DISCLAIMER: I don't own any yyh stuff. I do own Mai, Kira, and Ryu and all the original storyline/tweaks to the actual episodes…
a/n: DAMNSTUPIDFRICKIN COLD!!!!! ::pants heavily:: even though technically it's not a cold, just a really bad cough…o well; same difference I guess LoL…
Well after watching this week's YYH episode, I feel inspired to write the next chapter!!! Hurray!!!
Thankies to my reviewers!
TonyDeMerasbedroomslave: I'm glad you enjoyed it!! Happy Holidays to you and your family!!
Umeko Saito: I didn't take your review? Hm…it might not have come through if you tried to review the last chapter (I didn't get a review, at least…) but I'm glad you liked the fluffy-angst! Happy Holidays!
Sarah1281: Nani? She doesn't have a story up about a dream, does she? Well anyways, It's the 'Punks' and 'College Punks' story (that I'm in ::girl laugh:: LoL)
Thoughts/Flashback
Fire Angel
::Rebirth: Phase 1::
"Thank you, Yusuke…" she murmured into his shirt, "…Thank you for being my friend…"
The guardian sighed quietly to herself as she lay along the outcropping of land stretching a little ways out into the ocean. The sea thundered mildly beneath her and crashed into the cliff-face. She propped her head on her hands as she stared over the wide expanse of horizon.
She felt suddenly tired though after being with Yusuke a little more than an hour earlier. It was even becoming a task to keep her eyes open as she lay there. But it felt comforting to sit beneath the sunshine; as if it gave her strength to absorb its rays.
"You're not going to be alone while you're my guardian; don't you know that?"
Mai smiled softly to herself, "I know that now, Urameshi…"
She sat there a moment longer before her gaze fell on the sky above her and she felt a sudden feeling of emptiness within her once again. Gods it was going to take a lot longer to come to the fact that Kira was never coming back…
…Never coming back…
The words echoed hollowly through her mind as she repeated them to herself. They held bits of remorse and sorrow as they relayed over and over inside of her. She closed her eyes as if to force out the thought; it was a choice she had to make…and she made it; meaning the former guardian would pass on peacefully into the afterworld…
Probably having the time of her life…she thought with a dismal smile, that would be good, she decided and gazed up into the heavens.
"You better be having a good time," she said to the sky, "Don't make me regret doing this, Kira…"
Mai went quiet for a moment as her gaze remained on the clouds drifting overhead. Genkai had told her that she couldn't teach the guardian anything more until she had learned to cope with the fact the Kira would leave this world…and now that the former guardian was gone, did that mean she had gotten over it?
Suddenly tempted to go find the old woman, she quickly rose to her feet and started to make her way back to the hotel when she froze again. Genkai was probably back in the hotel room with the others; if she just went in there suddenly asking to train with her, they would suspect something. And something told her that the old hag wouldn't be over ecstatic if her cover was blown.
The guardian now found herself stuck; she would have to wait until tomorrow then…which wasn't going to be good if their team would have a match a few hours later. She furrowed her brow with frustration and gnawed gently on her lip; but she had to figure out if she had truly gotten over the fact that Kira was gone; she had to know if she could continue training!!
She placed her head in her hand to straighten out her thoughts; she couldn't train with Genkai until the next day…but she had to figure out if she was even ready to go on with that training! It was dangerous to train by herself; she could hurt herself if she did it the wrong way…there was no one else to help her, though; she was nearly positive that the old woman wanted to keep their sessions a secret for the time being…
Maybe…she wondered…Maybe Koenma knows…maybe he'd be able to…help…
Her thoughts drifted off as she caught sight of someone below her. She moved to the edge of the cliff and stared over the edge at one of the rock-formations sticking out from the ocean where a short someone stood facing out towards the horizon. The guardian then noticed the black clothing and the white headband around there head and recognized the person as her teammate…
Hiei stared down at his katana wordlessly; but there was something in his eyes that almost held hints of disappointment…or something of the sort. Mai realized suddenly that his right arm was badly injured; scorched by the look of it.
Where did he…? But then she remembered what Kurama had told her about his fight with Zeru; that he had called forth the Dragon of the Darkness Flame using his arm as a lure for the dark energy…She watched in wonder at the damage done to it and the desperation of the demon as he struggled to hold his sword in his right hand.
He succeeded to have his hand wrap around the hilt, but as he tried to raise it into a fighting stance, he suddenly cried out in pain and dropped the katana on the rock below. He fell to his knees in pain and cradled his arm to his chest. His head rested on the earth beneath him as the ocean crashed around him.
Poor Hiei…the guardian thought despondently, gods, that must be the worst to not be able to fight like that—
I don't need your pity, onna, suddenly came the apparitions sharp reply. Mai jumped and noticed Hiei's gaze quickly flicker towards her on the cliff. She flushed and quickly turned on her heel back towards the forest; leaving the apparition to his despair.
