InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ High Voltage- Reviving the Thunder ❯ Blood Moon Rhapsody ( Chapter 12 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

High Voltage: Reviving the Thunder- Chapter 12: "Blood Moon Rhapsody"
By Matoko Shizaki

Disclaimer: Inu-Yasha is copyright Rumiko Takahashi and Sunrise Inc. All of the characters have been made up by me except Kaede, Inu-Yasha, Kagome, Miroku, Sango, Shippo, Kiara, Myoga, Hiten, and Manten.

Notes: I finally finished the last chapter!!! YAY!!! THIS IS MY LONGEST RUNNING FIC EVER!!! WOOHOO!!! Thanks to people who have been reviewing one some of my fics such as:

Mayuka/May

DarkAngelRn

Cacat-angel

Chibi Washu

Animegirl3

Tikimoof

YamiBishounen

It's really appreciated! Peace out!

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Painfully, Aoi rose from her bed. Her knee still stung from the night before and a bruise had formed on her face. "Good morning sis." Azaka chirped. Aoi, while still working the kinks out of her neck, replied, "Good morning." Aoi strapped on her armor, blushing to find out that she had fallen asleep in her clothes. "You know, everyone is out. It's already the afternoon." Azaka explained in a matter-of-fact tone of voice. "I must have been exhausted." Aoi said with a false laugh. "Is there something wrong Aoi? You seem… depressed." Azaka asked leaning forward. Aoi shook her head. "No, nothing." She paused and then asked, "Is Hiten here?" Azaka shook his head and continued working on the wooden craving he had in his hand. "Well," Azaka said, watching as the wood chips fell to the floor. "He was sleeping outside. He came in for breakfast and then him and Manten left." Aoi snorted. "I don't care about him. He could die for all I care." she yelled. Azaka sweat dropped. "Uh… I didn't say that you did…"

Silence… Neither brother said anything. It was a tense silence that Manten decided to break. "Brother, you do know tonight is a blood red moon, don't you?" Manten asked. "Yes, Manten. I know…" Hiten replied mutely. "Then what are you going to do when the moon rises?" Manten asked fearfully. "It isn't like it was when we were alive before. The village is almost void of women." Manten blurted, his brother's welfare in mind. Hiten held up his hand for silence. "I will see what I can do Manten." The older of the brothers stood. Manten fought off the tears that threatened to flow forth from his lizard like eyes. "But brother… I can't bear to see you in such pain once more!" he pleaded. Hiten didn't say anything, just watched the sun as it dipped a little deeper towards the horizon.

When the wolves came to talk with them, Aoi tried to stay as far away as possible from Kagoyo. It wasn't that she hated him… but that if Hiten was watching her, he wouldn't suspect anything. "Who has volunteered as spy?" Kouga asked. "Hiten." Inu-Yasha replied. "Is he here?" Satoru inquired. Kagome shook her head. "I'm beginning to wonder though. Manten returned but there is no sign of Hiten and the sun is setting." she said. Aoi finally stood up. "I'll go look for him. It's partially my fault he's been avoiding us." she blurted. "Alright, just hurry back." Kagome cried after her. "Kagome, you must accompany us to explain the plans to the tribes." Kagoyo stated. Kagome looked over as Sango who sighed and said, "I shall wait here for Aoi to return. You guys go on ahead." "I will stay too." Manten said. "Ok. Thanks you two!" Kagome yelled while running to catch up with the others who had already started towards the woods.

Slowly, the bright sun slipped back down into the clouds casting a purple hue over the land. Hiten's dangling leg swung back and forth, his foot just inches from the trunk of the tree. From his post on the branch, he could see the surrounding fields and the farmers turning in for the coming night. He sighed, his doom eminent. 'Who can I use? Kagome... No, she has that halfling to protect her. Then there's Sango. She's a demon hunter by profession though. She won't fall for any of my tricks. But Aoi...' Hiten shuttered and grasped the hand that he had hit Aoi with the night before. 'No, I could never hurt her,' he thought, his breathing becoming harder. 'I will just have to suffer...' the thunder demon decided. A hacking cough racked his body as pain ran up his spine. To his frustration, the blood red moon had began to rise.

Splashing through rain puddles, Aoi hurried on, hoping to beat the night. "Hiten? Where are you?" she cried cupping her hands around her mouth. She smiled recognizing the silhouetted figure in the oak tree in the clearing. "Hiten. Is that you?" There was only a grunt in response. "Look Hiten, I came here to apologize for last night... I didn't mean to do anything I did." Hiten glanced down at the girl as he grimaced. "Aoi... go away." Aoi's cheeks flushed. "What do you mean by that you jerk? I came all this way to apologize!!!" Hiten shook his head. "That's not what I mean. I- I don't want you to be hurt..." Hiten swayed in the breeze as the moon burst forth from the clouds casting shadows over his lean and muscular figure. "Hiten..." Aoi muttered. The demon coughed again and began to sway once more. "Are you alright Hiten?!" Aoi shouted. His frame shuddered before plummeting from his post. "HITEN!!!!"

