Memoir

Summary: Sequel to "Forgotten." "Time really does change everything, doesn't it? Hard to believe I'm the same person." Hiei/OC

Author's notes: You know, life is hectic. Sorry for the delay. Yeah, anyway, I just a review for "Forgotten" correcting my Japanese. I just wanted to let you guys know that I am COMPLETELY okay with being corrected. I'm an American; I'll make mistakes. Feel free to help me out. And to miho, the "Forgotten" reviewer, again, thank you for reviewing and trying to help me, but there are multiple words for iris in Japanese, ayame is one of them though, so you were right. Anywho, that's really all I had to say. Thanks to my reviewers.

The Shadows Hide All: Thanks; I'm glad you liked the chapter. I thought people might want to know more about why Itaka had to die. Thanks for the input. Keep reviewing!

Yoru Inu: Glad you liked the chapter. I'm still working on the whole length thing, although I think this chapter's going to be a bit short. Sorry. Anyway, thanks for reviewing!

Baka Hanyou Rahvin: I wouldn't try to sleep either. I'd be way too creeped out. And I have to agree with you on your second point, too. But we won't go there… otherwise this chapter may never get written. Thanks for the review.

Kurayamihikari: I'm glad you like the story so much; I'll try to make good on my update promises. There will be more Hiei/Akiko stuff, I promise. Thanks for reviewing!

Demon's Amaya: A bit scary, yeah. Thanks for reviewing! I hope you like this chapter.

Bec: Thanks, I'm glad you like the chapter. Be careful around those teachers! Thanks for reviewing!

brezzybrez: I'll definitely try to keep it going. Thanks for reviewing.

mysadeyes: He's a crazy guy, isn't he? Well, we'll have to wait and see what he's up to, won't we? Thanks for the review! Hope you like the rest of the fic.

ImParanoid: Hey, thanks for reviewing. Glad to hear from you again! Hope you like the rest of the chapter.

Jingenji: Ah, thank you. Yes, bad things will certainly happen to Sangre… but we'll have to wait for that. Thanks for the review.

BlueWater26: Definitely creepy. But then, it is Sangre we're talking about here. Thanks for the review!

MikoHatome: Yeah, it was sort of cliff hanger-ish. Oh well. I'm glad you liked the chapter. As for making them longer, the length of the chapters depends on the outline; I can't mess with the outline or I'll lose part of the story. But I will try to add a bit more meat to the chapters. Thanks for reviewing.

Dolphingirl32173: Creepy, yes, that's a good word for it. I'm sure Hiei would not be to happy if he found out about the dream. But we'll just have to wait and see his reaction, won't we? Thanks for the review; I hope you like the next chapters.

Great to hear from all of you.

Part Fourteen: Taking Away the Light

"You sure you know where we're going, Shorty?" Kuwabara said.

Fighting the urge to slice the questioner to shreds, Hiei answered. "Yes. Stop asking."

The answer did little to convince Kuwabara that the four of them were being led in the proper direction; he continued to question the fire yokai about their location.

"Kuwabara, lay off it," Yusuke snapped.

An argument quickly followed.

"I'd better stop them before they kill each other," Kurama sighed, falling to the back of the group where Yusuke and Kuwabara were now tearing at each other.

Since three of the party had slowed progress, Akiko was near the head of the group, following close behind Hiei. As she was so wrapped up in what had happened to her the previous night, Akiko wasn't talking much.

And he noticed.

"What's wrong with you?" the yokai asked, coming to a stop.

She shrugged and began to walk on, even though she had no clue as to where they were heading. Somehow she didn't think the fact that she was terrified of a man she had only seen in dreams would make too much sense to Hiei. Hell, it even sounded paranoid to her.

Hiei narrowed his eyes. Akiko's avoiding the question only proved him right. He walked ahead of her, stopping to block her progress. "Tell me what's wrong with you," he demanded, though there was an almost imperceptible hint of concern in his voice.

"No."

"…What?"

Akiko shook her head. "No. Whatever is or isn't 'wrong with me' is none of your business." She made to pass him, but his next words stopped her.

"You saw Sangre again."

