Dc-chan: Ohhhh…chocolate Oo -ahem- I'm back from my 'vacation'. The ten days I spent in Cape Cod were really cool cuz the weather was so nice, but in New Jersey I wanted someone to shoot me plus my grandma is crazy (and not in a good way). School has started too…which sucks.
MCT: Bah. School is for the weak minded. I never went to school and look how awesome I am.
Dc-chan: It's obvious you never went to school…
MCT: What do you mean by that?
Dc-chan: …nothing…XD
Disclaimer: Do I own a car? No. Do I own a mansion? No. Do I own YYH? No.
XXXXXX
Chapter 14 of Define 'Normal'
The Missing Eye
Kira blinked. She knew instantly where they were by the color of the sky. The bright crimson sky was suited for this place because it was the same color as blood. She'd been here only once before, but being there once was enough to recognize it again.
They were in Makai, the realm of demons.
"Figures this would be here." Kira said rolling her eyes. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as an unpleasant breeze blew by. "The last time I was here was to retrieve your journal from your father…" Kira trailed off when she noticed Kokuei was giving her a 'don't go there' look.
"That was awhile ago." He said dryly. "We're here now for a different reason entirely."
Kira nodded. "Right." She shuffled her feet. "So…what part of Hiei's past are we gonna be meddling in…I mean fixing."
"You know about his Jaganshi, correct?"
Kira gave him a blank stare.
Kokuei sighed heavily and ran his hand down his face. "His third eye."
"Oh, that thing. I just didn't know what it was called." She slapped her forehead.
"Yeah, whatever." Kokuei shook his head. "You see, Hiei got his third eye to find his sister, Yukina. He needs to obtain that eye or certain events that would have lead him to meeting you guys would have never occurred. Are you following this?"
"Of course. Hiei got his third eye to find Yukina, but if he didn't get it then we wouldn't know each other therefore I wouldn't hate his guts and vice versa." Kira retorted somewhat bitterly. She then smiled softly. "But it's so sweet that he got his Jaganshi to find his sister."
"Yes, especially considering the surgery is extremely painful." Kokuei said. He then turned to Sega. "You stay here, we can't afford to have anything to happen to you."
Sega bowed his head. "I will not move."
"Wouldn't he be safer with us?" Kira asked raising an eyebrow.
"He would be in a lot more danger with us especially since you attract trouble like moths to a flame." Kokuei explained ignoring Kira's protests.
"I do not attract trouble!" She stomped her foot on the ground.
"C'mon, we have to find him before Zetsubou gets to him." Kokuei said walking forward into a brush of trees in front of them without waiting for Kira.
Kira quickly glanced at Sega before hastily following Kokuei with her arms at her sides. The second she walked into the forest she knew Kokuei was nowhere around. Like he had suddenly abandoned her.
She cupped her hands around her mouth. "Kokuei?" Kira yelled. There was no answer. Usually she wouldn't think too much into it, but this was Makai. Anything could happen here, usually bad things. "Kokuei? This isn't funny!" She shouted at the top of her lungs. No reply again. Just the soft rustling of branches being blown by the wind.
Suddenly a sharp object hit her in the back knocking her forward onto the ground.
"Okay, who did that?" Kira snarled, whipping her head around and standing up.
Three ugly demons were standing there, one had a sword in his hand. It was clear from their attire that they were some type of demon bandits.
"So, you're the wise guy, ne?" Kira growled staring down the demon with the sword.
The demon lifted his sword and pointed it at her. "Couldn't help it, we rarely see a human wandering in Makai. I bet you taste good."
Kira fidgeted at the thought of being eaten by disgusting demons such as these. "Eww…that's super gross! Why can't you guys just eat cow or fish like normal people?"
"Human flesh tastes better." He answered smiling evilly at her.
"Well," Kira huffed irritably, "this is one meal you're gonna hafta work for buddies."
"I don't think we'll have any trouble killing you." He smirked then a split second later all three of the demons were attacking her from all sides.
Kira dodged and maneuvered around them easily. Low class demons like these hardly posed a threat to her. Once you've sparred with Yusuke and Kurama, any fighter at a lower level then them hardly seemed to be a challenge. To her, it was like fighting in slow motion. She could see all the attacks coming at her without effort, but she had trouble hiding the fact at how amused she was with their feeble attempt, she even began grinning.
Finally, having decided she'd toyed with them enough she batted all three of them away in one round house kick. Each one of them hit a separate tree before falling to the ground, badly bruised and unconscious.
"Next time you guys want to pick a fight, make sure you're not so weak." She berated while shaking her index finger at them. "Losers." Kira muttered.
