Rated for slight swearing and some bloody situations. There will probably not be any romance in this story (well, maybe a little Kuramaxoc, but not much). Also, acouple of spoilers because this story takes place after the end of the series. (I love doing bold). Now read and enjoy!!
Dokkou: Hello everybody! This is my very first YYH fanfic, which I have edited and rewritten. I first wrote it in first person, but then I realized I hated it that way. Anyway... Hiei, would you kindly do the disclaimer? Because I don't want to get sued.
Hiei:...Hn, fine. But only because I would NEVER let YOU even THINK of owning ME.
Dokkou: (stares at him) Well THAT'S just GREAT. now PLEASE DO the DISCLAIMER.
Hiei (glares): You're mocking me aren't you?
Dokkou: of COURSE not. I would NEVER mock YOU.
Hiei: Grrrr... (pulls out katana)
Dokkou: Gag! I was just KIDDING! HONEST!
Hiei: You're doing it again!
Dokkou: (runs away screaming)
Kurama: (sweatdrop) as they're both... ah... occupied, I'll do the disclaimer. Dokkou doesn't own any of the YYH characters except her own.
Hiei: YOU BET SHE DOESN'T!!
Senko's Bloodstone
Chapter 1: The Pursuers
Hiei's POV
A fleeting shadow darted through the forest, whipping past branches and bushes in a silent panic. He could hear the heavy breathing of his two pursuers behind him, and a jolt of fear made him run even faster. The shadow burst from the brush into a clearing, gasping for air. It was revealed to be a young demon with spiky black hair and blood red eyes—eyes that were currently scanning the area around them. Hiei dove behind a tree just as the two demons chasing him emerged into the clearing. Hiei held his breath, trembling, daring to hope that they would move on.
"Where'd he go, Ganor? I saw him come this way!" an annoyed, rough voice said. Hiei dug his nails into the tree bark.
"He did come this way, Neirok. But he's tired, so it's safe to assume that he's still here somewhere," another deeper and more menacing voice growled. And it was right. Hiei was exhausted from running, more so because of the injury to his arm. He gingerly touched the bleeding flesh, remembering how the enemy's talons had ripped through it as easily as damp cardboard. His arm was hanging almost useless now.
What am I going to do? Hiei thought, an unaccustomed dread surging through him. He couldn't even remember ever being this… could he use the word 'scared'?
Hiei heard a rustling noise as the two monsters searched for him in the bushes and he risked a glance around the tree at them.
One of them was nine feet tall, and had four brawny arms and two legs for a total of six limbs. He was a deep purple color with white horns protruding from his forehead and chin, as well as a long row of lethal-looking spikes down his huge back and his thick, eight-foot- long tail. White sabers curved from his lower jaw past his upper lip. He was wearing a huge belt and heavy-looking armor. A sheathed dagger hung at his waist, making Hiei long for his own katana sword; but he had lost it in the tussle with the monsters an hour ago.
The other demon was solid black in color, also wearing a belt and armor. He was covered in fur and had a long snout and tail, giving him a semblance to a wolf. But his jerky, independent movements reminded Hiei of a spider. He too had huge teeth and claws that could rip through the little fire demon in one slash.
Hiei's only chance was to make a sneaky escape.
As the monsters drew closer, Hiei quietly and quickly slid away into the trees behind him and as soon as he felt he was far enough away, he broke into a painful run. He heard a furious roar and crashes behind him as the demons charged after him. Hiei glanced over his shoulder in time to see the purple monster- Ganor, he assumed- push over a tree.
Suddenly out of nowhere, a clawed black hand reached out and wrapped around Hiei's neck. It jerked him back and slammed him down on the ground. Stars popped in front of Hiei's eyes.
"Gotcha!" the black wolf demon said, standing over him triumphantly. He raised his voice and shouted, "Hey, Ganor, I've got him!"
Not for long, Hiei thought. He drew his legs back and kicked him hard in the stomach. The wolf demon reeled away with a surprised grunt and Hiei immediately sprang up and ran away as fast as his legs could carry him. The black demon, Neirok, threw a furious curse after him.
A portal, Hiei thought, I need a portal to the Living World! He racked his brain, trying to remember where one was. Oh yeah! There was one by Silt Lake! And that wasn't far from here! Hiei dug his feet in and shoved off left, toward the lake.
But he was slowing down. Exhaustion was starting to take its toll. If he could just get to the Living World, he might have a chance of losing them.
There! The lake came into view, and over the middle of the water, Hiei stopped on the shore and saw a doorway of brilliant blue and white light. So close! He risked a look over his shoulder and saw Ganor and Neirok charging flat-out toward him. He looked back at the portal from the shore of the lake, measuring the distance carefully. Yes, he would probably be able to jump to it, if he really pushed it.
