Because of Small Things
Chapter 28


I stared at Kiyou, who was glaring over at me as he centered his hands in front of his chest and breathed out heavily. I widened my stance and positioned my hands in a sort of triangular figure as my eyes darkened completely, my veins shifting. I felt my hair whip around before Kiyou raced toward me, a gust of colored wind shooting from his feet. I grit my teeth, locking my jaw, as he rammed into me and it felt like it was a big rig truck but I grabbed his shoulders, feeling my mind shift as I used all my strength to toss Kiyou over my shoulders but he grabbed my wrist and threw me as well but he angled himself so that he threw me over him and into the concrete ground with a loud smack. I ignored the pain doubling up in my chest as I twisted my arm around to my back and backing us up so he hit the grey pillars in the room we were standing in.

He yelled out and shoved me forward. I turned and crossed my arms as he lurched his body forward, a force field racing toward me. I screamed out as it hit me with full force but I swung my arms out, guiding the force field away from me and staring over at Kiyou but earning a punch to the face. I stumbled back and dodged Kiyou's next attack. I swung my leg out but he managed to grab my knee, squeezing and twisting. My body flew in the air like a rag doll and I slammed into the ground. I grunted and yelled out as he tugged me and threw me toward the far wall. My body tensed as I flipped my body so my feet smacked onto the wall, my knees bending with a slight crack as I smirked, pushing myself off the wall with speed Hiei would be proud of, to add a little humor to this moment.

I reached out and slowly, my shadow sword appeared and I swung it downward but Kiyou grabbed the blade, twisting it and tossing me aside. I skidded to a halt and glared over at him. He really was unlike any opponent I've faced before. It was like he anticipated my every move. I locked my jaw and stood, panting slightly at Kiyou stared at me, almost with a bored look. "Your father was more of a challenge, girl…" he teased and my anger bubbled and I could feel my demon side shake with anger as well. I allowed my upper lip to snarl as my left hand gripped the hilt of my sword. I felt a power surge in me that felt unfamiliar but I just went with it. Kiyou's eyes narrowed as he stepped back some as a sort of dome appeared around me, pushing the air around the room into whirls and small twisters that came and went real quick.

In a flash, I appeared right in front of him and slammed my elbow in his face before he had a chance to react. I swung my arm out but he managed to grab it, despite my plan of distraction, and swung me so my body flipped over his but I stopped once I was hovering over him, fighting against his mind with mine. I felt my head perspire as I saw his eyes narrow, wrinkles lining his eyes and lips because of his strain. Finally, I yelled out and we both fell into the ground, in the same position. He yelled out as well (but from pain) and his hold broke so I jumped from my hovering and landed, crouched low and panting as Kiyou pulled himself from the crater we made. He was a little roughed up but other than that, he seemed just fine. I was pretty much drained of energy so I felt and looked like shit, I could imagine.

Kiyou chuckled and pushed his hair back, his mouth curling into a mocking smirk. "You surprised me, Etsuko! I wasn't expecting that much of a punch from you…" I glared at him and he laughed some more. "I can tell you're tired by how much your mind has weakened from that last move… Poor you! If you just engulfed that meaningless fire yokai's Jagan powers, you'd be able to withstand more telepathic energy." I glared harder at him and widened my stance. "I see that's not happening. Oh well, it'd be interesting to see one of you turn evil. I can't even imagine the damage you'd be able to do to a whole clan of demons," he stated and I gulped the saliva back, eyeing him. "Sure your father turned to the dark side, but not fully… If he did, there'd be no way you'd be on Koenma's team, in any lifetimes."

"What…do you mean?" I panted out, wanting nothing more than to let my energy rejuvenate slowly.

"Beings like you are bred for wars and armies and for the side that's fighting for a good cause. No one told you this? A telekinesis and telepathic demon would never mate on their own free will…not in a million generations! It's just part of mother nature's law, in some way!" he stated, smirking. "I'm surprised Tsutomu didn't tell you this. He told you everything else."

"Yeah, well he was cut short," I remarked before returning to my half demon form and racing toward him, not feeling too energetic still. Kiyou easily blocked each of my moves and even managed to shove his palm into my face, shoving me back. I somehow found myself on my back, panting.

"You innocent little girl, did you really think you'd be able to beat me?" he asked, leaning over me before circling me. I breathed in and wanted to stand, but it was like a force field was pushing me down. I pushed against it and grunted, falling back again. I stared up at Kiyou and he chuckled. "It sucks being restrained, huh? This is how I killed your father, remember?" I narrowed my eyes as images flashed through my head just as the force field pushed down against me. I grunted and my fingers gripped at the concrete underneath me. I saw flashes of my father's bulging eyes and the veins in his neck and head turning a bright purple and I knew mine were too. My vision began clearing and I swear I felt like I was dying.

"Don't you even think about it," I heard a familiar voice snap. I grunted as my demon side pushed against my lowered life energy. "Your father wasn't weak. He gave his life to save you and your mother, but his plan back fired when Kiyou turned against his word… This petty move wouldn't have killed your father if he didn't give into it, like you are right now." The world around me silenced as my head began racing images through my vision.

