Hell's Flame
Disclaimer
Sorry to say that I do not own YYH.
Summary
I was taught to hate and loathe demons. I did not fear them but I did feel that they were dangerous. I was a hunter, swift and silent. He was my target; he was my downfall. HB.
Name the Flame
000
I was changed into my black cat-suit as soon as I arrived and took a look at the reports. Ayame sat behind me, shivering and doing her usual daily work from Reikai.
"Ayame, these are nothing more than sightings. They have no pictures and no actual visuals of him at all. He is elusive. They, just like many others, have only seen his shadow." I sighed and turned to look at her. "I think I will go to my office and look over a few things." She nodded and I walked through the door with the reports.
These are really close. There is even one where he was near my apartment building. Does he know that I am the one on his tracks?
My mind skimmed over each possibility but I arrived at my office and had to rush in. I locked my door and stood at the computer. It had a large screen, like that of a large screen television. It only responded to my voice and fingerprints. I spoke the password and pressed my hand into the pad that appeared before the keyboard appeared and the computer flickered on. I sat down in the chair that rose up from the floor and set the papers on the desk that also came with it.
"Thank you, technology." I smirked and began typing away on the computer. A map of Tokyo appeared and so did a blue dot. The blue dot was where I was at the time, since I could do this through my communicator with the exception that the little thing didn't have half as much power as the big one. I locked in each location of the 'sightings' and stared sharply at it. Each one was within a block from my apartment.
Is he on to me? Does he really know?
I typed a few choice commands and a certain location, one that I chose to highlight, came up. That was probably, according to the pattern, where he would show up next. Each sighting was exactly at midnight. I mapped out a few more locations and sent the map and such to the programming on my communicator. I brought up the files on him and figured that maybe I could get a little dirt on him. I stared at the list of names of every single Spirit Detective and Reikai Investigator that ever got him for a mission.
"Oh shit..." I felt numb. Every single person on that list was reported either missing or dead. I tried to calm my churning stomach. I had to find him by the set of locations. I saved every single thing into my computer and even went so far as to scan the documents of the reports that had just been filed. Then I closed everything down and left my office, locking it securely before returning the documents to Ayame. "I have places to go tonight. Tell Koenma not to contact me. I do not want my phone to ring." She nodded and I left. It was time to get myself prepared for a possible fight.
000
I sat in the dark on the bench next to a bus stop, waiting for him to appear. Of course, I had no idea whether he would show up or not. He was as predictable as Koenma's temper. I stared up at the moon, which was in plain view. Only a quarter of it was visible. I was just outside the light of a street lamp, which was glowing yellow and casting its light on the bus stop. I saw something move just on the other side of that light. My heart nearly stopped. I sat still, not wanting to draw attention to myself. Two glowing red eyes appeared and stared directly at me.
"Onna." The voice was deep and dark, twisting with so many mysteries that I could not grasp.
"Who are you?" I asked evenly; forbidding myself from feeling any emotion whatsoever. He stepped into the light and I felt my heart skip a beat. Heat rushed to my face and I hoped to the good lord that he could not see me. He was not very tall but size did not count. His glistening ebony hair stood up in the shape of a flame with a white star-burst in the front. A white bandanna covered his forehead and his glittering crimson eyes were locked on me. He had a lean, muscled figure dressed in a black tank with black pants and boots. His cloak billowed out behind him, probably from the wind of his very potent Reiki. His lips were twisted into a smirk.
"You know who I am, detective." I willed myself to regain enough composure to step into the light. He already knew my scent and where I lived. It did not matter if he knew what I looked like. I saw surprise register in his eyes for a split second before he narrowed them at me. He ran his eyes down my form before meeting my gaze.
"Hell's Flame." I spoke softly; not wanting to draw attention to us. His smirk widened and his hand went up to rest on the hilt of his sword, which was the length of a katana.
