A/N:
Phew. New chapter! Whoo!
Haha… I've been really busy with all of these updates – it's crazy! Not to mention I was grounded for a month… sheesh… you'd think I was too old for those kinds of things by now… -rolls eyes-
I'm hoping to reunite Astrid and Hiei in this chapter, but we'll see what happens. It might not happen. Who knows? XD
Hehe. I don't like spoiling the plot line for people, so I don't say things are definitely going to happen.
Except once. Shadowess 88 is special. :D she's my sista, so she gets sneak peaks. Sorry, guys. Oh, yeah! I have a message for you, dear sista! Your character will not be featured until the sequel. I'm sorry, but I just had no room in prequel for her!! :s
Anyway! The show must go on! Astrid, the stage is yours!
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Chapter 13: Secret Revealed
During my time at school, I hung around Jaiden. I felt comfortable around her. She was funny and easy to be around.
On my first Friday, for example, Ms. Reiko called on Jaiden for an answer to a question. Jaiden hadn't been paying attention.
"Huh? What?" Jaiden jumped when the teacher finally got her attention, "Cottage cheese?"
The class laughed as Ms. Reiko frowned, "No, Jaiden. The correct answer is twenty-four."
The whole class went into an uproar as Jaiden stood up and bowed, "Thank you! Thank you!"
She was promptly sent to the principal's office.
After school, I waited for her to come out of the office. When she did, she was muttering something about how "there was nothing wrong with cottage cheese in the classroom".
As soon as she saw me, though, a grin spread across her face, "That was the best visit to the principal I've ever had! Although, he didn't think cheese was appropriate for school."
I gave her a small smile. Jaiden always had the most interesting, and often funny, thoughts. Especially when she voiced them out loud and didn't realize she was doing so.
She threw her arm around my shoulders wearing that giant grin of hers, "Plans for the weekend? I hear there's a party going on at someone's house. We should go together!"
I gave her a small smile and shook my head.
"Awww, man!" she whined, "Oh well. I guess I'll crash it by myself!" she threw her arms in the air and danced away yelling, "Have a great weekend, Astrid! See you Monday!"
I waved after her, even though she wasn't paying attention anymore, and began the long walk home.
As I passed the local park, I heard a rather loud commotion coming from deep within the trees.
Out of curiosity, I dumped my school bag on a nearby bench and went to investigate.
What I saw made me freeze in horror and then, slowly, in anger.
A young demon was being beaten to death by older demons of his own kind. They very well could have been his brothers.
I clenched my fists and summoned my staff, gasping at the effort – without my wings, my power was diminished by nearly half.
I shoved my way into the group, and, one by one, shoved the older demons away.
I stood over the victim and glared at the leader of the older ones – I could tell it was he by his obvious size and gait.
"How dare you interfere!" he garbled.
"How low of you to beat on the defenseless and in numbers!" I nearly snarled back.
My own voice shocked me, but I stood my ground.
Thinking that he'd seen a point of weakness when I shocked myself, the leader attacked head-on.
"It's not your business!" he yelled as he charged me.
I widened my stance as he drew nearer and when he was within range, sliced him clean in half with my staff by compressing the air around it.
Green blood splattered my face and stained my hair.
The leader's body fell in clumps to the grass. The victim trembled at my feet.
There were three others still circling around me as their angered cries filled the air.
I lowered my staff and closed my eyes.
"If you don not wish to meet the same fate, then walk away now."
Too late. They were already charging me as a group.
In three swift movements, I was splattered by more blood of blue, purple, and orange.
The victim shivered on the ground, his own yellow blood oozing out onto the grass.
I cast my staff away and knelt beside him. He flinched as my hands touched his face and chest.
"What is your name, young one?" I whispered gently.
"B-Br-Breor." He stammered.
"Mine is Astrid. Do not be afraid, young Breor." A soft light glowed from my hands as they healed his many wounds.
A soft wind blew, caressing it's fingers through my hair.
Finished healing him, I stood and began to walk back to the bench where I'd left my things.
