Disclaimer: I don't own YYH or the characters

Wake: The region of disturbed flow (often turbulent) downstream of a solid body moving through a fluid, caused by the flow of fluid around the body.

~Chapter 1 – The Secret Prisoner~

It had been centuries since the war had begun among the fire and water clans, and even their members had no idea what had caused the conflict. One day there had been peace, and the next there was continual bloodshed. The warriors of the water clan had attacked that of the fire one night, destroying homes and attempting to destroy the warriors protecting the innocents in distress. After that day, the leader of the fire clan had ordered his people to escape, to retreat deeper into Demon World. His one time friend had forced his hand, and one day he would pay for destroying their village home.

He just needed to lie in wait.

Finding a new home had taken some time, but fortunately they had found a good spot with a river spring nearby for their drinking. The new village was established in the center of a wood, and the chief took his rightful place at the head. He and his people had built a fortress, a palace almost, so that the soldiers could train daily. They needed to be ready for war at any given time, especially now that the water chief had lost his mind.

Even though it was not their fight, fire warriors had gotten involved when the water tribe attacked an unsuspecting village. It was a horrendous sight, and there was no reason for the attack. The water warriors knew this. It was then the fire chief had stumbled across a young boy, a black dragon gracing his right arm. He knew then that the boy was special, and he was most likely the reason for the destruction. There had been that legend, that technique that many had tried and failed, giving their lives to reach. This young fire demon was the master of the Dragon of the Darkness Flame. He would be an asset in their cause.

In the months following his clan's adoption of the boy, intense training ensued, and the child was all but ready to fight. He never complained, only learned ways to improve upon his skills. He was a clever child, one who was quiet and reserved. Even the master knew nothing about him. His desire was to earn the fire demon's loyalty. They would need him on their side to attain victory. However, the young demon remained reclusive, only attending training sessions and meals, never speaking or giving his name. He was simply a mystery, his crimson eyes boring into anyone who approached him.

The chief ignored the intensity and approached the boy who was tending to his sword.

"You have much strength, child," he stated, but the fire demon disregarded him, not looking up from his metal blade. "You must have been trained well before now."

The boy finally glanced over to him, his red eyes full of boredom and a hint of distrust. "Not really."

"Oh?" the chief responded in interest. "Yet you have power that even surpasses me. You clearly don't need this training." The boy resumed polishing the blade and answered with a nonchalant shrug of his shoulders. "Why do you stay?"

Crimson met black orbs, the child finally taking note of this clan chief. He was talk, his hair matching his eyes. He didn't look like much, yet the boy could sense a dormant power, a power he respected. It didn't matter if he was stronger. He still had a lot to learn. Plus, the village where he had lived, his second home in life, was no more. "There is nowhere else to go."

The chief's eyes softened, his lips pressed into a firm line. "You lost your family."

The boy released a bitter chuckle, looking away. "Family," he spat sardonically. "To have a family, you have to be wanted. There is no family, never has been. I live on my own and answer to no one. It is no business of yours why I have chosen to stay."

A bitter smile graced the leader's features, and he couldn't help but chuckle. "You are a spitfire. What's your name, boy?"

The fire demon glanced over, suspicion pinning the chief down. "Hiei," he finally stated. There was no harm in letting anyone know his name.

"Ah, flying shadow," the chief replied. "A fitting name from what I've seen. A strong name. In any case, Hiei, you are always welcome here among me and my men, and you can stay for as long as you so choose. This is your home, now, so feel free to explore the area. From this day forth, I claim you as my student, my protégé. I will teach you all I know. As chief of this village, I promise that you will want for nothing."

Cynicism filled the boy's narrowed eyes. He was wary to accept an offer like this. It was too good to be true. Any time he was faced with those notions, the fire demon knew there was a catch. He was tempted to ask, but the chief must have recognized skepticism. "There is no catch, Hiei. It is thanks for joining in our training, for assisting in our cause. I will not let what happened to your village happen to another."

