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Chapter One
Kurama awoke to a sharp rap on his bedroom window. He rose and opened it. Months had passed since the last time Hiei had come to visit him, now that the Jaganshi lived in the Makai. "Ohayo, Hiei. How are you?"
The fire demon scowled at him. "There's a problem."
The fox frowned. "What kind of problem, Hiei?"
Hiei shook his head. "Kuwabara's meeting us at Yuusuke's. I'll explain there." The fire demon stepped down from the windowsill, them winced and stumbled, falling to one knee. A red stain appeared on the carpet.
Kurama hurried to his friend's side. "You're injured? Let me see."
Hiei shoved the fox away. "Later."
The fox firmly stopped him from rising. "No. Now." Hiei glared at him, and the fox glared back. "I'm not going to let you go anywhere if you're not going to let me help you."
Hiei sighed softly and pulled his cloak aside. Kurama flinched as he saw Hiei's leg. It had been crystallized almost to the knee. Blood ran down it from his cut flesh. "It's solid diamond. There's nothing you can do and I'm only going to explain once, so let's get going.
Kuwabara glared a Hiei angrily as Yuusuke let the fire demon and Kurama in. Then he frowned. Hiei was linping badly. "Okay, what's going on, Shrimp?! What's so important that you had to wake us up in the middle of the night." He wasn't particularly happy about that, less so with the method the Jaganshi had used. He didn't want to see another water balloon far a long time...
Hiei sank into a chair, looking drained and very tired, which startled everyone. He pulled his cloak up, revealing his afflicted leg. "This is what's going on, moron."
Yuusuke stared. "What the hell is that, Hiei?!"
"It's solid diamond," Hiei replied, sinking back into the chair with a sigh.
Kurama frowned. He was glad he could ask the question that had pulled at his mind since Hiei had showed him the problem. "How did this happen?"
Hiei sighed. "Mukuro had me patrolling her borders. We found that part of Mukuro's land had been changed into diamond. Including an entire battalion of her elite force. We were ambushed by the guy who did it, and I was the only one to escape."
There was silence for a while. "But why are you telling this to us?" Kuwabara asked.
Hiei scowled. "Mukuro sent me. She thinks this maniac will eventually find a way to the Ningenkai. I just figured I'd warn you that you're probably going to be called on for another mission."
Kuwabara scowled. "So we get to do your dirty work, ne? You're such a jerk. Only visit when you need something, huh."
Hiei glared at the ningen. "I wouldn't have bothered except for this," he growled, pulling his cloak up more to reveal his cut and mangled flesh. "I can barely walk, let alone fight." This was admitted grudgedly. The sanjiyan hated showing any weakness.
Kurama smiled weakly as he took in his friend's exhaustion and obvious pain. "The Urameshi team back in action?"
"Count me out," Hiei mumbled. "I can't fight. I'm no use."
Yuusuke shook his head. "You're the only one who knows exactly where to go. You just can't use that leg. We'll rig up something." The ningen frowned. "Right now, we'd better get you to Yukina."
Hiei got to his feet, but his leg failed him and he collapsed with a short cry of pain.
Kurama gently picked the fire demon up. "You can't walk on that, Hiei. I'll have to carry you." Hiei didn't hear; he was unconscious.
Murky grinned at his land. Diamond sparkled as far as the eye could see. He turned around and glowered ayt the land that was not yet his, giving it a look that, by all rights, should have intimidated it into submission. He scowled as it defied him. He still had a looong way to go. "Lurky!"
Lurky rode up on Starlite. The horse was covered in mud, and his head hung dispiritedly. "Yes, Murky?"
"Stay close, Dodo Brain. There's a castle up ahead."
Lurky bounced up and down on the horse, who groaned. "Ooooh! Do we get to visit the King and Queen?"
"Yes we get to visit the King and Queen," Murky said mockingly.
Lurky scratched his head. "I hope they're not as mean as the Princess."
Murky frowned. "There's no one as spoiled as the Dark Princess. But she's dead, remember?" The short man shrugged. "Hitch that creature to the Crystallizer. I'm done here."
