LS: IT'S HERE!!! IT'S FINALLY HERE!!! 0
Which I apologize for taking SOOOOOO long!! When I first finished this chapter, I was completely dissatisfied with it. It seemed rushed, uncultured, and totally not worth anyone's time reading. I was infuriated with how I wrote it, and I felt as if it wasn't up to par with my usual writings. So I took a break, then went back and rewrote it three times just to make sure that it would fit everything I wanted to fit within it. I hope I haven't angered anyone by taking so long. : (
Thank you all for reviewing my story thus far!! I feel so loved and appreciated by all of you!!! And I would like to say 123 REVIEWS!!!!! I am so UBERLY excited. I'd like to give a shout-out to my last reviewers from chapter 13 who have made this possible.
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Thank you all so much!! Now the moment you've all been waiting for!!!
The Aoitsuki
…..Kurama…..
I was standing in the control room with Dr. Hazard waiting for Hiei to arrive. I spoke with the doctor, asking him various questions about the girl they had in the glass dome that the control room overlooked. He had recently pumped the dome full of gas to keep her moderately conscious so as to keep her calm and unprovoked. Every precaution was taken in order to ensure that she remains a captive. She has already done so much damage to the laboratory and the scientists and guards. Many had to be hospitalized because of her hostile behavior. She was just so incredibly powerful that we hadn't a way to keep her under control without the use of the dome.
Before her detainment here in the dome, she was just a regular prisoner like every other demon that had been captured by the SDF. They had put her in the prison below, keeping her under lock and key. We were sure that there was no way for her to get out. Her power levels were so low, no one was at all worried. We thought wrong. She had gotten to the doors of King Yama's throne room before we were able to detain her once again. None of the guards on any floor were able to stand against the Aoitsuki. Even the SDF were no match for her, as one after the other tried in vain to stop her, she batted them away like flies. There was no stopping her until she suddenly collapsed and fell into a coma. That was the only reason why we were able to detain her once again. This time, special preparations were made in order to keep her captive.
Dr. Hazard had asked King Yama if he could run tests on her and learn anything he can from the last Aoitsuki. When Yama agreed, the good doctor had created the dome in order to do so. She had broken from her bonds multiple times and had gotten out of the dome once, but thanks to Dr. Hazard's many lines of defense against her, she was immediately restrained and put back into the dome without much problems. Continuously he would make the dome better suited to her detainment. Many upgreades were made to the dome before she finally quit trying to get out all together.
It's almost sad to think that such a creature of legend could be broken so easily. Dr. Hazard's methods, however, are questionable, but I'm not about to interrogate the doctor on his practices. For all I know, he could have been ordered to use any force applicable and necessary. She is, after all, very difficult to control. Even so, he had been able to study the girl closely, without interruption. The only reason why I was brought here was for precautionary measures and to be his body guard if anything were to go wrong. From what I've learned, Dr. Hazard is a trusted and high official in the Spirit realm. King Yama wanted to make sure one of his greatest assets was protected.
From what the good doctor has learned thus far, the Aoitsuki is related to quite a number of different species of demons. Her DNA is almost a match to that of a siren's. We know she is able to control the elements of water and air, she can plummet the temperature to near sub zero, and summon ice at her whim. She created a tsunami that rampaged through palace, flooding four floors, the fourth, she then commenced to freeze into a solid block of ice, and tore whirlwinds through the corridors, taking with it all the personnel working at that time.. Her level of expertise is astounding.
Her power levels were completely off the charts when they first analyzed her. Her energy signature would come in like the tide. It was at first low, a mere 100, one reason why they put her in the underground prison, thinking that she would cause no damage; however, it tended to increase and decrease as time went on, not having a distinct signature. Then, before putting the receiver away, her last entry had its circuits overloaded. The reading was over three hundred thousand.
That's a higher signature than Hiei and Yusuke combined.
It amazed me. I haven't met the girl face to face yet, but everything that I've read in the report and learned by ear was truly phenomenal. I wasn't allowed in the dome, however. It was a precautionary measure. There's no telling what other powers she posses. She may be able to manipulate those around her, she may have the very air attack our lungs, there is even the possibility of draining the water from our bodies through our pours. We can only go on stories and legends and what she's shown us thus far. Aoitsukis where never properly studied, and from what I understand from Dr. Hazard, he's determined to change that.
The intercom buzzed on, Koenma's voice could be heard. "Kurama. Hiei's here. I need you to take him to the dome."
I pushed the red button. "I'm on my way, sir." I put down the clipboard that I had in my hand and made my way to the door.
