AN: I think if this ever does come to an end I will have to dedicate the whole work to Rin. ^_^ I love you! *ahem* Anyway sorry once again for the long waits here, I have to balance writting with my two jobs and the patheticness I call a 'social life'. Still no word processer to I'm sorry if I misspell things and use bad grammer... I do try and read things over carefully. To make up for that and the long wait I'm going to try and make this a big chappie for my fans!
Disclaimer: Holly Summers and the race of Sirine are mine. Yu Yu Hakusho is not, The song Nightmare is also not. The translation of the song Nightmare is off of Animelyrics.com and the actual song is one of Kurama's image songs (a fabulous one at that) which is also the thing that gave me the inspiration for this WHOLE story.
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To say Hiei was surprised would have been a rather large understatment. One moment Kurama had been fighting at his side then the next he had collapsed, worse then that he had grabbed Hiei's shield with his mind! Hiei dissapated the shield quickly to avoid getting pulled into the Youko's head, cursing himself for doing that as it had let a wave of bells get passed Holly's offense.
Stepping in front of the screaming Youko, Hiei gaurded his friend. No one could touch his Kitsune and get away with it! Anger boiled in him once again and the dragon tatooed on his arm began to stir. Oh yes... they would all pay dearly for their crime...
***
Murakami lay queitly seathing in anger in her private chamber. It had been sometime now since that wretched girl had escaped but she was still angry about the whole affair. So angry in fact that even torturing and then killing the gaurds that had let the girl escape wasn't enough to calm her.
Jeruthomy stood just as quietly in the Queen's Doorway waiting to be spoken to. She looked repoachfully at the man... weak heart this one had, one that could 'love'... but one that could still be used for a purpose. She rolled her eyes and finally decided to speak with him. "My Granddaughter must be found..."
"But Your Highness, she has left the Void how are we to-" He stopped short at the murderous glare he recieved from the Queen of Sirines.
"You of the Second Generation are almost as bad as the rest after you... what has become of our great race? Do only The Thirteen remember suffering?" Murakami raised an eyebrow in his direction even though she knew he dared not to speak now. "If the Gods catch Harultoryo it will bring even more pain not only to her but to the rest of us as well! We can't-" it was her turn to stop as something had suddenly caught her attention and by the shocked look of dismay on the others face she knew he felt it too. A flare of a very familiar energy of a equally familiar song, rising in the very outskirts of her kingdom. A cruel smile broke across her beautiful face. "Bring her to me NOW."
***
The power of her friends and foes alike gathered all around Holly and she felt them begin to solidify into a crushing wave of sorrow and dispair upon the lesser Sirine that had tried to hurt her friends.
it's OK if this body of mine is wounded
it's OK if this heart of mine burns.
It did burn but this time not her, she was surprised to feel. What had happened to her song? This song always hurt thats what it took to get the greastest of her power.
The sound of distant, cracking thunder
Don't be fooled
by what you see.
Then she felt it, the agony of Kurama's soul. Her blood ran cold and her screaming was joined by hundreds of screams as the lesser Sirine were suddenly peirced by raining spears of ice.
track down the wounded future
or tread on the broken tomorrow.
Love
The bells surrounded Holly once again echoing the turmoil that ran in her heart. What had she done?
***
Yuusuke and Kuwabara gulped at the sight before them once the dust had settled. Hundreds of Sirine lay about them, their lifeless bodies torn to shreds by the blood covered forest of ice.
Kuwabara was the first to move, he looked back at the only one he knew of that could cause the nightmare-come-to-life before them, Holly. He saw her fall to her knees, her face haunted... he felt a horrifing vibe coming off of her and Kurama. Noting the absence of the latter he stepped forward in hopes of discovering his location... and he did too.
Kurama lay motionless in the arms of the shirmp, who had obviously caught the Fox before he had seemingly fainted. Only... Kurama's eyes were open... wide open with fear.
Kuwabara held out a hand as Yuusuke began to step forward as if meaning to help, "Wait up Urameshi... it ain't exactly safe..."
***
Hiei looked at the fearful eyes of his Kitsune and nearly released the dragon on Holly. He settled the Youko down on the ground being very careful not to injure him any further, then he turned the deadliest glare he could muster on the Sirine. "What have you done?" He began calmly but couldn't manage to keep the rest so calm. "What in the Name of the Seven Hells have you DONE to HIM?!"
