High Voltage: Reviving the Thunder- Chapter 15: "Die Another Day"
By Matoko Shizaki

Disclaimer: Inu-Yasha is copyright Rumiko Takahashi and Sunrise Inc. All of the characters have been made up by me except Kaede, Inu-Yasha, Kagome, Miroku, Sango, Shippo, Kiara, Myoga, Hiten, and Manten.

Notes: I finally finished the last chapter!!! YAY!!! THIS IS MY LONGEST RUNNING FIC EVER!!! WOOHOO!!! Thanks to people who have been reviewing one some of my fics such as:

Mayuka/May

DarkAngelRn

Cacat-angel

Chibi Washu

Animegirl3

Tikimoof

YamiBishounen and her sister

It's really appreciated! Peace out!

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"Regardless of what's happened, we need to move on." Miroku mused planting the grave marker near the shallow trench where they had laid the headless body to rest.

Inu-Yasha nodded in agreement. "The monk is right. Now that Toriyama knows we're spying on him, we need another plan."

"What do you think we should do dog terd?" Kouga asked crossing his arms.

"A full assault on the fortress using all of your wolves. That's what." Inu-Yasha retorted.

"Are you sure that's wise?" Kagoyo wondered aloud. "Maybe we should start out slow and then send people in. The assault will be on the inside and outside." he added.

"That's a good idea Kagoyo! Better then Inu-Yasha's dumb old plan." Shippo replied. He was instantly smashed into the ground by Inu-Yasha's foot.

"You're just saying that because he's your good buddy!" Inu-Yasha yelled.

The distant yells didn't even faze Aoi as she watched the sun going down. Silently, Manten took a seat next to her. "You know," the lizard like demon stated. "I have a feeling that wasn't my older brother." Aoi looked up, surprised, but allowed Manten to continue. "He wouldn't have been captured and killed that easily. At least not the killed part…" Manten absently scratched his head. "He can be reckless when revenge is at hand."

"I know. It doesn't seem like him…" Aoi muttered. "When I saw the body, it looked like his but there was something different."

"What is that?"

Aoi pointed to the tear drop shaped scar on Manten's neck. "That. Remember? It's the sign that I resurrected you two." There was a pause. "He didn't have that when we saw the body but maybe… maybe it fades when they die again."

"One can't be sure…" Manten muttered.

Splinters flew from the three as three more throwing knives cracked through the bark and stuck in the soft wood of the tree. "Bull's-eye…" Witan muttered happily.

Despite being a weakly… not to mention a chronic coward… Witan had always been skilled with daggers and throwing knives. It had been a hobby when he was little but now he was sure that the skill would come in handy. Earlier that night the group had decided to go on without the help of the late Thunder brother. Within a span of two weeks they would be laying siege to Toriyama's fortress.

It was almost midnight and everyone was asleep back at camp. Him and the others no longer were staying in the inn and because of the lack of beds, he was suffering from a lack of sleep. He had figured that he better practice his skills in his stage of insomnia. Taking a break, the merchant slumped up against the tree that had been his target for nearly a half an hour.

"I can't believe it… I can't believe he's dead." Witan muttered tucking the ten knives he branded as his weapon of choice into his belt. It didn't seem right to be going on without the elder Thunder brother… all these thoughts brought forth a new concept for Witan. 'With Hiten dead, Aoi isn't in love with anyone anymore.' Thoughts that the merchant instantly regretted flowed through his mind. "No… Aoi is no longer a symbol of affection for me. Only a friend." he whispered to the night.

How long they had been walking, Aoi couldn't tell. The sun had rose and set and rose and was about to set when the huge group halted on the beach of a river. A fire was quickly struck up and dinner was well underway when Aoi spoke again. "How many more days until we reach the fortress?" she asked.

Kagoyo looked up from his soup and shrugged. "One can't be sure but--" his words were muffled as Inu-Yasha placed his hand over the demon's mouth and motioned for everyone else to be silent as well.

"So one is coming…" Inu-Yasha whispered. Sure enough, the dark outline of a figure, a human like one, appeared above a dune of sand. Shadows cast themselves across the stranger's face, blocking out all features. Carried in one hand was a spear, bulky armor padding their shoulders. They wore a hakama and sandals that barely peeked out from under the folds of the pants. As the figure came closer, a ray of dying light shone across their eyes making them sparkle like garnets.

