Previously on Spoils of War: Hiei meets up with Shana before Ryuji's show and discussions around the investigation are strained. At the show Hiei and Mîra end up in a steamy embrace and leave the show early for the hotel to be alone together. They decide to stop at a convenience store that, unexpectedly, explodes.
Chapter 47: Aftermath
Hiei was in darkness.
But something was wrong. Pain pierced unbearably through his head and the loud ringing his ears was deafening. He struggled to focus and he barely made out Koku's red kimono or the tight grip of her claws on his arms.
'Ma- -ke- up!'
Power. He needed power. Koku needed his power. Pulling from the Jagan he focused and centered his youki. Immediately, Koku's frantic red orbs came into focus. She was shaking him and yelling something at him, but the ringing was all he heard. Disoriented, he looked around. There was a bright light surrounding them, creating a barrier around Hiei and his dragon. The energy felt familiar and comforting, but it wasn't reiki or youki. Who was in his darkness?
'Master!' Koku screamed at him. He snapped his attention back to Koku who frantically yelled, 'Wake up!'
Hiei gasped, inhaling a lungful of smoke as a strong gust of wind shoved him outward. Searing pain sprouted inside him as his body crash into the pavement. Coughing, he tried to get his bearings but his vision blurred and his head was splitting with sharp pain. He inhaled deeply and the scents of smoke, dirt, and blood filled his nostrils. Blood. Whose blood? His?
He touched his temple, but it was slick and slimy. He brought his fingers to his mouth. His blood. He was bleeding. Coughing more, he struggled to stand, the world around him hazy. What the hell was going on?
'Master! Stay there!' Koku said frantically in his head. He thought he heard her screech. He certainly felt a screech from something terrifying and fierce, demanding blood.
This wasn't right. His ears still rang and the pain in his head was blinding but if he didn't focus, he would die. Hiei was not going to die like this. He opened his Jagan and focused his youki again, pushing out the extraneous information and dulling his pain. He dragged himself to his knees and looked around. It was hard to make out what happened. There was debris scattered in the street. The power was out on the block, yet fires were spouting across large pockets of broken concrete, metal, and piping. Scanning the scene again, there seemed to be an epicenter, with more fires. An explosion of some kind… and fighting. He could see figures moving but they weren't moving towards him. He saw Koku thrashing her tail, sweeping a few attackers into a wall, while she snapped her jaws around another attacker, purple blood gushing from her jaws.
The pinging in his ears began to fade and he heard a higher pitched screech. That wasn't Koku. It was Dimitri…
His recollection of the past few minutes came back to him in a rush. He was in the convenience store. With Mîra. Panic filled him. Oh fuck, where was Mîra? He couldn't see her at all. Were these demons attacking her? He needed to-
But then a tremendous energy shot out from a pile of rubble, shattering the concrete and scattering a few bodies. He watched, stunned and rooted in place, as a glowing figure rose from the rubble. Hiei barely had time to register the haggard figure before it let out a frustrated scream. He knew that voice. Mîrvana. But the figure wasn't her. As more attackers came at the figure, all he could make out were large blurs of red and blue.
No, that wasn't right. Hiei blinked and he watched in awe and horror as Mîrvana slammed her fist encased in a swirl of fire into an attacking demon. Her whole body seemed alive with elemental prowess as her fists blazed in fire and her body cackled with electricity, her normally beautiful lavender eyes replaced with an eerie electric blue. Her whole body was a living weapon, and he watched a demon run up to her, weapon poised, but when electricity touched him and he shrieked, collapsing to the ground. Mîra barely noticed as she moved from one enemy to the next like a tornado. She was using anything and everything at her disposal as she grabbed a loose pipe and bashed one demon's head to the ground before using it to parry a dagger just before her fiery fist landed in the demon's gut, sending him ablaze.
Hiei was barely able to keep up with how many demons were trying to attack her but they were failing, rushing right into her viscous fury. Frustration at his helplessness and rage at Mîra's attackers began to boil. He wanted to join her and rip their enemies apart together. He glanced around, trying to get a sense of the battlefield, but his vision swam and blurred. Swearing, he pulled himself to his feet but his legs began to tremble and the searing pain in his head returned, his Jagan closing.
Suddenly a bright stream of light targeted at the top of a building followed by a large gust of wind passed by him, knocking Hiei back off his feet and to the ground. He didn't hit the pavement, but instead fell into someone's arms and familiar flashes of red dangled in front of him.
"Hiei!" Kurama's voice exclaimed.
"Kurama, take care of Hiei! Leave the rest to us!" He thought he heard Yusuke shout.
"Mîra," he tried to gasp but it came out as a incomprehensible rasp.
