Insaneningen14: yay! I got reviews!
Chapter 12:
-(Makai)-
The Aki Mansion was a large manor, giving off a dignifying and old fashioned air. It was largely Victorian style, which was strange somewhat, but it suited the needs of the demons inside.
Who were currently in utter chaos.
The traditional guards of the family had not returned. They had ridden off, and had not come back for four days, although they were supposed to return that same day they left.
The lord, who had gone off with them, had not been found either. Until three days later, he had come crawling back, badly burned, and two arrow shafts sticking out of him. The servants immediately took him in (they were well-paid enough), and he was being tended by his doctor now.
"Oku!"
The doctor hurried over. "My Lord?"
"How long has it been since the day I left?"
"Three days sire."
"I want more recruits to fill in the dead guards' positions."
"Of course my Lord. I will inform the others immediately."
"How is Yen progressing?"
"Going along as best can be my Lord."
"When will she be ready to test?"
"Five more days my Lord."
"Is she still a secret?"
"None know of her other than you and me sire."
"Good. Set up the Training Room."
"Of course my Lord."
"Excellent." Ichiro smirked. "I'll get my revenge soon."
-(Reikai)-
Hiei growled, slashing at the air with his katana. He was so bored! No more results had come up, although the Reikai brat had reassured him that they almost had the cure (faking, of course, but he would let him off just this once).
Yuki had not come out of her mind, not eating or drinking. Her body had seemed to shut down, her soul trapped within. She grew thinner each day, more sickly, wasting away. Her heart and lungs still functioned, no arrhythmia, but her energy was diminishing as she had no food or drink. They had tried to put her on a feeding tube, but her body didn't take it. Like a form of a coma, but more serious.
She was also delusional, sometimes having outbursts in which she sang aloud the stanzas of the songs she intoned inside her head. But she never heard anything from the outside, the only communication with another when Hiei entered her mind by use of the Jagan. She was always glad, chatting with him, although he never said much.
Strangely, it was frustrating to him, that he could not help her in anyway, yet was forced to inhabit the same place as her. He felt helpless, useless almost.
Hiei Jaganshi was never useless. He made sure of that. Finishing his training with a final slash, he headed to the bathroom to take a shower.
'Stupid onna.' He turned the cold water on, to wake him up. 'Letting herself get sick like that.'
Was it pity he felt? Sorrow?
No. He didn't need those feeble sentiments. He was a Forbidden Child.
Of course, that wasn't much of an excuse now, was it? He thought back to her sick frail form, gaunt, with dried out, practically translucent skin.
After he finished his shower, he visited Yuki. Gently, he touched her arm, as if on contact she would open her eyes and move. But nothing happened, her shallow and practically indistinct breathing not changing it's pattern.
Hiei took a breath. His mating season had started the day before yesterday, but it wasn't one of the harsher ones. With her body lying dormant, she could not seduce him in many ways, which was easier for him and her.
Still, she had looked beautiful, and still was, in an ethereal way.
Sliding his bandana off, he sat down on the bed next to her, entering her mind.
"If you want me to wait, I would for you. If you tell me to stay, I would stay right through. (1)" He wondered vaguely how she knew all these songs, seeing as she probably hadn't much exposure during most of her life.
"Onna."
"Ohayo Hiei." She turned.
"Baka. It's night."
"It's not my fault. I have no idea to figure out whatsoever."
"Hn. Have you tried to operate your body?"
"I don't know how. But if I could, I would."
"Your body is getting weaker each day. It resembles a skeleton."
Yuki laughed. "Does it?" She looked at herself.
"Fool. Your body looks different from you soul projection." Hiei looked away. He didn't know what would happen if he jumped her in the void and… she wasn't all that bad looking. (AN: OO)
"Of course." She nodded out of respect. "I had forgotten."
"Hn."
"So." She twiddled with her fingers. "What do the teachers say about me missing a few days of school?"
"Onna, it's been more than a week."
"What do they say?" Yuki pressed.
"Hn. How should I know?"
She made a face at him.
"I'll ask the fox when he visits," he grumbled halfheartedly.
"Thanks Hiei. You know, I'm kinda glad that I'm stuck here with you. It's not like I dislike the others," she added in hurriedly after his silence, taking it incorrectly. "They're my brothers, Kurama and Yusuke- and Kuwabara is nice too. Even Botan, Shizuru and Keiko- they're all so friendly to me."
"It's just… I don't know, I guess I'm more… comfortable around you."
He tried to keep on the uncaring impression. "Hn."
"And… don't take it wrong, but I think it's kinda… cute when you say that." Yuki blushed slightly.
His expression was shocked. Suddenly, the distance of three feet between them felt too short.
"I guess… I think that it's better… to love and fall… then to rise and… never feel."
"I know… I'm going to die soon… and, I don't think I've ever know before… what it's like… to feel affection for others."
"You're not going to die any time soon," he growled.
She continued on however. "The Ningenkai healed me in a way- I love everyone who has helped me either as a friend or a sibling. Or a father."
"But I never really… categorized… you. You're just… different, special like."
