Again, I had to put this on another Word document so I could edit it.  If you don't see a reason for a punctuation edit, it's something from Reincarnation, so do that one first, and it'll be easier   ^_^

Chapter 9- Another Side

Yongei stared into the flames of the roaring fire. Show me Kiara, he willed it. The fire became like a mirror, and Yongei saw a black room furnished in purple. Kiara lay in a four-poster bed, curled into a ball. She was crying. Don't cry; I never could stand to see you cry.

The group of men had decided to make camp for the night. All were asleep with the exception of Yongei, who had said he wanted to stay up for a bit to watch the fire.

Not exactly lying. I am watching the fire.  And what's in it   he added as an afterthought. Yongei willed the fire mirror to fade, and the flames were flames again. At least we know she's still alive. Yongei played with a lip ring as he thought. "It still makes no sense to me. Why hasn't he killed her by now? Not that I want her dead; that's the last thing I want. He says he loves her, but how much can he love her if he wants to kill her?" Yongei thought out loud. "I love Amitomo heart and soul, but I don't want to kill him. I'd kill myself if he was dead." 

"Yongei," Amitomo awoke from his sleep. "Yongei?"

"I'm right here." Yongei stood up and sat back down next to Amitomo. "What's wrong?"

Amitomo sat up, supporting himself with his hands and arms. Steam filled his eyes. "Amitare," he said with a sob, and buried his head in Yongei's chest.

Yongei wrapped his arms around him, and rocked him gently. "I know, I know,"

"He was the only family I had left. If it wasn't for you, I'd be alone! I have no family anymore!" Amitomo's crying broke the quiet of the night.

Yongei thought for a bit. "Sure you do. The Nine Warriors of the Flame, we're your family,"

Amitomo looked at Yongei with bloodshot eyes.

"Sure," Yongei continued. "Mameha's like a mother to all of us. Kiara's like a sister, Kongono's like a weird brother who only comes out of his room for meals, and Nanaku's like a third cousin who's, like, a million times removed that you only see at reunions."   Amitomo laughed shakily at this. "We're your family now. We always were."

"Yeah," Amitomo breathed as he fell asleep again. Yongei laid him gently back onto his sleeping pallet.

I should get to sleep to, Yongei thought as he curled up next to the man he loved.

* * *

Kiara awoke with a jolt. It was early morning, the sun just barely creeping up from the line of trees. Karasu, you evil bastard!

Kiara remembered the events of last night with horror. And then he did, and then he said, Kiara couldn't bring herself to think about it. What would Mother think about her champion Warrior, being raped by a deranged lunatic? She'd never look the same way at me again if she found out. God, I feel so stupid! Kiara gazed at the tub, then thought better of it. No matter how much soap I'd use, this stain will never come off. I'll have this on my conscience to the day I die.

I feel strange, Kiara thought. Then, she became aware of what was happening to her as she suddenly lunged out of bed, and threw up out of the window. She had learned the symptoms of what was happening to her from her mother, and was not happy at all. He got me pregnant, the bastard. And at such a good time too. She added sarcastically. How will I tell Kurama? That thought horrified her. She put a hand on her lower abdomen, and concentrated her spirit energy on that spot. She could already feel the tiny demon feeding off of her energy.  

Karasu will kill me. If he wants to do something he'll do it. Last night was proof enough. He wanted me, and he got me. He even got me pregnant. He'll kill me after I give birth to his child and get the Flame, and I will fail as a Warrior. Kiara thought for a minute. Wait! He himself has to kill me to get the Flame. So, the only way to keep the Flame from him is to get rid of myself. Kiara looked at the soft skin covering the veins in her wrists. Taking her long, sharp pinkie fingernail, she began to cut away at the skin, one painful swipe at a time. At least the child will never know what a sick-minded freak his father was. Kiara stopped scraping away at her skin when she realized that the baby demon was a boy. She hadn't even felt for it. He would have been strong. Kiara thought regrettably.    

* * *

Kurama was jerked out of sleep by a painful jolt of pain in his head. "Urhn, what time is it?"

"Seven in the morning," Hiei looked ready to go. "We should get Warrior Yongei up to he can start tracking Kiara's energy." 

"I think he would like to be left alone." Kurama looked at the sleeping man, who had snuggled up to Amitomo in the middle of the night.

"No, Mom," Yusuke muttered in his sleep. "No more school. No job. Just want to sleep,"

"Get up you lazy ass!" Hiei kicked Yusuke sharply in the ass.

