Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho or it's characters. I do own Angela.
AN: This chapter is going to be a bit longer.
WARNING: Hints of nudity. Nothing graphic, though.
REVISED AN: Again, I adjusted some time detail to make it fit into the time line.
Legend:
Music
Noise
-Telepathy-
-Thought-
/Flashbacks/
/Visions/Dreams/
Chapter Twenty
"...Angela...?" Hiei whispered.
The woman that stood there, wearing baggy staind pants and a large staind long sleeved shirt, had green eyes and long ashe blonde hair. It was Angela, but she looked worn, her eyes no longer sparkled, there were bags under her eyes, her lips were chapped and she looked very thin.
"Hiei...?" she responded. She quickly disolved her energy ball. "I almost didn't recognize you, but I could sense your aura and I saw your hiruseki stone," she said softly, almost crying.
A woman with long red hair and brown eyes in a staind and ripped peasent shirt and a ripped flowing skirt ran up behind her. "What is it Angela!" she asked hurridly. She saw Hiei and Kurama. "Monsters! What have you done to Angela! Release her form your evil spell!" she shouted, shoving her way in front of Angela.
"No, Star! These are my friends. The ones I told you about," Angela said, still talking softly. She moved around Star and walked into the room. "Hiei...I thought I'd never get to see you again," she said, coming to him, opening her arms.
Hiei fell to his knees, powering down into his human form, and grasped her around her waist, burying his head in her stomach. -Angela...- He could hardly think with all the emotions running through him.
Kurama watched them, smiling gently as he powered down. He walked over and hugged Angela's shoulders. "You don't know how happy we are to find you alive. I'm sorry that we weren't there to protect you," he said.
Angela started crying as she wrapped her arms around Hiei's neck, rubbing his head. -Oh Hiei...how I've missed you. I'm sorry that I...- She shook her head. "There was nothing you could do. Even if you were there, more than likely I would have still been captured. They tricked me into thinking I felt you through the stone, making me follow it, thinking that I'd find you," she said to Hiei.
Hiei just hugged her harder, thinking -She was captured because of me...Even without telling her I love her, she was still put at risk. They used her feelings for me and my feelings for her as a trap.-
"Hiei, Kurama, please don't blame yourselves,"Angela said, feeling the guilt run through them.
Kurama hugged her, still feeling guilty. As he let her go and backed up, something caught his eye. He started to brush her hair away from her neck, she flinched away and blocked his hand. Kurama's eyes narrowed. "Angela? What are you hiding? What is that I see on your neck?"
Angela sighed, sadness in her eyes. "Star...please close the door," she said to Star. Star nodded, sadness in her eyes as well. When the door closed, Angela sighed again. She gently pushed Hiei away. He looked at her, confused. She took off her shirt. Kurama and Hiei gasped. All over her back and chest were scars. There were slashes, signs of hard whipping, punctures and burns.
"What happened!" Kurama asked, shocked at what he saw.
"The Darkness tortured me when I was captured by it," Angela said. "This isn't all." She took off her pants. She had many more scars on her legs. Hiei noticed a strange marking that looked like a brand on her thigh. He reached out and traced it.
"What all did they do?" Kurama asked, hoping that they didn't do more than inflict these wounds.
"Don't worry, they have no interest in sex. They just tortured me," Angela said quickly, quelling his fears.
"What is this?" Hiei asked, guilt coursing through him, despite Angela begging him not to.
"It's some type of magical symbol that they used to extract my life energy through pain." She put her clothes back on. "Only Star and two healers know about this." Hiei again grasped her waist, not wanting to let her go.
"Who are all those people?" Kurama asked.
"They're some of the psychics that were captured by the shadow creatures. I managed to free them before they were tortured for their life energy and powers. The Darkness grows on pain." She looked away. "It's here now, growing because I set it free."
"What do you mean?" Kurama asked.
