Disclaimer: Don't own YYH or Osa.

Japanese to Know:

Youkai - Demon; Monster

Chapter 15

Time

"Black Dragon Hell Fire!" Hiei roared, a black, fiery dragon leaping from his arm. He winced at the remembrance of this surge, having not used it in so long. The beast snaked through the sea of demons, incinerating those close by, and rammed into the castle doors. It dissipated soon after.

"C'mon," Kurama said, jumping into the clean line with Kuwabara close behind. Darkfire glanced at Hiei's smoking arm before tailing after the other two, Hiei jogging lightly behind.

"Go," Hiei whispered harshly as he darted ahead of her and sliced through several demons. Darkfire nodded and slipped between two demons. She ducked and maneuvered through their legs, careful not to brush against any of them; or trip on the sagging cloak she wore.

"Hiei, protect our friends," she thought, stopping between the crooked doors. "I swear I'll come back." Darting from sight, Darkfire picked her way through the dark halls. Everything was empty and cold; she was once again reminded of her bare feet as her steps made no noise.

"Human," a deep voice breathed.

Darkfire stopped dead in her tracks, daring to breathe.

"What might you hope to accomplish by coming here alone?" the same voice questioned, amusement evident.

The human straightened and turned in the dark. She paused on one spot for a moment and glared at an invisible object. "Coward," she hissed.

"Hm?"

"You're a coward. Hiding in your shadow. Are you truly that afraid of me?"

"Don't be naïve, human," it spat. "And certainly don't be arrogant."

"Then show yourself!" Light exploded from all around, blinding one for a moment. Along the continuous wall that created the circular room were blazing torches. Standing in front of the doorway, the only exit was a tall, lithe, black man. He had thick lips, curly black hair, and dark, penetrating eyes.

"There, I have shown myself," he said, the same baritone voice from the dark. He patted his soot-black business suit and smoothed the collar. "My name's Haru. What's your name, boy?"

Darkfire bristled. "I'm not a boy!"

"Pardon me. Will you still honor me with your name?"

"Darkfire," she answered, standing down.

"For a murderous demon," she thought, "he sure is polite. Maybe…no, I know it's him!"

"My, what an interesting name…I like it. How'd you get it?"

"I made it up. Now everyone calls me by that name."

Haru chuckled as he crossed slowly to the girl. He paused when she gripped one of the wakizashi handles. "I mean no threat," the demon said lightly, circling behind Darkfire. He gently, tenderly placed his hand on her throat, moving his mouth to her ear. "What did you come here for?" he whispered softly.

"Your death," she breathed, heart beginning to race.

"Oh, and why's that?"

"Because of all the people killed by your orders. I loath you."

"Then why don't you draw from my touch? And those people fed my army. At least, those you didn't kill."

Darkfire's eyes widened. Turning from him, she drew her weapon and sliced at his middle. He slid back easily and avoided even wrinkling his coat.

"Nice attempt, but far too predictable. And might I question why you wear that demon's cloak?"

She looked down at Hiei's robe, and then stared back at Haru. "What's wrong with it?"

"Besides the fact that it's stained with the blood of humans and demons alike? Besides the fact that the demon whom wears it is a murderer such as myself? Besides the fact that the demon is a traitor?" He laughed. "How can you adore that bastard and hate me? We are not so different!"

"Shut up!" Darkfire lashed out with both blades, carelessly over swinging.

"Stop flailing about like a child!" a voice called from her memory. Darkfire stopped dead and stared into nothingness. "Your lack of control will only get you killed! Calm down and think."

She smiled grimly. "Sorry, Hiei, I almost forgot. You taught me better."

"Hm? Talking to yourself, eh?" Haru sneered, sending a pick sailing into Darkfire's left shoulder. She jumped but made no noise to indicate any pain.

"Ow," she mumbled distractedly, her velvet brown eyes traveling to the demon. "Well, I'm ready now." She squared off with him and positioned her weapons strangely at her sides.

"So it would seem," Haru smirked, producing several more picks. "But I cannot have you interfering with my company!" He darted with deadly speed, sending his picks with sharp accuracy that Darkfire could barely block. But she kept her head.

"Osa, give me your speed," she thought, charging into the onslaught. "Angel, give me your strength." She faked left and came in sharply on the right, catching his side and watching the blood spray for a second.

Haru stared at his blood with detachment. "Seems you got a lucky shot."

"Luck has nothing to do with it."

"Kurama, what do you know of this demon?" Hiei questioned, killing yet another demon.

The fox sliced through three as he answered, "He's in a similar business to what you used to deal."

"You know more than that."