"Take it easy, Hiei," Kurama's strong, soothing voice said. But Mîra was in danger, his Vesse was in a furious rage. Wasn't Kurama able to see that? He needed to join her in rage and vengeance. He tried to get up but the damn Fox held him down and he felt another, familiar and cool presence. He recognized her and scowled.
"Get the hell out of here," he tried to scream. But it came out as growls and snarls as he felt Yukina's hands touch his head.
"Keep him still Kurama! I have to get control of this now!" His sister's sharp, collected voice entered his ears but he could not have both of the most important people in his life in danger like this. He thrashed again but then his body suddenly went numb and still. Damn Fox must be using a pressure point, and he was disgustingly too weak to fight against him. Hiei felt Yukina's cool, healing youki and he loathed her presence here, amid the fire, debris, and blood. But as she worked, the world became more focused and coherent. The ringing in his ears stopped and the piercing pain in his head ebbed into a dull throb.
He was able to distinctly feel Koku now, following her as she darted amongst the alleys taking out attackers from the shadows.
'How many are left?' He asked her.
'I'm not sure. Stay put and let Yukina heal you!'
'I don't have a choice.' He snapped. 'Find someone worth keeping alive.' Koku's familiar screech was the affirmative response he needed.
As soon as he broke communication with Koku, he felt his body relax and free of Kurama's grasp. He shot up to his feet, feeling energized and ready to dig his claws into his attackers. Turning backwards, he saw Kurama sitting on the ground and Yukina was kneeling next to him, her hands and new dress stained in his blood.
"Keep her safe," Hiei barked. He scanned the area and found Mîra setting a screaming demon on fire. There was another demon lunging towards her from behind and in a flash Hiei snapped his neck. He gave into his rage, frustration, and pain as he threw himself into the fight, slaying anyone that dared come near him and his Vesse. But after a time, Hiei he ran out of enemies to kill and soon he was not able to detect another attackers in their vicinity. With the break in combat, Hiei began to process the horrible scene in front of him. He was buying sweet snow with Mîra. She was laughing and teasing him and then… this? What the hell happened?
He turned to Mîra but she looked around wildly, her styled hair now trailing behind her like a blood-stained cape. Her sleeves were shredded and she was no longer wearing her boots so her pale legs and feet were covered in small cuts, bruises, and dirt. Silver blood was trailing from her arms, back, and cheek.
"Where are you?!" She screamed. "Aren't you going to come get me?!" Silence answered her as she breathed heavily. Her electric eyes blazed furiously as she whipped around, looking for something else to kill. But then her gaze found Hiei and he wasn't sure if she was staring at him or through him. Worse, he wasn't sure if she registered his presence at all. An unexpected chill went down his spine and he had to wonder if her title of "Black Queen" was really just a name given, rather than a name earned.
Hiei sucked in a breath, unaccustomed to being afraid of his mate's power. He exhaled slowly and called to her, "Mîra," as steadily as he could.
Her blue orbs focused on him like lasers. He did a quick scan with his Jagan before addressing her. "That's it. The bastards are dead or gone."
For a moment, he wasn't sure if she was going to attack him, but then the fire swirling around her forearms disappeared, revealing her scarred forearms. But the electricity wasn't dissipating.
"Mîra," he tried again. This time, her arms suddenly flew to her head, wrapping around tightly as if she was trying to block something out. Then, he heard her Song and the white light that accompanied it swirled around her. Hiei braced himself as the power of her Song hit him. He grit his teeth as the frantic song swirled around him, pushing him away from her like a gust of wind.
"All I wanted was my ice cream colder and a little cream soda, oh well, oh well."
Breathing deeply, he pushed against her Song and started to walk towards her. She clutched her head, her face covered by her elbows repeating the phrase "Oh well". There was something wrong with her magic or her Song, but Hiei didn't know enough about either to know which one. Suddenly, Mîra let out a frustrated scream, and she swiveled around away from Hiei and punched a dilapidated wall. The electricity discharged, blowing up the concrete into fine dust. Hiei shielded his face as smaller debris and dust filled the air, and he coughed violently. The pain in his head became stronger but he ignored it, steadying himself.
Breathing heavily, he stared up to see her clutching her head again. She was in trouble. Mîra should easily be able to control the dragon, but there was something clearly wrong. He forced himself to focus on Koku, to think of his Song and repeat the words steadily in his head. Then, slowly, he reached out and grasped her arm.
Mîra gasped, her head shooting up and out of her arms wide-eyed, as though she was holding her breath for a long time underwater and resurfaced for air just in time. The remaining electricity around her dissipated and glow in her eyes was gone, replaced by her slender lavender eyes darting around frantically. "They tried to kill me, kill us, Hiei-"
Relief spread through him and he pulled her to him, bringing her head into his shoulder, her nose crushing into his neck. He buried his hands in her hair and he wrapped his arm around her shoulders tightly. His Vesse was safe and alive.
