Left in the Shadows
Chapter 20: All It Comes Down To
Me: The final chapter…wow, has it really gotten this far?
Yusuke: Yep. Twenty chapters and lots of loyal reviewers. You should be happy.
Me: I am…but it's sad to reach the end of a story. So much hard work is put into it.
Kurama: You'll have other stories to write. Remember your Full Metal Alchemist one?
Me: Oh yeah…
Ed: You only have the prologue and the first chapter and people complained that it was too short.
Me: I know. I'll work on that on my break and have chapters stored ahead of time to lighten my workload.
Ed: Good idea.
Me: Well here are the last reviews I'm gonna answer…
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icedragongurl16: Well, here's the last chapter. Hope you like it!
4-is-lovely: Like for Icedragon, here's the last chapter. And thanks for all of your help, I REALLY appreciate it!
Fuyumi Togashi: Thank you! n.n I'm happy you think so! And i read your story, it's really good! MORE PEOPLE SHOULD READ IT! n.n and Hiei's glad he won't have to listen to listen to Kids Bop. Right Hiei?
Hiei: (rubbing his head) ...Hn. fine.
daisyashley: YOUR THE 100TH REVIEWER! CONGRATS! (confetti and streamers) and everything (mostly) will be wrapped up in this chapter. Hope you like!
Garaa's Pyro RACCOON: HAHA! i updated! so i'm not a pickle! n.n
Reiana: But the thing is, your back! n.n here's the last chapter!
CrazygirlHaley5555: A new reviewer! Thank you! n.n
Hikari-Kayko: Yusuke wouldn't hurt me, i've got him on a strict Keiko leash. n.n and here's the end to your suspense, though you'll probably not like the ending. But read the footnotes, they're IMPORTANT!
hajimeten: oh yeah i forgot about that translation...oh well. And at first i was wondering who is that...? But now i know n.n PEOPLE SHOULD READ NEKO-CHAN'S STORY TOO! n.n i hope more people will read, since i'm the only reviewer for your white dragon one. and never fear, for you are the 105TH reviewer! that's still special, right? and good luck w/o a computer lol!
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Me: Well, here's the last chapter in Left in the Shadows. Enjoy!
Left in the Shadows
Chapter 20: All It Comes Down To
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"No…"
"Mandy!"
Hiei sat where he was, unable to digest the scene in front of him. His brain was working well now, maybe too well. Maybe he was hallucinating, yes that had to be it. This simply couldn't be happening. But when he heard the pained cough and saw the person in front of him sink to her knees as the sword slipped out of its place in her heart, he knew it was for real.
"A…manda." He spoke her real name this time. She didn't reply, just knelt there, her breathing coming in shallow bursts. "Amanda!" he pulled her back and turned her to face him so she could lean in his arms.
She looked at him, her eyes desperately trying to conceal the pain. But he could see it as plainly as the crimson fluid soaking into her navy blue uniform and he felt anxiety and sorrow begin to well up deep in his heart.
"What…happened t-to "onna"?" she asked with a small smile on her face, her ebony fox ears trying to perk up.
"Don't talk." He told her sternly.
"How sad." Tora Akuma looked at the blood dripping off of his youki sword. "But the end result was the same. The only thing that changed was the time of her death."
"Hiei…" Amanda grabbed his shirtfront when she felt his body stiffen with anger. "Please don't…"she winced, "it's okay. I'll be fine…" she was trying to reassure him, but it was only making him more uneasy.
"Don't talk." He repeated softly, pleading. Amanda's breathing was quickening and her body was tensed with pain. Akuma took a step towards them, but Hiei's aura burst out stronger than before and flared dangerously around him as a powerful warning.
"Stay away from them!" Yusuke snarled, the shackles now shrieking with the effort to keep him contained. The same was happening for all the bondages keeping the Tantei restrained.
"You…still have to…kick Akuma's ass remember?" she continued, trying desperately to comfort him in some way. She could feel her energy slipping more and more away every second and she knew that Hiei could feel it too. "It's okay koishii…" she placed a hand on his cheek. "…I love you." her voice was growing fainter with each word and she was struggling to keep it steady.
"Don't talk like that!" Hiei's voice rose in panic. Amanda smiled.
"It's okay…" she said softly. Her eyelids were drifting shut and the light in them was slowly fading away. She took a small gasping breath and her body grew stiff for several long seconds. As if in slow motion, her body relaxed and her hand slid away from his face and onto her lap.
Hiei didn't say anything. He felt numb, he just couldn't believe this was happening. "Onna?" he asked, remembering her previous comment. Nothing. "…Amanda?" When he still didn't receive a response, when those emerald eyes did not open, some of it finally sank in. He gently set her down on the ground and stood back up, his back facing everyone. When he turned back to face them, his expression was blank. The only part of him that gave away his emotions was his eyes. Immeasurable hatred shone in them, but something else lurked in those crimson depths. Sorrow and deep pain. His aura flared around the room, licking the high ceiling and Akuma looked a bit shaken.
