I wanted to take a few moments here before we dive into this chapter to say thank you for everything. Thank you for sticking around, for reading and being here. Also I would like to dedicate this chapter to someone who has been here from the beginning and stressing me out of my mind every time I barely published a chapter, already asking for the second one.
I will not mention a name but here is to you C, you lovely bastard you.
"I hope you have a good enough explanation as to why I am here."
Ignoring Mukuro's intense stare and the previous fright that set root into their souls, Koenma grabbed Kuwabara, jumping in a circle, holding onto his hands for dear life as his smile grew bigger and bigger until he nearly dropped his pacifier.
"You did it, you actually did it."
A few moments ago the atmosphere was not so cheerful as Kuwabara managed to sense something, cutting through the air with his Spirit Sword, the dimension gap bursting open before their very eyes and coughing up Mukuro in Human World. On the other side, Myra's red rimmed eyes stared startling Kuwabara so much that he fell on his back, blood running cold. Shizuru immediately got into a fighting stance ready to cave Myra's face in if she dared cross, the temperature dropping as Yukina stared at the dimension cut as Myra retracted her claws.
"You're only delaying the inevitable. Human World will fall soon."
Mukuro just watched their display of madness not addressing a word until Genkai stepped besides her explaining to the Alaric ruler what the situation was at present once she came to the conclusion that she was more pissed off about being in the dark than anything else.
"You mean to tell me no one saw it coming?" her pose was dangerous and awfully ready to jump someone in order to release the fury burning in her core ever since Hiei dropped by with unexpected visitors.
"We are not you enemies here Mukuro. Kuwabara can get us to Demon World, but we can't go in unprepared or we'll be stepping directly into our own graves."
"Might as well start digging if the situation is as bad as you make it sound." Crossing her hands over her chest Mukuro lifted her eyes from Genkai and stared at Koenma intensely. She didn't require any introductions as it was obvious to her who he was. Pointing a finger at him, he gulped, swallowing a hard lump in his throat "My only concern is revenge. Your concern should be finding a weakness for that bitch who has claimed my kingdom."
Providing her with a short nod he knew very well he overstayed his welcome in the human realm. He needed to come up with a plan that would stop the Faceless and Myra, however it wasn't like he tried fishing out clues from notes left behind by Klarise. And as far as his sister went, she was one of them and would face the same outcome as for any enemy. She had made her choice long ago, sealing her fate but hopefully not the ones around him that he desperately needed to protect.
Back in Gandara, inside a small poor lit room, Rin finally managed to get some much deserved sleep, her body giving in to the sweet surrender swiftly. In a few short hours however something startled her slumber, her stomach churning when she realised she could not move, her legs and arms being bound restricting her movement.
"Apologies" came Kurama's voice, low and guarded "but it's the only way to get you to actually listen to what I am about to say without your temper interfering."
Hissing, her eyes scanned the darkness trying to locate his whereabouts, struggling to get at least one hand free since that was all she required. At the foot of the bed, Kurama appeared, his expression morphing closer to Yoko's that his human one. Barring her teeth she cussed him out, the kitsune allowing her that short moment of justifiable rage.
"Are you done?" his voice travelled to her ears as the vines holding her down gripped tighter "Your sister came up with the plan."
Silence followed, wide golden eyes analysing his face as her blood ran cold. All of a sudden, just like that and out of the blue he dropped on her a huge bomb. For her it was clear that wasn't Kurama talking, but Yoko, who was trying to push through the human restrictions just enough to get a message across. Once his voice bounced off the walls again, the husky tone become much clearer.
"I am aware your internal structure is telling you not to believe me."
"How can I?" something more than agitation riddled her speech as Kurama dipped his chin, eyes lost for a moment. He knew very well how deep old pain ran, how it could change a person from inside out.
"I found your camp and snuck inside your sister's hut while the majority of you were out on a mission. Once it was clear the state she was in even with the amulet you stole from me, the win was secure no?"
"Get to the point." She raised her voice despite her immobilised condition.
"Very well. She had enough Rin, she wasn't getting any better so she wished for her family to just let her die, so she gave you all a new purpose, one I agreed to."