She pulled back from his embrace and began to look around. Hiei followed her gaze and saw Kurama and Yukina talking with Yusuke, Chuu, and Jin. Mîra began walking towards them, sweeping debris out of her way with the wave of her hand. Hiei followed behind her, staring at her tall, straight figure. Her wavy hair, now stained with purple and silver blotches, bounced lightly as she walked with definitive purpose, her other hand curled into a fist. Hiei knew that, above all things, Mîra violently loathed traitors. He presumed assassins were included in that category. The bastards that tried to kill them were soon going realize that they made a very deadly mistake.
"Mîra, Hiei, what the hell happened?" Yusuke, asked, concerned. The group looked at them expectantly.
Hiei wasn't sure how to answer, but Mîra did it for him. "We were buying ice cream," she said softly. Then, as if she suddenly remembered where she was, her face hardened. "We need to sweep the bodies and try to find out everything we can. I want to know who set up the attack and why. Are there any surviving attackers?"
But before anyone could reply, Koku appeared, her long twisting body glowing menacingly as the fire cast shadows along the street. With the flick of her tail she thew a body onto the ground before them while letting out a fierce roar. Then, she disappeared and Hiei felt her presence return within him.
Mîra kicked the body over and the demon groaned. He tried to get up but Mîra's foot came down hard on his chest. The demon wheezed.
"Do you know how I am?" she demanded.
The demon coughed before staring up at her with beady black eyes. "As if I wouldn't recognize an elf bitch when I saw one." Her foot shifted to the demon's neck and chocking sounds came from the demon. No one moved for those long few seconds before she released her foot.
"I'm no ordinary elf bitch, but I'm sure you know that already. Now, answer my questions and I'll slit your throat cleanly."
The demon sputtered a laugh. "Or else what?"
"Or else I'll disembowel you then heal you enough just so you don't die. I can keep that going for months. Or, I heard there is a plant that can keep you alive while you hover constantly near death for months, even years. Take your pick," she stated frankly. "I'm sure I can find many creative ways to keep you alive while torturing you for a long, long time."
The beady eyes went frantic. "Okay, okay I'll tell you everything! I was recruited on this side of the border. We're building up forces and resources in the west."
"This side of the border?" Kurama asked. "You have colleagues in the human realm?"
"Yes!" the demon gasped. "That's where it started."
The anger and fury Hiei felt for their attackers was immediately placed with dread. No, this could not be. This was impossible. It couldn't be the same gang from his investigation!
"We want human flesh for food, to create a livestock facility, and they are giving us bodies in exchange for drugs and other items to sell on the black market," the demon explained.
"How dare you!" Yusuke spat furiously. Behind Hiei, he could feel Kurama seething and Yukina stiffen.
"Have you been to the headquarters?" Mîra asked.
"Yes, I can give you anything you want! Just, please, I'll do anything to live."
"Of course you will," Mîra said snidely. "Who do you work for?"
"Kitigaya, he runs the operation on our side. He's holed up in the western mountain territory. You'll never get in without him seeing you from miles away."
"And on the human side?" Mîra asked. Hiei's insides turned. Please don't let it be him, please not-
"I don't know any individuals," he started, "just the gang name."
"Which is?" Mîra snapped impatiently.
"Rising Sun."
Hiei sucked in a breath, going rigid, then numb. He knew the day of reckoning was coming, and, now, despite his efforts it was here. Hiei was out of time.
Kurama let out an audible gasp as Yusuke shouted "What?!"
Mîra whirled around to face them, confused, but right then Yomi and Mukuro appeared. Seeing them, she immediately turned to Yomi. "I was just attacked by numerous assassins in your city!" She spat furiously. "Get this scene under control and send your men to find out if there are any more lurking in the shadows." Yomi immediately set into action and began shouting orders while Mîra turned to Mukuro. "This one," she kicked the demon with her foot and he wheezed, "Has been cooperative thus far. Find out more. We'll reconvene tomorrow afternoon. This is related to the gang case."
Mukuro's blue eye shifted to Hiei but he looked away from her gaze. "I'll have some of my men sweep the area around your hotel and check inside. I'll see you tomorrow." Nodding to some of her men they took the protesting demon and left.
Mîra turned back to the group and glanced at all of them before turning to Chuu and Jin. "Go back to the club. Make sure nothing odd is going on there. Inform Shana and Ryuji once the show is done and tell them to come straight to the hotel."
Jin started to protest but Chuu placed a hand on his shoulder and nodded. Frowning and complaining, Jin walked off with Chuu behind him. When they were out of earshot, Mîra's gaze swept the four of them.
