Disclaimer: …Refer to previous chapters…

Burning

Chapter 14: Giving In

(A.N.) I was prompted by Leh Star to update... I want to apologize for leaving this story for so long. I've just got a bunch going on right now. I hope that you all enjoy the chapter, and I want to thank those of you who reveiwed last time.

Kira's P.O.V…

We had tracked Uremeshi and the others to an icy valley surrounded by jagged mountains. The atmosphere was permeated with frost and evil. I could feel Anexis' aura all around me, trying to prey on any weaknesses in my heart and mind. Was this how it had snared Mizuru into being his servant? Did it find a chink in the water demon's spiritual armor?

The barren land was frozen solid and snow drifts were deep, coming up to my waist. It was times like this that I hate being short. There were no trees or any other kind of life form in the valley. In fact, there had been any in a two mile radius from the ring of mountains.

Hiei and I had stood at the top of one of the smaller mountains, surveying the land below. It had been he who had spotted the ceremonial circle with the Jagan. I had asked if there were any bodies lying within it.

He'd said that there were seven. And that none of them were moving.

So, we'd carefully, but rapidly, made our way downward. I could feel my heart pounding in fear, not sure that there would be anyone to save when we got to the circle. Dark magic had a tendency to leave its target dead.

Finally reaching the site, the dark aura of the area was oppressive to the point of suffocation. It was physically hard for me to breathe, bordering on painful. We inched forward, wary for the inevitable trap that would be sprung.

We made it to the first body, Botan, with out incident. With Hiei keeping watch, I knelt and felt for a pulse. There was one, but barely. I wasn't sure what had been done to her since I could see no injuries, but I had a sneaking suspicion that she'd been deprived of oxygen for an extended period of time. It had probably been Mizuru, not Anexis, who'd fought with them.

I picked Botan up and deposited her on the outside of the circle, infusing her frozen kimono with heat. Drawing on my power, I created my own circle around her for protection and purification. Then, I went back into the dark circle and Hiei and I moved to the next body.

It was slow work. We gradually grew a bit more at ease when nothing jumped out at us, but we still were methodical and cautious. I dragged Kuwabara to the safety of my circle, while Hiei moved Yukina. We didn't speak, but exchanged brief telepathy instead. We didn't know if sound would trigger some sort of spiritual alarm, so we chose silence. Better safe than sorry.

While Hiei took Uremeshi to the circle and closed it with his own energy, I knelt down next to the last body. The others had been alive, barely, but I knew that this girl would not be. She'd died with her eyes open, and her mouth contorted in a scream that had probably never escaped her lips. I closed her eyes with my fingers and said a quiet prayer for her.

What now? Hiei asked telepathically. His hand rested on the hilt of his katana as his eyes roamed the area.

Now I dismantle this circle, I replied. It would be difficult. A great deal of power rested in its construction, and it would take time to erase it. Keep watch, I thought to Hiei.

I stood and moved to the south anchor of the circle. It would be the easiest to undo, since it was the cardinal direction of Fire. Placing my hands on the anchor stone, I dove into my core and drew out threads of power. Willing them to worm into the power of the stone, I used them to carefully draw out the dark energy. Using my body as a channel, I directed my power deep into the earth, hoping it would disband in the soil.

Kira, came Hiei's voice, we have company. I distantly heard the sound of a sword being unsheathed.

Is it Mizuru?

I would assume so.

I was stuck at the southern anchor until it was completely drained. Can you keep him busy, Hiei? I need more time. I shoved more of the circle's energy into the ground. Flames jumped from my hands to the stone, and sweat beaded on my forehead. The deeper I went, the more resistance I encountered.

I could hear the sounds of fighting from behind me, and fear gripped my heart. I threw more power into the stone. This was taking too long. I needed to go faster. The molasses like flow of power sped up a fraction.

Faster.

The rock and ground glowed red, and the ice and snow melted rapidly.

Still to slow. Faster…

Heat radiated from everywhere, pressing on my skin. The power drained a bit faster. But not fast enough.

Faster!

Yells and crashes came from behind me. I could smell blood and steam, could hear grunts of pain.

FASTER!

The anchor stone shattered violently, shards shooting in every direction. Cuts opened on my face, hands, and arms. The darkness flowed from the ruined prison straight into me. It was hot. Too hot. Pain racked my body as it tried to acclimate to this phenomenal increase in energy. But there was too much and it needed to go somewhere.

Rising from the ground, I turned to see the battle between Mizuru and Hiei. But then I realized something strange.

I couldn't see. Not with my eyes.

I knew where everything and everyone was, but I couldn't see them. I could only sense them.

Hiei, I called mentally, move four feet to your left.

He did.

Power pooled in my palms and raised my hands in front of me, palms facing out. I unleashed the inferno building in my hands. Mizuru shrieked as his flesh burned. A dark feeling of pleasure twined through me as he screamed. The darkness was building inside me, demanding to be released. I wanted to release it, wanted to burn and torture Mizuru until he finally died.

I didn't fight against the urges to torture and kill. I didn't want to. Before now, I had not known that the dark side of my powers could be so…powerful. For the most part, I had thought that it was evil and I had ignored it, fought it. But now I just wanted Mizuru to pay, whatever the price. I wanted to hear him scream. I wanted him to scream like Tojitsu had.

So I gave in. The gods help me, I gave in.

(A.N.) I hope all enjoyed this chapter and that you all will REVIEW!