Song choice: Seek and Destroy (Bassnectar Remix)


Chapter Seven: Ainmhidh (Beast of Burden)

"She's kinda cute when she sleeps," Yusuke said, leaning over Abhaya as she slept underneath the tree where Hiei left her.

Hiei grunted, glaring halfheartedly at the woman below him. "If you find a blood soaked brat cute I don't think there is any help for you."

Hiei turned his heal and stalked off. Botan leaned down and watched as Abhaya's baby dragon curled into her lap and slept. "Just what did Hiei see?" She said, touching a curl that brushed Abhaya's cheek.

"Beat's me. The shrimp won't talk about it. He just sat up and said that she wasn't going to hurt us," Kuwabara said.

"Perhaps Hiei is respecting her privacy," Kurama said, folding his arms over his chest.

"Oh, but I want to know what he saw!" Botan pouted.

Yusuke smiled down at Abhaya. "I guess we will have to wait until morning to ask her."


Elias jolted awake by the sound of the phonograph downstairs playing Norwegian wood by the Beatles. He groaned, rolling his eyes. Just as he flopped back down onto the feather bed in the room Abhaya and him shared; Abhaya poked her head into the doorway. Her blue eyes were wild as she grinned maliciously at her apprentice. "Don't you have something better to do this fecking early than pester me?" He growled, his accent slipping out.

Abhaya made a sour face and leaned into the doorframe. "What? You don't want to spar with me this morning?"

"No," He gritted his teeth.

"I'll just turn the music up louder then."

Abhaya trotted down the stairs, her eyes meeting the gaze of the early golden sun climbing up the side of the mountain. A grin lined her face as she bounced into the kitchen. None of her guests were awake yet and she was ever thankful. It was seven in the morning and she had been up since four.

When she had awoken, she still sat underneath the tree where Hiei had left her. She immediately got up, scooping up the sleeping dragon in her lap, and went to take a bath. The dragon was as awake as she was now, following her around as she did her morning chores.

"Elias! Get your happy ass up!" She called up the stairs.

She turned the music up louder, I am the Walrus now playing. Abhaya sang along with it, dancing around the kitchen with a wide, content smile on her face. Botan slept in the spare room in the cabin, while the others slept outside in tents. Abhaya didn't care if she woke them up.

Elias lumbered down the stairs in his human form, a tired glare piercing Abhaya's. She folded her arms over her chest, smirking at her apprentice. "Why do we have to do this every morning?"

Abhaya cocked an eyebrow. "Those who rise early grow in power."

"That might be true for mages but I'm a demon. Isn't it different?"

Abhaya grinned, her eyes narrowing. "All in good time, young pup."

Elias groaned and followed his master as she walked out the door of the cabin onto the lawn. She stretched her arms over head, her muscles flexing underneath her scarred skin. She wore a black sports bra with baggy navy pants. The pants were loose and her hair was down over her back. "Are you gonna tie up your hair?" Elias said, watching as Abhaya folded her arms over her chest.

"I will tie it up when you can keep up with me."

Elias growled. He asked her the same thing every morning, yet he knew that was one of the highest compliments she could give to someone. Elias lunged, his fist nearly making contact with Abhaya's face. She dodged it easily with a giggle. He threw numerous punches and kicks at her, yet he never once made contact with her.

Botan picked up the baby dragon that sat watching Abhaya and Elias fight on the porch of the cabin. She then sat down on the stairs to watch them as well. "Wow, I didn't realize how fast Abhaya is," She said, barely able to see Abhaya as she dodged Elias's attacks.

Abhaya grabbed Elias's fist before he could make contact with her face and flipped him over her back. He grunted as he hit the ground. Abhaya leaned over him with a smile. "A few notes. Your body isn't low enough, your punches need more energy thrusted into them. Then there is the fact that you aren't putting your body into your attacks. Don't be afraid to hurt me Elias. I'm not weak and you won't learn if you don't give me your all."

