A/N: HEY FRIENDS AND FOES. So, first of all, this week has been fucking tough. But I got my meds back, so big yay! Stability is on the horizon. Thank you all for your wonderful support and I love you all. You were all very sweet reaching out to me, and I greatly appreciate it. My depressive episodes are triggered by shit brain chemistry and aren't situational, so while I do what I can, I often just have to ride them out. That aside…
I'm going to be taking a short break from posting. I've decided to take the month of February off for a multitude of reasons. I've been hammering away at writing posted stories since July. Over 300k words posted, and a little over 100k written in compilation documents. I will definitely come back. I already have the next chapter pretty much drafted. I just need some me time.
And lastly, I think I finally settled on a new title for this since it's taken on its own form.
Survivor's Guilt.
I'm down for opinions! But lacking any strong concerns, I'm going with it and the next update will be under that title. I'll add something to the blurb to remind people what the story used to be called.
Thank you all for understanding! And feel free to reach out to me anytime! I'll be around, I just won't update until March. I love y'all!
When Hiei crept into Shinpi's bedroom is was technically early morning. The darkness outside was still deep, and he was sure to keep himself as quiet as possible as he stepped onto her desk and closed the window behind him. Leaves stuck in his hair and his boots were still slick with mud, leaving footprints in his wake before he kicked them off and left them sitting by the desk chair. Tracking that orange-eyed bastard had been relatively easy, but it hadn't been clean. Hiei had taken him time once he found him too. Now he was here, though, and even without light he picked up the bandages covering Shinpi's arms, neck and face as she lay curled against Kurama's side.
So much for the fox never entering her bed.
Hiei settled onto the floor next to the bed, his back against the wall as he rested. He hadn't bothered to shower before coming in here, so grime and blood still stained in his arms in flaky streaks. He probably smelled too. Didn't matter, he was tired from chasing down the ring leader. His eyes had barely been closed for a minute when he heard Shinpi begin to toss and turn. Then a soft whine from the back of her throat followed by a subdued snarl.
Sighing, he got to his feet. It seemed Kurama's presence wasn't enough to push off the nightmares. Not tonight at least.
Not when her ordeal was still so fresh.
Hiei reached out and cupped her cheek to keep her head steady. Honestly, it was his fault that her teeth latched onto the space between his thumb and forefinger. He should've seen it coming. So he didn't yell at her for biting him, despite the fact he was a bit impressed with her jaw strength, he merely bit back on his own disgruntled growl.
Shinpi tore the flesh a little bit before growling deep in her chest. Her eyes opened as the heel of her hand shove under his chin. The sound woke Kurama who sat bolt upright and moved to separate the two demons beside him.
"It's fine." Hiei snapped at him harshly. "She's waking up."
As if on cue Shinpi opened her mouth and released him, dropping her arms to the comforter. With wide eyes she stared up at Hiei, who raised an eyebrow and lifted his hand to assess the damage.
"Fucking wolf demons." He mumbled, but he smirked none the less. "I'm glad my throat wasn't close enough for you to tear out."
"Maybe next time." She responded quietly, sitting up. Taking his hand into her own she ran her thumb through the blood pooling in his palm. "I'm sorry Hiei, I'll hea-"
He jerked the appendage back and huffed. Ripping off a piece of his scarf he wrapped it around the bite mark before pushing her over toward Kurama so he could post himself on the outer edge of the bed.
"Focus on yourself, fool." He grumbled, sitting with his back against the headboard. "You can't waste your energy right now."
"I'm not made of glass." She grumped back at him.
"Could have had me fooled." Hiei smirked when she offered a frustrated huff.
Kurama watched them, a little perplexed. "What just happened?"
"Bad dream." Hiei and Shinpi responded in unison. Hiei went on. "Get some sleep, Kurama. If you're here she won't try any of that cuddling nonsense with me."
"You have your own room." Shinpi shot back at him.
"I'd rather be in yours tonight. Want to fight about it?"
"Maybe tomorrow."
