Author's Note: Hi everyone! I'm gonna be an 8th grader! Yaaaayyy! I'll apologize right now; since school is starting this week, it'll be pretty difficult for me to update frequently, what with homework and sports. I'll try my best, but please cut me some slack. Thanks so, so much! On with the story!
It was cold. Very cold. The only thing I could see was snow. It stretched for miles around me, a white, merciless wasteland. A freezing wind bit at me, blinding my sight and numbing whatever was exposed. I trudged on, my tracks in the ankle-deep snow wiped away almost as soon as I lifted my foot.
Raising my hand slowly, I wrapped my scarf more securely about my neck and mouth. Thank Inari I had thought to pack winter clothes. Without them, I would have been dead in minutes.
Once again I regretted that Hiei was ill. How more favorable it would have been if I was the sick one and he the healthy! He would have lasted much longer than me in these freezing conditions. Hey, being a fire demon has its perks. And I know he would have been able to find the herb. He's smart enough to recognize one.
But fate had not been with us. Hiei was the one lying deathly ill, and I was the one struggling across the ice plains. It was my responsibility to save my friend, my mother, everyone, and I was determined to complete my mission. Setting my jaw, I plowed ahead, not ready to give up.
I drew another deep breath, my throat raw from the cold. Why does this stupid plant have to grow on the bloody ice plains! I growled in my head. I balled my gloved fists as I took another step, my nails biting through the cloth into my palms. This was frustrating! I was afraid I wouldn't find the plant in time.
Suddenly, my heart jumped as I peered ahead through the swirling blizzard. There, just a couple hundred yards ahead of me, were giant snowdrifts. I quickened my pace, eager to reach the mounds.
The flurry around me thickened, growing more intense as I fell to my knees beside the first mound. I started digging, the snow freezing onto my gloves. The snow was light and easy to move. I managed to smile weakly.
Hang on, Hiei, I thought. You and Mother will be safe soon.
I dug a bit deeper, but the cold was starting to numb my hands. I couldn't feel a thing. It took me a moment to realize that the feeling in my feet was completely gone, too. An angry growl escaped my lips. I didn't want it to end, not like this. Not before all the sick people were cured!
Something brushed against my forearm. Looking down, I nearly laughed with relief.
It was the herb.
I wrapped my stiffening hands around the long, slender plant. With a tremendous tug, I yanked the herb free. It was a deep green, the leaves wide and covered in what looked like velvet. Small, pearl-like buds shined along the stem. This was what I had been searching for. This would cure my mother and the others.
Dragging myself to my knees, I tried to stand up. Unfortunately, I only succeeded in falling sideways. The snow pressed against my face, so cold it burned. With a muffled yelp, I scrambled up, using most of my depleted strength.
It was then I realized I would probably never make it. The cold was too much for my human form. When I was Yoko, I had crossed the ice plains with relative ease. But I had been a demon then. Now, I was a mortal.
But I wasn't about to give up. Not yet! Slowly, agonizingly, I pulled out my water canteen. Thanks, Hiei, I thought as I fumbled with the cap. Before we had entered those boggy hills, Hiei had put a touch of heat in each of our canteens. That way they wouldn't freeze when we reached the plains.
Finally pulling off the cap, I slipped the herb in. The water immediately turned a pale green, like green tea. There. Now all everyone had to do was take a mouthful of this, and hopefully it would work. Since the disease had been contained to my apartment building, I knew I had enough herb water to cure all the sick people. That was a stroke of luck.
I stumbled forward, determined to at least get this herb water to my friends. Hiei knew the properties of this plant; he would know what to do. I only hoped I wasn't too late.
I trudged on for an hour, my feeling almost completely gone. The skin on my hands and face was the lightest shade of blue. My eyesight was blurry, but from my condition or the blizzard I didn't know. I forced myself to continue, each step growing more and more painful. I ground my teeth, not ready to give up.
Finally, after a few more hours, the snow started to recede. I knew in my heart I was nearing the end of the plains. I quickened my pace, though it hurt to do so, eager to leave this frozen hell behind. I saw the grassy land ahead of me and knew how close I was to my friends.
Unfortunately, it was then that my body decided it had had enough. My knees buckled, and I fell, my hand scratching futilely against the dirt-smeared snow. I growled, close to tears. About a half-mile away I could see my friends' campfire. I was so close! So close, and I would never make it.
I managed to prop myself up on my arms, one hand lying uselessly on top of my canteen. I couldn't carry it anymore. With my other hand, I clumsily tied the canteen's strap around my left hand. That way I could still keep it with me.
With a gasp, more pain than lack of air, I dragged myself forward, my legs useless. My strength was slipping away alarmingly fast. I struggled to continue, but I just couldn't. With a cry I fell, sprawled just a quarter of a mile from my friends, the cure tied to my hand. Just a little farther, just a little…
The irony was not lost on me as I fell into darkness.
To be continued…
Author's Note: tear ok, that wasn't fair. I hate myself for just writing that. Poor, poor Kurama. What is going to happen to our favorite fox? And what about Hiei? Shiori? I promise to update as soon as possible. Please, please, please review! Thanks!