Thank you all for your wonderful reviews, and for following, favoriting, and reading this story! I hope you enjoy this next installment!
P.S. Does anyone remember that teal haired, amber eyed demon from Ella's childhood? ;)
There were a twenty-three minutes left in class, the ticking of the clock driving me up a wall. Today was endless, filled as usual with mockery from my peers, a lovely lunch where Botan had visited me and kept me company, and finally ending here in mathematics. It was torture to be cooped up when the day was so beautiful.
I thought I would explode right as the bell rang. I was out the door in seconds, practically running outside and jumping on my bike. My whole body was tingling, like every nerve was on fire. I pedaled faster, feeling the wind on my face and closing my eyes, watching the entire city light up like a blacklight behind my eyelids. Blue fire was everywhere, people going on with their day and their schedules. Blacks and greys that were the buildings around me seemed so sad amongst the life around it, within it. Splashes of color sparked in the everyday drabble, psychics walking through the streets like everyone else. They had been popping up at an alarming rate, something that made me nervous.
It was a common theme lately. That itchy, awful feeling wasn't going away, the ominous cloud that was hanging just over the way in Mushiyori gaining clarity and power every day. It made me consistently uncomfortable every time I boarded the train or the bus to go to rehearsals, watching the increase in frequency that insects from the spirit world were making their way into the city. How long would it be before whatever was lurking in the shadows finally showed itself? What was going to happen when it did?
I opened my eyes at the turn into the woods, adjusting my bike as I went and humming as I made my way onto the trails where I could feel Hiei. It still made him uncomfortable to be romantically involved with me, so I tried not to put any sort of pressure on him. I knew when I made the decision to pursue him that I was going to have to be patient, that if he even went for it (which was a very serious question if he would or not), I would most likely have to initiate any sort of intimacy.
Hiei was in his usual spot high in the tree branches, away from civilization but near enough that it wouldn't be a huge hindrance for me to get to him. He would never admit it, but I had figured it out relatively early on. It made me smile to think about, and I quickly pulled off my uniform, pulling on my sweatshirt over the leggings and tank top I always wore. I took a breath and raised my arms, lifting myself with the water in the air to get to his branch. He opened one eye to inspect me when I landed, lazy and comfortable and tugging at my heartstrings.
"When did you learn that?"
"I've been working on it since we got back, actually. I almost broke myself a few times, but I've got the hang of it now." I smiled back, resting my backpack next to me and sitting down.
He made a noncommittal grunt and closed his eyes again, shifting to get comfortable. I rolled my eyes, but took the unspoken invitation with my heart pounding. I situated myself next to him, our legs and our torso's touching as I closed my eyes as well, feeling his warmth in every atom of my being. His biceps were tense, and his jaw was clenched, but I could feel him relaxing at the same pace as my heart, adjusting to yet another new experience.
His hand hesitantly touched my leg as he adjusted again, his energy spiking as he seemed to be battling with himself internally. I opened my eyes, looking up at the branches above me and organizing my thoughts carefully before I spoke.
"You know you don't have to push yourself into anything, right?" I finally wondered to him aloud. His hand froze where it was, rigidity spreading into his limbs again. I hurried to elaborate. "I love that you seem to want to try, I actually like physical contact with other people. I just don't want to rush you into anything that you aren't ready for or that you don't want to do."
He stayed silent for a long while, mulling over his own thoughts. Communicating was one of those things that Hiei wasn't great at, mostly for lack of practice or desire to connect, so I let him determine his own thoughts at his own speed, despite how anxious it made me to wait.
"Demons don't do these things to show they care about someone." He finally declared.
"What do you mean?"
"Humans waste resources and energy on mating rituals and courting. Demons don't do that with one another. We connect or we don't, and everything else doesn't matter."
"I want to be with you." I declared, looking at him now. "That's what I care about. I don't need you to act human, Hiei, because I know you're not. I just want you to be yourself, and everything else will fall into place."
That seemed to be the end of the discussion, because he didn't say anything else after that. I could almost see his mind whirling while he took my words into consideration but tried to act nonchalant like he always did. To ease him, I rested my hand down on our legs, opening my palm to him and closing my eyes again to give him the option without feeling like I was pressuring him. Just when I was starting to actually drift, I felt a warm palm against mine, and I intertwined our fingers with a smile, slipping into sleep.
