AN: Hello my Friends of the Fics! Firstly, thank you so much to Mary 92, Yileen, Jessica, and Just to Dream of You for reviewing and for those who favorited and Alerted this story! Thanks for your continued support. Secondly, I have begun working on a new Fanfic, which should be posted by the end of the month. I'm excited about this one; it focuses a lot on Yusuke and his health (both physically and mentally) after the end of the series and will feature a new OC. And of course Hiei will be in it. Don't worry, Daddy Lessons will still be running as the new story gets going.

But, back to our story at hand!

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Hiei reached back in his mind to his recent visit to the Makai.

He had only been gone for a few days, but Hiei missed the Demon Plane. The trees, glowing red skies, the howls of mischief. He had thought for a brief moment that he could just stay; just disappear and not worry about Nuri, Yusuke, and the others. But while he was a solitary demon, he was still loyal, and always kept his word.

His Jagan began to pulse, picking up the faint energy he had been seeking out the past few days. It wasn't far, just over the mountains.

Hiei had done delicate work picking through Nuri's mind to find images of her mother. Luckily for him, Nuri was a child and had very few memories. But there was always one face that repeated over and over again. A woman with long dark hair and a a plain, oval face; Her features showing the signs of wear and fatigue but always full of love and admiration for Nuri. Each memory had the same face, the same smile, and same loving voice.

'My sweet girl. My sweet little Nuri.' She would say over and over.

Hiei was quick to shut the link the moment he had enough information, which led him to his current quest to find the woman. He never understood mothers, let alone parents. But, then again, he never had a mother or a parent as reference. He quickly washed the thought out of his mind; he hadn't in several years thought of his past and this child and her mother wasn't going to stir up memories he had so carefully buried years ago.

Hiei quickened his pace, and it wasn't long until he found a cave deep within the mountains and a familiar energy pouring from its entrance.

She was there.

He withdrew his sword and slowly began to enter the cave. If this woman was strong enough to birth a child who could breathe the darkness technique Hiei assumed she would be strong enough to defend herself from foreign attackers. Yet when he took another step into the darkness, his foot pressed against a thick liquid on the stone ground. A scent filled the cavernous air, he knew that smell. It was blood.

Before he had a moment to further arm himself he was caught quickly off guard by a punch that flew at his direction. Though he was submerged in darkness, he was able to dodge it easily. Taking the offense his sword swiped into the air, causing the unknown attacker to groan in pain. Abandoning his sword he balled his fists, summoning the mortal flame to illuminate his dark surroundings. With both hands ready to strike he suddenly paused.

It was her.

Nuri's mother, dressed in a Blue silk kimono hunched over, her shaking hands steading herself against a small boulder. The black strands of her hair were tousled over her face and down to her shoulders. A trail of blood dribbled down the sleeve of her robe and towards her arm.

"Its you-"

"I'm warning you," She breathed hoarsely, "I may be wounded but I'll still kill you. Consider this your first and final warning."

"Hn." Hiei sheathed his sword, "I could easily destroy what's left of your life but that is not why I'm here."

"I know why," She spoke again, "I know you want her. But you, and everyone else who comes for her will never, ever have her."

"Hn. Cease with the dramatics." Hiei snarled, "I already have your daughter in my possession and if I wanted her dead she would already be."

The woman gasped, her body almost falling backwards. Hiei continued, "But I have no interest to hurt her. I only want information, and then she is as good as yours."

"Where is she?" The woman yelled while leaping towards the fire demon, "What have you done with my child?!"

Hiei easily dodged her, taking her by the arm and yanking her towards the light and entrance of the cave. Hiei was somewhat careful not to hurt her further, yet her snarls and resistance made the task difficult. Eventually he shoved her out of the cave, her body falling harshly against the dirt of the Makai earth. She slowly rose to a sitting posting with one hand carefully clutching her bleeding shoulder.

"You are waining my already thin patience woman." Hiei warned, "Now tell me."