"Ouch," Yusuke murmured as he woke up. "What do you want?" He glared at Hiei.

"It's time to get up," Hiei moved on to the sleeping form of Kuwabara.

"I don't see you kicking Kuwabara's ass," Yusuke said grumpily before the fire demon kicked Kuwabara swiftly in the back.

"That's because I already kick it enough in the fighting ring," Hiei said.

"Take that back shrimp!" Kuwabara yelled.

"Kick his ass, Hiei." Yusuke had fallen asleep again.

"WAKE UP ALL OF YOU!" Kurama shouted suddenly.

Yusuke sat up, and stared at Kurama. Yongei turned his head, and stared at the boy as Amitomo raised himself up on his elbow. "What's wrong?" Amitomo rubbed his eyes.

"It's time to get up. We have a long day of tracking ahead of us," Hiei said. He crossed his arms across his chest. "Get up,"

"Who are 'we'? I used almost all my energy yesterday tracking Kiara, and I am still not fully replenished!" Yongei snapped, annoyed that Kurama had woken him up from a very good dream. "I need more sleep to track! And that Kuwabara guy may be good, but he's nowhere as good as me!"

"Cocky shit, aren't you?" Kuwabara rebuked.

Yongei suddenly was staring Kuwabara in the face. The sun was directly behind Yongei, so his face was dark, and shadowed. He glared at Kuwabara with contempt; his piercings only made him look more like a devil. "Say that again," Yongei's usually upbeat voice was suddenly dark, and frightening. Kuwabara only gaped at Yongei, and whimpered under his breath. "I may be many things, rude, conceited, sarcastic, but never call me cocky to my face. Got that?" Kuwabara nodded fearfully. "BOO!" Yongei laughed as Kuwabara jumped a foot in the air. "HA HA HA! What a pansy!"

"If you're feeling okay now," Kurama said to Yongei. "We'll continue north. You won't have to track until Kuwabara loses his ability to function properly."

"Sounds okay to me," Yongei helped Amitomo to his feet. Amitomo swayed on the spot, and Yongei opted to have him ride on his back.

The group continued through the woods, and Kuwabara tracked Kiara's spirit energy as best he could. They stopped occasionally so Yongei could shift Amitomo around as he slept, and so Yongei could affirm that they were going the right way.  The woods were thicker now, becoming more and more dense. Eventually, the oak and tulip trees disappeared, and tall, towering fir trees replaced them.

"We're getting close," Kurama said with a smile.

* * *

Karasu sat in his study, a book in his lap as he sat by the large window overlooking a crystal blue lake. But, he was not interested in what the cream-colored pages had to offer. He was thinking about the night before. Why did I not just kill her then? It would have been the smart thing to do. Karasu, you're going soft. He chuckled at himself before focusing his gaze once more on the lake. Kiara would look so beautiful sitting under that tree. I can just imagine her there, sitting, simply looking beautiful. Karasu closed his eyes, and smiled.

Then, Karasu leaped off his window seat, his book making a loud thud as it hit the floor. Pain, Kiara's in pain. NO! Karasu ran from the room, and sprinted up the flight of stairs that led to Kiara's chamber. He reached into his pocket, and pulled out an ancient key, which he used to open the door. Karasu was shocked at what he saw.

Kiara's skin was pale white, except for her pink-colored wrists from which blood flowed out like a stream. She had fainted from loss of blood, and her face had a peaceful, calm look to it. Her fingernails were bright red, and drips of blood fell onto the sheets from them. A large lake of spilt blood had formed on the sheets, and had overflowed until it dripped steadily onto the cold stone floor.

"NO!" Karasu ran over to Kiara's pale form, and lifted it off of the bed. He carried her down to his own room on the fourth floor, two floors below Kiara, and put her into the bathtub. He went to a cabinet, and pulled out all the bandages he could find. After cleaning the cuts with warm water, Karasu gently wrapped Kiara's wrists in bandages, and applied pressure. It took him nearly all night to stop the bleeding. As he was bleeding out Kiara, Karasu noticed something different about Kiara. He placed a hand on her head, and concentrated on what was happening in her body. He gasped as he received some of the pain Kiara had from cutting her wrists, and the pain in her arms from where Karasu had pinned her to the bed. But, he also felt something else. So, I'm going to be a father. He thought, bemused. I never wondered what it would be like to have a son. Someone growing up under my rules, and born of two of the most powerful demons in the spirit world.  He has power, very strong power for an unborn demon. Karasu smiled as he cleaned a cut. Kiara will have to stay with me now.