"You took my advice beautifully, little girl. It's a shame you're on the wrong side."
Blackness. That's all that existed. It felt like I was floating, like seeing out of someone else's eyes. I turned, boneless though it was, and I froze. Teal hair, pale skin, and amber eyes burning like the coldest embers in hell. I've seen him before.
"You don't remember? I suppose I can't blame you; humans have such frail memories." He purred, offering me a smile that held no emotion in it. It was unnerving. "Yes, from what I remember, you were afraid of me when we first met as well."
I tried to move, but something was holding me where I was. There was no feeling, no smell, not even a taste in the air. Where was this?
"You are a curious one, aren't you? Don't worry. When this is all over, you will have your answers. Just remember this; you could be complete in the coming world."
I tried to back away again, feeling panic rising, and the chuckle escaping him did nothing to loosen this grip on my heart. Nothing came to my aid, no movement and no water, not even my own damn voice. I had no mouth to scream.
Two giant eyes opened in the darkness behind the demon in front of me, clear eyes with tiny blue 'irises' that almost immediately disappeared into the pupil. It rose, revealing a skin colored mouth that made me want to run away as fast as I could.
"Do not be afraid. Your time will come. Embrace who you were meant to be. Come to us."
My body launched up, and I had a sickening moment of clarity as my mind caught up with me and every single part of me felt violated and invaded upon. I curled my knees up to my chest and let out slow, deep breaths to calm myself. I'd seen him before, the teal haired demon, but it felt so far away, like a nightmare always on the edge of reality.
I let out a final sigh, wiping away tears that I hadn't noticed before, and turned my head, jumping when I saw Hiei sitting up as well, looking troubled and unsure what to do. I offered him a weak smile that probably did nothing to encourage him that I was fine, and just touched his hand, grounding myself through contact.
"It's getting dark out." I broke the tension, clearing my throat at the croaky, hoarse sound. "How long did we sleep?"
"About two hours." He took the change of topic like a champ and glanced down at where my bike was parked. "You have your... what ridiculous thing do you humans do? Applying basic knowledge down to paper?"
"Homework." I chuckled, nodding and patting my backpack. "I have to write my analysis and do some math, nothing too crazy tonight. If you get bored, you're always welcome to keep me company."
"What would I do?"
"I don't know, the same thing we do here I guess. You don't have to, I just thought I'd offer it in case you're tired of looking at the woods all the time." I tried not to bristle at his indignant tone and stood up, grabbing my bag and concentrating, taking myself down to the ground again. He appeared in front of me, ever the speedy little thing. "Well, have a good night."
"Hn."
I shook my head, pedaling back the way I came. He was confusing sometimes.
I let my mind wander while I biked back, thinking about the man with the teal hair and amber eyes. It was just a dream, but something was off about it. Where had I seen him before? Why did he inspire such dread?
Thankfully, I didn't have much time to sit on these thoughts as an all too familiar presence made itself known. I frowned, pressing my brakes and glancing around me. "Genkai?"
She seemed to materialize in the night, offering me that mischievous smile that made me frown on impulse. That smile always promised emotional and physical scarring in the immediate future.
"You look good, kiddo. How was your time in the woods?"
"What are you doing all this way from the compound?" I didn't bother to hide my suspicion, hopping off my seat and walking up to her.
She chuckled, motioning for me to follow her. I walked my bike alongside her, weary and positive that I wasn't going to like where this was headed at all.
"I know you've felt the shift in the air." She informed me, walking with her hands behind her back.
"The energy buzzing beneath the ground like it's ready to explode and cover the world." I confirmed, frowning and tripping over my own feet. "It's been everywhere. What do you know about it?"
"That the boys need to be ready to deal with the forces behind it, and they aren't there yet. None of them are going to be prepared until they undergo the training I have prepared for them."
"Which is?"
She smirked, and I followed her gaze to what looked to be an abandoned building. I raised a brow at her, but brought my bike inside and parked it against the wall, glancing around. It was beautiful, unlike what I thought it would be from the outside. Three boys looked up from a table in the middle of the room, staring Genkai like minions awaiting orders. It was kind of creepy, really.
"Gavriella Kuwabara, meet Asato Kido, Mitsunari Yanagisawa, and Yu Kaito. Boys, this is the young woman I told you about."