17.
"Mrs. Mitsiku, I have to say that I'm concerned; this is the third time this month that Siera has assaulted another student. This one suffered a bloody nose and a bruise to his shoulder; I have to call their parents and I can only hope they don't press charges."
"And what was this over?"
"They were simply playing a game and it seems that Siera had gotten offended-"
"They were making fun of him." Siera interjected; she looked to the floor as both the primary teacher and her mother gazed down upon her. She felt the soft yet stern hand of her mother stroke her head and she lifted her gaze to her beautiful blue eyes.
"Who Aijou; who were they making fun of?"
"Shuichi, Mama—" she felt the pressure of her mother's thumb just behind her ear; it was soft and subtle, but a signal Siera knew well; mind the information you speak.
"I…saw them approach him, and I they said some mean words to us and I thought they would hurt him and me too so i hit them."
"Now Siera those were only words, they-"
"Words hurt too! They can hurt worse than any beating!" she interrupted the teacher in hostility and tension rose in the small office.
"Child…" another warning.
"Excuse my insolence for speaking out of turn." She bowed to the teacher near tears and the adults kept talking. It wasn't fair, if she were to do bad at home she would get punished; these children were bad and yet she was still being punished. Where was the justice?
"My daughter has her father's sense of righteousness; what's wrong is wrong and you must take correction when wrong is done that is how she is being raised. We both know these children have been terrorizing others since the school year began and that they have hurt many times more students than my daughter yet here we sit before you while those brats sit at home eating candy and learning nothing of their actions." Siera looked up as her mother looked fixatedly into the teachers eyes. She had always loved how beautiful her mother was, her pale flawless complexion with her naturally red lips and cerulean eyes, down to the raven hair that reached far below her back that she had currently tied in a braid. She had once told the story that men we so stricken by her beauty and women so envious that they tried to replicate it and the humans created the geisha. Siera could only hope to be as wonderful as her one day.
"Am I incorrect?"
"Well yes…"
"Then why are we still here, if all my daughter had done was stand up for herself?"
"Well…I suppose I can let her off with another warning and speak to the parents of the other children…I suppose you can go." Korrin and Siera stood and abruptly left.
"Just because you know what they are thinking of doing, doesn't mean you punish them."
"But Mama they were mean!"
"That may be, but you cannot punish a sin that has not been committed, doing so turns your punishment into a sin itself understand?"
"Yes Mama. What is a sin?" She stopped walking and turned to her six year old who was already so wise, too wise for her own good; and deep down she feared that the depth of her intelligence combined with her innocent eyes would tear her apart.
"A sin is something that is wrong; but in order to commit a sin you have to know it is wrong first. It is all about what the mind intends to do, which is why we know a liar when we see one and how you knew those boys were going to hurt you."
"They were mean to Shuichi too, called him a girl, and said he was too pretty to play with them. They wanted to beat him up, Shuichi said that just because they wanted to doesn't mean they could and to not worry about them because their words didn't bother him, but they made me so mad! You don't treat people that way when they were minding their own business."
"Yes Aijou…you are right, you have your father's righteousness in you alright. But understand something; some fights are not yours."
"Shuichi is part of my pack Mama, we are family and those who hurt him hurt me!"
"They were thoughts Siera, they had not been committed yet, and this is why I tell you now. You will become the very thing you despise if you fight wars that have yet to be waged."
"So I wait for them to hit me first, even if I know they are going to do it?"
"I'm saying find another way, use your words; or even fight back without such force I taught you that much."
"Yes Mama." They we halfway home when a passing thought made her mother stiffen and Korrin stopped again and clutched her daughter's shoulder as she turned her sharply.
"Shuichi knows…He knows what we are?"
"Y-yes, I.."
"WHY DID YOU TELL HIM?!" Siera began to cry frightened, it wasn't often her mother raised her voice.
"He is my best friend, like you and Shiori." She thought a moment and sighed before releasing her grip. She knew her daughter loved that child as she did his mother; their level of kindness was like a drug compared to what she used to know. But Korrin's love was different, it was within reason; she would risk life and limb for Shiori but would never think of telling her that she was an apparition. Her daughter however, trusted Shuichi unconditionally and thus allowed him into their world without a second thought; if only she knew how dangerous that was.