Abhaya pulled him up from the ground, feeling a few eyes on her back. "Do you want to try this again?" She said, smiling at him.

He gave a curt nod, sinking low toward the ground. "Remember that you are not separate from everything that is around you. The universe is inside you; use it."

Elias smiled, summoning the energy inside of him to create a sword of stone from the dirt around him. Abhaya grinned, her eyes glistening with pride. Elias lunged at her once more, rose the blade of her knife up to stop his blade. She then summoned her fire, a brilliant orange and white flame extending into her own sword.

Hiei watched with curiosity as the mage and her apprentice fought. He lounged in one of her oak trees, his eyes following Abhaya's every movement. 'She's going easy on him. She's even hindering her own speed to make him feel like he is making progress. How pointless,' He thought, glaring at the woman. Every time their swords clashed sparks flew from Abhaya's. She kept a smirk on her face, her eyes following Elias's every movement. Hiei did notice that Elias was improving the more they sparred with the swords however. He kept his body low just as Abhaya had instructed, yet it was futile. Elias always ended on the ground.

Elias sat there heaving in the grass, Abhaya's sword held inches from his face. Her face was stoic, staring into Elias's without a sign of wavering. She then grinned, her sword turning to smoke in the wind. "You're improving," She stated with pride swelling in her eyes.

She held out a hand to him and pulled him up from the ground once more. Elias glared at the ground. "It doesn't feel like it."

Abhaya's smile dropped and she folded her arms over her chest. "I have been taking it easy on you. However, I increase the amount of speed and energy I use every morning. You are improving; I just don't want to get too caught up in the fight. You know that."

Elias did not meet her eyes.

Abhaya gritted her teeth together and ran a hand through her hair in frustration. "Elias look at me."

He didn't meet her eyes.

"Elias. Look. At. Me," Abhaya growled, her eyes turning dark.

They instantly lightened when Elias met her gaze. "If you can beat me, you can get up whenever you want. I will wear my hair up and you can pick what we listen to when we spar."

Elias's eyes lightened up. "Seriously?"

Abhaya grinned and gave a curt nod. "Better start practicing more, kiddo."

"Can we spar more today?"

Abhaya shook her head. "You need to eat and start working on your magick."

Elias groaned. "Don't tell me you want me to work on more protection magick."

Abhaya laughed and shook her head. "Nope, today I want you to work on magical implants. Not actual operation, but learning about them."

"Implants?"

Abhaya nodded. "Hiei has what is considered a magical implant. The jagan implant was originally created by a magus who was trying to give humans an advantage among the demons. This was a time when demons roamed the human world and the Fae still resided in the demon world. He wanted to keep it from getting into the demons hands. Obviously it didn't work," Abhaya said giggling.

"So it was originally crafted for humans?" Elias said.

"Yes. The jagan or evil eye was supposed to give normal humans the power to rival the demons."

Hiei suddenly appeared before Abhaya. He sized her up. "Hn, humans can't use the power of the jagan. They're too fragile."

Abhaya crossed her arms over her chest, her mouth puckering with irritation. "Wrong. It was originally crafted for humans. If done correctly on a human, their spirit power nearly grows three fold. However, with demon bodies the eye tries to reject the body and nearly all the energy in the body is drained. The demon is then defenseless and killed unless the demon can adapt and grow into what they once were. You were probably one out of two hundred that rose back to their original status and prowess. You are a rarity."

Hiei scoffed, his eyes narrowing at the woman. "What would you know of jagan eyes? You have never had one implanted into you and you have never given one to another."

"You right. Nonetheless, my father kept records of inventions other mages have created over the centuries. I try to know as much as I can; in other words. I know quite a bit."

Abhaya rolled her eyes over to Elias who was cautiously watching the two. "Go ahead inside and eat up. You may take a bath if you wish as well."

Elias nodded, glancing at Hiei once more before turning and heading into the cabin. Botan still sat on the steps of the porch, yet now the baby dragon was curled into her lap, sleeping soundly. Abhaya's voice was low as she spoke once more. "You can believe whatever you want. I just know what I've read. Take it or leave it; I don't care."

