"Bye Faye, bye Ti!" The young dragon walked off with a smile on her face.
"Remember to-"
"Keep within our territory. Yeah yeah, gotcha"
Natiya sighed and glanced at the older demon beside her, who gave her a shrug and walk back into their hideout.
"…Why didn't we stop her?"
Faye gave a short laugh. "Natiya. We can't stop her even if we wrap her in chains."
Sighing, the seer went over and helped the aged demon. "They can't be together. Kageru won't allow it. Neither will Hitoshi. Not to mention Hitoshi himself is interested in Naiya."
Hitoshi was the leader of the band of thieves they were in. According to him, he had a grudge against Kageru and vice versa. Leading to the hostile atmosphere between the two bands of thieves.
"Naiya deserves someone better than that fat, clumsy fool"
Natiya held back a snort of laughter at that comment. Even though Hitoshi was not pleasant in appearance, he was powerful enough that the others respected him. Sighing, Natiya helped the old lightning demon sit down.
"I just hope she knows what she is doing…"
"Hiei"
"Hn"
Naiya gave a small bark of laughter and crashed down beside the fire apparition. Her golden eyes flashed with contentment as she looked up into the sky.
If only such contentment could last forever…
"Naiya"
Naiya tensed up slightly. He never calls her by her name unless he has something serious to say. She expected what he is going to say, judging by his actions recently. Yet, she really don't want him to say it straight out to her.
"Look at the time, I gotta go. Bye!"
Hiei rolled his eyes and grabbed her back, holding him lightly against him. Over the past meetings, he had grown deeply attached to the young dragon despite himself. In fact, they had grown so close, they could almost know what each other is thinking.
Like now for instance.
"Why do you have to go…" Naiya softly whispered, knowing he could hear her. She turned to face him and hugged him tightly to her.
"You know why…the bastard Kageru don't trust me anymore. He believes I will overthrow him since I'm more powerful now. Even if I don't leave, they will abandon me sooner or later."
Hiei sighed as his shirt start to dampen. He was half-reluctant to leave, due to the little dragon clinging to him. Hugging her slightly back to reassure her, his action only brings about a fresh batch of tears.
Naiya's golden eyes filled with tears stared up at him. The sight almost make Hiei want to stay in this position and be with her for eternity.
"Come with me"
"Wha-at?" Naiya stuttered out and stared at Hiei. She then lowered her gaze to the ground sadly. "I can't. I just can't leave Faye and Natiya. They are my family Hiei."
Hiei sighed again, he expected that answer. He knew it was asking a lot for her to leave the band and abandon the two women who play a major part in her life. Grabbing one of her hands, he dropped something into her palm before closing it with his hand.
"I'll be back. I promise"
Saying that, he hugged her tightly for the final time and reluctantly released her, Turning away from the heart-wrenching sight of her in this state, he flitted off, sadness and pain filled every inch of his body.
"Hiei…"
Naiya looked down and opened up her hand. A jewel in the size of a marble sat in the middle of her palm. Black and red rolled through it, reminding her so much of the guy who left. Clenching the tear gem tightly, she sat down at the base of a tree and buried her head in her arms.
"Naiya. Naiya, stop."
Naiya squeezed her eyes shut and tried to summon her wings out. Why does this have to be so difficult!
Ti looked sadly at the young girl focusing. Even since Hiei left, she has devoted her time to training, trying to numb the feelings inside her.
"Naiya, enough for today" Natiya's voice were stern as she gently shook the girl.
"But-"
"No buts. You already transformed your hands and feet. It's enough for today."
Dropping to the ground, Naiya stared at her the said limbs. Her hand as a slight scaly pattern covering it with a black tinge to it. Same goes for her feet. Deadly claws replaced her fingers and toes.
Shifting her hands and feet back to a more normal look, she reached up with one hand and fingered the reddish black gem hanging from her necklace.
"You really miss him don't you…" Ti gently placed a hand on her shoulder, trying to offer some comfort.
"More than anything…"
"Ti…"
The seer smiled weakly despite her condition. Blood poured from her mouth and streamed from the many lacerations across her body. Her face ashen, eyes started to flutter shut, never to open again.
"Ti…Damn it!"
"Naiya…" One of the thieves hesitantly spoke up.
