Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Fire Dancer ❯ Dance of the Dragon ( Chapter 4 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

DISCLAIMER: I've stated this in the last four chapters already!!!!!! But I don't own YYH or Evanescence.

A/N: If this fic seems a little off from the series, don't worry, it will catch up with it soon enough!! Hehe, but I hope you enjoy this next chappie!! Lots and lots of suspense and whatnot…and guess what else??

MWAHAHAHAHA you'll have to just see for yourself!! Enjoy!!

/Yoko Kurama/

Thoughts

Fire Dancer

::Dance of the Dragon::

Mai couldn't seem to stop running…she was far enough away from the others, but it didn't feel like she would ever get away. Tears continued to stream down her face as the rain began to empty from the heavens above.

Streetlamps flickered as she passed beneath them, and thunder bellowed nearby. Her uniform was drenched and the pouring rain continued to soak her to the bone, but she didn't seem to notice…She stopped suddenly beneath an intersection and looked up at the street sign.

The dancer shivered and glanced around warily as she clutched her body; suddenly feeling exposed to the world. No one else appeared to be out; there weren't hardly any cars driving by on the street either.

Her skin crawled from both fear and cold…what had she gotten herself into? Her orange hair lay plastered to her face and dripped down her neck slowly.

I wonder if they'll come looking for me, she thought to herself and glanced quickly over her shoulder …Well screw them if they did; they're just wasting their time…I'm not going to be a part of their damn prank or whatever the hell it was that they were trying to pull…

She glanced around once more. She was lost, that was a fact, but she had to keep moving, her senses told her that. She remembered from her childhood teachings that you shouldn't even be out after dark unless you're with a friend…

A protector…she thought despondently as the presence of her past memories drifted back to her.

And it didn't feel safe out on her own anyway; she felt exposed and vulnerable.

Cautiously, the dancer paced herself as she started out into the night once more. The evening was unusually quiet and still; as if everyone was trying to avoid her…

Rain could be heard pelting along the leaves of the nearby trees. Mai quickly dipped beneath the boughs and clutched either side of her body as she shivered. The girl leaned against the trunk of the tree and slid to the ground slowly, allowing her head to rest against the bark.

Only a few raindrops drizzled between the leaves and dropped gently onto the girl's head.

She sighed and huddled up into a ball. At the moment she would have given anything to cuddle up beneath her covers back at the shop.

Mai tucked her knees to her chin and wrapped her arms around them. Maybe she should just wait out the storm, and then she would find a way back home. But she didn't' like it out here on her own…something about being alone seemed to frighten her…

Ever since she had been little, being alone had always frightened her; no matter where she was. But He had always been there for her so it didn't matter then; He had never left her alone to fight the demons of her dreams…

Or of reality…

It seemed like hours dragging by as the girl waited beneath the tree, and still the rain did not let up…

Suddenly, the dancer's ears twitched as a sound drifted through the wind. She lifted her head from her knees and stared down the sidewalk.

And beneath a streetlight stood a single figure…and from his pursed lips, an eerie whistle drifted between the raindrops. The tune sent a shiver down her spine…something seemed vaguely different about him and yet something seemed hauntingly familiar too…

You're too important for anyone

There's something wrong with everything you see

But I...I know who you really are

You're the one who cries when you're alone

-:-

Where will you go

With no one left to save you from yourself

You can't escape

You don't want to escape

-:-

How ever did you manage to push away

From every living thing you come across

So afraid that anyone will hate you

You pretend you hated them first

-:-

Where will you go

With no one left to save you from yourself

You can't escape the truth

I realize you're afraid

But you can't refrain from everything

You can't escape

-:-

And where will you go

With no one left to save you from yourself

You can't escape the truth

I realize you're afraid

But you can't reject the whole world

You can't escape

You won't escape

You can't escape

You don't want to escape

The boy appeared no older than herself, even though there as a strangeness about him that told her slightly otherwise.

Then after a moment, he took a step closer and his boot sloshed in a puddle near his feet.

On instinct, Mai stood slowly and carefully crouched behind the tree, but she was nearly positive that he had seen her already. But something about the boy sent an eerie chill through her veins and she prayed he would merely pass her by.

But the boy only whistled that eerie tune as he casually strolled along the path.

Something about him seemed to hold the girl glued to the spot, as if she couldn't find the strength or courage to run away.

He continued to stride closer towards her, but the terror still pulsed within her body as he approached little by little.

All of a sudden, the boy stopped beneath the streetlight in front of the dancer's hiding place. He stood there for a moment; his whistling tune finally fading into the storm. The, his head snapped quickly towards the tree—

His fiery crimson eyes ablaze.

