And here we are with the chapter you have all been waiting for. I hope the wait wasn't nearly as excruciating as last time and I made sure I didn't leave you with a cliffie this time.
I want to extend my thanks to: lotte, jane23, MaraSeti, arcangel123, SSJ04 Mewtwo, Kura-sama, quivering quill, Orihime-San, peckforever, midnight blue08, fan girl 666, chelay, greenteagoddess, Evie, P, Xxdark wolf girlxX, Cerawitch, Indygodusk, mouseter, dmg, battenburg, tangled6, inuchan4u, chiz, Gohanzgirl, Jackson, DarknessFlameWolf, Nenene-s, Yoru Shichiyou, Atradis, Shelly, lmamc, Saints, Serena530, missjewels, sess18, alex¸ OnimeKyo-Kyuubi¸ xxAwesomeLucyxx (your intuition was on point, hon, I am 100% female ;-), Ally-chan1447, Princesa de la Luna, J Luc Pitard, AwesomeOliver, ..OooO., Diddune, Dragowolf, and isara-love,
I also want to give you all extra thanks for the overwhelming number of congratulations I received on my marriage and the kind concern you all showed for my health. To say I was ecstatic would be an understatement of just how happy you made me. Thank you, thank you, and thank you again very much.
:Hugs:
Midori no Me
Chapter Thirty-Three
Battles and Curses
Part Two
Normally Shinrei would have laughed at the thought of a mere human standing up to him. The fact that said human was a woman should have made it even funnier. However, all it took was one look into her clear green eyes to kill his amusement. Of course, the girl was no threat – her ki barely even registered with him – but the way she stared at him, challenging him, was enough to give him pause.
He personally didn't care about the fact that she had a revolver leveled at his chest - it wasn't as if the weapon were fast enough to do him damage anyways. However, he had to wonder why she was stepping to him at all when she was obviously outclassed. The Mibu kept track of all things concerning Demon Eyes Kyo, so he knew quite a bit about the girl before him. Yuya Shiina - aged 16, an orphan, the adopted sister of that traitorous shaman Nozomu Shiina, and Kyo's companion - was not quite what he had expected.
One might have thought that a girl who was so deeply connected to, not one but, two members of the Mibu clan would be more…well, more something. As it was, she was a tiny thing, weak as a babe, and the air she gave off was completely unassuming. The only credit he could give to her was that she was pretty enough and her coloring made him wonder if she had foreign or even Mibu blood far back in her family tree, it had been known to crop up from time to time.
Still, though his mind told him any number of reasons why he should simply kill her and finish Kyo off, his gut told him not to underestimate her worth. It wasn't her threatening him that held him back, it was more like the aura she gave off reminded him of Sakuya. And the drama surrounding Kyo, the seer, and Kyoushiro was legendary amongst his people.
'Perhaps,' he thought, 'I can make use of this girl.'
Shinrei was no fool; a lone wolf like Kyo wasn't the type to keep a woman like Yuya around if he didn't have some type of attachment to her and he had no qualms about using that to his advantage.
'Little, girl, I'll make you rue the day you allowed yourself to get involved with Kyo,' he told her mentally as he shifted the position of his sword, 'But first, I'll play with you a bit.'
So saying, he moved forward with the bare minimum amount of speed, nimbly dodging the bullet she fired at his chest, and raked her lightly – for him – along her side. She made a sound like a wounded bird, staggering back and he wondered if he'd discouraged her from standing up to him when something tiny and fast flew past his face, lightly brushing his cheek. He would have ignored it if he hadn't noticed the tiny knives tucked between the knuckles of her free hand at the same time a tiny dab of blood welled up from the cut she'd inflicted on his cheek.
'So, not quite as harmless as she looks,' he thought with faint admiration. Of course, he would have to punish the girl for her audacity and he did so by allowing one of his swords to dissipate into mist before grabbing the hand with the gun and squeezing it just hard enough to force her to drop the weapon. He took great care not to break her frail human bones as he twisted her arm behind her back and – knowing that none of her companions would dare attack with her in the way – allowed his other sword to dissipate as well so that he could catch the hand with the knives she tried to swing at him.
