AN: Most of the readers for this fic have probably given up on it, understandably. Even though this story is old I still think it's worth saving and given a proper ending. There isn't much left, only two or more chapters to go. So sorry for the long hiatus! I'm not sure when I can consistently update this but I won't give up on it, and despite my offline activities I'll continue to work on it. My life isn't that busy, lol. Also I'm thinking about upping the rating for the romance. There won't be any lemons, but lately I like to write the heavier stuff and that will probably leak into this story, if nobody minds. My writing style(if I have a style), probably doesn't match all the previous chapters due to the time in between(plus I've been writing other things), but I hope everyone still enjoys it! Critique is appreciated, I know I have much more to work on.

This chapter is where all the major action starts.

Chapter Six - Battlecry

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Yukina couldn't possibly be youkai borne. Keiko wrapped an arm around the girl's small frame as the ice maiden let loose sob after sob, her tears crystallizing into tiny blue pearls. The gems hit the cavern floor with a soft clink. Keiko regarded her new friend with a mix of sympathy and confusion. The youkai girl's cries sounded just as normal any scared human female. With the exception of the jewels she made, and her odd coloring, one would never know the difference. Her heart bled and her body trembled like that of a non-supernatural person. Like any girl who felt remorse over the death of others.

Keiko pictured an ice demon as a cold hearted woman, a succubus, someone who froze mortals to death with their frosted grip. A chill so cold it burned. She could never imagine Yukina's face on that persona.

But Keiko had never known of a 'good' demon. Never. The monsters took her parents, friends, and disappeared into the wilderness where no bodies could ever be recovered. Entire families went up in smoke. Can some monsters really be harmless? Yukina seemed to be the answer to that question.

Her thoughts aside, she prepared for the worst. Everyone took turns comforting one another, when one friend collapsed into a pit of doubt, another would act as a beacon of hope. But truthfully they were all weak and human.

Yukina's tears stopped and her voice hardened under her sniffling demeanor. "I sense a strong energy headed this way. Something big is coming. "

The tension spread through the air like a disease.

Shuichi had been hunched down against a rock, arms over his knees. He raised his head up from hands, green eyes narrowing in the darkness. "I think so too."

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Their small army from hell descended from the mountains and ransacked the empty village. The violet dawn illuminated swords held by scaled and furry hands. The smell of metal mixed with the musk of sweaty bodies as the demons tore houses apart. Broken wood littered the ground as the demons stepped on the remains of people's homes, people's lives. Noses sniffed the air for scents of human flesh. But no mortal cries echoed the growls of the youkai this time. As time continued forward, they turned sights on the forest, the trees still dark with the dwindled light of morning.

Hiei's jagan eye shined bright with knowledge and anticipated bloodshed. "Finally." he whispered. His black hair framed his face, his sword unsheathed at his side.

Yusuke sent him an uncomfortable look, his thick brows tensed across his forehead. His expression cooled ten degrees. "So today's the day, huh?"

Hiei either ignored him or pretended not to hear, his own gaze clouded by the hot coals of hatred. The menagerie thundered behind the two head youkai. Birds flew off into the sky with panicked cries and the forest animals darted out of their way. An aura of impatience wafted from the troop, their hopes of battle finally in sight when they found a little isolated cave in the back of the woods.

Yusuke touched the bandages at his side. He hoped that girl Keiko had heeded his warning.

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The village men lined the cave's entrance in a thick wall of bodies and scythes. Some villager's feet trembled beneath them but they all possessed determination in their eyes. No armor but their shaggy clothes protected their human skin. The heartfelt goodbyes of their wives, sisters, and daughters chanted rhythms in their heads. Visions of slaughtered loved ones fueled their anger. Protect your own at all costs.

Shuichi positioned himself at the frontline of the group. His long hair whipped about his face like streaks of blood, his weapon of thorns in his hands. The whip trailed down to his side, it's spiked end slung behind him in the dirt. His keen eyes peered forwards without an ounce of fear.

Keiko and Botan peeked out from behind a rock, near the last row of men. They dared not utter a sound.

The brunette wondered why she threw herself into the mouth of danger like this. She glanced at the girl beside her, and instantly figured it out. Oh yeah. Botan. She gave her friend a flat look.

Botan uttered a silent 'what?'

Keiko worried for the safety of their friends as much as anyone else, but there was little she could do. All her life she had been protected, not the protector.

She clutched the hilt of her katana. But if death was her fate than so be it, for the sake of those she loved, she would go out swinging and with honor. She had relatives who had perished in a conflict with demons and maybe they would be the first to greet her in heaven.