"Well, looks like you're up for round two." He said coolly, his own youki flaring to match Hiei's. But several large cracks were heard and Akuma looked back to see that Yusuke, Kuwabara, Kurama, and Rinae had broken free of his shadow shackles. "What!"
"Spirit energy and demon energy are linked to feelings and emotions." Kurama explained softly. "There's no telling what can boost emotions and the energy tied to it." Then without warning, vines shot up from the ground and wrapped tightly around the lower half of Akuma's body, rooting him to the spot. "I planted these vines underneath the ground some time ago, but unfortunately you bound me to the wall and sealed off my energy before I had a chance to trigger them."
Hiei picked up his katana one more time and his jagan glowed a bright green and his sword erupted in green, violet, and black youki. He couldn't risk his black dragon bringing down the cave, so he decided to call upon it in a different way. "Now, you die." He hissed darkly.
"Killing me won't do a thing to change the fact that she's dead!" Akuma shrieked. Hiei's eyes were blank now, and his voice held noting but hatred.
"Yes…but at least I know you'll be sitting in hell and my sister will be safe!" he snarled in reply.
"And I'll be waiting for you there when your time comes Forbidden Child!" Akuma yelled as Hiei's sword, boosted with the power of the black dragon, sliced into his flesh and ate away at him until noting was left but a small scorch on the stone floor. All was silent as the green-violet flames died away and left the room silent, echoes of the battle still faintly ringing in the air.
"Hiei…" Yusuke began softly. But even though his voice was quiet, it sounded like a shout in the overwhelming silence. "Don't blame-"
"Be quiet, detective." Hiei snapped. Slowly and carefully, he picked up Amanda's still body and kept his back to the others once more. "Our job here is done. There's no more reason to stay here."
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"Well…I don't know what to say." Koenma looked at the papers, stamp in hand. "But since you did play a vital role in the downfall of Tora Akuma…" he sifted though the papers on his desk, "I think I can give you your life back." The person in front of him looked up hopefully.
"Really?"
Koenma nodded. "Yes. But on one condition." He held up a chubby finger. The girl looked a bit crestfallen, but listened intently nonetheless.
"…Just keep an eye on Hiei, will you? Keep him out of trouble." His lips curved in a warm smile. The girl brightened once more and grinned.
"Of course! Thank you, Koenma."
The toddler-prince of Reikai pulled out a different rubber stamp and brought it down on her file. INOCHI (LIFE)
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"…Where's Hiei?" Yusuke asked dully. It had been only hours since they had made it back from Makai.
"…In the forest still." Rinae said softly. She was sitting down on the floor in front of the large Buddha statue Genkai had in the main room of her temple.
"Kuwabara's in Amanda's room with Yukina." Kurama added in the same quiet tone. The last battle had left them in a deep state of depression.
"Oh, I have great news!" Botan came soaring into the main room of the temple on her oar, her expression brighter than the sun.
"What?" Yusuke snapped, slightly annoyed at the ferry-girl's cheery demeanor.
"Oh don't be that way Yusuke!" Botan wasn't fazed with Yusuke's behavior.
"What is it, Botan?" Kurama asked curiously.
"Amanda's been given another chance!" she burst out, tears in her eyes. "Since her death helped you guys defeat Akuma, she's been allowed to come back!"
"Really!" Kuwabara asked incredulously, he and Yukina having entered the room moments before.
"I'll be damned." Genkai chuckled.
"Yes, she-" She paused and looked around. "Where's Hiei?"
"Here. What are you causing a ruckus about, ferry-girl?" Hiei had just appeared at the entrance and hadn't heard Botan's news.
"Oh Hiei, Amanda's coming back!" Hiei's eyes widened briefly, but soon narrowed in suspicion.
"You better not be lying or you'll be breathing through a hole in your neck." He snarled.
"Koenma believed that she held a vital role in helping you guys, so he's given her another chance!" she told him, choosing to ignore his threat.
"Yes, she's not lying, so please leave your sword where it is, Hiei." Koenma materialized behind them all.
"Come ON Koenma, don't do that!" Yusuke complained.
"Then stop being so easily surprised." He replied calmly. "Now, I need to prepare her body for her soul's reentry."
The group made their way to Amanda's room. She was lying on her bed in fresh clothes, her ears and tail gone, and it seemed as if she could wake up any second. Koenma stepped forward and took out his pacifier. "My father granted me the energy required for this." He said as he held it over Amanda. The pacifier glowed an eerie green and it slowly enveloped Amanda's whole body. For several long seconds, nobody moved and when it was over the green light dissipated and her body rose and fell with light but even breaths.
"She's okay!" Kuwabara exclaimed cheerfully. Everyone was relieved…except for one person.
"Koenma." Hiei spoke up from his usual corner, "Is there any way to…erase her memories of all that's happened in these past months?" Everyone froze.