"He can somewhat control time. Make things travel faster or slower than reality. See that distortion around the fortress?" He glanced at the building before beheading a lowly half demon.

Hiei looked at the castle. "Yes, what is it?"

"That's his aura, that's how he distorts time. Whatever his aura surrounds is in his time field. Darkfire's in a time completely different than ours right now. Anywhere from a few seconds to several days could have passed in that castle."

"Would she know?"

"Maybe. If time's traveling faster, she's probably losing what little endurance and strength she has."

"Don't under estimate her!" Kuwabara hollered, cutting a path to the two demons. "Darkfire's like Yuusuke, and we all know he doesn't give up easily."

"True, but Yuusuke's a half demon with incredible skills and powers. Darkfire's a plain human with no harness of spiritual energy," Kurama reasoned, killing several more youkai.

"But she's more than just human. Remember how she healed herself? And that strange energy inside her…. I know we shouldn't put so much faith in her lowly abilities, but I believe that she can do this."

"Why?" Hiei snarled, glaring at Kuwabara. "Why do you believe?"

"She won't let herself be defeated. And she's got all her friends backin' her up," Kuwabara answered, smirking.

The sky was illuminated with constant flashes of lightning; the air was filled with repeating claps of thunder. And then the sky burst with water, pouring its heart out. In an instant, the bloodstained soil turned to mud and the stench of blood and corpses was erased.

"Darkfire's in a losing battle," Hiei thought, leaving Kurama and Kuwabara. "She's outmatched in strength, accuracy, skill, speed, power, and endurance. The only way she can win is to outsmart him. And he may exceed her in that, too." He killed a few demons that dared to challenge him. "Only time will tell, I suppose. But…how much time?" he wondered, staring at the distorted castle.

"Why do you hate me so?" Angel whispered, holding Osadyro close.

"If I hated you, you wouldn't be holding me," Osadyro chuckled, snuggling closer.

"Love me…as you once did."

The girl opened her eyes, stirring from her dream, and traced his skin softly. "Anthony, how do you expect me to love you when you don't return the gesture?"

Angel smiled and rubbed his cheek on her head. "I haven't been called by that name in a long time. And I do love you, Osa. Besides, now's your chance to have me; there's no competition."

"No, I can't love you. I'm sorry." She pushed from the man and stumbled to the door.

"What does he have that I don't?"

Osadyro stopped and turned her face enough to look at him through a tear-filled green eye. With a sad smile, she answered, "Nothing. But he doesn't stare at other girls and he's always polite. Except, Angel, he's mysterious." Without waiting for his response, she fled from the room, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Angel sat there, dumbfounded. "So, I'm just second-best now?"

"Even as I hold your life you do not panic," Haru began, pressing Darkfire up into the air by her neck. "Why is that, human?"

Darkfire gave a fanged smirk and held tightly to his wrist. She brought her foot up savagely under his chin and fell, coughing, to the ground when released.

"Damn you!" he hissed, holding his chin.

"I know the feeling of being choked and just how long I can survive, Haru. That's why I didn't panic," she snarled, fumbling for her wakizashi. She pulled her hand back just a pick zipped by; she glared at the demon.

"I'm surprised your friends haven't come after you," he mused, examining the point of his deadly weapon.

"What do you mean?"

"It's been nearly three days outside of these walls."

"What?"

"Yes, and it's been only an hour or so in here. Isn't that interesting?"

"How?"

"I can manipulate time, my dear. And time has been moving very slowly within this castle." He sent the pick whizzing over Darkfire's head, lodging in the stone wall.

"So…they could be dead," Darkfire gasped, staring at the floor. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed that a pick was in her left shoulder.

"The first he threw!" she thought excitedly.

"Yes, they very well could be. Not that it makes much difference. You'll all be meeting in Hell soon!" he laughed, charging at the girl, picks ready like lion's paws. "Now, die!" At the last possible second, she rolled into his legs and caused him to trip. As he flew over her, in what seemed like slow motion, she turned and rammed his own pick into his heart. Time resumed and he soared into the wall.

"Sorry, but I can't go to Hell," Darkfire sighed, wincing as a soft light kissed her shoulder. She held the black cloth she wore delicately. "I'm sorry, Hiei, I've stained your cloak with this unworthy demon's blood, as well as my own."

"Darkfire," a man wheezed, "you're still alive."

It has been brought to my attention that I should remind/inform you that Hiei's "Black Dragon Hell Fire" (from the manga)is the same as his "Dragon of the Darkness Flame," as it is called in the anime.

Oh, and whoever guesses who the mysterious man at the end is gets a cookie.