"That was impressive."
Kira blinked. That voice…she whirled around so fast she almost lost her balance.
"A human beating up a pack of youkai is something you don't see everyday."
Kira looked around frantically. She recognized that voice, but where was it coming from?
She felt a stick hit her in the head which made her look up angrily. "Hey! Who the hell threw that?"
There, on a tree branch twenty feet above her head, stood Hiei with his black cloak on and his hair still as gravity defying as ever.
"Hiei!" She said excitedly before remembering that he had no idea who she was. "I mean, it's not cool to throw sticks at people jerk!" She might as well insult him because he wasn't going to recall their encounter after Kokuei modified his memory.
"Hn. How do you know my name?" He asked icily, giving her a curious stare that was still filled with malice.
"Magic," she said sarcastically.
He unsheathed his blade menacingly. "I think you're lying."
Kira took a step back and raised up her hands. She sweatdropped as he jumped down from the tree. "There's no need to get violent…" She gulped as he took another step towards her.
Hiei smirked and unfortunately for Kira, she recognized that kind of smirk. It was the 'I'm about to kick your ass' smirk 'and you don't even know it's coming'.
"I think you better start explaining yourself." He said threateningly.
She sighed, "Trust me, you wouldn't believe me if I did."
"Then…" he lifted his blade so it was inches from her face, "…DIE!"
Kira moved out of the way just as he lunged with his sword at her. He attacked again and Kira found it immensely hard to dodge his slashes, they were moving almost too quickly for her to see which frightened her.
Kira tightened her fist in resolve. Fine, if he wants to play this way then I'll show him what I can do! She grabbed his wrist just as he moved past her and using momentum, she flung him backwards so he skidded along the ground.
Hiei got up on one knee frowning. "You're quite surprising for a human."
"Is that a compliment?" She mocked. He doesn't know that I'm ¼ youkai…
Hiei stood up, his crimson eyes flashing in rage. He gripped his sword's handle and gritted his teeth. "You have no idea what you're getting yourself into." In a flash of movement he disappeared and came up behind her, hitting her in the back with his blade's sheath as if he was just toying and humiliating her.
She gasped as pain shot through her back and she doubled over so she was looking at Hiei's feet. Kira rolled out of the way just as Hiei was about to finish her off. She pushed herself onto her feet, dong her best to ignore how much her back hurt.
Hiei merely grunted as he swung his blade around near her head, she ducked to avoid being decapitated by him.
She had Hiei were so busy fighting that neither of them noticed the necklace around Kira's neck beginning to glow a dark shade of blue.
The fight between them got fiercer and fiercer as Kira punched Hiei in the stomach to which he responded with narrowly missing stabbing her abdomen, but she still got a scratch along her side from the blade which blood was slowly trickling out of now.
Suddenly, a blast of energy shot between the two of them sending them both flying in opposite directions and landing roughly on the ground.
"Whaaa?" Kira looked around in a daze wondering where the energy blast could've possibly come from. She saw Kokuei kneeling over an unconscious Hiei with his hand on his Hiei's forehead, modifying his memories. "You came back!"
"I went to look for Zetsubou." He replied taking his hand of Hiei's forehead and directing his eyes at Kira. "I shouldn't have been in such a rush though, she almost got seriously hurt."
"Oh, don't worry!" Kira covered the cut on her side with her hand. "I'm fine, it's only a mere flesh wound. Nothing that would've killed me." She then cocked an eyebrow. "How'd you know where to find me?"
Kokuei pointed at the necklace around her neck. "Didn't I explain to you that whenever you're in danger that thing glows and alerts me."
"Oh yeah…" she rubbed the back of her neck, "must've slipped my mind…"
"Must've." He agreed curtly.
"So, at least this is settled." Kira chirped happily. "And I've learned that no matter what, Hiei will always hate me, but I'm glad that's over."
Kokuei narrowed his eyes. "Not quite, Zetsubou's around here somewhere…calculating, waiting to make his move."
"For real?" Kira clenched her fists as a nervous feeling aroused in the pit of her stomach.
"Perceptive little punks, aren't you?"
Kira folded her arms across her chest. "I know who's voice that belongs too…give you three guesses."
Just then, Kokuei grabbed Kira's hand and pulled her towards him. He stood in front of her protectively as Zetsubou materialized in front of them.
"Trying to foil me again?"
"Can you take him?" Kira inquired.
"You don't even have to ask." Kokuei said confidently. "Remember that these are just parts of Zetsubou so their not nearly as powerful as he is when he's all together."
"Right." Kira nodded even though she hadn't paid attention to a word Kokuei had just said.
