Blade hit against solid darkness, resisting against Gareki's weapon. Gareki stared at the dark clouds Karoku had coming out of his hands like thick black fog with electrical currents zapping from it. It was stronger then it looked. Some of it snapped at him causing him to jump back in order not to get electrocuted.
He landed on his feet. The toes of his boots cutting into the dirt from the force of his jump.
Gareki held his glaive upwards in front of his body, ready to guard himself as he eyed Karoku's shadow army surrounding them. He wondered if they were going to jump into the fight and attack him, but they stayed still and only watched.
"Don't worry," said Karoku, making the black fog disappear,"This fight is only between me and you."
Gareki focused his glowing eyes back onto Karoku's darkly dressed form. "It better be," he said cautiously causing Karoku's smirk to reappear. "Okay, then let it be a promise for both of us. No interferences. Deal?"
He squinted at him. His face had lies written all over it causing Gareki not wanting to trust him but he would agree just to get the talking over with.
"Deal. Now shut your mouth and fight me!" Gareki jumped forward into the air heading for Karoku with the blade of his glaive pointed strait at him.
Karoku quickly side stepped causing Gareki's blade to deeply dig into the Earth instead of penetrating flesh like he had intended, but he acted quickly and ripped it out, hurling it strait towards Karoku again. The Death Keeper ducked forward in lightning speed missing the blade once more that surely would have cut his head off by the quickness Gareki had swung it with. He heard the sound of the blade cutting into the air with a loud whooshing sound as it passed over him.
Karoku saw an opening in Gareki's stance so he pulled his arm back and threw a fist right into his stomach making him retreat a step back, bothering to hide the pain on his face.
Karoku noticed this as Gareki came towards him with another attempt of an attack. He swiftly moved aside with that one too before pulling his hand into a fist and hit Gareki with it again but this time in the face, sending him falling back. He landed on the ground on his backside, mouth bleeding from the impact. He felt it sliding down until it reached the side of his face. He groaned quietly feeling the aching pain in his abdomen.
Karoku chuckled quietly, he shook his head slowly. "Don't you act as if that other punch didn't hurt, cause I know it did." He eyed Gareki on the ground, wiping the blood from his mouth while glaring up at him with those fiery blue eyes of his, they were looking at him with so much hatred that Karoku swore he could feel it, but he didn't care. The man walked closer to the prince and kicked his legs hard before moving over to his stomach and gave him a kick there too. "Get up so we can continue! We're wasting precious time." He snapped.
Gareki waited a few seconds to recover before sitting up. "Don't you dare tell me what to do— "
That earned him another kick to the stomach which threw him back to the ground causing a fit of coughs to break free from his throat. Karoku smiled triumphantly. He crouched down next to Gareki's head waiting till he stopped coughing before he gripped his chin forcing his head to face him, he then whispered: "You're not so strong, are you? You're weak all because of that Outsider you're hanging around with."
Gareki looked up at him still with a flaring anger in his eyes. "Stop talking as if you know me, cause you don't." His words were harsh but didn't hurt the Death Keeper a single bit.
"Oh I do. I know that you were banished all for the sake of an Outsider. It surprises me considering the fact that you two should be at each other's throats but instead you're helping him. What a disappointment of a prince you are or should I say, were as in you were a prince? Your kingdom isn't going to want you back after an offense like this you've done."
Gareki sniffed unaffected by his words. "Oh really?" He asked flatly.
Karoku leaned in closer to his face before answering, "Really." Right after he said that Gareki spat blood in his face.
"You know nothing!" Gareki gripped his weapon and lunged forward ready to throw another attack. Karoku wiped the blood from his face before quickly standing up strait, moving from left to right every time Gareki swung his glaive at him. He began to laugh hysterically as Gareki missed every chance.
"You're the same just like last time we fought, weak and easily angered." Gareki missed another hit and inwardly grew more and more frustrated each time he did. "Keep laughing but watch me wipe that smirk off your face!" He warned. Karoku continued to dodge his strikes and after Gareki's statement he laughed harder. "Oh, I'd like to see you try!" He taunted.
