Hey everyone! I know I've been promising updates for several things for months now but to be honest I had serious writer's block...and so couldn't be bothered. ^^ Anyway here's chapter one of a new YusukeXHiei story.
Yusuke dodged an attack by one of the demons, immediately turning on his heel to punch his fist through the gut of another behind him. His elbow swung back into the face of a particularly ugly one before he performed a roundhouse kick into the chest of another demon, sending it flying. Yusuke, using similar attacks as before, made quick work of the five low level demons left surrounding him before breathing a deep sigh of relief. He ran a blood stained hand through his raven hair, pushing it back into place. Yet even though he had already taken out more than a hundred demons so far he could not rest.
Fiery brown eyes scanned the dusty, body-littered plane. His eyes quickly spotted each of his friends still fighting their way through swarms of low level demons. He took in the state each of them were in, unable to stop his gaze lingering slightly longer on Hiei. He knew the fire demon did not need his concern, nor would he appreciate it, but Yusuke couldn't help it. Even seeing small grazes such as the ones the demon was sporting now made him worry over the shorter man. Quickly pushing his thoughts past Hiei he assessed the other two. They were sporting small wounds and looked a little weary, but nothing more serious than that. Still, at the rate they were going they would be unable to take down the main demon when the time came.
Yusuke ran into the fray once more, helping his friends kill the assorted demons as fast as possible. Eventually there was nothing left but the enemies' bodies and the sickly sweet scent of death.
The raven haired leader turned to his friends. "Hey, you guys okay?" He asked quietly. There was no playful tone to his voice like usual. No his voice was serious and his eyes hard. Nobody said anything, merely nodding their heads. They knew from experience that when Yusuke was like this it was better to just shut up and do as he said.
Suddenly a deep, evil laughter resonated around them, a disembodied voice following after. "I see you have defeated my army of demons. Quite impressive. But I'm afraid this is where it ends."
Yusuke's eyes flickered around them trying to find the source. A movement in the forest several yard away from the plane caught his attention. He strained his eyes, peering into the darkness. There it was again.
"Look. Over there." He said his voice barely a murmur. Everyone turned and followed his gaze. He felt Hiei tense beside him as he too caught sight of the movement. Suddenly the figure rose, revealing a demon so huge the trees it had used for cover barely reached it's hip. The demon waded through the forest, coming to a halt in front of the group. So engrossed in watching the demon Yusuke barely heard Kuwabara's stuttered curse.
Yusuke watched the demon warily, sizing it up. It really was gigantic, at least six stories tall with sickly grey skin pulled taut over a bulking chest. Narrow red eyes glowed from their place in the demon's long, narrow skull. It's body was animalistic in stature, hunched as if ready to spring. It flexed it's long black claws before smiling menacingly revealing rows of yellowing fangs dripping with translucent green saliva. Though the demon didn't appear overly tough compared to what they had fought before there was something…dangerous about it.
It chuckled darkly. "It's a good thing you did defeat my demons, I could use a little exercise. Especially if I plan to eat you later." It's voice grated on them, causing the hairs on the back if their necks to rise. Yusuke followed it's gaze as it swept over each of them, it's eyes, like his own, resting longer on Hiei than the others. The spirit detective caught it licking it's lips briefly before it's gaze once more focused on the group as a whole. Anger rose in Yusuke faster than ever before. His body unconsciously shifted to better protect the fire demon beside him.
"You won't be eating anybody!" Yusuke growled. 'Especially not Hiei!' He thought. The demon watched Yusuke, seeing the barely visible shift towards the shortest member of the group. Amusement danced in it's scarlet eyes and it laughed again, a mocking bellow. Yusuke's eyes flashed dangerously, the only warning he gave before throwing himself at the demon, his fisted hand finding its mark in the large demon's stomach. This was all his friends needed to join the fight themselves, Kuwabara summoning his spirit sword, Kurama his rose whip and Hiei unsheathing his katana. The battle had begun.
The fight continued for ages, neither side gaining a clear advantage. The demon's right arm was destroyed, hanging by thin strands of broken skin and tendon and it's chest was littered with slices and swelling bruises. Kuwabara had used most of his spirit energy and was barely standing after receiving several deep scratches and a particularly hard punch. Kurama was faring little better, a small hole in his stomach where one of the demon's claws had pierced him interfering with his movement. Yusuke had taken mostly punches, leaving him bruised but able. Hiei was doing the best so far, having avoided nearly all attacks using his demonic speed.
Yusuke continued his assault on the enemy but was distracted in his attentions by Hiei. He could see him was getting impatient, meaning that the ill-tempered fire demon's judgment was clouding. Yusuke, paying too much attention to Hiei, didn't see the claws coming until it was too late. The black claws pierced his right shoulder and Yusuke couldn't hold in a cry of shocked pain.
