Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho...so sad.

If you have not read Holding Still in Motion or Watch Me Burn this story will not make sense to you from the get go. This is not a stand alone story. This is the third story in a series.

He leaned against the arch of the balcony frame, arms folded as he waited for Mukuro to return to her office.

The gentle breeze ruffled his red hair around his face, the welcoming smells of the Demon World lulling him into a moment of relaxation.

No matter how much time he spent in the Human World, when he returned to the Demon World for any amount of time he found himself aching in a certain manner for his full demonic form.

There were things of this world he missed due to his human form deadening his senses, familiar scents that had been vibrant now dulled.

He may have cast Youko aside in favor of mastering his human abilities but that did not negate the desire struck him at times to simply be as he had been. To be able to fully embrace the Demon World as he had once upon a time.

He shifted to attain a more comfortable position, mindful he could be there for some time.

He was use to these moments, the time of acting as the envoys of Spirit World within the different levels of the Demon World had conditioned him to expect delays when it came to collecting Hiei.

True to his word the Ruler of Spirit World had endeavored to "punish" him and Hiei for breaking Spirit World Law.

Koenma's idea of "busy work" had turned out to be much closer in definition to constant activity.

Contrary to Koenma's absolute confidence he had been surprised by Hiei's agreement to become an agent of Spirit World again.

Granted Koenma had not pursued the demand until Hiei had been given a month to immerse himself in a certain amount of what turned into unbridled desire for bloodshed.

But he still had not expected the fire demon to show any concern in regards to anything but himself.

It would have been understandable.

He would not have blamed Hiei if he had denied Koenma's wants in the matter, not after everything that had transpired.

In the end it was not only the threat to his impending imprisonment over the death of Miyake Taisei that had gained the fire demon's cooperation.

It was Hiei's additional realization that if he was immersed in the business of Spirit World there would be less time spent idle that had gained that agreement.

It became something quite inconvenient, Hiei's abrupt and almost obsessive need to constantly be doing something, though it did work in his favor.

Hiei was ever agreeable to whatever mission assigned to them, only showing a modicum of disgust for who it was they were representing in their operations.

If they were not embroiled in some mission, or Mukuro did not have something immediate that Hiei needed to attend to, the fire demon would disappear in pursuit of increasing his power against whatever high level demon foolish enough to engage him.

More times than not when he appeared here at Mukuro's stronghold he was required to wait, either for Hiei to recover or for Hiei to return to the complex at all.

It was not as if their missions were time constrained, but he preferred that they attended to them as soon as was possible.

He did have another life, in the Human World, and these delays tended to complicate matters for him there.

He picked up his head as the door opened, allowing Mukuro to enter the room.

He accepted the censure that came immediately to her face upon seeing him.

His appearance always marked the immediate absence of her heir, these meetings were never social calls.

"He just came back yesterday, half dead and bleeding everywhere, Kurama" Mukuro said, disgust in her voice as she crossed the room to sit at her desk, "Now you're going to take him again? He works for me..."

"He is required to do it, Mukuro." He interrupted the tirade he had grown use to as well, "He must abide by his agreement with Koenma. You know that just as I do."

He had no idea exactly when they had slipped into losing the honorifics, speaking to each other more as equals instead of what had been Mukuro's continued want for those of lesser power deferring to her.

Somewhere within their shared need to assist Hiei they had found common ground that had equalized the manner they dealt with one another.

Still a slip of annoyance traveled through him.

After all this time the female demon still treated these happenstances as personal insults instead of the necessity she knew they were to be.

Mukuro sat back in her chair, "Koenma should tend to his own matters."

A small smile lifted the corner of his mouth, "These are Demon World matters as well. Unfortunately he is correct in what he is establishing through us. We're much too use to barriers, being aware of Spirit World but treating it as a distant disciplinarian. There was a decided arrogance that filled the void the destruction of the Kekkai Barrier created. Without Spirit World as a tangible presence here we would in time overrun the Human World, no matter what the current King's laws may be."

"He really has you believing in what you do." Mukuro commented, smirking, "Next you'll be telling me he has no intention of taking over."

He shook his head, "He already has the highest seat of power, Mukuro. What good would it do him to have to tend to daily matters here?"

