To start things off, two poems. ^^;; First from Kota-chan! I love this poem to DEATH! Dedicated to Kia and Jin.
My wind-
We met in the oddest of ways
And he still loved me
I hurt him physically with a cookie sheet
And he still loved me
I hurt him emotionally when I yelled that I hated him
And he still loved me
I healed him when I had subconsiosly hurt him
And he still loved me
Our love was... weird, that's all I can say...
When I was away from him, my heart hurt
When I was WITH him, it hurt even more
Love is the kind of pain that the weak can take
Love is a healing process
Love is a mystery
Love is a gift
And my love, it belongs to him
He is the wind...
He is MY wind
^^ *hugs* Arigatoooooo! And from Rose Eternity, about Ashita…I love this one too. You guys are so TALENTED!
The ultimate sacrifice
Made for the ones she loves
May her spirit rise
Finding heaven above
Creator of the mirror
Heart and soul are pure
Her death was her last act
You can no longer find her here
Ashita, may you not be forgotten
Living in the reflection
Of the Mirror you created
Giving its Holders your protection
Anyway…this is probably the hardest chapter I've ever had to write. I've put it off for as long as possible, but I think I need to post it now. Kindly do not kill me and just remember, some sacrifices have to be made…
Thank you. Oh, yes…Kijo is owned by Lexi-chan. ^^ Bara-chan, I like the whole Kia chasing Kurama with the cookie sheet…think I may have to do another out-takes thing, so if anyone has ideas…
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Kia didn't know how long she cried into Kurama's shirt, her tears soaking through the thin fabric. The Youko continued to hold her close, murmuring reassurances. He had no further desire to seduce her now--he just wanted to keep her safe; to protect her.
"It had to be done," a hoarse voice spoke up. Yuumei, supported on both sides by Kakushigei and Osore, walked over to them her blue eyes shadowed with sorrow. "Ashita was a dear friend of mine and she will be sorely missed."
"She can't go to Heaven now…" Kia stepped away from Kurama and looked at her grandmother, the deep blue irises of her eyes returning to their normal gentle brown. "Akumu destroyed her soul…"
"Sadly, yes." The old woman sighed heavily. "She doesn't deserve such a fate…but there is nothing any of us can do about it."
Kurama suddenly tensed. "Netami! What about--"
Osore gestured towards the younger Netami and six guards, all unconscious. Meikyou had taken care of the rest and was now having his ebon muzzle stroked by Aiko. To Kia's intense relief, her mother was unharmed. The horse, however, looked a little worse for the wear, his heaving sides streaked with sweat and blood.
*I'm going to rest now,* he told the girl wearily, trotting over to her. *You'll be all right?*
She smiled just as tiredly, patting his neck. "Hai…have a nice rest, Meikyou."
The winged stallion shimmered, then vanished, off to recover his stamina in Kia's Mirror Half.
Osore gasped. "Satsukiame, you have to get back! It's been two weeks!" (A/N: For plot's sake, we'll just say it has…I lost count myself. ^^;;)
The girl stared at her, aghast. "Nani?!" Had it really been that long?? "Osore, we have to go!"
"You're in bad shape," Kurama told her, narrow eyes showing his concern. "Sure you can handle the trip?"
"I'll have to…" The Mirror Holder sighed, turning to look at the glowing golden orb that continued to float at eye-level.
"I think I might be able to allay some of your problems." Yuumei looked somewhat pensive. "I can erase all memories of you from the minds present--including Netami's."
"You can do that?" Kia breathed, hoping against hope. The past wouldn't have to be changed after all!
Aiko nodded. "She can. I think it would be best…" She came forward to hug her daughter, followed by Kakushigei.
"You have my eyes," Kaku remarked, pleased.
"And your attitude," his wife added, swatting at him playfully.
"Be a good girl and do us proud, then?" Kaku chuckled.
"She already has, Kaku," Aiko said softly, embracing Kia once more. "She already has."