Hiei halted in his tracks when his ears picked up Yusuke's strangled cry. His head whipped around to see the other dark haired man slouching some ten feet away, his good arm gripping the fresh wound. The large demon smirked, closing in on the injured detective. Blind anger pulsed through Hiei's veins, his body thrumming with demonic energy. The demon's good arm rose, poised to strike and Hiei saw red. Before anyone knew what was happening Hiei had run up beside the demon and jumped, his drawn sword slicing up the demon's forearm. The demon roared in pain and anger. In reaction to the pain it's wrist twisted, it's claws catching Hiei as he passed them.
Hiei felt the razor sharp claws gouge into his stomach as he went flying past it's hand. The bloody-eyed man landed lightly on the ground just behind the demon, but fell immediately to one knee, his arm grasping around the wound. While the demon's involuntary attack was not enough to mortally wound the shorter demon, it was bad enough to hinder his movement and while Hiei's back was turned the demon attacked. It lunged at Hiei, jaws open wide, fangs glistening with it's strange green saliva.
Yusuke watched the scene play out before him and fear stronger than he had ever felt before coursed through him, turning his blood cold. Yusuke stood up straight, ignoring the pain that burst, white hot through his shoulder. The spirit detective ran, faster even than Hiei's superhuman speed, towards the fire demon. His foot shifted to the side and he skidded to a stop. Right in the path of the giant demon's open mouth. Within milliseconds his good shoulder was clamped firmly between the jaws of the demon, it's fangs imbedded into his flesh.
Hiei's pain finally subsided enough for him to move without any issues and he growled. His body twisted to face the direction he had come from, yelling. "YOU FUC-" The curse died in his throat at the sight that greeted his crimson eyes. Yusuke stood over him, the demon's teeth piercing his shoulder, a fate that judging by their position was meant for Hiei himself. His eyes widened dramatically as he realized that Yusuke had taken the blow…to protect him. His mind whirled, his vision blurred and his consciousness slowly bled away as his mind shut down. The last thing he saw was Yusuke's determined eyes glaring at the demon in front of them, glaring at the demon that had tried to hurt him…
Yusuke felt rather than saw Hiei pass out behind him. He immediately forgot about his own situation and tried to see if he was alright, worried that Hiei's wounds had been worse than he thought. He felt the sharp fangs pull against his insides as he moved. Pain ripped through him at the same time a scream was ripped from his throat. He felt the demon's hot breath against the wound as it once again chuckled mockingly at him. Anger once more flowed through Yusuke's body. So strong was his rage that he didn't even feel a thing as the demon's poison was pushed into his body through hollow fangs. The hanyou's spirit energy burst froThm his body in a blinding light as he screamed in anger. The demon latched onto his shoulder ripped itself from the man's body and stumbled backwards blindly. Yusuke, now free from his confinements and driven by fury pointed his index finger at the demon and released his spirit gun. The beam was huge, several meters in diameter and when it hit the demon it literally vaporized it. After the ball of energy had disappeared in the horizon there was nothing left of the demon. Yusuke swayed on his feet and attempted to walk over to his unconscious friend but couldn't even take a single step before his legs collapsed under him.
Two pairs of footsteps thudded towards him followed by the alarmed voices of Kurama and Kuwabara. The youko immediately kneeled beside their fallen leader, assessing the damage. If his choked sob was anything to go by, his verdict was not a good one. Kuwabara looked at the other red head, his body already curling into itself, expectant of hearing what it subconsciously knew, but his eyes hopeful. Kurama opened his mouth to speak but all that came out was another soft cry. Silently, with tears gathering in his emerald eyes, he shook his head. Kuwabara lost his smile, his angled face slowly crumpling as his heart tore anew a familiar old wound. One they thought would never have to bleed again.
Yusuke watched with sad eyes as his friends fell to pieces. He knew what was coming. He could see it in their dulling eyes. He hadn't seen this day coming for the third time anytime soon, but when he had imagined it, it had been exactly like this. Only…
"Is Hiei alright?" He asked, his voice little more than a croaky whisper. Kurama rose shakily and disappeared from his sight for a moment. He returned only seconds later, kneeling down once more beside the dark haired man's broken body.
"He's fine. His wound isn't fatal and I suspect he fainted more from shock than anything else. He'll be back to normal in no time." The green eyed youko said, trying to keep his voice steady. Yusuke sighed in relief, his chocolate eyes closing. "Good…" He whispered, a small smile forming around his lips as he slipped away from life. Kuwabara broke into uncontrollable sobs as he felt the life leave his dearest friend's body, feeling more alone than ever before. Kurama wept silently, tears falling in a constant stream down his tan cheeks, his face contorted with pain. And that was the way the pair stayed for some time, crying over the death of their friend and leader.
And there's chapter one. There's another one, possibly two more coming. I hope everyone enjoyed it ^^. R&R!