As soon as he left, it was if she had forgotten how to breathe. Her knees were locked to prevent the nervous shaking, which had snaked its way to her spine and her hands twitched. Mentally cursing herself for not sucking down her pride and putting herself in this predicament, she closed her eyes momentarily to attempt to regain some control she just felt she had moments ago. But she was not going to give him the satisfaction of getting off from doing his duty, it was backwards, and obviously backfired on her.
Katsumi tried to control the uneven breathing she spewed up after Hiei disappeared in the blink of an eye. She could still feel where his hand held around her throat, and her shoulder ached lightly from where he shoved her. Her back pressed against the tree, the final rays of sunshine gone from the brush of the forest. Similar to an asthma attack, which she hadn't had since she was a child, her lungs wheezed, and hazel eyes pierced through the darkness to try to see the things she felt heading her way. Even though she was under panic, she felt calm in a way that she was coming to a close with what was after her, and there was no time for anxiety.
That Hiei is an idiot, a jerk, and I wish he never attempted to save me the first time. I could have handled myself!
She would not admit it out loud, but she was surprised by the strength of a demon like Hiei, able to sense anything from that far out. Kat was just sensing the danger now, and she wondered what that meant, maybe Hiei saw potential in training her and he was just not admitting that fact?
Get ahold of yourself, Kat, she cursed at herself. Get mad, and take these suckers on and quit thinking about Hiei.
Though she was very thankful for Hiei, more so than she has ever been in her life, in that instant when those demons did manage to take their vendetta outside her subconscious mind and into her reality – and corrupted everything she has ever known in her life.
She knew the decision she should have made, but did not make. Characteristics of a typical human; the thought couldn't be retrieved from her brain. She was prideful, she was stubborn, even if it put her in a situation such as this. These were traits she did not inherit from her parents, but from a familiar loud mouth, grease ball she grew up with.
An energy she couldn't put her finger on what it was, flamed inside her. It was only seconds until she countered the dilemma she faced. Similar to adrenaline, but hotter to the touch this energy felt, making its presence known inside her; flowing through her veins. Katsumi found herself taking a defensive stance, and with her back still to the tree, a sense of confidence flooding into her.
Low hissing noises, snakelike and angry, sounded off surrounding near her in their own sick and twisted greeting. It was frustrating not being able to make them out between the shadows, and she almost jumped out of her skin when a light thump of the ground was made next to her. If it wasn't for the stillness between the trees that sounded throughout the miles of land, she knew she would not have heard a sound at all.
"You are an idiot to think if you can take these low levels on, and probably should have taken the fire apparition's offer," Master Genkai spoke roughly from the darkness, breaking the silence. Internally Kat was grateful that it was Genkai, and not Hiei. Like Hiei, she was anything but sweet, and she knew she was painfully truthful. It was less a hurt to her pride it being Genkai, and not Hiei.
"Although, your spiritual energy is what drew them here in the first place. Low levels such as these prey on the weak, and you are ignorant and have no training or knowledge to conceal your presence. They planned to leech off of you until there was nothing left."
"How could I have spiritual energy?"
Katsumi was confused, why was Master Genkai the first to inform her if she had any potential? The pink haired woman set a hand on her upper arm, her palm warm and commanding, and the younger woman could feel the energies around her slowly backing in confusion and the tides of energy inside her come to a still. The dangers of the forest seemed to be lost, and a peaceful calming aura filled the atmosphere.
"Let us return to the temple, I have temporarily concealed your energy, and we can continue this discussion. Unless, you absolutely want to embarrass yourself by fighting these snake demons," the sarcasm and amusement dripping in her voice as she glanced up at Kat with her wide, yet uninterested eyes.
"I think my ego has been bruised enough, to be honest Genkai."
Genkai returned with a smirked, her hands pulled behind her back as she led the way back after a nod. Katsumi strolled quietly in thought behind her, and as small as the pink haired lady was, and although Kat wasn't much taller, she found herself having a tough time keeping in the same pace. Master Genkai wasn't offering conversation either, and they quickly made it out of the forest together.
She tugged the side of her shirt, the night cool and cold. All she wore was her jean shorts and t-shirt that gave a sneak peak of midriff if she raised her arms in any way which way. No way for her to be dressed as she wondered the forest, but she needed a break goddammit. And it was humiliating for the woman to be saved by none other than her host. Better than Hiei, she thought angrily, brushing a strand of hair from her face. The black hair forming ringlet curls around her in their own frizzy chaos. Since she had turned in her two weeks, she let her hair run wild.
As they neared the temple, she could feel heated eyes on her, and her head turned in direction to them. Crimson eyes glared at her from a tree branch, and her face went from thoughtful to threatening in less than a second before she snapped her head from him in a huff.
How dare he give me an ultimatum like that!
Kurama was not too far from the scene as he appeared out of nowhere with a bag over his shoulder. Bruises and marks of battle cried out on his visible flesh, and he walked with a slight swagger. He himself had just returned from Gandara, getting ambushed with some rebel bandits while visiting Yomi. He had news to and latest gossips around.
Buried into personal thoughts as he saw the exchange between the two with heated looks, and inquisitive emerald eyes peered up at his friend with curiosity. He strolled up to the tree Hiei perched himself up on, and leaned his back against the base of the tree, refraining from a slight wince. It was a few moments of silence before Hiei, annoyed, growled out at his friend,
"What do you want fox? I see you got yourself into trouble."
