Well, I have survived the readers and their surprise…now, before any of you can kill, you're going to have to read Chapter 16 first. Ff.net is being weird, so I'm going to have to wait to post the poems. . For now, here's my brief little Author's Note…
Killing Kia was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do…well…killing Kage and Ashita was just as hard, but still. Anyway, I made a promise to somebody concerning Kia's death, and I'll honor that promise now. So don't worry, Lexi-chan, our little Mirror Holder will be present and accounted for.
I'm sorry this chapter took so long…it's been bothering me, refusing to let me write it. I swear, Netami doesn't mind if I write a chapter about Kia's death, but the INSTANT I try to do more, she takes over my writing skills. x.x I'll get her yet.
Last chapter…well…if you don't know, you're just going to have to read it! Even TALKING about it gets me all depressed! O.o Sheeee…oh, yes. Kelsey and I have been talking about pairing Rei with either Suzaku or Suzuki. Feedback would be much appreciated, as neither of us can seem to decide. And preferably reasons WHY. *sigh*
Okay, now the reviews work…first off, I got four poems. I'll post two here, and two next chapter. You COULD always read the reviews, but hey…first off, from Shin-san!
The sky is still and empty.
The trees are drooped in mourning.
In the shock of loss there is no sound,
Except for the crying wind.
In honor of a sacrifice made,
For someone most dear.
We all bow our heads,
And shed our tears.
For a girl with a noble heart,
Full of compassion and strength,
And the will to fight with everything she had.
She may have been in pain,
But she never gave up.
Everyone loved her,
And she will be greatly missed,
But she will never, ever be forgotten,
Because...
Without a second thought,
Without a moment of hesitation.
Kia gave her life,
So her friend could live.
And for that,
She will be in our hearts forever.
This one is from Spirit Girl2…from Kia, to Kelsey. I got two other poems, but I swear, I'll post them next chapter…or maybe at the end of this one. Hmm.
I've traveled far and wide
To bring you back to my side
I've fought many battles
I've passed my final test
I ask that you forgive me
that I'm not with you
when you awake from your rest
The time has come to you
to fight your hardest fight
I know that you'll come through
and not join me in my plight
I wish you good luck
My companion, sister, and friend
And know I'm always with you
Forever till the end
And yes, Bara-chan, I read Mayumi. First YYH fic I ever read on ff.net, in fact. ^^
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Kuwabara shuddered, looking around nervously. "I just got the tickle feeling, you guys…"
"You dumbass!" Yusuke snapped as Jin let out a choked sob, pulling the lifeless Mirror Holder closer to him. "That's because Kia's a ghost now! She's DEAD!"
Rinku let out a mournful wail. Hiei rolled his eyes.
"Way to be tactful, Urameshi," Rei said dryly. "You inspire us all."
The Tantei grimaced. "So that's IT?! She saves Kelsey and DIES? WHAT THE HELL IS UP WITH THAT??"
"Why…so loud?"
"Kelsey!!" Shishiwakamaru was instantly by the girl's side as she slowly sat up, gray eyes blinking sleepily. "You're awake!"
"'Course…" Kelsey yawned widely. "Kia…got it back?"
Touya nodded. Everyone else looked elsewhere.
"And now she's sleeping?" The Mirror Holder looked down at Jin and Kia, and then noticed the tears pooled in the Wind Master's bright blue eyes. "Why is Jin crying?"
There was an awkward silence. Suzuki coughed into his hand.
"She's dead," Kurama said softly. "Kia passed on once she had returned your half to you." The others stiffened, waiting for the explosion.
Kelsey didn't let them down. Her yell could be heard all the way to Reikai.
"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!?!"
"Ouch." Hiei pronounced the word very slowly and definitively, removing his hands from his ears and lowering them.
"I thought she took it rather well." Kurama blinked. "I still retain hearing in both ears."
"She's not dead." Kelsey's voice had gone hoarse from the screeching she'd just done, but that didn't prevent her from speaking. She folded her arms across her chest, glaring stubbornly. "Not yet."