"You won't get away, you little pest!" hissed Neirok behind the fire demon. Hiei crouched, gathered his strength… and jumped. He felt a gust of wind as one of the demons grabbed at him and missed. The portal came closer and closer… and then he was through.
All the air was sucked out of him as he streaked past blurred shapes and objects, and then he was zooming toward a swath of trees.
Hiei shot out of the portal and landed hard on the ground, creating a long gouge in the dirt. Dazedly, he pushed himself up and looked around. Trees surrounded him, but over their crowns, he could see tall buildings and skyscrapers. He deduced that he was in a park in a human city. He heard a small squeak and turned.
Two young humans, a boy and a girl, were sitting on a bench under a spreading tree, gaping at Hiei as if he'd sprouted wings. Then again, if he'd seen someone covered in blood and dirt appear out of thin air, he'd be more than a little surprised himself.
Nevertheless, Hiei hissed at them like a snake, causing them both to scream and run away. Hiei stiffened when he heard a crackling noise behind him and he didn't need to turn around to know that the two demons were coming through the portal. He forced his exhausted muscles to carry him away.
Why did I ever accept this mission in the first place? He thought miserably.
Yusuke's POV
Yusuke yawned and stretched back in his seat, running a hand through his gelled-back hair as he did so. Shuichi Minamino, more commonly known as Kurama, smiled at him from across the table.
"Thanks for the milkshakes, Kurama," Keiko said from next to Yusuke.
"It was my pleasure," Kurama smiled. The group was sitting in a small, quaint restaurant with a view of a beautiful lake. There were six of them altogether: Boton, Keiko, Kuwabara, Kurama, and Yusuke Urameshi, the most awesome guy in the world—at least in his own eyes.
"Hey, Kurama, why didn't you invite Hiei too?" asked Boton curiously. On Yusuke's left, Kuwabara snorted and said scathingly, "Because he was smart enough not to. Hiei probably wouldn't have come anyway." Kuwabara had a fierce rivalry with Hiei. They couldn't stand within ten feet of one another without insulting each other or arguing, and it never mattered how many times Kurama and Yusuke intervened.
"Actually, I did try to invite Hiei, but I couldn't get in contact with him," said Kurama in his light, calm voice. He and Hiei were best friends, though Hiei would never admit it. Then again, he never admitted much of anything.
"You couldn't contact him?" Yusuke said with a frown.
"No, but that's not something to get worked up about. After all, he is Lady Mukuro's most trusted lieutenant. I'm sure he's very busy." As he spoke, two pretty, young girls walked into the restaurant and did a double take at him. They both started giggling and sat at a table close by, watching him. Kurama pretended not to notice. No matter where he went, he always attracted stares from girls. It was the curse of good looks, perfect grades, and impeccable manners.
"Busy, shmisy," Yusuke said, waving his words away, "Enkei is the king of Demon World now, and he will be for the next three years. Hiei can relax. Just look at me; I used to be one of the three kings of Demon World, and look at how relaxed I am."
"You'd be relaxed even if you were still one of the kings of Demon World," said Boton playfully.
"That's true," Yusuke admitted, causing everyone to laugh.
Kurama had bought everyone milkshakes to celebrate King Enkei's rise to power after the momentous Demon world Tournament. But since they'd been here for an hour already, Yusuke suggested they leave and take a walk. Everyone agreed, and after Kurama paid for the shakes ("Seventy-three dollars?! Yusuke, how many shakes did you have?!"), they went out for a wander around the city.
It was a beautiful day and the six chatted contentedly about the new events in their lives. Kuwabara was saying eagerly, "Oh yeah, I got another A+ on a test, and after class the teacher said my grades were some of the best he'd seen, maybe even good enough to get into the Institute of--"
"Hey, do you guys hear that?" Yusuke interrupted. Everyone stopped and listened in surprise to people screaming in panic.
"Something's wrong," The leader said sharply, "let's go check--" but before he could continue, he saw the startled crowd part for a familiar figure, who skidded around the corner of a building not thirty feet away.
"Hiei?" Yusuke cried in surprise, "What the--" he broke off. Hiei didn't so much as glance at Yusuke. In addition to a never-before-seen expression of fear on his face, his black pants and light blue shirt had numerous tears, and he was bleeding from several nasty-looking injuries. Even as the group watched him scramble down an alley, they saw blood flick from his arm and spatter a wall.
"He's hurt!" Yusuke said in shock, "we have to help—" the rest of his words were drowned out by a crescendo of screams. Yusuke drew back in alarm and bumped into Kuwabara when a nine-foot-tall, four-armed, purple monster suddenly appeared, scattering the crowd and roaring like a tiger. It skidded to a halt, looked around, growled, and barreled down the alley that Hiei had just gone down. A second later, another monster, black, with the anatomy of a human, the features of a wolf, and the movements of a spider, appeared and darted after the other one with a canine grin.