That was it. That was as much as Gareki could take of this man's smug attitude. The slits in his eyes tightened as his anger increased. He jumped forward pulling his glaive up next to his head so his elbows were heading strait for Karoku first.
Unluckily for Karoku, he wasn't paying attention thanks to his laughter which left him wide open for Gareki to land a hit on him. He slammed his elbow hard into the Death Keeper's nose, causing blood to gush out as he stumbled back a couple steps, holding his nose painfully. But Gareki wasn't done. He swung his glaive hard at Karoku once more and this time he landed a hit with it.
The staff part hit Karoku square in his forehead knocking him to the ground with a thud. Gareki heaved a sigh before walking over to him, glaring down at the body that was grabbing his face in pain. "My fucking face you son of a bitch, ugh! You better not have broken it!"
"For my sake, it better be. And don't call my mother a bitch." Gareki stood over him, leaning down he picked him up by the shirt with one hand hoisting him up so there faces were close. "You don't want to make me angrier than I am now."
Karoku slowly dropped his hands away from his bleeding forehead and nose. "Do I?" He asked in a mocking tone, another smirk pulled at his lips. Gareki threw him to the ground immediately pointing the blade of his glaive at the man's broken nose. "You dare question me!? It's like you have a death wish." He seethed.
Karoku chuckled, shrugging off the warning in his angered voice. "Why would I want something like that when I'm already dead?" The pupils in his eyes reddened brighter.
Gareki glowered at him opening his mouth to say something else but he was interrupted by a loud growling sound coming up behind him. He turned half way only to see a big black cloud of Karoku's shadow army coming for him fast. It impacted him, throwing his body off of the Death Keeper. He rolled on the ground, coming to a stop on his front side.
Recovering quickly he pushed himself to his hands and knees but was shoved back down to the ground, his weapon was quickly snatched from his grasp and thrown aside at a distance he couldn't reach. Just when he was about to reach his hand out to summon it towards him, both of his arms were held together roughly behind his back by a cold hand that wasn't his own.
He felt Karoku's presence above him and once he felt cold breath fan his earlobe he started struggling to get loose. "Get off— "
A cold hand clasped his mouth. "Sh sh shh." Hushed Karoku. "Don't make this anymore difficult then it has to be." He whispered. Gareki breathed heavily through his nose from his struggle. In the corner of his eyes he glared at the Death Keeper before speaking incoherent words underneath his cold hand. Karoku could tell he was cursing a lot by whatever he'd said. He removed his hand from his mouth. "What was that?"
"Fuck you you damn liar!"
"Oh, what did I do that deserves that name?"
"Don't play dumb. You lied to me about this being a fight only between me and you. Not your damn army of shadows!"
"You're right I did lie, but you should have seen it coming. Now, word of advise, never trust a Death Keeper." With that said he recovered Gareki's mouth with his hand.
"Now that that's over I can finally focus on getting your soul, but let's make this fun, shall we?" Something strong wrapped around his wrists binding them together. Karoku moved the hand away that had been holding his wrists together and instead roamed it along the side of Gareki's abdomen causing him to jerk and let out another angry sentence beneath the man's hand.
Ignoring his angry yells, Karoku continued to move it lower and lower until he reached the Avatar's hip he then slipped his hand underneath both layers of Gareki's jacket and shirt bringing his cold fingers onto the other male's soft skin. He ran his nails over it causing unpleasant and unwanted goosebumps to crawl up Gareki's back and sides. He struggled more but pressure to his arms had him abruptly stop.
"You don't want these arms of yours broken do you? I suggest you keep still." Karoku warned. Gareki said something else that came out angry but Karoku continued to ignore. He moved his hand further up until he came to the Avatar's chest, touching on his pecks before bringing his fingers onto one of his nipples.
The slits in Gareki's eyes dilated before his eyelids widened all together. He jerked again causing more pressure to be added to his arms. He winced.
Karoku twisted the sensitive skin on his chest making Gareki clench his jaw preparing to conceal the noise threatening to come out. What the hell is he doing to me? Trying to molest me! He thought in disgust. You need to focus, Gareki. Focus on your magic anything but this right now. He urged himself. Karoku leaned his head down until his mouth was near Gareki's ear. "I have a new so called trick that'll allow me to have your soul entirely this time without performing a ritual." His voice sounded breathy and creepy to his ears.