Nuri's mother scoffed at the fire demon while she rose to her feet. Her wounded hands formed back into fists, Hiei let out an irritated sigh. She was just like her daughter. Adamant and foolish.

"I'll," She sighed heavily, "I will kill you for touching her. Now where is she?"

"Tch, you foolish woman I do not mean to hurt her. Now drop your guard before you drop dead of exhaustion."

The woman still eyed Hiei with a dangerous glare. After a few moments of pause she slowly withdrew her arms back to her side and took a lean against a boulder near the entrance of the cave, "Where is she?"

"The Human Realm." Hiei answered. The woman sighed,

"Good. They wont find her there."

"They? Who are they?" Hiei asked, his voice once again teetering towards anger, "Who are you? Who are these people you speak up, and why does your imbecile child think I am her sire?!"

"What?"

"Tch, Did you not just hear what I said woma-"

"You," The dark haired woman began, "You…you are not her father."

"Clearly!"

"You…you aren't even anything close to her father. Nor close to anyone I would ever consider to conceive with."

"Hn." Hiei decided to swallow his more brutal response in favor for, "Then why is your child attached to my side like a lost animal? Claiming that I am her long lost parent?" And ruining my life, Hiei wanted to add.

The woman let out a ragged breath. Settling down to a sitting position she rested her wounded arm in her lap while the other propped up her body, "You're Hiei aren't you? Mukuro's heir."

Hiei was surprised she knew, then again they were in territory close to Alaric, "And who are you? And more importantly, how did you birth a child who has already master the darkness technique."

"My name Meari." Her voice became soft as she continued, "You know, when most mothers describe their unborn they say they are a blessing…but Nuri. She," Meari paused while a groan escaped her body, "She wasn't conceived in the most perfect of ways,"

Hiei leaned against a nearby tree, dropping his guard as Meari continued, "When I was younger I had a habit of getting myself into unfortunate situations. One night I found myself in the depths of my own despair, lying on the scorched earth giving up on my life. As I prepared to end my own, he arrived. A man, a man completely engulfed in flames." Her gaze once again met with Hiei's, "I've seen men like you before. Demons of fire, yet this man was different. He looked like a man, yet his body was nothing more than a silhouette incased in black flames. His eyes were the only demon-like feature I could see. He came to me and offered me a choice. Life. His touch on my flesh instantly burned yet I felt a fire begin to grow within my womb. Then, he was gone, and several months later my daughter was born."

Hiei watched her plain face become bright with a smile as she recalled the birth of Nuri, "it wasn't a perfect pregnancy. She had nearly killed me when she was born." Meari slowly began to untie her silk robe, revealing her naked flesh underneath. Her pale skin was not of pink soft flesh, rather filled with burns and scars stretching from her breast down to her pelvis. Hiei immediately looked away.

"She was a child born of black flames, just like her father." Meari continued while wrapping the blue fabric back around her body, "She burned my insides as she grew within me, and destroyed my body as I gave her life. But the moment I saw her, my precious little child, I knew that the suffering I had been through was worth it."

"Why?" Hiei asked, his voice too becoming soft, "That child nearly killed you, why did you keep it?"

"She is my child. I would do anything for her." Meari answered simply.

Hiei became tense, and immediately changed topics, "Why are you hiding? You kept her hidden in caves and out of sight, why?"

"You are a summoner of the darkness flame, are you not?" Meari asked.

"Hmph, I mastered it." Hiei scoffed.

Meari let out a small laugh followed by a sharp hiss, her wound still leaking blood, "You are no master. You do not know it's true ability. When Nuri was just a babe she began to do special things. She began to glow, much like her father. She would touch a fallen bird and it would fly, touch desolate tree and it would grow. She did exactly what her father did to me. Everything that was dead around her became full of life.

"Fire is not an element of destruction. It is an element of life. Those who can harness the darkness technique only have the power to kill and destroy those around them. The true masters, the ones born of fire have the ultimate weapon; they can create life. Her father did it to me, and now Nuri posses that ability as well. And when I found out, I knew that demons would want that power, and want her. So we hid. Until they found us."