Forcing her hand into a fist so that the knives continued to protrude from between her knuckles like a cats claws, he brought it close to her own throat and allowed them to rest lightly against her neck. In that position, they both had a clear view of Kyo lying sprawled on the ground and as they watched, the Demon Child stirred, his eyelids flickering a bit to signal his imminent return to consciousness.
Shinrei had to give Yuya credit for not losing her cool as he brought his lips close to her ear, his breath an intimate caress on the gently curved shell as he said, "Shall I let Kyo's first sight be of you with this pretty neck decorated in red?"
She stiffened and he felt the slight pressure through their joined hands as she swallowed before saying quietly, "Only if it gives him the strength to beat you in return."
Her firm tone left him with no doubt that she meant every word and his grudging admiration for her grew by a hair. Though he despised Kyo, he couldn't fault him for choosing a woman with such devotion – it was a quality that he prided himself on. It was truly a pity that she wasted her sentiments on a man like Kyo, else the water user would probably have left her alone.
A groan brought his attention back to the man in question and he tightened his grip on the girl when she moved as if to go to him.
"Ah, ah, a lesson must be learned here Yuya-San," he said and she jerked in surprise.
"How did you know…," she began but he cut her off.
"Did you think we wouldn't know everything about anyone who unwisely chose to side with Kyo?"
"I barely know anything about you Mibu," she replied.
"Oh? Then prepare to be educated as to why we are the true rulers of Nippon. However, the time for talking is past. I suggest you take a moment to pray that Demon Eye's Kyo is as fond of you as you are of him."
That said, he focused once more on Kyo and his breath almost caught at the sight of blood red eyes boring into his own. The air grew thick with killing intent and the feeling only intensified as the Thousand Killer's eyes slid from his own to rest on Yuya's body, taking particular interest in the knives pressed to her neck.
Nothing could have prepared him for what Kyo did next. In his entire life, from the time his father left him in Fubuki's care to his entire career as one of the Five Stars, no one had ever been able to move after being assaulted by his water wyrms. He should have known that the infamous Demon Child would be the exception.
Kyo made a sound deep in his throat that sounded very much like a growl and dug the tip of his sword into the ground. Though his movements were slow, he still managed to make them look graceful as he shifted his body by increments until he was resting on his knees.
Shinrei was about to utter a disparaging remark about how weak Kyo was but the sheer amount of murder looking out at him from those piercing red eyes made the words stick in his throat and he took and involuntary step backwards.
He could see Kyo's jaw working and a tiny dribble of blood bubbled from the corner of the other man's mouth as he slowly, slowly got his feet beneath him and – with the aid of Tenryo - rose upward for what seemed like hours until his was swaying on his feet.
A lesser man would have made a pitiful sight if he were in Kyo's shoes, what with his long, red-black hair matted and tangled with blood and his clothes all but torn to shreds. However, for just a second, the younger man could see exactly why the Mibu feared him so. Those eyes of his didn't just inspire fear, they demanded submission from all who had the audacity to challenge their owner - they were the eyes of a king.
The two men stared at each other for a while longer before Kyo opened his mouth and demanded in a raspy voice, "Let her go, Shinrei."
Shinrei narrowed his eyes and tightened his grip on Yuya briefly before relaxing once more. Feigning an air of deliberation, he forced Kyo to wait a few additional moments before replying, "I think not. I am quite curious as to how you managed to ensnare such a fascinating woman. Tell me, Kyo, just how important is she to you? How far would you go to save her life?"
Kyo's eyes deepened into a darker shade of crimson and Shinrei could feel him calling on his powers, something which should have been impossible for someone in his condition. Intrigued, he tapped into his own ki and began to weave an attack of his own - he had a little surprise for Kyo and his precious Yuya.
"Are you that much of a punk that you have to hide behind a woman?" Kyo said.
The strongest of the Five Stars snorted in derision at the mere notion of being afraid and responded, "Ask me that when you aren't half dead from an attack I myself used. No, Kyo, I want to put you to the test. I confess that it isn't nearly as entertaining to kill you when you aren't at full strength and so…," he allowed the words to trail off as he relaxed his grip on the arm he had twisted behind Yuya's back.
