Disclaimer: If I owned Yu Yu Hakusho I would actually be *in* the show and
sense I'm not . . . what does that tell you?
SECRETS IN MY BLOOD CHAPTER 3
She crashed onto the solid ground. The sharp contact made her yelp in pain. Beside her was Hiei who had landed perfectly, even with their hands linked. Keiko sat up in order to give him a piece of her mind. Then she noticed it. Ignoring her new pain from the jarring landing, she realized that her blood was no longer in turmoil. Hiei let go of her hand.
"Do you still hurt?" Asked Hiei.
Keiko looked at him. She could tell he considered it demeaning to ask her such a question. A faint smile played on her face before she answered.
"No, I'm alright. Thank you for asking." Answered Keiko.
Hiei turned his back on her.
"I asked because if you still felt any pain, you would die with or without my help. Then I could have left you and do as I please." Said Hiei, in an off-handed manner.
Keiko glared at his back. He made Yusuke look like the perfect boyfriend!
Yusuke . . .
"Oh my god! Yusuke! What are my family and friends going to think?! How long I'll be gone?!" Thought Keiko
It dawned on Keiko that her departure might have been a bit hasty. Or, perhaps not. Hiei didn't seem the type to wait patiently for some one he did not care for in the slightest. Especially if he was doing a favor for that person.
"Hiei? How long will we be gone for?" Whispered Keiko, dreading the answer.
"Weeks, months, depending on how difficult you chose to make this." Responded Hiei, who started walking away.
"Wait!" Shouted Keiko, as she scrambled to get up.
Hiei then jumped into a nearby tree and disappeared. Keiko stopped and glanced around for him nervously.
"Hiei! Come back!" Yelled Keiko.
A barely visible black blur landed besides Keiko. The blur then became Hiei. He did not look pleased.
"What?" He growled.
"I can't move that fast!" Said Keiko.
"I will walk then." Said Hiei, grounding out the words like they were painful to say.
"What about my friends and my family? What am I going to do about them?" Asked Keiko, not caring if this was a good time or not.
"Nothing." Answered Hiei.
"I have to do something! I can't just get up and leave!" Cried Keiko, hating the unfairness of it all.
"You can, you did and we are not going back." Answered Hiei.
Keiko thought about this. Her life was hanging in the balance. Her very existence was on the line here. Her family and friends could wait.
"What am I thinking? This isn't me!" Thought Keiko, "But . . . I'm *always* thinking about others first. Putting myself first just this once and with these circumstances is completely fair."
That being decided, Keiko began walking away from the barrier of the Makai and her world.
Keiko walked along side him. This gave her a good view of her surroundings. The Makai was so different then her world. Right now they were on a level, gloomy and barren landscape. They were headed toward a forest.
The forest was not at all inviting. The trunks had of the trees were an odd shade of purplish-brown. The leaves were a murky green that could have easily passed for black. All around her there were strange noises and sights. The hostile crooning of a bird creature was heard from a tree somewhere, causing Keiko to come even closer to Hiei. A stale breeze cut through the forest, making Keiko shiver. Then she remembered her wet clothing and shivered even more as the breeze intensified.
Without moving his head, Hiei observed the shaking girl. His keen red eyes were aware of the blue tint on her skin and the degree of wetness in her clothes. Continuing on this ridicules quest to save her life from her demon blood would be foolish if he allowed her to die from the cold. Her kind was so pathetic and vulnerable.
Without even the softest whisper of fabric, he removed his cloak and handed it to the soaked girl. She looked stunned for a moment and then carefully took it from him. Their hands came in contact for a brief moment and she blushed slightly. Finally, she wrapped the garment around her fragile form.
Keiko had been surprised from Hiei's silent offering. She also scolded herself for blushing at his touch. Without her usual polite 'thank you', for she now knew such mannerism would go unappreciated by him, she put the dark piece of clothing on.
It was warm and dry. The thin material was more comforting then a hot bath. After her appraisal of feeling of the cloak, she brought a corner of the cloth to smell. The scent was that of a man's, or male demon's really. No cologne or any other artificial fragrances were added. They didn't need to be. The musty, dark, natural concoction of odors she could not put a finger on was intoxicating.