"That's what I thought. Go to sleep."
"Ass." But she did as he demanded and laid back down against Kurama, arms wrapped around the fox who looked mildly uncomfortable now that Hiei was there.
"Are you sure?" Kurama asked Hiei quietly, noticing the glare the fire demon was tossing the pair of them. Hiei merely turned his face away and closed his eyes, settling in for another uncomfortable night of sleep.
It was much later in the morning when Hiei inhaled the tainted scent of blood and rain. It reminded him of home. He buried his face in the source, breathing deeply. There was a soft groan that greeted his action and he opened his eyes to realize he was pressing his face against Shinpi's shoulder, his arms wound around her middle from behind. Kurama slept facing the two of them, one arm trapped under both his and Shinpi's necks. The woman herself had tangled her limbs around the fox, her face smothered in his chest.
What a fucking blessing he'd been the first to wake up.
Or so he'd thought.
"Comfy?" Shinpi had the audacity to sound pleased with herself.
Hiei squeezed against what he knew was a bruise as punishment for the remark. She exhaled sharply and it pleased him. "Very."
"Can you both be quiet?" Kurama whined.
Great, so they were all awake and just mushed together this way. Hiei began to retract, disgusted. It was just as he was trying to wake up the arm under Shinpi enough for it to obey his commands that the bedroom door flew open and Yusuke and Kuwabara came bounding in. Without warning they flopped onto the bed, crushing all three occupants beneath them. Hiei grunted as a knee landed in his stomach. Kurama called out in complaint.
Shinpi however, merely laughed even as the breath whooshed from her lungs. "Get off me you dorks."
"But moooooom, we were so scared!" Yusuke laughed as he dramatically clutched the woman to his chest. "And we just had to come see you!"
"Yeah!" Kuwabara burrowed himself between Hiei and Shinpi, pulling the woman into a lung crushing bear hug. "We had to make sure you okay!"
"She'd be better if you two weren't crushing her." Hiei snapped at them, whacking Kuwabara upside his head. "Let her go, oaf. She's injured and you're not helping."
Botan and Keiko entered the room looking thoroughly humored. When Yusuke flailed some, pretending to wail about Shinpi's well-being Hiei finally gave up on using his words and launched himself at the detective. Straddling the man, he shoved a pillow down over his face with a feral grin.
"Oh, we brought you breakfast!" Botan jogged over and held out a brown paper back to Shinpi as everyone ignored Hiei's assault on Yusuke.
"And coffee. Thought you could use some." Keiko handed her a paper to-go cup.
"You're angels thank you." Shinpi beamed at them and then reached over and pulled Yusuke's head to her chest as Hiei finally let him go. "Be nice to my son, Hiei."
His immediate deadpan expression made her neutral mask slip some, a smile threatening to spread from the upturned corner of her mouth. "You're all idiots."
"Dad's a bit of piss ant this early in the morning, huh?" Kuwabara mumbled and Hiei's eyes went livid as he landed a hit on the taller man's head.
"Don't call me dad you giant idiot."
"Hey, he knows all the lines." Yusuke pointed at Hiei who growled. "Ah, relax short stuff."
"I hate all of you." Hiei shoved Kuwabara out the bed to take his spot at Shinpi's side before pilfering through the brown bag. He produced a single donut and set the food on her lap for easier access. "Make yourself useful, detective, and go make some real food. Sugar isn't going to allow Shinpi to heal. She needs protein."
"You ain't the boss of me." Yusuke pointed out, shoving a finger toward Hiei's face.
"Actually, it would be nice. I'm actually quite hungry." Shinpi smiled softly at Yusuke. "But it's alright if you don't want to cook, Yusuke. I can manage myself."
Hiei had to admit, Shinpi was concerningly good when it came to the art of manipulation. Yusuke blushed for a second, rubbed his neck then muttered some incoherent acceptance, talking about making the best breakfast.
"I can't wait." Shinpi smiled at him with more warmth and the detective slid off the bed.