"I-It can't be…" Aoi muttered. Nevertheless, something inside told her that her instincts were true. Spiriting up the beach, she hurried to meet the figure.

"Aoi, no!" Azaka cried holding out his hand to stop his sister.

"It's too late…" Sango exclaimed as she reached for her boomerang.

"No, wait…" Miroku laid his hand on hers. "Don't attack. This stranger is clearly a friend and not a foe. We should trust in Aoi's instincts."

Wearily, the figure pressed on, even when he noticed the young woman running to him at top speed. Hunger and fatigue had swamped him but the thoughts of a warm fire, a bed, and company continued to help him on his way. Now the woman was within inches, her arms wide open and tears flying from her eyes. That's when she uttered his name.

"Hiten…!"

He felt her ram into him, her arms wrapped around him. The force sent them both backwards, causing Hiten to sit and Aoi to land in his lap. "Hiten! It is you! We all… we all thought you were dead!" she wailed burying her face deeper into the shirt of his hakama. Hiten could only sit there for a moment, stunned. His face began to turn red and he flashed a small and perverted smile thinking about her breasts against his chest. With a small mental slap, he brought himself back to reality.

By now the others were beginning to gather but Hiten still didn't force Aoi off of him. "You didn't think that I'd be killed so easily, did you?" Hiten chuckled. Aoi let go and sat back, simply smiling.

"Brother!" Manten exclaimed embracing Hiten.

"Nice to see you too Manten!" Hiten laughed. Manten let go and began to inquire as to how he escaped his almost certain fate. Soon that was the question on everyone's minds.

"Well…" Hiten started. He was suddenly interrupted by his growling stomach. He laughed and asked, "Can we eat first?"

After a well deserved and anticipated dinner, Hiten began.

"Toriyama had to delay my beheading because he had, as he put it, 'a punishment to deal with'. His biggest mistake was underestimating me and leaving only one pathetic guard to watch me… that guard just so happened to be my spitting image. I was able to lure the cocky cuss over, knock him on his ass, and dress him up in my clothes while I wore his. He was beheaded. Not me. After the execution, I slipped out of the fortress and fled. Of course I couldn't leave my thunder pike. In another village, I stole some clothes because if villagers saw me bearing the crest of Toriyama (heaven forbid) they might attack me."

Kagoyo smiled and leaned back. "A very cunning plan if I do say so myself." the wolf/kitsune mused.

"Well my lad," Witan said clapping a hand on Hiten's back causing him to spit out his soup. "At least you're alive!"

Hiten shot him a look of daggers that caused the merchant to back off. Recovering his composure, Hiten took another long sip of soup. "And what made you think I wouldn't come back alive?"

Witan's shoulders rose and fell in a shrug as Hiten wiped his mouth on the back of his hand. "I'm not that weak…" the thunder demon added.

The sun's last rays had dipped below the horizon following their creator in anticipation of the next day when they would rise again. Hiten removed his armor and shirt and lay them out on the grass. The heat was really starting to get to him. He reclined back, the wet and soft blade of grass tingling his back of soft skin and tight muscles. Stars began to come out, dancing heel-and-toe as they usually did. Hiten's sullen silences came to an abrupt end as Aoi flopped down beside him.

"Hiten, I want to ask you something." she said, her focus on the stars.

"Yeah? What is it?" Hiten asked in a bored tone.

"When you told me you loved me, were you serious?"

Hiten was sitting up in a flash, clearly flustered. "When the hell did I say that?!?!"

"After the last time your curse took affect you bastard!" Aoi replied.

"Oh… you didn't really take me seriously did you?"

"Of course! Why?"

Hiten laughed in spite of the fact that Aoi was about to strangle him. "I was stinking drunk then."

"WHAT?!?!!?"

"Yeah. Manten left some sake for me that morning and when I came out I had just finished my heavy drinking bout."

"You bastard!"

Manten was busy unrolling his bed when he saw Aoi coming up the path, head held high. Trailing behind her was Hiten, a swollen brown circle around his left eye.

"Brother--" Manten began. Hiten cut him off with a signal of his hand.

"Don't ask." The younger of the Thunder brothers immediately silenced himself, only in time to hear his older brother mutter, "Damn love sick wench… what makes her think I meant to say that?"

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Short chapter. I was running out of ideas. This is why, reviewers, that I made Hiten's proposal of love so quick. He was drunk! BWAHAHA!!! I love doing this kind of thing…