Author: The Plot Bunny Whisperer
Title: The Price of Freedom
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Adventure Romance Drama
Summary: AU. Harry knows better than to run from his fate, but he'll do his damnedest to try. Slash. Crossover with Yu Yu Hakusho.
Pairing(s): Harry/Yusuke, Kuwabara/Yukina, unrequited Keiko/Yusuke
Warnings: Slash, Language, Violence
Disclaimer: Don't own, don't care, don't sue.

AN: We're winding down now. One more chapter before the epilogue!

Enjoy!

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The Price of Freedom
24: The Price

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They recognized the attic room from the message mirror in the Saint Beasts' castle. The only difference was that it was lit by more than one light and the chair was no longer in the middle of the room but placed against the back wall. The chair was occupied, but the owner was within the shadows so they couldn't make out his features.

"Congratulations." The form in the chair shifted slightly as the dark voice from the mirror spoke, breaking the silence of the room. "I see you made it all the way to the top. Not that I expected any less, although I did think one of you would be dead by now. No bother, it shouldn't interfere with my plans too much."

"Shut up." Yusuke stepped forward, his fists clenched at his sides. "Why don't you stop being a coward and face me, you bastard. You see, I just have this really big urge to smash your face into the floor."

The demon chuckled.

"Oh, we'll get to that soon enough, Detective." The air seemed to shimmer along the walls as form after form appeared. Static filled the air as their camouflage spells disintegrated and the demon was suddenly surrounded by two dozen blue-robed men. "First I thought I might introduce you to a few acquaintances of mine. They're so very eager to see your new friend over there. He doesn't seem to be doing too well, does he?" Yusuke growled, grinding his teeth; his knuckles cracked as he clenched his fists tighter.

"Heh." Harry straitened from his partial slouch, spreading his feet lightly to adjust his balance. He smirked, pushing his weariness to the back of his mind. "They should really give up, you know. I must have really pissed them off, outwitting them all the time - not that it was all that hard. Must be desperate now, I guess." The wizards gave silent snarls, wands raised for retaliation of his remark.

"I wouldn't say desperate, per se. Simply a burning desire to see you dead."

"Hey, asshole." Yusuke stepped sideways, blocking Harry from view. "You're forgetting something. You gotta deal with me first."

"Don't forget about me, Urameshi." Kuwabara grinned and raised his sword in front him. Kurama unwound his whip from his arm, letting it fall gently to the floor.

"Yes, I'm afraid we have grown rather fond of him."

"Hn." Hiei unsheathed his katana with a chink. "I guess he's a little interesting."

"Aw, guys, I'm touched." Harry opened his eyes, the green of his irises bleeding away into a rich, deep red. "But I can't let you have all the fun. I have run for too long to let my freedom slip from my fingers again." He met Yusuke's eyes and the Mazoku grinned, blue markings once again bleeding across his skin.

"So, bastard. Done talking yet?"

The demon chuckled. "Very well, Detective. As you wish."

Red and green lights lit the room as spells rained from over twenty wands. Demons leaped from the shadows with howls, claws extended to rip and shred. The group leaped and twisted in the air, avoiding spells and demons alike as they attacked their enemies as one.

Yusuke went strait for the leader, aided by Hiei who disappeared and reappeared in blurs, cutting down the wizards and shadow demons one by one. His work was swift and accurate and slowly the path cleared for the Mazoku to hit the demon leader head-on.

Kuwabara and Kurama stuck to the slaying of the rest of the demons, sword and whip cleaving through them like a hot knife through soft butter. Harry deflected attacks of his own, spells bouncing off of a glowing Amaterasu in one hand, while the other was encased in a sickly green from poisoned claws. He worked his way around the edge of the room, fighting through the horde for his true objective, the blue-robed humans who'd done their damndest to make his life hell.

Blood washed the walls and floor, a sickly mixture of green and red. Somewhere in the fray an enormous purple vine erupted followed by the largest flower he'd ever seen. Kurama was having fun obviously, though by the sound of it the demons weren't too appreciative.

The boss demon finally joined the battle himself as a well aimed punch shattered the chair he once occupied, face revealed in the light. He looked almost human save for the multi-faceted bug-like eyes, dark purple skin and the grin of shark-like teeth. The two demons clashed, throwing and dodging punches in an intricate battle dance of which their could only be one victor, and both were determined to be it.

Harry was forced to turn his attentions away as a well-aimed cutting curse dug into his side, a second and third following, shredding his shirt and jacket as they glanced across his shoulders. He dodged a forth aimed at his abdomen and ducked to avoid a sickly green curse of death. He fired off several rounds of bullets infused with his demonic energy, and a secret, deeply buried part of him relished in their screams of anguish.

The rush was extraordinary.

It was the first time he'd ever let his demon have full reign, but he couldn't imagine anything less natural than this. He supposed it was part fear that had held him back - the part of him that mourned his humanity and the loss of what was and what could have been. The same part of him that secretly hoped the people he'd once loved would change their minds and welcome him back with open arms.

This was better than that. The sweet, seductive song of true battle, the bursting rush of blood and adrenaline - this is what he'd truly been missing while he dreamt yearnfully of the past. He'd been reaching all this time for a mere reflection of what he'd never truly had in the first place.

This was what he'd been searching for, what he was meant for: the absolute freedom of being exactly who he was, doing what he was born to do. To fight at the side of the Mazoku; that was his purpose. Not the life of a martyr, or a savior, but the life of a demon, the life he'd had to die twice for to earn.

He finally understood what his ancestor had been telling him all those years ago as he'd laid in agony while his blood fought within his veins to change him into his birthright.

"You must give up your former life and find your true place in this world. You will run; you will fight; you will bleed, and cry, and curse the day you were born. But you will never know freedom, kid, until you understand its price."

Yes, he understood it now. For what else could the price of freedom be but the debt that all men pay.

And he'd make sure those self-righteous wand-wielding bastards paid it in full.