Winter's Halo

Venomous Misunderstanding

Gleaming sheens of frosted mint glared from the face of a majestic human, livid with a chance to taste a sample of his flavored defeat. In sync with the ominous sway of dampened carmine strands, one lift of his hand called forth the unseen command to evenly discard its plant's assistance to capture his prey. The vibrate response shuddered its ancient limbs, whispering its obedience and gradually lengthened the brown appendages to catch its master's target.

But Hiei was far from the fool this creature took him for. The obvious stench of an experience earth wielder salted his taste buds like placid rain. The Koorime felt the demand radiate through the veins of this tree and dodged the instant those spiked twigs dug into the soaked grounds. Hiei tucked and rolled into a thick bush, maintaining perfect visual focus of his enemy from the grizzly shadows.

"You have something of mines villain." Said the attacking opponent. The tingle tone of natural rasp stung the Koorime's ears like acidity torment. The voice of his enemies always pulse the flow adrenaline rapidly through his system, knowing exactly what to expect when his blade torn through their innards. Those bleeding moments would forever be the mother's whisper for Hiei's inner mania.

"You claim I possess something of yours? Tell me, how exactly would I know the truth behind what you say?" Said Hiei with cool, calculated mockery. A sharp slice of his blade destroyed the attempts of a second tree's frontal ambush before piercing the ribbons of his chest plate.

"Cowardice feeds the predators' appetite for his prey's blood. Be not a coward and take your death like a man." The scarlet haired assailant called.

The wrappings of the Katana sword sizzled under the hissed anger of palming heat. "Oh and is it this coward's blood you seek then? What hunter values the blood of a weakling and a mere child? Surely you can find worthier prey than scouting about for an easy target." Came Hiei's taunt as the turn of his sword twisted in a discreet stab poisiton. "What does that say of your masculinity?"

"A great more than your own I'm sure." The pacing entity of lagged red hair, easily stepped toward the hairline of the clearing's edge mentality motioning for several frozen grass blades to wiggle free of their roots and sharpen to razor projectiles. "Be wise to leave what you hold and be gone. I haven't the time to waste dealing with your insecurities in combat."

Hiei frowned glancing down at the quivering kit; so it's the boy this assassin desired.

Hiei wearily shifted to the right side of his shield in hopes of getting a better look at the bold character standing in the center of the clearing.

By the slowest degrees, the picture of a vile identity took shape in the remnants of his mind. Sheer disgust of the elegant vision confidently stalking them, churned the contents of his stomach as white hot fury boiled from his pure cerise eyes to a savage burgundy. "What matter of fool do you take me for?" Hiei sneered evilly at the repulsive creature.

This fool was jesting if he truly wanted Hiei to believe this child belonged to someone like him.

The picture perfect image of utter ugliness was poured over in the shape of a tall, narrow bodied figure dunned in the rippling contours of a sunken navy blue and lime designed combat kimono, tied with the slacked luster of stringed silver over the inner white suit. Hideous swirls of that long crimson hair coiled around and about, above and around his neck like a snake's embrace. Hiei snarled savagely when the face of angelic revolt met his eyes. Skin was lightly paled from depravity of sun light and flustered from the rain's blister sheets, bringing out the dangerous glint of twin olives scanning the flatten planes for his enemy's concealment.

"You, a mere human, dare to confuse yourself with a demon's heritage?" Hiei accused angrily. "You must really take me for a fool."

"My connection with that child is no concern of yours. Simply bring him to me and I shall consider your life afterwards."

"Ha, a pathetic threat from a weak mortal." The Koorime flashed his sword bravely waving its teasing glint from his hiding place. "I knew you fools lacked intelligence, but I had no idea you were suicidal." This said as he stepped out in the open to face his opponent, one arm secured around the pup's body, keeping his face pressed against his cloak and the other targeting his weapon at the other. "The fact that you would actually challenge a demon so openly speaks of your ignorance."

Sage green eyes narrowed patiently. "Ignorance comes from those who underestimate their enemies."