"My name is Hiei, little one." His voice was just as soft as mine. He held a dangerous look in his beautiful eyes. He walked forward. I didn't move. "Now that you know my name, I would like to know yours. It is only proper." I glared sharply at him when he was just an inch away from me.
"My name is Botan." I stated; my hand warningly dropping to my sword. He chuckled darkly.
"You do not wish to fight with me, do you, little one?" He spoke it as a warning and I took it, letting my hand relax on the hilt. "That's better." Hiei was a dangerous criminal. I could never be fast enough to beat his speed and, with as much distance as there was between us, I barely stood a chance at it. "Now, how did you know that I would be here?" I didn't answer. There was no way that I was letting him know. "You must be smart. I have let myself be seen like this many times but no one except for you has had the wit to figure it out." I suddenly felt his hand on my face. "You must be Koenma's last resort."
"What did you do to them?" I asked; glaring at him heatedly. I squelched the urge to slap his hand away. Finally, I could bear it no longer and I pushed it away. He chuckled.
"So fiery." My eyes widened when I felt my hair brush my face. The burning remnants of my hair tie landed by my feet. I looked up at him and my eyes narrowed. My Reiki flared. I felt the strength of his Reiki rise to match mine. I went up as high as I could; until my aura was visible. I felt the cool rush of dampness in the air and his aura rose to meet it. Steam clouded around us. He looked pleased by my power. "A water sprite, are you? Now it makes sense."
"What makes sense?" I asked; my eyes probably showing my curiosity.
"Those colors that you possess. Your blue hair and those amethyst eyes." He crossed his arms with a cocky smirk. "That delicate beauty that can charm any man into submission." My face flushed, which made him snicker. "Yet you are so modest about it. You are obviously innocent and pure." I frowned. How dare he even think of saying anything like that? "Is it really a myth, sprite?" I blinked at his question. "Are your kind really so rare?"
"Yes." I answered confidently. He mutely let his aura drain.
"I assume that you will find me again. Until then, little sprite." He vanished in the darkness and I finally felt the perspiration on my face and neck. I needed a cold shower. My aura went back to normal and I decided to store this memory safely in my mind. How he knew that I was a water sprite would remain a mystery. I had to end his murders once and for all.
The next time we meet, the only words that would be spoken would be words of farewell.
000
I felt better the instant that I fell onto my bed and felt my soft pillow beneath my head. I had a nice long sleep and felt very refreshed in the morning. I got up and drank a cup of coffee to wake up while I read the newspaper. Nothing really concerning us was in the paper. Reikai's individuals never would be found in the daily newspaper. We were secretive and photographers kept their distance. They had dealt with Koenma's wrath before and knew not to go anywhere near scenes like that. The most in the columns would be about a murder and would probably be less than five paragraphs long. I put the paper down and counted how many more hours it would be until I had to end Hiei's life or he would end mine. I was only hoping that it would not be the latter. I changed from my night shirt into jeans and a zip up sweater. I was just getting ready to slip my coat on when my cell rang. I picked it up and answered.
"Hello?" I slid my arm through the sleeve and pulled my other arm through. Then I zippered it up.
"Botan, this is Ayame. We got a demon on the loose." I sighed.
"I will be there in ten." I hung up the phone and stuffed it in my pocket before zippering it, putting on my sunglasses, and then sliding into my snow boots. I ran out the door and locked it behind me before rushing to the elevator. The boy inside held it open for me and I nodded my thanks.
"Where are you off to in such a hurry?" He asked with a smile. I frowned.
"I don't want to be late for work. Just got a call." He was nice and came often to see his friend here. He was a very handsome boy with red hair and emerald green eyes. "Did you spend the night here?" He nodded.
"He didn't wish to be alone after his girlfriend broke up with him." I gasped softly.
