Chapter 4: The Fire That Burns
Hiei stood in a state of shock as this confusing turn of events. The last time he saw Zeru he was nothing but a patch of ashes on the wall of the stadium at the Dark Tournament. The fact that he is alive was hard enough to believe but the fact that he had a body attached to him and seemed to be even more powerful was even more preposterous.
"What the hell are you doing alive?!" Hiei asked, sternly.
"Does it really matter?" Zeru brought his hands up and let fire course over them.
Hiei narrowed his eyes at his enemy. "Not really." He tightened his grip on his sword. "I don't care how you came back. I'll defeat you again, just like before."
Zeru scoffed. "Says you."
"But I am interested in your return. Exactly, how does one come back from being reduced to cinders?"
The Team Rokuyukai member scoffed. "It seems I don't care too much for defeat or death. A powerful man revived me with the condition that I kill you upon my return. It took me an entire second to agree."
The Jagan bearer scoffed in return. "Couldn't stand being murdered by me, could you?"
"That did hurt, I won't lie. Being incinerated is no fun." The demon smirked. "You're about to find out."
"Why is everyone out to kill you?" Misawa asked Hiei. "Did you ever bother sparing anyone?"
"Once," Hiei replied. "Didn't like it. Killed him anyway."
He unsheathed Emerald Heaven. "You have a twisted sense of humor, boy."
Hiei directed attention back at Zeru. "So, this man? The one who revived you. Was it Goto?"
"No," Zeru answered. "Goto doesn't have that kind of power. It was someone else."
"Who?"
"You don't need to know. It doesn't matter to you, Hiei."
Hiei chuckled. "You do have a point there. It makes no difference since you will die all the same."
Misawa began to bring Emerald Heaven back to the forefront as he prepared to do battle.
"Put away your blade, old man." Hiei removed his bandanna and opened his Jagan. "You won't be needing it." He began to prepare the Dragon of the Darkness Flame.
Misawa recognized the power, immediately. "The Darkness Flame?!" he said, surprised. He took a few steps back. "You learned that technique?"
"I've mastered it! And it will be more than enough to eliminate this fool!"
"Oh?" Zeru asked. "So sure of that, are you?"
"It worked last time."
"Twice may not be the charm."
"We'll see about that!"
"As much as I would love to see you fail trying…" Zeru wagged his finger at him, "I wouldn't do that."
"Why? Because it pained you so the last time?"
"No. Because you have no idea where your friends are."
Hiei paused. His eyes widened.
"Think about it: set that dragon loose, kill me… and them."
Hiei growled. "You're bluffing!"
"Am I? Go ahead. Do it."
Hiei growled, gripping his fist tighter. He still had the Flame ready. But could he use it? Could he really risk the well-being of the others on this opponent?
Misawa stayed silent, waiting to see what Hiei would do. He wanted to see if the younger demon had truly changed or was he still just as cruel and vicious as ever.
Surprisingly, Hiei relented. His power subsided and he reapplied his headband then sneered at the blonde demon. "I'd rather kill you with my sword, anyway."
Zeru laughed. "Hiei! I'm surprised at you!"
"Shut up! I merely wish to not kill my allies… JUST YOU!" He rushed at him.
He just smiled. "This should be fun."
"I must admit: that was a surprise," Goto noted.
"Maybe he isn't as bloodthirsty as previously perceived," Masato said.
"Perhaps. Time will tell." He paused. "You did make sure the prisoners weren't in the line of fire, correct? Put up the protection seal and all?"
"Of course. But these two are the combatants. Where, in the castle, is exactly safe, even with such a seal?"
"Good point. Let us hope neither gets carried away. I'd hate for all this to be for nothing."