"An enemy." Her voice dimmed as it strained to get the sentence out finding new strength after a few moments "Even if I am to believe you…" clearing his throat interrupted her flow of words.
"I can tell you about the pictures you drew for her. You were her eyes and ears for the world were you not?"
As soon as tears stung her eyes, the bind holding her hostage came undone, the vines retreating back to Kurama.
"I could have killed you." She spat getting up, hands digging in his shirt immediately.
"Good thing you hesitated then."
Confusion ran deeper than the hurt of the moment and guilt painting Rin's soul as she hit his chest with one fist and then pounded with the second. She should have hated him, she should have not regretted running the knife through his chest. She should have not spent so much time next to him and the team. Too close, too warm, too raw.
Sliding his hands up her arms, she steadied the sobs threatening to consume her, lifting her eyes to look at him.
Both turned, running to the balcony as energies swirled in the distance, biting at the atmosphere, the wind howling wildly.
"Over there." Kurama's index finder pointed to a tornado swirling in the distance.
"Kurama, that's Tourin." Silver hair bloomed in Rin's peripheral vision as her eyes glowed, fangs revealing "Lya's calling the fight to her."
"Indeed and she's mad." Sharing a look between each other they both reached the same conclusion in a heartbeat, Tourin needed them.
Yusuke ran behind Hiei, shielding his eyes with the help on his arm as the strong wind created swirls of dust all around them "She'll bring the entire kingdom down if she keeps this up." Spitting to the side, he felt the sand inside his mouth, sticking to his gums. Hiei turned to look over his shoulder, eyes squinting, Jagan glowing from under his bandana.
"I would be more concerned about her painting a target on our backs."
Covering his face with both hands, Hiei was pushed back by the strong wind, as he cursed inside his head growling as he struggled to take a step forth. Letting Lya know right off the bat that Myra was behind the upcoming war was not a wise choice, especially in her fragile state of mind.
At the beginning the display of power was born from guilt. A feeling so immense paled her face, as her eyes glistened with emotions of dread and bad decisions. She was the one who decided to go on and save a disfigured human girl, all because she resembled the Wolf in human form with her pale hair and amethyst eyes. It was that and her kindness that allowed Klarise's plan to work.
But now, as she was pushing back those who dared to come close, she was not sad anymore, she was furious, rage burning through her veins, latching onto her core.
"How do we stop her Hiei?"
Cursing his own fate, Hiei drew his katana pushing through the current searching for Lya, the only focus being on her energy. As far as controlling the wind went, Hiei knew of only Jin who could rise to the level of master, yet his powers were limited and mostly contained near his physical form. The woman he was searching for now amidst the crazy surge of energy on the other hand could tear herself apart despite the pain caused from such a technique and not need a physical form at all.
"Lya! Show yourself!" the winds screamed Myra's name, sending out a clear invitation to battle, one that would have happened regardless, but giving away their location wasn't a wise choice either way.
The area around him cleared slightly as silver eyes glistened glaring into crimson jewels. This was a clear warning for him to stay away.
"You're wasting energy, by the time Mya gets here there won't be anything left to fight her with."
"Myra's the least of my concerns." Letting out a long howl, the wind carried out the sounds resonating from her as Hiei stood there not understanding what she meant "Myra is the enemy yes, but she's merely a pawn." Her forehead creased as her nose wrinkled, lips revealing a dangerous snarl "Klarise is the one who put us in this situation and since I'm feeling generous, I'll kill them both."
Taking a few careful steps as much as she allowed him to, he asked once again for her to call off the winds, careful how he shaped his voice. He was after all facing the feral side of Lya, not the puppet Klarise had leverage over. This was the woman who could pierce his chest and tear out his core without any effort, the unhinged in battle yet always keeping a leveled head. The wild creature chosen by the Wolf as his mate.
And then it clicked loudly inside his head. She wasn't calling the battle, she was giving Myra and Klarise a taste of who Lya Nox truly was. When they were attacked, the pack perishing in the process of the aftermath of political affairs, Klarise must have commanded it. Lya with a child inside of her couldn't fight the same, powers rending useless unless she wanted to harm the baby, which she didn't. Now however, despite the flesh wounds and hazy mind that almost broke apart her spirit, she was ready to kill. But most importantly, she was calling out for the Wolf.