"Oh, that's horrible." I murmured. "I'll get him some flowers after work. Poor boy." As soon as the elevator doors opened, I rushed out. "See you later, Shuuichi!" I called back to him. Then I ran from the building and out into the rush of the street. Business executives with cell phones glued to their ears walked swiftly down the street along with skateboarders that had no manners. I ran as quickly as I could without sliding on icy patches on the sidewalk and missing the speeding cars. I looked down at my cell when it started ringing and sighed. I stopped before crossing a busy street and answered it. "Yes?"
"Botan, I want to know where you were last night." I cursed my luck. I should have figured that Koenma would try to call. I had arranged it so that all of my calls had gone straight to Ayame.
"Koenma, I can't do this right now. I'm on my way over to the office to get ready to get a stray." I listened to him babble for a while as I ran to the building and went inside. I flashed my ID and got on the elevator. "Yeah, I know. Listen, I have to go. I will call you when I'm not busy." I hung up and got off as soon as the doors opened to my floor. Ayame briefed me as I got ready. "Central?"
"Yes." She answered quickly. "I just sent the coordinates to your communicator." I nodded and finished securing my weapons. It seemed like I should just permanently wear this uniform because I was always changing into it. As I strapped on my belt, I placed my communicator on it. "Ready?"
"Yeah." I smiled. "I think I'll take a motorcycle." I stated; gazing down at the coordinates.
"Sure." She tossed me the keys. "The black one?"
"You know it." I grinned and ran out as fast as I could. Apparently, this demon was a low-class vermin with ice powers. Just what we needed this winter. As soon as I got into the garage, I took my sunglasses off and placed the helmet over my head. It was time to fly. I started it and immediately let a smile cross my face. It had been a while since I got a mission that far away. I knew just the way to go and turned out of the garage.
As I arrived at Central, which was our nickname for the main park in the city because there had been a lot of incidents there, I parked the bike and took the helmet off. Then I placed my sunglasses on and ran along the path. My headset was in place, since this demon could be anywhere and Ayame was trying to track him with the system. I heard her directions and hurried to where at least a dozen of children were cowering in fear of my target.
"Hey, there." I said with a smirk. He looked at me with cold ice blue eyes. "What's up?" I watched him run his eyes down my body before looking back up at my face. I suppose what Hiei said was true because most men and demons did that to me when we met.
"Take those things off." He gestured to my sunglasses. I smirked.
"Now, now, now." I purred softly. "You have to earn that privilege." I could tell that he hadn't killed anyone yet. That was a good thing. He was just scaring people. I drew my blade. "Do you want to see my eyes?" He growled at me before forming a sword out of ice and coming at me. Metal met ice and I smirked. "Do you really want to fight me?" He reached out but I leaned back and secretly drew a small dagger from my belt. I forced my Reiki into it and plunged it into his stomach. I felt the warmth of his blood and I could see the steam rising from the crimson puddle forming under his feet.
"Damn you..." He coughed. My Reiki in his system was enough to quicken the effects of a normal wound so I shook my hand off.
"Ayame? He's down."
"How many are dead?" She asked in that strictly business tone and I replied in one much the same.
"None." She sighed with relief. "But two children are wounded and a dozen of them are pretty shaken up. I made it just in time." I shut the headset off and walked over to the children, who watched me with wide eyes as I knelt down. "Hey, are you okay?" They nodded. One little girl with large chestnut eyes and shoulder-length brown hair leaned forward.
"Will you take the glasses off for us?" I frowned before sighing.
"I suppose." I took them off and they gasped. The little girl smiled.
"They sure are pretty." She said softly. "You are a pretty lady. What are you? Are you an angel?" I laughed lightly.
"No, child." I smiled. "I am far from an angel." She gasped.
"Are you a demon?" I reached out and stroked her hair affectionately.
"Don't worry." I assured her in a gentle tone. "I am one of the good guys."
"You're a hero?" One of them inquired. I laughed again.
