CHELSEA WELSH
Summary: "Do you promise to be here when I wake up?" ...Hiei Hadn't Broken It Yet
Hiei POV
I stare at you, feeling nothing. Your eyes are distant, set on me, while blood falls steadily from your mouth and the wound on your chest. I forced myself to kneel beside you...you were warm in my arms. I could feel you trembling, "Kitsune..." my voice is cracking. You smile at me, "Hiei...your...crying." There's a rattle in your chest. Am I? I look down and see drops of moisture fall on your face; they didn't come from your eyes. Strong 'till the end...
"Ne, Hiei...please don't. I'm okay..." I try to speak...there's something in my throat. Is this what it's like to cry? I wouldn't know. "I'll be okay," you continue, "...Hiei, promise me something?" Your hand fists the front of my shirt and you pull me so my ear is by your bloodied mouth. "Promise me..." Softer now. I don't ask you to continue...I can't. "Hiei," you pull back slightly and look in my eyes, "Do you promise to be here...when I wake up?"
My breath catches in my throat and there's a tightening in my chest. Tears are falling faster now from my own eyes to form gems around your head; like a halo. "Promise." You smile, and close your eyes, mumbling something about needing to sleep. "Goodnight Kurama." I gently lay you down on the ground and turn to face our teammates. I keep my head down so they don't see the tearstraks on my face. "Go," I say...it's a whisper, "I need to take care of some things." They do as I ask without question...
I bring your stiff hand to my lips and kiss it softly, humming to you without looking at your face. Instead I look at the ring on your hand; the one I gave you in that human ritual. Shadows fall over your face as the sun goes down, but still I do not move away. I made a promise after all...
...I intend to keep it.