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.
Water versus Flame
000
I checked my weapons and made certain that my Reiki was in perfect condition for the battle. There was no way that I could avoid it. I had less than an hour to wait for him. The place that the pattern brought me was a secluded area with no homes. It was a foreboding feeling that seemed to seep into my skin and made me edgy and nervous. The darkness of the moonless and starless sky pressed close around me like a cloak. I took cautious steps forward, moving as silently as I could. Suddenly, something cold and sharp pressed against my neck. I quickly pressed the hilt of my sword down so that the other end went the opposite way. I moved back a step, panting slightly from the sudden threat. A man was bent over on the ground but I recognized the long brown hair. No one ever sensed his aura before so that would explain why I did not know he was there. He looked up at me and cursed me out loud.
"Seiho." I murmured quietly. I backed up, only to be caught securely around the waist. "W-What do you want?" Seiho stood up and stared at me with his depth-ess azure eyes.
"My dear sprite, must you ask? I want you, of course." He nodded to his men and they tried to press something into my skin. I kicked one of them in the shin and I knocked the other one's feet out from under him before Seiho did it anyway. I felt very tired and my world started to spin. I screamed when I saw him advance on me. He grabbed my wrist but my limbs were too heavy to move so I screamed at him.
"Let me go!" I tried to pull away from him but it was useless to try. He had me in his possession. My mouth began to go dry so I made one last effort to scream before everything went black.
000
Seiho was once a ningen man and, like a few others, his death had been unexpected. He joined the Reikai team because he knew that he would get a second chance at life. He had been a thief and a murderer but Koenma had praised his fighting skills and tried to convince him to turn over a new leaf. I was still in Reikai then, just being a year out of Makai. We met when I was studying at the library and I thought that he was charming. He asked me about what I was. That was before I could hide some very noticeable things such as my pointed ears and my wings. I had eagerly told him that I was a water sprite. I had revealed that to him on our third meeting when he had felt compelled to ask. Then things turned around. He no longer listened to Koenma and did as he pleased before stealing a very valuable artifact that granted him demonic powers and the power of immortality. Then he had pursued me but had given up as soon as I was dispatched here to Ningenkai...
I felt something cold and soothing on my forehead but I couldn't tell what it was. I could hear the crackling of a fire and the cool rain hitting the leaves on the trees. Apparently, the cold substance had been rain. I sat up and looked around me to see the bodies of Seiho and his two men. They were dead. Something next to me glinted in the firelight and I looked down to see the artifact that Seiho had stolen. The thoughts running through my mind brought instant panic to me. What had happened while I was unconscious? Who had rescued me? Should I have even used the word 'rescued?'
"Settle down, little sprite." A soft, dark voice whispered. I could feel the warmth of his breath on my chilled skin. I moved my head and looked over to see Hiei staring down at me, our faces mere inches apart. I stared deep into those crimson eyes of his and found that they were just as depth-less, if not more, than Seiho's eyes. He had so many mysteries deep inside of him. My lips parted and I began to say something when he looked up. I followed his gaze to see a ningen boy...
"Shuuichi..." He stared at me with a surprised look on his face. Now that I think of it, he has never seen me without my sunglasses or in my uniform.
"What are you doing here? Hiei, why have you-" My, dare I say it; rescuer cut him off with a sharp glare.
"This is the water sprite that is working for Koenma. I am her newest assignment. She is the only one to figure out my pattern in appearances." Hiei looked down at me before grabbing me by my wrist and pulling me to my feet. The effects of the drug Seiho used on me did not completely wear off so I stumbled and fell harshly onto the ground. "Get up." He snapped. I glared at him.
"I will do no such thing." I forced myself to stay put on the ground but he pulled me up again and I fell backwards, only to land in Shuuichi's arms.
"Hiei, I can still smell the anesthetic he used to knock her out." I looked over at the three who had tried to abduct me.
"Seiho..." I murmured; a hint of betrayal in my voice. The two demons stared at me as I pulled away from Shuuichi and began to walk toward them. I fell to my knees but continued to crawl to his side. I stared down at him, remembering all that he had done to me and for me since we met. I could barely stand the fact that I had once trusted such a bastard. "I never should have trusted you." I whispered bitterly. "I never should have told you anything about me!" I was furious and hurt and betrayed. He had pursued me before but I never knew that he would go so far as to... I felt a forbidden feeling rise in me and I fought against it for what seemed like hours. Then I turned to look at the two staring at me. "What do you plan on doing with me? If you are going to kill me, do it now." Hiei crossed his arms and snorted.