Abhaya turned to head toward the cabin, only for Hiei to grab her wrist. He didn't hold back his strength either. Abhaya turned to him, not giving him the satisfaction of a flinch. "What do you want?" She snarled, her eyes fixed on his.

"Fight me."

Abhaya's face went blank and then it twisted in confusion. "Heh. No. Hell no."

She ripped her wrist from his hand, feeling it start to bruise. Abhaya started to the cabin once more. "You're afraid."

A growl rumbled out from Abhaya's chest as she slowly turned around. She smiled cruelly at the demon. "Oh? And how am I afraid?"

Hiei grinned, triumph filling him as he pressed her buttons. "You're afraid that you'll enjoy it too much."

Hiei knew that he was right. She enjoyed fighting more than anything else and that was why she suppressed it so much. Abhaya let out a cruel laugh and then switched it off. "Yes, because pounding your annoying ass into the ground would be so much fun. No thank you. I have better things to occupy my time with."

"Like what? Trying to atone for all of the lives you've taken? Trying to forget your parent's broken bodies lying over your sister's floor? Or maybe you want to forget the way your sister looks at you now? Hm? Oh what did she call you?"

"Don't say it," Abhaya whispered.

"Uraind."

Abhaya lunged for him, the bells around her ankles chiming uncontrollably. Hiei blocked her fist, watching as her eyes turned black and her lips peeled back to show an animalistic snarl. Purple and orange fire erupted over her back and arms, yet as soon as he tried to attack her; she was gone.

Abhaya jumped above him, swinging her leg down on his left shoulder. She popped his arm out of place, watching as he hissed and jumped away from her. "What Hiei?! I thought you wanted to fight me?!" She screamed, her body shaking with fury.

Flames licked around Abhaya, burning the ground around her. Hiei popped his dislocated shoulder back into place and straightened up. He smirked, his eyes swimming with amusement. "A bit hasty aren't you, woman? Don't think you've won the fight because you landed one attack on me."

Abhaya scoffed, her eyes not moving from his. "You're such a fucking prick."

Hiei ran to her throwing a chain of punches at her. She blocked every one of them and then ran. Hiei caught up with her, catching her kicks and punches as she threw them. A few landed on his face and torso. He landed a good solid punch on her cheek bone and Abhaya flew back, slamming into one of her oak trees.

When she rose from the ground, her mouth bled and her jaw was hard. However, just when Hiei thought that she was going to lunge at him once more, Abhaya smirked. Her eyes swam with mirth as she shoved her hand in her pocket. Hiei glared at the woman. "What are you doing?"

Abhaya said nothing as she pulled out a black hair tie and put it on her wrist. She then lifted her hands up to her hair and combed it flat over her scalp. She closed her eyes as she tied her hair high into a pony tail. When she opened her eyes, an electric purple met Hiei's crimson eyes. "Congrats. You've actually impressed me."

Hiei scoffed. "You may be impressed by me but I am still convinced otherwise about you. Don't waste my time."

Abhaya shrugged. "What do you want to see?"

Hiei scoffed and smirked. "The tiger."

Abhaya's eyes widened a little and she sneered, wolfishly. "Too bad that isn't possible for me to do."

"Why's that?"

"Takes too much power to harness it. Due to my seals, that magick is not accessible for me."

"And if you tried?"

Abhaya's eyes grew dark. "Let's not go there."

Hiei grunted and folded his arms over his chest. "Tell me, what would happen if you removed the seals from your legs?"

"It would probably be worse pain than when I put them on. I would probably be so overwhelmed with the amount of energy that would serge though me that I would faint. I most likely would be incapacitated for at least two days, not to mention it took me a month to be able to walk properly after that. It would be similar indeed."

"You didn't have a healer back then to help with the pain."

Abhaya glared at Hiei. "Just what are you suggesting?"