Seemingly angry, she stormed through the trees back towards the hotel; there was nothing she could do but wait for Genkai…or wait for the right moment, as it appeared now…
She sighed in frustration; this couldn't wait though!! But Genkai would surely slaughter her if she tried to train by herself (assuming she didn't seriously hurt herself before then)…she had to figure out if she could go on training; if she had finally gotten over Kira's passing—
"Psst! Mai?"
The guardian whirled to find Kuwabara's head sticking out from beneath one of the bushes nearby. She raised an eyebrow questioningly.
"Kazuma?" she inquired and walked over to the shrub, "What are you doing?"
"Shh! Can I ask you something?" he gestured for her to follow him a little further into the woods and she shrugged. He stopped a little ways into the trees and let Mai stand in front of him. The redhead opened his mouth and closed it a few times, as if trying to say something but unable to find the right words.
Finally he blurted it out: "Mai, you're a girl right?"
Slap!
The guardian's eye ticked and an artery pulsed in her temple, "Yes, Kuwabara," she growled threateningly, "I'm a girl."
He massaged the red welt along his cheek, "Ow…" he whined, "Eh…that's not exactly what I meant…"
Mai cocked an eyebrow, "Oh really?"
Kazuma nodded, "Well, what I meant was that since you're a girl…you might be able to help me…" his face had not turned a beet red and he scratched the back of his neck bashfully, "Couldyougivemetipsongirls?" he blurted.
She blinked, "What?"
He took a deep breath, "Could you…" he said slowly, "…give me…tips on girls…?"
Mai blinked again and suddenly found herself trying her best not to laugh since the redhead was already embarrassed for asking her in the first place. After her shock, she folded her arms over her stomach, "Well…erm, what do you want to know?"
Kuwabara plopped onto the ground cross-legged staring up at the guardian. She followed his lead and sat down as well; studying him inquisitively.
"Well you know how we had to send Yukina back to the ice-world place?" he asked.
Ohhh…she knew where this was going, "Yeah, I remember…"
He sighed, "I…er, well…I—part of the reason I decided to join in this tournament was partially to impress her when we came back…"
Mai smiled softly, "You don't have to impress her, Kazuma," even though she is a little oblivious to the fact that he likes her she thought to herself, "You just have to be yourself; if she doesn't like you for who you are then you're better off without her—"
The redhead paled and his face dropped as if he was suddenly crushed, "B-but she's my soul mate!" he cried and gripped her by the collar, "MY SOULMATE!!"
She sweatdropped as he shook her violently, "Okay, okay!!" the guardian said and wrenched herself from his death-grip, "If you feel that strongly about it, then I'll help you!! Just…don't strangle me…" she added warily as she adjusted her collar. Kuwabara perked up suddenly and whipped from his pocket a pad of paper and pen.
Slapping her hand to her head, Mai sighed, "Put those away Kazuma; you don't need to take notes on this."
He looked confused as he tucked the writing utensils back in his pocket and the guardian shook her head.
"Like I said before; you just have to be yourself…say what comes first to your mind—" she paused thinking over this last suggestion, "Er…just as long as it's not something perverted, how bout that?"
Kazuma nodded and sat erect attentively, "But what if I can't think of anything?"
Mai frowned (she didn't think of that…plus she didn't know the ice-apparition well enough to know exactly what she liked…), "Then compliment her…on…well; what do you like best about her?"
Kuwabara thought for a moment before a dreamy look came over his face, "Everything…" he drooled and the guardian sweatdropped while shaking her head.
"Alrighty then…okay…well if you can't find something that comes to mind or any compliments…" she pondered on it for a moment before a small smile came to her face, "You could give her a gift; nothing too large or anything like that; but something small and meaningful…"
"…?" the redhead tilted his head.
She sighed, "…A flower, Kazuma, for starters? Take a rose for example; simple yet meaningful at the same time…something simple like that is a great gift…"
"Really?" he asked, "Do you think she'd like that?"
Mai grinned, "I don't see why she wouldn't."
Kuwabara sat there for a moment thinking; staring down at the ground. The guardian studied him carefully (it wasn't everyday she saw him thinking so intensely). After a moment, he snapped his fingers and jumped to his feet.
"I got it!!" he cried out enthusiastically as he raced back towards the hotel, "Thanks Mai!!" he called back to her.
She smiled after him as she slowly stood a moment later. Stretching, she stared off into the sky…she just hoped that she didn't just create a monster right then. She shuddered; that would be a little creepy—
The guardian let out a soft cry and clutched her chest. A brief wave of pain swept through her veins as her knuckles turned white along the fabric of her shirt.