Chuu raised a wiry eyebrow. "What are you talking about? Not breathing, can't sense a thing from her, she's dead!"
"She's not dead," the girl repeated. "Wait. Just wait…"
***Reikai***
Koenma had a headache. With a sigh, the toddler rubbed furiously at his temples. "Say that ONE more time, Kinsenka."
The little ferrygirl shuffled her feet, staring bashfully at the floor. "I couldn't find Kuronue, Koenma-sama…it's as if he's not dead anymore…but how--"
There was a thud from outside and Botan's startled voice could be clearly heard over the yelps of the oni.
"She's DEAD?! But…why…HOW??"
The doors flew open and the blue-haired ferrygirl hurried in, followed by a young woman, her long brown hair plaited into one large braid down her back. She wore a simple cream dress and golden sandals, the only sign of her immense power being the glowing silver aura illuminating her frame. Her blue eyes flashed with anger as she stormed up to Koenma's desk, holding another brunette in her arms, this one unconscious.
"Hiketsu!" Koenma stared at the irate Priestess in shock, brown eyes practically bulging. "What are you doing here? I thought you'd gone to Heaven a long time ago!" He stopped, peering more closely at her armful, and then blanched. "KIA?!"
"Oh, I'm afraid she can't hear you," Hiketsu said between clenched teeth. "Her GHOST is unconscious!" She turned, handed Kia to a bemused-looking Jorge, and then leaned over the desk, grabbed Enma's son by the collar, lifted him up, and proceeded to shake him roughly. "How could you let this happen?! You and I both know that it wasn't her time to die!!"
Koenma let out a strangled gurgle, his little arms flailing wildly.
"…Hiketsu-sama, I don't think Koenma-sama can breathe," Kinsenka spoke up, after a brief pause. Indeed, the toddler was turning blue.
The Priestess let him drop back into his chair, taking a deep breath. "Let her go back."
"I can't!" Koenma protested, once he had acquired sufficient air in his lungs again. "Even if we tried to bring her back like we did to Yusuke, she'd simply die again!" As he had been speaking, Jorge had turned on the screen, which showed Suzuki's house and its inhabitants. He gestured at the bloodied body that Jin was still holding and turned back to Hiketsu. "Her body is in no condition to accept her soul…by all accounts…" He rewinded the scene and stopped at the point where Kia had reappeared in Ningenkai. "She SHOULD have died there. I have no idea why she didn't."
"Because of Kelsey!" Botan cried. "I think Kia knew that she was going to die, but she wouldn't let herself go…not until Kelsey got her Mirror Half back!"
"At least SOMEONE has a good head on their shoulders," Hiketsu said, nodding approvingly at the girl. "I wouldn't underestimate either of the girls, Koenma. Now bring her back."
"Didn't you HEAR what I just said??" Koenma exploded, his face turning bright red. "It's impossible!"
-No, it isn't.- A large black dog, who had been napping by the desk, woke up, tail waving slowly and jerkily. -Just get someone to heal her body and generate enough power to pull Kia's spirit back into her body. It's simple enough.-
"Kage!" Botan exclaimed, chagrined. "Hinageshi was supposed to take you to Heaven!"
-I'll go…but not now.- Kage looked at Koenma with solemn dark eyes. -Will you help? You have to willingly release her spirit.-
The toddler grumbled under his breath. "It…it's generally not done!"
"Ummm…Koenma-sama?" Hinageshi, looking very nervous, entered the room with three other people. The woman, who seemed to be no older than twenty-two or twenty-three, kept glancing around, holding on to the arm of a black-haired man. It was the oldest, a dignified white-haired woman, who spoke.
"You'd better put that granddaughter of mine back in her body, or I swear I'll give you hell."
Koenma almost expired of shock right then and there. "Yuumei? Kakushigei?? AIKO?!"
"That's right!" The man said cheerfully. "We're here to make sure that you let Kia return."
"But--but--"
"The only 'butt' there is going to be is yours. So get it moving!" Yuumei stared sternly at him.
"Gah…" The little ruler's headache was worsening.
