Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or ideas from the original
Yu Yu Hakusho, I do not own any songs that appear here either.
However I do lay claim to all insert characters. Ideas, ect.
Temple Grounds
Chapter 19:Memories and Glad
:: Telepathy:: "speech" //thoughts// /lyrics/
Hiei blinked as three, not four people stopped under the tree he was sitting in...
"Hey Hiei, is Maru here?" Yusuke asked, seemingly worried... Hiei blinked again. "No..." He stopped, read the looks on the three faces, and his eyes got REALLY wide. "She must have got off the trail..." ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ``````````````````````
Maru threw as much energy as possible into the blow... And Muerte barely fended her off with a black wave of energy... Then the Death vanished... Not in sparks... It was speed... And that scared the crap out of Maru right then and there... She sliced neatly through the branch, heard it slam into the ground, and she jumped upwards... Landing neatly on a higher branch. Every nerve was tense and her brain was focused on one thing... Finding that slut...
"Well, such a nice fighting style. Though it is pretty old for someone like you, little Maruka." A voice hissed in her right ear... Then a blow connected with the side of her head and she flew down ward... Making acquaintance with the earth below.. But in a blink she was up on her feet ready for another go... Which only lasted about two seconds... Before she got to say hello to mother earth again... This time with her face...
"Oh sorry, I'll try to be a bit softer... Togasha wanted you to have time to tell me where the stone is..." Muerte said before vanishing again... Maru growled and flung herself upward... This time meeting a blow to the back with a turn and a roundhouse kick... Which gave Muerte a lovely view of a tree head on... Before she recovered and vanished... AGAIN.
/I'm not,
You're average type of girl.
I'm gonna show the world.../ This time Maru was ready, as soon as she sensed the black clad girl behind her she teleported above the spot and dive bombed the 'lady' straight into a patch of grass with her name all over it... Needless to Muerte wasn't happy with this development... In fact one could say she was mad enough to spit... Grass that is.
Maru was way ahead of her, Suna had taught her not to let your opponent have time to speak, lest they cast a hex or spell. But Maru was doing this because she just didn't want this witch talking-AT ALL.
/Strength in me that sometimes they can't see. / Energy pulsed along her daggers, then she let loose. "Twin Blade! Gemelo Pala! (1)" The daggers sped foreword, nicking a tree first and sending splinters in every direction as the crimson energy left a bright trail behind the spinning blades...
/I'm about to switch my style-
And soon things may get wild.
But I'll prove that I can conquer anything!/
Muerte stood on the ground, arms crossed in front of her... "You may be Togasha's child... But I'm more of a dragon then you!" She glowed as black as night... Energy surrounding her... Then it shot forth... But not before 6feet worth of black scale tipped wings spouted from Muerte's back... And she shot up ward... Maru didn't see it coming... She didn't even stand a chance... Muerte canceled out her twin blade with a flick of her wrist... Then the black energy surrounded Maru... It didn't really hurt...But the presence of pain was there in her head... Like she was out of her body... But then she felt a cooler energy pulse around her right hand...
Perplexed she brought it to her face as she rushed to the ground... The gem in her glove was glowing golden.. Light shattering the dark around her... Then she was aware of a shout... Not loud... But it was there... She tried to turn, to look, the command ran through her body... But it wouldn't listen...
"Here you go half-breed!" Muerte yelled, and the darkness increased suddenly... But Maru wasn't through...
/So from my head to toe,
I'm takin' full control.
I'll make it on my own-This time!/ Red light pulsed around her body barely three feet from the ground then she pointed her palms at the laughing form above her... "TAKE THIS! Rojo Ardiente Flecha!!" (2) Instantly a red arrow formed, lined up perfectly with Muerte... Then with a flash it flew forward, and the black energy glowed red as the arrow left a trail of red and orange sparks... With Maru now on the ground and trying to get up, despite the fact that the energy surrounding her crackled and popped with her every movement...
/Better watch me shine.
Better watch out- goin' for the knockout.