It was the truth of the matter, Koenma had no interest in the day to day dealings of either the Demon or Human world. The ruler was far more concerned with maintaining the balance between all three worlds.

The events in the years prior had driven home exactly what the consequences could be for all the inhabitants of the three worlds if that balance was not carefully watched.

It was that costly knowledge that fueled the missions Koenma sent them on.

The changes Koenma had decided upon could not be considered sweeping but they were different enough to require absolute knowledge of them within the Demon World.

That there would be immediate consequences for those that did not adhere to Spirit World's enhanced monitoring could not be called into question.

Their first task had been to bring the patrols into much stricter variations of the ones that had been put into affect since the first Demon Tournament.

That had also required the current King and every one that might take over the position to fully grasp exactly how far Spirit World was willing to intercede if they did not adhere to the new structures being set in place.

It was an absolute that demons beyond certain strengths were not allowed to enter the Human World, it was no longer simply discourage but enforced.

While Spirit World retained the right to allow certain demons such as himself and Yusuke to occupy the other world it was not something a demon could simply take upon themselves to decide.

The lower class demons allowed through the previous barrier still could travel in the same manner between worlds. Those races of demons that required humans as a means to remain in existence were as well, Koenma would not allow entire races to be forced into extinction.

At the core of Koenma's changes was a distinct concentration on population control within the two Worlds.

The Dark Tournament was reestablished under the direct control of the Black Black Club, its first round of invites monitored closely by himself and Hiei.

During the years that the Dark and Demon Tournaments happened at the same time, Spirit World became a more active presence.

It was the only time Koenma truly left the confines of Spirit World, traveling between the two Tournaments and reinforcing his physical presence while in the company of two ancient reapers.

That particular addition held much more weight within the Demon World population, the reemergence of the reapers once only spoken of in hushed whispers of dread by the oldest among their kind.

And Koenma's promise it would be these reapers that would first tend to those who required his judgment for breaking the laws of Spirit World.

There was, of course, a fair amount of danger involved in being the known representative of Spirit World.

Their presence was not always welcome, nor was their message of compliance with the laws.

To call themselves representatives was almost straining the meaning of that word to the point of breaking, they were well aware their duties were more aptly defined as enforcers.

It could be considered a fool's errand, putting themselves in known danger to remind a race known for balking against restrictions.

Hiei embraced those nuances of their missions.

He was the mouthpiece, the one that strove to encourage the ruling classes of each level to spread the knowledge of Spirit World's growing attention.

Hiei was the one who waited for those that would take personal insult.

That in itself was becoming somewhat of a problem, though in truth it had been from the beginning.

"He's out of control and you know it, Kurama." Koenma snapped, scowling at him from behind his desk.

"What did you think would come from involving him in these dealings?" He returned, calmly, "He was volatile to begin with. You neglected to take into account several things when you devised this parole of mine."

"And those are?" Koenma prompted sitting forward.

"Granted the two of us do have established reputations, but we also were defeated in the first Demon Tournament." He explained, slowly, "Since then we have spent much more time within the Human World and a reputation is only that. We must reestablish ours when it comes to the Demon World, most especially in the levels you most want this message of change enforced."

Koenma sighed heavily, rubbing at his forehead, "You're right. I didn't take that into consideration. It still doesn't do me any good if half the people I need spreading this around end up dead."

"Unfortunately it takes time and numerous known reactions for things of this nature to get around. Until then Hiei's...reactions can't be curbed. If anything I intend to give him free rein. Attempting to control him at this point is useless, Koenma. His pain is absolute and this is the only means he has to release it." He stated, folding his arms.

He did have some sympathy for the position Hiei was forcing Koenma in to with his tendencies to kill first and ask questions after but he had more for the fire demon.

Koenma should have known to expect these reactions from Hiei, to anticipate at least some of the bloodshed that including the smaller demon would assure.

Calling him in to Spirit World to discuss its reality did nothing to stop it.

Koenma looked away from him, his expression becoming much less severe, "I know that, Kurama. I am sorry for that but I can't have him beyond your control. What you're doing is too important to risk because he can't get a handle on his emotions."