But are all youkai evil?

"Go back from where you came!" Shuichi's voice split the silence like a firecracker. "You aren't welcome here and whatever you want, we don't have it!"

Keiko chewed on her fingernails. She met Botan's fearful gaze. The blue haired girl gripped her weapon, a blunt metal stick, until her knuckles turned white. The army of villager's blocked their view to the frontlines, but they could hear the heavy footfalls of the enemy. The demons bandits grunted and growled like beasts. Nervous butterflies ate away at Keiko's stomach.

At least the others were hidden in the depths of the cavern and Kuwabara would guard everyone with his life. Keiko still heard Shuichi further away. She could picture him at the lead, a general to a band of untrained men with only bravery to believe in. His well-mannered tone had shifted to a voice of command she could barely recognize.

A darker voice yelled back with equal threats of violence.

Botan clutched her hand as they both braced themselves for the impact.

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Hiei leered at his opponent, his narrow, crimson colored eyes full of malice. Shuichi's own gaze reflected a composed, calculated mind. They exchanged a silent measure of force, Hiei's aura pulsed with a dark power while Shuichi's strength flowed out from the depths of his veins. The redhead was surprised at this aggressor's shorter height, but he knew the man replaced it with a plethora of power. His demon underlings seemed to shrink from him, as if the warrior's heated demeanor would melt their flesh. Each individual army rustled behind their leader, the demons snarling with anticipation while the humans brandished their weapons. Hiei and Shuichi stood as the last barriers between the groups.

Another youkai lurked off to the left side of the leader. His matted black hair hung down to his ankles like an overgrown lion's mane, and he watched the scene with an air of interest. Shuichi recognized him to be the Mazoku from earlier.

Sweat trickled down his brow. Shuichi avoided conflict with him before, but he wasn't sure he could do it again. Power leaked from the demon, and though it didn't flare up like his friends did, it emitted a dangerous tone. It was oceans of power packed into one solid being, like a bomb waiting to explode.

But he didn't seem tensed for battle. The other demon was the one who glared at the humans as if they were walls that blocked his way to some mysterious goal.

Hiei pointed his katana at Shuichi, it's tip aimed towards his throat. The sword glinted in the sun. "Your humans stole something from me, and I'll kill every last one of you until it's returned."

Shuichi stepped forward. "You only think you will." He held his rose whip in both hands, fingers poised between the thorns. "And these people aren't 'mine.' I'm human also. But I'm far from weak so prepare yourself."

The fire demon scowled. "You're more than you appear to be, fox. I've heard of you, and I can't be mistaken. You're the legendary Kurama."

Shuichi's eyes widened. "What makes you so sure?"

Further off on the sidelines, Yusuke's expression brightened at the revelation.

"Your weapon." Hiei said. "Nobody else uses something so unique."

Shuichi/Kurama smiled, though his jaw muscles were jumping. "So I've been found out. But you're not scared of me, are you?"

Hiei scoffed. "You're merely an exaggerated tale. You're a wolf in sheep's clothing, but that's all." Dark shadows crossed his face. "You disgust me, taking the side of the weak mortals. And just like any human peasant, I'll slaughter you."

The demons roared behind him.

Kurama jerked his whip, and it seemed to slice the air with a loud crack. "Fine. As I said, you can try."

In a blur of a moment, the signals were given and both sides charged forwards into the conflict. They collided with the intent to kill. The ground trembled with the weight of anger in the atmosphere. Demons swung their razored claws and tossed humans into rocks and trees. Larger youkai bulldozed over humans like they were weeds to be crushed underfoot. The villagers loped off the heads of demons with their swords. Both sides screamed in pain and desperation.

Hiei darted around Kurama like a dark ghost. It was as if he could alter the molecules in the air and jump from space to space, though Kurama knew the demon had a solid body. He couldn't blink and was forced to use his eyes as well as his other senses to keep track with his opponent.

Hiei swung his sword. Kurama caught the blade with his whip at the last second. Despite his blocked attack, Hiei pressed forward. The whip began to crack. "Fight as hard as you want," he spat, "as long as my ally lives, the human race is doomed."

Kurama grunted with the effort to hold his weapon against the sword. He was wide open to attack if he moved. He dug his heels into the dirt. What ally? The Mazoku?

He swung a kick at the demon but Hiei jerked backwards before the impact. "Give me back the ice maiden!"

"No!" Kurama put his body weight into the swing of the rosewhip.

And missed.

