Black text – true sequence

      I heard the beasts growling at my back, ready to pounce on me.
       " Hn!" Such incompetent creatures! This world would be better off without them.
      I flicked my fingers and in an instant a series of explosion flew in their direction. All but one were vanquished. The remaining beast, thinking he was strong enough to escape the blast and therefore powerful enough to beat me, lunge head on.
      How stupid! He should’ve ran away instead.
      Quickly, I drew my sword and sliced it through his torso, spurting blood all around me.
      I was about to turn around when . . .
       " Shit ---!", I cursed, surprised as a strong impact rippled through the entire fortress. I fell back, shielding myself from the scraps blasting everywhere.
      Suddenly, a soft object hit my cheeks. I snatched and brought it before my eyes.
      It was a piece of white cloth.
      My hands shook as I realized what it was.
      The cloth. A cloth worn over a broken side of a woman’s face.
      I raised my sight at ground zero and saw that it was still burning. The flames lapped greedily at each other. The place burned like hell, the spot was dark and smoky but . . . I could see a form lying half-burnt on the ground. I was able to see it for just a few seconds before a raging flare burst across it, obscuring my view.
      I clutched the cloth in hand. I need not see it for more than a second. I knew it was her.
      After a while, the smoke started to clear. And there I saw behind the scorching flames was a tall shadow of a man. His face towards me. Staring at me.
      It lasted for a minute then he vanished.
      I closed my eyes for a moment, contemplating on the irony of it all.
      Right after the Makai tournament, I swore not to fight Mukuro again. But as years past, working as her right hand man, my desire to rule and dominate resurfaced.
      For the past year, I was planning on how to seize the leadership throne from her. But things happened so fast and unexpectedly, our camp was invaded by unknown youkais.
      I looked around me. Everything was in ruins. Everybody except myself had died.
      My eyes searched the distant bright clouds above the hills and sighed.
      There was one place left for me to go to.


      That was a year ago.
      Now, I’m back in Ningenkai with the same people I worked with before.
       " Hiei!"
      I looked up and saw a small young woman approaching me.
       " Happy Birthday, Hiei!", she greeted, holding out a rectangular package wrapped in glossy paper.
      I stared at it suspiciously. " What is that?"
       " A gift.", she answered. " Go on take it."
      Carefully, I reached out to take the package and murmured my thanks.
      I tore the wrapper and took out the content. Gift. My sister’s gift.
      It was a bundle of blank white sheets tied with a spring. It was like those things Kurama’s carrying. Only this one’s smaller and much fancier. With a pen attached to it.
      A script was written at the front.
      HIEI’s JOURNAL.
      Journal? What the hell is that?
      I turned the first page and saw a short note written on it. One look and I knew that it was of Yukina’s handwriting.

      Dear Hiei,
      Here you could write short stories,
      your thoughts for the day or anything you wanted.
      I hope it’ll help you analyze yourself better.
      Love,
      Yukina

      Short stories?
      I chortled inwardly.
       " I hope you like it.", she said softly.
       " Uh, yeah. Um, I-I do, thank you.", I said quite hesitantly but she smiled nonetheless, waved then quickly left.
      All of a sudden, I felt my fingers twitched. A queasy feeling swept through me as I held the small notebook in my hand. I don’t need to write anything about me and my thoughts. My consciousness could hold as much memories as all ningens combined. But . . .
      My gaze instantly fell on the pen hooked on the spring. Hesitantly, I took it then flipped on to a blank page and wrote.

      I don’t know what I’m doing here in Ningenkai. Maybe because she’s here.
      I wanted to see her. To check if she’s alright.
      But was that the only reason I went back?
      I don’t know.
      For some reason, I felt a hundred answers were kept hidden somewhere in this world.
      But what was I searching for, really?
      Peace? Companionship? Family?
      Or . . .
      . . . an infuriated clamor for retribution?
      I don’t know.
       ‘still to have to find out.

      I stopped. Wrinkling my brow as I held my pen poised in mid-air.
       " I don’t know why the hell am I doing this! Its just a waste of time!", I muttered, shutting the journal close.
      I was about to throw it into a bin when I changed my mind.
      And tucked it beneath my cloak instead.

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      We were at the high hills on northern Japan for a mission. We hid ourselves within the concealing shelter of the trees as we check out a huge estate believed to be the target’s hideout.
       " I suggest we should rush in and kill them all before they even had a chance to fight back.", I said.
       " That would be suicide.", Yusuke remarked. " There are about a hundred monsters in there."
       " What’s the matter? Wanting to back out Urameshi?", I snapped. " I bet you’ve been inactive for so many years that you incurred a sense of paranoia. Don’t worry, I’ll go in first."
       " We’re not scared and we’re not too cautious either. We don’t want to take any chances that’s all.", Yusuke said calmly.
      Kurama looked at me. " C’mon Hiei, I think he’s right. We should stick together."
       " I don’t care what you think!", I snapped. " You go ahead and I’ll do my own thing! You’ve got a problem with that?"
       " Yes.", Yusuke said evenly. " We have a mission and we’re given instructions to follow the plan down to the letter."
      I glared at them. Without a word, I jumped to the next tree and ran away as far as possible.
      Kuwabara turned red with anger. " That ----!!!"
       " Let him do whatever he wants, Kuwabara.", Kurama spoke.
      The orange-headed guy looked over his shoulder. " What? And let that creep do his dirty work?"
       " He had gone the opposite way. He doesn’t want to help.", Kurama explained. " Its about the hundredth time he abandoned us since he got back from Makai. You might say there’s nothing new about that but we have never seen him in battle for the past year."
       " So?"
       " Don’t be fooled with his show of bravado.", Kurama related. " Its actually the opposite for now."       Yusuke nodded, understanding the situation. " Hiei’s camp was destroyed by a powerful fleet. I guess it wrecked his self-confidence. Probably blaming himself for being a failure in protecting his superior."
      Kurama didn’t say anything. He knew it was more than that. Hiei may have been close enough to Mukuro to make a good relationship possible between them. Yet he knew him well enough to know which buttons were pushed. But for now, he decided it would be better to keep his thoughts to himself.
       " What are we going to do now?", Kuwabara asked.
       " We’ll push through without him.", Yusuke said firmly.
       " Can we?"
       " We’ll try."

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      My gaze fell on the journal sitting on top of the table.
      Yukina’s note said I could write anything in it, including my own thoughts. The journal looked so inviting. Urging me to fill in its blank pages.
      Without thinking, I ambled towards the desk and sat down on my chair.
      All of a sudden, the events that took place on the woods that morning came back to me in a rush.
      Yusuke’s commanding tone. Kuwabara’s stupid remarks. Kurama’s unsolicited advice.
      And the rage of being treated like an ordinary member.
       " I don’t want to be a follower! I was born to rule!", I muttered, feeling the anger flowing through me as I started to write on the third page.