Karoku bit down on his ear before licking it and before Gareki could react he was shoved onto his backside by the hand still on his chest. The hand that had been over his mouth, it was gone momentarily before being added over his mouth again.
Karoku was on top of him now, a wicked smirk playing against his features. "I'm going to need a moan from you, and if you fight back that'll only make what I'm about to do to you longer so I suggest you don't struggle. Just giving you a warning before this commences."
Gareki felt the pulse of his own magic through his hands but before he could focus on it completely to use it, Karoku was leaving tongue trails along his neck and the hand covering his mouth removed itself.
Gareki struggled against his strong body, not caring what Karoku said earlier about doing so . "Stop it!" He yelled as long ago memories of his younger self being touched by royal hands resurfaced into his mind. Despite his yelling and fighting for him to stop Karoku continued to forcefully pleasure him.
Gareki felt his heart beating faster as panic awoke inside his chest. Everything Karoku was doing suddenly became overwhelming and everything was happening way too quickly. Blue eyes widened before they shut tightly. "I said STOOOP!" His entire body glowed an aura of bright blue before a strong blast left his chest, hitting strait into Karoku, sending him flying back. His body hit the ground.
Gareki sat up quickly focusing ice to his wrists he pulled them both apart causing Karoku's cuffs of dark shadows to break free. Standing up, he reached his hand out towards his glaive and summoned it towards him, it flew in his direction before he closed his fingers around it. Frost grazed over the black staff as soon as it made contact with his hand as well as 5 golden bracelets appearing up it's shaft. They ended until they reached the blade, Transforming it into a more curved, bigger machete blade with two sharp jagged edges near the curved tip. It glowed blue as he pointed it at the Death Keeper.
His eyes roamed over his new weapon wondering why it had suddenly upgraded? It looked stronger as if it could do more damage and it also felt different—he wasn't speaking about it's new heavy weight, he was feeling an odd pulse of magic coursing through it but he identified it as being his own which was weird because he'd never been confused by his own magical pulse before, it was just unfamiliar. His body also felt different like he was new into the world. Just like he'd felt when he and Yogi combined. Maybe this was an effect of his magic growing stronger. If so, then he liked it.
He focused his sights back onto Karoku. He walked over to him seeing that his eyes were closed but he knew that didn't necessarily mean he was unconscious. Blue-grey eyes stared down at the body with hatred and disgust.
Thoughts of his tongue licking up his neck and the roaming hand that touched his chest made anger boil up inside of him again. He ran a rough sleeve along his neck where Karoku's tongue had touched. He may have been banished from his kingdom but he still was a prince who wanted respect and what Karoku had just done he deserved to be destroyed for his actions. Even if he was already dead he would still try to kill him until he was no longer on the Earth's soil.
That same aura from earlier covered his body again as he allowed his anger to fuel his magic. The aura covered the blade on his glaive as he held it up with both hands as if he were holding a knife.
"Let this be the end of you, demon." He threw down his arms ready to make the plunge but before he could, Karoku gripped onto the blade that was now right above his heart. He smirked as his eyes opened. "A demon I am but destroyed I'm not." He disappeared into black fog leaving blood where his fingers had been on his weapon.
Gareki stood up strait glaring at his surroundings. But the only thing he saw was the shadow army returning his glare with those beedy red eyes. They all ran towards him like a dark stampede. Gareki prepared himself but suddenly Karoku appeared between them, holding both arms out. "Hold it, this is my fight." The dark shadows stopped and Karoku dropped both his arms back down to his sides before turning back to Gareki. "Shall we then?" He smiled.
"This better not be another one of your lies."
He blew out a short laugh through his nose. "It depends." He began walking clock wise causing Gareki to walk clock wise as well in order to spred distance between them. For all he knew, Karoku was going to try something sneaky, he didn't want to be a victim of it.
"Whatever, I'm not trusting you. I never did and I never will, especially not after that disgusting thing you did to me."
