Jen stood in the second story of the palace trying to calm her nerves. How her people took this information that she was about to deliver depended solely on how she told them. Between mandatory training and sharing their home with a colony of cat demons and eventually the survivors of other destroyed villages through out the Makai, it was going to be tricky telling the reclusive wolf-demons about the changes.
Jen felt a warm hand on her shoulder and turned to find Hiei standing there silently. She sighed as she turned to fully face him and walk into his arms. His embrace calmed her immensely as she nuzzled the side of his neck. He pushed a kiss into her hair before releasing her.
Jen felt a mix of emotions as she stared up at her fire demon. "I want you next to me during the speech," she said.
Hiei's eyes widened slightly. "Onna," he started and Jen shook her head.
"Before you start, Hiei, I'm not afraid of what they think. I'm not ashamed of you, and I'm certainly not going to hide the fact that I am with you. They will accept it, just as they will accept all the other changes that will be happening."
Hiei arched a brow as he stared down at her. "I wasn't aware you were a telepath," he said quietly with a hint of amusement.
Jen smiled softly as she reached up to touch his cheek. "I don't need freaky mind powers to know what you are thinking, Hiei. I've been around you enough to figure out what's going on in your mind for the most part. I've had to since you don't tell me much," she said with a quiet laugh.
Hiei frowned. "It bothers you that I am not as open with you."
Jen tilted her head to the side. "It used to, to be honest, but I realized eventually that you didn't need to express everything in words for me to know. You may not tell me, but there are things you do to let me know how much you care, and what you are thinking and feeling."
Jen laid her head on his shoulder as she wrapped her arms around his torso. "You've been something of a rock for me, Hiei. You've kept me grounded and level-headed and I don't want to keep you hidden like some dirty secret. You deserve more than that."
Hiei patted her back lightly as he hn'd softly. He tensed slightly as Jen sensed someone coming towards the room. Reluctantly, she let go but remained close to him. She knew Hiei was changing a lot but he still wasn't comfortable with public displays of affection. His affection was more personal, sharing that part of him with only her. It was something else she had come to accept about the stubborn fire demon.
Salvatore opened the door and walked in quietly. "Ready, little sister?"
Jen blew out a sigh and nodded. "As soon as Nykairren and Yusuke are here, we will address the survivors. Have you heard anything on the arrival of the cat demons?"
Salvatore nodded. "They are here. They have wisely kept their distance from the wolf demons, but are ready to hear your words as well."
Jen nodded numbly. Part of her wanted to run and hide, letting everything work itself out on its own. She knew that wasn't an option though. Things would not work out for the better that way. Besides, this is what she had always wanted, wasn't it? To single-handedly lead Aerisia into a new era and be remembered for centuries to come?
Jen glanced over at Hiei, who was watching her with calm eyes, and began to wonder if that was truly everything she wanted. She tilted her head at the more important question on her mind. When had I become unsure of what I wanted?
Yusuke and Nykairren entered the room together, talking about weapons and things of the like. Jen looked over at the door to the balchony. At this point, it didn't matter if anything had changed. Aerisia had entrusted her to lead them out of the darkness of hiding into the thriving world that Aerisia had once been.
No, she thought. Aerisia will be nothing like it used to be. It will be stronger. With that thought fresh in her mind, and her determination solidified she nodded to Salvatore as they all walked towards the door.
The demons all hushed their muffled conversations as they came on on the balchony. Hiei stood close to her left and Salvatore stood on her right. Nykairren was farther on the right and Yusuke was beside Hiei on the left.
"Aerisians," she started, her voice echoing through the area. "Dark times have fallen upon us. With our returning strength after a bitter betrayal that left us weak and nearly broken, we have been marked as a threat by many through out the Makai and even greater beings in Spirit World. It has been brought to my attention that the League of Assassins have been issued a kill order to eliminate all wolf demons and their allies."
Gasps resonated through the clearing. Jen continued. "I ask you to not fear, however, for not even the League can take down our mighty kingdom. We will meet them head on and show them just what we are capable of."
