Well I finally finished another chapter, the end will come soon I just know it, now to go on a little rant about my characters starting with Hikaru.
I really wanted to portray Hikaru more in this story, in my original sequel she was nowhere to be seen and the story felt very empty without her so I made sure to include her this time around. Of course she can't be in the further chapters because she decided to abandon that fighter side of hers, instead wanting to settle down. I consider her a foil to Naota, both are very different and through Hikaru you can see how both of them have grown as a person. Hikaru is Naota's tie towards reality and not the demon filled life she always know. She'll come back again, she's not out of the count yet! :3
I'll keep on ranting towards my other chapters, for now, relax and enjoy this one!
"Are you sure this is the right way?" Kuwabara asked as they ran.
"We know our way around." Hiei said.
"Trust us Kuwabara, we will get there." Shuichi said.
"Can't we rest just a little? My legs are killing me! It's not my fault all you guys are demons." Kuwabara panted out.
"We can't! We gotta get there as fast as we can. If we don't, there's no telling what will happen." Yusuke said. "So shut up and keep running!"
"What you say to me Urameshi!" Kuwabara shouted, catching him to him and butting heads.
"Your constant whining is annoying!" Yusuke shouted back. As they growled back and forth to each other they wound up running faster than Hiei and Shuichi. Shuichi chuckled and Hiei hn'ed.
"Idiots." Hiei said.
"But you can't deny their energy." Shuichi said. They kept running into the 3rd and 4th day and as they got closer Yasu sensed their energy. He exited out of the ruins and looked onto the horizon of demon world. 'Please, you must come soon. I fear the worst will happen soon.' Yasu thought. He goes over to see Nobuko again.
"Her power grows stronger with every hour. Why must it come to this? Why couldn't you just let him go? Why...why didn't you see me?" Yasu said, covering his eyes.
Naota
Her ears picked up a familiar voice but she couldn't place it. In this darkness, in this void, in her memories there is nothing. Nothing more but his death, his blood, his eyes devoid of life. 'It's all my fault. I couldn't protect him. I just stood there like a fool.'
Nobuko looked at Naota's retreating figure, she's almost completely transparent The more she focused on Shuichi's death, the more she retreats into the mind. The shock is working to Nobuko's advantage. 'If I was able to absorb her then I would be able to unlock more of my spirit energy. She is still stronger than me. Soon, once I unlock my sacred energy again, we will be able to finally resurrect my love.'
I can feel you.
You're getting stronger.
Release me.
"Gah!" Kuwabara shouted, waking up from his nap. He was covered with a cold sweat and he held his head, trying to catch his breath.
"You finally awake sleeping beauty?" Yusuke said, sitting in front of a fire.
"Oh, y-yeah." Kuwabara said.
"What's with you? You look like you've seen a ghost or something." Yusuke said.
"I...I had a nightmare. It was horrible! I saw a figure in the distance, but I couldn't really see him. He, He was covered with blood and those eyes! He was on top of a mountain of corpses. And then he saw me and, and...!" Kuwabara started before Yusuke punched him in the jaw. He grabbed the front of his shirt and shook him.
"Get a hold of yourself Kuwabara! Look it was just a nightmare, don't go freaking out on me yet! Weren't you the one who wanted to save the world again?" Yusuke shouted at him.
"He isn't the only one Yusuke." Shuichi said. Hiei and him were slightly trembling as well.
"Be grateful that your spirit awareness is not as refined at that buffoons, even you would crack under the pressure." Hiei said through clenched teeth.
"We are more than 3 quarters of the way and yet Akuma's energy can reach us here even though he's sealed. This does not bode well." Shuichi said, a cold sweat coming from his brow.
"Well at least that explains why there aren't any demons here stopping us." Yusuke said.
"Because those demons are smart. They are not rushing towards their deaths." Hiei said.
"Woah, woah, calm down Hiei." Yusuke said.
"Don't tell me to calm down ex detective!" Hiei said.
"Hey don't shout at Urameshi!" Kuwabara said.
"Or what? What can you do you lowly human!" Hiei said.
"That's it! I've had with you shorty! Come over here so I can kick your ass!" Kuwabara said.
"Enough!" Shuichi shouted. Everyone stopped. Shuichi sighed. "We are all frightened, that much is certain, but we can't fall apart here. Not yet. Let's keep moving. That is all we can do now." Shuichi reasoned. Kuwabara hmphed and complained about a dark haired shorty.
"Fine let's get going." Yusuke said and put dirt on the flames.
So close to freedom.
The time has come.