"Rising Sun. Why is that such a surprise to all of you?"
No one answered for a long moment. But in a sudden movement Hiei barely had time to register, Yusuke grabbed his collar and jerked him forward. "What the hell! You knew this entire time!"
His brown eyes blazed dangerously at him, and Hiei knew better than to provoke Yusuke when he was in this state. "I was not done with my investigation," Hiei hissed.
"Not done?!" Yusuke roared. "You didn't even bother to tell us at all! Why didn't you say anything?!"
"Like you never mentioned my mate was in the Makai for six months?" He spat back. He couldn't help himself. That particular fight was never resolved but if Yusuke was going to throw keeping secrets in his face then he wasn't going to take it lying down.
"Because she forced me to!" Yusuke cried, thrusting his finger in Mîra's direction.
"I would also like to know why you kept this from us," Kurama added darkly.
"Tch, as if you're even around long enough to talk to!" Hiei snarled.
"Says you, who can't even stand being home long enough to nurture your niece or even Ryuji because you're too afraid to confront your own ghosts," Kurama said coolly, his voice edgy.
"You bastard," Hiei snarled, "I live every day to to protect Sakura and everyone else in my fortress! And Ryuji isn't my son!" Hiei shot a dark look at Yusuke. "It's not my fault you can't handle the shit going on in your family!"
Yusuke's expression darkened as his eyes narrowed. He took a step forward, his fist clenched and his Reiki rising. "What did you say?"
"Everyone stop!"
Yukina's scream pierced through the tension and Hiei turned to her. Tears streaked down her face but her red eyes stared up at them resolutely. "Stop! Please! If the gang really is-" her voice choked and she closed her eyes, tears falling and turning into disgusting hiruseki gems as they hit the street.
She opened her eyes and it broke Hiei inside to see her steeled red eyes. She spoke again in a controlled, quiet voice. "If it really is Rising Sun, then the three of you need to be strong together, now more than ever."
Hiei looked away from Yukina and his eyes darted to Kurama looking at the ground, and Yusuke trembling, staring at his fist. Suddenly his gaze shot up to Hiei.
"We're supposed to be your friends! Your brothers!" Yusuke cried, exasperated. He shook his head, running his hand through his hair. "How could you not tell us?" He said, the hurt in his voice hitting Hiei in the gut. An uncomfortable silence settled between them as Yusuke turned away from the group.
"Okay, I'm going to try this one more time," Mîra said quietly. "What is Rising Sun and what exactly is going on?" Mîra was looking at Hiei, but it was Yukina who spoke.
"I know the leader of the Rising Sun gang. We all do." Her quiet, calm voice tore inside Hiei, an unbearable pain burning through him. This wasn't supposed to happen, he was supposed to find out before her, it wasn't supposed to be like this. He was supposed to find out the truth, rekindle his relationship with Mîra, and maybe even help Ryuji mend his relationship with Yusuke or invite Kurama to live in the fortress permanently. They were supposed to be done with this kind of pain and strife.
Yukina was right, they needed to come together, and all Hiei had to show for it was failure.
His sister took a deep breath before looking Mîra straight in the eyes as she stated, "The leader of Rising Sun is my youngest son, Minoru."
*~0~*
Mîrvana stared at Hiei as Yukina attended to him. Not long after Yukina's revelation, Hiei's wound reopened and his adrenaline gave way to the pain and fatigue his body was experiencing. After sending Kurama to Mukuro and Yusuke back to the club, Vana carried Hiei back to the hotel and Yukina accompanied them. She was fussing over him now and with the bleeding under control, Yukina was slathering on ointments and disinfectants over the deep gash on the side of his head.
Vana loathed how fragile Hiei's small frame felt as she carried him in her arms. She loathed the glossy appearance of his usually sharp and pointed red eyes. She loathed the way his purple blood stained his skin; the thick, pungent liquid marking the long trail down the side of his face, despite Yukina repeatedly wiping his face with a damp cloth. She loathed the way he forced his body to sit up, pretending he wasn't as badly hurt as he appeared.
Vana loathed herself more for letting Hiei get hurt. She was too late or too tall and her shield failed to reach him, but either way it was her fault for being unguarded. She was so incredibly foolish that it was flat our embarassing and frustrating. She knew better; Not everyone in Gondora was happy to receive her as their queen. Vana thought it was odd that the shopkeeper left out the back as she walked to the bathroom, but she was too happy, too blinded by the excitement and joy bursting within her knowing that Hiei wanted her. He wanted to be with her, hold her, kiss her, caress her, and make love to her. If she wasn't such a blubbering idiot she would have known far sooner something was wrong.
But it was done. And Hiei paid the price.