And I won't stop 'till I'm on top now! / The arrow made a shrieking noise followed by Muerte's scream... But as the dragon fell to the ground nearby... Both girls got up... One as ready for more as the other.. But Muerte now had a large hole through her middle... Charred and her eyes were dim... But she charged first... Cards now zipping through the air in an attack similar to Maru's Twin blade... Though the Guardian dodged, red-gold eyes burning...
/Not gonna give up-Until I get what's mine.
Better check that-I'm about to upset.
And I'm hot now- so you better step back.
I'm taking over-so watch me shine!/ The black, cage like energy constricted some of Maru's movements, but she didn't really notice until she stumbled.... Then heard a whistle from a Card... She struggled to get up... But the black mass only tightened... Until she could barely see out side of it. But it was strange... She wasn't afraid. And she knew the card could easily get through the black mass and kill her... But she only saw it as a challenge... Just like her training from Suna... A challenge for her to live... A test... //Alright... Well Muerte... Get ready for a pop quiz...// Maru closed her eyes as the gray card suddenly buried itself in her chest... Just below her heart... But she brought herself up, her chest beginning to turn crimson...
/Watch me.
So get ready here I come-Until the job is done.
No time to risk-there's nothing stopping me./
"Well, now you can tell me... Where is... The stone...?" Muerte landed softly on the ground nearby... Feet planted firmly on the ground and eyes looking over the bloody Maru with a look a pride... She was happy... She was happy...
That thought slowly sank in... Then red-gold eyes flickered... The battle in between bloods had started again... Only this time... She knew which one she wanted to come out on top... //All right dragon... You're so big and bad... Let's show this witch what we've got... I'm ready for a good fight...// Her eyes went from the wolf gold... Straight to a black with an odd ring of an ember red along the slit pupil...
/Oh but you don't hear me though.
So now it's time to show.
And prove I'm going to be the best that I can be. /
She felt the wings pulse into existence and her eyes became sharper... Her happi coat hung in ribbons across her back... But the red matched the blood perfectly... She looked at the glove on her hand... Black... No light at all...
"What?! How..." Muerte gasped, wide eyed but ready... But she never got the chance... Maru unsheathed the sword that hung across her back, rocketed foreword...
/So from head my to toe-my mind body and soul.
I'm taking full control.
This time! / And she brought the blade down squarely on Muerte's head... Dark crimson liquid was surrounding her hands and all over her blade... Then she picked up the pendent the dragon had been wearing... And glanced at It... A gray stone with flecks of black, gray, silver, and white running through It... It was polished and now cracked... But she put it in her pouch by her side... Sheathed her sword after whipping it on her happi... Called her daggers and did the same to them... Then walked back toward the path...
The whole time her chest burned and bled... But the sight behind her kept her going... Dang if she was going to die... Better do it away from that mess...
/Better watch me shine!
Not gonna give up 'till I get what's mine!
Now watch me shine!
And I'm hot now, so you better step back!
Watch me shine!
Watch me! / ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ``````````````````````
Hiei looked at the crimson area... His eyes not really even stopping over the still form.. It was dead and it wasn't Maru. Though he sensed her energy everywhere... But it was fainter then before... She had left, but which way? His Jagan had turned up nothing... Just a replay of what happened... Maru had killed the girl below... Then nothing else...
But he got his answer, and not in the way he wanted... A trail of red met his eyes that lead away from there... And after a few minutes of following... He found Maru. She was in a daze but moving. The red must have been from the other girl's blood... Or so he thought. Until he walked up behind her.
A hole... Not large but bleeding heavily. It had been doing do for a while. Since her whole back and front were covered with the liquid. But she was walking along, much as she had not that long ago... Eyes and pace steady and forward...
Hiei seemed to deem it worthless to try to talk to her... She had a look in her eyes that plainly said that... But he grabbed her right hand, unsure about what in the seven hells he was doing... "Maru! Wake up!"
She stopped then she blinked... That dazed and empty look retreating from her black eyes... "Hiei? What... Where are they?"