Hiketsu gazed at him just as coldly as Yuumei. "If you don't let her go back, she'll never meet Hanyou Kohana, and THEN where will you be?"
Aiko's azure eyes widened. "Hanyou Kohana?? But I thought…"
"It's a long story," Yuumei murmured quietly to her daughter. "I'll tell it to you later."
"Hanyou Kohana…?" Koenma frowned, then sighed, throwing his hands into the air. "Botan!"
She jumped. "H-hai, Koenma-sama?"
Another heavy sigh was released. "Find the Koorime Yukina and take her to Suzuki's house. Tell Kurama to do what he can to heal Kia's injuries."
Botan's pink eyes lit up and she let out a delighted squeal before racing from the room.
Hiketsu smiled. "As for power, I'll be only too happy to donate mine."
"Speaking of which…how…" Koenma eyed the Priestess warily. "How did you…"
Correctly guessing his question, Hiketsu chuckled. "Let's just say that Fukumi and I didn't really die…just decided to share bodies with two other souls. We've never taken over, just instructed the girls…except for once, but then our interference was needed."
"Rescuing the two Mirror Beasts," Koenma agreed, remembering. "And I suppose the power of a Priestess combined with my own skills ought to do the trick. Very well. Take her back."
The woman nodded, taking Kia back from Jorge. "Oh--one more thing." Her eyes narrowed and her aura grew brighter. "If you let her die again before it's her time, I'm telling your father."
Koenma visibly cringed. He knew she would do it too.
"She'll be fine." Hiketsu nodded to Kia's family and Kage, smiling faintly. "She's in good hands, and her friends will take good care of her."
"We know." Aiko smiled in return. "Thank you…"
The Priestess suddenly vanished. Only Kage, who placed his head on his paws, was unsurprised.
***Suzuki's House***
"So…did Botan say WHY we had to do this?" Yusuke glanced at Yukina as the Koorime held her hands over Kia's body, soft green light emanating from her palms and sinking into the girl's skin. The huge gash shrank and closed, not even leaving a scar. Kurama had found a useful plant and now had it protruding from a self-inflicted cut on his arm. The other went into another cut on Kia's arm for a somewhat unusual blood transfusion. The others watched intently.
Hiei looked at Yusuke. "Isn't it obvious?"
"If it was obvious, I wouldn't be ASKING!" Yusuke retorted.
A faint shimmering of the air announced the arrival of Hiketsu. The Priestess was rather transparent, as was her armful.
"Who are you??" Suzuki demanded, instantly on his feet.
"Be calm." She held up a hand. "I am Hiketsu, here to return the spirit of your friend to her body."
"I TOLD you," Kelsey said smugly.
"Hiketsu?" Touya blinked. That name…sounded familiar.
The Priestess turned to Kurama. "Is she ready?"
The Youko nodded, passing his hand over his brow. "I believe so."
"Good." Hiketsu smiled and then gently placed the still-unconscious spirit back into the body. It sank in without any resistance. "She'll be weak for quite some time, so be gentle with her." And then she was gone in a flash of silvery light.
"…What…was…that?" Kuwabara asked slowly.
"I don't…" Jin stopped abruptly, glancing down. He lowered his head, twitching an ear near Kia's mouth…and detected a faint breath. Color was slowly coming back into her cheeks. Her eyes remained closed, but she was definitely breathing now.
Rinku whooped. "She's alive!!"
Hiei actually smiled. Yukina and Touya did as well. Rei found a better way to celebrate. She grabbed Suzuki's hands and danced with him around the room. Surprisingly, the blonde Martial Artist didn't seem to mind. Kurama sighed, checking the girl's pulse and flexing his arm to get the blood flowing into her own arm. Satisfied, he removed the plant. She would be fine.
"Isn't this great?" Kelsey asked Jin. "She's not dead!"
The Wind Master could only nod, crying too hard to form a coherent reply as he beamed widely.
*OOC*
This is the result of brain deadness. Yay me. I'm too tired to say much more, but now none of you can kill me! NEXT chapter!
