Left in the Shadows
Chapter 15: Running Out of Time
Me: Yup, another chapter. Not too much to say, except that I changed the allowed time from one month to three months. I'll change the previous chapter.
Ed: She's trying to emphasize her point so people will know.
Me: Uh-huh. And now I'm now a big Ranma ½ fan because of a fanfiction I read! n.n
Yusuke: Y'mean "Fox's Mischief?"
Me: Uh-huh. I've read all of Niana Kuonji's fics! n.n
Kurama: It's good that you like it but…did you really need to spend two weeks of your allowance on the Ranma books?
Me: Oh, hush! There was a sale, "but three, get the fourth free!"
Kuwabara: Hey, I'll do the disclaimer!
Me: Sure.
Kuwabara: Kit doesn't own YYH, only her Oc's and the plot.
Ed+Yus: Oh, I'll answer the reviews! (looks at each other) Hey!
4-is-lovely: I have updated! MWAHA! And if you kill me, no more updates neener neener:P But seriously, hope you like this chappie. n.n
Icedragongurl16: St-stale cookies…(shiver) bleh! But here's another chapter! Enjoy!
Reiana: Uh…(poke) …(poke)
Neko no koi: weeee I updated! Liked that chapters you gave me, though! Hm…two reviewers huh? (takes deep breath) HEY PEOPLE! READ NEKO-CHAN'S FICS! THEY'RE GOOD! IF YOU DO, REVIEW! How was that? n.n btw, Yusuke sez hi.
Yusuke: Hey.
Gaara's Pyro RACCOON: Wow, two people! n.n if you keel me, then I won't be able to update and…Edo will keel you. n.n (maybe)
Kurama: um…hi?
Hiei: …
(smack) Hiei say hi!
Hiei: …Hn. (well, it's something right?)
Wings of Heart: okayokayokayokayokayokayokayokayokay! I know…T.T I'm banned off the computer until school lets out! (thak you school computers!) I promise I'll print out yours and be able to read them off the comp as soon as I can! (you probably don't believe me now, huh? n.n T.T)
Hieifan666: n.n glad you like it! Yeah, I was kinda wondering if I took too long, but I think it turned out the way I wanted it. And Hiei…is Hiei. Pride is everything. (sigh) And you're my 70th reviewer! hope you like this chapter! n.n
Prismdragon: Yeah, I thought of that after I typed it up lol. Oh well. n.n
---
Oh yeah…just to avoid confusion, some stuff in this chapter will be explained later, I promise. It might be in this story, it might not. Just keep reading. n.n
Chapter 15: Running Out of Time
-----
Deep beneath the surface of the third level of Makai, the "Forest of Lost Souls", an intricate maze sat, winding and twisting for what seemed like miles. If one were to make it safely though, they would have seen a vast chamber lit with only several dim torches. The weak light showed that the room was not richly furnished. Stone walls and floors formed the cavern, the former decorated with only a few large tapestries. Doors lined the area, leading to several smaller rooms. There was only one person in the room; the torched illuminated him enough to show that it was none other than Tora Akuma. His arms were crossed in impatience and his lips were drawn in a frown. An audible creak from one of the doors indicated that someone had made it past the maze and to the chamber. A familiar feminine figure emerged from one of the rooms, accompanied with a new individual. They stepped forward, the female being the only one to bow in respect to Akuma.
"Relee, Maboroshi." he nodded to the two in acknowledgement.
"I've sent the word, Lord Akuma." The former told him. " They have one month to meet your standards." Her crimson lips curved into a soft smile. "You needn't to wait long now."
"Yeah, you know that Kodama-sama is getting impatient, Akuma." The second demon, Maboroshi, drawled, no hint of respect in his voice. "Just because you're second in command doesn't mean that you can do whatever you want."
"I didn't know it was any of your concern." Akuma countered icily. "I know my deadline."
"Heh. Gain a little power and you think you own it. Remember, Kodama-sama can strip you of your energy in a trice and you'll be back at square one." He ended in a snarl. "He only aided you because of your knowledge of the Reikai Tantei."
