Because of Small Things
Chapter 38
I stared at my reflection as if the person staring back at me was a stranger. I had just gotten out of the dingy, gross shower and managed to find a semi clean spot in the mirror. I looked a lot different from when I first met the boys. I had fattened up and looked incredibly healthy and I couldn't believe the muscles stretching under my skin that I've never noticed before. I wasn't sure if it was because of my demon side constantly stirring inside of me to the point where it was becoming difficult to control. I was surprised she hasn't randomly busted out, especially last night when Yusuke and Kuwabara had gotten into an argument and began wrestling. It was odd to watch but it stirred my adrenaline.
"Etsuko, we have to leave soon," I heard Yusuke's voice say and I blinked, snapping out of my trance and pulling my hair into a braid quickly before pulling on a very thick nylon cat suit underneath a pair of loose pants and a long sleeved shirt. I walked out and sighed, smiling up at Yusuke who smiled back. I pulled on some comfy shoes and pulled my bag onto my shoulder, strapping it tightly across my stomach. "You look like a backpacker," Yusuke teased and I glared up at him before sticking out my tongue and walking out of the raggedy hotel room and scrunching up my nose. It stunk so badly still.
"So which way we heading?" I asked, sighing. Even though I sensed the danger coming out of this mission, I didn't let that break me down. I wanted to make sure we were all in high spirits so nothing could tear us apart. I wasn't sure if that was the plan from this demon but I didn't want any risks.
"We're heading northeast," Yusuke answered pulling out a small compass and smiling. "This way!" We all began heading out and again, we earned a lot of strange stares but all I did was keep my sight forward, ignoring the hissing and gurgling I managed to hear and soon, we had broken through the town limits and out into the shrubbery and thicket of trees. It was a very beautiful forest with large oaks and lots of moss. I couldn't help but notice how serene this place started to look, but it'd be better if there wasn't that huge stench lingering in the air.
I saw Hiei jumping through the trees, branch to branch without missing a beat and I couldn't help but think how graceful he looked. I scrunched up my face before looking away from him. I had to focus on this mission; it was my first one.
It was hours before I began to grow a little tired. I paused and took in a deep breath through my mouth since if it went through my nose, it wouldn't be as pleasant as I wanted it to be. The boys looked back at me and I smiled. "Sorry, I haven't been this active in quite some time…" I mumbled. Yusuke smiled as Kuwabara laughed and I managed to mutter a small giggle before straightening and beginning to walk but it was like my life turned into slow motion.
It felt like eternity as I saw Hiei flash before me and shove me away so I stumbled back, a tree nearby stopping me and my eyes widened as I saw a black tipped arrow racing toward Hiei. My world turned silent as all the echoed through my mind was the painful gasp muttering from Hiei's lips as he stumbled back, gripping the arrow that protruded from his abdomen. He stumbled back and this sort of rage began building within my body, coursing through my veins and causing them to shift uneasily through my skin.
I looked over and something happened with my vision and I saw like a magnifying glass view of a man standing beside a tree, holding a bow as his fingers relaxed. I growled and ran after him, ducking behind trees and shrubbery until I was behind him and I jumped up onto his back, grabbing the sides of his head and twisting his head until I heard a satisfying crack. He gasped and fell to his knees as I jumped off. I growled as I stared down at him, his head upturned while his body faced downward. It was a gruesome look but I found myself enjoying my kill.
I looked back at where the boys would be and began walking back there, allowing my rage to settle and my veins relax as I poked out to see Hiei laying back, resting on Kurama. I blinked, confused. "What's wrong?" I asked, studying Hiei's face. It was strewn with pain and perspiration was layering his forehead. His eyes looked sunken in as his bandana had a blood spot in the middle. I frowned, walking closer toward him.
"I'm pretty sure that arrow was tipped with poison," Kurama stated. "Which one? I don't know but I'm hoping it doesn't take long to show itself so I can have time to heal him." I frowned, sucking in my bottom lip and knelt beside him. "I wish I could see inside of his mind because that way I would know where the poison was centering." I looked up at Kurama, hope in my eyes, and he narrowed his eyes at me. "No, Etsuko! I will not risk that."
"If it's a way to help him, it doesn't matter," I whispered before placing my hand on the side of his face. It helped me to touch people when entering their minds because it wasn't that much of a strain. I breathed in deeply and closed my eyes, willing my mind to stretch out.
My eyesight was foggy as I looked around and I rubbed at them, groaning as a headache began growing in the back of my mind. "Hiei?" I called out but it was like my voice bounced through the air endlessly. I frowned and looked around. I've never seen his mind so empty. I thought there was always some image inside.