"How long has he known what you are?"
"Over three years..." The shock was evident on her face, Siera couldn't understand what was so wrong; she trusted her best friend they were even bounded by blood, in her eyes her secret was completely safe with him.
"Will he tell anyone, have you searched his mind that he may tell our secret?"
"Well, no…"
"No?!"
"It's not that I didn't try, it's just that...he won't let me. I can't read his thoughts." Korrin kept walking both in awe and afraid. If this child knew of their secret, there is opportunity for it to spread; she and her child could be hunted or worse they would be sent to demon world, a place that her beloved daughter could never survive. She loved Shiori; but she had no qualms with killing her son to keep her daughter safe.
"You won't touch him…" She had never heard a tone like that from her daughter and it frightened her. The grip of her small hand caused hers pain, like she were the one being reprimanded. They looked each other in the eye and Korrin gasped as she saw the darkness in her daughter's eyes. Could she possess it? No, she is but a child, it takes centuries to channel that much anger into raw power… She slapped Siera hard in the face making those who passed by flinch and stare momentarily.
"You misunderstand my role child, or else you would think many times before speaking to me in that manner." Would she lash out? Their silence was broken by soft sobbing as Siera looked back to her mother, her eyes back to their normal brown.
"Forgive me Mama!" She bowed sobbing heavily.
"If you want to keep him; I suggest you keep him in line. Make sure he tells no one; of course if it truly has been this long then we may be able to trust him after all. But I will be mindful of him from this point forward. Tell me little one; would you choose your human friend over your own mother?"
"I could ask if you would choose your pride over your daughter's happiness." Damn that smart mouth of hers.
"I choose your life over your happiness; understand this, the moment I feel that boy will put you in danger he will die."
"And what about Shiori, you would let her be heartbroken for the rest of her life, like you would be for me, would you kill her too if it served your purpose?"
"If my purpose was to keep you alive then yes I would; and even if it was to quell her broken heart, I would be merciful in that sense."
"That is unacceptable Mama; you speak of finding other ways in situations and yet would spill the blood of the people we care about and for what? So Shuichi knows he has from the beginning and you don't trust my judgment?"
"You are but a child you know nothing of what it truly is to be Yokai and certainly not about judgment."
"What happened to not punishing sins yet to be committed?"
"I am already doomed; what is one more sin?"
A faint light creeps into the darkness as Bakkens' groaning becomes louder the closer Siera walks. She dropped her large sack and follows the heavy trail of blood to the large mass of mutilated man trying desperately to escape.
"My, aren't we full of energy?" She shoves her sharp nails into one of his open wounds like a handhold making him scream before dragging him back where he started. He whimpered pitifully as she watched him, anger and titillation in her eyes.
"See Coward, I told you to stay put, you just don't listen do you?" Another electric shock this one making him convulse even after it was over.
"It's very rude to leave a party when you are an honored guest don't you think? I had this whole thing planned for you and you want to run away and leave me." She pouted mockingly as she knelt before him, waiting for him to catch his breath before branding him again.
"Please…have mercy…"
"Aha! I wondered when all of the 'damn you's and 'you won't get away with this's would take a turn. So you want mercy huh?"
"Please…have…mercy…" She replayed that memory in his head and he shuddered.
"Did you have mercy on him, when he couldn't fight back, couldn't run away or even speak up for himself? Did your heart sway when others spoke up for him?"
"Please…I'm sorry…"
"Aww…you're sorry? Well gee Bakken, I guess that changes everything then, I suppose I'll let you go as long as you're sorry."
"Really?"
"Fuck no." Another shock and three more brandings.
"You forgot what I said already, I expect you to die; that is what I want, but not until you are truly sorry. And I don't mean for hurting him, I mean sorry for the day you were born, that you were lead to that day in the first place. Then will you be allowed to die; get this in your thick skull now, you will not leave here alive. The only convincing you will have to do is if you want to die slow or slower?" A loud wail cut through the conversation and Siera skipped to the large sack that was ten feet away. She ripped it open and dumped the beautiful Ruka onto the ground, naked and terrified.
"Please don't hurt me, I didn't mean any harm; I was just paid to hold them that was all!"
