Warning! Numerous cuss words are used in this chapter, most are of British or Scottish decent. I will put what they mean at the end. Thank you! ~ELA

Song choice: Ruelle~ War of Hearts

Chapter Nine: Loisg Dealrach Oigh (Burn Bright Maiden)

Lightning lit up the early morning sky, jolting Abhaya awake. She looked around the small traditional style room with confusion and a little bit of fear. Her body ached as she got up from the futon. Bandages were wrapped around a great deal of her body and then she remembered. She had fought with Hiei and lost.

Abhaya had never lost a fight in her entire life, yet he had beaten her with not even half of his power. It made her blood boil. She opened the sliding door, poking her head out. She stopped when she met Hiei's crimson glare. He sat guarding her door, his katana resting on his shoulder. Abhaya's sword was across his lap, her eyes narrowed at the sight of it in his custody. "I do believe that is my sword. You mind giving it back?" She said, trying to keep her voice even.

Hiei gave a small snort. "You won't be needing it, woman."

Abhaya's eyes narrowed even more, her jaw turning rigid. "Fine. Where is the bathroom?"

Hiei stood and started to walk down the hallway. "Come," was all he said as he passed Abhaya.

She followed him, glaring at her sword in his left hand. "What kind of sword is this?" Hiei asked, watching Abhaya from the corner of his eye.

"One of my own variation. I modeled it after the Chinese Dao and the Prussian swords."

"The handle. What is it made from?"

"Deer antler. Why so many questions?"

Hiei just nodded to a door. "That is the bathroom."

Abhaya gave a curt nod and went in. She stood there for a moment and then went to the sink. Lavender eyes stared back at her through the mirror. Her hair was down once more yet there were bandages covering her chest and legs. Abhaya wore a loose white button down, one that she knew that she didn't own and a pair of cotton shorts. The skin under her seals were wrapped in bandages, blood staining them. She looked underneath the bandages around her chest and grimaced. A large black bruise had formed in between her breasts.

Abhaya shook her head and splashed cold water over her face, every inch of her body aching in protest. 'Hiei,' she projected, letting his mind seep into hers.

'What?' He growled in the back of her head.

'This is Genkai's home correct? Why have you brought me here and where is Elias?'

A scoff came from behind the door; Abhaya could almost feel him mock her. 'You are no use to us as you are currently. We brought you here so she could take off those seals of yours. Elias is sleeping, as you should be.'

'I rarely sleep. You should know that.'

'Not going to fight with me? I seems you've learned your lesson, woman.'

'I will not fight with you for now; I'm too weak to fight you in this state. Nonetheless, when I am back to full health I want a rematch.'

'Hn. You won't beat me, stupid woman.'

'Think that all you want. I'm still going to try.'

'Try if you wish. You will still lose, umaidh boireannach.'

Abhaya gasped, opening the door to see Hiei glaring down at her with his arms folded over his chest. Her sword was tucked into his belt loop, alongside his own. She paid no attention to them. "You're learning my language?" She whispered, her eyes locked with his.

Mockery flashed over his crimson eyes, yet the rest of his face held no emotion. "Seadh, is there something wrong with that?"

"Chan, sin feir a tha. . . it's almost nice. To speak my native tongue." (No, it's just that…)

Hiei's eyes narrowed as Abhaya averted her gaze from his. "Do you ever miss Scotland?" He asked suddenly.

Abhaya glanced at him and then looked down at her feet. "I do, on occasion. Do you ever miss the Makai?"

Hiei gave a grunt and padded slowly the direction they had come from. The rain roared outside, thunder rumbling in the distance as Abhaya quietly followed Hiei. She let out a small sigh of pleasure, feeling the energy from the storm rake through her. Hiei noticed this and stopped, turning to look at the content mage.

"You can feel the storm," He said, watching her with amusement.

Abhaya shifted, wanting nothing more than to be outside at that moment. "It's not as strong as it used to be. I used to become unbearably happy when it stormed but now, just like the earth, I am limited to the amount of energy I can feel."

Hiei grinned. "More of a reason to take off the seals."

