Hello again! Angel speaking!
I tried to make this next chapter really long because I haven't been able to update due to moving. It's amazing how many "I totally forgot I had that", "Oh my god! I was looking for that" and "Why the hell did I keep this?" moments you encounter when going through all your stuff. Anyways, the chapter ended up being too long so I cut it in half. I'm almost finished with the second part so another chapter will be up within a couple days. This chapter gives a little more detail on vampires (my version of them that fortunately don't sparkle like diamonds when shoved into the sunlight). I tried to add in a lot of bantering to make the vamp information more entertaining to read.
I also know that for some words I switch between English and Japanese, like woman and onna. Sometimes one sounds better than the other, but if it's too confusing just let me know.
I want to thank my devoted readers for sticking with me this far. It's a pain in the arse because I have the story already mapped out in my head, but not a lot of time to write it. Heck, I already have an idea for a sequel, but I'm getting too far ahead of myself. :)
I do not own the rights to Yu Yu Hakusho or any of its characters, excluding Selina, Takashi, Mariko, Ryo, and Takeo. If I did own Hiei Lord knows I wouldn't be sitting here at my desk. ;) Comments and constructive criticism are welcomed with open arms and flamers can take a flying leap off the Empire State Building. I hope you enjoy! :D
Chapter 16: Got Blood?
"Yusuke, your bony shoulder is stabbing me in the gut!"
Selina pushed up on the boy's shoulder to take some of the pressure off her squashed insides. It didn't help much as the boys were ascending a spiraling stone staircase and every time Yusuke took a step up, gravity pushed Selina back down.
"They're not bony! I have broad manly shoulders!" Yusuke lifted Selina's legs forcing her upper half to hang back down. The female grumbled as she heard chuckling from Kuwabara, who was walking beside Yusuke, and Kurama who was walking behind him alongside Hiei. She lifted herself up again and turned her head to look at her captor's gelled head.
"Uh huh. Well thank your lucky stars I didn't eat breakfast this morning, otherwise it'd be all over your manly shoulders right now." His response was to snort and squeeze the arm that held her legs hostage.
A choking noise caught her attention and she saw Kuwabara giving her a wary look.
"What?"
"Uh…you're not hungry right now, are ya?"
Selina sighed. Ever since Kuwabara had found out about her vampire blood he'd been giving her suspicious and cautious looks, like she was going to eat him at any moment. She'd had enough.
"Kuwabara, look at me."
The young boy gulped and locked his dark brown eyes with her sky blue ones.
"I may be part vampire, but that doesn't mean I'm going to bite you or hurt you or whatever else you think I'm going to do. That being said, if you ever attacked me I'd defend myself."
"You're a girl! I'd never fight you!" Kuwabara said with an indignant look.
"Then you have nothing to worry about," Selina responded with a raised eyebrow. He still looked unconvinced so she gave him a friendly smile, not showing any fang. "If it makes you feel better, I've never bitten or fed on anyone since my father's seal broke."
He blinked. "Really?" She nodded.
"So you don't need blood then?"
"Not to survive, no. I will admit I do need it to heal though."
"To heal?" Yusuke asked.
"Mmhm. Vampires heal very fast. I don't. I feel the Thirst when I lose blood because by consuming it I heal at the same rate that a vampire would."
"What's the Thirst?" asked Kuwabara, looking at his female companion with more curiosity than wariness now.
"It's what vampires call the blood hunger. Ya know, the need to feed and all that."
"What does it feel like?"
Selina smiled at the orange-headed human teen. "You really want to hear about vampire physiology?"
The tall boy looked confused so Kurama jumped in. "Physiology deals with the different functions, physical and chemical, of living organisms." Kuwabara still had a vacant look on his face.
Hiei growled and rolled his eyes at the boy's stupidity. Selina grinned at his reaction, then looked back at the tall teen. "He means it talks about how the body works."
"Oh! Yeah I wanna know."
"Fool," Hiei grumbled under his breath. Selina and Kurama heard it, but fortunately Kuwabara didn't.
Selina looked at Kurama and Hiei who looked expectantly at her. "You guys too?"
"I'm afraid I haven't dealt with vampires very often and so know little about them other than the obvious," said Kurama.
"Plus, if we ever have to fight these guys it'd be good to know how to kick their asses," added Yusuke.
