Chapter nine

Resistance

Yusuke sat in one of Koenma's chairs, his back hurting like hell. He had never felt anything like what had happened before. It felt as if a wave of fire had crashed into his body, going right through it, and taking his breath away. Of course, that's basically what happened. Except it was so strong that he had blacked out from lack of air.

Now, the three of them were sitting across from Koenma, Hiei in his usual spot by the windowsill. He didn't look any better from when Kuwabara had answered the communicator. If anything, Koenma looked worse.

The toddler took a deep breath before answering all the stares and one glare he was getting.

"The girl, Nadia, that set that village on fire is more than just a demon. She's one of the reincarnated souls of the original elemental demons. Over a million years ago, before this world and the Netherworld fought over Earth, there was another world that had four demons banished to it. Tsuihookai." (1)

"They were the original elemental demons of Makai, but they were more powerful than any elemental demon that exists today. Every youkai that controls an element is a descendant of the four of them. Their powers aren't even half of what theirs are."

Hiei glared at him even more if possible.

"Why were they banished?" Yusuke asked.

"The Originals have what is known as the Secret Fire concealed in them, otherwise known as the fifth element. "Quintessence is a thing that is spiritual, penetrating, tinging, and incorruptible, which emerges anew from the four elements when they are bound to each other." (2) If they come together and combine their powers into one being, then their powers could destroy Makai, Ningekai, and the Spirit World. If they destroy the spirit world, then there is no way to reverse what damage they do to the other two worlds. Humans, demons, and spirits will be erased from history for all of time."

He stopped and took a deep breath before continuing.

"We had to banish them because they tried to create the fifth while they were in Makai. But we weren't strong enough to destroy them. So, we had to make a barrier powerful enough to keep them from trying to create it. That barrier just happened to be another world, but it looks like they managed to break through it and come here."

"So… is Nadia the only one that's back?"

Koenma sighed, his eyes looking red and tired.

"No. The other three have been living in both Makai and Ningekai for the past nineteen years, and just a few moments ago, they had the same reaction as Nadia. They got their full powers restored to them. We don't know how they got here, but they made it somehow and now they're going to try and create the fifth element."

"Why today?" Kurama asked.

"Well… in simplest turns, they were born on this day. They were all born the same day, same hour; everything about them is in accordance with the other. The only thing that is different about them is the way they look and their element, obviously."

"So, what do we need to do?" Yusuke asked.

"The four of you need to go and destroy one of them. It doesn't matter whom it is, but if one of them dies, then they can't make the fifth. The other three may return to normal, or they may try to kill you. Do what you have to do to stop them."

XXXXX

Nadia dropped down to the ground, her eyes automatically locking onto one of the other demons on the cliff. He had blonde hair that fell into his blue eyes, almost blocking them out completely. She nodded towards him.

The dark mark that she had followed trailed back up to her arm and rested in its rightful place. A gust of wind rushed by, blowing small snow flakes into Nadia's hair.

The boy stared at her as the tall redhead next to him gazed at her. Her white eyes looked her over as another demon landed beside Nadia. All four of them stared at each other before they raised their right hands, their wings folding back into their backs. The dark marks glowed a faint red before they flared brightly.

All four of them watched as the marks grew longer, trailing over the whole extent of their arm. Any material of their clothes that covered up the mark were burned off as the mark continued to twirl around to the front and back of their necks. They just stood there as the mark finally stopped on the side of their faces. The mark's glow began to fade away, leaving the black design once again.

Nadia formed a black flame in her hand, as the blonde demon next to her drew up a small whip of water. The redheaded girl drew both of her hands together, forming a ball made of air. The last demon that arrived, the short brunette boy named Taran, made a fist with his hand. When he opened his hand again, a chunk of dirt lay in his palm.

The redhead, Aure, brought both of her hands together, crushing the air in between her hands. The air took on a light gold color, as it appeared to turn into liquid, falling from her hands and onto the ground in front of her. Dax, the blonde boy, let the snake of water in his hand slither to the ground. It touched the gold air and also changed to the same color. Nadia's flame fell to the ground as the brunette's dirt dropped as well. They each touched the already gold elements and changed their color as well. The four elements burned a bright amber before they swirled outside of the four demons.

