Author's Notes: Sorry 'bout the lateness... *sighs* even though I was stressed like hell, I had two things to beta-read for at the same time... and then that stupid Physiology project got the best of me... And writer's block...
The main stress factor for now would be the fact that Amara can't talk to me until she's 18 because of overprotective parents... I had a strange dream about that, too... I can't remember all of it, but it was something about her being able to sneak on, me being happy, and then some weird law thing. *blinks* I never remember all my dreams...
And then there was that strange one where Kurama and Hiei are doing 'it' in a dust storm while InuYasha was dragging Ogata Megumi's corpse above my head. *blinks*
On another note ... I read a whole bunch on how to pick locks ^_^ Hehe... I KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE!!! ...or not. Heh. *snickers* Hmm, now I'll finally get to toss Hiei's underwear around Kurama's room! ^-^
Hiei: O_O *grabs his stuff and runs*
...*sighs* *puts up poster that says, "NOW HIRING FOR THE PART OF HIEI" and in small print, "No fangirls accepted"*
Roxy-the-Wolf-Demon: Liked the skit? So did I. ^_^
Madame Arrow Foxfire: INFO! *glomps* Thaaaank yooooou! And I love writing an AU... 'specially ones that are different from an early point... 'cause with the info you gave me, I can alter Shiori's marriage into the plot nice 'n' smooth... and have Hiei get harassed by Shuuichi H.... therefore making his little ordeal with Kurama a little... hehe... less smooth. ^^ It's so fun torturing bishies! And yes, I saw MorganD's page before... the little image gallery took too long, though, so I gave up on that. ^^;; And when you said "Hurling them off cliffs," I instantly thought of lemmings for some reason O_o;; I'm getting too happy recently. Maybe I should try to write that humor fic I put off for so long. And I tried that other site... the fire and ice thing... it needs a keyword index. I surfed that site for a long time and I still can't find it. *is ticked* And now I had a project due in two days. It's not fair! Hmm... I'll save you the rant and shut up. ^^;; But... I doubt you ever stumbled across it, but if you have, can you please tell me where I can download "Ochiba no Tegumi" by Ogata Megumi? I searched five frickin' hours and I *STILL* can't find it.
Sky-Pirate-Tat: Yes, I know 7 and 8 sucked. I told yas I can't write happy stuffies in a horror fic. But those two were for the plot only. You get a nice dark up-rise from here on for about... oh... 5 chapters or so... and then it's not as dark... again. -_- But if you want dark stuff, I'm posting one-shots periodically... like the Peony. I put up a more peony-focused version as the second chapter of that. You might like it more. And yay, insane Kurama point of view! ^_^ But... it's... really long. -_-
Kiyoshi-Neko: Lack of dialogue? ^-^;; Er... yeah. I noticed that, too O-o;; Dun worry... this chapter has more dialogue... and more dialogue will come with "Dying Winds" (Part Three) and lots more with "Complications of Impersonated Romance" (Part Four). Er... perfect? ^^;; Far from perfect, believe me. Very far.
Sailor Millennium: *weakly* *waves* goodbye... *sniffles* *perks up* BUT! If you ever get on, that is... anyhoo, yep, gotta hate Larry's tellish nature... And yes, I like Chester's vocal parts... when he's not in those hard-rock and rap parts, that is... otherwise... yay! Though I recently got a little Ogata Megumi streak... I probably won't be downloading English songs for a while -_- As for the bishounen on sugar... *grabs Malik 'n' Ryou and runs*
...: ........................................O-o can you please leave only *one* review per chapter? I mean, I like reviews, but that's kinda... cheating for me, ya know?
Rachel Marianne: I thought I was a psycho magnet, but this is a little *too* far. *swings light saber at the many yous*
crazed fanatic anime fan: Roxy? Yeah, she's my friend... ^^ hehe, I thanked her for referring my fic. But anyhow... thank you for the compliment! ^_^ And as for the question... yeah, I got the same answer from a whole bunch of other people. ^^ But thanks for your time anyway!lazyprincess: ^-^ YAY! I'M A FAVORITE! *dances around crazily and crashes into writer's block* @_@ owwies...
