Not Okay : Duel to the Death
A/N: I'M BACK! Finally! I'm so wired right now, so yeah! I had so much fun in Europe! I don't want to bore you with the details, so if you want the details, tell me in a review or a private message! But... I will tell you one thing... ENGLISH TEENAGERS THINK AMERICAN ACCENTS ARE CUTE!! Go U.S.! Read and Review!
I
Kurama watched as Amiri summoned a sword just in time to defend himself from the raging half fire half ice demon. The fox, in his entire lifetime, had never seen such a passionate demon as Hiei was now.
His eyes were smoldering with a primitive rage. He didn't make a noise as he cut through the air with his katana. The fox's green eyes traveled to Botan. The ferry girl that he loved like a sister.
The sight of her made his blood boil.
Her pink eyes were settled on Hiei, and relief and weariness weighted them down. Her light blue hair was down. The white dress that she was wearing was shifting as her body would sway. But that was forgotten when Kurama saw the blood on her lips.
The bottom half of her face was crimson. Such an innocent girl, an entity, tainted with blood. It was a powerful image. It took the kitsune's breath away.
She never looked at the Rekai Tentei.
Yusuke yelled her name.
Kuwabara waved his arms.
Only Kurama stayed still.
She never let her eyes fall off of Hiei. Her savior. Her hope.
The Forbidden Child landed a thin slice down Amiri's face. The shape-shifter stumbled back, clutching his cheek. His golden eyes became ensnared in the crimson orbs of Hiei Jaganshi. Hiei didn't smile. His face was cold as ice.
"You are going to die here." Hiei began to move again, giving it his all. He was getting too close to Amiri. "Right here." Hiei's eyes never left Amiri's. "Right now."
Amiri shivered, despite the thick and heated air.
"Keep dreaming."
With that defiant, curt statement, Amiri transformed.
II
Botan's heart was pumping so hard she thought it was going to burst. Her and throat were dry. Her wrists hurt because of the shackles.
Hiei! You can do it!
Her toes brushed against the sharp stone. In the back of her mind, she heard Yusuke's voice. She couldn't bring herself to look away from the battle. All of her senses were on overload.
The coppery taste of blood in her mouth.
Sharp rocks that cut her feet. The sweat sticking to her skin and making the dress cling to her.
The smell of burning rock and the tips of her hair.
Hiei's katana that rang in the air.
The light that fell on everything in such a sinister way.
Like I said, her heart almost burst.
"Hiei..." Her voice was so hoarse that it wasn't audible. "You can..."
Her pink eyes fluttered.
You are my black knight.
III
Hiei felt his blood boil as Botan appeared before him. Only this time it was different.
Her blue hair was up in a messy bun. Her pink eyes were lethal. In her mouth was a small dagger. She was wearing a blue satin kimono that ended above her knees.
Her lips curled. Amiri's teeth were revealed behind them.
"Try and touch me now. I dare you." He stepped backwards, wiggling his hips slightly, beckoning him with his finger. "Come and get me."
He took the dagger from his mouth and threw it at the fire demon. Hiei dodged it easily. He started to move forward when he felt a sting on his side. His eyes caught the dagger just in time. It flew back to the fake Botan's slender hand. He saw a thin string shining in the darkness.
"Hn."
Amiri smirked as Botan. He made her voice low and breathy. Seductive.
"It's a neat little trick, isn't it?" He ran the dagger over his lips, licking the blood off of them. "It's hard to master, but once you've got it down," Amiri cut along Botan's kimono. "it's really a blast."
Hiei disappeared. Amiri had just enough time to look up with a startled look on his face before he was sailing through the air. His right cheek was swelling and as he landed on the ground, Hiei was already on top of him, katana pressed up to his neck.
The demon could only breathe, eyes wide as he realized that this really was the end. He wasn't going to worm himself out of this one. Amiri slashed wildly at Hiei's chest, leaving a gash in his wake.
"Let's see how you recover from this!"
In a pulse of light, Amiri became Hiei. The Koorime stared at the shape-shifter. Kurama, Yusuke, and Kuwabara raced towards them, ready to help. Amiri held out his hand, and all three of them froze.
Hiei whirled around to see his friends engulfed in a purple light. His blood red eyes widened with horror as his friends slowly began to fade away, like dust in the wind. The fire demon rushed forward and cut the back of Amiri's ankles. Breaking the Achilles tendons. Hiei watched himself fall, screaming in pain.