That was when an arm wrapped around Abhaya's waist and she was picked up. She let out a little squeak as Yusuke gave her a noogy. She snarled and tried jerking out of his grasp, only for Kuwabara to come up behind him, grinning. "Let. Go," She growled, glaring at him.

Kurama snickered, trying to cover it behind a closed fist. Yusuke rubbed his knuckles harder over Abhaya's scalp. Abhaya watched Hiei smirk with amusement. She hated him in that moment. "Shouldn't have woke us up," Yusuke said, grinning.

Yusuke then sat her down on the grass. She glared up at him, her brow furrowed with irritation. "Ok. The next person that man handles me is gonna get kicked it the balls, kapish?" She growled with a huff.

Yusuke started laughing and leaned down over her small frame. "You sure you can reach kiddo?"

Abhaya scoffed. "Oh ha ha. You're so fucking funny."

Yusuke stepped back with fake appalment. "That mouth! Never in my day did children speak to their elders in such a manner!"

"I'm two years older than you, dipshit."

"Sure could have fooled me."

Abhaya rolled her eyes. "Do you want to eat today?"

A pause of silence came as her words settled. Then booming laughter filled the area. Kuwabara and Yusuke were clutching their sides laughing. Kurama grinned at her threat; Hiei only scowled.

"I believe that she has one that argument," Kurama said.


Everyone watched Abhaya cook with curiosity as she used her energy to stir the boiling rice. The sunny side up eggs sizzled in the pan as she took a knife to large Asian pears, peeling them with precision. She sat plates of food before them and nodded to them. "I'm sorry that this is a humble meal, nonetheless, please. Eat your fill."

She then took a plate of food up to Elias who was studying in their room. Hiei watched her as she climbed the stairs, then he turned to the food in front of him. He took the chopsticks he was provided and started to eat.

When Abhaya came down stairs, she wore a similar out fit to when they had met her yesterday. Her hair was in a bun at the nap of her neck, sunglasses lined her eyes, a leather jacket was over a black tank top and she wore jeans that hugged her curves. In one of her hands was her leather gloves and in the other were combat boots. Her medicine pack was on her back as she sat down on the steps of the porch. Yusuke got up from where he sat. "Hey, where are you going?"

Abhaya didn't look at him as she spoke, she simply tugged the combat boots over her feet and tied them. "Down the mountain. I have a patient who wanted to see me today."

"So, you're going down to the village?"

Abhaya nodded, holding out her hand to the baby dragon who sat by her side. It climbed up her arm and wrapped itself around her neck, settling around the collar of her leather jacket. "Shouldn't someone go with you? You are being targeted," Yusuke said.

"Uh, Urameshi, I'm pretty sure she can handle herself," Kuwabara said.

Hiei scoffed. "She's too weak to handle herself, let alone a high ranked demon."

Abhaya glared at Hiei behind her sunglasses, but said nothing. "Is that true Abhaya?" Kurama said, looking down at her.

"Yes and no. The highest class I can take on is about mid B class, but that is still pushing it."

"And if the seals were removed?" Kurama inquired.

"I could take on an A class without any problems."

"Could you take on another mage?"

"Most likely, but it would take some effort."

Kurama thought a moment. "So my hypothesis was correct then. I believe Hiei and I have come to the same conclusion, yes?"

Hiei smirked, feeling Abhaya's confusion. "Yes. She's too weak to be of any use to us with the seals on her."

Abhaya scoffed, knowing that she backed herself into a hole that she couldn't crawl up from. "We will speak of this later. I really must leave soon."

Botan spoke up. "I could go with her."

Hiei scoffed. "Yes, two woman who can't defend themselves accompanying each other. That sounds like a good way to get killed."

Abhaya growled at Hiei. "Would you stop being such a stuck up prick? Iosa Criost! You drive me bat shit crazy."

She let out a heavy sigh. "Besides, Tine Beag, since when do you care? I've fought off demons my whole life. I was fine the other times and I will be fine now."

