Rescuing Hiei

Thank you, kerryann. I appreciate the support. :o)

I explored LiveJournal, BlueUtopiah, but I couldn't find anything about my stories. I did get my own account, though. Perhaps some better links? Now you and thoth_moon got me curious, lol. :o)

Now, back to the tissue box, er... I mean...

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Scene 13 ------------------------------------------- The Next Morning

* Koenma leads Shishi, carrying his son, into the observation room. Kurama turns from the window. He is a bit surprised to see Shishi carrying his tiny baby.

Kurama- You think it wise to take him in there, Shishi?

* Shishi moves to the window to look in at Hiei.

Shishi- He won't hurt his son... You know that I do have to present him to.. Hiei.

* Hesitantly, Kurama nods. For a couple moments they all watch Hiei through the window.

Kurama- He's been talking to his boys ever since I got here.

* Shishi smiles.

Shishi- When strangers are around they've been taught to be quiet... But with me or their Papa, they have constant questions.

* Shishi looks at Kurama and Koenma. He sees how they are so fascinated by what they're seeing.

Shishi- It surprises you that he's such a good father?
Koenma- Yes, actually.

* Kurama chuckles at Koenma, then he shakes his head.

Kurama- It doesn't surprise me, Shishi... I'm just amazed that he's taking such great care of Imiko.

* Kurama tears his eyes away to look down at the black, spikey-haired baby Shishi is holding.

Shishi- Imiko is his grandson, but we.. planned on raising him as our own.
Koenma- Imiko is half human.
Shishi- We know that.

* Shishi looks up at Kurama.

Shishi- Could you hold him, Kurama? I do want to go in and feel Shi out first.
Koenma- You really need to get away from calling him that, Mr. Wakamaru. Hiei needs help to remember who he was,... not what they made him.

* Shishi just ignores Koenma and transfers the tiny bundle to Kurama.

Kurama- My Firstborn was almost this tiny when he was born. I can handle him.

* Shishi nods. Looks back in at Hiei a moment, then motions for Koenma to let him in. As soon as the Banshee enters both of the twins streak to him.

Both- Momma Shishi!!

* Hiei just stays put and watches Shishi embrace the boys, at first. But soon his instincts urge him to stand and move closer to his mate. Shishi sends the boys back to the futon, then sinks to sit down. Hiei recognizes his mate's show of honor in lowering himself beneath his eyelevel. The koorime moves forward to begin moving around the samurai, sniffing at him curiously. When Hiei's instincts of dominance are satisfied that Shishi is unharmed he moves back away.

Hiei- Why did you come here?

* Shishi slowly stands, but stays where he is.

Shishi- Why wouldn't I...?
Hiei- We're.. rescued, they tell me... You're free to go wherever you want...
Shishi- I'm here, where I... belong.

* Shishi's words only serve to remind Hiei that he has "claimed" the Banshee. He slowly looks up at Shishi.

Hiei- You know that we weren't meant to be...
Shishi- You have the right to reject us.

* Hiei looks back up at Shishi.

Hiei- Us?

* Shishi moves back to the door. It opens and Kurama hands the tiny bundle in to Shishi. Hiei swallows and backs up until he's in a corner. He watches Shishi nuzzle the bundle affectionately as he turns and moves to face his Alpha. The koorime watches Shishi tilt the baby to show him.

Shishi- This is our son, Shi... He's the one that you did everything you could to protect.

* Shishi looks at Hiei. The koorime's focus is totally on the small bundle.

Shishi- (Quietly) The one I didn't want to create.

* Hiei looks up at Shishi puzzled.

Shishi- That's what you're thinking... What you've always thought... That's what you told Koenma.
Hiei- Hn. We were forced to...
Shishi- I want you to think really hard, Shi... I want you to remember, you need to...

* Hiei looks away.

Shishi- Kichiro threatened Ichi... Remember?
Hiei- (Quietly) Hn...
Shishi- So as soon as the room door closed you attacked me and raped me...