Yasu panted slightly, keeping up the time sphere really took a lot out of him but he knew that his master finally mastered the sacred energy. Soon he will take down the sphere and she will release Akuma. 'She mastered it sooner than expected. It takes a week to get here from the fighting grounds and yet she will be finished a day earlier. This isn't good, by the time they get here...' The sphere began to crackle like lighting and he sees his masters eyes open.
"It's still too soon! Master you will-!" Yasu started before the sphere cracked and was destroyed. He covered his face from the blast of a sudden gust of energy. He opened his eyes and saw Nobuko covered with golden energy. "Master please, this energy is difficult to control. You need more time!"
"No. The more time I waste, the more my beloved awaits. Do you have the required demon energy?" Nobuko asked. Yasu nodded and took out a pendant with a red orb in the center. He crushed it and redirected the power to his master. She groaned with pain, but the energy eventually settled in her body.
"This energy is enough for one shot. Please don't waste it." Yasu explained.
"That is all I need. Take me to him." Nobuko said. They started up stairs towards the top of the ruins where a gigantic carved out stone stood. The energy coming out of it reeked of bloodshed and killing intent. Yasu felt his chest constrict, he was so close to him.
"This is where he rests." Yasu said. 'I guess, my plan did not go through. They couldn't come here in time...' Nobuko summoned her bow and nocked an arrow. It shown like a rainbow, filled with spirit, demon and sacred energy.
'This is the end.' Yasu thought and closed his eyes, not wanting to see this moment.
"Haaaah!" Yasu looked in the sky and saw a blue point of energy. His eyes grew large when he realized who was it.
"Spirit gun!" A gigantic shot of spirit energy came at them and Yasu instinctively pushed Nobuko out of the way, ruining her concentration.
"Holy hell! How much stairs does this thing have?" Kuwabara said, panting once he reached the top.
"You should really get out more Kuwabara." Shuichi chuckled.
"Impressive, for a human that is." Hiei hned.
"Whatever shorty." Kuwabara said. Yasu felt joy in his heart. 'They're here.' A second. Yasu looked over and Nobuko wasn't with him.
Too late. Nobuko already readied her shot.
"Don't let her shoot it at the seal!" Yasu yelled with desperation. All four started to sprint towards her, but it was already too late. She fired her shot. It hit dead center and the stone shattered as energy poured out in a large crimson twister.
"Oh shit, I feel that." Yusuke said, his breath coming out very shaky. The pressure from the energy was nothing compared to anyone he has ever faced. He knelt down, not trusting his legs to support his weight. A blast covered the entire ruins and everyone was blasted back. Yusuke finally stopped being dizzy and got up. The ruins were gone and the entire surroundings of forest are gone. All that's left was a barren dirt clearing. He saw Nobuko walking towards a man with black medium sized armor. His black spiky hair playing with the wind, his eyes shown a dark purple. What surprised him most was his two long horns protruding from his forehead.
"So, that's Akuma." Yusuke said, trying to get up. Kuwabara was shaking beyond belief, his face a sickly pale.
"I'm gonna be sick." Kuwabara whimpered.
"Don't be frightened you fool!" Hiei shouted at him, he didn't do well with fear.
"We may have bitten off more than we can chew." Shuichi chuckled slightly.
"Shit, now what are we gonna do?" Yusuke muttered under his breath.
Nobuko walked him to him and caressed his face. Akuma let in a big breath and let it out. Nobuko's eyes are filled with tears. Yasu looked away at this reunion. He couldn't bear looking at the two of them. 'Why can't you see the truth master?'
"So, I have finally been released. The air permeates with the stench of blood. I am glad you are the one who has released me. I cannot say the same to your servant." Akuma said, his voice deep and masculine. Yasu felt a pile off dread in the pit of his stomach and then Akuma was in front of him in an instant. "You will pay traitor." He lifted Yasu by his neck and started crushing his throat. Yasu gasped for breath.
"Please Naota you must stop this!" Shuichi shouted, trying to reach Naota. A glimmer passed through Nobuko as she felt Naota's mind approach out of the darkness.
"Shuichi?" Naota seemed to see outside and see him. "He's...alive? He's alive! Shuichi! Hey priestess give me back my body!"
"Those ants are irritating, please get rid of them, my love." Akuma said sweetly trying to crush Yasu's windpipe.
"Of course, my beloved." Nobuko said, materializing a small katana.
"I won't go down without a fight!" Hiei shouted, taking out his own and rushing towards her.
"Hiei!" Yusuke shouted. Hiei's speed matched hers until she released her sacred energy and flung him out of the way. He summoned the darkness flame into his sword and tried again but she leapt up and grabbed his head and forced him into the ground, knocking him out in a pile of rubble. Kuwabara shouted, calling out his spirit sword and ran towards her. Yusuke running after him. They both tried to double team her but she was able to dodge most of their physical attacks. She summoned a small orb of energy, condensing it then letting it explode causing Kuwabara and Yusuke to be thrown back.
