Disclaimer: I own nothing sadly
Chapter 7 Our Enemy
He took off his longer addition to the cape and draped it over Korien's wet and swollen shoulders. She rested her head against his shoulder lightly. Hiei blushed slightly, still pondering in the back of his mind why he would find this emotion so frequently when he was around her.
Korien rested contently, staring at those stars.
"Why do you always look to those stars?" He asked curiously
"I don't know really, I guess, they're a million miles away. A million of them in the sky, each star, a being, I would say person, but since I'm not a real person anymore... Anyway, the stars is one of us, our souls, there are those that are bright, and those that are dim. I figure, if I'm one of so many, then it doesn't allow myself to, have such self pity, or worry about me dying. In the long run, I'm just another dim light, another will take my place, no big deal"
"What a barbaric way to think"
Korien look to him surprised. "Oh?"
"Was it not you, who told me, that every being had a purpose to fulfill. So if you were careless and died, wouldn't you not complete that same mission you told me we had to live for? Isn't that a bit hypocritical?"
"I guess it is," she whispered sadly rubbing her shoulder.
"Why do you let him do such horrible things to you? Why don't you just strike him back, or just leave?"
"I guess that'd be your answer to everything, to kill them."
"Hn. Well, I still would not have dealt with that abuse for the nine or ten something years you did. Even if he was my father"
"Well there's no rewriting the past now...." Korien didn't know that Hiei and Kurama had healed her father yet, and she was worried about him.
"He's fine, Kurama healed him"
"What?" Korien looked to him surprised. Hiei just pointed to his third eye "You read my mind?"
"Not really, nearly all of your mind has its own barrier, that thought, just happens to be the strongest, the easiest and most recent one. Anything else I wished to seek out, I can't"
Korien shoved at him lightly and he smirked "Don't try to read my mind anymore"
Hiei shoved her too, gently, for once "I doubt I'll need to, you wear your emotions in your eyes"
"I'm guessing that's a bad thing?"
"In battle, you never show emotion, enemies can use that to their advantage"
"Reading minds is easy, reading eyes is harder. The eyes are the windows to the soul, not many can read souls, and what people truly desire and need" Korien fell onto her back, fully stretched out on the sloping hill. Hiei laid back too, and laughed again.
"I don't understand how you can be so carefree sometimes, and that other moments serious. You have mood swings all the time."
"Well, you appear to be rough and jagged on the outside, and only at some times do you show me you are soft and gentle"
"Hn." Hiei looked away turning another red.
"What do you guys, what are you guys protecting me from?"
"What?"
"Well, your team's mission, is to watch over me, and, you know I'm not going to do anything evil, so there has to be another reason. What is it? I have a right to know"
"Korien, understand something about fire demons. Fire demons, are usually, only males. Just as ice apparitions, are only females. So for you to show up, a female fire apparition, it throws everything off. You also are, extremely powerful, if someone got a hold of you, there could be, trouble"
"Great, more men out to rape me, now its not even because they think I'm a dumb pretty blond but nooo now I'm a strong stupid pretty blond!" She growled again angrily.
"I will never let someone harm you that way again. That behavior of any sort shows that a man has no pride or respect within himself."
Korien wasn't sure if Hiei was promising to protect her, or he was much to ashamed of all male raced creatures and their lack of respect for anything. She sighed quietly, but then it felt as if a thousand shards had struck her head, and she grabbed it quickly yelping.
"So here you are, I found you at last, indeed we meet thy queen"
"What do you want? Who is this? Get out of my head!"
"So shall we meet from face to face, or in demise will your son's last breaths be"
"Leave Higue out of this! Who the hell are you?"
"Reveal myself to thy eyes, and lets not forget, not only will your son's breaths be in demise, but more so all those you shall hold dear, especially the forbidden one"
"Forbidden one?"
"Indeed. A place so dear left in for him, and yet it shall only be filled with betrayal"
"He would never betray me"
"Or indeed he shall, plotting now, and beginning his tactics, to leave you nothing but shattered hearts in autumn winds"
"GET THE HELL OUT!"