"Wait!" I heard Breor call out to me. I stopped in my tracks, but did not turn around.
Breor ran to catch up with me and came around to look at me.
"Let me repay you for saving my life." A burning fire was alit in his gaze of determination.
"What could you possibly have to offer me?" I was genuinely curious.
"You're obviously not human and I know that you're not supposed to be here." And to answer my next question, he said, "I'm good at sensing the air of someone and what's in it. Yours isn't of here."
I nodded, "So, what are you offering?"
"To take you back into the Demon plane. I can travel between here and there freely."
My eyes widened in shock, "That is a bold offer, but I'm afraid I must refuse."
If I left, I would surely just be dragged back by my people. And I didn't have a clue how to find Hiei. There was no point as far as I was concerned. Another thought, however, occurred to me.
"Are you any good at tracking down demons?" I asked him.
His eyes brightened, "Yeah! Absolutely!"
I nodded and thought for a moment, "What about demons that don't want to be found?"
He never faltered, "Sure thing! You want me to bring someone here to you?"
I shook my head, "No. I'd like you to deliver a message."
I walked around him and grabbed a notebook from my things, scrawled a quick note, tore out the paper, and intricately folded the paper.
I handed it over to Breor, "Take this to Hiei Jaganshi. All I know about his home is that it's surrounded by a forest and is only a few miles east from Mesiphia no Uinzu, sky land of the Falcons." I instructed him.
Breor's face became very serious as he gave me a respectful bow and ran off into the trees where we'd come from.
My heart beat wildly as I watched him disappear. If Breor was successful, it wouldn't be too long before I would be able to see Hiei again.
I hurriedly scooped up my things and went home.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Hiei's POVThe whole week went by without a word from the Butterfly.
I growled to myself as I paced my home's hallways. It was all I could do to keep from burning it all down in my rage.
As the weekend passed, it became even harder to control my temper.
I nearly blew up my breakfast and had to eat it burnt.
On the third day of the new week, a knock sounded on my door and I ran to answer it.
Instead of the Butterfly, however, a young demon boy stood at my door.
"Who the hell are you? And how did you find this place?" I narrowed my eyes suspiciously.
"Are you Hiei Jaganshi?" he asked, short on breath.
I growled and grabbed him by the scruff of his shirt, pulling him inside.
"How do you know that name?" I threw him against the wall, "I'm not in the best of moods lately, so start talking before I rip out your throat."
The boy shivered, "Astrid." He whispered.
I growled, "Astrid? And how would someone like you know someone as esteemed as a Falcon?"
His eyes widened. Apparently, he hadn't known she was a Falcon.
"She saved my life, sir." He gasped. I realized then that I was cutting off his airway. I let him go.
"When?"
"Just last week, sir. On Friday evening." He began breathing normally again.
I seethed, "Liar."
"No! I swear! She sent me to find you and bring you a message!" he fumbled with his pockets and brought out a folded piece of paper.
I glared at him and snatched the paper from his hands. I opened it up and my eyes widened instantly.
There on the paper was Astrid's delicate scrawl.
HieiI have asked good Breor to deliver this message to you in hopes to quell your worrying. I am safe and healthy, living in the Human World.
As to why I'm here, I will save for later. I did not let Breor return me to the demon plane because I was afraid I'd be captured and brought back here, or possibly worse.
That, and I didn't have confidence to find you on my own. Breor doesn't have the strength to protect me and I barely have nay myself now.
I'm sure if you're nice and ask politely, Breor would bring you to the Human World and show you where we met.
I love you. I miss you.
Astrid
As soon as I'd finished reading the message, another knock sounded on my door.
I hastened to open it and the Butterfly stumbled in.
"Sorry! I'm so sorry!" she cried out.
I rolled my eyes, "What happened to two days?"
"I'm sorry!" she cried, "I ha to sneak out again. It wasn't easy, you know."
I didn't care anymore. I knew how to get to Astrid now and that was all that mattered to me. Except…
"Did you happen to find out how she wound up in the Human World?" my voice was short.