It was hard to believe that the crumpled body on the ground was the once proud older Thunder brother. He seemed so weak... so sickly. Aoi helped the fallen warrior to sit up. As a response, his head weakly leaned on her shoulder for support. Blood has trickled down his face to stain his white collar to his kimono. "No, Hiten! What's wrong?!" Aoi cried. Now she felt helpless. Her hands shook as she stroked Hiten's cheek affectionately. "Aoi... I--" "Don't talk! Your wounds have reopened. I need to get you help." Hiten grunted as Aoi lifted him into her arms. "This is so degrading..." he muttered playfully. Aoi smiled through the tears that she fought to hold back. 'He's still the same old demon.' she thought fondly. "Don't worry Hiten. We're going to get you some help."

The door was flung open as Aoi rushed in. Sango looked up from tending the fire in surprise. "Aoi, what is it?" she asked. Aoi threw back the covers of her bed with her foot. "Hiten… It's like he's sick or something. His wounds reopened." As soon as Hiten was placed in the bed, Aoi removed his armor and shoes. Carefully, she opened the shirt of his kimono. Sure enough, the wound on his stomach had reopened was bleeding badly. She removed the outer shirt of the kimono leaving the demon in the under shirt. "Quick, bring me some bandages Sango!" Aoi commanded. Sango jumped up from her seat and began rummaging through Kagome's pack. "Here! Catch!" the demon hunter cried as she tossed the bandages. Aoi caught them and began to wrap up the demon's wound. "Ah! Careful girl… that stings…" Hiten complained. "I told you not to talk!" Aoi snapped. The wound on Hiten's face opened spilling blood down his right cheek. "Oh!" Aoi reached down and tore a strip from the top of her sock. "There…" she muttered pressing it to his cheek. Warmth spread through Hiten's cheek at her warm touch and he smiled.

Sango returned with a cloth in a bowl of water which she handed to Aoi. Gingerly, Aoi removed the strip of cloth from Hiten's cheek and wiped off the dried blood. "It just won't stop bleeding. It's not that deep of a cut though!" Aoi exclaimed. "I know what's wrong…" Sango muttered. Aoi looked up. "What?" Sango swallowed hard. "It's a common but sadistic curse that demons use. The cursed person will suddenly fall ill during a certain stage of the moon. For Hiten, it's the blood moon." Aoi bit her lip. "What happens to them?" Aoi asked taking a hold of Hiten's hand to comfort him. "…The person's healing wounds open again and they cough up blood. This lasts until their veins run dry." Aoi gasped and squeezed Hiten's hand harder. "Sango! Tell me, how can you cure the person?!" Sango leaned on her elbow. "It's only a temporary solution. The permanent solution is up to the person casting the curse." Aoi was becoming frustrated. "Tell me!" she urged. "He needs to have the blood of a virgin woman. In the past, Hiten was said to have sucked a woman's veins dry as a cure." Hiten tried to sit up. "I only… need a little…" he said feebly.

"I'll give you blood then!" Aoi yelled. Hiten growled. "You'll do no such thing. Leave me be!" The demon rolled over onto his side so that he didn't have to face the young woman. "No way!" Aoi cried grabbing his shoulder and flipping him back over again. This time, Hiten was too weak to move from her grip. Drawing a dagger from her belt, Aoi placed it to her right wrist. "Why…? W-Why are you doing this?" Hiten asked. Aoi blinked away the tears in her eyes. "Because," she muttered. "I don't want you to die. I couldn't stand living without you… I love you." The blade of the dagger slashed through the top layer of skin on Aoi's wrist. She grimaced in pain but waited for the blood to flow. With a satisfied smile, Aoi noted the stream of blood clustering around the new wound. Sango helped to sit Hiten up. The demon hunched over his wound but didn't complain. "Here Hiten…" Aoi whispered placing her wrist to the demon's mouth. At first, Hiten resisted but the blood was so intoxicating that he lapped at it gently. Some of his strength returning, he grabbed Aoi's wrist. He couldn't help himself and continued to drink the blood lustfully. Finally, he dropped back into a sleep position. "Is he…?" Aoi stammered nervously as she bandaged her wrist. "No, he's just unconscious. He'll be fine." Sango said. She looked up at Aoi and smiled. "You know, you two make a cute couple…" Aoi flushed. "I don't know about that…" Aoi said bashfully. "Come on, you know it's true!" Sango taunted. The two couldn't help but laugh.

