SUMMARY: Hiei has been captured by Makuro and is being tortured because she thinks he is trying to overthrow her. Can Yusuke save Hiei from her and from himself?

WARNINGS: Yaoi, Angst, Violence, Language, NC, Torture, Character Death, – Further warnings will be posted within each chapter.

-Capture-

The embittered half-bionic demon paced the courtyard, where her military generals were lined up in formation awaiting her orders. She called them here when she heard that Yomi had ordered his men to patrol the borders. The blind fool, what is he trying to do? She fumed as she paced restlessly. He can't take my job from me.

Mukuro rounded on the men awaiting her orders. "Yomi is trying to undermine my authority on the borders. You men are to go to the borders and stop his soldiers." She glared at her generals. "Any questions?"

One general stepped forward. "Sir!"

"What Samole?" Mukuro growled at him. Her tone gave serious warning not to cross her.

"Uh, Sir, how are we to stop them?" The squat demon replied hesitantly.

"Kill them if you have to," she ground out between clenched teeth.

A diminutive demon walked casually from the shadows to stand in front of the generals. "Belay that order, men." His slightly gruff voice carried clearly to all the demons present.

"Excuse me?" Mukuro turned her full fury on her heir.

Hiei called to the men, "Dismissed!" He then turned to his boss with a level gaze. "Yomi is not undermining your authority," he started with his usual calm. "I asked the council for assistance with the borders. Yomi's men are that assistance." With that pronouncement, Hiei followed the generals out of the courtyard.

"Hiei!" Mukuro yelled. When he paused, she continued, "You have no right to countermand my orders to the men."

"If you had asked me about this earlier instead of jumping to conclusions, I would not have to countermand your orders," the black-haired demon replied without turning around. He then continued his exit of the courtyard leaving a fuming Mukuro in his wake.

The steamed woman's hands twitched into fists as she stomped into her office. Using what restraint she had left, she managed to not slam the door like she really wanted to. She immediately summoned a messenger demon and tapped her fingers on her desk with impatience as she awaited his arrival. As soon as the winged creature arrived she growled out the order, "Find Phobos and bring him to me."

Phobos was not far and the messenger had no trouble finding the demon of fear. Dressed all in black from the hair on his head to his worn leather boots, this demon's physique screamed "Fear me!" Even the messenger, who was bred to be without fear, paused slightly before addressing Phobos.

"Lord Phobos," the winged imp started obsequiously. "Lord Mukuro demands an audience with you immediately. You are to follow me to her, my lord."

Phobos laughed abruptly. That he, once worshiped as a god by the humans, should be at the beck and call of a mere demon lord was absurd. However, it had been a long time since someone else needed him. He would overlook this woman's arrogance this once, as he let curiosity win out over pride.

With a sly smirk, he turned toward the tiny demon and declared, "lead on little imp, and pray your master does not bore me."

As the two demons approached Mukuro's fortress, men and women cowered in fear. Phobos relished the anxiety he inspired in others. Being who he was, he was both beautiful and terrible. Son to love and war, his handsome features drew the eye and his eyes of hellfire spawned terror until the viewer both wanted to look and look away. An evil grin twitched the corners of his mouth as he followed the imp to its master's lair.

He entered the office door without knocking and stood before his summoner. Glaring at her with his fiery eyes he demanded, "Why have you summoned me here?"

Trembling almost imperceptibly, the demon lord answered, "I need you to rid me of a menace that is over reaching his bounds.."

"What am I, your exterminator?" Phobos asked with a sneer.

"Hardly." Mukuro walked around her desk to a window overlooking the courtyard she had been in earlier. "You see that man?" she pointed straight at Hiei sparing in the sun. Without awaiting his answer, she continued. "He is my designated heir, but he grows too bold." Her gaze returned to the demon in her office. "I don't want him killed, I just want him subdued. I believe that you are the only one capable of cowing him. In the years he has been with me, I have been unable to find weaknesses to use against him. He hides them too well." She gave Phobos a wicked grin. "You can find any fear he hides and exploit it. Take him down a peg or two."

"And what do I get in all of this?" The dark demon demanded.

"You get to feed off his fear as much as you want to until I'm ready to release my territories to him." Her reasonable tone belied the terror this man inspired in her own heart.

"What's to keep me from killing him before then?" Phobos questioned. He could smell her fear and in enticed him.

"If you kill him, you won't have his fear to feed from. He is quite strong and will provide sustenance for years. Besides," she made a vague gesture with her hand, "if he dies of fright, then he was never meant to be my heir."

Mukuro returned to sit behind her desk. "You will find him near the border tomorrow afternoon." She pointed to a place on the map on her desk. "I will have him ambushed here. You can take him from there."