"Kurama." The raspy voice of Dr. Hazard stopped me. "I would like to come along and see this Hiei of yours. It's not every day that you get to see the product of ice and fire. Keh Keh Keh." He chuckled.
I hesitated for a moment in my answer. "I see no harm in that. Though I would refrain from asking Hiei any questions. It would upset him." To the point of severing a few limbs. I kept that part to myself.
"Of course." He gave his peculiar smile, one that was not at all friendly. The doctor had a way of making those within his presence feel very uneasy. Whenever I caught him staring at me, his eyes didn't see another conscious living being, what he saw was another test subject to work on, something to dissect, something to take apart and put back together again. It was quite… unnerving. My hairs stood on end whenever I was around him. It wasn't that I was frightened of the wrinkly little burnt orange man with brown warts on his face, thinning, limp white hair, and a limp on his left leg, there was just something about him that was just not right, just not sane.
…..Hiei…..
Kurama led me through the halls talking about the Aoitsuki. Apparently King Yama's buffoons had found her on the border of Gendar about a month ago. Interesting how the SDF tell us these things last minute. She was out cold when they picked her up. After she had woken up in the infirmary of the Spirit World, they moved her to a special cell that will prevent her from using her powers in any way. What I want to know is why they need me to interrogate her.
"Well, Lord Hiei, all of the interrogators were unable to crack her. Every single tactic was of little use. Electrocution, burning, breaking her bones, not even Chinese water torture helped." He grinned at the thought. "When Koenma was informed of her capture he had forbidden the use of torture fearing the consequences of what the legends say surrounds the girl, so their hands were tied. They were only able to get one word out of the pathetic thing after all that annoying screaming she'd done. Nearly deafened the lot of us." Croaked that crusty old man in the laboratory jacket. His beady black eyes staring at me since my arrival. I didn't like the way he looked at me, like some lab rat for his maze.
"And what word was that?" I asked annoyed by his constant staring.
He gave an amused smile, looking at me as you would a questioning child. It irritated me. We stopped at the entrance to a large glass dome that was filled with a white haze-like mist. He punched in the code on a receiver and the haze started to evaporate, leaving only small traces within before opening the door. He looked to me, placing a hand on my shoulder. "It was 'Hiei'." He shoved me inside and closed the glass door behind me, the bolts locking into place, leaving me to interrogate the Aoitsuki. I looked to my left seeing a control panel operated by what I'm considering one of Dr. Hazard's lackeys, and a teenager no less.
He was wearing a sort of mask covering his nose and mouth, obviously for the air. He looked at me frightened, bowing in a show of submission more than respect. I could smell the scent of his sweat dripping from his fore-head as my eyes noticed the nervous shaking.
"Hiei, can you hear me?" Kurama asked me on the transmitter I wore in my ear.
"Yes, I can hear you just fine." I said. "Where is she?"
"She'll be in the middle of the dome. You'll have to walk a little ways to reach her. And be mindful of the her restraints. They tap into and zap away any form of demon energy that touches it. It was the only way to make sure she was completely detained."
"Right." I sighed as I started walking. The air was dense, the white fog almost suffocating me. It swirled around me in the nonexistent wind. After walking a little ways, I could finally see a figure in the distance, she was kneeling on the concrete floor, hunched over, her hair in disarray, dripping down, covering her face from my view. I couldn't quite see her just yet, even with the mist of the haze taken out, it was still difficult to see anything.
When I was closer I could see that she was shackled by her wrists, the chains leading up towards opposite sides of the dome. Where they led exactly I didn't know, I couldn't see it through the fog. I looked down at the pathetic site she was. Her only clothing were paper talismans covering her from her neck to her knees and elbows that prevented her from moving. I looked to her feet and saw that her ankles were also in chains bolted to the floor. Her cream white skin was tainted with crusted blood spatter, cuts running down her arms and legs. When I looked to the floor, there were symbols etched onto the surface, a protection circle of sorts, but instead of keeping things out, it kept her in. I looked to the back of her head and saw brown leather straps pulled tight into her scalp. They fitted her with a muzzle. What she did to make them have so many precautions was beyond me.
"Can you see her, Hiei?" Kurama asked me from the other line. I was about to reply when I caught movement from the sullen figure in front of me.
She peered at me through her long ink black bangs, her light grey eyes caught a light, becoming bluer, once she looked at me. She raised her head higher, allowing me to look at her fully.
My breath was caught in my throat.
