Chapt. 30 is here! Huza!

Disclaimer: Don't own YYH or Osa.

Note: The flashback featured in this chapter is after she is expelled from both Heaven and Hell, doomed to be a wandering/lost soul.

Chapter 30

Dead Men Do Tell Tales

"Let him go, Darkfire," the man said gently, carefully pulling at her arm. "Just let him go."

"Why should I? Why should this bastard live to see another day?" Darkfire snarled, gripping Michael's neck tighter.

"Because I'm asking you. Please, let go of him."

"Damn it!" she yelled, standing and turning her back on the two. "Damn you both!"

Michael gasped and choked for air.

"Slow down, Michael. You're ok now," the man comforted, helping the Archangel to his feet.

Pushing the man away, Michael glared at Darkfire's back. He glowered at her sizzling skin and smoldering clothes. But he felt no remorse. No, he hated her. Hated her more than any angel should.

"The Council will hear of this," Michael seethed, regaining his composure. And then he flew away.

"Why did you stop me? Why did you protect him?" Darkfire sighed, turning to the man. Her face stung with each word, but she ignored the pain.

"Because I don't want you to die."

"Lucifer…" she whispered, falling.

"Darkfire!" He rushed to her side and tenderly touched her burnt skin. "Why haven't you healed? Why?" Looking to the sky, he called, "Raphael! I know you can hear me! I need you, Raphael! Please!"

"Stop shouting, Satan. I'm right here." The angel stepped from behind the Devil, kneeling down. "What is it?"

Lucifer simply looked at the girl in his arms.

Raphael followed his gaze. "Dear God," he gasped, not caring that he committed a sin. "What happened?"

"Michael."

"Is he still alive?"

"Yes. But only because I came just in time." His red eyes shimmered with unwept tears. "Why won't she heal, Raphael? Why does her skin not become whole as it was?"

Raphael began healing the girl on his own, not meeting Satan's eyes. "Because," he sighed, "this body is dying."

Satan looked up. "What do you mean?"

"This girl has no soul. She's only alive because of Darkfire. But even so, she shouldn't have lived this long. She should've died eight years ago." His eyes narrowed. "Damn it! She's blocking me."

"Darkfire, you have to let us help!"

Her body twitched a little, and then was still. "Now, Raphael," she gasped, "I can't hold it much longer."

Raphael worked his energy as fast as he possibly could. Her wounds began to close and her skin regenerated carefully over the burns. Even as he grew light-headed, the Archangel continued to work. Even as he reached his max, he kept healing until he was shut out.

"Raphael," Lucifer stuttered, catching the angel as he fell.

"Satan," Hokage said weakly.

The two men stared at her.

"Thank you…but I have a favor to ask." She coughed violently. "I need an army. I need an army that can't die. Please."

Lucifer looked on with confusion. "What for?"

"To save…save the lives' of those I love." She shuddered. "Please. And in return I give you my life. And Darkfire lives with you forever."

The Devil sat in awe. He was at a loss for words of any nature.

"I know you may think it's a waste of a life. But let me die this way. Let me create a destiny not even God foresaw." She looked up at him with dull eyes. "Let me die for those I love with all my heart." A sad smile crept onto her face and tears welled in her eyes. "I'm not afraid…so why are you?"

Lucifer's eyes widened. "And what am I to do with your body? It will be useless."

"I don't care. Do with it whatever you will." She gripped his shirt in her shaking fist. "Please, just give me an army."

He nodded, and she closed her eyes.

"Thank you, dearest Lucifer. And thank you, lovely Raphael. Thank you so very much."

Darkfire soared through the cold, clear sky of the Demon World. Ahead, she noticed a floating island of ice. As she neared, she saw the figures of women. No men, just women. She paused and watched a cluster that stood at the edge. And then she saw a small, wailing bundle fall from the island.

"Poor thing," she murmured, watching the women recede. "But…it's not my problem." She watched the bundle free fall, feeling a sense of déjà vu. "Damn it," she cursed, flying after it. Catching it just above the treetops, she lowered herself carefully to the ground.

The bundle whimpered and twitched in her arms.

With great care, Darkfire turned the bundle to face her. Beneath the mass of cloth, rope, and charms, a small, demonic face was peering through. Its big red eyes looked up at her, and it smiled.

"You can see me?" she said with confusion. She was a soul, so she went unseen, except for by those special select few. Darkfire smiled back. "Because you can see me, young one, I'll protect and watch over you."

She walked with the child for a little while. Then she stumbled upon the edge of a clearing. Within the treeless circle, there was a small village. Men and women bustled about with their usual chores, never noticing the floating bundle between the trees.

"These must be the bandits I've heard about," Darkfire thought, looking down at the child. "Here, he can grow strong and learn to fend for himself. Here, he'll be safe." Smiling softly, she set the baby on the ground and slowly backed away. When it made no noise, she crept back to it and kicked it a little.

And that baby let out a wailing howl that sounded like a dying animal.

Hokage sat with a start, cold sweat dripping from her nose. There she stayed for a moment in a shocked daze as her heart slowed. Looking around, she noticed she was on a soft bed encased in thick black curtains. She swallowed hard and steadied her breath.

"Where am I?" she whispered, more to herself.

The curtain moved back a bit and a handsome man came to view. "You are in my house. More specifically, my bed."

Hokage felt the blood rise in her cheeks, but she didn't look away. Those red eyes entranced her.

"You have a guest." The man stepped aside and another came into view.

"Hokage," he sighed, relief washing over his face. "When Yuusuke said you flew away, I thought you might have come here." He crawled to her and stroked her cheek softly. "Satan tells me you got into a fight with another angel."

"Hm? Yea…well…he was in my way."

"What did you come down here for anyway?"

Hokage looked away and thought up a quick lie. "Darkfire needed to talk to Lucifer."

"Yuusuke said you were saying something about your destiny."

She bit her lip. "I was in the process of becoming Darkfire. It must have been a memory or something."

Hiei eyed her with suspicion, but let it go. "Come, Yuusuke and Koenma are throwing a fit." He crawled back to the edge of the bed and held out his hand.

Hokage stared at it oddly. This was not the Hiei she had met four years ago. He had changed into something. But what? A gentleman? No, that wasn't it. Then what?

"It won't bite," Hiei smirked, as if he was laughing at her.

Smiling at the oddity of it all, she moved to him and took his hand. "Thank you," she whispered, "for coming after me."

Hiei's once cold and foreboding eyes smiled softly upon her. "I owe you at least that pleasure." He pulled her from the black curtains and kept her hand.

"What is your name?" Lucifer asked, coming before the two.

"Me?" Hokage said, pointing to her chest.

The Devil nodded.

"Hokage. Or it is now. But it's the only name that matters." She smiled tenderly to hide the pain coursing through her body.

"Lucifer, have my 'order' ready by the new moon," Darkfire said, trying to hold Hokage together.

Lucifer nodded and waved as she and Hiei walked away.

"You worried me," Hiei murmured, squeezing her hand affectionately.

"Good," Hokage whispered.

That's it. Hiei turned into a man in love.

Now, I don't know how Hiei was found by those bandits. But this is my version, mostly to fit my needs. So, either get over it or don't come crying to me.