Chapter: Merciless

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the following characters, except for Keiyma Suriei, Myrani Sakai, Etsu Nakamura, Itachi, and Zakoto.

Keiyma sat up in her bed, her clothes drenched in sweat. She went over to the closet in the room and looked for something clean.

Fortunately, Kurama had brought her clothes to Genkai's temple. She changed into a red shirt and stretchy black jeans and sat back down on her bed, trying to calm herself down.

She had been dreaming about her past again.

She'd seen several scenes that night. Each previously pushed out of her mind, each terrifyingly graphic, and each specially sickening in their own unique way.

That was one way Zakoto had messed with her mind. She never knew what to expect from him. He could be cruel and violent or gentle and sweet. But it was always things that he would say to her that terrified and twisted her. It was how he really screwed up her mind.

Tonight, every dream she had was re-traumatizing, but there was one that stood out. It was one of the most frightful experiences she'd had with Zakoto, but not because of him.

He'd never been careless before. He always waited until she was gone, until she had left for the bar or the casino, whatever kept her away from any responsibility.

Did he forget she was staying in tonight?

It didn't matter why. The point was, tonight she could be free.

Her mother never believed her when she said what daddy does at night… but if she could show her…

'I think you're starting to enjoy our little visits, my dear. It's a shame, really. You have such beautiful screams.'

She didn't respond. She wanted to call for her mother, but it was too soon. It had to be obvious.

He slid over her, completely naked, and began to position himself. He pinned her arms behind her, smirking. Her breath quickened.

Now. He couldn't explain this. Her mother would have to believe her.

She screamed. She screamed over and over again.

He jumped at the sheer volume, but made no efforts to move away. He must have forgotten she was staying. He finally made a mistake.

Her throat ached, but she kept screaming. Finally, the bedroom door opened and her mother stormed in.

'Keiyma, what the hell?' she demanded angrily. Her eyes ran from Keiyma's face to the naked male body atop of her. She was quiet.

Could she see who it was?

He turned to her. Their eyes locked. She knew who it was.

'Oh. Sorry.' Her mother quickly turned away and left the room, slamming the door behind her.

She was gone, ran away. They were alone. More alone than they had ever been.

He turned back to her, sneering.

'That was very sneaky, my dear.' He grabbed her neck viciously. 'But haven't you realized it by now?' He tightened his grip. She choked. 'You cannot escape me.'

Her mother hadn't cared. Nobody cared. He was right. She didn't escape him. She was only free because he left her. But he was back.

"I'm going to fucking KILL you, ZAKOTO!"

Hiei was screaming. Keiyma ran, following the voice. When she found Hiei outside, he wasn't alone. Kuwabara, Kurama and Yusuke were there, looking as though the shout had woken them up.

Hiei was breathing heavily. When he saw Keiyma, there was a strong look of concern in his eyes.

What had happened?

"What did Zakoto want this time?" Yusuke asked, sleepily.

"Did he come lookin' for Etsu or something? 'Cause that spy's long gone! Yeah, I chased her outta here like nobody's business!" Kuwabara bragged proudly in an effort to lighten the mood.

"No… He came about me, didn't he, Hiei?"

Keiyma looked down to the floor, ashamed. She felt Hiei's hand beneath her chin, gently pulling her face, causing her to look deep into his crimson eyes once more.

He put his arm around her shoulders and, in an instant, ran with her into the next room.

"He is evil, Keiyma, just a lowly creature not even worthy of uttering your name. Never feel bad for what he has done." His voice was cool and comforting, despite his anger.

"I can't help it. I just feel so… so dirty. And, this is all my fault… if it weren't for me, none of this would be happening."

"You're right. This wouldn't be happening. But, I wouldn't have met you, either."

"Maybe… that would have been better. I mean, what if he hurts you?"

"Then it will be worth it."

"You barely even know me… how do you know that I'm worth it?"

He let go of her. "Would you like to see?"

"What?"

"Read my mind."

"Okay, I'll try…"

Keiyma concentrated on Hiei, on invading the caverns of his mind. A thought popped into her head. It was Hiei's voice, but his lips weren't moving.