But as soon as it had come, it vanished, and the girl blinked in surprise. Warily, she shook her head and started back on her way through the woods.
-:-
Cautiously, Mai knocked a couple times on the giant oak doors. She waited a moment and glanced down either way down the hallway where the incessant cheering and roars of the demon audience could be heard faintly off.
"Jorge! Get the door!" came an angry voice from beyond the entryway. There was the hurried scuttling of footsteps just before the doors opened slightly and the blue ogre's face poked itself out into the hallway.
She made a curt nod with her head out of respect, "I wanted to see Koenma…"
"Oh!" the ogre nodded and opened the door wider, "Koenma, sir, Miss Mai is here—"
But the toddler had already hopped down from his giant armchair and made his way over towards the door hastily. He leaned his head back to really get a better look at the girl, "What is it, Mai?"
The guardian had to stare down at the demigod in return, "I…I wanted to speak with you, sir…"
He cocked an eyebrow and studied her carefully, "Come on in, then," he answered slowly and turned back towards the opposite side of the room. The girl watched him as he hopped back into his chair and stared out the giant window before him. Jorge stood back to let her step inside, and she did so cautiously while he closed the door behind her. Mai stepped beside his chair and stared down into the arena as he did.
It was a three-on-three battle going on; a trio of humans, it appeared, against a team of demons. The thing she noticed, however, about these humans was that there was some sot of organism growing along their backs. But they were destroying their opponents with such ease; their attacks weren't even visible to the guardian—
"So what did you want to talk to me about?" Koenma asked without taking his eyes off the match. The guardian gnawed on her bottom lip nervously.
If you want a direct answer go talk to the sniveling prince up in that box seat of his…But I wouldn't expect the answer you want to hear…
She sighed heavily and stared absently down at her feet, "Sir…if I may, what…what's going to happen to Kira…?"
The demigod removed his eyes from the match and eyed the girl carefully, "What do you mean, Mai?"
"I mean…" she started slowly, "What's going to happen to Kira if—since she's passed on…?"
Koenma's eyes didn't leave her as he suddenly realized what she was saying. But he sighed also and rubbed his temples wearily, "I'm not sure…"
She froze and her gaze swiftly returned to him, "What do you mean you're 'not sure'?" she demanded quietly, "You're supposed to be in charge of these sort of things, Koenma; how can you not be sure?"
He sighed again, "It's not as if she died, Mai; that already happened once to her…but since her soul was reborn in you, she was technically never alive to begin with…" he gazed back down into the ring, "Since she never actually regained her own body to live in, she became merely a soul within another soul…
"But over time Kira became weak, didn't she? She couldn't hold on any longer and she was losing her ties to the human world," he continued, "Each time she began to slip away, a part of her just…disappeared…there's no place in the human world where he soul could have resided…" his voice grew quiet, "If…if she had decided to return to Makai then…maybe she could have remained there…"
Mai went numb for only a moment as she stared blankly out in front of her, "…Kira….she could have survived…?" she whispered quietly, "She could have saved herself…?"
Koenma nodded slowly; afraid to meet her gaze, "But she decided to stay on earth with you, Mai; she wanted to make sure that her powers passed on to you so that you could protect Yusuke…" he sighed once more, "If she did leave you before now, those powers would have merely disappeared…and you probably wouldn't have been able to see her again anyway…"
Tears filled her eyes, "But…she could have saved herself…" she murmured in disbelief, "Dammit, she could have saved herself!!" she yelled angrily and suddenly slammed her fist into the nearby wall. The demigod flinched as a crater appeared beneath her hand. She stood there for a moment glaring at the ground in her fury before she suddenly sank to her knees…and tears plummeted quietly to the ground.
"…She…she could have saved herself…" she whispered; staring off into the empty void in front of her, "…gods she could have saved herself…"
The toddler watched her sadly and he quietly hopped down from his chair. Mai placed her head in her hands and her shoulders began to quake as Koenma carefully stepped next to her.
When are you going to learn that you're too damn sensitive for your own good?
Kira…gods, what were you thinking? You could have left this sin-filled world and passed on to a better life years ago…but you stayed here with me…why? You had to be the hero and stay and watch over me instead of giving yourself a second chance. What were you thinking those years?...You could have moved on to Makai…but you stayed here…
Why didn't you save yourself??!!
"I…I care too much about people, Koenma…" the girl continued softly, "Then they're always ripped away from me; I can't stand it anymore…"
And I'm not going to let that happen again…she decided.
"I'm sorry, Mai…" the demigod said quietly, "If there was something I could do—"
"No, Koenma…" the girl cut him off, shaking her head and continued in hardly more than a whisper, "No…it…it was her choice…if this is how she wanted it, then there's nothing I can do about it…"
She stood without saying another word and made her way back towards the large oak doors. As her hand reached out to the handle, she turned back to the toddler and smiled sadly.