Zetsubou snickered darkly as the forest around them suddenly darkened immensely as if it had just turned to a very, very dark night.
"Behold the power of darkness."
"More like the power of lameness…" Kira commented.
"You joke now, but wait, darkness holds true power! You won't be so impudent once I spend you to oblivion!" Dark creatures began pooling around Zetsubou, rising from the ground. The creatures had long antennae and yellow holes where their eyes should be. (Dc-chan: They look like the Neo Heartless)
"Eh? What are those things?" Kira sounded surprised.
"Just weak creatures from the shadows," Kokuei explained. He gathered a dark energy ball in his hand and began throwing energy balls one after the other at the creatures, however, they didn't die as he intended them too, they grew bigger each time they got hit.
"You can't destroy them by those means." Zetsubou mused.
"Stop!" Kira nudged Kokuei. "You're just making them bigger!"
"Why?"
"I think I get it…" Kira started, pausing to take a breathe before continuing, "you're the Sage of Shadows, right? And these creatures come from the shadows so it makes sense that that's where they get their power from. I propose you let me handle these things since my powers aren't…you know…dark."
Kokuei stepped aside, "Fine, do what you want."
Kira took her position in front of him and glanced down at her necklace. "Let's hope this works…" She lifted both of her hands so that they were on either side of her necklace. Relax, breath and concentrate…she told herself as began gathering spiritual energy. Kira closed her eyes and concentrated hard on the energy she was building up.
"Hurry up!" Kokuei shouted. "They're getting closer!"
Kira's eyes snapped open as her necklace emitted a faint white light. "I know you're gonna help me with this one Hikaru…" she whispered to herself. The light between her hands felt warm, like a pleasant tingly feeling. "Hikari! Hakkei!" (Light! Release internal power!) She yelled. The light from the necklace swiftly blasted forth, blinding Kira and Kokuei who had to shield their eyes. Once the light dimmed down they both lowered their forearms to see what had happened.
To Kokuei's amazement the shadow creatures were gone as was Zetsubou. He couldn't feel his eerie presence anywhere. Kira's attack must have destroyed him as well.
"So," Kira smiled happily, although feeling a little woozy from using up so much of her energy. "How do you like them apples?"
Kokuei's eyes widened, "Amazing…"
Kira looked at her nails as if pretending to be modest, but she was really gloating. "People always underestimate what I can do. I can't wait to tell Kurama that I used the necklace and summoned the power I wanted to. I can't believe I-"
"We shouldn't delay." He gestured to Hiei who was starting to stir. "We have to leave, now."
Kira drooped her head a bit, "Okay…fine."
They both began walking back to where Sega was waiting for them, the walk took surprising a few hours, it was then Kira realized how far into the forest they had actually went. Kira and Kokuei were both silent as they approached the Guardian of Time.
"Hiei's probably on his way to see Shigure to get the Jaganshi implanted." Kira said.
"How do you know?" Sega asked.
"Just a feeling," Kira responded quietly. "How many times do I have to remind everyone: I'm a psychic!"
"We should probably wait to make sure." Kokuei mentioned leaning against a trunk of a tree on the outskirts of the forest.
"How will we be able to make sure?" Kira speculated while putting a hand on her hip.
"Trust me," Kokuei said, "you'll know."
…
"YUUKINAAAAAAAAA!"
"I take it that's our cue to leave." Kira said dusting off her pants as she stood up. She had been sitting with Sega and Kokuei for what was probably an additional two hours. She looked over her shoulder towards the forest sadly. She couldn't help, but feel for Hiei. After all, he was going through an extremely painful surgery all for his sister. It was cute in an odd Hiei-ish way, she defiantly had trouble imagining him being a caring older brother, but at the same time it seemed to suit him.
"Yeah, let's get out of here before something attacks us."
"Kuwabara, next?" Kira pretended to sound thrilled.
"Uh-huh."
"Wonderful. Let's get out of here."
They both turned towards Sega who was already ready and holding out both his hands for them to hold. "Ready?" The small guardian inquired, his eyes already gleaming a light blue.
"Of course." Kira said taking his hand.
Sega turned his head towards Kokuei. "And you?"
Kokuei thought for a second which confused Kira, but she quickly forgot about it once he took Sega's other hand. Then the three of them vanished from Makai in a flash of whirling lights.
XXXXXX
Dc-chan: Well, that's done.
MCT: Took you long enough.
Seraph: Seriously, you've been back home for how many days?
Dc-chan: …11...shut up!
Now, as a special gift to everyone…Here's another OMAKE! WHOOOT!
