Chapter 16: Cries for Help and a Venomous Dream
Akamery's strength weakened with each passing moment. She felt Hiei's presence there and then felt him grip her hand in a death-grip to match her own. "Hiei…" she whispered with her raspy voice that had worn out from her screaming when she felt Kurama's ki left the room. She turned on her side again and curled partially into a ball.
Hiei's eyes saddened, he hated seeing her like this. He brushed a stray hair from her face, "Yes…Amare?" he asked. He was glad for the moment that she was doing something other then screaming or tossing and turning from another nightmare. But that small amount of relief faded when she spoke up again.
She started trembling, "Help…me…Hiei…I'm…cold…" she said and started crying, her tears turning into black Hiruseki stones. Hiei's heart felt like it was breaking. He stood and got on the bed after taking off his cloak. He helped Akamery up to him and he covered her with his cloak. He hugged her and tried to warm her ice-cold body while she cried on his chest. She pulled his cloak close around her body, it smelling like him. Her lips were turning blue.
"Thank…you…" she whispered and a weak smile crossed her lips. She slipped into sleep and she soon had one last nightmare.
…Start Dream…
Akamery walked along in the forest behind her home with Hiei by her side. It was raining and they both loved walking in it. This evening, however, would turn sour very soon.
Even though she had healing powers, she couldn't heal herself from a venomous spider or venomous snake bite. That was one reason she hated and feared the two, that and because they were downright creepy.
As Akamery took another step, something moved by her feet and she fell back, startled. A second later, a black cobra sprang up from the soggy leaves. Aka's eyes widened in fear and she felt her stomach clench in pure fear. The snake obviously sensed it, and struck. Its long fangs sank easily through her flesh since she wore her tennis shoes, not her leather boots, that evening.
She cried out in pain, fighting through her fear she blast the snake to bits, but unfortunately one of its fangs broke and was stuck in her skin. The snake's venom was spreading quickly, so she teleported herself and Hiei to the temple where Yukina was.
The Ice Maiden gasped with fright and shock. Aka couldn't speak, so Hiei told his sister what had happened. With the two's help, Akamery was taken to her room and set down in her bed. Yukina sent Hiei to get the cold water since Aka had a fever and she stayed to try and remove the poison. ((But, since this is an altered memory, the girl's efforts were in vain))
Akamery's breathing turned ragged and shallow. It hurt to breathe, her whole body hurt, her chest and throat burned. The venom was taking its toll on her, winning because her healing powers didn't defend against venom of any sort.
…End Dream…
Hiei pulled Akamery closer as her breathing changed and turned ragged and shallow. He remembered this, even though it was long ago. Akamery had gotten bitten by a black cobra. She had survived it, but since this was another altered memory, she was dying in both her dream and here in real life. He shook her gently to hopefully jog her from the dream…
But nothing changed.