"Guess my skills in the kitchen are why I'm the favorite." Yusuke huffed, grinning suddenly. Kuwabara barked out in argument.
"Now, now boys, I love all my children equally."
Hiei thought he might gag, but said nothing as the two idiots began to argue about which one was actually the woman's favorite. A smirk ghosted over Hiei's lips for a moment as Shinpi rested her head on his shoulder, just briefly, her eyes closed. Let them have their petty arguments then. Neither of them was correct.
It was obvious he was her favorite anyway.
"No special reason or anything, but uh, what's your favorite color?" Kazuma asked as he handed Hichi her coffee. They still gathered on her bed, Kurama and Kuwabara, something that irritated Hiei to no end. The women helped Yusuke cook food downstairs leaving the three demons in bed and Kuwabara to annoy them.
"My favorite color?" She blinked up at him.
"Yeah! It's purple, right?" He bobbed his head and sat at her feet, grinning. "Not blue."
"You're right, Kazuma!" Shinpi beamed at him. "No one ever guesses correctly! How did you figure that out?"
"Whenever we go shopping you always look at the purple clothes but buy blue. But you get purple accessories, like that little thing you keep on your purse." He shrugged. "Shizuru taught me to pay special attention to stuff like that."
"Brilliant woman who raised a brilliant man." Shinpi continued to smile brightly.
"I thought it was crimson." Hiei kept his teasing voice quiet enough that only she would hear him. Her face flushed immediately and she backhanded his chest without a thought, then winced at the pain that radiated down her arm while he smirked. "Idiot."
"In your face, Kurama! I told you!" Kuwabara stuck his tongue out at the fox, who was sporting serious bedhead.
"Congratulations." Kurama muttered eyes narrowed as he ran his fingers through his hair, his eyes trying to glimpse Hiei around Shinpi. Within seconds of Shinpi noticing him trying to untangle the knots that come to life overnight, she asked Kuwabara to get her hairbrush. Then, Kurama found himself sitting in front of her while she brushed out his hair.
"I can't believe you thought my favorite color was blue, Kurama." Shinpi teased him as she gently combed through his mane. "That's Hiei's favorite."
Hiei stiffened slightly, glancing at her. "They weren't talking about me."
"Wait, you said you didn't have a fav-" Kuwabara's argument was cut off when Hiei nonchalantly kicked him in the stomach and shot him a glare.
"What was that Kazuma?" Shinpi leaned around Kurama to gaze at her pupil.
"Oh, I said, uh," the carrot top glanced at Hiei's scowl, "that we already knew Hiei's favorite color."
She went back to her task without another word to him about it. Instead switching gears slightly, "I think you'd look nice in other colors too, Hiei. You wore blue at The Dark Tournament and it looked very charming. I bet you'd look rather dashing in scarlet or lavender or even just more white. You have the skin for it."
"Hn. No one asked you your opinion on my attire." Hiei responded gruffly, looking away. "I'll wear what I want to wear. Isn't that your rule?"
"You don't offer opinions on my clothes. We discussed that if you did I'd take it under consideration." She reminded him softly, a small smile on her face as she plucked a few seeds from the tangles above Kurama's nape. "I'll give these back to you when I'm done."
"I'd appreciate it." The fox turned to smile at her over his shoulder. "Hiei doesn't offer opinions on things like clothing, it's not his style."
"Hn. No one's ever bothered to ask either." Hiei pointed out to him dryly. "I'm not totally oblivious, you know. I have preferences."
"And they are?" Shinpi caught him in a gaze that felt like a noose when he swallowed.
"Yeah, shrimp, dazzle us with your fashion insight." Kuwabara teased leaning toward them.
Hiei's eyebrow ticked, his eyes pinched closed and his arms over his chest. "You're all idiots. I don't owe any of you an answer."
"That's a shame. I was going to ask you to pick out my outfit for me today. You helped me that one time before, remember? With my shirt." Shinpi shrugged and then piled the seeds in Kurama's waiting palm. "All done."