* Hiei looks back up at the Banshee.

Shishi- Isn't that what you told Koenma? Isn't that what you've convinced yourself into believing?
Hiei- Shishi,...
Shishi- Tell me, Hun... Tell me what happened.

* Out in the observation room, Kurama stops Koenma from storming into the room.

Kurama- I think Shishi knows what he's doing. Just wait.

* Finally Hiei gathers himself and answers

Hiei- Y-you came over to the bed and... gave yourself to me...

* Shishi nods.

Shishi- That's right... Maybe the circumstances weren't what I would've chosen... I could have chosen to fight... Would you have forced me? You're not the only one who needs answers, Shi.
Hiei- I... I don't know...
Shishi- Look at Ichi.

* Hiei hesitantly obeys.

Shishi- Would you have chosen him...? Or your honor?

* After a couple moments Hiei sighs and looks up at the Banshee.

Hiei- What the h--- are you trying to prove, Banshee? In another day in that room it would have been the same...

* Now Shishi smiles. Slowly Hiei catches on to his meaning.

Hiei- You'd still have had the choice to take.. him... And be free of this mess if I hadn't... lost control that night...
Shishi- Oh... Is that the rape you were referring to?

* Hiei watches Shishi settle himself down onto the floor, once again placing himself beneath Hiei's eyelevel. He feels the posture nudge at his instincts, again.

Hiei- I was... not in my...

* Hiei half glances toward the long window.

Shishi- If I had said no, you still would've done this?

* Shishi pulls the shoulder of his robe aside to reveal the claim mark on his left shoulder. In the observation room, Koenma curses and Kurama scowls. But both just continue watching.

Hiei- You know I wouldn't have... There was no more force.. between us when 'Chiro returned you to me...
Shishi- And do you know why?

* Hiei sinks down to sit now, crossing his arms.

Hiei- Why don't you enlighten me, Banshee?

* Shishi nods with a chuckle.

Shishi- Exactly.

* Hiei looks down at the baby when he squirms and squeaks in Shishi's arms. Out of pure habit, Hiei reaches over to try to help Shishi quiet their son. When Hiei realizes how close this has brought them to each other he raises his eyes to meet Shishi's. Almost instantly he feels the connection of their desires. For a brief moment he allows himself to lean towards Shishi's lips. Shishi tilts his face, preparing to accept his Alpha's kiss.

Hiei- Explain... first...

* Shishi takes a deep breath.

Shishi- Because I am a Banshee. When I came to your side in the room that night... When we created this precious little doll... I was agreeing to only ever have one Alpha... One mate in my life from that point on... Banshee's are monogamous...

* Hiei pulls back to smirk at Shishi.

Hiei- (Quietly) You told me... that night.. that you weren't...
Shishi- I wasn't. Banshees only come into their cycle for one week, once every three years... We have the option of refusing to do anything during that one week.

* Hiei narrows his eyes thoughtfully a couple moments.

Shishi- If I had stopped you from claiming me that night, I knew that I would have lost you as soon as we were freed... I knew all this guilt that you have bottled up inside you...

* Shishi reaches over to lay his hand on Hiei's chest to show his sincere affection for his Alpha.

Shishi- I knew it would crush you like it's threatening to do right now... So, in my twisted, crazy way of thinking, I figured that maybe if I allowed you to claim me, then it would give you a reason to keep yourself alive.
Hiei- Shishi,...
Shishi- When you die... we all die.

* Now Hiei's eyes lock onto Shishi's for several moments, before he sadly lowers them.

Hiei- (Quietly) Shishi,.. King Enma thinks that Sabie and I killed those SDF Troopers... Do you understand the penalty for that?

* Now Kurama allows Koenma to enter the room.

Koenma- Hiei,...

* The koorime growls.

Koenma- That is your name. It is what I will call you so deal with it.

* Hiei watches an amused smile play on Shishi's lips.

Koenma- You asked me to pronounce a judgement on you. Well, this is my judgement. You are completely cleared of any and all charges.