….. Meanwhile in Koenma's office…..
"Yes, I understand the situation, Young Lord, but I must implore you to find another way of ridding your problem. I hope you realize that once you kill her, that species will forever be extinct. Though I am glad you've imprisoned my sister, I would hate to see the consequences of another death of a Blue Moon Maiden. She is worth more than your crown, Young Lord. I hope you realize that."
Koenma sat at his desk, speaking with none other than the ruler of the Northern Islands himself, King Onnisawa Yuriyuki, through the screen of his giant television. The situation was out of his hands. He's already gone against his father's wishes before, but compared to this, that was a minor offense. Helping Yusuke was like pick pocketing. If he defied this one as well, it would be like assassinating the President and his first twenty successors. There was no way for Koenma to overrule his father's decree. Not this time.
"I know, Lord Onnisawa, but my hands are tied. I won't be able to do anything. I know she's your sister and in lineage with the Northern Island's last royal family, but her offense is serious. It could upset the balance of the three worlds as we know it. Arare is the most powerful entity to have ever been born. My father had the damned hardest time trying to control her. If she's unleashed from the girl, there's no telling what she'll do!! I'm very sorry, Lord Onnisawa. I can't overturn the conviction."
The man on the other line went silent for a few moments. "When?" He finally asked.
"Three days."
…..Hiei…..
"Hiei? Hiei, can you hear me?!! What's going on? Why aren't you responding?!! Hiei!!!"
Whatever Kurama had just said, I didn't hear it. My eyes were wide, my mouth agape. I couldn't breath, all the air was punched out of my lungs. I could only stand there and stare at her.
"Hiei?" She whispered. The dark circles under her eyes almost black. She had never looked so fragile, so pathetic, so weak.
I swallowed hard, my throat became suddenly dry as I said just one word. "Sitsumi."
I couldn't see her face because of the muzzle, but I could tell she smiled, because it bled into her eyes making them a darker blue.
She screamed.
I could see the bolts of electricity course through the chains that held her captive, shocking her, blistering her. I could smell her burning skin, the electricity running through her hair, scorching it to the ends. I couldn't bare to listen to the screams any longer.
"Kurama shut it off!! Shut it off NOW!!!" I screamed into the receiver.
"Hiei what are you talking about? Shut off what?"
"Shut off the electricity you idiot!!!"
Her screaming stopped. The power had been turned off like I asked.
"Hiei, what's going on? What happened?" I took the receiver out of my ear, dropping it to the floor, then smashed it with my foot as I took a step forward. I didn't want him to interfere.
I looked back to her, kneeling in front of her, careful not to touch the chains that bound her. She looked up to me again, the dark blue luster gone, replaced by a dull grey hue. I gently brushed back her hair, wanting to see her face. The muzzle that was in place covered it from the bottom of her chin to the bridge of her nose. I could smell her blood everywhere, tainted with the drugs they pumped her full of. The scent was unrecognizable.
"You're alive?" I whispered to no one.
"Hiei." I heard her voice lilted into my ears. "I'm sorry, Hiei. I'm so sorry."
"No, it's alright. I'll get you out of here. I won't let them hurt you anymore. There's no reason for you to be here." I told her whatever I could to try and make her smile. I wanted to see her happy again.
"No, Hiei." She took in a deep shuddering breath. "You shouldn't be here."
I was taken aback. Not supposed to be here? "What the hell does that mean?"
"Hiei should leave. Hiei has to go back to them. Hiei can't be with me anymore." Her voice cracked at the last part. I could smell the salt from her fresh tears that poured down her blood stained cheeks. I cupped her face, shushing her, trying to silence her. Whatever they did to her has made her emotionally unstable. I felt my anger flare for a moment before my attention was returned to her. "Hiei, has to know. Hiei should know everything. I have to tell Hiei everything." She seemed to be carrying on a conversation with herself. "Hiei needs to know, Hiei needs to know, Hiei needs to know…" She kept chanting to herself.
"Sitsumi, look at me." I tilted her head to make her look at me. "What do I have to know?"
"Why does Hiei think I'm here?" She asked. Her demeanor changed. Her eyes became wide and wild, her breathing was harsh and rasped.
I opened my mouth to speak but couldn't find an answer. Why was she here? I shook my head no, waiting for her to respond.
She leaned forward putting her muzzled mouth against my ear and whispered softly. "Everything you know, Hiei, is a complete and utter lie."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"I am the one to destroy the order of the Spirit World. I am the child of Ametari. I am the vessel that holds the Spell of Water. I am the bearer of the new order to come. I am the Aoitsuki you have been searching for, and I am ordered to annihilate anyone who gets in my way." She spoke robotically, without feeling, without remorse, without concern… without her angelic lilt in her tone that made her seem so innocent.
