Return of a Princess
Chapter Seven: Time After Time
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Amara had run into the deepest parts of the cave, anything to get away form Hiei. The emotions she felt from him were jumbled with the others she felt and things were getting confusing and she had a constant headache now.
'Great.' She thought, 'Now I've become a whining little girl!' She scowled.
She walked into the room that she had come upon. It called to her, begging her to enter. She did, the room was large and spacious. It looked like a study of some sort, there were bookcases that lined the far walls and there was a table, with books lying open on it. She walked over to the books and looked at the open pages. They were books of magic and spells and such. She found that odd. She also found notes that had been taken, more than likely by the people who had lived here. She looked at one opened book and found it to be a dairy.
She turned to the first entry and began reading. It was of the families that had visited her. She could sense them now, they were telling her to read it, and she had too. It talked about the families' dreams, what they wanted to do.
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Hiei was sitting where Amara had left him. She knew what she had felt form him but it was misinterpreted. He sat there contemplating what to do about it. She had seemed very hurt and probably needed some time alone. She was right that he was afraid of letting people into his heart, for fear of rejection, though he would never admit it.
He resolved that he had to at least try to reason with her, explain to her and tell her what he had wanted to for a while. He knew where she was and he sped off to the room. When he arrived, he found Amara deeply involved in a book with several others on the table. He approached her from behind and touched her shoulder gently. She whirled around and attempted to punch him, but he caught it. She glared angrily at him.
"We need to talk about this." He stated.
"I found something that will help us escape." She said, effectively changing the subject. Hiei let it go, for now.
"What did you find?" He asked.
"All these books are the diaries of two families; the Kaiyou's and the Daishen's. They were the spirits I felt. They wanted me to find these. These diaries tell of their life and what they wanted to do. You see, they wanted to create a paradise; they created Atlantis. They used a spell but it went wrong, instead, they created a hell dimension.
"In the world, the demons were able to do anything; all they had to do was think of it. The two families were killed, but they left behind their two children. Before Lady Kaiyou died, she created a gem, in it, the real Atlantis resided; the paradise they wished to create. The diaries end with Lady Kaiyou's letter to her daughter.
"Apparently, only a certain power and aura can release the real Atlantis. I'm assuming the daughter never got the message, the boy and girl were told to go into hiding and it seems that they never returned here.
"My guess is that we are in the hell dimension that they created. The last entry was written only a short time ago; we must have come after they died. I think that if we find the boy and girl, tell them what to do, then maybe we can get out of here." Amara explained. Hiei allowed it all to sink in. It sounded reasonable enough.
"Did it say where they were hiding at?"
"No, we have to hunt for them." Amara answered. She turned and brushed past him but he caught her arm. She glared at him and tried to wrench her arm from his grasp but he held strong. She glared into his crimson eyes. Out of all the emotions she felt around her, his was the strongest, it seemed to clear away all the others, she felt many emotions radiating off him, but she couldn't tell them apart.
"You will listen to what I have to say." He said, it wasn't as forceful as she had thought it would be, it was more pleading. But Hiei would never plead with anyone; it wasn't his style.
"Fine, say what you will, but I know what I felt from you." She growled.
"You may be an empath, but you are inexperienced and cannot tell the emotions apart. What you felt from me was worry, but not that you had already seen past the defenses that I had placed up years ago, it was worry that you would reject me since you saw who I really am. I was going to ask you something, but I feared you would reject me. You read my emotions correctly, but you misinterpreted them." Hiei explained. He felt strange, he had never shown anyone what he felt, his fear. But she forced him to express it, if he kept up the image he had created while around her, the price would have been very high, one he wasn't willing to pay.
Amara listened to him, she sensed everything he did and she knew he was telling her the truth. She stared at him in shock and guilt was clearly written on her face. She had almost lost the best thing that had happened to her.
"I'm sorry." She said softly. "What did you want to tell me?" Hiei looked at her, emotions conflicting through his crimson eyes. He seemed to be debating something but that was only a fleeting feeling she received from him.
"Will... will you be my... mate?" He asked slowly. Amara's expression faltered. She thought about what he had just asked. It was a big commitment, was she willing to make it? She had always been a free spirit, never wanting to be pinned and trapped. All she wanted was freedom from the limits set.
But then she thought back to the conversation she had with Meera. She remembered her best friend saying that she understood her need for freedom and fear of being caged.
::Flash Back::
"What are you so scared of?!" Meera shouted at her friend. Amara looked away.
"I'm not scared." She mumbled.
"Oh really?" She challenged, putting her hands on her hips.
"Yes, that's right, I'm not scared, I'm terrified." She said, looking away. "I'm terrified of being caged, not allowed to explore as I wish. You have seen the other women, when they married, they were not allowed from the house, they stayed inside and cooked and cleaned! I don't want to end up like that!" Amara shouted even louder. She felt her own temper rising fast.
"I understand." Meera said, her expression softened into on of understanding. "I know how much you crave freedom. You're like the ocean itself." She gestured to the window at the part of the sea that flowed into Atlantis.
"You are like the ocean in so many ways. You're always changing, forever shifting, just like the ocean tides and waves. You can be calm one moment and the very next you are destructive and violent as the ocean storms. You have a strong spirit, one that has not and will not be tamed. But, I know that Hiei will not hold you back. If anything, he will give you the freedom and adventure you desire so much. He would also become the prince of Atlantis, giving you someone to share the burden with." Meera explained.
