The Key

Glimpse of the Past

Your lost, aren't you?

What?

You can't get out.

Get out of where?

You need to find him, soon.

Find who?

He can release you.

What are you talking about?

It doesn't matter, we'll kill you.

As if.

He doesn't know, and we'll find you.

Come get me ass wipe!

You shouldn't exist.

Too fucking bad!

Find him, he's your only chance.

Whatever.

Riane would like nothing more than to blow her head off. If there weren't voices in her head, then it was images while she was awake. They were getting better, she barely noticed them unless they really wanted to stick out. But at least she could keep herself conscious when it happened. Her school was fun, she was enjoying it, and she was driving as much as she could. She wanted to stay away from the temple, even if someone had to go with her while she drove. It wasn't that she couldn't get back on herself, they still viewed her as weak. She knew she was a hell of a lot stronger than when she first started, so what was the big deal? Especially when most of her training was with Hiei. She hated him. He was such an ass, she wished that when she did finally beat him, she have the heart to kill him.

The others had warned her that she might have to kill other demons, but she didn't think she could. Fuck, she couldn't even throw out a stuffed animal cause she felt bad for it, let alone kill something. Of course, she didn't know until she got into that situation what she would do, but the thought of taking another life just didn't sit too well with her. How everyone just talked about it so casually, like it was nothing. What was wrong with these people? She had to remind herself that they were demons.

Riane knew she was getting stronger because after a week with Hiei, she was no longer tired after his sessions. Genkai wasn't stepping in anymore, knowing that Hiei was the best option for speed and efficiency. Riane felt she was being punished for being "weak" by him, but it wasn't like she could help that. Really, she was trying, and he couldn't even get a wound on her anymore. She was proud of that, but he insisted that it just wasn't enough. Kurama helped her morally, while he was at the temple, and after one nearly fatal wound, was supervising, telling him when it was enough. Riane was grateful for that, it made her life just a little easier, knowing that he wouldn't let her die because Hiei was such an ass. Bastard.

The only solace she seemed to get was by the lake, where she would swim for hours. Of course, winter was coming, but her body could handle the temperature, and the water was still warm. She was a fish, and often stayed in there longer than she should have. She knew the others were watching or checking on her, but while she was out in the water, it was like her own world again, where she could forget everything that happened, and focus on what she wanted. As she sat out of the water and looked upon the coming sunset, she decided to use this place for reflection. It wasn't that Kurama's place was bad, just that she didn't want her mind to get caught up in those images again. She waited until it was dark, and then proceeded back to the temple.

It wasn't a far walk back there, and she took her time. She knew Hiei was watching her, but she couldn't sense him. She could feel the tension in the air lately, and it was really getting to her. The bonus to it all was that she was improving a lot more in her training. She hadn't been attacked yet, but she was starting to get the feeling that one was going to happen soon enough. She vaguely wondered what she would do in a fight. Her instincts for bad things were better than before, she had always had a knack of sensing doom. But this was completely different. This wasn't something like losing her money, or having her boyfriend break up with her. This was life or death, and she had no choice but to be ready for whatever came her way. And no matter how much she thought about it, she never felt that it was real, it was still in her mind that these things didn't happen, despite being trapped in a different world.