What have they done to her?
"What are you talking about?" That flame of anger had risen up within me. It churned and lapped at my insides, scorching me with my own heat, the pain inside of my chest growing with each breath that fueled the fire, taking me to a new level of pure, unadulterated, fury. "What do you mean?"
"I am not who you think I am, Hiei. I am not at all what you think."
I stood, my rage being fueled by her words. It utterly sickened me to listen, to find more evidence of whatever sick and twisted games that these scientists have done. I looked towards the exit then stalked over to the teenager that stood by the entrance. He flinched at my heated glare and cried out as my grip latched onto the collar of his coat and dragged him to her. I threw him to the ground. "What happened to her?" He was shaking in fear. Good. It'll make it that much easier to beat the information out of him. When he didn't answer, I grabbed the collar of his coat again making him look me in the eye. "What did you do to her?"
"N-n-n-n-n-n NOTHING! I didn't do anything. I'm just here to take care of her. I swear." I threw him down in front of her so he could take a good look. I grabbed him by his thick black hair, pulling his head back at almost a break-neck angle. He convulsed in spasms trying to rid of my fist in his hair, and what seemed to be trying to get away from her. "Please, please, I don't want to be near her. Please let me go." He started to cry.
"Tell me what I want to know!!!"
"I didn't do anything. Whatever happened to her was done by Dr. Hazard and the other scientists. I'm only here as the caretaker. I feed her and bathe her and all that jazz. It's my job, it's what I was hired to do. I don't know anything about what they've done to her. Please, please let me go." He squealed. I let go of his hair, dropping him to the ground. Once he was free he scooted as far away from her as possible. "Please don't kill me, please." He had his head on the floor, bowing, not to me, but to her.
I glanced to her out of the corner of my eye. She was looking at him in a droll manner, her eyes still that dull grey.
"Hiei. What do you think of me now?" She asked.
"What?"
"I didn't mean to lead you so far into everything. I didn't want you to get hurt, Hiei. You're not supposed to be here. Please, Hiei. Please."
I didn't say anything. I couldn't find an answer to anything she was saying. I just couldn't understand what she was trying to tell me.
"Please, don't hate me. I don't want to kill you, Hiei. I really don't. I don't want to kill anyone! Please, Hiei. Don't hate me. I know everything, Hiei. It makes me want to die. She's everywhere, Hiei. I can't fight it. Please don't hate me. Please." Her voice cracked as if she was about to cry.
I took a step forward to see if I could console her. Her tears streamed down her face, healing the cuts that were visible behind the muzzle. She hung her head low, the tears now dripping towards the floor, hitting her bruised and battered legs. Each droplet that fell, another wound seemed to instantly heal. I didn't know what to make of it.
"Aoitsuki tears have the ability to heal any wound and if combined with other herbs correctly, can also cure any sickness. However, there are some plants that can make the tears become a deadly poison. Or at least that's what I've been able to research so far. Not sure if it's true, but best to cover all the bases just in case." I remember the book worm tell me once. It seems that it is true. An Aoitsuki's tears can heal, but… why Sitsumi? Why did it have to be her? Why did she have to be the Aoitsuki? Will I be forced to kill her? What will they do to her?
I took another step forward, and halted when I heard the shrill cry of the teenager a few away. "NO! Don't listen to her! Please, you've gotta understand! She's killed most of our staff already! She lures them in then slits their organs open from the inside. I'm telling ya!! She's… AH!!!" He cowered. His forehead was to the ground, hands over his head, his entire body shaking in tremendous fear of not me… but… her.
I looked to the girl, her attention on the boy. Her eyes were like ice crystals, cold and uncaring. Her mouth turned up into a smile at his cowering, seeming to enjoy his torment. I was taken aback by her sudden approval of the pain of others. The Sitsumi I've known had always tried her best to never hurt even a roach in her small café. This new side of her was entirely different, as if this personality was another Sitsumi all together, a Sitsumi I had never known until now. It was… frightening.
"Please… please don't kill me." I heard the boy crying, begging her for his life. Whatever she did, it scared him to death.
I opened my mouth to ask her something when I heard the door to the vault open. Footsteps approached us with haste, running like mad.