"Leave, Maboroshi, if you have no other business besides irritating Lord Akuma." Relee hissed. Maboroshi's lips curved in a devious smirk and walked to the door that the two had come in earlier. He paused and looked back, his smirk growing into a malicious grin.
"You know they don't have three months, Akuma. And neither do you."
-----
"Jeez, first Hiei's disappeared, then Yusuke." Amanda sighed. She and Kuwabara were at Genkai's for some homework time while Kurama was at his house. He couldn't spend all of his time at the temple for his family didn't know about the Tantei. "What's going on?"
"Dunno." Kuwabara replied distractedly. "Hey, how do you do this one?" he was referring to a math problem. "Shizuru's gonna be mad if she finds out I don't know how to do the stuff when I get home." Amanda sighed, but it was accompanied with a small smile.
"Okay, it's like this…"
--
"So Hiei, how long are ya gonna try t' keep it from us?" Yusuke had followed Hiei deep in the forest and had been watching for a few minutes but the kajihenge was too absorbed in his routine and—not that he would admit it—just too tired to notice him. "You're hidin' something about that Relee chick."
"What do you want, detective?" he asked, pausing. There was nothing but a semi-wasteland about one mile all around from where he stood. The only reason the damage was contained in the circle's one-mile radius was because he had requested wards from Genkai for both that purpose and for keeping others from noticing him.
"Y'know, Mandy's gettin' worried." He crossed his arms and leaned against one of the only trees left standing. "I don't think you've talked to her in about five days. Hell, I don't even think you've been to the temple in five days."
"Hn." Hiei grunted. Yusuke sighed.
"Fine then. I guess I'll go get Yukina or Mandy to bring you back." He closed his eyes in resignation and put his hand behind his head. He turned to leave, but opened one eye, surveying the fire apparition. "You seriously look like crap, Hiei." Although blunt, the detective was not lying. Hiei definitely was looking worse for the wear. His crimson eyes were dull and weary and there seemed to be dark, bruise-like circles under them. The truth was, he had been pushing himself with his routine at almost full power for about five days straight. He was training even harder than when he was forced to stay at Mukuro's compound for six months. This time, he had a purpose.
"Hn. You do that, detective, and you'll be breathing though a hole in your neck." He snapped.
"We'll see." Yusuke replied with a sly smile. He turned around again and walked off, whistling some meaningless tune.
--
"Oh Ma-andy!" Yusuke walked into the main room of the temple, a pouting look on his face.
Amanda sighed. "What? I'm doing homework."
"Your "volcano-head" is sulking in the forest."
"And?" she knew there was more to it.
"There's about a mile of nothing but a few stray trees all around him." Yusuke wisely left the part about Hiei's physical condition out. "I think he's been training for five days straight." But that was the wrong thing to say. But hey, he tried right?
"…Five days!" she exclaimed. She had though that he was off doing some business for his employer, Mukuro or something. Yusuke and Kuwabara both winced. Hiei was gonna be in a lot of crap when she found him. Amanda gave a heavy sigh. "Where is he?"
"Uh…" Yusuke was a bit taken aback.
"Where is he, Yusuke?" she repeated fiercely.
"Um…go down about ten miles south and five miles west. He's somewhere around there." He replied quietly.
"Wow Urameshi, you can really run that…" Kuwabara trailed off as Amanda, without another word, stood up and left the room. The followed her out and saw her disappear into her room for a few minutes before coming back out equipped with her sais and leaving the temple grounds. Yusuke let out a low whistle.
"He's in deeeeep shit."
---
"Damn…" Hiei muttered. He could sense Amanda's energy rapidly closing in. Oh he was going to get Yusuke for this…
"Hiei!" Amanda called. She still didn't know his exact location although she was within the mile radius. He didn't answer and kept his energy locked as best as he could in his present state. "Dammit Hiei, where are you?" she sounded exasperated. But before he could even get up from his spot underneath a lone tree and change his position, he saw her spot him. There wasn't exactly anything to hide him from view after all. She ran up and knelt down beside him. "Jeez…" she grumbled, placing her hands over a wound on his forearm, "I don't see you for almost a damn week and then I see you like this…" Her hands glowed a faint blue and the wound, which had been throbbing earlier, seemed to numb for a minute and the pain itself slowly ebbed away. "That's about as much as I can do with almost a month's training." She sighed.