"Tomorrow at the park, under the fullest moon, be there, or you shall lose everything"
Korien screamed, and found herself encased in a fire vortex, her eyes were black, her hair shifting from blond to red as she cried helplessly, trying to hard to restrain whatever she had just done. She held her head between her hands, and looked before her to see a black figure on the other side of the abyss
"Korien! Korien! What the hell are you doing?"
Korien could hear Hiei and she called to him befuddled "What did I do?"
"Calm down, you have to focus all your energy. You have to get rid of this vortex before someone notices it"
"I...can't..." Korien screamed helplessly still holding at her head.
"Yes you can! Look just relax. Focus all your thoughts, everything you're feeling, the fear, the worry, put your soul into it."
Hiei's voice was calming, he was calm, he had faith in her. Her hair was flaring about in a messy tone, and she let her hands drift away from her head lifting them up to the sky. From her hands, sprinkled out many blades of light and energy, and soon the vortex began to shrink in size. The energy around her was warm, and she smiled gently as her hair returned to the natural blond, and eventually, the locks fell back down to her shoulders. It finally ended, and she let out a gasp, panting slightly with her eyes still shut gently.
"Korien?"
Korien opened her eyes gently, finally the olive green it was normally, and Hiei looked at her anxious.
"He found me"
"Who found you?"
"The one you're trying to protect me from" She answered tiredly, standing up wobbling. Korien held Hiei's cape close to her, as if it were to be her second skin. Hiei stood beside her, taking her by the wrist.
"What do you mean he found you?"
"He was, talking to me..." she said sadly. Hiei was so, discomposed, by Korien's face. "I don't think I can stay here anymore, without putting threat to Higue or anyone else here."
"What do you mean?"
"I can't stay...I have to go...I don't want anything to happen to Higue, or you"
"You can't just go, that's foolish, he'll kill you for sure!" Hiei grabbed at her wrist again as she tried to pull away.
"Does that really matter?" She asked gently turning back and looking at him. Hiei was stunned, what was she talking about. "My destiny, involves, him"
"Am I not part of that destiny? Is not your son or anyone sleeping in that house part of your destiny?" Hiei argued desperately.
Korien faced him once more smiling. She gently forced Hiei to release her hand, but she only laced her fingers through his. Hiei, easily went along with this, only from the loss and confusion that he was going through. Korien then, lightly kissed his lips and whispered in his ear.
"Everyone I love, is part of my destiny, a part of me. If you stay here, and protect my son, that gives me something to come back to. I won't lose, knowing there's someone here waiting for me. Please, protect Higue for me."
Hiei was marveled. He now saw that, she was keeping her friends and son here, was the ultimate proof of her love. She would, allow no one to risk their lives and perish for Korien's sake. It pained her, to leave her son behind, and leave everyone she had grown so attached to in the past few days. Korien's breath was beguiling against his ear, and her lips, had been so luscious, he had never felt this before. He was perplexed, but the overall feeling was barren and new to him.
"I will wait for you" he whispered finally.
"Thank you." Korien turned quickly
"You're leaving tonight, I assume"
Korien, would not even look to him, but nodded rashly, beginning the tears to stay in. "I have no choice" She ran into the house swiftly but stopped at the door "Hiei?"
"Yes?"
"Please don't follow me. I know you're capable of doing so, but please, don't. I could never, forgive myself..."
"I understand" he said finally
She ran into the house, and Hiei disappeared upstairs to his bedroom. For once, he'd use it.
Korien stood in the house, and was trying to figure out what to do first. Korien decided, it would be best to at least let everyone know what was going on, without revealing vital information. She quickly found a pen and paper, and sat at the kitchen table writing under a dim light.
After finishing, she quickly went to her room, putting on clean clothes. She looked around for Hiei's tear gem, which Higue had configured into a necklace with her own beads. She smiled draping it around her neck. She looked over to Higue's crib to see him sleep, and she kissed his forehead gently.
She exited her bedroom quickly, emerging into the hallway. The whole house right now, seemed eerily quiet. She grabbed some money from her bag, shoved it into her pocket, and under the light of moon and stars, she took off down the street, leaving the slumbering team behind.