"You knew what you were doing, and what's worse you did it out of greed. You hold no compassion in your heart, and for that you will be punished."
"Who are you to judge me, do you think you're better than me?!"
"No, I am full of violence, wrath and distaste I am not suitable to be in contact with those I care about or anyone for that matter and for that I must be punished. I will rid this world of every unsuitable person I come across, not to atone, but to drag them to hell right alongside me, if I am doomed already, what is one more sin?" Rukas gaze fell onto Bakkens horrific body and she began to scream in terror.
"Please, don't loop me in with that monster; I didn't harm anyone I was just doing what they told me to do!"
"You're right Ruka; for that I will let you go."
"You will?"
"Yes go, I won't chase you or punish you for running away." Ruka didn't hesitate to get on her feet and run. Siera stood and waited several minutes before she ran back into the clearing where she started.
"What is this?!"
"You are right, you didn't harm anyone; you just held them against their will; and for that you will suffer the same. You see dear, you put your prey in a box, I entrap their minds." She runs away again and Siera turns back to Bakken with a smile of ill intent on her lips.
"Now where were we?"
"I really expected her to be back by now, at least to check on you; this has gotten me worried sick."
"I don't expect her to be around me all of the time, she has her own life."
"You underestimate her, yes she has her own life but she is very territorial; hell I will say it she can be possessive, especially when it comes to you. Her mother told me once she threatened her over you."
"What?"
"Yup, Korrin found out you knew what they were and thought about taking care of the situation so to speak, Siera was not having that. She loved her mother more than anything, think of what she would do to someone else who came at you?"
"Yes, she had a record two inches thick because of her fights at primary school alone."
"Which is why I'm afraid for whatever poor soul she set her sights on; you didn't see her when she walked away."
"Maybe she came back and is asleep in her room; I'll go up and check." Kurama left towards the hotel and Zoie paced around as Kuwbara's yelling grew louder.
"I still don't think now is the time for all of us to be splitting up and doing their own thing, we are a team and fighting amongst each other is only going to make things worse for all of us!"
"I still don't see why you choose me to pile your useless drivel onto, in case the hundreds of other times didn't make you see it, I don't give a damn."
"Why you little…"
"Don't you two ever stop squabbling? You complain that fighting isn't solving anything and yet here you are fighting!"
"And just who do you think you're speaking to that way; in case you hadn't noticed I am not your little half-breed owner; go find her if you want someone to bore." A low demonic growl erupted from Zoie's throat and the sounds of popping bones snapped both of them into attention as the dog began to change.
"Hey!" Touya's voice interrupted their confrontation; he and Jin ran up to them panting and Zoie quickly reverted back.
"What's going on, what happened?'
"It's Siera, I think she may have taken Bakken!" the three of them gasped, Zoie heart nearly stopped in its chest; it was just as he had feared.
"How do you know that?"
"I was on my way to our hotel room when I saw her, or at least it was her based on the description you gave; but she was different. Her eyes were black as coals and she had these marking on her. That was nothing compare to the energy I felt from her, it was dark and violent."
"Had a whole black aura she did, wicked stuff, I simply raise my hand to say hello; cuz you were looking for her and stuff and it gave me this!" Jin held out his arm to show the fresh open wound. It was like something has taken a chunk clean from the flesh.
"The lass's aura took a bite clean from me it did, nasty stuff. Never even looked up at us just stared ahead."
"Okay but what makes you think she has Bakken?"
"Because this was in our room with a note." Touya pulled out a large foot from a bag; it appeared to have been gnawed off at the ankle. Kuwabara retched and Hiei took a step back from the smell.
"This is several hours old, these teeth marks; wolves did this and a lot of them. She didn't have intention on bringing it to you right away; it laid there overnight before the thought came to her. What did the note say?"
"Blood for blood, eye for eye; that is what the righteous yell, but little do they know the price that takes them down to hell. For blood spilled is blood owed and an eye lost is a soul sold; a vengeful heart cannot escape unless they pay the piper well."
"It's worse than I thought…let me smell it, I can track it to the source." Zoie took in the scent of the decaying foot and waited for the wind to tell him where to go. Zoie took off with Kuwabara, Touya and Jin on his heels.
"Is this wise, what if Bakken is already dead?"