Vana endured the wary eyes of her people. She put up her undeserved nickname, "The Black Queen." She shouldered responsibility of the shattered alliance with the humans after Sig died. She led a second doomed war and watched her cousins and people die in a futile attempt to salvage her world. She sacrificed her own ambitions and power to merge with Dimitri and save her people one last time. But in all of that, she never had anyone around her targeted specifically. Rodyn was feared, but the assassins never came for him. He was always protecting her because she was the one with the target on her forehead.
Not this time. This time Hiei was just as much a target as she was. This time, they dragged the man she loved directly into whatever conflict they had with Vana. That was their biggest mistake.
Now, Mîrvana was enraged, and it took all her strength to bottle the swirling anger inside of her. This world thought Hiei embodied the dragon's fury? Ha! This world knew nothing. Mîrvana was a child of Fealóce, of fury himself! She was a supplicant to the child in the darkness and now she was the vessel of nature's wrath! Minoru, Rising Sun, or whoever was behind pulling the strings didn't matter. Mîrvana was going to hunt them down mercilessly.
'Vesse'
Surprised, Vana's gaze snapped back into focus and she felt the tense rage within her body lessen. The voice was no more than the whisper far in the back of her mind, like a pleasant breeze drifting by. Blinking she realized that her thoughts, her rage, carried her away and Yukina was staring at Vana with wide, fearful red eyes. Vana looked down at Hiei and he was eying her wearily. Vana sighed heavily and Yukina slowly went back to her task. But as Yukina turned back to her brother, Hiei's arm shot out and shoved her away roughly.
"Mîra's hurt," he said roughly, his voice raspy and hoarse. Vana didn't think he would be conscious for much longer.
Yukina didn't seem fazed by the action. "Your injuries are life threatening if left unattended. I'll see to her when I'm done bandaging your wound."
Hiei scowled—well, what seemed like a scowl—at Yukina but she sighed, exasperated.
"I'm fine. I don't feel any pain," Vana interjected. It was true. Anger, rage, and fury were all quite wonderful anesthetics.
Hiei's eyes slid back to Vana as Yukina resumed her work, and Vana noticed the glow of his Jagan.
'You were stabbed in your arms and back. Your legs and feet are bleeding. You look like shit.' This time, his voice in her head was stronger. She suppressed a shiver at feeling the Jagan's eerie power in her mind.
"I'm fine," she announced again. Vana wasn't the one with her head profusely bleeding.
This time, his eyes seemed to soften and his voice gently reprimanded her, "Your hair is stained."
Vana audibly gasped and looked down at her long hair for the first time since the explosion. Normally her hair was as white and lovely as the purest snow, but now it was befouled with splotches of purple, full of dirt and grime. Oh, her hair was hideous! Of course, she knew the matter of her hair was trivial but she was accustomed to looking her best at all times, which, of course, included her lovely, silky hair. Panicking she thought to the cosmetics she brought to the city. Did she have hair dye? Ancestors, what if she didn't have dye?! How could she meet with the demon rulers with hair like this, let alone be seen by anyone else, especially Hiei? She was positively grotesque!
Hiei began to cough, or at least, Vana thought it was cough. But his eyes seemed to glint at her, a small smirk playing on his cut lips. Vana stared at him as he continued to cough when she realized he wasn't coughing, he was laughing. At her. At her hair. At the fact he knew her vanity would trump anything else going on inside her head, providing a much needed distraction.
Vana smiled at Hiei and she thanked the Ancestors again that he was alive. She never wanted to experience her heart being ripped from her chest again. It was starting to become an annoying and unwelcome occurrence, the feeling of the world dropping out from underneath her, like when Hiei left her at Genkai's temple. Or when Sig left. Or when Sig died. Or when Leif left. Or when she executed her uncle for leading a coup. Or when she went to war against Leif's great-great-grandchild.
And now Vana was going to try and not think about how miserable her life was for the past century and a half…
Hiei was here, laughing at her vanity endearingly, and she was going to enjoy this moment. Vana started towards the bed he was sitting on, intending to sit next to him, but Vana heard the click of the hotel door, announcing someone entered. Then, Vana felt Shana's presence a few moments before she popped out of the shadows.
"Papa!" Shana wailed, and immediately went to his side, sitting on the bed next to him as her violet eyes brimmed with tears. Hiei tried to stare up at her evenly, but it was clear he was at his limit. Shana wrapped her arms around him and he allowed her to support him. Vana heard Ryuji's thundering footsteps before he burst into the room and stopped suddenly next to Vana. But then he continued on and stood in front of Hiei, shocked and in disbelief.
"Are you two alright?" Hiei asked slowly, his voice low.
"Of course I'm alright! But what about you?" Shana cried, tears spilling down her cheeks.