This time, cheers lifted up through the air, pride swelling in Jen's chest. "But we can not do it alone, my friends, and we can not do it as we are now. We still have a great deal of strength to gain back and we must go above and beyond. In order to prevail, each and every one of you must put forth the effort to become stronger; Better. Mandatory training will begin early tomorrow morning.
"You will be broken into groups and rotated through each of the courses of training. Each course will last two hours, totalling eight hours a day. All will be required to participate in hand-to-hand combat, and energy manipulation. Depending on your preference and performance, your third class will be either blade-training, shooting, or healing and defense. Your fourth class will be based on applying what you have learned to challenging scenarios.
"I understand this is asking a lot of all of you, but dark times are upon us, my friends. I trust that all of you will do your part in restoring Aerisia to its glory and protecting our kingdom from our enemies who wish to see us fall."
More cheers came up through the air to reach her ears and Jen was surprised at how well they were taking this. Now would be the hard part though. She waited for the cheers to die down "As for my other statement, that we can not do this alone. As many of you have probably learned, I have opened the gates to a colony of cat demons who were attacked by the Delphyrs just as we had been. I urge you to accept them. They have lost just as much, if not more than we have. They know the pain of loss, just as all of you. They have even lost their homes and everything they once knew. I ask that you join me in welcoming them to Aerisia.
"Our ancestors say that those who rise from the ashes as survivors return stronger, with more determination to live than ever before. We are all survivors here, my friends, and the cat demons will be a powerful ally, as will other survivors who have fallen victim to the Delphyrs' path of destruction. We must band together to fight back this common enemy and show the Delphyr that we will not fall prey to them any longer!"
Cheering surprised Jen and this time, the cat demons and the rest of their allies who were present joined in, the sound of determination echoing through the kingdom. "Vivant Aerisia," she shouted and everyone shouted "Vivant Aerisia," in response.
A chant started up as wolves howled, and cats roared. The cheers of all echoed through the kingdom, as Jen turned and left the balchony, everyone who had stood with her following behind her.
As Salvatore closed the door behind them Jen laughed in victory, her pride coarsing through her veins. Her joy unbound, she jumped into Hiei's arms, who was shocked as she wrapped her arms around his neck, Jen's momentum spinning them around a few times. "They accepted it! All of it! I can't believe it," she said happily as she buried her face in Hiei's shoulder.
Hiei laughed quietly. "You did it, Onna."
His voice was soft, and barely audible, but it warmed Jen to her core. It was then that she remembered the other three in the room. She pulled back from Hiei and looked up at him carefully. He was tense and seemed a little uncomfortable, but pride shone in his eyes as he looked down at her.
"Sorry," she mumbled. "I got kinda carried away."
Hiei hn'd softly as she scratched the back of her neck and turned to everyone else. He watched as Salvatore came forward and picked Jen up, spinning her around several times, causing her to laugh as his own laughter and words of praise reached his ears.
Yusuke came to stand next to Hiei, clapping a hand on his shoulder. Hiei brushed the hand off quickly with a glare, but Yusuke was unphased. "You picked a good one, Hiei. Take care of her."
"Hn."
Nykairren was watching everything from the wall he had leaned against, the slightest smirk hovering on his lips. Salvatore finally put Jen down and she walked towards Hiei with a little trouble. "I feel like running until my lungs are about to burst. Would you run with me," she said with a huge smile on her face.
Hiei couldn't decline as he felt waves of her happiness crash into him. He managed a small nod. Jen laughed as she ran past him out of the room. Hiei raised an eyebrow when she returned a few seconds later to grab his arm and drag him along with her.
After several steps once they were alone, he pulled his arm back, causing Jen to spin around and crash into his chest. He caught her by her arms, but allowed her chest to make contact with his, a spark licking up his body at the contact. "I can walk fine on my own, Onna," he said shortly.
Jen nodded. "Sorry, you just hadn't moved yet and-"
He cut her off with a feral kiss, causing Jen to moan in his mouth as her hands slid up his chest. He pulled back after a few seconds and nodded towards the palace door. Jen smiled up at him. "I hope you don't mind, but I am going to run as a wolf," she said as she started removing her clothes.
