Chapter 4.
Kurama did everything in his power to mask his energy, but he knew it was pointless. Karasu knew where his hideout was.
How did he find him? How long had he been following him? How many dreams were real? It was almost a relief to know that he wasn't just losing his mind, although, it undoubtedly would have been safer for him if he was.
He couldn't fight Karasu again, not like this. He had been hoping to search out the Fruit of the Previous Life once he recovered enough strength to look for it, but it was too soon for that.
'You may just have to buy some time with him, play his game,' His inner Yoko mused. Jade green eyes flashed angrily, as Kurama spun and punched the wall of his chamber.
'No, No, No, No, No! Damnit! I'd rather die than play his game!'
'...but, wouldn't dying still be playing his game? Technically I've died for him once already, if for only a moment. Am I really going to die for him twice?'
'I can't win this one... can I?' Kurama cursed his decision to not stay with Yusuke in the Human World. Then again, it would be better if they weren't involved.
Kurama heard a light rustling at the entrance of his cave.
This time there was no pageantry, no illusion.
Karasu sauntered in and stopped about 10 ft. from Kurama, and leaned his weight against the wall. He wore his silver mask, hiding most of his expression. It made him seem even more dangerous, a reminder that even he needed to keep his power in check.
Kurama stood his ground, green eyes wild and angry, but he still couldn't mask his exhaustion. Most of his wounds weren't open anymore, but a few still bled lightly through the bandages.
Karasu could smell the blood.
"The burns from my bombs with your natural scent, it makes you smell of wildfire, Kurama. It's intoxicating."
"Oh good, just what I was thinking when I attained these injuries. I hope Karasu will like the smell of these later."
Karasu was visibly tickled.
"If only that were true, fox. I could get drunk off of that."
"...How are you here?"
"I really don't see why you are so surprised. I only did the same as you did. I gave my life energy to summon little bombs into the base of the tendrils of your plant that sucked the energy from me. When they exploded they sent the energy trapped in the tubes back lashing into my body. By that point the plant was on top of me and I lost consciousness. I did in fact die, but only for a second, until my energy was shot back into me, just as you died, but only for that second until the last ounce Yokos form could squeeze back to you brought you back. It was almost the same moment, in fact."
Karasus voice was hardly above a whisper, but it lacked no confidence. He stepped closer to the red haired fox.
"I have never met a creature as exquisite as you, Kurama. That fight was nothing less than perfect. I took you, and you took back. In human form, at that. Watching your life fading, Oh, you should have seen the look in your eyes. Mmmm. It was so erotic. And to think at the same time, I was almost your victim. What a play for the ages!"
Karasu seemed fevered, yet still somehow casual as he stepped closer to Kurama, who was now slowly backing away.
"I will never forget it, Kurama."
Kuramas back was now against the cavern wall. There was no place to run, not that he could outrun his enemy in this condtion anyway. Karasu reached out a hand and stroked Kuramas cheek gently.
"The little fox knows he can't escape. It must seem so unfair to you, having had the most perfect Demon body for hundreds of years, that could heal so swiftly, and being stuck with this human body that hinders you for days, or weeks at a time? I hadn't thought about it much before, but now I find the idea could be so enticing. Humans are ever changing, aren't they? And with a Demon trapped inside? How exotic."
Kurama growled and shoved the Demon away from him as hard as he could. Karasu flew back several feet, but it annoyingly appeared as if he had intended to do such, not as a result of Kuramas blow.
"You can try to kill me again Karasu, but even in this weakened state I will end your life as well."
Kurama pulled a silver handled dagger from the wall as he rebounded from his attack. The fox took a defensive stance. He was ready to die again. He would not be Karasus toy.
"Silly fox, that's not what I've come for. We've already died together, what fun would it be to do it again? Repetition is boring Kurama. You are far from boring, no."
Karasu moved swiftly towards Kurama, and for some reason the fox couldn't make himself move. In a fluid hand motion the mask dropped from Karasus face. He came within an inch of Kuramas body and stopped, staring into the foxs eyes. The violet eyes lacked the drunk passion they had before, and were now cold, and fierce. It was like he was looking for something. Kurama glared back defiantly.
"I will not give you what you want, Karasu, whatever it is."
"Good. I knew you wouldn't."
Suddenly Kuramas whole body was swimming with heat. It spread over him in waves, until he felt he was in the center of a giant ball of dark energy.
'Is it a bomb?' He wondered, again approaching panic.
'He doesn't plan to kill me, so he plans to torture me?'
Suddenly the heat became much smaller, and pointed. Just like the electric fingers that he kept feeling around his neck. It felt like it was made of solid substance, a hot, electric pressure that could change shape, form, and size. It ran up and down Kuramas arms playfully. It dripped down his chest, stomach, over his hip and came to rest on his inner thigh.
Kuramas eyes widened.
"Again, I don't see why you're surprised at my energy manipulation capabilities. You feed your energy into plants, to grow the plant, but you still need the seed, yes? Whereas I can create a bomb out of nothing but thin air. All I have to do is stop just short of creating the actual bomb, and the energy is mine to manipulate as I please. Impressed?"
The energy stroked upward to Kuramas belly button, eliciting a gasp from the fox.
"Maybe I'll teach you someday."
Karasu smiled, sly and mocking, tilting his head.
"...Do you remember how many bombs I can create at once?"
As soon as the words were out Kurama felt the pressure of the hot electric energy at several points on his body. It hit him in the back of each knee, and with a downward pressure to the back of his neck, forcing him to the ground. It ran sharply down his back in strips, perfectly imitating claws, causing him to cry out and arch his back. It continued down his ass and his thighs, creating an altogether different kind of heat.
Two small orbs with even higher voltage crackled over his nipples, making him gasp yet again.
'Oh no, oh no, no, no!' Kurama gritted his teeth.
'This can't be it, this can't be...'
As the sensation built in his torso the heat pressed hard against his groin, causing him to double over as his only defense. There was nothing he could do. Within moments he was painfully aroused, and he couldn't will it to stop. The pressure was building in his stomach, he was becoming light-headed. The fox didn't even realize was growling until he heard Karasus voice.
"Oh, are you angry, Kurama? I would have thought you would be quite pleased with this turn of events. You were once the sexual envy of every being in the Kingdom of Demons. I guess it's been too long since you have had a deserving playmate."
Kuramas head jerked to glare at Karasu, who was crouched close by, watching intently. It looked like green flames were going to shoot from his eyes. In his fury, and his need, Kurama could not form words. He only snarled louder and bared his teeth. Desperation poured from every part of him.
The heat rubbed against his body skillfully, bringing Kuramas breath to short gasps, instead of growls. Right when it seemed he could hold on to his sanity no longer and he would soon come to climax, the energy just disappeared.
Confusion swept Kuramas elegant features, replaced quickly with fury and despair. His body ached for release. The pain was incredible! The absence of the foreign energy made him feel like roughly kneaded dough, (except where he remained hard as steel).
He was furious that Karasu did this to him. He was furious that Karasu stopped. He was furious that he wanted more.
"Perfect, fox. You are a pure work of art."
Kurama heard an explosion, and his vision went black.