SailorStar9: This is Chapter 9 of this fic. (Sighs) Come on people, you guys were the ones who wanted me to update this, so have a heart and review. Remember, boys and girls, reviews are an author's subsistence.

Disclaimers: I own nothing, except for the plot bunny. Heck I don't even know if my pairing is original.

Chapter 9: Scorching Ecstasy

"Who are you?" Kyo demanded, the two circling each other. "The person who killed Akira?"

"Welcome back, Kyo." Hotaru greeted. "I've been waiting for this day. But, I wonder why it is that I'm not filled with joy. The wonderful sense of quivering to the very core, caused by that body, has completely vanished. Now, Kyo seems just like a worm."

"If you are begging for your life, you should say so more clearly." Kyo spat.

"Kyo the Demon Eyes," Hotaru's flames ignited his blade. "Just die already."

With that, the two clashed.

Sasuke and Mahiro rushed forward to aid Kyo who was beaten back when Hotaru let loose a fire wall, blocking their path.

"Somehow, it seems like a leaf beetle just flew by, but," Hotaru remarked. "Kyo," he turned. "Are you together with people like that now?"

"What overwhelming power..." Mahiro muttered.

"Weak," Hotaru reignited his blade. "You're weak."

"Don't talk nonsense." Kyo growled.

"The Kyo that I've been troubled to wait for isn't this." Hotaru declared.

"Kyo!" Benitora called, the group rejoining. "Mahiro, brat!" he looked over at Mahiro and Sasuke who were shielded by Elenaithil's impromptu water barrier.

"Hidetada-sama..." Mahiro muttered.

"What's this, Kyo?" Hotaru looked over at the interruption. "More friends of yours? That is strange. Such shackles, I'll erase them."

"Mizuchi!" Kyo let his attack loose before Hotaru could react.

"How useless." Hotaru tsked. "A technique released for the sake of one's shackles isn't pure. Kyo's true strength; it has no use for ideals nor desires, not to mention shackles tainted by friendship and love. It is simply a pure strength that is just for the purpose of being the strongest. One even Mibu Ichizoku cannot equal. I was really jealous, of Kyo, who threw away the cowardly spirit that Mibu Kyoshiro had and became the existence surpassing the strongest."

"What did that mean?" Benitora wondered.

"If you say 'What do you mean;," Hotaru explained. "Ah, you remember." he noted. "Long ago, there was a man called Mibu Kyoshiro that was about the strongest man in this world and also a cutthroat without rationing who possessed nickname 'Kyo the Demon Eyes'. One time, he wished to surpass even being the strongest. By throwing away his weakness completely."

"Transferring his battle instincts?" Elenaithil realized.

"That's correct." Hotaru confirmed. "And Kyo the Demon Eyes became no long just a street name, but a real existence. Isn't that right? It's something that can't just say 'it isn't so' to, isn't it? The true ruler of this world, the one who controls Mibu Ichizoku with that absolute power, Kyo, you were created as the one surpassing the strongest, in order to become the Red King. Hey, Kyo, supposing that Kyo was... if I can no longer fight the Kyo I liked, I've had enough. He lives in my memories. It's the end of the dream. Ren Kohageki!" he released his fire tiger.

Kyo merely sliced the beast into half.

"That's right, Kyo." Hotaru grinned. "That which succeeds the Red King must be frozen over. How's that? Have you remembered a little? But what happened after that was fun. You who were just the battle instinct completely ignored the words of the eldest ones, immediately took flight. Ichizoku, who lost the Red King's successor, was in an uproar. You, who had cast aside your shackles, had incidentally cast aside even Mibu Ichizoku. Charmed by that kind of you, when I gathered my wits, I was with you. Those times were fun. The truth seems like a dream."

"Why did you kill him?" Kyo growled.

"You mean Akira?" Hotaru scoffed. "For he, it should have been enough to live this long. Oh? Are you angry?"

"Can you two stand?" Sōjirō looked over at the other two. "Let's go to where Benitora and the others are. So far, it is dangerous to stand in diagonal line from them."

"More than that, what does that mean?" Hotaru questioned. "Why did you run away to the body of that cowardly Kyoshiro?"

"Saying I ran away?" Kyo tightened his grip on his sword. "I am Kyo, Demon Eyes Kyo. Kyoshiro is irrelevant."

"I was waiting," Hotaru kicked the attacking Kyo off. "For the time when I'd be able to fight the true Kyo of those days." and he powered up, his flames taking on a black purplish color. "Hey, do you know? A flame that has reached the fourth critical temperature burns white. But, if it exceeds that, it changes to a black flame. How's that? It's the proper flame to burn down our memories, isn't it? Kokko Rengokuchin!" he shot four of his fiery tigers at his opponent, catching Kyo in a furnace of black fire.

"The true Mumyou Jinpuryu." Kyo grinned, stepping out unharmed. "I'll allow you to worship it."

"Thinking about it," Hotaru remarked. "I didn't put an end to Akira. How useless. But, I was finally able to meet the Kyo of those days. It seems we can start it. The supreme moment."

SailorStar9: Now that's done, read and review.