Hiei watched intently, taking in her bared flesh. After she was completely naked, there was a flash and Hiei looked down to find a rather large wolf looking up at him. Her fur was the exact same color as her hair, her golden eyes shining. She turned and bounded off towards the exit and Hiei took a moment to pick up her tank top and pants. He stuffed them in his cloak before he smirked and ran after Jen.
He didn't know how long they ran for, weaving through the trees, playing something of a game of tag. He hadn't felt this light-hearted in..- Well, ever. Jen's playfulness and challenge had even him laughing and enjoying himself.
Just as the sun was sinking behind the horizon, Jen came to a stop at a small lake with a waterfall cascading down from the far side. She rolled around on her back in the grass, Hiei watching with an eyebrow raised. Jen stood up and stared up at him, her tail wagging behind her with enthusiasm. She barked at Hiei, causing Hiei's brow to arch further. "I don't speak dog, Onna," he said as he crossed his arms with a small smirk.
A snort of indignation came from Jen's nose as she head-butted him hard in the hip. He dropped his hand to her head to bury it in her soft fur. She leaned into his touch as he rubbed her ear softly.
Hiei dropped his hand after a few moments and another flash lit up the area around the lake. He looked down to find Jen, back in her regular form, staring up at him from her sitting position with her knees up against her chest. "I'm not a dog," she mumbled with slight annoyance.
He could still hear the slight humor in her voice as he pulled her clothes out of his cloak to toss to her. She caught them but set them on the ground as she stood. "Not yet."
Hiei arched a brow in curiousity as she turned away from him, stretching before she dived into the lake. Jen resurfaced after a few seconds and motioned for Hiei to join her. He scoffed as he crossed his arms but said nothing. Jen just shrugged and began swimming around as Hiei closed his eyes in contentment, her happiness washing over him.
Until he felt cold water make contact with his cheek. He opened his eyes in shock to see Jen staring at him with feigned innocence as his hand came up to his cheek. She splashed water at him again but he dodged out of the way just in time as his own mischief rose.
Without warning Hiei disappeared behind several trees, masking his energy so she couldn't sense him. He made quick work of his clothes before slipping into the lake without a sound. He spotted Jen with her back to him as she looked around the clearing. With a smirk, Hiei approached her.
"Hiei," she called out questioningly.
Hiei used the sound to mask his movement as he used his speed to move to stand directly behind her. He rested his hands on her upper arms, causing her to jump a little and try to turn around, but Hiei kept her from doing so.
He pulled her back against his front, running his hands down her arms and up her sides. His hands toyed with her breasts lightly, causing Jen to lean against him with a low groan. Having her exactly where he wanted her, he slid his hands down her body. Dipping below the water level, which came up to just below her breasts, he stopped his hands at her thighs.
Then, quickly and on purpose, he pulled her legs out from under her, causing her to be submerged completely under water. Hiei smirked and crossed his arms as she came up with a gasp, surprise on her face. Without warning, Jen splashed a huge wave at Hiei, soaking his hair and causing the bandana that he had forgotten to remove to drop down to cover his eyes. He sputtered in surprise as her splash attack didn't let up until his hair clung to his face and shoulders.
Hiei pulled the bandana away from his eyes as he narrowed them on her. Oh, she would pay for this. Hiei disappeared again as he pushed up a huge wave to crash over her from behind. She spun around and tackled him in the water as they wrestled playfully, Hiei inevitably winning.
He had her pinned against the rock wall near the waterfall, both of their breathing slightly labored. He dipped his head and captured her lips, a soft groan rumbling through his chest. Letting go of his self-control a bit, he deepened the kiss, his hand coming up to stroke her between her legs.
Jen moaned as her fingers wrapped around his shaft, pleasure shooting through his body. They teased each other lightly for several minutes, their passion continuing to rise until Hiei decided he had reached his limit. He pulled his hand away to wrap his fingers around her wrist so he could pull away her hand that had been torturing him so wonderfully.
