The coyote demon grabbed hold of the girl by the forearms. She tried to struggle free of his grasp, but it was futile.

Strong winds and light surrounded the two as the girl still tried to get free.

On the opposite side of the room a small fire demon regained consciousness and in a flash he had knocked the coyote away from the girl and deep into a wall.

Then the fire demon heard something he didn't expect.

Laughter.

The coyote demon walked out of the clearing dust with only a few scratches.

"I'm afraid you're too late Hiei," the man said with a wicked grin.

Hiei looked back at the girl, but she seemed perfectly fine, just a little dazed.

"What do you mean Reisaki?" demanded Hiei, holding his katana out in front of himself, pointed at the coyote demon.

"Why this," Reisaki flicked open his hand to reveal a small ball of blue energy.

Hiei tensed as he sensed it to be the same energy as the girl.

"What have you done?"

"Oh, just a little spell I learned. I've been dying to try it out." Reisaki replied, smiling at the ball of energy.

"Enough of your stupid games!" Hiei cried. He rushed at the demon, but stopped short when he heard a shrill scream.

He looked over to the girl to see her fall to her knees, her face twisted in agony.

"Akiko!"

He was immediately at her side, a hand on her back as the girl shook violently.

"What happened onna?" Hiei asked.

Akiko shook her head. "I don't know, I was perfectly fine, then this great pain shot through my whole body."

At this point, Reisaki spoke up, bringing all the attention back on him. "As I said, just a small spell, but it is proving to be very useful. Observe."

The demon closed his hand slightly around the ball and Akiko screamed out in pain once more.

Reisaki released the ball and the girl stopped screaming and just layed on the ground, shaking and trying to get her breath back.

Hiei stood, about to run at the man but stopped as the coyote demon's hand tensed.

"One more step Hiei, and I kill her."

The fire demon growled.

"What is your purpose of all this, Reisaki?" Hiei asked, his body tense.

"To get your soul and all your demonic power."

Hiei growled at the demon again. "Good luck with that. 'Cause you're not getting either," he said with a smirk.

"Alright then." Reisaki closed his hand around the ball a little tighter this time.

Akiko's shrill scream filled the room.

Hiei's smirk fell as he knelt back down at her side.

Reisaki released the energy and the fire demon glared at him.

"So what will it be Hiei? Yourself or the girl?" The Coyote demon had an evil gleam in his eye, knowing he had won.

Akiko spoke, her voice barely audible. "Hiei, don't….worry about me…..I can take it….Just don't give him….what he wants."

"That's so sweet. So you say you can take it girl? Well we'll see." The demon tightened his hand even tighter than before and Akiko screamed and writhed on the ground in pain.

After about a minute of enjoying his show, Reisaki, slowly let go of the ball once more.

"Have you made your choice?" He looked questioningly at Hiei.

The fire demon looked away from him, not yet able to choose.

"Sorry, you took too long to answer." The demon clenched his hand once more, almost to the point of killing Akiko.

She screamed, louder than she ever had before, tossing and turning as her body shook and jerked with the torture.

"Fine, take them," Hiei said with a sad but determined tone.

"I knew you would give eventually, Hiei," Reisaki said as he reached out with his free hand.

"No!.....Hiei don't do this dammit!...." yelled Akiko, using whay energy she had left as she looked at Hiei.

The fire demon, ignoring the girl's cries, watched as the coyote demon lowered his hand holding the blue ball of energy. The ball fizzled out.

Hiei smirked and within a second he had grabbed his katana and had it stabbed through Reisaki's stomach.

"You know, for thinking this through so well, you sure left out a quite a few factors. Like I'm not stupid," Hiei commented as he removed his sword.

The demon fell to the ground, dead.

Hiei ran over to Akiko's side, where she was nearly unconscious.

"C'mon Akiko, I'm alright, now let's get you healed." He lifted her easily in his arms.

"Did you beat him?" Akiko asked with a voice that almost wasn't there.

Hiei smirked. "Of course. Did you actually doubt me?" he asked, walking from the room.

Akiko laughed lightly and shook her head, then groaned.

Hiei picked up his pace slightly and said, "Good. Always know I'll win, Akiko."

Akiko smiled and fell asleep in the arms of the man who was willing to sacrifice everything for her. The arms of her protector.