Porcelain Doll
Chapter 13: Raiden
Rin, Kurama and Makoto sat silently in the crowd of screaming lower level demons. Rin sat in-between her two friends -she had a feeling Makoto made it so. He found these demons in the crowd to be highly revolting and a disgrace to the demon race. Rin found that she was starting to agree the more they hit on her and through other inappropriate comments in her direction.
"Hello, Jesse here, and welcome back to day two of the Dark Tournament!"
Rin felt Kurama stiffen as Jesse's silky smooth voice resonated throughout the stadium as her form appeared in the ring.
"Our first team we get to see today is Team Ichi!"
Rin watched in silence as a team led by a heavy set dark skinned demon made their way into the open.
"Facing them today will be Team Hino!"
Rin watched as a tall demon with green hair and tan skin made his way out with only one other member.
"Hey, where is the rest of your team?" Jesse questioned as she looked at the two men.
The snake demon smirked, "They are not necessary. Hell, I'm not even necessary. Raiden here is going to win us this match."
Rin slowly turned her eyes to the other demon and felt her heart skip a beat by the stranger's familiar face. He had short choppy black hair that fell into his equally black eyes. Actually, everything about him was black except for his silky white skin -His button up shirt, his slacks, his shoes, everything. Even though Rin could not get a clear view of his face she knew he was beautiful. What she did get a good view of was the dark wings that he had tucked slightly into his back. It looked similar to bat wings.
Makoto chuckled, "This should be good," he mumbled under his breath but Rin heard him regardless.
She gave her smirking companion a questioning look but he only nodded towards the ring below.
"I will take on as many as they wish."
Rin felt her blood boil as his smooth, deep husky voice seemed to resonate throughout the whole arena though he barely spoke above a whisper. It was like he was whispering into her ear.
"You foolish mutt, you have just won us an easy win!" the leader of the opposing team bellowed as his team, himself included, appeared in the ring.
Was this demon crazy? How could he take on a whole team without loosing his life in the process? This was going to be bloody, messy, and a total disaster.
"Ok then. Looks like its Raiden VS Team Ichi. Begin," Jesse said slowly before getting away from the soon to be blood bath. Even she seemed weary of what was about to take place.
Rin was not prepared by what she was about to whiteness however. She watched in complete and utter disbelief as Raiden danced around the other five demons with so much elegance and grace that is made her feel like an elephant with one leg.
How could a man so tall be so light on his feet? He looked an Angel to her with his face that never changed in emotion and looked so defined even from this distance. She could tell he was just humoring them, making them mad at the fact that they couldn't get their hands on the more practiced and graceful demon. She would never have a chance with him if she were to ever face him, but she felt a strange sensation over take her as she watched him bring out a long light weighted ninja sword.
Blood of different shades of crimson splattered the stage and the dark demons light skin. The smell made Run's nose twitch as it tainted the air with its rusted scent.
She would not mind loosing to a demon of his caliber. That was the warrior in her speaking.
"The winner is surprisingly Raiden! Team Hino moves on!"
The only demon left standing on the now blood drenched stage turned his body lightly and scanned the crowd with half lidded black eyes. His dark eyes stopped on her and a dark twisted, but extremely seductive smile tugged on the corner of his mouth as he examined her caught off figure in the crowd. Was he seriously looking at her...like he knew what she was thinking and like...they were old friends?
Raiden could not stop the strong amount of happiness and love that flooded his whole being as he watched her stare at him with wide blue eyes. They seemed to glow as they looked at his blood covered form. God, he loved those eyes more than he loved the air allowing him life.
He closed his eyes as an image flashed behind his eyelids. It was her face smiling a rare carefree smile as her eyes sparkled up at him in an innocent joy. A joy caused by the black lace choker that he had woven for her himself out of a very rare material that never wears in time and can never be destroyed.
He opened his eyes once more as he silently made his way off of the blood stained arena. A knot made its way into his stomach as his heart clenched in pain. A pain he has lived with for centuries and will for a thousand more, for his memories will always plague his deepest thoughts and fight their way to the surface.
He disappeared, leaving the snake demon to do and go as he pleased. He may have had respect for the understanding snake demon, but he did not indulge himself in the business of their "team". He was there for his own reasons and Taro knew and respected his wishes of secrecy.
