoken with a heavy sigh as Hiei pressed his palms against his eye lids. He had known, known all along. It was his own pride - idiocy - fear - that had kept him blissfully oblivious to the Fox's wordless declarations of love. Fear of what would happen, of what his teammates would do or say, of having to admit to himself that he had indeed become attached to someone. Damnit, it just wasn't supposed to be that way.

No one was supposed to care for him. He was the Forbidden; a wastrel. He was nothing. Absolutely nothing. Nothingness holds no claims to anything, least of all something as beautiful as Kurama. But that bastard had somehow lay claim to him, and he had reciprocated that claim without ever admitting it. Nothings like him weren't supposed to do that, but he had.

Damnit, it hurt so much. So fucking much. It hurt that the object of his desires, his dreams, felt unwanted and alone. It hurt that he wanted something he logically knew he had no right to have. Everything felt so completely out of his reach, but touchable at the same time. It hurt. And he loved the torment.

Look inside yourself, little one, and you will know the truth.

Hiei leaned back on the steps, resting his weight on his elbows as he looked up into the black sky once more. The moon had made its ascent into the night as it always has; bright and burning against the foreboding blackness, surrounded by dancing star light.

"Troubled, Hiei?"

He made no sound or movement to acknowledge Genkai's question. Not that it really mattered anyway. The old woman took a seat just a little above him, her own attention to the night sky. He couldn't really fault her for the invasion of his privacy; it was her temple after all. Even so, he would have much rather contemplate his problems without an audience.

"You know, when I have a problem, I find that the answers always lie within myself."

Hiei snorted.

"What is that supposed to mean anyway?"

"More often than not, you'll find that you've always known the answers to all your problems. The trick is admitting your faults, yield to the notion that you probably caused the problem in the first place, and can fix it just as easily as you started it."

"It's not as simple as all that."

"Oh?" Genkai raised a brow, giving Hiei a skeptic look, "Are you so sure?"

"Positive."

"That's only because you allow it to be this complicated. All your answers are simple and easy enough to find. Look inside, and you'll see what I mean."

Hiei almost screamed. He was so sick of contemplating that damn phrase, now to hear it a second time! Had the whole universe gone mad? Or was it simply "Piss Hiei off as much as you can" day?! Damnit, he just didn't understand!

"Calm down. Would you mind telling me what your problem is?"

Hiei growled and stood, fully intent on walking away, but something stopped his falling steps. He felt that maybe, just maybe, it would help to get it off his chest to a neutral party, even if it was a vague answer.

"I have a choice to make."

"Ah. That's always a difficult situation to be in. Make sure you weigh your options carefully, Hiei. I'm sure you'll find that once your decision is made, you'll realize you've known the answer all along."

Hiei closed his eyes, listening as the old woman's steps retreated into the temple, suddenly feeling very abandoned. Weigh his options carefully? That's what he had been doing for the past week already! It seemed to be getting him nowhere!

So what was the answer?

The Dream Weaver had said he had a choice whether or not to love Kurama. He did feel something for the damn Fox, but he realized that the real choice was whether or not he should risk giving that love freely and unconditionally. Nothing in his life had ever been without strings attached. How could he be sure that Kurama would let it be that free? Love like that was a myth; something to be told about in fairy tales and children's stories. No one ever found a love that pure… Ever.

No. It was impossible.

And yet… There was something lingering at the back of his mind… memories of heated nights and moments of a passion that could be a reality. A faint concept that maybe, just maybe, Kurama believed that absurd notion. And when you believed in something strong enough, there was nothing that could stop you from making it a validity.

Yes, he had a choice to make, a decision that needed to be reached.

And, with eyes open to his reality in the now, Hiei made his judgment.

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SM: *shakes an empty cigarette pack and scowls* Damnit… where's the rest of my carton at? *digs through the mess on her desk, grumbling and cursing to herself*

TheBoy: You don't need a cigarette right now. You're supposed to be doing the closing Author's Notes!

SM: Not until the nicotine addiction is fed.

TheBoy: But-

SM: I SAID - Oh wait.. There it is! *frantically opens the fresh pack and lights one up, inhaling deeply*

TheBoy: There. You have your cancer sticks. Now would you please….?

SM: Gladly!

Well people, I guess the real question is, what decision did Hiei come to? Is he going to just accept the fact that he and Kurama totally belong together, or is he gonna keep on with his denial and never let it happen?

So many questions, only one more chapter to go!

And, to be honest, I'm not sure what he's gonna be doing… That all depends on my mood ^_^

Should I get them together, or have a sad ending?

TheBoy: Sad ending. I don't want to have to read another freaking Yaoi Lemon. *shudder*

SM: Well that's one vote in the negative… what do you guys think?

TheBoy: NO LEMON. NO LEMON. NO LEMON. NO-

SM: Oh shut up. As always, reviews are greatly desired ^_^

See ya guys in the next chapter!