"It's still fresh, mostly he kills to forget but rest assured his kills are of those that would endeavor to kill us first. Hiei is not so out of control that he is attacking indiscriminately." He offered the ruler, "Think of them as the required examples that establish us as ones not to be trifled with. There is also that we're viewed as your lackeys at this juncture. There will always be those that think that representing Spirit World interests restrains our normal reactions."

"I was expecting that problem." Koenma acknowledged, frowning, "I suppose I should have expected this part too. I knew there would be some altercations..."

"Demons can be even more stubborn than gods." He commented, smiling slightly, "This...storm of violence will pass given time but it won't end completely. We're a species that thrives on strife to a certain extent. I suggest turning a blind eye to what we must do to establish our presence or we will be repeating this conversation almost daily."

"A blind eye huh?" Koenma mused, "If I didn't need the two of you..."

"That is your exact issue." He interrupted, smirking, "You do need the two of us to do these things. There is no one else that would bother to understand that what you truly are doing is ensuring all three worlds continue in a manner that allows them to be as they are without interference."

Koenma's expression relaxed, "Not that anyone in your world is going to see this as that."

"No," He agreed, with a small lift to his shoulders, "many will assume this is your beginning bid for absolute dominance. Fortunately I am not one of them. You're the ruler of Spirit World, the necessity to impose a secondary barrier to the concept of entering the Human World is well within your jurisdiction. That you refuse to reinstate the Kekkai Barrier to do so speaks volumes to those of us that know the true meaning behind its construction."

Koenma studied him for a long moment, "My father's methods had nothing to do with trusting demons to get that sort of thing. I might not like what he did but I can't say he was completely wrong. He simply did it for the wrong reasons, and used it for his own gains."

He nodded in agreement, "While you are attempting to establish structure to a system that teetered on the edge of self destruction not too long ago. I do understand your concerns, Koenma. Shizuru had much the same ones oddly enough."

For a brief moment Koenma looked stricken, before turning his attention to his desk.

He regretted bringing up such a sensitive subject but it was not as if it could be avoided, nor did he want to.

Shizuru Kuwabara would not be lost in the oversensitivity of gods...or certain fire demons if he had anything to say in the matter.

"Is there any hope that you might be...observing her as she adjusts to her new life?" He ventured, quietly.

"No," Koenma answered, his voice tight, "you know I can't keep an eye on them. Their wards, and the ones on her keep them hidden from Spirit World. I don't even know what level of Demon World their race occupies, Hiromi doesn't either."

"But you will inform us if she..." He began, wanting not to fully voice the question.

Koenma met his eyes, "Yes, if her name appears in our ledgers I'll make sure you're informed. But I don't expect that to happen. She has a way of survival that rivals Yusuke's. If anyone can make it in Demon World even without memories I have absolute faith she can and will."

"He isn't out of the tank yet, won't be for at least another two days considering the state he was in when he limped in." Mukuro informed him, bringing him out of the memory.

There was a fair amount of frustration in Mukuro's tone which he understood to a certain degree.

If nothing else Hiei's compulsions tended to make his duties as her heir less of a priority.

If anything Hiei spent the least amount of time in her stronghold, most of which was spent in recuperation or preparation to leave for his duties to Spirit World.

The ex king should be less interested than she was but he also grasped what was most in her thoughts concerning the fire demon.

Hiei was becoming her equal through no doing of her own, his powers growing with each conflict as he sought out stronger and stronger demons to test himself against.

There was a tangible tension between the two when in the same room, one that spoke of nearing strife although he had his doubts that Hiei would directly attempt to wrest Mukuro's power from her.

Hiei's interests no longer could be considered within the realm of permanence.

If anything the fire demon sought the absolute absence of the concept, even to the extent of moving to a room as far removed from the complex as to be almost considered his own dwelling.

He sighed inwardly.

It could not be ignored that Hiei's choice also took him as far away as possible from anything that could be associated with Shizuru's presence in the stronghold.

The years had only strengthened Hiei's resolve to be separate from those things.

There were, of course, rules to be followed when speaking to Hiei of the Human World or of anyone associated to it, ones even the notoriously ill mannered ex king Mukuro adhered to.

Yukina was the safest subject.

Yusuke seemed to be the only one of them Hiei might be moved to ask a question or two about and relaxed the fullest when they spoke of him.

The mention of Kuwabara required a skilled, delicate touch during which Hiei would remain silent and tense as if waiting for the blow to come.

