14thShrineMaiden: Yes, I have not been very active in the past few months. Hey, what can I say, I just had exams (yes, my exams are in March).
Previously:
You will have Three Chances.
Three tasks to accomplish before you become a true Akazuno, one of the true Forbidden.
"NO!" A hand grabbed hers. "Yuki!"
The lights flashed ominously, the velocity of the wind increasing, and the rumble of displeased voices.
You dare enter the Circle, Forbidden?
Chapter 23:
"I won't let my daughter die!"
Old fool.
The winds died out, along with the muttering voices. The ethereal, power-filled feeling in the air vanished with the breezes. Yuki's legs weakened slightly and gave out, her hair shadowing her face.
"You have just condemned your daughter." Hotaka stepped up towards the stone. "She will die."
"No!" He held up a glass bottle, filled with red sloshing liquid. "I have the Reversion!"
"Contact with the Gods cannot be interrupted so abruptly. When Yuki's focus is broken, her control will shatter along with it. She will not survive the Confliction to come." Suzu bowed her heads. "Already her life energy is depleting itself."
"These are her last moments. Please, comfort her." Hotaka bowed her head. "A lesson like this one has been learned before. My mate perished, because of my outburst, and my feelings were unspoken since."
Hiei had already pushed past the others, kneeling next to her on the stone. "Koorihana."
"Please don't worry Hiei. I wasn't supposed to live in this world." Blood trickled out of the corner of her mouth. "An early death is not always cruel."
"Yuki." Osamu stopped several feet away, momentarily by Hiei's glare. "Please let me speak to her."
She shook Hiei off, much to his protest, unsteadily standing eventually. "I seek a different elixir than this father."
"And perhaps I could have given you one before." He bowed his head. "I am ashamed of my jealous actions towards your mother- they backfired and gave you the brunt of the blow. As compensation, please let me make it up to you in a continued life. I wish to be honored with the name of your father, one of your pillars."
She took it, raising and tipping back her head, pouring some into her mouth after uncovering it. She stopped, re-corking it.
"I still feel empty. The void in my shell can only be replaced by the Gods' energy. Save it, and give it to another for me." She handed it to him. "Perhaps a plum blossom will not totally wither in the flames of resentment." Yuki glanced at Kurama. "And experience unborn love." She closed her eyes. Placing a hand over her heart and another over her mouth, she moaned slightly.
"Yuki? What's wrong?" She waved Jiro away as she stumbled towards the other end of the room. Hiei followed.
"Onna-"
"Stay away!" A burst of crackles went over her body. "You can't touch me yet!" Flowers of ice began to creep along the floor, as ribbons of water looped around her body with the miniature lightning bolts.
Her high-pitched shriek echoed throughout the chamber, causing several winces. Blood spilled over the tip of her fingers of both hands as the flesh exploded and sprayed blood.
Kurama's eyes widened. 'Her heart exploded!'
"Yuki!" Hiei grabbed her by her slippery hands to keep her upright.
"One last time…" She turned her face upwards, eyes glimmering painfully with unshed tears. He kissed her gently on the lips as requested. "Such a mellow departure." A gentle chink was heard as something dropped to the ground.
"Sayonara…" She fell forward in his arms, limply hanging like a rag doll.
"…" He closed her eyes with his hands, now wet with her blood. Lifting her body and cradling it slightly, he bowed his head. "Aishiteru." Stooping, he picked up a round stone on the ground.
Kurama turned to Suzu. "A portal, to the Makai? Where you first encountered us." The demon nodded, gathering everyone into the shadows, transporting them to the requested place.
Hiei did not mention a word of thanks, continuing on, laid her body down on the ground before the remnants of the burned building.
"Isn't there a way to save her!" Kuwabara interrupted the moment of silence. "We have to be able to get her back to life! Look at Urameshi!"
"Kuwabara, shut up!"
"Hn. A fool is a fool." He snapped his fingers, a flame springing around the body.
"What are you doing!"
Yusuke grabbed him by the arm. "Are you really that stupid! Don't annoy Hiei-!"
"The Shrimp can bite my ankles! He didn't even try to save Yuki!"
Red eyes flashed ominously, but gentle hands stayed his katana.
"Yuki did not have a long time to live," the redhead murmured, voice carried in the wind. "She would not last the year anyways. The Ritual failed- she lived a full life, why bother giving her a partial month?"
"She knew," Hiei growled. "She knew her death." The fire blazed even more furiously behind him, body instantly turned to ashes. 'And she didn't even tell me.'
"Hiei, you couldn't recognize the hints. She mentioned her uncertainty before, but you ignored."
"Shut up fox." The fire spread to the castle, burning even more furiously. The redhead turned away in response, motioning to the others to leave as well.
"You'll come back soon, right?" The others had left, respecting Hiei's obvious want to be alone.
"…"
"Yukina will worry."
"You're the same as ever- a pain who speaks the truth."