Dax and the rest of them stood still as the combined elements formed a circle around them. Then the yellow light came back inside the circle and formed a star. When the light grew fainter, they saw that the elements had formed a pentagram on the ground.

Aure intertwined her hand with Dax's, the other with Taran's. Nadia grabbed the boy's other hands and held on. The dark mark on Nadia's skin glowed a faint black, as Taran's burned green. Aure's glowed white as Dax's blazed a bright blue. Each of them had their eyes closed. Their marks pulsed in beat with each other's. A small barrier started to form over their heads and traveled down to the ground, keeping the wind and snow away from them.

But before it touched the ground, a small shower of blue spirit energy sprang up from the ground and hit them. The pentagram they had formed now had gapping holes in it from where Yusuke's shotgun had penetrated it.

The four demons had let go of each other's hands and now looked towards the group of Spirit Detectives. Hiei had his sword drawn, while Kuwabara had his spirit sword shining brightly. Kurama removed the rose from his hair and let it crack into his thorned whip.

Dax charged at Yusuke, both his hands forming orbs of water as Aure unfolded her wings from her back and rose into the air. She hovered over Kurama for a few seconds before soaring down and attacking him with invisible blows of wind that knocked him back. Kuwabara got into a fighting position as Taran's glowing eyes turned towards him. The boy didn't move.

The ground under Kuwabara's feet started to crack and move apart, making him jump around like an idiot as he tried not to fall into the crevice. Nadia watched Hiei as he stood in front of her, his sword pointing at her. She didn't move, nor did Hiei. But a strong wave of heat started to build up around them, the snow melting all around. The heat became hotter by the second, making the fire youkai sweat.

What was going on? It was just fire. It shouldn't have this kind of effect on him.

The same invisible force of fire that had knocked Yusuke out earlier started to surround Hiei on all sides. He could feel it rising and growing stronger, but he couldn't absorb the fire; it was too strong. It was like nothing he had ever experienced before. It was so hot that it felt cold at the core. Hiei was sure he was about to suffocate if he didn't get out of the small barricade she was making around him.

Before he could move though, four long whips of black fire raced towards him. Two wrapped around his wrists, while the other ones coiled around his ankles. He struggled against them, but they only tightened in response. He was lifted into the air and brought closer to Nadia until they were face to face.

"It's no use, Hiei."

The spiky haired Goth looked at her questionably as he heard her speak. It was still her voice. Did that mean that this was really she? This was how powerful she is?

"Nadia?" He questioned doubtfully. He had to remind himself that he didn't care either way if she was still in control or not. He still had to kill her, no matter what.

"Don't worry, little one. It's still me. I've just… become enlightened, I guess you could say."

Hiei's eyes narrowed at her. He was not little. Nadia stared him in the eyes, his glare amusing her.

"Your powerful, Hiei. More powerful than most fire youkai."

Hiei just stared at her, the bindings around his body slackening with each word she uttered.

"I don't want to hurt you, Hiei. But this needs to be done." She told him, her voice leaving no doubt.

If he were anyone but Hiei, then he would have said something stupidly heroic like, "So you can destroy humankind?" Or "To take over the world?" One of those cheesy, the end of the world, but I'm still a smart ass who's going to talk his way out of this, kind of line.

Something Yusuke would say.

Instead, he just made his usual noise. Then, Yusuke's voice piped in. The stupid heroic saying that needed to be voiced.

"Oh yeah, well what if we don't let you?" He yelled at her, even though he was right behind Hiei. He had apparently taken down his opponent, or so he thought. A large dragon of water swished around him, melting the snow beneath it as it coiled around his body. Yusuke was soon submerged in the water, tiny bubbles popping out of his mouth.

Kuwabara was about to be crushed in between two mountains of dirt and rock, while Hiei just watched. Kurama evaded a punch thrown at his stomach, but the air surrounding the girl's fist had enough force behind it that when she missed, the air rushed at him with increasing speed. He fell to his knees and coughed up blood.

