Hiei lifted a hand to his forehead, a slight look of animosity on his face.
His fingertips caressed the coarse fabric of his white bandana as though
contemplating whether or not to untie it. The corners of his eyes
twitching, he unfastened the knot, letting the scarf fall to the ground at
his feet, fluttering slightly in the wind. His jagon eye, a radiant purple,
was both beautiful and appalling. It captured the human mind with its
alluring beauty, then trapped it with it's hidden demonic powers. The wind
picked up, kicking up dust on the roof of some various building in Tokyo,
tugging at the hem of his garments; his blackened robes. His other hand
loosely held onto a communication wire that protruded from the roof, so as
to keep him from sliding down the sloped roof. He could see most of the
city from this height, and with his jagon eye now opening, he could see
past the walls, into the inside of homes, stores, and the like, of the
city. "Where is the brat?" He muttered under his breath, his tone dripping
with disgust and irritation. He was referring to Autumn. Koenma had
demanded that Hiei go find her, much to the oni's loathing. He could sense
a presence over the city, one so evil, so disgusting, Hiei's sensitive
jagon eye faltered under it. One, maybe two B class demons, at least six C
class... Hiei began to calculate the other side's forces, and found himself
marveling at how they got such ranks into Nigenkai. So, the leader of their
forces was not a fool as Hiei had suspected, no fool could gather such an
army right under Koenma's nose. Hiei's main eyes closed so he could use all
his focus on the jagon. For some time he remained still, his lips moving to
shape words, though he uttered no sound.
Hiei's glinting red eyes opened, and with a light step, he leapt from the roof.
Koenma inclined his face, his eyes scanning a computer printout. "No previous clashes with the supernatural. . . ." He muttered, his faithful Oger leaning over his shoulder so as to read along. "No crimes committed. . . .Clean, all three of them! But they all have family that would notice if they just disappeared . . . . I hate to do this, but. . . ." Koenma let his words fall flat, his brow creasing in contemplation. Would he dare erase all records and traces of these girls? They were expected home in two days, but how could they be sent off home with knowledge of this sort swimming in their heads? He could just erase their memories, but. . . . How? They had been exposed to the stone, therefore their own psychic powers would start raking effect any day now. They surely would notice their sudden powers, even if they did forget how they had gotten them, they'd still be there... Koenma held his head in his hands, his palms over his ears and moaned. This whole blasted thing was driving him to insanity!
Oger did not like to see his employer so distraught. It was like seeing a small child cry. Actually, that was exactly what it was like. He cleared his throat and attempted to comfort the sobbing prince, "Sir, I'm sure they'll cooperate after their rest. I mean, you're always much more likely to listen after your nap, so they should be no exception, right? And, anyway, it's been an hour, so they should be waking up soon. . . ." Upon realizing Koenma was paying him no mind, Oger silenced himself and left the room with a sigh.
"Jessica does seem level-headed," Koenma spoke aloud to himself, as though trying to convince someone of his point, "Maybe she will relent and give me the stone! Or, we could strike a deal! YEAH! That's it! I'll trade her Kurama for the stone!" He slammed a small fist into his palm as though in triumph. His smile was broad and joyous.
"You have got to be kidding me, sir!" Botan waltzed into the room, her chipper face pulled into a look of exasperation. She shook her head slowly, her long ponytail of blue hair swinging behind her like the pendulum on a clock. "You wouldn't seriously consider trading Kurama away. . . .? Right? Eh-huhu!" She laughed, her tone nervous. [Sweat drop]
Koenma heaved a sigh and looked down at his desk, and answered serious-as- you-please: "Desperate times call for desperate measures."
Botan let out a cry of disbelief and slid to her knees, "Ooooh!" The corner of her eye gave a twitch, her hair suddenly looking very frazzled indeed. "Koenma is REALLY desperate." And she was right. Not only that, but their situation was, at that moment, becoming even more desperate.
OH so much desperate.