Cocking his head to the side, Phobos sighed heavily. "As you wish," his voice dropping into a growling whisper. "You know how to find me when you are ready to claim him back.

As the demon of fear left the compound, he pondered how he would go about breaking the little man. The reason behind the job meant nothing to him, but he took it purely to learn what it was about this "boy" that had Mukuro so afraid. Whatever it was, it made things such that the woman was willing to risk the wrath of a former god just to rid herself of it. Intriguing, he mused as he made his way to make preparations for the coming amusement.

Crimson eyes opened before dawn and gazed around the semi-dark of a bedroom. Though he slept here, Hiei did not consider this place his home. The only home he knew was with the Toushin, but he would not admit that to anyone.

His callused hands came up to wipe thoughts of the former spirit detective from his mind. The former human bore his mating mark, but no one knew about it except the two of them and a certain fox demon. Sometimes that man was too observant for his own good.

Removing his hands from his face, Hiei rose from his large bed to prepare for the coming day. The she-bitch had informed him last night that because he had allowed Yomi's men in, it was now his responsibility to supervise them. He didn't mind this new addition to his duties, since he hated being cooped up here at the fortress for any extended period of time. However, he wondered, not for the first time, why he still allowed this woman to dictate his life.

The jaganshi slipped his katana through the belts around his waist and left for the transports to the border.

A few hours later, Hiei arrived at the portal to the human world. From here he began checking with each of the officers in charge of the patrolling to see if there was any unusual activity. Finding no news, the hybrid commenced his own patrol. It was a little after noon, when he felt a flare of high level youki. There were mixed signatures indicating several demons, all of which appeared to be S class or better.

Hiei growled slightly as he quickly flitted toward the demons. In a small clearing, he found the sources of the youki. Several demons were surrounding a human woman, who was so terrified that she just sat there staring at the monsters in mute horror.

The black-clad hybrid rolled his eyes at the weakness of this human woman. He then proceeded to run the demon closest to him through with his sword.

The other demons quickly dismissed the helpless female when the one Hiei attacked started gurgling slightly. When he fell to the ground and stopped moving, the remaining band promptly attacked the jaganshi.

Sword met claw; fang met flesh repeatedly in a seemingly never-ending dance of blood and pain. Hiei was dispatching the others swiftly, but the battle was leaving its mark on the diminutive fighter. All too soon, he realized that his only hope was to unleash the dragon.

With a final shout, Hiei released his hold on the dragon that usually lies dormant on his arm. Fire burned along his skin and he began emanating a dark purple glow. The dragon of the darkness flame consumed the youki he fed it as it once again came to life. Content with his offering, it followed his silent command to consume only the demons present.

Several years ago, under Mukuro's tutelage, Hiei gained enough power not to lose consciousness by unleashing this fiery beast. Nevertheless, the price was higher this day than usual because the fire wanted that human as much as the demons it destroyed did.

Hiei fed it his youki until it was sated and returned to lie quietly on his arm. For the first time in years, the pull was too much and Hiei managed to whisper, "Shit," before darkness consumed him.

Yusuke walked beside Kurama down a side street on the way to Keiko's noodle house. Since Hiei was working, Yusuke knew it would be at least a week before he saw his mate again. That being the case, the former spirit detective decided to visit his friends in the human world.

"So where are we headed fox-boy?" The former toushin inquired as he followed his friend.

"Keiko's shop. I thought you would recognize the way." He grinned, "I guess you've been gone longer than I thought."

Yusuke cringed at the mention of his one-time girlfriend. "Are you sure it's a good idea for me to go there?"

Confused by his friend's apprehension, Kurama replied, "Sure, why wouldn't it be?"

Giving him the "duh" look, Yusuke reminded the redhead, "the last time I saw her was when I broke up with her. She threw more things at me than I could count."

"Gods Yusuke, you have been gone too long." Kurama had laughter twinkling in his emerald eyes. "Keiko forgave you a long time ago. She is with someone new; his name is Hiromi. In fact, they got married last year."

"Huh. I haven't been gone the whole time," the mazoku replied sheepishly. When Kurama raised an eyebrow at him, he continued. "What, so I avoided her. I thought she would hate me forever after what I did to her."

Chuckling softly, Kurama jibed, "I can't believe that after all the battles you have been in, that you are afraid of one human woman."

"Hell yes!" The former human exclaimed causing the fox to laugh harder. "If you ever had her mad at you, you'd be afraid of her too."

Sighing, Kurama shook his head at his friend's remarks. He had missed Yusuke. Between his life here and his newer life with Yomi in Gandhara, they rarely got to see each other anymore. "When she had time to cool off, she forgave you. Apparently, she was not surprised that you were more interested in men than women."