Jen wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him against her tightly as his shaft rubbed against her core. It almost succeeded in breaking his self control as he clenched his eyes shut, his forehead resting against hers. "Onna," he managed to groan out. "Too much more of that and I won't be respecting your wishes for much longer."
Her mouth dropped to his collar bone, playing more havoc on his control as her hips moving pushed him dangerously close to the edge of burying himself inside her. "And if I want you to do that?"
Her words set fire to his already boiling blood as he pulled back and looked down at her. Her eyes stared up at him with a matching fire as his hand cupped the side of her face. Gods, he wanted to take her, but would she regret it later? He didn't think he would be able to take it if she did.
His self control a little more stable, Hiei kissed her softly. "Then we will at a time when our heads are not as clouded as they are now, should you still want that."
Jen nodded slightly, her legs unwrapping themselves from his waist as he stepped back a fraction from her. "We should head back," he stated and she nodded, avoiding his eyes as she stepped away from him.
"I'm sorry I lost control," she mumbled and he stopped her, forcing her to look up at him.
"Do not apologize for that, Onna," he said quietly.
"But what if you hadn't-" He cut her off.
"I did, Onna, and I will continue to do so until you decide you are ready," he said, his voice softer than normal, but still insistant.
Jen nodded slightly after staring into his eyes for several moments. Her eyes trailed up to his forehead to study his Jagan, causing him to feel slightly exposed. "A little unsettling, I know," he said quietly as he started to turn away from her.
She pulled him to stop as she continued to look up at his third eye. She shook her head. "I don't think it is unsettling at all. I think it is rather beautiful."
Hiei stared down at her in surprise. Well, that's a first. People had many different reactions to his implanted Jagan, but never had it been called 'beautiful.' She smiled softly and kissed him lightly on the cheek. "Come on," she said, her tone light as she took his hand. She laced her fingers in his, bringing his hand up to kiss knuckles that had caused far more destruction than most.
She let his hand go and moved to the edge of the lake, Hiei making his way to where his own clothes lay. He met her after he dressed, using his energy to dry his hair back to its usual spikey state. Together, they walked back to the inn, talking quietly about the training that was to come.
Unknown to them, eyes followed their every move, hidden in the trees and shadows. Once they were out of sight, the figure took its leave, disappearing completely into the night.
Six Months Later...
Jen growled as she focused on trying to find her fire demon who was only Gods knew where as she stood in the middle of a clearing. Training had ended nearly four hours ago, but Hiei and Jen stayed out for their usual sparring match. As usual, Jen couldn't sense Hiei until the last second when he would appear at some angle to try to land a hit.
Usually, he would come at her from behind, but after the third or fourth time, she caught on and he changed his tactic to attacking from a random direction. Bastard. Finally, she caught a spark of Hiei's energy to her left and she countered him, meeting his shin with her forearm.
She pushed her energy out from her forearm, pushing him back as he landed gracefully before he disappeared again, reappearing almost immediately behind her for another attack that Jen barely blocked. Several kicks and punches were exchanged at lightening speed, Jen content that she was finally meeting Hiei's attacks blow for blow.
Feeling brave, probably from being able to keep up with him, Jen took a chance. She grabbed his shoulder, using it to vault and spin over him and make contact with her shin to his side. Hiei barely shifted his weight, but it was enough for Jen to sink down, swinging her other leg out, knocking him off balance.
It only lasted for a split second though, as he rolled away, landing in a crouch. Now on the offense, Jen gave him no time to shift back to him attacking and her defending, choosing an old-fashioned tackle as she bounded after him much like she would if she was in her wolf form.
He caught her by the shoulders as they both tumbled several yards, fighting for the upper hand. Hiei won out as her back met the solid ground, his weight on top of her keeping her from moving. With a feral growl of victory, Hiei dipped his head and kissed her, his body moving against hers in sinful pleasure.