The hospital walls were so white that Kuwabara, at fist, thought he was in heaven. Everything was white: the nurses' outfits, the bedcovers, the tables and chairs, everything! But then he felt the searing pain of the gash on his side, and he realized he was in the hospital. His eyes trailed the IV from his arm to the bag of fluids hanging off a metal bar behind his bed. The pillow was heaven on his aching head, and the soft sheet caressed his bruises, lessening the pain they caused him. It occurred to him he was only looking out one eye, and he lifted a hand to find his left eye to be bandaged. As was his right wrist. His entire body was wrapped up here and there. Kuwabara strained his mind to remember what happened. Then it hit him, he had been attacked. Images flashed before his mind, random words said by his attackers:
". . . Not one of your friends can protect those girls. . . . .Ha! That fool Koenma will never get her to give it up. . .Our only concern is that she figures out how to block her. . . .You cannot resist. . . .No, we will not kill you. . .You are of some use. . .Tell Koenma that she will be avenged. . ." Their cruel words spun around in his mind like toy boats in a whirlpool. He wanted them to shut up, to stop hurting his mind, to leave him alone! But, no! He had to remember exactly what they had said. And, he had to get out of here and tell Koenma what they were planning. But how? Most of his bones were broken, and his nerves were shot. But then, a soft, caring voice came to his rescue.
"Oh, Kuzuma! What ever happened to you?!" He felt her warm hand fall on his, her delicate skin soft against his. His eyes flickered open to see her face, her large, expressive eyes full of concern at his condition. The corners of her eyes glistened with tears that were about to fall. Yukina was on the verge of sobbing. "Who-who did this to you?"
"Y. . . . Yukina." He managed to say, his words slurred from drugs. "You gotta tell Koenma to. . . . Get the girl outa there. . . She ain't safe in spirit world either. . . They can get her there. . . . . She's gotta. . . . . . Run........." His eyes closed, and again he fell from consciousness. Yukina stood at his bedside, confused, her hand lifting to her mouth, her eyes flickering.
Shanta felt something tugging at her to wake up in the back of her mind. Pain seared in every inch of her body, her head in particular. A moan passed her lips as she fought to clear her mind of the fog that kept her from thinking properly. She could hear someone screaming. After a second, her ears seemed to unplug, and she could distinguish who was screaming. Jessica. As Kuwabara's memory had returned, so did her own, like a jolt of static coursing through her mind. She opened her eyes, and her vision cleared fully. But what she was seeing did not make any sense.
The records library was a place of chaos. Thick, light purple smoke filled the room. Books flew off the shelves, though nothing was forcing them to do so. They rained down on the figures in the room, though no one seemed to be getting hit. Shi stood, his arm raised, some sort of energy being transferred to his hand, causing it to glow black. At his feet lay Kurama, his scarlet hair blocking his face from view, streams of blood coursing down his upper arms. For a minute, she was sure he was dead, until she saw him attempt to lift himself, but was unable to. A third figure stood on the opposite side of the room. But who was it?
Her raven hair fell to her midsection. She wore a kimono, its fabric a deep, bloody red. A black sash was tied around her incredibly slim waist. The smoke seemed to swirl around her body, making it obvious that she was its cause. A black aura surrounded her, like a shield, and it was billowing as though a sheet in the wind. The books that fell from the shelves fell directly on top of her, but froze just above her head and burst into violent flames. The gale blew her hair in her face, blocking it from Shanta's view. It tugged at her clothes, making them surge around her. Bolts of black static added to her aura.
Shi let his hand fall to his side, his shoulders giving a slight sag. His eyes rounded. "My dream. . . . . Has come true!" Joy filled his every word, and he took a halting step towards the figure. She lifted a hand, stopping him. Slowly, the coursing wind ceased to be, hundreds of books falling to the ground. Her hair fell limply about her waist. She raised her face, her brilliant violet eyes glinting. They narrowed as her mouth tightened into a frown. "Aoitsuki! You-You've risen at long last!" He rushed to her, his arms out stretched. He fell to his knees a yard or so away from her, placing his forehead on the tile floor, spreading his hands out beside him. "Master!"
The corners of her eyes twitched slightly. When she opened her mouth and spoke, her words were as cold as the wind in the arctic and as hard as steel. ". . . Fool. . . . ." She tilted her head to the side, lifting her chin slightly, "Go to Hades where you belong."