He blinked. Well that wasn't the reaction he was thinking of... "Yusuke, Kuwabara, and Kurama are close by. You wondered off the path. So we..." Maru wasn't even listening... She was trying to walk again... Only to stumble and, didn't actually connect with the ground... (A/N for once) ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ``````````````````````
Hiei watched her closely... She was breathing normally... But other then that she didn't move. Heck if he knew how she was still alive. He had removed her happi coat and bandaged her chest, (the strip of cloth/bra was still there for all the pervs. and will STAY there for the rest or the story.) and a few smaller cuts on her arms and legs. It was dark and she leaned back against the tree in a deep sleep, her wings folded delicately behind her... Not even moving when he had wrapped the strips of cloth over the wound. Though after an hour or so it stopped bleeding strangely enough...
She looked peaceful enough, but she needed to have the wound healed. And he doubted he'd be able to leave her long enough to go get Kurama. Of course he'd raised his energy thinking they'd sense It... Even then that might take a while... She might make it on her own though. She seemed to be the type to have a knack for pulling herself out of scrapes. As well as, he admitted with a sigh, others that got themselves into situations... Of course in a way he WAS referring to himself...
He sat down beside her, eyes still wandering over her face. It was weird. She had her eyes slightly opened. He hadn't noticed until now... But they were small slits... Only a shiny line was visible under the dark lashes... Hold it. Why was he 'studying' her. He gave himself a mental note to keep his eyes to himself. It would be just his luck and she'd wake up and think he was acting like the fools. (Yusuke and Kuwabara)
Maru was breathing softly... Her chest barely rising and falling with the small and steady breaths. She was hurt. There wasn't a doubt in Hiei's mind. But how bad was it? And more importantly, (By his standards.) why had she wandered off and fought that girl?
He sighed. //Don't let the baka lobo wake up.// He thought as he undid the bandana around his head... Then closed his eyes as the third eye opened. ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ``````````````````
Nothing, not even a single thought came from her. Which in a way made sense. She was sleeping. But flashes came into view. They were random memories. Her mind must have been replaying them. Though most were of her training there was one that caught his 'eye'. (No pun intended.)
````````````````````````````````Flash back```````````````````````````````````````````````
"Suna! Suna! I found something!" Maru yelled, her voice was much younger, not much older then Tsuki. She had short hair, barely even to her shoulders. She had on a red sweatband, and the usual black happi and sash with black sandals. She was running up the steps to the temple he assumed. She had a dark colored bundle in her arms and was holding it like it was alive.
Suna came into light from the rooms in the red colored building and sighed, yellow eyes staring at Maru crossly. She had water on her hands and had been cleaning probably. She walked over to a practically hopping Maru and put a hand on the red and brown head. "What is it child? You're supposed to be working in the southern area." Suna seemed to have used up her patience on the child prior to this, and looked rather bothered by the child's actions.
"Look! I found this! It's a gato!(3) It's a girl gato!" Maru said trying to stay still as she lifted a tattered piece of cloth from the bundle. Instantly a smaller, darker, and less furry Klai appeared.
"Well, I bet the mother dropped it in the storm last night. They do have nesting grounds near here." Suna said narrowing her eyes and nodding. Maru however looked at the old Keeper like she was an idiot. "Cat's don't have nests. The birds do.."
Suna chuckled. "No, these aren't ningen cats. They're ones from around here. They have wings like velvet and are very good flyers. Though it IS odd one should have lost it's parents. They're usually good parents." Suna sighed, then looked at Maru. Her gaze didn't soften, nor did it harden at her. But Suna just seemed to be thinking... Which the young Guardian seemed to have little patience for. "Can we keep her? She needs a place to stay Suna!"
"You don't use my name, remember that! But..." Suna paused at the young girl. Red-gold eyes were sparkling. They were a far shot different then the ones Hiei had seen. "All right. She can stay. But she'll need a name... I think... Klai will do well."(4) "The child of storm?" Maru asked, eyes wondering. "Yes." "Thank you Sun... I mean Keeper!" Maru clung to the cat and bolted down the steps to go take care of the new occupant of the Temple Grounds. `````````````````````Flash back````````````````````````````````````````````````````
It was raining. Hard and lightning ran across the sky... The temple looked bright. But Maru was walking down the steps... One foot over the other, slowly down the slippery stone steps. She slipped once and ended up rolling half way down and doing a nice front flip. But she got up and looked at her muddy legs and arms with a look of amusement. "I've gotta wash all this off, oh well." Her voice sighed and she turned back to the main path leading from the temple and ran along it, a smile on her lips. It took a while but finally she came to an all too familiar spot. The trees and bushes stopped growing and the burned line along the ground told her to stop. She stood there, just on the edge of the moss, and waited.
