Here is an update to the story. Hope it makes up for the wait.
Some mush and angst ahead. Anyway, onto the story!
Chapter 11- Freefall
Botan sat in the records room, her eyes focused on the multiple files spread out upon the table. It had been several hours since she'd last spent time with Kurama and it had been a struggle not to return to his side. But the cause of his condition had worried her. Her presence caused the kitsune pain and she wanted to find a way to "fix" him. Trying to contact Yusuke had been a futile exercise so the ferry girl gave up and began to do some research on her own. But it was slow going and the frustration was building in Botan.
"Nothing.. there's nothing here.." She growled, violently flipping through the file in her hand, slamming it shut in a fit of anger and swatted it off the table, causing other files to go flying in the air. The deity brought her hands up to her face in irritation and sighed, slowly sliding her hands to her mouth as she looked around at the mess she created. Her brow furrowed as she noticed something oddly colorful sticking out one of the files on the floor and the deity rose, kneeling down to pick it up.
Botan held the piece of paper up to the light, a picture of an intricately carved knife displayed at it's center and a flash of memory sparked within her mind. A hand held that blade, a voice low and insistent, reminding her of her purpose.
Do you remember what I told you? What this blade is for?
Yes.
What is it's purpose? Your purpose?
Death. Chaos.
The hand moved closer, offering the blade and another hand reached out.. her hand..
Her hand that held the blade.. Her hand that took it..
Realization of who it was that stabbed the kitsune slammed into her and her mind and heart screamed in anguish. Oh God.. what have I done?!
More memories came flooding back, nearly overwhelming and the deity struggled to breathe, clutching the drawing as she fell back and collapsed onto the seat of the nearby table, trying to comprehend the overload of information that flashed in her mind. Alarms started to blare in the room and snapped Botan into the present and a sense of urgency now filled her and she raced out of the file room, still clutching the drawing, running as fast as her legs could carry her down the hall. She passed several ogres and a few ferry girls, ignoring their questioning looks and words, sliding her key card through the slot, barely waiting for the doors to part before barging into Koenma's office.
"Lord Koenma!" Botan started, purple orbs fixated on the toddler lord who stood in his seat. "Yukio is planning an invasion of the three realms!"
Koenma pointed at the screen, his features pale and his eyes troubled. "He is already here.." He murmured then turned to Botan. "Yusuke was tracking Yukio and found his Ningenkai base but that the bastard had just disappeared in thin air. He believed the brothers were most likely taking whatever troops they created and headed out towards areas of power." He paused, a puff of smoke erupting, the teen form of Koenma now standing before her. "And just now a surge of unknown energy erupted on the southern quadrant, where most ferry girls enter and leave Reikai. Only someone with spirit energy that matches the fluctuations of such ferry girls can enter this kingdom without resorting to a spirit form."
Botan cast her gaze downward. "It is what Yukio took the ferry girls for.. what he was experimenting on." She began, voice a bare whisper. "I.. didn't remember everything.. until just now.. when.. when I found this.." Holding up the drawing she handed it to Koenma who took it.
Studying the picture, the toddler lord spoke. "What is this?"
"The knife used to stab and infect Kurama. Not only to poison him, but also as a means of tracking him down. As a marker.. to follow.."
Koenma frowned. "What purpose would tracking him do when they can follow the energy straight to.." His voice trailed off, realization filling him and he turned barking out orders to the group of ogres that had gathered in his office. "I want every able bodied ogre in the courtyard assembled in five minutes along with all special force members. All restrictions on power levels are lifted and all weapons at our disposal are to be used against the invaders. Move out!" The ogres saluted and scrambled out and the toddler lord turned back to Botan, voice firm. "Go get Kurama and bring him here as fast as you can."
Botan blinked. "But Lord Koenma, he's not fit to.."
"Don't you think I know that, Botan?!" Koenma snapped then sighed, his focus back on the red dots moving at rapid speed towards the outline of the palace on the map. "He is the most powerful fighter we have here at the moment and despite the infection and his inability to be around you, his strength on the battlefield is irreplaceable. If we are to survive, he must be out there defending our realm from Yukio and whatever the hell it was he brought with him."
Botan winced at the mention of the Kurama's physical aversion to the deity's presence due to the poison as she asked. "And what of Yusuke and the others? Why aren't they here?"
"I've ordered Yusuke and Kuwabara to get their ass up here as quick as they can and dispatched Hiei to the Makai realm to meet up with his leader, in hopes they can stem whatever malice has been unleashed down there." Koenma replied, concern etched on his features. "But by the time they get here, it might be too late. So we must do our best to hold them off. That is why I need Kurama here as quickly as possible. Do you understand, Botan?"