Yukina stared at Hiei's leg. "What happened to his leg?" Kurama explained briefly as Yukina ran her hand over the unconscious fire demon's leg. Yukina looked up as the fox finished. "I've healed what I can, but his body is rejecting the diamond. Unless we find a cure or amputate it, he'll die."
"What?!" Yuusuke looked shocked at the suggestion. "He'd kill us!"
Kuwabara stared. "Damn! What're we gonna do?!"
Kurama looked up calmly. "How long do we have?"
Yukina sighed. "Two weeks? Maybe more if I can stay with him to heal him."
Yuusuke cursed. "He's the only one who knows where to go! We'll be lost!"
"Then I'll have to come with you," Yukina said softly.
Kuwabara stood angrily. "It's too dangerous! I won't allow it!"
Yukina's eyes flashed dangerously. "You forget that I was born there. I know the dangers much better than you."
Kurama stood angrily. "While we're standing around arguing, Hiei is dying. We don't have the time for this! Yukina was born in the Makai, and she has the right to travel there."
Hiei spoke up weakly, startling everyone. "She will not."
Kurama stared at the fire demon. "But you'll die!"
Hiei glared at him. "Better me than her." He sat up slowly. "As much as I hate to agree with the Fool, he's right. You're not going."
Yukina forced him to lay down again. "I'm going with Hiei-san, whether you like it or not," she replied softly. Hiei opened his mouth to protest, but the Koorime cut him off. "It's the least I can do for my brother."
Kurama chuckled as Hiei stared at her, open mouthed, looking more surprised than the fox had ever imagined seeing him. Yuusuke prodded Kuwabara with his foot, grinning widely. "Oi, I think he's died of shock. Not that I blame him..." The ningen dragged the carrot-top toward the door by his hair. "C'mon Kurama. Let's leave them to talk." Kurama shook his head and followed Yuusuke from the room.
Hiei looked away from his sister, not sure what to do or say. "You knew?"
Yukina seemed just as uncomfortable. "For a while now." She sighed. "I must disappoint you, 'Niisan."
Hiei stared at the girl, shocked at the idea. "No. You're wrong."
The Koorime glanced at him uncertainly. "Then why didn't you tell me?"
"Many reasons..." The fire demon looked away, swallowing hard. "Mainly, I didn't want to disappoint you." He closed his eyes. "I'm nothing but a bloodthirsty bastard." He sighed softly. "I don't deserve to have you as a sister."
Yukina hugged Hiei tightly. "Oniisan, you couldn't help what you did in the past. You had no choice. You did it to survive." Hiei didn't respond, and Yukina continued. "You've protected me and looked after me since you found me. I want you as my brother!"
Hiei pulled away, frowning. "Why?" he asked, not looking at her. Why would anyone bother with me?
Yukina frowned. Why can't he accept me? Suddenly she smiled as took her brother's hands in her own. Hiei looked up, startled. "Hiei, ever since I was born, I imagined that my brother would be strong. I knew he would have to be to survive on his own. When I first met you, I thought you were he, but you never said anything. You were a caring, protective presence, what I always imagined my brother would be. You have always been strong, and I know that, underneath all your bitterness and sorrow, you care. You wouldn't have saved me if you didn't care." She looked away. "I don't understand why you never told me. I told you that I hoped my brother was exactly like you."
"I couldn't," the Jaganshi murmured. "I had to give up my hiro seki and promise never to tell you that I was your brother as payment for the Jagan. And I needed the Jagan to find you." He paused. "When I found out you were being held hostage in the Ningenkai, I decided to take it over."
His sister gaped at him. "You nearly went to the Reikai prison!" She hugged him tightly again. Hiei hesitated, then hugged her back. A tear slid down Yukina's cheek as she let go of him, falling on Hiei as a tear gem. The girl looked away. "Please let me be your sister. I would never forgive myself if you died because I wasn't there."
Hiei gave in reluctantly. "Just stay close to the Foo-er...Kuwabara." The fire demon scowled. "At this point, he can protect you better that I can."