"As if I would, sprite." I stared at him. Where was the blood-thirsty demon that I had been hunting? Where was the cruel, heartless demon? Where was Hell's Flame? This was the third encounter and still he has not killed me.
"Why? You killed all of the others who pursued you. Why will you not kill me?" I forced myself to stand on my own. I was trembling with the effort but I would not fall over again. "I am a threat to you. I figured out your games."
"I do not believe as though it is any of your business. You are the detective. Figure it out for yourself." I stared at him. This could not be happening. If he was as heartless as they said he was, why was he sparing my life?
"What happened to make you this way?" I asked softly. "Hiei, why are you sparing my life? Is it because I am a sprite? Or because I figured out your pattern and as long as I continue to do so, you will not kill me?" I could have blurted out many more questions but the look he was giving me stopped me.
"I told you. Figure it out for yourself." He vanished and I was left alone with Shuuichi and three dead bodies.
"I can't call Koenma for this." I stated. I was beginning to get a headache. I decided that Ayame was the best choice. I pulled out my communicator and contacted the ferry girl. "Ayame, I have three dead bodies. I know Koenma is going to find out about this but I want to delay it."
"Who is it?" Apparently, she heard the tone of my voice. I was dreading this.
"Seiho and two of his men. They tried to abduct me. Get three ferry girls down here and about four on clean-up duty." She didn't answer but got right to work. I could hear her typing on her computer. "I also have the artifact."
"Okay, Botan." She paused. "Can I suggest something?"
"Yes, go ahead." I stared down at the screen. I was not connected to another communicator so I couldn't see her. I could only hear her.
"You should go home and stay there for a while. We have other detectives. You deserve a two day vacation."
"Two days?" I raised a brow. I never thought about that. It wasn't long and I could still play with things in my mind and relax without worrying about getting called for a stray or even by Koenma. "I think I will. You can tell Koenma, right?"
"Yes, I can." The connection closed and I replaced the small compact thing to my belt. My mission was far from over and it was only getting more and more complicated.
"I will walk you home. You still seem a tad bit shaken." He went to touch me but I recoiled. He stared at me with a hurt look in his emerald eyes. "I will not harm you."
"I-I know." I smiled wryly. "It's just a reflex. I'm not one to come into too much physical contact with a person unless it's for fighting." He sighed.
"I never knew you would be a hunter." He looked troubled. "Why would you accept a mission so crazed? You must have known how Hiei was."
"I did." I answered softly. "That was why I took this mission. His bloodshed has to stop." He said nothing but helped me over to the artifact. I bent down and picked it up before he helped me walk back.
000
I sat in a nice hot bath, staring at the tiled wall. I was getting tired of this job. I was getting tired of being the one they always called. I wanted it to stop but I knew that I really had no choice in the matter. I could not live here without Koenma's permission and help to pay for things. I also couldn't stand by and watch innocents die by the bloody hands of my kind. I had no kin to go back to in Makai and all that remained there for me was probably two or three hundred demons wanting my head for doing this work. I sat up and let the water out before standing and wrapping my body in my fluffy blue towel. Then I walked out and went over to my bed where I dried off and got dressed in some lounging pants and a tank top. I toweled out my hair then brushed it and allowed it to fall around my shoulders and down to the middle of my back. Then I tossed the towel into the hamper and fell onto my bed, burying my face in my pillow.
000
My vision was fuzzy when I got up from sleeping so long. I stood up and rubbed the sleep from my eyes. I walked out to the living room and then to the kitchen and made coffee. I didn't need tea. I needed coffee. After downing two cups and making a trip to the bathroom, a knock on the door interrupted my peace. I went over and answered it.
"Shuuichi? What are you doing here?" I let him in and saw him flush at seeing my attire. I didn't care how indecent I was. I wanted to know why he was at my apartment.
"I came to see how you were feeling." He looked around before noticing the envelope on my table. "What is that?"
"Hiei's pictures."
"He has pictures?" He asked curiously. I shook my head.
"No, his victims do." He paled at my response and I shut the door after inviting him inside. "Anyway, want some coffee? Or tea?"
"Coffee would be nice." I nodded. "Milk and two sugars, please." Just how I liked mine. I felt compelled to know why he cared about my health at all. It wasn't like I slept for two days.
"Why are you concerned for my health?"
"I stopped by for the last two days and received no answer at the door." I nearly dropped the coffee pot. Then I put it back and got out the milk and did the sugar before taking it out to him.
"I-I was sleeping for two days?" I felt embarrassed.
