Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Before I Die ❯ Chapter 6

Author's Notes: Thanks to those who reviewed even if it was forced upon you. The thing is I have in mind to start writing my novel(s), but I have been debating on how to do so with three fics on my plate. I had planned on completing them and then writing to one of my novels I want to get published, but when support is so slow one can only wonder if stopping for awhile to work on it would be a good idea. ;-)

 

Well, here is another chapter. Enjoy.

 

--------------------------------------------------

 

Touya roused from his slumber as his body jolted from the harsh coughing, which returned. Covering his mouth with his fist, he reached for the drink Jin had left on the nightstand for him. Bringing the glass to his mouth, he swallowed the clear, ice water to try and settle his aching throat. Blood was mixed with the water he consumed, making Touya gag slightly. “This cough is getting worse.” He wiped his mouth with the back of his head, gazing over at Jin's empty bed. “Jin…?”

 

Pulling the covers from his body, Touya got to his feet slowly to look for the redhead finding no traces of him in the small room they had rented out. He found no signs of a note either making him worried. Touya hurried over towards the wardrobe to open the mahogany, carved doors to pull out something to wear before hurrying down to the bar where he spied Simon attending to customers as usual.

 

“Simon,” Touya called over to the bartender softly, making it to an empty seat nearby.

 

“Hi Touya,” Simon said a bit nervously as he hadn't come up with a decent cover story for Jin's leaving. “What can I do for you?”

 

“Where is Jin? Have you seen him anywhere?” Touya wondered with a slight shrug. “He didn't leave a note, and I know he didn't have a job to do. He always tells me when he does.”

 

Simon tapped his fingers on the countertop nervously, biting his lower lip. “I am not sure, Touya. I did see him rush out of here like the Goddess only knows how,” he said half-truthfully.

 

Touya could tell something was up as his demonic hearing took in the bartender's shaking words. “Jin didn't go do something stupid, did he?”

 

“No, no, of course not!” Simon insisted with a shake of his head. “He just took off to take care of something, I am sure.” He caught the worried frown on Touya's face, sighing softly with a faltered expression. “I promise that Jin is okay, Touya—wherever he is.”

 

The ice demon managed a brief smile to Simon. “Thank you,” he whispered, rubbing his arms to try and calm himself down from the rush he had experienced. Turning on his heels, he headed back to the inn room, not having the energy to do anything else lately.

 

He felt dizzy as he closed the door behind him and made his way to the cracked window. Touya leaned upon the windowsill to gaze out at the world he could only be allowed out within. “I sure hope he is okay,” he wheezed to himself.

 

 

 

 

It was smooth sailing for most of the trip for Jin and Wind Song. As they were nearly to the Chisha Clan's boarders, storm clouds started to slowly move in. Jin could smell rain on the wind as it blew past him and the soaring griffon colored in white. He held onto the feathers of the beast tightly, moving closer to Wind Song's ears to call to him over the thunder. “We have to go lower!” Jin shouted to the griffon. “A storm is moving in, and we could be fried by the lightening if we're not careful!”

 

Wind Song's ear flickered at the feel of Jin's voice caressing his sensitive inner ear. Parting his beak he kweed loudly before tucking his talons under his chest to dive down a bit closer to the earth below.

 

Jin held on tightly as he had before, moving slightly to the right side of the large beast as it glided down towards the forest below them. The rain started to come down harshly upon them both at this time, soaking Jin clear to the bone in no time at all. “This weather is impossible!” He grumbled to himself, trying to hide into Wind Song's feathers.

 

The griffon breaking through the canopy of the thick woodlands, he evened himself out when the forest's floor came into view. The branches of the lush trees, now glistening in the raindrops, reached out like arms as if to try and grab the two. Both dodged the thick branches and the bare, tiny limbs, which dared to knock them from their course. The woodland seeming to stretch on forever, the trees eventually parted to give way to a clear plain and very muddy, dirt road.

 

Jin pointed to the road beneath them. “This must be the path that will take us to the village,” he called to Wind Song over the roaring wind and rain. “Follow it closely, Wind Song!”

 

Wind Song kept close to the dirt path regardless of how harsh the wind currents became. It made the rain sting as the droplets bit at their bodies until Jin used his own influence to manipulate the wind currents, so the rain would blow away from the griffon at least.

 

The clear plain with a few dotted trees and mountains outlining the horizon, continued to rule the path they were upon, before finally sloping down into the Grassland village. The village had a vast vineyard down the slope of the hill, which was the main entranceway into the Chisha Clan's village. A few cows could be heard mooing in the barn as well as chickens and roosters running frantically across the village's grassy plains. Their houses looked like small, little towers. There hardly seemed enough for a full village of people to Jin as the two of them landed in the center of the Grassland Clan's boundaries.

 

A few of the women nearby gasped at the large bird like creature and the demonic monster, which accompanied it. The doors of the stores that were in sight closed quickly to shut out the intruder. They knew who he was and feared a demon attack on their village.

 

“I guess I should have expected this,” Jin mumbled, walking cautiously to one of the doors to knock upon it with his knuckles. “Hello? I really need to speak with someone of this village—preferably the chief!”