He pulled back and let her up after a few minutes, once he was content with the prize he had claimed for winning. Jen got up to stand in front of him, her breathing a little labored. Her eyes trailed over his shirtless form, a shiver running over her. She had resorted to wearing a tank top and shorts for training lately, as the summer of the Makai was approaching quickly. Each day was even hotter than the last and lasted several hours even after the sun set.
"You are improving, Onna," Hiei said with a small smirk.
Jen arched a brow. "After six months of this, I would be a little disappointed with myself if I wasn't," she said, turning to walk towards the palace. "I think I would give up trying to be a demon queen and go live a quiet life in human world as some desk clerk or something."
Hiei snorted slightly. "Desk clerk?"
She shrugged. "Was the most boring thing I could think of."
Hiei tilted his head. "How many times have you been to the human world?"
She tilted her head up to look at the sky in thought. "Avidan and I used to sneak out of Aerisia and go at least once or twice a month, but we haven't gone in over a year."
He hn'd quietly and Jen looked up at the approaching palace to see Lilith, the firey cat demon with black hair and green eyes waiting on the steps. Her arms were crossed, her sleek black tail flicking behind her in agitation and her ears twitching about slightly.
Jen had become fond of the teenage cat demon. Her attitude was sharp, having no problem telling anyone just what was on her mind and a temper with Kuwabara that rivalled Hiei's. Her father, who went by Ace, was the leader of the cat demon colony, who Jen had also become fond of.
Shaking out of her thoughts, Jen waved her hand in greeting to Lilith. Lilith dropped her arms to her side as Jen walked up and the braced each other's upper arms in the traditional Aerisian greeting. "What's troubling you, Lily?"
The cat demon growled at the nickname but disregarded it as she huffed in annoyance. "That stupid human keeps interrupting our meditation," she whined. "Everytime Yukina, Nadeine and I start to get into the right mind set, he bursts into the room to say something stupid to Yukina or bring her some lame token of affection."
Jen shook her head slightly, thinking about Kuwabara and his hopeless romantic antics as he tried to 'woo' a demon who had no idea about mating or relationships. Jen remembered trying to explain it all to her, but it was hopeless. Jen couldn't even say a lot of the things that were involved, so she just left it alone.
"I'll talk to him," Jen said, patting the cat demon on her shoulder.
Lilith nodded slightly, mumbling a thank you before she turned and walked towards the inn. Jen decided it would be time to make her way to the inn after she stopped in to tell Kuwabara to ease off.
She looked into the meeting hall to find Nykairren, Ace, Kuwabara, Yusuke, and Genkai talking about different energy manipulation tactics before they turned their attention to her and Hiei entering. Yusuke waved at them, Jen nodding in response before turning her attention to Kuwabara. "I hear you are giving the ladies problems with their meditation time."
Kuwabara scratched the back of his neck, laughing nervously. "It wasn't that bad," he mumbled.
Jen arched a brow. "Either way, you will leave Yukina and the rest of the girls alone during their meditation, or I'm going to let Lilith shred you like a ball of yawn."
Kuwabara gulped and Yusuke laughed. "Then she could roll around with you on the floor the way you like to watch your kitten do with a ball of yarn," he said, clapping a hand on his human friend's shoulder.
Ace crossed his arms as he raised a black eyebrow. Like his daughter, his hair, tail and ears were black and his eyes were a bright green. "You know, we aren't amused by string and shiny object jokes, but we do enjoy a good game of cat and mouse, if you are interested," he said with a wicked smirk.
It was Yusuke's turn to gulp and he laughed nervously. Jen shook her head. "Well if there is nothing you guys need, I'm going to go ahead and turn in for the night."
They all nodded and waved their goodbyes as Jen turned and left, Hiei silently following behind her. The trip to the room was silent as tiredness tugged at Jen's limbs. Her and Hiei had pretty much taken to sleeping in the same room every night, his warmth and company always welcome to Jen.