Hiei glanced at the two of them, then at Shinpi's closet. Then the drawer before quickly turning back to the woman. He remembered the incident she mentioned, when she'd just stripped down in front of him as if it were nothing. Her wiggling into a pair of jeans…
"Fine."
She turned to him with her head tilted in question.
"I'll pick out your clothing for the day. But if you don't like it I don't want to hear you whining." He warned her darkly. "You don't ask for help often, so I suppose I should answer the call when it comes. Even if it is over something nonconsequential."
She was ready to explain to him that it wasn't his help she wanted, but his actual opinion when she stopped herself. If this was his way of answering her question, then so be it. Stubborn fool that he was couldn't stand being ribbed by his friends.
"Alright, everyone out. I'm tired of sitting in bed already." Shinpi shooed Kurama and Kuwabara away. When the door closed behind them she sagged against the headboard and let out a sigh. "Honestly, I'm already exhausted."
Hiei frowned at her. "Don't pretend to be fine for their benefit."
"What about for yours?" She asked, shooting him a look he didn't quite understand. "Are you done being angry with me?"
He really had left a handprint on her just as Yusuke had accused the night before, he could see it tattooed against her jaw. Sighing, he reached over and brushed the bruises with his fingertips then pulled away entirely. What a great time to start rustling through her clothing so he wouldn't have to look her in the eye. He had a vague idea of what he'd dress her in, he just needed to find the right materials.
"Yusuke told me I wasn't angry. He accused me of being worried." Hiei scoffed at the mere of it. "Because it was you. Because you were hurt. Taken."
Remembering the video of her strapped to a chair, defenseless, getting the fire beaten out of her made his hands clench. He shook them out subtly, rolling his shoulders to loosen them.
"Obviously you don't agree." Shinpi watched him peruse her closet, noting how he purposefully kept his back to her. "If you're about to berate me for being stupid, Hiei-"
"I am angry." Hiei cut her off, glaring over his shoulder at her. Then he turned away again and selected a pair of green shorts from a hanger. "You asked me to go with you, Shinpi. If I had, this wouldn't have happened to you."
His tone remained hot, annoyed, but he deflated some with the words as she watched.
"If I hadn't been too wrapped up in my head… I should have never said no to you. I could have been there, I could have had your back, and instead I stayed here like a coward and let you get tortured." He shook as he spoke. "My only question is, why aren't you angry with me?"
He turned and stared at her, trying to make her answer him. They were alone now. She didn't have to pretend to be fine. She didn't have to keep her tongue in check like she tried to in front of the others. She could yell at him. Strike him. Accuse him of being the selfish bastard he was. Blame him. He waited, watching her study him with that impassive mask in place and he knew it was coming.
"I wanted you to come so I could spend time with you, Hiei, not so you could have my back."
He nearly dropped the shorts and sweater he'd picked out, his eyes going wide. Shinpi sighed again, looking all the more exhausted, but she smiled for him and it was a sweet, small thing.
"How can you ask me to be angry with you when you're so sad?" She whispered, the smile fading as she looked away from him. "I'm glad you weren't there, Hiei. They wanted you. Honestly, it was a comfort to me that you hadn't come. If they'd gotten you powerless in that mist, they'd have killed you on the spot. I wouldn't have been able to live with myself."
"Stop it." He demanded harshly. "Stop using your twisted logic to absolve me of-"
She was in front of him before the end of the sentence, her arms around his middle and her head tucked under his chin. The movement cost her, he felt her tremble and lean on him for support. He offered little in return.
"You were ready to die." He wanted to scream the words at her, because they burned his chest in the most nauseating way and it was her fault. "You just accepted it. You can't do that. You can't just leave-"
He cut himself off that time because he'd about to tell her she couldn't just leave him. The realization sent a rod down his spine and then he growled, wrapping his arms around her a little too tightly.
"I was in your head the whole time." He told her coldly. "I saw it all. I felt it. I hate that you can so readily embrace death."
"Me too." She breathed the admission against his collarbone and it chilled and warmed him all at once. "I hate it too, Hiei. I hate that I can be rendered so weak by mere memories."
