AbhorsenSabriel87: Okay, well a few people seem to like this story, so I'm going to try and finish it, m'kay? Here are the reviews, and then onto the rest of the fic!
Jessica - …Well, we'll see how everything turns out in the end. --smiles-- And thanks for… both reviews? --sweatdrop-- Ah well, beggars can't be choosers. Anywho, read on. It'll be a long story yet.
Yuki - --pets gently-- Don't worry, he'll live to fight another day. And he's not out of the story yet! --chibi grin-- I think you're going to like this plot twister!
KyoHana – Actually, this isn't a KxH pairing. You'll see what I mean later, but thanks for the thoughtful review! --glomps--
Thank you all! I love you my readers! --glomps them all-- Arigatoo! Anyway, this chapter backtracks a bit and goes into... --dramatic music-- Hiei's POV! Yup. That's right; you get to see how Hiei views his death... or whatever it was... -.-U I don't really know whether or not that counts... Anyway, here it is! Enjoy!
Oh, also I realized that I forgot to put a quote on the last few chappies, so here's the one for this chapter and I'll give you the others later. --sweatdrop--
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Life isn't always fair, but at least it's fairer than death.
--Trenity170
---Truth be told, I was actually surprised when I saw the troops standing there across the street. I know; it's a bit ironic that I would be surprised about anything, but there they were, completely unexpected. I'd thought that they had perhaps left as soon as the hostages had successfully escaped; or at least had attempted to storm the building. I guess that's why I shoved Kurama out of the way. I mean, he was the most blatant target (and definitely the easiest to hit at that moment). The shock made me react in a way I normally wouldn't have. One thing was for sure; that was not a feeling I would like to experience again. Ever. Fear, as Yusuke puts it- is simply... "not me".
---Another odd thing; as I heard the shot ringing through the air, knowing that I wouldn't be able to dodge this time, I recalled a conversation I'd had with Kurama when all of us stormed the Labyrinth Castle...
---"Well, you won't see me risking my life for another person." Heh, wrong for once. Actually, another thing was odd. I actually didn't mind being wrong this time. Ironic again, but it didn't seem to matter all that much at the time. It just popped into my head. Actually, had the situation not been so dire, I might have even laughed about it... Too bad I never had the opportunity.
---Then came the pain. At first, it felt almost as bad as receiving my Jagan from Shigure just five years ago. This time though, shock managed to block out most of the pain I thought I was going to feel. In truth, I was more scared than anything. For once in my life, I actually knew something for sure: "I'm going to die." For some strange, inexplicable reason, that wasn't what scared me. I was scared at the look of surprise and disbelief written on Kurama's face. I think he found it odd that I would actually save him like that. Heh. Stupid fox. Of course I would. He's my friend. One of the only ones that hasn't died yet...
---The pain finally set in fully as I crashed to the floor. Senses shocked completely awake, better than ever before. I would have envied myself if it wasn't so painful; the others all screamed my name, taking up decibels I couldn't even begin to imagine, Kurama's light step was coming my way while one of the ningens (Kuwabara, I believe) tried to pull the other out of the room and away from the line of fire. The sharp and deep "pinging" resonated harshly in my ears as bullets ricocheted off the walls and floor. My head throbbed and burned (a rare and unfamiliar feeling, I'll admit) as if an ogre had shoved a white-hot barbed blade into my temple and at the base of my jaw opposing the other, then ripped them out after twisting them half an inch or so. The initial crash landed me on my right arm and shoulder, snapping both easily as they were already on the brink of fracture. The tile was so cold... I felt as if I would freeze to death before bleeding out. Even though the tile was completely smooth (I thought so before this, at least), my skin felt every grain packed into it, every shard of its man-made material, all feeling like tiny needles shoving through my skin. The second impact struck my back and side, cracking (but not breaking) my back and shattering at least three already broken ribs. Sharp pain stabbed through my abdomen and stomach, and I coughed in order to try and breathe again. The pain only doubled, and what tasted and felt like melted copper filled my mouth briefly. I would have smiled had it been different; I remembered then that Yusuke had been right (he oddly does that more often than not) when he called me a "hot-head" so many times... but he probably didn't mean it so literally.
