Disclaimer: Hiten and the world of Inuyasha are creations of Rumiko
Takahashi.
AN: Special thanks to Oneesan no Miroku Houshi, Hiten-sama, Dusty and Rainy for the encouragement.
Chapter Four: Freed Soul
The rich, damp soil darkened the skin of Hiten's hands and forearms as he sluggishly covered over the last bit of Haruki's grave. His knees ached from too long being bent into the dirt, his sleeveless shirt dampened by the labor. The narrow canyon he had selected to act as a cemetery was far removed from human city. The dense foliage and old trees concealing the site cast a peaceful and shady setting.
Hiten's short breath was all that disturbed the natural serenity. The warm air and distant chirp of cicada brought memories of what he now viewed as a past life. Although he had always preferred the damp and slightly chilled air of a storm front to the mild heat, the few times he had simply let himself take in his surroundings, times that stuck out in his mind were clouded with the warm haze of pleasant weather. Letting his eyes slipped closed, he tried to recreate a particular afternoon that he was sure not a tree in this stand could remember.
Choking a muffled sob, Hiten found it difficult to keep his mind from replying painful cycles incessantly trying to dive him insane. He had no plan of action for his present situation, sitting with his back against a large, ruff barked tree. The congested city, clogged with the reek of countless humans did not appeal in the least to him as a home. The mountains, what he has seen of them, were being encroached upon by the humans. Like a growing infection, no where would be far enough removed to avoid catching the contagious plague that was these mortal humans.
For the time being, he let his taxed body slip into a state between slumber and wakefulness. Haunted already by his inability to protect his closest of family, he knew the knot of emotional faults he had tried to burry would now be even closer to impossible to force down.
The pains of his physical body, at the moment hunger, were not enough to drive him to his feet. The unmarked grave of the young fox demon not but a few feet behind him would be his charge to protect until he could sufficiently fortify it against carrion eating animals.
The growl of his stomach voiced its protest, its grumble seemingly more aggravated. The reek of death, earth and old blood gave the rest of his senses a better reason to ignore the complaining gut. Half opening sleepy eyes, Hiten gazed through the patched canopy.
"I must say, I could not have wished for a better grave site," The unexpected nonchalant voice stuck Hiten's sensitive ears as though he had not heard a spoken word for years. His body snapped out of its stupor, he vision coming into sharp focus as he rolled up onto his knees to face the newly dug grave. The translucent form that stood before him, defied his mind's ability to comprehend. The iridescent figure of Haruki stood, feet splayed in a domineering fashion, his lips turned up in a condescending smirk. "You think you'd be rid of me so easily?" Hiten's senses pricked, he could feel the presence of a second demon.
"How is this possible?" Cautiously taking this spirit for what it appeared to be, he strained his senses to pin point the second demon, although it die not seem threatening, he would know of it rather than leave it to chance.
"I can not be put to rest, she still has my spirit bound to this plane," A large spherical form of a demon came into view just behind Haruki, its monochromatic yellowish body hovering in a gentle sway. Its large eyes completely closed, a flute pressed to a tiny mouth it remained in silence. "I require someone that is able to interact with physical objects to secure the necklace..." the wisp paused, finding it difficult to admit that he was in fact dead, "...I have no one else to ask."
"Oh?" Hiten crossed his arms, half turning away from the spirit, his attention more focused on the formless demon in the background. "I thought you had family, why not ask one of them?"
"I'm bound to this plane of existence by her necklace. I thought you would want revenge as well or is it your too much of a coward to face her?" Hiten growled, his gaze fiery to burn. A murmur from the balloon like demon brought several other spirits into visible orbs of light. Its eyes flickering as though tempted to open. "Killing her will be mutually beneficial," the inflection bit at Hiten's pride. "I would not see my only chance to get back at that damned women that stole my life stray too far," Making a gesture toward his guardian-like companion before continuing, "It is true that my time here is not limitless and I must simply trust that you desire revenge as well. If you accept I will led to the necklace, it calls to me, even though I no longer have a physically body. My only request is that you take the necklace to my sister once you have taken it. It is in my best interest that the time I linger here be short."