"You must have been exhausted both physically and mentally. After all, look at the job that you have and the mission you took. I know Hiei causes you more stress than you are willing to show." He took the coffee with a grateful smile. "I cannot help you defeat him. He is my ally, after all. However, I know that he does not entirely hate you. He is intrigued."
"Intrigued?" I asked, sitting down in the chair across from the couch. He nodded.
"He was surprised to find that you were a water sprite. You see, he took a fascination in your kin." I stared at him in rapture. "He had often seen glimpses of sprites when he was staving off madness in Makai." I frowned.
"He probably did. For some reason, we are drawn to the darkest of souls." I looked down at my hands as tears threatened. "I want nothing more than to help him. My mind keeps telling me to kill him but when I see him...it fades. The voice fades to be replaced by this feeling of...helplessness." I looked up at him. "Is there nothing that I can do?"
"Botan, I may be old but I cannot fathom those feelings of yours. Before you think of hunting Hiei, know that he plans on dragging you through things that you will never be able to recover from. He loves suffering more than anything. I believe that it is his desire to drive ningens and demons alike into the darkest depths of pain." I felt my heart begin to race. "He wants nothing more than others to feel as horrible as he had once felt. He wants others to suffer as he did." For once, I had nothing to say and nothing to think. "He wants others to understand." All I could hope for was the end of this case.
Even if it meant his death or mine.
000
I pulled on my uniform and strode out of my office. I placed my sunglasses over my eyes. As soon as I was out of headquarters, I felt the distinct feeling that I was being watched. Possibly a week ago, I would have felt anxiety over that feeling. Hiei had seemed to disappear but I knew that he was the one watching me. It was only a matter of time before the battle arrived. I flipped open my communicator and checked where I was and where the stray was. Sighing, I drew my sword and raced quickly toward the building. It was on fire. The large complex was obviously filled with people.
"Damn!" I cried as I ran to the door and flung it open. People screamed at me to stay outside but I rushed in. The burning hot flames seared my skin and I quickly powered up. My body began glowing with the shield of my Reiki. I swung my sword and the flames parted slightly from the excess energy. I saw a staircase and ran through to it, the heat still making me sweat. I heard something and looked up just in time to see a falling beam. As quickly as I could, I dove to the stairs. The crash sounded behind me as I raced as quickly as I could up the stairs. I could sense him a few floors up. The only bad part about that was the fact that the burning embers were falling around me. The flames were also Reiki and it was getting stronger as I went up. My body could not handle extreme heat. I was a water sprite. I flared my Reiki once more and felt the cool rush through my body. I continued up the stairs, once falling because the heat was melting the metal. I clutched the edge of the stair that was in front of me and pulled myself up as quickly as I could. This was much hotter than any normal fire because the demon causing it was strong. Catching my breath, I stood and began running again. I made it to the door where the power was coming from.
If I don't do this right, I'm as good as dead.
I rammed into the door with my shoulder and fell inside. I got to my knees and panted, feeling the sweat pouring down my face. I looked up and gasped.
"What is this?" The demon was very tall and had long red hair tied back into a ponytail with pale yellow eyes. "One of Reikai's hunters, are you?" I stood up, feeling very sick and hot. I closed my eyes before opening them again to see double images. "What's the matter? Can't handle the heat?" He lunged at me and I stuck my sword into the ground.
"It's about to get a lot colder!" My power flooded through me, emptying from my hands. Water shot up from my sword and drenched me completely, cooling down my body at a hazardous speed. I was a demon; I could handle it. I formed more water in my hand and threw it into the air above us. The droplets poured down in a shower all around us. He growled and flared his energy. I raised mine to meet his. Soon, we were sending spiraling streams of fire and water at each other. Sweat was rolling down my face. The entire building was beginning to collapse. Beams and wooden panels fell around us. My sunglasses were long gone, having fallen somewhere when I dodged his flames and probably melted. He was sweating now, too. Finally, I gave it everything that I had. Water poured from my hands and the flames went out around us. I gripped the hilt of my sword and lunged forward, attacking him rapidly. He dodged every one of them. Then he sent more fire at me and it got my left arm. However, I backed him into a wall and pierced his flesh with the metal weapon. The puddles at my feet rippled and steam was blocking my view. I could see light filtering through the windows and I pulled my sword from him. I stumbled toward the window, holding my left arm tightly.
"It's collapsing! Move out of the way!" The floor beneath my unsteady legs shook and I quickened my pace. Then I fell out into the sunlight...before darkness consumed me.
000
I know all about it! A cliffhanger, right? I have to have a little fun every now and then, okay?
To get to the point, please review!
-Angel