"Thank you, though…for telling me the truth…"
-:-
Mai stared out over the balcony in silence as the sun was just beginning to stain the horizon orange. Yusuke and Kuwabara had gone to the stadium to watch the final match of the day; Toguro vs. the Spirit Warriors team…but she just didn't have the stomach for it. Hiei was no where to be seen while Kurama had gone to find supplies for dinner when everyone got back. The girls had mostly kept to their hotel room for the day; and she didn't really feel like seeing them that much anyway…
"Kira…" she murmured suddenly, "…What were you thinking…?"
It still baffled her how the former guardian could have made a choice like that…even though she didn't know what lay before her once her spirit merely…disappeared. It made no sense to her…
But she was thinking of us…came her own reply...she was thinking of me and Yusuke…
She closed her eyes slowly as a tear pricked at the corner of her eye and trickled slowly down her cheek. The guardian opened them a moment later and stared off into the ocean as the faint memories she had of a certain dream came back to her.
She gave us a chance that she and Shunichi didn't have…
The memories of the bloody battle between the guardian and the detective and their foe came back to her now…how they both lay helpless on the battlefield; and with her dying breath, Kira had tried to destroy Ryu—
Mai froze suddenly as her body tensed…w-was that it…?
She didn't want Yusuke and me to share the same fate she did with Shunichi…she wanted to give us a second chance…
"Is that it, Kira?" the guardian whispered up into the sky, "were you being so selfless that you were only thinking of me and Yusuke?" Mai let out a small, hollow laugh, "I should have known, then…that's probably what I would have done in your place too…" she stared up into the fading orange light, "…I can't believe that you would do something that stupid without even knowing what the outcome would be…"
"The outcome that involves Mai learning how to control the new powers given to her, and this team making it out of this damn tournament alive…?"
The guardian whirled to find Genkai watching her from the center of the living room. She blinked and wiped away the tears in her eyes, "You heard that?"
She nodded as she calmly stepped out onto the balcony as well, "Enough of it to hear you blubbering to yourself…"
Mai sniffed and wiped her eyes with her wrist, saying nothing as she stared back off into the horizon, "Master Genkai…are…are you willing to train with me for one more time tonight…?"
The old woman cocked an eyebrow, "And why would you want to do that, Mai?"
"Be-because I want to show you that I've overcome Kira's passing—" she froze and sighed sadly, shaking her head, "…No…I don't think I'll ever truly get over her passing …but I'm not going to forget her, Genkai; her memory gives me strength…"
For a moment, the woman watched her carefully, but then she snorted and folded her arms, "Well I never told you to forget her, did I?" a small grin grew along her jaw, "You've changed, Mai; you need to know that. You've matured well past your years and sacrificed so much for those you care about…personally, I admire you for that…"
She blinked again, "What?"
Her smile grew slightly, "Over the past months, you've become remarkably like Kira, but that's not to say that you still have your own personal characteristics too; and one of them is your love towards others. I admire the fact that you're willing to give up so much for that dimwit of mine without even thinking of getting something in return," the woman stepped up to the railing and too stared off towards the horizon, "There are few people like you, Mai who care so little for themselves, but wouldn't trade the world for their friends and loved ones.
"Kira knew that and this also; that despite whatever happened to her, you would be able to find ways to benefit from that…and in this case, you have matured and become wise beyond your years…"
The guardian stared at her for a long moment; studying her carefully, but the woman met her gaze sincerely. When the girl couldn't find the words to say, the old woman smiled slightly and beckoned for her to follow her back through the hotel room.
"Come on…" she said as she opened the hotel door, "Before daylight runs out…we might want to try and get that session in, right?"
Mai stood there in silence for a moment, before she too smiled and, picking up Kira's staff on the way, hurried after the woman through the doors.
-:-
With a dull clank, Kira's staff was struck into the ground in the center of the clearing. Mai stared at it for a brief moment as she stepped back for a second and looked to Genkai for any criticism. But the old woman nodded her on.
"Tonight is a better time to be doing this anyway…" she explained, "You'll be able to recover at least some of your energy by tomorrow, besides…" she added a bit too quietly, "I'm not quite sure when we'll get another time to do this…" but then she shook her head as if to rid herself of a thought and gestured towards the staff in the ground, "Take hold of it, Mai; I'll try and talk you through the rest of it…"
The guardian did so warily; keeping an eye on the old woman as if trying to understand what she was trying to do.
"This will probably be the most difficult part of this training…" Genkai told her warningly, "I'm afraid the only thing I can do for you is to tell you what to do…the rest you must do on your own, understand?"
