Left in the Shadows Chapter 14: Darkness
Me: Well…time for the new chapter.
Yusuke: You seem down.
Ed: Yeah.
Me: I was just listening to some depressing music.
Ed: Oh?
Me: It was called "Hear the Whistle" ("Kuchibue ga Kikoeru" it's a Hiei image song)
Kurama: Well, we should answer the polite reviewers.
Me: (perks up) Yeah, sure! Wanna help me answer them, Hiei?
Hiei: Hn.
Ed: Oh, I'll help you!
4-is-lovely: I know i took too long for this chapter. And i still leftsort of a cliffie. n.n and i add to my former statement. Nobuyuki Hiyama is a good voice for Hiei too. Well, here's the chapter for your santity. n.n
icedragongurl16: WHEW! saved by the forces of nature. (looks at Hiei) HEY! YOU WERE GONNA LET ME GET ATTACKED!
Hiei: So?
...(evil laugh) People, today is National Hiei-glomping day. Have fun!
Reiana: ...Why do people want to attack me? T.T i feel so unloved...
Yuus+Kura+Hiei+Ed: ...(crickets)
Oh yeah, thanks guys, for your support.
Kuwa: you're not unloved!
(Yeah, just the person i needed to hear it from. >.>)
prismdragon: Yeah, that was the intended effect. n.n Hiei as the ultimate woman's man? (bit disturbed) Scary...i get this pic of him in a suit with ladies all around him serving him drinks (for ppl who watch Inuyasha or go surfing around on the net for Miroku pics (guilty as charged n.n) you'll know what i mean.)
Wings of Heart: Pwn-ness...(snort) Ahem... anyways, sooooorry for not updating, you know my science teacher hates me. If i do bad in her class, my computer time is shot for the weekend. T.T And guess what? Your my 60TH REVIEWER! WOOT! (throws confetti)
RaceK: Aw...thank you! I hoped people would think they would make a cute couple! And hey, don't be afraid to post yours! Sure, it takes guts, but believe me, people will like it. I didn't think i would have a loyal band of reviewers that would review every chapter! n.n (thanks guys! n.n)
Luthoen: Hope you like this chapter!Sorry it took so long, i think i took too long...T.T But hopefully i can squeeze time in to write my guts out!
neko no koi: Well, the next chappie's up! Hope you enjoy! I'll try to take time to read yours too, Allishiddi. Sarah's too. (>.>; i really really need to get to that...)
BluesDaughter: Yay! a new reviewer! yes, Hiei is so cool! (not to mention other things n.n)
And a note for all my reviewers. Along with a sequel, i'm thinking of writing another story that's kinda like a prequel to this one. It will focus on Rinae and Kurama and more thoroughly explain her past along with her connection to our fave theives. But i won't write it if people aren't interested. (i bet you will be though n.n) Like i said, it's still in the works and i haven't even put any of it down on paper. at the end of your review, tell my your opinion. Thanks!
-Hieinokoishi- (Kit-chan)
Me: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Ed: WHAT?
Me: I've been practicing a different writing style and I've forgotten how to write the way I do for this fic!
Yusuke: …That's confusing.
Kurama: What she's saying is to forgive her if any sections in the story are not written as well.
Me: Thank you Kurama! (glomp)
Yusuke: OOOOH. Hiei you've been abandoned.
Hiei: Hn.
(THAT IS NOT TRUE!)
Chapter 14: Darkness
-----
"After him! We mustn't let him slip away!" The sound of guards breaks the rare moment of silence found in the Makai forests at night. The second-most protected stronghold had been broken into tonight. Broken into by none other than the Silver Thief himself. A small purring chuckle escapes his lips as he speeds through the trees like liquid silver. They would never catch him. No one had ever been able to catch him. No one ever would.
A small frown mars his handsome features as he feels the presence of someone very close behind. Too close for comfort. A blur of black passes him and he feels something leave his grasp. Pausing for a moment, he notices that his treasure was gone. The Hakumei Crystal. It's one of the Time Crystals and was worth unspeakable amounts when sold with the set. With this in hand, all that's left is the Gozen Crystal. His frown deepens and he quickly catches up to his pursuer. 'How ironic.' He thinks to himself 'that the Silver Thief could be robbed so easily himself!' His hand reaches out and grabs the cloak of his victim, pulling him back. The momentum of this action causes the hood to fall back and it reveals the face of the thief. One silver eyebrow rises in surprise when he sees a young female demon, her violet eyes gleaming and her pointed dog-ears tilted down with annoyance.
"Hands off!" she snarls.
"Ah Ah." He waggles his finger in front of her. "Not until you return what you've taken from me."
"Not on your-" she's cut off when flashlights cut through the darkness.
"I heard something over here!" The two thieves look at each other and with one of his infamous grins, Youko picks up the young female and hoists her over his shoulder.
