Author's note: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho or any of its characters. I simply borrow them to use in my own sick, twisted fantasies like this one. ^^
This chapter is a little on the short side, and I'm apologizing for that now. I haven't completely decided yet, but I think the next chapter will be another lemon, simply because of the way I end this chapter. Again, I haven't decided yet, though I've already started writing it. XD Thanks to SakiHanaJima1 for your continued support and enthusiasm for this humble story of mine. I hope each chapter continues to hold your interest and throw exciting new twists at you. :) –Nira
Chapter Three
"You two know each other?" Yusuke inquired, looking between Hiei and me.
"We've met," Hiei stated in response, the connection between our eyes never breaking.
My mind was in turmoil with my pride and emotions. My emotions told me that I wanted to run into his arms and bury my fingers in the hair that I knew would feel like strands of silk between them as our mouths consumed each other, but my pride argued that it was childish and weak. My pride told me that I wanted to throw an arrogant, sarcastic comment at him about his absence, but my logic couldn't find the words to say and my heart couldn't put any venom behind them even if it had.
"When? I've been with Kimiko all day and we never ran into you," Botan inquired.
"It was a long time ago… wasn't it, Kimiko?"
Images of our last meeting ran through my mind and his eyes boring straight through to my soul only helped to intensify the lust and bewildering shame in still not knowing how we knew each other that were bubbling up inside me. I could smell him from across the room. He smelled like salt, blood, and wood fire and charcoal smoke, but there was an undertone of freshness that smelled like the crisp air of winter. I hadn't paid much heed to his scent during our last encounter together, but now that I had, I wanted to devour everything about him. My pupils dilated and I felt my fangs and claws lengthen as my breathing became shallow and a dull, throbbing pain pulsated in my abdomen and my throat burned.
"Kimiko, are you feeling alright? You look ill," Yukina inquired, worry in her voice, and my eyes widened.
I hadn't paid much mind to Yukina, either, until she'd spoken to me directly since Keiko had introduced her instead of her introducing herself. She smelled like winter, too, with a hint of lavender and a minute undertone of smoke. She smelled just as enticing as he did, though in a different way, and when I saw her eye color, I bit my lip. They were crimson—the same lovely, deep red as Hiei's, though her eyes were softer and gentler than Hiei's. I looked between Yukina and Hiei who hadn't moved an inch or taken his gaze off of me and I started to fidget and whine as the pain, guilt, and lust, both sexual and blood continued to increase with such tempting scents and the promising warmth of fresh blood surrounding me.
"I—… I have to go," I rasped through dry, parched lips and an equally dehydrated throat.
"But—!" Botan protested.
Just as I was about to make a mad dash for the door, a portal appeared behind Hiei and Koenma stepped forward.
"It looks like I came just in time," he said, noticing me losing my mind. "Here, I thought you could use this."
He tossed a clear package filled with a thick, dark red liquid at me and a grin spread across my face as I caught it. I instantly bit into the package and moaned as the sweet, metallic substance washed over my tongue. It was cold and had some kind of chemical in it, probably to prevent the blood from coagulating, but it was blood none the less and I savored every last drop of it.
"Is that—?" Yusuke inquired and I could smell his and almost everyone else's fear as the realization hit them of what it was that I was drinking.
"And did she just—?" Kuwabara added.
"Yes, it's exactly what it looks like," Koenma answered for me. "Kimiko is half vampire. She can survive on human food, but she'd need vast quantities of it to fill her up, and she'd never truly be satisfied, so this is the next best option."
"I was wondering how you were going to deal with that little trait of mine, my Lord," I grinned, my voice sultry as I licked my lips and looked at him. "My Lord does realize that those packages of yours still don't quite hit the spot, don't you?"
"You can still hunt if you need to, but absolutely no killing and everyone in this room is off limits. The blood packets are just an added safety measure."
"No worries, my Lord. Hardly anyone here seems appealing to me." I made eye contact with Hiei again, intentionally this time, and a mischievous smirk played across my face. I saw his pupils dilate and heard his breath hitch and heart skip for just a moment in excitement and I purred.
"H-hardly anyone? That means someone seems appetizing, r-right?" Kuwabara stuttered and I shot a glare at him. He'd killed my entire mood and turned it sour in even thinking that he was worth anything or that I may have found him appealing in any way whatsoever.