 

“Go away!” A woman boldly remarked from behind the door he was knocking upon. “We do not want to fight with you!”

 

“I don't want to fight either!” Jin insisted over the furious storm. “I am looking for medical help for my friend! Please, take me to the village chief!” The woman on the other side not speaking again, he sighed with a shake of his damp hair. Turning around, he was more than surprised to see three spears pointed directly in his face. He moved his hands up to his chest as if to surrender, though he couldn't help but push one of the spears away from his chin with his index finger. “What the hell is going on?”

 

“What do you want, demon?” One of the men asked in a shaky tone, fearing the powers that the beast held.

 

“I told you, I just want to speak to your chief!” Jin reiterated before slapping one of the spears, which wandered back to his cheek, out of his face. “Get that damn thing out of my face!”

 

“Lower your weapons,” an elder woman begged from behind the eager warriors of the clan.

 

The warriors listened to the woman walking into view. She looked to be in her late 60s or early 70s—at least that was what her eyes and face could tell Jin. She wore fabric over her head that concealed her brown hair. It wrapped about her neck and cascaded down her back a little bit in an intricate design. Her black dress was stained at the rim with a bit of mud, making the white designs a bit difficult to see. The vest she wore kept her warm from the chilling cold with the long-sleeved white shirt underneath it.

 

“I am Sana, the Chisha Clan's chief,” the woman answered, staring deeply into Jin's deep blue eyes. Looking to the three warriors, she nodded to them. “Go back inside. He is not here to harm anyone.”

 

The men were hesitant to lower their spears let alone leave their elder chief alone with a powerful demon. They looked at one another before listening to their leader, departing for one of the stores nearby as if it were their home.

 

Jin watched them rush over to the weapon store with a raise of his brow. “Do your people live in cramped conditions?”

 

Sana shook her head at Jin's question as she waved him over towards the door marked as an inn. “Our people may work above ground, but we all live underground mostly.” Her fragile, aged hands opening the door for the demon, she waved him on inside. “Please, come inside.”

 

The wind demon's elfin ears moved slightly at her words. “Are you sure that is okay? What about your demon, hating villagers?”

 

“Do not worry about them,” Sana said softly over the pouring rain. “They are peaceful people though never mind their jumpy nature.” She walked on inside of the inn's main room that had a desk off to the side, occupied by a frightened, young woman once her eyes rested on the redheaded demon. “You will have to forgive them for demons have not hesitated to attack our village in the past.”

 

“Really?” Jin began sarcastically as he followed her to the stone staircase not too far from the door that led downward. “I never would have guessed.”

 

Sana walked gracefully down the cold, hard staircase to make it to the bottom floor, which appeared to be filled with passageways blocked by wooden doors. Some of the people ran from fear at the sight of the demon they were not blinded to. Turning down a narrow hallway covered in stone, she headed for a wooden door at the end of the corridor to open it and reveal a bedroom on the other side. “We can talk privately in here if you wish.”

 

Astounded by her hospitality, Jin shrugged and headed on inside of the comfortable room lit by candlelight. “Is this a trap?” He asked with a slight chuckle as he made his way over towards the wooden chair at the table in the center of the cozy underground room. “I have to admit that I wasn't expecting such a welcoming considering.”

 

“You are not only of demon blood but from Zexen apparently,” Sana guessed, looking at his clothing as she sat across from the wind demon. “I can only imagine how narrow your mind has become dealing with Grassland Clans.”

 

Jin's head moved slightly back as if someone had attempted to slap him. He found the comment a bit of an insult but knew it was factual all the same. He said not a word in his defense.

 

“I have to say I am surprised myself,” Sana whispered, moving the lit, thin candle of white wick closer to the center of the table cloth. “I have never seen a demon's eyes so void of malice and anger.”

 

“I guess we surprise each other,” Jin murmured between the two of them with a nod to the elder woman.

 

“So what is this about your friend?” The Chisha chief asked. “What is wrong with him?”

 

“That is the problem,” Jin sighed, running his fingers through his damp hair. “I really wish I knew what was wrong with him.” Rather anxious about the situation, Jin started messing with the tablecloth by folding it certain ways on the corners. “I have asked Zexen doctors to look at him, and they cannot find the problem. I have asked doctors all over Zexen territory and not a single one of them could diagnose him with anything nor could they cure him.”

 

“So you are hoping that our doctors may be of help?” She wondered aloud with a tilt of her head.

 

“You make it sound hopeless,” Jin expressed somberly with a twitch of his frown.

 

“I am not saying it is hopeless, demon. It will be the Spirits' way and their desire to help us heal your friend.” Sana paused, looking down at her withered hands. “Demons are damned angels and souls. I know you are not like other demons, and I bet your friend is no exception, but you have sinned in a previous life—went under the Spirits' laws. We are not sure if they were save you now.”