---As Kurama picked me up, I bit back a hiss of pain. The silver and gold of his eyes and hair stood out vibrantly, shining as if hit by the sun and beaming directly into my eyes. They were so clear I could see my own frightened expression reflected perfectly in them. His skin was so white I had to blink to make sure that I wasn't looking at an ice sculpture instead of my closest friend and ally. His hands were warm and soft, but his simple touch ached as if he were pressing on old bruises yet to heal. The heartbeat in the pads of his fingers thudded against my arm and leg, his grip firm and almost feeling as if he could break my bones with a simple twitch. Not for the first time, I feared him, worrying about whether or not he was going to kill me, only this time it was worry for his sake and not mine; my death I can deal with. Him killing me accidentally was not something I think he'd rejoice over. His voice, although quiet and shaky, rang in my ears as loudly as the gunshots and the anxious calls of the others of their need to flee. "We're going to get you out of here... You're going to be fine; we just need to get you to the Spirit World..." This time, a smile did touch my face. It was amusing how he tried to calm and console me when he was the one who looked ready to fall apart and break down, so much that I think I laughed, but I couldn't be sure.
--- "You're such a pathetic liar Kurama," I remember replying, my voice quiet and hoarse from the blood staining my throat. "I'm going to die and you know it. I just say it's about bloody time…" My voice had gotten weaker by the end and I could barely stay awake. So, I did the next thing better than sleeping; I closed my eyes and reserved my energy, trying to focus on healing myself without dying in the process. I saw it in his eyes, those bright gold orbs shining with unshed tears, heard it as he screamed my name again; he thought I was going to die and was hoping desperately that I wasn't. Pity I guess... death's not always fair, but at least it's fairer than fickle life. If Koenma wanted me, he should have killed me himself, the bloody coward...
---All of a sudden, movement jarred my thoughts as cool wind rushed against my skin. Kurama must've realized it was useless to just sit there when anyone could pick him off easily. After only a moment, though, all of it stopped... then came the shattering of glass. The warm air outside brushed against my skin and flicked my hair as the feeling of flying overcame me. Both feelings, however, were soon disposed of; the cold of shadows, the shattering of glass, the thick scent of plaster and mold, and the heavy weight of landing on a hard surface. I almost slipped, but luckily he'd kept his grip... well, sort of lucky, anyway. I'm fairly sure he left a bruise or eight he hadn't intended. Then we were moving again, barely making it past dozens of... humans? What are these people; idiots or awaiting death! Tch, Kurama never approved of killing them, but sometimes they could be just so stupid...
---What happened next was a blur; I can't really recall it completely, so I must have actually fallen asleep. The smell of water, earth, wood, and moss was light and pleasant, and the trees refrained the sun from burning my now sensitive skin so easily. It was all quiet, as if life had just ceased moving; the only thing I could hear were the rapid pounding of the kitsune's heart next to my ear and his harsh breathing. I could imagine him glancing about, trying to find the safest place in this strange area. Then again, he already had; the forest in his mind would never betray him. It was his ally, his constant companion and loyal friend, always there for him when he needed it... which is more than I have ever been, now that I think about it. Even though I admit to have changed over the past three years, I reflect that many (and nearly all) of my actions were based upon personal advantage more than moral imperative. Odd, but true... I regretted it, now that I was going to die; I had lived my life and very little of it had meant a damn thing.
---Unexpectedly, a slightly panicked feeling set into my body trying to coax my aura back to its former exuberance. I recognized it almost instantly. The lack of hesitation caught me off guard, but the normal sense of it was still there; Kurama's energy, so opposite of my own, was flowing into me; a steady if shaky stream of earth-derived energy mimicking the true force of nature while maintaining the bravado of his animalism. But because of the opposition of our auras, my own flared up to reject it, dying quickly as it knew it couldn't win. It felt so odd, being helped I mean. I had always been one to just keep to myself, never trusting anyone or letting them get close... because when they did... I just couldn't handle the consequences. Even still, he was trying -actually trying- to help me stay alive.
---But suddenly, he moved away from me, cutting off the now gentle and comfortable energy. I couldn't tell where exactly he'd gone or why until I felt him withdraw my sword from its belt at my hip. Something was wrong, but I couldn't tell what... Was someone coming after us? To finally kill us?