"I'll erase their memories," Yuumei reassured her granddaughter. "I can't do the same to myself, but I'm old…what I know I'll take with me to my grave."
"Wait…"
Everyone looked quizzically at Kurama, who was looking slightly upset.
"I don't WANT to forget her!" He scowled. "Isn't there any way, ANY other way??"
Kia blinked, suffering a revelation. That explained it…why Kurama had acted so strangely in his Youko form before! He'd remembered her from the past!
Yuumei was approaching the Youko, hands glowing a faint blue. "I'm sorry, Kurama, but we can't afford to--"
"No, wait a minute!" The brunette turned to the woman. "Let him keep his memories. Only…" She looked sternly at Kurama. "You are not to breathe a word of this EVER. No matter what, keep it to yourself. Tell no one, no matter how close they are to you."
The kitsune slowly nodded in acquiescence. "Do I get a hug too?" he asked forlornly, although his usual smirk was back on his handsome face.
Kia grinned, standing on her tiptoes to plant a light kiss on his lips. "Take care, Fox."
He hugged her tightly, then released her. "You too, Konisou."
It felt somewhat ironic that she had to let Netami live in order to make her life miserable later…and she also felt bad for having to leave the two bodies of her friends behind…but it couldn't be helped. As it turned out, both bodies had disappeared and Kia suspected she had the Reikai personnel to thank.
"Ready?" Osore looked over her shoulder at the Mirror Holder (A/N: Gasp! A rhyme!), the portal stretched in front of her. "I'll go first and meet you in Ningenkai."
"Okay." Kia watched as the raven-haired Youko slipped into the glowing blue space, and then turned for a last glance. Kaku had an arm around Aiko's shoulders and she wiped her overflowing eyes absently. Yuumei was now leaning heavily on Kurama. All four smiled sadly and Aiko waved.
"See you later…" The brunette caught hold of Kelsey's Mirror Half and, with a final lingering look at her family and Kurama, jumped into the portal.
The bleeding of her wound had slowed considerably, but, as the demonic winds pummeled her, it flowed faster, unhindered. Kia couldn't count on Meikyou now and her spirit energy was too weak to call upon. Now, holding the orb close to her chest, she could only curl up against the painful onslaught and pray that it ended soon.
After what seemed like an eternity, Kia hit the cold, hard concrete, rolling to a stop.
"Satsukiame!" Osore was instantly by her side, propping the limp girl against her. She frowned, noticing by the dark gleaming pool on the sidewalk that Kia had lost a great deal of blood. Her condition wasn't good…but she still held the golden sphere. "Here, hold on." Working quickly, the kitsune managed to get the Mirror Holder onto her back, reaching both arms behind her to hold her in place. Kia remained very dimly aware of what was going on, but lacked the energy to move or speak.
"We'd better get you home," the Youko murmured, straightening and starting to walk. She knew where her passenger lived…she'd been by it many times. Unfortunately, she didn't get far.
"What have we here? Could that be…our little runaway?"
Osore flinched. Ningens, loud boisterous young males, had surrounded them, their shadows lengthening in the fading light of day.
One of the boys, a pimply-faced male with short cropped black hair, stepped forward. "It IS her! It's the little bitch who left us! She's grown up…" He took a closer look at Osore. "And she has a pretty little friend too! What say we take 'em both with us?" This was immediately approved, judging by the wolf whistles and suggestive comments of the others.
Osore was grateful that the growing darkness hid her fox ears, but she didn't have time to waste here. She needed to take Kia home before it was too late. Maybe if she crafted an illusion…
The boy was still talking. "Thought she'd get away from us with that redhead pretty boy…well, we'll get him too--"
"Give it up." The speaker sounded bored. "She has too many allies, and so does he. Leave, if you value your pathetic little lives."
A petite auburn-haired girl stood just outside the circle, toying with the end of one long pigtail. She looked up, dark gray eyes suddenly foreboding. And she wasn't alone. A young black-haired man stood with her, gray cat ears twitching.
Kia stirred. "…Kijo…Kyatt…suai?"