"Hiei!" I heard the fox's voice. He sounded worried and winded. I looked to him. He was standing with six guards, three members of the SDF, and the head scientist. The guards were hesitant to come any closer, the SDF surrounded the girl, their palms open with orbs of light emanating from them, ready to attack at any moment. Kurama ran to me, putting a hand on my shoulder. "Hiei, are you alright? When we lost communication with you, I had thought the worst had happened." I looked at him confused, knowing that I wasn't in any danger.
"She seduced him!!" I heard the teenager call out. "She's got him under her spell! You have to kill him now before he destroys us! PLEASE! He's gonna kill us all!! You've gotta listen to me!!" He started to sobbing. Two guards went to his side and tried to lift him from the ground. He was a dead weight in their arms.
"Hiei, what happened?" My attention was returned to him. "What did she do?"
"Nothing." I replied.
"Are you sure, Hiei? Aoitsuki's are related to sirens. She might have gotten into your mind to try and get you to release her. Are you sure she hasn't tried anything?"
I blinked slowly at him, my temper starting to rise. "No." I glowered
I heard her screech again as if her very life was draining from her. That same anguish cry that she gave when the chains electrocuted her. The same resonance of pain that ripped through my ears, wrenched at my heart, and tore apart my soul. I whipped my head around to find the SDF firing their spirit energy at her at the same time, burning her already singed flesh, cutting her limbs with invisible razors, making her cry out harder than before. My mind went completely blank.
I don't know what happened, but suddenly I found my hands were crushing the throat of one of her assailants. My eyes were glowing the darkest red as my mind told me to kill what I had in my hands, kill whoever dared try to harm her.
"HIEI, STOP!!" Came Kurama's cry, but I did not listen, I felt the life draining from the man on the floor, I couldn't stop, not until I felt his hot red blood sticking to my fingers, not until his very last breath leaves his body, not until I avenge what's mine.
…… Kurama…..
"HIEI, STOP!!" I cried out. All of a sudden he had attacked all of the SDF in one swift movement. Two he knocked unconscious, blood pooling to the ground from open wounds to their stomachs, the last one in his grasp, trying to fight him off in order to breath.
I lunged towards him, tackling Hiei to the ground, grabbing an arm and twisting it behind his back as I took a fist full of his hair in my hand, forcing his face into the ground. "Hiei!! You have got to calm down!! She's trying to control you!! You have to fight it!! Hiei! DAMN IT! Listen to me!" He continued to struggle underneath me, his eyes blood red, his pupils dilated to small round dot. I wasn't sure of what to do.
Before planting one of my creations, I kept Hiei's secured arm underneath my knee, the weight of my body keeping it in place. I grew a small plant, the flowering blue bulbs the size of peas. I crushed them in my hand, the pollen coating a deep purple. I clamped my hand against Hiei's nose and mouth, forcing him to breath it in. after another few moments of struggling, Hiei finally calmed down to the point of sleep.
I removed myself from him, wiping the pollen off and onto my pants leg, careful to not expose it to the air. I looked to the SDF member that Hiei nearly killed. I couldn't understand what might have gotten into him. The only explanation is that she used her powers to influence him to rescue her. It worries me. Hiei is a powerful psychic due to his Jagan eye. I had no doubt in my mind that he'd be able to detect any sort of intrusion that she may have had planned. I was sure that Hiei wouldn't have been affected by her mind games. The time she had gotten outside of the dome was when she controlled the minds of two of our scientists. They set her free and unlocked the door. Dr. Hazard electrocuted her to detain her.
She must be even more powerful than we had anticipated. Hiei's Jagan is never to be taken lightly. And to our unfortunate discovery, neither is she.
As the guards carried Hiei off, I looked to the girl chained and shackled. Her piercing blue stare ripping at my insides. Her grin unseen, but her eyes in an evil manner. Before I turned to leave, she laughed hysterically at the mess she had made, knowing she had used Hiei like a puppet in her twisted game of tag.
TBC…
LS: Holy mother of ALL that is good!! I can't believe I finally finished this darn thing!! Tell Me how'd you liked it!!
Now I know what most of you are thinking, and I told you that it'd get WAY better! ^-^ You didn't think I'd actually kill of my main character did you? I hope this makes up for the lack of updates, but I thought it was for the better, seeing as the first draft of this SUCKED! So please let me know if this lived up to any of your expectations. I'll be sure to write more.
Again, I will not give up on this story. It WILL get finished. I love it to much to stop. I admit it might take a little while, but I assure you that the story will continue until the last word has been written.
Thank you ALL for being so patient. I love you! See you next chapter!