Suddenly, I felt an unbearable pain echo in my head and I screamed out, gripping my temples. I was shot back into my mind as my scream reached my lips and I withered back from Hiei and falling onto the ground, gripping my pounding head. "Etsuko!" three stunned voice yelled. I stayed still for a moment while the pain diminished before opening my clenched eyes and staring around. My eyesight was off for a second as colors bled into the faded black and white world around me.
"Etsuko, are you okay?" Yusuke's worried voice asked as Kurama stared at me, worried. I groaned and sat up, feeling my head.
"I'm fine…" I muttered, breathing in deeply.
"Since you had that reaction…I'm guessing the poison when straight to his mind. It was probably meant to hit you, Etsuko and destroy your mind which is called a telepathic poison. It has another name but it escapes me. It's meant to attack any type of telepathic energies and since Hiei's Jagan eye is pure telepathy, it attacked it. I need some bear root herbs and some violets," he mumbled. "Will you watch Hiei? If his temperature drops, try to cool him off." I blushed but nodded, taking Kurama's seat and running my hand through Hiei's hair.
I frowned; his body was shaking uncontrollably as his head would convulse every now and then, painful moans echoing from his throat. "I'm sorry," I whispered, hoping he could hear me wherever he was in his mind. I wanted to kiss him but the boys standing around made me change my mind since I knew Hiei wouldn't appreciate that. So I stuck to staring into his twitching closed eyes, wishing they would open and stare back at me, healthy and beautifully radiant as usual.
I put my hand to his forehead; he was burning hot. I frowned and looked around. Yusuke and Kuwabara were taking watch, in case anyone else decided to show up and it was basically just Hiei and me. I stared down at his pain twisted face and frowned. This man saved me and I was grateful for it. If he didn't take that arrow for me, I would've been dead. I'm made up of pure telepathic and telekinetic energy and that poison would've flowed through every ounce of my body, destroying my existence. I frowned and saw the blood patch on his bandana increase, dripping out and falling over his face.
"Kurama, hurry," I whispered before pulling Hiei's bandana off and gasping. His Jagan was staring up at me, wide eyed as its iris began flashing to black before the purple iris began twitching before the pupil began expanding. "Kurama!" I screamed. I somehow knew his Jagan was dying by the way the pupil was expanding. I didn't know what to do but something came over me and my demon side somehow took control as I placed my hand over the eye and willed my life force into it, trying to keep it alive. I don't know how Hiei would react if he woke up and his Jagan was just an empty socket in his head.
Kurama rushed back, holding two large handfuls of herbs and he knelt beside Hiei. I began to feel woozy and my body swayed. Kurama shoved my hand away and began chewing on some kind of herb before dripping the juice into the Jagan eye. Hiei's body convulsed and I held his shoulders down, my energy returning slowly. Rage poured within my veins and I knew that whoever sent that hit man would die a slow and painful death by me.
"Tilt his head up a bit," Kurama stated and I did as Kurama mixed the herbs with some water before shaking it and pouring it down Hiei's throat. His body relaxed a bit as his Jagan eye closed, peacefully almost but still bleeding slightly. I sucked in my body lip, trying to control my anger as it made the veins in my face shift. Kurama stared up at me and smiled, placing a hand on my shoulder. "He'll be fine, Etsuko… I promise." I looked over at Kurama and gulped.
"I hope so because whoever did this will wish they were a time manipulator," my double voice hissed and Kurama's eyes narrowed. I cleared my throat and got up, letting Kurama take over. "Yusuke, Kuwabara…let's go!" I stared down at Kurama and sighed. "You stay here with Hiei and make sure he's better. We'll go stop this monster." Kurama looked hesitant and I smirked. "I don't think this asshole will be able to hurt us with the kind of rage that's pulsing in my veins, no matter how corny that sounds." Kurama nodded and positioned himself so he cradled Hiei's head in his lap.
Yusuke and Kuwabara stood on either side of me and we began walking. I stopped and took off my backpack, tossing it to Kurama's side with a smile. "There's some blankets and stuff in there, in case you get cold," I stated and Kurama smiled, nodding.
"Thank you," he stated and I nodded. I knew I was halfway to my demon side by the way I couldn't contain my veins that shifted mercilessly throughout my skin and I felt my eyes burning.
"How long do you think it'll be until we find him?" I asked, directing my question to mainly Yusuke. Yusuke sighed.
"It could be anything from a couple of hours to days at a time," he answered and I nodded.
"We better hurry."