"Oh, good, you're not that far gone yet." The neko youkai nimbly flipped into the center of the group, landing silently beside Osore. He carefully lifted the Mirror Holder and shifted her onto his own back.
"What are you doing here…?" Kia asked faintly.
He sighed. "Mukuro heard about the attack on the Mirror Holders and sent me here to help out. I met up with Kijo and we traveled together and now we're here to help you."
"HELP her??" One of the gang members laughed derisively. "A freak cat, a little girl, and a--ERK?!"
Osore's human-like form had disappeared. In her place, a large red-eyed black fox crouched, its three tails dancing about furiously. The kitsune snarled and charged at the boys. They lost all bravado and ran, squealing like frightened piglets.
"…Perhaps we weren't needed after all," Kyattsuai calmly remarked.
The fox resumed human shape. "I think you are…Kia has to get--"
"Say no more!" Kyattsuai was instantly off and running at breakneck speed.
The pigtailed Guardian shook her head. "I marvel at his incredible store of energy, I really do…" She smiled wryly at Osore. "She'll get back in time…"
"I hope so…"
***At Suzuki's House***
"She's fading fast…" Kurama had a difficult time concealing his worry.
Shishiwakamaru nodded, gazing down at Kelsey. "Her hand's gone cold…"
"She screamed," Touya remembered. "Do you suppose that Kia…?" He couldn't bring himself to complete the question.
"No." That was Hiei. "If she had, the Mirror Holder here wouldn't be breathing, no matter how badly…"
Rinku, seated on Chuu's broad shoulder, suddenly yelped. "It's her!! I can sense her REALLY faintly!"
There was a loud banging on the front door, accompanied by an impatient male voice. "Let me in! I come bearing Mirror Holders!" A pause. "Mirror Holder!"
"That's Kyattsuai…!" Kurama leapt to answer the door, flinging it open in his haste and almost hitting the cat demon on the other side.
"Where's Kia?" Rinku asked petulantly.
"On my back," Kyattsuai answered, his usually bright golden eyes darkened with some unnamed fear or anxiety. "But she's not--"
"Let me down." The girl's voice was very subdued. "I have to do this…"
Her friend still hesitated. "Are you sure…?"
"Yes." Kia slid off and landed with a thump on the carpet. Suzuki, for once, didn't freak about the amount of blood she left behind on the floor as she did a sort of shuffling lurch to the bedroom. He was far more concerned about her reiki level…it was dangerously low, as was her life energy.
The others watched as Kia painstakingly continued, noting her appearance. She was a disheveled mess. Blood dripped steadily from a gaping sword wound and jagged pieces of fabric had been torn from the skirt and sleeves of her school uniform. Strands of dark hair escaped from her ponytail to drift about her face.
Jin started forward when the girl stumbled, but Touya held him back with one arm. "She's…she's being sustained by sheer determination. If you try to help her now, she won't make it."
The Wind Master stifled a curse. He hated seeing her in so much pain and being unable to assist her at all. "Damn…"
By now, Kia had reached the bedroom. Shishiwakamaru looked up as she entered, then moved aside. The brunette fell to her knees, holding her hands, palms down, over Kelsey's body. A bright golden light slowly sank into the blonde girl's chest. Kelsey sighed quietly, and her breathing fell into its usual pattern, a hint of color entering her ashen cheeks.
A small smile lit up the older girl's face and she sighed as well. "I keep my promise," she whispered, and then sagged to the floor. Alarmed, Jin knelt, pulling the girl into his arms. Kia was content to lie there, head resting against his muscled chest. "Kurama…" She coughed up a few flecks of blood, but forced herself to keep speaking. "Memories…you…don't have…to hide…them anymore…"
"What…" He didn't even have to ask. A resurgence of memories flashed through his mind. It seemed Youko Kurama had taken Kia's warning to heart, even keeping it from Shuichi…but it had gradually seeped into his consciousness, which explained why he felt he had known Kia before he had actually met her.