"Don't be stupid woman, this is what they want." His voice traveled above the wind "This is why they kept you alive."
In one swift move she appeared in front of him, hand keeping his right one in a tight lock not allowing him to use the sword on her, body on edge prepared to plunge at him, eyes turning to dangerous slits.
"Manage your tongue Hiei."
"Like Hell I will." He grabbed her by the shirt "I did not save you so you could pull something this reckless."
Coming closer to him she pressed her forehead against his "Then why did you save me?"
His mouth opened ready to counter attack yet no words bloomed. Instead his teeth grinded so hard against each other that his jaw hurt. She knew why. Despite the rocky beginning, he finally fulfilled his purpose and managed to make her shine her true colors. No matter his brutal attempts, she always managed to find reason and logic. Worst of all she managed to crawl under his skin and take root in his soul. It was a game, first to break her, then to tame her, then to get even. They went on in this roller coaster that he didn't even realize when she managed to truly leave a mark.
"You know why." The words hissed through his teeth as his Jagan glowed under his bandana, warming her mind with what he considered good memories they shared. He was caught off guard once and confessed when he was certain they would meet their end, he wasn't going to do it again. In the end she got it, which was clear to him she did and if so then fine. If not then it was little he could to do to change it. He lacked the necessary skills in the feelings department.
"Hiei, watch out!"
Yusuke's voice rang as two huge paws separated them, Lya being thrown off balance as the attacker focused his strength on Hiei. The sword was pried from his hand as sharp claws dug in his chest, skin tearing on the impact, leaving behind gashes coloured in hot blood.
Yusuke held out his Spirit Gun ready to unleash it until Lya stepped in his firing range as she ran. The winds hushes as the tornado dissipated in a matter of seconds, powers drawing to a halt, leaving the arid terrain as it was before.
"Are you fucking insane?"
Ignoring Yusuke's voice she leaped in catching the arm that was ready to attach Hiei once again, fingers digging into the black fur, a growl directed her way as nostrils flared.
"He is not an enemy therefore you will not harm him."
Seeing how suddenly everything calm down a fraction, Yusuke ran next to Hiei, offering himself as support, which was immediately turned down by the fire demon. Glancing at Lya, he couldn't help but stare at the sharp teeth shinning close to Lya's face. Her head rose to look up at the creature towering over her body, neck exposed as the large creature bent to inhale her scent, lowering to her shoulder blades, tongue licking the stab wound caused by Hiei's sword.
"Well that's not something you see every day. Lya, what the fuck is going on?"
A low guttural growl resonated and Yusuke could have sworn it came from both the thing near Lya but also Hiei.
"You have a short memory little lord."
Yusuke's eyes grew wider and wider as the creature before him started morphing as it reverted to a human, more recognizable form.
"Holly shit, the Wolf." Getting past his initial shock Yusuke had to ask "So why the fuck are you hurting my friends? I don't care what animal you are I'll still punch you."
"Funny crowd you got going here." He redirected his eyes back to Lya.
"Showing off your human form now are we?"
Crossing his hands over his chest, he smirked a little, eyes softening "You called for me." Letting his hands drop near his body, he finally decided what to do with them as he caressed Lya's cheek as she stared off in his eyes.
"You're late, two years late."
Retracting his hand, he looked over at Hiei.
"It would seem so."
"Has he arrived?"
Klarise sat on the balcony rail witnessing the tornado in Tourin disappear into nothingness.
"He has, although it looks like Lya managed to withstand the brain damage inflicted upon her. Guess your idea wasn't that grand." Myra looked her partner's way just to see formed Spirit World queen wave her off with a light hand gesture.
"Or Hiei helped." She glanced over at Myra as she stood there looking very unimpressed by the outcome of the events.
"You should have killed her." Gripping the rail she stared down at the hoard of demons below them "Regardless of what was done, this is their last dance."
