Water and Fire

Summary: There are only four elementals that walk the three worlds. Fire, Water, Earth and Wind. United, they could rule the world. When the YYH gang finds the elemental of Water, they must keep her hidden, so that a horribly powerful prophecy does not become a reality. But what will the other elementals do when they find out that she is being kept from them? Will she and a certain fire apparition become closer than they should be? Read to find out. RATED T FOR LANGUAGE!

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Previously:

Hiei woke up yelling.

"KIYA!"

"Hiei, please be calm," came Kurama's distressed voice. Hiei looked around him quickly, trying to remember what had happened.

Kiya……..opened portal………I love you……..KIYA! Now he remembered! He was lasr with Kiya, when suddenly an immense pain had filled his body and he fell to the ground, on top of Kiya. He could hear someone talking to her before he had gone under.

That person………who was it?...

"Jasaro…." Hiei growled murderously, his aura flaring.

They had taken Kiya away from him.

Anger. That' the first emotion Hiei felt. Complete and total anger……towards himself.

He had not been able to keep his promise.

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Chapter 26: Nearly the End:

Kiya kicked herself. No- more than kicked herself. She beat herself to a bloody pulp, let herself die a most painful death, made herself come back to life, then did it all over again. Figuratively speaking, of course.

Kiya was currently within her own mind, trapped there by Aerosaku's damned staff. Her physical body could not move, but her mind could, roaming over all of her memories and regrets until it was time for Aerosaku to lift this binding from her. The object of her mind's focus right now was- of course- Hiei.

What had happened to him before she had left with the elementals? Would he really be okay, like Jasaro told her he would be? Maybe it was just her, but Kiya didn't feel that that bastard Jasaro was the most trustworthy person in the world.

"HIEI!" Kiya tried to call out mentally again, hoping in vain that by some miracle, Hiei's Jagan eye would pick up on her calls and he would respond, but to no avail. She had been calling to him for 2 hours, ever since she had been condemned within the confinements of her own mind.

Kiya hissed in anger. Aerosaku's staff must have put up a mental wall, keeping her from any psychic contact with anyone.

If Kiya could move her body, her fists would have been balled up by now, she was so mad. Blackmail was the lowest of the low, and even though Kiya had used it herself many times towards Yusuke and Kuwabara, it had never been like this. She had never threatened the life of another's loved one- and was appalled that anyone was capable of anything so cruel. But of course, she could believe it in this case because these were the elementals, the same elementals that had managed to make Kiya's life a living hell ever since her 16th birthday. Kiya had had no choice but to leave the palace with them, and come back to their Makai lair with the help of Terra's portal making ability- just so they would keep Hiei alive.

"Time to wake up, my little bird," Kiya heard the repulsively familiar voice beckon her from outside her mind.

Yes, and time for you to die an untimely death, bastard, Kiya thought maliciously before she was brought from her darkness and her silver eyes were finally able to flitter open.

--------------MEANWHILE WITH THE YYH GANG--------------

Hiei would've been gone by now, if it weren't for that damn toddler. He paced the large office murderously, his fists balled and his voice muttering obscenities beneath his breath. He would have already been in Makai, looking for his mate if only Koenma would shut up about precautions and open a portal.

If it weren't for the fact that Koenma was Hiei's only way to Makai, he would've decapitated him by now- no matter how fast that would place him in the Rekai prison, for Hiei no longer cared about going to prison. He almost past the point where logic would leave him.

"The elementals are very dangerous- maybe even more so than Toguro, so please, be careful."

"Hai Koenma, and I apologize for being hasty, but we really need to be going now." said Kurama politely, referring mostly to Hiei's impatient pacing.

"Yeah," agreed Kuwabara anxiously. He was just as much in a hurry to get Kiya back as everyone- well, nearly everyone- in this room. He leaned down to whisper to Yusuke, "Before Hiei blows this place into pieces."

"Mm hmm." agreed the spirit detective.