Without knowing, Keiko had fallen behind. Hiei was also too caught up in his own thoughts of his current position to notice this seemingly unimportant detail. However, it was soon to become important.
A screech, a flash, the click of metallic wings and Keiko was gone. Hiei quickly turned around and saw a strange bird demon with metal wing clutching the screaming Keiko in its talons, flying away. A temporary panic surged through his system before he unsheathed his katana and darted into the nearest tree.
The talons were ripping through her skin. She screamed. Her blood was drenching all her clothes. Except Hiei's cloak, which was liquid proof apparently, or perhaps it was a side effect of a fire demon for its wearer. Keiko did not ponder on these thoughts though. Her mind was franticly trying to work out a way to save herself amidst this red fog that clouded any and all coherent thought.
Her eyes closed as she became numb. Her mind was a crazed animal, clawing frantically; trying to save it's being from the inevitable doom. The idea of one thinking 'death isn't so bad' right before they make the crossing into the next life was erroneous, as Keiko soon found out. The pain had subsided, but it made no difference to her. She was still very much alive and not willing to die.
Without really feeling it, but more by sensing it, Keiko realized her body falling. Strong arms were wrapped around her and Keiko believed she was moving very fast. Now knowing she was out of danger, Keiko allowed herself to sink into an inviting darkness.
When she awoke, Keiko's first observation was the incredible amount of pain she was in. Her shoulders ached, not with a slow, throbbing dull pain, but a rapid and sharp pain. Carefully drawing up an arm, so as not to increase her hurt, she gently touched the area of her wound. They were bandaged. Keiko let her arm fall limply back to her side and permitted her mind be consumed by the darkness again.
Keiko opened her eyes and sat up. Her shoulders were very stiff, but didn't hurt much. She looked around. It was dawn and the sun was just coming up. It was beautiful. Makai had none of the pollutants that her world had; making the colors more vivid then she had ever seen them.
Turning away from the rising sun, she looked at her surroundings. She was in a forest, a seemingly normal one. The leaves were green, the bark on the trees were brown and there didn't seem to be any monster birds. Keiko touched her shoulders again. Instead of the bandages, she felt the comforting dark material of Hiei's cloak.
Hiei . . .
Despite his obvious dislike for Keiko, he had given up his cloak for her and saved her. Maybe his crass, hateful words were not all true. Maybe he did care somewhat for her well being.
"And maybe pigs can fly and little green men live on Mars." Thought Keiko with uncharacteristic sarcasm.
She looked around for the demon of her thoughts. She wanted to know how long she had been out for. Keiko saw him. His back was, once again, facing her. Without his cloak on, Keiko could see his well toned upper body clearly. It made her want to blush, but she was too busy staring.
Hiei turned around, knowing someone or something's eyes were watching him. He saw that Keiko had awaken and her cheeks were now stained red with embarrassment from being caught staring.
"Hn. You're awake." Said Hiei, somewhat irked that she had been . . . studying him.
"Yes . . . um, Hiei? How long have I been unconscious for?" Asked Keiko timidly.
"Three days."
"Wha-how . . . how could I have healed so quickly?" Interrogated Keiko.
"You're almost demon now." Said Hiei, "After some decent training, then you'll be able to leave Makai."
"Training?"
"Martial arts. It's the easiest way for you to become a full demon. By learning to fight, you're demonic side will come out. You might even discover your special power, if you have one." Explained Hiei.
"My special power? What is that?" Asked Keiko, her interested having been captured.
"Kurama's power over plants and my power over fire. It's a trait that only your kin and you can possess. The control over an element." Answered Hiei.
An "Oh." Was all Keiko could manage.
She was going to find her special . . . power? Did she really have the ability to control an element? It didn't feel like it. Keiko felt like the same girl she had been her whole life. Well, perhaps a little different. For instance, Hiei had just told her she was to learn to fight. Keiko hated fighting and violence. Didn't she? Somehow, this failed to bother her as much as it should have.
