Alisee smiled slightly, leaning back as she watched the full moon. It wasn't as if there was anything else to do besides that since she had been assigned guard duty. Especially when rain and Leena stayed away for so long. She knew she couldn't complain, it was better than being hit on, but still, it made life so boring.
She slowly sat up, gazing at Yoshi as he slept by the fire, his sword clasped lightly in his hand. He was always ready for batlle which surprised her even though he was a ninja. If it weren't for the glimpses she got of who he really was, she would have been unable to accept that he could be good. She had heard all about his association with the dark Kitsune, Tamamo-No-Mae, but when the battle was over, he faded with the tale.
Turning slightly when Draco admitted a low growl, she easily reached over to grab her bow. It wasn't wise, as she knew, to automatically change into her animal side. It gave away too much of her power.
"Yoshi,' she whispered as she crouched low, glad the moon was bright.
Draco bounded off into the foilage, yelping auddely as if he had been bit. She jumped up, dashing towards Yoshi as much as it hurt not to run to Draco's side. She knew she'd need help to see to whatever it was that had decided to attack them.
"Yoshi!" she screamed, dropping to his side to shake him, "Get up! We're under attack!"
Yoshi suddenly grabbed her, rolling on top of her just before a fire ball shot over them. Alisee held him down until it was safe then they both moved quickly. Alisee changed into a panther, moving silently through the foilage where Draco had disappeared. Yoshi crept around the outside to come up behind those attacking.
'I can't find him.' Yoshi mentally called to Alisee, surprising them both.
'I will.'
She moved around silently, staring at a small clearing where she could hear Draco's labored breathing. She knew she couldn't just rush to him with how obvious a trap it was, but it terrified her to see him like that.
'Watch my back, Yoshi. I have to save him.'
She could see Yoshi crouching just ont he other side of the clearing and moved slowly into the moonlight. Changing quickly back to her Human form, she gently checked him over. The only wound was a bite just above Draco's shoulder baldes. Healing it quickly, she was suddenly surprised when the air seemed to charge with electricity. She spun around, preparing for the magical attack that was being prepared to hit her.
"Alisee!"
She tried to dodge or block the spell, but it struck her full force, sending her flying into the trees behind her. For a moment, nothing happened except a slight tingle that danced over her skin. Then it seemed almost as if someone had a hold of her throat, gently squeezing the air from her body. She struggled against them, feeling something taking over her body.
With a laugh, she spoke, "Don't worry, Yoshi. I'm fine. The spell did nothing to me."
'Who the hell are you?' Alisee yelled at the intruder in her body.
'I am your other side, Alisi. You are a Veela. It is expected.'
Alisi brushed passed Yoshi, glancing around before sighing, "Hiei isn't here. Where did he go?"
Yoshi watched her in confusion but answered nonetheless, "He went with Sinamon on a mission. I think to the Koorime Isles in the Makai."
Smiling, she turned away, "Guard the barrier for me. I have important things to do."
With a wave, she disappeared through a portal, leaving Draco with Yoshi. Gently patting the wolf's head, Yoshi froze for a moment.
"We'd better try finding Leena and Rain so we can find her. Some thing's not right about this," Yoshi said as he pulled the communicater from his pocket.
./.
Hiei crouched low, staring at the rock that emitted a strange energy. Without his Jagan, he never would have seen it. He couldn't decide just how he would get the stone to move, but he was going to try. Pushing it, he felt it budge everso slightly. With a growl, he punched it roughly, surprised when it moved through the other side. A hole a little bigger than he was appeared in the wall of ice.
"Now to find the damn Lady of the Isle," he growled as the anger built within him.
Every moment he wasted trying to find the Heart of the Isle was another moment Sinamon came closer to death. It was only the Lady of the Isle that kept him from doing so, but he would soon fix that. Positioning himself to slide down the shoot, he froze when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Aset smiled at him, kneeling so she was level with him.
"Are you sure you want to do this?"