Suddenly Suna appeared an umbrella and a small wagon in tow. Maru smiled. "Hey Keeper. Need help?" She asked, smiling as Suna walked flawlessly through the barrier. "No. You are supposed to be watching the temple! Klai's not old enough yet to watch it Maru! Now get back there this instant!"
"But I... It was raining so I thought you'd..." "I want you to get back there now, Guardian!" Maru sighed, hung her head and nodded. But not before looking at the old woman crossly. "My name is MARU, SUNA or 'Keeper'." The young girl huffed and walked off into the rain... Not even bothering to teleport. //Suna's such a jerk sometimes. I just wanted to help... But she's always like that... Well, we'll see how well she likes a sourpuss Maru. She wants some kind of emotionless witch as her 'Guardian', she's gonna get one. // ```````````````````````````````````````````````````Flash back``````````````````````````````
"Maru, I need for you to get Klai. I need her to send something to the Dragon-clan to me." Suna's voice sounded older, and sicker. "Fine." Maru answered appearing in the bright sunlight. She was about 13 or 14 and looked VERY different from her counterpart 6 or 7 years ago. She stood with an air of authority around her and she looked dark and deadly. Her voice was older and strangely dark for a girl's voice at that age. But she had undoubtedly kept her promise about becoming the emotionless Guardian the Keeper had wanted...
"Klai! Suna needs you again!" Maru called from the bottom of the steps.. Sure enough a small purple speck became larger and Klai came into view. "All right!" `````````````````````````End of Flash Back```````````````````````````````````````````````
Hiei opened his eyes, red orbs on the slumbering Maru. So she wasn't always this silent. She'd just became cold because Suna had always taught her to hate and fight... And Klai had seemed to be the only person Maru could remember that cared about her and showed it. Though that thought brought a pang of realization to the fire demon... However it was short lived.
"Hiei?" It was soft, and confused. He blinked and realized he'd been starring at an awake Maru. She had her eyes half lidded but she was awake. She looked cofused, yet had her eyes firmly locked on his face..
"You're awake." He said, it seemed more like a statement then a question.
Maru nodded and tried to lean forward, throwing a glance at her wings and probably looking for the happi coat. Though she winced when she tried to turn... "How long have been out for?" Was the next question she asked..
"Not that long."
"Where's everyone else?"
He for once only shrugged. He didn't have any idea where they were. Though he could sense something far off.. Though that could anything from them to another dragon which was the last thing they needed right now.
"Wonderful." Maru muttered and closed her eyes.. "Damn... I wouldn't be surprised if I don't make it through this.. So much for killing Togasha.."
"Hn." Hiei for once had pretty much no idea what to say.. So fell back on what he'd normally 'say'.
Maru opened her eyes and looked at him from the corner of her left eye, since he was still leaning against the tree beside her. Then the black-red orbs fell closed.. And she leaned over onto his shoulder.
His first reaction would have been to push her away.. And nearly did so.. Except she spoke first.. Her voice was soft and far off, but he still heard it.. "I'm glad you found me, Hiei... I was worried..." Now needless to say he snapped his head around and was looking at her in the blink of an eye... But she was asleep.. //Did she plan that?// ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` `````````````````` 1-Spanish-Twin blade 2-spanish-Red Burning Arrow 3-spanish-cat 4-Klai-a legend of a small child that was born from lightning and storms and became a caretaker for a small family during many storms, she was said to have wings and the abilities to ward of unfriendly spirits and to be able to control the storm itself.. Though she was said to have later died when her family was killed in a war. Her spirit then began to search out large storms and wars to protect children and elders.
Review, I give this story four more chapters.... Then it SHOULD BE finished. But I had planned on finishing at ch.15.. But I KNOW it'll be done before I hit 25..