Murky smiled insanely at his new diamond throne room. The former ruler of this castle had fought hard, but all of her forces had been crystallized along with her. He grinned at the throne happily, shoving the diamond body of the half-robotic woman from it.
Lurky ran into the throne room. "Wow, Murky! This is a big castle! I like castles!"
Murky growled under his breath at the intrusion, then turned toward the simpleton with a fake grin plastered on his face. "Yes. We get to live here after I finish turning the entire world into pretty diamond."
Lurky bounced up and down happily, his red sneakers squeaking on the smooth diamond floor. "Yay! We get to live in the pretty castle! Did you hear that, horsey?"
The horse stood perilously on the diamond, his head down even his eyes had lost the defiance that they had once held. At Lurky's words, the once-proud horse seemed to droop.
Murky chuckled. "Yes, Bird-Brain. But now you've got to hitch that horsey to the Crystallizer. The faster you do that, the sooner we'll be back here to stay!" The green man's smile turned evil as Lurky left. Softly, Murky began to laugh, a chuckle that slowly transformed into an insane cackle.
The Urameshi team hurried through the Makai. They had been ordered to stop the threat immediately, and Boton had joined them on their quest. Hiei was unable to walk, so Kurama had fashioned a small litter from his plants. The fire demon had balked at being carried around at first. But he had grown significantly weaker and was secretly relieved that he didn't have to try to walk on his pained leg.
After a few days of slow travel, part of which was through what Yuusuke had dubbed "Diamond Country," they reached Mukuro's palace. It, like everything else around it, had been turned to diamond. They discovered Mukuro's crystallized body on the floor near her throne. Only Kurama had seen the shocked look on Hiei's face before the Jaganshi carefully masked it over with a look of indifference.
The others left to search for supplies in pairs, leaving Hiei and Kurama alone in the throne room. The kitsune watched his friend carefully. "You're upset." It wasn't a question.
Hiei was silent for a very long time. Finally he sighed, looking at the diamond floor. "Mukuro once told me that I am the son she never had." The fire demon paused for a while. "I never really thought about it before, but she's like...like a parent to me..." Like the mother I never had...
Kurama caught his hidden meaning, understanding instantly, as Hiei had known he would. The fox frowned slightly, surprised by the fact that Hiei trusted him enough to reveal such a personal feeling. The redhead sighed and laid a comforting hand on the Jaganshi's shoulder. "We'll figure out how to undo it, Hiei." We have to...
Hiei just nodded. Then he yawned. "Dammit! I hate this!"
Kurama smiled gently. "Your body is trying to adjust to the diamond, Hiei. You need the sleep." The last sentence was lost; Hiei had already slipped into a deep sleep, almost as deep as his hibernation after using the Kokoryuha. Kurama sighed and covered the boy with a blanket.
Yuusuke ran into the room with Boton, both laden with food. "You were right, Kurama!" The kitchens weren't touched."
Kuwabara and Yukina entered the throne room as well. "No one's left," Kuwabara said softly. "Everybody's been turned to diamond."
Yukina carefully leaned over Hiei, checking his pulse and taking his temperature. The Koorime sighed. "His blood pressure is higher than it should be, and he's running a bit of a fever," she informed Kurama.
The kitsune nodded and rummaged through his bag, eventually pulling out a vial. He woke Hiei slightly and made him drink the bitter contents of it, followed by some water. The fire demon quickly fell back to sleep.
Yuusuke sighed. "We may as well stop for the day. By the time we get out of here, it'll be too dark to travel safely. At least this is shelter." The ningen glanced at Mukuro's body. "But let's find somewhere else to sleep. This room is kinda creepy."
Boton shuddered, and the others stared at her. "They're trapped," she sobbed suddenly. "Their souls are trapped by the diamond. It's so horrible!"
Yuusuke led her from the room. "Let's bunk in the kitchen. I'm getting sick of all this diamond, y'know?" He paused.
Kurama grinned at Kuwabara. "Feel up to lifting this?" The ningen shrugged and picked up one end of the litter, leaving Kurama to grab the other end. Yukina followed them into the kitchen area, yawning tiredly.