"The prophecy said that with the blood of Angels, it would return, that our sealing would be our undoing. It meant that it needed the blood and life of an Angel to break the seal. It took the lives of the line of the Angels, but it needed the blood and life of a true Angel. With my blood it has returned. I'm sorry," she apologized with a guilt ridden voice.
Kurama shook his head, as did Hiei. "The sealing isn't completely broken. It hasn't taken your life," Kurama said, holding the girl by the shoulders again.
Angela shook her head, pulling away slightly, "You don't understand. Don't you wonder about those zombies?" Kurama nodded, not understanding where she was going with this. "There's some being called the zombie queen. She's alligned herself with the Darkness. She's been readying an army for the darkness for years now. The zombies outside are just a small fraction of her army. She also has dark magic. While I was in the hands of the Darkness, she cast some type of spell that has connected me to her. If she's destroyed, then I will die. It will be the same thing as a sacrifice. And the only way to stop the zombies is to kill her."
Kurama's eyes widened. Hiei hugged her tightly. -Is there no way we can save you!- he despaired.
Angela gently extracted herself from Hiei, saying "The others are probably worried about me."
She led them inside, where several people, ranging in ages from small children to old timers, stared at them. "Don't worry, they're here to help," she told them. She brought Hiei and Kurama to a small room with a single bed and a table filled with colorful candles, incense, and crystals. "Star is a 'magic user', as she says. She uses these things to amplify and concentrate her power," she explained as she laid down on the bed. "Fighting Hiei took alot out of me."
Hiei sat down next to her. "I'm sorry," he said, taking her hand.
Kurama watched them, a sad smile on his face. -It's ironic that they finally show they care for each other when we are in so much danger.-
Star came up to him and pulled him aside. "I must speak with you," she whispered. "Angela has been through much hardship, and it has cost her. When she escaped the Darkness, she paid with most of her life."
Kurama's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"
Star's eyes became sad. "I mean that her life span has been drastically shortened. I don't think she'll live past the year, that is if we get out of here with our lives." Kurama looked at Angela and Hiei. Star sighed. "She might have lived longer if she hadn't stayed to protect us. She could have fled, taking a few of the children with her. But she refused to leave us to be tortured and die. When ever she sensed the shadow creatures bring a new psychic, she would use her power to rescue them. Once she rescued me, we teamed up and took turns rescuing the others. She's brave and has a good heart. I wish I could take her place, be the one that's doomed, so she could live."
"I'm sorry that this happened to you," Hiei whispered to Angela.
Angela smiled and reached up to touch his face. "It's not your fault."
"It is. If I had never given you my necklace, the shadow creatures wouldn't have been able to use it to get at you," he protested.
Angela smiled again. "They would have gotten me sooner or later."
Hiei shook his head, not able to shake the feeling of guilt. -How can I keep you safe if I tell you I love you? I can't always be there to protect you?-
Angela sensed the guilt in him and pulled him down to her and kissed him. "Everything will be alright. I'm sure of it. Now that you're here, we can get a message out," she said. Hiei looked questioningly at her. She explained, "None of us are very powerful telepaths. And me and Star can't risk letting the shields up for long. We need someone powerfull to get the message through the shield. I bet you noticed how you couldn't sense any of us in here. The shield blocks our auras and energies from the outside world."
Hiei nodded, understanding coming to him, "That explains alot."
"Yes. It's also like how the Darkness blocked everyone's energy and aura, so that Yusuke and Kurama couldn't find them and where the Darkness was."
"Where is it?"
"It's out in the middle of the plantation, we're on the outskirts," she said. She called to Star. "Star, I'm going to rest, can you moniter the shields?"
"Yes," Star replied from the doorway.
Angela looked at Hiei. "You look as if you need to rest too." She scooted over. "Lay down please. I want to stay near you."
Hiei smiled softly. -At this point, I'll do anything you ask, as long as it makes you happy and keeps you safe.- He laid down beside her and held her.
"Thank you Hiei," she whispered.
Hiei looked at her, "For what?"
"For coming back alive. And coming to me, even though you didn't know I was here." She drifted to sleep.