      I was walking one afternoon deep in the woods, lost in my own thoughts about my being a member of the Reikai Tantei when I heard a twig snapped behind me. I’ve already sensed it for about a few minutes now. And I guess I have to confront whoever my stalker is so I turned around abruptly.
      My eyes narrowed at the sight of a super shocked blue-haired deity who had obviously fallen flat on her face. " Botan!"
      Her face reddened realizing she was discovered. Botan tried to stand up, rubbing her bruised left knee. She looked scared for a while but recovered quickly and smiled brilliantly at me. " Hiei! Nice to see you!"
       " Cut the crap! What are you up to now?"
      She frowned as she racked her brain for an excuse but at the last moment decided to tell the truth instead. " Everyone noticed you’ve been acting strange ever since you went back from Makai so Koenma has given out an order. You’re under surveillance, Hiei. "
       " What are you trying to say?", I demanded, moving forward.
      Botan stepped back, intimidated. " Uh, I didn’t mean any harm . . . I-I was only instructed to find out your routines . . ."
       " How long have you been following me?"
       " J-Just now.", she stammered. " I-I don’t really want to do it at first but . . ."
       " What?"
       " They reminded me to follow the rules or else some people might get hurt."
      I raised my eyebrows in question.
      She twiddled her fingers, unsure of what to say. " They didn’t tell me a-and I-I don’t want to know either. It could be somebody close to you or . . . to me."
      I gritted my teeth. Reikai has always been so damn suspicious of me even if I went through all the trouble of fighting with Yusuke’s team. Some people really do have control over most of us.
       " Leave.", I said firmly.
       " Uh, right away.", she hurried, immediately breaking into an awkward sprint away from me then vanished through the thick foliage. Funny how an injured woman could ran as fast as she just did.
      I raised my palm and balled my fingers into a tight fist. " Reikai will be the first place I’m going to destroy once I gained enough power.", I whispered, fury seething all over me. " I’m going to crush it with no mercy!"
       " Then why don’t you do it.", a deep male voice spoke.
       " Huh?!", I raised my eyes, a presence was evident not far. My quick eyes didn’t take long to find an individual seated under a tree right behind me.
       " Who are you?"
       " There has been personalities who had the ambition to conquer and rule. Anonymous personalities who made history. People who were poor and powerless but had such unwavering will, that for a moment they succeeded.", he said, not answering my question.
      I frowned. What the hell is he talking about?
       " Hitler was one of them. But like the others, his success was short-lived. Because he’s human. And we’re not. That means we could push ourselves way beyond their limits.", he blabbered.
      Instantly I lost interest. An insane man doesn’t even deserve my energy. Quickly I turned my back and started to walk away. " Your head’s full of crap. I can read your mind."
       " I can read yours better.", he said calmly.
      I stopped.
       " I can read your mind, Hiei.", he repeated.
      I started. How did he knew my name? Quickly I turned around. " Who are you?"
      This time he stood up. He was tall and medium-built. Then, I saw his hard face. A black patch was over his left eye but I could clearly see a twinkle on his right one. There was something familiar about him.
       " Omachi.", he said.
       " What do you want from me?", I demanded.
      He smiled then shook his head. " Wrong question, my friend." He stared at me with a single eye. " Its you who needs my help."
       " Hn!", I sneered. " I don’t need anybody! Much less a incompetent creature like you!"
       " Really?" He laughed. The he changed to a serious tone. " Have you heard what happened to Mukuro?"
      My eyes narrowed.
       " We did it.", he grinned proudly.
      I growled low in my throat. He was talking about what happened in our camp and now I knew where I saw him. In the field that day we were attacked. He was Mukuro’s assailant.
      It occurred to me how dangerous he was, having conquered our camp.
      Omachi started to laugh, realizing I already found out who he was.
       " Don’t worry. I didn’t come to take your head.", he assured. " I could almost smell victory the moment I saw you that day. You would be surprised. We have a lot in common."
       " Hn!"
       " We’ll meet again, Hiei.", he said. Then he was gone.

       " Omachi. Now there’s a good ally.", I murmured as I tucked my journal under the pillow.

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       " Ooouuuch!!!!! Watch it!", Botan cried out as Yusuke accidentally hit her left knee.
      I was eyeing at her bruised knee for a few minutes now and it amazed me how she ended up getting injured at the same spot as in the story I wrote on the journal.
       " Sorry.", Yusuke apologized. " What happened to you anyway?"
      Botan glanced briefly at me. " Um. Nothing. I was always clumsy I guess.", she replied.
      I frowned. She has been giving me that look since I got here. I don’t know what she’s up to but somehow I could sense something irregular about this whole episode.
       " Hiei, are you coming with us?", Kurama’s voice broke into my thoughts.
       " I don’t have time for nonsense!"
      Kuwabara clenched his fist. " You ----!"
      Yusuke, however, held him back. " Easy." He turned to me. " It’s alright if you don’t want to come. Just do us a favor and check the girls if you don’t have anything to do. You okay with that?"
       " Hn!"
      I need not look at them. I knew very well that they were exasperated. And I won’t be surprised if they’ve already given up on me.
      As soon as the three left the apartment, I turned to the girls.
      Botan noticed it right away. Hurriedly, she excused herself then left.
      Knowing she would pass by the park, I waited for her there.
      She stopped dead in her tracks as soon as she saw me. " Hiei? Um, what do you want?"
      " You looked a little scared. Something wrong?", I asked.
       " Um, no. Not really . . ."
      I caught sight if her bruised knee, still wondering where she got it. " What happened to your knee?"
      Botan looked surprised. " Ah . . I fell on the woods . . last night."
      I frowned. " What time?"
      She gaped at me, puzzled.
       " I’m asking you what time?!", I pressed.
       " Around seven fifteen.", she replied. " Y-you . . . you don’t seem to remember . . . A-are you okay?"
       " Guess it slipped my mind . .", I murmured. " What happened?"
       " Um, you found out that I was following you so you yelled at me. You demanded an explanation and I told you I was instructed by Koenma to put you under surveillance.", she narrated, still confused. " Um, Hiei? Are you still mad at me? I swear they really warned me that if I didn’t do as they say, then --"
       " . . somebody might get hurt.", I finished.
      She nodded.
      " Yeah, I could remember it now. And um, Botan?"
       " Yes?"
       " I’m not angry at you, anymore.", I said. " But I advice you to stay away from my activities from now on, understand?"
       " Yup. Um . . there’s something I want to tell you . . .", she said, a bit hesitant.
      I looked at her.
       " King Enma has already instructed some people to finish you.", she informed me. " So be careful."
       " Thanks for the tip."
       " You’re welcome.", she said then left.

      I stared at her form until she disappeared around the corner. Then I headed to my apartment at the next block. Since I got used to the spacious, descent bedroom back in the camp, I couldn’t find myself sleeping under the tree like I used to. So as soon as I got back from Makai, I asked Kurama to look for a suitable apartment for me.
      And please, don’t ask me were I’m getting the money to pay the rent. Seriously, do those cops a favor.
      I entered my room, a little dazed. Does the journal have some sort of special power? I asked myself. Slowly, I opened the journal and flipped on the page where a single paragraph was written.
      There I wrote, just this morning, about Botan giving out information on King Enma’s mandate.

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

      The next day I learned that there was an attempt to kidnap Keiko yesterday. Good thing Yusuke and the others reached the girls even before they got hurt. Everyone was fine. But the others were so angry at me for leaving them. They said that hadn’t I left the vicinity, nothing like that would happen. I told them that no one really got hurt. And well . . . that started a heated argument.
      Keiko and Yukina spoke in my defense and the others seemed to have eased out on me that it didn’t take long for us to end up the confrontation. But I could still see they’re not yet ready to give up as Kurama followed me to my apartment right after the group had gone home.