Maykuh blinked at me, "How did you know that she's in the Human World?"
I pointed to Breor behind me, "He delivered this message to me from Astrid."
She blinked and nodded, "Okay. Well, it turns out that the Chairman wasn't happy when Astrid told him that she wouldn't sing again until the rumors died down about her being a 'treasure'. So, he ordered for her wings to be clipped and to be sent to the Human World as punishment until she will sing again."
I clutched Astrid's letter tightly in my hand. The injustice of taking her wings was infuriating.
I turned to Breor, "How soon could you take me to the Human World?"
Breor stare at me for a few seconds, "Three weeks. That's how often the tunnel opens."
I gritted my teeth. I didn't like it, but it was all I had. I nodded to him.
"Would you come here and take me there at the right time?" and remembering Astrid's request, I added, "Please?" I winced.
Breor's eyes widened, "Of course. It would please Astrid, I think, and I would do anything to please her. To repay her for saving me."
I nodded, "Sure. Now, get out of my house." Breor scrambled out the door and I turned to the Butterfly, "Unless you have more to say, get out. You don't want to get in trouble with your people."
Maykuh was visibly upset, although I don't think she would voice that she was because she was a little bit afraid of me. Or very, I don't know. Maybe not at all.
"I want to go with you." She set her jaw-line in a stubborn way.
I rolled my eyes. Of course she did. Astrid was her best friend.
What made her even think that I'd say 'yes', I'll never know.
"No." I said bluntly. She immediately pouted. I stopped her before she even got started.
"Absolutely not. No amount of pleading or begging is going to change my mind." I took her by her upper arm and started dragging her to the door.
"What about a bribe?" she said hurriedly.
I paused and let go of her. I faced her and crossed my arms. I gave her a look that said that I thought she was rather humorous.
"What could you possibly have to bribe?" I smirked, "And that would be valuable enough for me to actually keep my word." I added slyly.
Maykuh slumped her shoulders, "Okay. You got me. I don't have anything that valuable." She looked back up at me; she was still determined, "At least bring her to the clan when you bring her back. I'd like to see her."
I nodded, "Very well. That's fair enough. Now, get out!"
The Butterfly finally skittered out the door and I was finally alone to plan for my trip.
However, I couldn't concentrate on anything except for her. I knew where she was now and I could find her easily. All it would take to see her would be a few seconds' time to locate her energy signature and follow it to her.
I sat on the couch and closed my eyes. My Jagan slit open and glowed as I summoned its power to find Astrid.
It was very simple. I found that humans had very little energy to speak of, making Astrid's stick out like a thorn on a rosebush.
Following it took only a split second and there she was, bent over a school desk and hard at work.
I watched as she suddenly stiffened. My eyebrows furrowed, wondering what was wrong.
She looked up from her work and looked up – and straight at me. Her eyes were wide as she sensed me watching her. I'd never known it to happen before and it shocked me.
A small smile appeared on her lips and an unknown feeling clenched and tightened in my chest.
A violet-eyed girl beside her tugged on Astrid's sleeves. With a last glance to me, Astrid turned to the girl and wrote on a piece of paper. I noticed that even though the other girl rambled on endlessly, Astrid never said a word, only wrote on the paper.
Her vow, I think, had gone further than she'd intended. I became angry with her people for what they'd done to her.
I swore I would kill who ever had done this to her. I felt my anger rising uncontrollably.
Astrid stiffened again and looked back at me, her face half-stricken and concerned.
I sighed and let my anger go. Knowing her, I knew she thought I was mad at her. I couldn't believe she could even sense my feelings.
I closed my Jagan in relief that she was safe and well and I fell asleep.
Three weeks later, Breor returned to take me to the tunnel into the Human World.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Astrid's POVFrom that first time that I had sensed Hiei watching me, I became a more visibly happy person. Everyone noticed it, too.
Several times I could feel him watching me and every time I would look in the direction that he was watching me from.
That weekend, Jaiden came over to my apartment to work on a class project. She decided that she'd stay the night as well, kind of as a party just between the two of us.