The fire demon never asked that their large friend remain unmentioned.

Shizuru's name was never to be spoken within his hearing.

In the beginning Mukuro had lost a number of her men who were foolish enough to break that last, near sacred rule.

He knew without asking that Hiei did have a want to know about the lives being lived in the Human World, but he would never bring himself to ask about them.

It was something the fire demon denied himself, accepted as an additional penalty for what he believed was his crime against those ties.

In thinking he had killed Shizuru Hiei's honor code extended to having betrayed all of them as well.

It did not matter that none of them blamed him for the events, that they only felt gratitude that he had been willing to sacrifice so much to keep Shizuru a reality.

It was telling, that these subjects still had to be danced around.

It was easy to grasp that it was in the nature of demons, to see time passing as different than humans would.

Their long lives made years seem like months, barely a whisper of time that most did not bother to notice, though it passed in the Demon World in the same manner it did in the Human one.

The loss of Shizuru might as well have happened the day before for Hiei, none of those agonizing emotions had lessened with the passage of time.

The fire demon had retreated into himself once more, become a singular entity that could not be said to have exact loyalties to anyone in particular.

While he knew Hiei still held those loyalties as closely as before it did not translate to the outside world.

Some demons had lost their lives thinking they could attack him without recourse from Hiei because of that air about him.

"Do you know the level of demon this time?" He prompted, curiously.

"If I had to guess, one of those lumbering giants on one of the lower levels. The ones even I avoid confrontation with." Mukuro responded, flippantly, "Whatever he attacked didn't appreciate it. One of these days he's going to find one that's going to end it all."

"He isn't seeking death." He stated, firmly.

Mukuro glanced at him, "No, he's trying to find something that will take her out of his head permanently. We both know that isn't going to happen and the only other way is death."

"Hiei won't allow himself the easier route of death, Mukuro. If he dies then in some manner he will have to face Koenma. He's well aware Koenma does not consider her as having died in the first place. He has to live to continue to pay for his crime." He explained, quietly.

Mukuro folded her arms, snorting in derision, "She isn't dead. He knows that."

He shook his head, refusing the bait of yet another circular and familiar argument between them.

Mukuro argued with him in lieu of doing it with Hiei since the fire demon refused to even speak of these matters with her. It was a testament to how fully Hiei had shut down communication between the two of them and it caused Mukuro added annoyance and frustration.

They both had given in early on to the pronoun game, even between each other in private they referred to Shizuru as "she" and "her", rarely was that name spoken within the boundaries of the Demon World.

Despite his desire to avoid such a thing, to allow things associated with Shizuru to fade it had happened in sympathetic regard to Hiei's feelings.

"You will need to face it eventually, Mukuro." He said, mindful that the ex king was just as temperamental as Hiei could often be.

"Face what?" Mukuro demanded, eying him.

"That he is outgrowing his position as your heir." He informed her, carefully, "He returns only because there is little else he has to return to but in time even that will not be enough. His powers are growing, perhaps even to the point he no longer feels you have anything to teach him. He will simply stop, one day Hiei will no longer be something you can consider as a matter of your interests."

Mukuro's expression hardened, but he had expected that.

Shizuru had been correct to a certain degree, there was a certain amount of possessiveness involved in how Mukuro viewed Hiei.

He was not privy to all that had been a part in creating the being that had eventually become one of the strongest powers in the Demon World but one aspect of her was that those that followed her in a sense belonged to her.

It was that sense that had so annoyed Shizuru, caused the initial clash between the two females.

While there was no hint of romantic interest from Mukuro he could still fathom the instant dislike the two females involved in Hiei's life had displayed the moment they had encountered each other.

"If you were honest with yourself you would have accepted it from the beginning. He cannot help the association between you and her, its truly amazing he has remained this long. You're well aware of that." He continued, giving vent to the small amount of annoyance he felt with the ex king, "You can't deny you still resent her, even now that he views her as his victim. We both know you've been in his mind to see it."

Mukuro's eye narrowed but she remained silent, glaring at him as if that would change the words into something less true.

"Hiei is free to do as he wants." Mukuro finally said into the silence, "You should find yourself a room. You'll hear when he wakes, the whole complex will hear it."

He nodded, moving to leave the office before she truly did take offense to what he had said to her.