"I may desire revenge, but I do not desire to deal with humans. Their smell lingers even long after their presence dose not. Be done with what you will, and leave me to my own manner of seeking justice," Hiten drew into himself, grief-stricken demons were bad enough to deal with, much less hapless humans.
"What other plans is it then that you wish to attend to? I don't recall any way for you to simply go back in time, to your home," Hiten took a sharp breath, the tiny glimmer of hope that he would be able to go back was utterly crushed. He smiled inwardly to himself, he could let the sorrow if not pushed down, simply sit aside, his mind distracted by this interlude.
"For one to sink so low, I would not expect pride to apply," For the time being he would accept at least seeking revenge. If for nothing less, he would find the only trail to follow with this led. "Then where is she now?" Both the small spirits or laughing human children and flute playing demon shot up into the air. Hovering, barely disenabled against the late afternoon sky before flying toward the city. Hiten was left also in the presence of the ghostly fox demon.
* * *
The late afternoon sun flickered in a out of view as Hiten jumped for roof top to roof top. Cursing the human and hanyou that had robbed him of his ability to fly, he concentrated on the orb that was the fox spirit that led him deeper into the city. His body fell into a fast paced rhythm, his muscles that had protest not being used, now hummed with hard use. The sphere slowed and then unfurled into an mock form of the fox demon's body.
"She is down there," The spirit pointed over the edge of the building, Hiten drawing up to the edge to peer over. The street was crowed with jostling human bodies. Like a living cloth they cross in both directions, some how not running into each other. Vexed, the thunder demon could not sort so many similar smells at once.
"Can you be more specific?" Hiten gave an irritated snap, entertaining the though of simply destroying all the humans below. Surely she could not make a fast escape from the mass of bodies. Although locating the necklace would be a bit more difficult, it was merely time consuming searching corpses. The lack of an answer from the spirit did not help his already agitated mood.
"She isn't.. moving..." a perplexed spirit drifted down into an ally just off the edge of the building. Following, jumping down from the height, Hiten landed crouch, his knees acting like shock absorbers. "I don't understand." Hiten followed the gaze of the spirit to a metallic glint in a puddle near the edge of the ally way. Snatching the pendent from the pool of stagnate water, Hiten clenched his fist around it.
"Was she aware you could not cross over, is it possible she knew you'd try to led me to her?" Hiten narrowed his eyes, he gaze unrelenting upon the spirit. Was he being led into a trap? Could it be that this fox would serve that human even after death? The chilling laugh sent shivers like ripples in water across his skin.
"Your such a fool," That unmistakable voice of Midori mocked the thunder demon. "Its so sad how easily you are led around. Do you really think that I would be so blind not to foresee this? Haruki without a body makes that pendant unless to me, but I suppose that such a thick headed demon wouldn't know that." Her cloaked figure stepped from the shadows. Her hair had gained a streak of white hair.
"It seems that without a demon, you age rather quickly," Hiten launched into an attack, his swipe passing right though her image. Half stumbling, he turned back to face her.
"Poor little demon, doesn't understand anything. Know that I'll be back for you when I'm ready, I don't let my pets go so easily," In a wisp, she drew herself behind Haruki's spirit, his eyes glazed and unresponsive. Until I find another servant to suit my purposes I am in the same state that he is," She pushed her hand though Harkui with as little resistance as air. "Be careful, though, clenching the pendant like that. I mean you wouldn't want to break his spirit would you?" She disappeared in a swirl of air. Her laughing ringing in his ears even after she was gone. Willing his clenched fist to open, Hiten studied the pendant. A simple silver medallion bearing a line image of a fox, it's eyes tiny garnets.
"I'm sorry," the lower murmur of the fox demon brought Hiten back to the present. It seemed that this would be a bit more difficult than he had anticipated.
To Be Continued...