Shanta let out a terrified scream as Shi erupted in flames just as the books had. His face was frozen in horror for a moment before the flames hid him from view. But, he was an A class demon! One breath and he was finished! She had been sitting on her knees, but now she fell back, her back hitting the bookcase behind her, several books falling at her sides. She hastily covered her mouth with her hands. Aoitsuki's head snapped to the side, her cool gaze falling on the terrified girl. She opened her lips to speak, but stopped. A flicker of confusion passed over her features. Her eyes closed for a moment as she massaged her temple. She then turned back to Shanta, who was still rigid against the bookcase. "Sh-Shanta?" Her tone was uncertain.
Shanta nodded quickly, her hands still over her mouth. Sweat trickled down the edges of her face. Her eyes fell away from the woman's face, for it terrified her for some unknown reason. Her light brown irises instead came to rest on Kurama's form. His biceps clenched under his skin as his palms dug into the tile floor as he pushed himself up, his crimson locks brushing the floor infront of him as he slowly and painfully got to his feet, a wince on his face. His shoulders shook madly as he stood, on the verge of falling back over, his eyes half closed. His chest heaved as he inhaled deeply, his emerald eyes on Aoitsuki's back (She was between Shanta and Kurama). His eyes then met Shanta's, but he hastily looked away, pain clouding his eyes. He managed to speak, his words of anger directed at Aoitsuki. "YOU WITCH! HOW COULD YOU DO THAT TO A CHILD?!"
She did not immediately react to his words. It took a full minute for her to turn to face the weakened redhead, her mouth curling into a smile. But this was not a pleasant smile. It was smug and cruel. "What? Terribly sorry, boy, did you feel attached to the dear girl?" She had a British accent, and her tone was thick with mockery. She closed her eyes slowly, her long lashes glinting slightly in the light. "Then again, you called her a child. Oh, you should hear her now," She tapped her temple with a long, sharp nail, "She has not idea whats going on. But, even in her haze of confusion, she bristled a bit at being called a child. She's Yuskue Urameshi's age, is she not? She wonders why you look down on her." She then gave a harsh laugh, her voice high and silvery. "But I sense it is not hostility you feel towards her," Her voice lowered cunningly, her eyes closing halfway, "No, your feelings are rather affectionate, no? You feel as though she is your little sister, and you must protect her at all costs. How cute."
"You'll let her go. I know it. Her body is frail; and though it has taken on your shape, it is still hers. She is of no use to you. You cannot possibly use your powers properly using her. It must have drained you terribly destroying Shi a moment ago, and that certainty wasn't the limit of your powers. So LET HER GO."
"You? Command me? How utterly hilarious. How do you know she did not welcome the change? Letting someone else take the steering wheel." Her eyes were now no more than slits of purple, "She was the one that opened the door to her body, not me. She saw you in danger, and she felt her friend's pain. She opened the door and begged me to help."
"No. . . .You liar! Let her go, witch!" Kurama's face darkened with rage, his shoulders shaking in anger. "I know you can! Just let her go! You suffered, you know how it feels to loose your life. Do you want her to suffer the same fate? To loose all she loves because of the foolishness of another?"
Autumn curled up, pulling her legs to her chest, resting her chin on her knees. The giant beast never lifted his gaze from her, and this she found very unnerving. She let her mind go black, it was far better than dwelling on her predicament. Her curls edged her light brown face, her eyes dulled over with emptiness. Her breathing was slow and controlled. Almost a full three hours she had been here, but it seemed like so much longer. Her stomach gave a little growl. She hadn't eaten in so long. She hadn't slept in so long either. But even as her eyelids became unbearably heavy, she resisted it. Who knew what they'd do to her while she slept. So she sat there, in the same position, in her own little reality, all alone. What else could she do?
One of the sleeping demons gave a loud snort, jerking her from her stupor. She let her cheek rest on her knees instead, her eyes on the demons. She had felt so much fear and frustration before that she had drained herself out. Now she felt nothing. Like after you cry and cry for hours, afterwards you feel oddly dry and hallow. She had long since accepted that this had to be real, no dream would be this, well, boring. And she was so tired. Her muscles ached. Her back ached. Her head ached. Her eyes slowly closed as she promised herself it would only been for a moment of rest. She drifted off to sleep before she could open her eyes. . . . .
"I said WAKE UP."