He took off into the sky, stretching his large see through black wings and allowing the wind to caress his body in its attempts to comfort him. To sooth the guilt, pain, anger and self loathing that resided all in the confinements of his heart that he use to not think he had -that at times he wished he would have never discovered.
He descended from the sky and into the forest, his black eyes empty despite his inner turmoil. He landed on his hands and knees, his wings out stretched and wild behind him.
He had landed right in front of a small pond that was void of all animals due to his overwhelming dark presence.
She was the only one who didn't see him as a freak, a murderer, a bastard mutt of a child that killed without any remorse. She did not fear him, she did not loath him and she did not hold back when he managed to piss her off. He was the only one who could for she was colder than ice and it took a lot to bring out the fire within.
He had the chance to allow her to start a new life. He had a chance to break the circle of pain that seemed to always surround her due to that bastard Amos. If he would have known…if Makoto would have known...
He opened his stricken eye as he gazed at himself through the clear still water. His black eyes seemed to start to bleed blue as he waved a large callused hand over the water, causing a small wave that diluted and twisted his image.
He reached that very same hand into his pocket at he pulled out something soft and lacy. A small smiled graced his normally set straight lips as he examined the black chocker in his hands. He fingered the spider web like material in his nimble fingers as he lost himself in thoughts and ever plaguing memories once more.
He closed his eyes again as he raised his head to the Sun that was barely peaking through the protection of the trees surrounding the area. He tightened his hand around the chocker as a larger gentle smile took over his features. A bitter laugh tired to escape but all that came out was a snort.
This chocker did not belong with him. He may have made it but it cried out for its true owner for she has once again returned. He didn't care if she was half human now and he didn't care if she would not remember him. It didn't matter. All he ever wished for her was happiness and if he was not the one to give her such a gift as he once had than so be it. This was Rin, not Katsumi, and Rin does not belong to him as Katsumi once had.
Rin does not love him as Katsumi once had. Yet he still loved her, for she was his Katsumi in mind, body, soul and form. It was the fire demon however that Rin had become the Sun to.
Just like Raiden once had, the fire demon denies his feelings. In his mind he does not love and cannot be loved just as Raiden use to think and believe. He is considered a monstrosity amongst the demons and other beings of the fucked up world. He is a hybrid, a bastard child, a cast aside child due to his creators' choices.
He ravels in that anger and hatred. He embraces that fear they feel and became the monster that they knew he would be if granted life though he truly had a choice. Life has little connotation, mercy is but a word with no meaning, and hatred is the only emotion that holds any recognition. Everything that the fire demon is, Raiden once was -until he met her.
Raiden saw it as the fire demon stood by her whilst they watched their team fight. He circled around her like the moon does to the Sun, for she is what will cast light down upon him and show him the way out of the darkness that plagued his very own being -when she digs deep enough. He will forever be caught in her gravitational pull and Raiden was going to make sure that the fire demon succeeded where Raiden had not.
He will make sure that he succeeds. It is the only way the old elemental bat demon can have peace. Perhaps...perhaps he himself will find a woman to share his life with. One he can find in himself to love and cherish had he once did Katsumi.
No, he will never love anyone the way he did Katsumi. He knew what will happen once all of this was over but that was not of any importance right now.
He took off into the sky, leaving no trace of his presents being there at all.
Yellow eyes emerged from the darkness as bright wild red hair seemed to light up the dim setting. Makoto looked up into the sky with heartrending eyes, all playfulness gone from those endless depths that spoke of knowledge only one can have from centuries of pain and experience.
"Raiden, dear old friend, find peace within yourself for Katsumi did what she did for you. It was the only way her life, mine, and yours as well could be saved. The side effect was to forget her life before her new one, but I know deep down she remembers you and loves you as she always has and always will. Please dear old friend, find the happiness you deserve. My sister did not give up her life with you only for you to waste it away in your own guilt and self wallowing," Makoto whispered lightly as he continued to stare up into the sky that peaked out from the gaps in the trees.
With a gentle sigh he made his way back into the darkness of the woods. Katsumi was the past but Rin is the present and the future. Neither men can change what Katsumi had went through and gave up but they can stop Rin from going through the same thing. It was best that Rin did not know too much of her past and Raiden knew that. It was only a matter of time before everything pieced together and they could all find peace within themselves.