She took another breath. "I'm not sure about my emotions going on inside me, but I think I love you."
Silence. Hiei was too shocked to answer, Yuki too embarrassed and awkward to say more.
"I- it's okay if you don't feel the same way about me."
"Hn." He disappeared.
'It's not like… I could be sure he'd return them.' She shook her head slightly to clear her thoughts.
-(Makai)-
"My Lord."
"Is she ready?" He was restless, casting aside the book he had been reading.
"Indeed. If I may?"
"Yes." Oku helped Ichiro into a wheelchair, wheeling him past several corridors. He unlocked a heavy metal door, letting them both in.
The room was large, high ceilings, about the height of a three story building, and the area of a small running track. There was a raised part in the center, having several seats on it and fenced for protection. A lift was there, obviously for spectators.
"Yen will be let out in a minute sir."
"Good." They took the elevator up to the center, sitting down waiting for the show to begin.
A gate was lifted, at the far right entrance. A dozen demons straggled in, all big and burly, covered in leathery skin and clawed. They were also armed with spiked clubs. Ichiro inspected them briefly, before turning to the left.
Another gate was lifted, and a lone figure stumbled out. She held a nagamaki (1), the teak wood handle was two feet, and the blade was around three- she was currently using it to help keep balance. The demons snarled and protested.
"Your pitting us against a weakling human!"
"This isn't worth our time!"
"She's female!"
"Do not object to my orders. Begin." Ichiro's cold eyes flashed. The demons turned away nervously, unnerved by his tones or his unnatural eyes.
The demons ganged up together, encircling her. She bared her teeth, warning them, but it was obvious she was weak. They poked at her, drawing some blood, but mostly teasing her.
Fire surrounded the circle of demons, entrapping all of the contenders inside. Most leapt out in time before it became in inferno, coming out with minor burns, but two were caught inside.
Amidst the flames was the girl, unharmed, except for several parts of her grey and tattered yukata turning to ashes. The fire eventually died down, she still in that strained position as before.
"Most excellent my Lord?" The scientist
"Yes Oku. Beautiful…" Ichiro had a savage grin on.
"This isn't a ningen! Those stupid mortals can't summon fire from nothing!" The armed demons argued amongst themselves.
"But she smells like one! Looks like one-"
"Hell, I bet she tastes like one!"
"But she's not! She's not using Spirit Energy!"
"If it looks like a dog, smells like a dog, and acts like a dog, it's a dog." One spoke up. "She's a ningen, so she's weak. Doesn't matter what she does- demons are superior to humans- that's the way things started off and the way things will stay," the leader said. He was the largest, and also quite fast for his size. He charged her, swinging his club so that she couldn't dodge as easily. The others followed him, in an arrowhead attack.
Seemingly running to meet him, she thrust her nagamaki into the ground blade first, levering herself above the front line, aiming for the slower demons in the back. Taking three down before the others circled her, she launched herself at their feet, causing several to lose their footing. Swiping at the clubs, three flew in the air and away from their owners. She knocked one out, using the butt of her weapon, and impairing another's vision with her blade.
She was hit in the back, the spikes on the club going deep into her shoulder. She bit her lips, wincing inwardly in pain. The leader smirked at her.
"Ningen too slow," taunted a shorter demon. "Slow, slow."
She decapitated him, his head falling into the arms of another. With disgust, he chucked it at her, blood flying. She ducked under it and swung upwards, cutting off an arm. He collapsed next to the blinded demon, moaning.
The leader sneered. "Filthy human." He kicked her down in a jump, knocking the breath out of her. Snatching her nagamaki away, he prepared to stab her with her own weapon, aiming for the heart.
Fire leapt around him in strings, binding and burning the flesh where they touched. He dropped the weapon, screaming in pain. "Let go of me you whelp!"
She did so, several seconds later. He collapsed, decorated everywhere with serious burns. She reached out silently to help him.
"Mortal scum!" He took out a hidden dagger and hurled it at her, only creating a gash on her arm.
She glared. "Rot." Another onslaught of flames ensued, cremating the body.
"Excellent, excellent!" Ichiro laughed, hailing her. "A wonderful performance Yen!"
"My name is not Yen." She cocked her head to the side, curious.
"Then who are you?"
"I don't know." She answered steadily, not blinking an eye, but some form of confusion swirled within the depths of her irises.
: End Chapter
(1) That's some of the lines from Wondering, by Good Charlotte.
(2) Those things are wicked awesome! Okay, it's closely related to the naginata. Nagamaki blades were often used to replace katana blades, which I assume are around the same length. So the blade is longer than the naginata, but the handle is shorter. I'll put the address of a good picture on my fanfiction profile- also go there to see Yuki. After the next few chapters or so, I'll put up Yen's picture.
Insaneningen14: hahaha, I want a nagamaki. D---, instead, I'm stuck with kitchen knives. Hey, Samantha, thanks for your idea- I'm sorry I didn't use it, but I saw this precious and I couldn't resist giving Yen a shiny sharp pole arm, just like Yuki. So, five/six reviews.