Kairai sighed heavily as she dashed through the deep forest in Makai. Just one last mission, she thought, and I get to be an official Reikai Tantei.
She paused and sniffed at the air for a moment, then climbed into the branches of the nearest tree. She got to the top and inhaled the scent of sweet pine. She released another sigh and glanced around.
In the distance, a huge fire blazed among the trees, moving quickly with the wind. She gagged at the scent of smoke and went back down the tree.
She followed that scent, for once thankful for her enhanced senses. She came to the edge of the fire and winced as the intense heat hit her full force. A hand instinctively flew to her eyes. She held her other hand out and whispered, "Koori kumo..."
A freezing mist seeped from her fingers to clear a path through the fire. She let her hands fall to her sides, though she was ready to draw her dagger at any moment. Her expression was grim as she walked through the pass in between the flames. The magical mist kept the heat away, another thing she was thankful for.
When she got through to the center of the fire, and hopefully the source, a man with eyes as red as the crimson blaze was waiting for her.
End Chapter One
They Met
Hiei knew he had lost a major battle right then. The girl had arrived. No more chance of running off at the last second. Damn it, why does Koenma make me do the stupidest things! he fumed inwardly.
He watched as the girl stepped into the clearing in the middle of the flames. He had been tracked by her for at least a month. Koenma was serious about this one. He wanted her as a Tantei, but he couldn't just hand her the position. He had to make it really hard. And he did. He chose Hiei, one very powerful fire Koorime who happened to be a Tantei, to make it difficult.
Hiei gave the girl a sharp glare. He could tell she was analyzing him and his powers. He sensed it with his Jagan. He decided to return the favor.
The girl was gifted with very enhanced senses, and a sixth sense he couldn't quite put his finger on. He frowned slightly. "Who are you?" he asked curtly, trying to play his part.
"The one who's gonna land your ass in Reikai prison." she replied, her hand drifting to her hip where a dagger rested in its hilt.
Hiei smirked, amused. "You're a Tantei, huh, kid?" he asked, noting her height or lack thereof.
"I am not a kid." she hissed back, glaring at him with her icy blue eyes. "And no, I'm not a Tantei. Not yet. You're my last mission."
Hiei grinned and gave her a slight wink. "Well I'll try to make it interesting." What he did was borderline flirtatious, and why he did it bewildered him. He could only hope Koenma wasn't watching him on one of those blasted television sets...
Kairai shrugged and drew her dagger. "Hope you can fight." she said shortly.
Hiei drew his katana and Kairai blocked his attack in the split second it took for him to do so. He smirked. "So you can actually defend yourself against my speed. Not bad for a kid. A female, too."
Kairai glared and kneed him hard in stomach. "I am NOT a kid."
Suddenly Kairai realized she was speaking to thin air. Hiei was gone!
She blinked in surprise for a moment, then felt one arm snake around her abdomen, capturing her own arm. Then a hand firmly gripped her wrist. The one with the dagger. Hiei twisted her wrist so hard that she couldn't help but drop her weapon.
She heard a deep, smooth voice say in her ear, "Looks like I win this round, onna."
Kairai felt his stance shift slightly, ready to run. "Wait!" she blurted in panic.
"What?" Hiei hissed, tightening his grip on her body.
Kairai's eyes flicked about as her mind raced. She could not, WOULD not, fail this mission!
She angled her head and did the first thing that came to mind.
End Chapter Two