Chapter Thirty Nine

The pain was close to a horrific state. Picture a thousand knives running the tip of their blades all over your skin while volts of electricity coursed through you. It all stemmed from the grip this guy had on her hand. If only she had the strength to pull away. No, her energy seemed to flee her body at the contact. She was on her knees, the dampness of the grass seeping into her jeans. Her scream was deafening so surely Shuichi and Hiei would be there soon. Everything went dark.

Cool fabric against her cheek was the first thing she'd become alerted to. Her eyes opening, blurred as if they were glass that'd been breathed on. Her head hurt and she felt as if she was as flimsy as a piece of paper in the wind when she sat up.

“Finally awake. You gave us a scare when you didn't wake when we called you.” It was Shuichi's voice, but it was muffled as if a bandanna was tied around his mouth.

“How long have I been out?” Her voice was, strange. The tone was higher pitched than normal.

“Five hours. We found you in the woods, unconscious in the grass.” He came into focus, leaning against the wall next to her bed. Did she hit her head when she fell or something because not only was his voice quiet but he looked...dimmer too.

“What happened?” There was Hiei. He was on the other side and she leaned back against the headboard so she could look at both guys.

“It was a nice day so I took the kids out for a bit. Wanted them to play for awhile outside. Then there was this...horrible noise. Like a...loud screeching. It hurt a lot. I know it wasn't the best move but I followed it into the woods. There was this guy standing there swinging some long cane or something. The second I got there though he put it down. Said that he'd been waiting for me.”

“What did he look like?” Hiei asked, his back arched forward as he listened.

“About....7 feet tall...he had these yellowish eyes. Long fangs when he opened his mouth. Black ears like mine, except a little bigger. Uh....had a long tail. His nails were pretty long, claw like. Long purple hair. Tan-ish skin.” Jade described his traits while staring at the ceiling.

“What happened after he said he'd been waiting for you?” Kurama's expression concerned her. His eye brows slanted and his eyes cold. She was sure that many of his enemies who'd seen this look must've nearly pissed their pants.

“He said something about...his princess wanted to give me a choice, a chance to escape getting killed. And then, well I don't know what he did but he moved so fast. I didn't see him until he was right in front of me grabbing my hand. It hurt like a bitch I'll tell you that. My muscle felt so weak after a moment and I fell to my knees. I don't know how long he held on but when he let go I was just too weak...and achy. Next thing I know I'm here.”

“Do you know what he's done to you?” Why was Hiei's voice so rough?

“What're you talking about?” There was something gravely wrong.

“Now, Jade-kun please remain calm when I bring in the mirror.” Kurama's hands were held out in a gesture of peace keeping.

“Wait calm?” If she wasn't confused before she certainly was now and if her eyebrows could go any higher with her confusion, they'd be off her forehead.

Her heart ached with the speed it pumped blood. Her fingers twitched in anticipation as the red head left to retrieve a mirror.

“I'm not going to like this am I?” The skin of her eyes crinkled with worry.

“I'm only surprised that you haven't realized it yet.” Hiei's voice calm despite being tainted with a glimmer of anger just as Kurama's voice had been.

Before she could ask him what he'd meant, Kurama was back in the room, a full length mirror in his hands. The glass though was against his body so Jade couldn't see herself yet. It was set down, the wooden side facing her.

“What're doing? Prolonging the inevitable? I'm going to have to look into it. So acting all secretive and stuff so I can't see isn't going to help. Whatever it is I'm sure it's not that bad right? I'm not horribly disfigured or anything right?” Jade offered a weak grin.

“Depends on your definition on disfigured.” There was no humor in Kurama's words.

“Come on. Now you're really getting me worried.” Jade couldn't feel her ears wiggling but she knew they were.

“Despite the hardships it brought you, did you enjoy being a half demon?”

