A/N HAHA! 'bout fucking TIME! Really, I'm sorry about the last chapter, but I was having a ass-load of trouble with some Hiei and Kuwabara stuff (sepraretly yet in the same chapter.) I'm hopeing to get back to posting every week after this, so if anyone's missed me, don't worry, I'm still here.
AND, I hope this fight scene doesn't suck too much. I wanted it to be prettyer then it was agressive, and I don't know if I've managed to pull that off or not, so here's to trying! Happy reading, R&R please! -L.
...
The Last Duel
The early evening air of late spring floated through the compound in that special, peaceful way that didn't happen often enough. The air that usually surrounded Genkai's home was thick with malice and mischief, and tingled with energy of the countless demons that hid in the slops of the mountains. Yet, no demon dared to stir under the pale pink and purple horizon. No venomous power would be leaked into the wind. The serenity of the night would go undisturbed.
Not because of the beauty of the scene, but because they were afraid.
Just as the creeping demons of the forest sought refuge from the anxiety that seemed to plague their hearts, the small group of psychics, demons, and spirits -locked happily away in the confines of the compound - felt the anticipation of the night as they waited the return of the detective group. It had been hours since the three boys had taken off into the woods to look for the raging fox, and even though a small and brief search party had been formed, the lot gave up the hunt and resigned to playing cards instead.
Koenma had already sent Fujioka to Spirit World in the care of some ferry girl, and Touya had reluctantly left with the children with strict orders from Nekyo to deliver them to Enki, not their mother. Chu still remained - waiting on Shizuru, who refused to leave until she could properly say goodbye to her brother. None of them wanted to mention the elephant in the room, the reason why theses supposedly peaceful diplomatic proceedings had suddenly been thrown into chaos - Nekyo. She alone remained undeterred by the events that had unfolded throughout the day, and kept up an animated chit-chat with the others about trivial things, completely unaware of the worry haunting the eyes of those who watched her. Yet, for as worried as they all were over the current situation, none could say that they weren't enjoying themselves.
Soon enough, however, the mirth and laughter that seemed to pleasantly settle on the group came to an abrupt end as the heavy feeling of four separate powers crept closer to building. Finally, after most of the day, it seemed that the boys were returning.
"Took them long enough." Nekyo muttered into the agitated silence as she continued to shuffle the cards for another round. She sternly closed her eyes, causing the heavy black liner around her eyes to nearly vanish in under the pressure.
"Good," Koenma sighed. The chaotic situation had taken the greatest toll on the young diplomat, and worry had been growing in his features like a weed all evening. "I just want to get this over with, at this point."
"I don't even know why you're still here," Nekyo replied snarkily, "I thought you'd be off to tattle to Daddy by now."
"I don't know what kind of person I am, but I DO care about the well being of my friends." He spat back at her, his teeth grinding on that pacifier in a way that even irritated him.
"Would you both just shut-"
Genkai's request was cut short by the loud banging of the sliding door behind them being thrown open, the cool night air whisping about them in an ominous way. Simultaneously, the group turned to see the silhouetted form of Kurama standing at the threshold - murder in his deep green eyes. He was now sporting another black eye.
"Good, you're back." Nekyo said cheerfully as she jumped up to greet him. The others stayed still, too afraid of causing a break in the odd balance of peace the two legendary fighters seemed to have.
"I want a duel." He said it simply, yet his raspy voice betrayed his true rage.
"And I don't want to fight again." She crossed her arms in protest and pouted like a child. When Kuramas demeanor refused to budge, she let out a sigh of defeat and pushed past him out the door. "Just don't get mad if I kill your weak human body!"
Solemnly he followed her down to the field that separated the building from the trees were the other three waited them. In silent agreement, the others left the now forgotten game and timidly lingered on the porch to see how this fight would play out.
"You mind telling us what's going on, or are we going to have to figure it out for ourselves?" Genkai asked in a harsh and irritated voice as her prodigy approached the porch to take his place with the other spectators.
"Your guess is still as good as mine, he hasn't said a word since we found him."
"That's not true," Kuwabara corrected, "He said he deserved that punch I gave him."
"You punched him?" Botan exclaimed, staring wide-eyed at the tall boy, "Why is everybody going crazy? What on earth would posses you to do such a thing to your friend?"
"Apparently the oaf has a problem with Kurama trying to have his way with that 'Sea-Man' Human." Hiei answered. The bluntness in his voice showing no distress over the incident.
