Brink of our Time : Growing Monster
A/N: Thank you for the reviews! I'm so glad that a lot of you like it. I saw Get Smart last night... umf, don't even get me started. Sorry if you liked the movie, I... didn't. Well, Read and Review!
I
"Ambassador Botan! Ambassador!"
Voices rose like waves. Botan tried not to become intimidated by the cameras that loomed around her behind the eager journalists. She raised her hand, calming the press. Botan pointed to a young woman up front.
"You."
The spirit flushed, though her hand was steady on her notepad.
"Ambassador, what was it like in Demon World?"
"It was certainly an experience. I think that we both have a lot to learn from each other."
A satisfied murmur rose from the crowd. A young man stood up.
"Is it true that one of Enki's guards struck you?"
The former ferry girl bit her lip. She held her head high and did not lie.
"Yes." Roars, blood thirsty roars, came from the crowd. Botan's face turned ashen as she waved her hands, yelling over the chaos. "It was a cultural misunderstanding." Slowly, they stopped. "I was unaware of how intricate their beliefs and traditions are, and if it wasn't for my ignorance, than this bruise would not be here today. I blame myself for my lapse of judgement."
A long silence followed her bold and inspiring answer. One of the senior political analysts cleared his throat.
"What do they hope to accomplish?"
Botan stared straight into the cameras, as if she were addressing not only all of Spirit World, but Demon World as well.
"Both Demon World and Spirit World are well aware that our people are starting to turn on one another. If we don't admit to ourselves that we are holding prejudices against one another, than I'm afraid that history will only repeat itself." Botan sighed, looking away from the camera. "We are both great nations with great people, but if we fall prey to silly superstitions and... well... racist judgements because of our different practices, than I'm afraid that we will both collapse. I love Spirit World and Demon World too much to allow this to happen, and I swear, to both Worlds, that I am going to do everything in my power to unite us."
Not one cheer floated up in the air. Solemn claps and nods of approval, but no one cheered. Botan tried not to shiver as she was led off the stage.
II
Two strong hands gripped a sword. Dark cloth met red eyes. The two demons stood on opposite sides of the sparring room, slowly circling each other. Garan had black silk blinding him. Hiei's boots clicked against the stone floor.
"Focus." Garan charged, his movements controlled and precise. Hiei stood still, and his sword nicked the side of Hiei's cheek. Blood dripped down, and Hiei swiped it with his finger, licking it off. "Good."
Hiei flickered behind the Royal Guard and delivered a powerful kick to the back of his neck.
"Don't get distracted."
Instead of hitting the ground, Garan used the momentum to propel himself backwards. The pain was there, but it only fueled the Guard to exceed Hiei's expectations. Hiei struck with his katana, but it was deflected. Garan pushed the weapon out of Hiei's hands and almost took of his right arm. Hiei's adrenalin pulsed, which it hadn't done in years.
His fist sank a punch into the side of Garan's face.
"Hiei?" The two demons stopped, their fists inches from each other's bodies. Mukuro had opened the door. "You two might want to watch this." She jerked her thumb over her shoulder. "Botan's makin' a speech about her time here."
Garan ripped his blindfold off as Hiei lowered his arms, rubbing the cut on his face. The Guard massaged the back of his neck as the two men walked out of the chamber.
"You've improved, Garan."
"Thank you, Hiei."
They made their way to the television screen, but Hiei had to shove his way forward. There was already a big crowd. After elbowing his way to the screen, Hiei was able to catch the very end of the Ambassador's speech.
"We are both great nations with great people, but if we fall prey to silly superstitions and... well... racist judgements because of our different practices, than I'm afraid that we will both collapse. I love Spirit World and Demon World too much to allow this to happen, and I swear, to both Worlds, that I am going to do everything in my power to unite us."
His heart was clasped tightly in her grasp. Her eyes pierced his, as if she knew that he was watching. The fire demon placed his hand over his heart as he watched her bow slightly and leave the stage.
"Would you believe that? No one cheered." Mukuro shook her head. "That was eloquent, and all they could do was nervously clap?" She stalked away, muttering. "Ah, Rekai is full of stiffs anyway."
III
Koenma worked late in the office, his back hunched over papers. His brown eyes squinted as he tried to read a word that he had smudged with his finger. His television was on. It was replaying Botan's speech and answers to the myriad of questions that had been thrown at her.
Those pink eyes haunted him.
Shivering, the Prince turned off the tv, stamping the paper.
It took fifteen minutes for him to smell the smoke.
IV
Exhausted legs hung off the daybed. Botan's blue hair was down, her eyes staring up at her cracked ceiling. Her heart hurt. Don't think about it. What you're doing is good. Good! But was it really?