"She won't survive this, I'm afraid…" Kijo and Osore had finally caught up. The Guardian looked down at Kia, her features perfectly composed.
"What do you mean?" Jin demanded angrily, tightening his arms around the Mirror Holder.
Kijo's eyes softened. "Osore filled me in. She was stabbed with a blade, she used the Densetsu no Kagami, and the portal took energy…and blood…from her that she couldn't afford to lose. She's low on blood, reiki, and life."
"We can get Yukina-san to heal her!" Kuwabara argued.
The petite girl frowned at him. "LOOK at her, baka! She won't last long enough for you to get help!"
It was true. Kia was struggling to breathe, wincing every time she did so. Her vision was growing spotty.
"She CAN'T die!!" Rinku cried vehemently, almost falling off his high perch. "She just CAN'T!"
"Jin…" Kia reached up feebly to touch his face. "I…told…Kurama…" She coughed, the harsh sound rattling in her throat. "I told him…I'd…tell you…"
Jin felt his eyes stinging fiercely as he soundlessly shook his head, trying to deny the inevitable fact…she was dying and he couldn't do anything.
"Have…to tell you…I…" Suddenly, she let out a choked cry and her hand slipped down the Shinobi's face, falling to her side. Her warm brown eyes became hidden beneath closed eyelids.
"No," Jin croaked, his voice breaking. Kurama, Hiei, and Touya studied the floor. Chuu, Rei, Suzuki, and Shishiwakamaru all looked extremely uncomfortable and Rinku burst into tears. Kuwabara and Yusuke settled for a more mature approach. They both punched the wall, leaving identical dents. And who would tell Kelsey?
Satsukiame Aori, the Mirror Holder of Compassion who had gone through so much for the sake of her friends, was dead.
*OOC*
…Um. Okay…there's not really much to say, as I am now in a more somber mood…please review. Chloe-chan, meet me at my house with the flamethrowers. NEXT chapter!
* Kelsey wakes up! Who wants to tell her the news?
* Koenma receives a visitor in Reikai…and it's NOT who he was expecting!
* Beware the wrath of Hiketsu…o.o
My wind-
We met in the oddest of ways
And he still loved me
I hurt him physically with a cookie sheet
And he still loved me
I hurt him emotionally when I yelled that I hated him
And he still loved me
I healed him when I had subconsiosly hurt him
And he still loved me
Our love was... weird, that's all I can say...
When I was away from him, my heart hurt
When I was WITH him, it hurt even more
Love is the kind of pain that the weak can take
Love is a healing process
Love is a mystery
Love is a gift
And my love, it belongs to him
He is the wind...
He is MY wind
^^ *hugs* Arigatoooooo! And from Rose Eternity, about Ashita…I love this one too. You guys are so TALENTED!
The ultimate sacrifice
Made for the ones she loves
May her spirit rise
Finding heaven above
Creator of the mirror
Heart and soul are pure
Her death was her last act
You can no longer find her here
Ashita, may you not be forgotten
Living in the reflection
Of the Mirror you created
Giving its Holders your protection
Anyway…this is probably the hardest chapter I've ever had to write. I've put it off for as long as possible, but I think I need to post it now. Kindly do not kill me and just remember, some sacrifices have to be made…
Thank you. Oh, yes…Kijo is owned by Lexi-chan. ^^ Bara-chan, I like the whole Kia chasing Kurama with the cookie sheet…think I may have to do another out-takes thing, so if anyone has ideas…
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Kia didn't know how long she cried into Kurama's shirt, her tears soaking through the thin fabric. The Youko continued to hold her close, murmuring reassurances. He had no further desire to seduce her now--he just wanted to keep her safe; to protect her.
"It had to be done," a hoarse voice spoke up. Yuumei, supported on both sides by Kakushigei and Osore, walked over to them her blue eyes shadowed with sorrow. "Ashita was a dear friend of mine and she will be sorely missed."