The lightening clash of ruby and lime locked sanguinely, the roaring waves of the earth shaking warningly to dust away the burning flames. But neither element subjected to its own weakness and steadily held frozen in time.

"Mmm eep eep," Little fool squeaked nervously unknowing of the heated glares shooting overhead.

Just than the dashing human made the mistake of flicking his sights to the child for a split second and suddenly felt the fined edge of stainless steel marked against the throb of his jugular vein. One intake of breath and the slithered rupture of blood spilled over the mirror edge.

"Hn, you underestimated my speed Human." Boosted the achieving Koorime. "A mistake that'll cost you dearly." Hiei pressed his sword suggestively into the mortal's neck, grinning maliciously at the spillage delicious blood.

Unfazed disdain stayed pure in the slanted sage eyes, coolly lowering to left of the smaller person. "A mistake notable of its purpose."

"Wha—" The visible flinch of surprised flashed in Hiei's eyes when the light pressure of countless micro spears pressed directly into his spinal sector and jugular vein. The unmistakable smudge of seeping toxics baked tauntingly in Hiei's nose, reaching the raw chambers of the tender flesh in his throat.

Victory mirrored over the stoic expression of the taller male. "Either face the options of never walking or end your life here as the brutal savage you are. Either way, who do you believe will take his last breath?"

The sword's edge shakily displayed its owner disgruntled anger of being outwitted by the feeble demeanor of someone so inferior and pressed further into the neck joint. Once more the crackling connection of searing hot cardinal eyes competed with the cool minted glare and after an extended moment, the sword retreated to its master, accompanied by the steely growl of discontent. "Damn you."

"A wise decision." The barbed spikes weakened to limped straws and carried away with the slightest breeze. "The poison in those needles would've assured a painful demise by the slowest degrees."

When the winner made to reach for the child, Hiei back flipped ten yards, keeping the kit's body against his.

"Come now, an agreement has been settled." The human argued sternly. "Give me the child."

"I will not hand over a demon child to the likes of a worthless human. You have no kinship with this boy."

"My relationship is no concern of yours."

"Then the child stays with me."

Deadlock.

Fury evident in one, the blistering stings of ice glowering in the other. One having the advantage, the other formulating a plan. Eerily artic silence plastered the tension clasped bodies for what seemed an eternal battle of elemental forces. Fire spreading over the curve profile of the earth's planes as the greenery roared to life to overwhelm the fires' raging destruction. The tangled web of evenly matched combatants, stayed firm . . .

. . . Until the tiniest pinch of movement curled over the green eyed devil's lips. "Whether you surrender the child to me or not is no longer up to you. He will be mine soon enough."

Hiei didn't so much as flinch from the accessible impudence and tilted his head to the side cockily. "A human daring fate to determine my destiny? An amusing show of idiocy that only proves my point of you disgusting trash."

"Hm," The smile grew a bit more as the gleam of a sparkled secrecy shun evilly in sage orbs as the human made a show of dusting off his arms from no sort of effort. "Fate wrote your death in stone only moments go. You will discover your inevitable fortune sooner than you think." Then the green twinkle settled on the frightened pup with a hidden message before summoning the earth's dissolving muck to swallow him, slowly pulling at its master's aura.

Hiei watched the descent of crude confidence disappear below the softened earth until not a strand of red hair existed. "Hn, fate deciding my life indeed." Came his disgruntled snort. A weakling like him boastfully declaring victory in a battle he hardly participated in? Ha. Who was he to recite destiny's letter like its messenger? No one decreed Hiei's life but him. Not even death will claim his soul until he allowed it.

All the same, a barrage of questions began to float in his thoughts about that mysterious human. Hiei hadn't considered the possibilities until just now, but what is the likes of a mortal doing in Makai? The common odors of contaminated miasma purge this world's atmosphere as easily as soaked water. Any human who so much as whiffed the winds of decaying death would perish before their next breath was drawn. Yet this creature could walk and talk as if it came second nature to navigate this hazardous environment.