Hiei believed the demon. It was a strange sensation. He never believed anyone, not even the thieves who raised him before shunning him over his murderous habits. That had been his home for the longest time since he had been discarded as a baby, and the village had become his second home where he had blended into the crowd. When those of the water clan attacked, Hiei did not see a future for himself, and now this chief, one who had also lost everything besides his people if the rumors were to be believed, was offering him a better life. Even though he would be a soldier, it was better than being homeless.

"You have my attention…master."

Many years had passed, and Hiei had become a well-respected individual in the clan. Anyone who saw him bowed respectfully and greeted him without malice as he walked the streets, arms crossed. He had become a confident young man, an esteemed member of the army. His master had taught him well, placing special interest in him and his life. In all honesty, his master was the closest he ever had to a father, beating out that greedy leader of that band of thieves.

He and his master were patrolling the outskirts of the forest. It had been decades since the water clan had destroyed the leader's original habitation, but it was important to make sure their people were safe. Usually, though, they never ventured out this far, and Hiei could not help but question his master. The answer he received was a simple claim that they needed to protect their clan, their family, and the occasional extensive patrol would aid in that endeavor.

Though patrolling the area bored him immensely, Hiei bit his tongue, walking beside his master, arms crossed, without complaint. The man had given him so much, and Hiei was indebted to him. He had nothing to give the chief but his undying loyalty and dedication. His master never asked for anything more than that.

In contrast to their uneventful patrols, something was different, and Hiei's eyes were drawn to a body and a light shade of blue. His eyes widened. It was the body of a young girl looking no older than himself. She was hurt, badly.

"Master, look there," Hiei declared, pointing. "There is a young girl lying on the ground." The chief followed his finger and saw the young woman, his eyes widening in what could only be concern.

"You're right," the chief replied. "And she appears to be unconscious. Let's get her back to the fortress."

Hiei looked horrified by the notion. "We should just leave her at the clinic. This woman is wearing the colors of our enemies."

It was true. The young woman with blue hair was indeed wearing the concealing, conservative robes of the water clan, a deep shade of blue and lavender in contrast to the black and red colors of their own clan. Still, the clinic could not treat her. She was bleeding out from a wound beneath her chest. Clearly, she had been attacked, and her head had been slammed into a rock where she was also bleeding. "She needs better care than that."

"But she-"

"Is a living creature," his master interjected. "Despite what her people have done, if we leave her to die, we are no better than them."

"Hn," Hiei grunted, surrendering to his master's whim. He did not agree, but if his master could show mercy to this girl after what his people suffered, Hiei would have to learn to do the same.

So, ultimately they brought the woman back with them and had her treated by the medics at the fortress. They were used to treating fatal injuries for training sessions were nothing less than brutal. Even Hiei had found himself in the room more often than not, but his opponents always joined him in worse condition. His master left to tend to some issues surrounding the demon with which they had returned. She looked so innocent, sleeping there, her face slightly contorted in pain as she snored softly. On arm was bend, her hand near her face as the other flirted with the edge of the covers against her chest. If she wasn't the enemy, Hiei would dare call her an attractive specimen, but all he could see was an enemy. He glared at the woman with hatred in his eyes. She was not only of the water clan, but she resembled his enemy of another kind.

Her clan robes had been removed to treat her wounds, so Hiei now had caught a glance of her arm. His master had mentioned it when he was in the room, and now Hiei finally regarded the symbol on her left arm that resembled the mark he wore on his right. He had long ago mastered the Dragon of Darkness Flame, a black dragon twisting up his arm. The living entity was a part of him. This girl, as young as himself, wore the mark of a plum-colored dragon donned her arm, the mark of the water dragon, the Dragon of the Living Water. If she had the strength to master such a beast, then there was no way she wasn't a threat.

Speaking of the young girl, she had woken up days later, finding herself in a luxurious bed inside of what appeared to be a castle. The woman blinked, uncertain as to where she was…uncertain about a great many things. Shocked at the sight of the room and immensely confused, she started to panic. Her breathing became erratic, and her energy fluctuated. Out of nowhere, she heard a knock on the door. Silently, she looked over to the wooden structure. The door opened moments after her silence. She hadn't expected the person to enter. Would the person be friend or foe? And really…where was she?

"W-Who is there?"

