A/N: I've decided to try to continue this story and finish it off. It's been two years since I've started it, and I think it needs to be put to rest. Though as I'm thinking of how I want this story to progress and finish, I realize that I don't really have any experience in the romance area, being only 16. But I will try my best, and I once again express great gratitude to all who read this story.
Last Time: Etaila was sitting in a corner in her room.
It felt like minutes— seconds, really—, but Etaila knew that it had been hours when the sky started to lighten up a few shades of blue. She knew it had been hours when she heard the quiet rustling of clothing in a room across the hallway. She knew it had been hours when, as she stood up, her joints stiffened from the sudden movement of her limbs from her. She knew, but it felt like seconds. The demon rubbed her eyes and sighed, leaning against her wall for support.
That was the best night of my life. Etaila thought bitterly to herself. She sighed again, turning to her sliding glass doors. On the other side was the garden she helped grow. That's were I met— She stopped herself and turned her head to the side, staring at the floor. She couldn't believe that she had only been at the temple for two days. It feels like two weeks. Everything feels so out of place. Everything was so messed up. She thought she already knew who the 'destined' one was supposed to be. It was supposed to be Kurama. Etaila was so sure. He fit everything that she needed for the rest of her life.
How could it all change in one day? The thought held an angry note, and she opened her glass door and stepped outside, shivering when her bare feet touched the wet grass. The garden was always so enchanting when it was dark outside. The stone pathways and the deep green plants made the garden look old, and Etaila always sat at the middle of the place to gather her thoughts. She has always done it, ever since her parents died when she was barely a toddler. Why stop now? She silently agreed with herself and walked out to the center of the large garden, already feeling the weariness of her lack of sleep fading.
Once her feet touched the middle stone of the pathway, she sat down, sitting up straight and closing her eyes. She wanted to meditate, to clear up her thoughts and put them into I some kind /I of order. But despite being in her little 'peace circle', she couldn't help but feel bitter. Why did he have to be so complicated! It's not like she asked for him as a lifelong partner. She had already chosen the one she wanted! Why couldn't fate see that?
Etaila frowned and opened her eyes, looking at the now lightened sky. Red and blue melded into purple as the sun started to finally rise. Taking a deep breath, Etaila couldn't help but sigh once more and fall backwards, softly hitting the stones. Ah yes, fate. Fate, fate, fate. It wasn't like she was some special type of demon. She wasn't half-bred, she was simply average. Well, not average … she was full-bred. And in her family, it was tradition to find the one particular demon to spend the rest of your life with, as the rest of her relatives did. And he's not even a full breed. Etaila sat up. That's right. He's half-Koorime. Then how does this work up? Etaila felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe it really was only lust! But my necklace— Her hand flew up to her chest, only to feel the skin of her neck. Etaila blinked before it dawned on her.
I ripped it right off my neck… It never occurred to her that she could take it off. She never did. Suddenly feeling the need to have it back with her, Etaila stood up and walked back into her room. The sky was now clear blue, and birds could be heard chirping madly, declaring their ownership of a tree. Everyone was up in the temple now. If you were close by, you could hear our demon humming an eerie tune to herself as she slipped back into her room. But there was just one problem, as she closed the sliding door and looked to the place where her necklace was thrown-
The necklace was gone. And so was Hiei.
How Etaila knew that our favorite fire demon was gone we will never know. But we do know one thing-
"Yukina!"
The young Koorime spun around just in time to see Etaila speed into her room, her red hair flying back.
"He's gone isn't he! He—"
"Yes," Yukina nodded, patting a spot on her futon, where Etaila promptly sat, "Yes, Hiei is gone. He left a while ago. It wasn't even dawn quite yet." Ah, so that was him. If he took her necklace, then she must have left just as he went into her room. But why would he take it? The demon decided to keep the necklace incident to herself as Yukina continued.
"He wrote a note to me, actually. Imagine, Hiei writing a note." Yukina giggled to herself. "He told me that he doesn't know when he's returning, and that he wishes me well, and Genkai." Not me, though. Etaila felt the oddest sinking feeling in her stomach, and she put her hands to it to try to stop it. Ignoring the pain, she smiled and nodded.
"That's good. The farther away he is the better," Etaila replied distantly, tilting her head. They didn't know when he was coming back. It could take years. Maybe she should start doing something with her life…
Her thoughts were broken, however, when she saw her friend frown. "Etaila, where is your necklace?" Etaila stiffened, but quickly said that she put it away. Then she asked quietly,
"Do you think he's going to come back, knowing that I'm here?" Yukina looked to her friend sadly. She didn't quite know what happened between Etaila and her brother, but she knew it wasn't good. She needs to stop thinking about him. He apparently doesn't want to see her ever again. She recalled a part of the note where Hiei said that he had 'complications' at the temple. Yes, Etaila definitely needed to forget about him, or at least focus on what can be achieved. She looked back at the red- haired demon.
"I think he will, eventually. I guess we should give him time. But while he's not here, why don't you try to strengthen your powers? You always said that you could do better right? Why not show me some of it now?" Etaila smiled. She loved making little flames. She could do control. She concentrated on making a flame in the palm of her hand. And blinked. Why wasn't the flame forming?
"!"
"What's wrong?" Yukina asked, her eyes full of concern. Etaila frowned. As much as she tried, she couldn't conjure her flames. She could still feel her powers; the force thrummed through her all the time. Yet this time, it feels like… Like someone locked it up and stole the key. Etaila thought in dismay, suddenly feeling the loss of her necklace. I have to act like a, a… a human. Not that she couldn't; she just rather not.
"Maybe this is fate," she told herself in a musing voice. She looked to Yukina, her grey eyes sparking with determination.
"Things are going to change around here. I don't need Hiei! I lived without him before, and I will do it again. Now, are there any academies around this area?" Yukina nodded warily.
"Why?" Etaila smirked, standing up.
"If I am deprived my youki, then the only thing I need to improve is my fighting skills." I don't need Hiei in my life. Etaila thought as she strode out of Yukina's room and into the kitchen, leaving her friend confused. When she entered the kitchen, she opened drawers until she found a pair of scissors.
I don't need to think about him. She walked into the bathroom and stared at herself in the mirror, a fierce look of determination written across her features. She fingered her hair, which rested a little under she shoulders. Lifting the sharp scissors, she leveled them to her chin, her hair between the blades.
I will prove to myself that I don't need anyone in my life. The scissors snapped, and long strands of blood-red hair fell to the floor, along with any new born hope to ever want to see or be with Hiei again.
end of chapter 9-
A/N: Alright, I want this story to finally finish, so hopefully I will have a new chapter up weekly so I can wrap this up. As you may or may not know, this I is /I a romance story, therefore there will most likely be a happy mushy ending. Unless I've feeling down, then expect heartache. We will see what happens next week!