--OMAKE THEATRE 2-- (it's more like a quick little side story actually…)
WHO'S COOLER? KUWABARA VS. HIEI! ROUND 1, FIGHT!
"I'm assuming there's a point to this little gathering." Yusuke said in a bored tone as he sat on the bed in Kuwabara's room next to Kira who was in-between Yusuke and Kurama.
"Yeah, why are we here?" Kira moaned as Kuwabara fiddled with his TV and VCR.
"I'm going to prove once and for all that I'm so much cooler than that shrimp, Hiei!" Kuwabara stated as he inserted a tape into the VCR. "I made this tape to prove that and so then I can finally get the respect I deserve from you guys."
"But Kuwabara," Kurama said, "we do respect you."
"You mean we respect his ability to act like an idiot and panic." Yusuke pointed out which made Kira snort in laughter.
"You see!" Kuwabara pointed at Yusuke and Kira while he stared at Kurama. "This is what I'm talking about!"
"I'm sure they don't mean anything by it, they're just joking around." Kurama tried to reason.
"Yeah, yeah, we'll see who's laughing in a couple of minutes…" Kuwabara grumbled as he took the remote and sat on the floor about three feet away from the TV. "Now watch!" He ordered as he pressed the play button.
The screen crackled a little bit, but it soon cleared up and an image of Kuwabara looking into the camera appeared on TV.
"Is it on?" Kuwabara asked tapping the screen.
"Yes, I think so…"
"Okay, good!" Kuwabara then took a few steps back and put his hands on his hips. "This tape is going to be living proof that I'm not only cooler than Hiei, but I'm totally…eh…that I'm cooler than Hiei!"
"You just said that…"
"Who's filming?" Kira asked holding back a laugh.
"A friend of mine." Kuwabara grunted in annoyance. "Now keep watching!"
"Just keep taping and follow me!" Kuwabara beckoned his friend with the camera. They walked down a street and just as Kuwabara was about to turn a corner he tripped over a crack on the sidewalk, falling flat on his face.
"Smooth." Yusuke commented.
"ACK!" Kuwabara shouted. "I thought he edited that out!"
"Looks like he didn't." Kira giggled.
When Kuwabara recovered from the fall he faced the camera. "Cut that out of the tape, okay?"
"Sure thing, Kuwabara."
They continued walking, the camera bobbing up and down with each step the cameraman took.
"So, how are we gonna prove how cool you are?"
"We're going to…Oh! Kitty!" Kuwabara said abruptly running over to a small little tawny cat. He picked it up. "It's so cute!"
Yusuke held back a laugh.
Kira bit the inside of her cheek and put a hand over her mouth to suppress the upcoming giggles.
Kurama sweatdropped. He couldn't help, but have a feeling that this video was going to embarrass Kuwabara more than make him seem cooler.
Kuwabara's jaw dropped as he put his hands on the sides of his head. "He was supposed to edit that out too!" He then quickly pressed the stop button on the remote with a flushed face.
"Hey," Kira complained loudly. "We wanted to see the rest of it!"
"I agree, it seemed so promising. When you found that kitty I really thought you were an awesome guy." Yusuke said sarcastically.
Kuwabara hastily ejected the tape from the VCR while sweating bullets. "The tape's not done yet! Sorry!" He tucked it under his right arm and dashed out of the room.
"Who couldn't see that coming?" Kira rolled her eyes.
"Wanna steal that tape?" Yusuke suggested.
"Hell yeah, let's beat the crap outta him for it."
With that, the two of them ran out of the room to pursue Kuwabara leaving Kurama all alone who was staring at the ceiling.
"It's never a dull moment with these guys…" Kurama looked out of the window to Kira and Yusuke chasing Kuwabara who was frantically trying to get away as he ran around in circles. He saw Kira tackled Kuwabara onto the ground as Yusuke pried the video from his death grip on it.
"C'mon! Let it go! Kamiyama and me wanna see the rest!"
"No, it's not finished yet you guys!"
Kira twisted his arms behind his back. "If you're so much cooler than you'd let us watch it."
Kurama shook his head as he turned his attention away from the window once they all began shouting at the same time so their voices meshed together into one loud cacophony. "I should bring them inside before a neighbor calls the cops." Kurama sweatdropped as he left the room.
The lesson is: when you video tape yourself to prove how cool you are it always backfires!
--OMAKE THEATRE 2 END--
Dc-chan: Okay, until next time folks!
NEXT CHAPTER: Doorway To The Mind
ROCK ON AND LOVE AND PEACE,
Dc-chan
p.s. I have outlines for chapters 15-21 so I should be able to write those quickly! Yay for me!