Chapter 30: "The MeAni."

I woke up the next day to see Matt right in front of my face. I sat up, blinking. "What time is it?" I asked, trying to hide my surprise.

"About noon. You were out of it, Hiei. I've been trying to wake you for an hour now." Matt said.

"Really?" I tried to remember a time when I had been that deep in sleep and couldn't think of any other time except this. "….huh."

"So… are you awake now?" Matt asked.
I gave her a look. "Not completely, no."

"ZOMBIE!" she cried and jumped on me. I growled and caught her in my blanket, trapping her in there.

"GOTCHA!" I said, smirking. I tied the blanket closed and walked out, Matt's muffled cries stopping once I closed the door.

I walked out to the kitchen, grabbing a bowl of cereal and walking outside like I normally did. I sat on the front steps, staring down the road, eating my breakfast quickly and silent. I always ate quickly and it would earn me a scolding from Naoko because I choked more thenhalf the time.

I got up and put the empty bowl in the kitchen. I sighed, walking back outside. I had to get control over these new instincts. Matt walked out, having chewed through my blanket.

"I should--" she began.
"Let's go. We're going to find the MeAni." I said.
"What? Really?" I nodded. "But… you're not even in your dragon form."

I stopped. "I'll change then."

Matt stared at me. I felt a nervous feeling in my stomach but ignored it and locked it up with hundreds of years of practice. "But… I thought you wanted your human form back."

"I want control more. Bad things happen when I don't have control."

"You're telling me! You eat me!"

"Hn. Hurry up and let's go."

After what felt like and eternity I manage to change. I grabbed Matt, swallowing her quickly. The flight to and through the North was pretty easy. I figured out if I flew fast and close to the ground I was next to invisible. We finally made it to MeAni territory…

I landed on a cliff, looking around. My jet black scales blended into the dark colored ground and the red in my wings and chest would match the sky.

I spit Matt out and started looking around. I didn't see any dragons but of course… I didn't notice the shadows rising up from the ground behind me either.

"Uh…. H-Hiei…?" Matt stammered. I glanced back at her, then blinked. Shadows were taking on the shape of a big dragon and honestly, I felt very small compared to it.

/Uh oh…./ I said, grabbing Matt by her scruff and getting ready to take flight. I flapped my wings a few times and easily took to the air. The dragon followed and forced me to the ground.

I kept making small mewing or chirping noises. I wasn't exactly sure why. The dragon was so much bigger than me and it was easily controlling where I went.

I finally folded my wings and dived to the ground, flaring them at the last moment to stop myself from crashing into the ground. Then the dragon landed right behind me, pinning me to the ground with one paw. I snarled and fought. When the dragon pinned me Matt had fallen from my reach. I hissed at the dragon… and it pressed its tail against my snout to get me to shut up.

/Silence, kit. You do NOT fight your elders like that./

I grew still and quiet, mewing softly.

/Better. Now… Will you behave/ I nodded. /Alright. I will let you go then./ She lifted her paw and I scrambled to my feet, running over to pick up Matt, who was shaking.

/Who are you/ I asked, flaring my wings out to make myself look bigger (it was all instincts that made me do stuff like that) and crouched low to the ground.

/The MeAni Elder. Peace, Kit… I mean you no harm. It is alright./

I relaxed a bit. /MeAni Elder/

/Yes, Kit. I am the oldest MeAni and I am the clan leader./ She said, a purring noise in her throat.

/Oh. I think I get it./ I replied.

/Good. Come with me. There is much to discuss./ she said and walked away. I hesitated, setting Matt on my back and following.