"Boy I'm hungry, hey Korien can you cook me up some eggs?" Yusuke asked yawing walking into the kitchen. When he heard no response, he looked around opening his eyes, and saw no one was there. Yusuke saw a note on the table and walked over to it slowly. As his eyes first met the page, he let out a holler "Hey guys! GET UP NOW!"
There was the shuffling of feet, and Kuwabara moaning "Gees Urameshi some of us don't wake up every morning at 6 am. God."
"Shut up you moron"
"What is the ruckus Yusuke?" Kurama asked sleepily as he too entered the kitchen, Hiei walking slowly behind them all silent.
"She's gone" Yusuke barked
"Gone? What do you mean gone?" Kurama asked frantic
"Here" Yusuke handed Kurama the paper, and as his eyes skimmed it, he read it aloud.
Yusuke, Kuwabara, Hiei, and Kurama,
Team Urameshi
I'm sorry to leave as abruptly as I am, but I'm left with no other option. Please, take good care of my boy Higue. Please check up on my dad too if you get the chance. I will be back soon, I'm not sure of what date exactly.
You have all being so gracious and giving, that it is hard to express in words. Kurama, first thank you for allowing me to stay here in the estate, even if it was only for these three to four days. It seems like I've been here for ages, its hard to imagine. Everyone, you've been so loving and understanding with my situation, and it was truly nice to have someone who cared about me. I've learned a lot from all of you, you all having such admirable qualities.
As you all know, you're teams mission was to protect me from whoever would be after me, no name was actually given to me on who the enemy is, so pardon the poor explanation. Anyway, he has in fact found me, and if I wish to see you all live to breath tomorrow, I'm forced to flee.
Do not follow me. It is in your best interests that I figure this out on my own. My life hasn't been rainbows and butterflies, and to others, it might've seemed like Hell, but I'm content, with the life I lived thus far. I have no regrets, except that maybe I couldn't have more time with you all.
Be strong and live well,
Korien Meoji.
Kurama's hands were shaking as he held the paper, not believing the words he had just read aloud. Hiei looked away miserably, his heart wrenching in his chest. Kurama felt as though his world was shattering like shards of glass.
"She can't do that!" Yusuke screamed slamming his fist against the table "Damn her, doesn't she understand she'll be killed"
"Urameshi calm down" Kuwabara started trying to ease his best friend's troubles.
"Shut up Kuwabara! How can you be so calm?"
"Urameshi, she left to protect us. She's trusting us with her baby, the only thing in the entire world she cares about, come on, think about it, she's having faith in us, we have to have fate in them"
"Yusuke, call Botan, we're going to see Koenma' Kurama stated folding up the letter and leaving it in his pocket. Hiei looked to Kurama, eyes widening, but upon Kurama's face, was one full of determination.
"Koenma?" Yusuke and Kuwabara asked in sync
"Yes, no hurry, we have no time to waste" Kurama turned quickly back to his room, gathering some belongings, most likely the potion from way back, in the Dark Tournament, if Yoko Kurama had to be resurrected, then Hiei knew, that he would most definitely follow.
In a quick half hour, Team Urameshi and Botan arrived at Koenma's office.
"HEY KOENMA!" Yusuke barked
"Now settle down Yusuke, why are you intruding at such at time like this, where is Korien, it is your mission to keep her safe"
"Indeed Koenma sir, but its seems that our enemy has drawn her into a predicament"
"WHAT? YOU MEAN HE FOUND HER?!" Koenma stood up on his chair leaning over the desk. Kurama growled angrily
"Well maybe if we knew who the enemy was, we could have prevented her leave, but yet you told us nothing about him!"
"What your tongue Kurama, you are still under my rule!"
"What this arrogant buffoon wants to say is, who is the enemy, and how can we find Korien? I'm afraid his heart is in the way of his thoughts" Hiei finished calmly
Koenma sat back down in his chair and sighed
"Oh, there is no use avoiding this longer. Alright, listen here, you are all aware that Korien is a fire apparition. I'm sure Hiei knows best of all, that, her birth and existence throws everyone for a loop. Just as Ice Apparitions are only females in their certain protected colony, the same went for the fire demons of where she emerged.