"She can't go to Heaven now…" Kia stepped away from Kurama and looked at her grandmother, the deep blue irises of her eyes returning to their normal gentle brown. "Akumu destroyed her soul…"
"Sadly, yes." The old woman sighed heavily. "She doesn't deserve such a fate…but there is nothing any of us can do about it."
Kurama suddenly tensed. "Netami! What about--"
Osore gestured towards the younger Netami and six guards, all unconscious. Meikyou had taken care of the rest and was now having his ebon muzzle stroked by Aiko. To Kia's intense relief, her mother was unharmed. The horse, however, looked a little worse for the wear, his heaving sides streaked with sweat and blood.
*I'm going to rest now,* he told the girl wearily, trotting over to her. *You'll be all right?*
She smiled just as tiredly, patting his neck. "Hai…have a nice rest, Meikyou."
The winged stallion shimmered, then vanished, off to recover his stamina in Kia's Mirror Half.
Osore gasped. "Satsukiame, you have to get back! It's been two weeks!" (A/N: For plot's sake, we'll just say it has…I lost count myself. ^^;;)
The girl stared at her, aghast. "Nani?!" Had it really been that long?? "Osore, we have to go!"
"You're in bad shape," Kurama told her, narrow eyes showing his concern. "Sure you can handle the trip?"
"I'll have to…" The Mirror Holder sighed, turning to look at the glowing golden orb that continued to float at eye-level.
"I think I might be able to allay some of your problems." Yuumei looked somewhat pensive. "I can erase all memories of you from the minds present--including Netami's."
"You can do that?" Kia breathed, hoping against hope. The past wouldn't have to be changed after all!
Aiko nodded. "She can. I think it would be best…" She came forward to hug her daughter, followed by Kakushigei.
"You have my eyes," Kaku remarked, pleased.
"And your attitude," his wife added, swatting at him playfully.
"Be a good girl and do us proud, then?" Kaku chuckled.
"She already has, Kaku," Aiko said softly, embracing Kia once more. "She already has."
"I'll erase their memories," Yuumei reassured her granddaughter. "I can't do the same to myself, but I'm old…what I know I'll take with me to my grave."
"Wait…"
Everyone looked quizzically at Kurama, who was looking slightly upset.
"I don't WANT to forget her!" He scowled. "Isn't there any way, ANY other way??"
Kia blinked, suffering a revelation. That explained it…why Kurama had acted so strangely in his Youko form before! He'd remembered her from the past!
Yuumei was approaching the Youko, hands glowing a faint blue. "I'm sorry, Kurama, but we can't afford to--"
"No, wait a minute!" The brunette turned to the woman. "Let him keep his memories. Only…" She looked sternly at Kurama. "You are not to breathe a word of this EVER. No matter what, keep it to yourself. Tell no one, no matter how close they are to you."
The kitsune slowly nodded in acquiescence. "Do I get a hug too?" he asked forlornly, although his usual smirk was back on his handsome face.
Kia grinned, standing on her tiptoes to plant a light kiss on his lips. "Take care, Fox."
He hugged her tightly, then released her. "You too, Konisou."
It felt somewhat ironic that she had to let Netami live in order to make her life miserable later…and she also felt bad for having to leave the two bodies of her friends behind…but it couldn't be helped. As it turned out, both bodies had disappeared and Kia suspected she had the Reikai personnel to thank.
"Ready?" Osore looked over her shoulder at the Mirror Holder (A/N: Gasp! A rhyme!), the portal stretched in front of her. "I'll go first and meet you in Ningenkai."
"Okay." Kia watched as the raven-haired Youko slipped into the glowing blue space, and then turned for a last glance. Kaku had an arm around Aiko's shoulders and she wiped her overflowing eyes absently. Yuumei was now leaning heavily on Kurama. All four smiled sadly and Aiko waved.
"See you later…" The brunette caught hold of Kelsey's Mirror Half and, with a final lingering look at her family and Kurama, jumped into the portal.
The bleeding of her wound had slowed considerably, but, as the demonic winds pummeled her, it flowed faster, unhindered. Kia couldn't count on Meikyou now and her spirit energy was too weak to call upon. Now, holding the orb close to her chest, she could only curl up against the painful onslaught and pray that it ended soon.
