Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Fire Dancer ❯ Epiphany ( Chapter 12 )

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

DISCLAIMER: no YYH stuff here!!

A/N: Hey, sorry about the crappiness of the last chapter, but I assure you this one will be a little better and we will have some of our favorite characters back for some fun!!

NOTE: THIS IS MY LAST CHAPTER!!!

Thoughts

`Kira'

Fire Dancer

::Epiphany::

Mai opened her eyes to find herself clutching Kira's staff to her chest protectively. She blinked a few times before rolling onto her back and staring up into the ceiling.

Sunlight danced along the sheets and the plywood flooring. Someone had opened the window next to her bed and now the curtains swayed softly in the morning breeze. Birds chirped from the tree beside the bedroom and further off, the faint sounds of the city could be heard beyond.

Her body ached painfully as she remembered the events from the day before. But she didn't remember ever leaving Koenma's office…Odd she thought; someone must have carried her back to Genkai's. She heaved a sigh and stretched almost cat-like beneath the covers.

After a moment, she tossed her legs over the side of the bed and sat on its edge precariously before rising to her feet and moving towards the mirror in the corner of the room.

She rubbed the sleep from her eyes wearily as she blinked into the mirror.

“Holy crap!!!” she cried; nearly screaming the words.

And almost immediately, the sound of two pairs of footsteps could be heard running down the hallway and towards her room. The door was flung open to reveal Yusuke and Kuwabara.

“What? What's wrong—?!”

But the girl whirled on them, her face turning a bright red seeing that all she wore were a pair of pretty small shorts and a bra along with the bandages around her middle.

“PERVS!!” She shrieked frenetically, “Get out!! Get out!!!”

The duo was forced back into the hallway as the door slammed behind them. They stood dazed for a moment.

“Well that was weird,” Kuwabara stated as they made their way back down the hall.

“Yeah well...she's weird,” the Detective replied matter-of-factly.

Mai ran her fingers through her hair frantically as she stared wide-eyed at the bright red strands of hair along her scalp. Hardly any of her hair remained the same creamy orange color except for the very tips. And as she looked further, she noticed that it wasn't only the crimson color at the roots of her hair, but a crimson hue fading in and out.

Not to mention that her eyes had gone from azure to a deep blue with flecks of violet and periwinkle. Her ears too were more angled than usual to almost the point where they looked almost...

Almost demon-like...

“Oh crap...” she whimpered to herself, “Oh crap, oh crap, oh crap...”

A soft giggling could be heard in the back of her mind, `Do you like it?'

“Kira!” she gasped, recognizing the voice, and looked around the room, expecting to see the apparition nearby, “But I'm not dreaming!” she tried to explain.

The former Guardian laughed softly, `No you're not...You don't have to be dreaming for me to speak with you now!' she could almost sense her smiling.

“But...But what's this?!” Mai hissed and stroked her hair fretfully, “I hardly even look like myself anymore!”

`Well...' she started thoughtfully, `I guess since you aren't a full demon, the effect was different for you...But since you picked up my staff, your powers have been working within you; building up and making ready to truly evolve. But to do that, I guess your body itself had to evolve as well to contain all of the power...' she paused momentarily as if thinking further, `Surprising, though, how fast the effects took place…' she added.

“So I'm stuck like this?” the girl asked rather glumly.

Kira giggled, `I guess so...You might as well get used to it, Mai...' she said as if she was trying to sound scornful, `Your life is changing, and not even you or Yusuke can change that course...'

-:13:-

About a half hour later Mai emerged from her bedroom fully dressed in a pink poncho and jeans. Her socks shuffled across the floor warily as she checked each corner before continuing on.

Kira assured her that she had nothing to worry about and that the others would find the change somewhat normal compared to some other things that they've come to see...

But she couldn't help feeling nervous as she made her way through the quiet home. It wasn't just the outside of her that felt different, but the inside too. She could sense something unusual within her; pumping within her blood and through her veins. Like a sudden rush of adrenaline...except for the fact that it was always there...

Ahead of her in the kitchen, she heard the soft voices of Yusuke, Kuwabara and Genkai...Botan might have been there too, but at the moment Mai couldn't tell.

Taking a deep breath, she folded her arms over her stomach nervously and stepped into the room without saying a word to anyone.

But at once it seemed the three of them quieted down. The Guardian noticed that Genkai and the two boys sat at the table and Botan had been fishing for something in one of the cabinets.

All four of them, however, watched her silently as she stood awkwardly in the middle of the kitchen.

At least Genkai doesn't look as shocked as the others...she thought trying to be hopeful.

“So what did you do?” Yusuke asked as he tried to conceal a snicker, “Did you sleep on a ketchup bottle or something?”

Mai rolled her eyes; that was pitiful if that was the best insult he could come up with.

“Yeah, Urameshi,” she said with a mix of sarcasm and depression, “And then I put Miracle Grow on my ears...”