Legends have been passed down for generations, of a beauty fire maiden who would appear in a time of need. She would be gifted with the greatest powers, descending from the fire god herself. This character, was described to be the one destined to rule the fire demons, either to bring salvation, or complete and utter destruction.
Korien, without a doubt in my mind, is that maiden. She was hidden in this world, to prevent the possibilities of an evil grasping onto her. As Kurama took shelter in his mother's womb, we placed the child, who is Korien, into another human mother. With no real wars or something that would arise her power, she was only seen as a school girl. Everything else in her life was normal, things Spirit World did not intervene in, including Higue, that was something fate had made.
The enemy, who you all so anxiously wish to massacre, his name is Rekan. He is classified as an S-Class demon." Koenma here cleared his throat "He is indeed what we believe to be, the strongest of the strongest. Rekan, would be considered, the devil of demon blood, but with also a hint of animal in him, we guessing the wolf, given his wolf's eye. Like Kurama, Kurama would know, he being a fox, animals can only be in heat at certain times" Kurama remains stern but flush flutters to his cheeks "Rekan's is only in the season of the cherry blossoms, under the blood moon. If he, has intercourse with Korien, they will produce the most powerful demon in the world."
"Why doesn't Rekan himself destroy this world?" Hiei asked
"Because Rekan has a weakness, fire. Fire is a gift from the gods, or says the legends from the beginning of time, if one can acquire the strengths of the gods, and the gift of the gods, he will have it all, Korien's power, when unlocked, is also, unmeasurable.
Tomorrow night, is the blood moon. But the intercourse is not as simple as it seems, one would think he would just rape her, but he cannot do that, or the legend shall not work. Rekan must first defeat her in a battle, one of fairness, no dirty tricks as one would think."
"Then what about the time she was raped?"
"She was raped by a human, a mere mortal, no one wanting the legend, just a low life. This only deals with demons"
"Wait wait wait I'm still lost. So, a demon can't have sex with her unless they beat her in a battle?"
"No, that's not completely true Yusuke. That is if, and only if he wishes to have her powers! Life force and energies are only transferred when the two people are adjoined, technically" Koenma coughed again "Anyone could have intercourse with her. It's a complex ordeal
I know you all will go to help her, that's most likely why you are here. But he'd my warning. Rekan is a powerful demon, one that we measure up to maybe twenty or thirty Toguros! The only thing he wants is to kill, and to have Korien."
"Heh I've been in worse fights before" Yusuke replied smugly "You shoulda seen Kayko after I got caramel syrup in her hair."
"Yeah don't worry, me and Urameshi will bring the little lady home safe and sound" Kuwabara added grinning and chuckling.
"Indeed, we will bring her back quickly"
"No one...is going anywhere" Hiei growled shutting the doors of Koenma's office
"Hiei? What is the meaning of this?" Koenma asked enraged
"I made a promise to Korien. We will not follow her. We are to protect Higue and remain at Kurama's estate"
"What? Are you fucking kidding me?" Yusuke screamed
"Shut up Yusuke! How could she ever win a fight, if he used us as hostages!"
"How can she win if she doesn't even know how to fight"
"SHE IS THE MAIDEN! Yusuke...she has been through so much, the rape, the disappointment, the torture from her father. She is truly the maiden, to have had the will to live through all that. Have faith in her"
"Don't give me that bullshit Hiei! Rekan is going to tear her apart"
"You will not go after her"
"GET OUT OF MY WAY OR I'LL----"But Yusuke never finished his sentence, as Hiei jabbed him in the chest, knocking him unconscious. Hiei slung Yusuke over his shoulder growling.
"We're going back to the manor NOW!" He bellowed dragging Yusuke's limp body to the door
"Hiei..." Koenma began "are you certain this is wise?"
Hiei did not even look at him "If she is the maiden, then she should handle this herself. She begged me to stay, and who am I, not to listen to the queen of my kind" I hope, I am not being a hypocrite, by not being there. Korien, you know I am your protector, please forgive me, for watching over you from a far.
As the boys returned home. Korien continued running, she had run so far without stopping, entering the next town. As she stopped and rested on a bench, she looked down at Hiei's tear gem and sighed
Please protect me