Temple Grounds
Chapter 19:Memories and Glad
:: Telepathy:: "speech" //thoughts// /lyrics/
Hiei blinked as three, not four people stopped under the tree he was sitting in...
"Hey Hiei, is Maru here?" Yusuke asked, seemingly worried... Hiei blinked again. "No..." He stopped, read the looks on the three faces, and his eyes got REALLY wide. "She must have got off the trail..." ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ``````````````````````
Maru threw as much energy as possible into the blow... And Muerte barely fended her off with a black wave of energy... Then the Death vanished... Not in sparks... It was speed... And that scared the crap out of Maru right then and there... She sliced neatly through the branch, heard it slam into the ground, and she jumped upwards... Landing neatly on a higher branch. Every nerve was tense and her brain was focused on one thing... Finding that slut...
"Well, such a nice fighting style. Though it is pretty old for someone like you, little Maruka." A voice hissed in her right ear... Then a blow connected with the side of her head and she flew down ward... Making acquaintance with the earth below.. But in a blink she was up on her feet ready for another go... Which only lasted about two seconds... Before she got to say hello to mother earth again... This time with her face...
"Oh sorry, I'll try to be a bit softer... Togasha wanted you to have time to tell me where the stone is..." Muerte said before vanishing again... Maru growled and flung herself upward... This time meeting a blow to the back with a turn and a roundhouse kick... Which gave Muerte a lovely view of a tree head on... Before she recovered and vanished... AGAIN.
/I'm not,
You're average type of girl.
I'm gonna show the world.../ This time Maru was ready, as soon as she sensed the black clad girl behind her she teleported above the spot and dive bombed the 'lady' straight into a patch of grass with her name all over it... Needless to Muerte wasn't happy with this development... In fact one could say she was mad enough to spit... Grass that is.
Maru was way ahead of her, Suna had taught her not to let your opponent have time to speak, lest they cast a hex or spell. But Maru was doing this because she just didn't want this witch talking-AT ALL.
/Strength in me that sometimes they can't see. / Energy pulsed along her daggers, then she let loose. "Twin Blade! Gemelo Pala! (1)" The daggers sped foreword, nicking a tree first and sending splinters in every direction as the crimson energy left a bright trail behind the spinning blades...
/I'm about to switch my style-
And soon things may get wild.
But I'll prove that I can conquer anything!/
Muerte stood on the ground, arms crossed in front of her... "You may be Togasha's child... But I'm more of a dragon then you!" She glowed as black as night... Energy surrounding her... Then it shot forth... But not before 6feet worth of black scale tipped wings spouted from Muerte's back... And she shot up ward... Maru didn't see it coming... She didn't even stand a chance... Muerte canceled out her twin blade with a flick of her wrist... Then the black energy surrounded Maru... It didn't really hurt...But the presence of pain was there in her head... Like she was out of her body... But then she felt a cooler energy pulse around her right hand...
Perplexed she brought it to her face as she rushed to the ground... The gem in her glove was glowing golden.. Light shattering the dark around her... Then she was aware of a shout... Not loud... But it was there... She tried to turn, to look, the command ran through her body... But it wouldn't listen...
"Here you go half-breed!" Muerte yelled, and the darkness increased suddenly... But Maru wasn't through...
/So from my head to toe,
I'm takin' full control.
I'll make it on my own-This time!/ Red light pulsed around her body barely three feet from the ground then she pointed her palms at the laughing form above her... "TAKE THIS! Rojo Ardiente Flecha!!" (2) Instantly a red arrow formed, lined up perfectly with Muerte... Then with a flash it flew forward, and the black energy glowed red as the arrow left a trail of red and orange sparks... With Maru now on the ground and trying to get up, despite the fact that the energy surrounding her crackled and popped with her every movement...
/Better watch me shine.
Better watch out- goin' for the knockout.
And I won't stop 'till I'm on top now! / The arrow made a shrieking noise followed by Muerte's scream... But as the dragon fell to the ground nearby... Both girls got up... One as ready for more as the other.. But Muerte now had a large hole through her middle... Charred and her eyes were dim... But she charged first... Cards now zipping through the air in an attack similar to Maru's Twin blade... Though the Guardian dodged, red-gold eyes burning...