She nodded quietly while keeping her eyes fixed on Kira's staff. Her body simultaneously began to tremble, however as if she suddenly became afraid of what this trial would do…
Genkai stepped in front of her so that they were both separated by the staff between them. The old woman placed her palm against the cool metal, and with a sudden cry, released a burst of energy through the rod between them.
The power raced through the silver and gold veins in the staff and shot up and along the pole until the entire staff was alight with the energy. Mai watched it wondrously as it merely stayed like that; absorbing the energy the woman had presented to it.
"Be ready, Mai!" Genkai warned suddenly, but not quickly enough for the guardian to comprehend what she was saying.
She cried out in both surprise and pain as a flash of light enveloped the clearing. The staff in her hands quaked violently and made it difficult for her to hang on to it any longer. Shots of pain raced up and down her arms as tendrils of light tore themselves away from the gold rod and into the air. Mai winced and closed her eyes to block out the pain.
"Kira locked much of her power into that staff," the old woman called to her through the flashes of light, "It's now drawing itself to you; for right now let it come to you, Mai; don't fight it!"
The guardian relaxed slightly, but not enough that she didn't try to block out the throbbing pain. The tendrils of light snaked in and out of the air as if searching for somewhere to go…and as though they sensed Mai's energy nearby; they turned their attention to her and eerily entwined themselves around her wrist. They slowly began to crawl along her arm and every once in awhile, they would pierce through the flesh of her arm. She closed her eyes and whimpered to herself.
Kira's staff pulsed suddenly as a white wave of energy radiated through the air for but a moment. Then, tiny orbs of light slowly drifted out from the pulsation and into the air, hovering above them omnisciently. And the tendrils in her arm then began to beat slowly into her flesh…as they did so, faint streams of light were seen traveling through the veins of her arm and throughout the rest of her body.
Above them, the orbs of light slowly started to descend back towards the earth. Mai's gaze remained on the staff however, as she struggled to keep her hold on the rod. She could feel it though; she could feel the energy Genkai had told her about…it felt restless, as if it couldn't wait to escape from the staff and show its true powers. It was an incredible feeling almost…especially since it was drawing itself into her. But what she failed to notice were the orbs of light drifting down around them; some even attaching themselves to her hair and clothes, but the rest lay shimmering along the earth.
Genkai's eyes went wide for a moment before she cried out warningly, "You're body is too weak to contain the rest of the energy, Mai!"
The girl turned to her, "What does that mean?!"
"It means that since you're unable to hold its power, you're body will have to evolve enough so that it doesn't kill you!" the old woman replied.
Mai tensed suddenly as she remembered what Kira had told her a few months ago…
I guess since you aren't a full demon, the effect was different for you...But since you picked up my staff, your powers have been working within you; building up and making ready to truly evolve. But to do that, I guess your body itself had to evolve as well to contain all of the power...
The guardian went numb for a moment. The first time this had happened, her body had to transform, making her part demon…but if she had to evolve again, what would that make her—?
But then, a final orb of light cascaded down from the air above them, and gently caught itself in the girl's hair. But the moment it did this, it was as if the entire world around her went gray. But it only came from the giant cyclone whipping around her and Kira's staff. Genkai was suddenly no where to be seen, nor could she hear the old woman apart from the furious roaring of the winds tearing at her.
The orbs of light that had remained along the earth were suddenly thrown into the air and into the angry whirlwind. Now, they flashed around her in streams of swirling light.
There was a bright glow emitting from Kira's staff now and the guardian watched it in near fascination as it shimmered with an otherworldly light. But her fascination quickly turned to fear when the illumination spread apart from the staff and charged towards the guardian, enveloping her in the light.
Searing pain suddenly tore through her as the staff's glow drew itself to the girl. Her blood boiled and she felt her heart beginning to pace at a dangerous rate. Something ripped through her veins and she cried out in agony. But that cry was soon drowned out by the cyclone roaring around her.
Despite the pain she received from the golden rod, her grip tightened around the staff in determination; if anything, she was merely afraid to let go.
The glow enveloping the staff started to build and spiraled up towards the pinnacle of the rod where it pulsated with the energy trying to find a way into the guardian. Suddenly, the light growing at the top of the staff exploded into tiny bullets of its radiance, shooting out around the girl and bouncing back and forth between the walls of the whirlwind.
Mostly, however, these bullets appeared to draw themselves to the girl; pummeling her over and over again mercilessly; slicing at her face and arms…as if trying to force their way into her body when no other means would work. The pellets of light charged at the girl repeatedly and she began to cry out of her pain.
The bullets suddenly began drive themselves into her chest and abdomen; piercing through her stomach and returning out the other side for yet another chance at gaining entrance to the guardian. She felt blood staining her shirt now and bile beginning to fill in the back of her throat. The girl struggled not to buckle over, but found it difficult as the bullets of light continued on their angry rampage.
