Chapter 06: Heei
125 – 110 years in the past
It was a rainy night, and the atmosphere was heavy with sadness and despair. Hiei was nowhere to be found, leaving Kurama to care for the baby that Rose had unexpectedly shown up with. Both foxes were already busy looking after their own twin boys, Yuto and Kura, and now they had this new child to tend to as well. Unfortunately, Kurama was not feeling happy at all; the weight of the situation was too much for him to bear, and Rose remained silent, offering no comfort or explanation.
Rose's sister had given birth to a healthy baby boy, but her body had not been able to withstand the strain of childbirth. For eight months and three days, she had fought valiantly to protect the life growing inside her, refusing to let Hiei harm the baby she carried. Tragically, she had disappeared when she was only six months along, and Hiei had not bothered to search for her. Rose, however, knew exactly where her sister had gone and chose to follow her, leaving her twin boys, Yuto and Kura, in the care of their father.
During the two months and three days that followed, their mother did her best to help out, and even Raiko, their father, would show up to lend a hand. The family worked hard to keep the pregnant fox happy, all while suppressing their own feelings of sadness and loss. However, when the moment finally came for her to give birth, the air was thick with mixed emotions—joy, sorrow, and a sense of impending doom.
“Sis… what if Hiei doesn’t…?” Rose asked, her voice trembling with uncertainty.
The younger fox shook her head weakly, her strength waning. “Don’t… worry… Just… keep… Heei… safe…”
Later that night, the young fox passed away, leaving everyone in tears. Yet, Rose remained stoic, locking away her emotions as she took on the responsibility of caring for the baby that had inadvertently caused her sister's death. It was a confusing situation for her; she couldn’t comprehend how her sister could love her son so deeply that she would sacrifice her own life for him. Or perhaps it was that she truly wanted Hiei to have a son, regardless of the cost. Rose was left with more questions than answers, but one thing was clear: Hiei had a son, but he had lost the one female who loved him more than life itself.
After a few days of mourning, Rose finally returned to her mate and their twin sons, bringing the new baby with her. When she arrived, Hiei was present, but he showed no interest in his newborn son. Feeling a mix of emotions, Rose handed Heei over to her red-haired mate, Kurama, and retreated to their room to gather her thoughts.
As the years passed, Heei was raised by Kurama and Rose, while Hiei frequently disappeared on long missions. The two foxes didn’t mind taking care of the new child; in fact, the twins loved being around the small fire demon. They played together, creating a bond that seemed to grow stronger with each passing day.
However, when Heei turned 12 months old, Rose began to notice something peculiar. There was something distinctly off about Heei. The darkness dragon that Hiei had mastered during the Dark Tournament seemed to be constantly present around the young child. It would play with him, keeping him safe, but it was an odd sight that made Rose uneasy. She approached Hiei to discuss her concerns, but he appeared indifferent, brushing off her worries.
By the time Heei reached the age of two, nothing particularly strange happened around him. He walked and talked like any normal demon child, yet the dragon remained a constant presence in his life. It was only when Kurama noticed the dragon that things began to change. Heei had somehow mastered the darkness dragon, and when Kurama shared this revelation with Hiei, the latter vanished without a word.
As the years continued to roll by, Heei displayed little to no emotional connection to his father. Instead, he would turn to Rose or Kurama whenever he needed something, often seeking comfort from them rather than Hiei. He formed a special bond with Kura, showing more interest in him than in Yuto, who often preferred to nap on Heei’s lap.
Everything shifted dramatically when Heei began sword training under Kurama’s guidance. One day, while Heei was diligently practicing his sword style, Hiei returned from a mission. He made a comment about Heei’s technique that struck a nerve, igniting a fire of anger within the young demon. In a fit of rage, Heei attacked his father, and the two engaged in a fierce battle that seemed to last an eternity. It took the combined efforts of Rose, Kurama, and Yuto’s vines to finally separate them. Oddly enough, Kura was so engrossed in his reading that he didn’t even notice the chaos unfolding around him.
In the aftermath of the fight, Rose slapped Hiei in frustration before rushing over to tend to Heei’s wounds. Kurama, meanwhile, confronted Hiei, and from that moment on, the two could hardly stand to be in the same room together for long.