Karasu cleaned Kiara's cuts, and wrapped them in clean bandages before putting her in his own bed. I'll be keeping an eye on you, he thought, kissing Kiara on the forehead

* * *

"My feet hurt!" Yusuke was complaining, yet again.

"We know!" shouted Kurama and Hiei. The group had been walking nonstop for hours, and they were no closer to Kiara than when they had started.

"Are you sure you know what you're doing?" Yongei asked Kuwabara.

Kuwabara looked at Yongei, "Of course I do!"

"You do realize that it's not just Kiara we're trying to save," Amitomo had woken up, and was now sitting on the ground as the group to a break. "The fate of the spirit world depends on us finding her. If Karasu gets the Flame, *shudder* it's all over for the demons of the spirit world," Quiet was the group was the realization of these words sunk in.

"Let's go!" Kurama jumped to his feet. "Have you enough energy yet, Warrior Yongei?"

"Yes." Yongei shut his eyes and concentrated. He felt a glimmer, straight ahead. Then Yongei doubled over, clutching his mid-section.

"Yongei!" Amitomo rushed over.  "What is it?"

"Pain, Kiara's in terrible pain," Yongei said through gritted teeth.

Kurama groaned, and sunk to the ground, curled into a ball. "I feel it too. She's dying." Tears fell from his eyes.

"We have to move on," Hiei said urgently.

"How can we move on when two people in our group are writhing in pain?' Yusuke asked.

Amitomo rubbed his hands together. "I could try telekinesis. I'm not as good as Yongei, but I could try." He stretched out his hands, and concentrated. "*Groan* I can just hold it," Yongei and Kurama floated into the air. They wavered a bit, but then they were fine.

"Can you move them?" Hiei asked Amitomo.

"Yes," Amitomo answered, sweat forming over his brow. He demonstrated by making Yongei and Kurama do somersaults in the air.

"Stop, I might be sick!" Yongei protested.

"Just looking at that makes me sick," Kuwabara muttered.

"Let's keep going." Yusuke started to walk through the forest again, followed closely by the rest of the group.

* * *

Kiara woke up late in the afternoon. She felt weak and hollow, and was startled at her surroundings. Why was she not with Botan being lead to wherever she was supposed to be? Why was she still alive? She glanced down at her wrists, and saw the white bandages carefully wrapped around her wrists. She clenched her fists.

"Don't do that," said a voice from a dark corner. Karasu sat in a chair, his black hair falling in front of his face as he looked at the floor. "Tension makes the blood flow quicker,"

"Exactly my intention! Why am I not dead?" Kiara sat up, and looked at Karasu.

Karasu lifted his head slowly, and looked at Kiara. "You wish for death, then?" He crossed the room with lightening speed, and sat down on the bed in front of Kiara. He grabbed her throat, and squeezed. He watched her eyes bug, watched her gasp for breath that could not enter her lungs. "You still wish for death, or have you tasted it enough?"

"Enough stop!" Kiara felt Karasu let go of her neck, and slumped over coughing. Kiara felt Karasu take her in his arms, and she shuddered.

"Never, ever scare me like that again!" He sounded a bit like a worried Kurama at this point. "Never make me worry about you!"

"Why not?" Kiara looked into his purple eyes. "I would rather kill myself than stay here!"

"So it seems," Karasu leaned in to kiss Kiara, but only got her cheek when she turned her head suddenly. He stared into her defiant eyes, then got up, and sat down in his chair. "I'll be keeping a constant eye on you from now on,"

"Why don't you just kill me now? What are you waiting for? Why don't you just get it over and done with?!?"

"Because I can't bring myself to do it!" Karasu snapped. "Because now I will not kill you until you have delivered my child!"

"Your child? What makes you think I'd ever let you see him?" Karasu looked shocked at this comment. Kiara smiled. "You've grown stronger in energy and power, but in the years I haven't seen you, you've grown weak. I expected better from the mighty Karasu. Where's my flute? I want my flute!" Kiara stared at him like a spoiled child. "I said, I WANT MY FLUTE!"

"Fine!" Karasu stormed out of the room, and Kiara heard him stomping up the steps. He'd forgotten to lock the door.

Kiara jumped up, and raced down the stone steps, and saw the large wooden door. She ran over to it, and lifted the heavy beam that closed it shut. She pushed hard and stepped out into the sunshine. She raced towards the line of trees, and heard Karasu yell at her at get back there.