She looked away from him.

"He came to you again. Last night." He waited for her to respond, but Akiko said nothing. "Then I'm right. What did he do to you?"

Akiko turned her eyes back to the yokai, who looked as angry as she could ever remember seeing him, but she was spared answering him.

By now, Kurama, Kuwabara and Yusuke had caught up with the other two of their party, Yusuke and Kuwabara still throwing each other angry looks and Kurama looking thoroughly exasperated.

They had scarcely restarted their trek when darkness fell on them.

"Damn it," Yusuke hissed. "Not again."

As quickly as it had vanished, the light returned, and when it did, the group found themselves once again facing a horde of red and black yokai.

"Can't this guy be any more creative?" Yusuke asked no one in particular.

"Something's really wrong," Kuwabara said, glancing warily at the scene. "Where's Akiko?"

Kuwabara didn't get an answer: the yokai had begun attacking—and there were a great deal more of them this time.

Yusuke, after throwing his fist into the face of one particularly vicious yokai, called to the others. "We don't have time for these guys. We gotta find Akiko."

Akiko placed a hand on her bleeding side—she wasn't really sure what had happened, how she'd been wounded, but she did know that wherever she was at that moment, she didn't want to be there.

She couldn't make out the area around her, and that hardly calmed her nerves. Struggling to pull herself together, Akiko tried to figure out just what had happened.

She'd been with Yusuke, Hiei, Kurama and Kuwabara… and then everything went black… and then…what? She couldn't remember. But she had a shrewd idea as to who was behind it.

And she was right.

"Well, hello again," Sangre's voice smirked as the yokai himself stepped out of the shadows.

"What the hell do you want with me?" Akiko immediately spat back.

"My, you're high-strung. Aren't you going to say hello?"

"Why should I?"

Sangre smirked. "Manners, dear. But I suppose all my charms are wasted on you." The yokai approached her slowly.

"Stay away from me."

He ignored her, his eyes focused on the wound on her side. He moved her hand from the wound and brought it to his lips, licking the blood off of it.

Repulsed, Akiko tried to pull her hand away from him, but the yokai was stronger than she. Smirk broadening, Sangre released her hand.

"If you were a bit more polite to me, you might find that I can help you," he muttered, watching her with the slightest hint of amusement in his eyes.

"I don't want your help."

"Whatever you say, dear," Sangre laughed, placing a hand on her wounded side.

Akiko took a sharp breath as warmth emanated from Sangre's hand and spread across her wound. "What are you doing?"

When Sangre moved his hand, her wound was gone.

"How did you--?"

Sangre laughed. "What does it matter? You're healed."

"Why?"

The yokai traced the line of Akiko's cheekbone with his thumb, his smirk once again in place. "I want you to come with me."

"Why?"

"That's not important."

"Yes it is. What, do you want me to help you kill someone or something like that? Do you want to kill me?"

"I don't have to tell you. It doesn't matter."

"Well, you've got that right. Cause I'm not going anywhere with you."

"You say that as if you have a choice," Sangre said, his smirk finally fading. He wrapped his hands around Akiko's elbows. "You will come with me. I have to get what I need from you."

Sangre pulled Akiko flush against him, circling her waist with one arm and moving the other to lift her face to his. "I want you to come with me," he repeated.

Not sure what else there was for her to do, Akiko spat in the yokai's face.

He thrust her away from him, looking perfectly murderous.

"I'm not one to toy with," Sangre hissed, clinching the hand he had used to heal Akiko's wound into a fist.

The girl felt a tightening in her side; she placed both hands on the area only to feel blood running between her fingers.

The wound had reopened.

And it was bleeding worse than ever.

"You don't have to come freely," the yokai's voice hissed. "Just alive."

Blood was leaving her body too quickly; Akiko's vision was going fuzzy.

And then, there was nothing.

Author's notes: Right. Again, sorry this took so long (been saying that a lot lately, haven't I?). A lot came up last week. Hopefully, I'll still be able to manage once a week updates, but we'll have to wait and see. I'm going to try to, though. Anyway, thanks for putting up with me. Read and review, please.