/Not gonna give up-Until I get what's mine.
Better check that-I'm about to upset.
And I'm hot now- so you better step back.
I'm taking over-so watch me shine!/ The black, cage like energy constricted some of Maru's movements, but she didn't really notice until she stumbled.... Then heard a whistle from a Card... She struggled to get up... But the black mass only tightened... Until she could barely see out side of it. But it was strange... She wasn't afraid. And she knew the card could easily get through the black mass and kill her... But she only saw it as a challenge... Just like her training from Suna... A challenge for her to live... A test... //Alright... Well Muerte... Get ready for a pop quiz...// Maru closed her eyes as the gray card suddenly buried itself in her chest... Just below her heart... But she brought herself up, her chest beginning to turn crimson...
/Watch me.
So get ready here I come-Until the job is done.
No time to risk-there's nothing stopping me./
"Well, now you can tell me... Where is... The stone...?" Muerte landed softly on the ground nearby... Feet planted firmly on the ground and eyes looking over the bloody Maru with a look a pride... She was happy... She was happy...
That thought slowly sank in... Then red-gold eyes flickered... The battle in between bloods had started again... Only this time... She knew which one she wanted to come out on top... //All right dragon... You're so big and bad... Let's show this witch what we've got... I'm ready for a good fight...// Her eyes went from the wolf gold... Straight to a black with an odd ring of an ember red along the slit pupil...
/Oh but you don't hear me though.
So now it's time to show.
And prove I'm going to be the best that I can be. /
She felt the wings pulse into existence and her eyes became sharper... Her happi coat hung in ribbons across her back... But the red matched the blood perfectly... She looked at the glove on her hand... Black... No light at all...
"What?! How..." Muerte gasped, wide eyed but ready... But she never got the chance... Maru unsheathed the sword that hung across her back, rocketed foreword...
/So from head my to toe-my mind body and soul.
I'm taking full control.
This time! / And she brought the blade down squarely on Muerte's head... Dark crimson liquid was surrounding her hands and all over her blade... Then she picked up the pendent the dragon had been wearing... And glanced at It... A gray stone with flecks of black, gray, silver, and white running through It... It was polished and now cracked... But she put it in her pouch by her side... Sheathed her sword after whipping it on her happi... Called her daggers and did the same to them... Then walked back toward the path...
The whole time her chest burned and bled... But the sight behind her kept her going... Dang if she was going to die... Better do it away from that mess...
/Better watch me shine!
Not gonna give up 'till I get what's mine!
Now watch me shine!
And I'm hot now, so you better step back!
Watch me shine!
Watch me! / ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ``````````````````````
Hiei looked at the crimson area... His eyes not really even stopping over the still form.. It was dead and it wasn't Maru. Though he sensed her energy everywhere... But it was fainter then before... She had left, but which way? His Jagan had turned up nothing... Just a replay of what happened... Maru had killed the girl below... Then nothing else...
But he got his answer, and not in the way he wanted... A trail of red met his eyes that lead away from there... And after a few minutes of following... He found Maru. She was in a daze but moving. The red must have been from the other girl's blood... Or so he thought. Until he walked up behind her.
A hole... Not large but bleeding heavily. It had been doing do for a while. Since her whole back and front were covered with the liquid. But she was walking along, much as she had not that long ago... Eyes and pace steady and forward...
Hiei seemed to deem it worthless to try to talk to her... She had a look in her eyes that plainly said that... But he grabbed her right hand, unsure about what in the seven hells he was doing... "Maru! Wake up!"
She stopped then she blinked... That dazed and empty look retreating from her black eyes... "Hiei? What... Where are they?"