With a small smile on his face, Yusuke stared at the fox incredulously until a feminine voice called out from a doorway just up the street, "Yusuke!" There, standing in a light green dress and white apron, stood the former love of his life. The smile slipped as he came face to face with his past. He had severed ties with Keiko the day he told her that he couldn't marry her.

The woman ran forward and hugged the brunette. He stiffened briefly in her arms, but instantly relaxed. She released her childhood friend a moment later and surveyed how time had changed him. His hair was a little longer and hung about his face without the gel it so often carried in school. His brown eyes were just as caring as they had been, but there was a cold calculation that was present now that he was a demon, and some of his mazoku markings were visible from under his white shirt.

After a while, she commented "You should come visit more often." Her soft chastisement had him turning away from her intense scrutiny with slight embarrassment. He could admit to himself that he had dreaded this moment because he feared that she would hate him. Her silent acceptance was the last thing he expected, but the care she had always shown him was more than he ever thought he deserved.

Keiko turned and entered her shop expecting the men to follow. Once in the doorway, Yusuke could see that the shop had changed little since his friend's parents had left it to her upon their retirement. She seemed to be doing well, and that put the demon at ease.

Across the room, the rest of the group awaited the two men. As they approached Kuwabara stood to greet them and laid a hand on the shoulder of a noticeably pregnant Yukina. They exchanged greetings and sat to enjoy each other's company. As they all took their seats, Kuwabara queried, "Where's the shrimp?"

Yusuke tried to hide his ire at Kuwabara's favored nickname for his lover. No one except Kurama knew about his mating.

Kurama, noting Yusuke's sudden tension, answered for the former detective, "Hiei is patrolling the borders of the makai." He covertly placed a hand on Yusuke's leg. "He won't be coming this time."

"Oh good," the idiot replied. Yusuke's clenched teeth and closed eyes went unnoticed by the human.

Yusuke sighed. "I can only imagine what he would say if he knew you knocked up his sister," he muttered.

Kurama choked on the water he'd been drinking. Luckily for Yusuke, only the fox heard him. Hiei still refused to reveal his true identity to Yukina. "Yusuke, careful," he warned in a whisper.

The friends continued their conversation for the majority of the afternoon. They exchanged stories of what they had been doing since last time they met. When it was time for the shop to close, the group swapped good-byes and promises to see one another again soon.

Yusuke followed his redheaded friend to the house where he'd be staying while visiting. As much as he missed his old human ties, he felt exhausted by this encounter. So the two of them walked in silence for a while, each lost in their own thoughts.

Finally, Yusuke chuckled breaking the silence as they entered a park near the fox's house. "Could you imagine how Hiei will react to Yukina being a mommy?" He shook his head briefly, "Poor Kuwabara, the man has no idea what he's in for."

A smile crept across Kurama's face. "What I want to know is, what will the boy be like?"

"Huh?"

"The girl with have ice maiden qualities, but what will the boy be like?"

"That's right. She will automatically have twins with him." Yusuke shook his head in disbelief. "I hope the kid gets some strength, either demon or spirit, so that he can have half a chance in that family."

The men continued in silence for a moment until Yusuke pulled up short and stared at nothing that his companion could see. "Yusuke?" Kurama grabbed his arm trying to get his attention. Feeling the tension singing through the other's arm, his concern grew. "What's wrong?"

The former toushin didn't move except to whisper, "Hiei." He remained rigid for another tense moment before whimpering and falling to his knees trying to catch his breath.

"Kisama!" Kurama crouched on the ground before his comrade. He clutched Yusuke's shoulders in a firm hold. "What's happened?"

Through clenched teeth, the former human answered, "Hiei is in pain, but I don't know why." The demon slowly regained a hold of himself, while still kneeling on the ground. He took stock of the feelings that were passing thought him with sadistic glee. "It isn't the same feeling I get when he is injured. Something's wrong." He quickly regained his feet and turned to walk toward Genkai's temple. "I have to go," his whispered comment portrayed all of the desperation he felt.

"Okay, I will go with you." Yusuke looked at him with silent regard. "He is my friend too. I will help you any way I can."

"Thanks." With that curt response, the two made haste to the portal in the woods that surrounded Genkai's temple.

Phobos removed the ward covering Hiei's jagan. It had been three hours since he captured the diminutive demon. He had wasted no time taking the man to his fortress deep within the wooded expanse of a nearby mountainside. Now the jaganshi lie prone on a wooden table with his arms and legs strapped down with leather belts.

The fear demon concentrated on the third eye on Hiei's forehead. It was child's play for him to take control of this implant, and take control he did. The first thing he did with this control was to place the owner in a deep trance that he would not awaken from easily. Then he used the eye to create dreams based on Hiei's memories.

Hiei floated in pure darkness. There was nothing around him that he could see at first. Slowly a scene began to emerge from the murky surroundings.

