12.30.03

A/N: ^_^; It looks like I've upset one of my reviewers…at the same time, it looks like I'm providing ample amusement for another, and have made another reviewer's day. Thanks for all the reviews! I'm glad you like Vardoulacha so far! Oh, and to prevent harm on myself, this is not a death-fic. Well, for the time being.

Abc: thoughts

Abc: emphasis

[abc]: reference

abc: flashback

Schizo13: yeah, I decided to change the flashback. It was giving me a headache reading it like that and typing it like that.

Disclaimer: I don't own YYH! I don't own anything written here, except for the idea, plot, and It. I also don't own the title. It's a word I found in a book. Not sure which language, though. Latin?

Vardoulacha

Shizuru felt tears of frustration and loss build up in her eyes. They had failed. They had actually failed. Hiei was gone. He really was gone.

Where did we go wrong? We made sure to cover all exits and entrances…so why…why did we fail?

Looking around, Shizuru noticed the others weren't faring so well either. The ones who were affected the most were Yusuke, Kurama, and Yukina. Yusuke and Kurama had made that promise to Hiei and they ended up breaking it. Yukina…

Why does Yukina look so desolate? She doesn't know, does she? I wouldn't say she knows, but it's a possibility that she feels something…

Shaking her head, Shizuru let her eyes roam over the rest of the group. Koenma was in his teenage form. All the other times Shizuru had seen him in this form, Koenma had seemed cool and collected. Now, his face and eyes belied his inner turmoil. As the God of Death, he should've been able to prevent this. Yet, he failed, just like the rest of them.

The sound of sobbing perked Shizuru's interest and she realized that for the first time, Keiko and Botan were crying. Tears were streaming down their pale faces, leaving shimmering tracks of wetness on their cheeks. It was quite disconcerting. What was even more disturbing was Kuwabara. Shizuru was shocked to find her little brother in tears. Literally. Tears were pouring out of his eyes and he kept on grinding his teeth. His Spirit Sword was still in his grasp and the glow that continuously emanated from the sword grew stronger.

Little bro…who knew you cared so much for "Shorty". Who knew I cared? I barely even know the demon.

Bitter laughter shattered the frustrated silence. Heads snapped up to look towards the source of the sound and Shizuru was amazed to find that she was the one who was producing such an ugly sound. Still, she could not stop. The bitter laugh continued, frightening those nearby. Tears finally ran down Shizuru's cheeks but the horrid laughter continued.

"Sh-Shizuru? What's wrong?" Yukina asked, frightened and worried. Shizuru said nothing, only continued to laugh and laugh and laugh.

"Hey! Shizuru! Cut that out! You're scaring us!" Yusuke snapped walking over to Keiko and hugging her protectively.

"Th-this…haha! This is so- hehe- pointless! We've failed and now we just stand here like morons and I don't know why I'm laughing! Haha! Oh Kami-sama…somebody please stop me!" Shizuru gasped out, more tears falling from her eyes.

"O-onee-chan? Yamero…onegai! You're scaring me! Shizuru, what's wrong?!" Kuwabara cried, terrified. In all his years, he had never seen Shizuru act like this.

Hysteria threatened to overcome Shizuru as she desperately tried to regain control.

What's wrong with me?! Why am I acting like this???

Shizuru suddenly heard a light and soundless giggle. Immediately, her hysteria faded away, as did the horrid and bitter laugh that had escaped from her vocal cords unintentionally.

"What happened? Why did I start laughing like that? Who just giggled?" Shizuru demanded, pale-faced and shaking. The insane giggles continued. Unwillingly, everybody's eyes turned to the only other person within the vicinity.

"H-Hiei?" Kurama forced out, failing to adopt a calm voice. Yes, the "giggler" was Hiei. Blank red eyes glittered insanely at them and they were unnerved to see a tiny insane smile adorn the tan face that had been so blank and unresponsive before. Hiei's small frame convulsed with laughter but the only part of him that moved was his face. His once sane red eyes now shone with insanity and darkness and his mouth, never graced with anything but indifference, now sported a child-like smile with a tinge of psychosis.

What happened to him?

The others stared horrified into their friend's face, no longer recognizable. The slim ray of hope they had all been foolishly harboring faded away when they realized that Hiei was not just enveloped and trapped in darkness inside his own mind. Rather, he had been driven truly insane by all that had happened. The attack, the mental blocks, the second attack, the pain, the darkness, everything. The crystal chalice [1] had been shattered. The fragments were littered across the floor of Hiei's mind and it was nearly impossible to put the crystal chalice back together.

