The Truth shall set you free

Sitsumi...

I saw the look in his eyes as he swung at me, the blade of the sword nearly cutting across my stomach. There was such anger in his eyes, and loneliness, and pain. I know that I did that. It's my fault. Why must I push all of my friends away? Why did I have to be the vessel? I never wanted to hurt anybody. I especially never wanted to hurt him.

I have been running and hiding for so long. King Yama's pursuit took everything away from me. My freedom, my home, my life. I remember when I was small how my mother would hold me in her arms and sing me to sleep. Then when she was taken from me, I didn't know what to do. I didn't know it then, but she gave herself up for me. She hid me far far away within the human world to protect me, and to keep them from coming, she gave herself to them.

But it was all in vain. King Yama stopped at nothing to make sure that I was found and killed before I would be able to fulfill my duties as a child of Arare. He found human psychics and demon hit men to hunt me down. So many lost their lives to me. I had to kill every single one that got too close. Very few would survive. I remember two of them very clearly though. It was more than half a century ago, right as I had just moved to a place in Japan. She was a beautiful psychic with pink hair accompanied by a massive male who was very polite. They were kind to me, but the girl, Genkai, was by far the wisest and noblest of the two.

Being a vessel of the most powerful being that was ever created, the two were easily taken down. I had heard of them before. I know they were powerful beyond anyone else I had encountered, but not even they were a match for Arare's great might. Her voice rang in my head to kill them, over and over again. She said it was the only way to keep myself safe. It was the only way to keep the world from falling into an abyss. So I did what I was told, and I started to destroy them, but when Genkai had stepped in front of my final blow to her partner, I could not help but avert the attack from them. I could have obliterated both of them with that one shot, but this time I just couldn't bring myself to do it. It is rare to see such kindness from people of this time, from any race. I had blasted away many human and demon teams before, and some would merely use their weaker links to try and distract me. Since I'm still standing, I'm sure I don't have to tell you that they had all failed miserably. But this duo was different. They fought for each other, they cared for each other, and they would die for each other.

It touched me deeply.

Ever since that day, I had wanted to experience something like that. I had wanted what they had. I wanted to be loved in such a way, and I wanted to know what it felt like to be allowed to care about something that wasn't just my birthright.

But She, didn't like that. Over the years I tried so hard to make friends, I tried so hard to keep them, but all I had ever done was bring them pain and suffering. If not by the hand of my pursuers, then by the hand of Arare Herself. She wouldn't allow me the privileges of friendship or love. She constantly told me how I needed to be alone, how it was far more merciful to scare the people around me away than it is to try and protect them from those who would do me harm. What's worse is that She was right. I could never stay too long in one place. Once I felt comfortable enough in my new home and was able to make a new friend, I always had to leave immediately, because I knew the SDF would not be far behind. Yet all the while, I could only long for the warmth of another's hand.

I just didn't think that hand would belong to someone such as Hiei. And even if I would've known who he was from the very beginning, I don't think I would've changed a single thing. I'm far too selfish for that. I just wish, I didn't have to hurt him.

I easily dodged his attack, disrobing my self in the process. The pretty white gown still grasped in his hand, leaving me in my blue undergarments. Goosebumps started to trail all along my arms and legs. It's so cold here in the North.

I jumped to the nearest window, looking down on them shouting, "If you wish to continue the Traitor's Crusade, you may meet me outside the city walls. I will not have you murder innocent civilians in your pursuit."

I jumped away, knowing that they would follow me. I just hope that I can buy some time for Arare's resurrection. The Blue Moon is rising, and once it has become full and bright, a new age will come to pass.

Hiei...

We followed her, into the harsh cold. The cousins followed close behind, trying to divert us.

"You and her seemed pretty chummy back there, Hiei. What the hell is going on between you two?" Yusuke asked as he deflected a lightning bolt from the imp.

"I'm sure the entire class would like to know." Kurama stated, slashing at Jade when she appeared far too close.

We could barely see the silhouette of the vessel as she jumped from rooftop to rooftop, heading towards the city walls. "It doesn't matter now." I stated, trying to flit ahead of them so that I could get to her first, leaving those two behind to deal with the Fubuki sisters, but they, of course, weren't having any of that. I had to dodge a kick from Yusuke.

"The hell is THAT supposed to mean? Thought we were a team, Hiei! That means we don't keep secrets from each other!" He yelled, swinging wildly with his fists, i was easily able to block them, but was getting forced bacb bit by bit, away from the Aoitsuki.

"He has a point, Hiei." Kurama was behind me, already in his full Youko form. "At first I thought she was merely controlling your mind, but there is something deep within your eyes that I could not place. You have been acting strangely all year. Your increased time within the living realm, your constant disappearances, your reaction to the girl while she was still in Spirit World. What is your connection to her, Hiei?"

"I assure you, Kurama, that whatever feelings you might think I have for that girl are gone now. So you needn't worry. I'll get the job of killing her done, and the two of you can go back to your boring white picket fences." I glared at the two, not letting my guard down.

"I see." Kurama looked to Yusuke with a knowing smile. "Hiei seems to have had his heart broken, Yusuke."

"Say what?" He looked at me.

"Don't twist my words around, fox!" I yelled, anger boiling inside of me, ready to explode at any moment.

"But I thought you and Mukuro were..."

"Finish that sentence and I'll cut out your larynx." I spat.

We then jumped out of the way of another barrage of electrical shocks. "YOU DONE GOSSIPING, GIRLS?!" The imp shouted down at us from a higher building. I immediately used my agility to flit away from her, and towards the vessel, hoping to leave Kurama and Yusuke behind, but it seems I would not be getting far without them.

They were once again just at my heels, Yusuke still throwing questions at me as he deflected more of the little imp's attacks whilst Kurama berated them with carnivorous plants of the demon world to try and keep them occupied. No matter how hard I tried though, I could not indefinitely out run them, the look of determination in their eyes let me know that they were never going to leave this alone. Not until it was all over.

TBC...