Abhaya put the leather gloves over her hands and adjusted the pack on her back as she stood. "Whoever is coming with me better hurry the hell up. I don't have all day."

Kurama stepped forward. "I will go with her."

Abhaya smiled and started to walk into the woods. Kurama followed behind her, watching her every move. Abhaya stopped as she came to a small brook. "Be careful crossing this brook. The stone path gets really slick."

Kurama gave a polite smile. "Thank you."

Abhaya nodded, giving a genuine smile. Kurama was cautious as he crossed the brook behind Abhaya. She waited for him to cross before she started moving again. About fifteen minutes into their hike, he caught glimpse of a small shack. The roof of the shack was covered thickly with moss and there was a small window letting in light from the canopy of trees. A small child sat next to the door of the shack and she stood as soon as she saw Abhaya. "Good morning Lady Abhaya," The child said.

Kurama instantly realized that it was a kitsune* child. Abhaya smiled down to the child. "Good morning Suzume. Please, you know better than to call me that. Just Abhaya."

Suzume blushed. "No, I couldn't! It's too much of an honor to be near an angel like you."

Abhaya blushed and grinned. "I'm hardly an angel. Are you hungry? I brought you some inarizushi and tea."

Abhaya took off her pack and pulled out a leaf wrapped meal with a thermos of tea. The child took it, her eyes swimming with delight. She then bowed lowly to Abhaya. "Thank you so much!"

Abhaya scoffed playfully. "Don't be so formal. I just wanted to thank you for looking after my bike. How's your dad?"

"He is well, thanks to you."

Abhaya then realized that she needed to introduce Kurama. "Suzume? This is Kurama, he is visiting me right now."

Suzume bowed to Kurama. "A pleasure to meet you, Kurama- San."

Kurama bowed back. "The pleasure is mine Suzume- san."

Abhaya ruffled Suzume's hair, red fox ears poking out from the child's dark hair as she did so. Suzume did not put her tail and ears back as she looked up at Abhaya. "We should be back in a few hours. Thank you again, Suzume."

She bowed once more and this time Abhaya have a small bow. Kurama watched as she opened the sliding door to the shack and brought out a small black motorcycle. The side said Triumph in English and then Kurama noticed something wrong with the bike. There was no motor.

Abhaya instantly noticed his suspicion as she mounted the bike. "I rewired it so it doesn't have a conventional motor."

"Conventional?"

Abhaya nodded. "There is a small generator that takes energy rather than fuel. The higher the power, the faster it runs. Only people who can manipulate their energy can use it, besides it's better for the environment."

"Does it deplete energy?"

Abhaya shook her head. "It only utilizes it. When the riders dismount, the energy goes back to the riders."

"Did you invent that?"

Abhaya grinned. "Yes I did."

She held out a helmet to Kurama who shook his head. "You sure?"

"Yes. Are you planning on wearing one?"

"Nope."


Kurama found himself intrigued as she mounted the motorcycle. Though she was small, her frame was well defined and muscular. The bike roared to life as she touched a crystal that acted like a key to a strange groove. Abhaya then turned to him and patted on the seat behind her. "There is a strap on the seat you can hang onto, or you can grab my waist. Whichever you are comfortable with."

Kurama gave a polite, curt nod and mounted the bike on the seat behind her. He grabbed the strap behind her and sat his feet in the passenger rests. The bike vibrated every inch of him and she called behind him. "Don't lean into the curves, just sit straight up. You ready?"

"Yes."

Abhaya grinned and gave a thumbs up. The bike then moved forward and they preceded down the mountain. A canopy of trees swirled around them as they went down the mountain, yet Kurama couldn't help notice the spirits and forest dwelling creatures coming out of the forest to catch a glimpse of Abhaya. She nodded to them as they waved at her.

Kurama instantly tried to contact Hiei. 'What?' He growled into Kurama's head.

'Have you noticed the way the creatures of the forest treat Abhaya?'

'Of course. Why?'

'They came to greet us as we are going down the mountain. They wave and bow to her like she is their Queen. It's strange.'