A tall man wearing a black, regal robe with red trimming walked into the room with a young boy wearing similar garb at his side. The young girl tensed up and tried to move further away from them by moving back on the bed. The grandiose headboard prevented her escape. Who was this man? She didn't remember seeing him before, nor did she really remembered much about herself to begin with. Still, the man looked frightening to her. She didn't know how to react. "W-W-Who are you two?" she stuttered. "Where am I? Why am I here?"

"We found you unconscious," the boy responded, his voice dark and venomous. The girl had no idea why he seemed so angry. He was hardly looking at her at all. Maybe he was…shy?

"I…I was unconscious?" was the first thing to leave her mouth. "I-I don't understand. What happened?"

Sidestepping the question, the man replied, "We have been waiting for you to wake up for a few days now. We were hoping you could tell us. What is your name?"

"It's Botan…" she blurted out, uncertain as to how she remembered that. "M-My name is Botan."

"Where are you from, Botan?" the man questioned a bit forcefully. Botan became even more fearful. Why did he look so angry?

"I-I'm sorry…but…I…I don't remember," she admitted timidly. "I'm trying to remember, but all I can remember right now is my name."

"You must have been hit on the head quite hard which would explain why we found you unconscious," the youthful demon observed and murmured from his spot. He looked to be contemplating something, his dark, spiky hair fluttering as he shook his head.

"In any case, you have my permission to stay here for the meantime until you can get your memories back," the older demon declared. "Since you have no memory of where you are from, you are welcome to stay here as our guest."

Botan felt like there was a double-meaning with his statement, but she was uncertain as to why she felt that way. "Thank you," she whispered, accepting the hospitality. "But…where is here? And who are you?"

"I am Chief Cameron of the fire clan," he professed proudly, "and you are currently in our village or, to be more exact, our fortress." The chief looked over to the young, irate demon. "And this is Hiei, my protégé."

"Fire…clan?" Botan repeated curiously. Something about that seemed familiar, but she could not place it. After she repeated the words, the demon called Hiei scoffed and left the room. Chief Cameron offered her a knowing smile.

"Do not mind him," he soothed. "Hiei is good with strangers. He will come around. For now, just rest. You've been through a troubling ordeal if your other injuries were a testament. Don't fret, my child. You are safe here." The kind chief then left her to rest and adjust, but Botan's nerves were wound even tighter.

She sat there in the bed trying to figure out what had happened to her and why she had no memory of anything except her name. For a moment, two looming figures appeared in her mind, but no names or faces accompanied them. Her head did hurt badly, so maybe Hiei was right and she had hit her head. That would explain the memory loss, but what else could have happened? What other injuries did she have?

However terrified she was to move, she decided to uncover herself and get a better view of her body. She was in a similar garb to the two men, though it was a scarlet kimono with cerulean trimming. The shade of blue and the soft, silky material was surprisingly comforting to her. However, she still felt very lost.

She had no idea what would become of her.

"Master, are you sure we can trust her at her word?" Hiei asked. "She bore the colors of our enemy. She could be lying about this 'memory loss.'"

Chief Cameron smiled wryly at his protégé, admiring the irony of the situation. "I'm not entirely sure, but she was clearly injured. Regardless of if she's an enemy or not, we must help all in need. We must hold ourselves to higher standards and not stoop to the level of the water clan."

Hiei still didn't like the idea of trusting the stranger, especially given that she was a viperous female, but his master had made a point. For years, Chief Cameron had taught him everything about his own power, camaraderie, and honor. It was what had caused him to drawn his master's attention to the injured girl despite wanting to abandon her upon seeing her colored robes. He only hoed that Botan's memory loss was not a trap, but legitimate. His trust was hard to earn and easy to break. It had been a miracle that Cameron had managed to win his loyalty.

He thought back to his time being a thief in the demon realm, how shortly after Cameron had reached out to him he tried to rob his current master. Chief Cameron had been empathetic, but Hiei had been ready for a fight. The chief had stated he was free to leave whenever, so Hiei fought for his freedom. He probably could have just left and saved himself the embarrassment of being thrashed by the chief. Despite his weaker energy, his skill was amazing. Hiei had given in and stayed, just as the chief has assured him he could do. There was nothing left for him. After he had been shunned from his thieving band, he had begun thieving on his own to survive in the village, and then Cameron and his men had found him in the attack. Hiei could still remember when his crimson eyes met the coal of his master. Chief Cameron had never given Hiei any reason to distrust him, but Hiei had given the man much reason to cast him away. Yet he was welcomed back into the fortress after his attempted escape and made the leader's most valued talent. It was sobering.