Pressing a pressure point on her wrist which forced her to drop the knives, he guided her around until her front was pressed flush against his chest. Keeping his eyes on Kyo's, he transferred her wrist to his other hand so that both her hands were held captive behind her back by only one of his.
"Shinrei," the legend's voice held a strong not of warning which he ignored entirely.
"Kyo," Shinrei mimicked his tone and smirked as irritation etched itself across his enemy's face.
Ignoring the girl's struggle to get free, he mockingly trailed a finger from the crown of her head down, down through the soft, golden strands of her hair and over the fine bones of her cheek. He took a moment to tease the peach-soft skin of her delicate throat with his finger, the implied threat clear enough that Kyo's fingers tightened convulsively on the hilt of his sword. Gliding his hand over the gently rounded curve curves of her shoulder, he continued downwards until he could slide his arm around her waist and hold her even tighter.
"I think," he began as his head descended, "that I will see for myself why you like this girl so much."
Not once did his eyes leave Kyo's as he bent down until his lips were level with the young woman's. Though he could feel the way she tried to hold herself stiffly away from him, he didn't allow that to deter him from his goal. No, he savored the blazing anger in the Demon Child's eyes as he gathered his ki and brushed his mouth across that of the woman Kyo had claimed as his own.
"No…," Yuya squeaked out and he took the opportunity her open mouth presented to deepen the kiss, thereby sealing her fate.
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Yuya had never been able to imagine what it would be like to be raped. She had heard horror stories but such an occurrence was unlikely with first her brother then Kyo around. Always, she had been protected by those around her and she wondered if she was being punished for her lack of awareness because, as Kami-Sama was her witness, the kiss that Shinrei forced on her made her feel every bit as violated as if he had pried her legs apart and had his way with her.
It wasn't that his kiss hurt - she almost thought she would have preferred pain over the mocking way he kissed her – rather he gave her a lover's kiss and that was what made it the worst. Even though her mind knew he was only doing it make Kyo mad, that didn't stop the tide of shame that welled up in her as he slid the tip of his tongue between the lips she'd parted in protest and went where no one save Kyo had ever gone before.
And then…then it went from bad to worse.
Just as she was about to bite down on the offending appendage, something long and slick that couldn't possibly be his tongue entered her mouth from the spot where their lips were joined. She had the sickening impression that something living had just been introduced into her body and had to fight the urge to vomit as it began to move down her throat.
She felt as if she were suffocating and began to struggle desperately against her captor who released her and stepped back, staring at her with dispassionate golden eyes as she brought her hands up to her neck as if that would keep the thing working its way down from doing whatever it was planning to do.
Yuya opened her mouth to try and speak but nothing would come out but a terrible strangling sound. As if from a distance, she could hear her friends calling her name but it was Kyo's softly murmured "Yuya" that gave her the strength to turn around and take a few staggering steps towards him, one hand outstretched to grab hold of his arm.
Within moments, her ability to breathe returned as the thing Shinrei had put into her moved on and she was about to sigh in relief when a sharp pain in the vicinity of her chest caused her knees to buckle. Squeezing her eyes shut, she grit her teeth to keep from crying out and her hands automatically flew to press against her left breast where her heart was.
'Please Kami-Sama, don't let me die without telling Kyo how I feel,' she prayed.
"Yuya," she dimly heard Kyo say her name and the naked concern in his voice helped her to blink back the tears that were gathering in the corners of her eyes. The pain in her chest began to fade as quickly as it started, though she still felt as if there was something coiled in the vicinity of her heart, and she was eventually able to gather her feet beneath her in order to rise slowly. Her knees almost buckled though, belying how long she'd really been laid out. Fortunately, Kyo was close enough to catch her and pull her into the shelter of one arm and she clung to him as tightly as she could.
"What did you do to her?" Kyo demanded.
"Humph, to think I would see the day when you would display such concern over someone else. How weak you've grown Demon Child," Shinrei said with a shake of his head.
