Oh, bad image...My oh-so-kind beta-reader has just given me a mental picture of Kurama, smoking on a street corner, awaiting a prostitute. You can imagine the joy. Please don't kill me, Kurama!
Crimson314: Thank you for the compliment. Don't down-talk yourself, though. Your writing is awesome, but you should post more often. I'm willing to help all I can.
Kuramalovergonecrazy: Way to take the blame! Err....::stares at angry, although imaginary, characters, who are holding various weapons:: Umm...Blame the Bush Administration? ::Runs away, screaming, "I'm sorry!"::
Moon Archer: Thanks for reviewing. You know, but no one else knows, so don't you dare reveal it! Plus, I can blackmail you. I know something about your story...::evil laughter::
Jaderabbit: No...I can see where you're coming from, though. That last word was meant as a sort of plea. A cry for help, if you will.
Hiei-Lover152: Thank you.
Cartoon-Protector: Dude! Why haven't you posted recently?! Oh, well. I have ::gags:: school to keep me occupied. Thank you for reviewing. It's awesome when you review, but I'm okay, so long as you read and enjoy. After all, that's the point of my writing on this site, isn't it?
Disclaimer: I don't own either YYH or Kurama. You don't want me to own Kurama!
The Girl, The God, and The Demons
Chapter Ten: Fights, Smoke, and Strangers
I'm so dead...Hiei thought glumly, running toward his forest under the cover of night. However, he could not help but feel a sense of accomplishment; he had -- finally -- confronted Diana, although it was not in the most traditional way. Had he been in his usual, alert state, he would have noticed the crimson colored shadow trailing behind him, stalking his every move, watching him murderously with turquoise eyes.
Hiei drew closer to his tree and, fearing conflict, reached toward his katana. He was met with a surprise; he touched only the sheath. I must have left it with Diana...Hiei realized, frantic as he remembered how Diana had used his vulnerability against him. She has made me weak...He silently scolded himself for being so careless. It was as if, in that one moment, so close to Diana, he had lost all control. Instead of doing his deed, thus saving both himself and Kurama from weakness, he had increased their danger twofold. I guess it's too late to kill her...
The fire demon stopped suddenly, upon reaching his clearing (he could tell by the burned tree.) There was Kurama, training frantically, a maniac glint in his emerald eyes. The red-haired boy held his rose whip in his out-of-practice hands, trying desperately to destroy some nearby bushes. His aim was pathetic; he split a log roughly five feet to the left of his current target.
"If you can't aim, I suggest you don't use your whip." Hiei commented coldly from behind him, a form of 'hello'. The fox demon whipped around hurriedly, an anxious expression written on his face.
He chose to ignore Hiei's comment and inquired, voice higher than normal, "Is she dead?" Hiei didn't answer, instead disappearing into his usual spot in the canopy, his black cloak blending against the ashy bark. "Hiei! Answer me!" Kurama continued, yelling angrily; if Diana was still alive, he would be all but dead, for he had already blown his cover. When Hiei again didn't respond, the teenager kicked the tree, venting his frustration. The tall structure shook violently, for it had been significantly weakened by Hiei's dragon of the darkness flame, and it forced Hiei to jump out quickly, lest he fall twenty feet, to the hard ground below. He glared at Kurama coldly, landing just opposite the fox demon.
"You could've killed me, you know," Hiei responded, carefully avoiding the question. However, Kurama could not be dissuaded.
"Is she dead or not?" He asked once more, his voice a deadly calm. Hiei mumbled something which Kurama could not hear, so he asked, again, "Tell me, Hiei. Did you or didn't you kill Diana?" Hiei turned his back to the fox demon, to prevent his face from betraying any emotion.
"Why do you care so much that she dies?" Hiei heard Kurama begin a feeble excuse, blaming it on her immaturity, which 'forced' him to lose his temper. "That's bull, Kurama. If she's immature, than you should have known better than to lose your temper. You were just afraid." Hiei turned around to face Kurama once more, missing the silvery smoke which began to surround the two demons completely. Kurama, too, missed it, shocked by Hiei's accusation.
"Wh-Where do you get that idea?" He tried to sound casual, but could not hide his panic; Hiei knew him well, and could easily infer his motives.
"You were afraid that Diana would reject you! You didn't want to let go! Am I right?" Hiei finished, glaring daggers at Kurama's shrinking figure, looking extremely superior. Kurama shook his head frantically, trying to block out the emotions flooding in. He closed his eyes, backing away from Hiei all the while, as if distancing himself would make the pain, the realization of his true motives, disappear.
Hiei knows...It's...I... "No!" Kurama yelled, panicked. He turned to run, tripped over a protruding root, and fell, face first, into the barrier of silvery smoke around the two. The smoke immediately enveloped him and he saw, through a veil of silver, that the same had happened to Hiei. Not a minute later, the smoke dispersed, leaving in its wake two boys, although they were now drastically different.
Kurama had grown about one foot taller, while Hiei had stayed roughly the same height. The previously red-haired teen surveyed the green-skinned demon coolly though amber eyes, not unnerved in the slightest by his eyeball-covered complexion. His silver fox ears, sticking out of layers of matching silver hair, twitched slightly as he heard a voice in the distance, laughing melodiously.
"Oh, wow. I never thought I'd see you again, Yoko." Suddenly, as a woman's silhouetted figure stepped out of the brightening forest, her voice turned contemptuous. "I'm sorry that I did," she finished, stepping out in clear view, joining the two demons. Both Yoko's and Hiei's eyes widened at the woman before them, taking in her appearance.
A/N: Ooh! Cliff-hanger! Who is that woman? Is it a woman indeed? Or is it something...more? Please read and review! Mucho props to my beta-reader, Moon Archer.