AN: Please review! Thank you for reading. ^_^
AN: Special thanks to Oneesan no Miroku Houshi, Hiten-sama, Dusty and Rainy for the encouragement.
Chapter Four: Freed Soul
The rich, damp soil darkened the skin of Hiten's hands and forearms as he sluggishly covered over the last bit of Haruki's grave. His knees ached from too long being bent into the dirt, his sleeveless shirt dampened by the labor. The narrow canyon he had selected to act as a cemetery was far removed from human city. The dense foliage and old trees concealing the site cast a peaceful and shady setting.
Hiten's short breath was all that disturbed the natural serenity. The warm air and distant chirp of cicada brought memories of what he now viewed as a past life. Although he had always preferred the damp and slightly chilled air of a storm front to the mild heat, the few times he had simply let himself take in his surroundings, times that stuck out in his mind were clouded with the warm haze of pleasant weather. Letting his eyes slipped closed, he tried to recreate a particular afternoon that he was sure not a tree in this stand could remember.
Choking a muffled sob, Hiten found it difficult to keep his mind from replying painful cycles incessantly trying to dive him insane. He had no plan of action for his present situation, sitting with his back against a large, ruff barked tree. The congested city, clogged with the reek of countless humans did not appeal in the least to him as a home. The mountains, what he has seen of them, were being encroached upon by the humans. Like a growing infection, no where would be far enough removed to avoid catching the contagious plague that was these mortal humans.
For the time being, he let his taxed body slip into a state between slumber and wakefulness. Haunted already by his inability to protect his closest of family, he knew the knot of emotional faults he had tried to burry would now be even closer to impossible to force down.
The pains of his physical body, at the moment hunger, were not enough to drive him to his feet. The unmarked grave of the young fox demon not but a few feet behind him would be his charge to protect until he could sufficiently fortify it against carrion eating animals.
The growl of his stomach voiced its protest, its grumble seemingly more aggravated. The reek of death, earth and old blood gave the rest of his senses a better reason to ignore the complaining gut. Half opening sleepy eyes, Hiten gazed through the patched canopy.
"I must say, I could not have wished for a better grave site," The unexpected nonchalant voice stuck Hiten's sensitive ears as though he had not heard a spoken word for years. His body snapped out of its stupor, he vision coming into sharp focus as he rolled up onto his knees to face the newly dug grave. The translucent form that stood before him, defied his mind's ability to comprehend. The iridescent figure of Haruki stood, feet splayed in a domineering fashion, his lips turned up in a condescending smirk. "You think you'd be rid of me so easily?" Hiten's senses pricked, he could feel the presence of a second demon.
"How is this possible?" Cautiously taking this spirit for what it appeared to be, he strained his senses to pin point the second demon, although it die not seem threatening, he would know of it rather than leave it to chance.
"I can not be put to rest, she still has my spirit bound to this plane," A large spherical form of a demon came into view just behind Haruki, its monochromatic yellowish body hovering in a gentle sway. Its large eyes completely closed, a flute pressed to a tiny mouth it remained in silence. "I require someone that is able to interact with physical objects to secure the necklace..." the wisp paused, finding it difficult to admit that he was in fact dead, "...I have no one else to ask."
"Oh?" Hiten crossed his arms, half turning away from the spirit, his attention more focused on the formless demon in the background. "I thought you had family, why not ask one of them?"
"I'm bound to this plane of existence by her necklace. I thought you would want revenge as well or is it your too much of a coward to face her?" Hiten growled, his gaze fiery to burn. A murmur from the balloon like demon brought several other spirits into visible orbs of light. Its eyes flickering as though tempted to open. "Killing her will be mutually beneficial," the inflection bit at Hiten's pride. "I would not see my only chance to get back at that damned women that stole my life stray too far," Making a gesture toward his guardian-like companion before continuing, "It is true that my time here is not limitless and I must simply trust that you desire revenge as well. If you accept I will led to the necklace, it calls to me, even though I no longer have a physically body. My only request is that you take the necklace to my sister once you have taken it. It is in my best interest that the time I linger here be short."
