Chapter 10! Okay, um…maybe this one won't be depressing…oh shit…it is…

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Sona felt as though pulled back into reality, and opened her now closed and weary eyes. Somehow she had ended up sleeping beside Hiei. His arm was around her shoulder and his chin rested on her forehead. She was swarmed with confusion. They were back at the apartment, she was lying next to Hiei, and she could not for the life of her figure out why she was only wearing underwear and a bra! Even more unbelievable he had only a blanket covering him. Sona blushed furiously. OH MY GOD! What the hell is going on?! She cried bewildered in her mind. Very carefully she slid out from his grasp and bolted for the door almost in tears from being utterly freaked out.

"Hey Sona." Botan's voice rang from behind.

"Uh…what are you doing here?"

"Capturing you."

"What?" Sona asked.

"See, I'm not Botan. I am a demon that takes on what any appearances I need to do a job. My job is to take you back home." Botan's body retreats and molds into a man's body covered by black stealth clothes.

"Okay, I'm totally lost and half naked." Sona sighed.

"You want an explanation, well I was waiting here for hours for you to come back so I could get you, then you just appeared here totally unconscious with that guy, so I stripped you two for fun so you'd wake up weirded out."

"If I was unconscious, why didn't you just take me?" Sona mumbled.

"Because I have a sense of humor." he laughed.

"Did my mother hire you?"

"Of course, she only hires the best." he continued laughing.

"You are truly a simpleton. Guess I'll just have to beat some sense into you." she took a fighting stance.

"You wouldn't dare." he smirked.

"Yes I would." she stepped closer.

"I wouldn't do that. You see, your boyfriend is lying on a very sensitive bomb, and I hold the controller." he showed her a remote.

"Your crazy. Why the hell would you risk blowing us all up?" she demanded.

"Because, I either take you back, or I don't return at all. Its your decision."

"Uh…" she staggered back.

"Don't touch her!" Hiei stood in the doorway, with blanket wrapped around waist.

"I'll do what I wish to do!" he held out the remote threatening them.

"Stop. Don't do it. I'll go quietly." she stepped closer.

"What are you doing?" Hiei demanded.

"Good girl." the stranger smiled while grabbing her by the waist and pulling her close.

"Hiei, I'm sorry you had to be brought in on this." she chocked holding back tears.

"Shut up girl." he grabbed her neck, but soon started wailing in pain. "What have you done?!" His hand had a dragon shaped burn on it, that now started moving up his arm toward his neck. "Ahh!" he screamed as he started to burn. Flames had burst out all over his body, melting away his skin while he still wailed. "They'll kill you for this!" he cried while taking his last gulp of air and falling to the floor turning to dust.

Sona was frozen. She had done this. By some act of Fate, the dragon shaped gash on her neck had just burnt a man to death. Now not only was her touch deadly, but if anyone got close to scar…she couldn't allow this to happen again. She saw the fear in Hiei's eyes at that moment. And it hurt to know he feared her. Without him noticing she ran to her room and slipped on some clothes and dropped onto the fire escape. She had to make it so no one ever was hurt by her again.

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Hiei suddenly snapped back into reality. She was gone. How had she slipped away unnoticed? The window of her room was left open. Quickly, after grabbing pants, he fled out the window on her trail. "I have to find her before she does something stupid." he told himself. His psyche began to delve into her thoughts searching for any clue to where she was going. He stopped dead in his tracks as the door to her trouble mind unfolded before him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~What he saw, and what she'd never tell…~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Through the eyes of a child, things are magnified into things that are so real, you'd commit suicide after peeking into their thoughts. Hiei saw everything, play by play, through Sona's eyes at that moment. So many secrets, and so much pain.

~~~~First glance~~~~

A young, beautiful 11 years old lay softly crying on her bed, as her stepfather dresses in the corner, telling her he loves her, and knows that she is not his child. A second later he grabs her by the throat and pushes her little body against the wall while threatening her, if she ever tells her mother, he'll do worse, worse than death, and she's forced on her feet then shoved into a closet which, after, is locked, so she can think of her sins. And she is left there, crying until her brother comes and carries her into his room and tells her, all will be okay. But she knows, it won't. It will never be okay.

~~~~Second glance~~~~

The same child, now 12, stands in the middle of a garden area holding a dead sparrow, as tears fall from her ruby eyes. Her pinkish lips touch its limp head softly. Like sparks of life filled its body, the small bird took off from the palms of her hands. She smiles, wishing to have wings so she too could fly away. But a women behind her had seen the heavenly fete and grab hold of her arm yelling at her screaming, cursing that she was a wicked child, and deserved to die. As the girl tried to pull away, an arm swung at her face, hitting her square in the nose, and caused the crimson blood to trickle down her pale skin. She looked so helpless as she fell to the ground and the women stomped off. Again, her valiant brother picked up her aching body and took into the house, and bandaged her wounds.

~~~~Final look~~~~

But after everything, some memories glowed with radiance. Now thirteen, some changed in her heart. The brother that was her hero told her, she needed to defend herself, for he wouldn't be there anymore. He gave he a dagger. Six inches long, and sharpened to a deadly point. His only words to her were 'Don't kill, just defend…', and he was gone. Sent off to military school. Her savior was gone. And she had to survive on her own. Later that night, her stepfather came. He moved slowly toward her, telling her she was his only love. This hadn't happened in months. But now she knew what to do. He lunged towards her, and she drew the dagger. It did not come in contact with his flesh, but it did scare him. And like a wounded dog with his tail between his legs, he stalked away, swearing to her, that she was worthless. Only she knew then that this wasn't true. Now she was worth something.

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Hiei started choking on everything that was forced into his brain, and then forced down his throat. "No wonder she has anger problems." he uttered while wanting to throw up. "I have to get to her before she can hurt herself."

He raced down the streets, passing strangers. His heart told him that he was growing closer, but something else told him he would be too late.

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Sona kept a steady pace, almost running by now. The train station wasn't far in the distance now. As she neared the booth she pulled out her money and laid it out. "One ticket to Kyoto." she told the women.

The train would leave in fifteen minutes. She sat silently on a bench waiting for the minutes to pass. She didn't look up as someone took the seat beside her.

"Your not seriously going back, are you?" Hiei's soft voice asked.

She turned to him. His head was tilted back and stared upward to the sky, to avoid eye contact. "The problem started there, its where it needs to end." she muttered.

"Why? Why do you want to go back? Wait. Wait until your sixteen. Wait till you have all your power. Then go and do what you need to." he sounded slightly angry at her answer.

"They'll keep coming, Hiei, they know where we're staying. Its not safe for you or me." she replied now looking down at her feet.

"I can take care of myself, and I'll protect you. We can just find another place to stay." he was more serious acting than ever at this point.

She sighed. "I don't want to hurt anyone. Not the bad guys. Not you. I have to deal with this in my own way."

"Even if it means marching straight into the lions den?"

"Even if it means leaving nothing standing in my trail." she stared him in the eyes.

"I thought you didn't want to hurt anyone?" he asked sarcastically.

"Some people deserve to be hurt." And with that silence took over the conversation.

The train roared, ending her time with him. She stood up. She turned to him and smiled. "Tell Koenma if he ever gets my sword out of his wall, keep it safe."

"You'll get your sword after the third test." Hiei said while getting up as well.

"Don't be so optimistic, I won't be around that long." she mumbled as she took off towards the train. "By the way," she whipped around back to him, "don't follow me." She leaned towards him and touched his face, immobilizing him, and brushed her lips against his then walked away.

Hiei now unable to move watched as the train took off into the distance.