* Hiketsu reminisces about her own past…
* Kurama, remembering his past with Kia, wonders what will become of him when she wakes up…
* It's time for another dream conversation, with both Priestesses and the Mirror Holders!
Killing Kia was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do…well…killing Kage and Ashita was just as hard, but still. Anyway, I made a promise to somebody concerning Kia's death, and I'll honor that promise now. So don't worry, Lexi-chan, our little Mirror Holder will be present and accounted for.
I'm sorry this chapter took so long…it's been bothering me, refusing to let me write it. I swear, Netami doesn't mind if I write a chapter about Kia's death, but the INSTANT I try to do more, she takes over my writing skills. x.x I'll get her yet.
Last chapter…well…if you don't know, you're just going to have to read it! Even TALKING about it gets me all depressed! O.o Sheeee…oh, yes. Kelsey and I have been talking about pairing Rei with either Suzaku or Suzuki. Feedback would be much appreciated, as neither of us can seem to decide. And preferably reasons WHY. *sigh*
Okay, now the reviews work…first off, I got four poems. I'll post two here, and two next chapter. You COULD always read the reviews, but hey…first off, from Shin-san!
The sky is still and empty.
The trees are drooped in mourning.
In the shock of loss there is no sound,
Except for the crying wind.
In honor of a sacrifice made,
For someone most dear.
We all bow our heads,
And shed our tears.
For a girl with a noble heart,
Full of compassion and strength,
And the will to fight with everything she had.
She may have been in pain,
But she never gave up.
Everyone loved her,
And she will be greatly missed,
But she will never, ever be forgotten,
Because...
Without a second thought,
Without a moment of hesitation.
Kia gave her life,
So her friend could live.
And for that,
She will be in our hearts forever.
This one is from Spirit Girl2…from Kia, to Kelsey. I got two other poems, but I swear, I'll post them next chapter…or maybe at the end of this one. Hmm.
I've traveled far and wide
To bring you back to my side
I've fought many battles
I've passed my final test
I ask that you forgive me
that I'm not with you
when you awake from your rest
The time has come to you
to fight your hardest fight
I know that you'll come through
and not join me in my plight
I wish you good luck
My companion, sister, and friend
And know I'm always with you
Forever till the end
And yes, Bara-chan, I read Mayumi. First YYH fic I ever read on ff.net, in fact. ^^
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Kuwabara shuddered, looking around nervously. "I just got the tickle feeling, you guys…"
"You dumbass!" Yusuke snapped as Jin let out a choked sob, pulling the lifeless Mirror Holder closer to him. "That's because Kia's a ghost now! She's DEAD!"
Rinku let out a mournful wail. Hiei rolled his eyes.
"Way to be tactful, Urameshi," Rei said dryly. "You inspire us all."
The Tantei grimaced. "So that's IT?! She saves Kelsey and DIES? WHAT THE HELL IS UP WITH THAT??"
"Why…so loud?"
"Kelsey!!" Shishiwakamaru was instantly by the girl's side as she slowly sat up, gray eyes blinking sleepily. "You're awake!"
"'Course…" Kelsey yawned widely. "Kia…got it back?"
Touya nodded. Everyone else looked elsewhere.
"And now she's sleeping?" The Mirror Holder looked down at Jin and Kia, and then noticed the tears pooled in the Wind Master's bright blue eyes. "Why is Jin crying?"
There was an awkward silence. Suzuki coughed into his hand.
"She's dead," Kurama said softly. "Kia passed on once she had returned your half to you." The others stiffened, waiting for the explosion.
Kelsey didn't let them down. Her yell could be heard all the way to Reikai.
"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!?!"
"Ouch." Hiei pronounced the word very slowly and definitively, removing his hands from his ears and lowering them.
"I thought she took it rather well." Kurama blinked. "I still retain hearing in both ears."
"She's not dead." Kelsey's voice had gone hoarse from the screeching she'd just done, but that didn't prevent her from speaking. She folded her arms across her chest, glaring stubbornly. "Not yet."
Chuu raised a wiry eyebrow. "What are you talking about? Not breathing, can't sense a thing from her, she's dead!"