Hiei thought about what she said, and about what she had said about the zombie queen. -I'll find some way to destroy her and the Darkness without killing you. I promise.-
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Angela slept for about an hour then she woke up, immediately alert and thinking of plans. "Hiei, I think we should try sending a message."
Hiei nodded and helped her up. They called Star and Kurama in. "Star, we're going to try sending a message," Angela said, clearing an area of the floor. She sat down, motioning for Hiei and Star to sit down. "You and I are going to amplify Hiei's telepathic power," Angela told Star, who nodded. The took each others hand then held out a hand for Hiei. Not sure what they were doing, Hiei took their hands. "Hiei, remember how you taught me how to use my empathic powers. We're going to do the same except me and Star will be...uh...It's hard to explain...we'll basicly be giving you our powers." Hiei nodded. "Before we do this make sure you know who you're going to contact and what you're going to say. We don't know if this will cause the shields to go down, and if it does, we can't risk keeping them down for long."
Hiei thought about it. Then he nodded. They concentrated hard. When Hiei thought the message would be strong enough, he shouted it, -YUSUKE! THE DARKNESS IS HERE! GET HERE WITH BACKUP! NOW!- "Done!" he said. They quickly broke contact.
"Star the shields!" Angela cried, eyes widening. She quickly took Star's hands. They sat there with their eyes closed, concentrating. A glow started to surround them, then it blasted out from them, covering everyone as it spread out of the house. Angela opened her eyes and sighed. "They didn't get in." Star nodded. "Who did you send it to?" Angela asked, holding her head.
"Yusuke. Hopefully they'll be here soon," Hiei said.
Star looked at Angela, concerned. "You should go lay down."
Angela nodded and stood up. She sighed then fainted. Hiei caught her. "What's wrong?" he asked Star, concern and worry in his eyes.
Star stood up and checked Angela. "She just needs to rest," she said.
Hiei nodded and carried her to the bed and then sat by her side. Star and Kurama left.
"He seems to truely lover her," Star said.
Kurama nodded. "He does, he just won't admit it out loud. If it weren't for this situation, he probably wouldn't have showed this much affection in front of everyone."
Star nodded. "I know Angela truely loves him. She constantly talked about him and worried if he was okay. Now the time that she could have spent with him has been stolen from her."
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Yusuke, Kuwabara and the SDF fought for hours before they managed to rid the temple of shadow creatures. By the end they had fewer injuries and no deaths.
"Well, still no sign of zombies," Yusuke said as he looked around. "Do ya'll want to check the town again?" he asked to those standing around. There were nods and shaking heads. "Sheesh, you're not wimps are ya'll?" Yusuke asked sarcastically.
He started to walk to the captain when he recieved a telepathic message. -YUSUKE! THE DARKNESS IS HERE! GET HERE WITH BACKUP! NOW!- Hiei yelled.
"Holy shit! That was loud!" Yusuke exclaimed, rubbing his ears.
"What was loud?" Kuwabara asked.
"Hiei just sent me a message yelling to get where they were with back up."
Kuwabara looked at the SDF around them. "If Hiei was asking for help, I doubt these people will do. It takes alot to make Hiei admit he needs help."
Yusuke nodded. "Let's go talk to Koenma."
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"WHAT?" Koenma yelled. "You mean they're alive?"
Yusuke looked shocked. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"A few hours ago Hiei's and Kurama's auras disappeared and their SDF unit all died."
Yusuke thought about it for a long time. "I think we're going to need stronger fighters," he finally said. He looked at Koenma. "Can you get in contact with Mukuro?"
Koenma nodded. "I can get her and several of the border patrol to come. And I'll get someone else to help with the fight. We need all the help we can get." Koenma had a strange look in his eyes.
"Koenma what are you thinking?" Yusuke asked.
"You'll know when it happens," Koenma said mysteriously.
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"Listen up! Koenma has just contacted me. They have a bigger problem than we do. Apparently the Darkness has appeared in the Human World and Hiei's asked for backup," Mukuro said at a hastily called meeting.