"What the-" she begins, outraged.
"If I can't take the jewel back, then I might as well take the whole package." He grins. "And I don't feel like getting arrested or for the jewel I worked so hard for back in the wrong hands."
"Why you…" but she doesn't finish. He takes her deep through the forest until they reach a cave entrance.
"Ah! Youko-sama!" a small, scarred cat demon greets. "Good heist?"
"Yeah. And I got something extra too." He nods to the Inu who has, by now, given up resisting. He carries her into the chain of caves until they reach a back chamber.
"What are you going to do to me, Silver Thief?" the girl asks, ears tilted to observe her surroundings.
"Don't worry, he won't bite…much." Comes a voice from the entrance. She quickly turns around. The speaker turns out to be a tall bat demon. His face is gleaming with amusement. "But don't worry, that's why I'm here." He adds.
"I don't know if I sound be more alarmed or feel safer." She replies cautiously.
"Kuronue, it sounds like your accusing me of something." Youko pouts.
"So, why'd you bring her?" Kuronue asks, ignoring the comment.
"She took this." He holds up the frosty violet-colored gem. She looks at him, surprised.
"When did…?"
"Right now." He gives her one of his "Youko" smirks.
"You must be really skilled to be able to steal from Youko." Kuronue smiled and gives a few claps.
"I'm not skilled…he's just stupid." She mutters.
"Well!" Youko interrupts, rubbing his hands together. "It's beginning to storm outside" a lie. "So…"
"I can take care of myself." The girl snaps.
"So you rob a thief coming out of a mansion?" Is the smart reply. She closes her mouth. "Will you at least tell us your name?"
"Rinae." She tells them, crossing her arms. "And you're the Silver Thief, Youko Kurama I take it."
"The one and only." He grins. "Now, you can sleep in any of the rooms across the hall. Take your pick." His hand extends to the row of rooms.
"Thanks." She smiles, the first one of many he would see.
-----
"Rinae!" Kurama gasped.
"Hello Kurama." She whispers. If it were in his nature, Kurama would have been slack-jawed. But he just settled for staring.
"Well? Aren't you going to say anything? I thought you never ran out of things to say." A small smile quirked her lips.
"I…wh…where have you been?" he finally managed to spit out.
"After I'd heard that you'd been…killed…" she paused "I didn't know what to do. I…did a lot of stupid stuff and finally got caught by Koenma's lackeys." The smile she had before turned self-mocking.
"…Come here." Kurama extends a hand. She shook her head.
"I…can't." she told him. He frowns.
"Rinae…"
"Just…wait. Please. Wait until I can face you honestly." She told him. He opened his mouth to protest, but the look on her face silenced him.
"…Okay." He said at last. "But not too long."
Her smile became genuine. "But not too long." She agreed. In a few moments, there was only a small pile of ashes where she once stood, scattered by a non-existent wind. Kurama closed his eyes and shut his window and the only light on in the Minamino house finally turned off.
-----
"Kuraaaaaama." No response. "Yoo-hoo!" Still none.
"Yusuke, leave him alone."
"But he's been acting funny the whole day! What else am I supposed to do?" Yusuke's attention turned back to the zoned out fox. "Hey Kurama! Have you been sniffing too much of your pot plants again?"
"YUSUKE!" Amanda scolded angrily.
"You sound like Keiko." Amanda shut her mouth in a huff.
"Er…what?" Kurama looked at the other three, having been finally snapped out of his reverie.
"…You okay?" Amanda looked at him, concerned. Kurama nodded with a smile.
"Yeah. I was just thinking about something." He replied.
"Thinkin' about a girl?" Kuwabara teased.
"Like you should talk." Yusuke told him with a smirk. "Oh, YUKINA!" he mocked.
"Shaddup, Urameshi!"
"Guys, shut up." Amanda sighed. But she perked up when she saw the person waiting for them at the top of the huge stairway.
"Hn, I wasn't waiting for you." Is Hiei's greeting when they reach them. "Yukina asked me to check if you were here."
"Keep telling yourself that, Hiei." Yusuke clapped a hand on his shoulder and went inside the temple. Hiei bristled, but another hand on his shoulder calmed him down.
"If I say I believe you, will it make you feel better?" Amanda asked teasingly. Hiei allowed a tiny smile to grace his features.
"Maybe." He answered. The smile was short-lived though; something in the trees caught his attention. "Onna, inside the temple grounds." His tone left no room for arguments.
"Wha…"
"Now."
"Hiei what's going-" the words dried up at the glare he gave her. "You better tell me when you come in." she stalked into the temple.
"If you think that you can you can hide yourself from me, you will soon see how mistaken you are." Hiei said, seemingly to no one.