~~~W~~~W~~~W~~~
"Where the hell is that crazy old ancient magical demon bastard and where the hell is Kurama? And dammit why don't we have bacon?"
Rin snorted at what Kuwabara called Makoto but remained in her seat on the couch. She wondered if he knew just how much he had just sounded like Yusuke. That thought made her smile.
"Makoto took off at the end of the first match and when all of the matches were done Kurama said he had business to attend to," Rin said patiently but she knew something was up with both of the men.
Kurama had been strange ever since they saw there announcer Jesse, and Makoto seemed like he was very familiar with that demon Raiden. She could feel a small dose of sadness coming from Makoto and seeping into her even though he manages to keep most of his emotions to himself. It must be pretty potent and unbearable for it to seep out into her so strongly.
Rin frowned for only a short moment before smoothing over her features like she had learned in the Makai with Makoto. She had learned more in those two months than she had her whole life. She had learned the true value of life and just how beautiful even the most insignificant things can be when purged in the right angle and examined in the right state of mind. She also learned how necessary death is and that even the wicked souls deserve some sort of peace. Thus her prayer was created.
Well, actually the first time she took a life it was a bear demon that was too weak and obtuse to control its mannerisms and hunger. The demon was hungry; Rin was looking for wood for their fire. She was just about to scream out for Makoto when the demon charged at her with wide blood crazed eyes and dirt stained honey colored fur. She had reacted so quickly that she stood there frozen as the demon fell down before her, its mid section completely severed in half.
She dropped the sword that Makoto had given her as a present and knelt down beside the female demon staring into her lifeless dim eyes in horror. She had felt disgusted with herself and even more so when a small demon bear cub made its way out of the forest. It let out a strangled cry as it ran for its dead mother. Rin closed her eyes as tears fell down, and then she said her prayer without even thinking of the words. It was almost like she had spoken those words a thousand time before and it seemed to ease some of the pain inside.
When Rin opened her eyes, the demon cub was watching her with sad bright golden eyes -eyes full of pain and recognition, for somehow this small cub had known what she had just done and said. Not knowing much of the demon world just yet, Rin did not understand why the mother seemed so mindless and the cub so intelligent. Makoto had showed up minutes after and examined the scene with careful and uncaring eyes.
He told her that this demon had not eaten in weeks and had been desperate for food. He assumed that she had been feeding her cubs and that they were scarce of food around their home. A hungry demon is dangerous and very irrational.
He claimed that in a way Rin had saved the demons life and the cub's life because she would have eaten her children if she sunk any deeper. That broke Rin's heart in ways that were un-repairable. It was then that she saw the cruelty in the world outside of people picking on her just because they could. People KILL just because they can and at times may not have a choice. At times death is the only way to release a self destructive soul such as the demon mother who had selflessly cared for her children.
She knew after that incident that she had to forget her fear and leave her emotions behind. She built up a mask of solid stone and built up a barrier around her mind so no one can reach her there for what they would find would be the girl's biggest secrets and downfalls. No matter how convincing she seemed she still hated having blood on her hands and she still thought frequently of the fire demon that had shown her something she never knew existed.
It was a weakness that she willed to go away. It was a weakness that she hated with all of her heart. He rejected her and used her for his own needs while saying it was for HER. Bullshit; she now knew better. For whatever reason, Hiei wanted to use her but he will never use her the way he wants. She will not loose her virginity to someone who will not spend their life intertwined in hers. She will not.
"I will be back later Kuwabara."
Kuwabara did not miss the sharpness of her voice and he did not dare complain about being left alone in their hotel room.
He knew things about Rin were different but he didn't know just how much about her had changed or if it was just an illusion that she created around herself.
He watched her leave with her weapon on each hip and a face that was colder than a glacier.
"It only gets worst," he whispered to no one in particular as he walked to the kitchen and pulled out instant macaroni and cheese from the cupboard.
"Good thing this place has a grocery store downstairs. I got to get Kurama to pick up me up some chicken nuggets to go with these," he mumbled to himself as he made his dinner for the night.
