Brink of our Time : The New Queen
A/N: Thank you for the reviews, I'm so glad that you guys are enjoying this tale. I already know that you are going to hate me for ending it where I do, but until them... oh well. Oh, in good news, I entered a script-writing and play writing competition at Drexel for money, and my one act play called The Elephant Walk won third place! I get 1,000 dollars for 4 years! Hooray! Read and Review!
I
Hiei Jaganshi sat on a rock, wiping sweat from his forehead. He ran his tongue over his dry lips, taking his canteen from his hip. Mukuro tossed her hair back, kicking at a pebble as she sat beside her friend. He rested his elbows on his knees, staring at the never-ending horizon. Mukuro took a swig from his canteen, wiping her mouth with the back of her wrist.
"Scared?"
Red eyes narrowed, his fists clenching.
"I don't do scared."
"Yeah, right." Her eye crinkled at the side as it slid over to him. "So, are you?"
The fire demon rubbed his temples, stretching his legs out into the sand.
"A little." He stood, memories returning. Warm lips, tender hands, and a loving smile. So beautiful... the only woman he would ever love. Since the first time he touched her, every meal had no taste except when he ate with her. No drink would quench his thirst. Even in his sleep she plagued him like a disease. She would come to him, moaning his name until he woke up, aroused and alone. Years of madness. Years of suppressed hormones... urges... and love. It was dangerous and new now that she was aware. "Did you mean what you said?"
Nodding, Mukuro licked her lips.
"Every word." They cleared the hill, Enki's castle looming over them. "Enki will be pleased to see the two of you together again. There is much work to be done."
Hiei pushed forward, his usual frown set on his face.
"Did I miss anything important?"
"No." Mukuro answered plainly, then smiled. "Well, Garan and Maika mated."
The fire demon snorted, amused when they reached the door. Hiei's hand closed over the handle, about to pull it open when he heard a weak, tired voice.
"Hiei?"
He turned to see Botan's lazy smile, her eyelids drooping low as she stifled a yawn. Her lips twitched nervously, her hands shaking. He should have just left her alone, left her trembling and just ignore her, for both of their sakes. But... her eyes... they could make him do anything.
Walking up to her, he had to shove his hands in his pockets to keep himself from touching her cheek with concern.
"You're tired."
Pink lips pulled themselves into a smile.
"I didn't want to be late."
Mukuro stopped them both before they did something worth regretting.
"Spirit soldiers are gathering at the far reaches of northern Demon World. Violence has broken out on both sides every once and a while. It's finally happened... war is coming, and Enki does not want to fight one. Can you help us find peace before one side decides to kill the other?"
Botan never answered. She pushed open the door and ran up the stairs, Garan, Hiei, and Mukuro following her.
II
Metal was twisted and molded under expert hands. Maika set the thick bracelet down. Garan's bracelet. The blacksmith sat down, staring at the box on the far shelf. A box that held the promise of responsibility and royalty. It was something she wasn't sure about. What would she do? What would Garan do?
She sat against the wall, taking deep breaths. She just missed Garan, that was it. Funny, they haven't been mated for two days and already he was her greatest weakness. He was the first person she had seen since she left the castle. Training and growing up around Guards and soldiers made her think that she was prepared for anything and everything, even living in solitude for the rest of her life.
At first it was new, being alone, but Maika grew to love and accept it. She was serving her father and Demon World, and on top of that she had her music and books to keep her company. For years upon years she grew to understand the needs of metal and stone... not ever feeling the need to have another with her... until he came.
Ghostly sensations ensnared her as she recalled the night when they lost themselves, allowing themselves happiness. Lust, desire, and perhaps love had made them drunk. A small part of her worried that it was all a dream, that when he returned with Ambassador Botan that he would forget what they shared.
She almost laughed at her insecurity. Maika placed the bracelet in wold water and removed her bandana. It was time to take a break and have lunch with her parents.
Maika walked up from the shop and into the main corridors. She smiled at the passing Guards and held a few short conversations. Tucking her blonde hair behind her ears, she drifted up to her father's quarters.
"Dad, Mom, sorry I'm late I was just—"
A cold breath sighed across Maika's face. The opening room was empty. Maika slowly stepped into the room. Everything was still. Too still.
The door creaked open to the dining room. She saw her wineglass, full, waiting for her. Then her eyes traveled down.
Her blood pumped loudly in her ears, and she didn't know that she had been screaming until the Guards came running.
