Part 23: Forgive and Forget and a Promise of Revenge

 

You bolted upright as you gave an audible gasp. Sweat clung to your face as it trailed down your temples and onto your chest that was rising and falling in deep, panicked pants. You gazed frantically around the dark room and nearly screamed when you noticed a pair of crimson eyes watching you from near the window.

 

"On'na it's me. What is the matter?"

You let a relieved sigh escape your trembling form as you closed your eyes, trying to steady your breathing. The images you had seen not moments before flashed on your eyelids like a silent picture movie.

"I had a nightmare... That's all." You breathed, looking at the blankets. You could feel him observing you, but you do not bother to stop him. A few moments passed as you both sat there in silence and after you have regained your composure, he spoke.

"What did you have a nightmare about?" He pried, you moved your gaze; finding him looking at you through the darkness. You sighed warily.

"Jumping." You replied. You knew he didn't need more of an explanation than that, as it was entirely obvious what you were referring to. You heard him grunt softly and then start to speak again.

"It was just a dream Brianey. You're still alive. Go back to sleep." He sounded as if he was ordering you, but you didn't really take notice of it. Nodding in defeat you moved back down into a horizontal position and closed your tired, dull eyes, and tried to block out the sound of wind rushing past your ears.

 

*

 

A few days past in the time that you had locked yourself in your room. The others were still worried but were more at ease when Hiei had confirmed to them that you just needed some sleep and that you hadn't felt well. They didn't ask him anymore questions, thankfully.

However today, was Saturday, and you knew that everyone had planned to go out bowling. You were still feeling shaken from what you had nearly done, but you were also willing yourself to go out.

 

They're my friends and I have a responsibility to look after them. But mostly I want to be a part of the group.

You sighed gently at your selfishness, but pulled a blue top over your head and headed for the door of your room. Taking the handle you struggled with yourself for a few moments, before opening the door and going out.

 

"Hey maybe someone should just go and ask her to come out?"

"Give her some space; she'll come out when she's ready."

 

You rounded the corner hearing Kazuma and Yusuke talking. Echoes of items being moved in the kitchen were also audible. Suspecting all of them were in there you smiled slightly at the concerned voices. They're still worried about me? It made you laugh slightly, but also feel some what protected. Something you needed right now - even if it they didn't know it. You turned around the corner and went in. It went quiet.

"Bri!"  You were crammed into a group hug as you went to move. Yusuke had even joined it, which surprised you. You let them all bombard you slightly in the hug.

"Welcome back to living Brianey." You smiled softly; adjusting yourself to watched at the small fire demon as he sat watching you from the kitchen table. After everyone separated and you had fixed your clothes you went and got some food.

"Are we still going bowling?" You queried, trying to sound casual. You watched Shadow sit in Kurama's lap, keeping your eyes away from Yusuke and Kayko as they kissed each other. Shadow nodded at you.

"We are - we were going to go after eating, so I guess we're almost ready?" She smiled at you, her eyes showing the depths of how good it was to see you finally. You nodded mutely.

"Good."

 

*

 

"Incompetence!"

A loud crash was heard from the thrown room; followed by a loud cry of anguish. Akki moved swiftly to the wolf demon that knelt wounded before him, enraged, he grabbed him forcefully around the neck, suffocating him.

 

"Are you telling me that you did not stop her from trying to commit suicide? Have you no brain in this head! She is a vital key! My plan won't work if she's depressed. I need her angry!" He slammed his victims head down into the floor with such violence that the concrete below split into chunks. The sound of bone breaking reverberating around the chamber.

"I-I couldn't intervene. The fire demon came before I could project a way to stop her!" Akki stopped his onslaught at the words.

"The forbidden child stopped her?" He chuckled darkly as he sauntered away silkily to his throne and lounged into it. "Intriguing. Continue, Toeboe." He was playing with a small jewel. Toeboe complied. 

"He came just as she jumped. His face showed fear as he watched her fall. He ran to catch her but she flipped over and landed rolling, and saved herself. I watched him stand there quietly and then slowly move to her. He looked scared, my Lord." He chanced a look at his master to see him pleased. "I left to tell you after that, as I did not want them to detect me, my lord."

"He looked, scared you say?" Very interesting. The forbidden child. Showing weakness for something as unimportant as a mere child? He rose from his seat and paced as Toeboe wiped a trail of blood from the side of his head. "You can leave me." Akki told him harshly, watching as the pup fled his company. He placed himself into the thrown again in deep thought.

 

*

 

"Score!" Kazuma was throwing his hand up into the air, victory written on his face. You were all at the bowling ally and had been for a good hour or so now. You were sitting with the girls watching the show Kazuma was making.

"Baka. You're supposed to celebrate if you get a strike. Not just knock three pins down, idiot." Hiei was picking up a purple bowling ball and looking at it agitatedly, and you were trying not to laugh at him. He really doesn't like throwing the balls so slow... I think he'd rather throw it. You saw him look at you smirking which made you laugh more.

Yusuke was laughing at Kazuma as well. Looking around you sighed slightly watching everyone. You felt a part of everything finally, even with everything that had happened. Akki, your parents - whom you had finally said your goodbyes to two days ago; through all of it, these nine teenagers, had all been there - even if it was just that.