~~~W~~~W~~~W~~~
Kurama marched through the halls of the Spirit World, going to where he knew he would find Boton. He opened one of the many doors on his right and peaked around the large study room. In the middle was the table full of large ancient books, and behind the mountain of books was a bobbing blue ponytail. Kurama shut the door quietly behind him before scanning the room once more with is skilled eyes.
Seeing that they were alone he walked further into the room.
"I found her," he said quietly.
Boton jumped slightly in her seat before she peaked around the books with tried eyes but a smile on her chipper face.
"I have something myself Kurama. Maybe we can piece these together and find out where she has been all of these years."
Kurama nodded as he walked closer and sat in one of the chairs surrounding the table swallowed by books that were thicker than Kurama's head.
Taking it upon himself to say what he had found out first, Kurama crossed his legs and leaned forwards, resting his head on his hands after setting his elbows on his knee.
"She is the announcer for the new Dark Tournament."
Boton's eyes went wide as she turned her full attention to Kurama's shielded green eyes. However, he was in so much pain that he couldn't hide it as he normally could. He was fighting with himself and completely unsure of what to do, for once. Boton's sympathy went out to her dear friend. She was the closest to Kurama, for he had trusted her with a secret that not even the fire demon knew.
They had deeper feeling for one another than just simple friendship, but they each knew that they did not belong to one another. Kurama had a long lost mate that had managed to steal his heart as Youko Kurama, and Boton was a ferry girl. She was dead. She also could not deny the feelings that she had for Lord Koenma.
"She was never interested in such pointless activities. She often questioned the pleasure I felt when I stole the most guarded and wanted artifacts in the Makai. She never understood my reasons. I still don't understand them myself besides enjoying the rush and succeeding at the unthinkable. It entertained me," Kurama paused as he seemed to loose himself in a long lost memory as he often did when he was thinking of something that pleasured him and soothed the ach in his heart.
Boton picked up a thick folder and rummaged through it for only a moment before pulling out a thin white piece of paper. She read over it for a moment before handing it to the spaced kitsune. He snapped out of it before blinking and gently grabbing the paper. It was rare that he lost himself like that.
He read over it, his eyes flicking back and forth and becoming more and sterner as he read.
"Amos," he growled deeply, but Boton did not flinch from the antagonism in his voice.
"Kurama, according to Jesse's records she had been taken and somehow disappeared off of the radar until a week before the Tournament began. Being a swan demon it's almost impossible to take hostage without putting them under which takes a lot of skill and energy. There demonic nature takes over when they are trapped and their seemingly weak powers sky rocket and can even take out a demon of the S Class. That is why swan demons are left alone."
"Unless they are powerful at intruding minds. Amos was the one to take Jesse away from me. He trapped her in her own mind and did god knows what while she was under. He knew that I was coming so he released her from his hold in some sort of sick entertainment. He knew."
Boton stayed quiet as Kurama's eyes went cold and his body started to shake in anger that he never showed. He truly must love this Jesse for he had been searching for her non stop for years. Once he heard word that she might be alive. A MIGHT was enough to fill the kitsune up with hope and Boton jumped at the chance to help even though she could get into trouble. Boton reached her hand in her kimono as her hand wrapped around a round object.
"She won't recognize you the way you are Kurama. She is scared and most likely does not know what's real and what isn't. I'm sure if anything she thinks you're dead," Boton said softly as she pulled the object out of her pocket.
Kurama eyed the light pink fruit that resembled a pear and an apple combined.
"I could be punished severely for this Kurama so it has to stay secret and hidden. This fruit is from a tree far away in the Spirit World and it is illegal to have for it can be dangerous in the wrong hands. But I trust you Kurama."
Kurama took the fruit gently before raising his eyes to the pink eyed deity who looked like she was going to cry at any moment. They stared at each other silently, no more explanation needed because Kurama knew of this fruit. It would turn him into his Youko form once more but for only a limited amount of time that was uncertain with each person who ate the fruit. It was temperamental and could add severe side effects but he would risk everything for Jesse.
Boton had risked her life and betrayed her boss's for him so he could save Jesse. She had risk everything for him. A small beautiful smile made its way to Kurama's face as he leaned closer to Boton. He examined her sad pink eyes that were always so cheerful and carefree before he met his lips with hers in a kiss that said everything that they couldn't.
Boton pressed her lips a little harder against his as she stared into his beautiful green eyes that were gentle and regretful as he peered into her own.