All of the eyes of the group focused on the Fox, protests of disbelief and hurt anger flowing from the crowd in a mumble of gibberish. The only recognition either of the combatants showed at the conversation was a knowing smirk forming on the Cats lips and the vague blush on Kuramas cheeks.
"This isn't the time to talk about this." Yusuke said sternly, turning his back to the group to watch the hunter and the Thief begin circling one another.
"You're righ', Mate," Chu submitted, leaning on the railing next to Yusuke, "Watch'n those two, it's a once in a life time opportunity. Best not to spend it bickering."
Out on the field, the two fighters slowly rounded on each other from a distance. The air sparked with energy that flashed in both black and green eyes. No weapons had been drawn, yet the urge to strike was evident in the way they held themselves. After a long -and almost painful - stair-down, Kuramas hand slowly began to lift to his hair.
"Tell me Fox, are you ready for death?" The words stopped Kurama in his tracks, and he slowly let his hand fall back to his side. A surprise and worry plagued his features as he searched over the Cat.
She stood strait and lithe as she waited for his response. A small smile played at her lips as she watched the wheels in his head turn around her question.
"I can say that I am only as ready as you are, Cat." He responded. He closed his eyes as he said it, and let out a sigh of defeat.
To the spectators, it almost seemed as if he were chuckling to himself. He casually kicked off his shoes, clearly relishing in the feeling of the soft grass between his toes, and began minute stretches as he watched the Cat remove the top bindings of her boots.
"Then I would suppose you're not ready at all." She mocked as she removed the bracers from her ankles, revealing that her boots were not boots, but shoes covered in a top layer of protective leather, "I do not plan to die tonight."
"You speak as if Fate plays no part in this battle." Kurama said the words as if they were long rehearsed, and a stillness settled over the audience as they listened to the script unfold. Kuramas hand went to his hair again, but instead of reaching for his weapon, he simply unfurled his tied-back hair into the wind.
"There is no Fate. There is only Choice." Nekyo continued the little play, watching Kurama intently.
She slowly begin unfasten the ties that held her gi, letting it fall to the ground around her shoulders to reveal a tight black leather cuirass with gold spots -much like a reveres- leopard skin. She straitened up and flexed her shoulders, showing off the well toned - yet slightly wiry- frame of her body. It almost seemed that she was enticing every eye of the group to catch on the long silver chain that hung from her neck and disappeared down between her breasts. She reached into one of the bags supported on the lose belt around her waist and pulled out a small white dried-up flower.
Kurama stared at the flower for several seconds, an air of dangerous excitement floating around him. In a flash, he removed the green cloak and sent it flying behind him on the wind. None of the audience members could suppress their surprise as they looked on Kuramas battle-ready form. His puffed black pants hung tight and low on his hips underneath a mesh of white fabric that they could only assume was a protective cuirass of some sort. The top was wrapped tightly around his chest and midsection, bound by small silver buckles. It seemed to be made more of strips of material then it was a whole piece of clothing. The outfit, along with his red and silver tresses flowing through the wind, made him look more demonic then he ever looked as his Youko self. Somehow, from the slight-of-hand that he as known so well for, he was holding the bone-hilted dagger - his won prize from the Hunter.
"I just don't get that guy's fashion sense." Yusuke whispered taking in the sight of his friend.
"That's a special gi top worn for training with whips and ropes, you fool." Hiei remarked from beside him.
"And if Choice should have it that I win?" Kurama said, eyeing the Cat intently and determined to continue the dialogue. Before she could answer, he gouged the dagger into his palm, letting the blood pool their before tossing the knife to her.
She caught the knife with ease, fitting it between her ring and pinky finger. She promptly tossed the small flower to him, which fluttered into his injured hand as if it had been beckoned to that spot.
"Then know that I would swiftly follow." She said simply.
With that, they entered their fighting stances. Nekyo produced the rest of the small daggers and took on a pose ready to pounce. Kurama on the other hand stood stock still. The small flower in his hand, however, began to take on a transformation that surprised them all. It seemed to suck up the blood in his palm -vines growing from it at an alarming rate, weaving around his hand and wrist to make a glove. The bloom, once white and dead, changed at first to a vibrant red, and then to a deep purple. The spiky petals stiffened into small daggers of there own as the main steam grew into a thin metallic looking chain covered in small but razor sharp barbs. Carefully, he let the plant overtake his other hand, forming into a glove as well.
"Well fuck me!" Chu exclaimed as he watched the transformation.