After what seemed like an eternity, Kia hit the cold, hard concrete, rolling to a stop.
"Satsukiame!" Osore was instantly by her side, propping the limp girl against her. She frowned, noticing by the dark gleaming pool on the sidewalk that Kia had lost a great deal of blood. Her condition wasn't good…but she still held the golden sphere. "Here, hold on." Working quickly, the kitsune managed to get the Mirror Holder onto her back, reaching both arms behind her to hold her in place. Kia remained very dimly aware of what was going on, but lacked the energy to move or speak.
"We'd better get you home," the Youko murmured, straightening and starting to walk. She knew where her passenger lived…she'd been by it many times. Unfortunately, she didn't get far.
"What have we here? Could that be…our little runaway?"
Osore flinched. Ningens, loud boisterous young males, had surrounded them, their shadows lengthening in the fading light of day.
One of the boys, a pimply-faced male with short cropped black hair, stepped forward. "It IS her! It's the little bitch who left us! She's grown up…" He took a closer look at Osore. "And she has a pretty little friend too! What say we take 'em both with us?" This was immediately approved, judging by the wolf whistles and suggestive comments of the others.
Osore was grateful that the growing darkness hid her fox ears, but she didn't have time to waste here. She needed to take Kia home before it was too late. Maybe if she crafted an illusion…
The boy was still talking. "Thought she'd get away from us with that redhead pretty boy…well, we'll get him too--"
"Give it up." The speaker sounded bored. "She has too many allies, and so does he. Leave, if you value your pathetic little lives."
A petite auburn-haired girl stood just outside the circle, toying with the end of one long pigtail. She looked up, dark gray eyes suddenly foreboding. And she wasn't alone. A young black-haired man stood with her, gray cat ears twitching.
Kia stirred. "…Kijo…Kyatt…suai?"
"Oh, good, you're not that far gone yet." The neko youkai nimbly flipped into the center of the group, landing silently beside Osore. He carefully lifted the Mirror Holder and shifted her onto his own back.
"What are you doing here…?" Kia asked faintly.
He sighed. "Mukuro heard about the attack on the Mirror Holders and sent me here to help out. I met up with Kijo and we traveled together and now we're here to help you."
"HELP her??" One of the gang members laughed derisively. "A freak cat, a little girl, and a--ERK?!"
Osore's human-like form had disappeared. In her place, a large red-eyed black fox crouched, its three tails dancing about furiously. The kitsune snarled and charged at the boys. They lost all bravado and ran, squealing like frightened piglets.
"…Perhaps we weren't needed after all," Kyattsuai calmly remarked.
The fox resumed human shape. "I think you are…Kia has to get--"
"Say no more!" Kyattsuai was instantly off and running at breakneck speed.
The pigtailed Guardian shook her head. "I marvel at his incredible store of energy, I really do…" She smiled wryly at Osore. "She'll get back in time…"
"I hope so…"
***At Suzuki's House***
"She's fading fast…" Kurama had a difficult time concealing his worry.
Shishiwakamaru nodded, gazing down at Kelsey. "Her hand's gone cold…"
"She screamed," Touya remembered. "Do you suppose that Kia…?" He couldn't bring himself to complete the question.
"No." That was Hiei. "If she had, the Mirror Holder here wouldn't be breathing, no matter how badly…"
Rinku, seated on Chuu's broad shoulder, suddenly yelped. "It's her!! I can sense her REALLY faintly!"
There was a loud banging on the front door, accompanied by an impatient male voice. "Let me in! I come bearing Mirror Holders!" A pause. "Mirror Holder!"
"That's Kyattsuai…!" Kurama leapt to answer the door, flinging it open in his haste and almost hitting the cat demon on the other side.
"Where's Kia?" Rinku asked petulantly.