It had been festering for some time now, that knowledge of exactly how far Hiei was going to take his slow removal from all of them.

As much as he wanted to deny it there was no negating that eventually, once Koenma released them from their duties, Hiei would become someone no longer considered one of his interests as well.

"You're right but not like you think."

He paused with one hand on the door to turn back to Mukuro who was gazing out the balcony opening.

"I resent that there's nothing I can do." Mukuro offered, uncomfortably, "Since then...she's all that he thinks about, the only voice he hears. She's haunting him and he wants her to. Not that he'll admit that's the way it is. He's certain he's never thinking about her, that he's put her out of his mind."

It was an apt way of describing Hiei's mindset.

Haunted.

Though it came across as darkly indifferent, a being so tightly controlled it spoke of death if that control slipped in any way. Being in Hiei's presence was to be standing on the precipice of a cataclysmic event, knowing it was only a matter of time.

"In many ways she haunts us all." He replied, truthfully, "Even Kuwabara has begun to refer to her in the past tense, though I know it pains him when he realizes he does so. Keiko, Yukina, and him were the ones that kept her alive, as someone who might return at any moment."

"And you?" Mukuro prompted, shifting to look at him with a raised eyebrow, "You think that won't complicate things? He'll vanish if she resurfaces."

"I've considered that as something that will happen since the day Shinya and Kanako left the Human World with her." He replied, straightening, "The only thing holding Hiei within our influences was Hiei's curiosity over what Koenma would do. If it were truly a matter of choice, Hiei would have vanished that day."

"He stayed here for a month before Koenma approached him." Mukuro pointed out.

"He was waiting to see if Koenma would punish him in a manner he saw as fitting, do not mistake that for choice. It was inevitable that Koenma would track him down for ending Sakyo's life. All Hiei wanted to know was if that punishment would be...torturous enough for his supposed crimes." He returned, "If anything we should be grateful that Koenma saw to making my parole dependent on Hiei's cooperation. Or we would have lost him as well."

"I never trusted that, Koenma being willing to cast aside Hiei breaking that law." Mukuro muttered.

He could not help the soft chuckle that escaped him, "How is it you missed that all this time?"

"What?"

"The agreement Hiei entered in to was in regards to my eventual pardon, it did not include his own." He informed the ex king, "Now if you'll excuse me, I have a few things to tend to before Hiei and I can leave."

He exited the office, the image of Mukuro's shocked expression still in his mind.

He had thought she was well aware of Hiei's arrangement with Koenma, that at some point she had gleaned the information from his mind since she was in the habit of utilizing her psychic ability on those around her without thought.

"Hiei, why did you agree?" He asked, confused by the terms associated with his pardon, "Koenma meant for you..."

"I have no interest in what Koenma planned." Hiei interrupted, continuing to walk away from the ruler's office, "I have every intention of keeping my word. You should understand that."

"Your word?" He repeated confused.

"There's a certain soul I promised would see me again," Hiei answered, his voice deepening with intent, "The only way to that particular soul is to be judged."

He stopped walking, a chill sweeping through him, "Is that how far your revenge will take you?"

"One demon's revenge...is a human's nightmare. I have no plans to die anytime soon, Kurama. If that's what you're thinking. I can wait. It gives me something to look forward to." Hiei replied, smirking at him.

That she did not have that particular knowledge only lent credence to what he had said before.

Hiei was much stronger than Mukuro was giving him credit for, in more ways than one.

He made his way down to the chamber that held Mukuro's recovery tanks.

Hiei floated in the one closest to the door.

Even in supposed unconsciousness it was clear Hiei's internal conflicts demanded his attention.

His brow was slightly furrowed, his fingers twitched from time to time. Somehow Hiei managed to appear on the verge of waking. Giving the impression of a body tensed for action yet lax, a strange combination of holding still while being in motion.

Signs of battle were still visible on the exposed skin of the fire demon, as half healed gashes across his torso and a long rend from temple to chin along the right side of his face.

Hiei tended to heal quickly within the apparatus which meant the day before the injuries had been much more severe.

The Jagan was half lidded, meaning Hiei was at least on some level aware of his surroundings though how aware had never been made fully clear to him.