"And you want us to go there and help," Yomi said. -She's worried. I can hear it in her voice.- He'd been around Mukuro long enough to tell how she felt through her voice.
Mukuro looked at him. "Yes. I'll leave a small force here, but the majority of us are going to Human World. I, Yomi, and the DT gang, just to name a few."
Somone in the back protested. "You're taking the most powerful of us? What if there's another shadow creature invasion?"
Mukuro shook her head. "I doubt it. The Great Darkness is attacking the Human World, all of the shadow creatures will be there." She looked at all the faces, thinking of how many they had lost and wondering how many more they would lose. "Meet back in thirty minutes. Dismissed."
Everyone left except for Yomi. "Mukuro, you're worried about Hiei aren't you?" he asked.
"Yes," she replied.
Yomi nodded, knowing better than to ask questions when she talked with that tone of voice. "Who are you taking?"
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Koenma floated through a dark space where peices of builings, ships, street lights and various objects floated. "Itsuki? Please answer me," he called. "Please come out and see me."
"Why?" a disembodied voice asked. "Are you here to take Shinobu away from me?"
Koenma shook his head. "No, I'm here to ask you a favor."
A pause. Finally the voice asked, "How did you get here?"
"I found a Dark Soul and let it eat me. I knew that the space in a Dark Soul is connected to the space that you fled into with Sensui," Koenma explained.
"What favor do you ask?"
"I want you and Sensui to come help me save the three worlds."
"Hahaha. Shinobu is unable to fight," the voice said.
"I can revive him, I have special permission from my father."
"And after we help you, you will take him away," the voice accused.
Koenma shook his head. "No, for helping us we offer you your lives and a chance to live freely."
There was silence. "You promise you won't take him away if he refuses to help?"
"I swear it on my life."
A man with shoulder length blue hair holding a tall dark haired man appeared. "Then save him."
Koenma walked to the two men. He bent down and took out his pacifier. He held it out to the man and the pacifier started to glow brightly.
After a few minutes, the dark haired man opened his eyes. "I'm...alive, Mr. Itsuki?" he asked the blue haired man.
Itsuki nodded, "Yes Shinobu."
The man looked at Koenma. "Why?" he asked, suspicious.
Koenma sighed. "We need your help Sensui. A long time ago a Great Darkness started to take over the four worlds. No one could stop it, that is, no one but the Angels..." Koenma told the story of the Angels and their battle with the Great Darkness, and the ritual to continue the blood line of the Angels. "...The ritual that the Angels performed insured that when ever the world was in danger an Angel would be awoken. It's a good thing and a bad thing at the same time that they did that. Right before the Darkness was sealed away it screamed that it would return with the blood of the Angels. Recently an Angel was awoken. Her name was Angela, and she was also a reincarnation of the oldest and wisest Angel."
"Was?" Sensui asked.
Koenma sighed, "She disappeared two months ago. I fear that the Darkness, which has returned, captured her and used her to break the seal."
"And you want my help to destroy it. Why can't the spirit detective take care of it? Surely he and the others are strong enough," Sensui said.
Koenma shook his head. "Not by themselves. Hiei and Kurama had gone to an area where the shadow creatures had amassed. Their auras disappeared, but somehow Hiei managed to send a telepathic message to Yusuke, calling for backup and saying that the Darkness was there. We really need your help. Please. If you help, your record will be erased and you and Itsuki can start your lives over. I've healed you completely, you're no longer ill." Koenma watched Sensui think about it. "If it's any proof that the worlds want your help, the Sacred Energy that you've mastered is based off of the Angels' powers. You're practically an Angel yourself, you just lack the blood of the Angels."
Sensui thought about it. "Is the Human World worth saving?"
"If you won't do it for the Human World, then do it for Demon World. But personally I think that Human World is worth saving. After all they have people like Angela, kind, caring, gentle, and all out wonderful. They even exist in Demon and Spirit World. Please, help us," Koenma pleaded.