"Gods…oh gods…" she whimpered as tears filled her eyes, "…someone help me…"
Genkai stood outside of the cyclone and bowed her head forlornly. After a moment she looked back up where she could faintly make out Mai's cries of pain. She winced and sighed sadly…there was nothing more she could for the guardian; this was where she had to take matters into her own hands…
"Come on, Mai…" she whispered into the roaring wind.
The guardian sobbed as her own thoughts were drowned out by the deafening whirlwind around her. The bullets of light we becoming larger now, but she new her body couldn't take much more of the abuse she was receiving from the energy.
But what was she supposed to do?!
She suddenly let out a strained groan and doubled over with one hand still hanging desperately onto the staff. One of the larger balls of light had struck her from behind; piercing the flesh along her back. Blood was now trickling down her spine and along her leg towards the grassy earth. But the wind became stronger and faster and would draw the blood out from her wounds and send it spinning in the cyclone.
Desperately, she dragged herself up next to Kira's staff and wrapped both arms around it as her tears cascaded down her wounded face. She felt her body tremble as her strength quickly began to depart from her. The guardian shut her eyes tightly as once more she cried out when another bullet struck her in the side.
Why am I letting myself go through all of this? She thought in her anguish and clutched tighter to the rod, gods why won't someone help me?!
Mai let out a choked sob and leaned her head against the pole, "…Y-Yusuke…" she whimpered, "…oh gods, Yusuke…don't let me die…"
"You're not going to be alone while you're my guardian; don't you know that?"
Don't let me die, Yusuke…
"Oh gods…just don't let me die…" she whispered desperately and trembled against the staff, "I need you…to be here with me…to…to be my friend…"
Another bullet collided with her in the shoulder. She screamed and felt herself being thrown forward from the blast. Her body shuddered as she caught herself on Kira's staff…but as she held onto it, more tendrils detached themselves from the rod and wrapped themselves along her arms and shoulders; almost as if binding her to the staff.
She began to cry fearfully, but couldn't find the strength to tear away from the rod. Once more the tendrils started to send energy into her, but it felt as if her body couldn't hold anymore; that it was almost ready to tear her apart from the inside out.
"Make it stop!" she cried into the howling wind, just as another bullet shot at her, and her tears flew into the air like tiny crystals, "…oh gods, I can't take it any longer…"
"You're not going to give up that easily are you?" came a faint, but familiar voice.
The guardian's eyes shot open and weakly, she raised her head. She blinked in confusion…she…she could swear that she saw Yusuke standing in front of her…but it wasn't him; his outline was faint and blurry, and she couldn't see him that well. Though, that could have been from the agonizing pain she was trying to endure…
But she knew it couldn't be him…it just couldn't be him…
"Y-Yusuke…?" Mai murmured weakly.
The detective didn't really answer, but he squatted in front of her and put his hands on his knees. But as the girl watched, she realized that the bullets of light flying through the air would pass right through him…that couldn't be him then…right? Besides…she noticed…his voice was so far and distant…like a dream…
"Hey…" he said and scratched the side of his cheek while giving her his goofy grin, "Don't make me save you again, Mai…" his smile brightened slightly, "This is nothing; we've been through worse, remember? So just suck it up for a little longer…"
Tears streamed down her face and she let out a small sob, "It hurts so much though…I can't take anymore of it…" she shook her head and stared up at him with her tear-filled eyes, "…Don't let me die, Yusuke…" she pleaded softly, "…I want to be your guardian…for just a little bit longer…I…I don't want to die yet!!"
He smiled sadly and reached out his hand to her. She stared at it in confusion and back up to his mist-like face. Cautiously, she stretched out her trembling hand towards his and slowly let it fall.
She started in surprise and near fear when she felt his hand wrap around her own. But…but she knew it wasn't him; she knew it couldn't be Yusuke…and yet she felt him as if he truly was there with her. The apparition of the detective smiled softly and carefully drew her to him. Mai sobbed and wrapped her arm around him with one hand still grasping the staff. She felt his arms wrap around her back and she leaned wearily onto his shoulder and cried in despair.
"You're not going to be alone while you're my guardian; don't you know that?" this Yusuke murmured into her hair, and the guardian nodded tearfully.
"I want to protect you…" she whispered, "I want to be your guardian for just awhile longer…"
"Then hold on, Mai…hold on for just a little bit more…"
Suddenly, the ghostly vision of the detective faded away into the roaring wind. The guardian staggered forward as the apparition vanished. She sat there for but a moment staring off at the ground as the bullets of light swirled dangerously around her.