Kurama smiled slightly, stepping into the portal.
Hiei stood there a moment before disappearing with the wind. Ashes scattered and danced in patterns with the zephyrs
'Pain… what an addiction.'
Demons drawn to his power source were cut down ruthlessly, dark blood spraying as he passed on with the wind. Eyes glowing like embers with a fiery passion, carrying a cold demeanor as well. A third eye sprang open, glowing violet.
'It's seems like my life can't get enough of it.'
-(Ningenkai)-
He subconsciously burrowed his nose deeper into his scarf, covering a larger portion of his face. This past week had been particularly cold- for November at least. Looking up into the barren treetops, he raised his eyebrows at the flash of red.
"Sakura, come down please."
She obeyed, dropping down, scattering some small branches and long-brown dead leaves. "You've taken a long time, Shuichi. I was waiting."
"I apologize. Events turned out unexpected."
She tossed her head back, shaking some bangs out of her eye line. Swiveling her head, her eyes narrowed slightly as her nose sniffed for sign of another. "Where's Yuki? You were going to bring her."
"I can't. I don't know how to say it without being blunt, but she's dead."
"Dead…?" Sakura growled, fists clenching. "She was going to help me!"
"There's some information that can be seen as good news: Reikai has gathered some data." He held up a slip of paper. "On you and your condition."
She snatched it away from him; she examined it momentarily, Shuichi watching. "What did he do to me…?"
Youki
Enhanced
Ningen
"What is this supposed to mean?" she demanded. "What did he do?"
"Lord Aki Ichiro. He infused high level demon energy into your body. Human DNA is more susceptible than demonic DNA. Now you have some of the abilities of a demon. Heightened five senses, the ability to control fire and plants-"
"Then I'm a demon-?"
"No. You still remain human. Somehow, your body manages to convert your abnormally high amount of life energy into demon energy, youki. A human from the outside in, with some demon in the middle."
"But why… why do I always do what he wants? I can't help but obey. What did he do to me?"
"Something in your blood." Holding up her hand, he traced several blue veins along her wrist. "He gave you a serum that makes your body obey his every command."
"I hate him. I'll kill him."
"No. Swear to me that you won't."
"He deserves death Shuichi! That piece of s--- deserves it! He did this to me- I demand his life in return! He has to learn the consequences of playing dangerous games!" She ripped her hand from his grip, turning and starting to walk.
"He has to go to trial before Spirit World- Sakura, please, be rational." She had started to turn away, but he grabbed her shoulder. "You can't kill him. Ichiro is a high class demon. Although I'm not quite sure about your status, he has had training. You are literally unable to do so. He controls you, remember?"
"Then I'll strangle the bastard before he can say a word. Let me go Shuichi!"
"I can't. It's too risky."
"Of course you can! You just won't risk anything! What else have I got to lose?"
"The rest of your life- Sakura, your parents-"
"They wouldn't look at me again! Can't you see? I'm this sick mix of demon and human! Why would they want me as a daughter?"
"You have me. Sakura, I'm willing to share a relationship with you." He turned her, gently smoothing her hair back. "I don't want to force anything upon you, but right now you're not being rational."
She turned, stalking away over the dying grass. "I don't want to be controlled anymore Shuichi. I know I'm going back on my word, but right now, the only thing I can do is to kill that one so I can return to the way things were."
"You're being an absolute fool."
Sakura stopped dead in her tracks, closing her eyes momentarily. "You've gone kitsune. I don't know whether to be happy or sad."
"Is the opposite of happiness sadness though?" Sharp claws threaded through her hair, the thin filaments flowing freely over them. "This revenge of yours is not worth it. Ichiro does not deserve to be the first slain by your lovely hands."
"I've killed before."
"But not of your own free will, mm?" He smirked, amber eyes glittering amusedly. "You're not meant to be stained by an assassin's kills. You don't have the spirit."
"Vengeance is a creature that possesses all. Right now, I feel like returning the favor for your attentions."
"I share a body with Shuichi. You can't love one half without accepting the other." His golden eyes shifted, his hands picking up one of hers and turning them over. "And you can't return to the past without accepting what happened. Do you understand?"
Looking him square in the eye, she glowered slightly, nostrils flaring. "Yes. And I hate how you're probably correct."
The kitsune laughed. Letting her hand drop to her side to rest, he turned. "Then think about what you'll do and what you want." He left her alone, walking off into the tree line. She leapt away, using her speed to eliminate time. She needed to find the Tantai to get in contact with Koenma.
: End Chapter
14thShrineMaiden: (Sigh) I finally got past Yuki's death. What a relief (I know, you're all probably kinda surprised at my reaction- it's total sap anyway :P This story is not giving me the joy it once did). Well, I think I've got it worked out so that there will be an awesomely amount of twenty-five chapters in this story. And after that- perhaps a sequel?
Review, otherwise, you all suck. Major suck ass.