* Hiei looks back up at the Prince.

Hiei- What?
Koenma- For perhaps the first time in your entire life, my friend, you are completely free... So deal with that, as well.

* Koenma turns and leaves the room. Kurama watches him head for the outer door.

Kurama- You didn't tell him about the footage in Satjiyu's office...

* Koenma glances back through the window a moment.

Koenma- No... nor will you or Yusuke tell him. He's dealing with enough guilt. He don't need to know that he didn't have to run away in the first place.

* Now Kurama nods. Koenma leaves and the kitsune looks back through the window.
Hiei is now allowing Shishi to put their tiny son in his arms.

Hiei- So... You think that just because Mr. High-n-Mighty says I'm free, that we can just forget everything and go happily on our merry way.

* Shishi sighs.

Shishi- I'm not an idiot,.. Hiei.
Hiei- I keep telling you... That name...

* Shishi raises a finger to Hiei's lips to quiet him again.

Shishi- I won't allow you to continue letting a dead man rule your life.

* Shishi leans and brushes Hiei's lips timidly, then waits. The koorime realizes that he has the option of rejecting what the samurai is offering him. The full weight of this decision now falls on him heavily and he bows his head. If he sends Shishi away now, the Banshee will be exiled to a life of solitude, raising this tiny child that is struggling for each breath in his arms alone in Demon World. If he accepts, then he will sentence Shishi to a life of forever being his 'property', still convinced in his mind that Shishi will continue to refuse to complete their bond. Thinking about the bond causes him to look toward the futon and his twins. Sadness wells up inside him again.

Shishi- What? Now, you explain, Hun... Why feel sad about them? You know how much those boys adore you...
Hiei- You know that they have been my life, as well... But when I.. t-took you... I wronged their sire... Fire Demons have customs, too...

* Hiei glances toward the long window again.

Shishi- For right now, let's deal with us... I need to know, Hiei. Will you keep us.. or send us away?

* Hiei looks back down at the baby in his arms. Slowly he puts him back in Shishi's arms.

Hiei- I don't know... I... I need more time to think, Shishi.

* After a moment Shishi nods.

Shishi- Take all the time you need, Hun.

* Quickly the Banshee leans, brushes Hiei's lips once more, then stands and leaves the room as calmly as he can. Kurama moves toward him, but Shishi sidesteps, shaking his head.

Shishi- No, I... I just want to go back up to the room... I need to be alone and prepare myself in case he...
Kurama- Do you really think that he'll reject you?

* Shishi swallows and glances up at Kurama.

Shishi- I have empathic abilities...
Kurama- I know...
Shishi- Last night.. in the room, I... I felt Yusuke's desires... and yours...
Kurama- Shishi, he's our friend...

* Shishi meets Kurama's guarded green eyes.

Shishi- You know what I'm referring to.

* With that Shishi turns and leaves. Kurama looks back in at Hiei. As he watches the koorime begin to nurse the twins who have went over to him, he begins to wonder what Hiei was referring to. When Hiei is sure that he has a good hold on his twins he carries them over to sit beside the futon so he'll be close to Imiko as well. When Imiko sees that he has Hiei's attention he laughs and flails his arms and legs as he usually does. The koorime shakes his head with a soft smile as he lays a hand on the orange-haired infant's chest.

Hiei- (Quietly) Go to sleep now, my little Fool.

* Hiei closes his eyes, remembering Sabaktu's last plea for him to raise his baby. He mentally apologizes to Sabaktu, though, knowing that if he decides to return to Demon World, he won't be able to take his half-human grandson there. As Imiko is wont to do, the baby gets ahold of Hiei's hand and lifts it to his mouth. Kurama watches Hiei sigh, but continue to allow the baby to gum his finger happily. Kurama then turns and leaves. He and Yusuke must talk.

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Wow, I think this loong scene was the hardest I've had to work out yet. Sorry I kept you waiting for it. I hope it works this way. :o/