I remember as I started to wake up I felt sand around me. For a moment I thought I was outside of our house. I felt like I had fallen off of a very high place. My whole body ached and my head hurt too. I heard someone walking towards me… I thought it was Naoko until I heard someone talking. It was an unfamiliar voice. "Okay, according to this map… Lost July is about--- Ooof!" Pain told me she tripped over me. "What the-? Hey, someone's there," she said. I didn't want to move. My body hurt too much. "Doesn't look local…" She nudged me. I didn't move. The sun was beating down. My body hurt. "Hello…? Are you alive?" I moaned, finally my mind and body decided to work. She moved me and woke a whole new area of pain and I winced.
"Okay, that answers my question." She nudged me again, harder this time. "Hello…? Wakey-uppy!"
My whole right arm went numb with pain. I opened my eyes slightly, blinded by the sun for a moment. "Wh-where am I…?"
"Gunsmoke, duh! Where else would you be?"
"Wha…?" I stood up not feeling safe on the ground around this stranger. "D-do you know where Mushiyori City is...?"
"Mushiyori City? I think you've got the wrong planet, umm… What's your name?" she asked.
I shook my head trying to get my brain to stop hurting and work like it was suppose to. "Hiei. J-Jaganshi Hiei."
"Hiei, hm? Well... Nice to meet you! I'm Mattsuko-Stampede, but you can call me Matt," she said.
"Hi… Do you know where Mushiyori City is?" I asked again. I realized my bandana had fallen off and hoped she wasn't very observant, other wise she'd notice my Jagan. For you idiotic humans out there who don't know what a Jagan is it's a third eye. I can control weak-minded humans and have added abilities other than my normal abilities.
"Not around here. I happen to be headed to Lost July, the abandoned heap of a city. If you come along, maybe we can find 'Mushiyori' City."
"Okay…" I stood straight and picked my katana up. I noticed Matt stared.
"Wow, is that a katana? I thought no one used those anymore." She started to get her map out.
Wherever I was I didn't want to many questions asked about me. "Yeah well… I'm old fashion."
"Oh. Old fashioned? ... Well... we're near Lost July... But after that, the next town isn't for about another few 100 miles. That would be Augusta, I believe..."
I never heard of those cities. Of course I wasn't to into human things but I've been in the Ningenkai long enough to know I wasn't near my home. "Okay…" I said unsure. I didn't care where we went as long as I got home. Matt put a bandana over her mouth and patted a gun at her side. "Well, Let's get walking…"
"Alright," I agreed. Matt sighed heavily and we started walking through the sand.
About half an hour later we arrived at this place 'Lost July'. "We're here! The destroyed town of Lost July!" Matt smiled looking relived. "Oh wow, looks even worse than I remember." She hopped over to some rubble.
"And we're here… why?" I asked.
"I'm looking for something. And I'm positive it's here... I, uh, think..." she said.
"Okay." I sat down. My body ached and I felt exhausted. I wanted to go home and now.
I watched as Matt kicked and lifted stones and rubble. "Let's see… I think it's around here…"
I was quiet for a moment longer before I became impatient. "What are you looking for?"
"Oh, I'm looking for my Husband's weapon. He left it here and vowed never to get it... but it seems he needs it," she replied.
"What does it look like?"
"Like this." She pulled out her gun. "It's a .45 colt round Magnum."
I had no clue what in Makai's name she was talking about. Sniper was the one who handled guns. All I knew was the fact it was a gun that looked like the one she showed me. It was enough to find it with. I closed my eyes and searched with my Jagan. After a moment I found it easily. Under some rocks just ahead of me. I walked over and picked it up. "Here you go," I said giving her the gun.
"Oh, thanks! You're really helpful," She said and quickly took the gun. "Now... we could either go to Augusta for your needs, or we can walk 300 miles to my hometown! Which one?" She asked. I didn't know my way around here.
"Doesn't matter, but I would like to go back home," I said.