After a short meal, Yuusuke took the first watch, though there was really no point to it. There was nobody left to attack, and the person who had crystallized everything was long gone, not that they could have stopped him anyway. Yuusuke kept watch anyway and woke Kurama after a few hours.
Kurama sighed, settling down next to Hiei, listening to the night. He shuddered as he realized how abnormally silent the night was. There was no sound except for the breathing of his friends. Nothing should be so quiet. In the Makai, there's always noise...
Hours later, Kurama watched as Hiei moved restlessly in his sleep. The sanjiyan moaned softly, a moan of pain, but didn't wake. Kurama frowned and woke him gently.
Hiei gasped as he awoke, tearing himself from a nightmare. He swore silently as he saw Kurama leaning over him, looking concerned. The fire demon sat up, glaring at the fox.
The kitsune sighed. "Your painkillers must have worn off." He rummaged through his bag, unaware of the relieved look on his friend's face, and pulled out another vial and the bottle of water. Hiei looked disgusted, but drank both without complaint. Kurama grinned. "You missed dinner. I'll get you something."
Hiei said nothing, watching as the fox got out the rations they had found and gave him a portion. The fire demon didn't even look at the food. Kurama frowned. Hiei hadn't eaten anything since they'd set off. "Hiei, you have to eat to keep up your strength."
The fire demon didn't look up. "I'm not hungry," he muttered.
"What?! You haven't eaten in days!"
Hiei scowled. "Dammit, fox! Leave me alone! I told you, I'm not hungry!"
Kurama sighed. "Just eat a little and I'll leave you alone."
The fire demon glared daggers at the youko, but grabbed something indiscriminately and ate it grudgedly. Then he lay down and turned his back toward Kurama.
Kurama sighed again. "Look, Hiei, I don't know why you're so pissed at me. I'm only trying to help you." He frowned as the Jaganshi snorted. "Hiei, you're my best friend! Why are you acting like I'm the enemy?!"
Hiei turned and looked at the redhead. "I...I don't know, Kurama! This whole damn thing...I can't even walk! I hate feeling so helpless!"
Kurama nodded. "I know, Hiei. But it's only until we can figure how to undo it. I'm sorry you feel trapped but I'm not your enemy!"
Hiei sighed. "I know that, fox." Suddenly the fire demon winced, cursing under his breath.
Kurama blinked. "Hiei? What's wrong?"
The youkai flinched and cursed again before responding through clenched teeth. "I don't know!" He jerked. "Shit! That hurts!" He writhed in pain, cursing angrily.
Kurama moved to wake Yukina, but Hiei grabbed his sleeve, his face contorted with agony and something else: fear. The fox stayed where he was, gently holding the Jaganshi's hand. The fox winced as Hiei's grip tightened considerably. The sanjiyan's back arched and he cried out.
"Wha-?" Yuusuke sat up, immediately wide awake. He saw Hiei. "Shimatta! Boton! Yukina! Kuwabara! Wake up!" He hurried over. "What's going on?!"
Kurama frowned. "I don't know! He's in pain, but I don't know why!"
Yukina rushed over and ran her palm over Hiei, who had to be held down as he writhed. She pulled her hand away quickly as Hiei suddenly stopped moving.
The fire demon's eyes were glassy as he looked at Kurama. "K'rama...hurts..." he whispered, then went totally limp, losing his pain in unconsciousness.
There was silence for a moment, only broken by Yukina's sobs. Kurama leaned forward and lifted Hiei's cloak from the Jaganshi's diamond leg. He dropped the fabric as he saw the reason for his friend's agony, his face turning white.
Yuusuke frowned, his brow furrowing. "What's wrong, Kurama?" The redhead pulled back Hiei's cloak and the others gasped in horror. Hiei's leg was now crystallized to his mid-thigh.
MWA HA HA HA HA! I am so evil! And insane. Stop looking at me like that. This is going to be a really good fic...when I actually get the time to type it up...
Chapter Two does not yet exist...
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