Shades of Time

As always, thanks to Taz and Lex for the support.



***



Hakkai followed Rei down the narrow corridor, waiting as patiently as his youkai side would allow while she paused every few feet to listen for any movement in the area beyond. He sighed a little, thinking he would be glad to put the limiters back on because being in youkai form was disturbing. It was almost as if he were standing a little outside himself and the way he thought about things was slightly off from his normal mode of thinking. Though sometimes it almost seemed as though his demon side and human side were two completely different personalities all together, he still had control over things. Usually. He sometimes wondered if the odd separation was a manifestation of the Minus Wave or if it was something all youkai experienced when they ran around mostly in human form. There was definitely a cruel streak in his youkai side but then again, there had been a cruel streak in Cho Gonou as well. There was also a distinct interest in carnal things that he could usually control much better in human form. But it was hardly something he should be concerning himself with at the moment.



He frowned a little as his sharper senses started picking up a much stronger smell of decay and what could only be described as rotting body stench. Xan had explained to him previously that it took a massive amount of power to reanimate a body and while one could make it move and do their bidding, it was impossible to stop the natural progression of decomposition.



“Hakkai,” Rei whispered a warning.



He was a bit startled when he suddenly molded himself to her back and said into her ear. “I smell them. Only a few are awake though.”



“The rest will be after the first few are truly dead,” Rei said, tilting her head back she kissed him firmly on the mouth, not caring about the hard press of fangs behind soft lips. “Be careful. I may have plans for you later.”



“Oh, really?” he said, holding onto her tightly. “What might those plans be?”



“I’m certain I’ll think of something.”



“I’m sure you can,” he chuckled, the vibrations of it running through Rei like a bolt of electricity. Hakkai in demon form was different from the very proper man she had come to know. It was a very interesting contrast. One she would be happy to puzzle out when they weren’t in danger.



The tunnel took a sharp turn and spread out into a large open area. Rei’s fire armor only gave off a meager light but neither of them had any trouble seeing in the almost pitch black. Bodies lay haphazardly tumbled all over the cave floor, looking very much as though they were dropped toys. Rei began quickly moving through those who were already awake or just rousing, neatly removing heads or hearts from the rotting flesh. The bodies seemed to disintegrate instantly afterward. Hakkai watched her for a few moments, noting the grim expression on her face as she made her way further into the room of death.



A sudden high pitched and eerie scream resounded off of the walls of the space, waking those who had been in torpor. Rei shot a glance at Hakkai, who was grinning broadly, his fingers flexing in anticipation before ripping the nearest thing’s head completely off. He waded into the mass of suddenly moving bodies. Rei hadn’t been wrong in saying that the things were vicious and fast. Hakuryuu harassed and distracted the things, occasionally toasting one to complete ash while Hakkai and Rei cut a wide swath through the throng.



The damn things just kept coming; wave after wave in a seemingly endless tide. They ended up being forced to fight back to back and while it was distracting for Hakkai to have Rei pressed up against his back, it was also comforting and felt right to have her there in a fight. His mouth twisted into a grim smile. Screw Gonou’s little ice princess, Kanan; he’d take the fire queen, Rei any time. Possessiveness and pride chased through him, Rei’s intelligence, strength and power alone were enough to make him want to bind her to him. She belonged to him, with him. The lust that hit him directly after that thought was nearly enough to distract him completely from the fight at hand. First things first.



They managed to fight through most of them, going in opposite directions as the stragglers tried to disappear down more narrow corridors. Hakkai had managed to sever the head from the one he’d been chasing and turned to find Rei had made quick work of the last one she’d had. Hakuryuu had taken flight to check Hakkai then Rei before gliding down the main hallway to see if the others needed help per Rei’s request.



Hakkai stood breathing heavily from the fight and watching Rei as she bent to dust off her clothes. His gaze seemed riveted onto her behind as she leaned forward. Images flashed through his mind of shredding her clothing with his claws and having her against the nearest cave wall. Being buried deep inside of her, taking her hard and fast. He wanted to devour her piece by piece, wanted to know what her blood would taste like as he sank his teeth into her flesh. No, no, no! Stop it! He could not think like that.



Hakkai abruptly bent double and dropped to one knee. All of the muscles in his stomach had tightened from one heartbeat to the next. He wasn’t in pain exactly, nor was it an entirely unpleasant sensation but it had hit him so fast it had taken his breath away. Added to that, his jaws and teeth started to ache abominably. He glanced up to find Rei pivoting on one heel, turning toward him and he was suddenly very afraid for her. Not due to what the odd things they’d just killed again could do but he was completely terrified because she was close to him. Because he had the almost overwhelming urge to bite her, to feel her skin part under his claws.



“Hakkai! What’s wrong?” Rei said, starting to move quickly toward him.



Hakkai dug his claws into the rock floor, making deep gouges as he tried to control the urges he was feeling. She had to get away from him. He was afraid, so very afraid that if she didn’t he would hurt her badly.



“Gods, Rei, get away from me! I don’t want to hurt you!”