"I may desire revenge, but I do not desire to deal with humans. Their smell lingers even long after their presence dose not. Be done with what you will, and leave me to my own manner of seeking justice," Hiten drew into himself, grief-stricken demons were bad enough to deal with, much less hapless humans.
"What other plans is it then that you wish to attend to? I don't recall any way for you to simply go back in time, to your home," Hiten took a sharp breath, the tiny glimmer of hope that he would be able to go back was utterly crushed. He smiled inwardly to himself, he could let the sorrow if not pushed down, simply sit aside, his mind distracted by this interlude.
"For one to sink so low, I would not expect pride to apply," For the time being he would accept at least seeking revenge. If for nothing less, he would find the only trail to follow with this led. "Then where is she now?" Both the small spirits or laughing human children and flute playing demon shot up into the air. Hovering, barely disenabled against the late afternoon sky before flying toward the city. Hiten was left also in the presence of the ghostly fox demon.
* * *
The late afternoon sun flickered in a out of view as Hiten jumped for roof top to roof top. Cursing the human and hanyou that had robbed him of his ability to fly, he concentrated on the orb that was the fox spirit that led him deeper into the city. His body fell into a fast paced rhythm, his muscles that had protest not being used, now hummed with hard use. The sphere slowed and then unfurled into an mock form of the fox demon's body.
"She is down there," The spirit pointed over the edge of the building, Hiten drawing up to the edge to peer over. The street was crowed with jostling human bodies. Like a living cloth they cross in both directions, some how not running into each other. Vexed, the thunder demon could not sort so many similar smells at once.
"Can you be more specific?" Hiten gave an irritated snap, entertaining the though of simply destroying all the humans below. Surely she could not make a fast escape from the mass of bodies. Although locating the necklace would be a bit more difficult, it was merely time consuming searching corpses. The lack of an answer from the spirit did not help his already agitated mood.
"She isn't.. moving..." a perplexed spirit drifted down into an ally just off the edge of the building. Following, jumping down from the height, Hiten landed crouch, his knees acting like shock absorbers. "I don't understand." Hiten followed the gaze of the spirit to a metallic glint in a puddle near the edge of the ally way. Snatching the pendent from the pool of stagnate water, Hiten clenched his fist around it.
"Was she aware you could not cross over, is it possible she knew you'd try to led me to her?" Hiten narrowed his eyes, he gaze unrelenting upon the spirit. Was he being led into a trap? Could it be that this fox would serve that human even after death? The chilling laugh sent shivers like ripples in water across his skin.
"Your such a fool," That unmistakable voice of Midori mocked the thunder demon. "Its so sad how easily you are led around. Do you really think that I would be so blind not to foresee this? Haruki without a body makes that pendant unless to me, but I suppose that such a thick headed demon wouldn't know that." Her cloaked figure stepped from the shadows. Her hair had gained a streak of white hair.
"It seems that without a demon, you age rather quickly," Hiten launched into an attack, his swipe passing right though her image. Half stumbling, he turned back to face her.
"Poor little demon, doesn't understand anything. Know that I'll be back for you when I'm ready, I don't let my pets go so easily," In a wisp, she drew herself behind Haruki's spirit, his eyes glazed and unresponsive. Until I find another servant to suit my purposes I am in the same state that he is," She pushed her hand though Harkui with as little resistance as air. "Be careful, though, clenching the pendant like that. I mean you wouldn't want to break his spirit would you?" She disappeared in a swirl of air. Her laughing ringing in his ears even after she was gone. Willing his clenched fist to open, Hiten studied the pendant. A simple silver medallion bearing a line image of a fox, it's eyes tiny garnets.
"I'm sorry," the lower murmur of the fox demon brought Hiten back to the present. It seemed that this would be a bit more difficult than he had anticipated.
To Be Continued...
AN: Please review! Thank you for reading. ^_^