"I didn't even know that was possible!" Koenma said, a slight protest in his words.
"What? What is it?" Kuwabara asked, looking from one to the other.
"That's a Boketsu root." Koenma said in aw, "It's very rare and only grows in Demon World. And it only grows on graves."
"It's also highly lethal," Hiei continued for the deity, "It attacks anyone who touches it. How the hell Kurama was able to domesticate it is anyone's guess."
"I imagine that it's the blood." Genkai offered flatly.
The combatants wasted no time, however, and the conversation being help in the audience went unnoticed. Without any warning, the fight began. The movements were so fast that Kuwabara was lucky just to catch glimpses of it while Yukina and Shizuru saw nothing but blurs.
As soon as the flower had completed it's transformation into a weapon, Nekyo pounced. She plunged strait at him, claws ready for flesh, but Kurama quickly adverted her. He swung at her with the whip as she passed, the mitalic looking vine clinking as if it were truly made out of chains. She dogged the attack as if she had been expecting it, turning mid-flight and letting the whip hit the ground with a loud crack.
The Cat let fly a borage of tiny sharp daggers as soon as she hit the ground only to immediately replace her empty fingers with a second set. Kurama deflected them easily, sending the small weapons back at the Hunter with a mere flick of his wrist. She dogged the failed the attack with a speed that boarded on teleportation - in fact, most of the audience was sure that she was in fact teleporting.
The Hunter advanced on the stationary Fox in a fast but jerky way. He let her get close - closer then any of his companions had ever seen him let get. As soon as she was in striking range delivered a strong and accurate punch to his chest. The crowd gasped as Kurama was hurled backwards, the red streams of blood coming from the punctures caused by the knives seemed to still in the air as his body fell. Nobody was aware of the looped chain wrapped around the Cat's ankle -not even the Cat herself. Unexpectantly, she went flying after him.
As they crashed to the ground, even Yusuke and Hiei couldn't keep up with the speed that they were striking each other. Nekyo, with the knifes clenched in her fists, attempted to pelt Kurama with blows. Kurama on the other hand, was swinging the whip -at close range - with such precision that the looping and weaving vine was hitting away her punches two at a time.
"I've never seen him weald a whip like that." Hiei gasped as he studied his friends moves the best he could.
"It's like he's fencing with a ranged weapon." Kuwabara put in, his eyes fixed and his brow damp with concentration as he tried to keep up with the fighters.
The dual continued without either of the combatants noticing the exchange. They were locked in their own world; echoed on both fierce face and burning in every cell was nothing but adamant desire to destroy the other. They moved as if in a dance; every blow parried with a delicate, yet fierce, flow of graceful movements and steps that made the fight look choreographed. It was beautiful to watch. The mutual disdain, coupled along with the elegance both fighters possessed made the scene seem electrified with the overbearing power they both possessed.
Another flick of Kuramas delicate and graceful wrist sent the Hunter flying. She jumped back in an attempt at defense, yet the Fox had still managed to hit her across the cheek. She paused, an utterly bewildered look on her face as she reached up to feel the blood leaking from the gash. Kurama in turn stayed still, waiting for the Cats retribution.
In a rage the Hunter teleported right behind Kurama, who's swift and graceful steps seemed to be no match for her now that she marred. The spun around each, slashing and attacking at each presented opportunity. The 'dance' they had seemed to be creating suddenly turned chaotic and dangerous as they both geared up for their final blows.
And then suddenly it all stopped.
The audience sat silent as they watched the two stilled figures before them, breath caught in every chest waiting for a solid outcome to the duel.
Kurama and Nekyo stood dead center in the field acing each other. Six points to six daggers priced into the exposed flesh of Kuramas neck - where the other two were was anyone's guess. Small lines of red made there way down his thought to his heaving chest, further blooding the bright white of his top. All she had to do was sink her claws in another inch or so for the Fox to be dead.
In his hands he still held defiantly onto both ends of the whip, which at some point he had managed to get around Nekyo's neck, crossing the vines in front of her Tricia. The same small trickles of blood ran down her own neck as his grip strained against her flesh. All he had to do was pull on that vine to completely decapitate the Cat.
They stood that way for a moment that seemed like an eternity, staring into each others eyes, both not wanting to admit defeat.
"It's. . . It's a draw." Hiei's stumbling words permeated the silence.
"No, one of them HAD to ha'v struck that last blow first!" Chu whispered in amazement.