"I know my mistress; if he's lucky, he will be." a couple of miles out into the forest they stopped running when they got to a clearing. A dark shadow seemed to loom before them deep behind the trees.
"You feel that, it's not even the sheer power of it; that alone is frightening, but I can feel the bloodlust, the fury."
"Yeah that is some nasty stuff going on there is."
I know you're there…Come out, come out and play… a few dozen wolves emerged from the trees snarling menacingly.
"Did we fall in some sort of trap?"
"I don't think so."
"If she wanted to kill us she would have done so by now." Hiei ambled with the rest of them and the energy intensified. Look who has come to join the party, everyone wants to play.
"Siera what have you done?"
I only did what needed to be done, nothing more.
"Why'd ya put big stinky's foot on our table then, bad smell it had; had to hold my breath I did."
"Yeah…what he said, what is this about, our team seems to be falling apart as it is; we don't need this!" She didn't move from the darkness but simply spoke telepathically to everyone at once. I will answer questions once our last guest arrives.
"Are you saying that this note was this invitation?! Why would you steal our teammate and then bring us into it?!"
Idiot, that note was a warning! Blood for blood, eye for eye; that is what the righteous yell, but little do they know the price that takes them down to hell. For blood spilled is blood owed and an eye lost is a soul sold; a vengeful heart cannot escape unless they pay the piper well. You seek vengeance and you will pay with your life, which was the meaning.
"Huh, well you don't go round talking riddles an such, people can hardly understand what ya be saying they don't." everyone looked at Jin for a moment longer than they probably should have.
Ah…here he is. Koenma and Jorge trod along to the clearing. And Hiei turned to Touya and Jin
"You two, go to the hotel and find Kurama. Now; he's the only one who can't talk sense into her!" The two took off and out of the darkness Siera appeared clutching Bakken by his hair; her eyes jet black and piercing and a dark aura engulfing her. Along her body were odd markings like tribal tattoos making her look all the more fearsome.
That's very noble of you Hiei, not wanting them involved, I figure they would enjoy the party too. But riddle me this; a human kills a demon and they are celebrated, a demon kills a human and they are eliminated, a demon kills a demon and it is but a tree falling silently in the forest but when a human kills a human and there is simple reprimanding.
"Where is the riddle in that?"
Where in all of those actions is the justice? An apparition can face severe punishment for harming a human yet there are countless humans who sell demons on the black market committing heinous acts themselves. Where is the fairness?
"Siera, what is the meaning of all of this, why id you drag everyone out here and why o you have Bakken?" Koenma crossed his arm in anticipation.
Lord Koenma I thank you for making an appearance and I also thank you for taking this form; I would have felt bad for saying what I needed to say to a child.
"Felt bad, it doesn't seem like you feel bad about anything right now, I mean look at him, he oesnt even look like a person anymore!" Jorge stood behind his boss in rear of retaliation.
"Oh I feel bad…I feel like an empty abyss is swallowing me whole, like I am being eaten away from the inside leaving a cesspool of rage and carnage in its place. I feel emotions that I do not have words for, but I must do what needs to be done.
"And what is that?"
"Of course, she wants an audience for her show. I get it, you removed his hands so that he couldn't fight back, his feet so that he couldn't escape. You want him to feel the same humiliation and pain that Kurama felt under his hand. I have to say that I commend you for your effort and strategy but if you expect me to plead his case you are mistaken, I would rather see him die."
And you will in due time, I don't care if you want his life spared or not, he isn't leaving this place alive no matter what any of you try to do.
"STOP ALL OF THESE RIDDLES AND JUST TELL US WHAT'S GOING ON!"
Oh Kuwabara…always so impatient, but I will tell you since you have committed no wrongdoing. This is about punishment.
"Well we figured that, but why are we here?"
You are here because my guardian cannot follow instruction. Koenma is here because he is also to blame.
"What, that is outrageous, I had nothing to do with what had happened yesterday, if you want to blame anyone go after the committee that ordered it to happen!"
Oh they will get theirs…but first things first. She release her grip and Bakken tried desperately to craw to the group.
And I know what you're thinking, but I wont let you kill him either, he isn't done.
"I still don't understand why you blame me for this, it is Toguro that made them come here in the first place.-"
Yes, he had and I will give Yusuke the opportunity to deal with that but your sin goes much deeper.