Abhaya's smile faltered, her eyes growing sad. "Perhaps."

Abhaya couldn't help but think of her father as she followed Hiei through the dark halls of Genkai's home. She thought of those days when her father would play the bagpipes for Anoushka and her. How her mother would strum along with her Sitar to old Celtic folk songs and they would dance to the music, the world spinning around them. Perhaps that was the last of her happiness, recalling the days when rain and sun beckoned her to the forest. When her sister still loved her and her parents were still alive.

Hiei stopped and pushed open the sliding door to Abhaya's designated room. Yet he did not move to let her in. "What was that song you were thinking of in your mind?"

Abhaya's eyes snapped up to meet Hiei's, her brow furrowed. "Just a second ago?"

He gave a curt nod.

"The Skye Boat song."

"Why do you associate it with your father?"

Hiei watched as Abhaya's eyes grew pained. "He used to sing it to Anoushka and me when we were children. He would play it on his bagpipes too."

Hiei moved into her room and sat down by the door. Abhaya came in but looked confused. He merely closed the door behind her and nodded for her to sit down on her futon. She shook her head and glared suspiciously to the demon. Hiei simply scoffed. "Sing it."

"Why?"

"Because I said so, Saoibh Bioreannach."

Abahaya growled and glared at the demon, who simply smirked at her. She sat up, feeling his eyes on her and opened the window. Lightning illuminated her face as she calmly stared out into the dark morning.

"Sing me a song of a lass that is gone,

Say could that lass be I?

Merry of soul she sailed on a day,

Over the sea to Skye.

Mull was astem, Rum on the port,

Eigg on the starboard bow:

Glory of youth glowed in his soul,

Where is that glory now?

Sing me a song of a lass that is gone,

Say could that lass be I?

Merry of soul she sailed on a day,

Over the sea to Skye.

Give me again all that was there,

Give me the sun that shone,

Give me the eyes, Give me the soul,

Give me the lad that's gone.

Sing me a song of a lass that is gone,

Say could that lass be I?

Merry of soul she sailed on a day,

Over the sea to Skye.

Billow and breeze, islands and seas,

Mountains of rain and sun,

All that is good, all that is fair,

All that is me is gone.

Sing me a song of a lass that is gone,

Say could that lass be I?

Merry of soul she sailed on a day,

Over the sea to Skye."

Abhaya's voice seemed to hum around Hiei and he found himself in a trance as he listened to her sing. Her voice had a velvet quality to it, one that made something stir with in him. It reminded him of how she had sounded the first time he had heard her voice. The richness of it had permeated through him, settling into his bones with a sense of calm. It was so unfamiliar that he almost made her stop. Yet he couldn't bring himself to do it. Her eyes were heavy with the weight of her past and they did not meet his gaze. He was numb by the time she stopped singing. Hiei watched her with curiosity as she sat her chin on the window sill wearily. The rain still poured down and lightning could be seen flickering in the distance.

"What are you thinking woman?"

"Aren't going to read my mind?"

Hiei growled, watching as Abhaya peered at him over her shoulder. She smirked and turned back to the storm. "I was thinking how much I have missed the storms after the long winter."

"Hn."

"You asked. I gave you my answer."

All of the sudden there came a scratching on the door, one that made both Hiei and Abhaya turn to stare at the door. Hiei opened it, a small white dragon peering in the door. A grin spread over Abhaya's face as the dragon trotted over to her. "Well good morning, sweetie," She cooed as the dragon curled into her bare legs.

The dragon gave a small squeak and nuzzled her hand. Hiei watched stoically as Abhaya turned around and leaned against the window. "What will you name the dragon?"

Abhaya looked up from the dragon and sighed. "I've had a name rolling around in the back of my head but I'm not sure about it yet. Names have power and I really don't wanna mess up her name."

"What do you mean, mage?"

"Abhaya means fearless in Sanskirt, my sister's name means favored one or grace. Names give power to the bearer as well as the one who named the creature. My sister could use other's names against them, to control them. It didn't help that she is also a telepath too, but she never used her gift to control others. She hated it."