"Hiei…" Yusuke whispered as he looked into insane red eyes. Suddenly furious, Yusuke strode forward and shook Hiei roughly. "What's the matter with you?! Hiei, stop this at once!" All Yusuke succeeded in doing was to stop the chilling laughter. The strange smile never left Hiei's face and his head flopped around like a rag doll's as Yusuke shook him.

"Yusuke, stop that! What do you think you're doing?!" Kurama shouted, pulling Hiei out of Yusuke's grasp. Kurama gasped when Yusuke lifted up his bowed head. His [Yusuke's] whole visage was one of despair and broken hope. "Yusuke…daijoubu ka?"

"I saw it…" Yusuke mumbled listlessly. Kurama remained silent, knowing Yusuke would continue of his own will. "When I touched him. I connected with Hiei just for a second. Even if it was only a second out here, in there, it seemed like minutes, maybe even hours."

"Yusuke? What do you mean?"

Agitatedly, Yusuke raked his fingers through his hair. "Hiei! I saw him! Not this-this lifeless doll! I saw the real thing! He's still in there but he needs our help to get out. Thing is, I don't know how to help him! It's so confusing! When I was with him, he showed me something. I'm not sure where, but I think it was in his mind. Kami, you should have seen it! His mind…it was so messed up! There were shattered crystals strewn all over the place! Crystals! Why would there be crystal in somebody's mind? When I asked him about it, all he said was, 'the crystal chalice was shattered.' That was all he would tell me! K'so, why couldn't he have explained more?"

"Calm down! How do you know he needs our help?"

Yusuke scowled and punched a hole in the wall next to him. "I just do! He showed me that he needed help! He was trying to put this, this crystal chalice back together but the fragments kept on slipping from his grasp. No matter how many times he tried to put the pieces back together, they would just fall back down to the ground." Yusuke paced around, back and forth, his face screwed up in intense agony from the knowledge that Hiei was still with them but unable to be with them in body and in mind.

"What did you do then?" Kurama's soft and gentle voice managed to pierce through Yusuke's haze-filled mind. Calming down slightly, Yusuke leaned against a tree and closed his eyes.

"I helped him. Somehow, together, we were able to put back a part of the crystal chalice together. Except there were so many pieces littered everywhere! Alone, Hiei had not been able to piece anything together, even if they were the right matches. However, when I touched a crystal, the corresponding pieces glowed red and we were able to match them up. There wasn't enough time though. When I was forced out, we didn't even finish 1% of the thing!"

"You were forced out? Why?"

"I think it was because Hiei was the only one keeping me with him. Maybe because the chalice was shattered Hiei didn't have enough strength to keep me with him for a sustained amount of time."

"Are you sure it wasn't It?"

"Yes, I'm positive. I couldn't even feel It when I was with Hiei. That and Hiei doesn't seem to be concerned about It anymore. No, if I'm right, I think It is gone."

"Gone? Demo…how?" Yukina's soft voice piped up from behind the pair, startling both. They were so immersed within their conversation that they had forgotten the others were with them. Guiltily, the two started and stared.

"Umm, I don't know. Hiei just said It was gone. At least I think he was talking about It. I don't know. He kept on mentioning "Vardoulacha" and how once the "Vardoulacha" knows that it is taking on more than it can handle, it will leave and never come back."

"That seems too easy." For the first time since her hysteria, Shizuru spoke up. Noticing she had everyone's attention, she continued. "It, I mean the "Vardoulacha", managed to terrify Hiei out of his mind, injured him badly, and managed to attack him in this temple without our knowing. That and It sent out this-this monster to try and kill Hiei. Yes, the monster failed it's mission but managed to force Hiei into this insanity and massacred almost all the children and seniors in Japan! Not to mention that maybe the children in seniors in other continents and countries were affected. Why would the Vardoulacha back off? What does that mean anyway?"

Silence was met with her facts. It was true, It had managed to accomplish so many terrible acts and now It backs off? Eyes trained on Yusuke, hoping that he would give them some clue.

Frowning, Yusuke tried to remember what Hiei had said to him.

~*flashback*~

Yusuke gasped when he saw Hiei, the real Hiei beckon to him to follow.

"Hiei!" Yusuke received no response as he jogged after the little fire demon.

Where is he taking me?