"I didn't ask for your opinion, Mibu dog. Answer the question."
"So impatient," the Mibu responded with mocking resignation, as if the matter of what he'd done to her were of little consequence. In that moment, Yuya decided then and there that she hated him. Here she was, a living, breathing person who had done little to antagonize him, and he had summarily molested her and forced Kami-Knew-What down her throat. And now he had the nerve to dangle the answer to a question she desperately needed to have a reply to in front of them.
Forcing her back straight, she gathered up all of her hurt and shame and used it to feel the flames of her anger. Allowing that to fuel her courage she said in a voice that left no room for argument, "Tell me what you did to me. You owe me that much at least."
Yuya could feel Kyo's surprise that she was actually able to talk to her attacker and it was mirrored briefly on Shinrei's face as he redirected his attention back to her.
"You are unusual for a human, most would have been throwing a fit by now," he said, almost to himself.
"That's neither here nor there, tell me what you put into me," she demanded a second time.
She might have imagined that the corner of his mouth twitched ever so slightly before he replied, "Since you asked so nicely, it's a water wyrm. To be more specific, it's a type of curse."
"And what do you hope to gain by cursing me with this…this thing? Why didn't you just kill me when you had the chance?"
"To put it simply, I want to see just how strong Kyo really is. I find myself curious about why Muramasa has put so much faith in him. Besides that, I have waited a long time to cross swords with Kyo and when I kill him I want it to be at full strength to show Muramasa and those within the Mibu who would follow him just how misplaced their trust in him is. Consider yourself the incentive for him to improve his skills."
"I still don't understand what the curse has to do with any of that."
"It's my way of insuring that Kyo does what I want in a reasonable amount of time."
Yuya had a sinking feeling that she really didn't want to know the answer to her next question but she had to ask.
"And what is a reasonable amount of time to you."
She forced herself not to flinch as those golden eyes of his met and held her own and he said with an eerie gentleness, "Sixty days."
One more question remained and she took a deep breath, tightening the grip she had on Kyo's arm and drawing strength from his presence as she asked, "And…what happens after sixty days?"
"After sixty days, if Kyo can't defeat me…my water wyrm will devour your heart."
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If Kyo could have wished for anything after Shinrei's announcement, it would have been for the ability to turn back time and redo his battle with him. Even if he had been killed, he would have preferred that over the way Yuya seemed to break apart in his arms.
Though he logically knew that there was nothing he could have done to keep her safe while he was lying there unconscious, he couldn't stop the pain of knowing that he'd been unable to deliver on his promise to protect her this time. He tightened his hold until her cheek was pressed against his chest and his heart clenched at the way she clutched at the folds of his tattered clothing. A shudder passed through her tiny frame and he held her even tighter, wishing for once that he could tell her that everything would be okay.
Though he usually remained emotionally detached in battle, Shinrei seemed to have the uncanny ability to pinpoint and exploit his weaknesses. Unfortunately, his weakness was small, blonde, green-eyed, and fearless wherever he was concerned and now her loyalty to him meant she might not survive another two months. His heart swelled with hatred for the Mibu dog standing in front of him and he promised himself that he would take his time in killing the man.
"Yuya," he said quietly, and she went still before bringing her head up so that she could look at him. Her face was so pale and those emerald eyes seemed to take up even more space than usual. Even her lips seemed to be void of color and he fought the urge to press his own to them in order to erase the memory of the other man's kiss.
He gently moved a lock of hair that had fallen on her cheek and tucked the golden strand behind her ear as he said, "I want you to leave me and go back to Muramasa."
"But Kyo…," she began and he pressed a finger to her lips to keep her from saying anything else.
"I'll be fine woman," he replied, teasing her lightly with his old form of address.
She relaxed and a tiny smile touched her lips before she nodded, turned and did as he asked.
"Are you actually going to try and fight me again?" Shinrei asked incredulously as he held out his hands and his twin swords rematerialized.
"If I defeat you here and now, will you set the girl free from your curse?"
"I give you my word I will. But are you sure you can stand up to me a second time?"