Hiei closed the distance and slashed Kurama's body from his shoulder to his waist.

A solid line of blood spurted from his torso.

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Keiko realized the depth of their mistake.

Despite the rock that shielded the two girls from view, the enemy detected their human scent. Keiko and Botan's frantic heartbeat revealed their location, and their labored breathing expressed their fear. Like two sheep caught in a fight between a pack of wolves, if escape eluded them, they were to be devoured by demons.

Their surroundings erupted into a sudden hell as weapons clashed with claws, and dark liquids stained the ground at their feet. Thick violet clouds overcame the sky and Keiko could no longer see the sun. The shrill cries of the villagers rang in her ears. She lost sight of Shuichi minutes ago.

Keiko regretted her error the moment chaos broke loose from all sides. Blood splattered against her kimono.

Botan clung to her friend, her wide eyes mimicking Keiko's own look of terror. "What can we do?" the brunette whispered. Botan's weapon trembled in her hands. "Should we fight?"

A loud thud hit the side of the rock. Keiko's heartbeat stopped for a sliver of a second.

Both girls looked up into the gaze of a horned youkai, crouched on the top of the boulder. It glowered at them, it's blue skin filled with scales and it's yellow eyes filled with malice. It's clawed feet scraped against the stone. Botan's hand flew to her mouth and suppressed a scream.

The demon's glare broke out into a hateful smile, as if the situation was funny. As if all this bloodshed and violence was one big joke. A joke on the humans.

Rage bubbled to the surface as Keiko aimed the tip of her katana at the demon's ankle. She would not be made this monsters prey. She wouldn't go down without a fight.

The sound of her racing heartbeat drowned out all background noise. Her shoulder's stiffened as thoughts rapidly passed through her head. The youkai's armored body glimmered in the dull light, like crocodile skin. What if her sword failed to cut it?

She swung the blade with all the force her untrained body possessed. The demon yelped as it's foot was severed from it's leg, and it fell backwards off the rock and crashed onto the cavern floor. Black slush jetted out from the youkai's hide.

Keiko's lips moved, but only noises came out. Botan lurched sideways to avoid the blood.

Fury crossed the demon's face despite the pain. It's nostrils flared and it's pupils shrank into tiny black slits. "Bitch!" It hissed. "You're dead!"

Terror replaced her anger instantly. Fear was caught in her throat and it choked her, paralyzing her body at the spot. Her feet felt like iron bricks. "Keiko!" Botan shrieked. Keiko thrusted her sword forwards. The youkai dove for her, but the demon lost it's balance and impaled itself on her blade.

It's body stained the sword with dark liquid, the demons mouth wide open in a last cry of pain. Keiko dropped her katana as if it was cursed.

Her legs trembled and she felt her stomach churn in her belly. She was about to get sick. She looked over her shoulder and glanced at Botan, who stared back with a petrified expression. "Stay here!"

Logic left her, and she bolted.

Botan yelled her name, but she sprinted forward as fast as her legs could move. She need to get away. Get away from what just happened. She felt the monster's blood drip down her calf. She couldn't do this. Her head pounded and she felt the flare of adrenaline in her veins. She prayed Botan wouldn't follow her footsteps.

She tried to push through a pack of demons, but one grabbed her arm and yanked her backwards. The momentum forced her to the ground, and she landed on her back with a loud thud. Pain shot up her spine from the impact.

"A woman!" They howled. "A human woman!"

Keiko's vision drifted in and out. She couldn't see the source of the voices. She fought the urge to pass out as the side of her face lay pressed in the dirt. Her eyelids fluttered and opened but all she could see was black. The earth pounded with vibrations from so many bodies on the battlefield.

She felt hands creep up her legs. Something sharp tore her clothing, and her kimono was shredded with a loup rip. The warm air hit her exposed flesh like a slap in the face. A dull noise roared in her ears. She smelled the musk of demons near her skin.

All at once, she regained control of her limbs. She flailed and kicked and screamed as loud as she could. Her foot made contact with somebody's jaw.

But she was crushed under the weight of so many hands. They pinned her to the ground. She can't pass out. She knew she couldn't pass out. Another scream burst from her throat. Her eyes filled with hot tears.

And then she heard a dull crack and a thud. A fist clipped the side of a demon's face and broke bone.

The weight was lifted off her limbs and chest. She felt the footsteps of the fleeing youkai.

And Keiko was picked up off the ground by a pair of strong hands. The fingertips lacked scales or horns. Another human. She lay in the stranger's arms like a broken rag doll and succumbed to the haze of unconsciousness.

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