"Well… I don't know where your 'home' is," she said.
I closed my eyes and began to search. I knew how to find it. It was like the feel of my sword in my hand. Natural. But something wasn't right… I couldn't find home. It wasn't there. It was out of my Jagan's reach and if I could see in Makai from the Ningenkai then it was far. It just wasn't there and it wasn't right. I felt my insides twist and fear rise slightly. I controlled the fear and kept calm. Still keeping my eyes closed I mumbled, "Damn it. I can't even find it…"
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were from another planet. I mean 3 eyes? Sounds like an out-of-worlder-- eh, oops." She glanced away, started to walk away while whistling.
I knew something wasn't right. I was going to find out why I was here. There are several things I hate and one of them is being a pawn in someone else's plans and my instincts told me that was what was going on. That was not going to happen. I figured it'd be easiest if I asked and she answered. If not then I'd find out. "What do you mean?" I ran in front of her. "What do you mean 'out of worlder'?" I asked.
Matt blinked. "Well... I've never heard of your city, and I'm pretty sure I've been all over this planet, walking. You can even check my map... I don't think you're from Gunsmoke." Gunsmoke? Where in Makai was I? Then something clicked.
"Wait, you mean this isn't Earth?" I asked.
"Earth? Earth ran out of resources a long, long time ago and we had to leave it. This is Gunsmoke, 'new' Earth."
"Wha…? That can't be right," I said.
"Well, according to our history, yes. Unless... your from a different time-- or another Earth."
I didn't even try to hide my look of confusion. "But... I was just there and... It has to be a dream... I teleported wrong somehow and passed out and now I'm dreaming. That HAS to be it."
"Teleportation? That's the reason I never tried or bothered. Can't trust it, really..." Matt said.
I sensed something different for her. Her energy wasn't human. "What are you?" I asked looking at her.
"Human, duh! What else do I look like?" she replied.
I was silent for a moment. "Okay. It's just… your energy doesn't quiet suite a human."
"You judge people on their energy level? Oh, wonderful…" She said and started walking away.
I followed. "No, I don't. Your energy isn't human. Why is that?" I asked, and narrowed my crimson eyes. She was keeping something and I planned to find out.
"It's nothing! Maybe I don't want to talk about it. Did you ever think of that? NO!" she shouted.
I stopped walking for a moment then continued to follow her, deciding to drop the subject for the moment. As much as I hated to say it I was one) in debut to her for finding me, and most likely saving me. And two) I didn't want her to go off because I wouldn't shut up. I hated saying this too but I needed her at the moment. I didn't know what was in this world or who I'd find here. If she lived here she would know.
She was silent for a moment. "It's just a thing in our family, okay? I come from a bizarre bloodline."
I shrugged my shoulders. "Yeah, okay."
"Maybe I'll ask about you, freaky 3-eyed midget? How would you like that, huh?"
My shoulders stiffened. I ignored the 'midget' comment and replied.
"Hn, I MIGHT answer."
"One. What's with three eyes, anyways? I'm going to guess you're a demon, right?"
I felt slightly surprised that she new that. "Hn, good guess."
"Yah, well… there's no demons here. Besides you and me, that is."
So THAT'S why her energy was different. But it wasn't exactly that of a demons… but something else.
"So, you're not human."
"No, I am. I just have the demonic blood. I'm the reincarnation of a half-demon from, yet again, another world."
I sighed but remained silent.
"So, be glad you're not alone. There may not be demons, but we've got something just as close."
I was silent for a moment. I felt really alone at the moment. I couldn't find Naoko, Kurama, hell even Kuwabara. "Yeah…" I said.
Matt continued to talk. "They're called plants. They're not living, exactly, but they're the power source of this world."
I looked up from the ground and at her. "Huh?"
"They're sort of like, umm… electricity. There are living ones like humans, however… the first one was Vash the Stampede… then Knives, now me…" That answered the rest of my energy question. She was something else entirely. "And my daughter, Sora. Anyone who joins the bloodline is infected to the cursed life. I got into it by marrying Vash…" She looked at the ground.