'Are you ready?'

She nodded.

Hiei lifted his hand and brushed his fingertips against her lips, just as she had done to him before.

Something sprung up into her mind. She didn't know what color it was, what shape it was, or even what it was, but it was coming from Hiei. It was sensational, stunning, and absolutely–

Hiei removed his hand. Keiyma stopped reading his mind.

"What was that?"

"My soul."

"It was so… perfect."

"Exactly. You see, we're not meant for each other because of the Ardention. The Ardention is there because we are meant for each other."

"I don't understand…"

"We do not have perfect souls, Keiyma. No soul is perfect. But, our souls seem perfect to each other, because we are exactly what the other has been seeking."

"We're… soul mates."

"Yes."

"I really seem perfect to you?"

"Every part."

Keiyma blushed and fidgeted considerably.

"What… what would happen if we were both reading the other's mind at the same time?"

Hiei looked surprised. He tried to smirk, but, in his own shyness, didn't quite succeed.

"Would you like to find out?"

Keiyma blushed deeper and nodded, curious.

"Okay, concentrate on my thoughts, and I'll concentrate on yours."

She did. Once again Hiei's voice entered her mind, asking if she was ready. She nodded and held out her hand.

He didn't take it. Instead, he plunged his lips on hers.

Each of them felt the others soul wrapping around them, covering them in unrivaled perfection. The feeling of the kiss, the correctness, and the souls surrounding them in a symbol of protection and love… it was breathtaking.

They broke off the kiss after only a second, interrupted by deafening knocking on the door of the room.

"HEY, get back in here! We were in the middle of a conversation!" Yusuke yelled from the other room.

Hiei sped the two of them back inside, both looking quite flushed. The rest of the room's occupants pretended not to notice.

"So…" Kuwabara began after an uncomfortable silence. "What's the plan?"

"I say we kill the bastard right now," snarled Hiei.

"We can't go without having some kind of a plan," said Yusuke.

"No, he's right," Genkai interjected. "We can't afford to wait any longer. Zakoto has already adapted to some of Keiyma's power by now."

"What are ya talkin' about?" Kuwabara asked, tilting his head to the side.

"In a power transfer, the receiving body will slowly adapt the foreign power as their own. In the case that either person dies, all of the power will return to its original owner, unless it has become the possession of its new host. The adaptation process varies on the willingness of the power. Even if Keiyma's power fought against the process, by now he must have adapted to part of it. The longer we wait, the stronger he becomes."

"So that's why he wanted to keep her close by. He needed to make sure she'd stay alive... at least, until the adaptation process finishes and he can kill her," said Kuwabara.

"Why does he keep trying so hard to find her? Wouldn't it be easier to wait until he absorbed her power?" asked Yusuke.

"The rate of absorbing power strongly depends on how close the two bodies are. If he keeps her nearby, it will increase their bond and, therefore, the power consumption will become much faster." Replied Genkai.

"So why don't we just keep her away? That will buy us some time, right?"

"Numbskull! Do you really think it such a simple task? Don't neglect the fact that he has taken capture of Keiyma three separate times while she was in our possession."

Keiyma's head hung low at Genkai's last statement.

Three times? Had she really been so careless?

"No." Hiei grabbed her hand and gave it a tight squeeze. "I told you never to blame yourself for what he's done, and I meant it. I won't let anyone hurt you, including yourself. So stop those thoughts or I'll have to use my Katana on you, understand?" He smirked at her. Although she sensed it was a forced smile, it warmed her heart just the same.

"It's not the time for confidence loss, the clock is ticking away and our opportunity is fading. Since you and Hiei have shared power, you must attack together if we want any chance of success. Are you all ready to fight?" Genkai waited for those around her to nod before continuing. "All right then. Hiei, you can still sense him, correct?"

"Yes. Even if I couldn't I'd still be able to find him... just follow the smell of burning waste."