"You left Katsumi in harm's way. That isn't like you to deliberately throw away a mission. And yes, if you must know, some rogue bandits tried to have their way with me." The fox demon rolled his eyes, often getting mistaken for a female, even from his own kind.
"Hn." Knowing by the barely audible response, Kurama knew there was much more to than what he was leading on.
"You think she could have stood a chance," he whispered out into the silence between them. He heard Hiei shift in his spot, and the fox demon placed his hands into his pocket.
"We do not know why a demon is pursuing her, unless you have something to share," he scoffed, obviously his annoyance growing towards Kurama. The redhead refused to acknowledge it, as he has learned after all these years. If anyone, he was more in tuned with Hiei's moods and ways than the others in the group. He tried to conceal his smirk, knowing he was pushing Hiei's buttons.
"I have a few things to share with everyone. So were you intended to let nature take its course and see if she held any sort of strength of her own while you let her solo it out?"
"Obviously, she had something for those demons to come ambushing out of nowhere to peak an interest. Although, not enough reason why a demon like Onmyoji would take the steps he has. That power we felt is a tenth of the strength of the oaf's. It's damn pitiful is what it is."
Without a word, Kurama kicked off from the tree to make his way to the temple. A quick black blur, and Hiei trailed in step behind Kurama, his hands shoved inside his black pant bottoms. The faster they get the why's and who's and what's of this mission, the faster he could return to the Makai… Though he wouldn't admit it, it allowed him reasons to be near Yukina without raising suspicions to her. The last few times he came to the temple, he had been almost positive she was going to approach him; she had been unrelenting in asking about a certain favor… If he could maybe use the Jagan to find her long lost brother. The irony…
Genkai did not lead Katsumi into the main rooms where she heard her friends laughing and talking about with one another. A room with a fire pit in the center. Different lanterns hung around, and even as many of them lit, the corners and edges of the room were unseen behind the shadows.
"Sit," she commanded.
Among the pillows around the fire pit, Katsumi picked her spot and sat, hands resting comfortably on top of her knees as she crossed them. Genkai sat cross legged as well across from her. The fire was low so they could see face to face beyond the flames.
"That pretty boy has returned from demon world, and he is informing the rest of the news he has received from Gandara." Kat blinked her eyelashes a bit before a brow was quirked, waiting for Genkai to continue.
"It appears Onmyoji is an assassin, a human hunter, who takes particular steps to make sure he tortures his victims before offing them." Genkai was studying her face as she processed this news, skeptical about how much Kat really knew.
"Why would… why would someone hire a demon to kill me?" The confliction shown across her face, and Genkai knew she had a gut feeling about something, and wasn't coming forward.
"I was hoping you could tell me." Katsumi's face flushed before falling to look at her lap, shaking her head.
"After I left Japan the first time, I travelled a lot," she began, biting her lip to think back. Genkai sat there, eyes intent on the young girl. "Before returning to Japan, I was living in Germany. I was becoming rather serious with a guy named Michael. He was the head department leader of a well-known organization in Germany, and my parents were considering to do business with them.
At one of the grand charity parties… I think I saw something I was not supposed to," her voice grew lower as she talked, her eyes squinting in frustration as she tried to sort what her gut was telling me. Scenes from the charity event flooding her senses as she replayed the night in her head.
"All I knew, was that I felt wrong suddenly being there. I felt disgusting, I felt on alert, and I knew I shouldn't be with Michael. I told my parents, that my gut instinct is that they should not go through with the deal. They didn't question me on it, and I decided enough travelling... I needed to be home with family."
"I see. What did you see that made your instinct question your surroundings?"
"I was on my way to the lady's room, and I got lost. I went down a hallway and saw Michael talking to a large man. He reminded me of a human hulk. He was carrying something in his arms, it was long, and around my size, and I could've sworn... I had felt… heavy. I am not sure…." She stumbled with the right words, recollecting her feelings.
"Death. I had felt death radiating in his arms. When he turned to go to the elevator I saw long black hair fall out of what I got a better look at... a bag, of some sort. Just as I had backed up, I knew Michael had spotted me as the elevators closed. I remember being a deer in headlight as his gaze pierced me. In that moment, he was not the man I knew." Kat shuddered lightly.
"But… hiring a demon to come kill me? I am not even sure what I saw, Genkai."
"After all the evil I have seen in this world, I would not doubt it for a second, Katsumi." That was the first time the older woman addressed her by her name, and stood up to leave the room from where they entered. Kat sat there as she watched the woman leave into the darkness.
"I will inform the others, I have no doubt this is what and why you were placed in harms way. Oh, and tomorrow morning," Kat could feel the woman pause, even if she could not see her, and she looked off in the distance to where the voice came from.
"We will start your training. You have a gift and it should not be wasted."
Author's Note: This chapter is not as long as I wanted it to be, but it's been a few weeks since I have updated. I feel super guilty, but school has been pulling me from my muse, and we are at a standstill. Forgive me! I am brainstorming some ideas, and if anyone wants to do so with me, just send a PM or review! I would love to hear your guy's feedback, and get my creativity and inspiration back on track. xoxo Holding Onto Faith