Kurama stood with his hand in his hair as if reaching for one of his selection of seeds hidden there. "Who's there?" The fox's voice was steady, but fear shown in the man's eyes that could not be hidden from the viewer.

Evil laughter was the only response. Hiei saw a demon hiding in the mist that surrounded the fox. He was standing behind the plant-wielder and was about to attack. The hi-youkai tried to shout a warning to his comrade, but the words got stuck within his throat.

Before Kurama even saw what was coming, the shadow demon solidified and stabbed the half human through the heart. The redhead's once white tunic began running the same crimson color as his hair. Surprise was etched in the man's features and pain pinched his eyes.

His breathing became ragged as he coughed up blood. He fell to the ground gasping for air. His body quivered in its death throes until after what seemed like an eternity, he lay completely still. Death took Hiei's first friend.

A slight hitch in Hiei's breath betrayed the demon's feelings. Phobos smiled evilly knowing that it was only a matter of time before he had this man screaming in fear. It was to that end that the fear demon looked forward.

Darkness surrounded the jaganshi once again. He was breathing hard, but there were no other outward signs that he was distressed in anyway. After an hour or so, the darkness lifted again revealing Kuwabara standing at Genkai's temple watching Yukina feed the birds that visited her so often.

The oaf snatched his gaze away from the petite woman for a moment to look into the forest surrounding them. Youki flared between the trees, and Kuwabara leapt from the porch and placed himself between the youki and Yukina.

Hiei watched with barely hidden apprehension as the overgrown human fought demon after demon. He was holding his own rather well, but the fight was taking its toll on the spiritual fighter. The jaganshi tried to step up to the human's side when he fell to his knees from his injuries. Yukina must be protected at all cost. It was not her fault that this kind of world was brought to her door.

When Hiei tried to move, he found that his limbs wouldn't cooperate with him. He fought, but nothing seemed to work, as he wanted it to. Desperation clashed with the demon's normally calm exterior. This was the first time he had felt this helpless since he had been dropped from the cloud after his birth.

One of the multitudes of demons from the portal reared its claws and struck Kuwabara in the chest. A wicked grin split his face and as he ripped his clawed fingers from the human's chest, a beating heart came with it. The demon stared straight at the blue-haired woman and licked the blood from the heart and his fingers.

Yukina stared in mute horror as the man she loved was struck down before her. Silent tears fell from her eyes tinkling as they struck the stones beneath her feet as gems of limitless value. She heedlessly let them fall.

As the demons turned from the human toward her, she came out of her trance and whispered, "No." She then turned to run. Hope appeared within Hiei's heart as he saw a chance for his sister, his only family, to get away. However, that hope was quickly stolen from him as several demons surrounded her from the shadows and closed in on her.

One grabbed her from behind and pushed her to the ground. She fell skimming her hands as she tried to catch herself. Two more men fell on her and began holding her still as she fought for freedom. Another tore her clothes from her and all of the men laughed as she screamed and struggled to get free. The demons said nothing, each seemingly knowing his part in the defilement of this beautiful ice maiden.

When her clothes were gone, four of the demons held her to the ground spread-eagled as the others had their way with her. The first pierced her virgin flesh roughly with clawed fingers relishing in the pain and damage he inflicted.

Screams tore from Yukina's lips as she renewed her struggles to be free of these men. The man violating her backhanded her, effectively reducing her screams to whimpers. The ice maiden begged uselessly for mercy as her struggles lessened in response to the shock she now experience.

Being her twin, Hiei felt everything they did to Yukina. Pain wracked his insides as they tore into the girl. His breath hitched as he watched his sister being raped by so many men. Anger tore through him at his helpless state. He wanted nothing more than to rip the hearts from these men. He wanted to tear out their insides and stomp on them, but he was forced to watch in impotent rage.

Finally the last man came forward for his turn with Yukina. She was no longer fighting these men and their ministrations. She no longer noticed what all they were doing to her. She no longer cared. So she didn't realize that this last demon was a cat demon. She didn't notice that his penis was barbed like that of a feline. She didn't cry out when he entered her and tore her womb apart with his razor-like phallic. Her eyes stared blindly at Hiei, though she could not really see him there, asking silently for help. But none came.

Hiei's body jerked and strained against the leather restraints. He was still unconscious, but his visions were more real than anything he had ever sensed before, short of reality. When he saw his sister's silent plea, he screamed for her.

Phobos howled in glee at the pain and fear he was causing in this man. Mukuro was wrong. This man had much to fear. All of which revolved around these people that he cared for. His greatest fear was to let his friends down and to be alone again.

The former god waved a hand before the jagan, banishing these latest visions from the man's mind. He would allow a little respite before going on to the next. His humor still shone in his eyes. He didn't want to kill the man, after all.