The bindings around Hiei disappeared, but he didn't have a chance to attack as a strong wave of heat surrounded him on all sides. It lapped at his skin, making him sweat. He felt suffocated once again, but this time it was worse. He couldn't breathe, could barely see. Hiei coughed profusely as he sank to the ground, the last thing he saw was Nadia towering over him, her hand outstretched.

"Go to sleep, Hiei." Her voice whispered through the pain. Then everything went black.

XXXXX

The four demons once again joined in a circle. They repeated the process for a second time, taking their time, as they knew they would not be interrupted this time.

As the pentagram beneath them burned brightly, the four of them were lost in the light. The gold brightness seemed to rise up in steam as they were all combined. The ground around them cracked apart as the light grew. It bleed into the faults of the rock and seeped into the sky. With a burst of bright beams, the light closed in on itself until it hummed in on one figure.

Long wispy white hair that fell down to their knees, dark gray eyes, and black wings sprouted from their back. They were feathery, but at the top were large claw like talons that curved forward. Water wrapped around their body like ribbons, forming a long dress in shades of white to light blue. A black mark on each arm running over each side of the neck and ending at each cheek was a dark turquoise color.

The creature's eyes glanced over to the side and saw two bodies. She walked over to Hiei and Kurama, the only two left, and drew her finger in. Their bodies lifted and floated towards her. When Hiei's face came close enough, she breathed lightly over him, disturbing some of his hair.

The Goth opened his eyes and blinked surprisingly at her.

"You don't have to worry, Hiei." The voice said. It sounded like Nadia… but slightly deeper and more mechanical.

"Nadia?"

The girl before him gazed at him as she ran a finger over his bandana. Hiei tried to pull away, but found his whole body immobile.

"Don't resist me." She told him firmly.

Hiei just struggled even more. One of the bands of water slithered from her arm and enclosed around his wrist. Hiei's eyes started to droop as he felt the energy being sucked out of him. His head hung limply as the water left him and was replaced by one of Nadia's hands.

"I want you, Hiei. You and only you. No one else. And I will have you, no matter what. So, will I have to take you by force or will you come without causing any trouble?"

Hiei stared at the ground. The snow flakes seemed to disappear around them. No sounds, except for the wind came rushing into his ears. His eyes felt heavier now as an invading heat stroked his skin. It was different from before. It wasn't suffocating or unbearably hot. No, it was almost comforting… and arousing?

The thought of being with the demon in front of him didn't bother him so much anymore. As he tried to come up with reasons why he should have a problem with it, he found himself caring less and less about those reasons.

A hand on his chest brought him out of his slightly fuzzy thoughts. His eyes opened lazily, though when he closed them, he had no idea. Gray eyes stared up at him. He didn't turn away from that stare even as her face came closer to his own. Lips brushed over his own and he didn't fight it. Something in him told him that he wanted it… that he shouldn't resist her anymore. It was supposed to happen.

Nadia broke the contact, but kept her mouth inches from his own.

"Will you come with me?" Her breath ghosted over his lips and he found an answer on his tongue without even thinking about it.

"Yes."

XXXXX

Yo… it's been awhile, hasn't it? hehehe… just got Internet, so please don't kill me. Um… once again, my muse has taken over the keyboard and locked me inside my closet. I have no idea what she's writing… but I'll just go with it. I have no idea where this story is going to go now. Dammit… anyway, it'll come to me in class sometime. Hopefully.

Anyway, review if you want more. I'm completely serious about this too. If I don't get any kind of response, then how do I know if people are even reading my work? Let alone enjoying or hating it? if you think it's harsh for some authors to withhold chapters until they get reviews, then you might as well leave now. Cause I'll do just that if I don't get any kind of response. Writing is supposed to be for fun, but if I just wanted to do it to please myself, then I wouldn't post it. I want to know if I'm making anyone else happy or whatever with what I write, so even if you're just saying, 'it's crap' or 'update soon', then I'll be happy.

Thank you to all of you that do review and leave me critical comments and ways of improving my writing, I really do appreciate that. If I could give out a reward for that, then I would.

Robin

1) Tsuihookai- exile or banishment- I just added the Kai

2) Melville, Francis. The Book of Alchemy. London: Quatro, 2002 pgs. 74-75