"On my back," Kyattsuai answered, his usually bright golden eyes darkened with some unnamed fear or anxiety. "But she's not--"
"Let me down." The girl's voice was very subdued. "I have to do this…"
Her friend still hesitated. "Are you sure…?"
"Yes." Kia slid off and landed with a thump on the carpet. Suzuki, for once, didn't freak about the amount of blood she left behind on the floor as she did a sort of shuffling lurch to the bedroom. He was far more concerned about her reiki level…it was dangerously low, as was her life energy.
The others watched as Kia painstakingly continued, noting her appearance. She was a disheveled mess. Blood dripped steadily from a gaping sword wound and jagged pieces of fabric had been torn from the skirt and sleeves of her school uniform. Strands of dark hair escaped from her ponytail to drift about her face.
Jin started forward when the girl stumbled, but Touya held him back with one arm. "She's…she's being sustained by sheer determination. If you try to help her now, she won't make it."
The Wind Master stifled a curse. He hated seeing her in so much pain and being unable to assist her at all. "Damn…"
By now, Kia had reached the bedroom. Shishiwakamaru looked up as she entered, then moved aside. The brunette fell to her knees, holding her hands, palms down, over Kelsey's body. A bright golden light slowly sank into the blonde girl's chest. Kelsey sighed quietly, and her breathing fell into its usual pattern, a hint of color entering her ashen cheeks.
A small smile lit up the older girl's face and she sighed as well. "I keep my promise," she whispered, and then sagged to the floor. Alarmed, Jin knelt, pulling the girl into his arms. Kia was content to lie there, head resting against his muscled chest. "Kurama…" She coughed up a few flecks of blood, but forced herself to keep speaking. "Memories…you…don't have…to hide…them anymore…"
"What…" He didn't even have to ask. A resurgence of memories flashed through his mind. It seemed Youko Kurama had taken Kia's warning to heart, even keeping it from Shuichi…but it had gradually seeped into his consciousness, which explained why he felt he had known Kia before he had actually met her.
"She won't survive this, I'm afraid…" Kijo and Osore had finally caught up. The Guardian looked down at Kia, her features perfectly composed.
"What do you mean?" Jin demanded angrily, tightening his arms around the Mirror Holder.
Kijo's eyes softened. "Osore filled me in. She was stabbed with a blade, she used the Densetsu no Kagami, and the portal took energy…and blood…from her that she couldn't afford to lose. She's low on blood, reiki, and life."
"We can get Yukina-san to heal her!" Kuwabara argued.
The petite girl frowned at him. "LOOK at her, baka! She won't last long enough for you to get help!"
It was true. Kia was struggling to breathe, wincing every time she did so. Her vision was growing spotty.
"She CAN'T die!!" Rinku cried vehemently, almost falling off his high perch. "She just CAN'T!"
"Jin…" Kia reached up feebly to touch his face. "I…told…Kurama…" She coughed, the harsh sound rattling in her throat. "I told him…I'd…tell you…"
Jin felt his eyes stinging fiercely as he soundlessly shook his head, trying to deny the inevitable fact…she was dying and he couldn't do anything.
"Have…to tell you…I…" Suddenly, she let out a choked cry and her hand slipped down the Shinobi's face, falling to her side. Her warm brown eyes became hidden beneath closed eyelids.
"No," Jin croaked, his voice breaking. Kurama, Hiei, and Touya studied the floor. Chuu, Rei, Suzuki, and Shishiwakamaru all looked extremely uncomfortable and Rinku burst into tears. Kuwabara and Yusuke settled for a more mature approach. They both punched the wall, leaving identical dents. And who would tell Kelsey?
Satsukiame Aori, the Mirror Holder of Compassion who had gone through so much for the sake of her friends, was dead.
*OOC*
…Um. Okay…there's not really much to say, as I am now in a more somber mood…please review. Chloe-chan, meet me at my house with the flamethrowers. NEXT chapter!
* Kelsey wakes up! Who wants to tell her the news?
* Koenma receives a visitor in Reikai…and it's NOT who he was expecting!
* Beware the wrath of Hiketsu…o.o