"Hn." He grunted. Then there was silence.
"………Well?"
"Well what?" Amanda frowned at him.
"Are you gonna tell me what's happening?" He looked away.
"Nothing to tell." He lied.
"Training yourself ragged for five days straight? I think that has something to tell about." She crossed her arms.
"It's none of your business, onna." Hiei growled. Her frown deepened.
"None of my business, huh? Well let's see…I believe that it is my business because I think that you didn't tell us what that woman was really here for."
'Why do all foxes have to be so damn perceptive!' Hiei cursed mentally. She was just like Kurama at times.
Amanda paused for a moment and this time when she spoke, her voice was gentler and her eyes were pleading. "What did she say, Hiei?"
"She…" no matter how strong his pride was, Hiei couldn't help but cave in with her, especially with the look she was giving him. He sighed. "…I only have three months. If I don't get stronger, then that bastard will come and…I won't be able to protect you." He finished in a small growl. "If that happens-" he was cut off by a small and gentle kiss. He looked at Amanda, surprised.
"Baka…You don't have to take this on alone. No matter what your over-inflated ego says." She added, chided gently.
"Hn."
"Come on, volcano-head. It's time you came back home." Amanda stood up and held her hand out. "And I doubt you've had anything decent to eat in the past five days either." She smiled. Hiei gave up and let a small, rare smile spread across his face as he took her hand and allowed himself to be taken to the temple. But one thought lingered in his mind as they trekked though the "wasteland" to the surrounding forest. Amanda had said "home." He had never really had anywhere to call home, not even since the day of his birth. But she had referred to it without a second thought, something he could never do. But strangely, now the concept didn't seem so foreign to him now. Maybe now, he had someplace, someone, to call "home."
----
----
Two more months had passed with everything staying pretty much the same: Yusuke being forced to go to school by a scolding Keiko; Kuwabara being distracted by his infatuation with Yukina…Kurama was acting the same around the others, but he was also keeping an ear and eye out for Rinae. He hadn't heard so much as a peep from her since the last time he saw her, but he knows that she'll keep her word. She always has, always will.
Hiei on the other hand, he'd been training his butt off as usual except now he's pacing himself a bit more evenly. By his personal (and ridiculously high) standards, he's improved somewhat and might be able to take on Akuma…if he had the element of surprise. So in truth, he hasn't really improved at all. By his standards, of course.
Amanda had improved too; she had been training with him for the past week for a few hours each day after school. At first she hadn't wanted to in fear of dragging him down, but Hiei had insisted on it. He wanted her to be able to hold her own in a fight, despite her protests that she could already do so.
All of them knew that they were running out of time. Fast.
(End chapter 15)
Me: Meh, I don't really like the way I ended this chapter. Oh well. And folks, this is the last chappie for a while.
Yusuke: Why?
Me: School. Finals are coming up and I'm banned from the computer until school lets out on June 14th.
Yusuke: Then how'd you get this chapter out?
Me: Hurrah for school computers! And my 15th b-day is on June 17th! n.n
Kurama: Weren't there some questions you wanted to ask our readers…?
Me: oh yeah!
Question 1: In the next chapter, since it's February, I wanted to know if I should put a Valentine's Day event in it. I think I can work it out, I have a few outlined ideas, but I'm not sure. Just go straight with the story or more bits of fluff? You choose! n.n
Question 2: I wanted to know how many people are interested in Rinae. I am planning on making a prequel to this story that focuses on out mysterious fire inu and her connections to our fave thieves. Just wanted to see how many people want it. I'll probably write it anyway, but if no one's interested…anyway, let me know what you think! n.n
Me: okay, that's it! See you next time! And it's National Ed-glomping day, so feel free.
Hiei: Hn. (rolls eyes)
Me: Oh, Hiei, sorry I didn't mean to leave you out. People, it's National Hiei-glomping day too. This is your one and only chance! n.n (glomps him)
Hiei: …!
Kura+Yus: Heh, Heh… see you in the next chapter and remember to try to answer those questions and review!