"And you expect me to believe that." Hiei finally spoke. His face was now a mixture of anger and confusion while his brain slowly digested the information that Meari gave to him, "Expect me to believe that? That your daughter is the child of a demigod and that she posses the ability that rivals that of Enma of the Spirt Realm?"

"Yes, I do." Meari simply responded, "And you have to protect her."

"Why should I?"

Meari's face became angered, then pleading, "You must. She is my child, and I love her. She did not ask for this curse upon her. She did not ask for this life. I will not let the world decide her fate. I promised myself that As long as my body gave breath that I would protect her. You have friends, you have allies that can protect her. Please."

Hiei couldn't put words to his emotions. He stood there, staring at the disheveled woman before her. Her body, with few breaths left pleading for the life of her child, and not of her own. Those memories, those memories carefully placed in graves in the back of his mind began to resurface, coming into full bloom in the front of his consciousness. He was not the father of Nuri, but in that moment, he never felt more connected to her.

"Please," Meari begged again, "Please protect her."

Hiei removed himself from his position against the tree and began walking toward's Meari. He crouched down beside her and wrapped his arms around her shoulder, "You need to be healed. We have still have time to get you up and-"

"Oh Meari." A feminine voice called. The voice was smooth and loving, yet Hiei could tell the admiration attached to the tone was laced with dark intent.

"Meari." The voice called again, "Meari-oh! There you are. Innocent little Meari."

A cloud of smoke began to appear at the ground of the cave as a female silhouette began to take form. The smoke swirled around the body to reveal a young woman with warm, black eyes. Her body was dressed in a flowing off shoulder gown with a tight bodice. The pattern was a mix of velvet and silk. She had a round childlike face with long locks of brown curls. Her fingers were adorned with sharp nails stained in red.

"You," Meari snarled while attempting to rise to her feet. Hiei watched her with a careful eyes.

The women let out a playful smile, bearing all her teeth, "Meari you look tired! Did I hit too hard the last time we played together? And who is this?" Her black eyes focused on Hiei. "You're a young mother Meari. You need to stop opening your body to everyone you meet. Well, what's left of your body that is."

"Who the hell are you?" Hiei questioned.

The woman let out a dramatic gasp, "Did she not tell you? I'm appalled. You must forgive me, I'm Azumi." She stretched her hand towards Hiei. The demon stared at her hand, but did not move.

Azumi seemed unfazed, "Anyways. Meari and I have some unfinished business in regards to my little birdy-"

"Stop it! Do not speak of my child." Meari answered harshly, "And you will never lay your hands on her." Meari turned towards Hiei, "Go, now."

"You're in no condition to fight."

"I don't intend to." Meari answered. Hiei could see in her eyes that she had already accepted defeat, and her fate. "Please, remember my request."

"Come now Meari." Azumi beckoned, "Lets finish our fight. I have very big plans for that little babe. And you," Her attention turned towards Hiei. She extended her hand once more, pointing at the fire demon with both her index and middle finger, "You are not needed, now goodbye." With a flex of her fingers Hiei was sent flying backwards into the thick of the woods, his body bouncing against branches and limbs of trees before he was able to catch himself against the body of a larger tree. Withdrawing his sword once more he prepared to return to Meari, yet a large wave of energy hit against his skin, followed by a gust of wind.

And Meari's energy was gone.

"So…" Yusuke began, "You mean…you mean to tell me that Nuri is the child-"

"Child of a demigod," Kuwabara continued.

"And that she has the power to…resurrect er create life," Shizuru added.

"…And now there's a crazy demon lady in fancy clothes coming after her," Kuwabara said.

"With crazy demon fingers." Yusuke concluded. Hiei nodded. Yusuke let out a deep sigh while resting his hands against the back of his head, "Like I said before we're screwed. Where's Kurama when you need him?"