       " You’ve been spending too much time indoors, Hiei.", Kurama remarked as he made a quick survey of my room. " Hmm . . cozy"
       " None of your business!", I snapped.
       " What’s wrong with you?", he asked, almost demanding.
      I’m used to Kurama’s lectures, scolding me like a four-year old answering to an older brother.
      I didn’t reply. No sense arguing with him. He wouldn’t understand.
       " You don’t want to talk?", he asked after a long silence. " Then I’ll tell you what I think."
      He sat comfortably on a cushioned chair then stretched his long legs right above the center table.
       " I knew better than to believe you could actually keep your promise not to fight Mukuro again.", he started, taking a tennis ball in his hand. " So you must’ve been working behind her, planning against her."
      Kurama glanced briefly at me, throwing the ball upward. " I could see you’ve improved a lot the last time we met. So I guess you spent most of your time, practicing." His eyes followed the ball’s movement as it landed back on his palm. " Concocting the best strategy you could ever think of. And just when everything seems ready ---- bang!"
      He threw the ball right across the mirror, shattering the glass into pieces.
       " Somebody came and took the job away from you.", he said. " You wanted Mukuro to die in your hands, am I right?"
       " Hn! I don’t care! I’m not a pathetic mourner, Kurama!"
       " I know and that’s not what I’m trying to tell you.", he said. " The glory, the honor --- and the power of her troops disappeared in a puff of smoke. Along with it, your dream of supremacy."
      I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye.
       " Y’know I’m not telling you this because you refused to, at least, ensure the girls’ safety. I’m telling you this because it’s so strange not seeing you lift that sword. I don’t know but for some reason, I think you’re afraid to go to battle." He paused to stare at me. " Talk to me, Hiei. What’s bothering you?"
      I shifted uncomfortably on my position by the window. This smart kitsune really do know how to read people. Nobody knows what’s inside his head and I admit that sometimes, I feel threatened by him.
      Kurama sighed then stood up from the chair. " If you don’t want to talk then suit yourself, just make sure that whatever tactics you’ve got under your sleeves, whether for revenge or for personal interest, make sure that you don’t run over innocent people."
      He turned and walked slowly to the door. He paused, his hand on the knob.
       " You might have become more powerful. But your senses became weaker. I wouldn’t be surprised if one day I see you as one hideous beast."
      Those were his words before leaving the room.

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      The night was young and the air carries a chill as I stood on top of the tallest skyscraper in the city. I like hanging out up here. I felt powerful as my gaze lorded below the busy metropolis.
      I patted a rectangular object hidden beneath my cloak.
      I don’t know, but I felt as if the journal was becoming more and more like a companion. I couldn’t leave the room without it. And not a single day that I missed writing on it. Probably because of the fact that it doesn’t hit back at me and always do whatever I told it to do. I’m still a little confused as to why that short story I wrote came up so real.
      Well . . . just a part of it. Coincidence? I don’t think so.
      Maybe I should ask Yukina about it.
       " Haven’t we met somewhere?"
      A deep voice sounded behind me. Quickly I turned my head and saw a tall man with a black patch on his left eye.
      I opened my mouth to speak but he beat me to it.
       " Hiei.", he said.
      Still confused, I asked him. " W-who a-are you?"
       " Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten already.", he sneered. " I think you know very well who I am."
       " Omachi.", I voiced out. The character I created. So alive. So . . real. Am I dreaming?
       " So are you ready? Do you want to play?", he asked.
       " I have no time take in some stupid jokes.", I stated.
      Omachi smiled. " That’s my boy!" He brought out a packet of cigarettes, took out a stick and offered it to me. I shook my head.
       " You should ease out sometimes. Y’know, have fun."
       " I’m not looking for excitement.", I said. " I’m dead serious about this."
      He placed the cigarette between his lips then flicked the lighter. " Then you came to the right guy."
       " I hope you’re right. Because if not . . ." I stared at him with such intensity that I could feel my third eye glowed fiercely beneath the white bandanna.
       " Hold your horses, Hiei. We’re on the same side." Omachi blew a puff of smoke, staring intently at the city lights below. " Such a fucking cute world, isn’t it?"
       " Hn!" I like the way he described it. Cute. So cute I want to crush it.
       " We have a plan.", he said.
      I narrowed my eyes. He was telling me things a supposed ally of a spirit detective shouldn’t be knowledgeable of. Was this a ruse or something? I thought.
       " We would destroy every single soul in this world. A drop of death. Then . . ."
      I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye, anticipating the rest of his plan.
      But he straightened himself, turned his back and started to walk.
      Instantly, I unhooked my sword and raised it. But just as I was ready to strike, he spoke calmly. " I know you wouldn’t do that."
      I gritted my teeth. I could kill him right now but something’s holding me back. I eased myself and dropped my arms to the side.
      Omachi smiled annoyingly as he stepped aside and walked towards the attic door. He stopped just a few feet from the entrance. " We’ll be waiting for you, Hiei."
      Then he was gone. Vanished through the dark night.

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      I’ve been staring at the journal for over an hour now.
      Botan had the same wound at exactly the same spot where she fell in my story.
      Coincidence? Possibly.
      But how could I explain Omachi? I’ve never met him in real life. I created him in the story. That’s all. Did I somehow foresaw his presence and met him somewhere without me remembering it?
      I don’t know.
      Should I continue the plan? What if Omachi doesn’t cooperate the way I want him to?
      The journal . . .
      I gasped.
      If my stories came up real then I could continue the story in which everything I wanted shall be fulfilled. Maybe its time to test the capability of this journal. And if my theory turned out right then . . .
      I could do anything! At the stroke of my pen, I could do whatever I want!
      I grinned evilly. " It’ll make my job much more easier.", I whispered.
      Yes. Omachi isn’t an enemy.
      He’s my creation. My ally.


       " Glad you made it.", Omachi said. He was leaning onto a railing separating the walkway from the deep waters of the dam.
       " By the way this is Okuri.", he said, motioning to a tall young man in a Chinese suit. " One of us."
      His expression was passive. I don’t like it when one tries to hide something from me. But in this case I should well be a little more patient. For reasons such as significant interest or perhaps just plain curiosity.
      I leaned against the cold railing, my back facing the waters. " How?", I asked. " How are you going to do it."
      Omachi started to snicker. " What do you think?"
       " That drop of death. What does it mean?", I pressed.
      He smiled as he dug in his pocket. Slowly, he raised a small vial filled with bluish-green liquid. He pulled the cork and poured a drop on the dam. Okuri then took a kitten and tossed it on the dam.
      There was soft hissing noise as the kitten, crying and thrashing, sank deeper into the reservoir.
      A few moments past and small pieces of bones floated on the surface.
      I gasped. " W-what the . . .?!"
       " Imagine that inside you, Hiei.", Omachi sneered.
      I felt like puking. But I must admit. It was a damn excellent plan.
       " In a matter of seconds or minutes, people will die. In days and weeks, the whole world shall be empty."
      To an ordinary person or anybody who has great concern on humanity, his statement could cause hysteria and panic. But I was more puzzled than scared.
       " Why are you telling me this?"
       " What do you think?", he threw the question back at me.
       " I don’t know.", I replied. It wasn’t necessarily an honest answer and I have the feeling that he knew that already.
      Omachi rubbed his jaw, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. " You’re not one of them."
      I looked at him, not quite understanding.
       " You’re dangerous, Hiei. You could’ve killed me the other day and if you wanted, you could finish me right now.", he drew in his breath. " But you didn’t. Because I know that you and I are one and the same. Let’s just say you’re much clever. Masquerading as this supposed ally of the oh, so noble spirit detective, Yusuke Urameshi."
      I chose not to say anything. For once I felt threatened. Omachi was the only person aside from Kurama who could very well read what exactly was on my mind.
      Omachi straightened himself and started to paced towards the gate, not even waiting for my answer.