Slowly, she started to stand on her feet—another pellet struck her in the stomach and she fell back to one knee, but then she tried once more. Both hands now latched onto the cool metal of the staff as she staggered to her feet. Several of the tendrils that had attached themselves to her broke off and fell limply back into the essence of the rod. She heaved in breaths of air heavily as her hair whipped around her. The wind howled furiously and seemed to swirl harder and faster around her.
Mai winced as it appeared that the wind had become so fierce that would slice at her like a razor. It felt as through her feet would no longer support her, and yet she continued to clutch onto Kira's staff for dear life. Her mind raced frantically as she tried to recall how the transformation had taken place before…but then she was asleep; she didn't even remember any of it when she had woken up that morning let alone now—
But…but when she had taken up Kira's staff…she had been thinking of Yusuke; and how she wanted to become his guardian…to protect him…
She stared blankly down at the golden rod; before she had been willing for any change to come over her to become a guardian…
Would that have to happen now?—
Another bullet of light struck her in the leg and she collapsed once more. Her leg lay crippled beneath her, bleeding, as she continued to keep her death-grip on the staff; she wouldn't let go…if it meant starting over from the very beginning, she couldn't let go; she had come so far…of all times, she couldn't give up now.
Her knuckles turned white along the cool metal and she clenched her eyes shut. The wind roared in her ears and blew her hair around her fiercely as she refused to let go.
"Oh gods…" she whispered, "…I need to become Yusuke's guardian…"
Nothing happened.
Her fear mounted as she tried more earnestly, "I have to become stronger and protect him!!" she insisted as tears began to stream down her stricken face, "He needs me!!"
Still nothing…
Mai let out a strained sob and buried her face into the staff in her despair, "What can I do…?" she wept as her tears now began to trickle down the cool metal, "What can I do?!" she demanded angrily, "I need to help him!! I need to protect him against—!"
Toguro. A sudden vision of the demon swept through her mind from her memories. She went numb for a moment as his picture lingered before her vision…He would kill Yusuke…she couldn't let that happen—she just couldn't!! She had to be there to do something about it!!
"If I die now, I won't be able to protect him against Toguro!!" she sobbed and flung her head backwards to face the pinnacle of the whirlwind, "He needs me dammit!! And if that means I there has to be a change in me, I don't give a damn!" she yelled to the wind, "I just can't let him go on fighting alone!!"
The wind around her howled angrily and picked up at an even greater rate. The remaining bullets of energy rose higher into the air and suddenly began in a downward spiral towards the guardian. She winced, trying to endure the collision, but none came. Blinking, she looked up to find them all frozen in place around an invisible dome surrounding her.
And then, from Kira's staff came a brilliant flash of light and the girl threw up her arm to shield her eyes from the glow. When it had faded, she realized with a jolt that the golden rod was suddenly engulfed in an inferno of flames. But they neither scorched nor burned her flesh. The flames crackled up and along the staff noiselessly, but with such normality that the guardian could swear she could hear them nonetheless.
As she stared into the fire, she started in shock when a single figure appeared amidst the flames.
I'll always be with you, Mai…
Tears filled the guardian's eyes and trickled silently down her cheeks, shaking her head, "…Kira…"
The former guardian could just barely be made out in the roaring flames, but the apparition's hair remained a slightly redder hue than the rest of the flames and whipped around her shifting features.
"…You could almost say that you would be Kira…"
Shakily, Mai's hand reached out towards the flames and the apparition desperately. But as the flames began to lick at her hand, the former guardian vanished as the fires suddenly spiraled up into a blazing column amidst the cyclone of wind. Spurts of flames emitted from the pillar of fire as the rest of the blaze charged towards the unseen heavens above them.
Rays of light suddenly began firing themselves from the blazing column and through the whirlwind…but the greatest ray of light come directly from Kira's staff. And as if drawn by a magnetic force, it suddenly engulfed the girl in its magnificent brilliance. At first, she trembled as she was suddenly blinded by the light…but she found that there was nothing she could do to resist it; her energy had already been spent.
Mai found herself suddenly useless against fighting it; and yet the energy that was now pulsating around her somehow found a way to keep her on her feet…even…even lift her off the ground it seemed…But as she looked to glance down at the earth, she realized with a start that she really was rising off the ground. She would not lose her grip on the staff, however and it too followed the guardian into the air.
The light formed a barrier around her for but a moment before another pulsation emitted from the golden rod. This time, Mai doubled over as she felt the pain arising in her once more. Now it felt as though her insides were being stretched beyond reason…she groaned painfully and then screamed, clutched desperately at the fabric of her shirt. It was almost as if she was being ripped apart from the inside out! Desperately, she gritted her teeth to endure the pain and clenched her eyes shut.
So she hung there, huddled in the air as she writhed from the fierce agony ripping through her.