Autumn felt a painful jab being delivered to her side, so hard that she woke up and immediately cried out in pain. Standing before her was a black- clad youth, his pale face void of human expression. His black robe was smattered with red, as was his face. Held loosely in his right hand was a sword, its blade glinting in the light. It too was stained scarlet. His crimson eyes held no remorse for kicking her. Autumn gingerly rubbed her side and glared at him. Hiei snorted in response and then chuckled.
"Oh, stop scowling at me and stand up," He growled. She did as she was told, her light brown eyes darting across the room, falling on the carcasses of her captors. Hiei was certainly not very clean about killing them.
"Uh, thanks," She said uncertainly, her eyes still on the remains of the Ogre. She stumbled slightly as she walked, for she was not looking at where she was going. Hiei replied with the usual "Hn," and that was that.
Shanta stifled the pleas that she desperately wanted to say, to beg for her friend. She did not, despite the fact that she did think Jessica was very annoying, want her friend to lose her soul. She put a hand to the bookcase behind her and used it to help her up. Kurama slowly shook his head at her when she started to walk towards them.
"You think I'm going to forfeit this body? Are you mad? She is perfect for me. Do you not sense how alike our souls are, Kurama?" She did not seem to be arguing, as though she was confident that the conversation was over, she was just putting in a few extra words.
Kurama scoffed, "She is nothing like you."
Aoitsuki's eyes clouded over with an eerie light. "Oh? There is the first thing we have in common. You assume what is on the outside is what makes her tick. Not at all. In that comment, you also stated another thing: we are both widely misunderstood. You assume I am evil because I do not agree with what you believe is right. You assume she is not like me because she does not voice her opinion, and so you jump to the conclusion that she agrees with you."
". . . .If she is so alike, then do you not feel guilt taking her body? Don't you realize that you're dooming her to nonexistence? You hardened your soul, but she cannot do so. If you dare-" Kurama was cut off by she.
"You are as foolish as Koenma! You think that people will just obey you, but you're wrong!" Her hands lifted, balling into fists. The wind picked up, swirling around her again, jerking more books from the shelves, all of it spinning around her. She inclined her face, her eyes narrowing in anger. "You cannot control me! I am my own master! I will never let another being tell me what to do-I WILL NOT BE EBTRAYED AGAIN!" Tears welled up in her brilliant violet eyes, spilling down her cheeks. The miniature tornado spun without hindrance, picking up speed. "Never again will I trust! No one will tell me what to do, without suffering at my hand!"
Shanta had to leap to the side to avoid decapitation by a book. The wind tugged at the hem of her clothes, slowly jerking her in the direction of the tornado. She realized her feet were sliding, and she reached out and grabbed the bookcase behind her. What was this woman's problem?! She watched in horror as clouds-real clouds-covered the ceiling of the room, great clouds of black. Lightening sparked acrossed the room, and another bookcase erupted in flames. Kurama struggled to keep his balance, for he was much closer to the source of the gale. But he was sliding towards her at an alarming rate, it was all he could do to stay upright. "Jessica would kill me if I let Kurama die," She told herself through gritted teeth, and released her hold on the shelf. Praying she wouldn't fall victim to the tornado, she ran to Kurama's side. He gave her a reproachful look, but silenced himself as she grabbed his arm, "Come on!" She shouted over the roar of the wind, her short black hair blowing acrossed her face and in her eyes, "We don't have time!"
Pushing with all their might against the wind, they struggled to get to the door. The walls began to crumble, enormous slabs of concrete flying to the tornado's funnel, adding to its force. Kurama lifted his hand to the nape of his neck, retrieving his rose. His cry of, "Rose whip!" Was drowned out by the wind. He pulled the whip behind his head, then jerking it infront of them with as much force as he could muster. Shanta watched as the thorn-covered whip wrapped around the door knob. She felt amazement well up within her at his accuracy. He bent over her, putting his mouth close to her ear, he bellowed, "Watch the thorns, you don't want to cut yourself!"
"Whatever could be causing such a ruckus?" Botan wondered aloud as she thumbed through a stack of papers of Kurama's desk, her mouth in a frown as she, again, looked at the empty bedrolls. "Koenma will not be happy that those two girls wandered off. Or that Kurama is so behind in his work."