Everything was happening so fast that it was hard for Botan to concentrate. Her fear over the safety and sanctity of the royal palace and of Reikai itself was twined with her fear of what would happen to Kurama in his weakened state. To send the one she love to his possible death, made her heart retch and her legs tremble. But she knew that Koenma was right. If they were to have any chance of all of surviving, Kurama would have to fight. Gathering herself she nodded and headed out into the courtyard and weaved her way through the growing mass of ogre and special forces troops. Entering the ferry girl barracks, the deity raced up the winding stairway to her room.
Sliding her key card, the doors parted and she found the kitsune standing near the bay window that looked out into the mountain range that surrounded the royal palace on three sides.
"So it has begun?" Kurama spoke softly, his back still to her.
"Yes.." Botan replied, carefully walking towards him, stopping near the edge of her bed as she continued, biting her lip as she spoke. "Koenma.. has.. requested you to come to his office.. to prepare for battle."
The kitsune turned, flashing her a small smile. "A request.. or an order?"
Botan looked away. "Does it really matter? You will go either way."
Sensing her sadness, Kurama moved a bit closer to her. "You make it sound like a bad thing. Fighting to protect the ones you love is never a bad thing." When the deity didn't respond, the kitsune moved even closer, though the pain in his side intensified. "Botan.. look at me.."
Drawing her gaze up, the ferry girl met his eyes, her own brimming with tears.
Tilting his head, Kurama asked softly. "Why do you cry, Botan? Do you not have faith in me at all?"
Shaking her head, Botan reached up to wipe her eyes, voice strained, on the cusp of breaking. "No.. it's… it's not that.."
"Then what?"
"It's.. the wound.. the poison.. it's all my fault!" Botan cried out, tears freely streaming down her cheeks as she unleashed the torrent of emotion rolling inside her. "You found me.. you saved me.. but I was the one who stabbed you! It was my hand that wounded you! And now you're going to go off and fight and are not at full strength.. you might die and it will be because of me!"
The kitsune frowned. I thought I had erased that memory. Though troubled, he nonetheless reached out and pulled her to him, though the cost was high and his body screamed in agony. "It was not your fault, Botan.. You were being manipulated.. You had no free will of your own.. Do not blame yourself for this, for I do not." He whispered, gritting his teeth to stifle the cry of pain from the physical contact.
Botan cried and clung to the fox spirit, shaking from the intensity of her grief and relief at his forgiveness. Kurama held her, whispering soft words, stroking her back until she calmed down and pulled back to look up at him.
The fox spirit met her gaze, reaching up to wipe the stray tears off the girl's face. Words were not needed in the moment as he leaned in and kissed her. It was slow, gentle, and he tasted her, groaning. But the pain twisted with the desire and at last he had to pull back and release her, though he managed to do so without running away.
"Botan.." He panted, leaning to the rail of the bed for support, then pushed off and headed towards the door. "I must... leave you... now.."
The deity itched to pull him back to her but knew she had to let him go. "Kurama.. please.. be careful.. they want nothing more than to kill you.."
The kitsune stopped at the door, looking back to her. "I know.. but if I am to die today.. I will take them with me.." He replied, voice soft but firm. "You should not stay here.. gather the other ferry girls.. and have them assemble in Koenma's palace.. they will be safer there.. than here…"
With that he left, heading down the hall then the stairway, exiting the building and shifting to Youko as he entered the courtyard, finding the toddler lord in his teen form and covered head to toe in Samurai Armor. Smirking the kitsune growled, voice deeper than when in human form. "Nice outfit.. too bad it won't help you much on the battlefield."
Koenma made a face as he looked up at the taller man. "A leader does not cower and hide when war is brought to his front door. Besides.." He paused and looked over the troops before him. "Someone has to stay here and protect the ferry girls incase you fail to stop them."
The youkai's golden eyes narrowed. "So I take it you'll won't be on the front lines?"
The toddler lord stammered but the kitsune turned away, tail flicking as he moved forward.
"Kurama?! Don't you even want to know what my orders are?"
The fox spirit looked over his shoulder, down his nose at the smaller man. "I already know what it is you want, Koenma.. meet the enemy before they reach the palace and engage them.. defeat then destroy them.. what else is there to know?" He growled then walked past the parting troops and out the main gate, heading quickly along the dirt road that winded downward.
The spirit lord blinked then shook his head as if to clear it, yelling at his men. "Don't just stand there! Half of you go with him! The other half remain here and keep a defensive position!" He turned to find his ferry girls marching towards him, Botan leading the way and he watched her approach. "Botan?"
"I've gathered the rest of the ferry girls and brought them here. Kurama said we would be safer in the main palace, should the enemy make their way here."
Koenma nodded his approval. "Good.. make sure that all ferry girls have been accounted for.. the men have been placed on defensive positions.. but if the halls are breeched.. you may have to defend yourselves.. so take any precautions or weapons you can find.. and hunker down.."