Her mind wondered slightly as they walked. The training over the last six months had gone even better than they had anticipated. The survivors had divided up pretty evenly over the three choice classes. Amber's defense systems kept them well-informed of any attacks and Jen and Hiei had been able to rid the world of a few assassins themselves, despite having the effectiveness of an insect just six months prior. Everything seemed to be going wonderfully. Most of the cat demons and even some of the wolves were beginning to regard Hiei as something of a leader, which Jen couldn't believe. It all almost seemed too good to be true. The only thing that was a little off was Hiei.
He'd been a little quieter than normal the past few days, and it had confused her as to why. His mind seemed to be elsewhere any time they weren't training. She had asked him a time or two what was up, but he never elaborated on it. He just hn'd and disregarded her concern.
They entered their room and Jen stretched as Hiei closed the door behind them. She walked to the closet where her clothes and an accumulating collection of Hiei's were kept and grabbed a large white shirt to sleep in.
She peeled her clothes off and pulled the shirt over her head, glancing over at Hiei. The fire demon was staring out the window leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, his back turned to her.
Jen came up behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist as she rested her head on his shoulder. His body had been tense and it relaxed to a degree but his body was still for the most part rigid. "Hiei, tell me what's wrong. Please," she said quietly, her concern for her intended mate choking her voice.
"It's nothing, Onna."
Jen sighed. "The Hell it is, Hiei," she said quietly, but firmly. "If something is bothering you to this degree, then it is something and I'm tired of you shrugging it off when I ask you."
Hiei tensed again before he sighed, turning to her. "It's really nothing, Onna. Just a bad feeling I can't get rid of."
Jen tilted her head to look up at him. "Then let me help, Hiei. I'm not completely useless, you know," she said as she nuzzled his neck.
His barely audible purr rumbled through his chest as he wrapped his arms around her. "I know you aren't useless, Onna," he said softly.
Jen turned her head and pressed a kiss to his neck, his body slowly relaxing under her touch as her hands roamed over his back. He picked her up silently and carried her to their bed, laying her down carefully before he made his way to the closet to kick off his shoes and change his pants.
She watched him intently as he turned back towards her, his predatory gait holding her transfixed as he walked towards the bed. He slid in beside her, pulling her close as he held her tighter than normal and buried his face in her hair, inhaling deeply. He relaxed more as Jen's arms wrapped around his torso and her lips found his in a tender kiss.
It still amazed her how someone so dangerous and capable of complete destruction could be so gentle. He had never hurt her; Not even on accident. The times that he held her like this told her more than any words ever could. He held her like she was one of the most precious things in any of the three worlds; Like he would fight all of the Heavens and Hells combined to keep her safe.
She didn't need him to vocalize that he cared about her, because she understood just fine. With a sigh of contentment, she parted her lips for him, their kiss deepening into a passion neither of them had ever known before. In that moment, she realized just how hard she was falling for him. It was almost frightening just how much he had come to mean to her.
He broke the kiss reluctantly, kissing her forehead lightly. "Sleep, Onna," he said quietly.
She nodded, kissing him lightly one last time before he laid on his back, gathering her into his arms as she melded to his side. Her head rested on his chest, and her hand traced random patterns on his chest before it came to a rest over his heart. She drifted off to sleep shortly after.
Hiei looked around his distorted surroundings, struggling to see. From what he could make out, he was in the palace, countless people that he couldn't quite make out scattered through out the throne room.
With a stab of pain, everything sharpened around him, his eyes adjusting to his now crystal-clear vision. He recognized wolf-demons and their allies, even a few old faces like Jin and Touya. Everyone seemed tense and uneasy.
That's when it happened. Just as he raised his eyes to see a figure cloaked in black, a dagger leaving its hand to fly through the air. He traced the dagger's path straight to Yukina's chest. Stunned and unable to move, he watched her fall as several people rushed to her aid. Vaislen held her in his arms and Selene fell to her knees, a cry of agony on her lips.
His vision dimmed at that point. Power coarsed through him at such a potent level, he swore his entire body would be shredded from the sheer pressure. He felt the dragon detach from his arm and wrap itself around him, its agony adding to his own. Distantly, he could hear his growls of anguish turning into yelling as the room flexed under the weight of his power.