Otherwise Known as Evil-Kitty: sorry, I can't remember your penname's spelling ^^;; anyhoo... O-o o-O thank you for the praise! ^^ ALL HAIL THE MIGHTY ME!
...okay, the fic's starting... *grabs the runaway Hiei and bribes him with sweet snow*
Warning: MAJOR OOCNESS WITH BOTAN AND HIEI! Not as a couple... but... they're OOC!
*~*~*Drizzle*~*~*
Today I did something that I haven't done for a while.
I cried.
Not the type out of shock or frustration like when Karasu first touched me... but Inari... I actually cried out of self-pity. It wasn't much, mind you, only a few drops, none of them a gem, but... they were tears.
The clouds gave way to the drops inside.
*flashback*
"Hiei..." the soft voice floated from beyond the door.
"DAMNIT, KURAMA, I TOLD YOU ALREADY!! I DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH THEM RIGHT NOW!!" I spat back.
There was a sigh. "You haven't eaten in four days... that can't be good... is something wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong...! Now leave me the hell alone!!!"
He sighed again, and I can hear brushing against my door. "It's about Karasu again, isn't it?"
I stiffened ever-so-slightly at the mention of his name. I take a glance at the mirror to see me hugging myself, the Jagan casting an odd glare, my hair messed, and my clothes baggy on my rather frail skeleton. There's another brushing sound against the door. "It is, isn't it?"
"Kurama... leave. Me. The. Hell. ALONE!" I shout the last word furiously, clenching my fists together hard enough for my nails to draw blood. There's another sigh at the door, and then soft footsteps padded away from my room.[1]
A growl built in my throat, and then it turned to nothing but a whine. I looked up blankly at the ceiling, seeing nothing but nightmares... the type of darkness that I dread. An endless vortex extended in my mind, filled with panic. Karasu's image floated above me, haunting, laughing. My breathing started turning heavy, and I could feel heat build up in my forehead. Then suddenly, it exploded, pressure in my mind overcame everything.
I wanted to get away from it all. I wanted to get away from Karasu, Kurama, Koenma, Botan... everyone and everything. I wanted, I wanted... I wanted to be truly free. But these ropes in my mind bind me... I can never truly be rid of taint... never truly be able to rest in peace... for I'll always be bound to this life, this world, this nightmare.
The explosion reached my eyes, and I could feel the wetness starting to arise. "Don't let it fall," I whispered to myself, digging my nails into my flesh again. But despite this, I could feel it coming.
And I shed a few wet drops....
*end flashback*
*~*~*
I open the door and slowly stick my head out, looking around. No one's there. I sigh and exit, slowly shuffling my way down the hall. I idly note the oni moving around me, the doors swishing opened and closed in a continuous pattern. I plod down the corridor, putting my weight on one foot, then the other, watching the multicolored tiles slowly inch behind me.
All the same... all the same....
"Souls lost in the forest! Someone go fetch them!"
"Hey."
"Yeah, I know Marissa has an ulcer, do you really expect me to know how to fix it?!"
"Well, aren't'cha gonna turn around?!"
"Gaah, you're fired!"
"Hey, you, there!"
"Birth rate rising by 87%!"
"HEY! YOU DEMON!"
"Anyone have Strawberry Rice Balls?!"
"FIRE DEMON!! YOU THERE!"[2]
I slowly turn around, coming face-to-face with an unrecognizable oni. "What is it now?" I spit, glaring at the blue beast. I raise one hand to grab him by the collar. "You caught me at a bad time, and I'm steamed enough to fry you if I wished." The oni gulps, shivering slightly in my grasp, sweaty claws trying to pry my hands off.
