Disclaimer: I do not own YYH or it's characters. I do own Angela, Star, and the twins.
AN: This chap is going to be short. You'll see why. Hehe, I'm soo evil... ;
Legend:
-Thought-
-Telepathy-
/Flashbacks/
/Dream/Visions/
Chapter Four
Hiei was wide awake, deep in thought, when Angela started screaming. He sat up and leaned over her, shaking her. "Angela! Angela! Wake up!" She wouldn't wake up. Hiei grasped her head and closed his eyes. His jagan started to glow under the bandana. After awhile Angela's screams ceased. A little bit later her eyes slowly opened. Hiei looked down at her. "What happened? What made you scream like that?" he asked.
Angela shook her head, sobbing. Hiei took her into his arms and rocked her gently. "I only remember glowing red eyes..." she said through her sobs. "And...The chant 'Come her child. We forgive you Angela. Come here.'"
Hiei stiffened. "It was just a nightmare," he said soothingly, trying to reassure them both.
Angela shook her head. "No, it wasn't. It's not the first time I've seen those eyes. I'm sure these nightmares are visions. But I can't understand why I can't remember them." She sobbed again. "But I'm afraid of what they are and what they might mean."
Hiei held her, rubbing the back of her head. He didn't know what to say, he didn't know how to comfort her, because he feared that what she said was true.
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They didn't know it, but strong psychics and every seer in all of the worlds had been having the same nightmares. They also couldn't remember the dreams, but they all could sense that something evil was about to overcome the worlds.
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Two days later Natsume and Kujoo returned, heavily injured and with Kujoo near death. Mukuro hurried the two into the hospital wing. After several hours, Natsume was strong enough to give her report to Mukuro, who immediately called for an urgent meeting.
"More disturbing news," she said when everyone was seated. "Natsume and Kujoo found out that Rez's mission was located near the Forest of Fools and the bomber was last seen heading into the Forest of Fools. When Natsume and Kujoo entered the forest they were ambushed by almost every demon around." Mukuro looked at everyone. "This would seem normal, however the demons there are supposed to be low level. The demons that attaked them had D-class energy, yet they fought like they had S-class energy. Natsume also adds that a scent of rotting corpses was coming from the forest and the demons had a strange red glow in their eyes. I'm sure some of you have had intense nighmares for the past few weeks and the only thing you can remember when you try hard to remember is red glowing eyes. I do not believe it is coincidence. Something evil is brewing and it's originating from the Forest of Fools." She looked at everyone in turn. Her gaze rested on Hiei. "I know I shouldn't ask you but I need a strong demon to investigate the Forest of Fools. You're fast and are the most likely to escape a dangerous situation. Please Hiei, do this."
Hiei thought about it for a long time. -It means I'll have to leave Angela, and she needs me the most now. But if I don't do this any other demon sent more than likely won't survive...But do I have any better chance just because of my speed?- He thought long and hard. After awhile he looked at Mukuro, a hard look in his eyes. "Angela had better be unharmed and healthy when I get back."
Mukuro nodded. "We'll protect her with our lives."
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"YOU ASSHOLE!" Angela shouted at Hiei that night. She stormed around the room, going through drawers and the closet, gathering up her things. "If you are so willing to leave me for some mission that I can't know about then I'm so willing to leave demon world!"
Hiei stood by quietly. He had known she was going to react badly. When she started to pack her things, continuing to rant and rave, Hiei put his foot down. "ANGELA!" he shouted above her rage. "You will stay HERE!"
She turned around. "WHY?" She glared at him. "You're not going to stay here and fight and I was only here to cheer you on! Now that you're leaving there's no reason for me to stay!"
She went back to packing but Hiei grabbed her wrists, firmly but gently. "You will stay here where it's safest," he said sternly.
Angela cried, "I'm safest with you!"
Hiei shook his head. "Not this time." He stood away and removed a necklace that he usually hid inside his cloak. It was his hiruseki stone that his Koorime mother had cried for him when he was born. "This is one of my six things that I hold most dear." He handed it to her. "But you and the baby are the first two, Yukina and the twins are the next three. You know the routine, keep this gem until I return. You'll be able to sense me through it." He smiled. "I'll come back to you. This is my guarantee."
