two chapters in one night? yes. because they are both awesome and ready to go, and if i don't, i'll wanna tweak it.
again, half the credit goes to The Dark Wyvern. i love him, and he is awesome.
YIKES! i forgot to disclaimer the title! title credit goes to Apocalyptica, a Finnish metal band consisting of three celists and a drummer. i was listening to their album, Worlds Collide, when i was hit by this plot bunny. (bloody Finns of the rockstar persuasion... don't ask...)
Hiei's katana was a blur as it was unsheathed and swung till the point rested menacingly on the brunette girl's sternum. "Useless, weak human, tell me why I should not just end your misery for you."
Before she could do more than open her mouth, her lover pulled her away from the katana to safety behind himself. "You will regret that threat, demon." His Spartan tapped the katana in challenge.
Hiei tapped the blade, accepting the challenge. 'I will defeat the fool, kill the bitch, and be free to go home. Simple.'
Hillock smirked, easily blocking a clumsy attack. "Is that all you got?"
Hiei growled. No mere human could match him, he was a demon. He doubled his speed, swinging blows at the human that dared call him out.
Kurama kept Pyro at a safe distance while he checked her over for any injuries. He made note of the white gold ring set with an amethyst flanked by diamond chips on her left ring finger. "Hiei will not kill your fiancee."
Hillock, managing to keep any of the smaller man's attacks from getting through, found an opportunity to make his own attack. Hiei was hard pressed to keep him from landing any of the blows.
The girl flicked her hair over her shoulder. "I know that. I'm not so sure Hill won't kill your friend."
Hiei once again launched a barrage of attacks. Hillock once again driving him back.
"Hiei is tougher than he looks." The red head flashed the girl a reassuring smile. "No worries, Pyro."
Yusuke sat perched on the edge of his seat, completely fixated on the battle. "Damn, Shortie's getting his ass kicked!"
The orange haired boy beside him erupted in booming laughter. "More like handed to him. By a human!"
The spartan sword flew across the field, landing point first in the ground between the laughing duo.
Hiei pointed his katana at Hillock. "Yield, human, or I will be forced to hurt you."
Hillock drew his wakizashis from their sheathes on either hip. "Never. You threatened my beloved." He held his blades in a reverse grip, so as not to actually kill the small demon.
Hiei growled and attacked. "She is broken and weak. She will only hinder the mission."
One angry blue eye narrowed, the other was hidden by an eye patch. "Watch what you say."
Steel clashed against steel. Hiei blurred in close. "She will hinder the mission like that eye patch will hinder you." His blade sliced only the string holding the eye patch on.
The material fluttered to the ground, revealing a false eye with a blue-green iris. Hillock blinked twice.
Hiei, thinking him disoriented, attacked.
Twin blades sliced the air and parried the blow that would have shattered an arm.
"Oh shit, he should not have cut that string." Pyro giggled softly.
Kurama gave her a look.
"Just watch." Pyro replied.
No matter how fast Hiei went, it seemed the human knew exactly where he would end up. Not even an after image could fool his opponent.
The two men battled fiercely until a voice hollered, "Stop that you idiots!"
Twin blades stopped, crossed, holding the point of the katana a mere inch from their owner's nose.
Both men glared at each other, breathing heavily, and silently dared the other to move.
"Hiei, I still have that jail cell waiting for you." the voice chuckled.
The spiky-haired demon flitted away, sheathing the katana as he took a post about five feet away from Hillock, close to where Yusuke and Kuwabara had been watching.
Hillock fell, stabbing his twin blades into the ground to try and hold himself up.
Kurama's amused chuckle died as he moved to examine the seemingly unhurt man.
Hillock tried to regain his full height.
"Be still, you are hurt." Kurama put one hand flat on the man's chest.
Pyro knelt on the other side of the downed human. "You didn't have to fight him for me, I could have gotten it. You fought the slavers earlier and didn't leave any for me."
Hillock smiled up at the girl. "You know how I am about protecting you, beloved."
"Yeah, I know. And you went and seriously fucked your knee again." Pyro said in a wry tone.
"Hmm..." Kurama moved his examination to the prone human's knees after her comment. "Partially torn ligament... I have a plant that can fix it, but I am going to have to cut you, and it will hurt."
Hillock just rolled his eyes and fished a folded utility knife out of his pocket.
"Not here. This plant is not common to this world, and I would prefer to minimize the risk of one of your neighbors to see." Kurama said.
Yusuke and Kuwabara hefted the injured man to his feet. "Me and Kuwabara here'll help you up the stairs." the darker haired one grinned. Each boy slung an arm around their shoulders and supported the man in the middle as he slowly hopped to the building.
The stairs was where it got tricky. Only two people fit across them, and even then its a tight fit. They finally decided that Kuwabara would walk up on the side opposite the railing, and Yusuke would follow up behind them, in case of misstep.
They finally made it in the room, much to Pyro's relief. She was getting tired of holding her breath at every pause.
"You should go and help him change into shorts, or something he doesn't mind tearing. I will prepare the, um, operating area." Kurama said, casually walking up beside the girl, taking her arm and helping her up the stairs.
She allowed it, only because her hyperventilation made her slightly dizzy.
Having sufficiently exposed only his lower legs, Pyro asked the boys to help move Hillock out to where Kurama was waiting. The red head had laid out several towels on the floor. There was a minor scuffle to get Hillock situated.
Kurama unfolded the blade he had previously been given and made a small incision where Hillock's gym shorts ended. He pressed a seed into the wound.
Vines sprouted, burrowing into the flesh and seeking out the damage. Some sprouted up and around, creating a kind of brace to hold his knee still while the other vines did their work.
"So gross." Pyro breathed, eyes wide in fascination.