Selina rolled her eyes and sighed. "There are many ways to harm and kill vampires."
"Holy water?" Kuwabara piped up.
Selina laughed and shook her head. "Holy water is just water. A vamp can shower in it if they wanted to."
"Garlic?" asked her fellow detective.
"Is delicious, but will give anyone, even a vamp bad breath. And being stabbed with a wooden stake would hurt like a bitch, but it wouldn't make a vampire turn to dust. Forget about all the religious bull hockey you've heard about vampires, like they sold their souls to the devil for immortality."
"So the vamps just popped outta the ground and decided humans looked good enough to eat?"
Selina playfully smacked the back of Yusuke's head, which earned her a "Hey what the hell!"
"Vampirism was caused by a virus thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands of years ago. It mutated the DNA of humans and caused them to evolve into vampires. However, not every human can be changed. I've heard there's a specific gene that the virus bonded with, and less than a quarter of the human population has it."
"So how do ya know who can become a fang face?"
Selina didn't have to see Yusuke's face to know he was wearing his cheeky smirk. "Hey! Vampires aren't the only non-humans that have fangs ya know!" she said smacking the boy's head again, much to the amusement of their orange and red headed companions. "And as for your question, we don't know who carries the special gene. However, if a vampire's Chosen is a human, they usually have it."
"The people who don't have the gene-thingy don't change if they're bitten?" Kuwabara asked, seeming to be a lot calmer about the topic then before.
"Um, well it doesn't take just a bite to turn a human, and if a vamp tries to turn a human who doesn't have the gene, the human dies."
Poor Kuwabara cringed at the revelation. Selina gave him an apologetic smile.
"The turning requires a blood exchange, am I correct?" Kurama tilted his head a bit to the side following his inquiry, and Selina wondered if he realized his foxy habit. It was just too cute she thought.
"Ya that's right. The sire, or the vampire doing the turning, has to drain a human until they're near death. This is because the virus is weak on its own, and a healthy human immune system can easily defeat it. However, if you take away most of the blood in the body, the immune system is pretty much non-existent. This explains why people thought vampires were the undead. In the old days the virus attacked the dying, but of course other people would assume them already dead and bury them. However, the infected human would be undergoing the change while in their grave. If you saw Uncle Hiro pop out of the ground the day after his funeral, I'm sure you'd think he was the living dead too. Anyways, when the body has been drained the sire has to give the human his or her blood. The virus is then given free reign to mutate the DNA to its heart's content. If the human has the vamp gene and survives the change you got yourself a brand spanking new vampire fledgling. That part of vampire lore is at least the same."
"Hn. You haven't said anything about how to kill them." Hiei caught Selina's gaze and the butterflies were let loose to party in whatever part of her lower abdomen she still had feeling in. His eyes seemed so cold, so devoid of emotion. She wondered if he'd ever smiled or laughed in his entire life. Considering how sexy he was now, even with his trademark glare, she knew if she saw him smile she'd swoon like the pathetic helpless romantic she was. And Kami, his deep voice sent tingles down her spine. If he ever laughed she'd most likely lose what self-control she had and pounce on him. Her, a naïve virgin, jump the bones of the heartless demon thief. What a riot.
"Onna, what the hell are you looking at?"
"Your handsome face."
With a blush she realized what she'd just said. Maybe it was due to the thoughts she'd just been having of Hiei, maybe it was her vampire nature letting itself be known, or maybe it was both. Whatever the reason, she'd just said the first thing that came to mind. Out of the corner of her eye she saw the fox trying to keep a smirk off his face, but he lost the fight when Selina glared at him. Kuwabara was too stunned to say anything and Yusuke was trying not to fall over laughing. As mortified as she was, Selina couldn't help but grin, as the short demon's eyes got wide for a split second, then narrowed at her in a deadly glare. She would have been nervous had it not been for the slight redness on his cheeks. She took pleasure in the fact she made the emotionless demon blush and he looked adorable when he did. Her humiliation was completely worth it.
Selina coughed and turned her attention to Kurama and Kuwabara. "Sunlight is deadly for vampires. They don't spontaneously combust, but they do get instant third degree burns. The pain, massive dehydration, and damage to the body will kill them in seconds, maybe minutes depending on how old they are."