Hiei heard them, of course, but right now there were more important things on his mind than beating either of them till there was nothing of them left. Right now, all he wanted was to get his mate back and chop Jasaro and the other elementals into many, many tiny pieces.

"Oh, right," said Koenma hastily, also anxious to get the water elemental back. He created the portal- which materialized into the office with a puff of blue smoke. Before anyone could think, Hiei had flitted through the portal into the awaiting world on the other side. "Be careful," Koenma repeated, then watched as his team of detectives disappeared inside the portal.

Once on the other side, Kurama spotted Hiei re-tying the bandana that covered his Jagan to his forehead. Clearly, he had just used his third eye to find the whereabouts of his mate, because the last time Hiei had checked the elementals had cloaked their location- whereas they had not this time.

"Hiei, please. I know you wish to find Kiya as soon as possible, but if you move as quickly as I know you want to, then Yusuke, Kuwabara and I will not be able to keep up with you."

"Hn. Good. I'd be more efficient on my own." Hiei prepared to take off running West, the direction the Jagan had told him Kiya was. Hiei was not at all surprised that the elementals had taken down their protective mind barriers- clearly they wanted the Spirit Detectives to find them. If Hiei was his normal, observant self than he would've noticed that this whole thing felt sort of like a set-up. A trap.

"Hiei. We want Kiya back as much as you do-"

"No you don't," Hiei snapped, his crimson eyes still directed West. Not as much as I need her back.

Kurama sighed, then continued, "but we need to stick together. We will not be as effective against the elementals if we are separated."

Hiei knew Kurama was right. Damn the kitsune for being so smart, and as much as Hiei hated to admit it, he knew that Kurama's logic far surpassed his own, especially right now.

So, Hiei growled impatiently and decided to compromise. He started out walking at a little quicker than normal pace, leaving the others behind. He wouldn't run, but he wouldn't wait either.

Kurama sighed. "I suppose this is the most we will get from him. Lets go." He started off after his long-time friend, with Yusuke and Kuwabara following close behind.

And, with Hiei leading the pack, all four started off towards the elementals lair, readying themselves for what they knew was going to be a grueling battle to get their friend back at all costs.

-------------------WITH KIYA------------------

"Ah, she is alive. Good to see."

Instead of gracing Jasaro with any of her words- since Kiya did not see how he was worth any of her breath- she growled murderously at him, giving him a death glare.

"I see you've taken after the Jaganshi. We can take care of that soon. But right now, we've got to get you ready. We're preparing to greet some visitors. Come."

Psh, yeah right, pretty boy, I'm not following you any- Her thoughts were cut off as her body sat up and off the table she was previously lying on obediently. Kiya's silver eyes widened as she tried to figure out what was going on. Why was she following his orders! Why the hell were her legs making her walk?

Jasaro, who seemed to notice the water elementals predicament chuckled evilly and tapped a thin silver headdress that was strapped over Kiya's forehead with his fingernail. "This makes sure that you follow my orders, love. That you don't try anything funny," he turned and began walking- out of the small room they were in and down the hallway. He glanced at her over his shoulder and said, "And so you don't try to communicate with that pesky fire apparition."

"Bast-" She started, but her mouth soon clamped shut, muffling the last syllable of her chosen title for the fire elemental. Again, Jasaro chuckled and said, "It can also keep you from talking out of line."

Kiya found that she could still move her head, so she looked down at herself, wondering why her clothing felt so weird. What she saw made her want to gag. She was wearing a flowing black dress that reached her ankles with a halter top, connecting behind her neck. Over that dress was the familiar red cloak that Kiya saw that Jasaro was wearing. The same cloak that they had sent her in a box not too long ago, the one that she had thrown across the room.

Jasaro was so lucky that he hadn't put her in any heels (or any shoes for that matter- she was bare-footed) or else she would've found a way to get out of this binding headdress and kick his ass. The dress was bad enough.