"I have committed no sin."
Really? Then it was so convenient that Toguro was hired by Tarukane the same time you sent Yusuke and Kuwabara to save her then wasn't it? Strange though…you have has other spirit detectives, other operatives but you send an ill experienced child to wage war on something he didn't understand; but then it wasn't the first time was it? Koenma stiffened and everyone looked to him.
To be bunt, Yukina was in that dirty mans hands or years not weeks. How long Koenma, how long did her file sit on your desk before you found the suitable time to read it, before you found someone suitable to do the job? Or was it that you wanted Yusuke to deal with it before Hiei found out; because it was you who keeps him here and the bloodshed of so many rich and humans would result in serious reprimanding on your part. Oh? Now that is very interesting indeed, would you like to share that with the rest of the class or can I?
"Well be that as it may, your quest for vengeance is futile. You said it yourself, 'blood spilled is blood owed and an eye lost is a soul sold'; you can't possibly think that this will end suffering of others. And wasn't it you who told me that holding onto hatred will end your own life? There will always be those types of people making the war you wage never ending so going after everyone will do nothing but cause you more pain and end your life prematurely and wouldn't the resulting grief from your death make this vengeance all for naught?" Siera stared blankly at Hiei in deep thought was he getting through?
"I…I can't go back. I can't go back from this, this hatred I feel; all I want is to destroy and if I don't do that then what was it for?" Kurama bolted into the clearing and Siera's face dropped.
"Why did you come here, damn you Hiei!" Her aura grew, making them all take a step back.
"Don't go near her, that energy will melt your flesh in seconds and feel like centuries." Kurama didn't back down but instead kept walking forward his eyes on her.
"Stay away…don't come closer, I mean it!"
"You said once that you would kill for me, what irony would it be if you were the one that ende my life."
"You know I wouldn't do that; I would never hurt you."
"Then stop this, stop this plot you are acting out of emotion; whatever logic you put behind it, it doesn't change the matter." Bakken clutched at Kurama's pant leg as he walk past and a bleary eye traced upward until his face came to focus.
"Please…I'm sorry…I'm so sorry for what I've done to you. But I can't live this way, I cant take it anymore, please kill me!" The man cried at his feet.
"Let him go Siera."
"No…"
"Release him now!"
"No, I won't do it!"
"What are they talking about?"
"Bakken should have died from the injuries Yusuke inflicted; she has been supplying him with her own energy just to keep him alive only to continue in his pain and misery."
"That's…horrible!" Kuwabara balked at such a thought
"Why is it every time I see this girl she becomes more interesting to me?"
"Hiei I don't want to hear it!"
"Can't you see that I cannot come back from this, I am doomed I have to do this or it's all for nothing."
"Look at you, this isn't who you are." Kurama still tried to approach but she backs away
"You don't know who I am."
"Don't I? You're snarky, twisted, mischievous and provoking an also smart, loyal, kind-hearted, fair and funny. You are beautiful, calculating, unique and so talented. You are so much more than a sum of your thoughts; you aren't perfect but no one is. I meant what I said in that tree, you are like flame, so beautiful yet so dangerous so warm and yet so misunderstood. Your light is so bright that a moth cannot help but fly over to dance along as a slave to your spirit."
"You meant what you said…I thought you were trying to manipulate me into staying home." She looked into those emerald eyes and saw something that made her heart stop and she recoiled further.
"No, you couldn't mean it, you don't mean it!"
"But I do…I love you Siera." Kuwabara Jorge and Koenma gasped in awe, but Siera only turned her back on him her aura changing to a jet black and shrinking as though she were hiding within herself.
"No…you're lying to me; you can't love me, you can't love this darkness I have. Maybe once we could have been something, maybe… but I can't, I can't go back to who I was because I don't know how to break out of this. I don't know how to let it go! So just go away, turn your back on me like you wanted me to believe before because even if you did love me, even if I wanted something more, I would only ruin you. I would pull you down with me; don't you see, my darkness will destroy you!" He broke through her aura grabbing her shoulder and pulling her into his arms. In that moment the darkness had evaporated and her eyes had gone from black to blue once more. Her heart pounded in her chest so hard she knew he heard it as he caressed her face with his right hand and gently kissed her forehead.