Karoku crossed his arms continuing to walk. "What? It wasn't like I was asking for much, just a small little moan from you is all."
"How in the hell was that going to benefit you in getting my soul?!" Gareki yelled.
"It was only a fun new way of getting it. You moan, open your mouth and voilà' I take out your soul." He shrugged.
Gareki clenched his jaw. "You're sickening that the thought of that idea would even cross your mind."
"Why?" He smirked mischievously, staring at him through the blue strands of his hair. "Don't tell me that was your first?"
Dirt broke from the ground and darted in all directions as Gareki brought down his glaive in the spot Karoku had been in. A loud growl erupted free from his throat after he realized he'd missed. "Where are you?!" He yanked his weapon out of the ground.
A cold sensation went up his back and he quickly whirled around with his glaive swinging first. He hit nothing.
"It was your first, I'm glad to have taken it!" Came Karoku's voice from the right. Gareki's left forearm fired up like blue flames, he threw a blast of energy at Karoku hitting him in his chest but before he could get up Gareki had him pinned down with ice.
"Don't you even think about it," he said through his fangs. Karoku coughed while laughing. "Here we are again, I never thought you'd get me on the ground twice. Though I guess you are getting stronger all of a sudden. I suppose this has something to do with your troll battle from earlier and the whole thing with you combining with that Outsider."
Gareki stomped his foot onto Karoku's chest before positioning his blade over his face. "You must've been watching us good if you know so much about that."
Karoku stopped laughing but kept his smirk. "You're right, I do know so much about it. Combining I mean."
Gareki's eyebrows furrowed. "What?"
Karoku paused for a few seconds in thought. "The ancient ability to combine magic with someone opposite of you goes all the way back to the dark ages. It's really special and rare. I'm surprised you know nothing about it. Especially since this world was saved because of—"
A bright golden light interrupted him. Gareki looked up. Seeing the golden light was all he saw before it dimmed down into a low glow. The next thing he saw was that Karoku's shadow army had all turned golden with their eyes being the shade of white.
Gareki looked confused. "What the hell—" his glaive was snatched from him and thrown aside before both his hands were forcefully held behind his back by strong bindings of dark magic yet again but before he could break them he was captured in a choke hold with one of Karoku's hands zapping with electricity stopping close to his face.
"You better stay still or else I'll electrocute you in which your magic will weaken and you'll die. I know you don't want that to happen now do you especially with that fear of death you have? I may want your soul badly but I want you to die even more, so this is just another way that will satisfy me." His voice was heavy in Gareki's ears.
Gareki glared at him in the corner of his eyes, he opened his mouth—
"Karoku!"
Gareki looked forward. That hadn't been him that said it. Coming from around the corner appeared Yogi, eyes glowing violate against the darkness.
Gareki stared at him in half surprise wondering why he was here? It was dumb of him to walk through the maze alone.
Well, you did it. Spoke his conscience. That's beside the point. Gareki retorted within his thoughts.
He continued to eye Yogi watching as he stopped a few feet in front of them. His face was blank, in other words, serious. He didn't blink that much either as if he did then both his comrade and the Death Keeper would disappear. Gareki averted his eyes over to the shadows that were golden now. Yogi had done that same trick back in Laisra when he'd came to save him from being burned by a pit of fire caused by Karoku's ritual of getting his soul.
Now here he is again, saving my ass. Gareki thought. I'm so going to have to owe he after this.
"Let him go, Karoku or else I'm going to unleash your own shadows onto you." His voice was firm not wavering one bit. That was what Gareki deep down admired about him, Yogi was strong when he needed to be— rather he was strong all the time. . .he always came to help too. He felt like he'd made the right decision to trust him.
There was a moment of silence before a small laugh started. It was quiet at first but gradually got louder. It came as loud and irritating in Gareki's ears which were close to Karoku's mouth. He growled in irritation before picking up his foot and slammed the heel of his boot onto Karoku's toes snapping the man out of his laughter but earned him to get electrocuted by the Death Keeper's hand that covered his mouth sending forceful shocks through out his body. Gareki yelled painfully through his hand, though his screams came out muffled.