"You have to swear to give me your powers, Dominic," Kiyou's voice rang loud as my father's face paled and the veins popping from his skin turned a bright shade of purple. His beautiful sage green eyes turned dark as they flickered from black and green and his lips widened into a silenced scream. His nails dug hard into the carpet as Kiyou laughed above him.

"If you keep your promise and let my wife and daughter go…" my father grunted as Kiyou glared down at him.

"We'll see…" With a sickening crack, my father's eyes turned dull as his head turned toward my mother and me. My eyes were wide as Kiyou turned to us, his eyes darkening. "I don't feel his power…" he whispered. "He lied to me, evil bastard and for that, you two will take the blame."

My eyes blinked as my lips tightened and I willed myself in, my demon side coming out, fully. I tore through the force field, shocking the hell out of Kiyou and rammed into his stomach, slamming us both into the wall and aiming rapid punches at his face, but he managed to dodge a few. I made a motion of throwing him and his body followed, flying across the room as my demon form followed after him, growling. I slammed into him before jumping back and position my elbows at my waist, my hands flexing outward as I stepped forward, a huge force field racing toward Kiyou who tried to block but it maneuvered around his powers and slammed into him, pinning him against the wall in a tight grasp. The force field were weaves of black and purple and shot off shocks of lightning as I walked toward him, my face emotionless like always in this mode.

I reached my hand out and pushed against the force field. He hollered out and a smirk twisted my face. "How does that feel, you bastard? Don't you like a taste of your own medicine?" I hissed and Kiyou yelled out again as I twisted my fingers in, the force squeezing his body as a whole. "Die you stupid bastard," I hissed before putting my two hands together as fists (thumbs together) and pulled them apart. A sickening crack echoed through my mind and I smirked once again as his eyes turned dull, his body turning limp. I released his body and turned toward the boys, who were staring at me, shocked.

I walked forward and toward Hiei. I breathed in and moved my mind into his. It was the same room, same instant as I moved aside as a demon appeared, Hiei's katana instantly slicing through it. He looked over at me and sheathed his katana. "You actually managed to defeat him," he stated and I shrugged, holding my hand out and sighing. "I can do it myself."

"It's faster when a foreign mind is in yours, and you know this," I hissed, still in my demon form and he reluctantly grasped my hand and I willed myself out, hovering in front of him as the slit on his forehead opened, peering around. I snapped back into my body and stared at the braces, willing them off and smirking as a pop sounded, Hiei fell to his knees and standing instantly. He looked around and I sighed, staying in my demon form.

"Aren't you going to transform back?" Yusuke asked.

"If I did, Etsuko would surely be comatose…" I stated, frowning. "Using that much mind energy against Kiyou almost killed her… And you better be disappointed, Hiei because if she died, you would've have inherited all of her powers." Hiei glared at me.

"Hn."

"That's what I thought," I hissed before walking forward. I didn't need to say anymore. Everyone was thinking it: let's go home. I needed to sleep, for a long time, and I knew it'd be more than a couple days. Even in my demon form, I felt amazingly tired and that was rare I learned because me and my demon side are two different people (basically). Same face but different souls. I saw the familiar portals of Koenma appear before me and sighed, stepping inside. I was surprised he could send a portal into this mansion without it getting lost or stuck against a wall.

"I'm glad you made it back alright," Koenma greeted as we walked through the portal, appearing in his office. I shrugged and Koenma eyed me. "Why aren't you changing back, Etsuko?" I didn't answer. I didn't feel like talking.

"If she does, she'll be comatose she used so much mind energy," Yusuke answered for me. I nodded my thanks to him and he smiled.

"I see… Well, how about we put you in the rejuvenation chamber?" I eyed Koenma. "It simply puts energy into your head so you don't become comatose. Instead you'd just go into a deep, healthy sleep that you'll wake from for sure," he stated and I nodded.

"Put me in there," I mumbled and I saw shivers go down Koenma's spine, which was why I didn't want to speak. My double voice tended to send chills, a lot.

"Alright… George!" An ogre came in and Koenma looked over at him. "Please escort Etsuko to the rejuvenation chamber." George nodded and motioned to the door. I nodded my goodbye and thanks to the boys. I eyed Hiei and sighed. I knew I'd never get a thank you from that yokai. His pride and ego were way too high for him to say thanks to me. I shrugged it off and followed George out of the room and down the hallway where he lead me passed five doors and to an oddball door made of an iron.

He opened the door and smiled. "Hello Setsuka… Koenma sent me to escort Etsuko to the chamber." Setsuka nodded and smiled at me.

"Right this way, Miss Etsuko," she stated and I followed her. "We'll need you to change into these clothes." She pulled out a nicely flattened hospital gown looking thing and without caring I changed in front of her. I really was too tired to care about a girl watching me change. Well, she wasn't watching me but you get what I mean. I tied my hair back into its usual braid, not knowing how it got untied and walked into the door with Setsuka. She told me to lay down and I did and allowed her to poke my arm with a needle, attaching a tube. "This is just some medicine to soothe your mind… It will do no harm to you once so ever." I nodded and instantly began to feel relaxed. "If you feel troubled or disturbed, we will know and instantly pull you out, ok?" I nodded again and my mind turned blank as my veins settled.