Pt7 training w/ Hiei
The surroundings were dark and unfamiliar. It was almost as if not even the moon wanted to shine here. Miya kept a good distance behind Hiei, not trusting herself to be anywhere near him. Somewhere in the distance a wolf howled, a lonely echoing sound that swept over them. Dried leaves scattered on the ground made it almost impossible to move quietly. Overhead an owl hooted its displeasure in the invasion. Suddenly Hiei pulled to a stop.
In front of them a porthole opened up. A chill wound down Miya's spine; something was not right. Brilliant light blanketed everything. Hiei stepped through and, after a moment's hesitation, Miya followed. On the other side was a large field, just as dark as the forest they left.
Then suddenly Hiei disappeared. She froze, wondering what was going on. His aura had completely disappeared, leaving Miya with a million questions and no one to answer them
"Lord Hiei?" There was no reply.
Many nights she had imagined all the things she would do the moment she was out of his grasp. She had made so many brilliant plans, yet now none of them came to mind. All she could think of was I'm alone.
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"Where the heck am I?" The wind screamed, kicking up dust and rocks. She shielded her eyes and almost immediately the assault stopped. She looked up to find a wall of vines shielding her.
Damn it! When am I going to get control of my own powers?
She settled down, curled among her plants as the wind raged around her, safe for the moment. She hugged her knees and, not knowing what else to do, fell asleep, unaware that as she dreamed tears escaped from her eyes.
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"Is this really necessary Hiei?"
"Yes. She needs to be able to operate in unfamiliar surroundings."
"That's not what I meant and you know it!" Koenma fumed from behind his desk. "I'm talking about the way you treat that girl!" He gestured wildly at the screen in front of him showing Miya sobbing in her sleep. "That's cruelty and borderline torture! We agreed …"
"We agreed that I would find her for you and that I would ensure she could control the incredible power Kurama spoke of. That is exactly what I am doing. She cannot access her full power unless she feels some sort of pain. If I had operated the way you wanted me to I would have gotten nothing done."
"You call this progress!?! The child is battered, all sense of dignity is shot – you're crushing her Hiei, not training her!"
"You saw Koenma. Don't lie and try to tell me you didn't see the way she reacted during the fight with me and the confrontation in the stable. I know you've been spying on me for some time now so you of all persons should be able to see that she's far from crushed." The toddler-looking monarch settled into his chair and eyed the koorime. "Incidentally, what I do to Kirai is none of your business."
"Damn it Hiei, her name is Miya!" Hiei coolly stared at Koenma.
"All you need to be concerned with is whether or not she will be powerful enough to stop a creature that you can't even manage. The answer is yes. She needs merely to be informed that this Banshi was responsible for her parents' death."
"What will happen if she doesn't stop after Banshi!? I doubt that Kurama would have wanted you to take away her empathy."
"To hell with empathy, damn it! It was damned empathy that got Kurama killed in the first place. I will not allow his daughter to make the same mistake!"
"Is that what this is about? Hiei, you're trying to create a monster, trying to turn that girl into something she isn't. You're going to cause her to hate herself. The fact of the matter is she's Kurama's daughter. Both he and her mother, Oh I can't remember her name right now--the kitsune who never got along with you, but both of them were kind hearted so naturally Miya would be kind-hearted."
"Her mother's name was Shinbi."
"That's beside the point! Stop changing the subject! Don't you even care what happens to her?" Hiei turned to leave.
"I will handle things my own way. I'd appreciate it if you would stay out." He turned to leave.
"So tell me Hiei, what can possibly be gained from making her hate you? I can tell you care for her. You're trying to toughen her up so she'll be safe from the emotional mind games that Banshi played on Kurama. In your own way you're trying to protect her. Are you really as immune to her hate as you would like to be Hiei? Or are you hiding your feelings for her because you're afraid, for both her and yourself?" Hiei whirled angrily and Koenma was immediately sorry he had said anything. The lord's entire body went rigid with rage and his eyes flashed.
Slowly and through clenched teeth Hiei spoke.
"The moment the tournament ends I want her gone."
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"You're daddy was a really strong fighter, Miya. You look exactly like him! I just know you're going to do great things like he did. I really wish I didn't have to go but you can handle it Miya, I know you can."
"Mommy! Mommy where are you going? I'm coming too!" Shinbi smiled and stroked her daughter's brilliant hair.
"You can't baby, I have to go alone."
"But mommy…" Shinbi floated towards the darkness.
"Miya, remember to answer to the name of Koji! You'll be safer as a boy."
"Mommy come back!" Little Miya screamed and tried to run after her.
The adults stood around, shaking their heads and whispering about the poor woman and her now-orphan child. Somebody pulled a sheet over her face and someone else held onto the struggling and crying little girl. Lord Jougen stormed into the room and swore.
"Shut up!" He grabbed Miya's shoulder and shook her. "Shut up, dammit. What kind of a fighter cries for his mother?" Miya glared and rose-like thorns grew from her fingernails and buried themselves into the mean man's skin. He yelled and slapped her across her face. "Lock the brat away somewhere and see that he doesn't get any food until tomorrow!"