Angela smiled through her tears. "What's guarwantee?" she asked in a child's voice.
He kept smiling. "It means I really promise." He hugged her gently and kissed her. "Please don't stay angry at me," he whispered.
Angela shook her head slightly. "I'm not angry at you, just at everything else. If you see Suzuka and Shishi, tell them to beware." Hiei laughed gently, and nodded. Then he kissed her again.
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Yusuke and Kurama stood by Angela as they watched Hiei leave. Angela was crying softly. -He'll be okay. He's strong. He's been in more danger than this, I'm sure. Why should I worry?- she thought.
Yusuke hugged her shoulders. "He's tough, don't worry. He is an S-class apparition after all."
"What's 'S-class' and what's 'apparition'?" Angela asked, confused. "I thought he was a demon."
Kurama smiled and explained, "S-class is the power level he is at. We have a system to classify the power levels of all demons. It tells how strong a demon is compared to others. The levels range from D, the lowest and weakest class, to C, an intermediate class, to B, a strong class, to A, a really strong class, and to S, the strongest and most powerful class. There are also levels in the classes. Class minus, class, and class plus, like S(-), S, and S(+)."
Angela nodded, showing her understanding. "Now about apparition," she said.
"Apparition is another term for demon," Yusuke replied.
Angela looked in the direction Hiei had left. Kurama smiled. "Don't worry. He's strong and he'll come back," he said, hugging her shoulders.
Angela nodded, though she had a sickening feeling that they were wrong. -Be safe, Hiei,- she said silently.
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Hiei stopped before the boundary of the Forest of Fools several days later. -So this is where all the trouble has started. I never once dreamed of this place to hold something other than weak D-class demons,- he thought to himself. He stood there looking at the forest he had once belived to be nothing more than a nesting ground for weak and foolish demons, now it held dangerous beings and an ominous evil within it's tree line. He shrugged. -I have no choice but to go in. I have to find out what's going on. And as Mukuro said, I have the speed and agility to escape if I run into something I can't handle.- He looked back towards the direction the tournament stadium was in. -I'll come back to you Angela, I promise.- He stepped into the tree line.
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Star sat up abruptly in her bed. "No! Don't go!" she yelled, waking from a terrible vision. She looked around her. She wasn't where she had thought she was. She was in Yusuke's apartment and not that horrible place. She shook off her fear. -It could only have been a dream. I can only 'see' through the crystal; Angela is the one that doesn't need any type of psychic conductor like a crystal or mirror to 'see'.- She looked out the window to see dawn peeking over the tops of the houses, apartments and the forest in the distance. She hugged herself. -Yusuke, when will you and the others be back?- she thought, wishing that he could answer. -Please come back safely, all of you.-
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Yukina, walking to the kitchen to start breakfast, suddenly felt faint, her heart skipping a beat. She slowly fell to her knees. -Something's happened. I can feel it.- A cold wind wrapped it's self around her, taking her breath away. She closed her eyes for a minute, then they flew open. -I can't! I can't feel..Where is it!- she thought fuzzily as she slowly fell all the way to the ground, fainting.
"Yukina!" Kuwabara yelled when he saw her unconcious as he came to the kitchen a few minutes later.
Shizuru came running around the corner. "Yukina!" she gasped. When she noticed the woman's condition, she closed her mouth. -She probably felt it too. Is it what I fear?- she thought. She turned to Kuwabara and said in a calm voice, a calm she didn't feel, "Baby brother, go lay her down. I'll bring a warm wash cloth." Kuwabara nodded.
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Mukuro woke up in a cold sweat. She quickly got out of bed and dressed in a warm robe. She walked to the window, opened it and stared out in the direction of the Forest of Fools. "No..." she whispered, dread in her voice.
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Angela woke up shrieking. "HIEI!" She sat up fast, making herself dizzy with the sudden movement. She looked at her surroundings. She was in the room they shared at the hotel in the stadium. She looked to her side. Hiei wasn't there. It took her a moment to remember why he wasn't. Then she started to sob. -Please let it only be a nightmare! Please!- she silently begged all of the gods that humans have ever believed in and to her ancestors and lost race.