Disclaimers: see first chapter

Author's notes: I didn't really know where to place the tiny first scene but it's
essential to the story.

- The *** show the changing of scenes and of narration (I'm back to 1st person
narration)

- The Italics show the poem on which this chapter was based (it's called "Sunset" and
I wrote it)

Special thank to my friend Nogitsune (although she kinda disappeared) and to all
those who reviewed my last chapter! I love ya all ^_________^


Duels (part 2)


"Where's Kurama?"

"Oh, hello Hiei! It's nice of you to come visit me. But I'm sorry, Kurama
isn't free to see you right now."

"Where is he?"

"I can't tell you."

"Hn"

"Are you defying me? Interesting…I accept. If you win I'll take you to
Kurama, if, on the other hand, you lose I'll put you in prison."

"Deal."

***
***
***
***
***

The sun has set
The light has gone
But I, I don't care:
My eyes are closed

It's night, I suppose. Here it's always night but I just got what could be
considered my 'evening meal' so it's probably night outside. I like to think
that it's right after dusk, that it's not dark yet. But it's not really important is
it? Nothing is important: not here, not now. Even…

The bird fell asleep
The moon's to come
But I, I don't care:
My eyes are closed

I should go to sleep now but I don't want to. What if he came when I slept?
He kept me alive for the past month; he must have a reason. Oh, I know
what he wants and he knows that I know, so why hasn't he come yet?

Feh, look at me trying to think, as if I cared anymore. It's unnerving; I can't
seem to be able to bring myself to do anything but sleep and eat. It's as if all
my thoughts, my ideas, my plans, have all been locked somewhere and I
can't bring them out. Or is it that I don't want to?

The room is dark
The door is locked
But I, I don't care:
My eyes are closed

I have so many wards on me that I can't even know for sure if they drain my
ki or if they lock it up. I feel like I'm blind, deaf and have gloves on my
hands. Is he so afraid that I'm going to run away? Isn't my word enough?
Even as a yohko I always kept my word, I had my pride!

And that's what got me here in the first place.

I don't want to go there though; the memories of what pushed me into this
castle are too painful. Is that the reason for this apathy? Am I just trying to
forget? Am I such a coward? Do I care?

No. My will to survive has never been overly strong. Now even less. My
pride went to take a hike along the way.
I should just go to sleep, rest, forget. Yes, that would be best –

What's this noise? Has he finally decided to come take care of me? Sure,
why not. He might even kill me after, I hope he does.

Your breath on my cheek
Your face so close
But I, I shouldn't care:
My eyes are closed

I hear footsteps; the person is obviously not very steady. It's not him; either
that or he is very drunk. Whoever it is, he's coming towards me. I can
sense that he's examining me but I can't tell who it is, I just can't open my
eyes.

"Kurama?"

That voice…

"Hiei?" I whisper, not because I want to, I just don't have the strength to do
anything else. "What are you doing here?"

"Hn. I'm stuck here."

I feel warm at his words; he had nothing to look for anywhere near Yomi's
territory. Maybe he cares, just a little.

I imagine your lips
I dream of your eyes
It's all I can do:
My eyes are closed

It's so strange: to feel alive after so long. But even as I relish my newfound
life I know that it won't last, the more energy I spend now the faster I'll die
later. And suddenly it matters. I know I can't postpone it but I don't want
to let myself die in Yomi's dungeon. I won't give him that pleasure!

"Hiei" I know that my voice sounds steadier as I speak "can I ask you a
favor?"

I feel him nod, he understands. No more need for words now: he
understood his role and has accepted it. I don't know if I should be happy
that he accepted or sad that he is willing to do it so easily.

He is as heavily warded as me and his katana is gone but strangely I feel,
more than see, the green glow from his jagan. It is beyond me how he can
still use is.

One last thing though, I have to tell him. "Ai shiteru Hiei" even if you don't
want to hear it, I add mentally.

::Ore mo, ai shiteru Kurama:: I can hear his voice in my head…of course
baka! His jagan! ::Hn, my baka:: and he can hear my thoughts too, I forgot.

I'm happy, now I really am, even if it is too late. I know it's now or never:
"arigato Hiei" and I mean every nuance of these words.

I barely catch his answer: "We'll meet again."

I smile as I feel his forehead on mine

I know your love
And I know it's mine
But now, I should let go:
My eyes have closed


~owari~


so, did ya like it?