Kuwabara tried to conceal a snort of laughter as the Detective shot him a dangerous look. The girl too, smiled slightly; at least she had gotten a laugh out of someone.

Genkai took a sip of her tea and set it down on the table. It seemed as though Mai's new look didn't seem to bother her, “I assume, then, Mai that once your wounds are healed you'll want to start training?”

It took a moment before the girl realized that the woman didn't seem to notice her change, “Uh, yes actually...” she said and nodded, blushing, “I would want to start training...” she looked down at her hands nervously, “But do you think that...that maybe I could stop back home and pick up a few things?”

She nodded and picked up her tea cup again, “Yusuke can go with you...”

Urameshi whirled and Mai's expression fell, “What?!” they chorused together.

-:13:-

“You know...this is all your fault,” Yusuke grumbled as they crossed the street.

Mai shoved her hands into her pockets, “It's not like I wanted you to come along; I wanted to go by myself...”

The pair sat in a silence as they walked down the sidewalk. The streets were less crowded now by a considerable amount compared to the day before. Most shops were closed anyway so it wasn't very likely that many people would be out and about...

It only took another five minutes or so before they turned onto the street the bookshop was on. Mai felt a tug on her heartstrings as she noticed the shattered windows and glass panels still lying unattended to on the pavement. She sighed heavily as the neared the store and miserably climbed up the steps.

She was careful to avoid the precariously sharpened edges around the doorframe as she made her way inside and over the fallen books. Yusuke noticed—as they entered the building—that in several places Mai's blood stained either the shelves or the carpet. Shelves had collapsed and the books lay in a heap on the floor.

The Guardian sighed again as she ran a hand through her newly colored hair, “I'll only be a few minutes,” she told him, “You can wait down here if you want...”

And she was gone up the steps in the back of the store.

Yusuke folded his arms and looked around the room in boredom. Despite the fact that nearly half the shop was destroyed, the store was rather plain and dull.

The Detective sighed as well and made his way towards one of the red armchairs. He plopped down in it wearily as it groaned beneath him and he kicked his legs up onto the ottoman lazily.

His eyes suddenly fell on the single, leather-bound book beside him on the table. Curiosity overcame him as he cautiously lifted the tome from its resting spot and flipped through the pages.

It was a photo album...

-:13:-

Mai's PoV

I sighed sadly and looked around the room. Everything was as it had been the day before; clothes strewn across the floor and the bed partially made.

Taking my backpack and a small suitcase from my closest, I placed them both on my bed; first gathering all my school books and papers and stuffing them in my bag until it was full. I then threw in the little clothes that lay on the floor and carelessly tossed them into the suitcase.

Finally I would have a home with actual friends to be a family...

But why was I so depressed?

It's a leap of faith...I told myself, I'm finally willing to trust once more and deep down, my heart isn't ready for it...

I took the photo from my nightstand and gently tucked it beneath my clothes. Next came my CD's as I packed them into one of the side pockets.

There wasn't really much left except for my CD player...but it seemed as though something was missing...

-:13:-

Yusuke felt his hands tremble as he turned the pages. It wasn't the fact that he was spying that made him shaky, but that with each picture he felt his guilt press harder and harder around him.

It was only until he heard Mai's footsteps on the stairs, did he hurriedly shut the book and toss it back onto the table.

The girl appeared at the base of the stairs hauling her backpack and a suitcase that hadn't even been filled. He rose from the chair, trying to seem casual as she stopped to rest next to the cash register.

“I left a note for Ms. Megumi...” she told him, “I said that burglars broke into the store and I'm staying over at a friends' until it's safe to come back...” she shifted the weight of her backpack on her shoulder, “That's sounds reasonable, right?”

Urameshi nodded, but after looking through the album, it was hard to picture her the same way...All those photos with her `protector' when she was so happy and without a care in the world. And how they soon changed when the boy never appeared anymore in the picture; and how Mai's cheerfulness was suddenly swept out from beneath her...

After a moment Mai cocked an eyebrow, “Are you okay?”

He shook his head as if clearing his mind, “Uh...yeah...” he rubbed the back of his neck nervously and gave her a weak grin, “Let me help you with that...”

Yusuke took her suitcase from her as she watched him, speechless. The boy placed the bag over his shoulder and shuffled out the door. It took another moment before Mai regained her wits and followed after him.

“Yusuke Urameshi, I'm surprised in you...” she said awe-filled, “I would have never guessed...”

The Detective grinned slightly, “Well who knows?” he told her casually, “I'm a surprising person...”

Mai paused curiously, but he continued on the road without another word.

What the...?

It was a moment or so before Urameshi turned back towards her, “Hey, are you coming or not?!” he demanded.

The Guardian stood for a second before smiling; “Yeah!” she called and merrily jogged after him...

-:13:-

A/N:

I hoped you guys enjoyed!! If you're lucky I might put up an epilogue/preview for Fire Angel in a few days!!

Thank you all so much for sticking with me through all of this!!!

I luv you all!!!!

Ciao!!!!!!!!!!