At the end of the long hallway down which Kiya and Jasaro walked, they came to two large doors. They opened automatically for them and they stepped through into a large room. It was about 1/3 as big as a football field and was bare except for one long black carpet stretched from the large door at the front of the room to the right of where they just came in all the way to the opposite wall, where there were four large chairs. Thrones.

Upon two of the thrones, the ones on the outsides, sat two people. Kiya immediately recognized them as Terra (on the right) and Aerosaku (on the left)- the despised elementals of Air and Earth. Once the two atop the throne's eyes met Kiya's, they smirked.

"Welcome, sister." Boasted Terra, while Aerosaku smirked at her and nodded his head slightly.

I am not your sister you stupid, green haired, old bi--

"They are nearly here. You should see the short one, Jasaro….he looks positively murderous." Laughed Aerosaku as he gazed into the clear sphere atop his staff. Kiya hated that staff and wondered who they were talking about, although she had a pretty good idea. Had they really come to get her so quickly? Gosh, she had good friends. Incredibly stupid friends, but good nonetheless.

Kiya could tell already, there was no way that her friends could beat the elementals. No way.

"Kiya, sit." Said Jasaro as he himself sat in the throne next to Aerosaku. He motioned with one tanned hand for Kiya to sit in the one next to him, and thanks to the stupid binding headdress on her, Kiya had no choice but to comply to his wishes. Against her will, Kiya's legs guided her to the throne between Jasaro and Terra and forced her to sit down.

Aren't the thrones a bit much? Stupid elementals, they had to use some fancy chairs as ego boosts.

Kiya's hands went to the arms rests and laid there peacefully, until Jasaro placed his hand upon her own, intertwining their fingers. If anything could boil Kiya's blood, it was this- hands down. How dare he touch her this way! Kiya was able to make a forced grunt as she tried to use her willpower against the bindings so that she could get her hand- and the rest of her for that matter- as far away from Jasaro as possible. But, of course, it didn't work.

Kiya's eyes widened as Jasaro bent down towards Kiya and whispered in her ear, "They'll be here soon, love-" His voice broke off as his red eyes caught sight of the now purple mark on the side of Kiya's neck, partially concealed by the red cloak she was wearing. He nearly busted with anger and tried his hardest not to scream when he said, "He. Marked. You?" The question came out strained and through clenched teeth, his voice low and vicious.

Kiya smirked. Yep. She answered in her mind. It was then that Kiya's heightened senses caught on to four very familiar auras nearing. Her smirk faded and a look of worry crossed her features. Her friends were coming. Hiei was coming, her mate. And, no matter how much she believed in them all, there was still this shred of doubt in the back of her mind that when they stormed in here, trying to make this bold and courageous rescue, they might fail.

----------------------------WITH THE YYH GANG--------------------------

"There it is!" Exclaimed Yusuke, pointing an index finger off into the distance, past a number of Makai trees. Kurama and Kuwabara looked to where Yusuke was pointing. Hiei didn't look because he already knew what it was. It was a large, but not huge, ancient looking building. It's roof slanted up into a tent-sort of fashion, the old crimson color beginning to fade. It looked to be only about one story tall, and it had two very large doors in front. Very impressive. Not.

"Come on!" Yusuke yelled before taking off in a full-out dash for the building. Kurama and Kuwabara were right behind him, and Hiei had already flitted to the front door. Once they all gathered at the front door, they looked around suspiciously. Where were all the crazy youkai guards? Every evil villain's lair had some, so why not this one?

Kurama spoke everyone's thoughts when he said, "This seems a bit easy,"

"Hn," Hiei growled. He could care less whether or not it was a trap. As long as he got in and came back out with Kiya in his arms, he didn't care about anything.

Before Hiei could even contemplate how to get the large doors open, they swung ajar, opening to a large room………

………filled with about 50 different youkai scattered into every inch, every corner of the room.

Hiei growled. He didn't have time for this. He un-sheathed his katana in one fluid motion- if he had to do this, he was going to do it quickly, but save enough energy to kill Jasaro. He was determined. So, with that in mind, Hiei impatiently stepped forward to the crowd of multi-colored youkai.