"Tch, as if I'd let a band of weaklings kill me," he replied with a light gruff in his voice. "You know me better than that."
But the fear in Ryuji's face spoke for all of them. Hiei, for all his strength and power, had a very close call with death. Vana was reminded that it was her fault Shana was crying, her fault that Ryuji's impeccable image of his hero was shattered, her fault Yukina had to risk her life to save her brother on the street, and her fault for putting all of them in those positions to begin with. As Ryuji began to help Yukina wrap the bandages around Hiei's head and Shana began to clean his body as best she could with a wet cloth, Vana realized how loved he was.
Couldn't he see it? His daughter, his ward, his sister, herself, and everyone else around him who supported him and lifted him up. Vana wouldn't be surprised if Honjo appeared within the next day or so, with Maria and Claudia behind him. A stab of jealousy hit her, and she was ashamed for feeling jealous of a man who was barely conscious. But she was.
Quietly, Vana left the room. As she walked towards the living room, she realized Shana nd Ryuji stopped by her room and collected her things. At least they realized that Vana would not want to be by herself tonight. Even if she felt alone, at least there were others around to ward off any other attacks. Ideally, anyway. She picked out fresh night clothes and her medicine kit, while noting that she did indeed bring hair dye, and went into the other bathroom. Though she would have preferred to soak in the tub, showering was faster.
Vana stripped out of her once beautiful and now ruined dress and she turned the water as hot as possible. Standing under the water her wounds began to burn, and her body began to allow the pain from her various wounds to register. Her feet ached and the edges of the tile dug into the cuts on her feet. The deeper cut where a dagger sliced her right arm began to burn, and the spot where the arrow sunk into her left arm began to bleed steadily again, throbbing with a sharp pain. She vaguely remembered pulling the arrow out and stabbing a demon in the eye with it. Hm, crudely removing an arrow was typically a bad idea, but this time it seemed to work. She would have to stitch the wound when she was done in the shower.
Her body ached and trembled with pain and fatigue as she washed her hair and ran soap over her body, but she ignored the pain. It didn't matter. Her body endured worse. Then, she felt it. The cold, crawling feeling like someone was standing just behind her, ready to snatch her out of mid air. Instinctively, she snapped around, but no one was there. The Jagan. Using her Song she pushed Hiei's sight off of her, shielding her from the demonic gaze. But as soon as she dropped her magic, the chill down her spine indicated the Jagan was peering at her again.
That insolent, arrogant, rude, perverted little barbarian! How dare he spy on her as she bathed!
Vana shut the water off and had every intention of going over to his bed and wringing his neck when there was a knock on the bathroom door.
"Mîra-chan?" Yukina's muffled voice came through the door. "I need to inspect you for internal bleeding. Please put on your undergarments and let me in."
Vana sighed. She wasn't going to get rid of Yukina before getting to Hiei. So the Jagan's gaze lingered on her like a leech as Yukina poked and prodded all over her body. At least the woman was able to soothe some of the pain, especially since Vana's skin would not regenerate or heal as quickly as demon's. The demoness' healing methods weren't as effective, but at least Vana didn't have to stitch the arrow wound anymore. She hated stitching her own wounds.
Yukina seemed completely engrossed in her work and Vana knew it was a distraction. The impact of the evening's events would hit her in the quiet of the night. That's when it always hit.
When Yukina inspected Vana's midsection she exclaimed, "Oh! Your scar! Did you have surgery for Leif?"
Vana stared down at her shocked. "What?"
Yukina looked up at her frowning. "To give birth. Because of complications?"
Vana swallowed hard, unable to block out the memory of her last still birth, the wretched silence and the feeling of her body giving out under her. "No," she said evenly. "That is a scar from battle."
"Oh," Yukina said thoughtfully. She stepped back and traced a small line on her abdomen in a similar area. "They had to cut me open for Daisuke. It was scary, but not scarier than the thought of losing my boy."
Vana didn't say anything.
After a long moment, Yukina's voice spoke, wavering. "It's my fault you know." Her red eyes glanced away and she crossed her arms, her hands gripping her body tightly. "Minoru. It's my fault."
Vana frowned at Yukina. "How can this possibly be your fault?"
"I drove him away. I told him he had to follow in Kazuma's footsteps, carry on our family name and honor." She looked up at Vana desperately. "He was the strongest spiritually out of all my sons, and the only one with the ability to summon the Jigen-To at will." She shook her head, tears forming, "But he didn't want any of that! He just wanted a normal human life."
Vana's heart lurched, knowing the unbearable pain she was going through. To know that it was her fault, as a mother, for the distance and absence of her son was the worst feeling imaginable. Vana wanted to tell Yukina it wasn't her fault, that Minoru was grown enough to make his own decisions, but Rodyn's words would ring as hollowly in Yukina's ears as they had for Vana.
