At some point, Hiei opened his eyes. The sun had lowered just enough to shine directly through a window and into his eyes. The Hunter squinted, caught off guard by the sudden light. Judging by the sun's position, he'd been asleep for... four hours? Either way, it had been a while.<br/><br/>Even with the extra sleep however, His body hurt everywhere. His lungs burned and his legs ached and his whole body still throbbed from his earlier exertion.<span style="font-style: italic">I'm hungry</span>, he thought vaguely.<span style="font-style: italic">But I can't move. I hate that.</span><br/><br/>Alastor laughed inside of him.<span style="font-style: italic">You're a real mess,</span>the demon taunted.<span style="font-style: italic">Most of your muscles are shredded, and that third eye I gave you won't open.</span><br/><br/>Hiei knew it was true. For one thing, it felt like he'd been thrown through a wood-chucker. For another, he was aware that his headband was still pulled up, yet he couldn't see through his third eye. There were only two times it would close: when it was over worked or injured. It didn't need to blink, so other than that it stayed open. That was partly why he wore the headband; not just to hide it, but to protect it from the things blinking normally did.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">That's why I never use that power,</span>Hiei said.<span style="font-style: italic">It always ends up like this... except normally whoever I was up against dies...</span><br/><br/>Alastor became unusually solemn.<span style="font-style: italic">He was exceptionally strong, wasn't he?</span><br/><br/>Hiei nodded mentally.<span style="font-style: italic">I suppose I should have expected it from a high level Silencer. Though the abilities matter a lot in a fight. Ours were at a stalemate.</span>Hiei's stomach growled.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">I'll have you healed up well enough to get around by tomorrow morning,</span>Alastor said.<span style="font-style: italic">You'll have to wait until then for food.</span><br/><br/>Hiei sighed.<span style="font-style: italic">Damn...</span><br/><br/>--------------<br/><br/>((four hours and twenty-five minutes since Hatsu began his training...))<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Again.</span>Yami commanded from inside Hatsu.<br/><br/>Hatsu took a harsh breath, forcing himself to ignore his pounding headache. Yami had been making him round the same sharp corner, hovering on his board, for almost half an hour now.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Faster.</span>The demon said firmly, apathetically.<br/><br/>Each time Hatsu did it right several times in a row, the demon would make him attempt it faster. With both the increased speed, and his throbbing headache working against him, it was becoming a major challenge for Hatsu to maintain his accuracy. That and he was still hungry.<br/><br/>After a few more minutes, Yami could see he wasn't going to get any more improvement out of the boy when he was this distracted, his mind drifting further toward food and away from his training.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Alright, fine,</span>The demon said.<span style="font-style: italic">Continue on to the hide out.</span><br/><br/>Hatsu let out a relieved sigh and turned to hover off toward the Hunters' hide out he most frequently visited. He came to attention and sped up when Yami ordered him to go faster. It seemed the demon was determined to get all the training out of him that he could.<br/><br/>When the boy finally arrived at the hide out, he saw several hunters still gathered outside it, practicing working together with their abilities, sort of forming little teams of members whose powers supported each other. Hatsu only watched them for a moment before making his way down into the hide out. He left his board by the door when he came in and ordered a big sandwich and a glass of water from the bartender, sitting down and reveling in the glorious taste of food.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">It's only my third day as a Hunter,</span>Hatsu thought, taking a bite out of his sandwich,<span style="font-style: italic">A war is only a month away and I'm six feet under in nothing but training. I'm already exhausted.</span><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Bear with it for now,</span>Yami said earnestly to him.<span style="font-style: italic">You must become stronger if you wish to survive.</span><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">So what exactly are you planning, Yami?</span>Hatsu asked.<span style="font-style: italic">I've noticed that you've been hiding a lot of thoughts from me lately.</span><br/><br/>Yami was quiet for a moment.<span style="font-style: italic">There's... someplace... I want you to go. When you're ready. It's not time yet though. You must definitely survive the events to come and this war if you're to go there.</span><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Where is it?</span>Hatsu asked curiously.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">It's someplace difficult to get to,</span>Yami replied vaguely.<span style="font-style: italic">Even after I've done my best to train you, you may still need others to help you on the journey, if we're to arrive in time.</span><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">What--</span>Hatsu started to ask, but the emotions Yami was sending him clearly said he wouldn't be answering any more questions at the moment.