"Don't flatter yourself, human. I find you particularly revolting. Your scent is reminiscent of a man's sports locker on a hot summer day," I snapped in disgust and I heard Yusuke chuckle at the comment. "I am also not fond of women. Their blood is too sweet and contains a dizzying amount of hormones, human or not, so you may stop cowering, ladies. Rest assured, I will not harm you."
"Still, there will be a full stock of these blood packages for you during your stay with us, Kimiko," the Child God reiterated.
"Thank you for your thoughtfulness and concern, my Lord," I'd said, dismissive.
With that, Koenma said his farewells and took his leave through the portal in whence he'd come while I helped myself to another blood packet and sat in the windowsill. Tension hung thick in the air as everyone's eyes except Hiei's and Kurama's were set on me as Kurama's were still on his book and Hiei's were cast outside through the window across the room from me, though I knew he could see my reflection as I could see his.
"Okay, this is all really weird. There's something big going on between you and Hiei. There's gotta be if his presence could send you into a craze like that," Yusuke demanded.
"Oh?" I asked, playing coy.
"Come on, spill it! How do you know each other?" Botan pressed.
"I—… I don't remember…" My tone was melancholy and I felt it dominate my expression and deflate my demeanor. I hated to admit it. It was a shameful fact that I'd been dealing with since I'd last been in Hiei's company.
"Why don't you remember?" Keiko asked, hushed.
I finished my blood packet and stood up, walking past the girls and into the kitchen to discard the plastic. I didn't return to my windowsill perch and opted, instead, to go to my room, ignoring their probing eyes.
"I was shot in the head once," I called as I left the room, hoping to placate them somewhat. "Perhaps that has something to do with it."
I walked straight to my bathroom and ran the hot water for a shower. My mind was lost to as far back as I could remember.
Something sizzled and burned through my head from my temple and everything was white, but I was still conscious. I didn't understand what was going on or why, but I could hear everything that was going on.
"Kimiko Akane. It's about time I've finally taken you down for all the pain you've caused my family. It's taken us a lot of time to research and train on how to kill a vampire," I heard, and I was surprised to hear that the voice was that of a woman. I was even more surprised and slightly confused that I vaguely recognized her voice. I couldn't pinpoint where from, though.
I then heard her crouch down beside me and continue; "I know you can hear me. You're not dead yet. To kill you that quickly and painlessly would be an injustice to my son. I know you know damn well who I am and what I'm talking about, don't you, you heartless succubus slut?"
I really had no inkling of a clue what she was talking about. I didn't even know who she was.
Her voice was then replaced by that of a man further away but still nearby. Maybe he was standing above me? I vaguely recognized his voice, too. "Does it hurt, bitch? Huh? How does it feel having your own life's blood draining from your disgusting fucking body? How does it feel knowing that you're going to die?"
"You probably don't have a god that you pray to. Now would be a good time to get acquainted with one while you still have some life in you. Perhaps they could save your pathetic excuse of a soul," the woman stated. "I hope they don't, though. I hope your soul gets dragged to the deepest, darkest pits of Hell and you suffer for the rest of eternity."
At that point, I found strength somewhere and I laughed. "Who says I have… a soul to begin with?" I muttered, my vision still white and incomprehensible. "I have no place… in Hell, either… They kicked me out… when I turned down the devil's offer… to become his wife." The woman was infuriated and kicked me in the face with all the strength she had in her body, and I was out for real.
When I woke up there was a silver bullet on the ground beside me and I could smell the metallic scent of blood. My vision had returned, so I looked around. I was covered in and surrounded by an ugly, ruddy red-brown puddle of dried blood. All I knew was that my name was Kimiko Akane, I'd been shot in the head by a crazy couple who apparently knew me and left me for dead but I survived, I was a vampire, and I was ravenously thirsty. I brought my hand to my throat and swallowed hard, remembering that insatiable thirst and how it burned my throat and tied my stomach into knots. It was uncomfortable. I didn't like it…
Then something odd struck me. I couldn't sense him, but I could smell him, even through the steam from my shower. There was an intruder in my room, but I quickly finished my shower to greet him anyway.