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Miya awoke in a cold sweat, shaking violently. The dream had been so vivid! Sternly she told herself to stop being a baby. She pushed her sweat-soaked hair out of her face and leaned back against the vine. She wiped her eyes on her sleeves and took several deep breaths.
Mother, I dreamt of mother. I haven't had that dream in years.
She couldn't think about that now, she had to figure out how to get out of this place. She had no idea where she was. Lord Hiei left me here. Does he expect me to stay until he gets back? Even he couldn't be so stupid! I gotta get away from this place! But which way? She decided to pick whichever path stood out. Maybe that was the way home.
For miles on all four sides stretched grasslands and in the distance she could see mountains to the north and west. South and east gave way to forest. So far none of them stood out. Suddenly she had an idea. What if the difference lay underground?
She conjured up plants in the cardinal points from where she last saw lord Hiei.
"Darn it!" They were all identical. "Aw come on!" In her exasperation she accidentally broadcasted a mental blast, causing the earth to shake. Three plants blossomed and red flowers burst out. "Bingo!" The plant growing east withered after displaying a single white flower. Miya used her plants to crack open the ground beneath the white flower.
"Solid rock! Well that does it, I go east."
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When will it end? This forest seems to go on forever. Maybe I made a mistake. Miya sighed and sank to the forest floor. She had been traveling east for hours and still nothing turned up. Why the heck am I trying so hard to get back anyway? She was unable to tell.
She lay back and stared at the sky. The leaves of trees cast shifting shadows on her face. She closed her eyes and sighed.
Hiei, what the hell have I ever done to you? Why do you insist on torturing me?
Even now she could see his face in front of her. After all you put me through I'm still searching for a way to get back. Am I really so stupid?!
Suddenly her kitsune sense went on full alert. The world around her seemed to slow down as pushed herself up and turned around. She was too slow. Out of nowhere an arrow ran through her, throwing her backwards.
Her eyes widened in shock and her hands closed around the arrow.
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"I'm coming too mommy!"
"No baby…you can't."
"Mommy!" Shinbi disappeared and someone else came up behind her.
"You're letting me win Kirai." Miya whirled to face Hiei.
"No! I won't!"
"You're rolling over and playing dead just like the dog you are! No, you're worse than that. You're a slave, next to nothing."
"I'm a fighter! I'm not your property!!"
Hiei's face twisted with disdain.
"Then prove it Kirai! Get up and fight! Prove your worth and fight me Kirai!"
Her eyes shot open and turned black. Then she lost control.
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Koenma's breath caught in his throat as he watched as the girl melted away into red fox. She leapt at the nearest yokai, powerful teeth ripping out his throat. His friends rushed to his defense but were unable to draw their weapons before the fox whirled on them, crushing their bones.
"Hiei!" Koenma called out. "Hiei, you've got to stop this!" Hiei merely stared nonchalantly at the screen.
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Those that got away headed for their village as fast as they could but they weren't fast enough. Miya cut them down one by one, chasing a particularly fast one into the village itself. Screams rang out and pandemonium reigned. Yokai ran from their houses, armed with whatever they could find. She killed each with no effort at all.
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Unable to watch Koenma averted his eyes from the screen. "Hiei!"
"And what if I don't know how to stop her?"
"Damn Hiei! She'll wipe them all out! What the hell makes you think Kurama would have wanted his daughter to turn out like this?!" Hiei pondered that for a moment then turned to leave.
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Anything that moved was fair prey for the kitsune. Without warning she was jerked back mid-leap by a pair of hands closing around her neck. She struggled wildly, only managing to turn around. Her fighting increased as she laid eyes on Hiei's face. The only thing she could think of was killing him as she bared blood covered fangs.
His grip tightened, cutting off her air. The fox gasped for breath and Hiei's fingers constricted more. Slowly she stilled and Hiei dropped her.
"I said stop her, not break her neck!" Koenma's voice raged from mid-air. Hiei ignored him, focusing instead on the bundle of fur at his feet.
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Slowly Miya woke up, taking large gulps of air. What the hell happened to me? She was covered in blood yet she didn't feel any pain. Out of habit more than anything else she fixed her illusion. She felt a boot to her side and was rolled over onto her back. Her gaze hardened as Hiei's face came into view and she pushed herself up. Suddenly the smell of blood hit her. All around her lay dead and dying. It was then that she noticed the taste of blood in her mouth. She spat it out then jumped to her feet. An entire village was destroyed, its inhabitants all bearing fang marks. Feeling Hiei's eyes on her, she turned to face him.
"You don't remember." Not a question.
"Remember…" His unemotional gaze said everything. Miya felt herself go cold. "No! I can't…I didn't…" Hiei said nothing as the girl shook uncontrollably. Horror filled her as she spun around, eyes wild and not registering anything. Images swirled in her brain, threatening to swamp her. She felt a hand clamp on her shoulder, dragging her back to reality and forcing her to think semi-rationally. Slowly she focused on Hiei's face.
"Come Kirai, let's go home. You've done enough here." She nodded dumbly and followed.