The Beginning

I was breathing hard, but not from exhaustion, from excitement. Somewhere in these woods my enemy was waiting to attack and when he did I'd be ready for him.

After we had gone a few paces into the forest Hiei had made it clear he wanted to test my abilities by fighting me. I wasn't really given a choice in the matter because he disappeared a moment later.

Suddenly I had no more time for thought as he rushed at me. But it was at the wrong angle! I wasn't ready! I ducked just in time to avoid his blow. Even though it didn't hit me it did knock some sense into me. What was I doing? This wasn't me, I wasn't I fighter. The only reason I had made that wish was so Yusuke wouldn't have to keep saving me all the time. I had been so absorbed with what was happening to me I'd forgotten who I was.

"Hiei," I called, "I don't want to do this anymore, something bad will happen, I know it."

I don't know if he heard me at all because that was when he decided to make his next attack. He once again jumped from the trees, this time with his sword in hand. I watched him, terrified, as if in slow motion. Why was he doing this? Was he going to kill me?

Suddenly I felt certain that that was his intention, he was going to kill me and then go after Yusuke! Once we were all dead he'd go on a rampage, destroying everything in sight! He might even destroy the school! I couldn't let that happen.

With new determination I jumped up and met him in the air. Lightning-quick I grabbed his unarmed arm and pulled it behind his back, then I quickly flung him into the nearest tree.

He looked at me, surprised for a moment, "I've never seen a human move that fast before, not even Yusuke would have been able to pull off a move like that. It seems that woman not only gave you power but an instinct of fighting as well." Without a word he got up and started heading back towards the others.

"Aren't you going to finish fighting me ?" my voice was a bit more shrill than I would have liked. Why had been thinking he wanted to kill me and destroy everything? I shook my head, it was starting to pound again.

"I would gladly continue to fight you Keiko but I feel you have been tested enough already for one day. Besides I thought you might want to talk to Yusuke when he wakes up. I'm sure he'll have some questions for you."

He's awake? Putting aside my troubled thoughts I ran past the fire demon to see how Yusuke was doing, all the while trying to figure out what I would say to him when I got there.

When I got there I could tell I had a lot of explaining to do. I had never seen Yusuke look like that before. It was a mixture of anger, confusion, fear, and the tiniest bit of admiration. I could see I had my work cut out for me.

I turned to the others, "If you don't mind I'd like to talk to him alone for a minute." They got the message (though Kuwabara was a bit slow) and headed off. I knew how good demon hearing was so I waited till they were a fair distance away. Finally Yusuke couldn't seem to wait anymore, "What the heck happened back there?"

I sighed, he never was one to beat around the bush. I recounted the story I had given the others, "The only reason I did it was so that you wouldn't have to worry about me getting captured or hurt so that those demons can get to you." I paused, I should probably tell him what had been happening, how my thoughts were getting messed up and I was forgetting who I was. I opened my mouth to speak but Yusuke cut me off, he started giving me the same lecture Kuwabara had earlier.

Oh well, I thought, maybe it was just a side effect of the potion. Suddenly I felt very sleepy. The stress and work out of the day were starting to take their toll. I didn't even have the energy to tell Yusuke that I hadn't meant to take the potion. I was starting to sway now. Yusuke noticed just in time to catch me as I fell to the ground in a dead faint.

I wasn't aware of much as I slept but I knew I wasn't going to like it when I woke up.

Muwahaha! I the evil author now leave you with this cliffhanger. In case you haven't figured it out Keiko's starting to go a little nuts here. Well that's how the story goes so far, please, please, please, tell me what you think. I need the opinions of you, the beloved reviewer, now more than ever. Well it's getting late so please review and look for another chapter sometime soon. Fare thee well!