The demon was growing irritated, slashing trees left and right. The ferry-girl was nowhere to be seen. Her scent hung in the air, but it fluctuated, disappearing from time to time.

This was getting ridiculous.

"Giving up already?"

The demon growled, looking up, finding Hiei standing on a branch, hands in his pockets.

Arrogant little brat! "Never! I'll find her! Just keep your mouth shut!"

Hiei arched an eyebrow and pulled the stop watch out from his pocket. "Will you? In five minutes?"

"Wha- five minutes?!"

"I don't enjoy repeating myself," Hiei hissed, voice dipping down.

With one last scowl, the demon scampered off, trying to find the prize before his time ran out. Hiei watched, tapping the screen of the stopwatch with his claw.

"Four minutes," he whispered to himself.

The demon started to sweat.

"Three minutes."

More trees fell in the demon's desperate attempt to quicken his search.

"Two minutes."

The demon cursed, growling loudly. Sweat poured down his body, coating his skin in what looked like liquified slime.

"One minute."

As time quickly ran out, the sky seemed to grow darker. The demon ran around, trying to sniff the air, redirecting his path to where he assumed the ferry-girl was. Wait. The demon stilled, lifting his nose up. There! The ferry-girl's scent was strongest near the west. Ah, finally! He was so close! He just needed more time—

A small buzz echoed throughout the forest.

Hiei grinned, fangs dipping into his bottom lip. "Times up," he announced, eyes glowing a deep shade of red (almost blood-like). "And seeing as you failed to produce the ferry-girl, it's time for your penalty." He hopped down from the tree, landing in front of his prey.

The demon staggered back, putting distance between himself and Hiei. The small koorime looked unhinged, with a thick scent of bloodlust rolling off of his shoulders. The demon swallowed thickly, but refused to let any fear slip past his expression. No, he would not fall. He would not fall under Hiei's gaze.

In a show of masculinity, the demon puffed out his chest. "It doesn't matter if the time has run out. I don't care. I've finally got a lock of your precious ferry-girl's scent and, after I kill you, I'll eat her."

Bastard, the Jagan bristled, his true nature has been revealed. A cheat. Dirt beneath our boot.

Hiei silently nodded, flexing his fingers, allowing his energy to grow and bubble. "Hn."

The demon growled. "What? You underestimate me?"

"..."

"Feh! I knew it! Your scared!"

Hiei frowned. Scared? Me?

Let him think such foolish thoughts, the Jagan spoke, it will make killing him all the more satisfying.

Hiei smirked. True. Very true.

Fed up with Hiei's silence, the demon lunged forward, hand outstretched, claws elongated, ready to spill some blood.

At the same time, the Jagan Eye activated, drowning the two in darkness. The demon stumbled backwards, gasping for air, his plan of attack quickly flying out the window the minute he realized he could no longer breath. He started clawing at his neck, feeling the invisible pressure tighten.

Hiei watched with a sadistic smirk.

This is fun.

The demon gurgled. "B-bas… bastar-d!"

"Hn. It isn't wise to mock your executioner."

With that, the presser around the demon's neck increased, turning his pale skin a deep purple. The demon struggled some more, body jolting with white terror. Death was closing in, dotting his vision, numbing his body.

Unable to take much more, the demon reached out, hand shaking. To hell with pride. "P-please… s,s,spear me! Ha… ve merc-y."

Hiei looked the demon dead in the eye, tilting his chin up with a single claw, leaning in so that his lips rested next to the demon's ear. "I don't believe in mercy," Hiei whispered.

All at once, crazed laughter started echoing all around the two, mocking the dying demon. Voices, young and old, fought to be heard, and the more they laughed, the more the demon struggled to stay alive.

The invisible pressure around his neck grew worse. The voices, louder.

"Make it stop! Stop! Stop! M-make it stop!"

His shouts fell on deaf ears. Hiei watched the pathetic display of weakness a little while longer, before taking out his sword and running it through his prey. Still not satisfied, Hiei took his free hand, lifted it up above his head, and slammed it into the demon's head. His ears twitched when he heard the indisputable cracking of a skull.

Blood ran down the demon's lips, and slowly, his limp body fell backwards.

Hiei sniffed the air.

The Jagan Eye blinked. Good. It's dead.

His host nodded, and the illusion of darkness quickly disappeared, replaced with Genkai's forest. With the deed done, Hiei turned on his heels, and made his way back towards the temple.

"Game over," he muttered over his shoulder.