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      It was a cloudy Friday afternoon. I walked along a deserted street a few blocks from my apartment. I had just gone from Reikai where I decided to meet with Koenma to discuss something. At first, the palace workers where a little surprised or maybe suspicious but I tried to ignore them.
      Realizing I could make use of my membership in the Reikai Tantei, I acted as if I was ready to cooperate this time as an inactive member. Little did they know that I had a plan in mind.
      While everyone was waiting for Koenma, I roamed around. I’ve done all I can to be careful. Slipping from one room to another, memorizing the whole Reikai palace. So that I could clearly lay out the details of its destruction on the journal.
      I smiled. I never knew it could be this easy.
      I had already finished another chapter this morning before I left. And I guess its success could spell out the truth about the journal.
       " Hiei!" Someone called.
      I turn around and saw Kurama.
       " Hiei. Have you heard the news?", he breathed, catching up on me.
       " What news?", I asked innocently.
       " Enki’s camp has been totally destroyed. Everybody, including him, was killed."
       " How?"
       " Deadly rays and special bombs.", He said grimly.
       " Do you have any suspect?"
       " They’re still investigating the matter. But Makai was on full alert after it happened.", then he paused as he remembered something. " Hey, Koenma called us and he informed that you’re going to be inactive for now. And well, I thought, maybe you would change your mind . . . ."
      I shook my head.
      Kurama sighed. " Alright, just be careful." He waved goodbye, leaving me with an answer I’ve been looking for the past couple of days.
      That the journal does have a power. A power I knew, I had in my hands.
      I smiled as I ran my fingers through its leather covering.
      Ready to write another chapter of my novel . . .

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      The sun was up and Yusuke, Kurama, Kuwabara, Botan, Keiko, Yukina and I had decided to spend a whole afternoon together at the Urameshi house.
      Kuwabara placed some snacks on the table as Kurama stood up and flicked on the television. Yukina and I were seated on a long chair while Yusuke sat on the sofa, his legs hanging lazily on the side.
       " I knew you’re very sensitive so I brought mineral water for you.", Kuwabara grinned, handing a bottle to Yukina.
      The ice maiden accepted it graciously. " Thank you!" Quickly, she uncapped the bottle and was about to raise it to her lips when . . .
       " Don’t!", I yelled, swiping the bottle from her grasp.
      Yukina appeared stunned as I hurtled it straight into the trash.
      Kuwabara’s face however turned red with anger. " What’s wrong with you, you little -----!"
      For once I didn’t fire back. I could see the others looking at me strangely but I guess they thought I just did that to show my dislike over Kuwabara.
       " Where’s Keiko?", I heard Yusuke ask as Botan emerged from the bedroom.
       " Oh, she’s taking a bath. Lounging on the tub. ", she replied, rubbing her damp hair with a towel.
      I sucked in my breath. Keiko’s taking a bath and this ditzy deity had just taken hers as well that means . . .
       " Botan, your hair!!!!", Yukina cried out.
       " What? What’s wrong with . . . aaa . . . Aauughhh!!!!", Botan cried out as blood poured down the sides of her face. She fell on her knees as she felt a sense of unbearable pain ripped and gnawed on her body.
      Instantly, everyone was on her side. She thrashed and flailed her arms as her skin started to melt. In a just a few seconds, blisters formed and popped on her arms and legs as fowl liquid seeped into her flesh, tearing every tissue in her body. Her hair was singed down to their roots.
       " Botan!", Yusuke shouted.
      Kurama and Yukina wasted no time as they immediately gripped her, summoning their healing power. Both felt the liquid on their palms but they didn’t draw back.
      A few moments passed and the liquid dissolved and though still alive, Botan was left looking like a half-rotten corpse.
      Kuwabara was anxious. "What happened?"
       " I-I . . . d-don’t know . . . just t-took . . . a . . b-ba-bath . . .", she breathed painfully.
      Stunned, Yusuke was on his feet in an instant.
      I closed my eyes. Keiko was a nice girl. But she’s human. Weak . . . and useless.
       " What’s wrong with taking a bath?", Kuwabara asked sheepishly.
      Kurama raised his palms and saw a few blisters. " Acid.", he said grimly.
       " Uh?", the burly guy uttered.
      Everyone lapsed into complete silence aside from Botan’s labored breathing. Nobody wanted to speak. And honestly, neither am I. What should I say? That I knew this was coming?
      Yusuke’s cry broke the gap. An anguish cry which sounded almost inhuman.
      Botan’s cry sputtered as if every move was a torture.
      Kurama carefully carried her onto a sofa while Yukina retreated to a corner. She glanced at me briefly, as if thanking me. But a tinge in her eyes told me she wanted to ask me some questions.
       " I knew I had a bad feeling about water all along.", I stated. Silently hoping that it would evade any suspicions.
      The others nodded except for Kurama.
       " News flash!", a booming voice sounded from the tube.
      Everyone focused their attention on the program as a reporter stood outdoors, reporting an incident about all cars melting in the car wash.
      Suddenly, the rain poured. The reporter ignored it as he continued to babbled on the details of his story. Then suddenly, he stopped. There was a momentary silence as the reporter just stood still on his post, the microphone poised on his right hand.
      Before anyone could even give a comment, the reporter started screaming.
       " What the heck . . .?!", Kuwabara uttered.
       " I don’t have a good feeling about this . . .", Kurama murmured.
      Yukina turned away as the reporter’s body melted in front of the camera.
      A few seconds past and the screen went haywire then the picture suddenly turned sideways.
      The cameraman must’ve been dead already.
      For a while, nobody spoke. It was horrid enough to see Botan’s agony but to actually see it all the way to its final stage was too much for anyone to witness.
      Involuntarily, Kuwabara started pacing. He stopped right beside the window, lost in his own thoughts. He stared outside, his squared ugly face pressed against the glass. " Uh oh!"
       " What?", Kurama asked.
      I glanced out and just as my sight focused on the glass pane, a drop of water pelt on the surface. Another splashed. Bigger. Wider.
      Then there was another. And another.
      Rain. I realized.
       " We must get out of here.", Kurama declared.
       " How? We couldn’t get out!", Kuwabara panicked.
      Suddenly, a hissing noise sounded. It didn’t take me a minute to realize it was coming from above us. I looked up and saw a large gaping hole right above Yukina. I felt adrenalin pumping through me as I swiftly knocked her from her post. I looked back and saw her chair had melted instantly.
      I heard someone gulped then out of nowhere, a gigantic plant appeared right before us. Kurama took Botan and jumped inside it while I wasted no time to aid Yukina. After making sure she was safe, I jumped in as well.
      Kuwabara, on the other hand, doesn’t look ready to leave. With only a foot inside the plant he yelled, " Yusuke! Yusuke!"
      No answer.
      He stepped out and boldly walked towards the bathroom at the back of the house shouting his best friend’s name.
      I could feel my companions’ panic surging through them.
       " Kazuma!", Yukina cried. " Kazuma! Yusuke! Let’s get out of here!"
      No answer.
      A loud cry echoed from inside. A cry I heard from Botan moments before.
       " Huh?!" Yukina’s eyes moisten, her hands shook and her shoulders trembled. " No . . ."
       " C’mon let’s go.", Kurama said softly.
      Botan cried. But it sounded like a hiccup to me.
      With a flick of his hand, Kurama ordered his plants to take us out of the house and into a safe place.