"And Kurama? Has he gone already?" Botan asked, though she knew the answer.
"Yes.." Koenma replied, turning his gaze to the gate as the last of his front lines left the building and the gate began to close. "Let us hope he succeeds in at least slowing down the enemy until Yusuke arrives."
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Youko continued to march, eyes focused and ears twitching for signs of the enemy. His youkai form was more at home in the spirit energy rich environment and his body was already healing due to the distance from the one he loved.. and could not touch.. He closed his eyes, trying to calm the desire and rage he felt. The more he thought of Botan, the more he wanted her. And the more he wanted her, the more intense the pain that enveloped his body. Damn you, Yukio. He snarled inwardly, hatred filling him at the inability to have the one he wanted. I will render your flesh to nothing but bones and dust by the time I'm through with you for what you've done to me.. and to the ferry girl. He vowed, suppressed his thoughts and the images of the deity, eyes snapping open at the sudden burst of energy that whirled towards him.
"They're here!" The fox spirit shouted, leaping up into the air to avoid the attack, looking down and nodding in approval as the special forces erected barriers, the sphere of energy colliding then dissipating harmlessly against the energy shield. Landing back on his feet, the kitsune drew out a seed, feeding it power, forcing it to elongate and form a thorn studded whip. Racing forward, he met the enemy head on, the mixed troops behind him following, and lashed out, splitting apart the strange looking creatures left and right, blood exploding in the air, matching the screams of the fallen as they were cut down. He smirked in satisfaction, looking down at his handiwork, clothing and skin stained with red fluid from his efforts.
Cheers roar up behind him but he paid them no heed, troubled golden eyes fixated on the dead, frowning as their bodies when into a spasm, a strange green material bubbling around the wounds and he jumped back as the dead rose, alive again. "Instant regeneration.." He murmured, incredulous as the monsters flashed their wickedly sharp teeth and they converged on the kitsune and he used his fists and feet to beat them off, blinking as they were blasted back by Koenma's mixed troops. The two sides clashed, steel on steel, teeth on claws, blood and screams filling the air and the fox spirit created another whip, this time, wrapping it around the head of the nearest enemy, pulling taunt and viciously, the head popping off like a daisy, the victim's scream cut off as it's head was torn from it's body and collapsed, thrashing on the blood soaked ground before going still as it's life's blood pumped out of the gaping wound. It did not rise again.
"Their heads! Cut off the heads!" He yelled, leaping forward, decapitating each enemy soldier he got close to, stopping only when the enemy backed up, parting, revealing their leader.
Youko glared at the approaching figure, voice like ice as he spat out, "You.."
There, clad in black, stood Yukio Kuromoto. Smirking the dark haired man spoke. "You're really quite clever, Kurama." He began, looking down at the remains of some of his soldiers. "Remove the brain and the body cannot regenerate. I was right to come after you first."
Youko stood his ground, eyeing the smaller man, voice low and dangerous. "Whatever you've come here for, you will not succeed. I will kill you here and now.. and put an end to this."
Yukio laughed softly. "You certainly do have a flair for the dramatic don't you, Kurama? But seriously.. what makes you think you can stop me in your weakened state?"
The kitsune took a defensive position, his whip changing rapidly to a blade. "Come closer and I'll show you. Unless of course.. you're too afraid to face me.." He taunted.
Yukio's smile fell but he made no move towards the kitsune. "I don't need a weapon to defeat you." He whispered and held out his hand, making a fist.
Youko's eyes widened and he gasped, clutching his left side. Pulling his hand back, he stared in shock at the blood.. his blood and he growled and leapt forward, snarling when his blade touched nothing but air.
"You're already under my spell, Kurama.. it is useless to resist.." The fox spirit clenched his jaw at the foul sound of his enemy's voice in his ear and whirled around, finding himself in a dream like state as before.. twilight.. Botan's laughter.. the scent of her.. so close and yet so far.. and he relaxed his body, focusing his will. An illusion. It's nothing more than an illusion meant to confuse me and lower my defenses.
Closing his eyes, Kurama let go, relying on instinct and brought his blade up, the sound of metal clashing against organic blade ringing out and the kitsune opened his eyes, finding the surprised and angry features of Yukio glaring down at him. Using his strength, the fox spirit swung the blade back, sending the smaller man crashing into his own troops.
"I will not fall for your tricks, Yukio Kuromoto." He growled, slashing out as the pointy eared enemy lunged at him, piercing the one closest to him through the neck, severing the head as he twisted the blade and sliced to the side. He kicked at another, knocking them off the road and into the clouds with a scream as he fell into the abyss.