"Uh... Koenma wishes to see you..." he mutters, lightly drawing away from me.
"Is that so?" I growl, feeling the air around me turn warm. The oni 'eep's slightly as his collar turns into ash, followed by the rest of his shirt. "Well then, I don't see why you had the right to insult me by those inferior titles."
"B-b-but you are a fire demon..."
"ENOUGH!" I roar, burning through his outfit completely. His skin starts to brown, and he runs away screaming in pain. No one shall ever know me as purely a fire demon. I am a Koorime as well... Forbidden by them, too. Because I was fire.
I shall be known as neither, but simply as a Jaganshi. I'm not a Fire demon or a Koorime, but simply Hiei. The Swift Shadow.[3]
Sighing, I take slow steps toward Koenma's office. The tiles parade underneath me again, the blues and crimsons swirling and twisting into the abyss behind me, where the whirring and beeping of machines drown out thought and sanity; and I look up to see a closed door. Hesitating, I raise a hand to knock, but the door creaks open without my force. Curious, I look in.
"But Botan would kill me!" Yusuke howls miserably. Koenma, in his toddler form, glares at Yusuke.
"She doesn't have the potential to. Besides, all you have to do is go up to her like this," he hovers in front of Yusuke, "and ask her if she'd like to go have some tea with me. That's all."
"But I'm terrible at asking ladies out! Just ask Keiko!"
I muffle a snicker. The Prince of Reikai fancies someone....
"I'll WRITE OUT THE FREAKIN' PROPOSAL IF YOU WANT! JUST ASK HER!" Koenma wails in his toddler voice, slightly reminiscent of a 3-year-old having a fit. "AND IF YOU MESS UP, I'M GOING TO... uh... hmm... there's a problem...."
I roll my eyes, about to interrupt and get to the point. I push the door slightly before someone lightly taps my shoulder. I whirl around, katana raised, before stopping at the sight of the blue-haired ferry girl. I exhale slightly and sheath my sword again. "What do you want?"
"Well, I need to have a talk with Koenma," she replies, squinting past my shoulder and into the room. "What are they doing in there?" she asks.
~"But Botan would kill me!"~
A smirk lingers on my lips. "Just listen and find out."
After sweatdropping, Yusuke stutters, "B-b-but... b-b-but...."
"JUST ASK AYAME TO HAVE A LITTLE TEA PARTY WITH ME!" Koenma screeches, "I DON'T CARE HOW YOU DO IT!"
Botan's face filled with fury as she shoves me aside, rather forcefully, and pushes the door open so hard that it crashes into the wall and bounces back into the area behind her back, as she's approaching Koenma quickly.
"What did you say?!" she hisses, pounding both hands onto the table, sending various papers flying into the air.
"B-Bo-Botan! You came!" Koenma laughs nervously, scooting back further into his seat. Yusuke backs away from the pissed grim reaper, eye twitching. He bumps into me, putting on a look of surprise, then helplessness. I give a small laugh, watching Botan call Koenma every synonym for "idiot" that exists in all the languages she knows. After receiving a reply, she gives a growl and turns on her heel, approaching us. I give her a wide berth, but the Spirit Detective got between Botan and the door.
"And you!" she yells, poking a finger on Yusuke's chest, "YOU were helping him! I THOUGHT I could trust you to keep him AWAY from the other ferry girls! And ESPECIALLY Ayame! Grr, you KNOW that she's been a rival of mine since you-know-when!" She continues ranting while I grin and turn away from the room.
"Uhh... Hiei?" Koenma whimpers above the quarrelling. "I need to talk to you...."
I sigh. So close. I tiptoe, squeezing in the small space between Yusuke and the wall over to Koenma. "Yes? Be quick," I order.
"Number one, I'm in charge," he answers courtly. "Number two, remember when I mentioned our deal about your sentence?"
