dont own yyh

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Chapt. 24

A Small Truth and Another Team

"As I recall, Hiei has killed hundreds of thousands of innocent people. He's showed no mercy to those who begged. When his name is spoken, it strikes fear into the hearts of even the strongest of demons. Hiei is far from an angel," Tanashi explains to me.

"That's his past. He's different now," I tell him angrily.

"How do you know this man's soul?"

"I don't, but I can see it in his eyes. Hiei doesn't do that now."

"How would you know? How long have you known him?"

"For only a short time now, but I'm not blind. Besides, he's always with me," I whisper. Ever since I met the Reikai Tantei, Hiei's never left my side for more than an hour or so. Even while I slept, when I awoke his scent was everywhere. He watches me as he did Yukina before I came along.

"We're off subject now, Darkfire," he purrs in his native tongue. "I just wanted to tell you, because you ignored all instincts of the animals, you will perish in this tournament. Even if I have to run your team ragged with battles, you will fail. I have five teams of my own here, and if others don't finish you off first, they will enjoy desecrating you and your sad team." He walks among my time frozen teammates. He stopped at our young ice maiden and Hiei (they were standing next to each other). I jump in front of them.

"Get away from them!" I snarl, baring my fangs.

"I will have their heads on my wall soon enough. All of their heads!" he cackles. He fades away, as does his evil laugh and the evil he spread over the room. Time resumes in the room instantaneously.

"Is everything ok, Darkfire?" a soft voice whispers behind me.

I turn to face Yukina. "I'm fine," I assure her with a small smile. A hand is placed on my shoulder. I go stiff and the hair on my neck rises. A barrier of fire comes up around me. The hand is flung away and the owner lets out a yelp of pain.

I relax and look back at Yusuke; he was blowing on his hand.

"Sorry Yusuke, a little tense."

"Just thought you'd like to know that we're fighting in half an hour." He rubs his red hand. "Will this scar?"

"If it does..." I hold up my right hand.

"Right," he smirks.

"Do you know who we are to be fighting?" Kurama inquires.

"It says 'Team Kano'." Yusuke reads.

"The God of the waters? I guess they must be water demons," Kuwabara reasons.

"Not all water is in the form of liquid. They could be steam or ice," Kurama corrects.

"Or all three," Hiei adds.

While the team was talking about our upcoming opponents, I was staring off into the distance where Tanashi had come from. His jade eyes had once again held me captive while he spoke. Everything about me told me to run away, to leave them behind and save myself. Maybe that's what his eyes do. They try to get you to abandon everything you hold dear. But they also held you in place. They made you want to plead to be released. Even when he turned from me, something still held me. How could one demon possess that kind of power. For once in a long time, I was scared of my enemy.

"Are you Team Urameshi?" a silk voice asks.

I come from my faze and look at a tall boy. His white hair was tinted lightly with an icy blue color. Snow white wolf ears stood visibly on his head. Deep, ocean blue eyes gazed at me; icebergs floated on those waters, that's for sure. He wore a large tank top, similar coloring to his hair. Baggy, but not loose, blue jeans held a decent looking katana in its left belt loop. Two blue, almost like, triangles were painted below his left eye; one right under and the other more on his cheek. On his right forearm, was a silver arm guard; on his left forearm, an icy blue one with the Japanese symbol for ice on it.

He repeats himself.

"They are," I reply hoarsely.

"You aren't part of the team?" he asks.

"I am, but they're the team...I'm an addition," I clarify.

"I see." His voice was like vanilla silk; soft to the touch and sweet to hear.

"What were you needing?"

"Well, we are Team Kano. It says we're fighting team Urameshi first, so I thought we'd come meet our opponents before we hit the ring." He pauses. "I'm Yuushito." He puts out his hand.

I shake it enthusiastically. "Darkfire's the name, fightin's the game."

He takes his hand back. "This is Shoda and Yasha."

Shoda was a tall, skinny wolf demon. His sleek, white hair was tinted with a light grayish color. ­Light gray wolf ears stood attentively amidst his sleek hair. On the right side of his bare chest, the Japanese characters for steam were painted (I'd been working on my Japanese recently). Baggy, gray pants were tied neatly at his waist with a brown sash. His silver eyes were much softer than those of his leader. And in truth, a lot cuter.

