Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Fire Dancer ❯ Enter Mai: Fire Maiden ( Chapter 11 )

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

DISCLAIMER: I don't own any YYH stuff…

A/N: ::nervous laugh:: ah well, sorry about the cliffhangers, I know you guys probably aren't too fond of them…

But I just love them!! I can't help it!!

Thoughts

Enjoy the next chapter!!

Fire Dancer

::Enter Mai: Fire Maiden!::

And a mighty blast shook the earth as the two attacks roared across the battlefield. Ryu's cry of terror raced through the sky as both Spirit Guns charged towards him. His cry was true this time; and he felt the fear within him mounting as his death hovered over him ominously.

Mai cried out when her body could take no more. Her attack faded and sent her stumbling backwards into Yusuke. The Detective quickly cut his assault short and caught the girl before she collapsed.

Both blasts howled towards the demon, each of them charging dangerously close to one another…Until, that is, they both collided directly before Ryu.

Time seemed to stand still as the two assaults morphed into one another; growing immensely in front of the demon.

Then, the two Spirit Guns erupted in a fiery inferno; quaking the earth beneath them. The demon's roar of terror bellowed through the air as fragments of rock and gravel rose into the air. The Detective and Guardian shielded their eyes as the magnificently bright light enveloped what seemed like the entire Demon Realm. Suddenly, a flash of blue and pink light crossed the air and the silhouette of a phoenix rose into the sky.

But from the center of the explosion, Ryu's cry soon faded beneath the terrible rumble of the earth, and to their horror, fragments of the demon's flesh were flung into the sky.

After what seemed like an eternity, the light from the attack faded away.

Yusuke and Mai blinked as the explosion settled. Nothing lingered behind but the single crater that had been created…not even a particle of Ryu's flesh remained…

Cautiously, Urameshi rose and helped Mai to her feet. She stumbled briefly, but swiftly recovered when the boy—almost irritably—placed her arm over his shoulder.

The duo sat in an odd silence as the dust steadily began to clear.

“It…it worked…” he said in almost disbelief.

But the girl didn't answer him immediately; she could only stare at the crater in a silent awe as Yusuke held her up.

They had done it…they had really done it…

She sighed heavily and bowed her head as teardrops shimmered in her eyes, “…It's done, Kira…”

It took a moment before Yusuke cleared his throat and looked around nervously, “Er…we should probably try and find a way out of here, shouldn't we?”

Mai flushed slightly at the cheeks and straightened herself abruptly, “Yeah…”

But before either of them could begin walking, the Guardian froze timidly and stared down at her feet.

“Yusuke?”

The boy watched her carefully with a slight hint of irritation in his eye, “Yeah?”

She bit her lip tenderly, “Does…Does this mean that we're…erm…friends?” she asked softly.

The Detective went rigid as his ears burned a bright red. He went stiff and turned his head away, “Yeah sure, whatever…”

Mai frowned dangerously, “`Whatever'?” she chorused angrily, “Whatever? Dammit Yusuke, even after all this you're still an ass…” she puffed out her cheeks irritably and if she could, she might have stormed off again.

“Hey, if it weren't for me, you'd be dead!!” he returned hotly, “I didn't have to come and help you, you know…”

The Guardian glared at him dangerously, “Of course you didn't…” she muttered, “That's why you were here, and you felt guilty for me getting hurt.”

He opened his mouth to reply, but froze; suddenly baffled by his own reasoning. He thought for a moment, but not before the girl rolled her eyes and sighed.

“Just—Whatever…” she muttered, “Let's just get out of here…”

But before either of them could speak, there came a soft ringing from Yusuke's pants. Mai cocked an eyebrow as the boy reached into his pocket and pulled out the bright pink communicator.

“You still carry that around?” she inquired almost distastefully.

The Detective scowled but didn't answer as he flipped open the compact. Mai watched as Botan's face popped up on the screen.

“Oh thank gods, you two are alright!” she exclaimed immediately, “We were getting worried about you!! But what about Ryu?”

“He's gone,” Yusuke replied shortly, “But have you found a way to get us out of this hell-hole?!”

Botan sweat-dropped and scratched her head nervously, “Uh…not quite?”

An artery pulsed in the Detective's temple, “Excuse me?!”

The blue-haired girl huffed irritably, “Alright, alright!! Jeeze…”

There was a small pop and Botan appeared in front of them looking rather agitated. She crossed her arms as the pair watched her warily as if she would pop (literally) any second.

“And you could have done that any time?” Mai asked suspiciously.

Botan turned to her—once again somewhat perky—with a nervous grin, “Ah…not exactly,” she laughed awkwardly, “You see, I tried to earlier, but something wouldn't let me pass; quite strange really…” she said as she tapped her chin thoughtfully, “But as you see, I'm here to take you guys back!”

“Thank the gods,” Yusuke muttered as Mai sent him a hurtful glare.

Ass…she thought darkly and hung her head so that neither of them could see the tears forming in her eyes…

-:12:-

“Hey Botan, I thought we were going back to the Living World,” Yusuke muttered as the trio strolled down the brightly lit hallway.

The girl merely smiled cheerfully, “Oh, I didn't say anything about Ningenkai; all I said was that I was going to take you guys `back'!” she chirped, “Don't worry, Koenma just wanted to see you guys before I dropped you off…”

Mai still needed to lean on Urameshi for support—much to his dismay—but now, her wounds were bandaged and cleaned as well as already starting to recover. She listened silently, however, to the two of them as they continued to converse.