Nodding, he sighed when she let him go. Sliding quickly down the shoot, he landed lightly on his feet, flipping so he had time to draw his sword as he moved. The room was a high ceiling, most of the walls glistening with ice. His eyes strained to see through the darkness, to see just where the Elixir was. A small blue jar drew his attention. Moving quickly, he realized then that a wall of ice blocked his path.
Growling, he felt the fire within his spirit suddenly enflame at his rage. The ground trembled beneath him, reminding him of where he was. Quickly, he quieted his anger, two pictures flashing through his mind. The problem was that he had to choose between the people on the Isle and Sinamon.
The Elixir was behing the wall of ice, but he needed to think of the people above him. They could hardly be expected to survive in the real Makai that was below them.
Sighing as the tears gripped his throat tightly, his voice was a mere whisper, "Oh god, Sinamon. I don't know what to do. I can't lose you, but these people need their Isle." Sinking to his knees, his head resting on the wall before him, "I'm sorry. I can't let these people suffer, not even after everything they've done to me. I-I love you, but....I just can't let these people die."
Letting the tears fall, he could only clench his fists as he let the fear and sadness flow through him. Sinamon was ging to die and there was nothing he could do about it.
"Do not fear, Hiei. Sinamon will not die. You have passed my final test."
He looked up, spinning around to stare at Aset, "What are you talking about?"
"I am Lady Frenai. Each generation has one so we also have given names. Aset and Frenai are the same," she explained, her head gently touching the wall before him.
The ice, much to his surprise, melted under her touch, slowly dsiappearing as she watche dhim. He let her stare into his eye, to see the uncertainty and fear of what could happen. She only smiled at him as she stepped through the doorway that separated the two chambers.
"The choice was always yours. If you could choose others happiness over your own, I would willing allow you to take the Elixir to use it as you need. You chose correctly and now everyone will be all right. There is only one thing that is needed to complete the process." Gently placing the jar in his hand, she smiled, "You must sacrifice nearly half of your energy to her to ensure her survival."
"Only half? I would sacrifice nearly save her, " he whispered as he held the bottle tightly to his chest.
He could hardly believe that he had the Elixir that he had the power to save Sinamon because Lady Frenai found him worthy. Nodding a quick thanks to her, he ran from the room, hoping Sinamon could hold out a little longer.
./.
Satoru stared down at the young girl, casually glancing out the window. The blizzard had stopped which was rather surprising since the blizzard had been going for at least five years. He could only shrug as his mind worked to find the connection between Sinamon and the storm. The only that that made sense was Hiei.
'What if the boy destroyed the Isle to get the Elixir?' he thought.
The door behind him shot open, a young girl walking in as if she had lived there all her life. Satoru stood, facing her with his hands balanced lightly on his hips.
"What do ya want?"
She smiled, "Where is Hiei?"
He felt it immediately, the evil presence that was hidden beneath the surface of her. Whatever she wanted, she couldn't have.
"He's gone. Left the youngun here with me."
Her gaze flickered to Sinamon, her eyes hardening. If she wanted Hiei, Sinamon was a perfect key.
"Then I'll take her."
He shook his head, "Nay, she's sick. The boy will return soon enough with the-"
He was cut short, an arrow flying through his throat. The force it pinned him to the wall, his breath wheezing in as he stared at Alisi.
"Give this to Hiei," she said as she pinned to a note to his vest. She easily lifted Sinamon, "And I'll be taking her too."
Satoru could only stand there as she left, Sinamon carelessly thrown over her shoulder.
./.
Yoshi moved quickly through the icy tundra, easily dodging the trees as he stared up at the small cabin. draco howled as he ran towards it, stopping short to sniff around for a few moments. Yoshi, however continued into the cabin, stopping short as his eyes landed on Satoru. The old man's body hung limply on the wall, the thin piece of paper was colored red from the blood it absorbed.
He gently eased the arrow from the man's throat, laying him down across his makeshift bed. Taking the note from his shirt, Yoshi read through it quickly.
