I'm sorry this is so late, but i had terrible writer's block. So, hopefully, the next chapter won't take so long. Anyway, the way i have this, it probably won't be much longer, so sorry guys. But i hope you still like the story, so have fun, and please review!

Chapter nine

A Taste of Freedom

Kaiya walked down the dark path, that was damp and smelled like dust and something rotten. She could only see one thing, and that was Kin's face. When he was alive and carefree, a free spirit, as she use to call him.

Her head suddenly ached so forcefully that she fell to one knee. Hiei's body fell to the floor carelessly, as she grabbed the sides of her head. Everything seemed blurry, and... red. All she could see was red.

And then, Kin. His dead body growing colder and colder in her hands. Kaiya suddenly felt the weight of his body in her arms, and she could feel the coldness seep into her skin. She shivered as goose bumps covered her body. Then, she felt something wet, and slippery in her hands. She rubbed her fingers together, and smelled it.

It was blood.

When she opened her eyes, she could only see darkness. Everything was cold, and dark. And then, she saw red. Bright, red eyes glowing in front of her.

She slumped over onto the cold, stone floor.

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"Where'd he go to now", Yusuke asked curiously.

"Probably still looking for her. I still say something's going on between them shorties", the tall, orange haired boy said.

Yusuke looked over at Kuwabara and actually agreed with him. Something weird was going on between the two of them, and he'd rather not know what it was.

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( "Mom, where are you?" The small girl asked quietly, as she moved further into the dark woods. She heard a low gasp, and then the sound of something been torn. She went further in, trying not to cry. Her hands were held close to her chest, as she shivered slightly. She reached out with one hand and brushed away some of the branches in front of her. She froze, her legs not wanting to move.

Blood. Blood, everywhere. On the ground in front of her, the leaves sprawled around her feet, and the torn, and bruised body before her. Her eyes stayed on the body, with its long black hair drenched in the crimson liquid. Hazel eyes were wide with fear, and shock as they stared up into the night sky, not blinking. One of the leaves with blood on it started dancing with the wind, as it was picked up and dropped near her feet.

"Kaiya?" Her body turned without will, as two large hands rested on her shoulders and turned her back to her mother's body. Her eyes looked up, and there, was her father. With his long blue hair, and pale green eyes. Red paint smeared his clothes, and hands, even on his face. She screamed as she felt the blood on his hands seep through her shirt. His fist came with punishing force, as it hit her in the stomach. She went flying back, and landed on her mother's corpse. She grabbed onto her arm, with its still silky blood covering it, and squeezed her eyes shut.

Her eyes were squeezed so tightly, that the tears in them couldn't escape. A hand enveloped around her slender throat, and picked her up, her hand still clinging to her mother's body. He wrenched her away from the fallen woman, and held her up in the air. Her eyes squinted open, and she could feel the air escaping, her eyes watering up, and the hot tears sliding down her face. Her small hands wrapped around his hands, the blood from them mixing in with the blood already on his hands. He squeezed tighter, and a gasp escaped her lips. Everything started to black in and out, and the last thing she saw was silver hair, and more blood.

Somewhere, a soft voice called out her name, but she couldn't answer. She wanted to say something, open her eyes... see her mother. With a cough, light greenish-blue eyes opened, and stared into scarlet ones.)

Kaiya jolted up. Her head hurt, and her surroundings spun slightly. The sweat on her skin made her shiver with pain. She looked around, and saw that she was somewhere... outside. Her eyes widened in shock, as if she was again that little girl so long ago. Her eyes scanned the area around her, looking to see if her father would pop out at any given moment and try to strangle her again.

A low growl made itself known on the other side of her, and she turned her head quickly to see what it was. But instead, it was more of a who. She looked down at the spiky black hair, and small pouty lips.

Hiei.

Her finger moved without her commanding it, and brushed over his features. When it came to his lips, his eyes opened, and his hand caught her wandering digit. He took her hand away from his face, and just held it for a few minutes, before letting it go and sitting up.