Holly blinked at him stupidly for a moment before obviously attempting to get her composure back. She ran a hand through her light purple hair and swallowed before opening her mouth. Hiei waited a short while for the Sirine to talk but no words came.
He ground his teeth in response, "I asked a question, Sirine!"
"I don't know!" Panic filled her voice and the bells around Holly mumured something unintelligible. She looked away from him and gathered the bells around her arm, studing them quietly.
When she didn't move or say anything further Hiei found himself even more annoyed, "What did they say?"
Holly just began to shack her head, "It doesn't make any sense."
Hiei was about to scream again at her when he felt someone approaching. He stood again and drew his katana. "I mean no harm to any friend of the Princess," An older seeming Sirine stepped into the clearing with his hands out and completly visable. The Sirine had four bells that clung at his waist, almost like a belt, and no other weapon in sight. Hiei was willing to wager he had none but didn't count on it. The other smiled when Hiei growled at him. "I am indeed surprised Princess Harultoryo, that you have not only returned to us but have increased your power so drasticly. And you bring company, the likes of which would bring the Queen's wrath all the more intensly."
The newcomer was dressed very poorly and seemed lowly in appearence, yet the manner in which he moved and spoke seemed to indicate that he was of a high rank, Hiei found it very annoying and if not for the obvious submissive pose the Sirine had placed himself in, the angry firedemon probably would have attacked him too.
Holly straightened as if slapped in the face, "Mister Daimika!" She stood and held her hands out palm up. The gesture seemed strange yet... had he seen this before?
The Sirine identified now as Daimika step forward and took Holly hands and pulled her forward. "I feared you were lost to us Princess, come lets be away before Murakami's army arrives."
"But Daimika, Murakami will hunt you down for-"
The older Sirine shrugged, "I have lived long enough anyway. There are no regrets in my life now, though if something were to happen to you, dear child, I would indeed have such."
Holly nodded and looked sidelong at Hiei, worry seemed to dance behind her now completly calm exterior, "Very well Uncle, lets go and hide. We have much that I need answered."
***
Jeruthomy stood in horror at the shear distruction that lay before him. A few hundred young Sirine bodies lay in frozen shambles. Could Harutoryo really have caused this? He couldn't imagine that the sweet and innocent Princess of the Sirine could have caused the damage before him... but the song signature was none other then hers.
A tiny female soldier stepped up beside him and frowned, "Ice isn't her choice element... Could someone have used her song?" Her purple hair was trimmed to hang loosly about her chin, and her uniform color indicating her as a Fourth Generation Sirine and her bells hung around her neck like some piece of human jewelery.
Jeruthomy frowned at the girl's boldness, addressing a Second Generation in such a manner, but decided not to mention it at the moment. Murakami had added the girl to the search party at the last moment, which obviously indicated that Murakami didn't trust him. "You should know better then anyone, Miki, that no one can take Harutoryo's Nightmare. She and her song are too powerful for lower generations to handle... even a second generation like myself would have trouble with it."
Miki growled in anger remebering the incident that Jeruthomy was refering to. She touched the burn scar that ran down her face. Jeruthomy knew the same type of scar also ran down her neck and over her back, "I hate her... I hope we catch her soon."
Jeruthomy didn't say anything as he turned away from the girl, his fists clentched and he faught to keep his temper in check. "To speak so boldly of one that out ranks you, Miki, is very dangerous."
She smiled cruelly at him, and leaned over slightly, "On the contrary, it has already gotten me the promise of our Queen that I will be the one to punish that Bitch next." She then leaned back and her smile became far more innocent looking. "Now then, her father's family lives near here... I suggest we start there."
Jeruthomy cursed silently, he had hoped that most had forgotten about Harutoryo's father and he could delay the search a little longer. He was certian that the lowly family had taken the Princess in, there was no question about it, 'Damn it, Haru, why did you come back?'
***
Holly had barely been able to think on anything except Kurama as she was led to her Uncle's house. She had never been allowed to enter the dwelling before so she was surprised to see that the inside was much larger then the outside indicated. But her mind did not hold thoughts of surprise for long, they went straight back to the mind of Kurama. Her song had effected him in such a way that he was unable to sleep yet at the same time unable to wake... haunted... yes that was the word...