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

      It felt good to finally get rid of that orange-headed, stupid Kuwabara. And Keiko? I’m not sure but I guess I won’t be needing her much.
      Yusuke?
      It wasn’t in my plan to kill him in the story. For some reason, the story seemed to have written itself. Besides, I couldn’t write Keiko’s death without her fiance helping her out. And well . . . I guess I got carried away. Or maybe too busy ensuring the details of both mine and Yukina’s escape.
      Yusuke’s dead.
      I’m not really sure if I made the right decision. Yet I knew it’s too late.

       " D-do you think . . . they’re gone?", I asked.
      Kurama bowed his head sadly. " We heard them scream. I don’t know . . . but I felt their pain."
       " Kurama. Hiei."
      A voice called. I lifted my head and saw the prince of Reikai.
       " You’ve been to Yusuke’s?", Kurama asked.
      Koenma nodded. " Two bodies were found."
       " Two bodies?", Kurama asked slowly.
       " We’re not sure. Some bones were missing. Melted beyond recognition.", Koenma explained.
       " So you don’t know how many?", Kurama pressed, still not believing the possibility of their death.
       " Yeah. It could be the three of them."
       " Do you now what places where affected?"
       " Yes. I don’t how it happened but the entire Japan was destroyed during the rain."
       " You mean it rained with acid throughout the country? I don’t understand. Was it possible?"
       " Yes it is. Um . . . we heard reports all around the world, as well." He paused to take a long breath. " All countries were destroyed. Everything but this small place we’re standing on, were completely wiped out."
       " You’re kidding . . .", Kurama whispered, realizing his mother could be dead, too. " Who do you think is responsible?"
       " I don’t know." Koenma murmured then he turned and stared at me. " Maybe Hiei has a theory . . ."
      Kurama looked at me, puzzled.
       " I don’t know anything about it either.", I said firmly.
      Koenma gave out a huge sigh. " Maybe I should go back to Reikai and ask for my father’s help. Be careful, you two and take care of Yukina and Botan."
      Kurama nodded as the prince vanished into the portal.
      I sat on the ground, my journal placed firmly beside me. I brought my feet against my chest and buried my face in them.
       " What’s wrong?", Kurama suddenly asked.
       " Nothing.", I answered.
       " Sure?"
       " Yeah."
      I heard his soft footsteps as he paced towards the woods were the two girls are.
       " Maybe Hiei has a theory . . ."
      Koenma. Even Kurama was beginning to suspect me.
      I had to do something, I thought.
      Suddenly, I felt my fingers twitched, my palm started to itch.
      I raised the journal to my lap, ready to fill in the next pages . . .

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

      Bleep!
      Botan painfully reached for her communicator. She quickly opened it and instantly, Koenma’s anxious face appeared on the small monitor.
       " Botan, I need Kurama and Hiei! Reikai’s in . . . " His statements were cut off
       " Koenma I can’t hear you!", she said.
       " Reikai’s under attack ---- !" The communication was cut off as the screen flickered, following a loud explosion which sounded from the monitor.
      Kurama looked behind Botan’s shoulder. " Koenma?! Is everything alright? What’s going on?"
      Koenma came back on screen, his face now ashen and looked extremely troubled. " Botan . . .d-don’t . . c-come here . . . ."
      There was a tremendous blast then the screen suddenly turned blank.
      Tears flowed down Botan’s cheek while Yukina turned pale, as fear crawled through them.
      Kurama gently squeezed both ladies’ shoulder as thoughts whirled in his mind. Trying to find out any connection between the invasion of Reikai and the destruction of Ningenkai.

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

      I raised the hotdog to my lips and bit on it, contemplating on the recent developments.
      Yes, developments not tragedies.
      I could still hear both girls’ muffled cries.
      I felt like laughing. Everything was happening according to the plan. Omachi and I need not fight in Reikai. We had already done our job a week ago. Constantly, planting special bombs and replacing all important relics to use in King Enma’s downfall.
      I smiled.
       " I couldn’t quite imagine you could smile at a time like this."
      I raised my eyes and saw Kurama staring suspiciously at me. I stared back, reorganizing my thoughts in a way that he wouldn’t found out my plan. At least, for now.
      I tossed the empty stick on the fire and tried to change my expression to that of despair. " I don’t want to admit it. But I remembered the time Yusuke resurrected after Sensui killed him. I was hoping he would . . . rise again. Like he did.", I said, almost sincerely. " He was a fucking good guy, Kurama."
      Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Kurama’s expression soften. Silently, I rejoiced. This simple incident couldn’t guarantee trust in the long run. But that’s all I need at the moment.
       " It was funny how a champion just die like that.", he sighed. " Wherever he is, I hope he’s happy.", Kurama said.
      I nodded.

      " Well, well, well. If it isn’t the remaining youkai half of the reikai tantei!", a deep voice boomed from the woods.
      Immediately, we were on alert.
      A large frame slowly emerged from the thick foliage. All dressed in black, he walked towards us and stopped a few distance from our position.
      My fist tightened in a ball. Boy, does he had the nerve to show up here!
       " Who are you? How did you know us?", Kurama asked suspiciously.
       " Omachi.", I mumbled, making sure Kurama heard it.
       " What?", Kurama whispered back.
       " He’s Omachi.", I repeated, not taking my eyes off our visitor.
      Kurama looked at me strangely. " How did you know? Have you met him?"
       " He was a former acquaintance.", was my curt reply, staring hard at Omachi’s grim expression. I shouldn’t prolong this conservation any longer. Kurama was probably the smartest person I’ve ever met. He could easily pick up from tag lines and faint expressions.
      Suddenly, another form emerged from the forest. A tall guy in a chinese suit stood behind Omachi.
      Okuri.
      I gripped my sword and posed a stance. " You handle the other. I’ll take care of Omachi."
       " How can you be so sure you could beat him?", Kurama asked.
      I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye. It’s starting, I thought grimly. Kurama’s getting suspicious of me.
       " I knew him from my days in Makai. I know his skills better than anyone here.", I explained.
      I didn’t give him a chance to argue as I jumped swiftly from the ground and pushed Omachi towards the other side of the cliff.
      Omachi laughed hard as he sat on the dusty gorge. " You’re one heck of an actor, Hiei."
      I narrowed my eyes. " I’m gonna have to finish you now."
      He laughed even harder. " I knew you’ll come to that decision right after the whole human race was wiped out."
       " Let’s get this over with."
      He raised his hands as if in surrender. But that smile on his face was so strange that for the second time I felt threatened.

