Love and War
As the match began with Yusuke fighting against a demon who was strong but wasn't strong enough to face him. He won the match and was moving onto the next round, then Jin's match was with another wind demon like him only much faster and stronger, next match was Kurama who fought Shigure. The two were neck to neck, but Kurama was almost ready to die at the end until Shigure prevented him from dying. The others of the tournament were full of concern and wondered what had just happened as Eri who was in Hiei's arms had her mouth gap to see the two fighters were still standing only to see an injured Kurama limping in brutal pain.
Hiei P.O.V.
After Kurama had won the match he was losing his energy very badly, and I hate to say it, but I don't think he'll continue much further. The next match was going to be a very gruesome battle between Mukuro and me that I had to go up to the ring to fight against the woman. However, I was leaving Eri with the others after they were checking on Kurama to see if he was going to all right which I doubted. Eri and I were alone as I crouch down at her level as she gazes up at me with those red orbs of hers and I placed my hands on her shoulders gripping them gently.
I said, "I'm going to be fighting next now. You stay here where it's safe, and I'm sure they'll look after you once my match is over."
Eri stood there merely nodding saying, "W-Will you come back?"
I felt my chest clenched knowing deep down to leave her to go fight against one of the Upper S Class demons that was going to tear my ass into pieces. I'll fight with everything I got because I want to win this and more importantly is to be with Eri so that we won't be separated again.
"I'll come back. I promise." I pat her head gently as she bit the bottom of her lip to hold back a lump in her throat.
"Hiei! Your next fight begins now!" The announcer Koto shouted on the microphone.
"I better go," I said, letting her go and turn my heel to head off to the ring.
"Wait! Hiei doesn't go yet!" Eri cried out as I turned my head back at her as she paced over to me again. I crouched down at her level trying to tell her that I'll be fine, but instead, I felt something wrapped around my neck as I looked down to see that it was my birthstone.
I asked, "Why did you give back?"
"I-I want you to wear it. Just so, you'll know that I'm there and everyone else is with you when you're going to fight." She told me as she jumped into my arms hugging me in a tight embrace as I wrapped my arms around her small body. Eri didn't want to lose me and I didn't either. "Please come back...don't die out there."
I replied in a low tone, "I won't die. I will come back."
"Last call for Hiei or you'll be disqualified!" The last warning from the announcer Koto said.
I released her out of my arms smiling down at her, "Wish me, uh, luck."
As I ran to go to the ring to meet with Mukuro for our fight she was already there waiting for me to arrive. I didn't pay any mind to the woman except to focus on this fight, that I made a promise to Eri that I will come back...alive.
~Time Skip~
My power was not even matched up to Mukuro's at the point during the battle. I was already losing myself as I used my dragon to take action against her, but she manages to destroy it.
"Your dragon, I see it has returned to you. How is that possible?" She inquired.
I coughed as I stood back on my feet responding, "She gave it back to me that's why."
"The cursed child? Hm, I suspected much from her ability." She scoffed.
I was already half-beat up by Mukuro's incredible strong ability and she asked, "Why do you continue to fight? It's bad enough that you can fight no more, and yet you continue to fight and struggle your opponent." Mukuro said as I stood there sending a glare towards her, "You are very frugal as much as I say. Much to say, that you are competing with a monster in this fight."
"Monster?" I muttered.
"Y-You don't think I'm a monster?" I pointed at myself with wide eyes at her response.
Eri shook her head.
"You're not a monster that I see." She said in a soft tone. "Even if you were...you would've hurt me already and the others too. Monsters are creatures that don't understand what makes them scary; they just want to be scary."
"I don't claim you to be a monster because if you were some kind of creature that is bloodthirsty enough to kill that individual." I stated as she scanned me in surprise as I knitted my eyebrows as my eyes soften at her and I continued, "Then, you don't under what would make you scary. You just want to be scary." I repeated the same words Eri told me what she defined monster as and Sensui was a true one for scaring her like one.
"SOMEONE ELSE IS ABOUT TO DIE BECAUSE OF YOU!"Sensui shouted as he threatens Eri after we told her to run away only to call her back.
"I'll come back," Eri replied staring directly into his eyes. She walked up cuffing her hands together saying, "But if I do, I want you to make them all better again!"
Sensui smirked, "Ah, yes, it's so much easier to be hurt yourself than to watch while others are hurt for you, isn't it?" The three scowled over at Sensui knowing that the words he was saying weren't true. "The faint flicker of what Hiei gave you wasn't enough. Don't you see? You think you're all helping her, but you're really just being cruel."
Sensui gazes at them darkly saying, "She doesn't want you."
Hiei trembled to stand up and regain his balance preventing him to fall back saying, "Maybe she doesn't want our help. Or maybe she doesn't understand what we're trying to do to risk our lives."
I clenched my fist saying, "I may not be as strong as you think I am. But, I'm not letting anyone down and I made a promise that I will come back alive." I said staring daggering at her as Mukuro's mouth gapped open as I glanced over to see Eri had the same worried expression as before.
'I'll come back. I promise Eri!' I thought deeply after almost losing her and if I did it again. I would kill myself if I do that because I can't do it.
She needs me.
I need her.
She's my friend.
I want to make her smile.
"No. Enough. I don't want anyone else to die." Eri pleaded.
My eyes shifted over to Mukuro's and I said, "I'm not letting anyone die."
I knew releasing my dragon wasn't going to be enough to defeat her as we fought head to head on once again. In the end, I collapsed onto my feet knowing that I was defeated by her and the strong attempts she did to beat me. Mukuro won the match as I walked back to the others as I saw Eri running over to me with her arms open as I crouched down to give her a warm embrace.
"I told you that I will come back and I didn't die either," I reassured her as she hugged me tighter making me hug her more.
"I'm glad you're okay. I was worried about you." She said as I picked her up smiling a little as she placed her head on my shoulder.
I told her, "No one is going to die. I didn't let you down or the others." She nuzzles further into my neck as I saw Yusuke approached us with a small smile.
"At least, you tried to win Hiei. We're still proud of you." Yusuke said.
"How's Kurama?" I asked.
"He's going to be just fine. I don't think he'll fight in the next round though; it depends." He shrugged as I nodded.
"Who's fighting next?" I asked.
"Some of Raizen's friends and then I'll be facing Yomi." He replied.
I let out a small "Hm" as Eri lift her head saying, "I-I will root for you. Do your best."
Yusuke ruffles her head giving her a small smile, "I'll be careful."