"Oh," was all I said.
"So, I'm basically worse than any demon I know. A vile threat to humanity and innocent lives…" She glanced up. "Hey, I can see my hometown from here! I didn't realize how close we got to May City."
I looked up and saw a small town in the middle of the desert.
"Don't worry, we'll find out what's going on. Usually, Vash is good with solving things. Usually…"
Great. Another person to help me and another person I'd owe a favor too… This was getting annoying and I wanted to return home.
"Cheer up, Mister Hiei! You'll get over it. I mean, did you happen to lose anything important?"
I closed my eyes and looked at the ground, silent.
"Well…?"
I muttered quietly. "My life…"
"I lost my life a long time ago," Matt said. "But hey, be lucky you can start a new one."
My whole body flinched. I restrained my temper. "I don't want to start a new one. I liked my old one."
"That's if we can't get you back. I didn't say you had to!"
"Just drop it," I said.
"Like I'm going to listen to you…" She said then sighed and watched people ride by on strange bird like creatures that I read out of her open thoughts were called 'Emuis'.
"Hn," I said a fell silent. Then I thought for a moment. I should ask what they are… If she found out I read her thoughts I'd more then likely be left alone. "What are those things?"
"Emuis. They're descendents from plants. People use them as transportation."
"Uh huh…" I watched the humans ride by and ignore us. "And this 'Vash' guy. He'll help me?"
"I'm not sure but he's the only one on this damn planet that understands most of anything, besides Knives."
Knives… she said something about him before. ""Knives"? Who's he?"
"Vash's evil twin brother. Don't talk about him, he's sort of the… forbidden one."
My body twitched slightly as memories started to rise in my mind. I quickly ignored them and spoke again. "Okay."
"Well, come on, we've got to get home. I'm sure Vash needs his gun."
To her home… mine... I felt wasn't anywhere on this planet. "Alright," I said and followed her.
We came to a small house in between a donut shop and a salon. "Finally!" Matt said and opened the door.
A new voice spoke. "Oh! So, you're back? Did you get it?"
I remained silent, studying my new surroundings carefully. Noting exits and places that would be useful in fights.
"Yup! Here!" Matt tossed a blond spiky haired guy the gun.
He caught it and swung it near the trigger as if he did it everyday. "All scratched and dull… So, who's your friend?" he asked, looking at me.
I looked at, who I guessed was Vash, my crimson eyes studied him. For some reason... the word 'moron' came to mind. "Hiei Jaganshi."
"Well, uh, Nice to meet you…" he said, then he leaned over to Matt and whispered. "Why's he here?"
"Him? Oh! Well, I found him on the way. He's sort of lost…"
"Lost?"
"Planet lost."
I listened to them, not saying a word, hoping I'd learn something that would straighten out all my confusion and my problem and send me in the other direction back to my home.
"Oh… So, Hiei, how'd you get here?"
I sighed. I had a feeling I'd be explaining this a lot. "I went to teleport and I just… passed out." It sounded strange to me. I've never passed out while teleporting. Never.
"Okay, where were you trying to teleport to…?" he asked as he ate a donut.
"A friend's place," I replied, not wanting anyone to know where my twin or friends stayed.
"And that's where?"
Matt just stared.
"In a forest. On Earth."
"Oooooookay! That makes no sense. That's about as much as I can help!" he said, stood up and headed for the door.
"Vash… No going to the saloon!" Matt said.
"I, uhh… was going to the donut shop!" he replied.
I was right about the moron thing… but this guy seemed to be my only chance home… "Stop, you have to help me! I have to get home, I can't locate it and… I just have to get home…"
"Sorry! I can't do a thing. Besides, teleportation-stuff is WAAAAAAAY to complicated!" he said.
"… Well, that's Vash for ya'…" Matt said.