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"It's good to see you Hokushin," Yusuke said to a bald man. They and over fifty fighters stood in the shrine.
"Yes, you too Yusuke," Hokushin said. "I hear you've been having a some trouble."
Yusuke laughed. "Some. I hear you've had a little trouble too."
Hokushin laughed in return. It was nervous joking. "So when do we leave?" Hokushin asked.
"When ever Koenma gets back," Yusuke said.
"Eh! There he is!" Jin said, flying above them.
Koenma walked into the shrine. "Yusuke, he's on our side," Koenma warned before Sensui and Itsuki walked in.
"But how?" Yusuke asked, bewildered. -He died! Didn't he?- Yusuke thought back to the time he had fought the ex-spirit detective. -Come to think of it, we never did see him die. Itsuki took him away before he died.-
"I was brought back to help you with these shadow creatures," Sensui said in his calm voice.
Yusuke shrugged. -Well, we need the help. And Koenma said he was on our side. I guess we should take the risk.- "Alright. Well, I guess we're ready to go."
"Urameshi! Are you nuts? We can't trust these lunatics!" Kuwabara yelled, grabbing Yusuke's arm.
Yusuke glared at him. "We have to trust them. We need all the help we can get."
Kuwabara thought about it. -He's right. I guess I'll trust them. For now at least.-
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"Angela?" Hiei whispered.
"Hm?" she replied.
"I want to tell you...No nevermind," Hiei stopped.
Angela smiled sadly. -Would you tell me if I told you I had not long to live? But I won't force you like that. Tell me on your own time.- She turned to him. They looked into each others eyes.
Hiei saw love in Angela's eyes, but also pain and guilt. "I will find a way to save you. I promise," he swore.
Angela smiled. "I know." She didn't believe it though. There was no way to sever the tie between her and the zombie queen.
-Angela, child. We forgive you, child. Come here,- called a voice with a southern accent. It was the zombie queen.
"Hiei! Hold me. Don't let me go to her!" Angela cried, fighting the compulsion that overtook her when ever the zombie queen called to her.
Hiei, not knowing why, held her tight. She struggled against him for several minutes. Finally she settled down. She was crying and explained "It was the zombie queen. She constantly calls me, trying to get me back. Every time it get's harder to fight."
Hiei held her, worrying about how he could sever the bond between her and the zombie queen. Suddenly screams rent the air. They were coming from the outside. Hiei and Angela looked at each other, then they got up and ran to one of the windows. Outside were Yusuke, Kuwabara, the DT gang, Mukuro and over fifty more people that were fighting the zombies and the shadow creatures.
Angela turned to Star. "We need to let the shields up and signal them to come in!"
Star shook her head. "No, it will take too long to get them all in."
"Then we'll bring them in a couple at a time," Angela argued.
Star nodded, but she still found some problems with the plan, "Yes, but how do we signal them to come?"
Hiei stood up. "I and Kurama will go out and signal them. We can keep the zombies and the shadow creatures away from us for a bit."
Kurama nodded. "It's the only way."
Angela looked to Star, pleading "We have to take the chance, they don't know what we know, and they need to know it."
Star thought about it for a few seconds then nodded "Alright."
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"Hey! Look there! At the house!" Someone pointed out as Yusuke and the others tore through the zombies and shadow creatures.
Yusuke looked then shouted, "It's Hiei and Kurama!"
-Everyone, get in the house, quickly, but only three at a time!- Everyone heard Hiei's telepathic message.
The nearest nodded and ripped their way through the monsters. They found a door near Hiei and Kurama. They burst in and were quickly summoned further into the house. Hiei felt the shields go up. The moment another group got close the shields lifted to let them in. This went on for several minutes. Finally Yusuke, Mukuro and Yomi dashed in. Hiei and Kurama quickly followed before the shields went up again.
"Glad to see you two alive," Yusuke said.
"And what about me?" a woman said behind him.