Hiei's eyes glimmered with mockery. "That's why you hate it when I'm in your mind."

Abhaya gave a nod, but then her brow scrunched. "Shouldn't you know this by now? You did rifle through my mind."

"Hn."

Abhaya glared at him, irritation welling in her chest. "Nice talk," She started, scooping up the dragon in the crook of her arm and laying it down on the futon. "Glad to know your people skills are so advanced, Tine beag."

She laid down next to the dragon, turning away from him as the dragon curled against her chest. Abhaya watched the lightning flicker in the distance, she counted in her head until a small rubble shook the temple ever so slightly. Even as she was, she could still feel her slight connection to the earth. Hiei did not move from his seat, he only watched the mage with irritation and also a little bit of pride. 'She still has bite even though I had beaten her down a little while ago. How interesting.'

The gray sky was slowly becoming lighter with the morning sun coming up and that was when Hiei finally spoke. "Kurama, you might as well come out. You won't gain any information by simply watching her," Hiei said, his arms folded over his chest.

He didn't look at Kurama as he stepped though the sliding door. "I must disagree. I've learned quite a bit from just watching her."

Abhaya looked over her shoulder and gave a small smile to the fox. "Good morning Kurama."

Kurama returned the smile. "Good morning Abhaya. How are you faring this morning?"

Abhaya shrugged. "I can't complain."

Kurama gave a small nod and turned to Hiei. "I'll relieve you of your post, Hiei."

Hiei said nothing as he left the room, Abhaya's sword still in his custody. Abhaya groaned, glaring at the door. "He still has my sword," She growled.

Kurama gave a small chuckle and sat where Hiei had once been. "That was of Master Genkai's request I'm afraid. I have some questions I would like you to answer."

Abhaya nodded and sat up from the futon, the baby dragon crawling into her lap once more. "What would you like to know?"

"What did you see from Yusuke about me?"

"Well as you know, I know your human name. I saw how you met Yusuke, the forlorn hope and how you were in an alliance with Hiei and Goki. I saw why you used it and how you were willing to sacrifice your life for you mother's," Abhaya paused, giving an understanding smile to the fox. "I saw how you use plants and how devious you are. I bet you are calculating right now what to ask and do. Regardless, I know that you are Yoko Kurama, the bandit fox."

A long pause of silence smothered the room. Abhaya simply watched him, her thumb running over the dragon's head. Kurama then cut the silence, his voice cold and monotone. "What will you do with this information?"

Abhaya sighed, running a hand over her scalp and letting her fingers go through her thick hair. "Nothing. I have no malicious intentions toward you or your family."

"What about anyone at this temple?"

Abhaya shook her head. "Hiei may piss me off, but I do not care to see him dead. The same goes with the rest of your comrades. I have respect for every one of you from Yusuke's memories."

Kurama gave a curt nod and then a small smile. His eyes lost the cold edge to them. "Have I caused a stir because I am here?" Abhaya asked, her eyes void of emotion.

"Yes and no. Yusuke spoke highly of you, as did Botan and Elias. Keiko and Yukina haven't made a decision because you were not awake when we brought you. Genkai is skeptical of you, as is Hiei. However, everyone is curious about you."

"And where do you fall in all of this?"

"I have yet to form an opinion of you. Kuwabara is the same, however, it is more the fact that he feels a great amount of energy in you that worries him. He thinks you are a good person, he is just…"

"Skeptical. I understand. You all have every right to be."

Kurama smiled once more and stood. He walked to Abhaya and offered his hand to her. Abhaya's eyes grew wide and she held her hands defensively to her chest. "You don't trust me though, why?"

"Because if we are to work with one another then we need to trust each other."

Abhaya sighed and took his hand, her eyes turning a deep purple as they began to see his past. A minute or two went by with Abhaya reading his memories and then she breathed, her eyes seeing reality once more. Her chest heaved and she looked tired at she looked up at Kurama's eyes. He pulled her up to her feet and smugly smirked down at the woman. "Let's go to breakfast, shall we?"