He [Yusuke] gaped in disbelief when he entered a cavern. The floor was covered in small fragments of crystal, the only things giving off light in the otherwise pitch-black room.

"Hiei…what is all this?"

"The crystal chalice was shattered." Came the cryptic response. Yusuke huffed in annoyance.

"What's a 'crystal chalice'?" Hiei ignored Yusuke's question as he [Hiei] crouched down next to a pile of crystal fragments and tried to piece them together. Yusuke watched in pity and horror as he saw the crystals fall from Hiei's grasp as he pitifully attempted to put them together. Hiei never stopped trying, though. He continued to try to put the 'crystal chalice' together in vain. Quietly, Yusuke knelt down beside his friend, picking up pieces of crystal as well. Ignoring surprised red eyes looking at him, Yusuke noticed a few other pieces glowing red. Looking down at the fragment in his hand, it too was glowing. Hiei picked up two glowing pieces and together, they fitted them together. At once, the cracks sealed, leaving a smooth surface. This continued in silence for several more minutes until Yusuke ventured to ask, "What happened to It?"

Hiei's hand never stilled as he continued to piece crystals together along with Yusuke. After a long moment, he answered.

"The Vardoulacha is gone. It does not stay when it knows that continuing his plan would be a hopeless endeavor. The Vardoulacha is not stupid."

Yusuke's eyes shown with confusion at this newly gained information.

Vardoulacha? What in the world?

"'Vardoulacha'? What's that?"

"Vardoulacha is It. It is Vardoulacha. They are the same being."

"What does 'Vardoulacha' mean? What's this crystal chalice? How am I here?" Yusuke grinned mentally when he managed to invoke a spark of the old Hiei back.

"'Ch, baka. Don't ask so many questions. Vardoulacha means 'vampire'. The crystal chalice is…my mind, sort of. When whole, you could say I'm sane. Like this, well, I bet I'm insane right now, aren't I. You're here because I pulled you in here. As long as I have enough energy to keep you here, you will stay here unless you wish to leave. I won't keep you here if you don't want to stay. Don't worry, I won't keep you here forever. Just until the crystal chalice is whole again."

Yusuke blinked. "Wow. That was the longest sentence you've ever said to me."

"Hn"

This time, Yusuke did grin outright and even hugged Hiei when he finally found the old Hiei resurface.

"Let me go, kisama! You still haven't told me whether or not you will stay."

"Haha! Gomen, I'm just so glad you're back! I was so worried. Yes of course I'll stay! You need my help and I promised I wouldn't leave you alone, remember?" Shocked red eyes peered up into Yusuke's black ones. Multitudes of emotions flickered through the twin ruby orbs and Yusuke wasn't sure what to make of it. "What? Is it something I said?"

"Iie. You remembered your promise…you actually meant to keep it?"

"What? You thought I was lying? Ch' Sometimes, I think you're the idiot, not me or Kuwabara. Of course I remember! Of course I'll keep my promise! What kind of friend would I be if I didn't?"

"Friend…" Averting his gaze, Hiei started to piece the pieces together faster than before. Smiling a bit, Yusuke turned back to the task at hand, knowing that he had given Hiei a ray of hope that he [Hiei] had been searching for since forever.

Next thing he knew, Yusuke was back with his other friends right after he asked Hiei what was wrong when he [Hiei] had gasped.

Hiei! I'll be back, I promise.

~*end flashback*~

"Vardoulacha means 'vampire'! Vampire? I thought they didn't exist!" Yusuke shouted out suddenly, his look of excitement changing into bewilderment as he suddenly realized that Vardoulacha meant 'vampire'.

Shaking his head, Kurama didn't respond. He had no idea. Everything was too confusing.

Vampire? We were fighting against a Vampire?!

"Vampires aren't real. They're only a myth. Besides, I know most, if not all of the creatures that reside in the Makai. There are No Vampires." Koenma said strictly.

"Yes but-"

"No buts, Yusuke. Hiei must have been imagining things."

"Hehe! You don't believe me! Hehe! I thought you wouldn't. Explain the darkness and the unnatural terror you felt then." Startled, everybody turned to look at Hiei, where the voice definitely originated. Hiei was alert and watchful but his eyes still held the same insanity. However, his smile was no longer psychotic. It was still chilling though, but showed mockery and amusement instead.

"I-I-" Koenma stuttered, unable to form the words he wanted. His voice was locked up in his throat for some unknown reason.