"BOTAN!!!" Ayume, her face death pale, appeared in the doorway. Her clipboard was held to her chest by one arm, the other hanging limply at her side. She was panting, a sign that she had ran for her life to this room. "It-It's happened!"
Botan blinked in perplexity, her shoulders lifting slightly. Then, the meaning to her fellow grim reaper's words dawned on her, and she let out a terrified scream.
"Koenma says we must evacuate the building!" Ayume cried breathlessly. "Oh Botan, the girl has Kurama and her friend trapped in the library!"
Botan swallowed and nodded as though in agreement. "Come on, we best get everyone out."
Thank you for reading! Please review! And, if you happen to be one of my friends in this story, email me and tell me what you thought of it. -.- Yes, even you, Autumn. Hey, at least I let Hiei save you. Just tell me if you liked it!!!
Hiei's glinting red eyes opened, and with a light step, he leapt from the roof.
Koenma inclined his face, his eyes scanning a computer printout. "No previous clashes with the supernatural. . . ." He muttered, his faithful Oger leaning over his shoulder so as to read along. "No crimes committed. . . .Clean, all three of them! But they all have family that would notice if they just disappeared . . . . I hate to do this, but. . . ." Koenma let his words fall flat, his brow creasing in contemplation. Would he dare erase all records and traces of these girls? They were expected home in two days, but how could they be sent off home with knowledge of this sort swimming in their heads? He could just erase their memories, but. . . . How? They had been exposed to the stone, therefore their own psychic powers would start raking effect any day now. They surely would notice their sudden powers, even if they did forget how they had gotten them, they'd still be there... Koenma held his head in his hands, his palms over his ears and moaned. This whole blasted thing was driving him to insanity!
Oger did not like to see his employer so distraught. It was like seeing a small child cry. Actually, that was exactly what it was like. He cleared his throat and attempted to comfort the sobbing prince, "Sir, I'm sure they'll cooperate after their rest. I mean, you're always much more likely to listen after your nap, so they should be no exception, right? And, anyway, it's been an hour, so they should be waking up soon. . . ." Upon realizing Koenma was paying him no mind, Oger silenced himself and left the room with a sigh.
"Jessica does seem level-headed," Koenma spoke aloud to himself, as though trying to convince someone of his point, "Maybe she will relent and give me the stone! Or, we could strike a deal! YEAH! That's it! I'll trade her Kurama for the stone!" He slammed a small fist into his palm as though in triumph. His smile was broad and joyous.
"You have got to be kidding me, sir!" Botan waltzed into the room, her chipper face pulled into a look of exasperation. She shook her head slowly, her long ponytail of blue hair swinging behind her like the pendulum on a clock. "You wouldn't seriously consider trading Kurama away. . . .? Right? Eh-huhu!" She laughed, her tone nervous. [Sweat drop]
Koenma heaved a sigh and looked down at his desk, and answered serious-as- you-please: "Desperate times call for desperate measures."
Botan let out a cry of disbelief and slid to her knees, "Ooooh!" The corner of her eye gave a twitch, her hair suddenly looking very frazzled indeed. "Koenma is REALLY desperate." And she was right. Not only that, but their situation was, at that moment, becoming even more desperate.
OH so much desperate.
The hospital walls were so white that Kuwabara, at fist, thought he was in heaven. Everything was white: the nurses' outfits, the bedcovers, the tables and chairs, everything! But then he felt the searing pain of the gash on his side, and he realized he was in the hospital. His eyes trailed the IV from his arm to the bag of fluids hanging off a metal bar behind his bed. The pillow was heaven on his aching head, and the soft sheet caressed his bruises, lessening the pain they caused him. It occurred to him he was only looking out one eye, and he lifted a hand to find his left eye to be bandaged. As was his right wrist. His entire body was wrapped up here and there. Kuwabara strained his mind to remember what happened. Then it hit him, he had been attacked. Images flashed before his mind, random words said by his attackers:
". . . Not one of your friends can protect those girls. . . . .Ha! That fool Koenma will never get her to give it up. . .Our only concern is that she figures out how to block her. . . .You cannot resist. . . .No, we will not kill you. . .You are of some use. . .Tell Koenma that she will be avenged. . ." Their cruel words spun around in his mind like toy boats in a whirlpool. He wanted them to shut up, to stop hurting his mind, to leave him alone! But, no! He had to remember exactly what they had said. And, he had to get out of here and tell Koenma what they were planning. But how? Most of his bones were broken, and his nerves were shot. But then, a soft, caring voice came to his rescue.
