Tears of Amethyst

Nope. Don't own.

--

Botan opened her eyes, blinking. She was in Youko's arms, her head leaning on his shoulder. She lifted her head and looked around. Akuro was just behind them and Yuusuke was behind her. Kuwabara was bringing up the rear. The ropes had been placed in their packs a while back. She had no idea how long she was out. Akuro cried out suddenly and looked down at her left leg.

"It's poison!" Youko said, biting down on his lip. He gently lowered Botan to the ground and went over to tend to Akuro. Botan's worried gaze soon filled with relief when she heard that the girl would be all right. Kuwabara picked her up, having heard Youko's advice to her about keeping off her leg. "It will take time for the antidote to work." He then went over to Botan but she shook her head. She stood up on her own, remaining silent. She watched the ground. She didn't want to get poisoned. "You okay?" She nodded. She fell back and took her pack from Yuusuke, smiling slightly.

"Thank you for carrying it for me." She said quietly. He nodded. She went back up, walking just in front of Youko. She felt a little frightened. She was new to all of this. Mostly new. The heat was making all of them sweat. The day went by with little events, except for the fact that they had to stop at least five times because one of them would collapse. Botan sat down, panting so much that it almost hurt to breathe. She closed her eyes and rested her head in her hands. The heat was almost unbearable.

"What are we going to do, Hiei?" Youko asked, taking the little koorime out of hearing range. "They cannot take the heat much more."

"I don't know what is to come next but the heat is just the beginning." Hiei looked ahead and closed his eyes. "My Jagan cannot be used in this sense, either." Youko's amber eyes went to the grains of sand beneath his feet. He chewed on his lip in thought.

"How much further, do you think?"

"Hn." Hiei responded, looking into the distance, a faraway look coming into his crimson eyes. "I do not know. There is something out there, though. I can feel it." It was making him feel jumpy. He didn't like it.

"Whatever it is, it must be guarding the end." Hiei looked back at the calm composure of the kitsune. However, he was not fooled by the unmistakable unease in the kit's eyes. "We can't afford to make mistakes now."

"A mistake will cost us our lives." The fire koorime crossed his arms across his chest.

"What kind of riddle is this?" Not even the expert Spirit Fox could figure it out, eh? "I can feel something.." Hiei's eyes widened when the fox said that.

"What?" Only certain demons were in tune to the dangers of possible threats. The fox's eyes widened. He paled visibly. His ears pressed back against his head and a low growl rumbled in his throat. His eyes narrowed. His sharp vision caught sight of a movement. Hiei could see nothing nor sense anything but the abrupt change in the demon's behavior let him know something was wrong. He followed Youko's gaze. Nothing but a cloud of dust.. "A sand storm?"

"No." Youko's voice was cold, sharp. Hiei backed up slightly, continuously glancing at the approaching dust. "A demon." The humans seemed unaware. "Stay here and guard them. I will go ahead and meet it before it can get here." Before the koorime had the chance to say anything, the kitsune was off, running swiftly toward the demon that he was able to see. It twisted toward him and he jumped away, amber eyes scanning its length. It was a huge, worm-like creature with a huge mouth filled with razor-sharp, jagged teeth. Its massive body writhed and heaved as it used heightened senses to locate him. Youko knew that he was out of luck with plants. He frowned and took a rose from his silver locks, transforming it into his rose whip. The thing's body was so hard that the whip barely scratched it. He grimaced. If he didn't figure out a good way to kill this demon, he would be dead. He wondered if there was a weak spot to this thing. So far, in his examinations, he found none. He would be dead in less than two minutes if he didn't hurry up and kill it.

-

Hiei got back to the others and they raised their gazes to him. Botan's hand came up to her mouth. Her eyes became wide and she started to shake.

"Where is Youko?" He swallowed and looked back to where dust was starting to settle. "Hiei?"

"He went to battle the demon alone." She stood up. "Don't go." She looked at him, narrowing her amethyst eyes.

"Are you going to try and stop me?" He didn't answer her but stared coldly instead. "Wait here and do not follow." She walked calmly toward the battle. "Youko, wait. Stay alive. I will be there to help you."

-

He staggered, stumbling out of the way of an attack. He had to save the others. His amber eyes widened fearfully as the creature let out a loud battle cry. It was going to devour him. He had been wounded and could hardly move out of the way of the thing when it writhed and tried to attack him. He sure as hell couldn't move fast enough to get out of the way if it tried to eat him. His blood dripped down from his arms and legs, being absorbed by the dry sand. He closed his eyes, knowing his end was near. The creature moved with astonishing speed and he was just a few inches from being creature food when the demon let out an indignant wail. He looked up, seeing a blue energy shield covering him. Then he saw Botan. He nearly cried out in horror. Was she trying to get eaten!? He watched helplessly as she used her powers against the creature. The sun was setting. At night, the air would be so cold that the creature would probably freeze, being covered by a thin sheet of sweat. Botan reached out, forcing all the energy she had left into a blast that would kill the solar system itself. Youko banged on the shield when he saw her fall to the ground. The creature shrieked then was consumed by the energy in a large explosion. The kitsune's blood ran cold and his mouth hung open in disbelief and horror at what he had just witnessed.

"Botan!" The shield vanished and he ran forward, his injuries forgotten as he dropped to his knees where she had fallen. Where was she? He battled his emotions as he futilely began to dig weakly in the grains of sand. His vision blurred until he could no longer even see his hands. He closed his eyes and bit back an anguished cry. Only now he had realized how much she truly meant to him. He could feel his hot tears as they continued to soak his face. His ears drooped in despair. Why had she even come? Why!? He wanted to scream but he had no voice.

"Come now, mourning an enemy is something I have never heard of." He looked up and his eyes widened. He was certain it was a mirage.. a trick.. something! But she kneeled down next to him and touched his wounds, healing him instantly.

"Botan.." She could see the torment in his eyes.

"Youko, you scared me! Do not ever do that again!" She threw her arms around him and hugged him close.

"If you promise not to do that to me ever again."

"Do what?"

"Interfere in my fight. You could have gotten hurt.."

"I know you're concerned for my well-being but if you're in trouble then I will help you." She grinned. "Besides, I found out that I can do anything if I try. That blast may have killed me but.."

"May have? I thought it did!" He frowned, narrowing his eyes at her.

"Is that why you.." He nodded.

"Let's get back to the others before they begin to think we're both dead." She didn't say anything but followed him.

-

"We still have a long way to go, I think." Hiei mumbled as they continued to walk toward the end. "I know this is the way."

"At least the heat vanished." Akuro said as she walked ahead of Kuwabara. Youko had finally allowed her walk on her own. She didn't like this feeling she was getting. They were waiting for the next test. The temperature slowly decreased as night fell. They continued still, wanting only to get through this damn foresaken land. Botan stayed close to Yuusuke and Youko, right in between them. She was behind Youko but in front of Yuusuke.

-

Botan yawned and opened her eyes. They had stopped and camped after a few hours, unable to continue due to the fact that the heat had worn them down before and they were making up for the rest. She sat up, looking around. Everyone was still asleep except for Youko. Even Hiei had fallen asleep.

"Are you okay?" She asked, looking over at him. He was facing the direction in which they were heading, his blanket wrapped loosely around his shoulders.

"Yeah." He responded, turning his head to gaze at her. "I don't sense anything but it doesn't make any sense." He had a bad feeling and it was making him uneasy.

"What test is next?"

-

Sorry for the long wait.. n.n; Extreme writer's block.