They both knew that this was as far at they could go and that they would have to return to their normal friendship. They both were okay with that fact and smiled softly at one another as they broke there innocent kiss.
Boton put a finger to her lips as she smiled at door where the graceful kitsune had left through. A small single tear fell from her pink eyes before she started to put away the books and clean up her face. She would cherish that moment for the rest of eternity and the fact the Kurama was her first kiss made her happy in ways that no one could comprehend.
"Boton?"
She looked over to the door way from where she was putting books away on the shelf. There stood the tall teenage Koenma, smiling at her gently and his honey brown eyes concerned.
Her heart fluttered as she smiled brightly at him, the only man that she loved with her whole heart. Still, one thing seemed odd. When Kurama had kissed her she could feel no wetness on her lips or on his. Was that normal?
~~~W~~~W~~~W~~~
Rin stalked angrily through the forest, her hand on the hilt of her sword the whole time. Her exotic blue eyes were narrowed and the bright blue splotches seemed to glow, feeding off of the anger coursing through her blood.
She had been walking for a little over an hour now and it had done nothing with her aggravations. With a growl like sigh Rin broke away into a clearing and brought out her sword. What she wasn't expecting was to see a shirtless fire demon covered in sweat with his sword out as well. It was like slow motion as Hiei turned around to face her, his crimson eyes blank and revealing nothing. It only fed her anger more.
He was always hiding his emotions and true intentions. She was hoping that if she did as well then everything would just fade away but NO here she was crumbling before him and she felt more pissed than she ever had before. She felt more used than she ever knew was possible and most of it was caused by this demon in front of her.
She narrowed her eyes and through her sword up to block Hiei's strike. She smirked an uncharacteristic smirk that had Hiei frowning as she unleashed her raft on him. She swung, and swung, and swung, her furious screams desperate and intense as she continued to try to strike the more experienced demon.
He blocked and allowed her to keep going even though he could easily disarm her and have her lying on her back in a matter of seconds. She was angry and he could see now the fear that lay profound in her glowing eyes.
Her movements were getting slower but her anger was still there and fueled by the fact that she could not hit him. But he was stronger, older and an expertise swords man, and while he was thoroughly impressed by her skills he was better and had more stamina to expand than she did.
She finally faltered in her step and he took that moment to disarm her with his own weapon. He tossed his weapon aside as well as she lunged herself at him, screaming in furry as she tired to punch him and trap him beneath her but once again he was stronger and more skilled and she found herself under the fire demon instead. She screamed and screamed as she thrashed about, her weakness escaping her stone walls that seemed to crumple as emotions hit them like a stampede.
"Let me the fuck go!" she wailed as she thrashed and clenched her eyes closed.
Hiei said nothing as he held her in place under him, his crimson eyes watching her loose herself and break down before him. Silent tears escaped her clenched eyes as she continued to scream.
She was hurting.
He knew something was not right when she came back hard as a stone. Hiei knew more than anyone that is was a facade because he himself pulled that trick one too many times when he desperately wanted to hide something from himself and from everyone else. Just like how she desperately wanted to hide her anger and fear.
Her screaming stopped as her trashing slowed down until eventually it came to a stop all together. Her head was to the side as she continued to keep her eyes closed -her breathing ragged and dangerously fast.
Hiei said nothing as he watched in silence, the girl breaking down even more by the second. Surprisingly he was not disgusted by the act of weakness that was displayed underneath him. He himself knows the feeling of hiding his anger to the point of exploding. She was still young and thus had no idea how to handle such extreme emotions.
Her eyes slowly opened as she turned her head up to look at him. The blue in her eyes were bright, but the emotion was dark and seemed to bore right into his own and straight down into his heart. They were tried, angry, confused, betrayed.
Betrayed.
Hiei's frown deepened as he continued to stare into her eyes, searching for something unknown and unfamiliar to him. He wasn't sure what he was exactly searching for and he wasn't sure how he would know if he found it -Whatever it was.
Rin couldn't help the tears that fell as she met Hiei's eyes that held the softness that he shown only her and no one else. He had allowed her to release her furry on him though she was hoping she could inflict damage on him, at the time.
"Let me go." Her voice was hoarse, rough and low as she stared up at the fire demon, completely exposed and vulnerable.