"Oh, and you handle the stick wrong. You do it like this." Hiten grabbed a stick and handed it to Aoi. Then he wrapped his arms around her from where he stood behind her and placed his hands upon hers. Hiten's hands guiding hers, Aoi wielded the stick around, knocking one rock off the other without harming the one on the bottom. "Good…" Hiten muttered. Aoi turned her head to look up at the demon. She felt his breath upon her face and blushed slightly. Slowly, their lips near each others, prepare for a kiss but a shout disturbed the moment.

Hiten turned over in his sleep, a small smile playing across his young features.

"And what of Hiten?" Sango asked. "I- I like him. He's a good person even though he hides behind the image of a blood thirsty killer." Kagome smiled slyly. "Sounds like young love to me!" Aoi blushed furiously. "Wait, I didn't…" she suddenly realized she was lying and began laughing along with the others.

Aoi laid a kiss on Hiten's cheek. "Merry Christmas Hiten." Before Hiten could reply, Aoi disappeared back into the tavern. Like feathers from many birds, the snow drifted down spotting Hiten's black hair. "…Merry Christmas Aoi." he muttered.

Groaning, Hiten worked the kinks out of his neck and sat up. He was a little unnerved about being awoken from such a wonderful dream. Suddenly, his displeasure disappeared when he noticed Aoi asleep on the floor next to his bed. She was sleeping peacefully, a smile on her face.

"I don't want you to die. I couldn't stand living without you… I love you." Hiten smiled remembering those last three words. 'Even after I hit her and said all of that to her… she still cares about me…' Hiten thought, content. He wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else in the world right then. Aoi suddenly sat up breathing heavily. "Uh… Aoi, are you alright?" Hiten asked reaching out to touch her shoulder. Aoi gasped, as if she had seen a ghost and launched herself into his arms. "Oh Hiten!" Hiten's eyes widened as he felt Aoi's hands placed on his chest and her head on his shoulder. "I-I had a dream about last night… that you really did die…" Hiten's eyes softened. "It's ok… I'm not going anywhere."

It was late when Hiten awoke again. He had been so exhausted from the night before that he had lost track of time. With enough energy now, he flung back his covers and got up. First, he closed his under shirt and put the outer shirt of his kimono back on. He replaced his shoes and armor and then, venturing for a breath of fresh air, strolled outside.

Aoi was sitting on a rock outside, talking and laughing with Kagome. Shippo was sitting in her lap, joining in the conversation. Hiten smirked, a gesture that caught Aoi's attention. "Oh! Hiten, you're up!" she gasped. Hiten nodded but didn't say anything. Aoi lifted the kitsune pup from her lap, got up, and placed Shippo on the rock. "Are you feeling alright?" Aoi asked. "Yeah, I'm fine." Hiten replied. "Would you like to take a walk with me?" the thunder demon asked. "Sure." Aoi said with a nod.

Hues of blue, purple, black, red, and orange streaked across the sky as the sun dipped onto the horizon. "So, what is the permanent cure to your curse?" Aoi asked. Hiten sighed and crossed his arms behind his head. "I need to take the virginity of a woman who loves me. I also have to return her love." Aoi looked over at Hiten and blushed. "I… would be willing to help you…" she muttered. Hiten backed away and waved his hands in front of him. "Oh no! I couldn't ask you to do that! Besides, I need to kill Toriyama before hand!" he cried sheepishly. "He's the one who curse you isn't he?" Hiten nodded. "Yeah, he's the bastard." Aoi lay her head on Hiten's shoulder. "Last night, I was so scared I'd lose you. I can't even imagine life without you." Aoi said. She suddenly stood up. "Anyways, we should head back." she said suddenly. Hiten got up, pinning Aoi to the trunk of the cherry blossom tree. Aoi smiled feeling his body against hers. "Aoi, I have something to tell you." Hiten exclaimed, a glint in his eyes that Aoi had never seen before. She giggled. "And what would that be?" she asked. "I love you." he whispered. Aoi blushed feeling his lips against hers but eventually indulged herself in them. Suddenly she felt her tongue against his and blushed even harder. They broke away, both laughing a little. Hiten reached up and plucked a cherry blossom from the branch. "I love you too…" Aoi muttered as Hiten placed the flower behind her ear. "Good to hear it." Hiten replied playfully.

Manten watched from his position on his cloud, peering through the things called 'binoculars' that he had borrowed from Kagome. The demon smiled. "Ah! To be able to swoon women's hearts like my elder brother." Manten mused.

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Manten's a little peeping tom!!! LOL. Anyways, this is one of the chapters I was REALLY excited about doing since it was so romantic. Hope you liked it! PLEASE REVIEW AND TELL ME HOW IT WAS!!!