Rujutoshi: Always glad to hear from ya! I would apologize about the telepathic confusion, but it was kinda intentional . . .
Ebony (Or whoever): No promises! Heehee! Oh, Fier, Copper, and Falla (Shanti's foxie) wanted to say hello to Lady Pearl and hopes to see her soon. (grin)
Demonic Cow: I'm glad my story wasn't what you were expecting, you have no idea how much of a compliment that was! Now for your Questions . . . . if you were referring to the chick Yusuke found then yes, you were supposed to be confused. But try to remember it! (hint hint) Tattoos in general play a pretty major role in this story, so if they show up, it means something, but not always what you think! No, not all Mages can use Telepathy, though the gift is common in minor degrees. The range is usually tiny, and very weak, making most who have it pretty useless. If I missed something, please tell me, thanks!
Hyperdude: Heh, I'm glad you liked it, and thank you for your review!
Disclaimer: I wish I owned the sexiness that is Hiei and Yusuke, but sadly it simply isn't so. That's life for ya.
Speak To Me Of Freedom By: Sharys AogailChapter 3
Yusuke knew what he was. If the white headband wasn't proof enough, the nine strips of gold that decorated his arms were a clear testament of the men that have fallen under his hands. Each gleaming circlet represented fifty lives lost, lives that could never be brought back.
At first glance, he hadn't looked that impressive, with his diminutive height and oddly spiked black hair. But his eyes told of something more, the color declaring him a Mageborn, and the intensity screaming with experience. Of course Yusuke knew what he was.
The man was a Shadow Runner, the Vahlkran Special Forces unit that had been said to rival Jantay's own Hell Hunters. Every one of them was a natural born killer it was said, as well as powerful Mages. Every Jantan rookie was told horror stories about their capabilities, often hearing tales of their unfortunate victims.
Yusuke knew this, yet he helped him anyway, whether the other soldier wanted him to or not. He had been surprised to find another survivor, but had been simply astounded to find him still ready to fight. Blood had been pouring freely down the side of his face, and his arm was twisted at an odd angle, clearly broken.
Even with that and who knew what else, the man was still willing to fight, even managing to use some form of magic (though it seemed a bit ineffective). The Gods knew Yusuke was a stubborn bastard, but this guy flat out refused to give in. If his body hadn't copped out on him, Yusuke was willing to bet he would still be trying to defend himself. I guess you could say he respected him for it.
After the small soldier had collapsed, Yusuke had gathered the other's forgotten weapons and dragged them both to a small creek where Yusuke could take care of both of their wounds. Personally Yusuke couldn't figure out how the guy had been standing at all. Most of the man's ribs were either cracked or broken, and his left arm was snapped in two different places. Some of the exposed skin held some nasty burns. Plus he was bleeding profusely from a large wound near his temple. Yusuke wasn't sure, but he thought that the skull had a small fracture.
Yusuke wasn't a medic, but he knew enough to help. Sacrificing his uniform jacket, he used the knife stashed in his boot to create long strips for bandages. He took care of his head first, slipping off his stained headband before carefully cleaning the gash as best he could and wrapping it. Realizing he couldn't do much for the burns besides washing them, Yusuke moved on to some of the more serious wounds. He bound his chest as best he could, hoping to give the man's battered ribcage at least some support. Finally, Yusuke set and splinted the broken arm using a stick, the scraps that remained, and two of his patient's many belts to secure it tightly.
With his task finished, Yusuke scratched the back of his head and stared down at the man that was supposed to be his enemy. "Why do I get the feeling you're gonna give me nothing but trouble?" he grumbled, not really expecting the Vahlkran to answer.
Images of began floating to the surface, reminding him of a past best left forgotten. With a low growl, Yusuke shook his head as he brushed the thoughts aside, forcing it back where it belonged. It would be better if such things could be locked away forever.
The past is the past, Yusuke told himself harshly. Leave it be.
With that thought securely in his mind, he walked over to the creek to wash off his own cuts and burns, all the while thinking about what he would do next.
oOoOo
When Hiei awoke his first impulse was to reach for his sword. The reflex came to an abrupt halt when he realized that he couldn't move his left arm. He laid still for a moment longer as his memory washed over him, his last encounter soon becoming fresh in his mind. Mindful of his injuries, Hiei slowly sat up and took stock of the situation.
While not at it's proper place on his belt, his katana was laid out next to him, easily within his reach, along with his rifle. His wounds had obviously been tended to, with his arm splinted and the tight bandage that had replaced his usual headband. And seeing that he was breathing with a relatively small amount of pain, he suspected that his chest was bandaged as well.