"What did you do to them?" Hiei's voice was low and loud. So sharp that it could cut through a diamond. Amiri was trying to grab at his legs. "Tell me." All the shape-shifter could do was spit in frustration and rage. "NOW!"
Hiei stepped on Amiri's hand, watching himself writhe in agony.
"T-they're u-u-up on the s-surface." He coughed up blood. His lips pulled back, revealing fangs. "I-I might be d-d-down... but i-it's not o-o-over." He closed his eyes and laughed. "Y-you are f-f-finished."
Hiei's eyes narrowed. In one swift, catlike move, his katana was sticking through Amiri, his heart pulsing and fading fast around the blade.
The Koorime breathed a little bit more easily, though the sight of himself dying was a bit unnerving. This part is over. Magma jumped up, eating at some rock. What awaits me is what scares me.
IV
Botan's heart stopped. Her eyes were frozen on the beautiful macabre scene before her.
Hiei Jaganshi had plunged his katana through the Other Hiei's chest. His eyes were cold and narrow as he watched his own heart stop beating on the end of his sword. The Other Hiei's eyes were wide open with shock and pain, blood dripping from his open mouth. His fangs were shimmering with saliva. He was on his knees, his back slouched with defeat. Hiei finally pulled his katana out, the Other Hiei's body jerking before falling to the floor, dead.
"H-Hiei..."
Pink eyes leaked tears. She watched as Hiei sheathed his sword, his eyes still on himself. His dead self. Blood was on his hands. Some was leaking out from under his cloak. The ferry girl struggled against her shackles when his head turned and his eyes found hers.
"Is that you...?"
The Koorime, the Forbidden Child, began to take stiff, shaky steps towards Botan. The ferry girl stopped moving, her body swaying above the rock. Her lips were parted as he continued to get closer and closer to her.
"Please... just tell me..."
Hiei finally stepped on the ledge where Botan was being held. His eyes looked like his. His movements seemed like the fire demon that she knew. Her pink eyes watched him as he neared her. He was so close.
"Please..."
If he wasn't Hiei... Botan didn't know what she was going to do. His hands touched her arms. He frowned when he felt her trembling. He didn't say anything as he swiftly cut her chains, his katana whispering softly.
He caught her, easing her down as she slid to the ground. The ferry girl bit her lower lip as the two companions stared at each other. Is he going to say something? Do something? Hiei took off his white scarf. With his bandaged hand, he wiped the blood off of Botan's mouth. He tried to ignore her wide eyes.
"Hiei...?"
Still, he said nothing. Tears were still slowly falling. Botan didn't move as he touched the side of her face. His red eyes never broke contact with hers. Their faces were getting closer. His nose brushed hers.
Is he going to–
Her thoughts and doubts vanished when his lips pressed themselves against hers. Her eyes fluttered shut as she returned his kiss.
My knight is back.
V
Malik removed his cloak. His long black hair cascaded down as he felt Amiri's energy fade and die. The demon felt nothing at the death of his follower. He was just a pawn anyway. Malik let his eyes travel to the doorway.
He was thrilled.
He had only a short amount of time left. Normally, this wouldn't have taken so long. But... Hiei seemed to be worthy of his time. A very nice specimen. Malik closed his eyes as he pictured just how this was going to end.
Botan... the purest soul in the three worlds... was going to die. Her pink eyes wide and her mouth open. The white dressed stained. Tears frozen forever in her eyes.
Hiei... death wouldn't be the right terminology for what was going to happen to him. Hiei was going to be used as something great. His eyes would only be dim for a matter of seconds. Then they would spark with a new life. Literally. A new life.
It was like a fast waltz. Everything would blur together, the colors blending and spiraling into one dizzying swirl. The music would be loud, the string instruments piercing and sharp. And suddenly everything would stop. The women's faces flushed. The men panting. But everything would be set right again.
That was what Malik was going to do.
Set things right.
VI
Kurama shivered. He pushed himself up. His head was pounding as he found Yusuke and Kuwabara sprawled on the ground. Where are we? He was sweating even through he was frigid. Where's Hiei? Hell's Mouth?
Kuwabara snorted and suddenly jerked up. His eyes narrowed and his orange hair was a mess.
"Kurama! Where's Hiei?"
The kitsune moved his fingers and toes. Pins and needles.
"He's still in Hell's Mouth."
The nigen's hand pulled at his face, a cold sweat beading on his forehead.
"No... no..."
Kurama took a few deep breaths of the cold air.
"What? What's so bad about that?"
Besides the fact that he has a high chance of dying.