"Memories?" Hiei pulled back and stared at her face.
"Hiro is a lightning user." Shinpi shook her head. "Much like my fear of heights, I've developed a phobia of electrical shocks. The minute they attached those electrodes to me I was dead. I knew it. I couldn't not know it."
She took the cream colored sweater out of his hand and slung it over her shoulder before placing a kiss to his palm, then to his knuckles. She lifted his hand and rested her forehead against his fingers, sighing.
Hiei pulled out of her fingers only to wrap his hand around the back of her head and tug her close again. His mouth brushed over hers lightly, then with more intent. Suddenly he had her against a wall, bandaged wrists trapped in his hands and his body melting against hers. The only protest she offered was when he tried to pull away, her teeth catching his bottom lip and drawing him back into the kiss. He released her wrists so he could run his hands down her bandaged arms, up her legs, around her back, under her shirt, anywhere he could press his fingers to her skin where he could find it free of bandages. Touch her. Make sure she was still real. He encountered far more wounds than he liked.
"Take the binds off." He murmured against her mouth.
"Hiei." His name was caught between a whine and complaint.
"I'm cashing in my chip." Crimson eyes focused on her face intently. "You owe me anything I want, Shinpi. And I want you to take the binds off."
"Of all the things you could ask for." She chuckled, and it wasn't exactly filled with humor as she raked her fingers through her mussed hair. "A deal is a deal. I'll take them off."
"Good. They don't match what I picked out for you anyway." Hiei smirked, withdrew from her and picked up the shorts he'd dropped on the floor. Then the sweater that had slipped off her shoulder. He tossed them on the bed. "Since I'm picking out your outfit for the day, does that include what goes underneath?"
"I thought you didn't care what I wore under my clothes." She teased him. "Knock yourself out, Hiei."
He cast a hungry look down her and then went straight for the door. "Get dressed."
"Take a shower, you smell like stale blood." She shot at him, running her hand through her bangs again as he left the room. She walked over and assessed his choices. Not half bad, actually. It would be cute if nothing else. With a blink, she realized that he hadn't actually chosen anything for her to wear underneath.
That cheeky pervert.
Well, if he wanted to play that game, so be it. Her lips lifted in a devious grin. Sooner or later, Hiei would crack. And if she had her way, she'd make it as soon as possible. With a smirk she broke her binds and came up with her next move.
Her moment of weakness had awoken her in a way. Nearly dying, being so sure her time had run out gave her a new appreciation for her life. For the people in it. She wasn't ready to die. She wasn't ready to give up. She needed to make the most of her life, stop staving off happiness for the sake of guilt. The fact of it was simple, she'd tried to deny her feelings for Hiei. She'd done her best to put them to the side when they became too strong to shirk off, telling herself she had more important things. This wasn't the time.
There would never be a perfect time. After Hiro would come something else. That's just the way their lives were.
So she wasn't going to deny herself anymore. She'd pursue Hiei. Given her druthers, she'd court him and make him her own. It wouldn't happen overnight. Hiei still had so many walls. But she was nothing if not determined.
Hiei came out of the bathroom, steam billowing out around him and he barely had time to dodge as Shinpi swung at him with a knife in her hand wearing the clothes he had chosen. He ducked backwards, eyes wide as she bore down on him, forcing him to plan this foot in her stomach and kick her back as he held her wrist so her glinting blue blade couldn't bite into his eye. She accepted his hit with a grin and spun around. The gust of air that hit him from her swinging leg sent him into the wall so hard he dented the plaster.
With a smirk he launched at her, taking her around the middle and sending them both to the floor. "You're lucky I left my sword in your room, woman."
"Not so lucky for you though, is it?" She responded with that same grin tucking her knees to her chest, pressing her feet to his ribs and sending him sprawling at the top of the stairs.
