Discaimer: Don't own YYH or Osa.

Japanese to Know:

Ichihayaku - Promptly; Quickly; Without delay

Chapter 10

She Wouldn't Care If I Died

"You cause him to question himself," Kurama said, walking up to Darkfire.

"But why? Why me?" Darkfire begged, trying to understand Hiei better.

"Even as you were dying, you trusted him. Not many people do that. Not many people trust Hiei as it is," chuckled the fox, a fanged smirk coming on his face. "You thank him for reasons that make no sense to him. You apologize for no reason."

"I have reasons."

"But ones that don't make sense to him. He's not used to such kindness. You bewilder him."

As he turned to leave, Darkfire questioned, "Is the yô-ko inside you bad?"

Kurama stopped and looked back at Darkfire, slightly unsure of how to answer. He knew she wanted the truth, but did he want her to know? A voice in his head whispered, "Tell her," and he knew it was the yô-ko.

"Some would say," he answered finally, his eyes shifting from hers. "Is a thief bad? Or simply misunderstood?"

"It depends…I s'pose. I'd like to meet him one day, as you already know. Maybe then I can be a better judge." She thought for a moment before adding, "But I know you're a good person, Kurama. I just know it." Smiling, she left Kurama to ponder their conversation.

"My, that girl does confuse one. Now I know how Hiei feels," Kurama laughed.

"Angel, what troubles you so?" Riku questioned, walking up behind the panting man.

Angel stood straight and stared at the teen.

"You've run so far to get away from something you cannot escape, why?"

"Heh, simply to see if I can outrun it. Even if only for a moment," he answered, frowning.

"Even if it kills all you hold dear?"

"Osa's the only one it'd hurt."

"Let me rephrase that: Even if it kills all she holds dear?"

"What would it matter to Yuusuke and Kurama? I'd be outta the picture."

"What about Darkfire? Would it not hurt her?"

"Tch, like I care?" He fiddled with the chain in his hand, wondering if he really meant what he said.

"Yet you question yourself. I think you care more about this Darkfire than you let on. Tell me about her."

Angel looked down at her, anger burning in his eyes. But the flames died down as he plopped on the ground to begin. "I s'pose she's a little taller than you, though she's older than me. She's a tomboy beyond belief and doesn't mind gettin' dirty. You can never really tell what she's thinking by looking at her eyes. They're always blank, or smiling even though you know she's hurt inside.

"You could definitely call her rebellious. And a trickster. And a thief. And a cheater. But you rarely knew that she had done anything. She's shy though, and doesn't trust easily. Except for when she's curious. And then she'd trust the Devil to take her to Heaven." He chuckled to himself, almost able to see it. And then he became serious. "She'd die for anyone, even someone she didn't really know or like."

"Hmm…. Come back with me. It would certainly be lonely to spend a month running away." Riku held out her hand. Hesitantly, Angel took it and she pulled him up. "Besides, I would rather like to see more of your fighting style."

"Darkfire wouldn't care what happened to me," Angel thought as he followed Riku. "I broke her heart. I made a complete fool out of her because I was too proud. She'd be happier if I just died….

"Wouldn't she be?"

"Kuwabara, go and inform the other three of the situation," Koenma said softly, almost hating the fact that he had to say it.

"Koenma-sama, this is impossible," Kuwabara protested, standing firm.

"I know, but you must try. Please, go tell the others and be on your way," the young lord repeated, this time with more force.

Turning on his heels, the orange-haired man ran out of the room and down the halls. "Kurama!" he yelled. "Hiei! Darkfire! Come quickly!"

Kurama's head peeked out from behind a door. "What is it, Kuwabara?"

"We have a mission."

Kurama followed Kuwabara's fast pace without much effort. He knew where Hiei was, but he let Kuwabara holler out for the demon. As of the moment, the human was quite motivated, though by a negative means.

"What's wrong, Kuwabara?" Kurama tried, seeing if maybe he could understand better.

"I only want to explain this once," the human answered, eyes narrowing with mixed emotions.

Darkfire stared at three weapons laid carefully on her bed. Two were wakizashi and the other was the katana Hiei had given her. Earlier, she had gotten them out to clean them, not really knowing why. Now, she had this strange feeling that they would be needed.

"Darkfire," came a faint whisper from far away.

Her heart skipped a beat, though she didn't know why.

The door slid open with a rush. Darkfire jumped and she turned to see who was there.

"Hiei," she gasped, trying to slow her heart down.

"Something's coming." That was all he said. That was all that needed to be said.

Darkfire grabbed her three blades and trailed after the speeding demon. As she ran, she tucked the katana into the left side belt loop, hoping the weight wouldn't make her pants fall. She put one of the wakizashi in the back belt loop, while the other she just carried.

"Hiei!" Kuwabara cried, appearing around a corner with Kurama in tow. The four stopped, nearly colliding with one another.