It pained her that Yusuke still didn't want her around; that despite all of this, he was still so hot-headed and prideful.

Was he always like this? She thought grimly, or is it just me?

Botan stopped abruptly in front of a pair of large doors and knocked cautiously.

“Koenma, sir?”

It took a moment, before the doors swung open and the trio stepped inside. The first thing Mai noticed was the rather large desk placed in the middle of the room and the stacks of papers surrounding it. A screen had been pulled down from the ceiling and now sat in front of the desk.

Almost immediately, however, there came a slight shuffling and—what appeared to be—a small child poked his head out from behind the papers.

The Guardian sweat-dropped slightly and was tempted to ask Botan why he was so short, but wisely held her tongue.

“So why'd you want us here?” Yusuke asked shortly as they moved in front of the desk.

The toddler said nothing for a moment; his eyes remaining locked on the girl…as if looking for something in her features. But then he folded his hands in authority, “Because there is something Mai needs…”

She raised her eyebrow suspiciously, “Me?”

Urameshi rolled his eyes, “Well duh…” he muttered quietly so only she could hear him.

But the dancer chose to ignore him as Koenma jumped from his seat and marched calmly across the room. The trio followed behind slowly and carefully; unsure of what exactly he had in mind.

He stopped in front of another door where Botan muttered to herself, “I don't think I've ever seen that before…”

The child swiftly opened the door and stepped inside as the others following in after him. The entire room was dark, all save for a single pillar of light shining somewhere from up above. Their eyes followed the beam until it landed softly upon the object lying on top of the pedestal.

Mai only watched in silent awe as the mysterious light shimmered gracefully off of the staff placed beneath it…

Kira's staff…

The dancer slowly broke away from Yusuke's support and attempted to stand on her own. Her eyes never left the golden staff in front of her…as if it were calling to her; pulling her towards it…

She took a wary step forward and shook dangerously when she felt her strength leaving her. But she swiftly recovered and continued on.

The others said nothing, not even Koenma, as she stumbled towards the staff. They were all watching…their eyes never leaving her…

Eternity seemed to pass her by as she made her way towards the pedestal. It couldn't be…she kept thinking. But as she neared the dais, she felt the pull resonating from it, growing stronger as if it were sensing her presence nearby.

With a final step, she stood before the plinth and beneath the golden pillar of light. Her heart beat faster and faster as she stared down at the staff.

Wrought in pure gold and veined in silver streams, it shimmered eerily off of the glow above her. Flames crawled along the sides and grew as they reached the top; making it appear as though the staff were on fire. Her eyes lingered on the very pinnacle of the rod and at the two fiery red gems embedded into the flames. Each gem was entwined with a vein of gold and silver that ran up and down the pole in a complex system of twists and curves.

Mai stood frozen for a moment taking in the facts…

So long ago had Kira held this staff in her hands; wielding it before demons and protecting Shunichi…so long ago had the staff been placed here and waited for the next Guardian to take it up…

Mai…

With a shaky hand, the dancer carefully reached out towards the golden rod and let her fingers trail along the sleek surface. She felt a sudden charge of energy race through her fingertips as they dragged along the staff as if it had finally found its owner…

She made a move to grasp the rod, but froze fearfully.

What…What if she wasn't ready for this?

Mai, I will always be here for you…

The Guardian bit her lip tenderly as she recoiled her hand. What if it was all a mistake?

No.

She couldn't think like that…Kira had confidence in her; confidence that there was no mistake in this. Kira had waited for so long to have another Guardian come after her and take her place…

It was her turn.

`I know! I'll be your Spirit Guardian, Shi-Shi! Then we'll always be together!'

Mai drew in a shuddering breath as she carefully outstretched her hand a final time towards the staff…

And at last, her hand enclosed around the staff.

Then, as if a sudden power had been unleashed, flames suddenly enveloped the rod and inched up her hand. But she felt no pain, only the heat racing through her body, filling her with a new energy…a type of energy she had never experienced before.

He needs your help…

A sudden presence filled her now; a presence that seemed to awaken a hidden power within her. She gasped in surprise as she felt her veins coursing rapidly with the new energy and adrenaline.

Her fist clenched around staff and forced herself not to let go.

Don't let him fight alone…

On instinct, Yusuke made a move towards the pedestal when he noticed the flames beginning to envelope the girl. But Koenma quickly held out his hand to stop him.

“Wait,” he commanded, but would not take his eyes off of Mai. The detective stared down at the demigod for a moment before he quietly stepped back next to Botan.

A blast like a desert wind whipped around her; her hair billowing around her furiously. The flames crawling on the staff were now inching up her arm, and around the rest of her body. The fire enveloping her appeared to be drawn to her chest where her heart began to pump faster and faster.

But once her entire body had been surrounded in flames, there was a flash and the fired was suddenly being sucked into her chest.

When the fire had been drawn into her, there was another flash as the whole room was filled with the light.

Once the beam had faded, Mai stood alone before the dais…her hand tightly wrapped around the staff.

The Guardian breathed heavily as she leaned on the rod…silent tears of joy trickling steadily down her face.

-:12:-

A/N: sorry it was so short you guys (and that it sort of sucked ::nervous laugh::) but I was just trying to update as soon as I could.

Ciao!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!