"Thank you, Meera." Amara said. She smiled at her best friend.
::End Flash Back::
'Yes, that's right, she told me exactly how she saw me.' Amara thought. 'I have you to thank for this my friend.'
"Of course, nothing would make me happier." She said happily. She cupped his face in both her hands and kissed him, it was short but enough. Hiei moved to her neck and sank his fangs into her neck, leaving his mark. It was over before Amara knew what was happening.
"Let's go find those kids." Hiei said.
They left the cave together. The area around them was filled with evil. Demons were roaming everywhere, just wandering about. Hiei and Amara stayed out of sight of them. They searched through the city. Since Amara could sense the demons emotions and it was giving her a headache, she was able to find the paths that contained the least amount of demons.
Hiei could see that she wouldn't last much longer. He could see and sense the pain that she was in. Though if you didn't know her, you would have missed the signs. He looked around at the surroundings they were in.
They were at the base of a cliff. Amara had said that she could sense something similar to that of the ghosts of the two families that had visited her. She found a cave hidden among vines and such. She froze them and shattered them with a strong kick.
She and Hiei peered in, stepping over the shattered ice. The cave was small and the ceiling was low, but they were short and able to stand with out worry of hitting their heads. Amara looked around. No one had ever been in this cave by the looks of it. So what had she sensed?
"There is nothing here." Hiei said, looking around.
"I know what I sensed." Amara said stubbornly. She went to the back of the cave; something was glowing with a blue light. "Look." Hiei walked behind her.
In the cave wall was a gem. It was lodged into the wall, and from the looks of it, it was a sphere. It was ice blue and glowed brighter as Amara got closer. She reaches out a touched the gem, gently running her fingers over the glowing surface. Then, the gem fell out of the wall and rested in Amara's hand. The gem was indeed spherical and slightly smaller then a golf ball. There was a beautiful silver chain attached that only added to the beauty of the gem. The gem pulsated with power and purity. That was what she had sensed.
"It's the Gem Of Kaiyou." She said simply. Hiei was behind her, looking at it over her shoulder.
"How can you be sure?" He asked. She turned to face him, and outstretched her hand for him to see.
"I'm not sure. Its aura is so familiar. I can sense it, the power, and it's the gem all right." Amara said, still memorized by the gem's beauty.
"What is to be done with it?" Hiei asked. Amara looked up at him.
"Lady Kaiyou's daughter and I share the same powers. She was the one who was originally supposed to release the true paradise. But she doesn't exist, so I have to do it." She explained.
"Are you sure you have the right power to do this?" Hiei asked.
"Never know till I try." She smiled at him. Hiei nodded.
"Lets go back to the other cave and do it there, were there are no demons." Hiei suggested. Amara nodded and they headed out of the cave.
They had gone out confidently, neither sensed any demons and they believed they had nothing to fear. But it's as they say, 'always expect the unexpected.' Amara and Hiei were walking side by side when Hiei suddenly stopped.
Lying in my bed I hear the clock tick,
And think of you
Turning in circles confusion
Is nothing new
Flashback to warm nights
Almost left behind
Suitcase of memories,
Time after
Amara turned around and looked at him, her expression puzzled.
Sometimes you picture me
I'm walking too far ahead
You're calling to me, I can't hear
What you have said
And you say go slow
I fall behind
The second hand unwinds
"What's wrong?" She asked. He seemed... frozen?
"I... can't... move." He said. Amara stared at him like he was crazy. "RUN."
If you're lost you can look and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall I will catch you I'll be waiting
Time after time
If you fall I will catch you I'll be waiting
Time after time
Time after time
"Why? What's going on?" She demanded. Suddenly, a demon appeared out of the trees.
"You will pay for entering my territory, half breed!" It shouted. The demon had its sword drawn. Everything seemed to happen in slow motion. The sword pierced Hiei through his back, fully puncturing his heart. The demon brought the sword up, slicing through Hiei's shoulder bone, as he flew overhead. Amara watched everything in slow motion, her eyes wide and her mouth open.
After your picture fades and darkness has
Turned to gray
Watching through windows I'm wondering
If you're OK
And you say go slow
I fall behind
The drum beats out of time
"NO!!!!" She shouts. She runs towards Hiei as he falls, his expression pure shock and pain. "HIEI!" She caught him as he fell.
If you're lost you can look and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall I will catch you I'll be waiting
Time after time
If you fall I will catch you I'll be waiting
Time after time
Time after time
She sat on her knees, cradling Hiei's dieing body. Silver tears fell from her face, tears of sadness and anger. Hiei slowly brought up a hand to wipe away her tears. She leaned into his touch.
"I'm... sorry... I love...you." He sighed as he drew his last breath. Hiei went limp in her arms, his hand falling away from her face. Amara's body shook with heart wrenching sobs. She kissed his forehead and stood, gently laying his body down.
She glared at the demon; her power surged through her and around her. The Gem around her neck glowed with same amount of power. She was in a rage, powered by her anger. She lost control.
mmm...time after time
Oooh...time after time
Time after time
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Author Note: Okay, the story is coming to a close, Hiei is dead and Amara is in a rage. I want to thank Celadine-Girl and Dark Chobit for reviewing when no one else did. Don't forget to review, I'll update faster. Ja ne till next time... Also, I don't own the song Time After time, Eva Cassidy does and I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho either.