Yasha, on the other hand, was masked by a long robe (similar to Hiei's thing that he wears) with a large hood that covered all but a cocky smirk.

"Nice to meet you all. I take it you know the rest of my team," I say, turning slightly to look at them. Hiei happened to be over my shoulder the moment I turned my head. "Good God Hiei!" I yelp, jumping back in shock.

"Scare you?"

"No shit, Sherlock!"

"Um...do you two want to be left alone?" squeaks Shoda.

"Why would you think we'd wanna be alone?!" I ask angrily, turning on Shoda.

"Well, you guys fight like..." he starts nervously.

"Say it, and I'll rip your head off!" Hiei barks, glaring at the frightened oni.

"Alright you two, calm down," Kurama says, stepping between us and Shoda.

"Yea, kiss and make up," Yusuke grins, pushing our faces into each other's. Our lips make contact. I back from Hiei – he was tomato red – and punched Yusuke in the gut and kicked him where the sun don't shine when he doubled over. All I heard was a mumble of pain, slight snickering, and another blow making contact to a person as I walked away to the room.

How dare Yusuke do that! Who did he think he was pushing us together like that?! I shoulda killed him. Hiei was already ticked at me, and was avoiding me...now he's got this to keep away from. How does my life get so screwed up when someone else is behind the wheel? I can't drive it myself, so I give it to another person and I crash. And I thought I sucked at driving my life. Yusuke and Kuwabara are gunna give me crap now.

I heave a large sigh.

"Phoo," a familiar blue creature whispers. A weight is placed on my right shoulder. I turn my head and see Puu sitting on my shoulder with sad eyes. I pet his head absentmindedly as I continue down the hall.

"Don't worry 'bout me Puu, I'll be ok. You're just lucky I didn't murder Urameshi after the stunt he pulled," I growl through clenched teeth.

"Phoo," he whispers again.

"You don't say?" I laugh, pretending to understand.

"Phoo."

"Yea, yea. He was only trying to help. Whatever you say blue buddy." I sigh again. "Can't he find a more subtle way to make things better though?" I ask him.

"Phoo."

"I guess." The odd conversation stops when we reach the door. "You coming in too?"

Puu says nothing.

"Ok." I twist the handle and walk in, shutting the squeaky door behind me. I walk to the room I would be sleeping in tonight and glance around. My stuff was in the corner. I rummage through my bag a bit before pulling out my new shirt and hooddy.

I switch shirts quickly and pull on my hooddy. There was a knock at the door.

"It's open!" I call, stepping out of the bedroom.

The door open slowly and Hiei steps in.

"Oh, Hiei, it's you," I say, more surprised than anything.

"Phoo!"

"Quiet Puu," I say, hushing the spirit beast.

"I'm sorry," Hiei says weakly.

"For what?"

"Kissing you."

"It wasn't your fault."

He says nothing and shuts the door. He starts to walk past me, but stops just beside me.

"Darkfire," he whispers, "be careful. I don't want you to put your life in danger just because you don't want us to die. Your emotions will betray you in the heat of battle."

"They haven't yet."

"We don't need another Kurama around."

"Is that what you think I am? A kind-hearted fool? I am no fool."

He turns to me. Putting his hands on my shoulders, he turns me to face him. "I know you are not. I just don't want you dying because of the emotions you have developed from living amongst humans."

"I won't die Hiei. I can't."

"Why do care about petty humans?"

"That's not why I can't die, Hiei. I can't because if I do, Yukina will surely parish. I cannot protect the living if I am dead. I made a promise, Hiei. And I intend to keep it."

"Just don't be stupid." He pulls me into a tight hug. My body freezes; my eyes widen with fear. A barrier flies up, but it surrounds Hiei as well. I couldn't understand.

I had defended him against Tanashi's words, but I didn't believe them. I knew he had changed, but not like this. This was a side of Hiei that I had never seen, or dreamed I would ever see. I had wished to see a gentler side, but this was scary. How could one moment change him like this? What kind of spell had he been placed under?


Shoda - show da

Yuushito - you she toe

Yasha - like in InuYasha, that kind of Yasha...get it?