"What should we do with her?"

The chief considered his protégé's question for a moment. For now, they couldn't do anything with Botan. "I am sure by now you noticed she bears the mark of the Living Water." Hiei nodded his understanding. "In truth, mastering that dragon is a bit different than mastering the Dragon of Darkness Flame. Either she had gone to face the dragon on her own or it had been forced upon her by her own clan."

Hiei looked alarmed. Forced? "How is that possible?"

Cameron shook his head. "I do not know the specifics of the Living Water, but I do know that the experience is not for the faint of heart, nor is Darkness Flame. Yet, notice the way she spoke. You are a determined, strong youth. Can you picture that timidity, even feigned, willingly submitting to the ritual?"

"No," Hiei reluctantly admitted, his stomach churning at the thought. Mastering his beast was a painful experience that he had willingly walked into. To hear that those of the water clan may have purposefully used this young girl for their agenda did not sit well. It was as if they gave her no choice in her destiny. His original people were guilty of that sin.

"Exactly," Cameron settled. "And somehow, the water clan has allowed their secret weapon to fall victim to tragedy. Now, she knows nothing of who she was, and we can use that."

Hiei glowered at the chief, not liking the sound of that. Using a person who didn't choose their fate, practically keeping them prisoner. Plus, he was still disgusted by her presence there. "We should kill her, spare her this cruel path."

"That is not how we operate," the chief chided. He observed Hiei and noticed the tightness in his features. He sighed, finally understanding. Cameron was the only one who knew everything about Hiei's past, in great detail. "We can keep her in the village for now." Hiei seemed stun. "Yes, she did come from the enemy, and we can't let her remain here and train with the army if she is faking her condition. We also cannot leave her in the room like a prison. She has done nothing wrong that we know of. If the child is not faking her condition, then considering her to be the enemy would be cruel and confuse her."

"That's not just it, is it?" Hiei speculated. "You have other reasons for keeping the witch around. You want to use her against her clan, don't you?"

"It's poetic justice," Chief Cameron simpered. "As she gets older, her loyalty can be bought. For now, we will leave her. She is a timid, frightened young girl, too young to understand anything that has occurred. She probably has no recollection of the mark or her trial. We will leave her be. When she recovers, I will place her in the care of a family in the village. Everyone will be informed of the situation, and no one will be permitted to tell her what the mark truly is, not until she is old enough and completely on our side."

Hiei was still displeased, but as long as he did not need to interact with the woman, he didn't care. He would continue training to get stronger, to one day be able to take the water clan out on his own with or without the help of water enchantress. He did not need her, did not want her help, but once again Hiei was reminded that he was learning to follow the lead of his master. Sometimes being the chief meant making sacrifices. Hiei could admit he was too young to appreciate it.

"Let us commence with our training for today," the chief suggested. "After, I will bring a meal to the girl and perhaps talk to her. Maybe I can determine if she truly remembers or not."

Botan saw a smaller room on the inside of her room and was surprised. It looked like a regular washroom, but it was much larger than…what? She couldn't remember. Still, she felt like she had never been in a structure nearly as large as this. There was a mirror inside, and she hesitated. She couldn't even remember what she looked like, and she held animosity towards her unknown reflection. She shook her head. Defiantly, she marched up to the glass, ignoring the pain shooting up through her body, to see what she looked like.

She was amazed. Though she felt like she was looking at herself for the first time, the girl in the mirror seemed familiar from her wavy blue hair to her amethyst eyes. The hair framed her face in wavy wisps. She was very pale and fair in complexion, and the dark colors of the warrior's kimono she was wearing accentuated that fact. She felt a bit awkward in the kimono, the neckline plunging to her chest and the sleeves shortened. Part of her felt like this was the least bit of clothing she had worn in a long time.