Hiei flipped to his feet and she advanced, forcing him down the stairs with every kick and punch. Her hits never landed, meeting his blocks with bone shaking force despite the bandages still winding around her limbs. When his feet met the bottom landing he switched from blocking her kick to grabbing her ankle, sending her flying over the banister. Shinpi landed on her hands, spinning out of his hold before she jumped to her feet. Then she threw the knife and it bit into the wall over his shoulder so close to his cheek it left a line of red welling up against his skin. His eyes lit up and he went after her only to have her run through the living room, hopping over a chair, and out the back door.
It didn't save her.
He caught her in the backyard, hand fisted in the back of her sweater and yanking until she was forced against his chest. Wrapping his arms around her to trap hers by her sides he moved his head when she tried to kick him over her shoulder.
"Is this the best you have to give me?" He purred against the shell of her ear.
"Hardly." She smirked.
His disadvantage was their similar statures. With her feet able to rest on the ground, Shinpi was able to wrench herself forward and break his hold, one leg shooting back to nail him in the stomach. With Hiei doubled over she panted, facing him with her hands on her knees.
"You're going to open your wounds." Hiei chastised her, but his eyes still glimmered. "You've proven your point, Shinpi."
"As long as we understand each other." She nodded and straightened herself with a wince, cradling her ribs. "I don't need you wasting your talents protecting me."
"Fool." He shook his head and walked over to her, grabbing the hem of her shirt and hiking it up. "Let me see what damage you've down now."
He'd raised the shirt a little higher than he should have, he realized quickly, because where he'd normally have found some sort of bra he saw only a plane of skin. Shinpi smirked at him when he glanced at her face, forcing his expression to be dull. Without remembering to check her wounds he let her go and stepped back.
"I'm wearing a matching set, by the way." She told him coolly, stretching her arms above her head as she made her way passed him toward the house.
Hiei's eyes darkened as he watched her, a thick swallow eating the words poised on the back of his tongue.
"What was that about?" Yusuke demanded when Shinpi walked back through the sliding glass door. He stood wearing her apron, spatula in hand and a scowl on his face.
"A necessary conversation, nothing more." Shinpi assured him with a warm smile, her eyes closed with her arms tucked behind her head. "Darling Hiei just wanted to make sure I made good on my promise to remove my binds."
"Huh." Yusuke eyed her, obviously not quite believing her. "Alright. Sure. Food is ready."
"Thank you." Shinpi glanced at Hiei as he walked in behind her, schooling his expression into a scowl. Adding some heat to her voice she said, "I'm starving, really."
Hiei tripped over the coffee table at her words and played it off without much grace, ignoring Yusuke's jibe about him being clumsy. "No one is stopping you from eating."
"I was raised to believe that meals should take place when everyone is at the table." She shot back at him.
He shot her a studious glance, then walked into the kitchen where there weren't nearly enough chairs for everyone to sit and eat. He wondered if she meant her words literally, or if they'd been the suggestion he'd assumed they were? Shinpi fixed herself a plate and took a seat at the overburdened kitchen table with Keiko and Botan.
"Kazuma, fetch the fold out chairs and table please." Shinpi requested easily and the carrot top followed her order without pause. The black card table and its extra chairs went against the kitchen table and offered enough room and seating for everyone.
"This is new." Hiei commented, shoving Kurama's plate one seat over so he could sit next to the wolf demoness.
"I've accepted my role as hostess with grace." Shinpi shrugged and looked over at him.
He rolled his eyes and sighed. "I'll never have another day of peace in my life."
"Not if I have a say in the matter."
Hiei stiffened, eyes darting back to the woman to make sure she'd actually spoken. The words had come so quietly. But she was already back in conversation with the other women and Kurama was posted at his other side with that damned knowing grin.
"What are we doing out here, Hiei?" Shinpi's head seemed to be on a constant pivot as they trekked through the woods, her eyes scanning their surroundings relentlessly.
"I got you a present." He told her, again, as if it in anyway answered her. She'd asked him to specify when he'd asked her to follow him into the forest. He hadn't.
"I'll admit my curiosity is piqued." She informed him, frowning slightly. "You've been awfully generous lately."