Yusuke, Kuwabara and Kurama soon followed Hiei's example, pulling out their weapons of choice. Yusuke pulled out his…fists. Kuwabara made his spirit sword materialize into his hand and Kurama reached up slyly to his hair and pulled out his infamous rose. With one swipe, he turned it into his rose whip and he stepped towards the youkai,

"Let's kick some ass," muttered Yusuke before running into the crowd.

------------------WITH KIYA------------------

From the corner of her eye, Kiya could see Jasaro smirk triumphantly- obviously over the fact that she was marked as Hiei's mate. He then turned to her and said in a low and devious voice, "It's almost time,Kiya. Now, when our guests get here be a good little girl and behave, okay?"

Oh, he was so lucky she couldn't talk, or she'd be ragging on his ass right now. Stupid egotistical b--

That's when she heard it.

Exasperated youkai screams coming from the room directly in front of the room in which Kiya currently sat- she smiled. Hiei was in there, she knew it- kicking ass like he usually did. What Kiya realized next made her stomach clench in pride- and concern.

Hiei wasn't fighting for his self image anymore, not for himself and his desire to be feared.

He was fighting for her.

-----------------------WITH THE YYH GANG-----------------------

None of them had ever seen Hiei fight like this before, never. He wasn't even trying- just flitting through the crowd, decapitating and/or mutilating every youkai within a 10 inch radius.

Kurama, Yusuke and Kuwabara - who had finally seen that their help in this fight was highly un-needed- were standing back, allowing Hiei to do what he set out to do without having to worry about any of them being in his way.

It was a mere 5 minutes before every low class demon in the large room had been killed, and the stench of blood filled the air. Hiei, who hadn't even broken a sweat, cleared his katana of any blood with one quick swipe of the blade, then sheathed it.

Kurama, Yusuke and Kuwabara just stood there, watching the gothic-looking fire apparition walk hastily to the second pair of large doors at the far end of the room.

"Hiei…." Kurama started out slowly, knowing Hiei would not like what he was about to say. "Perhaps now we should be a bit more cautious. We do not know what lies behind that door."

"Hn. Be cautious if you like, fox- but cautiousness is something I no longer have time for." And he stood in front of the doors, his fists clenched, as the large doors opened slowly.

------------------------WITH KIYA-----------------------

Kiya's silver eyes immediately averted to the two large doors at the other end of the room as soon as she heard them opening. What she saw sent an immense feeling of relief over her.

It was Hiei, his face and clothing covered in youkai blood, his body seemingly un-wounded. His look was one of complete and utter determination. The Jaganshi's crimson orbs immediately met Kiya's with an open look of concern. His eyes flowed over her body- not in the sensuous way, but in the 'are-you-okay' way. Once seeing that his koi had not been harmed, his gaze traveled upwards again……. And stopped at Kiya's right hand….

….which was currently resting beneath Jasaro's left hand, their fingers intertwining.

Hiei's aura flared dangerously as he glared at Jasaro. ('Glare' being a serious understatement). A dangerous growl escaped his clenched lips and he drew his katana. Kurama, Yusuke and Kuwabara soon came up behind him and Yusuke and Kuwabara yelled, "Kiya!"

"You bastards!" Yusuke yelled to the elementals.

All four of Kiya's friends looked to her with expectant looks on their faces. 'Why haven't you walked to us, yet?' their looks asked. Hiei's look, on the other hand, was a mix of so many emotions, all the emotions that since Hiei was born, he had been able to conceal. But not now, now his expression-full face was an open book; anger, concern, frustration, fury and possessiveness.

"Why is she holding Jasaro's hand?" Kuwabara whispered to Yusuke. Yusuke shrugged and Kurama answered,

"It seems she has no choice- for it is not her doing the holding." Call it intuition or whatever, but Kurama knew that if Kiya had control over her body, she would have tried to reach them already….