Hiei unsheathed his sword and charged at Zeru. Zeru threw a fireball at him, Hiei dodged. He tried getting in close but Zeru surrounded himself with fire. Hiei groaned and jumped back; though he was able to withstand fire, Zeru's somehow seemed different just now. Misawa jumped in the air came down with Emerald Heaven drawn, aimed at bisecting the fire master. Zeru moved out of the way and punched Misawa right across the jaw. Hiei dashed in and tried slicing him but the blonde haired demon grabbed the blade.
Hiei couldn't believe he even saw him coming.
"I told you…" Zeru smiled. "This won't end like the last time!"
He kicked the swordsman away. Hiei skidded along the ground; Zeru jumped in the air, lit his body aflame, and came down with a double stomp. Hiei barely got out of the way in time of the death dealing maneuver. Misawa rushed Zeru but her dodged and kicked the elder away. Hiei charged; Zeru punched him in the face. Hiei recovered and went back in but Zeru swiftly gave him a shoulder tackle, sending him into a wall. Hiei fell to his knees, trying to get his breath back.
"Get up, Hiei," Zeru said, mockingly. "Get up. I still want to have some fun."
Hiei growled and jumped at his opponent. Zeru kicked him back and threw a fireball that Hiei blocked with his forearm. The swordsman landed and groaned. He looked down was shocked. The fire was burning him already. He quickly knocked the flame away and looked to see that, while there wasn't any significant burn damage, there was still some there. Before, he, at least, could withstand some of it and have just his skinned warmed. This burned immediately.
That wasn't good.
Hiei looked at his Dark Tournament opponent to see him smiling, evilly.
"What?" Zeru asked, sarcastically. "Did I forget to mention that my fire even burns you?"
Hiei growled.
"That's right, Hiei. At one point, you could've withstood my fire and maybe lasted a little longer. But now… I am far more powerful." The blonde demon conjured up two more fireballs in his palms. "You're little advantage is gone. You are going to die."
While the battle raged on, the Hellknights took notice to an unwelcomed visitor as he walked into the throne room. It was the small, devious demon, Tap, servant of the Demon Sorcerer Arashi, Lord of Deathlocke. Arashi was the very reason that Goto was able to acquire Zeru in the first place. One of the sorcerer's many experiments involved reviving the dead at a highly disturbing cost. Granting increased powers to others was something of minor chore for Arashi; looking at Zeru's fight, clearly, one the sorcerer had perfected.
"Your excellent lordship, Hellknight Goto," Tap bowed and rose up.
Goto looked up from the orb, "What do you want, mongrel?"
"My Lord, Arashi, wishes to know how Zeru was performing."
"Just fine. Tell the demon sorcerer his latest abomination was worth the price we paid for him."
"Indeed." He looked around, "So, where are the prisoners?"
Goto stared at him. "Safe."
Tap stared down the commander as he was instructed to do. "We had a deal."
Goto took offense to this lapdog's tone. "No. I promised Arashi I would let his little research project run rampant in my castle so he could gauge how he would perform. I never promised him the Mazoku."
"Oh, please, your excellency! Just a peek. Please."
Goto considered this. He didn't really want to oblige Arashi but he did give him Zeru and he wanted Tap out of his castle. He stood up. "You may scan him and nothing else."
Tap nodded.
"I will be accompanying you."
"Ummm, my lord…" Masato protested.
"Don't worry, Masato. If he tries to kill me… I'll make sure death is something he prays for. But, to be sure, Horiguchi, please accompany us."
Horiguchi bowed and followed as Goto led Tap to the dungeon. When they arrived, the small red demon smiled when he saw Yusuke.
"So, you're the Son of Raizen," Tap said to Yusuke. He pulled out device that appeared to be demon scanner.
Yusuke groaned. "Get away from me, creep!"
"Relax." Tap activated his device and two pincers appeared at the end of it. "I just want to observe you. Just give you a quick scan…" He crept closer and closer to Yusuke, his smile becoming demented.
Kurama got a good look at the device. From his experiences in Yomi's kingdom, he knew one thing for sure: "That is no ordinary energy scanner!"