"She's not dead," the girl repeated. "Wait. Just wait…"
***Reikai***
Koenma had a headache. With a sigh, the toddler rubbed furiously at his temples. "Say that ONE more time, Kinsenka."
The little ferrygirl shuffled her feet, staring bashfully at the floor. "I couldn't find Kuronue, Koenma-sama…it's as if he's not dead anymore…but how--"
There was a thud from outside and Botan's startled voice could be clearly heard over the yelps of the oni.
"She's DEAD?! But…why…HOW??"
The doors flew open and the blue-haired ferrygirl hurried in, followed by a young woman, her long brown hair plaited into one large braid down her back. She wore a simple cream dress and golden sandals, the only sign of her immense power being the glowing silver aura illuminating her frame. Her blue eyes flashed with anger as she stormed up to Koenma's desk, holding another brunette in her arms, this one unconscious.
"Hiketsu!" Koenma stared at the irate Priestess in shock, brown eyes practically bulging. "What are you doing here? I thought you'd gone to Heaven a long time ago!" He stopped, peering more closely at her armful, and then blanched. "KIA?!"
"Oh, I'm afraid she can't hear you," Hiketsu said between clenched teeth. "Her GHOST is unconscious!" She turned, handed Kia to a bemused-looking Jorge, and then leaned over the desk, grabbed Enma's son by the collar, lifted him up, and proceeded to shake him roughly. "How could you let this happen?! You and I both know that it wasn't her time to die!!"
Koenma let out a strangled gurgle, his little arms flailing wildly.
"…Hiketsu-sama, I don't think Koenma-sama can breathe," Kinsenka spoke up, after a brief pause. Indeed, the toddler was turning blue.
The Priestess let him drop back into his chair, taking a deep breath. "Let her go back."
"I can't!" Koenma protested, once he had acquired sufficient air in his lungs again. "Even if we tried to bring her back like we did to Yusuke, she'd simply die again!" As he had been speaking, Jorge had turned on the screen, which showed Suzuki's house and its inhabitants. He gestured at the bloodied body that Jin was still holding and turned back to Hiketsu. "Her body is in no condition to accept her soul…by all accounts…" He rewinded the scene and stopped at the point where Kia had reappeared in Ningenkai. "She SHOULD have died there. I have no idea why she didn't."
"Because of Kelsey!" Botan cried. "I think Kia knew that she was going to die, but she wouldn't let herself go…not until Kelsey got her Mirror Half back!"
"At least SOMEONE has a good head on their shoulders," Hiketsu said, nodding approvingly at the girl. "I wouldn't underestimate either of the girls, Koenma. Now bring her back."
"Didn't you HEAR what I just said??" Koenma exploded, his face turning bright red. "It's impossible!"
-No, it isn't.- A large black dog, who had been napping by the desk, woke up, tail waving slowly and jerkily. -Just get someone to heal her body and generate enough power to pull Kia's spirit back into her body. It's simple enough.-
"Kage!" Botan exclaimed, chagrined. "Hinageshi was supposed to take you to Heaven!"
-I'll go…but not now.- Kage looked at Koenma with solemn dark eyes. -Will you help? You have to willingly release her spirit.-
The toddler grumbled under his breath. "It…it's generally not done!"
"Ummm…Koenma-sama?" Hinageshi, looking very nervous, entered the room with three other people. The woman, who seemed to be no older than twenty-two or twenty-three, kept glancing around, holding on to the arm of a black-haired man. It was the oldest, a dignified white-haired woman, who spoke.
"You'd better put that granddaughter of mine back in her body, or I swear I'll give you hell."
Koenma almost expired of shock right then and there. "Yuumei? Kakushigei?? AIKO?!"
"That's right!" The man said cheerfully. "We're here to make sure that you let Kia return."
"But--but--"
"The only 'butt' there is going to be is yours. So get it moving!" Yuumei stared sternly at him.
"Gah…" The little ruler's headache was worsening.
Hiketsu gazed at him just as coldly as Yuumei. "If you don't let her go back, she'll never meet Hanyou Kohana, and THEN where will you be?"