As Hiei looked around, his eyes hardened as they found the man that had diffused his barrier. He was sleeping with his back against a tree, his arms folded across his chest and his legs stretched out and crossed at the ankles.
Remembering how the man had rendered him unconscious, Hiei growled and grabbed his rifle and lifted it against his shoulder, using his knee and splinted arm to steady his aim.
The Jantan cracked open one eye and smiled, showing that he had been awake the whole time. "Enjoy your beauty sleep?"
Hiei glared at the young Jantan. "What kind of suicidal moron tends to an enemy soldier and leaves him armed?"
The other man chuckled and leaned forward, scratching the back of his head. "Heh! Me, I guess. But if you really wanted to kill me, you would have done it by now."
Why that presumptuous bastard . . . ! Hiei squeezed the trigger and was rewarded with a loud CLICK! "What the -?"
"Looking for these?" The Jantan's eyes gleamed as he pulled something from his pockets, revealing a long .30 caliber round. He gave a mischievous grin. "I'm not a complete idiot. The sword's only good at close range, and without these, your gun's nothing but a fancy club."
Hiei cast the gun aside as he felt his blood begin to boil, and tried to keep a tight rein on his temper. His magic reserves were as good as gone, and while he would love to see the bastard burn, to tap into his life energy even a little would be suicide at this point. He clenched his fists to keep from lashing out. "Why didn't you kill me?" he bit out with a snarl. "I am your enemy!"
"Oh. So you wanted to be left for dead, is that it?"
"I was fine until you came around and fucked things up!"
The Jantan looked amused. "Really. From what I remember you could barely stand on your own two feet. Now, I don't know what the hellthe Big Boys on your side were thinking, but soon reinforcements are going to come from Jantay. If they find you here, they will kill you. Or worse. We need to get out of here soon, or would you rather wait for the welcoming committee?"
Hiei's gaze darkened at "we." "Don't you want to wait for your little friends?"
The Shade blinked as the Jantan suddenly burst out laughing. "Hell no! As of right now I am officially resigned. The only way I'm going back to the military is if they're carting me in a body bag."
A deserter? Hiei's eyes narrowed. If the man had turned traitor once, it stands to reason that he would do it again.
Seeming to sense where his thoughts were going, the Jantan stood and scratched the back of his head in annoyance. "Hey, listen, I'm not asking you to trust me. Hell, I'm not even asking you to like me. But right now I'm the only thing you've got."
Hiei's anger flared up in an instant, his glare becoming scorching. He desperately wanted to show this bastard that he could take care of himself. "What makes you think I need you?"
With a smirk, the taller man folded his hands behind his head and leaned back against his tree. "Alright short-stuff, prove it. Try to stand."
Biting back a particularly nasty comment, took up his sheathed sword andused it to haul himself to his feet. His injuries screamed in protest, but he ignored the pain stare at the Jantan defiantly.
"Very good. Now let's see you walk."
Suddenly overconfident, he took a step forward only to stumble over his own feet. His sword was the only thing that saved him from a fall. It was clear his body couldn't fully handle his own slight weight.
"You were saying?" the Jantan asked.
Gritting his teeth, Hiei looked away, his pride now as battered as his body. With his strength and magic gone, if it came down to any sort of confrontation he would lose. There would be no possible way he could win a straight fight. "Bastard," he hissed softly, his voice bitter.
Letting loose another sigh, the Jantan moved to kneel near Hiei, coming just within striking distance. "Look . . . we could argue for hours, but at the moment we don't have the time. Hating my guts is all fine and good, but we need to jam before my buddies decide it's a good time to swing by. Three days, just until you can travel on your own. Hell, you can even kill me afterwards." He held out a gloved hand to Hiei. "So?"
"I'll hold you to that," Hiei growled lightly, slowly accepting the proffered hand.
The Jantan gave a cheerful grin before hauling the smaller man to his feet. "I'm sure you will." He shifted until Hiei was leaning against him for support. "The name's Yusuke, just in case you wanted to make me a tombstone."
"Hn. Hiei."
Author's Note: Hello! Sorry that this took so long to get out, but you know how it goes, school, More school, horse ranch, friends . . . life! Anyway, the next chapter is going to be a long one, and should be up relatively soon. Thanks again to my wonderful reviewers! You guys ROCK! Remember, no new reviews means no new chapters! Cheers!-
Sharys