Hiei's Harem - Pt. 4 - Recovering

solitare1, I've always viewed Mukuro as an enigma. She has to be tough and ruthless to play with the 'big boys', but she's still a woman.. err.. well, half of her is, lol.

Legilmyth, glad to see you're back for more suffering, lol.

Please keep R & R'ing, everyone. Thank you! :o)

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Scene 4 ------------ The Ravine


* Hiei is back in the Waterfall Meadow practicing a kata to help him regain some more of the agility that he feels he's lost because of his recent injuries. He has come to love this meadow, almost as much as Sarista does, because of it's tranquility and the calming sight and sounds of the beautiful double-tiered waterfall that flows from the upper rim of the Eastern wall. With his jagan half open he notices immediately when a familiar presence nears. He takes a moment to center himself from the workout, then half glances toward Staci as he moves to gather up his cloak. Staci pauses to lean her back against a tree to wait and see if he'll recognize her. Hiei glances toward her as he sits down, removing his katana.


Hiei- Staci.


* When he speaks her name she nearly jolts, then goes over and sits down beside him. For a couple moments she just watches him inspect and clean his blade. Hiei exchanges glances with her. He takes note of how her hair shines, almost glowing like spun gold, even in the dismal cloudy light of this mid-morning day.


Hiei- Is there a problem?

Staci- No, Sir.

Hiei- Then you enjoy coming here, too?

Staci- I heard the good news about Gamaru.. He really is excited to be carrying.


* Hiei snorts.


Hiei- Could've fooled me.. He hasn't said word one to me since..

Staci- You'll get to know him one of these days. Gam's not really such a bad guy.

Hiei- I never said he was. I know more about him now than you know.. There's a very good reason why I've put up with his s---.

Staci- You seem to know a lot about all of.. them.


* Hiei looks back at her, this time she looks away toward the waterfall.


Hiei- I made you a promise and I will keep it, Girl.

Staci- I'm not like them.. I'm not fearless.. I don't have the skills that they..

Hiei- I'll never expect you to be like them.. I've spent enough time in Human World to know you'll always be different.


* Staci nods and lowers her eyes. Hiei lays his immaculate sword down across his lap and studies her now.


Staci- Hai.. I'm going to grow old, my hair will turn gray, I'll get all ugly and wrinkly..

Hiei- I can't change any of those things.

Staci- And I'll become a burden to all of you, too.


* She closes her eyes when Hiei doesn't respond. She doesn't realize that it's because he's busily scanning her thoughts.


Hiei- Tell me.


* She raises her eyes, but makes it a point to avoid looking directly at him still.


Staci- Tell you?

Hiei- Tell me the real reason that I scare you now.


* In spite of herself she now jerks her eyes up to look at him completely. She then relaxes when she sees the soft glow behind his ward.


Staci- You already know.

Hiei- I would prefer you speak it out.


* She sighs deeply and lowers her eyes again.


Staci- I haven't been in Demon World all these years without learning a few things.. I've been tricked and deceived more times than I care to..

Hiei- I honor my words, Girl.

Staci- I.. want to believe that.. Maybe in time, I will.

Hiei- I won't order you to accept me.. In fact, I know that you are forcing yourself to even be this close to me.. You can't hide yourself from me. We are bound to each other because of that mark I had to place on you.


* Staci raises a hand to rub her neck where his mark is. He tilts his head at the mixture of guilt and sorrow he feels coming from her.


Hiei- Why do you feel that way?

Staci- I'm going to have such a shorter lifespan than all of you.. I was told before by a couple of my.. owners that they wouldn't mate me because of that..

Hiei- Then they were ignorant clods.. Your lifespan will have no bearing on me.


* She glances up at him.


Staci- It won't?

Hiei- For three reasons.. One, I'm a male. Two, I'm an S Class male. And Three, I have all these others in our pack that will.. comfort me and keep me going.


* She watches Hiei lay on his back and stare up at the cloudy sky. Even without any demon senses she can tell by looking at him that he's wearied himself. Hiei half glances at her.


Hiei- I just got done exercising for an hour.. Besides that, all this drama is wearing my mind out.

Staci- I'm sorry.


* She looks away again.


Hiei- Oh shut up. It's not just you.. It's.. all those others I have to deal with, too.. Them and their silly belief that I'm.. someone special.


* Hiei closes his eyes to avoid hers when she looks at him again.


Staci- You are special.. You're our Alpha..

Hiei- I know that, d--- it!

Staci- But you can't solve all of our problems.. You have too many of your own insecurities to overcome, yet.

Hiei- Stop blabbering as if you know anything about what I'm.. dealing with.. You know nothing.


* In a sudden act of boldness Staci leans on her arms to glare down at him, blocking his view of the lovely clouds.


Staci- I know that you are kind.. You showed that in bringing 'Tara's son back here for her.. You are also very strong and brave to take on those Spiders and that Tiger..


* Hiei grunts and turns his face away from her.


Hiei- Brave.. I fought both of them stupidly.. Those d--- spiders should've never caught me off guard.. And that cat should've never got a claw on me.

Staci- Mistress Sarista said she felt as though you were ready to.. purposely lose that battle.


* The apparition refuses to respond.


Staci- Was it because we're too much for you to handle? Or was it because you're afraid to..

Hiei- I don't fear anything.

Staci- You fear being a Father.. The same as I fear trying to be a Mother again.


* Finally Hiei looks at her slowly. Staci nods.


Staci- I know that demon called fear better than any other living one I've known here.. There were times that I just wanted to curl up and die.. But I was afraid to.. I finally just gave up and decided to accept the fact that the rest of my life was going to be h---.


* Staci then smiles when Hiei snorts his agreeance.


Staci- But since you've come, the h--- has been a lot easier to live in.


* Hiei senses her sincerity. For several moments he just looks at her. Staci sits back up and sighs deeply.


Staci- You said that I would know when I was ready..

Hiei- Hn.. And you're not.

Staci- No.. I'm not ready for.. that.. But I am ready to.. try to trust you.. If you still want me to try.


* Calmly, Hiei reaches up and pulls her down easily to lay beside him.


Hiei- Let's just take it slow.. If you want to you can.. stay here with me while I.. rest.


* Staci rolls her face to meet his eyes a moment. She feels his grip stay loose so that she won't feel pressured or threatened. After a couple moments she nods and twists to snuggle against him, burying her face against his side. Hiei sighs and shifts his gaze back up to the sky. Never in his wildest dreams would he have ever believed this. That he, who once considered all humans to be weak and vile, would be laying here with one of them so close to him. Hiei closes his eyes as a memory makes its way through his mind. He remembers times back in his youth when the gang he was raised with would capture humans. He remembers how the others in the group would take great pleasure from raping them, making sport of them, even ultimately eating them. He, himself, had never taken any active role in such 'parties'. Even then his Fire nature was repulsed by these activities. He mentally snorts to himself, 'If only the Humans would realize that not all demon species preyed upon them'. But all these early experiences had affected him in another way. They had taught him how truly fragile and weak these lower species, these humans were. This was when he had developed the loathing he had exhibited for them throughout much of his younger life. When his mind starts to wander toward where these views started to change the Koorime scowls and wills his jagan to close. Those memories, those people that created them, they're all behind him now. He has more important situations to occupy his brain energy on. Not long after blanking his thoughts the Koorime relaxes and joins Staci in a light nap.