"Now, what is this mission, Kuwabara?" Kurama questioned.

A grave expression came on Kuwabara's face. It was an abnormal expression for him. "People are dying…terrible deaths. No one can explain it, not even Koenma really knows who's behind the whole thing. He knows some of the demons doing the killing, but they seem low on the chain. They're shadow demons, skilled in torture killings.

"He wants us to find the top guy and get rid of him…before Yuusuke's return."

"Impossible! How can we take on skilled murders with only four of us? One of which may not be able to see these demons," Kurama growled, eyes darkening with anger.

"I tried, Kurama, but he won't listen. Said we had to make the best of it," Kuwabara sighed, eyes narrowed again.

"We'll make do," Hiei snapped, closing his eyes. "This isn't the first time the odds have been stacked terribly against us."

Darkfire stared at the ground. She knew it was herself that they were talking about not being able to see the demons. Her heart felt as though it was her fault that they doubted themselves. But somewhere, deep down, she knew that she would be able to face the challenge.

"They won't wait for us," she whispered. "We should go and meet them head on."

"You sure?" Kuwabara said, looking at Darkfire gently. "You could die."

"Anybody can die. This is something I have to do." Her mind stumbled, searching for reasons why. It didn't make sense to her as to why she had to; she just knew it was something that had to be done. "I just have to."

"All right. Kuwabara, where's the portal?" Kurama murmured, lifting his head slowly.

Nodding, Kuwabara turned around and ran down a hall. It was bare and plain. At the end, there was a small opening. It was dark and foreboding. Even Darkfire could feel the energy that sent shivers up all their spines.

"Koenma said this will put us right in the middle of it all. Of all the killing going on right this minute," Kuwabara told them, stopping.

"Right. Let's go," Darkfire sighed, looking at each of the boys in turn. They each nodded when their eyes met, a mutual, but unwanted, understanding passing between them. Gripping the wakizashi in her left hand, she made the first move for the portal. Kurama stepped in front of her and jumped in first, Kuwabara quickly following.

"You don't have to do this," Hiei scoffed.

"No. What you mean is I can't. I have to, Hiei, you know this." Without waiting any longer, she hopped into the blackness. Hiei stepped in straight after, waiting for her to turn around and grip him tightly. She didn't though. She wanted to, but she didn't.

"Darkfire," Kuwabara gasped, catching the girl as she stumbled over a fallen body.

"How could anybody do this?" she questioned, tears quivering on her lashes.

"This isn't the place to be crying," Hiei snarled, pulling Darkfire from Kuwabara's arms. "Dry your eyes and do what you came here to do!"

Banishing further tears, she pulled the wakizashi in her hand from its scabbard. She put the empty casing on the ground and drew the other one from her back loop.

"Rose Whip!" Kurama shouted, lashing out at thin air. And then she saw blood splatter.

"Kuwabara, can you see them?" Darkfire yelled over the screams.

A great orange sword of energy appeared in the man's hand as he, too, swung at air. Blood splattered once again. "Yes!"

A dark feeling loomed around Darkfire. She didn't know where it was, so she lashed out in all directions. It wasn't a wild thrashing, but it wasn't all that effective. Her searching eyes caught sight of a black blur. Then blood sprayed her from all directions.

"You're useless," mused Hiei, coming up behind the quivering girl.

"I can feel them…. They remind me of death," breathed Darkfire, licking blood off her lips. The crimson liquid had a sweet taste to it.

"Go home; you'll only get yourself killed here."

"Hiei…."

He stared at her with those crimson eyes. Bittersweet.

"…I'm not leaving. I'll find some way to see them."

"Seeing them isn't enough. You have to be able to kill them. And you can't. You aren't that skilled."

"Stop degrading me! I can do this! Why won't you believe in me?" Darkfire begged, forcing down tears.

Hiei disappeared and reappeared right in front of her, bodies nearly touching. His right arm was extended right beside her head. Liquid misted her back and neck. The same liquid speckled Hiei's face.

"Go home," the demon glared, speaking firmly. He pulled his arm away and stepped back.

"No, Hiei!" shouted the girl, grabbing Hiei's shoulders and spinning him out of the way. She stumbled back and her eyes widened. Lashing out quickly with both weapons, more crimson painted her front. Coughing, she contributed to the liquid. With a growl, she pulled the now visible sword from her gut.

"Darkfire!" Hiei cried, killing several shadow demons that were trying to take her wound as an advantage.

Falling to her knees, she held her stomach tightly. Hiei knelt before her and held her shoulders.

"What the Hell were you thinking?" he snarled, shaking her a bit.

"That maybe…you wouldn't think…I was so…useless," she gasped, smiling weakly.

"Damn it, Darkfire! You aren't much use dead! You're only human."

"Maybe…. Gomen…nasai."

Standing to kill more demons, Hiei yelled out, "Kurama! Ichihayaku!"