Yusuke froze. He turned around to see Angela, Kuwabara hugging her shoulders. Yusuke about cried. He had been almost sure that Angela was gone forever. He ran and hugged her tight. "Why didn't you tell me Hiei? When you told me to get backup?" he asked, slightly mad.
Hiei shook his head. "There wasn't enough time."
"There's still no time for that. I have something important to tell you all. Let's go into the house," Angela said herding them into the house.
"Yusuke," Hiei said.
Yusuke turned to him, talking before him, "I know what your going to ask. Sensui is here to help."
"Here Hiei," Mukuro said, handing Hiei his cloak. "I think you dropped this."
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Angela looked at the assembled humans and demons. She sighed then began her story, "Long ago the Great Darkness over ran the worlds, but the Angels sealed it away with their lives. However the Darkness said it would come back with the blood of the Angels. Somehow it knew about the ritual the Angels had made to continue their blood line. I'm the last of that line. The Darkness has come back. It had killed my whole family about five months ago, it grew in power with the deaths of the Angel bloodline. However, it could only grow, the seal wasn't broken. It needed the blood and sacrifice of a woken Angel. I am the woken Angel, and a reincarnation. It waited until I had grown to my full powers, then it waited until my protectors were gone. A month ago it captured me and tortured me to almost death. It got the blood of an Angel, but it still needed the death of one. As you can see, I'm still alive. The seal is still partly intact." Angela looked around at everyone. "But the Darkness isn't the only enemy. I'm sure you've noticed the zombies. They're the army that the zombie queen has created. I'm not sure what the zombie queen is, but you have to kill her to completely destroy her army. And those zombies out there are only a fraction of the army she has. However, killing her is out of the question. She has a strange and powerful dark magic. While I was being tortured, she cast some type of spell that has bound my life to hers. If she's destroyed, I will die. I would gladly give my life to destroy the bitch, but it's what the Darkness wants. If I die, it will be the sacrifice that it wants. Some how, we need to destroy the Darkness before we kill the zombie queen."
She saw Hiei shake his head. "Before we kill her, we find some way to destroy the bond between you and her," he said firmly.
Angela smiled sadly, "I'm not sure you can."
Mukuro shook her head. "I think we may have a way. I, Hiei and Kuwabara will need to work together."
"Give me a plan," Angela said. "And if I think it will work, I'll let you try it. But first lets form a plan for attacking the Darkness."
Yusuke laughed. "All we need to know is where it is. Then we go all out and wail on it's ass."
Angela thought about it. "I guess that's all you can do. When I was there, I could see no weakness to exploit. But since it's not at it's full strength, even with the amount of psychics it's drained, and since it's still partly sealed, you might have a chance if all of you 'wail' on it." She turned to Mukuro. "Let's go talk. While these guys come up with some strategy, 'cuz they can't leave without even a little organization," she said firmly, then she smiled at Yusuke to take the sting out of her comment.
"I'm coming with you," Star said, standing at Angela's side. Angela nodded.
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"I think that either I or Kuwabara may be able to slice through the connection between you and the zombie queen. It must exist on some plane or dimension. My attacks slice through space and Kuwabara's sword can cut through dimensions," Mukuro said.
Star spoke up. "When ever the zombie calls her, I can sense a thread of power connecting the two, and someone else has said something about seeing a thread of energy."
Mukuro looked to Hiei. "Do you think you could see it with your jagan?"
Hiei thought about it. Suddenly Angela froze. She started to clutch her head. Star immediately grabbed her. Angela started to struggle. "It's the zombie queen!" Star cried as Hiei started to help her hold Angela.
"Quick Hiei! See if you can see it!" Mukuro ordered.
Hiei concentrated, his jagan glowing. "Yes, I see it. It's connected to her heart."
"Should we slice it?" Kuwabara asked, readying his sword.
Mukuro shook her head as Angela calmed down. "No. I think the only time we can sever it is when we meet her face to face and she's calling to Angela. I think the closer they get together the bond will become more solid."
Hiei nodded. "Yes, now I can't see the bond. It's almost as if it isn't there."