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the haunted faces of Spirit World. Those blank stares that hungered for hatred.
The Ambassador of Spirit World saw hatred. She knew that hatred was a beast that could never be killed. However... she had also seen what happens to hatred when it goes unchecked. When the monster grows and grows until...
Madness.
Botan had seen first hand the work of Adolf Hitler. She was ferrying souls out of those camps by the minute, and she saw the starved gazes from the Nazis. They hungered. More. More! MORE! She still had nightmares. And tonight... when she had admitted to being hit... she felt the pulse of insanity in the crowd. When they all roared, ready to fight, her heart had nearly stopped.
I have to succeed. Demon World and Spirit World must come to an understanding. Whispers of war drifted in every alleyway. We can't fight what we don't understand. There's no logic behind it. Paranoid glances were cast over shoulders. Peace was becoming harder and harder to grab on to.
She was wearing a big tee shirt and boy-shorts when the first brick crashed through her window. Botan jumped up, her feet getting cut on the glass. Her eyes were wide that night, and another brick crashed through. Only this time... it was wrapped in a gasoline soaked rag. It was flaming and it dropped onto her bed.
Botan watched as her bed quickly caught, the fire spreading up to the walls. She heard screams outside, but that didn't seem to matter to her. More and more fiery rocks tumbled inside, and she was forced to stumble out of her small cottage in Spirit World.
The cold air nipped at her thighs as she turned, staring at her flame-engulfed house. It raged and she could hear the madmen running away. The foundation fell, and her house, her home, her sanctuary crumbled. Her memories, her clothes, her pictures, her books, her movies, and her belongings all died that night.
Bitter tears ran down her cheeks as the fire crackled.
I'm doing good.
Ashes began to float down, smearing black on Botan's fair face.
I'm doing good.
She was silent, her knuckles white.
I'm doing good.
Suddenly, a series of explosions rocked her world, sending Botan flying backwards.
Right?
V
Hiei collapsed onto his bed, not wanting to think about how his muscles ached and how Botan made a monumental speech. He never would have guessed... in all his years... that he would consider her to be inspirational. She was no longer the bubbly, hyperactive, foolish girl. Botan was... a woman who... was intelligent.
Her purity shimmered. One can only pray that it lasts.
"Hiei!" Garan burst through the door to find his comrade laying on the bed. "Hiei, our weapon room was broken into!"
The fire demon sat up reluctantly.
"What's missing?"
"Gasoline and mild explosives."
Hiei was suddenly very awake, his Jagan Eye open and searching for Botan's mind. He found her. With a slight push, he forced himself into her mind. He peered through her eyes to see a large, fiery mess. Chills ran down the fire demon's spine as he closed his connection.
"Kami." Garan had never seen his superior so shaken. Frankly, the sight of Hiei's pale face was the most frightening image he had ever seen. "Botan." The Ambassador of Demon World stood, throwing on his cloak and grabbing his sword. "Let's go."
VI
The Prince of Hell ran down twelve flights of stairs. By the time he reached the bottom floor, he was out of breath, sweating, and his legs were shaking. The cold air washed over his face when he pushed the heavy door open. However, the good feeling the breeze left quickly died when he saw a familiar cottage. More like, what was left of that cozy little shack.
He stumbled on his quaking feet towards the house that was half a mile away. It was a pile of flaming rubble. Botan's house... Botan!
Receiving his second wind, Koenma bolted towards his best friend's house.
VII
Garan spoke on his communicator as he raced through the barrier between Spirit World and Demon World. Hiei had a good lead on him, but Garan wasn't about to stop.
"Mukuro here."
"Mukuro, I need you to guard Enki tonight."
"Garan? Why can't you do it?"
The Guard watched as Hiei jumped off what looked like a cliff. He followed him.
"Botan's house... I think it was set on fire."
The silence on the other line was enough to know that Mukuro was going to do what he asked.
"Christ. Alright. Come back safe."
Putting the communicator back in his pocket, Garan finally broke through to Spirit World. He smelled the smoke before he saw the remains. Hiei was staring at the destruction, his eyes distant. Garan reached him just when the fire demon began his search for the Ambassador.
The Guard shifted through some rubble, a bush or two, and caught sight of a badge. A Spirit badge.
"Garan!" Keeping the badge enclosed in his fist, the tall, intimidating demon jogged over to Hiei Jaganshi. "Try and wake her up for me."
Dropping to his knees, Garan brushed blue hair out of her eyes. His large hand cupped her face, his rugged face cold as ice as he whispered words to her.