"He's going to... to... find out... about his... blood."
Kurama raised a red eyebrow.
"His blood?" It was chilling, and not because of the air. "What do you mean?"
Kuwabara never answered him. His eyes were just wide and full of terror.
VII
Botan was being held up by Hiei. He nibbled on her bottom lip, gently.
"It was my fault..."
The ferry girl laughed. It was half sob.
"No it wasn't!" She was speaking against his lips. "I knew... I knew deep down that you would come for me..."
Hiei's arms tightened around her.
"You'll never be alone again."
Those words made goose-bumps rise on Botan's arms. Her eyes closed. His voice wasn't changing. He wasn't choking up. But... that didn't matter. Not to the ferry girl. What mattered were his words.
She moved and kissed his forehead.
"It's... it's good to have you back."
Hiei released her, watching with self-loathing as she winced from her legs. Then he saw her eyes travel, widening with growing fear. He turned around to see a man. The demon was well built, his chest rippled with muscles. Dark red tattoos were on his stomach and arms. His hair touched the back of his knees.
"Hello, Hiei."
The Koorime felt a spine shattering jolt slam into his body. His blood froze. His face paled as the demon, who was taller and heavier than he was, began to step towards him. Botan slid to the ground, the pain in her legs and the sheer terror over riding her ability to stand.
"You should be happier to see me."
His voice was low. As he came closer, Hiei drew his katana, but he was slow. He couldn't help but stare. His tattoos... they struck a chord with him. Something was familiar about this man, but Hiei knew that he had never met him in his entire life. But still...
"Hiei, don't you know who I am?"
Parts of his body were rotting. It made Hiei's nose wrinkle and Botan put her hands over her nose and mouth. His skin was green in some places with decay. The really bad bits were grey and darkening to black.
Botan coughed.
"Hiei... I don't think you should..."
Hiei held up his hand, not liking the way Malik was looking at Botan. The Koorime moved so he was in front of the ferry girl. The top ferry girl of all Rekai. Her eyes drifted shut as her breathing began to get deeper, her hands rubbing her legs.
"Who the hell are you?"
The demon smirked. His tattoos glowed, pulsing. The temperature spiked upwards. Hiei's body shuddered because of the temperature. Out of the corner of his blood red eyes, he saw the ferry girl swoon and fall onto the hard rock, eyes closed.
"The name is Malik, but that is not really the important part of who I am to you."
Hiei's skin was crawling. His stomach was vibrating. Something about this Malik was... off. Hiei felt this pull, deep inside of him. Like an invisible string at the very start of his belly button. Ice cold hands were squeezing his heart. His teeth were clenched together tightly.
"What are you to me?"
VIII
Hina shivered in the ground air. It wasn't cold, like the winds on the Island of the Koorime. It was warm, but it still gave her goose-bumps.
Her heart was pounding like a caught rabbit's. Hina knew she was doing something terrible. Forbidden. Her entire body was trembling in the warm air. She was wrapped in a robe as she walked the streets of Makai. She didn't plan on talking to anyone. The demons scared her. The males especially.
So... so... barbaric. Well, that was a bit of a cruel word. It was, however, the first word that came to her mind.
Things seemed so simple compared to the island. If they were hungry, they ate. If they were tired, they slept. If they were lusting... they...
Like she said, things were simple.
She went into a tavern, making sure to keep her hood up. The race of the Koorime had a very special look to them, and Hina didn't want anyone realizing just who she was. She ordered some kind of rare extract from a fruit. She had never had it before.
As she sipped her drink, a man sat down next to her. He too, was in a robe. She knew it was a man by his long and dangerous claws. Markings were on his arms. She tried not to stare... but she couldn't help it.
"Do you want to know what they mean?"
She jumped at his voice. She let out a squeak of embarrassment. Her hazel eyes were enwrapped in his. She could only see his eyes.
"I-I d-d-didn't m-mean to s-s-stare... I-I'm s-sorry.."
The man waved his hand, the long sleeve of his robe billowing. She heard a sigh exit his mouth, and it was like a half of a laugh.
"Don't be." He let out a deep chuckle. "I've dealt with many rude remarks, believe me."
Hina allowed her shoulders to lower and her lips to curl.
"Okay. Thanks." She sipped her drink. "What do they mean?"
He waved his fingers in the air, and a drink was given to him. He sipped it. She still couldn't see his face. She didn't mind. Maybe there was a reason that he was hidden. He could be ugly. Deformed. Or maybe he was like her. Hiding.