"What are you talking about, Hiei?" Yusuke asked. "Mandy's back, you of all people should be happy!"
"Fool, she died because of me, because I wasn't strong enough to keep her from harm!" he snapped.
"Hiei, no one can keep anyone safe all the time." Rinae told him.
"It was her decision to save you, because she loved you!" Kurama urged.
"She was hurt by getting involved. This is for the best." Hiei looked as if he had been thinking about this for a long time and he didn't want to talk about it any more. His mind was set.
"No Hiei, I'm not gonna let you do this to her!" Yusuke growled, taking a step forward.
"Try me, detective." Hiei placed a hand on the hilt of his katana. Yusuke knew that he was serious and reluctantly backed off when Botan pulled him away.
"Hiei…keeping it from her isn't necessarily the best choice." Yukina pleaded. "She can't forget about you."
"…I can't permanently erase her memories, not with everything that's happened." Koenma told him, agreeing with Yukina.
"Fine. Then all I have to do is keep my distance." Not even his sister's words could sway him.
"Are you sure this is what you want?" Koenma tried one last time to persuade him out of his decision.
"Yes!" Hiei looked away, his face unreadable. Koenma sighed and placed a hand over Amanda's forehead and the same green energy flowed out briefly before he took it away again.
"There. But as I said, her memories aren't buried very deep. She might have dreams, but that's all. I've sealed away her spirit and demon energy away for now. It's up to you to keep it a secret." He looked at Kuwabara and Yusuke. "Now as for where she'll stay…"
"She can stay at my house. My dad knows Mandy and he knows about all this stuff." Kuwabara spoke up.
"Well, we have about three hours before her body fully recovers so…it think we'd better…" Koenma silently motioned for everyone to exit.
It was only Hiei and Amanda in the room now. He stepped away from his corner and sat down on a chair net to the bed. For a few minutes, there was nothing but silence, and Hiei just held her hand and gazed at her, this would be the last time he would be able to do so this close. "…It's for the best onna." He said at last. He didn't know what else to say to her. But was he reassuring her or himself? Shaking his head, he got up and turned to leave, but stopped. He pulled something out of his pocket and placed it around her neck. It was a thin silver chain with a single ebony gem strung to it. "…I'm sorry." He whispered before giving her a small kiss. When he turned to leave once more, he kept going…this time not turning back.
(End chapter 20)
Left in the Shadows- Owari (The end)
Me: Well, thank you for reading Left in the Shadows. I hope you felt all the emotions reading it as I felt typing it.
Yusuke: Yeah, she was almost crying.
Kurama: But we would like to thank you, the readers, for putting up with her…sometimes slow updates.
Me: Hey!
Ed: He does have a point.
Me: Well, now I'm gonna take a break from updating for a while, but be sure, I'm gonna continue writing! Next is a one-shot fic focusing around Hiei and his feelings about everything and it is set almost one year after this story, the anniversary of her mother's death. It might be a songfic or not…I'm still debating about that. I already have a song in mind, it's just the idea of using it or not. Oh well, it'll be a surprise!
Ed: You talk too much.
Me: Shut up. Oh yeah about Kuwabara's father, he DOES make an appearance in the 19th volume of the manga. Thank you, scanlations! Anyway, I'd like to make a list of all my reviewers and thank all of you for taking the time to read my story!
4-is-lovely
icedragongurl16
neko no koi (hajimeten)
Wings of Heart
Luthoen
Reiana
Daisyashley
Prismdragon
Garra's Pyro RACCOON
Hikari-Kayko
Fuyumi Togashi
Alanna
JadedxIce
in luv with cold hearted guys
HieiFan666
BluesDaughter
RaceK
GothChika07
nekoofdeath
Yuki
ashlyn
Yami no Tenshi the Dark Angel
Emily H.
Hiei's Shadow Tenshi
MM-Sweet-Snow
Anonymouse
koorimechick
Falling past the veils
Dolphingirl32173
me
The Squabbit
Shadow-night
pyro the dark angel
Yuki Amida
SpiritualEnergy
Hidden Pagan
RinsDarkMagician
Me: Make sure to read my sequel! Thinking if a name…last two have been scrapped…maybe. I've told a few reviewers about the names, but as always, (T.T) I need some inspiration. Winner will get…the first two chapters of the new story, if I don't have it that far then you'll get the songfic first. Or if anyone wants I can draw a pic of Hiei and Amanda, scan it and email it to you.
Yusuke: oooh, enticing. And she's taking on the challenge of writing three fics at once, so she's packing on a lot. The sequel, Rinae's story, and the FMA one.
Me: Well, I'm gonna write as much as I can before school starts so it'll make it a BIT easier.
Hiei: Don't overwork yourself, onna.
Me: Since when have you started caring?
Hiei: …Hn.
Kuwabara: Ha, Shorty's gotta crush!
Me: (knocks Kuwabara out) Anyway, See you guys soon! Ja ne!