……if, of course, the elementals had not yet managed to sway her opinions of them- which Kurama highly doubted. So, the only option left was control over Kiya's body. Kurama could tell it wasn't quite mind control because of the look of absolute concern in her eyes. Yes, she wasn't an elemental vegetable.. yet.

"Welcome, spirit detectives Yusuke, Kuwabara . Famed Makai thief, Youko Kurama." Jasaro's gaze burned into Hiei's, almost matching his death glare. "Forbidden child- Hiei Jaganshi."

Hiei's eyes narrowed at his despised title and he unsheathed his katana. Hiei's eyes flickered to Kiya's for only a second, before glaring at all of the elementals. "Any last words? And speak wisely- for my patience for you all is gone." He hissed, crouching in a ready-to-attack stance.

The elementals (save Kiya) all chuckled evilly. "Jaganshi, that is not the way you should speak to your future rulers," drawled Terra, her mature voice cracking slightly with age.

"Hn. Not if I have anything to do with it.." By the end of his sentence, Hiei was roaring a battle cry, lunging for Jasaro, his katana ready and poised to strike the fire elementals heart.

But, when Hiei was about 3 feet from Jasaro, he was thrown back by an invisible shield that turned visible once connecting with Hiei. Hiei flew back and landed on his feet, sliding across the floor until he was right back where he started, next to the rest of the Y.Y.H. gang. Kiya allowed herself to breathe once seeing that he had been un-harmed, then wondered why she had even questioned him in the first place- this was Hiei.

Aerosaku made a 'tsk-ing' noise. "Now, Hiei. We wouldn't want to get the palace all dirty by fighting in it, now would we?"

Jasaro finished where the air elemental left off. "If you'd like to fight, we'll have to go outside."

"So sorry for the inconvenience." Apologized Terra, lying.

"There's no inconvenience as long as we get to kick your asses." yelled Yusuke.

"Yusuke, I doubt now is the time for your crude remarks," Kurama leaned in to his ear and whispered, "No matter what they do, we must remember that they have Kiya- so we mustn't anger them too much."

Yusuke would've argued, but his concern for Kiya helped him keep his usually rambunctious mouth shut.

"Then let us go 'outside'!" said Aerosaku, standing. Before anyone could do anything, Aerosaku raised both of his hands in the air, one of them grasping his staff. The crystal ball upon the staff glowed brightly and everyone in the room was suddenly blinded by the same incredibly bright white light. Everyone closed their eyes to shield them from the light.

When her eyes opened, Kiya saw that she, along with everyone else was no longer inside, but outside right next to the large elemental lair- in a large open clearing.

Kiya suddenly felt a presence trying it's hardest to probe into her mind, but was being held back by the silver headdress strapped to her forehead. Hiei……

"Something is blocking her mind.." Kiya heard the all too familiar voice of her mate speak hastily and frustrated. Her eyes went straight to him to see that he was looking at her, his lips not moving.

"I see, it must be the headdress she is wearing. It seems as though it is a mind barrier…." came Kurama's voice in the air. Kiya's eyes quickly averted to Kurama, to see that his lips weren't moving either.

That's right! I can hear telepathic conversations! I almost forgot!

Kiya heard Hiei growl out-loud and she finally took the time to notice where the other elementals were. They were standing right next to Kiya, all of them rooted to their spots and standing straight- truly looking like royalty.

All this trouble over me? Kiya questioned herself. I'm not worth all of this. I'm not…

They think otherwise.. argued her other voice- the same voice that had always managed to annoy the hell out of Kiya in the past, but lately it had been more comfort to Kiya than it could've known.

I know- that's the problem. I don't want anyone to get hurt………..I should've killed myself when I had the chance.

Please don't think like that.

How can I not think like that at a time like this? There's no way that my friends can win this fight! They will all die, including the one person who means the world to me. He will die all because of who I am- what I was born as! It's not fair!

Hasn't anyone told you?……..life's not fair.

