Hiei clutched his hands over his ears as the deathly sweet music washed over the cavern. Suzaku's fingers flew expertly over the keys of the flute, creating the killing tune that made even the underworld's strongest warriors shield their ears in terror.
"Hiei, get out of here!" Aura shouted over the cacophony. "This is the Death Tune! It'll kill you if you don't get out before it's finished!"
"I'm not leaving you!"
"Don't be so stubborn!" She cried desperately. The guards that had been leading her had chosen instead to cover their ears, so Aura ran to Hiei, cupping his hands in hers. Her fingers slipped right through his, but she paid it no notice. "Don't sacrifice your life for one that was lost long ago!" The ice apparition's eyes dropped to the cavern floor, squinted because Suzaku was so far into the haunting melody it was bone shattering.
Over their shouting, the two hadn't noticed the music was coming steadily closer. Suzaku picked his steps carefully as he kept the loud ear-splitting notes perfectly level with one another. He continued until he was but a few feet away from the quarrel, and watched with his purple eyes gleaming.
"Aura, I'm not leaving unless you come with me!" Rubies glittered in the firelight.
"And for what purpose?!" She shouted back. "I've been dead for centuries!" Her own sapphire eyes glimmered up at him, begging. "Please, I'll find a way back to you."
Suzaku paused as he heard this, his finger poised above the final, fatal note. Slowly he lowered the flute away. "Isn't this romantic," he spat. Both demons spun to face him, relieved that the music had stopped and wary of the reason. Suzaku turned to Aura, eyes leering at her. "And what makes you think, little girl, that you can find a way to get back to life?"
Aura gaped at him. "I…" Her mouth moved wordlessly as she searched for something to say. "I…"
Hiei chose to watch the flute as it rested in the saint beast's hands, for that was far more dangerous than what it was saying. If this had been any normal battle, he would have tried to snatch the instrument away and crush it. But he knew full well that his fingers would slip right through.
Dammit, how do I win?!
Suzaku leaned so close that Aura's hair swayed with his breath. "I want out of here as well. However, I have been searching ever since…my untimely…demise." A glare shot to Hiei, who ignored it. "I have only found one way to do so. Someone must go up to the living Spirit World and get me the Genstapo."
"No!" Aura shouted. She scrambled back from the demon. "I can't take that!"
"What is it?" Hiei asked, interest perked up. When Suzaku just gave him an evasive look, he swung his fist to knock the smirk off that arrogant face. The saint beast laughed as the fire demon's hand passed harmlessly through his head.
"Fire demons aren't as smart as they look, are they?" He taunted. "And that's saying something, because you look pretty stupid with that expression as well."
Hiei's mouth shut with a click of teeth. He had been gawking at his own stupidity; he didn't need someone to point it out to him.
"You seem to be unfamiliar with the Genstapo," Suzaku continued. "It is a legendary weapon, used by the ice apparitions. It is what they use to keep their floating island in the air. However, that is not its only use." He licked his lips, then turned to dispel the curious looks he was receiving from the demons around him. They scurried away under his glare, going on with their work as if nothing had ever happened.
"Well?!" Hiei demanded. "Are you going to tell us, or are you going to leave us standing here like a couple of morons?!"
Suzaku turned his violet eyes back on him. Then, with icy resolve, he said, "I will only help you if you help me. I want to get out of this hellhole as much as you do. Get me out of here, and I will help you."