Her eyes travelled to her wrist, the purple on her skin catching her eyes. She pulled the sleeve down further to see the mark to its fullest. It looked like a purple dragon was painted on her arm. She tried to wash it off, but the mark did not disappear but instead Botan felt tingly and relaxed. She must really like the water.

Leaving the washroom, Botan looked out the veranda at the changing light. Night was about to fall. For some reason, the girl felt a sense of longing as the warm air became slightly tinged with wind. She weakly moved one hand to rub her upper arm. Things had never seemed so hopeless, she believed, but she couldn't wallow. All she wanted was to be given an answer. She didn't like not knowing who she was.

After the sky grew dark, Botan moved to her bed. The darkness was not something that pleased Botan for reasons she could not remember. That was starting to be a common phrase in her mind. She wished she knew the reason. Unfortunately for her, the room was darkened. She didn't even know how to make a fire or light a torch. Chief Cameron returning with supper was very fortuitous for her. "Good evening, Botan," he greeted.

"Um…good evening, sir," she replied politely yet awkwardly, looking away in the dark.

Chief Cameron chuckled as he set a tray of food down on a small, bedside table. "You do not need to speak so formally when alone in my presence, Botan," he assured her before he lit the lamps in the room with his controlled fire abilities. "Why were you sitting in the dark?"

Botan shrugged. She didn't really want to admit that she had no knowledge or that she was afraid of the dark. She played off her discomfort to save face, but Chief Cameron could see right through her. "I didn't know what to do except think, trying to piece things together. Thank you, though, for bringing in light. I hadn't realized that it had gotten so dark. It was only a bit unsettling since I'm unfamiliar with this room."

"Did you have any luck?" he questioned as he poured the girl a glass of water. "Remembering anything, I mean. Do you remember where you're from? What about your age?"

Botan looked like she was trying really hard to think before tears of frustration began to form. "I don't know," she whined solemnly. "I just don't know."

"You really don't know, do you?" the man stated. The girl flashed him a glare and then buried herself under the blankets of the bed, ignoring the food he was offering. He truly pitied her. She looked very young, maybe in the teenager years, very young for a demon. His expression softened, and his interrogation ended. "Well, Botan, you are welcome here whether you figure it out or not. In fact, you are welcome to stay in my home until you heal, and then after that you are free to live in the village and integrate yourself into our society."

Botan smiled feeling grateful, not knowing the plans this man had for her. Still, a pang in her core hit her, and the reality of her situation completely flooded her. "I just want to go home," she murmured truthfully and sadly. She hugged her knees to her body. "I don't even know where home is."

Chief Cameron stood up, prepared to leave the room. Clearly, Botan needed rest and to accept her current predicament. This lack of memories was horrifying to her. "I will leave this food and water here for you. You may keep the lamps on if you would like."

"With all due respect," the child but out boldly, "I don't need your permission. Please, leave me be."

For a moment, the stranger's attitude reminded him a lot of when he first met Hiei. Many fond memories hit him as well as the desire to make the girl feel at home, hoping his altruism would win her loyalty as well. "Good night, Botan," he said softly, yet he got no response. He could only hope that, like Hiei, she would eventually warm up to him. Even if she was originally the enemy, she could be molded to fit their cause. Only time would tell. If she became their ally, she would be their greatest asset along with Hiei. He had plans for the dragon masters, big plans.

A/N: Well, that was a doozy of a first chapter :D Hey, everyone, and welcome to my newest project. Strangely enough, this story developed from the need to utilize scenarios from old stories I scrapped or never posted, one a Pokémon story with Sir Aaron and Lucario finding a lost enemy that I could never write past Chapter 1, and a Yu Yu Hakusho OC story that's material will be used later, and then I thought up this whole grand epic in a day and wrote down notes for every chapter in a couple of days. Yup, this what the first story I planned out to entirety (back in June) before writing from chapter titles to detailed chapters. I can already tell you that, unless I break some of these chapters into two depending on length, there will be 43 chapters. How's that for planning ahead? Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the first chapter. Hopefully, I'll get to work on the next soon. Please give me any feedback you might have. Thanks a bunch. And it's also my birthday, just so you know (*picturing Tangled*).