~"If you are willing to defeat and capture him... we will gladly lower your sentence, as long as you agree to return control of the Ningenkai to Enma-san...."~
"Yes," I reply over the commotion in the background.
"Well then," he continues, "I have determined that sentence."
An ominous feeling rises inside me. My sentence is lowered. But... what if it was enormous to begin with? What if lowered means two minutes out earlier?
"I'll be reasonable," he drawls on slowly. The ticking of the clock is suddenly louder than all the fuss in the background, the pendulum ticking the seconds away...
One... two... three...
"Since you didn't put up much of a fuss, and I'm apologizing for my father's actions..."
Four... five...
"The only thing I ask of you..."
Six...
"Is for your commitment to the militia."
I stare at him. He blinks, looking up, as if to try to see what was so fascinating about him. "That's all?" I ask, voice slightly squeaking, delirious at my luck. He nods, and I exhale a sigh of relief. "...Thank you," I murmur, looking away.
"Yes, yes... wait. One more thing."
"Yes, what?" I ask, pleading for it to be nothing difficult.
"Get Botan out... please?"
I nod, walking over to the ferry girl and poking her in the arm. She whirls around, glaring. "What?"
"Out," I command, pointing to the hall with my sword. "Now."
She gulps slightly, nodding and tiptoeing out. Yusuke and Koenma both breathe a sigh of relief, but I don't turn around before leaving.
After all, I didn't want another thing added to my sentence... the next punishment could be much worse.
*~*~*
[1] That reminded me of Puu for some reason O-o (For those of you who don't know, he's the Spirit-Yusuke-penguin-thing...)
[2] Anyone lost? *sweatdrops* Well, basically, the oni around him are jabbering away, but one oni in the crowd repeatedly is trying to get Hiei's attention.
[3] Hiei means either "Silent Shadow" or "Swift Shadow," I
forgot, and the website I found it on was shut down due to server problems -.-
Oh, and Kurama means Hidden Horse! ^^;; I think Akukitsune would be better for
him (dark fox). Or maybe Kagonshi (rose wielder). Hmm... maybe Kurama is the
best... after all, it sounds pretty, and that's all that matters! ^_^
*~*~*
Endnotes: Grr. I hate Thanksgiving. There were a whole bunch of people and it got so annoying I just locked myself in my room and typed some of this. *looks at applicant list for the part of Hiei and falls over* NANI?!
Kurama: what?! I'm not a fangirl! I'm a fanBOY!
R Amythest: But we need you for the part of... well... Kurama!
Kurama: *pouts* but I never get any major screen time! For Inari's sake, even Karasu got more time than me! And he's not even in the major pairing! PLUS, I haven't gotten ANY of my thoughts out!
R Amythest: But that's why I'm writing in Hiei's POV in the first place! He doesn't know your thoughts; therefore, it's interesting later on!
Kurama: but-
R Amythest: *glomps* say another word and I kiss you.
Kurama: ^^;; *shuts up*
Written while listening to*******
A lot of stuff... (listed with band/singer as top priority)
Linkin Park: Papercut, Crawling, Runaway, Forgotten, In the End, By Myself
YYH: Eye to Eye, Omoide wo Tsubasa ni Shite, Ryuusei no Solitude (heh, it described this fic very well...), Wild Wind, Dark Side Stories, Sayonara Bye Bye, Forever Dreamer, Unbalance Kiss no Shite, and a whole bunch of other things I forget.
Ogata Megumi: Hohoemi no Bakudan (remix), Nightmare, Koori no Naifu wo Daite, Kurayami ni akai Bara, Sayonara wa Mirai no Haijimari, Tsumi, Run, Dear my Angel (it was sweet 'n' my favorite until I found out exactly what it was talking about... then I sweatdropped slightly.), Homework wa Owaranai (Most of those are also YYH songs...and no, I'm not obsessed.)
NOTE: Currently searching for Ochiba no Tegami... and even after 5 whole hours of searching, I still can't find it!
******
Review!