"Hehe! You're in denial, aren't you! Well, believe me or not, I don't care. I may not have all memories of my recent abuse intact, but I do remember the Vardoulacha." Suddenly, Hiei's eyes changed. He no longer looked psychotic. In fact, he looked normal, if not worried. "Yusuke, you believe me, I know you do. Help me, please. The part we worked on together is now complete. I can't fix another part without your or somebody else's help."

Yusuke nodded gravely saying, "I know. I will help and the others will definitely help too. Especially Yukina, Kurama, and Kuwabara." The three mentioned nodded in agreement while the others also offered their support. Koenma, having gotten his voice back and gotten over his shock, also offered his help.

Red eyes passed over them all, showing sincere thanks before widening slightly. "Hayaku! You must hurry! I can't remain here for long." Understanding, Yusuke grabbed onto Kurama who in turn grabbed on to Kuwabara. Quickly, they all grabbed at each other but weren't fast enough. Yusuke grabbed Hiei's hand and immediately, Kurama, Yusuke, and Kuwabara's minds were transported into the cavern, which used to hold the crystal chalice.

"Be careful!" Yukina whispered, looking sad.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the cavern-turned-chamber, worked four boys. Each of them were putting pieces together, hurrying to form another part of the crystal chalice before Hiei's hold snapped once again. This time, Kuwabara and Kurama were helping Hiei strengthen his hold on them. Yusuke was not because if something happened, they would need someone to protect them.

This time, the pieces glowed yellow. Yusuke noted this with wonder and suspicion.

Do these pieces represent a different part of Hiei's mind?

"Hiei, why are these glowing a different color? Yusuke said something about them glowing red before." Kurama voiced Yusuke's unspoken question.

"They're memories. Different parts of the chalice represent different memories." Hiei responded distractedly. Suddenly, he pulled his hand away from a glowing piece with a sharp gasp.

"What's the matter?" Kuwabara asked, not stopping in his work, unconsciously knowing that time was crucial.

Hiei was staring at his hand in fear. It was covered with blood.

No…not yet. The Chalice isn't close to completed!

"You're bleeding! Demo…this pieces aren't exactly sharp." Yusuke said, rubbing the edge of a crystal.

"Time is running out. We have to hurry."

"What happens when time runs out?!" Kurama asked, fear growing within his chest.

"I-" the rest of Hiei's words was cut off when Kurama, Yusuke, and Kuwabara were thrown out of the chamber.