"Suichi dear, you're home." Shiori smiled while the fox entered the living room. Kurama let out a smile while he set his coat and hat on the hanger. Living the human life was dull but Kurama did try his best to look slightly fashionable while doing it. He worked a full time office job at his step fathers enterprise and earned both praise a good salary from it. It made his mother happy, and to the former thief, that made him happy.

"Hello mother." He smiled while drawing a peck on her cheek. "I'm glad to be home."

"As am I." She smiled, "But you didn't tell me you were having guests over tonight! I didn't know I would need to set out another plate for dinner."

Kurama jerked his head back slightly, "Guests? Mother I wasn't expecting anybody."

"Of course you were." She smiled, "Your old friend. He stopped by earlier and told me you two have been planning this big reunion for weeks now. I can't believe you for got Suichi."

"Where," Kurama's voice trembled, "Where is he now?"

"In your room. I told him he could wait in the living room but he insisted on staying upstairs. He's such a handsome, sweet boy."

Kurama turned swiftly and exited the room, breaking into a full run when he reached the stairs. leaping up the steps he turned toward his room and thrust the door open revealing Ichiro lounging on Kurama's bed.

The fox was dressed in a a tight fitting corset and lace underwear, his slim feminine legs were covered in black stockings that ran up towards his thigh. A golden chain adorned his neck and his face was dressed in smokey eyeshadow, black mascara and plush red lips. His hair was down covering his shoulders as he smiled up towards the redhead, "Hello Kurama."

Kurama stood frozen in the doorway as Ichiro rolled over and sat up on the bed, "You know," He smiled while stretching his legs into a compromising position, "Humans really do have the best clothing. And this outfit, can you believe I found it in your mothers closet? She's got impeccable style."

"Get out." Kurama ordered. "I told you in the park the other day that I want nothing to do with you. Now get out."

"Kurama," Ichiro chided, "You see, I can't leave just yet."

"And why not?"

Ichiro shrugged, "Shiori invited me to dinner."

"Did someone say my name?" Shiori called while standing behind Kurama in the hallway.

"Mother!"

"Hello Shiori." Ichiro waved while standing. "I hope you don't mind but I raided your wardrobe."

"Oh, that's alright." Shiori smiled. Kurama turned to face his mother. The woman looked completely normal. Nothing out of place. Aside from the fact she was not fazed or frightened by Ichiro's presence in front of her.

"Mother, we have to leave." Kurama ordered while grabbing her by the arm, "Please go pack a bag now."

"Shiori stop." Ichiro spoke. The woman instantly paused in her footstep, remaining frozen in place. "Shiori," He continued, "Hold your breath until I tell you to breathe."

"Ichiro what are you," Kurama began only to pause as her mothers mouth immediately closed shut. He turned towards Ichiro, "What are you doing?"

"Simple manipulation." Ichiro answered while leaning against the doorway, "Kurama I need you for a special task. A very special task that I need 100% compliance on and well." He looked towards the now pale Shiori, "I needed something to hold you to your word. I would have gone after something a bit more, fiery, but my abilities only extend to humans and I didn't want to be that cruel to you."

"Let her go." Kurama warned, his eyes beginning to glow a familiar gold, "Now."

"Eventually, eventually." Ichiro smiled, "I just need you for one task and then she's free and you're free. Do we have a deal?"

"Fine, now release her!"

"Breathe."

Shiori let out gasp while she let out a few coughs. After a few moments her breath slowed and her hand touched at her chest, "Oh my. I apologize, I don't know what came over me. Well, I might as well go back to cooking dinner."

"I swear," Kurama threatened while leaning in close to Ichiro, "If she is hurt. I will destroy you. I will break you, place you back together and slowly break you again."

"Oh," Ichiro giggled while squirming at the fox's threat, "That sounds so exciting. Now about my favor…

I'm looking for this little girl."

AN: Holy Shit I'm leaving it here. Thank you for making it to the bottom and being supportive though this process. Stay tuned for the newest fanfic coming out soon titled "With Friends Like These". It will debut at the end of the month. Next chapter of this tale should be out next week!

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