"Minoru told me he hated living in seclusion, he hated being tied to the demon world." Yukina blinked more tears as she shook her head. "But as much as he hates me, and his demon ancestry, he would never launch an attack on the Makai, let alone on Hiei!"
The Koorime burst into tears, openly sobbing. Vana pulled the woman into her arms comfortingly and she let Yukina sob. Vana knew how miserable and heart-wrenching it felt to have a son who hated his mother, and the sorrow of familial betrayal only made the feeling worse.
"I believe you," Vana said softly. "We will all hear the full story tomorrow. Things may not be as they appear." Vana didn't really believe what she was saying, but those words were for Yukina, not Vana. They had the desired effect as Yukina pulled back and wiped her face, looking hopeful.
"Yes. We will find out tomorrow." The demoness let out a long sigh and rubbed her eyes, tired. Vana slipped on her pajamas and Yukina packed up her medical kit.
"Hiei is asleep in the far room. I think Ryuji took the couch but there's only one more bed-" Yukina started but Vana cut her off.
"You take the bed. I'll be fine," Vana said.
Yukina frowned at her, but then sighed, a faint smile on her lips. "You know, Mîra-chan, that you are just as stubborn as my Oniichan?"
Vana responded with a weary smile and they left the bathroom. Yukina disappeared into the bedroom she shared with Shana, and Vana stared at the door to Hiei's bedroom. The Jagan's demonic gaze still lingered over her and Vana felt the irritation of the rude invasion of her privacy return. She marched over to the bedroom and remembered that Yukina said Hiei was asleep. Frowning, she opened the door slowly and the room was dark, save the glow of Hiei's third eye.
If Hiei was asleep, or passed out, why was he expending energy to watch her with his Jagan? She walked over to the bed slowly, quietly, and as her eyes adjusted to the darkness she saw that he was laying on his right side so that his wound was facing up and without pressure. She stood by his bedside and despite his injuries, his features seemed round and gentle as he slept, and her anger towards the demonic gaze lessened. He was watching her for a purpose. But what?
As she stared at him, Vana noticed that someone dragged him to the bath, as he seemed relatively clean and in a fresh pair of pants. He was shirtless, but that was typical for his sleeping attire. Vana slowly drank in the view of his taut, muscular chest, her eyes slowly tracing up his body. She had no shame in her voyeurism as she imagined what it would feel like to run her fingers against his tough, heated skin. If things had gone as planned tonight, Vana would have started at his neck and let her fingers run down his chest lightly, tantalizingly, as she slowly unbuttoned his shirt. Hiei would growl in frustration at her slow pace but she would only laugh. Her fingers would come across the stones around his neck, his sister's hiruseki and Vana's heledh, but she would skim over them lightly before-
Vana gasped at the sudden discovery, ending her fantasy abruptly. Without thinking she climbed into the bed and stared down in disbelief at her heledh around his neck and resting on the bedding. That couldn't be possible! Hiei gave it back to her at Genkai's temple, signaling the end of their marriage. But she was too hurt to take it back, so she left the crystal with Shizuru to return to Hiei. Vana assumed he held onto it since it had not been returned to her after her appearance, but she didn't think he would wear the heledh.
While she believed that he cared for her, Vana always doubted that he truly loved her. She wrestled with the notion for months prior to admitting her own love for Hiei, but when he abandoned her at Genkai's temple, after her admonition and when she needed his support the most, her fears were , after decades of wrestling with herself, Vana knew that her feelings for Hiei were true; she had honestly fallen in love with him. But even in knowing her own feelings, this particular evening left her confused. Vana had not felt anyone's hungering, desiring touch in so long, and she feared that the evening's earlier, more pleasurable moments were simply lust conflated with emotions of the past.
Vana could not help but think back to Hiei's rough treatment—"rough" was a rather mild description all things considered—of her on her initial arrival and the cold, furious arguing that followed. While their relationship was slowly mending, and, despite her flirtations, Vana was still wary of his intentions. In every encounter she felt that her heart was on her sleeve but Hiei remained guarded with his true feelings, as he always had been. She never received any direct compliments from him, but she knew he conveyed his feelings through actions. Tonight, his rough hands gripped her body tightly and boldly touched her in ways that left her mind spinning and breathless, while desperately aching for more.
"I know what I want."
His possessive statement and predatory gaze from earlier that night lingered in Vana's mind but… She sighed sadly and looked away from him, suddenly ashamed. Lust, conflated with feelings from the past. A familiar, longing ache blossomed in her chest and she sniffled, allowing the tears that formed to fall down her cheeks silently. Vana was all but certain that Hiei would never love her as she loved him. She wanted to get up and leave, find somewhere else to lay her head and rest. But his eye was still on her. She wiped her face and pursed her lips before turning to glare at the glowing demonic eye.