"Then when the others start attacking the Darkness we'll face the zombie queen and kill her. I will attack her, the moment I strike Kuwabara, you slice through the bond, and Hiei you will hold Angela to make sure she doesn't go to the zombie queen," Mukuro said.
Angela had recovered. "That might work, but how will we make sure that we will confront her at the same time as the others attack the Darkness?" she asked.
"We will use you as bait. If she can call to you, then you should be able to call to her. And Hiei will stay in telepathic contact with the others," Mukuro replied.
Angela thought about it. "I guess we'll give it a shot. If it doesn't work, then at least the others would have seriously injured the Darkness by the time the seal breaks."
Hiei stared at her. -How can I help you see and believe in the positive, like you used to? I want to help you, but I don't know how.-
Yusuke knocked on the door frame, peeking in. "Guys, we've got a plan."
"Good, now let's tell you ours," Mukuro said.
She, Star, and Kuwabara left. Hiei held Angela back. "Angela," Hiei said, taking hold of her hand. Angela turned to him. He came close to her. "I want you to believe that this will work," he said softly. "I want you to be happy and believe in hope again. I heard when you talked to Yusuke about the stars. I want you to look at the stars when we leave the house, I want you to see the hope that you used to when you looked at them. I'm here now, I'll protect you and save you, I promise." He leaned forward and kissed her.
Angela cried a little. "I'll try. I'll try."
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"Okay, everyone know the plan?" Mukuro asked. Everyone nodded. "Most of the demons will take the front line. The others stay in the back to atttack the zombies and shadow creatures when they come to defend the Darkness. Flyers attack from above. If you can, attack from afar. Only attack close range as a last resort. Humans, stay in between the frontlines and the back. Only the ones capable to fight with their powers come, the others stay here and keep the shields up. Kuwabara, Angela, Hiei and I will face the zombie queen." She looked at everyone, "We will attack and kill the zombie queen after you've done some damage to the Darkness. Be prepared. If our plan doesn't work, if Angela dies or is injured, the seal will break or be weakened further, depending on what happens. Either way, the Darkness will become stronger. Now does everyone understand?" 'Yes ma'ams', 'Captain', and other variations of assent were heard from everyone. "Then lets go."
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"Holy hell!" Yusuke exclaimed, looking at the massive dark blob in the middle of a large field that might once have held wheat or corn. The dark mass was five stories high, as thick as a building, and made of the same stuff as the shadow creatures.
"I think we might have a battle on our hands. What do you say, Mr. Urameshi?" Sensui said, standing beside him.
Yusuke cracked his neck. "Well, let the party begin."
He powered up into demon form. Sensui powered up, a gold aura blazed around him, forming into blue armor. All around them demons and humans powered up. Jin led the flyers into the air and hovered well above the Darkness. As if sensing the danger it was in, the Darkness exploded into tentecles that whipped and lashed at the fighters. Some were quick enough to dodge, others weren't. They were flung in every direction, sustaining injury. Where the Darkness had touched them their skin burned and bubbled.
"Aye! Watch it! The thing's touch is acid!" Jin shouted above blasts and explosions, observing from above as he threw several tornadoes at the being.
"Got it!" Yusuke yelled back.
"Here come the zombies and shadow creatures!" Touya yelld.
"Get ready!" Yusuke shouted to the demons in the back
After half an hour, Yusuke contacted through the open psychic link between them, -Okay, Hiei, we've done alot of damage, but we've also taken alot of damage. We need those zombies gone!-
Hiei nodded to himself. "It looks like we're up," he said to Mukuro, Angela and Kuwabara.
"Are you ready Angela?" Mukuro asked the woman.
Angela nodded. "Just don't let me go to her," she said, eyes scared.
Hiei came to her. "I won't. I'll keep you safe."
Angela turned to a sandy haired man. "Danny? Are you ready to take over the shields?" The man nodded.
They stepped into the porch room. "Here we go," Mukuro said. The shields fell and they stepped out of the house.