 

Jin rolled his eyes at the talk of the clan's religious beliefs. “Spare me, human! I didn't come here to hear about your religious beliefs. Religion is what damned Touya and I further from our own demonic clans!” He clutched his fists there on the wooden table top try to control his anger. “Why can't people just stop a moment and try to help somebody instead of blaming some false celestial being for fowl things that come? My soul went where it wanted to go—where it knew it had to go when my human body died. Nothing guided it there. I damned myself.”

 

Sana shrugged with a sigh herself at Jin's words. “I guess everybody's belief is different whether from Zexen, Grassland, or demon. I will tell you what, if you bring your friend here, we will try our best to get him back on his feet. We are not guaranteeing anything, but we will try with what the Spirits have blessed us with.”

 

“Thanks,” Jin expressed, pushing himself up out of the chair he was sitting within. “I am a bit worried about taking him out during such cool weather. The chill in the air might kill him or worsen his sickness.”

 

“Wrap him up tightly then,” Sana suggested as she got up with the demon. “Either way, demon, he is going to die slowly in a Zexen city if the illness is that serious. It is best to risk the travel.”

 

Jin was still nervous about the move, but he knew there was no other way to do things. “I guess I will go get him—we can make it back before it is dark.”

 

“It would be best not to go out in this storm,” Sana said, placing her hand on his upper arm. “I am sure it will lighten up soon enough for you to travel out within.”

 

“You don't understand,” Jin said, moving his arm away from the elder woman. “I cannot leave Touya there alone in that inn room. He is sick, and he needs me right now. Nobody else is there to help him out.” He headed for the wooden door his demonic sight could make out in the dense candlelight to open it and allow himself outside into the stone walls of the underground village.

 

Sana followed the brash demon out of the room as quickly as she was able. “What good will you be to your friend if you are ill yourself?” She asked, grabbing onto the corner of the stone corridor to watch as Jin threatened to head back to the surface.

 

Jin paused in his steps, looking over his shoulder at Sana.

 

“There has to be someone at the inn who will care for your fallen friend in your stead,” Sana thought.

 

“There is Simon, but he works the entire inn,” Jin answered, his back remaining turned to Sana. “I cannot relay on him to handle both tasks.”

 

“Stay here, demon,” Sana urged once more. “Even your immune system cannot fight off the sickness that will await you if you endure that storm once more. I will send a young woman out to Zexen on the giant bird you arrived into town on. She will risk the weather for the sake of your friend.”

 

The wind demon turned around to look at the clan chief. “You promise me that you won't harm him?”

 

“We won't hurt him,” she assured softly.

 

“Good,” Jin snorted lightly with a shake of his wet, red hair. “Because if you do anything to harm him, I'll destroy this entire village if I have to.”

 

“He must mean a lot to you if you're willing to go that far,” Sana expressed as she headed towards another door in the area they were within. “Go talk to your bird creature in the meantime. Tell him that he needs to take one of our women to your friend. I am sure he will listen to you.”

 

Jin sighed slightly as he hurried back up to the surface to hunt for the griffon, Wind Song. The wind had gotten ridiculously strong, making the rain beat harshly against the earth below. Mud puddles had almost become small lakes within a matter of minutes. It all frightened some of the cows and chickens as the wind howled and hissed with every thunder roll. Wind Song himself couldn't help but feel uneasy as he reared up on his hind legs with a few irritable squawking sounds.

 

He quickly ran over to the griffon with his hands up to block the mud he was slinging everywhere from his front talons. “Whoa, Wind Song, whoa!” He called to the beast over the pouring rainstorm—thunder ripping through the clouds with the quick lightening flashes. He managed to grab onto the neck of the soaking creature. His fingers rubbed the griffon's beak in attempts to settle him down. “I know this storm is crazy, but I need you to go back to Touya, and you will be taking a young woman from this village with you. Do you understand me, buddy?”

 

Wind Song's ears slightly erected at Jin's words upon the howling wind. His large, innocent eyes blinked several times with attentiveness to his master to show he was listening.

 

One of the doors of the small tower like buildings swung open to allow way for a young woman of the clan to the surface. She had her hand over the fabric, which was situated upon her forehead, and parted down the center to cascade down her back, hiding her apparent brown curls. Grabbing onto her dampened dress, she hiked it up enough so she could run over to where the wind demon was stationed. “I am here to head to Zexen for you!” She yelled over the abrasive wind. “I promise I will make it there to care for him during your stay here!”

 

Jin nodded to the woman, helping her over to the side of the griffon. “Just hold on tightly to his feathers. They are set in their firmly, so don't worry about ripping one out.” He walked back to the front of the griffon, cupping his head in his hand. “Wind Song, stay low to the ground. If you go any higher than a forest's canopy, the wind will surely sweep you off course to who knows where. Be careful, but be fast—now GO!”

 

With that motion Wind Song kweed loudly with a flap of his wings to take to the sky with the young Chisha woman onboard. The woman was startled at his takeoff to say the least, and she quickly grabbed onto his feathers to stay close to him during the stormy ride.

 

Jin stayed in the rain, watching them leave with a knot of worry forming in his stomach. He feared without his influence over the wind something may happen to the both of them. But eventually he brushed it off, hoping for the best, before he hurried back to the inn door to slip back inside out of the stormy weather.