When we first started out, when we were just learning of what difficulties and troubles laid ahead with every mission, I would tell them to be careful. They were careful, even if they were reckless at times. As we progressed, I soon faded out of those three little words, “Please be careful,” since they were stronger, more intelligent of the demonical life, and ranking as the strongest in all three worlds. I even doubted why they needed a simple ferry girl like me at times. I had forgotten much since we first started, from the comical jokes they made of my unnatural hair color to the tension of facing an exciting new enemy…but what I had truly forgotten may have had blew out the fire inside our fire demon.

I had forgotten they were not immortal. That they were able to feel pain, exhaust them silly, and reach a limit. I had forgotten they could die, that they can be outwitted at times, and can fall into traps. I had forgotten that they can be broken.

That day, it had been windy, although the sun still shone and the birds still chirped. When you would step outside, the wind would wash away all the warmth the sun was giving. They arrived at the front steps of Genkai’s temple, exhausted and wounded critically. Yukina was the first to find them, since she had heard the knock first. Her scream was what caused us to see what had happened, and realize what had become of the Reikai Tanteis.

I was already lightheaded at first glance; I had forgotten how fatal wounds looked like. I found myself looking at the demon, my mouth shaped into an ‘o’ as I approached him. He was breaking into cold sweats, his lips cracked and dry, his eyes dull and empty, and his flesh pale. He had been just as badly hurt as the rest, but he was the only one still standing, shaking fitfully. His pride, his stupid pride, has refused his body the sensation of sitting down. His hands had been tucked under his armpits, which looked caked with blood. I approached him; he was shining with sweat from struggling to keep up. I could make out the words the others were saying, that of ambush and escape. That the army they were taking on was more then they could handle.

“Hiei,” I said with a timid voice. He looked at me as I shakily extended one hand, afraid to touch him before he touched me. He swallowed, his face staring at him. This was the worst look I could ever see on him. His pride was broken for the moment- something brutal had happened-and I had no idea why until he pulled his hands, jerking painfully as he extended them towards me, and I had felt the tears stream down my face once I noticed the blood-crusted infected large slit on his hands. That was where a sword had went in, pinning him until he finally chose to pull himself out himself. It was almost like they had attempted to crucify him.

I had forgotten how to cry once Hiei fell into my arms and slipped away.