This was getting even more annoying. I was REALLY right about the moron thing. "Damn it! No it's not." I teleported, ending up right in front of him. "Simple, see? Now you have to tell me how to get home."
"Do I look like I know? Because I don't. I doubt anyone knows. You started it, so why don't you get out?"
I wanted to kill him but settled for losing my temper just a little bit. My body heated up just a little bit as I snapped. "Damn it! Because I can't, alright!"
"I'm afraid there's nothing to do! Do YOU have any suggestions?"
"I doubt that…" Matt said.
"Damn it…" I said then walked out.
Matt ran out after me. "You've got anger issues, don't you?" she said and smiled.
"Possibly," I snapped, still walking.
"I wouldn't say that. Have you ever tried anger management? You'd just love it."
"Hn. I just want to get home. I don't want a new life I want my old one."
"It could be worse, y' know…" she said.
"Really? How?" I asked.
"A, you could be dead. B, You could be in Purgatory. And, C, you could have died if I didn't bother to help you."
I sighed. "And I suppose you want to be thanked? Well, you're not getting it from me."
"So much for me saving your life… I bet it'll be coming a lot more, too… Me… Coming to YOUR rescue…"
"Hn." My stomach chose that moment to growl from hunger.
Matt grinned and poked me. "You're hungry, aren't you…?"
"I can get my own food."
"Oh yah? From where?"
"I'll catch something."
"From where?"
"Um…" I looked out in the desert and saw nothing.
"There's nothing out there, really. And, I doubt you have the money."
I sighed. "No, I don't."
"Just let me give you some money… I'll leave you alone, if it makes you feel any better."
I refrained from sighing, realizing that that could become a bad habit. "Fine."
Matt started to dig in her pocket. "Let's see… One, two, three… five double-dollars!" She grinned. "Just for you."
"…Thanks."
"You're welcome!"
I started to walk off. I owed her for money now too… This was turning out just great. As I continued to walk Matt continued to follow. Well… might as well keep her handy to show me things here, right?
I glanced back and saw her following silently. I ignored her and turned my nose up, sniffing the air for food.
Glancing at Matt I saw her blink then mumble, 'freak'.
I ignored that too and walked into a place where I smelled food and Matt sure enough, followed. I walked over to a counter and took a seat.
"Whee!" Matt ran over happily and sat next to me.
I sighed. I probably needed a bad habit at the moment. "Why are you following me?" I wanted to know.
"Following you? I was following uhh, someone else!"
"Hn, Yeah right."
It was her turn to sigh. "I can't help it… I feel like you're my responsibility."
I glared at her coldly. "And why would you feel like that?"
She shrugged, ignoring my glare. "I dunno."
I dropped it. "Alright… what type of food do they have here?"
Matt blinked. "Uhhhh…"
I remained silent, waiting for her to answer.
"What? Am I supposed to know?"
Alright, so maybe I chose the wrong person to keep around. "I don't know. You're the one who lives here," I said sarcastically.
"Well, first off… we're in a saloon! There isn't much to eat, buuuuut… there is wonderful drinks. Including ROOT BEER!"
I blinked. At last, something that sounded familiar! If only it wasn't the one thing that got me drunk and made me act like a moron. "Root beer, huh…?"
She nodded. "Mmhm!"
I thought about it for a moment. "Maybe one…" I wouldn't drink a lot of it. Of course it also didn't take a lot to get me drunk, my stomach growled again while I thought about this. "But I want food too."
"What do ya' want? I can get food while you entertain yourself here."
"Anything edible will suffice," I said.
"Alright! Be riiiiight back!" She started to leave then stopped.
I looked at her and she stared back. "Do you mind… if I have a drink, first?"
"No," I really couldn't say yes. I did owe her…
"Yay!" She swung herself onto a stool next to me. "Bartender, ROOT BEER!"
I remained silent, watching the humans around me warily.
"Something wrong?" she asked as she drank her rootbeer.
"No," I replied and took a drink of mine.
