Hey there, hi there, ho there! Here is the next chapter...just please, don't kill me. I hope you all like it.

Trying to stand strong

Fighting to survive

Keeping my head high

I will not be the one to die

Weapon grasped within my hand

As I stare out at the field

Why did it come to this?

The future has been sealed

I won't go down easy

I'll fight with all I got

This is the conclusive battle

Not the others that I fought

Charge into the heat of war

Hold thy sword high

Do not have fear anymore

Let out your battle cry

Bring down your enemy

End their evil reign

Show them no mercy

Lock away your pain

A bloody battle indeed

One that will start at first light

But when the darkness passes

The sun, again, will shine bright


Blood flowed in rivers across the field. Corpses were strewn about, massacred in various ways. Still, the battle raged on and the number of casualties increased. The two leaders, King Hiei and his father Takanashi, are locked in an gruesome fight. Who so ever wins will become king or stay as such. Cuts cover both their bodies, but still they fight. Several feet away, Kurama and Yusuke are tag-teaming against Takanashi's forces. Kazuma and Yomi had long since retreated to the castle to keep the ones inside safe. Touya and Kori were fighting while helping the ferry girls with the injured. No word has been heard about Shishi, Suzuki, Chuu, or Rinku, so Jin went off in search of them. Zyrin made her way to the castle, knocking out Takanashi's men, rather then killing them. On her way, she finds Rinku in tears beside Chuu. The drunken fighter had died trying to safe the child demon from a blow to the back. Zyrin, not being able to look at her fallen friend, picks the child up and carries him to the castle.

Yukina was overwhelmed by all the injured fighters on both sides. They had to extend the hospital into the eating hall and meeting rooms. Koka was a messenger and deliverer of supplies. Keiko had gone with Botan to collect more wounded. The battle outside was coming to a close as the number became less. Whimpering was heard behind Yukina and she turned to find Zyrin standing with a crying Rinku in arms.

"What happened?" she asked, taking the child from her.

"Chuu is gone. I am going to go find the others. Let us hope none of them have...died."

She begins to walk out the door, but is stopped when a weight is felt on her side. Gazing down, she meets Koka's shimmering violet eyes. Tear streaks cover her cheeks. She squeezes Zyrin tighter.

"Mommy. I was so scared. I thought something happened to you."

Zyrin knelt down beside her.

"I am fine. See." she took Koka's hand and kissed it, placing it on her cheek. "Mommy is fine. I am going to go find the others, alright. Go keep Rinku company for me. Make sure to cheer him up for he is very sad."

"Why? What happened?"

"I am sorry, dear, but we lost Chuu."

A sob came to her throat. She had gotten to know him in such a short time. After Zyrin had left, Chuu kept her company, playing hide-and-seek and airplane. She looked over a Rinku who was taking a cup of tea from Yukina.

"Be careful, mommy."

"I will."

She gave Koka a kiss on the forehead and headed out of the room. Koka walked over to Rinku and sat beside him, taking his available hand in hers.

Hiei jumped up as he avoided a slash from his father's sword. Three of his ribs were broken, along with his left forearm, left clavicle (collarbone), and right ankle. Takanashi was just as bad with a sprained right wrist, broken right shoulder, four ribs, and left leg. They stopped fighting, each attempting to catch their breath. It was 2 S-Class demons squaring off for the future of Makai. The battle around them had drawn to a close but they payed in no mind. Yusuke, Kurama, Touya, and Kori watched. Jin was still searching for the others and has yet to report back.

"Give...it up, Hiei. You cannot...win." Takanashi said, gasping for air.

"Ne...never." he growled back at his father while preparing to attack again.

"As you wish."

Hiei jumped at Takanashi, ready to behead him, when his father suddenly disappeared. He looked around him, hesitantly. As he slowly lowered his sword, Takanashi reappeared in front of him, firing a large dark fire attack. Normally it would not affect Hiei, seeing as how he is half, but in his state, it caused a great deal of damage. Hiei fell to his knees, holding his chest. It had hit him directly. The Makai king looked up at his father who was smirking.

"I win, son. You are truly pathetic."

He kicked Hiei backwards and he went flying towards the corpses around them. As he landed rather harshly on his side, the others ran to his side. The light in Hiei's eyes was slowly fading away. He couldn't hold on anymore. Kurama rolled him onto his back.

"Hiei! HIEI! Don't you dare die on us. Don't you dare!"

Hiei smirked at this. He knew he couldn't survive. His father had won.

Zyrin ran around the battlefield, tears running down her face. She had found Shishi and Suzuki dead, both with gaping holes in their stomachs. Jin was flying over her, watching for the enemy.

"Oi, Zyrin. There was a large flash over there." he shouted to her while pointing ahead.

They hurried over to the area. As she passed a rather large pile of corpses, she could hear Kurama shouting.

"Hiei! HIEI! Don't you dare die on us. Don't you dare!"

More tears came to her eyes and she pushed herself even harder. Coming upon her friends, she pushed Kurama off of Hiei and held him to her. He was barely awake and was slowly fading away. Smoothing his hair, she kissed his cheeks. He smiled at her, eyes showing all sorts of emotions.

"Hiei, please...do not do this to me. Do not die. I cannot lose you, I cannot. Please, please."

"I'm sorry."

His head began to nod. Botan appeared beside them and Zyrin gazed up at her with fearful eyes.

"No, I will not let you take him from me."

"Zyrin, I must."

"NO! It is not his time to die."

"Yes it is."

"No, it is not. He is not suppose to die for many, many years."

"Oh, tear, tear." Takanashi teased, smirking at the couple.

Zyrin ignored him and held Hiei to her tighter.

"Zyrin, please. Let me go."

"I can heal you or have Yukina."

"Please, let me go. Don't cry." he wiped a tear away. "Move on, for me."

"Hiei, no. I...I love you."

He smiles at her and his eyes flicker shut. She felt his life leave him and she gazed up at the ferry girl. Botan smiled sadly at her, sat upon her oar, and flew away, the shimmer of a spirit behind her. Takanashi started laughing out loud. Zyrin glared up at him, setting Hiei's soul less body on the ground. Standing up, she walked over to him and punched him hard across the face. He went backwards, crashing on the ground and causing more injury to himself.

"How dare you! You took him away from me and that is something that cannot be forgiven!"

Drawing her sword, she pointed it at his neck, a look of pure anger in her cerulean eyes.

Cliffie! Don't kill me! I'll have the next chapter out tonight, to make up for it.

-UtsukushiiCho