"Trust me," The Jigon flashed beneath Hiei's ward without taking his eyes off the combatants, "They struck at the exact same time."
"He said that they were as equal as you could get. . . But Damn!" Yusuke whispered, more impressed with the both of them then worried about his friend.
"Dear God!" Koenma suddenly exclaimed, a decent amount of fear and admiration in his voice, "I knew she could teleport, but I had no idea that she was Shadow Bound!"
"Well, they do call her the 'Shadow Hunter'." Yusuke said daftly cocking an eyebrow at the young god.
"No." He started, low and fast as if he were in a panic, "I don't know everything about the ritual, but Niko will blind there children to make them stronger. Look at her eyes, they're different! I know that's a sign of a Shadow Bound Niko!"
The group looked out onto the field more closely. Kurama and Nekyo stood just as they had when the fight had come to the abrupt stalemate. Except the silky black energy Nekyo had been producing seemed to be slipping away, and the wispy silver of Kuramas was gently settling in the vegetation around them like sparkling dew. The electrified energy that was illuminating them was slowly drifting away to be replaced by the harsh glow of the moon.
In that moonlight the spectators could make out clearly what Koenma was talking about: Even though their bodies were stuck in a stalemate, a fierce battle was still being waged in an intimidating stair-down between pricing and cold green, and deep and startling blue eyes.
"No," Yusuke whispered, "I swear she had black eyes!"
On the field, nether foe could bring themselves to break the gaze. Deep in the back of the Fox's mind, he could feel more then just those blue eyes staring him down. He had to break the stair before something. . . Embarrassing happened. There was only one way this was bound to end. It always ended like that. Taking a chance that he had rarely taken in the past he let his eyes dart to the silver chain the Cat was wearing around her neck. A familiarity emanated from the blood-covered silver, and he found himself staring at the thing for just a second too long.
"I know you know what it is that I ware around my neck, Priest." Nekyo said instead of finishing her attack. The words stung at him more painfully then any dagger could.
His eyes flickered back to hers, a cold wonderment stinging at the green irises and threatening to fall out in the form of tears. Without thinking he relinquished his hold on the vine around her neck to reach for the chain.
That gesture was all she needed, and in a flash she turned and ran into the forest, casting one quick and smug glance back to the shocked Fox before disappearing into the darkness. Kurama didn't waist a beat, and soon found himself bounding after her - a crazed rage lodged deep within his heart.
"Were the hell do they think they're going?" Yusuke exclaimed, ready to charge after them, but a stern hand on his shoulder stopped him.
"I'd leave them be, mate." Chu said gently as he scanned the line of trees of any hint of a fight.
"If they're purposely moving the fight away from us, I would assume that means they're getting tiered of us spectators." Genkai pointed out and swiftly turned to go inside.
One by one the group reluctantly headed back inside. Yusuke was the last to leave the field, undeniable curiosity and concern still causing his heart to ach.
…...
Kurama sprinted along the path the Hunter had carved out for them, leaving the trail helplessly over grown in his wake. Trees and exotic plants shot up behind and before him as he struggled to catch up to Nekyo's elusive form. He focused his energy around her, slowing her movements with the sudden growth of many random trees. With the sudden onslaught of the timber confining her, the Cat slowed -lost in the newly formed maze.
Kurama grabbed her tail with ease as she slowed almost to the point of stopping, harshly whipping her around to face him and pinning her to the closest tree with his body. He seethed in his rage as his body started acting on instinct, his hatred, his eagerness and his longing all manifesting itself as an unpleasant bunching in the pit of his stomach. What little moonlight that was left flitting down into the forest reflected in eyes that were once black -now turned blue- and he snarled in malice at his caught prey.
"Well, isn't this familiar." She teased, a mocking glow hinting at her eyes as she searched deeply into his.
Kuramas breath hitched in his thought as he stared down into those blue eyes. He hated them. He wanted poke out those eyes, to dig his thumbs in so far that they popped. But he didn't. He couldn't. The ramifications of doing such a thing were more then the Fox could bare to think about. If he destroyed those eyes, he knew he would miss them.
"You're playing a very dangerous game, are you sure you have the stones for it?" Those blue eyes narrowed in anger while her voice made a sweet melody out of the taunt.
"You are in a very bad position, Your Highness," He pressed his body closer to hers', causing her to flinch at the feel of the tree he had her pinned against, "I might even go easy on you, if you were so inclined to keep your mouth shut!"