III
Seeing Hiei again was confusing and yet relieving. Botan ran up the stairs, red in the face from nerves and the pair of eyes on her back. Mukuro took two steps at a time to catch up to the blue haired Ambassador.
"Last door on the right."
"Okay."
The four of them ran down the hall, stopping at the door, turning towards Garan expectantly. He blinked, then remembered protocol. Nodding, he took a deep breath and opened the door, bowing his head to King Enki respectively.
"Sire, Ambassador Hiei and Botan have returned—"
"G-Garan?"
Upon hearing a voice that was not Enki's, Garan looked up, wide eyed, letting the doors fall open. Enki was not in his throne. He wasn't wearing his crown or dressed in his robes. Enki wasn't there at all.
Maika sniffed, her eyes red from days of crying. She was dressed in file silk robes, and on her head was a golden crown similar to her father's. She stared at her mate, sobbing as she sat in her father's throne, Royal Guards on either side.
Botan fell to her knees, pale.
"No... no..."
The ruler of Demon World turned away, hiding her face in her hands. Hiei and Mukuro were speechless, not knowing if they were correct in assuming the worst. Garan tan to his mate, his hand brushing over her shoulder. She looked at him, her face twisted and shiny with tears. All it took was a hiccup and Garan pulled her close. She snarled, clawing at him, but he didn't let her go.
All of them watched as Maika slowly gave up, collapsing into her mate's arms. Botan saw Maika's eyes, full of misery and a useless hatred that she couldn't properly place. The Ambassador of Spirit World bowed her head, trying to cry... but found that her tears had run dry.
IV
"Poison." Hiei dumped the remains of the wine down the drain. Mukuro and Botan were silent as the Ambassador of Demon World cast his gaze on the bodies of Enki and his mate. Their faces were contorted in an eternal struggle for oxygen. "He left everything to her, including his throne." He turned away, unable to took at them any longer. "Kami."
Mukuro, though unnerved, had her hand on the door.
"She needs to be consulted on how to run a World. I think I'll talk to her... she needs guidance, especially now that she has no mother or father."
Once the demon left, Botan lifted her eyes to meet those crimson orbs that filled her with such turbulent emotions. She nodded toward the door, not wanting to see Enki. He had been so hospitable... so loving and friendly. He knew the risks and yet still had the optimism to hope for an understanding... and it murdered him.
When the door closed behind them, Hiei cleared his throat.
"I'm sorr—"
"Don't." Botan took a deep breath, her gaze unyielding. "This isn't the time." He flinched, and Botan backtracked. "I didn't mean... it's just that... dammit." She sighed, her head falling forward and her blue hair cascading around her face. "If I hadn't left... if I hadn't woken up and tried to..." Her face twisted into ugly misery, and Hiei saw something so frightfully familiar that it made him sick to his stomach. "He would still be alive and it's my faul—"
Calloused fingers pressed against her lips. Hiei's eyes were bright, terrified and shimmering. He shook his head, the blood draining from his face.
"Please, don't..." He shook his head, his jaw clenched tightly. "Don't blame yourself, please." His voice cracked, hoarse and exhausted. Her eyes, wide and astonished, stared. "He would have died... another way perhaps... and though our presence may have delayed it, if this was fate, don't you dare blame it on yourself!"
He drew his hand back, his eyes breaking away from hers. He was shaking from head to toe, his eyes burning. He turned his back to her, and she saw his hands raise themselves, wiping at his eyes. He sighed.
"Hiei... are you—?"
She stopped, not sure how to finish the sentence. He didn't respond for several minutes.
"If you start losing hope... then... what will the rest of us have?"
He turned back to face her, silently begging her to smile. To say something... anything uplifting. His eyes were bloodshot. Botan gasped and felt tears growing behind her eyes. Her lips curled in an imitation of what a smile should be, but her "smile" was empty.
"All I ever wanted to do was make people happy. If I could make one person happy, then through them, I could be happy as well. It took me centuries to make the recently deceased happy, Hiei. Centuries." She licked her lips nervously. "Koenma is afraid to talk to me because I ask too many questions about what he's really doing. I can't remember the last time I saw anyone from the Rekai Tentei. But that was okay because I wanted to help, to make somebody, somewhere, smile. Now my best friend can't even look at me. I haven't met Yusuke's son. And... now I've lost my one friend here because of my own stupidity." She closed her eyes, breathing heavily. "I didn't know it was going to be like this."
Gentle fingers brushed her arm. She opened her eyes to see Hiei glaring at her, his fingers grasping her shirt.