Kyo smirked and said, "We won't know until I try."
With that, he drew on the ki he'd been using earlier and swung his sword as he cried out his attack, "Mizuchi!"
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"Sometimes I don't know what I'm going to do with that boy," Muramasa said with a shake of his head. Kyo could really be so thickheaded at times. Here Shinrei had given him a chance to get strong enough to beat him and he chose now of all times to forget everything he'd taught him about choosing his battles wisely and was going off half-cocked to a battle he had already lost. He had to give the boy good marks for effort but he could see that the time had come for him to intervene.
Waiting until Yuya reached the safety of his porch, he pressed her down into onto a stool he kept there for the nights he enjoyed a cup of tea outside. She was so distraught that she was broadcasting her thoughts more strongly than usual and his heart went out to her. Despite her strong façade, the poor girl was terrified and he took a moment to project soothing thoughts to her mind in order to help her calm down.
Patting her on the head, he moved towards the two men facing each other and paused when Kyo swung his sword and set loose an impressive Mizuchi. However, unsurprisingly, Shinrei cut through the attack and moved forward to score yet another hit on the other man that left him sprawled out on the ground once more. Sighing at the antics of his stubborn pupil, Muramasa stopped before Kyo's prone body and watched as he attempted to rise yet again.
Bending down, he laid a hand on his struggling student's forehead and, bypassing the part of his mind that urged him to keep on fighting a hopeless battle, sent a direct command to his brain for his body to stop. With a tiny "oof" Kyo's body relaxed and the former Elder watched him for a few seconds to make sure he couldn't override his command.
"What did you do to me, old man?" Kyo growled out, his eyes blazing.
"Not only am I saving you from yourself, I am protecting that girl you are so fond of from watching you get your hind parts handed to you. Did it ever occur to you to think how she would react to seeing you killed right before her eyes?" Muramasa said, making sure his voice was sufficiently cold enough to convey his displeasure.
To his credit Kyo shut up as he mused that over in his thick head.
"Really Kyo, I know you hate relying on others but I taught you better than to let your emotions get the better of you and there is only so far that sheer strength of will can carry you."
"I didn't ask for your help Muramasa," the ungrateful brat said.
"Well, that's just too bad because you are going to get it. Now quiet down and rest, I'll deal with this pup."
As he reached down to pick up Tenryo from where Kyo had dropped it, Shinrei addressed him.
"Have you come to die as well, Muramasa?"
"Die?" Muramasa said mildly as his fingers touched the hilt of the sword.
The sword began to hum immediately in response and the blade emitted a glow so bright that everyone in the general area, save the blacksmith himself, had to shield their eyes. Raising it up high, Muramasa kept his eyes trained on his enemy as he listened to Tenryo howl and basked in the feeling of pure power that rushed through his veins. Though he usually preferred pacifism, he couldn't deny the excitement that came from knowing he was about to go into battle with a strong opponent. His heartbeat sped up bringing with it an addictive high that he hadn't felt in a long while.
Tenryo's howl grew louder and he allowed the sword's power to whip around in the air around him. The trees shook as a mini gale blew through, tearing up blades of grass as Tenryo's wind raced to and fro across the clearing. He let the sword have its fun before bringing its power to heel and confining it to the vicinity of its physical blade.
"So you think I come to you to die, young man?" he gave the man a smile to show how truly amused he was by the notion before continuing, "I think…not."
He had to give the silver-haired man points for maintaining his composure, Fubuki would have been proud if he had been there to see him. Golden eyes scanned him, no doubt looking for openings and he allowed him time to form whatever plans he wanted. Unlike his own pupil, Muramasa understood from watching the previous battle and listening to the dialogue between the two men that Shinrei knew the value in backing off when necessary. It was no hardship for him to let the boy make the first move and he didn't disappoint.
Whereas he had been toying with Kyo, feeling him out before going for the kill, Shinrei didn't hesitate before yelling out "Mumyou Saikyou Ryuu" and sending his eight water dragons after him.