"What do you want?" She hissed. "Leave me alone!"
Hiei didn't respond and his third eye continued to glow, his gaze unwavering on her. Vana felt her frustration returning and she had half a mind to wake him up just to give him an earful about not using his creepy third eye to spy inappropriately on her without permission. Well, at least being angry with Hiei preferable to being heartbroken.
But before she could speak, she felt calm, soothing reverberations around her. Like gentle waves, a contented feeling lapped over her. Power reached out to her, and her throat tightened at the sheer magnitude and heaviness of his power against her, but it wasn't threatening or menacing. Instead, it felt like his Song, mixed with his demonic essence, was pulling her down to him, bidding her to relax and embrace his power washing over her.
Vana resisted. She didn't like the feeling of being overpowered or lulled into to sleep as though she drank a sleeping draught. But, naturally, her resistance only made him more persistent, the Song pulling her more. She shot another glare at the Jagan, furious. What was going on with Hiei? What did he want? Vana began to dip into her center and reach for her Song, but the pushing she felt subsided, though his Song was still present.
She stared into the unwavering glow of the Jagan and shook her head. Whatever it was that he wanted, she didn't know and she was too tired to deal with his games. Vana decided to try and slip into the other side of the bed with Shana or Yukina. She didn't want to be under the gaze of the Jagan like this any longer. Dipping into her own Song, she pushed back against the Jagan's gaze and climbed out of the bed. But when her feet touched the floor, Vana felt her Song push against Hiei's, and, like throwing a stone into a pond, a ripple of purple eyes appeared all around her.
Vana gasped and fell back onto the bed, sitting up and staring wide-eyed at the sight in front of her. Countless purple eyes, echoes of the Jagan, surrounded her. Many of the eyes faced outward, darting around the room. Some of them were inward, fixed on her or on Hiei's slumbering figure. Vana gripped the bedding tightly for support, unsure of whether she was afraid or awed at the demon's slumbering strength. But the Song continued to lap over her, soothing and inviting. Fearfully, she glanced all around at the eyes around her and realized they formed a dome over the bed, almost like…
A barrier.
Of course it was a barrier. Vana thought back to Hiei's insistence at Yukina treating Vana, and the way he pulled her out of her murderous thoughts using his name for her, Vesse. Wife. She thought back to Hiei referring to her as his mate when he was arguing with Yusuke. Hiei wasn't spying on her while in the shower because of her nakedness (Although, technically, he did see her naked for a rather long time, to which he would pay for later.). His Jagan was watching her to protect her. To make sure that no one could sneak up on her without him knowing. To allow her to be vulnerable for just a moment without worrying about a knife coming out of the darkness.
Tears welled up in her eyes. Even passed out and severely injured he was thinking about her. Maybe there was a chance that he did love her, that his feelings and desires were more than attachments from the past. Had he not, just this evening referred to her as his wife not once, but twice? Hoping with Hiei was exhausting, a constant battle of taking one step forward and two steps back. It was in his gentler moments like these that Vana thought she understood him, and his feelings, only to be proven wrong hours later. Vana was tired of the back and forth but after everything she went though that night, Vana conceded.
She slipped under the covers next to the demon she hopelessly loved and curled up close to him, her toes pressed up against his feet's heated skin. Her body immediately warmed and she embraced the tingling sensation of his natural heat seeping into her. She positioned herself slightly so she was able to cradle him, her right arm wrapping around his upper back and head protectively as her hand nestled itself in his thick black hair. She tucked her left arm underneath her and rested her arm against his right arm, feeling connected with the dragon wrapped around the length of his arm. She placed a gentle kiss on his forehead above the Jagan on his brow, allowing her lips to selfishly linger on his skin. The Jagan's chilly gaze disappeared, and the glow from his eye dulled, removing the grotesque image of the barrier surrounding them.
Vana dipped into her Song as she whispered to Hiei softly. "I'm sorry I failed you tonight, my love," she whispered in elvish. "I will find these traitors. I will find the truth for you. And I will exact vengeance against those who believe they can hurt you. By the Ancestors, I swear it, Herven!"
She closed her eyes, completely exhausted. Hiei's Song enveloped her, and she allowed him to pull her into sleep.
This one was long! I hope all of you enjoyed the chapter. If I could go back, I would do a better job threading the Minor-Rising Sun investigation but oh well. Thank you to all my favorites, follows, and especially reviewers! I love hearing what you think and it really brightens my day, in addition to encouraging me to work on the story.
Song: Little Cream Soda, by The White Stripes
Translation:
Heledh: crystal/glass. In reference to the crystal Mîra gave to Hiei on their wedding day.