'Hn. She used to live with the Fae. She did for a whole year after her parents died.'

'Why?'

'They openly accepted her; unlike humans or demons. Yet she didn't speak at all to them.'

'You gathered this from her memories?'

'Yes. Pry her for more information if you want to know. She will tell you the truth.'

Kurama felt Hiei slip out of his mind and he then realized that they were close to the village. "You ok back there?" Abhaya asked, raising her voice above the sound of the pipes.

"Yes!"

"Good! We are almost there."

Intrigue filled Kurama as they came to the first stop light. Abhaya let out a sigh straightening her back and popping it into place. The light then turned green and they took a right onto the street. A few blocks down they took a left, only to pull into the driveway of a small house. The home was small and was surrounded by a vast flower garden. Kurama dismounted the bike as Abhaya turned it off and pocketed the crystal. She then put the kick stand up and dismounted herself.

Abhaya bit off her gloves and shoved them into her pocket. She then went to the front door of the home and knocked on the door; Kurama behind her. A young woman poked her head out of the door and smiled at Abhaya. "Miss Sinclair! Thank you for coming," She said, with a grin.

Abhaya smiled warmly up at the woman. "Please, I was more than happy to. Shuichi? This is Mrs. Tanaka. Mrs. Tanaka; Shuichi Minamino."

Kurama hid his surprise as Abhaya called him by his human name. Kurama bowed to Mrs. Tanaka, realizing that she was with child instantly. She bowed back, clutching her swollen belly. "Please come in; Miss Sinclair, Minamino-san."

Kurama and Abhaya took off their shoes in the doorway and descended into the home. "So, your husband fell?" Abhaya asked as they sat down on a couch.

Mrs. Tanaka nodded stiffly across from them. "Yes, he is resting right now."

Abhaya nodded, setting her pack down onto the floor. She leaned down and opened the pack, rifling through it. "Have you called than Midwife I told you about?"

"Yes, we have a meeting in two days."

Abhaya smiled. "Wonderful. Would you like me to go work on your husband while he is resting?"

"Oh, yes. I will go wake him."

Mrs. Tanaka got up from her chair and went off to their bedroom; leaving Abhaya and Kurama alone together. Kurama spoke lowly, not meeting Abhaya's eyes. "How did you know to call me by my human name?"

Abhaya leaned back into the couch, crossing her legs underneath her. "Yusuke's memories. You told him to call you that around humans. I just figured you would appreciate it more."

"So you picked up information about us all from Yusuke's memories."

Abhaya's face twisted a little as she felt his silent anger swell next to her. "I've made you angry. I'm sorry. You have my word that I will not use any of the information against you, nor anyone else for that matter."

"How do I know you aren't lying?"

"Because I hate lying and I don't go back on my word. I may be a loose cannon but I do have an honor code if that means anything to you."

Kurama met her eyes, his face stoic as he examined hers. There was a numbness to her face as she stared at him, yet her eyes were like knives. Keen and wise, they seemed to see him for what he was. 'Perhaps this is why Hiei acts so violently towards her? Because she always has an all-knowing look upon her face,' He thought. 'Yet. . . There is something about her that I feel like I can trust. It's too soon to fully trust her though. She could easily be our enemy in disguise. It would be unwise to take such a chance.'

"It does mean something. I still do not trust you however."

Abhaya grinned. "I'm glad we feel the same about each other then."


Hello readers! I'm terribly sorry this is a week late, but I have been very busy this week. So, a few notes. Kitsune means fox spirit, it is the technical term of what Kurama is and also Suzume. 'Uraind' is Gaelic for monster. Hiei is picking up Gaelic from Abhaya's memories and 'Iosa Croist' means Jesus Christ. She doesn't know how to say it in Japanese so she says it in Gaelic. I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. It took me awhile (This is twenty pages). I wanted to say thank you for the reviews and favorites and such from everyone who has done so. It makes me want to write more honestly and thank you for it. Have a wonderful day! ~ELA