For an instant the shields didn't come back up. After several seconds, they returned. "Good," Angela sihged. She looked at the stars like Hiei had told her to. She tried to see the hope that she used to. She thought she could see a tiny glitter. -Please let this work,- she pleaded the stars.
Hiei saw her look at the stars. He grabbed her hand and squeezed it. -It will be alright. I promise,- he said to her. She looked at him, a tear rolling down her face.
They walked into an area that once might have been a large garden. In the middle was a being that looked like a heavy set woman dressed in clothes from the civil war era.
"That's her," Angela said, quivering.
"Come here child," the being said, like a mother to a child. "Come here child. We forgive you, Angela, we forgive you for hurting us. Come here child."
Angela started to walk closer, despite using all her will power not to. "Hiei!" she cried.
Hiei quickly grabbed her. He used his jagan. The thread that attached her to the zombie queen had grown to a thick rope. "It's just as you said Mukuro!" he yelled, struggling with Angela.
Mukuro nodded. "Kuwabara, get ready," she said, making a flat palm of her hand, as if she were going to slap someone. Kuwabara nodded, bringing out his sword. Mukuro brought her hand up and made a slashing motion. A line appeared in the space where the zombie queen had been. The space on either side of the line split from each other. "Damn! She's fast!" Mukuro growled. She made several slashes, each time missing. Finally it seemed she quit aiming for the zombie queen. After awhile she laughed. "Your surrounded now! No matter where you go, you'll be split."
The zombie queen started to laugh. "Do you really think that I'll just die by being ripped to peices? One of my zombies will put me back together."
Mukuro stepped to the side to show Hiei in front and to the side of Angela. His bandage was off and a black fire was surrounding his arm. "Yes, but can they put your ashes back togther?" Hiei growled. Then he shouted "Dragon! Of! The Darkness! Flame!"
The dragon ripped towards the zombie queen. Her screams rent the air, they were soon joined by the screams of all of the zombies. The zombies' screams weren't the only screams joining hers, Angela was screeching.
"Kuwabara! Now!" Hiei yelled.
Kuwabara slashed the power rope that connected the zombie queen to Angela, he didn't need Hiei to tell him where it was. He could see it now. The rope ripped apart as Kuwabara's Dimension sword sliced through it. Angela quit screaming abruptly. The zombie queen turned to ashes.
Hiei ran to Angela. She was oddly still and quiet. Just before he got to her, she lifted her head and screamed. As she screamed her body started to lift off the ground. A strange red light started to surround her. As her screams increased, the light started to whirl around her, ripping her clothes off. As she floated there, screaming, the brand on her thigh started to glow blood red. That glow spread to all of her scars. Soon her body was lit up with blood red light. After a second, her screams became a shrilling screech that echoed through the whole plantation and the red glow left her body and flew in the direction of the Darkness. Angela stopped screaming and floated back to the ground where Hiei caught her and wrapped her in his cloak. She was still and cold, her eyes closed, and her face pale.
"Angela? Angela? Please wake up. Say something," Hiei pleaded quietly as he held her. -What happened? What went wrong? Did it not work?- he thought franticaly. He looked at Mukuro.
She shook her head. "I don't know what went wrong. But I'm sure that red light indicated that the seal has been broken or weakened. We have to go there. They need us," she said, indicating herself and Kuwabara. "You stay here with Angela. Try if you can to get her to the house and under the shields. The zombies are gone now, but there are still shadow creatures."
Hiei nodded. Mukuro and Kuwabara headed for the Darkness. Hiei knelt there holding Angela. He shook her slightly. "Angela, please wake up," he pleaded again.
Angela opened her eyes a bit. She reached up and touched Hiei's face. "I'm sorry Hiei, I didn't mean for this to happen. I never meant to leave you," she cried softly.
Hiei shook his head. "Don't say that. You're going to be alright. She's gone. She's gone."
Angela shook her head. "It doesn't matter. When the connection broke I was seriously injured and the Darkness took the pain it caused and my life with it. I don't have much time left."