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Alright, everybody. Intermission. Get up off your asses, go get something to eat/drink, stretch, do some exercises, watch TV, listen to music……then come back and read the other portion to this incredibly long chapter.

Whew, I think I need an intermission. I'll be right back.

Okay, back to the story. Enjoy, my little birdies.

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Kiya watched in wonder as Hiei got into his famed fighting stance, his unsheathed katana poised in front of him, ready to attack unmercifully. The rest of the YYH gang followed his example.

Jasaro sighed with annoyance. "Such a shame, Jaganshi. I was hoping you would pose more of a threat, considering all the things I've heard about you." The elementals chuckled and Kiya narrowed her eyes at him. Even though the stupid headband on her forehead kept her body from moving, Kiya could still move her head- just not talk.

"Hn. I told you to speak wisely. Apparently you don't listen." Without warning, Hiei flitted out of view, and Kiya turned her head to look at the elementals. She was surprised to see that they were finally showing emotion and they looked a little uneasy by her mate's speed.

Hiei suddenly appeared behind Jasaro and was about to bring his feared katana down on his head, when a wall of fire formed behind the seemingly unobservant elemental, blocking Hiei's attack. Hiei flitted away once more to go to Kiya's side.

"It seems that I have underestimated your speed, Jaganshi." Jasaro growled once seeing that Hiei had appeared next to 'his' woman. "I won't do it again."

Kiya didn't hear Jasaro, she was too busy trying to communicate with Hiei, but no words would come out. She saw his frustrated look as his Jagan eye glowed from beneath his bandana and she knew that he was trying to contact her mentally. Damn the stupid headband on her forehead, damn it to hell.

"There wont be any of that, Hiei," drawled Terra. "You can no longer mentally speak with your koi."

Kiya could see Jasaro's open hatred for what Terra had said, but she didn't care.

"Let us stop wasting time. I call the kitsune." Said Aerosaku.

"So be it." replied Kurama as he gracefully retrieved his infamous rose from behind his ear.

"I'll take the ningens." purred Terra.

"Alright! We'll kick your ass in no time!"

"Uh--Urameshi…..I cant fight a girl."

"To hell with your stupid code, Kuwabara, this is for Kiya."

Kuwabara sighed, took one look at his beloved friend, and said, "I guess you're right."

"And I- the Jaganshi." Stated Jasaro.

"Hn."

Before Kiya could blink, they all attacked. Kurama slashed at Aerosaku with his whip- who in turn just stepped to the side, looking like he was bored. Kuwabara and Yusuke both ran to Terra, getting their fists up. But, Kiya saw Terra's eyes glow green momentarily before a large chunk of Earth rose in front of her, blocking them both.

Kiya turned her attentions to Hiei and Jasaro, just in time to see Hiei flitter out of sight, and Jasaro's eyes flash a dangerous red. A wall of fire suddenly appeared around Jasaro, and the elemental smirked evilly. Just as soon as Hiei disappeared, he re-appeared in front of Jasaro (standing in the wall of fire) and with one quick swipe, sent his katana plunging into Jasaro's chest.

The wall of fire suddenly dissipated, as Jasaro looked wide-eyed at Hiei then the katana within his abdomen.

"Hn. You're pathetic fire tricks do not harm me." Hiei stated slyly.

Jasaro suddenly smirked, and Kiya watched in dreadful awe as the katana lodged in Jasaro suddenly burst into flames, and quickly disappeared within the inferno. Hiei looked just as shocked for about a second, then quickly re-gained his composure.

"Nice try Jaganshi….but not good enough…" Before Hiei could react, Jasaro quickly sent a roundhouse kick to his head- but Hiei, bring his normal quick self and seeing his plan- easily dodged it…

……but what Hiei didn't see was the power-charged fist going straight for his gut.

Kiya gasped in her mind as she saw Hiei flying across the large field.

Please, Hiei. Just give up before you get hurt…..

---------------------------3 HOURS LATER---------------------------

Kiya's eyes were pinned open- refusing to close, no matter how much she wanted them to….