Goto looked at Kurama then at Tap… with great anger. He rushed over and grabbed the short demon's hand that was holding the device. Tap shouted in pain at Goto's powerful grip.
"What are you doing?" Goto asked.
Tap started to sweat, "I, uh… I just need to scan him…" Goto squeezed harder, cracking bones in the small demon's hand. He struggled, "I swear it! I swear it!"
Goto thought to rip this demon's arms off but thought better. He didn't need Arashi showing up any time soon. He released the pressure. "Fine." He pushed him back, back toward the dungeon entrance. "But from there. You need come no closer."
Tap looked at him in anger.
"Glare at me all you want, underling. This is my castle. You will follow my commands!"
Tap growled. He did, indeed, plan to get a sample of Yusuke's blood but would have to settle for a scan of biorhythms, power, and spirit wavelengths. He activated his scanner; since he couldn't get any closer, the scan recorded data on all of the occupants in the room. He was done in a few seconds. Tap bowed and said, with hatred, "Your lordship…"
"Be gone, creature," Goto said. "Horiguchi, take him out of my castle!"
Horiguchi bowed, grabbed Tap by the nape of his neck, and they exited from the dungeon.
Yusuke looked at the Hellknight commander, uncertain. "Ummm… thanks?"
Goto nodded. He started for the door.
"Goto…" Kurama said.
He stopped and looked at the demon fox.
"You protecting us from that demon proves what you said to Yusuke was the truth. You didn't draw Hiei here to kill him, did you? You aren't trying to avenge your son."
Goto stared at Kurama for a handful of seconds. They thought he wasn't going to answer. Until… "No. Gotetsu made his own choices. If he couldn't defeat Hiei after all his boasting and goading, that was his own undoing. I never told him to challenge him. His own arrogance did that."
"Then what is this about? Really about?"
Goto smiled. "All in good time, Yoko. All in good time." He exited to go back to his throne room.
Hiei charged at Zeru, turning his sword underhand, and going to slice upward to finish his enemy. Zeru easily dodged, jumping back. He threw a fireball that Hiei dodged. Misawa dashed forward, using speed to get in close. Zeru barely managed to get out of the way of Misawa's sword strike; he avoided it and punched the elder warrior in the gut. Misawa double over and Zeru kicked him in the chin, sending him flying back and crashing into a wall.
"Alright! That's enough!" Hiei removed his bandanna again. His Jagan opened up.
"Still going for the Darkness Flame?" Zeru asked, very amused.
"I'll do what I must!" Hiei bluffed. "I will not be defeated by the likes of you!" He did know better, though: he couldn't call forth the Flame, even if he did know how to harness it better now. He didn't want to risk it getting out of control and killing the others. But the Jagan would give him other advantages and any would do right now.
Zeru smiled. "Alright by me. I want you to die knowing you had no chance against me!"
"The only one about to die is you!" Hiei threatened. "And I swear it will hurt!"
"Is that so? You really think it will be that easy?" The blonde haired demon started powering up. "You really think I would come here not fully prepared to finish you?!" The heat around him was starting to get to searing levels, causing him to start to glow a bright red. It was similar to his power increase at the Dark Tournament only it was so much stronger. "I made a new friend, Hiei. He showed me real power. Something you know nothing about!" His power turned his body into a walking hot spot; the stone floor beneath him was even starting to melt. "Even you can be burned by these flames, Hiei!"
"You certainly don't go halfway when making enemies, Hiei!" Misawa grunted as they shielded themselves from the bright light and extreme heat Zeru was giving off.
Zeru let the light fade after his power reached its peak. His body was still glowing the bright red. "Now you will see… you will feel real power… and then… you will DIE!"
A/N: So, what do you guys think so far? I'm getting this out pretty fast, huh? I guess that happens when I turn the TV OFF! Huh. Who knew? Anyway, REVIEWS!
