Because She Died
Dane Soar
Sorry about the forever-long wait, I was waiting on getting the last manuscripts back from my editor, who's really, really busy. This is the second to last chapter.
Since it's been a long time, here's a quick refresh:
Hiei just ran back into Kurama's burning house to get the still unconscious Kurama out.
Part 10
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Hiei had dragged Kurama out into the hallway when the roof fell in, so they were not immediately crushed by the burning rubble. He threw up an arm to protect his face from flying sparks and had to will out the flames on his cloak. It was more of a liability right now than anything else, so he shed it hastily and made then sure Kurama wasn't hurt.
He was still pale, still unconscious, and now somewhat sooty, but not overtly on fire, which was the best he could do right now.
There was a problem though; Hiei had planned to exit by the bedroom window, throwing Kurama out if he had to, but now that wasn't possible. And the part of the hall he was confined to only had the stairs, which he couldn't use, because they were on fire for the most part, and he could set both Kurama and him aflame if he tried it. Cutting or forcing his way through a wall was possible, but too time consuming, considering that at any moment the roof could fall on him.
He was still wracking his brain on how to get out alive when a light shining at the top of the stairs caught his eye. There was someone standing there, glowing. They pointed downward and as Hiei watched the flames bent away from the stairs in a clear path.
Considering the situation, Hiei wasn't about to stand around and ask questions, he hefted the unconscious Kurama and was down the stairs in less than an eye-blink. To his surprise the clear pathway kept going downstairs, all the way to the door. There was glowing light around the edges of the path, someone, some unseen force, was clearly holding the fire back.
Who, exactly, wasn't the problem at the moment. Staying alive was more important.
Hiei burst out of the door, into the clear air, which was strangely cool after the inferno inside. He pulled Kurama away from the fire, briefly relieved to see the kitsune was unhurt by the adventure.
A stroke of luck. For once.
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"Thank you," said Shiori to Botan. "For giving me the chance to help my son."
Botan shrugged. "It really doesn't matter exactly when you come to Spirit World. Lord Koenma didn't say we had to hurry."
Looking back down at the flaming house, Shiori released the fire to do as it wanted. Mothers had power all their own and even if things were slightly more complicated than usual, she loved her son. Regardless of what he was. "I'm ready to go now," she said to the ferry girl.
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Both Yusuke and Kuwabara ran forward to help Hiei get Kurama a safe distance, and once they gathered the recovered Yukina, the group left the house to burn.
Which it did.
To the ground.
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TBC