Fear coursed through Mai's blood and she forced her self to step backwards…just as a vivid red aura emitted from him like fire.

He took a step forward, but the dancer could only stand in frozen terror…

Even when the demon slowly pursued…

-:-

“Dammit, I don't see why we have to go looking for her,” Yusuke muttered and folded his arms angrily, “I mean, how are we supposed to find her anyway?”

“Yusuke, really!” Botan sighed, “Will you at least show some pity for the poor girl?”

He snorted, “No.”

The blue-haired girl quickly hit him over the head with her fist.

“Ow! What the hell was that for?!” He cried and massaged his skull tenderly, “That really hurt…” he pouted.

“Sometimes you can be so hot-headed,” Botan replied and ripped the umbrella from his hands, leaving him in the rain. She quickly strode ahead next to Kuwabara, “Do you sense anything out of the ordinary?”

He sighed sadly, “Nothing…but hey, didn't she say that she lived near school or something?” he asked, “I mean, shouldn't we check there first?”

“Maybe…” she thought aloud, “That would make the most sense, wouldn't it?”

Kazuma nodded, “That's where I would check first—.”

Suddenly, a scream raced through the air; echoing against the buildings and trees nearby. Shortly thereafter, a rather larger amount of energy could be sensed as it seemed to alert them like a neon sign in the night.

“Or not…” Kuwabara finished quietly.

-:-

Mai's PoV

At last my senses came back to me and I quickly stumbled into the darkness. But the demon pursued like a filthy blood hound and raced after me.

What the hell!? Why won't these freaks leave me alone?!

I could hear him crashing through the trees and leaping over any obstacles in his way. It took all that I had just to stand on my feet. I could sense him growing closer even without the demon's energy alerting me, but it didn't matter how I sensed him, I just needed to run as if the devil was biting at my heels.

There aren't even supposed to be such things as demons!!! They never were real! I was only imagining them when I was little!!

But then, I suddenly felt his hand latch onto my wrist. I felt a sudden surge of pain course through my veins and I cried out. But as he held on, a sudden memory flashed across my mind.

`Bastard! You did this to him; you killed him!! I'll kill you for this!!'—

`Make them go away, Shi-Shi!' a little girl wept as she crouched behind a taller male, `Please don't let them get to me again!'

He turned around and grinned gently towards her, `Don't worry, Mai…I won't let anything happen to you…'

I ripped my arm away from his grasp and dashed away as he thundered after me. But he soon caught up and tackled me to the ground. I screamed as he pinned me to the damp earth, and I tried to cry out again, but he quickly covered my mouth with his other hand.

“So we meet again, Kira,” the demon hissed.

My eyes narrowed in confusion…Kira? ...but wasn't that the name of the girl in my dream? Why the hell would he call me that?!

He removed his hand from my mouth and used it to pin down my shoulder as his other palm was shoved close to my face. I gasped as I noticed a bright red orb shining in the pit of his hand. Oh, gods, what was this?! Another sick joke?!

But in the back of my mind a vision of the crimson-haired girl resurfaced. She held her golden staff out towards me and was trying to speak…

`It's time…'

And as if something suddenly clicked inside of me, I forced my palms into the demon's gut as a sudden wave of heat swept over me; pulsing through every inch of my body.

The demon cried out in pain and leapt off of me. I quickly scrambled to my feet and stared down at my hands in shock and awe.

What the hell was that?!

I heard steam hissing nearby, and as I glanced around, I realized it was me…every time a raindrop fell on my skin, a wisp of steam rose into the night sky. And surrounding me was a dim pink mist that seemed to pulse from the very beating of my heart.

The demon glared at me as he clenched his fists in fury. But he did not appear to be harmed at the least…only really pissed.

“Damn you, Kira…” he growled.

“I'm not Kira!!” I cried angrily and clenched my fists as well, “I don't know who the hell you are, but I'm not Kira or whoever you think I am!!”

He chuckled darkly, “You cannot hide from me…”

Before I could retort, the demon shed his trench-coat and let it fall to the ground. I gasped and retreated slightly from his repulsive figure. Several horns protruded from his chest and tentacles slithered around his body. Tattoos were painted along his flesh and seemed to move with life with every motion of his body. Ravenous black hair swept over his back and swayed eerily in the rain.

“Who the hell are you?!” I cried and backed away.

The demon laughed at my fear, “Don't you remember?” he sneered.

As quick as lightning, one of his tentacles lashed out at me. I screamed as the steel-like arm slashed across my abdomen and I felt my warm blood soaking my blouse. I coughed and clutched my stomach protectively as the red liquid oozed between my fingertips.