What kind of question was that for Shuichi to ask her? It may have caused a lot of undesired problems in her life, yet there were benefits to being a half demon. Demon's strength and human emotions, the best of both worlds. Not to mention, there really were that many of her kind wondering around anyways so it was pretty cool to be apart of a small race of beings.

“Yeah. Despite the shit I went through I'd say I still liked being who I was.”

“Then you should brace yourself.” Warned Hiei.

(In the hall)

“Did you get off guard duty?” The demon asked while leaning against the wall.

“Yeah, just got off.”

Suddenly, like a gust of wind that blows open a door, a high pitched scream interrupted the two guards conversation.

“What was that?”

“I don't know. Probably that half breed.”

(Back in the room)

“I'm....I'm....” Jade was at a lost. How do you say anything when you realized that you've just been turned human?

“We will figure this out Jade.” Kurama assured her. Watching her closely, gaging for any sign of distress.

“Don't worry, we will find the bastard who did this to you.” If Hiei's jagan could glow any brighter he'd of blinded her.

She was standing in front of the glass, staring blankly. Was that really her? It explained why everything was so dull and quiet. Her eyes no longer had the add of her demon blood and her ears were no longer those sensitive cat ears but regular, and small human ones. Her height was something to get used to. It was as if she was wearing platform boots because she now stood about even with Kurama. Her powerful muscles were traded up for smooth, tight skin, fingers no longer had long nails, fangs gone, face/eye much more rounder, voice high pitched, and what the hell was with her chest? It felt as if great weights were applied to her bosom. Apparently, in full human form, she was far more....voluptuous. It was as if she walked out of a magazine. Stereotypically beautiful.

“Hey guys, leave me alone for a while.” Her eyes never leaving the glass, her voice defeated.

Choosing to give Jade her moment alone, they promised to return later.

(Half Hour Later)

Her knuckles hurt, the sting of her flesh being peeled away as she continued to punch the tree. She'd never been the 'woe is me, my life sucks' type. She usually was able to adapt and suck up any problem that came her way. Not this. Being trapped inside a mass of flesh not your own was almost impossible to describe. She'd been trying to work out her frustration and anguish through basic exercises, only to find that it was as if her body were made of cloud. She was too soft. Her once proud set of muscles were gone and without them her punches and kicks held no force behind them. She couldn't even summon any energy to do the simple task of a shield.

To add to the lack of strength this body had, it was the shape of the body itself. The larger chest was killing her. They were too sensitive and the movement whenever she did anything was horrible and distracting, and their new founded weight put strain on her lower back. Her skin was remarkably soft, as if she'd never once toughed it. And overall, she didn't like her new pretty look. She preferred her more, for lack of a better term, bad ass look. Not to mention, she wasn't as balanced and her senses were dulled.

It wasn't fair. It just wasn't. All the years of struggling through, toughening her mind and body through pain, and to have it all disappear because of one handshake was surreal. A void was left inside. It would take time to look at all options to find a solution.

“Damn it.” What else could be said?

(In The Panther Clan's Territory)

“It is done mistress.” Nei reported back to his lord's daughter.

“Thank you Nei. I trust that you are pleased with my solution father?” the princess turned her head to look at her father, the lord of their clan.

“We shall see if she is still a danger to us Sensha. I only hope that your sympathy for that half breed's life will not bring ill fortune to our people.”

"That is the point father. With my solution, she is a half breed no longer and no longer a disgrace to our clan and will not have to die." A smile of knowing passed acrossed the princesses lips before she retired to her chamber.

Author's Note: I hope that you forgive the incredibly long wait as I always ask you nicely to do ^^ I've been working on multiple personal things in my life so it is hard for me to get these chapters out. The next one, hopefully, will be longer. I intended this one to be longer, but I decided that this was enough to post for now. NO FLAMES PLEASE, but politely stated and valid (meaning you provide back up from the story) constructive criticism is welcome and listened to. Thank you.

Oh and thank you to those who have already voted in the poll. Feel free to check it out still. I'll be leaving it up for another week.