"Whoa! What the heck were those things?" Kuwabara exclaimed.
"Demons," said Kurama grimly.
"I don't care if they're fluffy pink bunnies," Yusuke said with a fierce scowl. "They're chasing Hiei, and he's hurt. Come on, we have to help him." Kurama, Kuwabara and Yusuke ran after the two monsters and Hiei.
Hiei's POV
Hiei's sides were burning and every breath was painful. He'd been hoping to lose the two demons in the crowd of humans, but they hadn't fallen for it.
Abruptly, the alley he'd run down came to a dead end.
"Damn!" Hiei cursed frantically. He heard heavy footfalls behind him and whirled around. A feeling of numb dismay pressed down on him.
Ganor and Neirok stood not ten paces before him.
"Nowhere to run." rumbled Ganor threateningly, "And nowhere to hide."
"We've got you now!" cackled Neirok. Hiei glanced at the walls of the buildings on either side of him. The left wall was very rough and had many footholds. It stretched upward out of sight.
"Not quite," Hiei snarled, and sprang at the wall. As soon as he touched it, he pulled himself up as fast as his burning muscles would allow.
"No!" screeched Ganor. Then the wall trembled beneath Hiei as both demons started clambering after him.
Yusuke's POV
"Where'd they go?" Yusuke said desperately, looking around, "Which alley was it?"
"That one!" Kurama said and they ran for it. As Yusuke turned the corner, he looked up and saw three figures on the wall: highest was Hiei then the two demons below, following him but slowly and laboriously.
"Shoot them with your Spirit Gun, Urameshi!" Kuwabara yelled at Yusuke.
"I can't," the leader said in frustration, "I'd destroy the building. There are people in there."
"Can we follow them?" Kuwabara asked, eyeing the wall nervously. Yusuke took one look at the wall and said, "I bet the building's got stairs. Come on."
Hiei's POV
Panting with the effort, Hiei heaved himself onto the roof of the building. It must have been at least thirty floors. Stupid humans and their obsessions with tall structures.
What now? he thought, and realized that he didn't know what now. Maybe I can jump to another roof. He took a step forward, staggered, and collapsed, his head and eyes swimming. Get up! He put his hands on the cement, but it was like trying to stand with a boulder on his back. He couldn't do it. He just couldn't do it. He was too tired. Everything was blurry and out-of-focus.
So I'm just going to lay here and let them finish me off? No, he couldn't let that happen. He couldn't let them take it. Try again!
Trembling, sweat pouring from his face, teeth clenched, Hiei pushed himself to his knees… and then, just barely, to his feet. The effort left him gasping and light-headed.
"Well, what do you know, you can still stand, even after all that." Hiei turned his head but too late.
A giant body slammed into him and threw him on his back. Hiei tried to lift his arms for a counterattack but two weights came down on them and pinned them to the ground.
"Gotcha!" a gleeful voice said and then Hiei was looking into the upside-down, grinning wolf-face of Neirok. Another weight pinned Hiei's ankles down and Ganor came into view, scowling at the fire demon.
"You," he said softly, dangerously, "have caused us a heap of trouble. We've been chasing you for the last four hours and your stamina is to be admired. But enough is enough." His voice turned menacing and he dug a razor sharp claw into Hiei's shoulder with one of his two free hands. Hiei's body tightened with the effort of not flinching. He wouldn't give Ganor the satisfaction of causing him pain.
"Ganor, can't we just kill him now? He's been so annoying to us," whined Neirok.
"No, Neirok, you know that killing him would make this whole chase pointless. We can only get it if he gives it to us willingly."
"So tell him to hand it over so we can go already!"
"Never!" Hiei spat, "I'd sooner die than give it to you!"
"Really?" said Ganor lightly, "Well, would you sooner face agonizing torture than give it to us?" Hiei just glared at him. Ganor continued, "Would you sooner have every bone in your body liquefied, and every limb torn off than give it to us?" Hiei said nothing but he couldn't help swallowing. There was not a doubt in his mind that Ganor wouldn't hold to his word. Ganor smiled nastily. With one of his extra arms, he reached down to his belt and pulled out a long, wicked-looking dagger. The blade was blood red, and the handle was made from a short bone with a very small skull in the pommel. He pressed the blade to Hiei's chest and a drop of blood stained his shirt.
"This is your last chance," said Ganor softly. "If you give us the Stone, I will grant you a relatively painless end. If you don't, I'll be forced to put you through agonizing torture that will leave you begging for death! So, what do you say?" Hiei felt so dizzy, so tired, Ganor's words seemed to come from far away. But despite the pain in his body, despite the comforting blackness that was waiting to engulf him, one simple, defiant word escaped Hiei's mouth:
"…No."
Ganor's eyes narrowed. "Then you have sealed your fate." He raised the dagger, which glinted evilly in the sunlight. "Let the torture begin." Hiei closed his eyes as the dagger plunged down. A white-hot pain erupted in his chest as the dagger went deep into his body.