"Oh, and here I thought I could play easy." A silky feminine voice came from the right of him. His hand reached for his katana and his crimson eyes scanned the area. A glint of silver caught his eye and he stepped to the side just in time to see an arrow streak past him. His eyes widened in recognition when he saw that the arrow was engulfed in a silver flame. "You recognize it? I thought you would!" the voice sounded delighted. A moment later, a figure stepped out of hiding to Hiei's right. What he saw was a young female—demon by the feel of her energy—with a bow poised in her grasp. Thick, wavy locks colored a blood red fell down to her hips. The color matched her lips, which were curved into a playful smirk. A rich, dark green kimono embellished with gold trim adorned her lithe figure and seemed to make her hair look like real blood flowing down her body. Dark indigo eyes twinkled in delight at the irate fire apparition.
"Who are you?" Hiei's voice was dangerously soft. She reeked of blood.
"Oh, you can call me Relee." Her smirk grew larger. "And you are Hiei Jaganshi I presume."
"Maybe." He frowned.
"Oh, don't look so angry. I've just come as a messenger." She rested a hand on her hip. Hiei's eyes narrowed, prompting her to elaborate. "You have one month. That's all Lord Akuma is going to give you."
"Akuma?"
"Oh, yes. He was surprised that the little half-breed survived, but if you don't get stronger in three months…" Hiei was growing –if possible– more irritated with each word. "…She will no longer be in the world of the living for long." She ended with a chuckle. That was all the short-tempered Hiei could stand. In a blink, he disappeared from view and materialized behind her, his katana poised at her neck.
"You…leave her out of this." He snarled.
--
"Hey, where's Hiei?" Yusuke asked, leaning against the doorway to her room. Amanda looked up from her homework. "I thought he'd be with you."
"He told me to come inside the grounds. I think he sensed something." She replied.
"And you're not worried why…?"
"Come on. This is Hiei we're talking about. He probably took care of it and-" she froze.
"Yeah, I feel it too." Yusuke frowned. "Let's go. He's probably gonna yell at us for interrupting but…" a small smirk replaced the frown. "That's why you're comin' too."
Amanda smiled. "Yeah."
--
"Oh, did I make the little fire koorime mad?" Relee chuckled. "Well, you forget one thing, darling. You don't always need a bow-" she swiftly pulled out a silver-flamed arrow and thrust it behind her. "-To use a arrow!"
Hiei dodges to the side but too his dismay, it cuts through his cloak and grazes his shoulder. "Damn!" As expected, the arrow detonated and he was thrown back.
"Hiei!" he hears several familiar voices calling out his name in alarm. For several moments, he could see nothing but dust. Once it cleared he discovered the woman gone, the stench of blood the only thing lingering in the air.
"That is…" an extremely pissed Amanda appeared in front of him, her face only inches from his. "…The last time you convince me to go inside when you sense something." She growled.
"She's gotta point, Hiei." Yusuke said, crossing his arms. "With this Akuma dude running around, you shouldn't try to do everything yourself."
"Hn." He grunted. "I didn't need help." Amanda frowned but kept silent.
"Who attacked you, Hiei?" Kurama asked.
"The woman said that her name was Relee." He replied.
"She works for Tora Akuma, I presume." Hiei nodded.
"What did she want?" Kuwabara asked.
"…The wench wanted to gauge my skill." He lied. He thought there was no need for them to know the truth. Especially Amanda.
But both she and Kurama stared at him suspiciously for a few seconds. "Well, let us go back inside the grounds. We shouldn't linger here for long." The former stated.
"I really don't feel like having to deal with another attack right now." Yusuke added.
-----
That night, long after everyone had gone home and the residents of the temple had fallen asleep, a crash of a falling tree broke the still silence. Hiei had wasted no time in heeding Relee's warning and had been training for hours and hours on end, this being the only small break he allowed himself to have. Though his face dripped with perspiration and his body heaved with labored breaths, he refused to stop. He needed to get stronger. He only had three months, that wasn't a lot of time. Black-green aura flared up around him once more and he furiously flew into one of his more difficult routines. He wasn't about to let anything happen to her again.
(End chapter 14)
Me: oh my god, I haven't updated in over two months. MY REVIEWERS ARE GONNA KILL ME!
Yusuke: Haha, that Icedragon chick is gonna kidnap/hurt you.
Me: Shut up. My grades haven't been so hot so I've been focusing on my schoolwork. Along with my job for my neighbor.
Kurama: That is a smart thing to do.
Me: so I can't update as often. BUT I WILL NEVER ABANDON THIS SITE! THAT'S A PROMISE!
Ed: Stop yelling, wouldja?
Me: (whispers) …hey all you fangirls out there. Today is also free Edo-glomping day. Have fun!
Kura+Yus: …(sweatdrop) see you in the next chapter and don't forget to review!