At Kuwabara's confused expression she clarified. "The older a vampire is the stronger they are. Fledglings are young vampires, and when I say young I mean in years after they were turned. Obviously they're easier to kill because they haven't yet adapted to being a vampire. There are your average vampires, which can be a challenge to kill. Master vampires are usually vamps between 1,500 and 5,000 years old. They're extremely hard to kill. However, Elder vampires are the scary bastards that have survived for more than 5,000 years. They're exceedingly rare and you have a .001 percent chance at life if you piss one off. I've heard of Elders being able to withstand sunlight for hours."
Kuwabara's jaw dropped and his skin paled. Yusuke let out a whistle.
"Damn. What the hell would you do for 5,000 years?"
Selina chuckled. "Probably play with the mortals, join a coven, go to the casinos, take up night golfing, tick off some demons. Ya know, stuff like that."
"Why would vampires wanna mess with demons?" Kuwabara said while sidling a look at the tall red head and short swordsman.
"They usually wouldn't, unless they were strong and wanted to test their skills or were just gluttons for an ass beating. A lot of demons don't take too kindly to vampires. It has to do with an old blood feud and vampire's energy signals, or lack of."
The tall teen looked confused. "Energy? I can't sense any energy from you. No offense, but I just thought you were uh kind of uh weaker." Kuwabara colored in embarrassment. Selina laughed and smiled, letting the human know she wasn't mad at him.
"Shows what you know," mocked Yusuke.
"Shut up Urameshi! If you didn't have Selina on your shoulder I'd kick your butt!"
"Excuses, excuses." The detective grinned as his flustered rival started to resemble an angry tomato.
"Give it a rest you two," Selina sighed and turned her gaze toward the fox with a pleading look.
Kurama chuckled. "There is an explanation as to why you cannot sense Selina's energy Kuwabara. No one but vampires can detect their own by spirit energy alone. This is the reason why most demons don't particularly care for them."
"Huh? Why can't we sense it?"
"Because the virus didn't just mutate the human DNA, it also mutated their spirit energy. Demons, humans, and other supernaturals can't sense vampires, but vampires can sense them. Demons in particular don't like that vamps have that advantage over them." Selina shrugged the best she could while hanging upside-down.
"Hn. They can still be found by using the other senses. I've encountered a vampire before and they have an unforgettable stench." Hiei smirked as the woman shot up and gave him a dirty look.
"Oh really? Pray tell, what do they smell like oh Lord of the Sniffers?"
Hiei narrowed his eyes at the nickname. "Like old nasty human blood, death, and sex."
Kuwabara made a slight choking sound.
"Funny, I thought demon's loved that smell. That's what the Demon World smells like right? Death, blood, and sex? You sure you weren't just sticking your head in your armpit?" Selina bared her fangs in a predatory grin.
Hiei snarled and lunged at the woman, but Kurama grabbed his arm halting him. The female both amused him and annoyed the hell out of him. Right now, she was doing the latter and Hiei concluded she needed to be put in her place. All the demon females he'd come across knew just by looking at his merciless face that provoking him would lead to their deaths. This hybrid female knew he was deadly, yet still she fought with him, challenged him for dominance. Strangely, his normal bloodlust was intertwined with a different kind of lust. She was pouring gasoline on the flames. If she kept on like this, she would find herself consumed by a wildfire and he would show her no mercy. Damn woman.
The sudden heat in Hiei's blazing gaze erased Selina's grin from existence. Maybe she'd gone a little too far because beneath his cool façade lay a seriously POed demon. She didn't know why she couldn't keep her mouth shut around him. Usually it was hard to get her to show her anger, but this male was the match to her dynamite. His words just made her so angry, and instinct told her to fight back. She felt like the idiot who was prodding the sleeping beast with a sharp stick.
"Hey, don't make me separate you two," Yusuke joked while finally setting down his partner as the group made it to the top of the spiral staircase. Selina's legs almost gave out, but Yusuke caught her and helped her to stand.
"Thank you for making me lose feeling to everything below my waist," sarcasm laced her words as she let go of the gel head to stumble over to one of the large arched windows that kept repeating down the hall they had walked into. Selina ignored the snickering coming from her fellow detective. She held onto the sill as the landscape was revealed to her.
