dont own , i'll never own YYH


Chapt. 35

Holding on for Dear Life

"Have you forgotten me already?" Kisho asks in fake disbelief. "The Ningenkai must've taken a toll on your mind as well. Shame. I'll have to remind you!"

The flames flew wildly. A strong wind came up and threatened to toss me about. Everything became black as a starless and moonless night. Lightning flashed and thunder clapped. I felt water around mid-shin. The strong scent of sakura plants filled my nose. Elemental wolf Kisho, calling forth the elements he controlled.

I could see the heat radiating from his hot, burning flames not too far off. He hadn't moved. The heat flickered, almost like it had gone out and came up with only a split-second interval. Lightning flashed again. There was no body in those flames. A clap of thunder and I make contact with the ring floor.

I pick myself from the water and glance around me. There was no Kisho.

I'll find him with the shadows. I slip away into the black abyss that surrounded me. Here no thunder roared, no lightning flashed, no water stood, but the smell of sakura plants lingered. Out of the corner of my eye, a flame flashes. The smell is gone.

So the plant scent remains with him. I come from the dark into a flashing darkness. An artificial darkness. I hated artificial darkness. The smell of Kisho's plant lingered through the howling wind. A flash of light and a clap of thunder.

"I know you can hear me, so listen well," Kisho says in his vanilla thunder voice. "I can beat you now. I've become stronger than all of my clan. I will defeat you; and you won't be able to mock me any longer."

"I've discovered how to beat you Kisho, so be ready," I growl over a clap of thunder. "And I call forth a hot light!" I pull a pure red marble from my jean pocket and fist it tightly. Flames burst from my body and swirled about. The high water evaporated, creating a thick steam. It seamed that Kisho had sealed of the ring with his wind abilities.

Sakura plants smelled beautiful to me. I could follow their scent through anything. The scent moved around me, like a lion to its prey. It sped towards me. Thrust. I dodge easily and return the attack with my own. The wolf of elements gasped for air, as his diaphragm would not allow it just yet. While he lay stalled, I thrust a fire katana into his stomach. The howl that flooded from the pain hurt my ears. The wind walls fell and the steam ran free.

Kisho lay on the ground, sprawled out, but held by my katana, in his own, splattered blood. I call the flames back to me, sword and surrounding.

"It appears that I've won," I hiss.

"And Darkfire takes the point!" the ref girl calls.

Kisho coughed up blood, turning his head to sputter it out. I pick up his limp body and carry him to his teammates' side of the ring.

"Congratulations," came a deep, thundering voice.

I walk back without a word. My mind had become hazy and my body felt weak. Everything was blurry, and my skin felt like fire. The stone of fire was safely back in my pocket, so that wasn't causing my pain. As I stepped from the ring, I fell to the hard, cemented ground. There were strange shouts around me, incoherent things. Everything was red and fuzzy; my breath fell heavily. Hands touched my face and pulled away sharply. Fingers danced about my cheeks. A loud jumble of words reached my fading ears. My throat ran dry, disabling my speech. I was burning.

Darkfire? Can you understand me?

Only in my head, Hiei. But even here, it's fading.

Just hold on a moment longer. The battles will end soon. Just stay with me.

What's wrong with me, Hiei? Why can't I move?

We don't know. Just stay with me; don't leave me.

Never, Hiei, not even if my life depended on it.

Your life depends on you staying here.

Ok. I take a sharp, painful breath. I was so hot, I couldn't breathe, and I couldn't rid myself of the heat. I couldn't see anything but red, even when I closed my eyes. I could no longer hear the mumbling of people, the loudness of the ref, the shouting of the crowd, nothing. Was it true? Did my life depend on staying with Hiei?

Darkfire?!

Right here.

Keep breathing, ok?

I am.

You weren't.

I'm trying, Hiei. I'm so hot. And tired. Can't I sleep?

No! You must stay awake! We're almost done. Just stay with me.

I will, Hiei. I'm staying here with you. Are we winning?

Of course we are.

I'm slipping Hiei, I can feel it.

Tell me more about your mother.

She was a tall, slender fox. Red as blood with eyes like the moon. I loved to play with her blood red tail, tipped with snow-white color. Long, flowing hair of silver and red, she used to let me braid it. She taught me little charms that I could play with. I used to make my ball roll back to me, like I was playing with a friend. She showed me how to hear the trees and flowers and grass talk. I miss her. I wanted to cry, but no tears would fall.

Sounds wonderful.

I didn't mean to make you feel bad.

No, don't think that. I asked.

My breath stops short. Everything stops working. My mind was fuzzy and fading. The red got deeper and deeper. I could feel nothing but the burning pain within my body. I couldn't struggle for air, I couldn't beat the ground for help, I couldn't do anything to relieve myself with air. Silk touches my lips. Air rushes through my lungs, but not enough to let me breathe. The silk again touches my lips. And again air floods into my lungs. I gasp for more.

Stay with me.

I'm trying, Hiei. Are the battles over?

One more. Just hold on a moment longer.

Am I gunna die?

I won't let you! Don't think about that, just stay with me. Don't leave me.

Even in thought he sounded terribly worried. But I couldn't think why. Never had he shown compassion to another soul but Yukina when he could. What made me so special that he would be worried? Why did he care about me? I wasn't special, just an ordinary demon. But this man held back his yearning to weep. Why?

You're going to live Darkfire. Even if I have to breathe for you myself.

I won't leave you.

It's time to get help, hold on.

Always. I'll always hold on, even in death. But don't let that happen, please. I need to protect them, and you. I'm holding on to you for life, don't let me slip. I love you, Hiei.