Hiei,
If you want Sinamon, come to the Lagoon of Bakh and you'll find her. I'm taking care of her while you're gone.
Love,
Alisee
He sighed then as he realized what was happening. Something, or more like, someone was controlling Alisee and that meant he might never see her as she was again. At Draco's howl, he hurried from the cabin. Hiei froze as he saw Yoshi, his eyes narrowing at the blood that covered Yoshi's hands.
"What are YOu doing here?" he growled, watching Yoshi closely.
"This isn't what you think. Alisee came here. She's looking for you and she stole Sinamon so you would do to her."
"Explain the blood then," Hiei yelled as he marched towards Yoshi.
Quickly shoving the note into his hand, Yoshi moved out of the way as Hiei's anger grew. He watched the fire grow in his eyes, the snow melting around him as the heat flared up around him.
Turning to Yoshi, he continued, "But what are you doing here? Alisee may have come, but you?"
Yoshi sighed, dropping into the snow, "I was working with aLisee when she...changed. I'm here to help her...I'm not after Sinamon."
Hiei moved towards the portal that he had been summoning while Yoshi explained, "You're in love with her?"
Ysohi stopped short, his eyes widening as he stared at the other man. Could he really be in love with Alisee? He knew that he wanted to be near her a lot and that he liked her, but love her?
"I-I think I am."
Hiei looked at him quickly, nodding slightly, "Let's go.
Alisi sat, staring down at the unconscious girl before her. Even though she wanted to kill her so desperately, then Hiei would simply be hers. If it wasn't for the fact that she still needed her spirit signature, the girl would be dead. It was obvious Hiei believed himself to be in love with her, but he was only mistaken.
With her makeshift throne beneath her and her hands calmly holding on sharp sword, she gazed at the unconscious body as Gogure chained her legs and wrists together. Sinamon had been easy prey, at least when Hiei had gone looking for the Elixir. Now she could only wait for Hiei to come and rescue the poor girl.
"Has he come yet?" she requested almost as if bored.
Gogure shook his head, "No, Milady. He had yet to reach the chamber, but he is here."
She turned her head when she heard a groan of pain. Sinamon slowly sat up, her head cupped in her hand. Alisi was smirking, her eyes glinting maliciously as she gazed at the woman that Hiei seemed to love.
"Well, it is good that you are awke. Now, tell me, Sinamon. Why have you decided to rejoin us?"
Sinamon's eyes were glazed as she looked around the room. They slowly cleared her sapphire orbs, staring at Alisi as she sat up on her throne.
"You!" Studying her for a moment, Sinamon seemed to realize it, "But you're not Alisee. At least the real one. Who the hell are you?"
Alisi smiled, "Me? Why I'm your worst enemy." Pauisng a moment, she smiled, "Now how about we get to business? I want something, no, someone you have...Hiei." Standing as she said this, Alisi smiled slightly, "You have two either. Either leave Hiei or die."
Sinamon pulled roughly on the chains, feeling the pain as the metal bit into her wrists. She pushed the fear she felt boiling up inside of her from her past captivity as she could concentrate on the situation at hand.
"And what if I choose neither?"
Alisi stepped in front of her, smiling down, "Gogure here will have a lot of fun showing you the mistake of your decision."
Gogure hefted his axe over his shoulder, his eyes narrowed as they gazed over her, "It'd be my pleasure. Especially when you're begging for me to stop."
She only glared, her arms working to get free of the menacles. She could see the look of pleasure that killing brought to him, but she couldn't let it happen when Hiei was counting on her. They were finally going to be getting married and yet no one seemed to care.
"Why should I do anything that will help you? I mean, you took control of my friend's body," Sinamon replied as she glared at the still figure before her.
Alisi seemed to contemplate what to say, her eyes distant as a smirk took possession of her lips, "If I get Hiei, I don't need you help." Turning to Gogure, she nodded, "Kill her."