"What happened?"

"I don't know", she said quietly.

Hiei looked around, and then saw something that looked familiar. He got up, and walked towards the clearing that ought to have been there. When he pulled back the branches, he saw the clearing, along with the small waterfall.

He didn't say anything as he turned back around, after finding out where they were.

"Hiei... I have to go back."

"What do you mean?"

She looked up at him and stared into those deep pools of scarlet, that made her think of blood. She wanted to look away, but found that she couldn't.

"I have to help Kin."

"He's dead."

"I know, but there might be a way to save him."

"Hn."

She sighed, and then stood up. She looked around her more carefully, and then heard the sound of rushing water. They were near Genkai's, or at least, what was left of it. They were still trying to rebuild it.

She started to walk off, when Hiei appeared before her.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"I've got to find Kin!"

"Why in the hell did you even ask for me to help you, if you're just going to go back? Stupid onna!"

She just stared daggers at him, and then walked around him, folding her arms against her chest. Hiei just stepped right back in front of her.

"Hiei, move", she commanded, in a voice that was deep with hatred and pain.

He didn't move.

She tried to go around him again, but she couldn't. He just wouldn't let her leave.

"Dammit, Hiei! Move or-", she was suddenly cut off as she saw something move from behind one of the trees. It was Kin.

"Kin", she yelled, forcing herself past Hiei.

He disappeared into the darkness, and she shivered. His eyes, she had seen them. They were... lighter, different. They were no longer... dead.

"Kin", she whispered, as she pushed back a strand of hair from her face.

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"Damn you, you fool!"

Kin landed on the floor, his hands catching him before his head hit the concrete below him. He just sat there, not wanting to look at him.

"How could this have happened? You're supposed to be under my control, no one else's! How-", Zinan stopped in mid sentence as he looked down at him, his eyes suddenly wide.

"She sacrificed herself for you, she chose to become my slave, to save you. Dammit, how could I forget!"

He started to walk around, muttering under his breathe. He stopped, and then looked at Kin.

"But why did you come back? The spell has been broken, so why are you here?"

Kin didn't move, he just sat there, a small smug making its way on his face. He stood up, and walked towards Zinan. He grabbed the collar of his shirt, and held him against the wall. His voice was low, and almost playful.

"I want to live. I want to be with Kaiya, but I'm nothing but a dead corpse. How do I stay alive?"

"You will live, only if I-i am still alive."

"And if you die?"

Zinan swallowed back the lump that had formed in his throat, and said, "There is no way for you to live, if I am to die. That's the way the spell works."

Kin dropped him to the floor, and crossed the room, his hands twitching slightly.

"What I wouldn't do to kill you now", he said in anger.

Zinan said nothing as he shrank back slightly. Kin continued to glare at him.

"Behave", he said, as he disappeared.

Zinan fell back down against the wall, and let out a gasp of breath that he had been holding, then let out a small laugh.

XXXXXX

Kin returned to the spot that he had left Kaiya, and her friend. He saw her sitting out by the rocks, and the guy in one of the trees. He walked towards her, only to be stopped by her short, spiky haired friend.

"What do you want", he asked, with his sword drawn.

Kaiya looked up, and almost ran towards them.

"Hiei, put your sword down."

Kin looked over at Kaiya, with the sword still pressed to his throat, and sighed.

"Kaiya, you really should be more careful, I could still be the bad guy, you know. You're very lucky to have a friend like Hiei."

He smiled then, and she couldn't help but rush into his arms. Hiei withdrew his sword, and walked off towards his tree, again.

"Kin, I'm so glad that you're okay. Promise you'll never leave me again."

Kin held her closer to him, but that was something that he couldn't promise. The silence around them grew, and the only things that were watching them, were the moon, the stars, and a pair of scarlet red eyes.

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sorry its a tad bit short, but writer's block sucks, doesn't it?

love ya all,

robin

p.s. review please!