"Come on, girl. Wake up." His long nails ran down her cheek. "Ambassador, you're better than this."
Pink eyes fluttered open, and she smiled.
"Hey, Garan. How's it been?"
The Guard smirked.
"Good." He looked for Hiei, but the fire demon was out of sight. "Come on, let's get you on your feet."
Botan gripped his shoulders as the big demon carried her. His hands held her and he was about to set her on her own feet when he felt a surge of heat on his back. Pain burned though him, but he did not falter. He quickly hugged the Ambassador of Spirit World close to his chest, encasing her in his big arms.
"Let our Ambassador go, and I might spare your life."
Garan slowly turned around to see Koenma, Prince of Hell, aiming another sphere of concentrated spirit energy right at his head.
VIII
"Koenma, calm down. Garan is a Royal Guard for Enki—"
"Botan! This man burned down your house!"
Ice cold knives stabbed through Botan's heart. She was still being held protectively. She turned, her pink eyes tired.
"No. You're wrong."
Koenma's entire body shook, his face so pale he looked sick.
"Think, Botan! You're a smart girl, aren't you? Why is he here? How could he have known that your house burned down?"
"Koenma, listen to me. I trust this demon. If he's worthy of Enki, than he should be worthy of Spirit World!" Her voice cracked, and she coughed. Both men were astonished. They had never heard Botan yell so passionately. The Ambassador slumped in Garan's big arms. She tapped his skin with her fingers. "You don't to keep on holding me up." She was promptly placed on the ground. "Thank you."
"You're welcome, ma'am."
Koenma glared at the demon, his eyes locking on the tattoos and piercings. Suddenly, in a flash of light, Enki appeared with Hiei by his side.
"Botan, I was informed of this terrible news and I—" The Prince's eyes shot open wide, his mouth falling open. The Ruler of Makai looked from Garan to Koenma, then back to Garan again. "Did I interrupt something?"
"No," Botan chirped, "we're just recovering over," her arms motioned to the fiery mess, "that."
Enki nodded, his arms crossed.
"Yes, Hiei told me." The red demon clicked his tongue, and it would have struck Botan as offensive if it weren't Enki. He shook his head with sympathy. "It's unfortunate, it really is." Hiei smirked at Botan with reassurance. "But, when Hiei told me, well, I made arrangements... I'm just trying to say, Botan, would you stay with us in Makai? I've having a stone cottage fixed up for you right by the castle."
The Ambassador of Spirit World's face turned pink with surprise.
"Really? You did that... for me?"
"Of course. You were loved when you were with us. On behalf of all of Demon World, I implore you to stay with us."
"S-Sure." Botan smiled, not quite believing what she was hearing. "I'd love to." Koenma was speechless. The Ambassador turned to her Boss, her eyes devoid of mirth. "I'll call you."
"Okay..."
The odd group left, leaving Koenma alone to kick around the ash.
IX
"Care to tell me what that was all about?"
Botan limped as she shot a mischievous glace at Enki and Hiei. The fire demon answered, his voice curt and hushed.
"I saw Garan pick up a badge by your house. A Spirit badge, Botan."
Enki sighed as Garan picked Botan up.
"I think it would be best if you stayed close."
The Ambassador of Spirit World was back in business. Her smile was gone and she shifted so she more comfortable in Garan's arms.
"What I should be say to that is, 'I shouldn't trust anyone right now.'"
Enki shrugged with good nature.
"You shouldn't."
A sad smile passed over the woman's face.
"And that is why I trust you." Her blue hair flew into the night, and she looked up at the stars with an optimism that shouldn't exist for her. Her house had just been burned to the ground, and Koenma had jumped to conclusions way too quickly. In fact, her life seemed to be spiraling down a path that she did not plan on meandering down. She was Ambassador and the only hope for peace between Two turbulent Worlds. But someone had to do it. "Thank you."
Enki smiled.
"You're welcome, Ambassador."
X
The shadows around the rubble began to move.
"Well done."
Another man appeared, his face hidden by a porcelain mask.
"The Ambassador is in Demon World now. They are taking her under their wing."
The larger man shrugged carelessly.
"So? The press will become paranoid. This couldn't have worked out any better."
"And just wait. Koenma will snap. He'll say something stupid any second now."
"When the time is right..."
"She'll be ours..."
The two mens' voices became excited, their eyes glowing.
"And Demon World and Spirit World will go to war once their precious Ambassador is dead."
XI
A/N: Well... I hope the end of this chapter wasn't too lame. What did you guys think? I really like this fic, so please, be honest, constructive criticism is always welcome. I love you all. Review!
-mia