Muramasa did not even have to move his sword so summon a Mizuchi that tore through the dragons, dispersing them into mist before ripping through Shinrei's body. Unsurprisingly, the younger man dispersed into mist and Muramasa turned around quickly, bringing his sword down and slicing through the water blade that was headed towards his back, only stopping when it came to rest lightly on Shinrei's neck.
All in all, he estimated that it had taken about two seconds for the two of them to go from staring each other down to his sword finding its way to his opponent's throat.
'Not bad for an old man,' he thought to himself.
A streak of red caught Muramasa's eye and he saw that the man was bleeding from a cut on his right arm.
"Now quite fast enough, were you?" he said lightly.
"Tenryo never did enjoy it when his prey eluded him. Had I truly wanted you dead, he wouldn't have let you off with a mere cut."
He allowed his words to sink in before continuing, "If you so desire, we can go again but I'm not so sure that would be in your best interests."
"How touching the concern of a traitor is," was his mocking reply.
"Me…a traitor? Why? Because I took the Demon Child and left Mibu lands?"
"Of course that's why. You knew it was prophesied that Kyo would bring nothing but disaster to the Mibu. You, who were one of the Four Elders, should have protected us by killing him and instead we are left with misfortune after misfortune. Not a single child had been born naturally since he appeared and more and more people are succumbing to the death disease."
"And did it ever occur to you that perhaps I kept Kyo alive to keep the Mibu from disappearing altogether?"
Shinrei let out a bitter laugh and stepped back from Tenryo's edge.
"If Kyo is some sort of savior then why hasn't he done anything to help us? What could a monster like him with those evil red eyes possibly do except destroy everything we have ever worked for?"
"Let me answer your question with one of my own. How could Kyo possibly have brought as much misfortune as you claim? The Mibu have always had a hard time reproducing and the death disease existed long before he was born. Do you really think anything would be gained by killing him now?"
"It would certainly make me feel better," was the reply.
"Putting aside your childishness, I want you to take a moment to ponder why it is that someone as radically different as Kyo first appeared among the Mibu in the first place. The Mibu have needed to change for centuries and I believe Kyo to be the catalyst for that change."
"Now you're speaking utter nonsense."
"Am I? I sense that you are an honorable man Shinrei and I can't fault you for wanting to protect your family but the next time you see Fubuki and the rest, I want you to ask them what it is you are really fighting for. I tell you this, the fight goes far beyond such petty concerns as Kyo being some sort of harbinger of doom."
He could see the wheels turning in that silver head but when he moved to step forward, Shinrei hopped backwards and sent a water dragon at him that forced him to dodge.
"I'll not be fooled by your empty speeches. Still, I have wasted enough time on you. You have sixty days to prepare the Demon Child to face me and I'll see for myself why you have given up so much for him. I will await you in the Mibu lands. And Kyo," he turned his eyes towards the prone man, "don't be late."
With those parting words, his body dissolved into a puddle of water and he was gone.
'The boy is good, I'll give him that.'
Muramasa hadn't even noticed when the real Shinrei slipped away during their conversation to leave him talking to a clone.
Shaking his head, he looked around at the mess that was made of his front yard and sighed - he hated having to clean up bodies. A grunt sounded at his feet and he blinked before turning his attention back to a glowering Kyo. Sometimes, he swore the boy had the most talkative eyes he'd ever seen. He supposed the kami had given him those eyes to make up for his inability to express himself like normal people, although he was doing a lovely job of conveying his emotions whenever Yuya entered the picture.
Ignoring his pupil for the moment, he spoke to the other men in the clearing, "Bontenmaru-San, Benitora-San, Yukimura-San, won't the three of you please help with the clean up? As for Okuni-San…," he looked around and saw no sign of her though he was certain she had been outside before. Shrugging, he looked at Kyo and casually waved his hand, releasing his body from its mental imprisonment.
"Come Kyo," he said, "We have a lot of work to do and only sixty days to do it. For now, resting up is our priority and then you and I are going to have a talk that has been long in coming."
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And there we go. I hope you like my rendition of THE KISS. As always please let me know what you thought and constructive criticisms are always welcome. Many hugs.