"What!" She growled and spun around, flaring up at the demon who has spoken.
"The guards are n-not far be-behind" The frightened thief stammered, inching away from her.
Turning back to Natiya's dead body, her eyes softened slightly before hardening again. She quickly dug a hole with her claws before placing the corpse in. Covering the hole back up, she whispered a silent prayer. Turning to the rest of the thieves, she whistled sharply to get their attention before signaling for them to move on.
Her black ears perked slightly up, hearing the distant noise from behind them. She gave a short command for the thieves to hasten, increasing her own speed as well. Hitoshi has appointed her the leader at his deathbed.
"Why am I still doing this?" Naiya thought bitterly as she ran along with the rest. Faye has passed away just a few weeks ago. Now, Natiya is gone as well, due to the slight flaw in the latest heist. Her golden eyes flickered down to the flawless ruby in her hand. "All for this…"
Deep inside, Naiya knew it wasn't because of the treasure that she continued being a thief. It's the thrill included in it. The excitement in the air. The feeling of knowing you will die if you get caught. It's like betting your life, with the treasure as the prize.
Naiya glanced around as a few of the thieves slowed down, obviously exhausted, but not willing to admit it. The guards had given up, unable to catch up with them on the twisting and turning trail they took.
"We rest here"
A few thieves sighed softly with relief and settled themselves in the clearing Naiya had chosen. It was conveniently located by the side of a stream.
There was silence before the cheering started. The thieves are elated due to the fact that they had plundered many rare treasures from the place they had chosen. Several thieves started squabbling over the share of the treasure, each not willing to give it up.
Sighing, Naiya left them to quarrel and gathered wood for fire. Dumping the whole pile of firewood in the middle of the clearing, she picked up a stick and blew lightly on it. The stick ignited and burned fiercely, setting fire to the rest of the wood. That done, she walked a distance from the rest of the thieves and sat down at the base of a tree.
"Naiya, here"
Naiya looked up at the earth demon offering a piece of meat to her. A few thieves had taken it upon themselves to hunt for food and was now roasting their catch over the fire Naiya made. Accepting the food from him, Naiya spared him a glance as he sat down close to her and started on his own meal.
"Thanks"
Her reply was a smile. Naiya smirked half-amusedly as she chewed. Almost everyone in the group knows of Leo's affection for her. She likes the earth demon, but not to that extend. Love isn't high on her list after a certain fire apparition left. Her face showed no emotions as she fingered the black and red gem.
'You never came back…'"Naiya? Who gave that to you?" Leo's voice was filled with jealousy as he watched the gem sparkle while Naiya toyed with it.
"…No one of importance"
"I see…" Leo scooted closer to Naiya and placed his arm around her. "Naiya"
"Leo" Naiya rolled her eyes and pushed his arm off. "For the hundredth, no thousandth, time. I'm NOT going to have sex with you"
Leo gave a bark of laughter before running his hand through his short, slightly spiked brown hair. His green eyes glimmered as he pulled Naiya on his lap and wrap his arm around her tense form.
"I wasn't talking about sex. I was thinking along the line where we just make-out. But hey, if you want to jump straight to bed, I have no objection"
"No way" Naiya muttered and tried to wriggle free from his grasp. Giving an annoyed look when his arms simply tightened, she turned her head around to face Leo. "What, do you want?"
"You"
Leo muttered and kissed her forcefully on the lips. His grip tightened as Naiya doubled her effort to break free. Leaving her mouth alone, he started trailing kisses down to her neck, teasingly biting and nipping at a certain spot. His hand slipped slight up her shirt, ignoring Naiya's protests.
"Leo!" Naiya growled as she finally broke free from him. She took a couple of steps back and glared angrily at him.
"We have a friendship, don't ruin it" She snarled before walking off, leaping up a tree and settling herself on a broad branch. She glared down at the smirking earth demon who blew her a kiss and walked off cockily.
'Arrogant bastard, just like a certain someone'
With that thought, Naiya growled before ripping large claw marks into the tree she's in. Imagining the tree to be a fire apparition and venting her anger out on it.
A/N: This is the last chapter that will happen in the 'past'. The next chapter will start where Hiei is already on probation.
Many many thanks to HieiFan666, Seeyu and The Squabbit who reviewed!
-Lene