Hinote Kyou Mizu

Chapter 7

Hiei grabbed Kurama’s hand as he helped him across the ledge overlooking the Village of Ru-Gogyu. It was small and looked almost like it was falling apart.

“This is where Kanmuri lives?”

Kurama nodded. “Yes, according to many sources she resides here. We should probably get down there before it gets too dark. Come.”

Hiei followed the other demon, trying to keep up and speak at the same time.

“What do we want to do if she won’t come with us? I don’t think she would use her powers if it was against her will.”

“We’ll just have to hope she is more benevolent than most demons.”

Hiei nodded silently as they approached the small village, looking around at people and trying to decide who they should ask. Kurama looked around, finding a bakery close by. They wandered over to it, finding a very cute young cat demon working inside. She was talking to a beautiful, tall purple-haired demon with shining emerald colored eyes and wearing a black kimono. Kurama instantly felt uneasy, in a pleasant way around this other, taller demon.

“Excuse me young lady. We are looking for a healer. Maybe you know her. Her name is Kanmuri Kaida.”

The young cat demon's eyes went wide as she started to speak and was silenced by the other woman.

“Kaida went on a journey. She is supposed to be back in a few days. I can show you where you can stay until she comes back.” She threw the other female a look of warning as she lead the other two demons out, the little cat looking very confused.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“Kanmuri always has a lot of visitors. You might as well make yourself comfortable until she comes back.”

The purple-haired demon stepped away from the door as she let both Hiei and Kurama into a sparsely furnished hut on the outskirts of the village. “She never minds if people stay here in her hut, she never keeps much here anyway. When she gets back, I will bring her straight back here.”

With that the purple-haired demon left, leaving Hiei and Kurama to sit and wait, both wondering if they should go out and leave to find the healer but having the distinct feeling they needed to stay where they were, Kaida would come any minute.

“So, we just wait.”

Kurama nodded. “It’s all we can do.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Botan watched the woman on the floor, sleeping peacefully for now having cried herself to sleep. Amaya may have been peaceful now, but an hour ago was a different story. She had been completely out of control, screaming for Hiei. It was the moment Kuwbara and Yukina stepped through the door. Maya had ended up swinging on Kuwbara so hard she broke his nose and jaw.

She was about to turn and catch the other person but stopped when she saw it was Yukina, standing tall and strong, ready for the hit. She knew what had happened to Amaya, and had been prepared, making the room slightly colder as the other girl fought Kuwbara, hoping it might slow her down. When Amaya turned and saw Yukina standing in front of her she collapsed on the ground in front of her, hands on her face and sobbing.

Yukina, knowing she needed the comfort of touch, kneeled in front of the other woman and held her, letting her cry and call, over and over.

“Hiei, Where are you! HIEI! Please, help me.”

Botan listened into her mind at that moment, the voices now completely silent along with the rest of her mind, almost nothingness. She had the feeling the real Amaya was trying to get out, knowing her mind would soon snap under the pressure.

They didn’t have much time.