"You never lost me. You will never lose me."
Botan's shoulders slackened, and she found herself smiling.
"Hiei, I'm sorr—"
"Don't." He smirked but without any bite, only kindness. "There's no need."
V
Maika didn't remember crying or clutching her father's body. She didn't remember being pried off of him and dragged away. She didn't remember screaming at the Guards to let her go, and she certainly didn't remember breaking one of their noses and scratching another's face. Maika remembered none of that.
What she did recall was being carried to her room by someone. A soft voice soothing her as they dressed her in royal robes and placed the crown on her head. It slid, the metal cold against her forehead. It was slim, not even close to rising above her hairline.
She remembered sitting in her father's throne, eating but not tasting. She remembered the sun rising and setting, and she remembered the doors opening and revealing not some faceless Guard or maid... but Garan.
Then it blurred together between all the tears and frantic heaves for air. She now sat in cold water. Maika blinked, slowly seeing more. Her bathroom. She was in the tub. She raised her one knee out of the water, than an arm. That was when Garan opened the door, still fully dressed.
"Hi."
The big Guard jumped at her voice. He knelt next to the tub.
"Are you okay?"
"Nope." She looked up at him, raising her arms. "Either lift me up or come in."
Garan's lips twitched and he didn't remove his clothes. He lifted a leg, stepping into the bath.
"Kami, it's cold!" He turned the dial, hot water pouring in. Maika stared at him, her expression unreadable. "What can I do for you? I'll do anything... just... tell me what to do."
His mate got on her knees, leaning against his soaked shirt and chest. Her body, so small compared to his, was warm. Alive. She breathed for awhile, and he listened. Then she drew circles in his side. He did the same, his claw scraping the skin on her lower back. Some water sloshed over the sides, spilling onto the floor.
"Did you miss me?"
Garan squeezed her close, kissing the top of her head.
"Every minute."
He felt her lips graze the small part of his chest that was exposed with a tender kiss.
"Yeah... me too." She kept her eyes open but saw nothing. "Just hours after you left, my dad came to me and gave me the crown, asking me to lead our people after he passed on. Then, a few minutes later... he was dead." Her hands squeezed her shirt. "He could have handled himself in any fight... I bet he would have torn them to pieces... but... those cowards—!"
Garan felt her sharp teeth hiss against his skin in rage and he grasped her arms tightly, trying to keep her still.
"Maika, we'll find who's responsible and—"
"I'll kill them." Her voice, so cold and distant, it scared the Royal Guard. "I'll look into their eyes and they'll wish they never did this. They'll pray to go to Hell after I'm through with them." Her dark eyes narrowed, her whole body trembling, the water suddenly ice cold. "I'll kill them all."
VI
Hiei Jaganshi wasn't sure who he expected when he heard a knock on his door at three in the morning, but it wasn't Botan. She was dressed in a modest nightgown, her hair down. She smelled fresh and faintly of soap. The fire demon didn't let the surprise cross his face as she shifted her weight from one foot to another.
"I just wanted to say..." She looked away, her hands shaking, then returned her eyes to his. "When I thought your instincts had chosen Mukuro, I was... I hurt." She laughed nervously, twisting her blue hair around her finger. "I was happy that you were going to be happy, but I didn't want you to leave. I liked our weird friendship and the odd tension we had whenever we were alone together." She sighed, looking away. "I'm selfish. I didn't want her to have you because then I would be alone. No one would be there when I lost faith in myself." Her pink eyes flickered over his face, her smile vanishing. "Kami, I"ve messed up, haven't I—?"
No more words were exchanged as Hiei raised himself up and kissed her. He felt her jump, but slowly return the action. He felt a wave of heat overtake him, and his hands reached up as she leaned down to entangle themselves in her hair. She moaned, and her hands were shaking as they settled on his shoulders.
Titling his head, Hiei nibbled on her lower lip, smirking when she gasped. His tongue danced with hers, and he lost track of time. They could have been making out in his doorway for a few seconds or a few hours, and he still didn't know as they parted for air.
Crimson met pink as they panted, both red in the face, neither one of them knowing whether to be happy or hate themselves.
VII
A/N: It's a bit short, but a lot of monologues. Well, did you like the kiss? Is Maika still okay (well, besides the whole killing thing?) What about Garan? Was Hiei OOC? I hope you all enjoyed it, but if you didn't, leave a review. If you want to hang me from my ankles above a shark pit, tell me about the type of rope you would use in a review! Read and Review!
-mia