"This one, right here, it means The Flame." He pushed the sleeve upwards. "There are bumps, engraved along the side. It's in the Ancient Tongue of Makai." He held the sleeve up. "Go ahead, feel it."
Such an invitation. Hina was shaking. She was nervous. Touching a real live demon. An unspeakable act. Or, more specifically, a Koorime blessing another with its touch. Hina bit her lip as she allowed her slender hand to be shown. Her fingers moved slowly and shakily to his arm.
They grazed his skin. She was still trembling like a leaf, and the man, the demon, touched her hand. He moved her fingers up and down the dark mark.
"And this one is Eternal." He moved to another stripe. "And this one, Darkness." He let her hand go, and she pulled away, but not before lingering a little longer. "They're ugly, I know..."
"No!" She put a hand over her mouth. "I mean... it's just that I've never seen anything like them before." She allowed herself to smile. "They're unique."
"Unique." He took a swig of his drink. "That's new." There was a silence. "You're not from around here, are you?"
Hina shook her head, her face still hidden by her hood.
"No."
The demon smirked. She could tell by his voice.
"You're not a nigen. You would have died before you even neared the bar." He tilted his head, as if trying to get a good look at her. Hina immediately let the hood slide farther down her face, hiding her completely. "And you can't be a spirit from Rekai." He had a tone to his voice, like he was wrinkling his nose. "They have this weird air to them."
He was quiet for a while.
"What kind of demon are you?"
Hina's shoulders rose again.
"I don't know."
"Yes you do."
Hina got up, leaving her drink unfinished.
"I should go."
She began to move quickly. The man stood up and grabbed her hand. It wasn't too tight, but enough for her to stop.
"You've never talked to another demon before, have you?"
"Let me go, please."
"You've never been in Makai, have you?"
Hina had tears of fear in her eyes.
"Please, just let me go!"
"Tell me, don't you ever get alone on that Island?"
The Koorime flushed and looked around, her heart pounding.
"Sh!"
"Is that why you came down? To talk to someone? To experience life a little?"
Hina yanked her hand away from the demon's.
"Leave me alone!"
She burst out of the bar, robe billowing behind her. She didn't even hear the door open behind her. She felt arms encircle her waist.
"I understand..." She tried to protest, but his heat... it was so alluring. "I know how you feel." He began to move her hood down. "A Koorime... I've only heard of them. I've never seen one."
His lips whispered against her neck.
"I... I can't... I'm not allowed."
He smiled against her neck.
"You're not allowed off of the Island either." He turned her around, his own hood down. His eyes gazed over her face. "It's true." He touched her cheek. "Koorime really are breathtakingly beautiful."
Hina blushed and looked down.
"Stop."
"No." He finally kissed her. Hina felt warmth flood her body for the first time. "Just... just live a little." He pulled back just to lead her down an alleyway. To a complex of buildings. "I'll show you things that your Island will never see."
Hina was losing herself. Fast.
"You will?"
He opened a door, where the only thing was a bed and a small closet. He took off his robe, revealing his bare chest and fighting pants. On his stomach were more tattoos. Hina kept her robe on as the demon took her hands and ran them over the tattoos.
"Divine Light." Another tattoo. "Forbidden." Her fingers traced the intricate lines. "Loyalty."
He kissed her again, slowly enticing her. In order to get a Koorime to co-operate, he was going to have to be patient. Hina couldn't help but moan softly. He slowly unclasped her robe. Her voice was breathy as she spoke against the demon's lips.
"W-what is y-y-your name?"
The demon began to untie her shirt. He was planting burning kisses down her neck. He was whispering something in a language she didn't understand. Hina could only remember slowly lowering herself to the bed, his nimble fingers doing away with her shirt. He finally answered her question as they began to lose themselves in each other.
"My name..." He was hovering over her, her lips numb and her cheeks bright red. Her eyes were glazed over and her hair was disheveled, but she was still all ears. "My name is Malik."
IX
Hiei's red eyes widened as Malik brushed his raven locks out of his eyes. The Forbidden Child was cast into a never-ending abyss when he saw Malik's bright red eyes and sharp fangs.
"Hiei," His arms were open, as if inviting him for a hug. "I'm your Father."
X
A/N: Oof. Well, I'm back, and I hope this was an explosive way to come back to the Fanfiction world. Please, PLEASE review. Did you like Hiei's mother's past? Hina is her actual name (thanks to Wikipedia). Hiei's father has no name (thank God). So, yeah. Hope you liked the twist. Review please!
-mia