 

I have a lot to thank them for. I guess you do fit in - even if you don't always realise it straight away. You smiled at this and got up to take your turn at the pins. You laughed as you scored a strike, the girls tackled you.

"We win! That means you guys have to buy us lunch!" Shizuru informed them while slinging her arm around you. "Nice hit Bri, hey... Can we go somewhere where I can smoke? I'm dying from the clean air in here." She chuckled. You nodded at her and waited as everyone else picked up their belongings, and you all headed out, talking.

 

"I guess this proves that women really are the better sex." Botan was smiling while Kazuma's face turned a brilliant shade of red.  The boys were groaning slightly, well, Kazuma and Yusuke were. Hiei and Kurama were conserving their pride, by taking the loss like men. 

"It doesn't prove anything! Men are way better than girls! You were just lucky! Right guys?" He glanced around for back up as he took his seat at a booth. You shot an amused grin at the others, smirking slightly. Kurama coughed while he held Shadow's hand. Shadow was quirking an eyebrow at Kazuma. Yusuke was being quiet looking sideways away from everyone and Hiei was just sitting silently in the booth.

"See, all of them agree that we won fairly, baby brother. Take it like a man, whining like a baby who just lost its blanket just shows how stupid you get." Shizuru stated as she took drags from her cigarette, while you all waited for your food to be brought to you. You had decided to eat at a cafe called 'Hatori's'. Apparently Shizuru knew the owner, and allowed her to smoke. Probably why she wanted to come here. You realised, suppressing a chuckle.

 

You watched the pedestrians outside making their way slowly up and down the road, looking like ants, weaving their way through the underbrush to find food, water, or working. It made you smile slightly.

"Oh screw you Shiz, why don't you go take a long walk off a short cliff!" Kazuma had snapped, having taken the bait from his sister's insult like a shark to bloody, dead meat. You instantly swivelled in your chair, alarmed by the selection of words, fear rushing up again as the wind against your face increased.

You stood up looking at the floor.

"Um... Gotta step outside, for a sec' it's a bit stuffy in here." You abandoned your post, ignoring the confused glances from the group.

"Are you alright Brianey?"

"Fine, just... I'm fine, just need air, Hiei. Just need some space for a few." You felt him retreat from your mind and you sighed slightly, closing your eyes, you leaned back against the cold pane of glass. Kaz' didn't mean anything by it, still... Brought back what I almost did. You moved your multi-coloured locks out of your face.

 

"Hey... Are you alright Bri? Did... We bother you or something?" You looked up slightly surprised at Yusuke being there at all. His mocha brown eyes were piercing into you storm raged ones, concern and worry etched into them deeply. You took a few moments to register this fact, surprised but sighed.

"Yusuke... Why do you keep coming to me after I told you to leave me alone?" You knew you were snapping, and you knew he didn't deserve it after coming out here actually worried for you. Still, you needed to know and you had told yourself you would never talk to him again - he'd hurt you. It still hurt now. He looked at you apprehensively before replying.

"Well, just because you hate me... doesn't mean I hate you. I still... care about you. Just... as a friend now, that's all." He replied truthfully. You divert your attention away from him. The feelings inside you began to churn and clog your throat. You swallowed slightly.

 

He still cares about me as a friend? Even after what I did to Kayko, and how I've been treating him... Damn, he doesn't make this easy does he.

 

"The truth is Bri, even though everything happened - and I know I treated you like shit. You've been going through a lot, and everything happened so fast with us... I do still care a lot for you. I still want to be friends with you, if you will let me." He was looking at you almost pleadingly, making your stomach jolt uncomfortably. You kept your eyes on the ground, thinking. 

Can I possibly ever forgive him for what he did to me? I want everything to go back to how it was - but it can't. What he did... really hurt. You groaned softly, you were well aware that Yusuke was leaning on the wall besides you, waiting for your answer. You could also smell, due to your new abilities, that he was a mix of worry, fear of rejection, and nerves. After a long and fruitful struggle within yourself. You looked at him.

"Y'know, normally I'm not one for all this mushy crap. I don't let people have second chances Yusuke." You watched his eyes dull slightly, as you let him believe you were rejecting his offer to try again. You chuckle slightly. "But... For some reason you seem to break that rule. This is your last and final chance. Break my trust again, or hurt anyone near to me, I will beat your ass so hard... You won't know what millennia it is. Got it?"

"Got it. I won't let you down." He replied lowly, you could tell he was smiling out of relief and you let him hug you gently before pulling away from you. You stood there for a moment, letting the talk dissipate before you both headed back into the cafe, talking as if the past eight months hadn't happened and smiling at the confused, but pleased faces of the rest of the group.

 

Well, that closes one bad section of my life. It's good to be friends with him again. It's good for everything to be normal for a while. You allowed that thought to float gently through your mind, while you ate your pizza.

"It will be good for the time being, Brianey. But we still need to train you more... Akki is still out there. This is as you could say: The silence before the storm."

You gazed towards the fire demon, and gently nodded at him. You knew by far that Akki was not finished with you yet. You also knew another truth: You were going to get your vengeance. Akki was going to pay.

 

For the time being though, you would bide your time and wait for his next move.