Hiei wouldn't let anyone come near Kurama at first, but realized the Fox was so much bigger then him, especially now that he was turning back into his Youko form, that he couldn't defend Kurama if the need arose if he was also carrying him. Holly gave a sad smile back at the angry firedemon, he still hadn't left Kurama's side even though Kuwabara was the chosen mule at the moment. But thankfully Kuwabara was smart enough not to talk at all durign their short journey.
"You can stay underneath the house here, Princess, no one should look for you there," Diamika opened a door that no one had seen. "Your mother had stayed here before you were born, child... I hope you find it comfortable enough."
Holly shock her head slightly, he uncle always had felt strange around her, she knew, being of such completly different rank yet at the same time family. True he was Second Generation, but at the same time there were those amoung the Thirteen that were concidered low rank because of their lack of power. Holly found herself bitter just thinking about it... there was a lot of politics in the realm of Sirine and very little emotion. But then with the entire population being slightly empathic, due to the bells, one really didn't want to have such weak things as emotions.
She entered first, showing the others that she would blindly trust her Uncle. The stairs ended in a cozy little room... small but it would do nicely. The others entered and Diamika stood at the foot of the stairs waiting silently. Holly recognized the stance he had taken he was waiting to either be dismissed or given an order, like a servant. Holly walked up to him. "Please, Uncle, I have no wish for you to act like a slave in your own house. Please sit with us."
There was hesitation in his steps but he did sit on a pillow next to Yuusuke. Holly smiled at him and sat on the ground without one. He immediatly stood and offered the pillow on which he was sitting, nevermind that there were a dozen others not occupied in the room. "Thank you, Uncle, but I'm rather comfortable were I am."
He nodded and settled down again, though very nervous. Holly could tell the others were confused by Diamika's behavior and made note that she would have to explain how Sirine's were ranked later. Yuusuke patted the older Sirine on the back and laughed in his usual manner, "Don't worry Hiei doesn't bite... often..." Obviously assuming the presense of the strangers is what made the other Sirine so uncertian. He indicated the black-haired demon with a wave of his hand. "He's always like that. And the idiot..." he gestered to Kuwabara, "He'll start spouting some manly mumbo jumbo here soon but you can ignore him too."
His 'introduction' of sorts got him a poisonous glare from Hiei and a loud, "WHAT?!" From Kuwabara.
"Hey man just telling the truth," Yuusuke shrugged.
Diamika interupted the brewing fight when he looked at Kurama, "And what about the girl? What happened to her?"
"That's Kurama, Uncle, and I'm afraid I don't know what happened to him. I had bound him to me once but I did release the control... yet my song still effects him," Holly cut off the rest of the groups reactions to the older Sirine's question.
"My mistake," Diamika bowed his head slightly to Hiei as the other had growled at him. He then turned back to her with a shake of his head. "I've never heard of such a thing... once one is released, then one is released..."
Holly nodded, "Yes... at least among the Sirine. The only ones to have dealt with other races would be the Thirteen."
"You aren't thinking about asking THEM are you?" Diamika stood up in surprise. "They will turn you over to your grandmother faster then any!"
"Not all the Thirteen are blindly loyal to Murakami, Uncle. But actually I was hoping to speak with Jeruthomy before I tried," Holly gestured for him to sit and settle down again.
"You might know that one the best of anyone, Princess, but things have changed in the upper ranks since you left," Diamika looked sullen suddenly. "He's now the one in charge of the army... most likely the one in charge of hunting you down too, if the Queen sensed you, like I'm most certian she did."
Holly's eyes widened, 'Why would Jer be...?'
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AN: Alright a quick review of the new characters!
Murakami- Holly's grandmother, and Queen of the Sirine (First Generation, as known as Thirteen).
Harultoryo- Holly's Sirine name, also can be shortened to Haru (Third Generation).
Jeruthomy- a Second Generation Sirine, mentioned in the last chapter as Holly's friend, also now the Captin of the Gaurd.
Miki- a Fourth Generation Sirine that hates Holly.
Diamika- A Second Generation Sirine and Holly's Uncle on her father's side.
Ok I know there was a bunch more of the original charaters in this chapter, then there was of the Yu Yu Hakusho cast, but I promise I'm getting to them!
Please R&R!