Nevertheless, it was a mystery he needn't burden his mind over. There were more important matters to attend to, one including to get this child out of the frigid temperatures. For some reason the blowing inclement winds seemed to have dropped drastically. Almost bitterly freezing.

"Mmm..."

Hiei lifted an eyebrow at the pup, inquiring with his eyes 'What is it?'

Fat tear drops pooled in the shiny saffron as hiccupped whimpers bubbled from Little Fool's lips. His tiny fists balled into the soggy cloak, the plump of his cheek coming to touch down nervously over the—less than noticeable— weakened rhythm in his protector's chest. Whimpers of churning anguish laced the kit's crying voice. So sorrow poured through his pores the sickened, Hiei could smell the onslaught of tears absorbing in his cloak, but couldn't fathom the pup's sadness.

Worry clenched Little Fool's heart as he frantically began to squirm in Hiei's hold till his silky silver nuzzled under his chin. "Mmm... Mmm..." He could smell it. He could sense it.

Sighing shakily, Hiei pulled the kit back staring angrily in his gloomy face. "How many times have I . . ." Eyes blurred a misty fog. "Have I told you not to. . . not to. . ."

Laborish breathing. "Damn—dammit." Hiei hissed, his body gradually allowing the gravitational tug to bring his knees to the muggy ice. God why was it becoming such a difficult task to breathe?

A clammy sweat erupted on his skin as the chilled howls claimed their victim, battering him until he'd surrender. Hiei held fast not giving into the frozen demands to fall. But the sharp stabbed of fiery fluids were shattering the streams of blood, constricting any means of flow. The pain came as an instant shock locking every mechanism of his limps as the unseen force finally knocked over the strong willed Koorime.

The abrupt collapse thrust Little Fool on the ground, stumbling out of Hiei's slacking arms. The terrifying stare of blank dullness dimmed his once blazing iris. Only numbing copper blinked blindly to the dreary world. Nerve engaged twitches were the only seeds of comfort, blossoming in Hiei's eyes. The smell of death was assured. The wraths of its haunting detection were bringing him closer the brink of no return.

"Mm. Mm." Little Fool peeped helplessly. He crawled over his friend's back, patting the squishy cloth and calling out to his ailing protector to awaken. But nothing gave, save for the gasping wisps of breath.

Hiei could feel it all, and slowly began to trace the origin of his sudden weakness . . .There. There it was. He realized after a quick detection that the small prick from the thorn nicking his neck from before had been laced with a poisonous agent. One that would ensure its victim the most unpleasant demise.

Curse him—the briefest flash of red hair and green devilish eyes played in his mind—that bastard human. He'd one up him on that quick scuffle from before. That single tap of venom had entered through the tiniest infliction and in his veins. Gods how could he have been so careless? His own brazen hastiness was going be his own undoing. How could he have been so foolish? That nick should've been detected the minute it started spreading his poisons. But he'd been to caught up in his egotistic bravado to notice.

Now he would pay the price.

The entirety of Hiei's body dulled to non-existent. The beat of his heart labored with so much effort to pump life in his spirit. Breathes came in shorter and shorter spouts. The trickle of saliva slipped from his chapping lips easing down his paling cheek.

"N-no," No he couldn't . . . He couldn't die . . . Not like this . . . Not before he served his purpose . . . Not until those frigid witches died by the very fire they sealed within him . . . Only then would he grace the devil permission to take his soul to hell . . . He had to live. He had to stay alive. If not for his own will for survival then for . . . for . . .

"Mmmm." Little Fool crawled forward to lick over his friend's freezing face, wishing some warmth would trigger him from the jaws of hell.

Hiei felt an unfamiliar sting claim his eyes. Consciousness was dying an ashen battle with darkness. It wouldn't be long. Not much longer. Damn it all to the pits of hell it couldn't end this way. Not by the premature attempts of a damned human. Not like this . . .

But, Hiei suddenly feel something. Something soft and warm pressing against his cheek, though the fuzzed vision of the world had long since depleted. He could feel him. The little foolish child covering his face with his own, timidly licking off the chips of ice collecting.

