Hey guys! This is a Hiei/OC fanfic that takes place after the end of the anime. I am a regular YYH writer, but I always write in Portuguese, because I am from Brazil. My English isn't perfect, but I decided to post this story in English as a test. I usually take a long time to post a new chapter, but I don't abandon the story, so, if you're going to follow me, I ask for your patience 😁
Kazumi was late for work again. Regretting taking the alternative route she thought was a shortcut, the more she advanced, the more lost she became. The trail she was following had disappeared an hour ago and there was not a single sign indicating how many kilometers were left to reach the city. She hastened her pace, dreading the inevitable dismissal she would have to face if she arrived at the coffee shop late. Sonya, her boss, although tolerant, had warned her that this was her last chance. Kazumi had been late several times before. She lived on the outskirts of the city center, far from the urban area, and therefore had to wake up very early to not miss her shift. She had gotten used to leaving home before sunrise and, since she didn't have a car, she had to walk to the nearest bus stop. But this wasn't the problem which constantly made her late. The root of her issue was her own father. Dealing with Ichiro sudden rage and dominating temperament was getting increasingly difficult. To him, everything Kazumi did was wrong, including her insistence on keeping the job, which, according to him, was just a waste of time.
Kazumi put up with his yelling, aggression, and arguments only because she had no other option. One day she would get rid of him, but she had to be patient and save money. A lot of money.
Walking at a pace that more closely resembled a run, she checked her wristwatch, realizing there was only thirty minutes left to make it on time. Feeling desperation taking over, she stumbled over a rock firmly stuck in the ground. As a result, she twisted her ankle and fell, using her arm to protect her face. Kazumi cried out in pain as she felt the tear in her skin where it had rubbed against the ground. She wanted to cry. She cursed the forest where she had gotten lost, the chaotic city she lived in, her father, who had tried to forbid her leaving the house that day, and even herself for deciding to take that stupid shortcut.
Tears threatened to spill down her face, but she wiped them away at the corners of her eyes before they could escape without permission. She stood up quickly, but her sprained ankle protested, leaving her leg wobbly. She took a deep breath. Kazumi knew she had to ignore the injury if she had any hope of keep her job. She had to move on.
So, she tried to think positively, knowing that Sonya would understand the delay when she saw her condition. Sonya always understood. That thought gave her the strength to keep going, even if she had to drag her injured foot along the way. However, her optimism didn't last long. As she continued on, she inexplicably lost her balance and took a misstep.
It was as if the ground had ceased to exist. Her foot suspended in the air lost support, and this time, she fell in free fall throughout a steep slope on the terrain.
Not knowing where she would end up, Kazumi rolled down the embankment, unable to stop. When she hit the ground, her whole body ached. Her hands were scraped, her clothes torn, and her chin cut.
Kazumi couldn't react. She was completely in shock. Then, she looked up at the sky, which displayed an intense red color, with purple clouds partially covering it. She was puzzled by the scenery. Where was the blue sky of the morning? She then looked around. The green and lively vegetation had been replaced by dry, wilted, and eerie leaves. A dark and gloomy thicket. There was no sign of the sun or the summer morning heat. It was cold, dark, and damp.
When Kazumi heard a noise, she got on her knees. It wasn't a common sound but something like a vocalization. An animal, maybe? In the darkness, she couldn't see anything, no matter how hard she tried, but she felt like someone was watching her.
So, the creature lurking attacked. The small youkai flew towards her and sunk a pair of sharp teeth into her wrist. Sucking Kazumi's blood, it clung firmly. She screamed, trying to pull it by the fur on its back, but the more she tried, the deeper it sank its teeth into her arm.
She felt weak. Her blood pressure dropped, leaving her as pale as a corpse. Her vision darkened, and she realized that consciousness was leaving her body. Kazumi thought she saw someone approaching and then heard a metallic sound resonate. The pressure on her wrist disappeared, and she realized that the creature was lying beside her, cut in half and dissolving into a puddle of blood.
She broke out in a cold sweat but just couldn't get up. She slid back to the ground and tried to focus on the distorted image in her precarious field of vision. Then she knew for sure: there was someone there, a person. Or rather, a group of people. By the outlines of the bodies, she judged that there were at least four, but she couldn't be certain.
— Again! — she heard a muffled voice say.
It sounded distant, but the man was closer than she would allow. She feared for her life. She didn't trust men. Not any of them.
– It's a woman. I thought human females were more careful – said another, laughing.
Suddenly, the sounds became even more indistinguishable, and Kazumi struggled to keep her eyes open.
— She's bleeding — someone say — You'd better take care of her. Take her back before it's too late
Kazumi thought she had heard an argument, but she could no longer resist. Fainting was imminent. The last thing she felt was as if someone was supporting the weight of her body, holding her in his arms. She surrendered and everything went dark.