"Maybe I am changing." Thought Keiko as she got up.
SECRETS IN MY BLOOD CHAPTER 3
She crashed onto the solid ground. The sharp contact made her yelp in pain. Beside her was Hiei who had landed perfectly, even with their hands linked. Keiko sat up in order to give him a piece of her mind. Then she noticed it. Ignoring her new pain from the jarring landing, she realized that her blood was no longer in turmoil. Hiei let go of her hand.
"Do you still hurt?" Asked Hiei.
Keiko looked at him. She could tell he considered it demeaning to ask her such a question. A faint smile played on her face before she answered.
"No, I'm alright. Thank you for asking." Answered Keiko.
Hiei turned his back on her.
"I asked because if you still felt any pain, you would die with or without my help. Then I could have left you and do as I please." Said Hiei, in an off-handed manner.
Keiko glared at his back. He made Yusuke look like the perfect boyfriend!
Yusuke . . .
"Oh my god! Yusuke! What are my family and friends going to think?! How long I'll be gone?!" Thought Keiko
It dawned on Keiko that her departure might have been a bit hasty. Or, perhaps not. Hiei didn't seem the type to wait patiently for some one he did not care for in the slightest. Especially if he was doing a favor for that person.
"Hiei? How long will we be gone for?" Whispered Keiko, dreading the answer.
"Weeks, months, depending on how difficult you chose to make this." Responded Hiei, who started walking away.
"Wait!" Shouted Keiko, as she scrambled to get up.
Hiei then jumped into a nearby tree and disappeared. Keiko stopped and glanced around for him nervously.
"Hiei! Come back!" Yelled Keiko.
A barely visible black blur landed besides Keiko. The blur then became Hiei. He did not look pleased.
"What?" He growled.
"I can't move that fast!" Said Keiko.
"I will walk then." Said Hiei, grounding out the words like they were painful to say.
"What about my friends and my family? What am I going to do about them?" Asked Keiko, not caring if this was a good time or not.
"Nothing." Answered Hiei.
"I have to do something! I can't just get up and leave!" Cried Keiko, hating the unfairness of it all.
"You can, you did and we are not going back." Answered Hiei.
Keiko thought about this. Her life was hanging in the balance. Her very existence was on the line here. Her family and friends could wait.
"What am I thinking? This isn't me!" Thought Keiko, "But . . . I'm *always* thinking about others first. Putting myself first just this once and with these circumstances is completely fair."
That being decided, Keiko began walking away from the barrier of the Makai and her world.
Keiko walked along side him. This gave her a good view of her surroundings. The Makai was so different then her world. Right now they were on a level, gloomy and barren landscape. They were headed toward a forest.
The forest was not at all inviting. The trunks had of the trees were an odd shade of purplish-brown. The leaves were a murky green that could have easily passed for black. All around her there were strange noises and sights. The hostile crooning of a bird creature was heard from a tree somewhere, causing Keiko to come even closer to Hiei. A stale breeze cut through the forest, making Keiko shiver. Then she remembered her wet clothing and shivered even more as the breeze intensified.
Without moving his head, Hiei observed the shaking girl. His keen red eyes were aware of the blue tint on her skin and the degree of wetness in her clothes. Continuing on this ridicules quest to save her life from her demon blood would be foolish if he allowed her to die from the cold. Her kind was so pathetic and vulnerable.
Without even the softest whisper of fabric, he removed his cloak and handed it to the soaked girl. She looked stunned for a moment and then carefully took it from him. Their hands came in contact for a brief moment and she blushed slightly. Finally, she wrapped the garment around her fragile form.
Keiko had been surprised from Hiei's silent offering. She also scolded herself for blushing at his touch. Without her usual polite 'thank you', for she now knew such mannerism would go unappreciated by him, she put the dark piece of clothing on.
It was warm and dry. The thin material was more comforting then a hot bath. After her appraisal of feeling of the cloak, she brought a corner of the cloth to smell. The scent was that of a man's, or male demon's really. No cologne or any other artificial fragrances were added. They didn't need to be. The musty, dark, natural concoction of odors she could not put a finger on was intoxicating.