"Your darkness doesn't frighten me; but a world without your light does." She then broke down in tears burying her face in his chest as she cried \.
"He tried to take you away from me…and I couldn't do anything about it. I hate him for that…but most of all I hated myself for letting it happen. I wanted to make them all pay."
"And lose your own life in the meantime, in a way that seems selfish; would you want me to desert you for vengeance knowing that by doing so I would never come back?" She looked up at him with such an expression that tugged at his heart and he held her close to his heart.
"I have told you so many times over the years that I can handle myself; you don't always have to fight for me. Although given the circumstances I can understand your fury; nevertheless it is over, so dry your tears and let the past go."
"This is so beautiful Sir; his love pulled her out of the darkness and mended her damaged heart!"Jorge blew his nose as he sobbed however Zoie noticed the apprehensive look on Koenma's face and took note.
"I knew she loved him, but I didn't know he felt the same, this is so…" Kuwabara muttered.
"It's BEAUTFUL!" Jorge honked again.
"Ogre, you're an embarrassment."
"Hmm…"
Siera looked over to Bakken's marred body that struggled for each breath and she closed her eyes.
"He is yours to do as you wish." Kurama walked back to the man who had harmed and humiliated him just yesterday who was now a shell of a living thing barley living and at his mercy.
"Please…have…mercy…"
"Be honest with me Siera, did you keep his tongue in the off chance I would find you here and he be able to apologize?"
"You know me too well." Kurama knelt down to look at him better, he held no anger or hatred in his eyes.
"Please…I'm sorry…have mercy…"
"You know I do hope you don't get the wrong impression of her; she truly is a good person I suppose I bring out the best and the worst in her. Since primary school she would fight with other children who would seem to dishonor me but her standards are quite high so soon enough the other children wouldn't play with me for fear of her. But when a bully did read his ugly head she would always make them apologize. That's her nature; she could want a person dead, but she would forgive if I did."
"Oh yeah like that cat that attacked me, I had to forgive her before she would stop. Huh."
"But I digress; I say that because I want you to know that I have no hatred towards you. I see you today and I only feel pity; that I am regretful that she took it this far; you should have died nearly a full day ago yet to suffer such cruelty for this long not even you deserved that but I will end your pain now." Kurama took out his rose as he stood.
"Thank…you." It was over in an instant and Siera instantly fell to the ground tired.
"I hadn't realized how much energy I was using, I'm sorry everyone." Hiei turned and left as Jorge lifted siera and held her steady.
"I feel like I could sleep for years."
"Yeah I bet, I'm just glad you didn't kidnap anyone else." Kuwabara laughed
"Oh yeah I forgot." At that moment Ruka stumbled out of the trees exhausted and cut up from running into branches.
"Is this it, no it's not it's this way…no no no no not that way she wants you to think that way. Left, go left, no we already went left lets go right. No we go straight, straight is the best way; must escape, must escape, must escape…" She muttered mindlessly her eyes blank and lifeless.
"Are you still controlling her?"
"No, I let her go same time as I did Bakken, that's how she made it this far."
"Yeesh, she looks horrible, someone should help her get out of here." Siera scoffed and started walking back toward the hotel.
"Let her find her own way back it's her own damn fault anyway. Tell you what; I'll leave a dollar every twenty feet I bet she'll get back home in no time!" She suddenly stopped and thought about it and went back into the trees and returned with the sack, using it to cover her; she then tied a string around her waist and began to pull her along like a lost dog.
"Shut up, I don't want to hear about this later either." The two women proceeded to walk back to civilization.
"Yes, that is the real her, I'm glad to see it again."
"Hey Koenma's gone."
"Odd, well shall we head back ourselves?"
"Yeah, I want to talk about what you said to her, what was your strategy with that."
"None, I simply thought it was time to stop hiding."
"Aw that's awesome, so are you guys going to be a couple now do I hear wedding bells what about names for your children?" Kuwabara put his arm around Kurama's shoulder with a cheesy grin.
"He literally told the girl he loved her ten minutes ago."
"Yes it is quite early yet with more matches to come and all." The three of them were silent as they walked for a moment.
"So what now?"
"Now, we continue to fight."