Aiko's azure eyes widened. "Hanyou Kohana?? But I thought…"
"It's a long story," Yuumei murmured quietly to her daughter. "I'll tell it to you later."
"Hanyou Kohana…?" Koenma frowned, then sighed, throwing his hands into the air. "Botan!"
She jumped. "H-hai, Koenma-sama?"
Another heavy sigh was released. "Find the Koorime Yukina and take her to Suzuki's house. Tell Kurama to do what he can to heal Kia's injuries."
Botan's pink eyes lit up and she let out a delighted squeal before racing from the room.
Hiketsu smiled. "As for power, I'll be only too happy to donate mine."
"Speaking of which…how…" Koenma eyed the Priestess warily. "How did you…"
Correctly guessing his question, Hiketsu chuckled. "Let's just say that Fukumi and I didn't really die…just decided to share bodies with two other souls. We've never taken over, just instructed the girls…except for once, but then our interference was needed."
"Rescuing the two Mirror Beasts," Koenma agreed, remembering. "And I suppose the power of a Priestess combined with my own skills ought to do the trick. Very well. Take her back."
The woman nodded, taking Kia back from Jorge. "Oh--one more thing." Her eyes narrowed and her aura grew brighter. "If you let her die again before it's her time, I'm telling your father."
Koenma visibly cringed. He knew she would do it too.
"She'll be fine." Hiketsu nodded to Kia's family and Kage, smiling faintly. "She's in good hands, and her friends will take good care of her."
"We know." Aiko smiled in return. "Thank you…"
The Priestess suddenly vanished. Only Kage, who placed his head on his paws, was unsurprised.
***Suzuki's House***
"So…did Botan say WHY we had to do this?" Yusuke glanced at Yukina as the Koorime held her hands over Kia's body, soft green light emanating from her palms and sinking into the girl's skin. The huge gash shrank and closed, not even leaving a scar. Kurama had found a useful plant and now had it protruding from a self-inflicted cut on his arm. The other went into another cut on Kia's arm for a somewhat unusual blood transfusion. The others watched intently.
Hiei looked at Yusuke. "Isn't it obvious?"
"If it was obvious, I wouldn't be ASKING!" Yusuke retorted.
A faint shimmering of the air announced the arrival of Hiketsu. The Priestess was rather transparent, as was her armful.
"Who are you??" Suzuki demanded, instantly on his feet.
"Be calm." She held up a hand. "I am Hiketsu, here to return the spirit of your friend to her body."
"I TOLD you," Kelsey said smugly.
"Hiketsu?" Touya blinked. That name…sounded familiar.
The Priestess turned to Kurama. "Is she ready?"
The Youko nodded, passing his hand over his brow. "I believe so."
"Good." Hiketsu smiled and then gently placed the still-unconscious spirit back into the body. It sank in without any resistance. "She'll be weak for quite some time, so be gentle with her." And then she was gone in a flash of silvery light.
"…What…was…that?" Kuwabara asked slowly.
"I don't…" Jin stopped abruptly, glancing down. He lowered his head, twitching an ear near Kia's mouth…and detected a faint breath. Color was slowly coming back into her cheeks. Her eyes remained closed, but she was definitely breathing now.
Rinku whooped. "She's alive!!"
Hiei actually smiled. Yukina and Touya did as well. Rei found a better way to celebrate. She grabbed Suzuki's hands and danced with him around the room. Surprisingly, the blonde Martial Artist didn't seem to mind. Kurama sighed, checking the girl's pulse and flexing his arm to get the blood flowing into her own arm. Satisfied, he removed the plant. She would be fine.
"Isn't this great?" Kelsey asked Jin. "She's not dead!"
The Wind Master could only nod, crying too hard to form a coherent reply as he beamed widely.
*OOC*
This is the result of brain deadness. Yay me. I'm too tired to say much more, but now none of you can kill me! NEXT chapter!
* Hiketsu reminisces about her own past…
* Kurama, remembering his past with Kia, wonders what will become of him when she wakes up…
* It's time for another dream conversation, with both Priestesses and the Mirror Holders!