Shuichi could only watch as his friends went down one by one. Nobuko set her sights on him but he knew he could not fight her. Her appearance might have changed but Naota was still inside her, or so he hoped. She summoned her bow and arrow and aimed it towards him.
"Kurama, get out of the way!" Yusuke said, before coughing up blood. Shuichi calmed himself down and spread his arms, giving himself no defense. "What the hell are you doing!"
"Naota! I know you're in there. Please, you must fight her off! This isn't like you and you know it! I will not attack." Shuichi decided.
"How noble." Nobuko said, readying her arrow.
"No!" Naota shouted. Nobuko froze, not being able to move. Shuichi saw her trembling. "I won't let you hurt him."
"How disappointing." Akuma said letting go of Yasu and suddenly appearing behind Nobuko. "I give you one simple task, and you are not able to complete it."
"Akuma?" Noboku whispered.
"I see now. You have outlive your usefulness. Die." Akuma said. Nobuko's eyes widen but before Akuma could attack her Yasu tackled her out of the way. Akuma glared at them and Yasu crouched in front of Nobuko.
"I am useless...?" Nobuko muttered. 'All this time, all this time...?'
"He has been using you. You knew it but you let your love blind you." Naota said.
"I see." Nobuko said, before becoming transparent and vanishing into darkness. Naota felt guilty but she knew, she couldn't fight Akuma.
He pointed at Yasu and Nobuko and concentrated energy into his finger, before letting out a laser like spirit gun towards them. Nobuko quickly grabbed Yasu by his waist and jumped out of the way, gathering Kuwabara, Hiei and Yusuke.
"Yasu help me!" She shouted and he knew by her tone that wasn't Nobuko, Naota has finally taken control. Yasu took Kuwabara, Naota took Yusuke and Shuichi, finally seeing that Naota has made her appearance, quickly took Hiei. They ran towards the beginning of the forest, Akuma, slowly walking towards them.
"Wha-what happened?" Yusuke drawled, finally gaining consciousness.
"You were knocked out by Nobuko." Naota said.
"You're back!" Yusuke shouted.
"Yep, now, to start taking this crap off me!" Naota took off her armor and the top half of her priestess uniform, unveiling most of her upper half, her private parts covered by bandages.
"What the hell are you doing!?" Yusuke shouted with a red tint on his face, causing Kuwabara to wake up.
"That was getting in the way, this is too." Naota said, ripping off most of her bottom half to semi resemble long shorts.
"What's going on, why is Nobuko here! And why is she almost nakey!" Kuwabara shouted, pointing at her.
"I'm not Nobuko anymore, I'm Naota, can't you tell?" Naota said, stretching her limbs and cracking her neck.
"But what about Akuma?" Kuwabara said.
"He's still coming towards us." Yasu said, pointing to where Akuma was calmly striding towards them.
"Then that means..."Kuwabara said.
"We are all still doomed." Hiei said.
"I'm glad to see you are alright." Shuichi said.
"What's the point? We are all going to die soon." Hiei said.
"No we're not." Naota said, ripping herself a band to put up her hair.
"Naota?" Shuichi started.
"You guys are still mostly at full power right? Well besides Yasu. I want you guys to escape." Naota said turning to where Akuma was coming.
"What!" Yusuke shouted.
"Are you crazy?" Kuwabara exclaimed.
"You will die." Hiei said.
"Naota, why?" Shuichi wondered.
"I have spirit and sacred energy right now. I might not be able to kill him, but I might be able to put a dent in him. You guys get out of here while you still can, gather all the fighters you know. You might be able to take him down then." Naota explained.
"This is suicide! Please Naota." Shuichi pleaded.
"This, is the only way. You know, I really wish I could've gotten to know you guys more, Yusuke, Kuwabara, Hiei. You seem like pretty cool guys. Yasu, even though you've done some, questionable actions throughout my life, I still care able you very much, please keep them safe. Shuichi..." Naota and him looked at each other, golden eyes to emerald eyes.
"Naota..." Shuichi whispered. She took a big gulp of air.
"I love you." Naota said, causing Yusuke and Kuwabara to face plant.
"This isn't the time for this!" Both of them said. Naota laughed.
"It might be the last time I would be able to say it. So with that, good-bye." Naota said, before running towards Akuma, the guys shouting for her to come back.
'Shuichi, I love you. Please, stay safe.'
Akuma has finally risen but Naota has finally regained her body! But what will happen to the team now? Will Naota really die? Will Akuma take all of them down? Find out all this and more on the next chapter of Someone I can Love!