It was then that he saw Jen rushing toward him and panic enveloped him. Before he could say anything, he saw the dragon wrap around her, consuming her as his own vision turned black. The last thing he could remember were hands on his face before everything faded.
"Hiei," a disembodied male voice coaxed. "Hiei. I know you can hear me. You remember me, don't you?" He growled. There was no way he could forget Sundrak's voice. The bastard was an old enemy who vowed to kill him. Not like he was the only one who wanted Hiei dead, but Sundrak had always left Hiei feeling a little uneasy. He always seemed to be a little more than the old Delphyr let on. The voice laughed. "Good. You do remember me. I just wanted to show you exactly what was to come for you. I just love the premonitions you get! Mark my words, Hiei. I will destroy everything you have ever loved. Everything you even remotely care about will be destroyed. And there will be Nothing you can do about it. So sit back and enjoy the show."
Hiei cursed as he shot up from bed into a sitting position, a cold-sweat slicking his entire body. He looked around, realizing he was still in Jen's room and it had all been a dream. No, he thought to himself. It was more than a dream; Too real to be a dream. That was indeed a premonition.
He only then noticed Jen was sitting up beside him, her arms wrapped around him. Worry filled her eyes as he looked down at her. He realized his entire body was shaking and the look of terror was probably plastered on his face.
His mind flashed to his premonition; Of Jen being swallowed by the dragon and another wave of fear shook him. Hiei felt her press her lips to his shoulder as he banished the images and attempted to calm himself. Her hand stroked his back slowly, helping to calm him as she whispered against his shoulder that everything was okay. But it isn't. He was going to be the death of her and everyone around him.
He needed to get away. He needed to put as much distance between himself and everyone else as possible. Maybe if Jen wasn't part of his life she would be okay. None of it could happen if he wasn't there, right?
He sighed. Looking down at Jen, he cupped her cheek, lowering his lips to hers, but he only felt despair. "It is time that I leave," he said quietly. "I don't belong here anymore than you belong with me."
Jen froze as she looked up at him. "What are you talking about, Hiei? We are soulmates. You don't get much closer to 'belonging together' than that."
He flinched at the sadness in her voice. "That was a lie your father told to push us into something before we were ready so that we wouldn't mate in the future. Leta told me after you had left after Carlotta." He sighed quietly. "You are a princess and I am a hybrid bandit. We aren't soulmates and we don't belong together."
Her anger rose slightly. "What about everything we have been through. Does that mean nothing to you?"
Unable to handle being so close to her, he pushed himself off the bed to stand near the window. "Don't I mean anything to you," she practically whispered as grief choked her words.
Gods, what he wouldn't give to return to bed and tell her that he did care. To gather her into his arms and tell her that he would fight entire armies to keep her safe. To tell her that he had to leave to keep her safe.
He couldn't though. Fighting entire armies would do no good if he was the one that was going to kill her, and she would follow him if she thought there was even the slightest hope that he cared. He needed her to believe that he felt nothing for her so that she could kill anything that she had been starting to feel for him. Move on with her life and mate with another wolf-demon who might be worthy of her.
"No, Jen. I feel nothing for you. I tried, but I do not care for you, or anyone else. I am not capable of those feelings."
With that, he forced himself out the window and ran as fast as he could manage. He felt her agony, her anger and her sadness and it was almost enough to make him want to turn back. It is for the better. Perhaps after I kill that bastard, I could return, but for now, this is what must be done.
A/N~ Aww, sad ending :( Anyway, imagine for a moment, that this chapter, chapter 14 and 15 were all originally intended to be one big chapter. This chapter by itself is over 6k words. I wanted to kinda make up for the lameness of last chapter by adding a few more Hiei/Jen fluffs so it took a little longer than I anticipated.
Anyhow, the next few chapters will be a bounce back and forth between what Hiei is doing and what's going on in Aerisia. As you can imagine, next chapter is going to be a very emotional one, so those of you who get emotional with the stories you read, grab your tissue box. :o
Review, PM, Follow, Favorite, or Stalk :)
Much love ~Jessa