Elias sat at the kotatsu, his chin resting on the wood of it. His yellow eyes watched as Genkai sipped her morning cup of tea. Dark circles and heavy black lashes made his eyes heavy as he waited for Abhaya to be awake. "Master Genkai? Are you sure she is awake? She never sleeps this long," He said, a worried frown tugging at his lips.

Genkai eyed him and gave a curt nod. "Hiei said she was."

Elias growled. "I don't like him."

"Heh, not many do kid."

All of the sudden, Kurama opened up the door and ushered Abhaya into the room. Elias noticed immediately how purple her eyes were and how tired her body seemed. Her dragon sat underneath the shade of her hair on her shoulder. She smiled when she saw Elias. "Good morning Elias," She said.

Anger bubbled in Elias's breast and he stomped forward, causing Genkai to smirk and Kurama to watch him curiously. His hand met Abhaya's cheek with a hard slap. Abhaya did not move, she simply processed the fact that he had hit her. Her hand went to gingerly touch the warm mark on her cheek and she looked down at Elias, watching his chest heave. "What the bloody hell were you thinking you foolish twit!? You could have been killed by him! How stupid do you think you can be you bloody fecking knob- head! Aren't you supposed to be the bloody adult? Stop acting like a child then!"

"Nach ish thu? (Won't you shut up?)"

"Chan! Stop being so, so bloody arrogant and just listen to reason for once!"

"Chan. Na cluinneam mu a dheidhinn (No. I don't want to hear about it.)"

Elias's face turned red and he stuttered. "Fine! Then be a daft pillock for all I bloody care! I would think that you would at least have some sense for being a minger!"

Anger flashed over Abhaya's face. She folded her arms over her chest and glared down at Elias. "A minger? Go have sex and travel then! You daft Billy no- mate!"

Elias growled at his master, she snapped her jaw at him. Hiei watched from door, amusement evident on his face. 'Hiei, what are they saying?' Kurama projected.

Hiei leaned against the doorway, his arms folded over his chest. He met Kurama's eyes and smirked. 'They are cursing at one another. The mage doesn't wish to talk about how reckless she was and the hound is angry about that. She went off on him because he called her ugly. I don't understand some of the words that they are using however.'

Kurama gave a short nod and watched Abhaya and Elias continue to argue in three broken languages. Kuwabara came from behind Kurama, still wearing his pajamas. "Wow, what's going on?" He said, looking down at Kurama.

"Abhaya and Elias are arguing."

Yukina then spoke, making every one stare at her. "Please stop fighting."

Abhaya and Elias both stared at her wide eyed. Abhaya's shoulders slouched slightly and she gave a small nod. "Sorry Yukina-san, I didn't realize we were being that loud," Elias said with a frown.

Yukina simply smiled warmly at him. "It's alright, I just didn't want you to wake up Yusuke-kun and Keiko-chan."

"Too late," Yusuke groaned behind Kuwabara. "Ya mind moving oaf?"

Keiko moved behind him, a less tired look on her face. She met Abhaya's eyes and gave a small bow as she passed. Abhaya did the same, blood rising to her cheeks just a little. "So you're Beiste's youngest daughter," Genkai said, watching Abhaya as she looked at the old woman.

Abhaya gave a nod and Genkai let out a scoff. "You are feisty like him, I bet you're kind to a fault too. Take a seat. It's time I got to speak with you, og buidseach."

Abhaya's eyes grew wide and she sat down wondering how the Reiki master had learned her native tongue. Genkai sighed. "This is a long story, don't speak till I'm done."

Hi everyone! This is where I'm ending this for this week. I hope you enjoyed it. Here are what all of my cuss words and Gaelic terms mean. Please review or favorite! Thank you! ~Ela

Umaidh Bioreannach- Stupid female/ Doltish woman

Seadh- Yes

Chan- No

Og buidseach- Young wizard

Pillock- idiot/ oaf

Minger- unattractive woman who is still fair game

Have sex and travel- literally means 'fuck off'

Billy no-mate- loner/ person with no friends