"Then hold on, Mai…hold on for just a little bit more…"
"Hold on…" she gritted as tears of pain trickled down her face, "…yeah…I'll hold on…just a little while longer…"
Another pulsation resounded from Kira's staff and as if in slow motion, made contact with the guardian. Gently, it seemed to coax the girl to relax and suddenly she went limp…her legs dangled helplessly beneath her and her eyes stared up towards the peak of the whirlwind she was surrounded in.
Abruptly, the flames surrounding the golden rod burst forth with an added strength and suddenly began to entwine around Mai's arms and spread along the rest of her body. Soon, rings of the inferno were wrapped around her entire body as she lay there lifelessly. But then, the fires seemed to melt or vanish beneath the girl's flesh until not a single spark remained along the staff or her body.
Mai's eyes closed suddenly and it appeared as though the girl would not open them again. She sat hovering there in the air amidst the howling wind, her arms lying limp at her sides and her head facing the unseen sky above.
But as her body floated there, tiny speck of light drew themselves from out of the air around her. They stood frozen in time for but a moment before calmly enticed themselves towards the lifeless guardian where they disappeared within her flesh. More and more of these orbs of light appeared and continued to place themselves into the body lying before them.
In the air there was stillness, despite the howling cyclone…a stillness that caused the air to tremble slightly; it knew what was happening…
Then, it seemed as if the entire island would be lit up by the bright flash that followed. But trapped within the roaring whirlwind, it bounced back and forth between its walls creating an even brighter light. Mai's body slowly moved forward and suddenly jerked back again as a pair of forms appeared to be growing from her back. But as they unfolded to the light, snowy, downy feathers suddenly began to drift towards the earth as a pair of unearthly wings emerged from the guardian's body.
The wings along the girl's back then suddenly spread out to their fullest…reaching nearly seven feet on either side of her body, and then ripping through the cyclone. The whirlwind immediately dispersed into oblivion, setting the guardian free from its angry prison. Yet still the bullets of energy remained frozen in the air and as if brought back to life by the destruction of the whirlwind, they once more directed themselves back towards the girl.
This time when they collided with her, Mai no longer cried out in pain…nor did the bullets emerge on the other side of her body. Instead…instead the energy had nestled into the guardian's body for a final time.
A silence filled the restless air while a faint haze hovered still around the girl's body. But after that moment, the wings along her back softly rose and fell as they began to let the guardian descend towards the earth. And as her feet touched the ground, she almost immediately collapsed onto the earth in a stillness that could have been mistaken for death. Kira's staff rolled silently out of her hands into the grass a few inches away…
Genkai swiftly made her way towards her just as the wings along the girl's back deteriorated back into her body with a shimmer of light…
Only to be replaced by a pair of violet stripes stretching along either cheek…
The old woman knelt next to her quickly and rolled Mai onto her back, but still the guardian did not stir. Genkai grimaced when she noticed the bleeding wounds all along her body and swiftly raised her palms over the girl's abdomen as an orb of pale blue light appeared above her wounds.
It took nearly a minute before the girl let out a soft groan. Genkai removed her hands from above her and waited as Mai blinked slowly.
Her eyes stared off distantly into the now starry sky, when she noticed the elderly woman beside her and turned her head, smiling weakly, "How'd I do?" she asked in hardly more than a whisper, "Did it work…?"
She could have nearly sworn that she saw tears in the older woman's eyes, "Yeah, It worked, Mai…" she let out a short laugh, "But after awhile I admit I thought you had died in there…"
The guardian smiled and closed her eyes wearily, "I wasn't going to die, Master Genkai…" she murmured, "…Even though…even though there were times where I felt like I should…just to rid myself of the pain," a tear trickled down from the corner of her eye, "But I couldn't bring myself to…I…I couldn't bring myself to leave Yusuke alone…"
Genkai sighed and bowed her head, only to raise it again with a small grin, "You've done well tonight, Mai…"
The girl opened her eyes partially, "Does…that mean I can rest now, Genkai?"
She snorted softly, "Go ahead…you need it…"
Mai smiled towards the old woman and then for one final time closed her eyes in her weary slumber. Genkai shook her head slowly before withdrawing a cigarette from her pocket and lighting it. She puffed at it for a moment before glancing back down at the guardian.
"Damn this is going to be a long night…" she muttered to no one but herself…
-:-
a/n: …
Alrighty then, I think I'm just going to leave that at that I guess (damn, this thing is already 19 pages!!!) jeeze, but this took me awhile; don't expect another update till after the Holidays, though, gomen ne!!!
::nervous laugh:: yeah well, as I'm reading over this, a lot of the character seemed a little…well…out of character this chapter… ::sigh:: oh well; I'm too tired to go over and fix it tonight
Once again, HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!!
See ya next year!!