"This gift cost me nothing. In fact, I'd say it's as much for me as it is for you." Hiei looked over his shoulder and stared at her. "It'll satisfy me to see you use it."
Her eyebrow lifted under her bangs. And then she came to a stop as Hiei did, her expression draining to cool indifference after a startled moment of shock had crossed her features. Acutely aware that Hiei was watching her closely, she offered nothing. The demon was tied to a tree, beaten pretty severely already it seemed. But neon orange eyes took her in and he snarled around the gag in his mouth. Shinpi took the moment to study Hiei.
The fire demon was still watching her, expectation clear as day in his eyes. They glimmered and she was positive it was excitement lighting his irises.
A gift he'd said. One that would satisfy him as much as her. His desire in this moment was fairly obvious, so she turned back to the demon but didn't move. Sometimes it surprised her that Hiei's nature could be so attune to her own. This was honestly something she'd have done for him, and it was definitely something she'd done for others before.
"I was going to get as much information from him as I could before disposing him, but it occurred to me that you might like the honor."
"Such a thoughtful gift. Hiei, you're too much."
"Am I?" Hiei leaned against a nearby tree to watch her before glancing at his restrained quarry. Had he gone too far?
Then she smiled, a baring of teeth that drained some of the light from her eyes as she crouched in front of the demon. Her fingertips traced the scar branded into the demon's jaw. "You should have run faster."
The demon growled at her, grunting and fighting his restraints to no avail. She withdrew her hand and clicked her tongue, eyes glued to the mark as if it had pushed into a chasm of thought.
"Cattle." She finally lamented and frowned, looking thoroughly disturbed. "You're being treated as livestock. How am I the one you're furious at when you've been so thoroughly wronged?"
Reaching behind the demon's head, she untied the gag gently, unraveling the cloth as if she didn't intend to use it again. Brushing hair out of his eyes, she studied him. Hiei frowned at the display of it, her tenderness being wasted on this utter disgrace. This demon who had spearheaded her torture. Who had demanded she be beaten, the one responsible for that machine.
"You are not the leader of this faction." Shinpi stated this as fact and settled herself on the ground, criss-cross. "Who provided you with that weapon?"
Silence met her question and she nodded.
"The operation must be large for so much of the chemical compound to be produced. Hundreds must be a part of this resistance movement alongside you." She surmised and tilted her head. The demon blinked, his face scrunching. She took that as confirmation. "How is it activated?"
Shinpi's mind went back to her meeting with Shikari in the demon bar before Hiei had showed up. The small packet the other woman had slid to her. It contained a powder of mysterious origin. Shinpi had yet to solve its puzzle and now she knew why. She'd been missing the catalyst. Shikari had given her an incomplete weapon, likely knowingly. The blonde was smarter than Shinpi had given her credit for. Arming a human with anti-demon weaponry was practically treason.
But now she could find her answers, because Hiei had so generously delivered them to her wrapped up in a neat, overwhelmed, restrained package.
"It's a powder base." She explained, and Hiei studied her closely. She could feel it. "Which means there must be another agent to transform it into the mist. It couldn't be as simple as water, could it?"
"Why not?" The demon asked with a glower, but the prideful glint in his eye told a different story. He felt he had the upper hand. "Water would be perfect, wouldn't it? It's everywhere."
"What does that mean?" Hiei demanded, those orange eyes turning to him.
"Hiei, please." Shinpi steadied herself.
Her skirmishes on the border of this world and that of demons suddenly felt larger and smaller. She wasn't making the impact she'd hoped, and she'd definitely need to speak with Koenma to update him on this news. But she was limiting the impact on humans. Her teeth found her lip as she considered her position.
A substance that could render even the most powerful demons powerless, created by simply mixing a powder into some water. The chaos it would cause if it were to enter the waterways of one of the major centers in Makai. Concerning.
And also, impossibly more so, interesting.
"Who demanded you attack the detectives? Someone organized this." Shinpi narrowed her eyes slightly. "Someone who has been observing the group's habits enough to know that I was the weakest member."