"I said let him go!" Yogi yelled angrily, he pulled his sword out and held it up towards him causing the shadows to fly to their initial master to attack him.
Karoku stopped electrocuting Gareki and removed his hand away from the Avatar's mouth. Gareki looked as if he were about to pass out.
Karoku then held his arm out revealing the palm of his hand towards his shadows. "Don't think that same trick will work again."
Black fog and electricity left his hand heading strait for his shadows. As soon as it made contact with them they changed back into darkness, recovering their red eyes. Yogi glared at them as they all turned to face him. Red eyes stared at violet with bad intentions.
Sinister laughter came from Karoku. "I can't believe you thought that would work! Little do you know I figured out your little trick the last time you did it. But points for trying. Now how about we make a deal. You give up now and drop your sword and I'll let your friend here go. What do you say?" He rubbed a thumb over Gareki's cheek causing him to jerk his head away from his touch.
Yogi looked at Gareki who had blood dripping from his mouth. "Don't. . . do it." He rasped weakly causing more blood to fall.
Yogi clenched the handle of his sword with both hands before looking at the long thin blade. What was his next move? If he made any sudden movements of an attack then Karoku would kill Gareki and possibly kill him as well. That was obviously something he didn't want. Slowly he unclenched his sword. He looked back up at Gareki's blank face. His eyes were glowing so brightly and had a message saying, make the right choice. He then looked at Karoku's face, he noticed the broken nose and the bleeding bruise on his forehead.
Good Gareki, you gave him pain like he deserves. Yogi thought.
"Have you made your decision?" Asked Karoku
Yogi's heart thudded in his chest anxiously hoping he had made the right choice. "Yes," He said quietly, looking down at the ground.
"Then what'll it be?"
Yogi swallowed, pursing his lips together before holding out his sword. "I surrender to you." He dropped the sword to the ground and as soon as it did. A shadow had taken it.
Karoku smirked "Good boy." He tighten his arm around Gareki's neck.
"No." Gareki choked out causing Yogi to snap his head up and look at him. "I did my part, now let him go!"
Karoku chuckled, bringing his hand up to Gareki's face forming electricity once more. "Who knew Outsiders could be so gullible. It's just like I told your friend here. Never trust a Death Keeper." With that said he brought his entire hand over Gareki's face and electrocuted him, throwing him to the ground where he screamed in pain as electricity swarmed around his entire body.
"Nooo—!"
"Yes!" Karoku yelled before throwing his head back, laughing hysterically.
Yogi lunged for him landing a punch in his face. "Release him now!"
Karoku wiped the blood from Yogi's punch, he glanced at it on his fingers before glowering dangerously at the Sun Kingdom's prince. He brought up a hand and snapped his fingers causing his dark shadows to slam against Yogi, pushing him back until he fell.
"You are so dead." Karoku yelled, walking up towards him. Yogi sat up preparing to defend himself but suddenly his amulet floated out from his shirt and started to glow. That word he'd said earlier came into his mind again urging him to say it.
"Feuer!" A fire ball appeared in front of his amulet before shooting itself at Karoku. His shadows blocked him from it but ended up disappearing after the impact. His golden sword fell to the ground right in front of Karoku from one of the dispersed shadows he had killed.
Yogi's eyes widened as he lunged to get it. Karoku saw it and bent down to grab it but Yogi threw a fire ball at his hand causing him to jerk away. Yogi grabbed his sword and immediately pointed it at Karoku. "You're going to let us go or so help me I'll execute you here!" Yogi snapped.
His hands were hot and sudden flames covered them as well as the blade of his sword. Oddly enough, the flames didn't hurt or burn him. It felt like a regular body temperature. He wondered how long it would last time time. Unlike previously when it just stopped all of a sudden.
"What the hell, you have the element of fire?!" Karoku yelled in surprise.
"Yeah, and unless you don't want to get burned by it I suggest you let us go. This is my last time asking nicely."
Karoku stared at him before smirking widely. "Oh, this is your last time," he said darkly before lifting both arms out. "Now, you'll get a full taste of my shadow army!" Dark shadows appeared behind him big and menacing. Red eyes stared right at him. Yogi stood his ground preparing himself for when they'd come for him.
