dont own YYH


Chapt. 61

And the Sky Bled

A month had nearly come and gone by this point. Everyday was about the same: train, train, train. Nothing else really mattered. The wolves worked extra hard, under the careful watch of Hiei and my uncle, Ikemasan. Ikemasan was my father's elder brother. He's a tough, rough, rowdy white wolf with a smile that could fool the damnedest of demons. I never really knew him, but he sure knew me.

Koh, my uncle on my mother's side, and Kurama worked with the foxes. It wasn't long after I came to the wolves with Hiei and the others that Koh showed up. Koh and Ikemasan were good friends, and they both agreed that an alliance was needed. I suppose this was as good a time as any.

Everybody soon realized that differences had to be put aside and they had to start treating the others as brothers (or sisters). Even I was treated with a respect I had never known. I truly felt as though I belonged there, and that felt good.

But happiness can only go so far.

Especially when it's on the eve of death…


"Darkfire, they have no fear, why do you?" Yusuke asks me as I pace the encampment.

"They will be fighting panthers that have little experience fighting wolves and foxes. I will be facing a panther bent on revenge. And this panther is a deadly foe. And he knows how I fight, making him all the more deadly," I answer crossly, shuffling the dirt.

"He knows how you fight with claws and fire. Take up a sword and fight him with steel."

I stop and look at Yusuke solemnly. "I don't think I can anymore. I've gone so long without using one." He takes my hand and gives it a gentle tug.

"Come with me." He leads me through the camp in a manner that might remind you of a wandering drunk. I don't question him or struggle, just follow obediently.

After a few minutes of wandering, we stop outside a small tent. Yusuke lets go of my hand a slips inside, leaving me standing there in confusion. I know he wants me to follow him in there, but I can't imagine why. After debating with myself on the issue, I step in.

Inside the tent was dark and warm. Yusuke stood off in a dark corner, looking at a stand in the middle. My eyes turn to the rack as well. I notice it was a katanakake. On it were the three weapons that were once on the wall in the room I woke up in a month ago. They were my weapons.

"You guys kept these?" I ask him, kneeling before the blades.

"Why wouldn't we've? We knew you'd be back." That was his answer. And it was all he had to say. I grip the katana's scabbard in my left fist. Carefully, I lift it off and flip it over so I can unsheathe it. It all came back to me. The grip on the hilt, the weight of the steel, how I got it, everything.

"Yusuke, I don't know what to say anymore."

"Say yes."

"To what?"

"To a small spar with me. Y' know, see if ya still got it in ya." He gave me this cocky smirk and I just had to wipe it off. Smiling at his small victory, he led me out of the tent and into an open spot. "Now, attack me."

I had re-sheathed the katana in the tent so I held it at my side, as if to have it in a traditional belt. Stepping into a nekodachi, I prepare for my attack.

Yusuke takes up his traditional street fighting stance, but letting his arms rest at his sides. His fingers twitched occasionally, letting his brain concentrate on moving those to defend. And his eyes locked onto my shoulders, waiting for them to twitch, giving away my next move.

I sprung forward and then dodged to the right, disappearing from a normal person's sight. But not Yusuke's. He followed my every movement perfectly. I still hadn't unsheathed my katana, but I decided now was the time. It slid out easily and glinted threateningly in the moonlight. The slashes were silent and deadly, but Yusuke evaded them all narrowly. It felt as though the katana had a mind of its own, and moved where and how it willed.

Blood sprinkles on my face so I stop. I was in mid-swipe and mid-step, but I froze in my position for a moment before resting. It was true that I had hit Yusuke, for the blade shined red. Looking over at Yusuke, whom stood a few feet away, I notice a small slice down his left arm.

"Dochirahe?" I ask, wiping the bloody blade on the grass before sheathing it.

"Yoroshii," he answers, brushing the blood away like it was just a paper cut. I walk up to him, tear off the bottom of my shirt, and wrap up his arm.

"It's the least I can do for hurting you just hours before you face panther demons," I whisper, tying a knot and then looking into Yusuke's eyes.