Hiei clenched his jaw against the terrible impulse to scream. Dizziness engulfed him. Darkness rushed forward to enfold him and he reached out for it. Yes, go to the darkness! They can't take the Stone if I'm not awake! But suddenly, something wrapped around Hiei's consciousness and wouldn't let him sink down into the black abyss.
"Ah, ah, ah, no falling unconscious now! You might miss some of the pain!" he heard Neirok say maliciously. And then the agony came back full swing. Hiei involuntarily squirmed-- without success because Neirok and Ganor were holding him down.
Despite his best efforts, Hiei couldn't stop a low moan from coming out. Through a haze of pain, he heard Ganor say, "I wonder, if we gutted you maybe we could get the Stone that way, hm? Maybe you don't have to give it to us willingly… let's find out." Hiei coughed weakly as the dagger was slowly pulled out of his chest. There was a tickling feeling and he tasted blood as it streamed from the corner of his mouth. He was trembling, but he was nowhere near giving up. He'd endured far worse. Hiei opened his eyes and saw Ganor looking coldly at him. Hiei gave him the most defiant, disgusted look he could muster. And that was pretty defiant and disgusted. Ganor put the tip of the blade under Hiei's ribcage.
"Still holding on," he sneered, "but not for long." Hiei grit his teeth as Ganor sedately impaled him again. Hiei's head was spinning in pain.
What do I do? Give up?... What?! NO! NEVER! I swore I would guard the Stone with my life…and I never go back on my word! A pulsing orange spot formed under Hiei's eyelids. Ganor's angry, threatening voice broke through his thoughts. "Give me the Stone!" The pain abruptly increased and Hiei bit down hard on his lip. "You're wasting my time! Give it to me or--"
"Hey Ugly. If you don't want your rotting head blasted off, you'll let him go." A new voice reached Hiei's mind and slowly pulled him back. Neirok's mental grip on Hiei loosened and Hiei opened his eyes.
He made out three blurry shapes and a wave of recognition washed over him.
Yusuke, Kurama, and Kuwabara.
But then Hiei's relieved feeling evaporated to be replaced by anxiety for his comrades. These two demons possessed a ferocious strength that had even defeated Hiei. Did the others stand a chance?
"I said, let go of him," said Yusuke menacingly, pointing his index finger at Ganor. It started to glow with a white-blue light, the first stage of his deadly Spirit Gun. Kurama was already holding his thorn-covered Rose Whip and Kuwabara's bright orange Spirit Sword spiked up from his hand.
Ganor let out a harsh laugh.
"Human children trying to be heroes." he said scornfully, "How cute. But this is no business of yours so I suggest you leave before I tear your heads off."
"I'd like to see you try," Yusuke hissed. Ganor's lips curled. "This is your last warning. Let Hiei go or--"
"You," snarled Ganor drawing himself up to his full nine-foot height, "are in no position to be making demands. I didn't waste four hours chasing after this pathetic excuse for a demon just for a little snot-nosed punk to give me attitude. Neirok, kill them, would you?"
"It would be my pleasure," said Neirok with a nasty smile. He released Hiei's now useless arms and slid toward the others like a snake.
"No!" Hiei tried to yell, but it came out as a blood-filled cough. Ganor glanced down at him. He was now so blurry Hiei could barely make him--or anything else--out. The pain and exhaustion in Hiei's body finally reached its zenith. As he slid down into blackness, he heard a shout, a roar, and Ganor's faint voice say, "Don't think you're forgotten. We'll finish our little torture session later..." and then everything disappeared.
Dokkou: Okay, there's chapter one!
Hiei: I hate it. You made me look like a weakling! And you tortured me!! That hurt!! I could actually feel it when I read it!! AND I STILL LOOK LIKE A WEAKLING!!
Dokkou: No! I mean...well yeah, I did... but that's the point! That even a super strong guy like you is on the ropes! Trust me, it makes you seem hotter!
Hiei: (eye twitches) I don't want to be hotter! I have more than enough fans already! I hope nobody reviews and that you'll discontinue this baka story.
Dokkou: WHAT?? But it's all about you! and I worked really hard on it!! ( anime tears)
Hiei: (sticks tongue out grumpily) That's the point.
Dokkou: You're so mean! How could someone like you have so many fans?!
Hiei: If I knew that, I would have changed my image by now.
Dokkou: sighhhhhh...
Hiei: WHAT ARE YOU SIGHING ABOUT?!
Dokkou: Well, I'm surprised you're shouting, that's all. I really wasn't expecting you to shout until later...
Hiei: WHA--... ahem... I mean, why? What are you planning?
Dokkou: mngmgngnfphghgnnnn... (vaguely) oh look, a birdy. (walks away)