"Oh, Kuzuma! What ever happened to you?!" He felt her warm hand fall on his, her delicate skin soft against his. His eyes flickered open to see her face, her large, expressive eyes full of concern at his condition. The corners of her eyes glistened with tears that were about to fall. Yukina was on the verge of sobbing. "Who-who did this to you?"
"Y. . . . Yukina." He managed to say, his words slurred from drugs. "You gotta tell Koenma to. . . . Get the girl outa there. . . She ain't safe in spirit world either. . . They can get her there. . . . . She's gotta. . . . . . Run........." His eyes closed, and again he fell from consciousness. Yukina stood at his bedside, confused, her hand lifting to her mouth, her eyes flickering.
Shanta felt something tugging at her to wake up in the back of her mind. Pain seared in every inch of her body, her head in particular. A moan passed her lips as she fought to clear her mind of the fog that kept her from thinking properly. She could hear someone screaming. After a second, her ears seemed to unplug, and she could distinguish who was screaming. Jessica. As Kuwabara's memory had returned, so did her own, like a jolt of static coursing through her mind. She opened her eyes, and her vision cleared fully. But what she was seeing did not make any sense.
The records library was a place of chaos. Thick, light purple smoke filled the room. Books flew off the shelves, though nothing was forcing them to do so. They rained down on the figures in the room, though no one seemed to be getting hit. Shi stood, his arm raised, some sort of energy being transferred to his hand, causing it to glow black. At his feet lay Kurama, his scarlet hair blocking his face from view, streams of blood coursing down his upper arms. For a minute, she was sure he was dead, until she saw him attempt to lift himself, but was unable to. A third figure stood on the opposite side of the room. But who was it?
Her raven hair fell to her midsection. She wore a kimono, its fabric a deep, bloody red. A black sash was tied around her incredibly slim waist. The smoke seemed to swirl around her body, making it obvious that she was its cause. A black aura surrounded her, like a shield, and it was billowing as though a sheet in the wind. The books that fell from the shelves fell directly on top of her, but froze just above her head and burst into violent flames. The gale blew her hair in her face, blocking it from Shanta's view. It tugged at her clothes, making them surge around her. Bolts of black static added to her aura.
Shi let his hand fall to his side, his shoulders giving a slight sag. His eyes rounded. "My dream. . . . . Has come true!" Joy filled his every word, and he took a halting step towards the figure. She lifted a hand, stopping him. Slowly, the coursing wind ceased to be, hundreds of books falling to the ground. Her hair fell limply about her waist. She raised her face, her brilliant violet eyes glinting. They narrowed as her mouth tightened into a frown. "Aoitsuki! You-You've risen at long last!" He rushed to her, his arms out stretched. He fell to his knees a yard or so away from her, placing his forehead on the tile floor, spreading his hands out beside him. "Master!"
The corners of her eyes twitched slightly. When she opened her mouth and spoke, her words were as cold as the wind in the arctic and as hard as steel. ". . . Fool. . . . ." She tilted her head to the side, lifting her chin slightly, "Go to Hades where you belong."
Shanta let out a terrified scream as Shi erupted in flames just as the books had. His face was frozen in horror for a moment before the flames hid him from view. But, he was an A class demon! One breath and he was finished! She had been sitting on her knees, but now she fell back, her back hitting the bookcase behind her, several books falling at her sides. She hastily covered her mouth with her hands. Aoitsuki's head snapped to the side, her cool gaze falling on the terrified girl. She opened her lips to speak, but stopped. A flicker of confusion passed over her features. Her eyes closed for a moment as she massaged her temple. She then turned back to Shanta, who was still rigid against the bookcase. "Sh-Shanta?" Her tone was uncertain.