"Say goodbye." Karoku threw his arms forward causing all the shadows to fly towards him. Yogi pulled back his sword and swung it. The fire that had been on his blade flew off, heading strait for the shadows.
Apon impact they burst apart, turning into black dust. Behind him he heard a whooshing sound but just when he was about to turn around to see if it had been another group of shadows he was shoved to the ground by them. One after one piled up on him, sucking him into the dark where he couldn't fight nor breath considering the air circulation with the outside world had been blocked off by the amount shadows.
Karoku walked over to the pile and chuckled before glancing behind him at Gareki who had seen everything. "I told you I'd win. But to make this more interesting I want you to see him die." He snapped his fingers causing the shadows to morph into a long tentacle hoisting Yogi up by his neck while both his arms were tide. Gareki's eyes widened as he saw this.
"Let him go, Karoku. Your fight is with me."
"I changed my mind about that, plus you're running out of time to live so technically I 'm already done with you. Such a shame, right? The fact that you just got your life back and here I am stealing it from you yet again. It's sad but I'm not shedding any tears. You both have been a thorn in my side ever since you escaped Laisra and now I'm finally pulling it out. Though I do have to admit, you put up a good fight but now things come to an end."
He turned back to Yogi and with another snap of his fingers the shadows tighten around his neck cutting out his air. Gareki dug his finger nails into the dirt as electrical currents zapped throughout his body. Focus, I need to or else we're both going to die.
Gareki looked over to where his glaive had been thrown. He lifted his shaking hand weakly to summon it, but his magical pulse was weak. His hand dropped down to the ground, too weak to be held up more than a few seconds. His head dropped down as well. His forehead touched the dirt. He laid there, clenching his teeth trying to bare the pain of so many pins and needles sticking at his skin.
What kind of prince are you if you just give up?!
You're not going to die, we still have a chance. Why can't you see that?
We watch each others backs from now on. That's how it's going to be on this journey.
Gareki opened his eyes. "Yogi." His eyebrows creased. "You're right, you've always been, so let's not end it here." He positioned both his hands on either side of his head before pushing himself up. His magical pulse awoke inside of him but it had a different feeling. It came onto him strongly as if something powerful had unleashed itself inside of him. Suddenly the electricity didn't hurt anymore and his strength fully returned. It felt as if the electricity were being absorbed inside his body. He lifted his hand as he focused his magic within it and suddenly the electricity that was surrounding him absorbed into his palm forming a ball of. Gareki stared at it in shock before turning his head towards Yogi who was struggling to breathe. Everything was happening fast again but despite that he concentrated on the element in his hand.
He pulled his hand back and threw it forward, letting loose the ball of electricity, hoping that it wouldn't harm Yogi. For a split second everything was happening in slow motion as he watched the electricity hit the shadows causing them to disperse into dust, not harming Yogi in the slightest. He fell to the ground gasping for breath.
Karoku wasn't happy about it either. He turned towards Gareki, wondering where the electricity had come from but after seeing him free he stood there in shock. Gareki now summoned his glaive into his hands. He pointed it at Karoku as he hurriedly made his way over to Yogi who had grabbed his sword but was still trying to catch his breath.
"Are you okay?" He asked while keeping his glowing blue eyes onto Karoku.
"I'm fine," he breathe, getting to his feet,"How about you?"
Gareki stood up still glaring at Karoku. "Ready to kick some Death Keeper ass."
"That we can agree on."
Karoku looked at them both and smiled. "Tch, are you serious you both are going to gang up on me?" He chuckled, shaking his head. "So you think just because you two combined and suddenly have fire and electricity that you can beat me? That's not going to happen."
"It will." Gareki's eyes flared up. He formed ice darts behind him in a half circle. They floated as the sharp edges pointed at Karoku.
Yogi stood ready with both hands gripped onto the handle of his sword."let's end this."
Karoku dropped his smile and instead had a serious look. "Fine, I wanted to see what new abilities you both have anyway. Let's see what you've got."