They were getting pretty high up now. She saw other parts of the castle below. Most likely they'd already traveled through them. The sky was a shade of rust and the wind was herding the fog in around the towers, making it hard to see the city outside of the ugly stonewalls. The breeze was cool but brought the unpleasant odor of death and decay.
"Gloomy place," Kuwabara said with a frown as he came to stand beside Selina.
"Agreed."
"Kurama, how terrible is that wound?" Yusuke looked at their fox friend in barely hidden concern. Selina, now able to feel her legs, let go of the windowsill and turned towards the guys. Her fellow detective was standing to her right, while Hiei was next to him, and then Kurama. They made a circle so everyone could be seen.
"It's fine. I had an excellent healer." The fox smiled at the slight blush on Selina's face.
"It was nothing," she said, waving her hand.
"He'll survive, but he's in no shape to fight. That means we only have four fighters left and one of them is worthless."
The only female covered her mouth to stifle a laugh. She didn't know why the two picked on each other but she found it hilarious. And the one Hiei spoke of probably wouldn't understand his meaning. She was right.
"Hey, don't be so hard on yourself short stuff." Kuwabara grinned.
"Maybe I'm going out on a limb here, but I think he meant you," Yusuke said giving his rival a dry stare.
"Is that so? Then maybe I should show you something." Kuwabara put his fists on his hips and faced the group. "What do you think I've been doing the last six months while you were off training with Genkai? Letting you get better than me? Nuh uh!"
The carrot head brought up his right hand to show the others. Selina felt the teen's energy increasing.
"Spirit Sword!" he yelled as a bright orange light shot out of his fist into the weapon he had proclaimed. Selina's eyes widened in surprise. The boy definitely had potential if he was able to manipulate his spirit energy like her partner could.
"Hey watch it!" Yusuke leaned back to avoid getting hit with Kuwabara's spirit weapon. The tall teen just grinned again.
"You see what I've learned Urameshi? I don't got to use the tip of that wooden sword to make it work anymore. It's just my pure energy, and I'll bet it can kick the crap outta your spirit gun!"
"That depends on what finger I use," Yusuke replied flipping his rival the bird. Selina giggled at the exchange.
"Well as it turns out he's only partially worthless," Hiei said mockingly.
"Here we go again," Selina whispered under her breath. As she had predicted Kuwabara had taken the bait.
"Ok, you wanna die!" The boy brandished his sword in the short demon's direction with a scowl on his face.
Hiei just smirked. "I dare you."
Selina rolled her eyes and put herself between the two guys again, holding her hand out to stop Kuwabara from charging. "Kuwabara don't. He's just trying to antagonize you. Ignore him. We have bigger fish to fillet right now."
Selina ignored the growl from behind her.
"Ya ya, let 'im live. I'm pretty sure he'll be saying sorry after he sees what else I can do. Sword get long!"
One of Selina's eyebrows rose as the boy's energy sword extended up till it broke through the stone ceiling. She jumped back to avoid any falling debris, momentarily feeling the heat coming off the demon standing behind her. She realized she never asked him what kind of demon he was. By the warmth of his body and his scent of hot spice she could guess he was an apparition of her favorite element. Of course he would be, she thought glumly.
"Wow it even comes with a spear attachment." Yusuke said sarcastically.
Kuwabara chuckled like a dork. "I can make it any size I want it to be." With that said, the sword diminished until it winked out. "I know when Genbu showed up I got a little, what's the word, freaked." Selina cringed at the ugly face he made. " But that's not going to happen from now on my friends, because Kuwabara's got the good stuff!"
He proudly pointed to himself, but then collapsed on the floor.
"Don't worry guys. It's just sometimes the sword makes me a little dizzy."
Selina chuckled along with Kurama as Yusuke bent over the fallen teen. "You're not making us look good," he said through clenched teeth.
"Ya know Yu, I never got to ask you how you're training went with Genkai," Selina said, putting her pointer finger to her lip in thought. Yusuke ignored the idiot on the ground and stood to place his fists on his hips.
"That old hag is a heartless bitch!"
Selina burst out laughing at the glare on Yu's face.
"You know her?" Yusuke said with a raised eyebrow.
"I've trained with her before. She's also my fellow gamer and karaoke buddy." Selina laughed again as Yusuke's jaw dropped.