      I stopped writing, staring at the half-filled journal page.
      Why do I feel suddenly threatened by this character I created? He’s going to follow whatever I wrote on the journal, right?
      I raised my eyes and wasn’t surprised to see Omachi standing right in front of me. At the same spot were I envisioned him to be.
       " I won’t waste your energy, Hiei. Save it. For your last battles.", he said seriously. " I’ll gladly step out of the way for you. This world’s all yours."
       " I’ll dismiss you whenever I wanted. You’re my creation and you’re going to follow my orders whether you like it or not.", I growled. " And besides, don’t tell me you’re a fucking coward, Omachi."
       " I’m not, my dear friend.", he said calmly. " In fact, one day you’ll realize I was a champion in a game were I didn’t need to fight."
      On that note, he opened his coat.
      I gasped. There strapped around his torso where four layers of both acid vials and bombs. On one hand was a small black box with a button on top.
       " What the hell are you trying to do now?", I demanded.
       " I’m calling it a day.", he said. " My job’s over, Hiei. And I could’ve done it any better."
      I gritted my teeth.
      As if in slow motion, he raised his left thumb and gently brought it down on the red button.
      The rest was history. For him that is.
      A loud explosion ripped throughout the cliff. I tried to keep my eyes opened the whole time. Just to make sure he didn’t made any escape.
      But I knew he’s serious the moment he pushed the button. The smoke cleared and there lying all around me were pieces of flesh and bones.
      I felt like gagging as I wiped a piece off my cloak. The stench was killing me.
      Instantly, I turned my back and headed to the direction of the plateau.
      The whole episode was a huge puzzle to me. I hadn’t realized things could get out of hand as it just did.
      Omachi appeared as a hideous creature with morbid ambitions of eternal life and unopposed dominion. A clever and dangerous person which has, in more ways, posed as both a threat and an inspiration.
Taking one’s own life was an act of cowardice for me. An attitude which was understandably ‘alien’ to Omachi’s strong character.
      Suddenly, I heard a scuffle on the bushes. I need not turn around and expose her. I already know who she is and I bet she saw everything . . .

      " Hiei."
      A female voice interrupted my musings. I stopped in my tracks and looked over my shoulder.
      Botan was sitting a few feet from were I was standing a while ago.
       " What are you doing here?", I asked. Did she hear anything?
       " What happened?", she asked.
       " He’s gone.", I replied, retracing my steps.
       " That’s not what I’m asking.", she said.
      I stared at her disfigured face. I knew she’s a smart woman. I wouldn’t be surprised if she found it out already.
       " Was he the one who . . .", she started, rubbing her gnarled fingers over her scraped arms. " . . . the one who did all these?"
       " He took care of the dam.", I said.
       " The dam? Then how ‘bout the rain and the . . .", then she stopped herself and looked up at me in surprise. " Wait a minute . . . h-how did you . ."
       " Know?", I finished, smiling evilly.
      I saw her tremble. Her lips quivered as the truth dawned on her. " H-hiei . . . Y-you?!", she said unbelievingly. " I-I don’t understand . . . "
       " Then let me explain!" I raised one foot and kicked her hard on the abdomen.
      She screamed as she fell back a few feet. She still couldn’t walk. Perfect, I thought.
      Botan’s weak and useless. Just like the others. Useless in my world.
       " I planned all these along with Omachi.", I said.
       " What?! How . . c-could . . y-you?!!"
       " I think you know the answer to that question, Botan.", I said as I pushed her towards the edge.
      She flailed aimlessly on thin air. Her eyes were wide and her lips were parted in a scream of pure terror. " Nooooooooo!!!!!!!"

      I stood on the edge, journal at hand, staring at her fragile body as it crashed and tore against the jagged rocks below.
      There was a loud thud.
      Then everything was silent again.
      I turned around, capping my pen, and headed back to the plateau.
      There will be no more Botan to stop me this time.

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

      I walked back to our camp and what I saw wasn’t really surprising as I found myself standing a few feet away from a dying red-haired young man.
      He stared at me with his flashing green eyes.
      I could feel my knees wobbling under his intense glare.
      I knew right from the start that Kurama was a dangerous opponent. Too dangerous to be in my kingdom. That’s why I knew I was right to create the story right before Omachi and Okuri arrived.
       " I-I w-wouldn’t . . . last l-long. B-But . . . I’m glad I’m leaving.", he stuttered. " I pity Yukina. She’ll be left . . . with nothing but a sleezy . . . . good for nothing brother. D-Do you . . . really think you could live in a world like this? D-Do you really believe you could . . . build your own dominion alone?"
       " Hn!", I said. " You’re such a pathetic lapdog, kitsune."
       " Maybe I am. B-But . . I-I would rather be pathetic . . . than stupid, Hiei." I saw him grit his teeth and clutched the severe wound across his belly. " the journal . . . I knew that journal back in Makai . . . you thought you rule the pages. No! Hiei. No. The power of the journal dictates you. Hiei . . . you shall be set free of its spell once you—ah! auuurgghh . . . . . ." His agony lasted for a few seconds then he sucked in a long breath. His last breath.
      Then he lay still.
       " Hiei . . . oh!"
      I looked over my shoulder in time to see my sister gaping in shock at Kurama’s body.
       " I-is he . . .?"
      I closed my eyes for a while. " Yes. Okuri killed him."
       " Oh!", she pressed her palm on her cheeks.

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

      That afternoon, we buried Kurama’s body a short distance from the plain.
       " I couldn’t understand how this all happened in such a short time . . .", Yukina spoke. " Have you seen Kurama’s opponent, Hiei?"
       " Okuri.", I answered without looking.
       " Okuri who?"
       " Omachi’s ally.", I replied. " He’s a powerful enemy."
       " Really? I haven’t seen that enemy of yours but . . .", her voice trailed off as she stared at Kurama’s grave marker. " I still couldn’t understand how Kurama was beaten so easily."
       " No matter how powerful you are, there’ll come a time when you’ll have to face a much greater being than you.", I said.
       " Yes, I know that.", she said quietly then suddenly she looked up. " Uh, I forgot!"
       " What is it?"
       " Have you seen Botan anywhere?"
      I tried to calm down and vowed to keep my voice steady. " I didn’t see her."
       " Oh, I shouldn’t left her on the pines.", she chided herself.
       " Don’t worry about her. Its not your fault.", I said nonchalantly.
      She looked at me in surprise.
      Then I quickly added. " We’ll find her."
      Yukina heaved a huge sigh, tears welling up on her eyes for the nth time.
      I tried to concentrate on the burning meal. In a matter of days, she will forget about the whole thing. All the tragedy that we went through --- that SHE went through would all be just a thing of the past.
      We will build a much more powerful world without any humans.

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

      It was a little late in the afternoon and what was once a busy street now looked like a section of ghost town.
      The wind blew strongly as I walked cautiously from one wrecked structure to another. Finally, I reached what I believed to be the Urameshi residence. There was a heavy stench in the air as I ambled deeper into the least damaged portion of the house at the back.
      Slowly, I entered a small room. It was the bathroom, I knew, noting some cream tiles still plastered on the wall. I looked up and saw that the ceiling was open --- or melted.
      Gingerly, I stepped inside.
      Creak!
      I stopped. Slowly, I dropped my gaze to the ground to see what made the noise.
      There on the floor were pieces of human bones. I surveyed the entire room, seeing only a pair of human skulls.
      Two?
      It must be Keiko and Yusuke. But how about Kuwabara?
      Immediately, I searched the rumble for any sign of Kuwabara’s corpse. But I didn’t see it anywhere. Was it possible that he survived?
      Quickly, I went back to the bathroom. One entire skeleton was on the tub. It’s Keiko for sure.
      The other was on the ground just beside the door.
      If this is Yusuke’s then shouldn’t he be next to the tub where Keiko was?
      I frowned. With my eyes, including the third one, I stared the entire bathroom, carefully looking for any clues. After a few minutes my patience was rewarded. There at the outer side of the tub was a smear of red. I reached out and smell it.
      Dried blood.
      I looked down on my feet and saw another smear.
      Patiently, I followed the trace of blood across the room and out into the backyard then disappeared into the woods.
      I stopped, feeling a huge lump forming on my throat.
      I could feel someone powerful not far.
      Its Yusuke, I knew. I don’t know how he escaped. But I’m certain he’s still alive.
      I retraced my steps and hurried back to the plateau. I sat beside a cliff and took out my journal.
      I had to do something before he even find an opportunity to get me.