Not long after the altercation, Heei disappeared. The twins were aware of his whereabouts, but that didn’t stop Yuto from whining about it. In response, Rose decided to reach out to her father, asking him to keep an eye out for a Hiei look-alike and to send him to Elyasia. She even added a heart from Youko to the letter, a gesture that puzzled her. Why her father had feelings for her mate was a mystery to her, and her own mate wasn’t about to shed any light on the situation.
In the southern area of the Demon Realm, Raiko took his daughter’s request to heart. He welcomed Heei into his home and shared stories about the Elyasia realm. Although he was uncertain how the princesses, their mother, and their aunt would react to the young fire demon, he was confident that Heei would find happiness there.
It didn’t take long for Heei to make the decision to leave for the new realm, seeking a life away from his father. He yearned for peace, away from the shadow of Hiei, who seemed to harbor nothing but disdain for him. But was that the only reason for his departure? Only Heei could truly answer that question.
Weeks passed in Elyasia, and Heei found himself living in relative peace. He wandered around the realm, engaging in battles with weaker demons who dared to attack him first. He had no worries, only problems to solve. Yet, despite the tranquility surrounding him, he couldn’t shake the feeling of unhappiness that lingered in the back of his mind. He often questioned himself about the source of his discontent but would ultimately brush it aside. Until one fateful day, when everything would change once again…
Sinta set out for his usual run in his fox form, feeling the familiar rush of excitement that came with the wind against his fur. He cherished these moments of freedom, knowing that his beloved princess would not mind his absence for a while. After all, he had complete faith in Chrono, who was more than capable of keeping her entertained and happy while he indulged in his need for speed and adventure. As he darted through the trees and over the hills, he felt a sense of exhilaration that only came from being in his true form, surrounded by nature.
During his run, Sinta unexpectedly encountered someone he recognized. He spotted a younger demon, peacefully sleeping under a tree, and felt a mix of amusement and concern. He approached the slumbering figure, sniffing the air lightly before letting out a resigned sigh. With a flicker of magic, he shifted into his humanoid form, standing tall and confident before the sleeping demon.
“Heei, just why are you here?” Sinta asked, kneeling down to poke the younger demon's cheek gently, trying to rouse him from his slumber.
Heei opened his eyes slowly, his gaze narrowing as he glared at the red and silver-haired male. “Sinta...” he muttered, clearly annoyed at being disturbed.
“Answer me,” Sinta pressed, his tone playful yet firm.
“Bite me,” Heei retorted, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Sinta paused for a moment, a smirk creeping onto his face. “I just might, you know,” he teased, enjoying the banter.
Heei, now fully awake, jumped up and glared at Sinta with renewed energy. “Fine… I'm here… to live in peace...” he declared, crossing his arms defiantly.
The fox eyed him thoughtfully, a hint of concern flickering in his eyes. “You know that Kura would not be happy about this. I bet he misses his fire demon,” Sinta said, his voice softening. He paused for a moment before adding, "Yuto might miss you as well, knowing that boy."
“Maybe so, but it's better than fighting with him,” Heei replied, his tone laced with frustration.
Sinta sighed lightly again, nodding in understanding. He then blinked, his ears twitching as he looked off behind him, muttering softly, “Her magic is getting stronger yet more annoying...”
The fire demon blinked, curiosity piqued. “What are you talking about?” he asked, tilting his head slightly.
Sinta turned back to him, his expression serious. “My princess used her magic to ask me to bring you to her castle. Something about sleeping on the ground...” He sighed, clearly exasperated by the situation.
Heei blinked again, confusion evident on his face. “Princess?” he echoed, but before he could get a proper answer, Sinta had already grabbed his hand, pulling him along with a sense of urgency. It took several hours of travel before they finally arrived at a magnificent castle that towered before them, its grandeur leaving Heei in awe. He had no idea why he was being dragged there until they reached the entrance.
Outside the castle stood a beautiful young girl, her long dark blue dress flowing elegantly as she waved at the two of them. Heei couldn't help but wonder just who she was, while Sinta sighed lightly, muttering something about magic under his breath.