"You're joking right? That old bird wouldn't sing!"
"She will if you get her drunk enough." Selina smirked.
A ringing sound interrupted them. Yusuke brought the communicator out of his pocket and flipped it open to reveal a worried Botan.
"Yusuke, Selina, you've got to hurry!"
Selina stood beside Yusuke, looking into the screen with furrowed eyebrows. The blue haired Reaper was panting as she ran down a street. She was nervous and afraid. "What's the matter Botan?"
"Listen you two, I think the Saint Beasts have launched another wave of insects. I found a whole batch near an elementary school."
"What? They're taking over kids now?" Yusuke said with a frown.
"That's right."
"Those bastards!" Selina growled while clenching her fists. She loved kids. She loved their innocent natures, and their naïve outlook on life made her smile. In a way they were pure, untainted by the evils of the real world. But now these Saint Beasts wanted to take that purity away. Her hatred for the Saint Beasts increased ten-fold. "Botan, I thought you said these insects only liked to take over the minds of depressed people?"
"Well that's because depressed people are easily influenced. The same can be said for children, but if the bugs get into them I'm afraid…" Botan cried out in surprise and the two detectives saw her fall back on the concrete.
"Botan!" Selina took the comm from Yusuke, hoping to any god that her friend was all right.
"Okay you're afraid, I get it. Now finish your sentence," said Yusuke from over her shoulder.
"Sorry Yusuke, but I'm being chased now!"
"You're being chased? By who?" Selina gripped the comm tighter.
"By another guy under the control of the Makai insects, and this one looks especially unfriendly!"
"Just keep running!"
Botan did just that. Kuwabara and Kurama moved to stand besides Yusuke so they could peer into the screen.
"I've knocked out all the other victims by sneaking up on them," she said as she ran into an empty storage room. Selina gasped as her friend yelped when a fist went through the door behind her. The possessed man had broken into the room with Botan.
"Well can't you call for help or something," Yusuke asked, clenching his fists.
"Or run away," whined Kuwabara. The comm. dropped onto the smooth cement floor. The four worried companions could barely see Botan get attacked by a charging male. For a moment the screen went blank.
"Botan!" Selina and Yusuke yelled into the purple compact mirror. The short spirit detective's eyes were wide with fear for the friend she couldn't save. Helplessness was not a feeling the hybrid felt often, but now she was drowning in it as her instincts screamed at her to somehow jump through the mirror and protect the ferry girl. The screen suddenly flashed back on, showing Botan sitting on the floor besides an unconscious human.
"Damnit Botan! Don't scare me like that!" Selina growled, relieved her friend was safe, but angry that she had been put in harms way.
"Oh wow, you got him," Yusuke said in surprise, gripping his partner's shoulder to try and calm her down.
"Well I'm not making a career out of it! Selina, stop growling at me. I didn't ask for him to attack me," Botan said with a sigh.
"I know, but why the hell did Diaper Boy send you out alone in the first place? I'm calling Mari for backup. She's less likely to scream her head off at me."
Botan gave her friend a sympathetic smile and a small nod. She knew Takeo wasn't the only one furious at the small woman. "I'd be able to find more insects with her around. Now you two go and destroy that whistle before we have to fight this whole city!"
"Right," said Yusuke taking the comm. away from Selina so she wouldn't break it. The small female gave it up with a sigh, which turned into a gasp as a loud roar echoed through the hall. The corridor started trembling, causing small pieces of stone rubble to drop from the ceiling. Selina glanced around at the fox and Hiei. Both were on edge. 'That doesn't bode well for us.'
The floor was shaking so hard from the relentless roaring that larger chunks of the ceiling now rained down around them. It would collapse if the sound persisted. Yet luck was on their side as the horrendous roar stopped for a moment.
"Someone is having one epic tantrum," Selina narrowed her gaze down the hall.
"I don't know what kind of monster makes that sound, but I've got a hunch it's our next enemy," Kuwabara said trying to sound tough and failing horribly. Yusuke closed the comm. and returned it to his pocket. The roar started up again, making the floors and ceiling tremble.
"That is Byako, and he doesn't sound very pleased," Kurama informed the group, his eyes wide with shock.
Selina and Yusuke looked to each other and nodded. "Let's go!"
Stay tuned for the next installment of Forbidden Love!