NO!

~~~~~~~~~~

NO!

"Hiei!" Keiko gasped as the three boys jerked to life. She had heard a pained "NO!" just before Yusuke and his friends had come back. "Yusuke, what happened? Is the Crystal Chalice fixed???"

Yusuke's silence gave Keiko her answer. "Oh no…Can't you go back in and help? Can't we all go back in and help?"

"No, I'm afraid that's impossible." Koenma spoke up from beside Keiko.

"Naze?!" Botan asked horrified.

"From what Yusuke told us before, the time they spend in there depends on how much energy or strength Hiei has when he summons us/them in."

"K'rama and I were helping him this time though! We should have stayed in a lot longer! We didn't even finish the new part halfway!" Kuwabara shouted indignantly.

"You were? I don't understand then. Last time, Yusuke remained with Hiei for a full minute. You guys didn't even remain there for that long! What happened?" Koenma demanded.

"I don't know!" Yusuke said annoyed.

"You must know something! Was there anything unusual or didn't seem right?"

"The pieces glowed a different color this time but that was because it was a different memory. Wait! Hiei cut his hand on one of the pieces!" Kurama said, remembering the blood dripping from Hiei's hand.

"You're right! Also, the crystal shards weren't even sharp. When I picked up the one Hiei had cut his hand on, I wasn't cut at all. He told us that 'time was running out' or something like that." Yusuke added on.

"Hmm…You say he cut his hand on a blunt piece of crystal?" Koenma asked. Yusuke and his friends nodded their confirmation. Frowning his brow in thought, Koenma furiously dug through his memory.

I know I heard of something called the "Crystal Chalice" but what and where?! I have to find out!

"Let's go to my home." Without even waiting for their [his friends'] assent, he transported everybody, including Hiei, into his palace. Once there, he ignored the other's splutters of anger and called for his servant. "George!" Immediately, a blue-skinned demon rushed to stand in front of the God of Death.

"What is it, Koenma-sama?" George intoned respectfully.

"I want you and a group of trustworthy servants of this household to find out about the "Crystal Chalice". It should be in a book somewhere. No questions, just go!" Koenma ordered, dismissing his servant.

"Hai, Koenma-sama." With that, George left the room, shouting orders to his subordinates.

"Koenma, what is going on, sir?" Botan demanded of her Lord.

"I just remembered hearing about a Crystal Chalice. No, not "a" Crystal Chalice, but "the" Crystal Chalice. If I'm correct, there is only one person/demon within the Rekai, Makai, and Ningenkai who contains a Chalice within themselves. Those who have a Chalice range from weak to powerful demons. However, they are all the same. Their minds are fragile but heavily protected. Notice that I've been talking about "a" Chalice and not "the" Crystal Chalice. "The" Crystal Chalice is contained within only one being. However, to be the one with The Crystal Chalice means to have a fragile mind. However, their mind is heavily guarded. I think Hiei might be the one with The Crystal Chalice. He has to be because if you're correct and Hiei is correct, the Chalice that was shattered was made of crystal. If it cut Hiei…I'm not sure what that forebodes." Koenma concluded, his eyes dark with worry.

"So there are four beings who contain a Chalice but one of the four contains The Chalice, and a Crystal one at that." Yukina said, neatly summarizing Koenma's explanation up.

"Yes, that's what I think. I'm not sure so that's why I'm having George and a few others find out the book, which contains the information. I just know it's [the book] somewhere in my library!" Koenma said, anxiously tugging at his robe.

"Wait, you said that there were defenses guarding Hiei's mind. If there were original ones formed by The Crystal Chalice, doesn't that mean the ones Hiei built himself added extra protection? If so, then how come the Vardoulacha was able to break through so easily?" Kurama asked, asking a very good question.

"I don't know…but no demon or human is powerful enough to shatter such defenses. I'm afraid that the Vardoulacha is real…What with the darkness and indescribable terror and all."

"Haha! I knew you'd believe me eventually! HAHAHAHAHA!" Hiei's insane voice rang and echoed inside the spacious room, causing everyone to flinch away from the sound. Chills crawled up and down their spines as they unconsciously gathered closer to each other. The insanity was growing and darkness was beginning to show just as well.

"I knew you'd remember about The Crystal Chalice but it's too late! You remembered too late! Too late! Too late!" Hiei screamed out laughing. The girls whimpered in fear and terror at the thing in front of them. Hiei continued to chant "Too late!" over and over again, causing guilt and despair to rain down upon all those present. Thankfully, Hiei fell quiet and limp. He looked like a puppet whose strings had been cut. The insane glint still remained present though.

"How is that possible? By now, the second part of The Chalice should be almost complete! How can this thing grow more psychotic?" Kurama asked, worried.

"I don't know. I honestly don't know…Let's just hope that next time we/you see him, there won't be blood present." Koenma's dark tone jerked them out of their fear and worry for their insane friend.

"Koenma? You found it?" Keiko asked, walking up to the silent prince.

"Hai. You're not going to like what I've found. This is not good at all. Hiei does not have much time left." Taking a deep breath, Koenma forced his words to sound calm and he succeeded. "If Hiei does not complete The Chalice in time, he will grow insane himself, just like this thing we brought with us. The Crystal Chalice will become tainted and its power will be released. Hiei will gain unimaginable power and with the power he already contains, he'll have enough power to destroy all three worlds. We can't let that happen."

"Exactly what are you getting at?!" Yusuke barked up partly from fear and partly from concern.

Turning cold dark eyes to the Spirit Detective, Koenma carefully enunciated each word, "We Will Have To Kill Hiei."

A/N: *ducks random flying objects* Sorry! That was a bad chapter, wasn't it? It'll get better, I promise. Once again, this chapter is short and I'm sorry for that too. Still, please review! I'd love to hear what you think so far. If this chapter seemed disconnected and very awkward, feel free to ask any questions. I'll answer them in the next chapter, if you want another chapter, that is. Please review!

[1]: I took this idea from a book. Erm…I forgot what book though. The Crystal Chalice was hopefully explained thoroughly in the context of the chapter but if not, here's a shorter explanation. The Crystal Chalice is like a person's mind. When it's whole, the person is, well, sane. When shattered, like Hiei's, the person goes insane. Of course it doesn't just shatter. Instead, Hiei's chalice has had cracks in it for years. He had a very bad past and the final thing with the Vardoulacha gave his chalice the final crack it needed to be completely destroyed.

Happy New Years!

12.31.03