He blinked. Well that wasn't the reaction he was thinking of... "Yusuke, Kuwabara, and Kurama are close by. You wondered off the path. So we..." Maru wasn't even listening... She was trying to walk again... Only to stumble and, didn't actually connect with the ground... (A/N for once) ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ``````````````````````
Hiei watched her closely... She was breathing normally... But other then that she didn't move. Heck if he knew how she was still alive. He had removed her happi coat and bandaged her chest, (the strip of cloth/bra was still there for all the pervs. and will STAY there for the rest or the story.) and a few smaller cuts on her arms and legs. It was dark and she leaned back against the tree in a deep sleep, her wings folded delicately behind her... Not even moving when he had wrapped the strips of cloth over the wound. Though after an hour or so it stopped bleeding strangely enough...
She looked peaceful enough, but she needed to have the wound healed. And he doubted he'd be able to leave her long enough to go get Kurama. Of course he'd raised his energy thinking they'd sense It... Even then that might take a while... She might make it on her own though. She seemed to be the type to have a knack for pulling herself out of scrapes. As well as, he admitted with a sigh, others that got themselves into situations... Of course in a way he WAS referring to himself...
He sat down beside her, eyes still wandering over her face. It was weird. She had her eyes slightly opened. He hadn't noticed until now... But they were small slits... Only a shiny line was visible under the dark lashes... Hold it. Why was he 'studying' her. He gave himself a mental note to keep his eyes to himself. It would be just his luck and she'd wake up and think he was acting like the fools. (Yusuke and Kuwabara)
Maru was breathing softly... Her chest barely rising and falling with the small and steady breaths. She was hurt. There wasn't a doubt in Hiei's mind. But how bad was it? And more importantly, (By his standards.) why had she wandered off and fought that girl?
He sighed. //Don't let the baka lobo wake up.// He thought as he undid the bandana around his head... Then closed his eyes as the third eye opened. ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ``````````````````
Nothing, not even a single thought came from her. Which in a way made sense. She was sleeping. But flashes came into view. They were random memories. Her mind must have been replaying them. Though most were of her training there was one that caught his 'eye'. (No pun intended.)
````````````````````````````````Flash back```````````````````````````````````````````````
"Suna! Suna! I found something!" Maru yelled, her voice was much younger, not much older then Tsuki. She had short hair, barely even to her shoulders. She had on a red sweatband, and the usual black happi and sash with black sandals. She was running up the steps to the temple he assumed. She had a dark colored bundle in her arms and was holding it like it was alive.
Suna came into light from the rooms in the red colored building and sighed, yellow eyes staring at Maru crossly. She had water on her hands and had been cleaning probably. She walked over to a practically hopping Maru and put a hand on the red and brown head. "What is it child? You're supposed to be working in the southern area." Suna seemed to have used up her patience on the child prior to this, and looked rather bothered by the child's actions.
"Look! I found this! It's a gato!(3) It's a girl gato!" Maru said trying to stay still as she lifted a tattered piece of cloth from the bundle. Instantly a smaller, darker, and less furry Klai appeared.
"Well, I bet the mother dropped it in the storm last night. They do have nesting grounds near here." Suna said narrowing her eyes and nodding. Maru however looked at the old Keeper like she was an idiot. "Cat's don't have nests. The birds do.."
Suna chuckled. "No, these aren't ningen cats. They're ones from around here. They have wings like velvet and are very good flyers. Though it IS odd one should have lost it's parents. They're usually good parents." Suna sighed, then looked at Maru. Her gaze didn't soften, nor did it harden at her. But Suna just seemed to be thinking... Which the young Guardian seemed to have little patience for. "Can we keep her? She needs a place to stay Suna!"
"You don't use my name, remember that! But..." Suna paused at the young girl. Red-gold eyes were sparkling. They were a far shot different then the ones Hiei had seen. "All right. She can stay. But she'll need a name... I think... Klai will do well."(4) "The child of storm?" Maru asked, eyes wondering. "Yes." "Thank you Sun... I mean Keeper!" Maru clung to the cat and bolted down the steps to go take care of the new occupant of the Temple Grounds. `````````````````````Flash back````````````````````````````````````````````````````
It was raining. Hard and lightning ran across the sky... The temple looked bright. But Maru was walking down the steps... One foot over the other, slowly down the slippery stone steps. She slipped once and ended up rolling half way down and doing a nice front flip. But she got up and looked at her muddy legs and arms with a look of amusement. "I've gotta wash all this off, oh well." Her voice sighed and she turned back to the main path leading from the temple and ran along it, a smile on her lips. It took a while but finally she came to an all too familiar spot. The trees and bushes stopped growing and the burned line along the ground told her to stop. She stood there, just on the edge of the moss, and waited.
