A/N: I feel like I don't have the right to ask you guys this, since you've all been absolutely amazing, but I'm going to go out on a limb and do it anyways. I'm a little self conscious about my interpretation of Hiei's character, and I'm looking for some feedback...so please (and thank you,) let me know what you think, good bad or otherwise!


29 — Grave

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The clearing he'd found was perfect.

He spent days patrolling it, his instincts overtaking his raging temper, flaring wildly and marking territory. No one would dare come here, lest they risk his wrath.

It was only after he'd calmed down that he realized that he had an urgent problem on his hands. He'd essentially kidnapped the miko in anger, and she was still injured—he was unprepared to deal with a human wound.

He visited her, sitting by her side for hours, morbidly admiring the deep red of her blood as it tried to leave her body. The wound wanted to heal, he could tell. He wasn't unfamiliar with such injuries, but it seemed he'd unintentionally done some good when his youki had flared, for it had partially cauterized the puncture and now her body and ki struggled to do the rest.

He treated her as gently as he was able in an attempt to make her comfortable. Her body felt cold, and for once he felt helpless. Despite his initial rage, he couldn't help but fear the worst had been done, and she would die not from injuries but from the loss of lifeblood.

This place was a grave.