Hillock clamped his teeth together as flesh and ligaments were stitched into wholeness.
"You were very lucky it didn't sever while you were battling Hiei." Kurama said, sitting back.
Hiei's eyes grew wide. 'Bested by a weak human?' He couldn't fathom it. 'An injured human at that.'
"Oh man, I never thought I'd live to see the day ol three eyes got beat by a crippled human." Yusuke managed to gasp out between laughs.
"Didja even break a sweat?" Kuwabara asked Hillock, also laughing.
"It gets worse. He didn't have Grandma's training." Yusuke crowed in glee.
Kuwabara opened his mouth to add another taunt, but none came out. The tall man went cross-eyed staring at the katana poking his nose. "Geeze, Shortie, we were only playing. Some guys just can't take a joke."
Hiei turned slightly, keeping his katana on the orange haired man's nose. A fireball took shape in his free hand. "This is not over, ningen."
Hillock called up his own attack. To those with Awareness, it looked like a glowing black sphere.
Both men threw at the same time. Black sphere met black flame and cracked open, it's watery contents dousing the flame.
Hiei's eyes went wide again.
"Try it again. I dare you." Hillock grinned.
Pyro cuffed him lightly with her good hand. "Hill! Stoppit!"
Hillock patted her hand. "Only for you, love."
Hiei made a derisive noise. "Pathetic." He called up more black flame.
Pyro's head snapped up, here eyes locking with the demon's. "Attack him again, and you will be in for a world of hurt nobody's thought of yet." She held his gaze as she began unbinding the brace holding her right wrist still.
"I do not heed the warnings of human women." Hiei sneered at her. He held his stance, fireball still at the ready.
"You do not want her to start chanting." Hillock tried to keep the girl's hands still without injuring her further.
Kurama moved to break up the stare-down.
Koenma put a hand on the red head's shoulder. "Lets see how she handles herself."
Pyro's voice was soft as she began chanting the names of the goddess. As she increased her volume, her unbound hair began to swirl in a wind that only she felt.
Yusuke's eyes widened at the energy she raised. "Na...ni..."
Hiei released his hold on the fire, allowing it to fall out of existence.
"Ro? Love, stand down, its done." Hillock commanded in a soft tone.
"He is still a threat." she growled and glared at the demon in question.
"He is still an ally, and not worth you hurting yourself." Hillock growled at her, forcing her to shift her attention to him.
She looked down and away. "Fine." The wind died down, leaving her hair to fall in soft waves down her back again. "I fully retain my right to kick his sorry ass later."
"Yes, love. Just put your brace back on." Hillock sighed and handed her the device in question.
"So this is why we are to stay and train them." Kurama said to the young man standing beside him.
"Partly." Koenma replied, keeping an amused eye on the pair still on the floor, ignoring everyone else. "They have taken it on themselves to protect this area from demons like they fought earlier today. Slavers and the like."
All eyes turned to the woman on the floor. A low, feline growl emanated from her throat.
Feeling eyes on her, she cast a wide-eyed innocent look on the men around her. "What? I hate those bastards. They tried to take me!"
Hillock stroked the girl's hair fondly, then stood. " You know I wouldn't let them get far."
"You sound just like my kitty when she gets mad." Kuwabara grinned at her.
She winked. "That's cause I'm the crazy cat lady." She held her hands up in a silent plea for Hillock's aid.
The blonde human only took her left hand in his and hauled her to her feet. "Basically we want to make it so this doesn't happen to people who can't fight back."
Hiei moved to sit in the window. A crash shocked him into complete stillness.
"Goddamnit!" Pyro yelled. She ran over to pick up the planter full of cooking herbs.
Kurama knelt beside her. "I am a plant manipulator, allow me to help."
Pyro flashed him a grateful smile. "I kinda need them to survive."
The red head nodded. He held his hands over the wreckage and shrank the plants down to half their size. Both demon and human gently pulled the plants free and set them into piles according to species. Kurama then shrank the plants to seed form and tucked them away in little paper envelopes. Each envelope was clearly marked, and tucked into the red head's pocket. When he got to an odd plant, he arched an eyebrow in question.
"No, I do not micro brew. Hops is a good plant for a sleepy time sachet, along with the lavender and mugwort. You're dealing with a pair of insomniacs here."
"Well, at certain times of the month we are." Hillock's laugh rang out as he headed for the kitchen.
Kurama blinked twice. Hiei's eyes widened. Yusuke chuckled. Pyro blushed a deep red.
Kuwabara looked around, confused. "Why does the time of the..." his voice trailed as realization dawned on his features. "Oh, right." he mumbled.
She plucked potsherds from the dirt, setting them in a neat pile.
Hillock tapped her shoulder. "For you milady." He held out a dustpan and brush.
Pyro took it with a grin. "Thanks you lover."
Kurama stood. "I am keeping the seeds viable in my aura until you are ready to replant. But only until this time tomorrow."
Pyro gave him a grin. "Thanks, Red." then she turned to the demon standing next to the window. "You are gonna escort me down to the store for a new planter."
"Hn." Hiei turned and flitted out.
Kurama touched the girl's shoulder lightly. "I will accompany you. These plants tell me you'll need more than a new pot and soil."
Pyro giggled. "Well, they were due for another fertilizer stake tonight."
The fox demon gave her a stunned look.
She giggled again. "I know my green babies. Now lets get to getting, I kinda need them planted again before sunset." She grabbed her purse and headed out the door.
Kurama chuckled and followed. "I will personally assure her safety. We are going to the Walmart in Harrisonburg." He told the girl's amused fiancee on his way out.
that time of the month comment was ALL his fault. completely. all him. *glares at Hillock*