"They're here." It was a stern remark as he looks off into the distance. I could feel them too. He leans into me and kisses me gently on the cheek. My face flushes into a deep red. "For good luck," he says. "Don't worry, Hiei can have you." This just makes my face redder and I look down at the ground.

Howls are soon heard, signaling the coming of the demons. I grab my katana and race off to the front of our forces. Hiei is there, waiting for me. Koh and Ikemasen were there too, looking to me for orders. But I had none to give.

"Just don't die," I tell them, turning to look for Tanashi. They give me the same advice.

"Don't let her go, Hiei. You're just what she needs now, a shoulder to cry on," Koh whispers to Hiei. I make no motion to glare at my uncle, just scan the oncoming panthers for my enemy.

Dark clouds roll overhead and lightning etches across the sky. Thunder claps and roars monstrously. Rain began to beat upon our heads. Usually rain his cold and clear blue. But this rain was warm and a deep red. Water pooled at my feet. As I stare at the puddle, I'm reminded of all the blood spilt by my hands.

I made the sky bleed.

"The sky bleeds from scars of old," Hiei says, staring at the sky.

"What?" I ask, looking at him.

"A long time ago, the sky and Heaven waged a war. Both wanted control of the earth. The war went on for a long while. Both were scarred and beat pretty bad, but neither would quit. Finally, they decided to share. So they became one. That's why when people look to the sky, they look to Heaven, too." He gives me a smirk and turns back to the sky. "They bleed from a battle long ago, and to warn of the one to come."

"I knew the battle would bring blood, from both sides, but I never expected Heaven and the sky to bleed as well. Especially before the fighting even began."

"The fighting started a long time ago."

The panther demons stop before our lines. They are merely a mass of shadows in this raining blood. I could pick out individual shapes, but no details. I knew my warriors could make out less this far away, but in close combat they'd be able to see them. The falling rain killed their sense of smell.

Save them from slow death, dear gods. If death is their fate, let it be swift.

"Tanashi!" I call out over the thunder. A dark shadow pushed through the panther crowd towards the front.

"There you are, murderer! Ready to die so soon?" he mocks.

"Something like that!" I answer, growling threateningly. The shadows begin to move swiftly towards us, making for an attack. I avoid their numbers and rush out to the other side, waiting for Tanashi. "Come on!"

"I will kill you for what you did to my daughter!" He rushes at me with all his rage. I draw my sword to block his as it came down upon me. "Your blood will fall as this rain when I'm through with you," Tanashi hisses as he towers over me, trying to overpower my defenses.

"Tanashi, I have my own vengeance to fulfill. You can kill me in Hell!" I snarl, side stepping him and slashing him across the back. He lets out a deafening hiss and cuts me across the stomach.

Everything begins to move so fast, all my mind thinks on is the battle. Dodge, parry, slash, strike! Blood hit everywhere; I couldn't tell what fell from the sky and what came from Tanashi or me. Fire blazed in his cold eyes. But his rage did not make him stupid. No. He kept coming at me with his head on straight and his mind in the fight.

Suddenly I find myself struggling under Tanashi's blade. I was being pushed into the bloody mud and the only thing protecting my neck from his katana's wrath is my blade and strength. It gets closer to making its cut with every moment. My strength is leaving me and I can feel the blades slipping.

I cannot give up yet. I must win.

"Maybe you can have another chance to slay me in Hell. But it seems that I win this battle," Tanashi hisses, pushing closer to me. His breath is hot on my face. The rain is making it harder to hold on.

"Maybe," I breathe. "But I'm not dead…just yet." He simply scoffs at my remark and grins manically down at me as the blades rest on my flesh. "I don't die easy."

He knees me in the side to try to get me to slip on my grip, but I only wince and hold strong. From his position, straddling my ribs, the kick doesn't hurt much.

If I die, there's no bringing me back. I won't come back like Hiei did. Enma will make sure of it.

Death would come on swift wings if my blade slipped.

Quick and painless.

Hiei, Yusuke, Kurama, Kuwabara, Osadyro, all of you, I'm sorry.


katanakake - sword rack

Dochirahe - haow are you? (used as: are you ok?)

Yoroshii - fine, all right