IV
Deserts are no fun.
The trio reappeared in a desert oasis. Mirae turned and glared at the demon, slowing down the acid a bit more, wanting him to suffer. Shadow noticed this.
"Need I remind you that we need him alive? Right now he's our only lead."
"Yeah, I know. If he wasn't our only lead, He'd be dead already. But I'm telling you right now, that when this is over, I'm Not healing him."
"He has you that ticked off?"
"And now." Mirae put her full attention back on the demon. Who was now breathing heavily, and decent sized holes could now be seen in his shirt. In fact a good part of his wardrobe was starting to look like Swiss cheese.
"Now tell us, who is it?"
Once again, the demon only growled in response. His breathing got steadily worse, each breath was more painful that the last as the acid entered his lungs. His vision also got worse, it had gotten to the point where almost everything was blurry.
'Damn it, in a few more minutes I might go blind' he thought.
Shadow allowed concern to show on her face. She did not like seeing him suffer so much. Even if he did insult her.
"Why are you protecting him? Are you afraid of what he will do to you if you betray him?" asked Mirae, in an almost taunting tone.
The demon started to laugh, at least as best he could due to his condition. The very thought of him being afraid of Him, being enough. Despite the pain.
"Me, afraid of him? No, that's not the reason. I have no reason to fear him." he got an odd taste in his mouth, Blood.
"Then why protect him? What is his reason for doing this?"
"As I said before that's none of your concern" He then spat out blood. "And I'm sure you're smart enough to know you won't find him here."
Mirae ignored his last comment but did notice the blood.
"It seems the acidic mist has started to do significant damage to your lungs and tongue. Soon, they will be too damaged for you to speak, and if you can't talk, then you aren't of much use to us are you...?"
Shadow however, looked at the situation very differently. As she looked at the demon, she saw he was breathing heavily, and covered with acid burns. He brushed his arm agents his head, causing what was left of his head band to fall off. Reviling a slit on his forehead that could only be one thing...
"You have a third eye." said Shadow. Her voice soft yet carrying the tone of amazement. She had heard of such a thing. She also heard of its power. But they were very sensitive. Which would explain why he hadn't used it. Mirae only looked at the slit and scoffed.
"Mirae?"
"Yeah?"
"We need him alive. Look, he's barley able to stay upright. I don't think He'll be able to run."
Mirae sighed and looked at the demon. He was breathing heavily and his body was shaking ever so slightly. He was burned pretty badly by the acid, and did look tired.
"Yeah, I suppose your right."
With a simple motion of her staff, the acid mist diapered. Once free from it, the demon fell over, now on his hands and knees, breathing hard, taking in the clean air.
Mirae stared at the demon in disgust as she watched him recover.
'Man I hate this guy.'
Shadow looked at him with sympathy.
'Why? Why would he willing put himself though all that?'
"What are you staring at?" The demon snapped.
Before Mirae could reply, Shadow knelt down and spoke to him.
"You're protecting him because he's your friend."
The demon turned his head away.
"I never said he was my friend."
"Your actions suggest otherwise."
"Hn."
At this point the demon tried to get to his feet, but fell back to his knees. The pain, it hurt too much. The acid had done more damage than he realized. Not that it mattered. He wouldn't know where to go from hear anyway.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you. Moving will only make it worse." said Mirae.
The demon snarled.
'I Really do Hate her.'
Shadow sighed. This was going nowhere.
"Well, If you're not going to tell us his name, can we at least have yours?" She asked.
The demon stared at her, considering her request. He then turned his head once again to the side.
"It's Hiei."
R&R!