"You and Keiyma must run ahead and try to subdue him before we arrive. It won't last long, but while he's fighting it may pause the power adaptation process. It's risky taking her with you, but we've no other choice. Hopefully we'll reach you before too much time has passed." Genkai turned to Hiei, her face changing to a frighteningly serious expression. "Don't get ahead of yourself. You're not as strong as you once were, and it would be foolish to attempt to kill Zakoto on your own."

"Hn," Hiei said darkly. He raised his hand, still holding Keiyma's, and directed his attention to her. "We have to run there, are you sure you're up to it?"

Keiyma nodded, holding his hand tightly and facing the door near them.

"Let's go," she mumbled, her fear pinching and mangling the words.

O—o—O—o—O—o—O—o—O

As they raced through the dark night sky, Keiyma was troubled with anticipation, fear, and malevolence.

He might take her away again. He might… do things to her.

What if he hurt Hiei? What if he killed him?

The scene around Keiyma was incredibly blurred, just as it had been when Hiei first carried her through the wind. Although she could see nothing, she sensed the location of all the upcoming trees, rocks, and any other obstacles that were blocking their path.

She stopped looking at the blurred forest and up at Hiei. His face was facing straightforward, steady with concentration and tinged with anger. She watched as his eyes drifted over to her every so often, making sure she was still there with him.

While staring at the beautiful demon, a sudden curiosity started to tease her. If she could run like this, she wondered if perhaps she had also gained Hiei's ability to read minds.

Unfortunately, Keiyma didn't have the chance to try and peer into his confidentialities, for, it was at that moment that they came to a stop.

They were in a forest, much like the one near Genkai's temple. Tall trees encircled them. Their usual warm green coloring was painted dark and somber by the dark morning sky. Large gray boulders lay aligned in front of the wide circle of trees, making it blatantly obvious that the area was a ring, designated for battle.

"Where are you?" Hiei snarled out to his surroundings. "Zakoto, I know you're here, I can sense your foul existence rotting away the forest. Why not show yourself for the battle you've been asking for?"

Hiei began pacing the quite large area of the ring, inspecting every tree and rock and catcalling to his deceitful opponent. Keiyma stood in the center of the ring glancing around at the different elements in an attempt to help. She noticed a certain tree that seemed to stand out from the others in a way she was unsure of.

Thoughtlessly, she walked up to the dark, mossy tree and spoke naught of her findings to Hiei. Keiyma ran her fingers down the tree's darkened gray-blue bark, feeling its texture. It felt slightly unusual, however Keiyma decided to let it be and turned to walk back to the ring's center.

Without so much as an ounce of warning, Keiyma felt a strong hand quickly cover her mouth, tightening against it and somehow blocking off her ability to emit any sound whatsoever. She felt something creep over her shoulder and the hot breath of a deep exhale tingling on her neck. She listened and heard an exaggerated intake of breath soaking up her very essence.

"Oh, how I've missed your smell, my dear." Zakoto taunted into her ear, his voice so soft that she could barely hear his words.

She felt his breath move closer, to the point that his lips were almost touching her ear.

"It brings back so many fond memories of home."

Hands from behind, from him, caressing her hair, playing with it, following it down…

'Such a good girl…'

The hands were on her back, curving slowly to her stomach…

'So beautiful…'

They were on her thighs, sweeping inward…

'So perfect…'

No. Not again. That wasn't going to happen.

Keiyma bit down.

She tasted his blood within her mouth and heard a sudden holler as Zakoto pulled his hand away. She took the chance and pulled away from her captor.

Hiei ran to Keiyma when he heard the yell.

"Stay back," he ordered Keiyma, stepping up to block her from view. He unsheathed his katana.

"You always did have a powerful bite, my dear. I'm sure I can teach you much better ways to use that talent once I have you back."

"Don't speak to her, you callous ingrate." Hiei stepped in front of Zakoto, blocking his view of Keiyma. "You will deal with me."

"Poor, poor little demon boy. You still don't realize how foolish you are being. A fight with me would be in vain. You're just going to end up dead. Take it from me, little Keiyma can surely be fun at times, but she is definitely not worth your life."