Sorry sucker! She laughed as she ran into the woods. You won't kill me now, or ever! And I will never let you see our son!

* * *

"I can't hold it any longer!" Amitomo gently dropped Yongei and Kurama to the ground, and then collapsed by Yongei's side.

Yongei rubbed his head. "It's better now, it's going away,"

"Yes, so it seems," Kurama said.

"How much farther?" Yusuke asked.

"I don't know, I think we're very close now," Yongei said.

There was a crash in the forest, and laughter was heard as the crashing continued: female laughter. Kurama gave a shout of joy as Kiara jumped into his arms. "Kiara!" He cried, hugging her tight.

"I'm so glad to see you!" She said, backing up a bit, and staring into her kitsune's eyes.

"What happened?" Yongei had grabbed a wrist, and was now peeling back the bandage and looking at the cuts. "Who did this?"

"I did," Kiara mumbled. "I thought he would kill me right after, so I realized that I had to get rid of myself. He found me though, and wrapped me up before I could die." 

"Right after?" Hiei looked at her with narrowed eyes. "Right after what?"

"Nothing. . ." Kiara looked at the ground.

Kurama lifted her head, and looked at her steaming face. "What did he do?"

"He . . .he . . . he raped me," Kiara shuddered, and fell into Kurama's arms. Kurama seemed to have gone into shock, as had the rest of the group. But, he for a different reason. He felt the difference in Kiara's energy; he knew. 

"Damn," Yusuke commented.

"Poor girl," Amitomo muttered.

Kurama seemed to finally realize what Kiara had said, and the fact that she was pregnant by Karasu. He let her go, and stepped back. "I need some time alone," he said, walking into the woods, one hand on his head, another on his hip.

Yongei sat up, and focused on Kiara. There was something different about her. He probed her spirit energy until he found out what it was. The truth shocked him. "Umm, Kiara, could I see you alone for a bit?" He wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulders, and walked her to a small, secluded glade. "Kiara," he began,  "I have noticed extreme changes in your spirit energy, as well as your physical energy." 

"Well, duh. I tried to kill myself and almost succeeded." Kiara rolled her eyes.

"No, it's not that. The power seems to be concentrated to a particular part of your body."  Yongei looked uncomfortable.

"Just say it Yongei. Nothing can surprise me now." Kiara leaned against a large stone.

"Kiara, you're pregnant," Yongei said with a squirm.

"Well, I know that, dumbass." Kiara rolled her eyes again.

"What do you plan to do?" Yongei played with his lip rings.

"I plan to have this child, and never allow Karasu to get his cold, dead hands on him." 

"No, I meant, where." Yongei looked at her with troubled eyes.

Kiara thought for a moment. This fact had not crossed her mind before. "Our tribe, we have to go back to Sabaku."

Yongei's eyes bugged. "You remember how that tribe is for men? What if they find out that I am, in fact, now attracted to another man? Kiara, Sabaku's a matriarchy!"

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Hey! How y'all doing? Good? Still breathing? No or yes? Yes? Good, what a relief. Now I don't have to send emergency help.

School started again. I am already up to my neck in Spanish vocabulary, and I have a list of 32 elements that I have to memorize for chemistry. And, I have to study for Driver's Ed. stuff. I won' be able to upload as often since I'll be busy. Crap.

I'm going to start putting profiles in these Author's Notes. The first one's Kiara. The next one will be Yongei.

TANAKA KIARA

Eyes: Green

Hair: Blond

Height: 5'6"

Family: Father, mother, and five younger sisters. Had an older brother, but he died from sickness, supposedly.

Hobbies: Playing music, practicing martial arts.

Bio: She's hot tempered, even for a fire demon. Kiara has a tendency, though, to keep everything bottled up, which can lead to serious issues with other people.

She was born to the fire demons, Seth and Moraine. She is currently over three hundred years old, but looks to be about fifteen. She trained with her father for her nunchaku, and trained with her mother for her demon powers. She would have had an arranged marriage with Yongei, but she broke it off after she met Kurama. She met Kurama at the Dark Tournament three years before he met Yusuke. He was a spectator, she was a competitor. After the tournament, she worked for Koenma as a Spirit Detective until she joined the Order of the Flame. She also met Karasu at the Dark Tournament, and fought against him, and won.

Kiara generally likes to just have fun, and she has a lot of that working at the Temple.

Theme: "I'm Glad" - J.Lo

C Yah.

Suri