After we'd had enough of our homework, we began playing games – all at the insistence of Jaiden, of course.
We played pictionary, cards, and, eventually, twenty questions. I think she chose the last game so that we could get to know each other even better.
We asked back and forth, Jaiden verbalizing as I would write on a marker board.
"What's your favorite cheese?" Jaiden asked.
I grinned and wrote, Cottage cheese.
Jaiden laughed, "Okay. Your turn."
What's your most embarrassing moment?Jaiden covered her face, "It's too embarrassing to tell!"
I giggled, catching Jaiden's attention.
"That's the first sound I've ever heard you make." She looked at me peculiarly, "What's your favorite color?"
My thoughts instantly turned to Hiei and the deep red color of his eyes.
Garnet.
Jaiden scrunched up her face, "I thought that was a birthstone?"
I shrugged, Ask another one. I pass this round.
Jaiden nodded, then thought for a while.
Finally, "I really didn't want to ask you this because I didn't want to scare you or put you off or anything, but – " she took a deep breath and leaned in close, "You aren't human, are you?"
I was taken by surprise, and my widened as I gaped at her. How could she possibly know? I wasn't that different, was I?
She waved her hands in front of her face, "Oh! Don't worry! You fit in perfectly as a human. It's just that, you see… " she leaned even closer and whispered, "I'm a witch."
I was shocked into speaking, "A witch?" I whispered.
"Well, I don't really use my powers, so I'm not a very good witch." She did a double take, "Wait, did you just speak?"
I nodded.
"Omigosh!" Her violet eyes became round as grapefruits, "Do you mind if I ask you questions? About not being human?"
I nodded again, "As long as I can ask questions in return."
She grinned, "Of course!"
And so, our game had been renewed and we interviewed each other well into the next morning.
We didn't go to sleep until the sun had already risen.
We'd exchanged out stories and how we'd ended up at the school.
She'd asked to see my wings, but I couldn't.
She had been upset to find out why, but didn't blame me at all.
The last thing said was me asking her not to tell anyone I had spoken. She promised just before we both drifted into sleep.
The next few weeks passed and Jaiden and I were inseparable. I told her everything about Hiei, from his flaming temper to his cooling tenderness. I told her about how his muscles moved and shifted beneath his skin and I told her about his eyes.
His eyes that were so capturing and with a single look could melt your heart into a useless pool of nothingness.
Jaiden had given me a broad grin with a mischievous glint in her eyes, "Sounds like someone's in love."
My face grew warm, "Yes, I do love him. More that anyone I've ever known."
Jaiden's eyes grew, "More than your parents?"
"My parents?" I looked down, "I've never had parents. I've been an orphan all of my life."
Jaiden's face fell, "Oh, I'm sorry. If it makes it any better, I'm an orphan, too."
I gave her a sad smile, "It's okay. I'm sorry, too."
Immediately, her eyes filled with tears. My heart began to race. Oh no.
"More than me?"
I laughed, relieved, "How could I?" I pulled her into a tight hug, the two of us laughing.
A few days later, we sat in class barely listening to the teacher's lecture; Jaiden was doodling and I was writing notes, when I sensed something familiar.
It took me a few seconds to recognize what it was entirely. I stiffened and my pen fell to the floor.
Jaiden noticed and she leaned closer to me and whispered, "Astrid? What's wrong?"
The only thing I could say was too quiet for her to hear the first time.
"What?" she whispered.
"He's here!" I said louder this time so that the whole class could ehar me, and I bolted from the classroom.
I was barely aware of Jaiden, and the whole rest of the class, following me as I flung open the front doors to the school.
And there he was, standing just outside the front locked gates, staring at the school as if willing me to come out.
I was breathless as I watched him start. He grabbed the bars of the gates and examined them.
Before the class caught up to me, he cleared the gates without an effort.
Jaiden breathed beside me, "Wow. You weren't kidding. He's captivating."
Hiei began walking towards me and a single tear trickled down my cheek.
I sprinted towards him, unable to wait, and my wings, of their very own will, appeared and I flew into his open arms.