At the Dark Tournament Hiei had insinuated that in a certain manner the Jagan was almost its own personality, that it could open of its own accord regardless of Hiei's intent.

On a subconscious level Hiei was aware of what the Jagan was focused on during these moments, but beyond that the fire demon had not gone into those particulars with him.

"I suppose I should be annoyed with you." He said to the unconscious form, "You make things more difficult then they need to be, Hiei. I'm well aware of your timing for this. I told Mukuro you weren't seeking death...I hope you have not made a liar of me. I do grasp you're trying to honor her but she would have never appreciated this from you."

He turned his back on the floating figure, mindful that the Jagan had reacted to him, opening a bit more as if fully focusing on him.

He could only hope it had not picked up on his emotional state as he had stood there.

The sense of loss and frustration that he had allowed to sift through him as he spoke.

The timing could not be ignored, nor could the obvious signs that Hiei had battled something far too strong for him.

This week marked a full three years since the day Fate and the Dragon had remade Shizuru Kuwabara's soul.

Drifting in the haze of unconscious should have been a comforting thing, might have been to any others that dwelt in the twilight darkness.

To him it was only another form of damnation, less an escape than another state of his own realities.

Why do you care?

Awake he could at least cast it to the back of his mind, shove these persistent expressions to reaches that would not come to the forefront of his thoughts so readily.

Here he was at the mercy of them, the snatches of conversation, the whispers of emotion.

Everything he sought so hard to distance himself from clawed its way deeper and deeper in to his core as if he did not already hold them tightly.

Chasing him, demanding he recall what he had sworn he would never forget.

Says the demon...standing in my dark bedroom..armed with a sword and a really bad attitude.

They sliced so easily in to him, renewing aches of something lost yet still yearned for.

These sweet, delicate moments he would have rather cast aside entirely.

Moments of her amusement that had filled him with those strangely peaceful emotions.

Ones that had grown to happen more and more often until it was simply what her presence entailed.

Hiei, what are you doing?!

Shattering through him like shards of glass, her sense of disbelief.

Yes, those he could welcome.

Reminders of what he had done lancing agony through him as was his due.

That should be only what came to mind, that moment of ultimate betrayal.

That lost, horrifying second she had realized he was not there to save her but strove to end her.

It washed over him once more, sweeping aside the resentment he held for the necessity.

That lost aching of his own that threatened to undermine his resolve.

It swirled with the rest, churning into a blanketing horror of demanding emotions that held no release.

DON'T LET ME DROWN!

But he had...and now he was subjected to it, every instance that he closed his eyes he was inundated with these clawing recollections. Swept up in the seething emotions that hid just below the surface of his waking life.

And so it would continue, the mirror of his mind reflecting those things that would cause him most harm during times he could not defend himself.

If given the choice he would not have offered resistance.

I really do feel safe.

She should have known better than to trust him.

She should have followed her instincts, shied away from him as others did upon coming in to his presence.

She should have rejected him outright.

Fire demons make me stupid!

A few moments more with her, he craved that with his entire being.

Regardless of what he had caused to happen it was that resounding want that infested these anguish filled fogs of being trapped within himself.

All I have to do is want to live...for you?

Just the pain, if only it could be just the pain her voice invoked instead of the incessant desire of her, for her.

The wafting of warm almonds.

The soft shifting as she slept against him.

The void of unconsciousness could no longer be seen as such, it was too full of emotions he wanted to cast aside. Too bent on his wanton destruction though there would never be an actuality to it.

This was a conscious choice, to swim in these agonies of her.

This was where she dwelt.

The only place he could touch that wisp of her.

He could not bring himself to force himself from it, though it ripped and tore at him better than the goliath he had taken on in pursuit of forgetting the time that had come to his attention.

I didn't lie to you!

No, he had been the liar.

The one to fool her into thinking she was safe within his arms.

The one willing to betray everything to see to his own plans conclusions.

She had offered him peace, a harbor of solace.

He had given her death.

Hiei, stop! Please!

He gave himself over to the lashes of endless nightmare and the hellish echo of her vibrant voice, willingly and without pause.

Okay, okay I get I said the next few weeks...but this story really wanted to continue to drive me crazy. So its back to the beginning and hopefully I can get a few more of you out there to give reviews, flames, whatnots...Review Please lol.