She did not bother to try to hide it from him anymore for nothing she could do now would fix what her breakdown had caused.
Hiei gently loosened his tight grip before heaving his body off of her smaller one and finally sitting on his knees in-between her legs. He watched in silence as she lowered her head and sat up, her dark hair shielding her red face.
She scooted away from him before reaching for her sword, her shirt raising only a fraction and showing the curve of her hip. Hiei drunk in the sight of the revealed skin until she slowly heaved her worn body up and away from his kneeling form. She turned her back to him, her hair blowing to the side as a gust of wind played with the leaves of the tress in a playful brush.
"Hiei...I can't help but be frustrated and a little mad at you. You took advantage of my current situation for your own needs, whatever they were," she said softly.
He rocked back softly on the hills of his boots as his eyes examined the sculpture of her back and the way her it dipped in slightly before coming back out. It was accented by her slender hips and thick thighs.
"I don't regret what we did Hiei because you were right when you said that it would help, but hell if the consequences aren't extreme," she paused to let out a dry laugh that sounded forced and nothing like the beautiful, cheerful laugh she does when the detective does something stupid.
"I can't deny that I feel something for you Hiei. I have since the moment you saved my life in Genkia's forest and I first laid eyes on you. I shouldn't be mad at you because it was my own fault. You made it perfectly clear that it was...purely physical." She closed her eyes as more tears flowed down her ivory skin, a bitter smile on her pale pink lips.
"You know, I have never found any other man appealing like I do you. I have never even truly noticed a man before. They were just faceless people who I never casted a second glance at. But you...you I saw in that first glance and that were enough to make me forever remember you and I will cherish the memories that we do have, even though they may be limited."
She took a deep breath as she shook lightly from the confession that would forever scare him away from her but perhaps that would be for the best because Hiei was on a whole other level than her. He was the moon that she strived for but could never have -The empty barren moon that had so much beauty and strength once you dug deeper and discovered its secrets.
"I know that you do not feel the same way, and its okay Hiei. I wouldn't expect you to," she said softly as she slowly started to walk towards the forest that was surrounding them.
Rin slowly stumbled back to the hotel, letting her instincts guide her as she wondered with her sword by her side. She didn't want to turn around and see the look of disgust on the fire demons face as her confession sunk in and burned him like she was some sort of disease.
However, if Rin would have turned around that would not have been that sight that would have taken upon her eyes. Instead she would have seen Hiei's soft crimson orbs and his slightly parted mouth as he swallowed her every word like it was air and without it he would suffocate. She would have seen the sadness and the desire he felt to jump up from his spot on the ground and kiss her like he had countless times before. To take it even further and take her right then and there, in slow gentle thrust as he savored the feel of her body clinging and withering beneath his own as she moaned and drowned in the pleasure that he was giving her. That only HE could give her,
He looked up to the moon that was now peaking down upon him as the sky darkened and surrounded him in the darkness that he was familiar with. He replayed her words in his head like a broken record yet it was no words that she spoken out loud for it was too private and revealing to her true feelings. She had not even realized that her mental barrier that she had put up had crumbled just like the rest of her had. She had compared him to the moon and had basically called him...beautiful. A word he had never heard anyone refer to him as.
She had down played it. Not only could he hear her thoughts but he could FEEL her own raging emotions. They were so strong and potent that he couldn't escape them. They told him everything that she was not willing to reveal to him. He would have called her a liar if it wasn't for the fact that he could feel what she felt. He was unlovable, had been commend to hate since his birth. He could not love...but perhaps he could give her something close and in the only way he knew how.
That was, if she wanted it.
He closed his crimson eyes and took a deep breath before retrieving his sword and taking off into the night, confused and battling against himself for he had no idea how to handle any of this. This was not what he was striving for when he had decided to start this whole complicated situation. But then again, what was it he was striving for in the first place? He was truly in over his head.
Dark eyes watched from the shadows, a sadness lingering in them as he stared into the now empty field. A bitter smiled was on his lips but how could you watch the woman who was once in your arms fall in love with another demon without feeling something negative?
"You're one step closer fire demon. Don't fuck it up," Raiden whispered as he seemed to blend into the night around him.
The only thing left was the wind that was still playfully rustling the leaves and the moon shining brightly in the sky.