'You damned fool,' Was the only thoughtful memory Hiei could recollect and pudgy arms and fuzzy tail wrapping around his neck, a tongue gracing over his lips and the silencing squeaks of despair before he was swallowed by the limbs of darkness' embrace.

---

From the highest perch above, sat the satisfied glint of completion, lacking the promised smirk of victory. Death was never something to find glee in but at times it was necessary to achieve what he wanted. This incident being a prime example. The situation could've went down another agreeable understanding path but the fool had dug his own grave by being defiant. Now he shall become absorbed into the earth's bed with the intimate caress of reaper's kiss.

The spying figure leapt down from his branch and landed airlessly to the frosted ground. No kind of angled clemency was lowered to the black entity lying dead. His sights stayed on the bundling pile of innocence squealing by his prey's side. His goal had been accomplished. The kit was in his custody and now the only remaining duty was to return with him.

The alerting crunches of magnetized snow collecting on his feet weren't enough to lift the kit's eyes from the creature's face. Little Fool simply stayed there licking all over the stiff expression, willing heat in his body.

Kurama sunk to his knee and held out his hand to the weeping pup. "Come here Kisa." Came his foggy demand, eased through the white cloud. The kit didn't budge from his spot, instead curling more into the villain's face. When Kurama reached down to untangle the kit's limbs Kisa began to thrash and shriek violently until he accidentally fell back on the demon's face and recoiled his fur-cloaked body around him.

"What has gotten into you?" Questioned Kurama to the child.

"Eeep." Kisa softly peeped and licked Hiei's frozen face again.

"You can't stay here with this creature little one." Kurama murmured, lowering his hand to stroke the kit's hair. "Your home is elsewhere." A patient smile graced the human's face. "You needn't concern yourself with his care. He won't last much longer."

That seemed to break the straw on the camel's back as Kisa weep louder than before, nuzzling his nose into Hiei's cheek. No, he couldn't leave his friend alone. He knew what it was like to be left alone. It was scary and mean and so very dark. But this man had been a beckon to his darkness. He didn't want to leave him in this darkness. There was no light there. No care. No sounds. No nothing. Just emptiness.

"Kisa—"

"Mmm." Kisa shook his head in a frenzy grabbing Hiei's hair between his fingers and tucking the numb face deep in his tummy, shivering from the naked chill. Possession was made clear. Kisa was not going to allow the bond created between him and this stranger be broken, whether in life or death.

And unfortunately with the declaration made by this child's instincts to not be separate from his protector Kisa's assured his own demise. If Kurama took the pup from this demon, depression would consume his purity and soon he too would follow suit to the afterlife.

A soft growl from above seized Kisa's ears. A sound he'd never heard from his guardian. Not ever.

Then Kurama was back kneeling in front of them and easily sunk his nails deep in the dark demon's injury, summoning the venom's retreat from finalizing its task. The effects of its symptoms would last a while longer, though the stench of death was simply postponed.

"How amusing," Kurama disdained into the fogged dim of blank crimson eyes, staring lifelessly into the nothingness. "Death has alluded you," He glanced at the quivering pup. "It seems certain advantages are on your side . . . for now anyway." Green narrowed in stringent analysis.

Slowly the subtle flows of unbind release dressed the surrounding plant life, timidly easing toward the center of the valley occupants. Green foliage of various organisms circled flattened to the ground till reaching their target and hovering above head. Vines tightened in a coiling ball, and leaves camouflaged their descent into the dampening earth. Kurama pressed his palm flat to the ground and willed the powers of authority to tread ringlets of mental chants into the grassy earth…

. . . And in the blink of an eye, they vanished below.

---

An endless Cimmerian shade. The eternal capsule of blackened explosions burning in suffering lacerations. Where was the light in this bottomless abyss? There was so much misery and martyrdom, engulfing his soul like a raptured lamination.

For several nights, agonized grunts of burning infliction blemished the Koorime's lips yet he was still trapped within the shell of the devil's nightmares. Not once had he made coherent demand for care but the offer was steadily being given. He'd been striped to his bared nudity and tuckered in the heavy weights of satins and silk fox furs.