Hiei scoffed behind her, but it did little to hide his tension. When the demon didn't respond, she swallowed.
"He'll find the information he wants." She assured the other man. "He has his ways. It would be less intense for you if you just told me."
"We are too many to go by one name." The demon smirked at her, and a dullness entered his gaze. "We are plentiful. Our forced silence will be the undoing."
"Shinpi, he doesn't know." Hiei voiced and she turned to glance at him and saw his Jagan open.
"Shinpi?"
They both stopped, then slowly turned their attention to the demon in their keep. Those orange eyes burned, teeth bared in a victorious smile.
"Your reputation precedes you." He stared at her, unblinking and she got the impression he might not be alone behind his eyes.
"Hiei." She glanced at the fire demon, who shook his head just slightly.
"You've changed your hair." The demon stated with that same knowing smile. "Amon-Shinpi. The Last Takani. The Tempest Princess. Hiro is hunting for your whereabouts and he's going to find you. You and your damned allies. He'll leave nothing in his wake."
Shinpi's face turned to stone, the color of her eyes seeming darker for the total disappearance of light from them.
"I hope you haven't grown comfortable in this world. It won't protect you. They won't protect you." The demon told her as Shinpi rose to her feet and marched over to Hiei. In a swift movement she pulled his sword free, nothing of patience or softness left in her. "He's told everyone of your failure. Of how you left your so-"
That final statement drowned in the wailing gurgle that erupted from the demon's throat, Shinpi having driven the sword through his mouth until the tip pierced the trunk behind him. Jerking the blade back, she slashed it across his throat and watched without pity or expression when his head rolled from his shoulders to the underbrush. Holding the sword loosely to her side, blood dripping from the tip to the leaves underneath her, she merely stared. After a moment of silence she pilfered the cloth that had been used as a gag.
After cleaning Hiei's blade with the soiled cloth, she handed it back to him then began to walk away, "Leave him to rot."
She turned a few steps later, hand on her nape as her dark blue gaze scanned the horizon. Hiei cast a look behind them, his silence both welcome and daunting. She couldn't tell what he was thinking. What had he made of her actions? Of the demon's words?
Hiei ended her thoughts for the moment, Jagan still open as he glared through the trees behind them. "I can-"
"Let's go to the temple, Hiei. I want to ask Yukina to heal me." She cut him off and started walking again, her command smooth as river stones. "There's nothing in these woods more dangerous than we are."
Hiei looked behind them again then offered a stiff nod and followed as she began to walk.
Unseen for the distance he chose to remain back from the pair, a set of dark eyes watched the woman turn and the fire demon follow. He was too far to hear them, but from what he'd seen the trapped demon had done something to earn that woman's ire. She'd acted swiftly, without mercy. Her face…
The backsmith waited for them to leave, or to at least get so far ahead they wouldn't notice him picking his way towards the body they'd left in their wake. Studying the head on the ground, then the bandana the woman had dropped unceremoniously, he frowned. He plucked the cloth from the dry leaves and noted the symbol matched the brand on the demon's slack jaw. Closer, he could see the precision behind the woman's strike. The smooth cut that had cleaved through bone and sinew.
For the General of Alaric to be so complacent must mean he was absolute in his role with this woman. Dark eyes narrowed. She didn't question the man trailing behind her with the same gait he used to stroll the streets of Alaric. Those crimson eyes had been critical, scouring through the trees to the point the blacksmith wondered if he'd been found. But when the woman spoke, the general had relented. He trusted her. It wasn't surprising, really, given the suspicion the blacksmith now harbored.
His thoughts came easily, and with them he turned to look the direction she had walked. Those eyes. That grace. She's the one Hiro is looking for. I just need to get her away from the general. He lifted his hand and a single raven landed on it, perched while he stroked its feathers from crown to tail gently.
"Follow them."
The bird launched itself skyward and a dozen others did the same, each vacating their trees in pursuit of his command.