As they approached the castle, the princess smiled sweetly at the young fire demon. “Wow, you really do look like Hiei-chan,” she said softly, her eyes sparkling with curiosity as she took in his appearance. “Why were you sleeping outside?”
Heei shot her a glare, remaining silent as he processed the situation.
Sinta shook his head, exasperated. “Mira, I told you that Heei really dislikes his father,” he explained, his voice tinged with frustration. “Didn't you read Rose's letter?”
Mira pouted cutely, her expression shifting to one of innocence as she looked at the fox. “I did read it… but she didn't say anything about how cute Heei is,” she replied, her tone playful.
Heei blinked, a soft blush creeping onto his cheeks as he processed her words. “...” he managed to say, caught off guard by the unexpected compliment.
Sinta sighed lightly again, clearly ready to escape the awkwardness. “I'm going to my room now. Heei, I'm sure you can deal with this princess,” he said, waving a hand dismissively as he turned to leave.
The fire demon blinked in surprise. “Princess? She's a princess?” he asked, still trying to wrap his head around the situation.
Mira blinked back at him, her eyes wide with surprise. “Didn't the meanie fox tell you?” she asked, her tone teasing.
He shook his head, which prompted Sinta to mutter under his breath, “That old man...” He walked away, heading to his room, feeling a mix of annoyance and concern. Raiko had not only sent a demon as powerful as Heei to this peaceful land but had also involved his old friend in this unexpected situation. Sinta couldn't shake the feeling that Raiko had orchestrated this entire encounter for reasons he couldn't yet understand.
Mira sighed lightly, turning her attention back to Heei. “Well, I'm the princess of the southern lands, while my older sister, Lyra, is the princess of the northern lands,” she explained, her voice filled with pride. She looked down at the young demon, her expression softening. “Did Kurama or Rosie tell you about this place?”
Heei shook his head, feeling a bit lost. “No… Rose did tell me stories of her friend with weird powers called magic… but it was Raiko who told me the basics of this realm,” he admitted, trying to piece together the information he had.
Mira blinked thoughtfully, processing his words. “So Rosie did tell you some things…” she mused, then sighed. “Oh well. You can learn as you go.” With that, she reached out and gently grabbed his hand, leading him into the castle.
He blinked in surprise but didn’t pull away, allowing her to guide him through the grand halls of the castle. The interior was just as magnificent as the exterior, adorned with intricate tapestries and shimmering chandeliers. Mira led him to a room she had chosen for him, and once inside, she released his hand and turned to face him.
“This will be your room, Heei. You can stay here as long as you like,” she said, her voice warm and inviting.
Heei looked around, taking in the decor that featured dragons and flames, a nod to his own elemental affinity. It wasn’t overly extravagant, but it felt comfortable and welcoming. “Thanks…” he replied, his voice barely above a whisper.
Mira smiled sweetly, her eyes sparkling with kindness. “I’ll let you get some rest. There’s a bath linked to this room as well. Feel free to use it whenever you like.” With that, she left him to explore the room on his own.
Over the next few weeks, Heei found himself wandering around the castle, taking in the sights and sounds of his new surroundings. He spent time with Mira, who was eager to show him around and share stories about her life as a princess. However, Sinta often pulled him away, claiming that Mira needed to focus on her duties and that Heei should not distract her. Heei would often find himself dozing off in the library, surrounded by books, which Mira found endearing.
As the days turned into weeks, a new moon rose in the sky one night, casting a soft glow over the castle. It was during this time that Mira approached Heei with a proposal that took him by surprise. “Heei, would you like to be my knight?” she asked, her eyes shining with hope.
Heei, caught off guard but intrigued by the idea, nodded in agreement. “Yes, I would,” he replied, feeling a sense of purpose swell within him. However, Sinta, who had been nearby, muttered something under his breath, and Chrono, who had been observing, quietly left the room, sensing the tension.
Mira had gathered four knights at this point, while her older sister, Lyra, had six paladins serving her in the northern lands. The dynamics of their roles were beginning to take shape, and Heei felt a sense of belonging that he had not experienced in a long time. As he embraced this new chapter in his life, he couldn't help but wonder what adventures awaited him in this magical realm, alongside the princess and his newfound friends.