Without knowing, Keiko had fallen behind. Hiei was also too caught up in his own thoughts of his current position to notice this seemingly unimportant detail. However, it was soon to become important.
A screech, a flash, the click of metallic wings and Keiko was gone. Hiei quickly turned around and saw a strange bird demon with metal wing clutching the screaming Keiko in its talons, flying away. A temporary panic surged through his system before he unsheathed his katana and darted into the nearest tree.
The talons were ripping through her skin. She screamed. Her blood was drenching all her clothes. Except Hiei's cloak, which was liquid proof apparently, or perhaps it was a side effect of a fire demon for its wearer. Keiko did not ponder on these thoughts though. Her mind was franticly trying to work out a way to save herself amidst this red fog that clouded any and all coherent thought.
Her eyes closed as she became numb. Her mind was a crazed animal, clawing frantically; trying to save it's being from the inevitable doom. The idea of one thinking 'death isn't so bad' right before they make the crossing into the next life was erroneous, as Keiko soon found out. The pain had subsided, but it made no difference to her. She was still very much alive and not willing to die.
Without really feeling it, but more by sensing it, Keiko realized her body falling. Strong arms were wrapped around her and Keiko believed she was moving very fast. Now knowing she was out of danger, Keiko allowed herself to sink into an inviting darkness.
When she awoke, Keiko's first observation was the incredible amount of pain she was in. Her shoulders ached, not with a slow, throbbing dull pain, but a rapid and sharp pain. Carefully drawing up an arm, so as not to increase her hurt, she gently touched the area of her wound. They were bandaged. Keiko let her arm fall limply back to her side and permitted her mind be consumed by the darkness again.
Keiko opened her eyes and sat up. Her shoulders were very stiff, but didn't hurt much. She looked around. It was dawn and the sun was just coming up. It was beautiful. Makai had none of the pollutants that her world had; making the colors more vivid then she had ever seen them.
Turning away from the rising sun, she looked at her surroundings. She was in a forest, a seemingly normal one. The leaves were green, the bark on the trees were brown and there didn't seem to be any monster birds. Keiko touched her shoulders again. Instead of the bandages, she felt the comforting dark material of Hiei's cloak.
Hiei . . .
Despite his obvious dislike for Keiko, he had given up his cloak for her and saved her. Maybe his crass, hateful words were not all true. Maybe he did care somewhat for her well being.
"And maybe pigs can fly and little green men live on Mars." Thought Keiko with uncharacteristic sarcasm.
She looked around for the demon of her thoughts. She wanted to know how long she had been out for. Keiko saw him. His back was, once again, facing her. Without his cloak on, Keiko could see his well toned upper body clearly. It made her want to blush, but she was too busy staring.
Hiei turned around, knowing someone or something's eyes were watching him. He saw that Keiko had awaken and her cheeks were now stained red with embarrassment from being caught staring.
"Hn. You're awake." Said Hiei, somewhat irked that she had been . . . studying him.
"Yes . . . um, Hiei? How long have I been unconscious for?" Asked Keiko timidly.
"Three days."
"Wha-how . . . how could I have healed so quickly?" Interrogated Keiko.
"You're almost demon now." Said Hiei, "After some decent training, then you'll be able to leave Makai."
"Training?"
"Martial arts. It's the easiest way for you to become a full demon. By learning to fight, you're demonic side will come out. You might even discover your special power, if you have one." Explained Hiei.
"My special power? What is that?" Asked Keiko, her interested having been captured.
"Kurama's power over plants and my power over fire. It's a trait that only your kin and you can possess. The control over an element." Answered Hiei.
An "Oh." Was all Keiko could manage.
She was going to find her special . . . power? Did she really have the ability to control an element? It didn't feel like it. Keiko felt like the same girl she had been her whole life. Well, perhaps a little different. For instance, Hiei had just told her she was to learn to fight. Keiko hated fighting and violence. Didn't she? Somehow, this failed to bother her as much as it should have.
"Maybe I am changing." Thought Keiko as she got up.