Shiane to SmileAtTheDevil: She will definitely meet the others, don't worry. But it'll be EXTREMELY interesting when she meets Hiei….for a hint on that one just keep in mind of Autumn's powers and what Hiei is. (grins)
Notes and Disclaimers: I don't own YYH, but everyone else I do!Chapter 11
During the next two days that passed quickly, Autumn, the foxes and her parents slipped into a routine. Her parents would still come home to check on the kits as well as feel them small chunks of meat with the milk and bread. Autumn also became closer to the three, being able to pick up on their mood and even thoughts more easily.
She was also becoming closer to the redheaded eighteen year old Suiichi. He walked her to school and sought her out during school to chat. He still even walked her home and stayed for tea the day after their research night. The fox kits were still a little anxious around him, but were slowly accepting his presence. It was almost as if they trying to please Autumn, almost as If they knew exactly how much their mistress liked him.
The afternoon of the second day Autumn and Suiichi were raking a different way home, chatting lively about the kits.
"They're growing fond of sleeping in my room at night and this morning Twitch was curled at the foot of my bed! The other two were on the floor curled up together on a jacket that had slipped off my chair." She said with amusement.
"So you are allowing them to stay indoors at night?" he asked.
She nodded, "Yes. They've pretty much gotten the hand of using the cat door." She replied.
Suiichi let out a small chuckle and then inquired, "How is the food transaction going? Are they taking to it?"
She nodded again, thoughtfully this time, "Yes, they're taking to it really well. We don't even have much of a problems with crickets and grasshoppers anymore." She giggled at that. She looked up at the redhead and found him looking quite amused and chuckling.
They were nearing the forest Autumn loved, on the opposite side and were planning to cut through it. Suiichi wanted to take a look at the kits' old den. And he also wanted to see if the bodies of the mother and the runt were still there so he could bury them.
But just as they were passing the last alley before the forest Autumn stopped still, her expression stunned and unfocused. She had picked up faint stirrings outside of her shields and began to strengthen them as they continued walking. But just as she passed the alley some outside force of powerful emotions stripped all protection that she had. She was vulnerable to everything now, including Suiichi's own emotions.
She stopped moving the very instant her shields started to be stripped. She was deaf and blind to everything going on around her, including the one that had been with her.
She was being overwhelmed by a powerful emotion of fear tinged with pain and exhaustion. There was also death. With the feeling of death, of stillness of no true emotional mark; she was opened to the visions, just as powerful to have stripped away every shred of protection she had. In the back of her mind where she still had a tiny ounce of mind to think for herself, she knew that Suiichi would be extremely worried; being so overwhelmed by what stripped her shields, she couldn't consciously pick up on his being. She also vaguely knew her parents would at once know that she was no longer shielded and worry. They would also probably rush home and try to find her.
Before she could have any more time to her own private thoughts the visions overwhelmed everything else—
Something was chasing him, something not normal. And it wanted his life.
Faster, he must move faster; it was gaining on him. He could hear the heavy steps behind him. He started to look over his shoulder to see how far behind his pursuer was, but snapped his gaze forward. No, he couldn't waste precious time.
But even as he continued running, he knew he wouldn't be able to last much longer. Mortal legs could only go for so long.
Exhaustion began to penetrate his mind, as well as fear. The fear started flooding all his senses; his end was near, he could feel it. His legs and lungs were burning but he had to keep going. The being was nearly in touching distance.
His foot hit something; he stumbled and crashed headlong to the ground. Stunned he didn't move, but as quickly as he collected his thoughts the being stood over him, his presence looming, filling the immediate area with darkness and foreboding. His breath came fast, his heart beating rapidly and his fear overwhelmed all rational thought. His eyes closed tightly, his body tense and trembling.
With a sudden lurch he felt something plunge into his back, gasping for breath. Noises emerged from his throat as well, gasping and incoherent and now…pain.
"Yes, doe halfbreed." The creature above him hissed, plunging the dagger deeper.—
Autumn thrust herself out of the visions, but was still held by the emotions. She wouldn't be able to make a desperate retreat unless she was physically away from the area.
She was senseless to everything around her, that much he knew from the lack of responses and Suiichi grew extremely worried. It was just like the other night when he touched her, but on such a larger scale and she wasn't even touching anything!
He still watched her, his concern for her well-being rising. He knew he couldn't touch her, knew that she was totally vulnerable.
Nearly pacing around he jerked his gaze around, locating any people around them. Luckily there were very few, but a couple still looked in their direction.
"Why now of all times?" Suiichi muttered as his mind raced for something to do. "Too bad Genkai is unreachable at the moment. If only she hadn't gone on that extended trip."
After a few minutes, Autumn still as silent as she had been since she stopped walking, he knew he should get her away. "But how?" He thought. His deep green eyes kept going from the girl to the forest. Carrying her would have to do.
But Autumn was wearing short sleeves, he noticed—he would be touching her. Unconsciously he raised a hand as if to touch her, stopping before he could do so.
Something drew his eyes and he looked down at his arm, finally realizing his over jacket was long sleeved. His dilemma of not touching her as he carried her was solved.
He slipped out of it as quickly as he could. Wrapping it around Autumn's upper body, he carefully picked her up into his arms, minding that she wore the usual skirt, part of her school uniform. Her school bag was a little awkward to balance, but he managed and as soon as she was sure he could carry her without any trouble he started to quickly make his way towards the treelines.
Autumn was becoming away of her surrounding, feeling concern and a sense haste. And she knew then that it was coming from the redhead.
Already the link between her and the powerful emotions was fading, stretching out too far. But it reached a point where it became too thin and snapped, shooting the rest of Autumn's awareness and sense of self back to her body. Now she became totally aware of her body and senses of peace around her, accompanied by Suiichi's emotions.
Suiichi reached a suitable spot, well away from any streets and people when he stopped. He walked more carefully now, watching where he was putting his feet.
He spotted a fallen tree five minutes after entering the treeline and immediately headed towards it.
Autumn was set down as carefully as if she was made of glass, her back to the tree. As he backed away a couple of steps he took her book bag and set it down so she wouldn't have to deal with it for the time being.
But as he looked into her eyes, they were still unfocused, unseeing. He didn't know how long it usually took her to come out of these powers of her; yes he knew they were powers or at least one. A clairvoyant she was, he knew that much from his own experiences.
Autumn could tell that they had stopped moving and it was now in the semi peace her awareness floated back to the surface. Taking a deep breath she blinked, keeping her eyes closed for a long moment before opening them once again.
He watched the personality fill her blue eyes once again and had to smile when she looked at him. He continued to watch her, trying to reign in his own feelings, knowing that she was vulnerable right now and he didn't want to burden her or have her receive anything from him that he wouldn't want known. She was the only one with secrets.
She gazed around her, taking in their surroundings silently before asking, "Did you get us here?"
He nodded and raised a hand, waving it at her, "See for yourself."
She blinked at him and then looked down at what he referred to. She was engulfed by a maroon jacket, feeling very small inside it. Then she realized that it was his. She raised her eyes to meet his.
"Thank you." She said softly.
Seconds passed and he replied, "You're welcome."
Something or some things came crashing through the underbrush headed their way.
TBC