"Not quite. Heroes have publicity. I work in secret. Now, people from my team are coming to heal you, all right? They will not harm you." I looked up when I sensed them and smiled as they grinned. "Be good, okay?" I watched them sadly. They would never remember me. The incident would be erased from their minds so that we wouldn't go public again. It was a bad way to stay secret but it was the only way. "It's yours from here." They nodded and I put my sunglasses back on to walk to my motorcycle. As I approached, I froze and looked up into the tree at my side. Glittering crimson eyes narrowed down at me.
"Nice technique, little sprite." He whispered as he vanished. I sighed. Midnight would determine both of our fates. I only hoped that I lived to tell about it. I needed some tea. Instead of going back to headquarters, I went directly to the nearest place that had tea. I walked through the door and all eyes were on me. Fortunately, I remembered to put my sunglasses on. Someone rushed over to me and smiled. I recognized her.
"Yukimura?" I asked gently. She nodded. "Uh, do you have a bathroom that I could take care of this?" I lifted my hand and she gasped.
"Are you all right?" I winced slightly.
"This isn't mine." I responded lightly. "Can I clean up or what?" She led me to the bathroom and told her mother that she was going on break. I washed up and sighed. "I need something to calm my nerves so I figured a nice cup of strong herbal tea would do." She nodded.
"I will tell my mother your order." I nodded my thanks and watched as she left. I figured that I would try Koenma. I dialed the number and bit my bottom lip when he answered.
"Koenma?"
"Did you take care of the problem?" I rolled my eyes.
"Yes, I did. Also, as for last night, I was scoping out the city. Do you really think that I would sit around and do nothing about this mission?" I used a reprimanding tone. He knew that I was angry with him. He should have more faith in me than he did this morning when he called me. "I cannot have my communicator or phone ringing when I am trying to be silent, can I?" He sighed.
"All right, Botan. I apologize. Next time, I will know to trust you when you do that." I finished removing the blood from my outfit and tossed the paper towel in the garbage.
"I am doing it again tonight, Koenma. I am shutting my phone off and my communicator will be as it was last night." I stated dryly. "You had better not even try because you will not receive an answer."
"All right, Botan. Have it your way." I hung up and took off my sunglasses. I stared long and hard at my reflection.
I really do have a delicate beauty. Not even mother looked like this.
I had a sinking feeling in my stomach. Why was it that I had to be a sprite? I shook my head to clear my thoughts then I placed my sunglasses on and walked out of the bathroom to see Keiko just sitting down at a table with our tea. I smiled and walked over, ignoring the stares. I sat down and she leaned forward.
"Will you please take your glasses off again?" She whispered. I suppressed a sigh and did as she asked. "Your eyes are so pretty. You look like someone out of a fairytale." I did sigh at that comment.
"I am...a water sprite." I whispered. "We are classified with demons." I then looked down at my tea and lifted it to my lips, feeling the heat. I blew on it a little and forced my Reiki to my hands. Then I sipped it, feeling the hot liquid go down my throat. It was just the perfect temperature. I leaned over and placed my hand on her cup and did the same to hers. She took a sip and gasped.
"How did you..."
"I can control my Reiki and do many things. Reiki is also spirit energy, which your boyfriend, Yuusuke, and his friend use." She smiled at me.
"You know, I used to love all of the stories about sprites when I was a child. You are more beautiful than I imagined any sprite to be." I flushed lightly at her comment. I would never get used to getting compliments like that.
"Thank you." I said softly. I looked out the window. "I usually wear sunglasses to prevent people from seeing my eyes. My hair sticks out but no one comments on it." She sipped at her tea more and I found myself doing the same.
"Why do they put you in a cat-suit like that?" I looked down at my attire.
"Well, it is for easy movement mostly. There are a lot of outfits that are loose-fitting but that can be an advantage for any enemy. They can grab a piece of cloth and do some good damage before you can get out of their hold." I explained. She brightened instantly and nodded.
"I see now." We talked more and I revealed very little to her. She didn't seem to mind. In fact, she told me that she would like to be my friend. I couldn't bear to think that I could be gone that very night.
000
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-Angel