Shanta nodded quickly, her hands still over her mouth. Sweat trickled down the edges of her face. Her eyes fell away from the woman's face, for it terrified her for some unknown reason. Her light brown irises instead came to rest on Kurama's form. His biceps clenched under his skin as his palms dug into the tile floor as he pushed himself up, his crimson locks brushing the floor infront of him as he slowly and painfully got to his feet, a wince on his face. His shoulders shook madly as he stood, on the verge of falling back over, his eyes half closed. His chest heaved as he inhaled deeply, his emerald eyes on Aoitsuki's back (She was between Shanta and Kurama). His eyes then met Shanta's, but he hastily looked away, pain clouding his eyes. He managed to speak, his words of anger directed at Aoitsuki. "YOU WITCH! HOW COULD YOU DO THAT TO A CHILD?!"
She did not immediately react to his words. It took a full minute for her to turn to face the weakened redhead, her mouth curling into a smile. But this was not a pleasant smile. It was smug and cruel. "What? Terribly sorry, boy, did you feel attached to the dear girl?" She had a British accent, and her tone was thick with mockery. She closed her eyes slowly, her long lashes glinting slightly in the light. "Then again, you called her a child. Oh, you should hear her now," She tapped her temple with a long, sharp nail, "She has not idea whats going on. But, even in her haze of confusion, she bristled a bit at being called a child. She's Yuskue Urameshi's age, is she not? She wonders why you look down on her." She then gave a harsh laugh, her voice high and silvery. "But I sense it is not hostility you feel towards her," Her voice lowered cunningly, her eyes closing halfway, "No, your feelings are rather affectionate, no? You feel as though she is your little sister, and you must protect her at all costs. How cute."
"You'll let her go. I know it. Her body is frail; and though it has taken on your shape, it is still hers. She is of no use to you. You cannot possibly use your powers properly using her. It must have drained you terribly destroying Shi a moment ago, and that certainty wasn't the limit of your powers. So LET HER GO."
"You? Command me? How utterly hilarious. How do you know she did not welcome the change? Letting someone else take the steering wheel." Her eyes were now no more than slits of purple, "She was the one that opened the door to her body, not me. She saw you in danger, and she felt her friend's pain. She opened the door and begged me to help."
"No. . . .You liar! Let her go, witch!" Kurama's face darkened with rage, his shoulders shaking in anger. "I know you can! Just let her go! You suffered, you know how it feels to loose your life. Do you want her to suffer the same fate? To loose all she loves because of the foolishness of another?"
Autumn curled up, pulling her legs to her chest, resting her chin on her knees. The giant beast never lifted his gaze from her, and this she found very unnerving. She let her mind go black, it was far better than dwelling on her predicament. Her curls edged her light brown face, her eyes dulled over with emptiness. Her breathing was slow and controlled. Almost a full three hours she had been here, but it seemed like so much longer. Her stomach gave a little growl. She hadn't eaten in so long. She hadn't slept in so long either. But even as her eyelids became unbearably heavy, she resisted it. Who knew what they'd do to her while she slept. So she sat there, in the same position, in her own little reality, all alone. What else could she do?
One of the sleeping demons gave a loud snort, jerking her from her stupor. She let her cheek rest on her knees instead, her eyes on the demons. She had felt so much fear and frustration before that she had drained herself out. Now she felt nothing. Like after you cry and cry for hours, afterwards you feel oddly dry and hallow. She had long since accepted that this had to be real, no dream would be this, well, boring. And she was so tired. Her muscles ached. Her back ached. Her head ached. Her eyes slowly closed as she promised herself it would only been for a moment of rest. She drifted off to sleep before she could open her eyes. . . . .
"I said WAKE UP."
Autumn felt a painful jab being delivered to her side, so hard that she woke up and immediately cried out in pain. Standing before her was a black- clad youth, his pale face void of human expression. His black robe was smattered with red, as was his face. Held loosely in his right hand was a sword, its blade glinting in the light. It too was stained scarlet. His crimson eyes held no remorse for kicking her. Autumn gingerly rubbed her side and glared at him. Hiei snorted in response and then chuckled.
"Oh, stop scowling at me and stand up," He growled. She did as she was told, her light brown eyes darting across the room, falling on the carcasses of her captors. Hiei was certainly not very clean about killing them.
"Uh, thanks," She said uncertainly, her eyes still on the remains of the Ogre. She stumbled slightly as she walked, for she was not looking at where she was going. Hiei replied with the usual "Hn," and that was that.