       " Who’s there?" I let my eyes roamed around me, sensing a strong ki not far from here.
      " Me." A medium-built young man stepped from the shadows. His face and black hair was half burnt. Blisters were all over his body.
      I gasped. " Yusuke!"
       " How are you doing?", he asked coldly.
       " How did you escape?", I asked.
       " I’m a champion, Hiei. You know that.", he replied proudly. " You killed our friends! You’re going to pay for that!" Yusuke jumped high in the air and positioned his finger, ready to fire at me.
      I was immediately ready, posing a stance as I felt my energy level rising.
       " Rei-Gun!!!!"
      I tried to dodge the strong energy ball but it was too late. Realizing I have no choice but to face it head on, I raised both arms and caught it my palms. Instantly, I felt the burning energy against my skin.
       " Aaurrghh!!!!" I gritted my teeth, summoning all my power to protect me. But I felt weak.
       " You’re history.", Yusuke said.
      Just as I was about to give up, I felt a raging flame surrounding my body. In a few seconds, my black dragon spirit escaped from my arm, encircling the ball of energy. The dragon tightened its grip as the ball started to diffuse.
      Yusuke gaped as his Rei-gun disappeared in thin air.
      With renewed power, I stood up, grinning menacingly at my opponent. " Wonderful isn’t it?"
      He frowned. " This is not yet over, Hiei. Go ahead, take your best shot!"
      Outraged by his sheer arrogance, I summoned my power and hurled it straight at him.
      Yusuke jumped from the ground, escaping the blast.
      Smiling, I fired another. And another.
      The spirit detective ran from one spot to another, dodging my firepower.
      Suddenly, he fell from the ground, clutching his arm. Without wasting the opportunity, I fired a flaming ball. Yusuke screamed as it hit him on the leg.
       " Hn! With all the injuries you incurred during the acid rain, you really thought, you stand a chance at beating me?", I mocked.
      Yusuke tittered slightly, but he was still standing.

      Yusuke stood bleeding in front of me as I flipped on the next blank page.
       " I guess you should have written my death in details, Hiei.", he said. " Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. Don’t worry, you still have another chance."
       " Hn! Just your name and that three-letter word and it’ll happen." I sneered. " Now you know who’s the most powerful one."
      Yusuke laughed. " You call that power? You’ve relied too much on fantasies and your novel. Thinking with those stories, you’ll win."
      I frowned.
       " Maybe you have.", he continued. " But it was all because you felt you’ve never had the power to defeat anyone anymore. You felt weak. And I can honestly say that I think you are."
      I gritted my teeth. Quickly I snatched my pen and wrote quickly.

      Right then I knew I had to finish him before he even had the chance of regaining his energy. With growing strength, I released the black dragon once more.
      His brown eyes were wide open as he saw the dragon inching its way towards him. But much to my surprise, instead of backing out, Yusuke outstretched his arms and faced it bravely.
      I stepped back. Suddenly, feeling a sense of admiration towards my former companion.
      It was inevitable, my dragon will destroy him.
      In seconds, the dragon hit its target as a loud explosion sent the wind rippling through our tired bodies. I fell back as the dragon snapped back in my arms.
      Yusuke’s body plummeted down a few feet from me.
      He dropped with a sickening thud.

      I stopped writing and looked up.
      Each time I hold the pen in my hands, time stood still. No one could attack me while writing. No one could move until I’m finished.
      Yusuke was lying a few feet from me. Badly bruised and awfully wounded. He’s gone. This time for g---- . . .
      Suddenly, he stirred.
       " What the . . .?", I gasped out in surprise.
      I heard him snicker. Then started to laugh harder. And harder.
      I narrowed my eyes. He is probably the third person who laughed to his death.
       " What’s so funny?!", I demanded.
      Yusuke stopped for a moment, a huge smile plastered across his burnt face. " You!"
      He started to breathe harder. " D-Didn’t y-you have . . . any idea that Reikai’s destruction . . . catapulted the seal of the opening between the two remaining worlds . . . to lock? Forever?", he sneered, stressing the last word.
      I knitted my brows. What was he talking about?
       " T-The s-seal . . . locked forever. M-makai and Ningenkai . . . will float separately across time and space. Across any dimensions.", he said.
       " In plain words --- you’re on your own. No men. No slaves. No nothing."
       " I didn’t live to kill you, Hiei.", he started, trying to speak clearly. " I p-paid you a . . . v-visit to hand in the bad news."
      He grinned as blood gushed from his lips. " A-And boy . . . what a bad news it is, my friend!"
      I growled low in my throat. " You’re lying." I accused but somehow I’m convinced he was telling me the truth.
       " Are you sure?", Yusuke asked, realizing my confusion. " Your pal Omachi found out about it after he ordered Reikai’s destruction. H-He . . was so damn powerful and smart. But King Enma was a lot smarter." He laughed. " And thanks to you, I won’t h-have . . . to suffer!"
       " Shut . . . up.", I spoke slowly. " I’m alive. That’s what matters."
      Yusuke coughed loudly. " Really?" He inhaled sharply, grasping his chest. " H-Hiei . . . you’re on . . . your . . own."
       " Yukina’s with me.", I said.
      He smiled. " You’re . . . all . . a-al . . a-alone . . .", he repeated.
       " Hn! Life always finds a way. "I’ll prove that.", I stated, placing a dot right after the last sentence of the chapter.
      Instantly, I heard a thud. Yusuke’s fall. His last fall.
      All of a sudden, I heard someone gasp. I looked and up and saw Yukina’s tear-streaked face staring at Yusuke’s body. She caught sight of the journal in my lap then shifted her gaze to me.
      For a moment we stared at each other. Her red eyes looked downcast, so unhappy.
      Without a word, she turned on her heel and left.

      For days we spoke no words to each other. She’s giving me the silent treatment. I thought she’s going to get over it after a day. But she didn’t.
      One day, as I stood at the edge of a cliff, gazing over the ravaged Tokyo, I found a good opportunity.
      Thin fog retreated around me. The entire highland started to clear as a small form materialized a short distance from where I stood. A strong gust of wind blew her deep green hair to all directions, partly obscuring the shock that was written across her sweet face.
       " W-why?", she asked tearfully. " Why do you have to do this?"
      Yukina dropped on her knees as if the earth was shaking.
      I shifted my gaze on the valley below where all the corpses lay. Cadavers lucky enough not to be fully burned.
      If anybody considers that lucky.
       " I don’t like them.", I replied simply.
      The wind blew harder as I heard her anguish cries cracked and sputtered in an incomprehensible grief.
      Slowly, she raised her tear-streaked face and let her red eyes bore into mine once more. " Have you not realized what you’ve done? T-they a-are your friends . . . I-is this what you really wanted?"
      I narrowed my eyes. Was she questioning me?
       " Hiei . . have you . . .", she started, her hands firmly clasped together. " . . have you gone insane?"
      I gasped out in surprise, caught off guard by her question.
      She knew me well. Too well.
      Yukina’s my twin.
      A twin so different, she opposed me.
      So fragile and petite yet she frighten me like no other.
      She’s my greatest fear I realized.
       " Why can’t we just live in love and peace . . .", she lamented.
      Goodness. Purity.
      She’s all that. Unlike me.
      She’s too good. Too kind.
      I gritted my teeth. I don’t need compassion. I hate any display of such emotion!
      Yukina won’t be of any use to my world. Compassion is weakness and weakness is a virtue I don’t tolerate.
       " Kill her!", a voice rang in my head.
      My fist tightened ‘round the handle of my katana. A sword which has been repeatedly tainted with blood of those who dared mocked and challenged me.
      Right then, I knew I had to do it.
      I flicked my wrist, raised the weapon and with a savaged swift, ran the sharp blade through her small tender body.
      The wind stopped blowing. The heat intensified. Everything stood still.
      I let out my breath, refusing to look into her eyes. I drew the sword and placed it back on my belt.
      Yukina dropped heavily on the ground as blood pooled around her. She uttered no cry and her face show no sign of anguish but she struggled to speak. " I-I’ll b-be glad . . to go. I-if this would repay what our tribe has done to you . . augghh . . I-I hope y-you’re h-happy . . . Hiei . . ."
      Those were her last words. After that she lay still, gazing up at me blankly.
      Quickly, I turned around and walked far from her corpse as if nothing happened.