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Back at the palace, Botan had done as Koenma had asked her to do, gathering the ferry girls inside, giving them instructions as best she could headed out the back entrance, intent on finding out how the battle was going. Crouching down, she slunk off, about to make her escape when she was spotted and stop by George.
"Miss Botan? What are you doing outside? Koenma specifically requested all ferry girls be kept inside and away from any battle."
Botan straightened her back, swearing inwardly, voice firm but soft. 'Koenma has issued an order for me to go survey the battle field from on high and report back to him immediately about Kurama's progress and the size of the invading troops."
The blue ogre blinked and tilted his head as if contemplating the truth of her lie and nodded. "Okay then.. go on through, Miss Botan.." He moved to the side to allow the deity to pass, watching as the girl materialized an oar and took off into the sky, heading towards the power source and the battle that was commencing. She had felt the fluctuations in the kitsune's power and emotional state, tied as she was to him and her fear was growing as she felt him weakening. Please be all right, Kurama. She thought, heart hammering in her chest at the thought of him in harm's way and she increased her speed, hoping to make it there before something bad happened.
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"Come out and face me coward!" Youko challenged as the battle intensified. Energy signatures erupted around him, all the same as Yukio and he looked around in confusion, relying on scent as he chased after his prey, enemy and friend alike cutting each other apart and he leapt over the fray, landing in front of Yukio and threw his sword at him, blinking as the form of the dark haired man shimmered and vanished only to gasp at the flare of pain that erupted in his chest and he looked down, shock filling him as the tip of a blade protruded out from above his left pectoral and he felt his energy leaving him, the voice of Yukio whispering in his ear. "You see.. You were under my spell the whole time.."
Red sprouted, replacing silver, the kitsune morphing back to his human form as his energy was drained. His eyes were glazed and unfocused, watching in horror as the enemy descended upon the remaining troops, the voice of their leader shouting.
"It's time to feed my children!"
Screams filled Kurama's ears as the ogre's and special forces were overrun, torn apart and devoured physically and their power absorbed. Using the last of his energy, the kitsune slid off the blade and whirled around cutting deep into Yukio's face with a short knife made of grass.
Yukio howled in rage and clutched his face, slashing out with his sword, cutting across the chest of the kitsune and sending him past the perilous road, disappearing into the clouded land below
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Botan's eyes were transfixed in horror at the gory sight below, snapping her head up as she witnessed Kurama turn and attack, a scream rising in her throat as she saw the kitsune cut down and pushed off the side and into the clouds.
"NO!"
Gripping the oar tightly, the deity bolted downward, zooming into the clouds at an almost vertical angle, terrified eyes searching for Kurama, and she increased her speed, heart hammering in her chest as she caught sight of a flash of red, twirling down she maneuvered the oar closer to the free falling form of the kitsune, reaching out with one hand to try to grab him, gasping as she clutched air and he slipped through her grip. She tried the same maneuver and failed again. This isn't working.. I have to do this... I have to catch him.. I can't let it.. end like this..
Closing her eyes, Botan let go, dematerializing the oar, now in a free fall with Kurama and she twirled, coming along beside him, wrapping her arms around him as they fell together, the clouds parting becoming clear as they entered the realm of Ningenkai. Shifting, Botan held out her hand, materializing her oar once more, gritting her teeth as she tried to slow down their descent. Trees grew in the distance and the ferry girl knew if she didn't do something drastic, they would crash headlong into the forest.
Pulling up hard, Botan used all her strength to right their vertical path, but it wasn't quite enough and she screamed as they crashed into the tree line. The impact flipped them over and over and they went spiraling down, skidding to the edge of the lake. Pain filled all of the ferry girl's senses and she lay motionless for a long time, purple eyes transfixed on starlight above. Thoughts of Kurama forced her into action and she groaned, turning her head to the side, finding the prone form of the kitsune some distance to her right. She shifted, wincing in pain as she crawled over to him and reached out to touch his face.
So cold. Why was he so cold?
Resting her ear over his heart, she closed her eyes and listened, finding no heartbeat.
"No.. No.. No.." She cried, lifting her head up to his face and cupped it. "Kurama.. Kurama.. don't you die on me! You can't die on me!" She screamed, inconsolable with grief as she cried out into the night air. "Somebody please help us! Please! I can't.. I can't do this alone! Please! Please!" She broke down, clutching the torn clothing of the one she loved.. and lost.
Yeah, yeah.. long time coming.. and very depressing ending for the chapter I know.. but keep in mind the difference between humans and demons before you go thinking Kurama's dead. Anyway.. hope enjoyed the update.. as with shonen.. there is usually a butt kicking by the villain before the hero reemerges stronger.. but I don't have to tell you all about that.. Next time.. We shall see what is up with Yusuke and Hiei.. and what exactly is Yukio trying to do? Leave a few words if you liked it.. thanks for reading.