"Shut up!" Hiei hissed, swinging his katana swiftly, attacking Zakoto with a heavy blow aimed to the chest. The sword twinkled beautifully in new sun, deceitful of its true lethal character.

Hiei's aim was true. His katana was ripping through the flesh directly above Zakoto's heart. But, before the sword could delve deep enough to kill, it stopped. The Illusionist's hand was clamped soundly around the helm of the sword.

"This is the famed demon? The legendary Murderous Blur?" Zakoto tutted. "Such a disappointment. Here I thought this battle would have a little challenge. It's almost as if you lost half of your power." He gasped, mockingly. "Oh, wait! Dear me, that's correct, isn't it? You brainlessly gave your power to save the life of this," Zakoto grinned menacingly over Hiei's shoulder at Keiyma, "piteous excuse for a woman."

"I told you to shut up!" Hiei lunged his fist into Zakoto's stomach, causing the older man to at first cough and sputter, but his reaction quickly changed into a highly amused laugh.

"You still want to play, Hiei?" He smiled and rolled up the long sleeves of his black robe, careful to evenly align the silver trim. He chuckled as he did so, commenting on his well-deserved vanity. "Then, I guess it's my move." Zakoto took a step back into the forest and crossed his hands in front of him. "Calamity Spiral!"

A thick, screw-like dark purple beam shot from his hands, moving almost too quickly to catch a glimpse of. Hiei moved to the side in an effort to dodge the attack, but was not fast enough. The energy shot through his shoulder and the smells of flesh, blood, and burnt clothing filled the air. Hiei roared out, grabbing his new wound. It was a deep hole, cut almost into the bone, and was filling with frightening cherry-red blood

"Hiei, please, let me help you!"

"No! Stay back, I won't let you get hurt." Hiei groaned through his words.

"Maybe you should ask for a bit of help, hmm? It seems to me that you're doing quite poorly on you own. Not that it will really matter in the end. I can kill every single one of you, if I want," Zakoto jeered.

"We'll see about that!"

With those words, Hiei's skin turned a shocking green and eyes began sprouting over his body. It was his true demonic appearance.

Hiei was about to attack in his new, more powerful, form, when his action was cut short by an unexpected gasp behind him.

Hiei turned to find Keiyma staring at him, a shocked expression upon her face. Her hand slid over her mouth, stifling her sounds of surprise.

"What's this?" Zakoto inquired, highly amused. "You didn't know, did you, my dear? Look closely; observe the hideous creature standing before you. Do you feel it? Do you feel the horror surrounding you? Oh, yes. Your little lover is not simply a demon, but a disgusting monster."

"Keiyma..." Hiei looked back at her apologetically.

"No..." Keiyma began. "No, no, NO!" she shrieked at Zakoto. "You're wrong! YOU are the monster! You're a vile, merciless beast!"

"Merciless? You think I'm merciless, do you?" He raised an eyebrow and called out behind him. "Itachi!"

The wretched servant slithered from a hiding place of shrubbery, hastily creeping up to meet Zakoto.

"Y–yes, Master, I am here," He immediately dropped down on his knees into a bow.

"Itachi, these heathens seem to be under the impression that I am merciless. Tell me, Itachi, have I been good to you? Have I allowed you to live and work with me, with promise of great power, despite your weak energy and utter uselessness?"

"Yes, of course, Master! You have always taken great pity on me! I thank you eternally!"

"You see, if you still think I'm merciless after such a statement, then you'd be..." Zakoto chuckled, placing his hands in a cross before him once more, "absolutely correct. CALAMITY SPIRAL!"

The spiral stabbed directly through Itachi's chest, cracking through his rib cage and spinal column, ripping apart his stomach, intestines, and heart. There was a massive hole through his body where it hit, tissue and organs hanging within it. Blood surged from his body and mouth. Ripped, torn, bruised and burned, Itachi fell to the ground, hopelessly dead.

His blood was pouring, streaming, bursting from him. It was too much.

But, even still, it was not the worst part.

The ghastly, gruesome expression of horror still reined on Itachi's pale, hairless face. So unimaginably awful, it was enough to strike fear into the bravest of souls.