      I was out of breath by the time I finished the second to the last paragraph.
      As if . . . As if I WAS in the battle.
      I was tired.
      The sister was dead. I’ve been so engrossed with the story that I haven’t realized I used my friends as characters. And I wrote the story as if I lived to tell it.
      I shivered. Was my story a reflection of my own character?
      I raised my hands and stared at them.
      They were wet. Wet with dark red liquid.
      Yukina’s blood. In my hands.
      I flipped to the page where Yukina’s note was.
      I hope it’ll help you analyze yourself better.
      Yeah. I said to myself. It really had me thinking.
      No, not only that. It also made me realize I’ve been missing out something that was only right in front of me. I still don’t know what it is but I knew it won’t be long before I found it.
      I skimmed the pages filled with sentences that were long buried in the evil side of Hiei. I could say the story was too morbid . . .
      . . but very true.
      I couldn’t stop. I wasn’t educated on literary composition yet I knew that every story should have an ending. I opened a blank page and started to write feverishly.
      But I won’t be writing about a story I made up in mind.
      Cause this time, just like in any other journal, I’m going to write about things that have happened.

      For years I’ve wondered around the world. It wasn’t what I expected . . .
      . . . and was all I dreamt of.
      Once I thought I was in America but I was in fact, in Europe after I saw shards of what remains of the Eiffel tower Kurama once told me about.
      Its just everything was the same.
      Gray sand. Scraps of metal. Dusty and broken highways.
      The world was dead. Desolate and gloomy.
      Not a single soul. Not a single breath from the bony corpses lying everywhere.
      For the first time since the last of my friends passed away, I felt the impact of it all.

      One day I walked through a long path where I believed I started my journey. My feet scrunched against the thick dust. I could hear the rustle of the trees. The wind blowing so hard, howling throughout the plateau.
      I, Hiei. A warrior who dreamt to lead a world made out of rules I created.
      I who fought with all bravery and power.
      I who fought . . . . until there’s no one left to fight with.
      I stopped in my tracks. That thought lingered through my consciousness.
      The wind died down and the place was plunged into silence.
      I strained my ears as if looking for a distinct sound. But there was no vibration other than my own heartbeat. I closed my eyes for a moment. My hands went up to my ears.
      So silent. So silent, its deafening.
      Is this the world that I want? Void of people? Void of bustling activities? Of children playing. Of teenagers laughing.
      Empty. So empty.
      My wall was sturdy yet I was crumbling within.
      I have so much power in my hands. Dominating a world where I command the ocean and the forest. A world where I and only I rule . . . and thrive.
      Am I satisfied?
      I don’t know. I got what I wanted, haven’t I?
      A pearl pendant felt cold against my chest.
      So cold. So cold it burns me.
      The fire demon, they used to call me. Used to. Because they’re gone. Nobody’s left to call me that way anymore.
      I sighed not knowing what to do. ‘guess I have to learn to talk to myself more often.


      It was so much effort to stop myself from writing. Relating what I’ve seen, to a journal that only I would be able to read.
      A single sweat beaded on my forehead. It was horrible.
      I raised my eyes and surveyed my surroundings. And found that it was all . . . nothing. As if I was locked in a vacuum space. A void. Dark and empty. I shivered. I don’t want to be here. I couldn’t believe I ever wanted to be here.
      But I did.
      Do I wish to change? I don’t know.
      Here you could write short stories,
      your thoughts for the day or anything you wanted.
      I hope it’ll help you analyze yourself better.
      Yukina’s note played over and over in my mind.
      Yukina. My sister.
      Yusuke. Kurama. My allies.
      Even Kuwabara and the girls.
      Did I wish they were dead? Maybe.
      Did I wish I’ve never met them? I’m not sure.
      All I know is that I needed them. More than ever.
      Be by my side. Giggling. Joking. Yelling at each other.
      I missed them.
       " Huh?!", I gasped as a drop of clear liquid fell on the page of my journal.
      Another fell. And another.
      I brought my palm against my cheeks and felt a steady flow of liquid down from my eyes.
      Tears? Do men cry?
      I never cried before. I swore not to.
      Because crying is weakness. Weakness is defeat.
      . . . Or is it?
      I shifted my gaze on the page where it all ended.
      I can change it. I knew I could.
      I drew in a long breath then raised the pen once more. I quickly skimmed the pages until I found a blank one, the last one. I wrote REVELATIONS in bold letters then drew a couple of lines below it. Then I started to write my thoughts.

      I don’t want to live in this place. It didn’t even deserve to be called a place. It was more like hell without the burning flames.
      I thought I could do anything all by myself. I thought I could do well without the others. But now I knew that the moment everything was lost, I lost myself as well.
      An empire’s worthless without anybody to share it with.
      Useless without life. Without hope. Without . . love.
      From now on I’ll be one with the world I’ve grown to appreciate. Be with people I cherished.
      But don’t worry, I’ll still be Hiei.

       " Oi!"
      I almost jumped at the sound of a calm male voice from the ground.
      I was shocked to realize that the journal I was writing on suddenly turned into a mound of black ashes. I peered down at the two young men gazing up at me. One was tall and good-looking. The other looking smug in a green school uniform.
      They’re alive.
      Kurama and Yusuke.
      My companions. In battle. And perhaps in life.
      Friends.
      A word so strange yet so familiar . . . and fun.
      Maybe that’s what I’m looking for. Maybe that’s . . . what I really need.
       " Hey, c’mon birthday boy! ", Yusuke hollered.
      Kurama pointed to his watch. " Time’s up."
       " Just when did you learned to use that?!", Yusuke asked, noticing the pen I was holding. He then turned to Kurama and whispered. " ‘think he’s been hanging ‘round you too long . .?"
      Kurama smiled then whispered to Yusuke. " Maybe that’s the reason why he’s doesn’t want to join our mission for the past few days."
       " Maybe.", the spirit detective murmured then turned to me. " Are you done?"
       " Hn!", was all I could say. I jumped down next to them, a grin slowly forming across my face as the air smelled fresh once more.
      This is my world. My dominion.
      Alive . . . and happy.

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 Author's note: This story seemed a bit rushed isn't it? Anyway, please go easy on your comments and wait for my next Hiei-related fanfiction. I know tons of Hiei fans could write better stories for their beloved koorime so please send them in now.