---A surprised yelp relieved my thoughts. It was only Yusuke and Kazuma. The bumbling idiots had managed to do something stupid and smart at the same time; they found out where Kurama had taken me, sure... but they were stupid enough to come unannounced, thereby making our kitsune companion more than a little jumpy. I thought he was going to reply, but I heard Botan's voice instead. What was she of all people doing here? Finally coming to take my soul where it belonged? Heh, I wish. As far as I could tell, the girl was about as worried as Kurama seemed. What is with all these people! I've been nothing but a mercenary for the group, trading my services for shortenings to my sentence and no jail time. Why did they all care so much whether I live or die! As I said before, it's about bloody time, so why don't they just let me go in a bit of peace and dignity?
---...Then again, no death has dignity. I was taught that when I was younger. But even still... I'd rather die on a battlefield than in a hospital. Why couldn't they accept that as who I am?
---Kurama had picked my up immediately at the sound of her voice, once more flashing unintentional pain through the bruises he'd accidentally inflicted. But the pain was dulled by the sharp burning and throbbing in my head that I hardly noticed at all. Everything started to center on the pain in my head again, just like when I'd stolen the Jagan. It had hurt for almost a week, just like this. I kept telling myself that it would eventually stop, kept flashing back to the same pain five years ago. I remember breaking four bones over that week, all of them in my left hand. But this time, I couldn't do anything to lessen the pain or put an end to it at all.
---The smell of a sterilized environment hit my nose first, just faint traces of chemicals just barely making their way past the scents of blood, sweat, and fear. More voices came, but they were now growing dimmer. All of the senses that had been so enhanced were dying away; the loudest voices only faint murmurs, the sharpest pains barely a twitch. I heard a machine, though, constantly, a sharp beeping noise. I'd heard it before and would have known what it was even if I hadn't; it was the machine to measure my heart rate. I didn't need it to tell me my heart was still racing and stuttering in order to keep me alive.
---Damn, even my body wants me here. What's wrong with the world?
---All of a sudden, I couldn't feel anything. Actually, that's not entirely true. I couldn't feel anything in the sense of pain anymore. Instead, a calming and rather chilled feeling entered my mind, reminding me of winter mist. Then, a voice cut through the mist, causing me to open my eyes. It was one of the voices I thought I'd never hear again; Kurama's. His pleas and cries cut through everything, I could hear it in my mind, if not my ears. Please, it spoke, ringing clearly in my head through the faint sounds of bustling people. Please don't leave me here alone. I need you here... You're my only friend, Hiei. I don't want to lose you too...
---Slowly, I opened my eyes. My first sight now was not Kurama, as I'd thought it would be. Instead, a young human teen with long white hair. Her pale eyes seemed startled at my awakening, definitely confused and almost in wonder. I blinked slowly, trying see if the light shining behind her was really that of an angel's. I wouldn't be surprised; I was going to die anyway. Instead of pondering it further, I turned my head slightly and caught Kurama's gaze, still so bright and golden, full of fear and hope.
---"Kurama..." I whispered, my voice breaking slightly in the middle. I tried to say more, but the sharp and erratic tones that had been annoying me earlier suddenly stopped, leaving a steady tone. I'm actually dead? I thought. But... I need to tell him...
---I heard the woman (angel?) behind me scream something out. When pressure came, I couldn't feel anything else. Kurama's voice was screaming in my mind... except this time it was barely coherent... I couldn't understand all of it. Only a few bits a pieces managed to make it through; his worry, fear, anger, sorrow...The second time, a buzz tingled through to my fingertips. I guess they were trying to restart my heart with electricity... Not exactly all that helpful because I've trained with Narue, but-
---It was the last burst that brought the pain surging back, brought everything back just in time for the world to go black. The last thing I heard before losing consciousness was a voice I'd never heard before, female with cold sarcasm masking worry and relief.
---"Good, now let's fix him before he can give us another scare like that."
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Yay! --grins cheerfully-- I finished this chapter! I know y'all have been waitin' for it for a while, so please be glad that it's the second longest chapter in the story thus far. So please review and I'll get the next chappie up as soon as my poor little fingers can type!