Suddenly Suna appeared an umbrella and a small wagon in tow. Maru smiled. "Hey Keeper. Need help?" She asked, smiling as Suna walked flawlessly through the barrier. "No. You are supposed to be watching the temple! Klai's not old enough yet to watch it Maru! Now get back there this instant!"
"But I... It was raining so I thought you'd..." "I want you to get back there now, Guardian!" Maru sighed, hung her head and nodded. But not before looking at the old woman crossly. "My name is MARU, SUNA or 'Keeper'." The young girl huffed and walked off into the rain... Not even bothering to teleport. //Suna's such a jerk sometimes. I just wanted to help... But she's always like that... Well, we'll see how well she likes a sourpuss Maru. She wants some kind of emotionless witch as her 'Guardian', she's gonna get one. // ```````````````````````````````````````````````````Flash back``````````````````````````````
"Maru, I need for you to get Klai. I need her to send something to the Dragon-clan to me." Suna's voice sounded older, and sicker. "Fine." Maru answered appearing in the bright sunlight. She was about 13 or 14 and looked VERY different from her counterpart 6 or 7 years ago. She stood with an air of authority around her and she looked dark and deadly. Her voice was older and strangely dark for a girl's voice at that age. But she had undoubtedly kept her promise about becoming the emotionless Guardian the Keeper had wanted...
"Klai! Suna needs you again!" Maru called from the bottom of the steps.. Sure enough a small purple speck became larger and Klai came into view. "All right!" `````````````````````````End of Flash Back```````````````````````````````````````````````
Hiei opened his eyes, red orbs on the slumbering Maru. So she wasn't always this silent. She'd just became cold because Suna had always taught her to hate and fight... And Klai had seemed to be the only person Maru could remember that cared about her and showed it. Though that thought brought a pang of realization to the fire demon... However it was short lived.
"Hiei?" It was soft, and confused. He blinked and realized he'd been starring at an awake Maru. She had her eyes half lidded but she was awake. She looked cofused, yet had her eyes firmly locked on his face..
"You're awake." He said, it seemed more like a statement then a question.
Maru nodded and tried to lean forward, throwing a glance at her wings and probably looking for the happi coat. Though she winced when she tried to turn... "How long have been out for?" Was the next question she asked..
"Not that long."
"Where's everyone else?"
He for once only shrugged. He didn't have any idea where they were. Though he could sense something far off.. Though that could anything from them to another dragon which was the last thing they needed right now.
"Wonderful." Maru muttered and closed her eyes.. "Damn... I wouldn't be surprised if I don't make it through this.. So much for killing Togasha.."
"Hn." Hiei for once had pretty much no idea what to say.. So fell back on what he'd normally 'say'.
Maru opened her eyes and looked at him from the corner of her left eye, since he was still leaning against the tree beside her. Then the black-red orbs fell closed.. And she leaned over onto his shoulder.
His first reaction would have been to push her away.. And nearly did so.. Except she spoke first.. Her voice was soft and far off, but he still heard it.. "I'm glad you found me, Hiei... I was worried..." Now needless to say he snapped his head around and was looking at her in the blink of an eye... But she was asleep.. //Did she plan that?// ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` `````````````````` 1-Spanish-Twin blade 2-spanish-Red Burning Arrow 3-spanish-cat 4-Klai-a legend of a small child that was born from lightning and storms and became a caretaker for a small family during many storms, she was said to have wings and the abilities to ward of unfriendly spirits and to be able to control the storm itself.. Though she was said to have later died when her family was killed in a war. Her spirit then began to search out large storms and wars to protect children and elders.
Review, I give this story four more chapters.... Then it SHOULD BE finished. But I had planned on finishing at ch.15.. But I KNOW it'll be done before I hit 25..