Kurama had taken his burdens to the hidden contours of a large hideaway concealed from all prying eyes. Or rather those who were unfamiliar with its secrets. A large honeycomb fortress naturally constructed from years of shifting earth plates and growth—slightly assisted to give it the normal appearance of a mountainside serving a multitude of holes. They were currently settled in the back abandoned grove of the forty-chamber hold and it was here, Kurama had begun his undeemed task of caring for this demon's deterioration.

Feverish, sore, suffering and chilled to the bone, it was all Hiei could but shudder as if it were his body's only functional command. Clasps of sickness had finally taken its toll on his fragile body, thinned from previous depravity of nourishment and impaired with continuous travel. The small slit on his throat hadn't healed as planned, proving much more difficult to tame. The poison itself wasn't the main concern, but the harsh climate infections gathered within the wound. Illness had already been concocting in his body and the venom was the added ingredient to stir up the boil.

Twisting the dingy water out of dampened cloth, Kurama laid it upon the Koorime's brow for the umpteen time that day, and a herbal soak across the bandaged swelling of his throat. Trickles of spiked ebony clung to Hiei's forehead from the slickened sweat on his body. Nothing was breaking through his deliriously hot fever.

"Eeep."

Kurama stroked over the slackened ears, whispering soothing words to quail the child's worry.

Kisa was sitting idly in his guardian's lap watching every movement made to keep his friend alive. As much as he wished to hug Hiei's face to his tummy, Kurama had forbidden any further contact with the demon until his condition improved. Possible contagious effects could enter the boy's system and he was still too young to immune his body from infection.

For reasons only beneficial for himself, Kurama needed this creature to live. Questions only he held the answers to were desired and only then would he let him succumb to death or whatever destiny awaited him. But instance he needed to know how he came across Kisa in the first place and where was his mother-

Hiei howled out just then, thrashing and grasping on the clumps of his blankets as his face contorted in pain. Arms and legs frailed out in the tangle sheets as if hindered from moving freely like a trapped animal. Sweat pooled from his hairline and slid down his temple to splat a puddled spit.

Sighing heavily, Kurama tossed a log in an engraved fireplace, near the back. The heat had only been meant to keep them warm from the cold but the increased temperature was costing a large fee against the two healthy persons inside. The extra fire was needed to break this demon's fever and being a fire demon, the temperature was needed to be five times hotter. However it was too stifling to maintain a comfortable residence in there. Even Kisa was panting, swooning dizzily from the overwhelming blazes and fell back on Kurama's stomach, mewing his weary compliants. The boy couldn't stand much more of this fire. He'd need to seek comfort elsewhere.

Kurama stood, kit in hand, and turned to leave the cavern but Little Fool began to weakly protest, squirming to be taken back. The human stood firm in his decision, ignoring the trembling cries. There was higher level cavern he lived in and this was where he settled the infant down for a recovery from the heat. Kurama managed to give Kisa small bits of meat and milk from the storage compartment and after a few back pats, the kit's feeble peeps died away to a purring slumber.

Grateful for the child's exhaustion, Kurama placed the sleeping pup under the sheets of foreign sensations and loosened the grasp of his debilitation in one breathe.

The exhaustion of the past several days finally weighed down on the human caregiver as he stood from the pallet, rolling the stiff joints of his shoulder blades. But now that he had the kit back he was going to have to tread cautiously. For this kit's sake, Kurama was going to need to keep him clear from all eyes until further notice. It should've serve him well if the wrong someone discovered his existence.

Plus . . .

With the added mixture of this fire demon gracing the territories of a certain someone, an excessively long explanation was going to be in order to explain….

Suddenly the ruptured sense of blaring youki surged high enough for even Kurama to detect. His human body was coated in the familiarity of welcoming flutters and a small smile tilted his lips.

"Speak of the devil . . ."

---

TBC: I realllly want your opinion on Kurama because I'm trying to steer clear of the traditional garb everyone else does. That's right. There's none of that love at firstsight nonsense.