The force of me flying into him knocked him over and he brought me with him.
We lied on the ground for I don't know how long until the class surrounded us and we were forced to get up.
Ms. Reiko appeared soon after and she wasn't very happy. She tried ushering the students back inside, but they were consumed in Hiei and me.
Mostly because after we had stood, Hiei unexpectedly pulled me close and pressed his lips to mine in a deep kiss.
I lost myself in the passion and my heart flew.
When he pulled away, he stroke my cheek softly and gazed into my eyes.
He didn't say word. He didn't have to. His eyes said it all.
There was a sudden tugging on my sleeve and I looked over and saw Jaiden.
Her eyes were on my wings, "They're beautiful."
I gave her a smile, glad she was the only one, other than Hiei, who was able to see them.
"All right! All right!" came Ms. Reiko's voice, "Break it up! Back to class, everyone!"
I jumped, brought suddenly back to the Human reality.
"Ms. Reiko!" I called to her, "May the three of us have a minute?"
the teacher pursed her lips, "Five minutes. That's it!"
I nodded and turned to Jaiden with a sad smile.
"Jaiden."
She sighed dramatically, "Yeah, yeah. I know. You're going to leave now, aren't you?"
My eyes began to water and I pulled her into a tight embrace.
"You will always be my friend, Jaiden."
She winked, "Make sure you come and visit sometimes, okay?"
I nodded, "Absolutely."
Jaiden kissed my cheek, then, pumping her arm in the air and shouting as loud as possible, "All hail the cottage cheese!"
I laughed through my tears, "All hail!" I yelled, although not quite as loud.
Hiei's arm wrapped around my waist, "Breor is waiting for us. We don't have much time left."
I nodded and he lifted me over the gates in an effortless leap.
"Goodbye, Jaiden! I'll miss you!" I called.
"Goodbye, my lovely cottage cheese eater!" I heard her say.
Hiei gave me a funny look as he carried me bridal style across the land as I laughed.
"Do I even want to ask?" I laughed again and shook my head.
"I'll explain later." He nodded.
As soon as we reached Breor, Hiei set me down and Breor led us through the tunnel and into Demon World.
"Thank you, Breor. You have no idea what you've just helped accomplish." I said as soon as we were on the other side.
He bowed low, "It is my honor, Lady Astrid. If you ever need me for anything, whisper my name to the birds and I shall find you."
He smiled broadly and nodded to Hiei.
I smiled back, "Thank you, Breor."
With another bow, he ran off into the trees.
I looked to Hiei. He was staring into the sky at the setting sun.
I touched his arm, "Let's fly!" I said quietly.
His gaze turned to mine as he clasped onto my waist.
He leaned in and whispered in my ear, "Hold on tight."
I was confused at first, but we were suddenly moving through the trees at incredibly high speeds.
In only a matter of minutes, we were at the door of his home.
I stared at him, bewildered. He smirked.
"If you'd flown us, we would not have made it by nightfall. Besides," a sly glint entered his crimson gaze, "Your wings haven't had any exercise lately."
I gaped, "How did you know?"
"The Butterfly." He stated matter-of-factly.
I opened my mouth to inquire further, but, rather than words, a yawn escaped my mouth.
Hiei chuckled, "Come. You're tired."
He took me by the hand and led me to his bedroom to where I'd slept before.
He gently lifted me, once again, and set me carefully into bed. He followed after me and held me close, his face buried in my neck.
I smiled and stroked his hair.
Just like that, we fell asleep in each other's arms.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
A/N:
Long chapter, I know, BUT! I accomplished my goal and brought them back together. YAY! XD
I felt that some of their moments were kind of cutesy, but… yeah
Oh, yes! Unolai – I'm trying to bring Jaiden into all of her glory as you have portrayed her. Although I feel that I've failed miserably (mainly cuz she's your character and you're the only one who could ever truly accomplish this task). Please let me know how I did in this chapter!
Anyway! You guys know the drill!! Review or give cookies! Or both!! Both are very much loved!! :D