Shanta stifled the pleas that she desperately wanted to say, to beg for her friend. She did not, despite the fact that she did think Jessica was very annoying, want her friend to lose her soul. She put a hand to the bookcase behind her and used it to help her up. Kurama slowly shook his head at her when she started to walk towards them.
"You think I'm going to forfeit this body? Are you mad? She is perfect for me. Do you not sense how alike our souls are, Kurama?" She did not seem to be arguing, as though she was confident that the conversation was over, she was just putting in a few extra words.
Kurama scoffed, "She is nothing like you."
Aoitsuki's eyes clouded over with an eerie light. "Oh? There is the first thing we have in common. You assume what is on the outside is what makes her tick. Not at all. In that comment, you also stated another thing: we are both widely misunderstood. You assume I am evil because I do not agree with what you believe is right. You assume she is not like me because she does not voice her opinion, and so you jump to the conclusion that she agrees with you."
". . . .If she is so alike, then do you not feel guilt taking her body? Don't you realize that you're dooming her to nonexistence? You hardened your soul, but she cannot do so. If you dare-" Kurama was cut off by she.
"You are as foolish as Koenma! You think that people will just obey you, but you're wrong!" Her hands lifted, balling into fists. The wind picked up, swirling around her again, jerking more books from the shelves, all of it spinning around her. She inclined her face, her eyes narrowing in anger. "You cannot control me! I am my own master! I will never let another being tell me what to do-I WILL NOT BE EBTRAYED AGAIN!" Tears welled up in her brilliant violet eyes, spilling down her cheeks. The miniature tornado spun without hindrance, picking up speed. "Never again will I trust! No one will tell me what to do, without suffering at my hand!"
Shanta had to leap to the side to avoid decapitation by a book. The wind tugged at the hem of her clothes, slowly jerking her in the direction of the tornado. She realized her feet were sliding, and she reached out and grabbed the bookcase behind her. What was this woman's problem?! She watched in horror as clouds-real clouds-covered the ceiling of the room, great clouds of black. Lightening sparked acrossed the room, and another bookcase erupted in flames. Kurama struggled to keep his balance, for he was much closer to the source of the gale. But he was sliding towards her at an alarming rate, it was all he could do to stay upright. "Jessica would kill me if I let Kurama die," She told herself through gritted teeth, and released her hold on the shelf. Praying she wouldn't fall victim to the tornado, she ran to Kurama's side. He gave her a reproachful look, but silenced himself as she grabbed his arm, "Come on!" She shouted over the roar of the wind, her short black hair blowing acrossed her face and in her eyes, "We don't have time!"
Pushing with all their might against the wind, they struggled to get to the door. The walls began to crumble, enormous slabs of concrete flying to the tornado's funnel, adding to its force. Kurama lifted his hand to the nape of his neck, retrieving his rose. His cry of, "Rose whip!" Was drowned out by the wind. He pulled the whip behind his head, then jerking it infront of them with as much force as he could muster. Shanta watched as the thorn-covered whip wrapped around the door knob. She felt amazement well up within her at his accuracy. He bent over her, putting his mouth close to her ear, he bellowed, "Watch the thorns, you don't want to cut yourself!"
"Whatever could be causing such a ruckus?" Botan wondered aloud as she thumbed through a stack of papers of Kurama's desk, her mouth in a frown as she, again, looked at the empty bedrolls. "Koenma will not be happy that those two girls wandered off. Or that Kurama is so behind in his work."
"BOTAN!!!" Ayume, her face death pale, appeared in the doorway. Her clipboard was held to her chest by one arm, the other hanging limply at her side. She was panting, a sign that she had ran for her life to this room. "It-It's happened!"
Botan blinked in perplexity, her shoulders lifting slightly. Then, the meaning to her fellow grim reaper's words dawned on her, and she let out a terrified scream.
"Koenma says we must evacuate the building!" Ayume cried breathlessly. "Oh Botan, the girl has Kurama and her friend trapped in the library!"
Botan swallowed and nodded as though in agreement. "Come on, we best get everyone out."
Thank you for reading! Please review! And, if you happen to be one of my friends in this story, email me and tell me what you thought of it. -.- Yes, even you, Autumn. Hey, at least I let Hiei save you. Just tell me if you liked it!!!