Sweat perspired off my brow as I struggled to stand. But the demon merely laughed at my suffering.

“I thought you were stronger than this…” he mocked, “But I guess you've lost your touch…”

I gasped for breath, “Who…who are you?” I demanded again weakly.

But he only smirked and recoiled one of his tentacles; making ready to strike again. I could only watch in terror as the arm suddenly struck out towards me. I clenched my eyes shut and waited for the pain and blood to come…

Only…Only it never came.

There was the sound of clashing weapons and I dared to open my eyes slightly.

A boy stood before me; his arms outstretched protectively and what appeared to be a long vine in one of his hands. His red hair fell just below his shoulders and he wore a white haori (A/N: does anyone know what that's called, just out of curiosity? The thing that Kurama wears in the 2nd season?)

I gasped softly when I recognized the boy from a few days ago, “Suichi?”

He turned slightly and gave me a small grin before tightening his grip on the vine in his hand.

Oh great…now what was going on? Why in the world was Suichi here?!

The red-head stepped forward towards the demon and brandished the whip—or whatever it was—before the beast. I clutched my stomach and swayed on my feet slightly before I gently fell to my knees with fatigue.

But before Suichi made another move, there was a sudden blast of wind next to me. I blinked slightly as water splashed in my eyes, and when I looked up again, I frowned when I caught sight of a second boy standing next to the first.

This newcomer was nearly two heads shorter than Suichi thanks to his midnight black hair that stood straight on end. A white starburst was in the middle of his hair and a white bandana covered his forehead. He wore a black coat and boots with a white scarf around his neck and he kept his hands in his pockets. A sword and black sheath was tied loosely to his waist.

“Were you going to start the fight without me, Kurama?” the boy asked casually as if it was nothing more than a daily chore.

Kurama?

Suichi shook his head and grinned, “No, Hiei, you're just in time…Would you care to do the honors?” he asked gesturing towards the demon.

He smirked and flicked his sword out of the sheath with his thumb, “It would be my pleasure…”

And before I could blink the boy named Hiei disappeared from sight only to reappear in front of the demon; his sword fully drawn. But the demon jumped away before he had time to bring down his sword. The boy however was not ready to give up so easily and followed after.

I watched in awe as Hiei zipped in and out of sight and reappeared fighting with the demon…But the beast continued to lash out with his tentacles as the boy struck out with his sword.

Suichi then took up his whip and raced after the demon to help his friend. It took me a moment before I realized that they were trying to lead him away from me.

Gods, now I was confused.

“Kurama! Hiei!”

I turned suddenly as the voice rang through the night air. It was Yusuke, Kuwabara and Botan…

Oh crap.

The trio stopped suddenly when they caught sight of me. And all I wanted to do was curl into a ball and disappear. But then again, I was probably about ready to bleed myself out of consciousness…

Botan was the first to reach me and carefully observed my wound. The two boys stood behind her; Kuwabara looked almost as if he was about to puke when he noticed the blood around me.

“You've gotten a pretty nasty cut there don't you?” she asked trying to sound cheerful, but failing horribly.

I didn't answer, but grunted as I tried to get to my feet. Botan was ready to protest by I ignored her and staggered as I stood. I could feel the blood from my wound slowly trickling down my stomach and over my skirt.

With much difficulty, I stumbled forward towards the demon; one hand still clutching my stomach.

“Mai! You shouldn't move with a wound like that!” the girl protested as I continued to travel towards the battle.

I couldn't get the crimson-haired girl out of my head. Why was that? Why did I keep seeing her?! She was only a figment of my imagination, nothing more…

Right?

Flashes of the dream I had earlier poured through my mind as I grew closer to the beast and the two boys fighting him. I felt a tug on my heart every time I remembered the girl…Kira…

The demon was closer now and I began to slow down slightly. I forced myself to stand up straight as I confronted him.

I clenched my teeth, “Who are you…?”

The battle came to a sudden halt and I felt all eyes on me, but I didn't care. I gave the demon a dangerous glare and waited for him to answer.

But he only laughed in amusement, “I would think that you'd remember!” he smirked, “But obviously your memory does not serve you…

“I am Ryu! And this time, Kira…you will permanently perish beneath my power!!!”

-:-

A/N: sorry that I had to cut that so short, guys, but these chapters always seem to take way to long to write, so I apologize. (oh, and gomen guys about this being a pretty fast chapter—it will all make sense in the next chappie!!)

I'll try and update soon!!

Ja'ne