…which was a lot.

There, in front of Kiya's un-moving form was the YYH gang, sprawled, bloody and unconscious on the ground. Standing above them were the elementals, all smirking triumphantly……just like in Kiya's dreams.

Wait, no- excuse me. Kiya's nightmares.

No……..kami sama please no……

But, even Kami- sama could take back what just happened. For the past three hours, the poor water elemental had no choice but to watch as her friends and her mate were all taken out by the other elementals, to the point of unconsciousness. Kiya was so overcome with worry, that she didn't even notice the binding hold over her body coming from the headdress on her forehead dissipating, and her ability to move and speak freely returning. What she did notice was Jasaro walking towards her once telling Aerosaku to keep an eye on the Jaganshi. Kiya's gaze snapped to Hiei's limp form, lying on his stomach and facing Kiya.

Wait……why would he need to keep an eye on Hiei if he's unconscious? It suddenly occurred to Kiya that maybe- just maybe- Hiei was still awake. 'Hiei?'

"K-Kiya….."

'Oh my god, Hiei! Are you okay? Please just stay awake-

"I'm………..sorry Kiya…."

'Why are you sorry, koi? You have nothing to apologize for.'

"I didn't keep my promise---I couldn't protect you…" Kiya could hear Hiei's voice slowly begin to fade.

'Damnit, Hiei stop being stupid, you did protect me…..don't leave me again…….please, just stay awake'.

"I'm……trying.." Hiei's attempts to stay conscious were obviously in vain because Kiya felt Hiei's mind suddenly slip from her own, becoming nothing but a memory. Never would Kiya had thought that she would ever hear Hiei apologize to anyone.

"Kiya," came Jasaro's voice from in front of her.

Kiya quickly ripped her gaze from Hiei to glare at Jasaro. "You bastard.." Kiya was surprised to hear the words come out of her mouth, since for the last 3 hours she had been declared a mute.

Jasaro chuckled. "Yes, I do suppose that you must despise me….for now. But I do have one thing for you to do."

"Go to hell."

Jasaro's eyebrows suddenly furrowed and his lips went into a frustrated straight line. "Listen closely, for I will not repeat myself. My patience for you and your mouth is slowly fading and we have a ritual to perform," before Kiya could interject, Jasaro continued with one hell of a threat. "If you do not perform this rite willingly and be a good little girl." Jasaro placed his fingertips underneath Kiya's chin, but she smacked his hand away, "then I will have Aerosaku kill your mate. Plain and simple."

Kiya's silver eyes widened and she looked to Aerosaku, who was holding the end of his staff mere inches from the unconscious Hiei's neck. Kiya's eyes then moved to Hiei's still face, which had a look of frustration and strain on it- as if, even in unconsciousness, he was still trying to keep her from helping them- from going to the elementals.

"Decide quickly, we do not have much time left to waste on you. Perform this ritual or have your friends and mate murdered." He hissed.

Kiya took a quick sweeping look to all of her friends. Kurama was up against a tree, his head hanging limply against his chest, blood seeping down his revealed chest and into the ground, his rose lying uselessly by his limp hand.

Yusuke was lying on his back right next to Terra, along with Kuwabara. Both of them looked to be unharmed-- save for the large gashes on both of their heads, with blood seeping form them and their mouths.

Hiei, with his cloak discarded about 5 feet from Kiya, was lying on his stomach, with one hand seemingly outstretched to Kiya. Blood ran freely from open wounds on his head, chest and arms.

"Do this ritual and we will make sure that they all survive." finalized Jasaro.

Now Kiya's mind was made up. If the elementals could save her friends like they said they could (which she was skeptical about because they weren't the most truthful of people) then she had no question in her mind about what she was going to do. She just hoped that for once, the elementals weren't lying.

With one last look at her beloved mate, Kiya turned to Jasaro and stated, "Fine."

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-Kendra a.k.a. Blazin' Blondie

Keep on Truckin'!