Prologue:
"Hiei..." Togashi whispered as he lay in a puddle of blood on the ground of the dirty cave.
"Don't worry master ...I'm right here." Hiei, on his knees, held his master's held to his chest.
It was theirs for a moment; the Necklace of Takara could have stopped all of the disasters from happening. If only they had gotten there a few minutes earlier. But no, Shueisha and Yoshhiro had arrived only seconds after they did, Hiei thought to himself. And we all fought over the necklace, clutched in the dead decaying hand of Noriyuko.
Hiei could see himself fighting Yoshihiro, and his master fighting Shueisha. Everything from there went in slow motion. He could hear Togashi moan in pain as Shueisha thrust her ice blade into his master's chest. He could hear himself calling out to him, in despair and fear. He could remember Yoshihiro knocking his katana straight out of his bloody hand as he was distracted. Yoshihiro held his own sword to Hiei's throat. But just as suddenly as he had descended the katana on Hiei's throat, Yoshihiro had stopped. Shueisha had taken the necklace out of Noriyuko's clutches. She had fled out of the cave without a backwards glance. Yoshihiro ran after her.
At one time, Yoshihiro and Shueisha had been on the same side as each other. But greed over took Shueisha's mind, and she was left their master, Ruko. She had wanted the necklace for herself. Yoshihiro had remained loyal to Ruko and agreed to find it before anyone else did.
Togashi's coughing made Hiei snap back to reality. He looked down at his dying master. There was no hope left. He was going to die, and Hiei could do nothing to prevent it.
"Hiei...promise me...you will get the necklace," his master said weakly.
"I promise master," Hiei said in a firm whisper. Togashi smiled weakly as he drew his last breath.
Togashi's body went limp in Hiei's arms. He checked his pulse. His master was gone forever.
Hiei pulled his master's head close to his own, and rested his forehead on his master's. He could feel warm tears silently flowing down his cheeks. Hiei lifted his head up, his body flowing with anger. He stood up, picked his up katana, and walked toward the exit of the cave.
Hiei could remember when Master Togashi had first taken him in as a student. It was then that he first learned about the Necklace of Takara. After much training his master became more interested in the necklace, and started studying its abilities, and where it was last seen. He started talking about it to Hiei.
"The Necklace of Takara is desired by many creatures, Hiei. It allows its possessor to receive a very unique ability; once the necklace is held up to the sunlight, it will cast a ray of golden light over the possessor's body. Once the body absorbs it, the possessor has the ability to take another person's power and spirit energy by just touching their skin. Many creatures have fought over the necklace. Once one consumes this ability it is permanent. The only way it is lost is if they were to die. There is only enough of this power for one person. Hence so many people have murdered the possessors to get this ability themselves. When we search for it, we must be prepared."
Before exiting the cave, Hiei turned back to look at his master's lifeless body.
"I will work for no one, nor will I take orders from anyone. Not until I fulfill my duties to you. I will get revenge upon Shueisha...I promise." And with that, Hiei walked out of the cave in search for his two enemies.
"Hiei..." Togashi whispered as he lay in a puddle of blood on the ground of the dirty cave.
"Don't worry master ...I'm right here." Hiei, on his knees, held his master's held to his chest.
It was theirs for a moment; the Necklace of Takara could have stopped all of the disasters from happening. If only they had gotten there a few minutes earlier. But no, Shueisha and Yoshhiro had arrived only seconds after they did, Hiei thought to himself. And we all fought over the necklace, clutched in the dead decaying hand of Noriyuko.
Hiei could see himself fighting Yoshihiro, and his master fighting Shueisha. Everything from there went in slow motion. He could hear Togashi moan in pain as Shueisha thrust her ice blade into his master's chest. He could hear himself calling out to him, in despair and fear. He could remember Yoshihiro knocking his katana straight out of his bloody hand as he was distracted. Yoshihiro held his own sword to Hiei's throat. But just as suddenly as he had descended the katana on Hiei's throat, Yoshihiro had stopped. Shueisha had taken the necklace out of Noriyuko's clutches. She had fled out of the cave without a backwards glance. Yoshihiro ran after her.
At one time, Yoshihiro and Shueisha had been on the same side as each other. But greed over took Shueisha's mind, and she was left their master, Ruko. She had wanted the necklace for herself. Yoshihiro had remained loyal to Ruko and agreed to find it before anyone else did.
Togashi's coughing made Hiei snap back to reality. He looked down at his dying master. There was no hope left. He was going to die, and Hiei could do nothing to prevent it.
"Hiei...promise me...you will get the necklace," his master said weakly.
"I promise master," Hiei said in a firm whisper. Togashi smiled weakly as he drew his last breath.
Togashi's body went limp in Hiei's arms. He checked his pulse. His master was gone forever.
Hiei pulled his master's head close to his own, and rested his forehead on his master's. He could feel warm tears silently flowing down his cheeks. Hiei lifted his head up, his body flowing with anger. He stood up, picked his up katana, and walked toward the exit of the cave.
Hiei could remember when Master Togashi had first taken him in as a student. It was then that he first learned about the Necklace of Takara. After much training his master became more interested in the necklace, and started studying its abilities, and where it was last seen. He started talking about it to Hiei.
"The Necklace of Takara is desired by many creatures, Hiei. It allows its possessor to receive a very unique ability; once the necklace is held up to the sunlight, it will cast a ray of golden light over the possessor's body. Once the body absorbs it, the possessor has the ability to take another person's power and spirit energy by just touching their skin. Many creatures have fought over the necklace. Once one consumes this ability it is permanent. The only way it is lost is if they were to die. There is only enough of this power for one person. Hence so many people have murdered the possessors to get this ability themselves. When we search for it, we must be prepared."
Before exiting the cave, Hiei turned back to look at his master's lifeless body.
"I will work for no one, nor will I take orders from anyone. Not until I fulfill my duties to you. I will get revenge upon Shueisha...I promise." And with that, Hiei walked out of the cave in search for his two enemies.